Heart of Akasha
A/N: Thank you for your reviews, merendinoemiliano, Radamalama and nyanodesu.
Hi, guys and gals.
One of my reviewers had the opinion that Ji-Han would, given the choice, rather go for a Class using magic rather than physical skills. Which confused me a bit, considering I could not find a moment where he expecidedly stated, he preferred magic and thought he only ended up focusing on that, because it is more versatile. Still, I apologize if I messed up his character and I on my own won't have the time to rewrite stuff, even if someone shows me some "proof". Nonetheless, I would like to know if I have made a mistake or not. So, if anyone feels like combing through the original Gamer to proof me wrong, I'd appreciate it.
For now, onto the story:
Chapter 13: Therapy
"Are you the hero who has been summoned to defeat the Demon Lord?"
"What?"
Apparently Ji-Han's confusion was quite visible as {La Langusten, Lwalgang}, the {-King of Langusten-} and the true identity of the old man in front of him, began to clarify:
"Our world is in great peril. The Demon Lord has appeared and threatens our every lives. But as a being from out of this world, his power is too great for us to defeat him on our own. We need you, oh hero from another world, to defeat him or all will be lost!"
PING!
{A quest has been created.}
"Excuse me for a bit", Ji-Han told the people around him as he looked at the panel in front of him.
{Quest Alert
Hero Summoning: Demon Lord Approaching
The world of Cantehill is under the thread of a Demon Lord.
Become the hero of the world and help vanquish the Demon Lord.
Bonus Objective:
1: Defeat the Demon Lord personally.
2: ?
3: ?
Completion Award: +100 000 EXP.
The people of this world will live in peace from the Demon Lord until its next summoning.
Increased reputation with all allies you meet on the world and their comrades.
Increased reputation with everyone connected to Traverse Town.
?
Bonus Award:
1: +50 000 EXP.
Increased reputation with all allies you meet on the world and their comrades.
2: ?
3: ?
Completion Failure: +10 000 EXP.
?}
Ji-Han took another moment to comprehend the words. And then he groaned.
"Are you kidding me?" He exclaimed as he stood up. "I've been summoned like one of those other world novels?! I am already on a mission to save a world! Not to mention the current quest with Aqua… oh, shit. Now there's no one who can let Aqua and Shua out of the cage!"
PING!
"What?!"
{You have received a new message.}
A new message? He was pretty sure his Gamer did not come with a message system. Voice chat, yes, but messages? Not that he knew off. So who would be able to reach him when he was summoned to another world yet not instantly open a portal to the world… Wait. Summoned?
"[Hero Union BBS]!"
{Welcome to the Hero Union BBS.
You are logged in as
[Active Hero: Hero (Kingdom of Belzerg → Cantehill)].
Hero Coordination Board /Active Hero Board / Retired Hero Board
Account
Personal Threads
Contacts
Hero Chat (11)
Alerts
Traffic Stats}
Huh. He got quite a lot of messages. Especially considering he hadn't heard that many "PINGs".
Ji-Han quickly opened the {Hero Chat} and found a bunch of messages from {Active Hero: Lucky Thief (Kingdom of Belzerg), all asking him with increasing worry, where he was.
Ji-Han tipped at {Reply} and a hologram of a keyboard appeared in front of him. Using it he quickly typed in that he was fine, just that he had been summoned to another world as a hero. As soon as he had tipped {Send}, he got another message from Kazuma, voicing his relief and the suggestion to try and get in touch with people from the Hero Union to get someone to send him back to their world. And then, before he even finished reading the current message, he got another one. This one was Naofumi suggesting he used his Keyblade to try and open the way back instead.
Ji-Han summoned his Binary Spirit and studied it. Technically he knew that Keyblades were supposed to be able to open and close anything, but up until now he had only used it on things where he could actually see something to close and open. Like keyholes. But to use it on a random spot?
…But then again, this wasn't just a random spot. This was the place for a hero summoning, something that called forth someone from another world, basically connecting the two places. All he needed to do was "open" this connection again.
Ji-Han pointed his Keyblade towards the ground in front of him, thinking about the place where he had been before.
"[Heart Key: Open]!"
The space above the ground folded in itself, creating a tear in space and time that opened a portal that showed the lake in question bathed in the glow of the setting sun. Damn, was it that late already?! He couldn't have been away for more than fifteen minutes.
Wait. Had this world possibly a slower passage of time than the world he had been in before? That would also explain why he got so many messages so fast. He had literally been living slower.
"Hey, Ji-Han, are you there? Get over here already, Aqua's getting cranky."
Ah, Naofumi was calling him through the voice chat. Does that mean the Gamer could even reach another world as long as there was an open portal in-between? Wow, this was getting better and better.
