Kazuma sighed. "Megumin, that just sounds like a very spicy pepper."

She reached out and, instead of casting a spell, she simply gave his sleeve a tiny, awkward tug. "Thanks for not leaving me in the field when the toads came back for seconds today."

"Silence! This is a spiritual exchange," Megumin declared. She dragged him to a quiet corner of the stables where they lived. There, she pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden box. "This contains a secret recipe from the Crimson Demon Village: The 'Exploding Heart' spice. One bite, and you will feel the rush of a thousand suns!"

Kazuma, suspicious of any "bonus" that involved Megumin, kept his hand on his wallet. "If this is about me buying you more high-grade Manatite, the answer is no."