That's playing dirty, Megumin!
You're eating my pudding, too!
And I've been saving it for dessert...
Your naïveté will do you no good in this cutthroat, survival-of-the-fittest world.
She's right, y'know.
You gotta be able to defend what's yours...
Whoa, hold it! Hands off my bubbly, damn it!
Excuse you?
Excuse what?!
This is one of the seven tankards of bubbly that I ordered.
That's a load of crap!
I see seven empty steins around you already!
Are you hammered or just stupid?
Which is it?!
E-Excuse me...
I have a request for Satou Kazuma-san's party...
You wanna hire us?
Well, you've done plenty for us in the past.
I don't see any reason to turn it down.
Sp-tang!
But we don't come cheap.
Um... more specifically, not for you, Satou-san,
but for Megumin-san over there.
KONOSUBA! God's Blessing on this Wonderful World! 3
"Red Stream Explosion!"
A typhoon?
Yes. It's headed northward from the coast south of Axel.
And what does this typhoon have to do with our Megumin?
It'd better not be something as nuts as
"blowing away a typhoon with the blast from Explosion magic."
I'm surprised you're not aware.
A typhoon results from the great spirit that governs storms running amok.
Every year, when typhoon season comes,
talented adventurers are recruited
to effectively calm the great spirit.
Dumbass fantasy world...
For your information,
typhoons are natural phenomena that occur over warm patches of ocean.
This spirit nonsense has nothing to do with...
Wh-What?!
Kazuma, Kazuma!
Kazuma here.
In this world, a great spirit really does make it rain.
Say stuff like that with a smug face and you'll embarrass yourself.
Stupid fantasy world!
At times like these, nothing works better than Explosion magic!
Wait, how?
It's a pure blast of magical power with no elemental alignment,
which is capable of damaging any foe, even gods and demons.
And of course, spirits, too!
This is the perfect time for Megumin-san's Explosion magic!
We're counting on you!
Explosion! Explosion! Explosion! Explosion!
I don't think so.
Whoa, what the hell?
You normally need to be held back from casting that.
These people always treat me like a nuisance,
but at a time like this, they want my help?
Frankly, I don't appreciate it.
If you desire my power so ardently, reconsider your day-to-day conduct.
Megumin, I understand how you feel, but Axel is in danger.
It's best that we all chip in.
We're sorry! We really do need your power!
Normal wizards won't be able to cut it!
That's right!
You always save the day when the chips are down!
Like with the Dullahan! And the Destroyer!
You've always been our secret weapon!
There's never been a better time for the Crimson Demons' greatest wizard, Megumin-san!
That's exactly right!
Show us the true power of your Explosion magic!
Dear me, do you really need it that badly?
My power as Axel's greatest wizard?
Of course we do!
You're the only one who can save Axel!
Show us that no magic can compare to Explosion!
That typhoon is nothing!
Explosion! Explosion!
I'm sorry I got you nicknamed "that crazy girl"!
Explosion! Explosion! Explosion! Explosion!
Next time, I'll come up with a different, also funny name!
Very well. By popular demand, I will demonstrate my...
Hey.
Who said that last bit?! Step forward!
Was it you?!
Stop! Have mercy!
Stop that, Megumin!
How about you don't spread any more "funny" nicknames at all?!
Because if you do...
Your house might be hit by a stray Explosion while you're not home!
Cut him some slack. Poor guy's sweating bullets.
What do you want, Kazuma?! This is very important!
A chance to revise the nickname that's been stuck to me!
Since Megumin doesn't seem into it,
you'll have to ask someone else. Sorry.
But a wizard capable of damaging the great spirit...
It's fine, Kazuma.
As conceited as the request may be, I'm mature enough to allow it.
Besides, who else in this town is capable of contesting a great spirit?
There's one over there.
Huh? U-Um, did I do something wrong?
That's right! We forgot about Yunyun-san!
Her advanced magic ought to be able to damage the great spirit, too!
The words of the adventurers earned a tentative response
from the less capable Crimson Demon...
I-I can do it!
I haven't been relied on like this
since people used to borrow money from me back at the Crimson Demon Village!
If you'll have me...
Um, now, h-hold on, please...
And if Megumin doesn't want to do it, we could also ask Wiz.
She can use advanced magic, as well as Explosion magic, like Megumin does.
Oh, yeah, there's Wiz-san!
We've got plenty of firepower to blow off the typhoon, then!
Between Wiz-san and a capable Crimson Demon like Yunyun-san,
we've got nothing to worry about!
If the other's incapable, then—
What the hell?!
