Warning: The following piece of literature contains heavy spoilers for the Japanese Web Novel, known as Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari. Proceed to read with caution
Disclaimer: Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari is the property of Aneko Kusagi, Aiya Kyuu, MF Books, and Yen Press. Please support the official release
"What a nice morning…" (Ren)
After a very peaceful, soothing night, I awoke to greet Dawn's rosy fingers with zeal. Something about my sleep, probably the incredibly comfortable bed, made me feel surprisingly refreshed. I almost regretted that I'd have to sleep in a cheap inn from now on or, even worse, camp on the ground when it came to it. Either way, my body was brimming with energy, and in turn my mind became clear and focused.
By the way, the other heroes were still snoozing away peacefully. It was dreadfully early in the morning and they had a tiring past day, so it'd make sense for them to still be sleeping. Due to my time in this world, I was already accustomed to waking early for morning sword practice, so I naturally woke up at my normal time. Because of the special occasion, I considered staying in bed as well, but habits are a powerful thing, and I was sneaking out the door and heading to find somewhere I could train in peace, before my mind could contemplate otherwise.
As I slipped out, I gave instructions to one of the servants to not wake the other heroes until half past 8 and have a hearty breakfast ready for them. They seemed so peaceful when sleeping, in contrast to their usual active attitudes, that I wanted to let them sleep in as much as they could. Of course, they'd need some time to get dressed and ready to meet the king, so I gave the servant a time limit and counted on her to be their human alarm clock.
While I was at it, I inquired about any quiet, unpopulated, open spaces within the confines of the castle. She pointed out that this early in the morning, no one was in either the courtyard or the garden, though warned to not go to the stables as other servants were hard at work there this morning. Thanking her for her much appreciated assistance, I headed towards the garden as it seemed the more hidden-away option. Besides, I felt like swinging a sword around in the middle of a yard littered with extravagant fountains and lavish statues was inappropriate.
"Sure is quiet." (Ren)
Entering what looked like a veranda surrounded by a variety of lush shrubbery and vibrant flora, I scanned the surrounding area and confirmed that no-one was nearby. The only thing that could be heard was the distant dawn tweets of rising birds. Perfect.
Keeping in the shade of an overhead balcony, I begin my morning training. Consecutive sword swings, push-ups, and sit-ups, raise my status gradually and keep my mind focused. Usually, I'd jog too, but I paid special attention to where I was and decided against it. It'd be pretty awkward if I went for a jog and ended up running into a gathering of nobles sweat-drenched and panting.
As a side note, the sword I was using for my sword swings was my trusted Spirit Turtle Katana. Perhaps, out of all the swords I owned, the Spirit Turtle Katana was my favourite, not because of its stats but simply the overall feel of the sword. The texture of its grip, glimmer of its blade, and cool, slender appearance emitted a clean, sharp impression. In contrast to the Houou Sword, which boasts the highest stats, now that all my proficiency levels were reset, and its vibrant, flame design, the Spirit Turtle Katana just seemed to hold a more subtle, deep allure. It was a sword worthy of a master swordsman. Whether I was one was still in debate, though.
Thinking about useless things like that, my workout went by swiftly and I was soon finished with my sit-ups, still brimming with energy. For some inexplicable reason, I was extra zealous that morning and was itching for some more training.
"Hmm… I should probably hold off and save some energy for later today…" (Ren)
I began to contemplate my pile of extra stamina. It was true that after the ceremony, we'd be off slaying monsters, and I could just save any extraneous activity for slashing balloons in half. Besides, if I get tired in the middle of grinding, it'd seem pretty lame right? Still, I kinda want to keep working out… A few squats wouldn't hurt anybody right?
Without a second thought, I let my impulse take over and began doing hindu squats in a frenzy. I'm probably the most shocked that I've become so enthusiastic about training now. I understand that as a gamer I'm naturally inclined to grinding, but a daily workout seems contradictory to that gamer identity. Am I gonna become a muscle man at this rate?
It'd be pretty troublesome to become as buff as a certain muscular martial artist that fights in an apocalyptic wasteland. You know, the one that annihilates his adversaries by hitting their vital points. Well, that guy's pretty cool, so I wouldn't mind becoming like him if he wasn't so buff. What was his catchphrase again? Didn't it come with a specific pose too. Oh right…
"You're already dead!" (Ren)
"Waah!" (?)
