Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was September.
On this bright and cool autumn day, Zunzun was ready to start the next round of planting.
Megumin took it very seriously too. According to her, finding food in winter was tough. The weeds and mushrooms by the roadside disappeared completely. Sometimes, if you were lucky, you could catch a rabbit in the western forest, but there was always the risk of running into stronger beasts. If unlucky, you'd be left eating snow to fill your stomach.
In short, winter was a hard time for her.
"So, little loli, work hard farming so you don't starve this winter!"
"I will work hard. And please stop calling me little loli."
"Okay, little loli, no problem, little loli."
Being called "little loli" repeatedly, Megumin showed an obvious look of displeasure. She lowered her head, staring at her chest, as flat as the surrounding land, with a confused expression.
Obviously, she ate well every day—so why no change?
"Maybe it's not the right growth period yet."
That was Sister Soketto's answer.
Actually, she didn't really know either. She had slight fluctuations at six years old, but Megumin's chest was like solid rock, impossible to chip away.
The little loli then sneaked a glance at Zunzun's own flat chest and smiled in relief.
Hey, what's that supposed to mean? Zunzun frowned a bit.
He hadn't been slacking during farming breaks. He often ran off to the forest to train, gaining strength but no muscles yet. When would he finally grow those enviable big muscles?
Looking at the prepared land, Megumin hesitated.
"Is planting potatoes troublesome?"
"No, it's simple," Zunzun shook his head.
Since the land was prepared half a month ago, all they had to do now was plant the sprouted potato pieces and water them.
Zunzun dug holes alongside Megumin, explaining, "Bury the potato pieces about two centimeters deep. If you bury them too deep, they won't grow—kind of like your breasts."
"If you say that again, I'll plant you in the ground too!"
The little girl's eyes turned fiery red with excitement. She looked like a furious little kitten.
Zunzun felt the warning. If she kept teasing him, one day she might really bury him alive.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry!"
Under pressure, he apologized quickly.
Trying to change the subject, Zunzun said, "By the way, Megumin, have you heard the fable of the devil and the farmer?"
"No, what's that?" Megumin perked up, clearly interested.
Kids will always be drawn to a good fairy tale or fable.
Clearing his throat, Zunzun began the story.
Though his voice was immature and lacked drama, Megumin was more focused on the tale than the delivery.
"A long time ago, there was a farmer who was very good at farming. His crops were excellent.
One day, a greedy devil found the farmer and said, 'This year, the crops you plant above ground belong to me, and the crops that grow underground belong to you. I'll give you treasure in two years!'
The farmer thought for a moment, then happily agreed.
The devil was thrilled too, thinking he'd get something for nothing.
In the first year, the farmer planted potato seeds. Since potatoes grow underground, the farmer thought, all those potatoes would be his!
He happily worked the fields without worrying about the devil.
When harvest came, the farmer brought home baskets full of potatoes from underground. The devil thought, 'The farmer harvested so much? I must have more than him—I'm going to be rich!'
But when the devil came to claim his crops above ground, he was stunned to see only withered potato leaves. He got nothing!
The devil realized he'd made a mistake taking the above-ground crops. Next year, he decided to switch things.
Angrily, the devil told the farmer, 'Next year, the crops above ground will be yours, and I want the underground ones.'
The farmer smiled happily and agreed.
The next year, the farmer planted corn. He thought, 'The roots are useless; I'll give those to the devil. I just want the corn!'
When autumn came, the farmer harvested baskets of corn and brought them home.
The devil was happy, thinking he would get the underground treasures.
But when he harvested, all he got were the useless roots.
The devil was furious at being tricked again but had to keep his promise.
Meanwhile, the farmer got many treasures underground: gold, silver, and more.
From then on, the farmer lived happily ever after!
Congratulations, congratulations!"
After finishing the tale, Zunzun noticed Megumin seemed thoughtful, inspired by the story's lessons—foresight, not being greedy for what's right in front of you, and not expecting something for nothing.
Unexpectedly—
"What a stupid devil."
Megumin muttered as she planted potatoes. "If the farmer cheated him, why not just kill the farmer? Then the devil wouldn't have to give him treasure and could keep all the crops, right?"
"Wait, didn't you just listen? The devil and farmer made an agreement."
"So what? The agreement only lasted two years. After that, the devil can do whatever he wants!"
This little loli… such a radical thinker!
"Besides, how can the devil be trustworthy?"
"No, no, no—whether in fairy tales or real life, devils are actually very trustworthy. They don't hurt people casually. Some even work hard in other people's shops to earn money so they can own their own dungeons."
Zunzun said this casually, though he was thinking hard.
That sparked suspicion in Megumin's eyes.
"How do you know that? Like you saw it with your own eyes?"
"Uh… well, this is…"
Zunzun grew anxious.
He couldn't say he knew this from his previous life. That would be weird.
Panicking, he blurted, "Look, since my family are fortune-tellers—and I have some fortune-telling skills too—I can see a little about such things!"
"Oh…"
Megumin understood immediately.
She knew Zunzun's family specialized in fortune-telling, and Sister Soketto would inherit the fortune-telling house after graduation.
Suddenly, Megumin had an idea.
"Zunzun, your fortune-telling—can you see whether I'll have magnificent pectoral muscles like Sister Soketto and the others in the future?"
"Huh?"
Zunzun was momentarily stunned. He looked at her smooth granite-like chest with a mix of pity and sympathy.
"It doesn't matter if you don't have those, Megumin. You'll live a good life in the future."
"Wait! I asked if I'll have magnificent pectoral muscles! What does that have to do with a good life?! What do you mean by 'not having that kind of thing'? Explain!"
Before Megumin could go berserk, Zunzun quickly planted the last potato seeds and ran away.
Because this kind of… desperate question? He really couldn't answer that!
-End Chapter-
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