"Tell Aqua to be patient, I'll be there in a minute", he send back through the voice chat and stepped through the portal.
"Please wait!"
Or rather he had planned to do so. But he was held back by the shout of the woman, he had noticed earlier with the elf girl, wavy blond hair and ruby eyes and all.
[ˀ?ˀ
-ˀ?ˀ-
Lv? Curie, Eleanor]
"Please don't leave us, honorable hero!" She addressed him, prostrating herself in front of him. "You are our only hope! The people of this world are dying in doves in the battle against the Demon Lord and our healers have trouble addressing all the injured. But as someone from another world his power is too great for us to stop him without the help of someone with powers beyond this world. If you leave us, we will all be lost!"
Ji-Han winced as the quest alert, he had closed before, suddenly opened again. It definitively sounded like they needed a hero. But as he had said in his rant earlier, he already had other obligations. Aqua and Shua were still waiting for him and then he still had to close the keyhole of that world. And besides…
"You guys are all a lot stronger than I am", he noted as he took a look around himself and saw all the question marks. "For the most part at last." The exception being some people like that noble guy who looked like a pig.
"What makes me special is this Keyblade, which means that stuff I kill actually stays dead and I can close the keyholes to the hearts of worlds to prevent the Heartless from devouring it. It doesn't actually make the killing stuff any easier. And my other ability, the Gamer, is classified as a Late Bloomer because it takes so long to get powerful. I might be able to defeat your Demon Lord at some point in the future, but who knows how long that will take. You're better off just summoning a new hero."
"We can't", rejected the woman. "It took us this much magical power to summon a hero in the first place. We won't be able to gather enough before it is too late."
Ji-Han cursed. What the hell? Did that mean he had to choose which world to save and which one to doom?! What kind of bullshit was that?!
But for all his rants on the unfairness of the situation, it still didn't change anything on the fact that he was totally underleveled for this world. Trying to fight the Demon Lord of this world would just get him killed, helping no one. It pained him, but in the end this world had to go without a hero… did it? In the end, this world didn't actually need him. It just needed a hero. Who that was, didn't matter. And didn't he have the ability to contact a bunch of heroes?
"Wait a moment", he told the woman and then used his voice chat to do the same for his party. "[Hero Union BBS]."
Okay, now to make his own thread…
{I got summoned during my quest. Replacement needed!
[Active Heroes Side]
1. Hero: Hero (Kingdom of Belzerg - Cantehill)
I've got summoned during my quest and while I can get easily back on my own, if I do the people of this world are pretty much doomed. So I need someone to take my place. An ideas?
2. Watches over Heroes: Student (Global State)
Hello, Student here! Lol. It's a double booking!
3. Watches over Heroes: Company Employee (Parallel universe #8)
Hey, there. Lol. A double booking.
4. Watches over Heroes: Star Alloy Robot 1 (Parallel Universe #4)
Greetings, new hero! You've been summoned during your quest? Intriguing.
5. Hero: Yankee (Orfen Kingdom)
Typical, these guys never care about your own circumstances.
6. Hero: Freeter (Sansaman)
Hey, there. I've got a lot of experience with being summoned, but I've never been summoned during a quest. The summoning circles always only appeared after I've finished my current one.
7. Watches over Heroes: Star Alloy Robot 1 (Parallel Universe #4)
Me, too. When I was summoned after defeating the evil space empire Evul, it was already on the way back.
8. Watches over Heroes: Company Employee (Parallel universe #8)
Lol. Wasn't that because Sage was messing around?
9. Watches over Heroes: Student (Global State)
Lol. It sure was. See → [I just got a black ticket] for more details.
10. Watches over Heroes: Company Employee (Parallel universe #8)
You think, he messed up again?
11. Hero: Freeter (Sansaman)
Getting summoned like that is highly unusual. I don't know of anyone who had a double booking like that.
12. Watches over Heroes: Student (Global State)
I actually know some.
13. Watches over Heroes: Company Employee (Parallel universe #8)
That's Student for you, the guy who since his appearance had been in every thread on the BBS.
14. Hero: Hero (Kingdom of Belzerg - Cantehill)
Really? He's gotta have a lot of free time to do that.
15. Watches over Heroes: Student (Global State)
Sorry, but anything about my personal life is secret ;-)
16. Hero: Freeter (Sansaman)
He never did open any threads on his own, didn't he?
17. Watches over Heroes: Company Employee (Parallel universe #8)
And he did show up to the last meeting as a puppet.
18. Watches over Heroes: Student (Global State)
What are you talking about? I've looked like I always look.
19. Hero: Yankee (Orfen Kingdom)
As a square with a mouth and literally the words "no image" written on it? That aside, you are all talking about random stuff, aren't you guys supposed to help the newbie?
