Strategy for Dealing with Problematic Girls

At that same moment, a system prompt rang out in Jhin's head.

"New talent acquired - [Dragonslayer]: x500% damage against enemies with the dragon attribute, with a chance to treat an enemy as having the dragon attribute (I think you look like a dragon!)."

Wasn't that just a little overtuned?

It was the first new talent he'd gained in ages, and the effect was frankly terrifying. It even reminded him of WarGreymon from a certain version of the anime: I have the [Dinosaur Bane] skill, I say you're a dinosaur, so you're weak to me.

The faint red glow flickered once and then drew entirely into Jhin's body. He felt remade from the bones out, and stood up without thinking to stretch, a string of firecracker pops running through every joint.

He checked his overall physical attribute. Without the boost from [Elemental Armament] or his substitute, it had already reached D rank. Maybe because Letishi was a red dragon born from bodily mutation, this vial of pure dragon's blood had strengthened mainly his body, and hadn't handed him anything exotic like dragon-tongue magic or a pair of wings.

"Ohhh, you feel really different now." Megumin circled him, looking him up and down. Something about him had changed, she was sure of it, but she couldn't put a finger on what.

Pecorine thought her reaction was the strange part. "Don't you think the upgrade process after Jhin drank dragon's blood was awfully plain?"

"I mean, yeah, I was thinking that too..." Megumin scratched her cheek, a little embarrassed. "But think about it. Jhin is my boyfriend, after all. With something like this, plain has to beat an accident, right?"

The moment she finished, a large hand settled on her shoulder. Jhin's eyes brimmed with grateful tears. "Megumin, you're so kind. Let me give you a massage tonight."

"N-no thanks, just give me a few more bottles of cola." She slapped the hand off her shoulder like she'd touched a live wire. If the whole business with Kyaru hadn't happened, she'd have been delighted to enjoy a massage, but right now... better to keep a respectful distance.

Jhin had no idea why she'd refused, but he didn't push. "I'm going to test out my strength somewhere nearby. I'll be back soon."

"Then I'll go with you!"

"Sure. Anyone besides Megumin want to come along?"

The other three shook their heads. They were handing this chance to be alone with him over to Megumin.

The two went back to their rooms to change, then headed out. The instant they stepped clear of the capsule house Megumin latched onto Jhin's arm. She'd brought neither her magic hat nor her staff, because she intended to properly savor their first time alone since becoming a couple.

Jhin was no fool. One look at her like that and he understood exactly what was on her mind, so he slowed his pace and strolled with her along the forest path under maple leaves of every shade.

"So... Kyaru. Everything's really okay there?"

"We finally get some time alone and that's the first thing you bring up..."

Megumin bumped her head against his shoulder, unimpressed. "And whose fault is that? You come back and immediately do that with her, you jerk."

Jhin laughed weakly. "Can I claim it was an accident?"

"Was it Kokkoro's Charm Potion?"

"Uh... she told you about it?"

"Mm."

"Half and half, I guess. Actually, back at the Red Dragon Volcano, she and I..."

Jhin gave her the short version of what had happened there. When he finished, Megumin stopped walking, cheeks puffed out like a steamed bun, and glared at him with open suspicion. "You didn't take her with you because you were planning to win her over from the very start, did you?"

"I already told you my reasons."

"But the results say your motives were filthy."

Megumin was plainly in her "I'm jealous, now do everything in your power to comfort me" mode, and Jhin didn't hesitate. He cupped the back of her head and gave her several kisses deep enough to leave her half-suffocated.

"Wait, hold on..."

"That's not what I..."

"Don't..."

"That's enough already!" Furious and flushed, Megumin pounded at him with her small fists. She felt utterly outmatched by him - a few kisses, and most of the sourness in her chest had already evaporated.

She shoved away the face that was still trying to close in, then slid him a sidelong look from eyes shining with unshed tears, bewitching without meaning to be. "If you and Kokkoro are both letting it go, then Pecorine and I will treat it as if it never happened."

"Mm. Thank you."

"Could you not look at me with grateful eyes while trying to take my clothes off? Is that your idea of paying me back? That's downright depraved."

Jhin withdrew the right hand that had been wandering at her waist, grinning sheepishly. "Couldn't stop myself. Just couldn't stop myself."

"Lucky for you, you didn't leave any marks on my neck, or I wouldn't know how to walk back in." Megumin smoothed down her clothes, grumbling. "If I'd known, I'd have worn something else out here."

"You have other clothes?"

"Of course I do. You didn't think this red dress was all I owned, did you?"

"I've genuinely never seen you in anything else..."

"S-some other time. If I get the chance." For some reason Megumin's gaze skittered away from his, even though she hadn't shown a trace of shyness while they were kissing.

Girls. Curious creatures.

"Weren't you going to test your strength? Get on with it!"

Jhin shrugged. He didn't understand why she'd suddenly started rushing him, but he didn't argue either. He donned his [Elemental Armament], scooped her up, and carried her to a small hill outside Maple Syrup Valley.

Megumin had assumed he'd go looking for monsters to test himself against. Instead she found herself set down at the foot of a hill, watching in confusion as he walked slowly toward the slope.

With both his substitute and [Elemental Armament] active, Jhin's overall physical attribute had climbed to C-. He drew a deep breath, pulled his right fist back to his waist, and drove it forward in a straight punch.

The crack of it split the air like a thunderbolt.

The entire hill was reduced to powder by raw strength alone.

Megumin swallowed hard, a chill crawling up her spine.

If I said yes to him at a moment like this, wouldn't I get - beeped - into pieces?

The word "chicken" might as well have been written across her little face. The plan she'd already been postponing got pushed back by a very long stretch indeed.

Basking in his own delight, Jhin had no clue he'd just terrified his "good buddy."

Shattering a hill with pure physical power basically meant Lord-class monsters no longer posed any threat to him. He could take on Overlord-class monsters now.

Most Overlord-class monsters were colossal things dozens or hundreds of meters across; running into one was no different from running into a walking natural disaster. And Jhin now had the ability to challenge a disaster head-on.

He and Megumin returned to the capsule house, and he couldn't wait to show off his new combat power to the girls. But when they heard about the hill going down to a single punch, Kyaru fell oddly silent for some reason, and Kokkoro patted her shoulder as if consoling her.

Jhin found the whole thing baffling.

Why are they acting like the first thing I'll do with my new strength is take it out on Kyaru? Do they really think I'm the kind of guy who'd raise a hand against his own companions?

____

👻🔥Here: Walnut-chan (P4treon)🔥👻

🔥 New history: Zenless Zone Zero: Rewriting Fate in New Eridu — new on The_Mikudayo

📚 Walnut-chan gets you 40 chapters ahead and helps cover the translation costs of every story I post

We have set new community milestones:

🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for all readers

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!