Some Gifts for the Shield Hero

Chapter Ten – You don't do that in Church!

The shop-keeping blacksmith smiled as they walked into his shop, and greeted them with a wave. "Naofumi! Raphtalia! I haven't seen you two for weeks. Just what have you been up too? Or have you just been fighting all this time?"

Naofumi was about to greet his friend before a terrible thought struck him, "What is his name?" The name wasn't escaping him, he had just never asked for it and now he felt terrible for it.

Raphtalia had no such hang ups, "We've been traveling!" She exclaimed with honest excitement, "I've gotten to see a bunch of new things, and we even went exploring an old mine!"

"So what brings you to my shop today?"

"We need to get Raphtalia some better fitting clothes, some better weapons, and I wanted to see if my special order was ever finished."

"I'm going to take a look at the chain-mail and leathers." Raphtalia wandered off with a happy little grin.

The blacksmith grinned like he always did during a payday. "I see shes been filling out." he gave Naofumi a less than subtle nudge, "She's become quite the looker hasn't she?"

Naofumi's expression was the textbook definition of flat, "Yeah... Sure..."

Raphtalia was pouting again, and the Blacksmith gave an exasperated frown. "Well aren't you enthusiastic.

"Look I know she's beautiful, and any guy should be thankful to have any affection from her...It's just..."

"Kid, it's alright, I don't have any hangups about you likeing men."

"Thats not-!" Naofumi had to pause, less he shriek with frustrated rage, "It's because I still think of her as ten years old."

"Didn't I explain that to you?"

"I know she's considered an adult in this world. I know she looks like a fully grown woman. I just can't get over the fact her mind is only ten years old."

The shopkeep sighed, "So you intend to ignore the fact that she wants you?"

"I don't... I just don't want to feel like I'm taking advantage of her. I'd feel like a scumbag."

The older man clapped a hand to his shoulders, "Well you better come up with a plan. I'm surprised she didn't just jump your bones within a few days."

Naofumi felt the lump in his gut. The lump that always heralded impending peril. "What do you mean?"

"It's rare, but sometimes a beast person gets their level boosted too fast." the shopkeeper explained, "They get giddy and go a little wild from the desires they didn't have before." He looked an uncomfortable Naofumi right in the eye. "Do you get what I'm saying?"

"So your saying there is a chance that..."

"Lord Naofumi..." he said with all due respect and absolute certainty, "She wants to mount you like a horse, and ride you like a stallion."

"Oh." he was trying really hard not to think of his prior experience with an exposed tit, or the unfinished talk that had happened somewhere deep in an old mine shaft. "So your saying..."

"If you don't do something to help her calm her nerves then there is a chance someone else could charm her."

Naofumi felt a very large amount of something. The lump in his gut had gone, leaving behind it a mountain sized pile of fury and rage. "I would never let that happen." the hero hissed out, teeth clenched.

The older man shrugged, "Well then, you have to stick by her side until the rush fades then."

"How long is that supposed to take?"

"The fastest change I ever heard of was about two months. So give it about that."

"But it's only been a month! Are you saying I have to keep her safe and keep up my guard for another month?"

"Hey, you fucked this up yourself." the blacksmith said calmly.

Naofumi took a seat at the counter and flopped, then groaned. "I know..."

"I'm gonna go grab that new shield of yours. Don't go anywhere."

Naofumi groaned again, and presented his fiscally inclined buddy a one finger salute.

"Naofumi look!" Raphtalia skipped up to him, clad in a new set of studded leathers.

He kept his hunched over spot, only turning his head. "Neat? Is it just leathers or?"

"Nope!" she said cheerfully, folding over a flap of leather in a shoulder pad and showing the chain-mail pinned to the backside. "See? it's got some extra armor hidden inside the layers of leather."

"Isn't that a little uncomfortable?"

"Nuh-uh. Most of the chain is covered by a second layer of leather."

"Sounds nice. Did you find any weapons you like?"

"Yup!" Raphtalia quickly pulled two knives from her sleeves, a dagger from above her butt, a small hatchet axe from her right hip and a silvery short sword from her left hip. Finally she rolled up her sleeve to show a length of wire-like rope and the attached dart that she had spun around her arm.

"Wow… Uh… do you think you have enough?"

"I was considering grabbing a longbow, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to take on the burden. I like moving quick and using tumbles, so there is always a chance I could spill the arrows or land on the bow..."

The blacksmith returned, carrying what looked like a pike covered turtle shell. "Looks like I'm getting another haul from you two." He dropped the heavy shield onto the counter-top. "Say hello to the Spiked Shield!"

"Hello Spiked Shield!" Naofumi wasted no time holding up the Legendary Shield to scan.

Weapon Unlocked!

Form: Spiked Heavy Shield (Quality: Unique Masterwork)
Requirements: Weapon Copy – Spiked Shield, Friendship with ? 50%
Bonus: +100 Defense, +100 Attack
Special Effects: [Defensive Spikes], [Wall of Spikes], [Field of the Impaler], [Shield Bash (Greater)]

"The goddamned game is mocking me now..." Naofumi gave his still unnamed friend a sly glance, "I swear, I'm gonna find out your name someday!"