"Huh?" (Ren)
Caught up in my thoughts, I didn't notice the arrival of another person. Meanwhile, I had just done the famous pose that came with the special catchphrase, pointing directly at the new arrival. Her expression was that of sudden surprise, staring at the strange man who had just pointed at her, declaring her death.
The girl was dressed in a dirt brown tunic, white apron, and sunflower hat. Rather messy brown hair formed twin pigtails and freckles covered her tanned face. She gave off the impression of a villager girl, but her being here definitely meant that she had to be a servant. Was she a gardener? No, more importantly, I should say something. The silence was getting awkward.
"Ah, sorry. Am I in your way? I'll leave immediately." (Ren)
Without thinking, my brain squeezed out an apology and commanded the rest of my body to prepare to depart. I hastily grip my sword and turn away.
"O-oh no. It's okay. No need to leave." (Gardener Girl)
"N-no, don't worry. I needed to go anyways. Bye." (Ren)
With that farewell, I immediately shifted to my reverse gear, and retreated so swiftly and smoothly, I might as well have been moonwalking. The gardener girl continued observing me in wondering awe, up until I turned a corner and could no longer confirm her gaze.
Eventually, my mind exited urgency mode and my feet stopped, allowing me to take an elongated breath. Once I made sure nobody was around, I let it all out.
"Ugh. So embarrassing…" (Ren)
I cupped my face in my hands and mentally bashed my head against a figurative wall, trying to keep in as much of the cringe and shame as I could. Being caught roleplaying as an anime character by a random girl was definitely not on my list of planned objectives for the day. I know I'll probably never see her again but being seen in a compromising situation isn't good for your heart, okay. If I had to compare it to something, I'd say it'd be like trying to copy that famous energy blast technique and your parents suddenly walking in to see you do so. Do you understand my pain, now?
Once I recollect my senses, I soon realized I had wandered into an unknown part of the castle grounds. From where I was, I had a pretty good view of the townscape. The bustle of morning activity was beginning to rise in the streets, as shop-owners began ushering in customers to visit the shops. From that as well as the position of the sun, I surmised that I should probably head back now. It might be a little hard but I had gained a decent understanding of the castle area after many visits here, so I should be able to make my way back without getting lost.
I turned from the townscape and faced the castle as I gently strolled back, the cool breeze brushing against my hair. From what I could see, the castle had woken up at last as the daily morning bustle of servant outlines could be seen from the large, windows peering into the halls.
"I wonder if the others are awake now." (Ren)
I did say that the servant should let them sleep in but they might've just woken up themselves as well. Well, I'd find out once I got back. If they were awake, I'd be fine with them starting breakfast without me, but I'd be pretty distressed if they had gone ahead and started the Companion Gathering Ceremony without me. Just in case, I picked up my pace in fear and entered the castle's interior through a side door. They better not be gaining allies while I was gone.
"Yes… yes…" (?)
"…you understand?" (?)
"Huh?" (Ren)
Pacing down the large stone halls of the castle, I was rushing through an eerily quiet hallway, littered with precious paintings and antique artifacts, when I heard two voices having a barely audible conversation. Startled by the sudden noise and somewhat intrigued, I slowed my pace and looked for the source of the voices for a while. Eventually, I turned a corner and caught a glimpse of two outlines far in the other side of the hallway. We were pretty far and I was quite discreet in my actions so they didn't seem to notice me.
Immediately, I recognized one of them to be the King, simply from the attire he was wearing and the crown on his head. I couldn't see the other's features really well but I could surmise that it was a woman wearing a red dress.
"…funds…ield…okay?" (King)
"…stood…I… change now." (?)
I decided not to interrupt and discreetly sneaked away, unnoticed. They seemed to be having a pretty serious discussion. It was probably just some royal matters that had nothing to do with me. I'm just a hero, afterall. Backdoor deals and paperwork don't suit me.
"Wait… did the King have any female retainers?" (Ren)
Thinking about it, I've never seen any. Usually all the ministers surrounding the king were old men with gray beards and fancy robes…
"Oh well, it doesn't matter." (Ren)
Since it didn't concern me, I shook off the thought and hurried to wash my face and clean off my sweat before breakfast.
"Oi, what's this? Starting without us, Ren?" (Motoyasu)
"Ah, good morning." (Ren)
It wasn't too much after I sat down at the dining table that the other heroes ambled in. The dining room table was littered with an appetite-inducing feast, fit for kings (or heroes depending on how you looked at it). After cleaning off the sweat from morning training, I dashed to the dining room to be greeted happily with news that the others had just woken up and would be coming momentarily.
