Welcome everyone! I'd like to introduce you all to The Fear Of The Kingdom! Yes, it is another spin off of The Fear Of Mages, but I just can't help it. Yuudai is my guy that helps create stories!
So how are you all? I hope you are doing well. By the way, don't think Yuudai will take crap from everyone. That's definitely not his style. So yeah...read my fellow readers!
Chapter 1: The Heroes Arrival
Yuudai looks around the library once again. It has been a year since his adventures in Halkeginia. After arriving back to the academy, he sat down on a bench and, without any reason, started shimmering. Slowly his body began to disappear. He then opened his eyes after blinking to find himself in his bed.
He found that only his shadow gun rune is on his hand and Wales' ring on his finger. The other rune was nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, his rune hasn't been reacting to his will and the ring doesn't activate its speed and agility granting powers. It's no surprise since there isn't so much as a lick of Halkeginia's magic that he has learned powered his shadow gun. Once he saw that he couldn't have any other kind of possessions from Halkeginia, he became saddened.
He mourned for Halkeginia for months, but realized that it was useless. No amount of mourning could take him back. After that, he started spending most of his days in a library. Reading of stories that could finish off his own. Trying to find an ending for his journey rather than mourning what he already experienced.
Today is the same thing. He is walking around the section of the library most don't bother with going near. Not because he hates people's company, but because he has read the books that are over there. His eyes catch sight of some manga causing him to roll his eyes.
"Did I really walk myself over here?" Yuudai asks himself. Despite that remark, he walks over to the manga. His instincts tell him to move his hand above his head, so he does catching a odd book. He raises an eyebrow at it. "Am I being attacked by books now?"
He looks over the cover finding the designs of a sword, bow, spear and shield. Yuudai opens the book reading over the synopsis for the grand scheme of the story. The teen flips to the next page seeing it blank.
"Blank page? Lazy writing in a nutshell." Yuudai states closing his eye with a sigh. He opens his eyes to find himself in...a throne room. To his side a three others. A long haired blond guy has a spear, a short haired blond guy has a bow and the other black haired guy has a sword. "If this is what I'm thinking…" He looks at his arm to find a shield.
"Welcome four heroes. Please save our world!" A man with a cloak and short hair pleads. Yuudai suddenly feels the rush of excitement flow through him again. He hadn't felt this since Halkeginia. He doesn't stop his smirk from lining his face. "I understand this must come as a shock, but time is of the essence."
"Less of a shock and more of a blessing." Yuudai mutters imagining him fighting against all kinds of enemies. His eyes find his rune and ring feeling the energy flow off them again.
"Our country, Malromark, is in the middle of a crisis. A rift from another dimension has opened and monsters have come crawling into our world in great waves." The man explains. "When the first wave came, the kingdom's knights and adventurers were able were able to hold their own. However, the dragon hourglass has already begun to indicate the arrival of the next wave."
"Looks like I've been brought into the world of that book." Yuudai states to himself. He then remembers why he mustn't be so overhappy. Kingdom's are always corrupted. Knowing this, he drops the smirk looking around the large room.
His eyes only cross tons of guards. Not only guards, but civilians and the like. Yuudai finally catches sight of the king. He is sitting on a throne with a perfect white beard indicating he is not young anymore. The look in his eyes though...they hold loathe in them once he finds Yuudai looking at him.
The kingdom breaks eye contact to look them all over. "I am the king of these lands, Aultcray Melromarc the thirty second." The king introduces as if he had much better things to do. "If you are able to save this world, we will reward you all handsomely. Naturally, we will furnish the funds you need to assist in your efforts. Now then heroes, speak your names!"
The teen with a sword steps forward first. "My name is Ren Amaki. I'm sixteen. I'm a highschool student." He then steps back.
The short haired blond with the bow steps forward next. "My name is Itsuki Kawasumi and I'm seventeen years old. I'm also a highschool student."
The guy with the spear smiles at the king. "I'm Motoyasu Kitamura. I'm twenty one and in university." He introduces himself.
The king goes to speak, but Yuudai steps forward next. "The name is Yuudai. I'm eighteen." He states seeing no reason in giving him full name and schooling information. It is pointless in a different world.
The king glares at the teen. Yuudai notices this easily. Looks like he already has enemies in high places. Yuudai doesn't drop his gaze from the king. There is no way he will be brought to his knees by some guy he just met.
"Please check your status." The first guy instructs the four. Yuudai raises an eyebrow looking at the guy. He then notices something in the corner of his eye. It is an icon.
Suddenly a giant screen pops up in front of him. With the information of himself. Yuudai: Shield Hero level one. Equipment: Shield (Legendary Weapon), Other World Clothes, Ring Of Winds, Rune Of Darkness. His face is next to the information. Yuudai sees his defense more than half full and his agility plus speed full. His mp is empty along with a small amount of hp. His attack is about near the middle.
"I guess I'm going to have myself a fun time." Yuudai states grinning. He drops the grin a second later. "Once I leave this room, at least."
"This is like a vrmmo." The teen with a sword says. "I'm pretty sure I played one like this before."
Yuudai gives him a confused look. "I haven't heard of that before. I mean I've heard of virtual reality, but for an mmo? Sounds ridiculous." Yuudai comments.
"Oh, you mean Emerald Online?" Motoyasu asks smiling. "The map I saw is just like this one." He points out.
"What are you two talking about? This is obviously a consumer game." Itsuki tells them thinking they don't know what they are talking about.
Yuudai blurs their pointless conversation out. "So this is like a game nonetheless." Yuudai says to himself. "Meaning they are going to throw some starting adventurers at us before leaving."
"Doesn't this remind you of a game too?" Motoyasu questions catching Yuudai's attention.
