Chapter 39 Coffin Dance Arc Part 1

"That one! That one right there!" Megumin said in excitement as she pointed at an abandoned castle on a cliffside.

"You want to train there?" Michael asked while pointing.

"No, I want to use the castle as a target." Megumin said, her red eyes glowing.

"But what if there are people there?" Yunyun cry of rationality poured sour water over Megumin's enthusiasm.

"It's clearly empty. It's basically falling apart." Megumin argued. "It's been here for a long time, and there's no sounds coming from it, and if a noble occupied it, they would not leave it looking so run down."

"Eh? Since when are you so analytical, Megumin? You actually thought before you acted."

"Oi! I don't wanna hear that from the cry-baby who until she was seven thought her shadow was scary because it's darker than normal."

"You said you wouldn't bring that up anymore!"

Michael decided to interject before the two Crimson Demons desended into a slap fight.

"Okay, both of you stop." While their hands were raised about to grab each other, they at least halted and turned to listen to him. "Megumin, that was some good observation. Yunyun, you also do bring up a good point. So, for the sake of compromise, I'll go scout and check the area then come back. In the meantime, Megumin start up your spell and delay it. Do not fire the Explosion till I come back."

"Yes!" Megumin pumped her fist. "I'll make sure to perfect my edging, Sensei!"

"...The what?" Michael's expression was a frozen smile of someone who couldn't believe what they just heard.

"M-M-Megumin, maybe you should change the name?" Said the red faced Yunyun.

"Why not? E.D.G.E. is a great technique name."

"I do not understand either," said Schwanhild, who was quiet up until now.

"...It's short for?" Michael said slowly, starting to get an idea that Megumin just made an abbreviation of a move name to make it sound cool.

"The Eruption Delayed Ginormous Explosion technique!" Megumin said proudly.

"Ah, I see." Said Michael.

"Hmm, accurate." Schwanhild nodded.

"But maybe don't say 'edging'." Said Yunyun.

"But why? That's basically the action of using the technique." Megumin tilted her head in confusion.

"I don't understand the reason either. Please elaborate, Yunyun." Schwanhild said. Michael felt proud that the normally stoic little Priest was being more engageful with the party.

"Hmmm," Michael crossed his arms, and made a hum while looking Yunyun with a cat-like smile.

So Megumin doesn't know or realize what the name could be interpreted as, but Yunyun does. Well, well, well.

"Eeeek!" Yunyun's face heated up so much, Michael worried that she might faint.

"Megumin, start up your spell." Michael decided to give the poor girl a break. He supposed in an effort to be more 'knowledgeable' or 'adult' than Megumin she found some of those things out. "Hild, you learned Recharge recently, so start getting familiar with it on Megumin."Recently, Michael began to use an affectionate shortening of Schwanhild's name, so the girl would feel closer and more at home while with her party. She didn't seem to object to the practice, or dislike it, unlike when she first joined. "And Yunyun?"

"Y-Yes!" Yunyun stood up straight like a student in a classroom.

"Please set up a teleportation point here."

One of the perks of having defeated and aided in the defeat of many monsters, was that Yunyun had gotten enough Skill Points from many Level Ups, that she could unlock Advanced Magic from her Adventurer Card.

It allowed for much more powerful versions of the spells she already knew, but also opened up the path to many exotic and helpful spells, like Teleport.

"Yes, sir! Right away!"

"Why are you acting weird?" Megumin narrowed her eyes.

"No reason!"

Michael chuckled as he shook his head, and went on his way.

===x===

From his hiding spot, Michael rested his cheek on his hand, while turning down his lips at what he saw at the supposed 'abandoned' castle.

The place was crawling with figures.

Undead figures. Mostly Skeletons but with some Zombies mixed in.

And the one who radiated most power among them was a headless knight. A Dullahan.

So that's Beldia. Michael observed. Unless there are other Dullahans running around with Servant Tier power levels. 

Admittedly the aura the Demon General gave off, felt like that of a low-level Servant in comparison to Wiz's mid-level aura power. Although that was only in terms of magical energy. Aura indicated potential magic power in a creature, but it didn't tell the full story, only how likely strong they are. The bloodlust coming off the Dullahan definitely showed it is experienced in combat, and thus wasn't just lucky enough to be born magically strong.

However, instinct-wise, Michael felt Wiz would probably be the more dangerous of the two, if she were to fight seriously.

So the abandoned castle turned out to be the place that, the Demon General who scared of all the low-level monsters, settled in.

Michael could track magic from sight, so even if he wasn't close enough to inspect, he could see a ward that infused the Demon General power into the surrounding area, so when the mooks rebuild the structure, it would be magically reinforced.

And Megumin chose this place for target practice? Michael wondered if this was luck or destiny.

He smiled.

Regardless, let's just have some fun with this.

===x===

"...PLOSION!"

Megumin collapsed as she fired off her spell. Her explosion engulfed the castle yet when the fires died down, and only smoke was left, the place still stood.

"2 on the Stella Scale." Michael said neutrally.