Naofumi would have just asked, he really would… if not for the fact that he would have to admit that he never bothered to learn the blacksmiths name. "And that would be too awkward to consider..."

"So, anything else or is that all?"

Naofumi reached for his coin pouch. "That should be-"

Raphtalia grabbed his arm and yanked him to his feet, "We need to get Naofumi some protective gear too!" she pointed out.

The blacksmith looked surprised, "Oh yeah… How have you gotten so far without any armor? I know that shield of yours is supposed to be great, I just didn't think it was that powerful."

Raphtalia gave Naofumi a similar look. "He's right. How is it that you don't take a scratch when you're attacked?"

Naofumi lifted up his hands and showed them the ten rings on his fingers, "I guess I can tell you guys. Before coming here I got these rings. They've got all sorts of magics to them, and some of them are really powerful."

The blacksmith looked doubtful. "They seem kind of plain to me."

"Can you hand me a really sharp dagger?" Naofumi asked, pulling off one of the darker silver rings from his hand. "Raphtalia, can you please put this on?"

He held out the ring for her to take.

Raphtalia's face turned a burning scarlet and Naofumi could swear he could hear a soft squealing coming from her. He slipped the ring on her offered finger, and for a moment the steady squeal became a noticeable and persisting squeak. "I really think she's misunderstanding this." Naofumi thought loudly.

While she was still catatonic with gleeful fantasy, he guided the offered hand to the counter-top.

"I take it you want me to try and stab her?" The smith asked.

"Yup."

The noise died fast. "What?" Raphtalia squawked.

Naofumi rolled his eyes a little, "It's not like he's going to try and take your hand off. Just showing that while your wearing the ring that you wont get hurt as easily, okay?"

She hesitated, but nodded. The smith hesitated as well, but eventually tried to cut her skin. The knife slid over her unguarded flesh without a mark. The second swipe used more force, and again it was ignored. Three more cuts were attempted, but Raphtalia's skin remained free of the smallest cut. Finally the last attempt was made, and even a violent stab couldn't pierce her skin. The dagger was the only thing there that came to harm, the tip broken and the edge ruined by chips and cracks.

"That is amazing." the older man murmured, "Which ring is that?"

"The Ring of Weaponbreaking. Apparently it makes the wearer's skin as hard as metal, and any weapon that touches them starts to break apart."

"You know I'm going to charge you for the dagger right?"

Naofumi sighed, "I figured."

"So what is it that the other ones do?" Raphtalia asked, reluctantly handing back the ring.

"Well, two are healing rings. One makes it where certain types of attacks can't hurt me. One stops me from being bound by magic. One makes me need less food and sleep. One of them makes it where I can move things with magic. Another makes a shield out of magic. And the last one supposedly makes me a lot wiser."

"Holy crap kid. That sounds like a lot of power is in those rings. Do you really need all of that?"

"I guess I don't..." Naofumi gave Raphtalia a queer look. "Hey Raph, I have an idea." He slipped off two rings; the Ring of Rapid Healing and the Ring of Force Shield.

"You want me to take your rings?" She squeaked, her expression torn between excited, happy, and disbelief.

"I don't need two rings healing me all the time, and I don't think I need a second unbreakable shield either..." he made a smarmy nod to the Shield that was always attached to him.

Raphtalia took the rings with a small amount of reverence. She slipped the rings on like they would break with a breeze. "So how do they work?"

"The Ring of Rapid Healing healing just seemed to be an always on sort of thing. I don't know about the Ring of Force Shield, I never had to use it..."

Raphtalia concentrated and made a flicking gesture with her left hand. A circle of semi-transparent cerulean light expanded from the featureless iron band on her hand. "I got it!" she cheered.

"Huh. Brains and beauty..." Naofumi quipped.

The shield vanished as Raphtalia returned to blushing mess. She tried and failed to cover her expression with her hands. "Thank you very much Naofumi."

"Your welcome Raph..."

The two were looking deeply at each other. Both sporting a blush on their face and affection reflected in their eyes.

"This is a place of business." Their metalworking friend cut in, "You take those starry-eyed horse apples outside or to the Inns."

"Sorry!" both yelped.

"Magic rings and romance aside kid, Your girl is right. You need to get some armor, just in case if nothing else."

Naofumi shrugged, "Can I get a set of layered leathers like hers?"

"The chain-mail set right? I think I have another set in your size? If not I can have it done before the next wave."

"When is the next wave?"

That set off the muscle loaded shopkeep, "You mean to tell me you haven't checked the hourglass yet?"

"I remember someone saying something about an hourglass…"

"For fucks sake… Kid, when you're done here go to the big church in the town square. It's got a clock tower right nearby, so you can't miss it. Inside the church there is an hourglass. People say that when all the sand falls, the heroes and their companions are summoned to the place where the next wave will strike."

"Clocktower square, inside the temple. Got it. Let's go Raphtalia."

"Oy! I still need to get your armor and you still gotta pay."

