Looking at the large bat flying farther and farther away with the little black cat in its claws, Megumin was momentarily stunned, yet she still had the energy for a quip:
"What is this? Some new form of ride hailing?"
"How could that possibly be!" Yunyun couldn't help but retort.
"Isn't that your familiar? Hurry and save it—be careful it doesn't get eaten," Shichen also reminded her.
Though he knew it probably wouldn't be eaten, he still followed the act according to the situation at hand.
Naturally, Megumin couldn't do anything, so it still fell to Yunyun to help get the little black cat back.
No sooner had they rescued the little black cat than the other giant bats went berserk, launching indiscriminate attacks on everyone around.
"It's large bats!"
"They're all big bats! Everyone, get ready to fight!"
Someone called out, raising their weapon to fend off the creatures.
Large bats, like the big digging worms, were low-level monsters, and not that hard to defeat.
The trouble was they were flying in midair, making them difficult for ordinary folks to handle.
But that was no problem for Yunyun; this time, she didn't have to worry about collateral damage. She could freely use her magic to attack.
"Yunyun, I'll leave these to you, I'm going to protect the others," Shichen patted Yunyun on the shoulder and then teleported back onto the carriage to protect the passengers.
"Wait—Shichen, my mana still hasn't recovered…"
Yunyun called out weakly, but he was already gone.
"Yunyun, hurry up—they're coming!" Megumin held the little black cat and hid behind Yunyun.
"Ugh…"
Yunyun felt physically repulsed by the giant bats. Even as she whimpered, she fired off her Fireball spell. Boom!
Just like with the big digging worms, one Fireball took down the giant bat in a single hit.
Thus encouraged, she fired her magic without restraint. Explosion after explosion rattled the night. Meanwhile…
Inside the carriage, Shichen had just appeared when the little girl broke free from her mother's embrace and latched onto his leg.
"Oniisan!"
"Shichen-san! You've come to save us?" The plump noble's worry shifted to delight.
"Don't worry." Shichen patted the little girl's head, then casually tossed a sphere of golden flame outside the carriage.
Boom!
Several giant bats swarming near were engulfed instantly, disappearing without a trace.
"Oniisan, that's amazing!"
"Haha, right?" Shichen looked at the girl with a self-satisfied grin.
"Oniisan, do you think Yunyun and the others will be okay? They won't get hurt?"
The little girl tilted her head up, big worried eyes brimming with concern.
"Don't worry, Yunyun's quite powerful. Besides, Megumin's even stronger."
"Really?" The girl gaped in surprise.
"I wouldn't lie. It's just that for monsters like these, Megumin doesn't even need to get involved."
"I see."
Moments later, Megumin showed up, supporting a very pale Yunyun back to the carriage.
"Ma-mana…"
Yunyun murmured weakly.
"What happened?" Shichen feigned ignorance as he and Megumin helped Yunyun sit down.
"Mana… all gone…" Yunyun slumped in the seat, struggling to speak.
"Why so worn out? Where are the others?"
"They— can't hit the flying bats…"
"I see. And what were you doing, then?" Shichen asked Megumin with a reproachful look.
"Why do you keep hitting me?!" Megumin shot back, hugging her black cat. "I was doing the same as you—letting her get some experience, right? Such small fry don't require me to lift a finger."
"You can't even say that with a straight face," Shichen shook his head.
But since she was a child, he chose not to dwell on it. Then the little girl from before ran over, hugging Megumin's legs.
"Megumin-nee~"
"Hmm? What's up?" Megumin's tone became gentle now, quite different from how she spoke to Shichen.
"Just now, Oniisan told me you're stronger than Yunyun-nee. He said you were hiding your power in case something really dangerous showed up. Is that true?"
"Eh?" Megumin was stunned and shot an incredulous look at Shichen.
"What?" Shichen gave her a side glance.
"Heh heh…" Megumin snorted a bit, then said to the little girl, "Yes, I'm the trump card for truly dangerous situations. No need for me to deal with small fry, so I left them for my underling to handle first."
"Who's your underling…?" Yunyun protested weakly.
"That's amazing!" The little girl, untroubled, believed Megumin's words.
"Alright, so the monsters are cleared for now. You guys should rest," said Shichen.
"Got it," the little girl went back to cuddle with her mother, who gave Shichen a nod of gratitude before settling down to sleep.
After that, Shichen found a seat between Yunyun and Megumin.
"Yunyun, thanks for your hard work," Shichen praised, gently patting her head.
"Wasn't… much…" Yunyun mumbled, still embarrassed.
"Hmph, boob maniac," Megumin muttered under her breath.
"…You little washboard," Shichen shot back in a low voice.
"What was that!" Megumin seethed.
"Keep your voice down, people are sleeping."
The next day at dawn, Shichen woke, not out of his own accord. Opening his eyes, he saw that Yunyun and Megumin had both ended up clinging to his arms while they slept.
Reclining was one thing, but here in the carriage, one on each side was a bit cramped, not to mention the pressure on his arms. Though, presumably, his arms were having their own sort of fun.
Yunyun was out cold, embracing him tightly. The sensation was staggering; he had to wonder if she truly was only about fourteen or fifteen—maybe her parents had deceived her about her age.
As for Megumin, well… there was no pressure at all. Enough said.
But they both looked adorable asleep, sweet little faces relaxed in slumber—especially Megumin, whose daytime personality was worlds apart from her sleeping one. Good thing she'd made it this far in one piece without someone "educating" her.
He let them sleep for another couple hours.
People on the other wagons slowly woke up, and Yunyun and Megumin were no exception. When they did, each woke up hugging an arm of Shichen's.
Megumin released him calmly without a fuss. Meanwhile, Yunyun, once aware of the situation, let go hastily, ears flushing red.
"You two awake now? Good morning," Shichen smiled, greeting them.
"Mm, morning," Megumin answered as she adjusted her hat, her face still a bit stiff.
"G-good morning," Yunyun added, eyes lowered in embarrassment.
"Yunyun, that's a bit rude," Megumin reminded her friend.
"I—I know, but… haah~" Yunyun yawned, color rising in her face again.
"What a hopeless sight," Megumin teased.
"I can't help it…." Yunyun replied. "My mana hasn't fully recovered."
"Don't worry, I don't mind," Shichen reassured her.
"Th-thank you…"
"Hmph, see? In a few hours we'll be at Axel— I'm sure no more monsters will attack us now," Megumin claimed.
"There you go again, raising a flag," Yunyun complained softly.
"I agree," Shichen added.
"You two…" Megumin pouted. "Fine, guess you don't trust me?"
At that moment:
"Mon—monsters!"
"Gob— goblins! An entire goblin horde!!"
Outside, the guards' frantic voices shattered Megumin's assurance.
Megumin: "…"
"Master Mage!"
"Yunyun-san, help—!"
Everyone outside was yelling for Yunyun's aid again.
"Eh…?"
Yunyun's face went pale.
"Haha, let's do this together," Shichen patted Yunyun's shoulder with a smile.
"Uuuh…" Yunyun whimpered.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 120 Chapters Ahead of Others!