My Favorite Isekai Adventure (Konosuba)

It all started on the second day, at high noon.

Now that he had money, Kobayashi was lazing around the house, but his peaceful daily life was shattered by a sudden, fierce fire magic spell.

The magic, launched from within the town, exploded in the sky, as brilliant and fleeting as a firework.

This, in turn, triggered Megumin's competitive streak.

"Hey, Kobayashi. Which one do you think is prettier? My Explosion magic, or the fire magic just now?"

The chuunibyou loli came over.

Anyone could see her competitive spirit.

Kobayashi, lying with his head in RyuZU's lap, waved his hand. "Of course your magic is prettier. I've said it before, right? When it comes to Explosion magic, I'm willing to call you the strongest."

"No! That's too perfunctory!"

Megumin pouted, annoyed, and then unceremoniously dragged him up from the soft thighs.

Being suddenly disturbed, he was naturally very annoyed.

"What are you doing~"

"Hurry up! Come with me to cast an explosion! Since the other party has already issued a provocation, how can I not respond? I'm going to let them know that my Explosion magic is far more dazzling than their fire magic!"

What kind of amazing brain circuit is this? You're way too sensitive! Besides, that magic clearly wasn't a provocation!

Fire magic was an intermediate-level spell. Its power wasn't great, and its danger level was low. It was perfect for festivals and other specific occasions. Therefore, that magic was definitely not a provocation aimed at her. He could guarantee that.

However, Megumin wouldn't listen at all.

"Hurry up! Come have a shot with me! You promised me, didn't you!"

"Then go find someone else! They can go with you, right?"

He clung to RyuZU's legs and wouldn't let go, the very image of a useless otaku, which made Megumin grit her teeth in frustration.

"But they're all busy!"

"Busy?"

"Aqua went to do her quest, Darkness went to get her armor repaired, and Kazuma said he was in his room doing 'handicrafts' and told us not to disturb him... Forget it. Since you're not willing, I'll just go find Kazuma."

"Wait! Let's go!"

In one second, Kobayashi was ready to go, so fast that it made Megumin feel a little disoriented.

"Why did you suddenly change your mind? If you don't want to, I can just go find Kazuma."

"No, it's better to let him do his 'handicrafts'."

He put his hands on her shoulders, turned her small body around, and steered her away from Kazuma's room.

At the same time, he thought to himself:

Kazuma-kun, I'll take note of this favor. You'd better pay me back later.

The two of them walked out of the mansion.

As they walked, he said, "Megumin, in the future, when Kazuma-kun says he's doing 'handicrafts,' you must never go and disturb him, okay?"

"Why?" she asked, puzzled.

"You don't need to worry about that. In short, just don't disturb him. If you want to cast Explosion, just come find me."

"...If you weren't always refusing, I would."

She was naturally happy to have someone willing to accompany her, so she tossed the matter of Kazuma to the back of her mind.

The two had just left the city when Megumin wanted to cast her spell.

"Wait, wait!"

"What is it, Kobayashi?"

"What do you mean, 'what is it'? Why are you casting Explosion here? We just left the city gate, right?"

"What a foolish question, Kobayashi."

Megumin flicked her cape and said, full of fighting spirit, "The other party has already issued a provocation. How can I not respond as quickly as possible? Therefore, there's no need to go too far!"

"I think you're just afraid that if you're too far away, your explosion will look small, and you'll be put at a disadvantage. That's why you're not willing to walk a few more steps."

He had seen right through her.

Megumin tensed and turned her head away, her voice a little sheepish. "Wh-wh-wh... what are you talking about?"

"Then why don't you dare look at me?"

"Ngh... mmm...!"

She struggled for a long time before finally shouting, "Yes! It's just like you said! So what?! My Explosion magic is the strongest! But if I'm too far away, won't it mean I'm not as good as them?!"

"Where did you get that conclusion?" he couldn't help but retort.

But looking at the surrounding area, which was already a scene of devastation, he knew he absolutely could not let her cast Explosion here again. Otherwise, they would definitely be reprimanded.

However...

"Since that's the case, why don't you cast your Explosion magic over there?" Guard A suddenly interjected.

"Over there...?"

Following his finger, Kobayashi saw a small, unnaturally raised corner of the plain.

How strange. Was that terrain always like that?

As if sensing his confusion, Guard B shrugged. "That was caused by the great Archwizard next to you. A few of her explosions lowered that corner of the plain by a few centimeters. It's quite an eyesore. So, we'd like to ask you to blast that part, too."

Hey, did you just say something incredible? You lowered the horizon by a few centimeters? That's even more terrifying than the sea level rising!

"In that case, I won't be polite!"

Megumin didn't hold back. This was the first time she had received their permission. She was in a great mood and naturally went at it with full power.

—Explosion!

A huge blast of magic exploded on the raised spot. After the smoke cleared, he looked at the ground... and the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.

This didn't flatten it at all! It just turned two adjacent craters into one even bigger crater! Nothing has changed at all!

Plop—

"Um... Kobayashi, can I trouble you to carry me?"

"Oh... right! Coming, coming!"

He picked her up.

On the way back, the little loli suddenly said, lacking confidence, "As I thought, men all like them big, don't they?"

"Big what?"

"Chests."

"Er..."

He was instantly silent, not knowing how to answer.

"What is it? Just say whatever you're thinking. I won't get angry."

Her slender left arm wrapped around his neck, and her right hand clutched a magic crystal. Although her voice was soft and her expression was peaceful, he knew that if he said the wrong thing, an Explosion spell to the face would be next.

I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die! Why did it turn into this? What do I do? What do I do now?

His brain worked at high speed, cold sweat dripping, and finally came to a conclusion.

—I have to praise the benefits of a small chest!

That's right! Only then will she not get agitated and not smash my face with Explosion magic!

"A flat board..."

"What did you say?"

"What's wrong with a flat board?!"

He, contrary to his usual self, shouted with hot-blooded passion, "What's wrong with being flat?! Isn't being flat nice, too! When it comes to snacks, some people prefer pancakes over marshmallows! For fruit, some people prefer cherries over watermelons! And a flat blanket is easier to dry! If the red envelope you get at New Year's is flat, it makes you wonder if there's a huge check inside! So what I'm saying is, sometimes A-cups are the thing that stimulates a person's XP the most!"

"...Pervert."

Megumin quickly let go of her hands, and her upper body recoiled in disgust, as if trying to get away from him.

Ah! I overdid it!

Realizing this, he broke into a cold sweat and quickly shouted, "W-wait... it's a misunderstanding! Let me explain! It's definitely not what you think!"

However, two right hands stretched out from behind him and landed on his shoulders. At the same time, a pleasant-sounding voice was heard.

"Then let's go to a different place, so we can listen to your ex-pla-na-tion, shall we?" x2

Guard A and Guard B were smiling at him, but their smiles were extremely "nuclear-friendly."

He stared with wide, terrified eyes, his voice trembling. "No... don't... nooooo!!!"

And so, Kobayashi was arrested and thrown in jail for the first time in this other world.

The charge—

Making in(per)de(ver)cent remarks in public.

(End of Chapter)