DxD: My Main Skill is Winning Hearts

Chapter 101 – EXPLOSION

When we reached the city gates, I adjusted my coat, trying to block the wind.

Megumin, however, didn't seem to mind the cold even in a mid-thigh dress. In fact, she seemed focused on a distant hill, which was the spot she had chosen for tonight's big explosion.

"It's right there. A perfect place to blow everything up without hurting anyone." She said.

"Then that's where we're going," I replied.

As we climbed the hill, the deep silence of the night seemed to grow. The city behind us was no longer visible, and all that remained was the vast countryside in front of us, open like a blank canvas, ready to be painted with the chaos of a magical explosion.

We reached the top of the hill, and Megumin stopped. She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in the air as if mentally preparing herself for what was to come.

"I'm ready." She said and raised her staff, which was about the same height as her.

"Do you want me to stand back a bit?"

Megumin gave a short laugh and shook her head. "No need. The explosion will be big, but it won't hit you if you stay right there."

She stretched her staff slightly in front of her and began to mutter the words of the incantation. I began to feel a slight vibration under my feet, a foretaste of what was to come. Then, finally, she shouted:

"EXPLOSION!"

The ground shook. The night sky was illuminated by a blinding light, and the earth about a hundred meters in front of us was torn apart by an indescribable force. The sound was deafening, as if the world was breaking in half and, for a brief moment, there was nothing but pure chaos.

And then... silence.

When the dust finally began to settle, I looked at Megumin. She was on her knees, panting, with a wide, satisfied smile on her face. Her cheeks were rosy, and her body seemed relaxed, as if she had just released all the tension she had been holding in.

"It was... incredibly powerful," I said.

Megumin smiled proudly, but made no effort to stand up. "Of course it was. Explosions are always like that. But now... I can't move." She laughed lightly, as if she'd expected it.

I walked over to her and knelt down beside her. "You really exhaust yourself with this, don't you?"

"Yes. It's the price you pay for perfection."

I looked at her for a moment, considering an idea in my mind, something that might help her regain some of her energy. Twilight Healing, the healing magic I possessed thanks to Asia, could perhaps restore some of her mana, maybe enough for her to stand up on her own. But at the same time, I wanted to carry her on my back to bring us closer together.

"Come on. I'll carry you. That way you won't freeze here until dawn."

Carefully, I slipped an arm under her and lifted her easily onto my back. She was lighter than I expected, which made the process easier.

"Do you always do that?" I asked.

Megumin laughed weakly and slipped her arms behind mine for support. "I do, but I don't always have someone to carry me afterwards."

We started walking back, and I felt the warmth of her body against mine. As I walked, I noticed how surprisingly smooth her legs were for someone who lived in a medieval world. I thought about it for a moment, not really realizing that my face was probably showing my train of thought.

"You're thinking strange things, aren't you?" Megumin suddenly murmured mischievously in my ear.

I startled slightly and shook my head negatively. "No... Of course not!" I replied quickly, although my tone betrayed a slight nervousness.

She laughed softly, tightening her arms around me a little more. "It wouldn't be a problem if it was, you know? After all, you're a knight, unlike Kazuma."

I almost stumbled at her unexpected response. "What does that mean?"

"I mean that you have an honor that Kazuma would never have. We met today, but you fought on the front line with the Darkness, you cared about my Explosion and I know you'd do the right thing, even if... your thoughts were a little indecent."

I couldn't help but laugh briefly. "I think you have a slightly idealized view of me, Megumin. But anyway, thanks for the vote of confidence."

She rested her head against my back, and I felt as if that outburst had done the job of relaxing her.

"You know." she said softly, breaking the silence. "Today... was fun. The explosion, I mean. And the fact that you're here too."

I smiled, a genuine smile. "I liked it too, Megumin."

I currently had four hearts with Megumin, but, just as I did with the girls in High School DxD, I needed to be a little cautious. Sure, I could try to get a kiss or something better right away, but if I got rejected, it could do a lot of damage to my reputation in this town. So, as I wanted to get stronger, the best thing would be to try to spend more time with Kazuma's group and try to win over these girls. It would be great to be able to copy Aqua's divine magic and Darkness' stamina, and Megumin would be my gateway to gaining their trust as well.

"Ah, it's been a fun day. Now I just need to think about where I'm going to spend the night. The inns in this town don't really appeal to me," I said to Megumin.

She raised her head and seemed to have a great idea. "The guys and I live in a really big house, you could stay there for a few days!"

"I don't know... Kazuma and the girls don't know me very well."

"But you have money, right? If you give them a few eris, they'll agree for sure!"

"Really? Then I guess I can ask."

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