20. Hero: Hero (Kingdom of Belzerg - Cantehill)
Right, I completely forgot because listening to you guys was so interesting.
21. Watches over Heroes: Star Alloy Robot 1 (Parallel Universe #4)
Student, you said you know of others in similar circumstances, right? What was the procedure in those cases?
22. Watches over Heroes: Student (Global State)
The Hero Union would send the hero in question back on his original quest and then send someone to take a look at the faulty summoning ritual. I've actually notified Sage for that. He should join in soon.
23. Hero: Freeter (Sansaman)
But didn't the Hero said that he already has a way back? How come? I thought the Kingdom of Belzerg heroes were not allowed to choose any world-hopping cheats?
24. Hero: Hero (Kingdom of Belzerg - Cantehill)
Oh, I am not actually one of the guys who got reincarnated. I was just visiting. And as it turns out, it's actually pretty easy to open portals between worlds if there's a connection for the Keyblade to open, like a summoning ritual.
25. Watches over Heroes: Student (Global State)
…
26. Watches over Heroes: Company Employee (Parallel universe #8)
…
27. Hero: Freeter (Sansaman)
…
28. Hero: Yankee (Orfen Kingdom)
…
29. Hero: Hero (Kingdom of Belzerg - Cantehill)
What's with all the dots?
30. Watches over Heroes: Student (Global State)
It's The Gamer!
31. Watches over Heroes: Company Employee (Parallel universe #8)
The Gamer! Lol.
32. Hero: Freeter (Sansaman)
You're The Gamer?
33. Hero: Yankee (Orfen Kingdom)
You are the guy with the Keyblade?
34. Watches over Heroes: Star Alloy Robot 1 (Parallel Universe #4)
You are The Gamer? It's an honor to actually meet you!
35. Hero: Hero (Kingdom of Belzerg - Cantehill)
Damn, you guys are making me blush.
36. Watches over Heroes: Company Employee (Parallel universe #8)
Not only that, Star Alloy Robot 1 and his friends actually runs on smiles. The Heartless are pretty much their mortal enemies.
37. Watches over Heroes: Star Alloy Robot 1 (Parallel Universe #4)
Indeed! As a hero I have taken it upon myself to protect everyone's smiles! I cannot stand the Heartless who feed on people's suffering! Thus I am really grateful to you who protects worlds and people from them!
38. Hero: The Gamer (Kingdom of Belzerg - Cantehill)
Thanks, but I am still just a beginner. So far I've only closed off the heart of one world. And the bad guy we fought before got taken out by a native. I've got a long way to go until I can proudly call myself Keyblade Wielder.
39. Hero: The Gamer (Kingdom of Belzerg - Cantehill)
…Why did my name change?
40. Watches over Heroes: Student (Global State)
That was me! Since everyone already knows who you are, I decided to change the name for you. Aren't I nice?
41. Hero: Freeter (Sansaman)
Right, he's doing that from time to time.
42. Hero: Yankee (Orfen Kingdom)
Are you telling me that guy's actually able to hack into a multi-dimensional force whenever he wants?
43. Watches over Heroes: Company Employee (Parallel universe #8)
I never thought about it this way.
44. Hero: Freeter (Sansaman)
Yeah, he's always making it seem so normal. I guess I forgot we're talking about the BBS here.
45. Watches over Heroes: Student (Global State)
Why are you surprised? Even if I am a Student, I am still a hero.
46. Watches over Heroes: Sage (Sky Garden)
Alright, I'm here.
47. Watches over Heroes: Star Alloy Robot 1 (Parallel Universe #4)
Welcome!
48. Watches over Heroes: Company Employee (Parallel universe #8)
Welcome, Sage! You're up to speed?
49. Hero: The Gamer (Kingdom of Belzerg - Cantehill)
Hi there. Student said, you are the one who knows how to deal with my problem?
50. Watches over Heroes: Sage (Sky Garden)
I've read the log. So, you just need someone to look over the summoning ritual to prevent you or anyone else busy from being summoned.
51. Hero: The Gamer (Kingdom of Belzerg - Cantehill)
And make it so that they can use the summoning ritual right now. Apparently it takes too much MP for them to repeat it.
52. Watches over Heroes: Sage (Sky Garden)
Right. I'll just head over then and talk to the people in person.
53. Watches over Heroes: Sage (Sky Garden)
Breaking down spacetime. Dimensional seal: Cantehill. Connected.
54. Hero: The Gamer (Kingdom of Belzerg - Cantehill)
Why are you writing what you're doing?
55. Watches over Heroes: Company Employee (Parallel universe #8)
It's because he's thinking about it of course. You don't use telepathy?
56. Watches over Heroes: Sage (Sky Garden)
Farsight.
