Legend of the Crimson Demon

The explosion of magical energy blasted outward like a shockwave, tearing up the trees and earth. Zunzun barely managed to hold onto the trunk of a massive tree, clinging for dear life to avoid being flung away.

When the smoke cleared...

The shallow pit from before had become a yawning crater.

The once-lush forest was now a wreckage of shredded foliage and shattered bark. Everything nearby had been flattened as if a typhoon had passed through.

Zunzun had seen scenes like this before.

But never—never—where the culprit was two freaking cherries.

And the scale of destruction? Nearly on par with Explosion Magic.

So!

The planting system really is bugged!

Goddess! Are you asleep at the update desk!?

Zunzun wiped the mud off his face, staring blankly at the two cherries floating serenely above the smoking pit.

They had shrunk back to their original size and color, bright red and deceptively innocent—but Zunzun would never let his guard down again.

The cherries floated proudly, puffing out their tiny fruit chests like a child showing off a drawing to their parent.

They're just fruit… but they've got intelligence. And worse—childlike personalities. The most terrifying kind.

Yeah. They're definitely picking a fight.

And the Crimson Demon Clan always answers a fight.

Zunzun had long since progressed in his training to control magic power. He could now coat his hands with it—not to the level of a Rasengan, but enough to enhance his attacks with raw energy, like chakra flow used for walking on water or climbing trees.

He didn't need to win—just to hold out until Soketto and the others arrived.

After that explosion, surely they were on their way. And with three high-level mages on his side, it'd be game over for these fruits.

Scarlet-tinged magic cloaked his fists like gloves. He dropped into a combat stance—front foot forward, back leg braced, arms raised.

Red Demon School Rule #3:

Posing dramatically is mandatory before all combat.

Also, despite popular misconception, not all Crimson Demons were glass-cannon casters like Megumin. Melee training was part of the curriculum—especially for battle-hardened great magicians like Zunzun.

The cherries seemed startled at first.

Then—whoosh! They launched themselves at him.

Zunzun swung.

Crack!

Even with magic wrapping his hands, the impact sent jolts of pain up his arms. It felt like punching a chunk of mithril.

"Tch... it still hurts!"

But he gritted his teeth and endured.

He could handle losing to a Demon King General. He could live with being flattened by a village elder. He could even tolerate losing to a higher demon.

But being beaten by fruit!?

CHERRIES?!

Never!

The battle turned into a pure contest of wills.

Fists vs. fruit.

No spells, no tricks—just raw, physical mayhem.

Zunzun's fists were red and swelling, both from pain and the increased magic output.

The cherries weren't unscathed either. Their sheen dulled, their hue darkened, and they started swelling again.

Zunzun clenched his jaw.

"Come again, huh!?"

"Last time I wasn't ready. This time, I'm nuking you first!"

The cherries began to glow, energy condensing once again into a core of terrifying power.

Zunzun matched them.

His crimson eyes began to shimmer, his spiritual pressure spiking.

"I... AM... ATOMIC!"

Cherry Bomb: Engage.

SIZZLE——!!

Like oil splashing into a fire, the air between them boiled with magic. Zunzun's power met the cherries' explosion point-blank.

Two streams of magic twisted into spiraling columns, colliding midair in a battle of dominance. They merged, clashed, and compressed—until finally:

BOOOOOOM!!!

The resulting explosion tore into the heavens.

World. Nuclear. Flattened.

When the dust settled, Zunzun lay flat on his back, breathing heavily.

He had used up all his magic.

Drained, scorched, and exhausted, he stared dazedly at the sky, limbs trembling.

"Two cherries… two explosions…This world is ridiculous."

He expected the cherries to finish him off.

Instead, one of them floated gently down.

Zunzun blinked, baffled, as the cherry extended a tiny vine and bumped lightly against his fist.

A… fist bump?

"...Don't tell me we're having a moment of mutual respect."

The cherries fluttered down and landed softly in his palm.

Despite lacking faces or mouths, Zunzun could sense their thoughts clearly:

We want you to eat us.

…

Konosuba.

The cursed will of ingredients in the Red Demon Village's planting system. Some ingredients didn't want to be eaten—like flying cabbages who ran away to die alone in peace.

But these two?

They wanted to find a worthy opponent—get defeated—and then be consumed.

What twisted logic is that!?

We just became… friends!?

Zunzun turned to them with a pained expression.

"I'm not eating you. Shoo. Get lost."

But the cherries didn't budge.

Instead, they floated behind him… and began trimming his hair.

Too tired to resist, Zunzun let them do as they pleased.

When they were done, his messy locks had been trimmed into a stylish wolf-tail mullet, with the two cherries tied in like twin hair bands.

They clinked together behind his head like bells of satisfaction.

Their message was clear:

We are your emergency food now.

Zunzun stared at the sky.

"So I… have emergency food too now?"

He gazed at the two cherries.

"…Fine. You're my friends now."

And friends deserve names.

"You'll be Polna. The biggest cherry variety in the world."

The cherries chimed with delight at being named.

Zunzun smiled faintly.

Then everything went black.

But just before he lost consciousness, he saw Soketto and Bukkororii rushing toward him.

"Tch… Took you long enough.

You guys really are the village's security team."

And with that, Zunzun passed out.

-End Chapter-

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