How about you tell me who you're calling "incapable"?!
You don't need to give up so easi—
Good for you, Megumin!
Now you don't have to bother with a quest you don't like!
You can let us take it from here!
I'll apologize for being full of myself! Just, please, take me with you!
Two Days Later
High wind warning! High wind warning!
All citizens are advised to stay inside and secure your doors and windows!
The adventurers are currently headed toward the strengthening typhoon.
Please remain indoors until further notice!
So... we're headed to deal with a typhoon, right?
Yep. Can't you tell from looking at everyone?
Why the swimsuits, then?
You dummy.
Excuse me?
The great spirit of storms likes water, so the face-off is gonna be by the water.
It's only natural to take off any armor and wear a swimsuit so you don't drown!
Weird-ass fantasy world!
Kazuma. We're nearly there. Stay on your toes.
If you're not careful, you're gonna get hurt!
What did I do to earn a chewing-out from a buncha goobers in swimsuits?!
Then again, considering I get to see Wiz and Yunyun in swimsuits,
I guess it's okay!
K-Kazuma-san, I don't feel comfortable with you staring like that.
It's embarrassing.
Don't mind me.
If the two of you are embarrassed, you can get under my cloak.
What! Is! This! Sensation?!
Not bad! Not bad at all!
She's staying on-brand.
Hey, do you guys really do this every year?
Sure do! Whenever Madame Great Spirit rolls into town!
We've got it figured out now, but it was tough going back in the day!
The lady adventurers didn't want to wear swimsuits,
so we men all had to put them on to demonstrate how good an idea it was.
Let me tell you, it was no picnic!
I get it.
Not sure why you're showing such reverence for this great spirit, though.
Well, we've got three high-powered wizards with us this time,
so I've got my hopes up!
But if they actually kill her, won't that mean the end of this annual event?
Maybe using such powerful magic isn't the best...
Madame Great Spirit regains her senses after taking a bit of damage...
And when that happens, a certain phenomenon occurs
where the strength is equal to her accumulated damage.
What phenomenon?
She unleashes a powerful gust of wind
as thanks for getting the sense knocked back into her.
And this wind ain't some first breeze from the great spirit of spring or nothin'...
It's strong enough to blow anything you're wearing off you.
Are you saying...
I'm saying we've got a high chance of wardrobe malfunctions.
I decided to refer to her as Madame Great Spirit, too!
Are you okay?
I don't wanna see anybody chickening out 'cause of a little breeze!
There she is! The mistress of storms, Madame Great Spirit!
And that's Madame Great Spirit, the spirit of storms?
That's right.
There's an intrinsic relationship between water and storms.
I bet when people thought of storms,
they imagined a beautiful, chaste water spirit...
Which is why she ended up looking like that.
Uh, I'm thinking less chaste...
and more like some lady who's about to lose it!
I'll start us off by calming her down.
Tell the others not to antagonize her!
Whoa, wait!
Thou art my kin, o powerful, great spirit of storms.
I, Aqua, goddess of water, compel thee...
Quiet your fury.
You must be tranquil, like still waters.
Let your roiling heart
grow calm—
A great storm spirit is a step down from a great water spirit,
and you wanna get uppity with me?
I'm gonna grab you and use you like a fan!
We're going in with her!
If you can't swim, just float!
The important thing is to divide her focus!
We protect the spell casters, even if it kills us!
Oh, now I get it...
I hope you boys have got your hopes up this year!
We're gonna receive thanks equal to advanced magic and two blasts of Explosion!
It's gonna be stronger than ever!
These men... are men in the truest sense.
Capable of risking their own lives for the slightest hope of a fleeting moment!
Real manly men!
As nice as succubus service is, we wanna see the real deal every once in a while!
And Wiz is in a bikini today! Do you realize how likely that makes it?!
Hey, Megumin! Stand by on land!
We'll draw her in close enough for the Explosion magic to connect!
Go ahead and start the incantation!
U-Understood!
S-Stop!
Kazuma, perfect timing!
Could you help me out?
How do you always goof up when we need you the most?!
I-I don't know how to answer that... I've never had a chance to swim before—
Unbelievable!
Hey! Why are you guys all swimming back this way?!
Something is different about Madame Great Spirit this year!
She's really wilding out!
Kazuma-san, I think Aqua-san picked a fight with the great spirit!
Can she not make things worse for once?!
I'm gonna drag that idiot back! Head to land and get ready!
I'll lure in Madame Great Spirit while I'm at it!
O-Okay!
Would you give it a rest already?! Why won't you listen to me?!
What?!
