The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing

#441 - God of Disobedience

Zun Zun had achieved victory.

And not through the usual, vomit-inducing tropes—friendship, effort, or bonds—nor through underhanded tricks like Kazuma Sato, but through a fair and square victory—a contest of luck.

He wouldn't say it was an unsavory way to compete, but would rather declare with conviction that winning is winning.

He looked to the other side.

He had expected the young man to go berserk, or perhaps display an agitated expression, shouting again, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" or something of the like.

Unexpectedly, the young man's expression was calm, as if the person who had just been so passionately excited wasn't him at all.

The only difference was a slight hint of lingering enjoyment on his face, as if he thoroughly enjoyed battling others.

Although he called himself a born warrior, Zun Zun saw him as nothing more than a battle maniac.

"Oh dear, your expression is quite peculiar."

Seeing him like this, even Zun Zun's joy of victory diminished considerably.

"I thought you would be frustrated and go crazy, or perhaps shout excitedly, but I didn't expect you to be so calm. Don't you feel resentful?"

"I am very resentful."

The young man didn't deny it, even emphasizing the point.

"But I used all my strength. I didn't hold back or go easy, so there's no room for regret. Even after giving it my all, I still couldn't win; it is my defeat. But… never mind, it's nothing."

"Why did you only say half of it?"

"It's nothing."

He didn't reveal the reason.

However, Zun Zun understood that he had only defeated the young man… no, a mere fragment of Verethragna.

The young man had said that he didn't know how to hold back, indicating that he would always give his all, and of course, the same applied to himself. Even though it was just this one fragment of the young man, he wouldn't make excuses.

If it were Megumin, she would probably shamelessly say: This isn't my complete form yet; I have ten fragments! Only when you defeat them all, and then defeat the real me, can you truly claim victory.

The young man probably felt resentful for the same reason.

"Alright."

With everything concluded, it was time for the victor's reward.

Although the two hadn't demanded anything as a wager, the young man still said, "If you have any wishes or desires, as the victor's reward, you may make a request of me."

"Then…"

Zun Zun ignored Erica's glances, who wanted to inquire about the cause of this commotion, and instead asked the question he most wanted to know the answer to.

"Actually, I can't find my way home. Do you know how to get back?"

"Hmm, a lost child?"

The young man looked at Zun Zun with some surprise, and after staring intently for a while, he seemed to notice something and finally understand, his eyes widening slightly.

"Did I misjudge? I thought you were one of us, but I see that's not the case. No wonder the scent on you is a bit strange, different from those decaying, stubborn old fogeys. So that's how it is."

And with his words, Zun Zun seemed to understand the reason for the mountain boar's attack.

Could it be that it mistook me for a god or something? Its warlike nature compelled the mountain boar to treat me as an enemy and then attack… The more I think about it, the more likely it seems.

Because the young man in front of me is the same; he wanted to fight me as soon as we met. The two are not much different.

"So, do you know?"

"Um… I'm sorry, I don't know."

The young man shook his head.

Zun Zun hadn't placed his hopes on the other party, so he didn't show a noticeable expression of disappointment.

But the young man seemed to think that this didn't count as a reward, so he continued, "I have lost my past memories and don't know my name or origin, but when I recover all of myself, I will probably know some things. Ask me again at that time."

"Okay."

"Of course, I also hope that at that time, I can have another match with you, a battle with all our might! As warriors!"

"Okay."

Whether it was the former or the latter, Zun Zun agreed decisively, after all, the Crimson Demons would never avoid a challenge, even if the opponent was a god.

Then, the young man left.

"I'm amazed you just let him leave like that."

Erica said this with some relief, she was now one hundred percent certain that the young man was related to this incident, and coupled with his statement about recovering all of himself, his identity was clearly on the verge of being revealed.

"A god who doesn't submit…"

Whether it was the mountain boar just now or the camels, sheep, and cattle that appeared before, they were all likely parts of him.

"Why didn't you take the opportunity to defeat him just now?"

"Should I have defeated him?"

"…No, never mind."

Erica shook her head, she was being a bit too extreme.

Not to mention whether Zun Zun could really win, even if he did win, he would eventually be carried away by that strong wind, ultimately leaving behind a street that was even more devastated.

They had already suffered one disaster, so a second one was out of the question.

However, Erica hadn't gained nothing, at least she knew that Zun Zun wasn't a god who didn't submit, after all, the young man who was clearly a god who didn't submit had explicitly stated that Zun Zun wasn't one of his own.

