Undead Knights.

They were a top class of zombie, and though their armor might not have looked like much, they wore it well. These monsters were more than enough to terrorize novice adventurers.

“Oh no! A Priest! Call a Priest!” “Somebody go to the Eris Church and get all the holy water you can!”

The adventurers’ panicked cries rang out as the Undead Knights advanced into the city.

Adventurers lined up to face the monsters.

And Beldia watched it all, laughing...

“Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! | shall enjoy listening to your cries of despair! Your...cries—” A shout from the crowd had interrupted his merriment.

“Yiilikes! Why are you all coming after me?! I’m a goddess! My life isn’t supposed to be this hard!”

“Aww, not fair! My life isn’t hard! Why not attack me?!”

That would be Aqua, shouting some most un-goddess-like things, and Darkness, exclaiming in envy.

The Knights hadn’t moved toward the townspeople but, for some reason, were heading relentlessly for Aqua.

“N-no, you fools! Don’t get distracted by one Priest! There are other adventurers right there, you know! Townspeople! Let’s get a bloodbath going

|”

here!” Beldia sounded more than a little dismayed.

Maybe his mindless undead minions were naturally drawn to Aqua, who was a goddess and could bring them salvation.

It was just a theory. But it was also irrelevant. The point was, now was our chance!

“Hey, Megumin! Think you can land an explosion right in the middle of those Undead Knights?”

“What?! But we are in town—think of the collateral damage!”

Then it happened.

“Sir Kazumaaaa! Great Kazumaaaa!”

Aqua was dashing toward me, a horde of Undead Knights right behind her. Wha—?!

“You idiot! Stop! Stay back! If you turn around, Ill treat you to dinner tonight!”

“I'll treat you—just do something about these undead! They’re not normal! My Turn Undead skill doesn’t make them disappear!”

Dammit. Was this what Beldia had meant by the grace of the Demon King? No...wait. Wait just a second.

“Megumin! Get outside the gate and start chanting!”

“What? Y-yes, sir!”

With that, | ran for the gate myself, Aqua and the monsters hot on my heels. | made sure to run right by the few Undead Knights who were fighting other adventurers, hoping to add as many as possible to our collection...

Then...

“Kazuma, pleeeease! The Knights? The undead ones? They’re right behind me!”

| looked back and saw a massive army of Beldia’s servants following us.

Aqua and | passed the town gate. Then the Knights went through. And then... “Megumin, now!”

At my signal, Megumin held up her staff, red eyes flashing.

“A better moment | could not have dreamed! My thanks, Kazuma, my deepest thanks! ..My name is Megumin! First among the spell-casters of the Crimson Magic Clan! Master of explosive magics! O Beldia, general of the Demon King, behold my power! Explosion!!”

The blast from Megumin’s beloved spell landed smack in the center of the crowd of zombies.