"Come and join me. The food's tasty and plentiful. I recommend this meat dish." (Ren)
"Ooh, looks good." (Naofumi)
"Don't mind if we do." (Itsuki)
I motioned for them to come, pointing towards the feast before me. They agreed easily and sat down. Within seconds, servants appeared from some shadow, placing silver ware in front of them and handing them napkins.
"""Itadakimasu!""" (Naofumi, Motoyasu, and Itsuki)
Once they offered their thanks, all three dived in to their meals without zealous gluttony. Plates were filled and cleared at amazing speeds. Was it the first time, other than last night, that they had such extravagant food? After several parties at this exact castle, I was used to it, but maybe such rich cuisine felt especially exotic to the others. Itsuki looks like he might be a rich, spoiled child, but I'm not sure.
"Oh, right. One of the servants said that you had woken up early today, Ren. What were you doing, so early?" (Naofumi)
"Oh, I was uh… just taking in the sights. The scenery outside's really pretty and all." (Ren)
"I see…" (Naofumi)
I brushed off Naofumi's question with a rather suspicious answer. If I said I was doing morning sword training, they'd probably sneer at me about Chuunibyou or something like that. I'd need to be careful about attracting too much attention to myself. If possible, I'd like to keep a generally normal image. Just another hero that definitely isn't hiding anything. Right, keep a low profile and a shut mouth…
"Weird. This omelette tastes like oranges. What's it made of?" (Motoyasu)
"Oh that? That's made from Aranja fruit juice and egg yolk." (Ren)
"Huh… I see… wait, why do you know that?" (Motoyasu)
Dammit! Messed up already.
"Oh, um… I had some before you guys came and asked one of the servants." (Ren)
I tried to clear any suspicion with an air of coolness but the other heroes were already staring at me with questioning eyes. I immediately had the desire to smack myself in the head, but I kept it in and continued eating in silence.
After breakfast, we returned to our room, having our stomachs happily satisfied. There, we had to wait a little longer since the King wasn't ready for an audience yet. Instead, we sat on our beds and just chatted about what we were looking forward to do on our journeys and what kind of companions we would like. Of course, Motoyasu expressed his desire to have a bishoujo filled harem party, to which we all laughed sarcastically, knowing that the chances of it becoming true were (un)fairly high.
Eventually, a servant entered, informing us that the King was ready to meet us. With high spirits and enthusiasm, we followed him to the audience chamber where the King and 12 battle-gear clad men and women were waiting. It was easy to guess that they were the allies that the King had gathered. From a quick glance, there was a weirdly high women to men ratio, but that might just be my imagination.
"Welcome Heroes. As promised, we have gathered companions to follow you on your journey. They are all eager to make your acquaintance." (King)
The other heroes and I expressed our thanks by simply smiling happily like excited children presented with free sweets. The other heroes were all surveying the crowd of people, looking for potentially powerful people to recruit. However, their plans were soon crushed as the king raised his hand and motioned to us.
"Now future Heroes of this country. Choose the one you'd like to serve." (King)
The gathered comrades all nodded and began looking back and forth between the heroes, gauging us, while the other heroes were left in shock. Although it didn't show on their faces, I had a feeling that, once the heroes realized the situation, they were all praying mentally that more people would choose to join them than the others.
After a while, one by one, the adventurers began to briskly walk across the chamber floor towards their preferred hero. Ah, quite a few were headed in my direction…
"No way…" (Ren)
Immediately, I was wide-eyed as I spotted the adventurers heading walking towards me. Why didn't I think of it earlier… of course this would happen because of the time warp.
Of the people walking towards me, three of them stood out in particular. A man dressed in shiny knight armour, a young magician in a black robe, and a woman in a green tunic and brown cloak. I could never forget who they were…
"Fauly… Bakter… Terishia…" (Ren)
My comrades from a different time strolled towards me, all well and alive. Their deaths had never happened. They were all still adventurers happily joining the legendary heroes to combat the wave that threatened their world. They… they…
They were ALIVE!
"Pleasure to meet you, Hero of the Sword. We will be your companions from now on." (Bakter)
Once they reached me, Bakter, the armoured knight, addressed me with a courteous smile and opened his palm for a handshake. I knew I had to respond properly, but I could barely restrain my emotions. Oh dear, I was starting to tear up.
"Y-yes. It's… good to have you." (Ren)
With the utmost elation, I gripped his hand and firmly shook it. I didn't care if I seemed weird. I couldn't help but feel relief as I looked at all their faces. That's right… this time, I won't let them die. They'll live and be happy. I swear it!
