"Win! Win!"
The two girls were locked in a passionate battle in front of Aunt Yuiyui and Zunzun.
The final victor was Yunyun!
Thanks to her larger build, she forced little Megumin beneath her and claimed her second victory.
You have to admire Yunyun's talent. Although she was completely overwhelmed during their first match, in less than half a day she figured out Megumin's weakness and turned the tables.
"Damn it, if I weren't so hungry, I definitely wouldn't have lost so badly," Megumin grumbled, still sulking.
Compared to Yunyun, who had spent the afternoon farming and exerting far more energy, Megumin had simply eaten up all of Zunzun's tempura bento—prepared generously for two people—at lunch.
"But don't get cocky, it's only one win and one loss so far!" Megumin added defiantly.
She probably wouldn't face Yunyun in a physical fight again—the size and strength gap were just too big.
"One win and one loss? Fine, I get it," Yunyun nodded seriously.
No one knew what she was so serious about, but it was clearly Megumin's way of not admitting defeat.
Still, it was good that their relationship was improving.
After that, Zunzun and Yunyun left.
Though Aunt Yuiyui invited them to stay for dinner several times, they politely declined. They barely had enough food for themselves.
The next day, when Zunzun arrived at the forbidden area, both Yunyun and Megumin were already there.
The two seemed to be competing fiercely at something.
"This is the last round, really the last round, Megumin! I've won so many times, but you always say that the one who lost just now was a disguise—not the real me—and that I have to defeat your second form to truly win. According to you, this should be your tenth form by now!"
"Hmph. Don't you know the Crimson Demons are powerful, like cats with nine lives? Actually, we have ten forms! Only by defeating all ten can you say you've beaten a Crimson Demon!"
"The Crimson Demons don't have that many forms! And I'm a Crimson Demon myself! Don't you think I'd know if you were lying?"
"…Yunyun, you're such a freak. You don't understand the romance of the Crimson Demons at all."
Megumin was dead serious, adding layers of lore to herself. But Yunyun—the only "normal" Crimson Demon—was clearly unconvinced.
"Then, then—"
Yunyun bowed slightly, carefully stretched out her wrist and placed it on the steps of the dilapidated altar. Megumin rolled up her sleeves and placed her hand in opposition. Their hands locked tightly.
Oh—arm wrestling?
"Megumin, you have to wait for the countdown before using your strength. No sneaking ahead! Count down to one!"
"I know, so hurry up!"
"Okay! 3… 2…"
"1!"
"Ah! You cheated and started early again!"
Megumin finished the countdown first and suddenly pushed with all her might, trying to win immediately.
But Yunyun managed to hold on, her hand just shy of touching the altar steps.
Megumin's face flushed as she desperately pressed down, but Yunyun, stronger, slowly pulled back her arm.
The sneak attack failed!
Megumin pouted, unwilling to accept defeat.
Usually, as long as Yunyun held on, Megumin would eventually lose.
This time seemed no different.
But wait—this time was different!
Because of their seating positions, Megumin could see Zunzun approaching, but Yunyun couldn't.
Megumin suddenly said, "Look, Zunzun is here!"
She planned to distract Yunyun to win.
However, Yunyun replied without turning her head, "Don't try to fool me, Megumin. You've used this trick the third, fifth, and seventh times already. I won't fall for it!"
"No, I'm not lying this time. Zunzun really is here!"
"You said the same thing the seventh time."
This little loli…
Using Zunzun to trick Yunyun repeatedly was just too much.
"Really, really! If you don't believe me, just turn around and look!"
"No, you must be lying."
Yunyun's disbelief left Megumin helpless. She gave Zunzun pleading eyes to help her out, but Zunzun was annoyed at being used and covered his mouth, holding back a laugh.
"Damn it!"
Megumin's face turned red.
Whether from exertion or frustration, she didn't give up.
Her mind was racing.
"Yunyun, do you think I'm lying?"
"…Eh?"
"If there's no trust, how can we be friends? Yunyun, you really make me sad."
"Eh—okay, okay, I'll look! I'll look!"
Stirred by the word "friend," Yunyun turned her head and glanced back, saying at the same time, "But Megumin, I won't lose just because I get distracted… oh?"
Her words halted.
She really did see Zunzun, and froze for a moment. Her right hand instinctively pulled back.
Seizing the chance, Megumin pressed Yunyun's hand down onto the altar steps, then jumped up and cheered loudly.
"I won!"
"That's enough!"
"Hehe, no need to argue—the final winner is me! What a pity, Yunyun. Although you saw the tenth form of the Crimson Demon Clan, you still didn't beat me. You're far from it!"
"The Crimson Demon Clan doesn't have that many forms!" Yunyun shouted tearfully.
Zunzun stepped forward. "What are you two doing here?"
"It's Megumin. She said she wanted to fight me and bet today's lunch box. If I lose, I have to give her my lunch box," Yunyun explained.
Zunzun looked at Megumin, but she turned away and avoided his gaze.
"Hey…"
"I-I had no choice. There's hardly any food at home. I have to use this method…"
It was still harsh, but better than snatching lunches by force.
Still, Megumin had lost so many times, this bet should have ended long ago…
"Wait, what about your bet?"
"…"
"That's too much!"
Megumin was silent, and Zunzun knew she definitely hadn't come up with the bet herself.
"Forget it. Luckily I was smart and made extra bento today—enough for three people."
"Really? Zunzun is truly a role model of the Crimson Demon Clan! This foresight makes him worthy of being one of the most powerful fortune tellers here!"
"Even if you say that, I'm not letting you eat more."
Despite everything, Zunzun felt a little proud.
Yunyun, nervous and shy, pulled out a bento box from behind the altar.
"Well, um… I actually brought a bento too. If you don't mind, maybe we can eat together…?"
"What!? Bento!?"
Megumin's eyes gleamed and she immediately drooled.
"Yunyun, let's decide the winner! The bet is the bento you brought! Let's see who gets to eat it!"
"Enough, stop bullying!" Zunzun hurriedly stopped them.
-End Chapter-
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