"But who exactly is that god?"

"Indeed, who exactly is he… If only someone would send us information at this time."

Zun Zun said this teasingly.

Looking like he was enjoying the show.

Erica was very dutiful as the knight protecting this town, but both her methods and usage were a bit excessive and unreasonable, even if she now recognized reality and had restrained herself somewhat, her previous actions couldn't be erased.

"Um…"

Just as Zun Zun and Erica were about to leave, another man walked out with difficulty from the direction where the young man had appeared, and asked.

"Excuse me, have you two just seen a young man, with black medium-length hair, ivory-colored skin, and wearing a somewhat tattered robe? He has a handsome appearance and should be easy to identify."

As he continued to speak, Erica turned to look at Zun Zun.

"I now believe in your luck."

"…That's just great."

He couldn't muster a smile at all.

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Subsequently, Erica conjured a gorgeous, slender sword from her hand, pointing it at the man who was somewhat frightened and had raised his hands high.

He was about the same age as Zun Zun, and although his appearance was ordinary, that was only compared to Zun Zun, the young man, and Erica.

He was wearing a simple shirt and trousers.

Perhaps because of the disaster, his whole body was somewhat blackened and tattered, appearing a bit disheveled.

"Speak, are you a magician, or a priest or acolyte of some religion? Did you summon that god who doesn't submit? What is your purpose in coming here? Come, tell me everything!"

"…Huh?"

"Do you want to play dumb? If you are a person related to the gods, you should have heard of my name, Erica Brandelli, and the Lion King's Heart, right? I don't want to use the Red and Black skills to fight small fry, quickly tell me all the information you know with a swift and obedient attitude, efficiently."

The slender sword was pushed forward a bit.

Zun Zun should have known that some people, even if they were beaten black and blue by reality, wouldn't change in a short time, especially towards small fry who were many times weaker than themselves.

"T-that…"

He gave Zun Zun a look of pleading for help, but was met with Erica pushing the sword forward again, causing him to show a frightened expression.

Erica proudly puffed out her chest.

The slender sword in her hand swayed back and forth like an animal's tail. Even people who knew nothing about swordsmanship could feel that this was a preparatory movement for an attack.

Only people who had reached a certain level of skill would have such a beautiful sword-holding posture, getting rid of all unnecessary things.

This level of handsomeness and momentum couldn't be achieved by beauty alone.

"If you want, I can also prepare a sword for you."

"This…"

He took a step back, but the slender sword followed closely.

He seemed to finally lose his patience.

"I don't understand any of the things you're saying, gods, magicians, and priests, can you please communicate with me in a language I understand?"

This seemingly aggrieved low roar was shouted out in Japanese, indicating that this person was Japanese.

Erica wasn't unable to understand.

But for these complaints, she only smiled, and then suddenly stretched out her hand, grabbing the travel bag he was carrying on his shoulder.

Even though Erica was a girl, her powerful wrist strength was not something ordinary people could resist, and the bag was snatched away after only a brief stalemate.

Then, she took out a stone tablet from the bag.

B5 size, wrapped in purple cloth, with a deeply impressive yet very childish drawing carved on it.

Zun Zun's eyes could clearly see that it contained a massive amount of magical power; without a doubt, this was a powerful magic item, almost comparable to a divine artifact.

Seeing that Erica was about to take it away, he immediately shouted, "W-wait a minute, this isn't my thing, I specifically brought this from Japan to return it to its original owner!"

"The original owner? This person is in Sardinia?"

"…Yes."

"Then who is this original owner?"

"Why should I tell you…"

The man had no good impression of the unreasonable girl who had snatched his things, even if she was a beautiful girl with a dignified appearance.

"A divine tool held by a member of the faction that summoned the god who doesn't submit, I'm slightly interested in this holder… Hurry up, do you want to be threatened by a sword again? It would be a smarter choice to confess everything while I can still maintain a generous attitude, oh?"

"Where is the generosity…"

He said this with a complaint, but under the threat of Erica's sword-like sharp gaze, he could only purse his lips and spit out the name of the stone tablet's original holder.

"…It seems to be called Lucrezia Zora, living in a place called Olena in the inland, I was on my way to her place."

"Lucrezia Zora? That Sardinian witch? A small fry like you, an evil magician, is going to meet her? …That's suspicious."

Obviously, Erica held a suspicious attitude towards him.

"—That's right! A witch!"

Zun Zun clapped his hands suddenly at this time.

"That witch might know the way for me to go home, let's go visit her!"