The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing

#206 - From zero

Lugnica, the Pro-Dragon Kingdom.

This kingdom is named so because it signed a covenant with the Divine Dragon Volkenica 400 years ago, and has been protected ever since.

A Dragon Priestess is established between the royal family and the Divine Dragon to facilitate communication, while the Dragon Stone provides guidance for future policies, and the Council of Sages assists in decision-making.

However, now that all known members of the royal family have died of illness, the Council of Sages has begun to temporarily fulfill the duties of the government, and according to the guidance of the Dragon Stone, a new Dragon Priestess and King must be selected from five candidates to sign a new covenant with the Divine Dragon.

And the current point in time.

Is the state where the fifth candidate has not yet appeared, and the King selection ceremony has not yet begun.

"Customer? Uh… Customer?"

"…Sorry, Uncle."

Calling out to him was the fruit stall owner with green hair, three scars on his face, and known as the save point.

It was just a casual glance, but when he saw him, Zunzun thought of some uncertain possibility, and after inquiring, as expected…

"It's 'Re:Zero'."

"…Customer?"

"It's nothing. More importantly, thank you, Uncle, for helping me understand this kingdom. This is your reward."

Putting away his anxious mood, Zunzun flicked a gold coin over.

The uncle clumsily caught the gold coin, and said with some trepidation, "Cu-Customer, you're giving too much. You already gave me money just now, and this is something everyone knows, I didn't…"

"It's okay, just take it."

The currency he gave was from "Konosuba", which shouldn't be in circulation in this world, but its strength lies in the fact that the material it is made of is gold, only with a certain degree of depreciation.

Unable to refuse the hospitality, he took a bag of apples that the owner gave him and said goodbye.

Although he has a fierce-looking face, he's actually a surprisingly good person?

Forget it, that's not important.

At this moment, Zunzun clearly knew that this world was not one he could take advantage of. The best way was to not even think about it and go back, otherwise, he really wouldn't know how he died when the time came.

But how should he go back?

He suddenly found it difficult.

"…Look, Big Brother, there's actually a lone, fat sheep here."

"Really! Hey, you guy, if you don't want to suffer, quickly hand over the money."

"Hurry up and hand it over!"

The thug-like remarks made Zunzun frown unhappily.

Only then did he realize that he was too immersed in thought, and unknowingly walked alone into the depths of a dark and secluded alley, unintentionally giving them an opportunity to commit a crime.

He didn't expect that he would be targeted.

Not wanting to get too entangled with them, Zunzun rolled his eyes unhappily and snorted coldly.

"Scram."

"You dare to… Eek!?"

The leading thug angrily took a step forward, but before he could say anything, he saw a pair of scarlet eyes on the face covered by shadows. Somewhat frightened, he swallowed and stepped back.

"L-Leader…"

"This guy is a bit bad news."

"I know! You, you, don't get too cocky. I just suddenly remembered that I have something to do. I-I'll let you off the hook today! Arton, Ahan, let's go."

"Wait for us, Ajin!"

The thugs made standard, outwardly strong but inwardly weak threats, and after saying that, the three of them ran away without looking back, the small one even tripped and fell.

Huh?

Ajin, Ton, Han?

Only then did Zunzun realize that they were the trio of thugs from the royal capital. He didn't expect that he would scare them away.

Forget it, that's not important either.

Putting the bag of apples in his hand on the steps, Zunzun then took a deep breath, opened his arms, and shouted in an extremely serious tone.

"—Open Sesame!"

After a long while, there was no response.

He still reluctantly opened his right hand and shouted at the void, "Explode, reality! Shatter, spirit! Banish this world!"

…

"…It still doesn't work, damn it!"

Orz

Zunzun knelt on the ground, smashing the stone slab with his right hand.

He hadn't reached the point where he could break the void, and couldn't open a path home on his own. Didn't that mean he was helpless?

Just then—

"Um… are you okay? Do you feel unwell anywhere? Is there anything I can help you with?"

A girl's soft, concerned voice came from his ear.

Because he was kneeling on the ground, he couldn't see her face, but white long boots caught his eye.

Zunzun said sullenly, "Leave me alone."

"Oh dear, Lia, you're such a worrier, always wasting time at times like this."

The voice was soft and糯, with a bit of playfulness.

"But…"

"Lia, have you forgotten that you still have things to do?"

The girl seemed to have suddenly thought of something, she became a little anxious, but after rushing out, she stopped and said to Zunzun, who was kneeling on the ground, "Although I don't know what's wrong with you, it's better to go see a doctor as soon as possible if you're feeling unwell."

"Lia, it's better not to talk to strangers when you're out and about."

"But that person seems very sad."

"Maybe he's deliberately trying to trick you by pretending."

"Really!?"

"Really, really."

…

The girl's figure had already disappeared, only a strand of silver hair flashed at the corner of the alley.

A moment after the girl left, a person jumped down from the roof.

A breeze caught Zunzun's attention.

Speaking of which, wasn't he a bit too attractive? Why did everyone want to chat with him?

This was a small girl with golden hair tied behind her head. Red eyes like Zunzun's made people feel good, but the clothes she wore were tattered, as if she had come from the slums.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, leave me alone."

Zunzun didn't want to talk to anyone right now.

Honestly, in this situation, it was already very polite of him to respond.

The blonde little girl nodded and didn't seem to want to pester him. She said, "I see, so I was worried for nothing. Although I don't know what happened, as the saying goes, there's no hurdle you can't overcome. You have to live strong."

Zunzun closed his eyes and didn't respond.

Then he heard a breeze in his ear. Zunzun subconsciously turned his head and saw her stepping on a pile of garbage in the alley with one foot, grabbing the wall nimbly, and disappearing above the building in the blink of an eye.

As quickly as she came.

Just when Zunzun was wondering what this guy had come for, he suddenly realized that the bag of apples that was placed next to him had disappeared.

You thought a girl's concern was free?

No, there's a price!

"That guy…"

Zunzun clenched his fists somewhat unhappily.

Stealing even a bag of apples, how poor is she? But recalling the red-eyed, blonde girl just now, her appearance and clothing, as well as her superb sleight of hand… her identity was already obvious.

"Felt, huh…"

Huh?

Zunzun suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He seemed to have thought of something, and quickly ran out of the alley, back to the fruit stall save point, and loudly asked the somewhat puzzled owner:

"The slums… where are the slums!?