Motoyasu untangled himself from the sheets two mornings later and took stock of his surroundings. Only Birdie still curled up in bed. Good.

Thus far, Werner had abided by the rule of women in the bath but not the bedroom. That made bathing stressful, now that Motoyasu knew that choosing the wrong woman could get him killed. In fact, he'd blue balled himself the past two nights showing interest but not committing to anyone beyond a little fondling. Still, he was nervous. It was one thing to be a stud, but a breeding stud who political battles were fought over marriage alliances with was another matter.

He had a strategy worked out to hold him over until he was able to memorize who was and wasn't safe to piss off. Basically, from the sounds of it, the women placed in his company were assorted as a show of fairness to everyone vying for his attention. Certain big shots could get more family members placed in the pool of women he might meet, or could get their daughters selected to see him more often, but on any given night, the women would come from multiple factions. It was easy to memorize which animals were for high-ranking families. If he avoided those animals, or if he gave them the same amount of attention as he did the other girls present, then he didn't get too cozy with anyone who was someone else's powerful enemy.

Sooner or later have to sleep with a girl he wouldn't have otherwise have chosen. At least he didn't have to abstain from sex entirely, but it was disquieting to be told that since you already slept with a couple girls, you had to keep it up or else.

Birdie slept while Motoyasu dressed for the day. Supposedly, enough tightening of security had taken place around the castle for him to resume participation in war talks. Although why they still planned to march him out to war when he wasn't safe to parade around town, Motoyasu had no idea. Still, best not question it.

If he questioned it, they might poison his breakfast.

Once ready, he woke Birdie by hoisting her out of bed and onto his shoulders.

"Hmmn… Why am… Huh!? Motoyasu-sama! I don't need to be carried! It's my job to carry you!"

"Nope. My turn." He twisted to catch Birdie's flustered face in the reflection in the window. Really, she was just too adorable. "We get to go back to eating in the dinning hall today. Are you looking forward to it?"

"I like eating in here with you just fine. If we have to eat with all those officials, they'll monopolize your time and grumble whenever you smile at me."

Because so long as he liked Birdie more than anyone else, their daughters couldn't tell him as easily to manipulate the masses. Well, the joke was on them. Motoyasu would have happily pleased their daughters anyway so long was they were fun to spend time with. Making it stressful and competitive ruined everything. Politics really was the worst thing people ever invented.

"I like not being trapped in a single room," Motoyasu said. "Let's make our appearances and get this matter settled."

Telling a table of Siltvelt big shots that Birdie was number one got her food poisoned. Announcing he knew that someone at the table was guilty would go badly. But Werner seemed mostly okay. He'd only visited the past few days with various other officials in tow, but the next time Motoyasu could speak to him privately, he wanted a candid discussion of the matter.

There was no such opportunity to have that talk at breakfast. Motoyasu didn't even know if he could request a conversation, or if showing possible preference for who he spoke to might get that politician (or himself) targeted. He nodded along to the instructions he was given and thanked his stars that it was mostly plans for his magic lessons to begin that day. Even the argument over arranging for his bath company took a back seat to therianthropes eagerly plotting which of their best fighters should have the honor of watching over him in the fields.

There was only a single complaint of how his cohabitation with Birdie kept him from taking other women to bed, and it was a elephant-like man who shot that gripe down.

"The filolial is our hero's talons. If someone is targeting the heroes, would you rather Motoyasu-sama be attacked while naked with your daughter, or while alongside the monster he is used to fighting with?"

Motoyasu didn't like the way the elephant ever so lightly stressed the word monster, but he appreciated the support all the same.

Best not point out Birdie was an angel. Even if it gave him a stomach ache not to defend her, she was safer if he praised her less.

"Motoyasu-sama, are you well? You didn't finish even a single serving."

"Watching my weight," he fibbed.

After living lean on the trip to Siltvelt, he was still trying to get his weight back up to where he'd been when he was summoned. But saying it like he normally ate a multiple portions made him sound like a glutton.

He nearly starved a few times there. He was justified in reveling in a big meal. And it was totally normal for people to be less hungry now and then.

"If you're worried for me, then may I pack a few things to eat while out in the field?"

As Shield Hero, it was also his job to unlock more shields. It was only because he was testing food-related shields that he stuffed assorted fruit and a muffin into his shield. If that happened to result in two fruity shields and a bunch of fruit and a muffin in his inventory, then what a happy coincidence that was.

-o-

After breakfast, Motoyasu was led to a study in one of the castle towers. There, middle-aged porcupine woman sat waiting for him.

"I'm told you need your affinities assessed."

"Yes…"

In Emerald Online, affinities were tied to your class, but Mei had said they were set at birth. This would be another test of how reliable the game was or wasn't. If being Shield Hero followed the same rules as the shielder class, then he should specialize in support and healing.

"My specialty is wind," Birdie mentioned while Motoyasu was situated in front of a crystal ball.

"I know. You saved both our butts with it during the wave. If I have wind too, maybe I'll ask you for lessons."

Birdie's grin was spoiled by the porcupine saying, "You appear to have an affinity for healing. I see some potential for support magic as well."

Well, there was his answer.

"Not much potential but some."

Come again?

