Hiatus Gifting This Unfortunate Guy With Blessings

Well, I definitely didn't expect that. Kazuma didn't expect that. Neither Megumin nor Darkness expected that. Aqua didn't seem to care and was happy to be praised by me a few seconds ago.

But most surprisingly of all, Chris looked as if she hasn't expected that either. A few seconds after saying her line she released me from her hug, had face red like a tomato, and she awkwardly scratched her cheek.

Maybe me returning the hug was a bad idea? I had little to no experience with social interactions besides talking so it wouldn't surprise me if I screwed up somehow.

"S-so… will you tell us what had happened?"

Chris followed up to stop the awkward silence and then the gawking eyes changed their direction towards me. I proposed to tell my story as we moved so we started walking towards the city. I only briefly looked at the giant crater in the distance while passing by.

I just got to the point where Xyllisa used Teleport when Megumin cut in with how valiantly she fought off the effect of the charm and then helped me fight it off as well. She didn't mention what had riled her so much that she got out of the S.u.c.c.u.b.u.s control though. With how much praises she received from Darkness for that I didn't feel like straightening the facts out.

I was kinda glad I left describing the story to Megumin since I certainly wouldn't be able to spin such an exciting story. Me dodging the Paralyze Slime spell was so embellished in words that I started to wonder if I really did all that.

But the part when I did my owl-toad-griffin-owl combo was so hyped up that I felt like my face would transcend a simple tomato and would become a tomato that pierces the heavens.

Of course, Megumin also spent a considerable amount of time explaining how magnificent her today's Explosion was. I had to hand it to her. If it weren't for the power of her spell we wouldn't be able to take Xyllisa down.

Even Aqua seemed excited after hearing Megumin's take on the story. I also saw Kazuma release some tears after looking at Aqua for some reason and Darkness listened with sparks in her eyes after she heard how Xyllisa was treated in the end.

However I spent most of the time observing Chris's reaction and to my surprise, I saw her only chuckle a few times during the most exaggerated parts. This wasn't how she would usually react. Has Eris-sama already told Chris what really happened or…

Well, I would ask Chris about that later. Together some with other questions.

When Megumin was done with the additional questions that popped up after her story she asked Aqua to take out her Adventurer Card and show it to her.

"WOAH! I got four levels for killing that horny devil!"

"What level are you at, then?" Kazuma asked after Megumin's sudden outburst.

"Thirteenth."

"Wha-How?! You were only level 6 a few days ago! This one-shot kill-steal loli!"

"Who do you call a kill-steal loli?!"

"Megumin, stop thrashing around so much!"

Megumin tried to move on Darkness's back with all her remaining energy and smack Kazuma for his insult but he just walked normally while staring at her to rile her up more.

I stayed somewhat silent throughout their bickering so Chris came up to me and asked:

"Everything alright?"

"Yeah. I am just… you know…" I didn't know how to put the incongruity I was feeling into words. I was still kinda shocked at today's happenings.

I also felt a sudden and urgent need to level up. Although I enjoyed my talk with Eris-sama I agreed with her that I should avoid seeing her in that room again.

Chris put on a reserved smile and poked me lightly on the arm while whispering.

"Have you checked your card?"

"No, I didn't."

I answered truthfully and received two additional pokes. Understanding what she meant with her eyebrows going up and down I took out my card and looked through it. I was still level 8, my skill points, and my stats were the-

"Wha-"

Chris put a finger to her mouth to signal me to be quiet and smiled widely.

My Luck has increased by a lot! Luna-san mentioned that it was "below average" when I first registered but it was now certainly way above average! I immediately changed into my Crimson Demon form to check if the same applied there but unfortunately, it seemed that only my Human's luck has increased drastically.

I thought 'unfortunate' for a second but it still was beyond what I've had previously! My melancholic mood changed drastically and I happily nodded towards Chris to show my appreciation but she just pointed her finger towards the sky.

With my mind freed from depressing thoughts, I started to think more positively about the events that transpired. At that moment I realized something and used [List] command of my [Imitate Power] but I couldn't see anything new at all.

"Hmm… that's weird."

Megumin who was now calm again asked when she heard me speak:

"What is?"

"Shouldn't I be able to pick up a S.u.c.c.u.b.u.s form? I definitely touched Xyllisa at least enough for the option to appear."

Only Darkness seemed confused as she was the only one I haven't really explained how my power works. Megumin looked like she started thinking about the possible reasons but this time Aqua loudly exclaimed:

"It's a power gifted to you by gods! Why would it let you use such a filthy transformation? Devils are like insects! You should be happy that the option doesn't stain your eyes each time you use your skill. "

I looked at Chris but she just shrugged and reluctantly nodded her head which probably meant that devil forms were indeed off-limits as well.