"R-right. We hope to do our best to meet your expectations." (Bakter)
Once I was satisfied with confirming my allies' well-being, I turned back to the others to see how they were doing. It seemed like all the adventures had chosen who they had wanted to join, leaving four separate groups in the audience room. Well, I say four groups but the final tally became something like this:
Me: 4 Comrades
Itsuki: 4 Comrades
Motoyasu: 4 Comrades
Naofumi: 0, none at all
As you can guess, Naofumi was looking at the situation, and his lack of popularity, with an expression of utter despair. Shit. I completely forgot that he started with no allies. Since my mental image of him consisted of a village worth of people always around him, I didn't realize there was a time when he was alone. What to do…
Just as a side note, I soon noticed that the number of comrades I had wasn't the same as last time. If I remember correctly, I had 5 comrades to begin with, first time around, but this time I only ended up with 4. Without a doubt, it must've been some sort of butterfly effect from my arrival here, but I didn't worry too much about it. I was more concerned about Fauly, Bakter, and Terishia, but since they joined me this time as well, everything was good.
Anyways, back to Naofumi…
"Hrmm… I never expected that this would happen…" (King)
"He isn't very popular is he…" (Minister)
While Naofumi was looking desperately at the king for some assistance, a robed man came up and whispered something to the King.
"Yes?... I see…" (King)
"Did something happen?" (Motoyasu)
"Well, apparently, there was a rumour among the castle that of all the Heroes, the Shield was the most unfamiliar with this world's rules and the weakest." (King)
"What!?" (Naofumi)
Naofumi's face was a combination of bitter resentment and resigned depression. He looked around the room panicked before turning to the other heroes, me included.
"Guys. Can't you spare one of your companions? Please, I beg you." (Naofumi)
At his plead, the adventurers turned to each other and their heroes, whispering and occasionally glancing at Naofumi.
As for me, I scratched my head, honestly troubled, and turned to my companions.
"What about you guys? Would any of you like to join the Hero of the Shield? I'm sure he'd be a wonderful hero to follow." (Ren)
I was a bit reluctant to part with Fauly and the others but as long as they were alive, I guess I'd be happy. Besides, I'm sure they'd be completely fine with Naofumi but…
"Um… sorry, but we'd rather not if possible." (Fauly)
"Same." (Terishia)
Fair enough, they refused. After all, they already chose which hero they wanted to follow. It'd be hard to persuade them to change their choice.
"I see… Sorry, Naofumi." (Ren)
"Sorry, but it's not our decision to make." (Motoyasu)
"I feel bad and agree that each hero should have three companions for fairness, but it'd be terrible for morale if we forced them against their wills." (Itsuki)
It seems like Motoyasu and Itsuki had also asked their teams and came out with no results. Itsuki seemed especially troubled, looking at Naofumi with eyes of sympathetic pity. It was as if he had experienced something similar to Naofumi's current situation.
"So, I have to journey alone!?" (Naofumi)
I could feel Naofumi's spirit crumbling as he looked down with a dejected air. Dammit, what could I do to help him…
While I was thinking of ways to help out, a lone hand was raised in the air from the middle of Motoyasu's group.
"My lord, I will travel with the Shield Hero!"
I, along with everyone else, looked at the source of the voice. But among everyone, my reaction was unique. My eyes opened, my heartbeat raised, my breath was drawn, and my hand gripped my sword tightly.
A lone woman stood out among the group of people in the audience chamber. A woman I knew all too well. That red hair, that beautiful face, that seductive body, and those wicked eyes…
Though I appeared calm externally, my mind was sent into frenzy. At once I was filled with memories, shock, and rage. I recalled her name.
BIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTCCCH!
Afterword:
Yo, yo, Zikari8 in the house. First, I'd like to apologize that this chapter's a little late, like a day or so late. No, I didn't have any urgent personal life matters... I was rewatching To Aru Majutsu no Index...
My ease at being distracted by anime aside, I'd like to offer my most sincere thanks to all those who've favourited this story and reviewed it. I'm glad that the reception for the story has been very positive so far. I'll work hard to meet everyone's expectations! :)
This chapter doesn't have a lot of plot progression, mostly cause half of it is Ren dicking around, but the action really starts rising in the next couple of chapters, considering the introduction of everyone's least favourite whore. I hope you'll look forward to future releases. With that, see y'all next week!