13. A New Member

Location: Guild's Hall

"I don't think that recruitment notice was enough," Kazuma spoke.

"I agree, the requirement for our party member is a bit too high." Seth concurred.

"But we can't lower our standards like that! We are the party that is destined to defeat the demon king because I, the great goddess, exist! If any Tom, Dick, and Harry join our party, An advanced or veteran status is a MUST!" Aqua Rejected loudly.

Seth replied, "I get your view Aqua, but remember, I have these," Seth pointed to his eyes. 

He also added, "Even if we have a newbie on our team, as long as that person has the spirit, I could train and polish that guy to the top."

Aqua still stood for her opinion, "Even if that is the case, it would still take you too long, and I still don't want an average Joe in our team." 

Hearing this both Seth and Kazuma decided to wait for more, they may lower the requirement tomorrow if no one came.

As they waited, to pass the time Kazuma slipped in, "Seth, were you serious about being able to train anyone on any occupation?"

Seth answered by handing his adventurer's card to Kazuma for him to observe. At first, there was nothing special about it, but when he paid attention.

"Seth, your occupation space seems glitchy, why is there a typo on the WAIT!? IT'S CHANGING?!"

Seth answered with a smile, "Yes, it does change."

Sword saint! necromancer! Defender! Magi! musician! Druid! Arcane machinist! Dragon tamer! Kazuma kept reading the names of classes before the card stopped at 'Royal Instructor'.

"Yes, my divinity or godhood affects this card, And from my research, I found out I can technically be most class, occupation, or job at any time." Hearing that, Kazuma felt assured.

"Greetings, fellow adventurers bound by the threads of destiny!"

The three of them turned around.

"By the fateful proclamation of your recruitment notice, we stand united on this sacred ground. Rejoice, for I am Megumin, the renowned Archwizard of Explosions! I extend my first greeting to you All. our destinies are now intertwined, as we embark on this grand adventure together. With a resounding explosion!" A short young Arch wizard girl proclaimed. 

Kazuma whispered, "What does your clairvoyance think?" Seth's eyes glowed for a second before giving him the 'OK' hand gesture.

With this, Seth greeted, "Um… greetings Arch wizard named Megumin, from what you have spoken, Are you here to join our party."

"Yes, indubitably so." Megumin proudly confirmed.

Both men looked at each other with surprise, while Aqua held a smug face as if saying 'I told you so'. 

As they looked at the wizard, Seth noticed the wizard's unique hair and eye color combination. He asked, "excuse me, are you from the crimson demon village."

"Of course, I hail from the revered Crimson Demon Village, the famous birthplace of illustrious mages feared across the land." Megumin flamboyantly replied.

Kazuma looked confused and whispered to Seth " Is there anything special about them?"

"A few, most of the crimson demons are capable mages with high intelligence and mana capacity. But they are more famous for their weird way of talking, which you can view as 'chuunibyou'." Seth whispered low enough so only the two of them could hear it.

"Ahh… I get it." Kazuma now has the gist of it. Still, Kazuma had to ask, "You sure the crimson demons are powerful mages?"

Megumin spoke back, "Hey! Our powers as mages are genuine! Be assured, the forbidden powers held inside me can flatten mountains and split lands…" Before she could finish, she dropped to the floor. Causing the three of them to jump from their seats.

The arch-wizard Megumin apologized, "Forgive my display of weakness, I have not eaten a full meal since three days ago." When she said this, Kazuma and Aqua stared at Seth, "I think it's about time for lunch right? Do we have enough?" Kazuma asked.

"We do." Seth pulled out a metal container from somewhere on his body and laid their lunch on the guild table to eat. He also prepared a light dish for Megumin by taking parts from the other's portion.

One lunch later.

"Thank you so much for the food, I'll try to repay this by doing my best on our adventures in the foreseeable future!" Megumin thanked them.

Kazuma nodded and replied, "It's fine, just a meal, Seth cooked a lot. Before you proceed, do you want to introduce your occupation more as an arch-wizard, like what spells you use?"

Megumin jolted with fervor, she took a pose and declared, "*Ahem* Blessed the heavens because I, a master of the mystic arts, am someone who has mastered one of the few known most powerful spells in this realm, Explosion! If you seek proof, here it is." As she did so, She placed her adventurer card on the table.

Two gods and one man looked at the card, and each of them had a different reaction.

Kazuma saw that the stats were surprisingly high and a bit one-sided. But he still finds them acceptable, he could guess from the card that Megumin is a 'glass cannon'.

Aqua had not much to say, she just knew her occupation or job was advanced, and she knew the advanced spell explosion, which is great for offense.

