Megumin left very quickly.
Her sudden appearance had made Zunzun suspicious—she only came because she was starving and had no choice but to seek him out in the forbidden area. Though she'd declared farming her domain, she now had to leave again to chop wood.
That was why she carried the hatchet.
After Megumin left, Yunyun seemed distracted, glancing outside repeatedly as if searching for someone.
"If you care so much, want to visit later?" Zunzun asked.
"Eh?" Yunyun blinked, confused.
"It's Megumin's house. I'm going there soon. If you want, I'll take you with me."
"That… isn't that rude? Visiting someone without permission? Shouldn't you send a visiting card first?"
"Choose an auspicious day? Are you a noble lady from somewhere?"
No, but Yunyun was the daughter of the clan leader and definitely had the air of a noble.
Zunzun wiped sweat from his face, casually, "No need for all that formality. It's just a normal visit. So, you in?"
"Yeah… okay." After a long pause, Yunyun nodded slowly.
Making friends was really hard for her.
After working the fields for a while longer, Zunzun didn't head straight to Megumin's house but went home first to gather some corn, potatoes, and other vegetables.
Aunt Yuiyui was pregnant and needed nutrition, plus Megumin's family was out of food—they urgently needed help.
Aid God, activate!
On the way, Yunyun got nervous.
"Well… should I prepare gifts? What's proper for a first visit? I have some pocket money but can't afford anything fancy. If possible…"
Zunzun couldn't help but smile.
Hey, hey, are you going to meet the parents or what?
He saw her as a poor prospective son-in-law worried about bringing the wrong gift.
…Oh no, that's me in the mirror.
"No need. I'm ready. Besides, you're with me." He waved toward the basket in his hands.
More than expensive gifts, Megumin wanted food.
They reached the hill before Megumin's house.
Her home was at the mountain's foot, isolated except for a distant family—Bukkororiis house, if memory served.
"Hey, is this Megumin's stable? But where's her house?" Yunyun asked heartbreakingly.
When Zunzun said the dilapidated shack beside the stable was Megumin's home, her expression twisted strangely.
Yes, the same look she had when seeing the house where her sister was trapped.
"Although I know you won't say it, please don't say anything in front of Megumin."
"I, I won't!" Yunyun was a little miffed.
Zunzun wasn't worried. After all, she was the clan leader's daughter—the only "normal" freak in the Crimson Demon Clan. Surely, her upbringing was solid.
He knocked.
There was the clattering of trotting feet inside, then Megumin appeared.
"Hey, Zunzun, and… who's this?"
"Yunyun! Didn't we just meet?"
"Sorry, I remember your face but forgot your name. Just now, I suddenly recalled—you're my defeated opponent, Yunyun."
"No, no, not defeated!" Yunyun's eyes got moist.
I wonder if she regretted coming now.
Zunzun asked, "Where's Aunt Yuiyui? Isn't she home?"
"She is."
Megumin pushed open the door to let them in. Zunzun stepped inside without hesitation and handed over the basket. The little girl's eyes lit up at the sight of food.
Yunyun hesitated.
"Um… can I come in too?"
"Of course, I haven't driven away visitors yet. But next time, bring gifts."
"Gifts?"
"Yes. Edible ones, please."
"Okay, okay, I got it."
Yunyun actually took notes on the gift request. Their relationship was... unusual.
Inside Megumin's home.
Zunzun expected the shabby condition; Yunyun was a little surprised. This might be her first time entering someone else's house. (She hadn't been invited inside when meeting the trapped sister at Zunzun's door before.)
Yuiyui rested in the living room, her belly swollen. She smiled gently when she saw them.
"Zunzun, you're here."
"Yes, Aunt Yuiyui. How are you feeling?"
"Very well."
Zunzun noticed she looked good.
Though Hyoizaburoo was obsessed with strange magic props and neglectful, Megumin's presence seemed to keep Yuiyui strong. And of course, Zunzun himself deserved some credit.
"You brought food again. Thank you, Zunzun."
"No need to thank me. Megumin is my good—useful—friend."
Hearing that, Yuiyui's smile grew bigger. Then she glanced at the reserved girl nearby.
"And who is this—?"
"She's Yunyun, the clan leader's daughter."
"First meeting—I am Yunyun, please give me your guidance."
Yunyun closed her eyes and summoned courage.
Her nervousness was palpable, like a prospective son-in-law facing his future father-in-law. Luckily, majestic Hyoizaburoo wasn't home; it was Aunt Yuiyui receiving her, or Yunyun would have surely been too scared to speak.
"The clan leader's daughter?"
Yuiyui looked surprised. She certainly hadn't expected the clan leader's daughter here and was curious about her relationship with Megumin.
"What's your relationship with Megumin?"
"Huh?"
Yunyun froze.
She didn't know what their relationship was—she just followed Zunzun here.
She looked at Zunzun, silently asking for help.
Zunzun smirked. Should he say friends?
"If you insist—friends…"
"It's opponents!" the little loli interrupted violently.
The sudden outburst stunned all three.
"Yunyun took my job and lunchbox, and those hateful pectoral muscles shook right in front of me. No doubt this is a provocation!"
She glared at Yunyun's chest.
Clearly, that was why Megumin was so hostile.
Megumin grew more agitated.
"I understand, I understand! It's provocation! I was still talking but that thing kept jumping around! Damn it, just watch!"
Then she threw Yunyun down again.
Yunyun cried, "No, no, it's not provocation!"
Yuiyui and Zunzun exchanged a knowing look and sighed.
"They really do have a good relationship—"
"They sure do."
-End Chapter-
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