57. Hero: The Gamer (Kingdom of Belzerg - Cantehill)
Telepathy? Holy shit it works! No need to tip stuff anymore!
58. Watches over Heroes: Sage (Sky Garden)
Back on topic, usually we don't reveal our real identities, but to find you, can you tell me a bit… wait. What's with that large rift in spacetime?! Oh, it's a wormhole between Cantehill and the Kingdom of Belzerg… is that guy next to it you? Can you summon the Keyblade?
59. Hero: The Gamer (Kingdom of Belzerg - Cantehill)
Like this?
60. Watches over Heroes: Sage (Sky Garden)
Okay, it is you. I'm coming over.
61. Watches over Heroes: Sage (Sky Garden)
Fixing target: Sage of the Forest. Making a connection in spacetime. Maintaining connection. Sheltering target. Rejecting target decay. Preserving target. Moving target through spacetime.}
"Removing spacetime connection. Reassembling spacetime."
Ji-Han spun around towards the newcomer. He appeared to be a young man with short white hair, which appeared wild and unkempt. His left eye was of a pinkish-red while his left shone in the same blue that made up the magical symbol on the left side of his face, going over his eye like a scar.
He wore a dark wizard robe-like vest over a white shirt, as well as a black skirt. And above his head, Ji-Han could only see question marks.
"Alright, let's get down to business", the newcomer spoke. "So, who's the local with the most knowledge on the summoning ritual?"
"That would be me", an elderly priest responded. "Are you going to help us?"
"That's Sage from the Hero Union", explained Ji-Han. "He'll look at your summoning ritual to make sure you can summon someone again and this time won't end up getting someone who has something else to do."
The people visibly perked up.
"We'll be forever in your debt", the King exclaimed, bowing to the hero who waved his gratitude away.
"Don't worry about it. I am just doing a junior of mine a favor. Just don't try to set me up with any woman and we'll be fine."
"Thanks, Sage", Ji-Han addressed the Retired Hero, who waved in response and began to talk shop with the priest. So, Ji-Han turned back to the woman in front of him, while thanking the people on the BBS.
"With Sage on the job, my role here is over. So, I'll just be going and probably not coming back, unless this world reaches out to me to close its keyhole… Hey, Cantehill, was it? Since I am already here, if you want me to close the keyhole to prevent the Heartless from reaching it, say so."
But nothing happened. Not that he had expected different. After all, he did just blow off the call to save this world. Considering that even the Keeper of Balance had waited to see what kind of person he was, how would a world trust him so easily in these circumstances?
But since he was already in another world, there was one thing he could take away from it.
"[Inventory]!"
A quick look through the inventory and he found, what he had been looking for: A colorful slip of paper, with the words {Plushie Coupon} written on them. Ji-Han ripped it in half and it exploded in smoke. Once the smoke cleared, Ji-Han's hands now held a 25cm large plushie.
"It's Eltina!" The young elf girl from earlier exclaimed as she moved closer in curiosity. JI-Han looked between the girl and the item and, sure enough, it was definitively a smaller version of the real-life elf called Eltina. Wait. What's with her status?!
[Peachy-Sensei Inheritor
-Is a Saint, so what?-
LvYES Ranford Etil, Eltina]
Ji-Han had never seen anything like that. Her level was a word, her class a sentence and her title was referencing another person. Normally Ji-Han would not use [Observe] on a person because of privacy issues, but this time his curiosity was just too large to resist the temptation.
{Name: Ranford Etil, Eltina
Class: Is a Saint, so what?
Title: Peachy-Sensei Inheritor
Level: LvYES (Getting there)
Gender: What do you think?
Age: Loli
Race: Elf
Sub-Race: White Elf
Status: Adorable
HP: Is full
MP: Is dazzling
Elemental Resistances: maybe
STR: No strength VIT: Must Protect DEX: Probably agile
INT: Next Mealtime WIS: Oppai LUK: Peachy}
Damn, that was one crazy status screen. Funny at some points, weird at some others, but most importantly it was messing with his Gamer. Moreover, out of all the things in the world, the Plushie Coupon had transformed into her. Combined with the aforementioned status, she really had to be someone special in that world.
"Hey", Eltina interrupted his thoughts. "Can you make one of her?" She pointed towards the Eleanor and it took a bit for Ji-Han to realize what she wanted.
"It doesn't work that way", he explained. "The Plushie Coupon only transforms into one thing depending on the world. I can't decide what that is." He lowered his voice to some kind of mock-whisper. "Which is why I think I can get something good if I got enough different ones."
"Fukyun!" Eltina exclaimed in annoyance at having her request being denied, not interested in the other stuff Ji-Han, was saying.
Ji-Han chuckled at the angry glare, because while she was probably thinking she looked menacing like that, the pouting just made her look cuter.
