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"Oooh!"
Megumin's dramatic declaration made both Kazuma and Aqua's eyes light up with anticipation. But before either could say a word, Fang Li instantly crushed the moment with a single, blunt sentence:
"I refuse."
Megumin's proud, theatrical expression froze mid-pose. Even Kazuma and Aqua looked completely dumbfounded.
"Why?"
Aqua was the first to react. Unlike Kazuma, who was still adjusting to the rules of this world, Aqua had a deeper understanding of how rare and powerful the Crimson Demon Clan truly was.
"Isn't it a huge win to have someone from a top-tier bloodline join our party?"
It was a fair point.
Among battle companions, few were more desirable than a member of the Crimson Demon Clan. Known for their overwhelming magical aptitude, they were elite assets coveted by any competent party.
Children of the clan were enrolled in the Arcane Institute as soon as they came of age. And once they turned twelve, they could immediately receive their Adventurer Registration Cards and class-advance straight to Archmage, one of the highest-tier classes, right at Level 1.
Such an opportunity was unheard of elsewhere.
Normally, a top-tier class could only be unlocked after grinding for levels and carefully allocating Ability Parameters until one met the qualification thresholds. It took years, sometimes decades.
But the Crimson Demon Clan? They bypassed all that.
Every single member was guaranteed the Archmage class from the start, skipping the leveling curve entirely.
Their potential spoke for itself.
Moreover, clan tradition demanded that no one graduate until they had mastered at least one viable form of advanced magic. And not just the basics. Casual spell-slingers couldn't walk out of the academy with a diploma.
With the sheer number of skill points granted even at Level 1, it was common for Crimson Magic students to skip basic and intermediate magic altogether, hoarding their points and pushing themselves, through study, mana augmentation items, or simulated combat drills, until they could learn top-tier spells directly.
This was why the Crimson Demon Clan was considered the Belzerg Kingdom's trump card.
It was not just latent talent, but immediate firepower.
Even at Level 1, their mages could rival seasoned Adventurers past Level 30. In fact, it wasn't uncommon for veteran adventurers to lose outright to these so-called "Level 1 Archmages."
Some of the clan's prodigies reached combat ratings that surpassed Level 50 benchmarks, putting them on par with front-line commanders. Even the Demon King's Army tread lightly around Crimson Magic spellcasters.
So if Megumin had truly graduated as the top student of such a prestigious academy… then even if her official rank was still Level 1, the ability to cast top-tier magic would make her an invaluable asset. A powerhouse people would fight tooth and nail to recruit.
Unfortunately…
Fang Li, who knew far too much about this world's behind-the-scenes truths, saw through the illusion immediately.
"You two… did you already forget this chuuni girl's dramatic self-introduction just now?"
He didn't even try to soften the blow.
"She didn't pick any useful top-tier magic. She learned Explosion Magic."
That one sentence struck like lightning. Megumin visibly flinched. Her entire body trembled, as if someone had just pierced her with an anti-magic bayonet.
"Explosion magic? This girl can actually use Explosion Magic?" Aqua's eyes sparkled as she clapped her hands in delight. "Isn't that incredible? Explosion Magic is the ultimate attack spell!"
Indeed.
Among all offensive spells known across the nations and factions, Explosion Magic was revered, feared even, as a pinnacle of raw destructive force. Its sheer power defied common logic and exceeded what most combat mages could ever dream of controlling.
"But because its power is so overwhelming," Fang Li began, his tone shifting to one of exasperated clarity, "The skill point cost to learn Explosion Magic is absolutely ridiculous. It's far beyond the requirements for even high-tier magic."
He narrowed his eyes as he continued, piecing together what he remembered about the Crimson Demon Clan and Megumin's background.
"Even if someone does manage to learn it, the mana cost to cast it is astronomically high. Even a seasoned Archmage with massive reserves might fail to activate it a single time."
Fang Li had only fragmented knowledge from various worlds, but what he knew was enough to form a picture.
"So if Megumin really did learn Explosion Magic, that tells us three things."
"First, she must've dumped all her skill points into that one spell. Literally all of them. Forget high-tier spells, she probably didn't even bother learning intermediate ones. Odds are, she only knows Explosion Magic… and nothing else."
Megumin's shoulders visibly flinched.
"Second, let's say she can cast it. The mana cost is so outrageous that, even with the Crimson Demon Clan's naturally high reserves, she can only cast it once per day. One shot. And after that one glorious boom? She collapses. Magic drained. Totally useless for the rest of the fight."
Megumin trembled again, her crimson eyes darting away.
"Third, yes, Explosion Magic is terrifying. In a vacuum, it could obliterate monsters above Level 50. Flatten fortresses. Crack mountain ridges. But it's wildly impractical. The blast radius is enormous. You can't use it near allies. It destroys the battlefield, draws unwanted attention, and triggers environmental hazards. The noise alone is like setting off a mana nuke, every monster within a kilometer will come sniffing around for what just went boom."
Megumin's whole body shook at this point.
Fang Li crossed his arms and leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp.
"So, let me get this straight: You only know Explosion Magic. You can use it once a day. When you can't use it, you're dead weight. And when you do use it, you're still deadweight after."
"Tell me I'm wrong."
Kazuma and Aqua stared at Megumin in stunned silence, slowly turning to face her in sync.
Megumin… quietly turned her head away.
"…She looked away."
"…Yeah, she definitely looked away," Kazuma and Aqua muttered.
Fang Li wasn't finished.
"If I had to guess…" He added with a dry chuckle, "You couldn't find a party, could you? So you tried sneaking into ours."
He rolled his eyes.
"Otherwise, why else would you have passed out at the Guild entrance like a starving dog?"
Megumin didn't argue.
She went completely silent for a few seconds… then suddenly launched herself at Fang Li, grabbing the hem of his coat, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Please let me join! If I don't, I'll seriously starve to death!"
Fang Li stared down at the girl clinging to him, stunned into speechlessness.
"…She's actually… beautiful. She's clearly a beautiful girl…" he mumbled to himself, almost heartbroken by the absurdity of the moment. Kazuma, meanwhile, looked completely shattered by this ridiculous world. He silently turned and drifted out of the Guild like a soulless wraith, ignored by everyone around him.
Aqua glanced at Fang Li, then at Megumin, before finally sighing, lowering her head, and continuing to munch on her food like nothing had happened.
"Idiots… always seem to live the happiest lives," She muttered under her breath.
(End Of Chapter)