Megumin surprised me with looking at me with a sad expression and she said:

"So you really haven't sold your soul to a devil for power… That sounded way cooler..."

"..." x5

Even Chris looked slightly offended.

Our party proceeded without a hitch towards the city while bickering about different subjects. When we got to the city gate I proposed:

"Should we go to the guild and report what had happened?"

Chris was the one to answer me first:

"Of course. From what you said Xyllisa might have been a high ranking target and have some bounty on her head."

So we proceeded to walk towards the guild. On the way, I caught myself on frequently looking behind me and observing any hooded people walking by. That day's adventure taught me that moment of inattention is all you needed to get killed.

Without accidents, we arrived at the guild. I took Megumin from Darkness whose Adventurer's Card registered our deed and proceeded towards the counter. Luna-san looked us walking towards her with curiosity in her eyes but contrary to this she asked with a fake cold voice.

"What can I help you with, Stranger-san?"

I ignored the light jab and answered seriously:

"Good afternoon, Luna-san. We got attacked by a devil S.u.c.c.u.b.u.s today and we managed to take care of her. My friend told me there could be some reward for this so we came to check it."

She processed the information in her head for a few seconds and awkwardly answered:

"I-if you have a record of it on your c-card…"

I handed Megumin's card to Luna-san while Megumin was giving out a smug smile and was making a V-sign with her fingers.

"This is- ummmm… Xyllisa… Xyllisa… yes! Indeed there's a bounty on her head. 10 million Eris! But how did you-"

"10 million?!" Megumin yelled before her brain completely froze.

"That's right. But would you tell me-"

"10 million?!" This time it was Aqua's yell from the bar area that stopped Luna-san mid-sentence. I was surprised at how good her hearing was.

"Kazuki-san, would you tell me what happened?" Luna-san finally managed to finish her sentence.

I didn't feel like telling this story once again today so I politely apologized and said that I will do it in the following days when I come to her for the animal-form show. Luna-san agreed and it seemed that she was no longer sulking at me. She handed me a bag of bounty money and Megumin's card.

As I was walking away from the counter, towards the rest of the party, I shook Megumin lightly to restart her brain circuits and asked:

"Explosion-sensei, why are you so silent?"

But I could only hear Megumin silently repeat to herself "Milion Eris… Million Eris...." like a broken record.

As I neared the table I saw Aqua looking at her knees and muttering something very similar sounding to Megumin's own current chant. I put Megumin gently on the bench near the table and sat down myself.

I left the bounty money on the table and before I could start I saw Aqua look up at me and she started:

"Kazuki-san- "

But before she continued Kazuma loudly interjected.

"Don't even think about it! We didn't do anything. That money is theirs."

Aqua started arguing with Kazuma but Darkness also quickly agreed with him. Chris nodded herself and stayed on the side trying to not get into Aqua's field of view so Aqua's unsaid opinion was outnumbered.

Megumin finally seemed to wake up from her shock and said quietly:

"I don't need money…"

"You will take half, no matter if you like it or not."

I told her seriously when I heard her silly declaration.

"H-h-half?!"

And she wandered to the dreamland again.

Aqua was depressed only until I bought her some alcohol in thanks for her Revive. Others, of course, got treated by me as well. I decided to use some of my part of the bounty to treat them for a few rounds and a good dinner as a thank you.

Knowing the old saying 'don't drink and piggyback Explosion Girls' I strayed from alcohol myself.

Megumin seemed to be seriously out cold so after around one hour I decided it was enough celebration for me. I was kinda tired myself. I looked at Chris with a questioning gaze but she only smiled awkwardly and said:

"I promised Aqua to drink with her tonight. Don't mind me. I will come later."

Although she wasn't too happy about a prospect of that, she didn't seem to hate the idea like that one time in the inn, so I didn't say anything else. I just nodded and then excused myself.

In one sweep motion, I took Megumin onto my back and left the guild building, heading towards our houses. Fortunately, there weren't too many hooded people on the street so the number of small heart attacks I got plummetted down.

After taking the most secure route I finally got to Megumin's house. It took a little bit of acrobatic skill to extract the key from Megumin's pouches because she was dead-asleep but I did it in a quick two minutes. As per usual I put her on her couch, placed a mug full of water on the table, and covered her with a blanket.

I also left half of the bounty - 5 million Eris on the table before filling Chomusuke's bowl and then heading out.

When I stepped into my house I suddenly felt as if I hadn't slept for a few days straight and headed straight to my room to lay down. When my face hit the bed I was already asleep.