"Tell you what?" He said to her. "I've got another Plushie Coupon here. If you want you can try and see if you get something different when you use it. But since Naofumi will get angry at me, if I give it away for free, I would like to exchange it with part of your hair. One of my team members gets new shields when he absorbs new stuff and I am pretty sure he had never seen someone like you before."
Eltina nodded.
"I am a rare creature", she noted as like it was the most natural thing of the world, fiddling with a strand of her hair. "Do you have a knife?"
Ji-Han used his Binary Spirit to cut off the offered strand of hair and gave her a Plushie Coupon in return. She eagerly accepted it and with a "Sashisashi" stared intensively at the item in question. Then she ripped it in half with a "Fukyun!" White smoke appeared and when it vanished, Ji-Han had to do a double-take, as it indeed had changed not into an Eltina Plushie, but an Eleanor one, just like she had wanted. She really was someone special, wasn't she?
Suddenly a light shone from above and the people around him gasped in surprise. Ji-Han had looked up like them, though his surprise was less vocal. He had, after all, already seen something like that before.
No, his surprise came more from the fact that the world had in the end decided to bare its keyhole all the same. Did his interaction with the little Eltina made the world decide to trust him, after all? But all he did was a simple business transaction… no matter, he had a job to do.
"Your wish is my command", Ji-Han spoke as he raised the Keyblade. "[Heart Key: Close]!"
A beam of light, a locking sound and the keyhole disappeared again.
PING!
{Gratitude from a world has created the keychain [Hippocratic Battlefield].}
{[Hippocratic Battlefield]
Element: Mystic
Damage: +6
Range: Short
+10% EXP-gains to healing abilities.}
Hell, yeah! A new keychain that had a new element and increased the rate at which he leveled his healing skills?! Awesome! Now he could definitively say that getting summoned to another world had been worth it!
"Is that how it looks like if a keyhole is closed?" Sage spoke up in fascination and Ji-Han nodded.
"Yep, that's the second time I closed a keyhole and it just looked like the first. That said, with that I now really have no reason to stick around anymore and I've left Aqua and Shua in that cage for way too long. So, goodbye!"
"Bye, bye!" Eltina responded, happily waved her free hand, while the other clutched her plushie to her chest. Ji-Han waved back as he stepped through the wormhole – and promptly fell to the ground as the portal ended at exactly the place where he had been summoned: In mid-air.
"I'm okay!" He shouted quickly after regaining his bearings to reassure the people on the other side. "Goodbye! [Heart Key: Close]!" A beam of light and the space entwarped itself, cutting off the connection between the Kingdom of Belzerg and Cantehill.
Okay. Now to get to the others…
"Ah, so you have finally decided to check up on your minions! Unfortunately you now are facing me, Cursed Sword Owner Mitsurugi Kyouya, member of the Hero Union! I'll have you release the goddess at once!"
Ji-Han stared blankly at the guy in front of him. He had short brown hair, violet eyes, a tiara-like headband and dark blue heavy armor with golden trim. He was currently pointing a sword at Ji-Han, a cursed sword if his labels were any indication:
[Cursed Sword Owner
-Sword Master-
Lv? Mitsurugi, Kyouya]
Ji-Han then looked past Kyouya to Naofumi for clarification. He didn't exactly expect to be treated at sword point after he had teleported down to the place where they had landed in the Kingdom of Belzerg the first time. He had only expected his current party to wait for him, not another guy and his two female flunkies.
"Just open the cage", Naofumi suggested after rolling his eyes. "That guy's delusional, so it will be easier to just do what he wants."
"Delusional? I have found you hiding in the woods with the goddess inside a cage! Are you are telling me, I am delusional?!"
"Watch that sword", Kazuma told the other hero. "I don't think you want to explain to the Hero Union how you accidentally killed The Gamer."
That stopped Kyouya cold in his tracks.
"The Gamer", he repeated, staring aghast at JI-Han who smugly waved with his hand, before summoning the Hippocratic Battlefield.
The shaft was like the magic stuff the green-haired woman at the summoning had, only upside down as the golden flowers pointed towards the grip instead. The grip meanwhile resembled the emblem that had hung around Eltina's neck, only cut in half and bend, so that inside there was space for a bar covered in red bandages like the broadsword of the blue-haired guy who also had been at the summoning, as well as Ji-Han's hand to hold it. The keychain was a small peach, which Ji-Han had no idea why as he had not seen one peach in the place, but the teeth on the other end resembled the crown-like hat Eleanor had been wearing.
"Oh, my apologies", Kyouya spoke as he put back his sword. "I had assumed you were with these thugs. But then, why did it appear like they know you?"
Ji-Han shook his head.