I dare you to say that again.
You're not supposed to actually say it again!
You're gonna get cursed! So cursed!
What the hell are you doing?
Kazuma, listen to this!
She is absolutely the worst! I've never met someone with such a filthy mouth!
You are so going to pay for that one!
Yeah, I don't understand her at all.
But this means you can communicate with Madame Great Spirit, right?
I don't know what this pottymouth did to earn that kind of respect from you...
But yeah, I can.
Where do you get off?!
Come on, settle down.
She's not close enough for the Explosion magic to reach.
We need to draw her closer to the shore.
I get you! And then we can murder this pain-in-the-butt spirit!
I didn't say all that.
Okay, I've got it!
She might've won our last argument, but this time...
You lost in an argument?
Okay, if that's what you wanna do...
Excuse me, he just said you look like a worn-out middle-aged woman
working a "hospitality" job in a run-down cat house.
Hey! Can't you go faster?!
Madame Great Spirit has lost her damn mind!
But I feel a little better!
I knew you could do it!
Verbally abusing women to tears is part of your daily routine!
Would you stop?! I don't need any more weird rumors circulating about me!
Kazuma!
Hey! Everybody ready?! Let's make this count!
Yunyun first! Then Wiz!
And then you wrap it up with your Explosion magic!
But with this wind... There's no telling what might happen!
Should we maybe wait a bit?
Dummy! We can't afford to wait!
This great spirit of storms goes berserk every year, right?!
So we need to end this now!
Kazuma...
W-Wait, you almost convinced me,
but wouldn't it be better to be more thorough?
I can't believe you, Explosion Girl!
I thought you had the guts to take this thing head-on!
So much for Axel's biggest daredevil!
She wants to poke away at the enemy 'cause she's afraid of a counterattack?
What a disappointment!
H-How dare you?!
Very well! I shall show you what Crimson Demons are truly capable of!
Here we go, Yunyun!
R-Right! To protect everyone in town!
Right!
Perfect. This time we'll get to see the real deal,
and not just what a succubus cooks up in a dream.
Darkness! If Megumin and the casters don't pull this off,
we're going to be hit with the biggest blast ever!
If that happens, protect everyone!
Leave it to me! I may not have helped before, but this time...
Bring it on!
That's what I like to see. We're all counting on you, resident sex appeal!
Here I go!
Father! Mother!
This is the first time I've felt grateful to have been born a Crimson Demon!
Everyone is counting on me!
Lightning Strike!
I'll go next!
I can't let you cause any more trouble for the townspeople!
Explosion!
This impulse, uncontrollable. This cry, a victory over mortality...
And while you dream in darkness, the dawning sun draws near, burning the shadows!
In my name, by my power, I deliver the end to the great spirit of storms!
Taste the essence of crimson!
Do it!
For the sake of our dream!
Explosion!
D-Damn...
She didn't actually kill Madame Great Spirit, did she?
She survived! Madame Great Spirit is still standing!
Um... I wasn't able to finish her off. Why is everyone so happy?
Thank you!
Thank you so much, Madame Great Spirit!
Hey! Explain to me why you're thanking her!
Look!
Madame Great Spirit is smiling!
I think she must've absorbed too much ambient mana
from her time here on the physical plane.
Looks like she's calmed down now that she was able to get rid of some of it.
Makes sense!
So she comes to Axel every year to get rid of her excess magic power.
Huh? To thank us for helping you get rid of the magic power?
You don't need to worry about that.
Well, if you really insist, then we accept.
Here we go! Showtime!
It's been a long damn time since I saw the real, non-succubus deal!
Sacred Break Spell!
Hey! You said it was thanks,
but you were about to blast us with a huge wind, weren't you?!
What do you mean, "learn to read the room"?! You think I'm stupid?!
Seriously, why do you feel sorry for the town's adventurers?
They were able to fight off your assault,
so I can understand feeling grateful, but pity? Why?
I dunno why, but she asked me to tell you she hopes you'll all be back next year.
We hope things will work out next year!
Good work, everyone!
There was no damage to the town thanks to your efforts!
Well, it was a simple task for adventurers of our caliber!
Your Explosion magic has grown even more powerful, Megumin-san!
I'm impressed! You can tell?
You know, I don't see Kazuma around.
Or any of the men...
I'm sure they'll roll in sooner or later, demanding some bubbly to drink!
I don't doubt it. Maybe we should take this chance to drink in peace and quiet.
Cheers!
The end of the line is over here!
There's currently a two-hour wait to be served!
Welcome!
Right this way!
Business is booming like crazy!