Zunzun gradually straightened his back, basking in the compliment.
Hyoizaburoo suddenly called out loudly, "Mother of the child, hurry up and prepare the best tea!"
"Oh, look at me~ I haven't thought about this in ages. But there's only the cheapest tea at home—will that do?" Yuiyui replied with a smile as she went to prepare it.
Hyoizaburoo's face broke into a rare smile—a sight so out of place on his usually invincible expression that Zunzun felt a headache coming on.
Plus, just now he had sat down with a weak back, shattering all of Zunzun's admiration for Jotaro. Zunzun couldn't help but tease:
"I still prefer the rebellious look of Uncle Hyoizaburoo from before. Please bring it back."
"Oh, oh... cough cough," Hyoizaburoo coughed dramatically, wiped off his flattering smile, and switched to normal chat mode.
"So, your parents haven't come back yet?"
"Not yet, but they should be arriving soon."
Normally, Zunzun's parents only returned near the end of the year, around the same time every year.
"Uncle Hyoizaburoo, you came back quite early this year, huh?"
"Well... I missed Megumin too much, so I came back early this year. There's no other way, I just missed Megumin so much—ahahaha..." He scratched his head awkwardly and laughed.
Zunzun immediately knew that wasn't the real story.
At that moment, Yuiyui entered the living room with steaming tea and said:
"It's because no one bought the magic tools I made, and the travel expenses weren't enough, so we had to come back early."
"Damn it! Don't expose me in front of everyone!" Hyoizaburoo panicked, mumbling things like "It's not that no one bought it," "They just don't know how to appreciate it," "Magic tools are only sold to people who understand them," which made all three burst out laughing, filling the room with a happy atmosphere.
Suddenly, Hyoizaburoo's eyes lit up.
"By the way, Zunzun! Your family is into fortune telling, right?"
"Huh? Yes, that's right...?"
"Then help me tell my fortune—see when my magic tools will finally become popular and sought after by others!"
"Ah? Me?" Zunzun pointed to himself in disbelief, then quickly refused.
"No, no, no. I'm not that good. My skills aren't enough—I can't tell fortunes for others like my parents or sister."
"Hey, but Zunzun, didn't you say you're really good? You said you can even tell fortunes about demons before."
The little girl interrupted suddenly.
Hyoizaburoo's eyes sparkled as if triggered by a keyword.
"Fortunes about demons!? As expected from the child of the Crimson Demon Clan's top fortune teller! Your talent surpasses your parents—you might even tell fortunes about the end of the world someday! Come on, I'm ready!"
Zunzun couldn't refuse the Chuunibyou-level flattery and the expectant gazes of the three.
So—
He covered his glowing scarlet eyes with his hands and said in a low voice, "Hehehe, hahahahaha—I didn't expect to be found out. I wanted to keep it a secret until now."
"What?! This terrifying magic power... could it be that the clan leader is right and you really have the power to destroy the world!?" Hyoizaburoo gasped.
Hearing the clan leader's name, Zunzun curled his lips.
Why is that old bastard everywhere...
But a second-year student has to keep the act going.
"Well, since you're so eager to know your future, let me, the future top fortune teller, guide you! It's a future full of thorns. If you're not careful, you'll be doomed. Even so, do you still want to know?"
"I'm the Crimson Demon Clan's first magic tool master! How could I back down? If the dark night is my future, I'll accept it gladly! Bring it on!"
As expected from a senior Crimson Demon Clan member.
Whether it's the second-year bravado or the control of dramatic lines and emotions, it's far better than Zunzun's.
"Then—"
Zunzun's eyes went blank.
Of course, it was fake.
Taking advantage of the moment, Zunzun said, "I see the future..."
"What is it?"
"A woman. She has chest muscles far wider than ordinary people. She loves the magic tools made by Uncle Hyoizaburoo and even sells them in her store!"
"What did you say? That exists?" Hyoizaburoo jumped up, excited. "Where's her store? What's her name?"
"Her store is in... Axel... Her name is... her name is..." Zunzun's mind went blank, unable to say the name.
The surge of magic power inside him faded, his scarlet eyes returned to normal, and his expression went completely blank.
"Hey, what did I just say..." he muttered.
In short, he looked every bit the fortune teller.
Hyoizaburoo seemed thrilled to be recognized by someone, mumbling happily.
Yuiyui covered her cheeks with her hands, smiling proudly. The couple looked adorably stupid.
Only Megumin seemed uneasy.
"Zunzun, is your fortune really accurate?"
"Of course! Who do you think I am!" Zunzun patted his chest vigorously.
The person he mentioned was one of the Demon King's army cadres—a weak witch girl with impressive pectoral muscles: Wiz.
She truly admired Hyoizaburoo's magic tools and sold all the ones she bought in her store. Thanks to her funding, Megumin barely survived.
So Zunzun hadn't lied.
Hyoizaburoo slapped his thigh and said, "Mother, let's have a big dinner tonight! Zunzun is here—we'll make it hearty!"
"No problem, father. But we only have potatoes and corn now. I'll do my best to make them delicious," Yuiyui said as she walked into the kitchen smiling.
Zunzun wanted to refuse but couldn't deny their kindness, so he stayed for dinner.
Yuiyui's cooking skills were surprisingly good. Though the ingredients were simple, the food tasted great—and Zunzun was satisfied.
Megumin felt the same.
It had been a long time since she'd eaten her mother's cooking. She must have missed it.
It was a warm, delicious dinner.
Afterward—
Maybe it was the fortune-telling results, or just because Hyoizaburoo was too happy, but he drank a lot that night. Yuiyui, who usually forbade him from drinking, barely stopped him.
Now he was sleeping soundly in his room.
Yuiyui and Megumin came out to see him off.
"Zunzun, Megumin has been well taken care of during this time."
"No, it's me."
Though he said that, Zunzun still held a strong prejudice against Hyoizaburoo and Yuiyui.
If they felt sorry for Megumin, why did they insist on making magic tools and let the family become so poor? Why did they leave Megumin alone at home to struggle to survive? Why...
In short, Zunzun had many questions.
But this was Megumin's family business, and he had no right to interfere.
—
After that, Megumin came to eat every day as usual, and Zunzun got used to it without complaint.
Unexpectedly, just a few days after meeting Megumin's parents, the little girl told him, "Hyoizaburoo planted a seed in Yuiyui's belly. Maybe I'll have a brother or sister."
No, buddy.
Did you do that on purpose... or by accident?
They say when you're full and warm, you think about such things—but still, you can't just do this!
Zunzun already imagined the scene of the little girl bringing an even younger kid to his house for free meals.
Putting your own child in someone else's home?
What's wrong with you!?
-End Chapter-
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