Legend of the Crimson Demon

In Konosuba, demons weren't all that different from the typical fantasy stereotype. They fed on human emotions, came in various shapes and sizes—from minor monsters to succubi popular among lonely adventurers—and generally caused trouble wherever they went.

(For reference, the famous succubus shop in Axel thrived on the excessive spirit energy of desperate male adventurers.)

Yep.

Useless knowledge +1.

Back in the present—Zunzun stood face to face with the suspicious "big sister" whose body had just visibly tensed.

She slowly turned to face him. Though her eyes were still hidden beneath her hood, he could feel them boring into him.

Then she spoke, slowly and calmly.

"Little brother, I'm not a demon. You must've made a mistake. Also, you shouldn't go around calling people demons—it's rude."

Clearly, she had no intention of admitting anything.

Zunzun crossed his arms, voice casual but confident.

"Big sister, there's no point hiding it. The smell on your body already gave you away. I've smelled it before... on other demons."

"S-smell?"

The demon girl instantly sniffed herself, lifting her sleeves and collar in panic.

Zunzun waved dismissively.

"Don't worry, it's not a bad smell. Actually, you smell kinda nice. But it's distinct. I don't forget rare smells like that."

"…"

The demon stiffened, her mouth twitching.

Then she squinted suspiciously and muttered:

"…Could it be… you're a girl?"

"HUH!?"

Zunzun took 999 emotional damage.

He barely made out some whispered muttering—"goddess," "smell," "demon"—but it was too quiet to catch clearly.

With a sigh, the woman pulled back her hood, revealing a head of vivid red hair, pale yellow beast-like pupils, and unmistakable horns.

There was no doubt—she was a demon.

Also: a gorgeous one.

"I'm Arnes," she said at last. "And you are?"

"Zunzun."

"Oh… Ohhh."

She nodded thoughtfully. Honestly, if she hadn't already met some Red Demon kids earlier today, she might've assumed Zunzun was making the name up. Crimson Demon naming conventions were legendary in their weirdness.

But that wasn't important now.

Arnes narrowed her eyes, the mood shifting.

"I didn't expect to be exposed so easily… That's right. I'm Arnes, a high-level demon. If you keep this quiet, I'll let you go."

She finished with a threatening glare.

Zunzun raised an eyebrow.

"Big sister, you really don't want to be exposed, huh?"

"…What?"

She looked genuinely confused.

"I mean, come on," Zunzun said. "This is Crimson Demon Village. We've got more great magicians than we have shops. If I shout even a little... you'll be the one in trouble."

Arnes clenched her teeth.

He had a point.

The Crimson Demons were one of the few groups the Demon King's army actively avoided. She'd only snuck into the village because she didn't want to cause a commotion—and now she was this close to taking Lord Wolbach away peacefully. If the villagers found out she was a demon now, all her efforts would be wasted.

She exhaled sharply.

"…Fine. What do you want?"

"Give me money."

"…Huh?"

"100,000 Eris."

Zunzun smiled cheerfully. "If you pay up, I'll pretend I never saw anything. I can even cover for you if needed!"

Yes. That's right.

Blackmail.

Blatant blackmail.

Arnes's face flushed with rage. Just earlier, some little girl had demanded 300,000 Eris, claiming "Lord Wolbach is my beloved family, a precious brother!" And now this smug kid was trying the same trick!?

If she weren't worried about blowing her cover, she'd be furious right now!

Do they think a demon is some kind of free ATM!?

Arnes narrowed her eyes, yellow irises glowing faintly.

"You arrogant little brat. You think you can blackmail me?"

"I'll explode."

"…What?"

BOOM!

A shockwave rippled through the village, forming a small mushroom cloud in the distance.

Zunzun didn't even let her finish her sentence. The moment he sensed hostility, he triggered an explosion—not himself, of course, but a cherry bomb he'd planted earlier.

While it lacked power, it didn't need much.

The goal wasn't damage—it was to raise the alarm.

Caught in the blast's airwave, Arnes was thrown back. Her face twisted in shock.

"What kind of weirdo just explodes mid-conversation!?"

She flapped her wings and hovered in the air, glaring down at the half-kneeling Zunzun.

"My mission… is complete," he said dramatically.

Now that the explosion had gone off, the villagers would be here any second.

"Tch… did I trigger too much attention?"

Arnes gritted her teeth. She was so close to retrieving Lord Wolbach… and now, this brat had ruined everything.

As she hesitated in the air, a flash of light zipped past her cheek—just close enough to cut skin.

Blood trickled down.

She turned, stunned, to see several Crimson Demons emerging from the trees, hands glowing with magic.

"We saw the explosion! What's going on—HEY! What's a demon doing in our village!?"

One of them pointed, voice rising.

"Wait a sec—isn't that the explosive maniac Megumin described!? You know, tall, hot body, huge pectoral muscles, long horns!?"

"…HUH!?"

Arnes's menacing aura faltered.

Zunzun blinked.

Oh right.

Megumin had once blown up a section of the village and then blamed it on a fictional "horned demon woman" to avoid punishment.

…And now that description matched Arnes exactly.

"I got it!" a villager shouted. "You're back for revenge, right!? Because Zunzun defeated you before!"

"HUH!? Huh??"

Arnes was completely lost now.

And it only got worse.

More and more Crimson Demons arrived, muttering and casting preparatory spells.

"She beat Zunzun to his knees!"

"She's trying to take him back for XXX work!"

"WHAT!? Zunzun is still a child!!"

"Unforgivable! Zunzun is the pride of our village!"

"Zunzun IS OUR TREASURE!!"

Red Demon villagers shouted with righteous fury, their eyes blazing with magical energy.

Arnes, now thoroughly framed for multiple crimes she didn't commit, was drenched in sweat.

As the villagers began incanting in sync, she flapped her wings in panic and fled toward the village entrance—chased by a stampede of Red Demons, screaming, shouting, and launching spells behind her.

"I KNEW IT! YOU PEOPLE ARE ALL CRAZY!!"

-End Chapter-

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