"I was the one who put Aqua and Shua into the cage and closed it with the Keyblade to protect them from any enemies", he explained. "I just got accidentally summoned before I could let them out and had to get a replacement for the world I got summoned to. I actually made a thread about that, if you want to check."
"Really?" He asked and instantly got lost in the BBS, trying to look for it. Meanwhile Ji-Han walked over to the cage.
"[Heart Key: Open]!"
PING!
{[Heart Key: Open]'s Level has risen by 1.}
Then he knocked at the door with the Keyblade, undoing the normal lock and opening it.
"Took you long enough", Aqua huffed as she climbed out and Ji-Han rolled his eyes.
"Hey, it's not my fault I suddenly got summoned!"
Anything else he wanted to say was interrupted by Kyouya who had quickly ran over as soon as he had noticed Aqua being freed.
"My Lady!" He addressed her, offering her his hand. She took it and he helped her out of the cage. "I am glad to see that you are well. I understand I have The Gamer to thank for that. But why are you here in this world in the first place?"
"Right, I'll explain", Kazuma spoke up before he did as he had said. Though it appeared as if he better shouldn't have as Kyouya got angry again.
"Ridiculous! Impossible! What were you thinking?! Bringing a goddess to this world!"
"N-n-now just a minute!" Aqua tried to stop Kyouya who had grabbed Kazuma by the collar in his anger. "I have a pretty good life here, okay? It doesn't bother me anymore that the dragged me here, okay? And I can go home if I defeat the Demon King! Just look at this quest today. Sure, it was a bit scary, but I was save the whole time! I've made 3 million Munny today and as part of our agreement I can get one more, if I give them a bit of my hair."
"What?! You are even forced to sell your body for one measly million?! You are a goddess, is this what he had reduced to? …Say, at one inn are you staying at?"
"I-it's not an inn we're all staying at. It's m-more of a…stable."
"What?!" Kyouya's grip tightened even more, enough for Darkness to intervene.
"I think it's time you let go of my friend. I warn you, grabbing the neck of a man you've just met is not the way to make a good first impression."
"A Crusader and an Arch-wizard? And rather fetching ones at that." He spoke as he let go of Kazuma and studied the two other girls with interest. "It seems you've been blessed with fine party members. All the more reason, then, that you should be ashamed of yourself. Forcing Lady Aqua and these fine-looking people to sleep in a stable! If I understand correctly, you're an Adventurer, the lowest class."
"Oh, shut your trap already", Naofumi snapped at the hero, finally having enough. "Forcing them to sleep in a stable? Are you a fucking retard? How is he supposed to do that? He isn't their owner. Whatever's stopping them from looking for a different party with better income, is on them!"
Kazuma looked at the Hero of the Shield like the whole world had gone against him and he had finally found the one person who understood him. Naturally, the companions of Kyouya were the opposite.
"Don't talk to Mitsurugi-kun like that!" One of the two girls with him demanded angrily, the other supporting her.
Naofumi wasn't impressed.
"And now the cheerleaders come to the rescue. Do you always let them shout at people you can't win arguments against?"
"Ugh!" Kyouya recoiled from the accusation and the girls flinched. They both idolized the hero and thus were very sensible to any slight against their idol. Something which the Hero of the Shield completely abused when he made them a reason for Mitsurugi to look bad. Now, instead focusing on the fact that he had insulted the hero, they were thinking about that their actions had shamed Kyouya. Completely forgetting the fact that getting angry at someone insulting your friends was actually normal.
But while Naofumi could have instead tried to point out that Kyouya was the one who started looking down on others first, in his experience people like that never cared about logic. So he ended the dispute by attacking the person instead of the argument. The fact that the wannabe-hero ticked him off, just made shutting them up like that much more satisfying.
"But- I- that's- that's not the issue!" The Cursed Sword Owner finally managed to get out.
"Ladies like that should not have to live in such circumstances", he declared. "If he will not treat them right, I will!" He turned towards the girls of Kazuma's party.
"It looks like you girls have had a rough time up until now. Well, you can stick with me now! I won't let you sleep in any stable, that's for sure. I'll get you the best gear. And the party's balance will be perfect with you! We'll have me, a Sword Master, and my companion, a Warrior, along with you, a Crusader. And on the other hand, my Thief friend will pair perfectly with this Arch-wizard. And we'll have Lady Aqua, of course. You couldn't ask for a more balanced group!"
Ji-Han looked over Kazuma in worry. Kyouya was pretty well off, so he had a point in that if they went him, their life would be a lot easier. And with the monetary troubles and Kazuma having joined their party for the moment, they might decide to go with Kyouya, after all. Would it be their fault that Kazuma would end up alone?
The Lucky Thief seemed to have come to the same conclusion as he crept up behind them as they discussed the proposal. But to his surprise, Kazuma did not despair. He instead just raised an eyebrow at what they were talking about, until Aqua turned around.
