30 minutes later
"Alive!"
gumin wiped her mouth with satisfaction, her belly slightly rounded.
Across the table, Chishiya Shuntaro stared at her, deep in thought.
A prodigy from the Crimson Demon Clan, she only knew one spell: Explosion Magic. And she refused to learn anything else.
Chishiya narrowed his eyes.
"She looks so delicate… can she even do physical labor?"
Right then, gumin stood up dramatically, staff in hand.
"Very well! Thank you for the al. As repaynt, allow to demonstrate the ultimate attack spell of mankind!"
Chishiya gave a nod.
Perfect. She'll collapse after casting it.
Then she can't argue about the job offer later.
Hehehe…
—
Back inside the guild, a few adventurers gathered around, whispering.
"Poor guy… roped in by the explosion freak right off the bat."
"She's definitely gonna get booted again."
"Agreed. What kind of team can afford a mage that only casts one spell a day?"
—
Grasslands Outside Axel
The three of them had accepted a quest to take down a giant frog.
The Giant Toad stood nearly three ters tall.
According to Luna, it terrorized herds during mating season, devouring livestock and frustrating local farrs.
One such massive toad ca into view in the distance.
Its jumps shook the earth beneath them.
"Lunch!"
Rim drooled openly, her eyes fixed on the frog like it was a roasted turkey.
"Later!"
Chishiya, already anticipating disaster, tucked her under one arm and turned to gumin.
"All yours."
"Heh…"
gumin struck a pose, covering one eye with her hand.
"Leave it to !"
As she spoke, the air around her warped and rippled. Magic surged outward in waves.
Even Chishiya was montarily impressed.
At the tip of her staff, black energy gathered like ink bleeding into water.
She began her chant.
"Blacker than black, darker than darkness…"
"…Here we go with the chuuni nonsense," Chishiya muttered, rubbing his temples.
As her incantation continued, the sky darkened.
A vortex of magical energy spiraled above the frog, lined with layers of crimson magic circles.
"…Burn all that exists… descend from the abyss."
"This is the ultimate attack magic!"
"Explosion!!!"
Boom!!!
A red column of fire crashed down from the sky, slicing through the center of the vortex.
The resulting explosion tore a massive crater into the earth, the size of a basketball court, smoke and fla billowing everywhere.
The toad? Gone. Disintegrated.
"Lunch!"
Rim wailed in despair, watching her al turn to ash.
Chishiya let her go and pointed her toward the other toads still hopping around.
Then he turned back to the scorched landscape.
"As expected from a Crimson Demon Clan prodigy."
A voice groaned from behind him.
"Um… can you help ?"
Chishiya turned and found gumin lying face-first in the dirt, completely motionless.
"I went a little beyond my limit. Used up all my mana. I can't move."
"…Can you carry back?"
"I don't want to get eaten by a toad…"
Chishiya chuckled.
This contrast never got old.
Ti to strike while the chuuni's weak.
Ti to secure that first proper employee. A noble cow and horse for the company!
He hoisted her onto his back and started walking.
"Your Explosion Magic is impressive. Join my company."
"…Huh?"
gumin blinked in disbelief.
'Did I hear that right?'
Wasn't this the part where I get mocked and kicked off the team again?
She was fully prepared to grovel her way into this job!
She hadn't expected… actual approval?!
Her expression lit up.
"Really?!"
Chishiya nodded.
"Of course. You et my recruitnt standards. You're clearly gifted with Explosion Magic."
"Hehe…"
She grinned smugly.
"Obviously. I'm one of the most talented mages in the Crimson Demon Clan!"
"In that case, I—gumin, number one wizard of the Crimson Demons—shall reluctantly join your cause!"
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host, for successfully recruiting gumin.]
[Recruitnt Bonuses:
1. Crimson Demon Clan Bond – Increases magic power concentration in the labyrinth by 10%
2. Explosion Magic Devotee – Reduces mana cost of Explosion Magic by 50%, increases power by 50%]
[Congratulations, Host, you've learned Explosion Magic!]
In that instant, the knowledge of Explosion Magic flooded Chishiya's mind.
His mana responded automatically, like the spell had always been a part of him.
"So… you don't need to chant all that nonsense, huh," he muttered.
Apparently, all the chanting was just gumin's personal flair.
Still basking in praise, gumin bead.
"Hey, you just changed jobs, right? Haven't picked your skills yet?"
"Wanna learn Explosion Magic too?"
"I just used it, so it should be available on your adventurer certificate!"
"What do you say? Pretty cool, right? Explosion Magic!"
Chishiya gave her a sideways glance.
Her red eyes sparkled with hope.
She was almost fully brainwashed.
Ti to deliver the final push.
"I'm not done evaluating yet."
"…Huh?"
"You have talent, sure. But your spellcasting has flaws."
"...What?!"
gumin froze. Then she snapped.
"Are you insulting my Explosion Magic?!"
If she could move, she'd have been in full combat stance already.
"I switched to Arch Wizard just for Explosion Magic!"
"And you—you treat to one al and then criticize my art?!"
Chishiya stayed calm. "I'm saying you've got room to improve."
gumin puffed up in defiance.
"Hmph! You may be an Arch Wizard now, but you just changed jobs today.!"
"I've been studying Explosion Magic since I was a kid!"
"You have no right to lecture !"
It was like working hard at a company for ten years, only for so intern to tell you, "Hey senpai, your skills kinda suck."
Who could tolerate that?
gumin sure couldn't.
"You think you understand Explosion Magic?! Then prove it!"
"Unless you can cast it, don't ever lecture again!"
Chishiya calmly glanced at the new skill now visible on his panel: [Explosion Magic].
Then he looked at her and said flatly,
"Actually… I can."
(To be continued.)
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