"Right…"

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Purchases made, and new inventory equipped, the pair set off again. The temple was easy enough to find after all. Middle of town, made of white marble, surrounded by towers, it would be a wonder if someone couldn't find it.

"Huh, the type you can just walk in..." he mused.

Raphtalia was awestruck, "This is the first time I've seen such a beautiful church." She admitted.

Two women wearing robes of a religious style were quick to approach them.

"You are the Hero of the Shield I presume?" one asked.

Naofumi nodded. "Yes I am," he replied respectfully. "I was told I should see the hourglass and learn how long until the next wave arrives. Can you please lead me to it?"

"Right this way." The walk was short, only a few yards away behind a giant pair of doors.

The hourglass was a beautiful piece of art, held up by two ivory pillars beside it and decorated with gold.

He approached it, looking for a means to estimate how soon until the sands ran out. "So this is the hourglass?"

The shield on his arm started to glow as he approached, the familiar look of a scan taking place. Two screens popped up.

Type: Dragon's Era Sand Shield
Requirements: Absorbing Sand from the Hourglass of the Dragon's Era
Bonus: None
Special Effects: [Portal Shield]

The second was a little more ominous.

36:38:22

36:38:21

36:38:20

36:38:19

"It's a countdown..." Naofumi turned to his partner, "We've got less than two days before the next wave."

"Do you think we'll be ready?" Naofumi could see hints of her fears again, and cut them off at once.

"I don't think we're ready, I know it." he boasted.

"Really?"

"Well yeah! We've taken everything the world threw at us, and used it to beat it back again."

The sound of approaching footsteps clad in heavy armor was their only warning before a much more obnoxious presence had to make itself known.

"Ew. If it isn't the rapist hero, himself!" Motoyasu proclaimed.

Naofumi wanted to be the bigger man, "Raph, just follow my instructions okay?" It didn't mean he wasn't above mocking a jerk though.

Standing at the hourglass' room entrance and blocking the way, Motoyasu continued his taunting, "You're still wearing lame ragged clothes like that? What's the point? You can't fight!"

The princess stood beside her chosen hero, just as arrogant looking as ever. Beside them, the other girls in Motoyasu's party stood quietly. None of them looked exited to be there.

The jackass couple didn't take the lack of replies easily. Somehow, it hurt their egos to be ignored.

"Come now you slimeball!" the princess finally added, "Lord Motoyasu is talking to you, now answer him!"

Raphtalia stood in front of them defiantly, "Begone, uh… Naofumi? What was that word you wanted me to call her?"

"Thot." He said, holding back laughter.

"Begone, Thought!" Raphtalia yelled.

Naofumi found himself bent over, roaring with laughter. "Oh that made my day!" He took a look at the perplexed looks on the their faces and started laughing again.

Raphtalia took a moment to realize something, "Pardon me, would you mind telling me who you all are?" she asked with genuine niceness. It just set off Naofumi's laughter again.

The princess was still upset, and Naofumi's cackling laughs were not helping her mood. "What a strange girl, to not know of Lord Motoyasu?"

"I was talking to you teammates, Thot." Raphtalia said with a smile. "I don't care about you or little lying wonder."

Motoyasu didn't notice the insults sent his way, his libedo was leading him and he was determined to follow. "She's so cute..."

Princess Malty couldn't keep the shock and surprise from her voice, "P-Pardon?!"

The Spear Hero paid no attention to the jilted lover he walked by, rather focused on grabbing Raphtalia by the hand and pulling her closer. "Salutations, beautiful mistress! I am the Hero of the Lance, Motoyasu Kitamura!" he smiled in his usual swave way at her, "If you feel up to it, would you mind saving this world along side me?"

Naofumi's laughter died a very horrible death, the Shield on his arm shifting from the simple small shield to a violent violet buckler.

"No thank you." Raphtalia said coldly, ripping her arms from his grasp, "I am with Lord Naofumi."

Motoyasu didn't take the rejection well, grabbing her arm again before she could move away, "That is terrible, you need to stay away from a deviant like him before he forces himself upon you!" he started to pull her away, ignoring her demands to let go, "Everything will be okay if you come with-"

Raphtalia silenced him with a fierce slap. The blow was hard enough that one of her newly given rings was able to split the skin of his cheek.

Everyone was silent. Everyone was still.

Motoyasu's visage was all fury and outrage, "How dare you!" he reared back his hand to strike her.

Naofumi's bellow was just as angry, "Push!"

A wave of magic and force from the gravity shield slammed into Motoyasu's gut and sent him sprawling across the floor. The Spear Hero coughed and gasped as his empty lungs tried to draw in breath.

Naofumi walked over to the bastard, "Don't you ever touch Raphtalia with those filthy hands of yours. Ever. Again." he said, moving to the door.

Raphtalia walked past the stunned party, adding in her own two coppers. "You shouldn't accuse someone of being a rapist if you are the one who grabs women when they say no."

Coughing, wheezing, and in pain, Motoyasu could only watch the pair leave them behind with eyes clouded with tears.

"I will stop you Naofumi!" The fallen hero swore to himself, "Even if I have to kill you to do it!"