"Come on, Kazuma, let's get back to the Guild. I may have given that kid a sword, but I don't want to give him any more of my time."
Wow, that was harsh. Did she dislike his offer that much?
Kazuma, meanwhile, was visibly happy with the decision.
"Well, it looks like all my party members are happy were they are. Thanks anyway! If you don't mind, we've got a completed quest to report…"
But Kyouya would not give up that easily. He put himself in front of the horse and the cart with the cage, stopping Kazuma from advancing.
"Could you maybe get out of the way?" The Lucky Thief said in annoyance, not looking forward to what the Cursed Sword Owner would cook up now.
"I'm sorry, but Lady Aqua gave me the magic sword Gram, and I cannot allow her to remain in these conditions. You cannot save this world. I will be the one to defeat the Demon King. Lady Aqua must come with me. You claim that what you chose to bring to this world was Lady Aqua herself, yes?"
"Sure do."
"In that case fight me for her. You-"
"[Air Strike Shield]!"
"Arggh!"
Kazuma pulled out his sword as he jumped backwards, just as taken by surprise of the green transparent shield, as the one into which abdomen it had rammed into with its side: Mitsurugi Kyouya. The hero was shut up as all the air was pushed out of his lunges and then flung back through the air, before crashing onto the ground and still sledding backwards.
Ji-Han turned to Naofumi for clarification- and promptly had all of his air escape him to. Not because the Hero of the Shield had sucker-punched him. No, what took away his breath was simply just Naofumi's expression. Though to be fair, called that an expression was not doing it any justice.
His face was cast in shadows, his right eye bulging, his mouth distorted into a grimace that made him look closer to a demon than human. His pupils burned with a hatred that wanted to set the world aflame.
Ji-Han took involuntarily a step back and he was not even the target of Naofumi's ire. The hero in question was currently picking himself up.
"What the- who-"
"You really are a hero, aren't you?"
Naofumi's seemingly random question, but laced with that much discontent, stopped any attempts of forming any more coherent sentences, as the Hero of the Shield slowly walked over to the downed Kyouya.
"Forcing someone into a duel that you don't think they have any chance of winning, forcing them to bet their only edge in an unforgiving world… you really are a hero, aren't you?"
"Wha- That- All I am doing is trying to help!" Kyouya defended himself but that was the wrong thing to say.
"Congratulations!" Hissed the Hero of the Shield. "Did Aqua ask for your help? Did she? Oh, wait. I think she said something about that. What was it again? Oh, right? Talking to you is a waste of time. So, my dear hero. Maybe you should stick to saving puppies instead of forcing yourself onto others who. Clearly. Don't. Need. You."
Everyone could just stare at Naofumi, too scared to speak up less the anger was suddenly directed their way. Even Ji-Han, who knew that the shield hero could get aggressive, had never seen him like that. Even Devimon hadn't been that full of hatred and he had been pretty much darkness incarnate.
Wait. Darkness?
Ji-Han's face became pale.
The effect that Naofumi's words had on Kyouya, breaking him down systematically and tearing down his world-view, it couldn't come as a surprise if the hero turned to despair. Not only that, who ever said that despair was the only negative emotion? Didn't Zenkichi-Ssi say that strife could turn people into Heartless, too? With the way things were, Naofumi feeding his flames of anger to devour Kyouya's self-esteem, if he didn't do anything, they might both turn into Heartless!
"Naofumi!" He called out and the Hero of the Shield turned to him.
"What?!"
Ji-Han flinched.
"Nothing", he quickly said before he could stop himself, cursing himself right afterwards.
Damn, it! That was no time to get cold feet! If he didn't, Naofumi might turn into a Heartless!
Just like Akari.
Damn it! He needed something to distract them! Anything!
His gaze fell upon Shua.
"Shua!" He commanded pointing at Naofumi. "Paint therapy!"
Shua didn't know what therapy was, but he knew paint and he saw the out-stretched finger. Thus he took the brush and held it right in front of him like a spear, as he ran towards his target.
"Smeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaar!"
Naofumi had just enough time to turn around to see a jumping Smeargle and get a faceful of indigo.
"Wha-"
But Shua didn't stop there. He ran and jumped circles around the Hero of the Shield, paining any part he could get his brush on – Naofumi's VIT unable to stop something that wasn't an attack in the first place.
"Hey- You- Stop- Ji-Han! What are you making Shua do?!"
"Nothing much. Just stopping you from becoming a Heartless."
Naofumi stared aghast at the Gamer, Shua completely forgotten even as he continued to make sure that there were less and less unpainted places.
"Are you serious?" The Hero of the Shield exclaimed and Ji-Han nodded grimly.