On the other hand, Seth arose from his chair and picked up Megumin's card. He lightly touched it and the card glowed strangely.

He brought it in front of his face and just stood there, menacingly.

Seconds passed and he hasn't moved. Noticing the eerie silence from Seth, Kazuma leaned to Aqua and asked, "You were with him longer than me, do you know what's happening?"

Aqua replied, " Honestly, no."

"Seriously!?"

"YES! Our relationship is more work-related! The only thing I know is that he likes to make stuff!"

Before the two could continue, Seth finally spoke his piece.

"Girl… What is this!?" Seth spoke with a low growl.

Megumin felt pressured, but she still answered, "What are you talking about?"

Seth leaned closer, "I mean your skills. Don't you see something wrong with it!?"

"There is nothing wrong, all I see is what I envision myself to be, what I pursue and dream of."

Seth leaned back, with a judging face and asked, "That is?"

"To Walk on the path of explosion and achieve the most grand power of fundamental magic at its finest and peak. I want to engrave such sight on my eyes and etch it into the deepest section of my mind and soul!"

Seth hearing this giggled like an evil mastermind, and Megumin fought back, "Huh! Ehh! What are you laughing at!? You think this is a joke!"

"I'll just keep it basic, learn other spells. If you're going to keep this up, you are going to get yourself killed. Even then, from what I see you will never be able to get your dream."

Megumin instantly exploded, "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT! DON'T JOKE ABOUT IT!"

"I am not. I'm just saying you are a frog in a well. You won't get far with your explosions, kid."

"Are you gonna lecture me that the advanced spell explosion is a joke magic? And I should just switch to something else, RIGHT!? If that's your plan then sorry I have heard it thousands of times!" Megumin spoke with distress.

"no, I do not consider explosion magic as a joke, in my eyes, there is no such thing as a joke spell. I view it as art."

"Really!" Megumin's ear perked up, showing hints of joy. She felt that for the first time in her life, she found someone kindred to her, someone who appreciated the advanced spell explosion.

But his next words shatter it, "But my point still stands, you're not good at casting explosions."

"YOU SAYING MY EXPLOSION SUCKS! HOW DO YOU COME TO SUCH CONCLUSION JUST BY READING MY ADVENTURER'S CARD!"

Seth took a deep breath, "By abandoning other spells, you deny your explosion of its true potential!" Megumin felt stumped hearing that, but she was still resolute.

"Explain! My stance still stands, I will not learn other spells, it's a waste of time and energy towards the path of explosions."

"That is why I said you're a frog in a well. Learning other spells will slow down your progress, but have you ever considered that those spells can assist your explosions? You do know that by brushing up on your fundamentals. It will solidify your foundation and help you gain a more thorough understanding of that advanced spell."

Seth went right next to Megumin's ear and whispered, "From what I see, if your progress in pursuing the best explosions reached a bottleneck. It's not because you aren't doing it hard enough, but because you became too narrow-minded to even see the most basic flaws in your casting. I could tell that…" And so he whispered more.

As the other part was whispered, Megumin jolted, as if she was completely read, but even then she still stood her ground, "I don't believe it! Even if you found out about that! Explosion magic is still the purest form of destruction! Mixing it with other spells will taint it! It will…"

"HERESY! Who says that, do you have proof? Listen here Arch-wizard…" Seth and Megumin went into a crazed debate about explosions, but it's mostly about Seth explaining how other spells and magic could help create bigger explosions, while Megumin denied it and created counter-arguments.

Kazuma and Aqua felt like they were on the sidelines.

This may be the first time we are seeing this side of Seth. Kazuma thought, he then asked Aqua, "Do you know anything about this side of him, Have you ever seen him like this?"

"No, this is my first. Wait… Now I remember, Seth is very passionate about the craft, any kind of craft. Maybe this applies to magic and I think he saw something in Megumin's card so horrendous that he deems she needs fixing."

Kazuma replied, "But he was never this harsh or mean to me at training. He was supportive when he trained me in my non-existent swordsmanship."

"Me neither, when we go against each other in art, he never raises his voice against me," Aqua spoke in agreement.

"Kazuma! Aqua! We are going to the plains! This arch-wizard ain't budging. I need to show her what she's missing out." Seth instantly rushed towards the guild's exit.

"Hmph! Fine by me, I'll show you how wrong you are when I invoke an explosion so great that you will bow down to me and beg for forgiveness!" Megumin followed suit.

*BANG!* The guild's main door was pushed hard as if it was kicked. Seth and Megumin have left the guild. Kazuma and Aqua sat frozen in shock before running to catch up with them.