The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing.

Chapter 578 The World's Strongest (Explosive) Magister
"Cough, cough, cough!"

"Huihui, you idiot! Why didn't you check where your teammates were?!"

"Cough cough... I miscalculated. I didn't expect this goddess to be affected too... cough cough, ugh!"

"Aqua, I'll settle the score with you when we get back!"

After the smoke cleared, everyone scrambled to their feet from the corner, covered in soot and looking terrible. Especially the three of them, including Mikami Hibiki, who hadn't expected the explosion magic to be so powerful; they all wore expressions of relief, as if they had escaped a disaster.

And the other side.

A naked man lies prone in the center of the crater, his mask and white robe gone, revealing pure white wings on his back, symbolizing his identity as an angel.

At this moment, the angel, who had been hit head-on by the explosive magic at close range, shakily got to his feet.

"Oh oh oh oh oh!" xN
Everyone exclaimed.

Although it wasn't the first time, very few people could withstand Megumin's Burst Magic, let alone when it was enhanced and the opponent was a Magister.

Kazuma Sato nodded, seemingly in agreement, and said, "It seems he really is the gatekeeper of the one known as the strongest mage."

"The strongest archmage!?"

Huihui called out.

"How dare you attack me like that! That's too much!"

He condemned it loudly.

Huihui, on the other hand, clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction.

“There’s nothing we can do about not being able to kill him in one hit,” Zun Zun comforted her, saying, “He can draw endless magic power from the Demon Realm and is proficient in all magic, so he certainly deserves to be called the strongest mage… Even so, Huihui, you must be unwilling to accept this.”

"Well...!"

Huihui's self-introduction has always been that she is second to none among the Crimson Demons, but since she came to fight the Demon King, her goal has become the strongest mage, and a burst mage at that.

"Then, I'll help you a little."

Zun Zun took out a backpack from his storage space and handed it over.

Huihui took it instinctively.

"this is?"

"The highest quality magic crystal."

"——!?"

Her wand fell to the ground.

Magic stones can replace the magic power of a mage to cast spells, so most mages will carry one with them just in case. Youyou and Huihui also have magic stones given to them by Zun Zun, but they are just ordinary magic stones.

A level one purity magic stone is not enough to match the massive magic power required for the Explosion spell, so the highest quality magic stone is needed to use the Explosion spell.

The highest quality magic stones have a crystal-clear appearance, hence they are also called magic crystals.

Also.

Crystals are not as expensive as magic crystals.

Huihui gripped the backpack tightly with both hands, protecting it as if it were a precious treasure, and said, "Are you crazy? Just one of these magic crystals could buy a house in the capital, you know? With this many magic crystals, you could even buy a small city!"

"It doesn't matter."

"These are all for you, use them as you like."

"Really? Are you sure? These magic stones are one-time use, okay? They'll disappear immediately after you use the magic?"

"Of course I know that."

Zun Zun gently touched her flushed cheeks and said softly, "Do you remember what I said when we left the village—that I would let you use magic crystals to your heart's content? Now I have kept my promise."

The girl looked at him with deep emotion.

"Huihui, do you know? This Demon King's military officer is even more troublesome than the Demon King himself, the most senior officer. He is undoubtedly the strongest mage in the world. It's no exaggeration to say that he can use unlimited demonic energy and is proficient in all magic. Do you have the confidence to defeat him?"

"...Ah, of course!"

"Yes. You must feel resentful, right? Then go prove yourself, defeat that guy and prove that you are the world's strongest mage!"

"I will handle it!"

A tear rolled down her red eyes.

"I will cherish the gift you gave me... I will never forget this day. I will now obliterate that self-proclaimed strongest mage in the world without my permission!"

She declared with a powerful voice, her eyes gleaming with a bright red light.

Zun Zun smiled gently.

"Please, the world's strongest Burst Mage."

"I will!"

Huihui seemed to be unable to hold back any longer. She hugged Zun Zun tightly, then tiptoed and kissed him lightly like a dragonfly skimming the water. Then she turned and walked towards the old angel.

I couldn't see her face, but judging from her bright red ears, her cheeks must be as rosy as her eyes.

Youyou looked at Zunzun with a hint of jealousy.

I felt a little uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, Kazuma Sato deliberately covered his mouth, rolled his tongue, and sarcastically said, "They're having an affair...!"

"Hey, that's enough!"

Zun Zun rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Darkness's expression was extremely complicated; she didn't know whether she was envious or happy for Megumin. She watched her companion, carrying a backpack, heading off to find the most powerful mage to prove himself.

"I want to too..." "What do you want?"

"I also want to be caught by the Demon King, and then... um, that would be awesome!"

This guy is really hopeless.

Earlier, Aqua was arguing with the old angel; it should be said that Aqua was unilaterally lecturing him.

