"Sigh — Really now, you two idiots." Adam sighed helplessly.
He had no choice but to use Magic to rescue them before anything worse happened.
However, before he could cast his spell, a clear voice echoed across the empty snowfield.
Swift lightning streaked past like a bright arrow, instantly defeating not just the Giant Toads surrounding Adam, but also the two that had swallowed Megumin and Darkness.
The sudden turn of events left everyone dumbfounded — Adam, Darkness (who had been enjoying the slimy play), and Megumin (who had been playing dead in the toad’s mouth). The two women fell from midair, landing in the thick snow.
But it wasn’t over yet — that clear voice rang out again.
The defeated Giant Toads suddenly burst into flames, combusting from within and transforming into blue-white fireballs on the open ground.
Moments later, the aroma of roasted frog wafted through the air.
Impressive! This was clearly the work of a veteran Adventurer who had mastered the art of the finishing blow!
He helped Megumin and Darkness up from the ground.
Following the chuunibyou girl’s gaze, Adam saw a beautiful girl with short black hair standing not far from Megumin.
"Advanced Magic...?" He muttered in surprise.
The Advanced Magic this mysterious rescuer had used was rarely seen even in Axel.
Of course, except for the〘Explosion Magic〙of that problematic chuunibyou girl Megumin.
"Though I don’t know who you are, thank you for saving us." Darkness said gratefully to the beautiful girl.
The young Crimson Demon girl, however, seemed frightened by Darkness’s state of wearing only underwear in the freezing snow.
Adam knew who she was — a powerful 「Arch-Wizard」 of the Crimson Demon clan like Megumin, and the daughter of the Crimson Demon Chief Hiropon, who "viewed Megumin as her only rival".
He recognized her by her eyes and attire. She bore a striking resemblance to Megumin, wearing the same black robe and cape as when he first met her, along with a matching Magic staff and a small short sword at her waist.
If not for their distinct differences in appearance and figure, they could have been mistaken for sisters.
She was slightly taller than Megumin, with short black hair tied back with a ribbon, and a perfectly proportioned figure. Her face showed determination yet appeared gentle - she was a super beautiful girl.
She carried herself like an exemplary student representative — the very image of a class president or model pupil.
"N-no... I didn’t mean to save you."
Yunyun’s face flushed with embarrassment at the sight of Darkness in her underwear, clearly uncomfortable with the older woman’s uninhibited nature.
"It’s just that if my rival were to be eaten by mere toads, what would that say about my position... That’s all, nothing more."
Her words revealed a desire to maintain high standards — both for herself and her opponent.
This piqued Darkness’s curiosity.
"The way you speak... Could it be that you know Megumin?" Noting their similar appearances, Darkness quickly grasped the connection between their mysterious rescuer and her companion.
Yunyun responded directly, "Rather than knowing her, I’d say we’re rivals."
With that, she issued her challenge to Megumin.
"—It’s been a while, Megumin! I’ve returned after completing my training as promised! As you can see, I can now freely use Advanced Magic! Now then! The time has come to fulfill our promise and put an end to our long-standing grudge!"
Yunyun’s face beamed with excitement.
Though her words suggested a bitter feud, Adam recognized this as typical Crimson Demon dramatics — their characteristic chuunibyou flair on full display.
As for the one being challenged...
"I’m sorry, but who are you?"
Yunyun let out a cry of disbelief as she stared at the slime-covered, bewildered Megumin.
For a moment, she questioned all her years of hard training. The unexpected response left her deeply disappointed.
"It’s me, it’s me—!" Yunyun pleaded, desperately trying to jog the pretending-to-be-confused Megumin’s memory, "Don’t you remember? We were in the same grade at the academy in the Crimson Demon Village! You were always first, and I was second... Then I promised to train until I could use Advanced Magic!"
She gazed at Megumin with tearful eyes, like someone betrayed by their lover. The sight was so pitiful it tugged at one’s heartstrings.
But Megumin maintained her confused expression, feigning complete ignorance.
"I’m sorry, I don’t remember what you’re talking about."
"Hey, Megumin, it’s me! You can’t have really forgotten me, can you?!" Yunyun grew more agitated, desperately trying to make Megumin remember, "Think back! Whether it was exams or anything else, I always challenged you, and every time you said challenges needed proper stakes — saying if I agreed you’d take my lunch box as collateral. You used that trick to steal my lunch boxes all the time!"
Her final words carried the weight of long-held grievances about Megumin’s behavior, earning even Darkness’s sympathy.
"Megumin, you should think carefully... By the way, what kind of novel experience is starving?!"
Hey, don’t interrupt people’s reunion with your perversion!
Adam and Megumin’s eyes met. The chuunibyou Arch-Wizard quickly averted her gaze, wearing the guilty expression of someone caught in wrongdoing.
"Looks like you remember now, Megumin... So, what do you say?"
"I don’t know her!" Hearing Adam’s question, Megumin doubled down on her act, "Besides, we absolutely can’t trust a suspicious person who hasn’t even introduced themselves yet!"
With that, she grabbed his hand and hurried toward town without looking back.
"W-wait! Wait a minute!" Only then did Yunyun realize her oversight, "I-I understand — though it’s embarrassing to do this in front of strangers, I’ll state my name!"
Speaking thus, her cheeks flushed crimson as she dramatically flourished her cape and made her introduction.
"I am Yunyun! My profession is Arch-Wizard, one who excels in Advanced Magic, and the future chief of the Crimson Demon Clan!"
This too was a Crimson Demon custom — when introducing oneself, one must make exaggerated gestures to appear as striking as possible. Naturally, Yunyun couldn’t escape this tradition either.
"Well, that’s how it is, she’s Yunyun. She’s the Crimson Demon Chief’s daughter and will inherit the position of clan chief in the future."
Megumin supplemented Yunyun’s self-introduction as if suddenly remembering her identity, while still maintaining an air of dismissiveness.
"As she said, during our academy days she ’claimed’ to be my rival... She ’claimed’ that."
"What do you mean ’claimed’!" Yunyun protested, clearly offended by her phrasing.
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