"What!?" Megumin's head shot up, from where she was resting against the ground. Yunyun meanwhile moved Megumin's body to help her sit up, while supporting her. To Megumin, she didn't hear a neutral observation in Michael's tone, but disappointment. "I got the whole castle!"

"Yes, but the fire wasn't as strong. The whole thing is singed, and there is some smoke, but not much damage otherwise. Maybe its just sturdier than expected?" Michael held his chin while wondering.

"It's...it's because I didn't have enough charge time!" Megumin pointed out to defend herself.

"You need to increase the speed at which you gather mana for your spell." Michael said back. His tone held no condemnation, just an earnst wish to help her improve.

"I...didn't have a good recharge partner." Megumin immediately threw Schwanhild under the bus.

"I'm not Lady Aqua, but I have been carrying my job dutifully." Schwanhild protested, as sweat ran down her face.

She stayed standing, so Michael sat down and gestured for her to do the same. Schwanhild looked like she wanted to protest sitting on the dirt, but seeing everyone sitting, let her push aside her pride, and sat down. Schwanhild, not to subtly (as much as she thought), let out a sigh, as she didn't have to fight the exhaustion she felt at multiple non-stop spell casting, and could now rest.

Michael noticed the sweat on Schwanhild's face. Megumin's face in contrast was clear of sweat due to the extra enchantment he added to her eye-patch so she can see clearly, along-side the old one of seeing through said eye-patch.

Maybe I should add enchantment to everyone's clothes, to things like water or wind in their face, don't bother them in the middle of a fight. Michael considered, and resolved to talk to the whole party when they get back home, and fix that issue.

"Megumin, Hild did her job right. The spell is on you." Michael paused so his words would sink in. Megumin was crestfallen, as she looked down. "However, what you did was actually pretty expectant." Megumin looked up in surprise. "First time had a lot of circumstances that aren't here now. So it's normal that your performance would be down a bit. I would say, being a '2' on the Stella Scale with the Delaying--"

"Edging." Megumin spoke up.

"Technique," Michael continued unabashed. "Is probably your standard for now. We'll see if it's the same tomorrow. However, trying to make your spell better with Edge," Yunyun's mouth parted at Michael casually using the term. "Isn't enough. You need to work on the other factors. Like mana gathering for the spell, holding capacity, shape and accuracy when shooting the Explosion, and then the recovery afterwards."

Megumin nodded focused look, taking all of Michael's words seriously.

"Now, what I do want you to do, is as much as you can try and focus on what it feels like to get feeling back in your body as your mana tank fills up again. You need to get to know the feeling when your body is functioning again, as from it we'll build up to Mana Regeneration by absorbing the ambient mana in the air."

"Yes, Sensei." Megumin removed her arm from around Yunyun, to sit like a monk and meditate.

"You don't have to do it now," Michael lightly chuckled. "The lesson is still continuing. Just take a second every once in a while to note what your body is feeling like."

"Yes, Sensei." Megumin threw off her cross-legged stance, and just sat lazily. Michael huffed in amusement.

"Now, this is something I wanted to talk to the three of you about. How do you see yourself as adventurers in five years? Ten years?" Michael asked.

"Umm..." Yunyun looked around at her teammates in surprise to see them also caught flat-footed.

"I'm not saying this like a job interview." Michael chuckled. Megumin and Yunyun sighed in relief, while Schwanhild tilted her head with a raised eyebrow. "I mean like what kind of Arch Wizard," he gestured to the Crimson Demons. "Or Arch Priest," he gestured at the Twinkle girl. "Do you imagine yourself being if you keep training and improving in that period of time." Megumin opened her mouth. "And not in vague terms like 'the best' or 'the valiant' or 'terrifying'." Megumin closed her mouth. "I mean in actual concrete way. What do you imagine yourself actually capable of doing, or wish you could gain the ability to can do?"

This time, the girls grew silent as they thought of their answer. It was only natural.

Yunyun just wanted to be Megumin's rival. She can use Intermediate and Advanced Magic now. The spells of those two Magic Tiers are open to her to use and get better at. However, she never thought of which type of spells to dedicate her time to. What to specialize in.

Having a solid general base of combat ability. Being good at many different types of subject in magic. All of that was fine.

But you only have 24 hours in the day (unless you use time magic), thus you need something to dedicate more time to. Something to give you an edge. A trump card for dire situations (however if it's time magic you'll eventually have all the time you need, but then what's the point when you can just focus more on using time magic).

Megumin probably never thought about specialization or how to grow as a mage beyond bigger and better explosions. Now that she realized how vast the world of Explosion Magic was, she was giving the issue some thought.

In a way, it wasn't surprising that Schwanhild was the first to answer the question.

"I want to be like Lady Aqua." Yunyun and Megumin looked at the Loli Axis Priest wide-eyed. Michael raised an eyebrow but waited for her to continue. "I want to be able to use healing spells and supports spells without limit or strain. To be able to do so at wide distances too. However..." Schwanhild scowled a bit, as if embarrassed. "I want to be greater at the offensive spells of the Priest path. Turn Undead, Exorcism, Dispel. I want to finish learning and perfecting those for starters." Schwanhild looked up, meeting Michael's gaze. "I want to be the bane of Devils and the Undead. But I also don't want to be helpless against normal enemies." She looked away in thought. "Some of my family members are Monks, so they can help me in gaining combat experience. So if I become a good enough combatant, then with Sacred Smite, I would be able to handle all opponents."

