Chapter 100 – Mana

Chapter 100 – Mana

The classic tavern scene after a dangerous mission as an adventurer was not to be missed, and I was looking forward to it.

In the tavern of Axel's Guild, I exhaled a loud sigh of satisfaction after drinking a mug of mead for the first time.

In my original world, I had tried beer in hiding and it tasted awful. However, mead was much sweeter and more comfortable, without all that unnecessary acidity.

The girls, Kazuma and I were sitting next to a fireplace, all with satisfied smiles on our faces.

"Hey, waitress! Now bring the best wine and the best meats you've got!" shouted Aqua, already slightly flushed even though we'd each just drunk a mug of mead. "You'll see, Leonard, the wine here is the best you've ever had!"

I put a hand on my chin and leaned forward. "Is it? I'm looking forward to it."

Darkness and Megumin were enjoying what the money had to offer, but Kazuma, for his part, seemed focused on analyzing how much money they would have to shell out for tonight's extravagances. Soon, he seemed to give up, sighed and leaned over the table.

"Ahh... It seems like every day we work just to eat." I could hear him say in a muffled voice.

But when the meat arrived, all his worry vanished in a broad smile of happiness. The tray of meat had barely touched the table when Kazuma stole the largest piece of meat and put it in his mouth.

"Hey, Kazuma, it's not fair! I need to get mana back!" Megumin exclaimed.

"What mana! You didn't even use your explosion today!" replied Kazuma, his mouth full, and turned around to chew that huge piece himself.

I could only laugh and enjoy it. Kazuma was a bit funnier in person than in the anime, because he seemed much more natural.

"Today's mission wasn't that dangerous... But those blows from the lizards..." Darkness suddenly said. "Agh, they were so intense, almost irresistible! The impact, the brute force! I almost felt like I was... being tested by the Goddess Eris!"

Luckily, the waiter arrived with a tray full of mugs of mead and a bottle of wine.

Aqua, wasting no time, practically snatched the first mug off the tray and started drinking like there was no tomorrow.

Megumin, who had become strangely quiet after Kazuma's response, was sitting at the edge of the table, looking away. She was probably still a little upset that she hadn't had the chance to use her explosive magic during the battle.

"Megumin, it wasn't your fault that you didn't have any mana," I said and placed a mug of mead in front of her. "It was just bad luck... or rather, Kazuma's fault." I smiled, hoping to cheer her up.

[You received 1 Megumin Heart.]

"Are you sure you want to do this now, Megumin? Seems like a waste of mana." Kazuma said.

"Explosion is never a waste. It's an art. And you know it! Today, Leonard is willing to carry me afterwards, so you don't have to worry."

Kazuma sighed and waved his hand lightly. "You're both crazy. But do what you want."

I gave Kazuma a wink, before turning to Megumin. "Come on, before he changes his mind and wants to come with us."

We left the tavern together, and found the streets of Axel almost deserted, except for a few late adventurers hurrying past, probably returning from night missions.

"So, where would be the best place for you to set off this explosion?" I asked. "I imagine it would have to be a fairly large area with no people around."

Megumin pointed to an open field beyond the city gates. "There, on that hill. That's where I like to train when no one's around."

"You really take this explosion thing seriously. I admire that."

She gave a shy but proud smile. "Of course! It's my trademark. Explosion magic is the pinnacle of arcane magic. There's nothing more powerful or devastating... and nothing that makes me happier."

[You received 1 Heart with Megumin.]

[You reached the 4 Heart mark with Megumin. Your relationship has changed from NEUTRAL to GOOD.]

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