Don't let the fact that the old angel is the most senior member of the Demon King's army, even older than the Demon King himself, fool you. In front of the goddess Aqua, he is a junior... no, a junior's junior, even younger than the goddess Eris.

Especially after the old angel learned that Aqua was the goddess Aqua, his face became quite distorted.

Perhaps it was a memory of the fear of being dominated by the other party in the celestial realm.

It's important to know that Aqua is different from Eris, who ranks first on the list of "most desired to be one's boss." This girl ranks first on the list of "least desired to be one's boss."

"Thank you for stalling for time, Aqua."

"Huh? Huihui? No, I'm not stalling for time. I'm just disciplining my subordinate. How dare a mere angel defy me, a goddess, and even aid and abet evil? It really infuriates me."

Aqua said this with an idiotic look on her face.

However, Huihui completely ignored the goddess who was making a fool of herself. She continued to act cool and said, "You did a great job. Now leave the rest to me."

"Huh? No... I didn't..."

Before she could finish speaking, she was dragged away by the silent Kazuma Sato. Whether it was a misperception or not, the old angel breathed a sigh of relief, finally free from the dreaded boss.

With her cloak billowing and eyes red, Huihui shouted, "Let's have a duel!"

"A duel? You're a mage too, aren't you?" The old angel looked at Huihui, as if finally realizing something, and pointed at her, saying, "Oh right, wasn't it you who just cast the explosion spell? Hey, to start something like this without even being introduced is too much—"

"It doesn't matter how you handle that kind of thing!"

Huihui forcefully interrupted the other party.

She was now in high spirits, her inner emotions continuing to be released; otherwise, she wouldn't have forgotten about the Crimson Demon Clan's self-introduction.

"You claim to be the strongest mage? Forgive me for ignoring this! My name is Megumin! I am the first... no, the world's number one archmage, the one who has mastered the ultimate explosive magic. Whether it's the world's strongest mage, demon, dragon, or demon king, I'll blast them all to smithereens!"

"...Is that so? You've come to challenge me?"

The old angel wasn't angry at Huihui's rudeness. Instead, he saw her enthusiasm and smiled with relief, as if she was finally on the right track. Come to think of it, he seemed to have just said something about the kingly way.

"I am the strongest and oldest in the Demon King's army..."

"Explosion!"

Before he could finish speaking, Huihui unleashed her Explosion Magic.

"Wow--"

"That's too much."

"They actually launched a preemptive attack..."

Everyone condemned the act, even his companions couldn't stand by and watch such a heinous behavior. The old angel was enveloped in fierce magic, his fate unknown.

Zun Zun glanced silently at the passionate Hui Hui, then turned and walked outside.

Sato Kazuma was slightly taken aback when he saw it.

"Hey, Zun Zun! Shouldn't we wait here? What if Hui Hui..."

"We won't lose."

Zun Zun did not turn around.

"She is Megumin, the strongest Burst Mage, so she won't lose."

He left behind such resolute words.

Sometimes Zun Zun wondered if Hui Hui ranked Explosive Magic first, Youyou second, and himself third. But he soon realized that his suspicions were correct.

There is a kind of magic in this world called explosion magic.

It is extremely difficult to learn, consumes a great deal of magic power when casting, and its power is so great that it requires precise timing to use. It is known as a spell with extremely low cost-effectiveness.

However, as long as you can hit the target squarely, you can inflict some damage on the target, whether it is a god, a demon, or a demon king.

This is undoubtedly the ultimate and most powerful attack method that humans can use.

There was a mage who was constantly ridiculed.

This archmage can only cast one spell a day, and no team will accept her. Even her own kind treats her like a benchwarmer.

But only Zun Zun dared to say that from the moment he met Hui Hui, he knew what she had sacrificed for the Explosion Magic.

Whether it's energy, physical strength, or obsession, he never slacks off for a single day, through spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Even when he's scolded by the people of the Crimson Village or reprimanded by the guards of Axel, he continues to refine his magic day after day.

And now, this seemingly useless mage, who had always been looked down upon and ridiculed, dreaming of becoming the strongest, has finally seen his carefully nurtured seed blossom under the encouragement of Zun Zun and the watchful gaze of You You—

"Explosion!"

Today, it has truly earned the title of the world's strongest.

"...What's going on here? Actually, this isn't a comedic adventure, but a classic coming-of-age story full of passion and action?"

Looking at Zun Zun, Hui Hui, and You You who were staring at her, the three of them formed a perfect composition, and Sato Kazuma was speechless.

To prevent any accidents, Youyou stayed behind afterward.

The rest of the people continued forward.

As everyone exited through the wall they had come from, they heard Huihui shouting enthusiastically almost every second, followed by a violent explosion and tremor. They couldn't help but clasp their hands together in silent mourning.

—I hope everyone is alright.

(End of this chapter)