"Of course I am! Devimon hadn't been as scary as you were! And I've already lost Akari, I am not losing anyone else!"
Naofumi stared at Ji-Han for a moment then huffed in annoyance.
"Alright!" He declared finally in a tone of voice that just that "screw this, I am not paid enough for this shit."
"Then you deal with this wannabe-hero!"
Looks like Naofumi still couldn't resist a parting shot, but it was a far cry away from the anger that he had displayed earlier, so Ji-Han took it as a win as he switched places with Naofumi.
Though what to do about the Cursed Sword Owner now?
"Kyouya-Ssi, was it?" He addressed the dumbfounded hero. "Now, I am sorry for the way my comrade talked to you. But on the other hand, he has a point. I don't know why the girls have decided to pick Kazuma over you. Maybe they have taken pity on him…" "Hey!" "…Maybe they just don't like to depend on charity. Whatever the case, in the end it is their decision. And we should respect that."
"Oh, you want to know why we don't want to deal with Kyouya?" Aqua injected agitated. "I'll tell you! Haven't you noticed how he just assumed we would come with him?! There's being a narcissist and then there's being creepy! If he ever want me to give him the time of the day, he better clean up his act first!"
With every word, Kyouya was shrinking into himself further and further. And when Aqua didn't seem to be finished even then, Ji-Han decided to stop her less she completed what Naofumi started.
"Shua. Paint therapy!"
"Smeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaar!"
"What? Nooooooooooooooooo!"
Not wanting to turn out like Naofumi, Aqua ran away screaming, the pursing Pokémon hot on her trail.
"Is this going to turn into a Running Gag?" Asked Kazuma and Ji-Han shrugged.
"If it's necessary."
"Smeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaar!"
"What are you doing to Lady Aqua?!"
Oh, even though Aqua had spouted all the abuse at him earlier, he was still ready to defend her at a moment's notice. What a resilient guy.
"Relax, it's not like it'll hurt her. It's just paint after all."
"Smeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaar!"
"STOP WATCHING AND CALL HIM OFF, ALREADY!"
"Alright, Shua, that's enough. Good job."
"Smear!"
Ji-Han could have let this continue for a while. But since its purpose, stopping Aqua from verbally abusing Kyouya, had been achieved, there wasn't really any reason to continue. It certainly would lose any comedic value after Aqua had told them to stop.
"Back to the topic at hand", Ji-Han addressed Kyouya. "It seems that her dislike of you comes from the fact that you try to tell her what's best for her. Like an overprotective father who doesn't want to let his daughter leave the house. So, if you stop being so persistent in helping her and wait for her to come to you if she really needs help, you'd be a lot more liked."
"Right", mused Kyouya with an unsure look. "I-I need some time to think about stuff. I'll see you around."
With that he said his goodbyes and left together with his two add-ons who were trying to comfort him.
"Finally", Aqua exclaimed. "A bit out of breath from all the running. And here I thought, he'd never go away!"
"Shua..."
"STOP! Stop! I'll be good, I promise!"
"But she does have a point", noted Naofumi. "Thanks to all the distractions, it'll be dark when we get back to Axel. And that if I don't clean myself up first."
"Then you'll just have to stay like that for a while", decided Ji-Han. "It's your punishment for nearly turning into a Heartless. Seriously, how you managed to stay human with that much hate, I don't know."
Naofumi looked actually thoughtful. Like he himself could not belief he did not die there.
"I wonder if Darkness-Resistance protects increase resistance to turning into a Heartless, too…"
"You have Darkness-Resistance?" Repeated Ji-Han and then nodded. "Right, that's the only thing I can think of that could have helped."
"Okay", interjected Kazuma, "since we cleared that up, I think we should actually get back. I don't want to get ambushed by Heartless while it's dark outside."
"True", conceded Ji-Han. "Let's go."
A/N:
Hi, guys and gals.
And now you've seen the reason why I've chosen this world over the others: Character development for both Ji-Han and Naofumi. Seriously, having Naofumi nearly go berserk with Kyouya behaving like Motoyasu was way too good to pass up. For those who know this part in canon, they also know that Kazuma did not actually need to be "saved" from Kyouya. He actually had a quite successful plan in dealing with the wannabe-hero. Not that it would have mattered to Naofumi. He acted because Kyouya was a convenient target to direct all his hatred on the spear hero to.
The Paint Therapy-gag was originally supposed to be Dog Therapy but since I didn't know whether Ji-Han knew either of them was a thing, I went with the one that sounded more intuitive.
Lastly, getting back on what I talked about in the last chapter, the presence of the Hero Union is what allows me to include the MC getting summoned during his quest without destroyed the narrative. It's not going to be their only purpose either.
Gashadokuro Amanojaku