"Hmm," Michael nodded, accepting her well thought out future path. "So, offensive holy spells. Combat training. Then heal and support spells. Those are your priorities from highest to least?" He didn't say 'lowest' so he didn't have to explain that the last priority wasn't important, but that it the third thing she would train.

"Yes." Schwanhild said back.

"Hmm, I think there's an old beginner's dungeon a few hours from Axel that tends to have undead fill up the place. When you have a good enough agility to my standards, we can go there to practice with holy magic. While the undead there are weak, they are numerous enough to help you with frequent casting, as well as help you in range and area of effect type casting." Schwanhild nodded, an eager light in her eyes.

Michael began to envision what Schwanhild could be. He could easily see her as a mace-wielding cleric, spearheading attacks on demonic strongholds, using holy magic at close range, but also having the ability to use heal and support spells at long distances when needed. He could imagine Schwanhild will grow up to be a bit of a hot-head, so first thing he should probably work on, is teach her the importance of keeping a clear head, and thinking and planning before taking action.

"Do you mean, Keele's Dunegon, Michael?" Asked Yunyun.

"That's the one," he nodded. "So do you have an answer?" He turned to the demure Crimson Demon, but also gave the bomb passionate one the chance to talk.

"I, um...that is..." Yunyun couldn't think of an answer.

"Freely used Explosions." Megumin took the stage.

Schwanhild and Yunyun sigh at the expectant answer, but Michael waited and listened with patience.

"I want to be able to use Explosions without collapsing. At least not from one." Megumin grumbled before she focused again. "I want to make my magic into an actual combat style. Yes, most enemies will be taken out an Explosion or two, but Demon General would be a step up from that." Megumin's eyes glowed. "If I want to be able to take them on, I need to be able make my magic an actual way of fighting. That I can use it enough times to make plans, feints and tactics with it." Megumin grinned. "So I need to make my mana tank become larger. Much, much larger!"

"I see," Michael nodded. "Drain and refill it several times a day, so it would naturally grow. Aqua would be the only one that can help, but she would be really annoyed at the repetitive tasks." Michael thought quietly for a while. "I'm gonna have to get something of a substitute to Aqua's support spells later on. So for now, the focus on drain and refill will take priority."

"Yes!" Megumin grinned with her eyes closed and pumped her fist in the air

"I, um..." Yunyun let out a noise as the party's eyes fell on her. She bit her lip, and tried to think of something, anything to say.

Yunyun opened her mouth to give an answer.

===x===

The walk back to Axel seem much longer, and more tiring, than the trip from it.

Yunyun walked in silence, in contrast to her rival and teammate as they talked excitedly about their future aspirations, and what they would probably be like if they achieve their envisioned selves.

Yunyun felt a hand patting her head. She looked up to see Michael smiling kindly at her, which she couldn't help but smiled back to. However after he moved up, placing himself in equal distance between Megumin and Schwanhild in the front, and her in the back, Yunyun went back to pouting.

"It's fine, Yunyun. Normal even, to not have an idea of what you want to become. Most people think about the present, and the immediate future. The far future isn't something most really focus on. So take your time, and give me an answer tomorrow, or next week, or whenever you're ready." Michael had told her, sounding really patient and kind back then.

Yunyun hadn't been able to answer Michael's questions. Because she didn't know. She couldn't envision what type of adventurer she would be in five or ten years.

She imagined herself as Megumin's rival, and future clan leader.

But what else is there?

Should she be just better at all spells? Be faster in casting spells than Megumin? Maybe focus on Lightning Magic?

Yunyun imagined her future self as many different types of mages, but she couldn't settle on any one specifically.

It ate at her confidence (how little she managed to build), that she didn't have an answer like Megumin and Schwanhild ready. Maybe she should talk to Michael about this tomorrow? Better when they are alone.

After reaching Axel, the Dark Paladin and trio of adventurer girls, headed straight to their new home. As they all expected, there was a large gathering of Axis believers at the new church tank.

However, the tank church was lit up completely from the inside, the bell in the church tower was ringing, and the speakers were constantly shouting Axis scripture, and many Axis worshipers were dancing and drinking on the church's patio or around it.

"Nature's Beauty!"

The girls and Michael heard and saw Aqua's signature Party Trick skill, of summoning water from hand fans, that resulted in cheers and roars from the Axis members.

"Aqua," Michael called out, which made the goddess stop and look over the fence on the tank, toward him. "What's all this?"

"The Aqua Herald--this baby's name," Aqua tapped the fence to mean the church tank."Was a huge hit!" Aqua shouted back. "All the Axis members in Axel are gonna move and live here! Isn't this great?" Aqua grinned with absolute joy.

""...yay."" Michael and the girls said back with dead enthusiasm.

===