Yuudai just shrugs. "If it does, I don't remember it." He replies. "It reminds me of an old book I was about to read though."
"A book?" Motoyasu asks sounding disappointed,
"Yeah and he's the shield too." Itsuki adds mockingly.
"Oh poor thing." The long haired blond says sarcastically.
Yuudai narrows his eyes on the two. "How about you two keep your mouths shut if you can't say anything useful." Yuudai tells them shocking the two. They didn't expect any kind of feedback let alone a spiteful one.
A loud knocking on the grand door behind them sounds. "Yes, come on in!" The king orders.
Yuudai and the other three turn to find the doors opening with many people in all kinds of armor and weapons. The adventurers that Yuudai knew would pop up soon. "Who are these people?" Itsuki asks the king.
"Adventurers that wish to travel with you all. The legendary heroes must embark on a journey to grow stronger. However, your weapons become ineffective if you travel together and therefore you must all take separate paths." The king explains to the heroes. A smile forms on his face giving Yuuda a bad feeling. "These people have already chosen who they wish to travel with. Choose your hero!"
Yuudai closes his eyes knowing the end result. His solo questing. He opens his eyes find find he is correct. Ren has five people, Itsuki has three and Motoyasu has four. Yuudai sighs uncaringly.
"To think it would come to this. The Shield Hero doesn't seem popular." The king says with a frown.
"It really doesn't matter." Yuudai tells the king. The king glares at him again. "I'll just beat enemies with a stick or something. That should be fun." The entire room stares at him in disbelief. The hero isn't upset? Any other person would be very upset.
Too bad for everyone else that they know nothing of his abilities. He already has a one up on the other heroes. Honestly, Yuudai doesn't really even need the shield. Once he gets a shot at some magic, the enemy is done for if it wasn't already.
"I suppose I will join him." The voice of a beautiful red haired girl volunteers.
"Damn it." Yuudai mutters comically.
"Doesn't your heart bleed thinking of him of him out there all alone." She asks rhetorically.
"Not really. Pretty sure the king would rather watch me burn for hours on end." Yuudai states having everyone ignore him.
"I'm Myne Suphia, Nice to meet you, hero!" She greets with a bright smile. Yuudai doesn't reply in favor for looking her over.
"Are you sure?" Motoyasu asks concerned for the girl he just lost to the Shield Hero.
"Yup!" She replies happily.
"She is way too cheerful." Yuudai mutters to himself. "Maybe I should keep myself from showing too much of my power."
"Now that's done, we shall furnish you all with your monthly allowance." The king announces. "The Shield Hero will have more this time around. Use it to recruit new members."
Yuudai waves his hand dismissively. "I'll try to remember that." He says irking the king.
"Now then heroes, be off on your journey!" The king orders holding his arm out.
The heroes all leave the castle after collecting their allowance. Yuudai looks himself over once outside seeing he is in the same clothes he word to Halkeginia. The green jacket, black undershirt, black pants and black shoes. He then thinks up the idea of getting some type of glove or something to cover his rune. It's not exactly normal. Knowing this, he puts his hands in his pockets.
Yuudai stops outside the castle gates looking at Myne. "So where is the armory around here?" Yuudai questions the girl.
His straightforward attitude towards her surprises her. She expected the personality of a lovestruck idiot. Instead, he is a guy with no intentions of trusting her yet. This might make her plan a bit complicated, but still workable.
She gives him a bright smile. "I'll show you."
She takes the lead showing him the way. While they walk, Yuudai notices that everyone is giving him weird looks. It seems like nobody at all cares for him.
"This totally doesn't make my job harder." Yuudai says sarcastically.
"What doesn't?" Myne asks turning her head to him.
He just shakes his head. "Don't worry about it." He tells her forcing a smile to his face. This girl...she gives off a bad vibe.
She shrugs it off. They continue to walk to the armory. After a few minutes, they arrive inside the armory. Yuudai looks around impressed by the different assortments of weapons, armor and the like. A bald man with a respectable black beard smiles at the two.
He focuses on Yuudai though. "Is this your first time here, customer?" He asks politely.
Yuudai smiles at the guy feeling as though he can easily trust him. "Yeah. I don't need a weapon, so could you see about getting the clothes on me armored up and a black cloak added on. Add some dark green combat gloves with that. Just make sure that each piece of clothing has a resistance to different magic." Yuudai requests knowing exactly what he wants.
Myne and the clerk stare at him gaping. He acts like he is a real hero. One prepared to save everyone while not wasting time.
"I could, but they wouldn't be done for a few hours. Considering this, what will you wear until then?" The man asks.
Yuudai puts his hand up to his chin in thought. "I could buy a bag and some extra light armor to wear until they are done." Yuudai suggests.
The man laughs heartily smiling wider at the teen. "I see our business is going to become friendship soon!" He says laughing.
Yuudai chuckles as well. "I'd hope so. Making an enemy out of a guy that is messing with your clothes would be a terrible idea. Plus, I need a friend in this world." Yuudai replies.
Myne stares at him in disbelief again. 'How am I supposed to frame him if he acts like this? It's like he know my plan!' Myne thinks in her mind.
"Well let's get all of this taken care of." The man says sorting through some light armor for him.
End
There is the end a well done chapter. What do you think? You think I can march on with this story? I think I could for a little while.
Anyway, those that are returning from one of my other "The Fear Of" series, thank you for trying this out. I'm still working on the others, it'll just take a while. Those that are new, welcome! There isn't much fanfiction of The Rising Of The Shield Hero, so I thought I could take a crack at it.
Without much else to say, thank you for reading, favoriting, following, reviewing and have a great day/night/morning!