[SUBJUGATE THE GIANT TOADS!]
Everyone crowded around to read the notice and voiced their doubts.
Shichen handed the scroll to Satou Kazuma—who was still hanging back—and looked to Luna for an explanation.
"Yes," Luna nodded, then spoke in her professional, receptionist tone. "It's breeding season for the Giant Toads. Each one is bigger than a cow. Once the season starts they gorge themselves to stock up for egg-laying, so they appear near human settlents where food is plentiful and can swallow a farr's goat whole in one bite."
"Giant Toads…" Shichen felt the corner of his mouth twitch.
Of all the creatures in this world, those things had burned themselves into his mind—even though he'd never actually seen one, the very thought made his skin crawl.
"They're just toads—how bad could it be?" Kazuma asked after reading the quest.
"Do not underestimate them," Luna said, expression grave. "They swallow goats whole; a human is no problem. Every year, when their breeding season hits, children and farmhands go missing near the villages."
"That scary?" Kazuma paled.
"Hmph! It's only so oversized toads. I could wipe them out in minutes," gumin scoffed.
"I said don't take them lightly," Luna insisted. "They look like huge toads, but they're far more dangerous than the little monsters you find near town. That said, their at isn't bad—tough but mild and refreshing, actually a popular dish."
"Wait—what was that last part?" Kazuma blurted.
"Never eaten toad?" Shichen grinned at him.
"Never… I've never even seen it on a nu."
"Sha. People say toad tastes like chicken."
"You've tried it, Big Bro?"
"Not really—just heard stories."
"Well, since we're here, and Giant Toad at is considered normal fare, we might as well give it a shot."
"Can you really eat those things…?"
"Relax," Luna assured him. "Our guild cooks turn it into sothing delicious."
"Either way, let's just take the quest," Shichen said. "It shouldn't be hard—Yunyun alone could finish it."
"M-? Really?" Yunyun tensed.
"Trust ." Shichen moved the hand that had been on gumin's head to pat Yunyun's instead.
"Okay…"
"Shichen-san is right," Luna added with a smile. "Their thick fat blocks blunt hits, but they hate tal; with proper gear they won't try to eat you. For most adventurers they're manageable, and as a mage you'll have an even easier ti, Miss Yunyun."
"I… I'll do my best," Yunyun murmured.
"We won't dump all the work on you," Shichen assured her, rubbing her hair.
"Mm-hm."
"No ti like the present—let's accept it."
"Very well. Good luck on your hunt," Luna said.
"Thanks."
…
Quest accepted, Shichen led everyone straight out of town toward the Giant Toad grounds—a broad plain just beyond the gate. They'd barely left the walls before the toads ca into view.
True to their na, they were gigantic toads—no extra features, just massive bodies with skins in bright red, yellow, blue and green, like the colors of the Calabash Brothers.
"So that's a Giant Toad? They don't look threatening at all," Kazuma said cockily, watching them hop about in a daze.
"Yeah, one Explosion would clear the lot," gumin agreed.
"Idiot," Shichen flicked her forehead. "If you cast Explosion here you'll hit the town too."
"But I'll feel awful if I don't use it!"
"Endure it."
"Shichen, how could you? Forcing to hold back—are you a devil? What kind of weird play is this?"
"Pipe down." Bonk. Another knock on the head.
"Ow!" gumin squatted, clutching her skull.
"Big Bro," Kazuma asked, face twitching, "is she…?"
"Right—haven't told you. She only knows Explosion. Calling her an Explosion fanatic isn't wrong. She barely has any other spells—just a few to support Explosion. But relax: Explosion's the strongest human spell; almost nobody can learn it."
"Still… what's the point if she can't cast anything else?" Kazuma imdiately saw the flaw.
"Rember," Shichen patted his shoulder, "we're a team."
"Huh?"
"Yunyun already has interdiate magic and will learn advanced spells soon. gumin is our ace-in-the-hole."
"Oh, I get it! I almost thought you kept her around just for, uh, personal taste…"
The glare Shichen gave him made Kazuma cough. "N-nothing, forget I spoke."
"I was going to buy you a full set of gear with the reward," Shichen said coolly. "Maybe I won't bother."
"I'm sorry! Big Bro, I was wrong!" Kazuma dropped to his knees and hugged Shichen's leg.
"Get off— I don't like n hanging on ."
"Don't abandon , Big Bro!"
"I'm joking, sheesh."
"Sniff—Big Bro, you're the best!"
"Enough drama. Ti to divvy up roles."
Ignoring the still-slouching Aqua, Shichen turned to Yunyun. "You and I will handle the front line. gumin—you know why you're on reserve. Kazuma's got no gear yet, so let's push a little harder between the two of us."
"It's fine—we're a party," Yunyun answered.
"Good. Aqua, throw a couple buffs on Yunyun."
"Uh-huh, sure."
"Don't look so bored. The more money we earn, the more sparkling wine, gourt food and soft beds you'll get."
"Oh! Right!"
"I'm counting on you."
"Leave it to !" Motivated at last, Aqua struck a pose.
"Okay, everyone stay here. Yunyun, co with ." Shichen held out his hand.
"Eh? O-okay." Yunyun placed her small hand in his.
He gripped it, and the two vanished—reappearing on the far side of the toad herd.
"Whoa! Was that teleportation?" Kazuma yelled.
"No," gumin corrected him, "it's Spatial Transfer."
"Whatever it's called—I'm learning it!"
"Good luck with that."
Boom!
Yunyun was already casting.
"Fireball!"
Pow! One Giant Toad toppled instantly, and the rest started hopping away in panic.
"Aweso—keep it up!" Kazuma shouted.
"Not bad! Just like my little protégé!" gumin crowed.
"Protégé my foot! Lightsaber!"
Another toad went down, cleanly bisected.
Yunyun's interdiate spells packed well above average punch—she'd have learned advanced magic soon enough if today hadn't been so urgent.
Shichen joined in, flinging mid-tier spells like they cost nothing.
"Fireball! Lightsaber! Fireball!"
One toad after another collapsed.
"You're amazing, Shichen!" Yunyun exclaid.
"Heh, you'll be just as good soon. Let's mop them up."
"Right!"
Under their combined barrage, the herd was quickly thinned to a handful, toad corpses littering the plain.
"These things are way too easy—I want to fight one too!"
Just then Aqua's brain short-circuited; she dashed at the nearest toad. "Watch shine! Then Shichen will buy looots of sparkling wine! Take this—God Blow!"
"Aqua, wai—"
Too late. Her punch landed with a dull plop on the toad's gut—it didn't even flinch.
Then it lowered its head and swallowed the stunned goddess whole.
"Aqua!"
"Save her!"
"Relax. Lightsaber."
Shichen blinked to the toad's side; a single light blade skewered it.
The toad collapsed, and the slimy, mucus-covered Aqua slid out of its mouth.
~~~
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