"It looks like most of your support abilities will cross over with your affinity for fire."

"Fire!?" Motoyasu perked up. "I can burn things!"

"Motoyasu-sama, it sounds bad when you say that in such an excited voice," Birdie warned him.

"I must agree," Werner said.

"Screw both of you! Wait, no. Birdie, you're forgiven. But you two can attack! If I can shoot fire and opponents, I can back Birdie up in fights. Even when she moves too far out of reach, I can knock down enemies who are about to strike her! Fire magic! I'm rebuilding my stash of potions already, so healing isn't as urgent as being able to fight! Let's start with fire magic!"

"Give me a minute to find the appropriate crystal ball. It's not the most effective way to learn magic, but it's a good way to quickly get the feel. Learning from traditional study will go smoother after that."

"L-like books? Um… My shield translates what people say for me, but it doesn't translate written words."

"Motoyasu-sama, you should have informed us sooner. We could have given you beginning reader books while you were confined for security."

"Ah… Well… I guess…"

It wasn't like he expected his demand for magic lessons to be heeded. Even after Werner told him they'd see to it, after his talk with the old turtle, he doubted every promise Siltvelt made.

"Here we are. If you throw this crystal ball on the floor to shatter it, you should learn First Fireball."

A basic starter spell. It was below his level, but Motoyasu would take anything to be able to dish out damage.

He took the ball gingerly from the porcupine's hands, then hurled it at the stone floor.

The crystal ball bounced once, twice, a third time, and then rolled to a stop at Motoyasu's feet.

"Huh?" Motoyasu picked up the perfectly intact magic orb. "It won't break."

A screen popped up in Motoyasu's vision.

Notice: The use of offensive magic is prohibited.

"I can't even use offensive spells!?"

Motoyasu chucked the stupid, useless thing out the window, then paused to wait and see if his status menu changed. The shield already told him the situation, but with how far that orb must have fallen, he still let himself hope.

No new spells appeared.

"I've never heard of someone with an affinity for fire who couldn't use a single offensive spell before. Oh! D-don't worry. There are plenty of fire spells that aren't strictly for combat. We can start with those," the porcupine said. "With your affinities, we can even teach you fire-healing combo spells."

Motoyasu fell to his hands and knees and made no effort to lift his gaze from the floor. "I wanted to attack…"

"Don't despair, Motoyasu-sama!" Birdie hugged his arm tight. "I'll always be here to fight for you! Always!"

Motoyasu patted her head twice before running out of energy.

"Hey, turn into your bird form for me."

Birdie obliged the request before asking, "Why?"

Rather than answer, Motoyasu buried his face in her side and let the warm fluff and feathers keep the chill of despair at bay.

"Motoyasu-sama?"

Birdie made all the bad things feel distant.

"Motoyasu-sama, are you okay?"

"Motoyasu-sama, I'll make immediate arrangements for you to learn magic script. The faster we can explore more fire spells, the faster we can find one to satisfy you."

Whatever.

He didn't even care anymore.

Who needed fire when Birdie already provided all the warmth a man could need?

"Motoyasu-sama, I can still fight for you whether you can hurl fire or not. I promise."

Right. Right, Birdie still mattered, and no fire meant he was less equipped to protect her. He would have to pay close attention to the therianthropes who accompanied him to train. If any seemed reliable, both in terms of combat and in term of abstaining from political assassinations, they could join the party. The more people fighting alongside Birdie, the less risk she took.

Even if relying on others to protect her made him feel even more useless. Like it wasn't enough that her and Naofumi and Mei already carried a useless shielder so far. And all Birdie had gotten from it, as Fitoria had so brutally pointed out, was a low tolerance for pain.

"Healing spells." Motoyasu shoved back from Birdie. "If I can't use combat magic to keep Birdie safe, I can have a healing spell ready for every time I can't protect her. We can start there, and figure out what fire-based support I can use once this magic script stuff is dealt with."

Those lessons could also serve as an excuse to avoid political pitfalls. And if he could read, he might be able to read up on which families were dangerous and which other kingdoms were safe without having to alert anyone to his research.

"I should have a First Heal spell somewhere around here."

Healing was fine. Before being told he had fire, he hadn't expected he'd learn offensive spells anyway.

As long as Birdie came out of all of it alright, he didn't need to care about anything else.

-o-

Leveling went roughly as smooth as magic. Which is to say it didn't go quite like Motoyasu wanted, but he was no worse off in the end.

Over a dozen therianthropes followed him and Birdie out into the fields. A week ago, he'd have directed Birdie to take off running so they could have some privacy. A small group of guards was fine, but with so many, Motoyasu didn't see them encountering any good monsters.

"Can you guys follow from further back?"

"And let harm come to you? If you were to be killed because we couldn't react in time to danger, we'd have to take our own lives to make amends."

It was scary when they said it so matter of fact like.

"Th-then maybe… if I add one of you to my party, that person can stay close and ensure everyone else has time to reach us."

A clamor of offers to be the one to serve closest to the Shield Hero scared off whatever other scrub-tier monsters hadn't already fled.

"Er… Well… It doesn't work if all of you join."

Partying with the wrong family was probably similar to favoring the wrong girl. If only one volunteered then it would be easy, but he didn't want to be killed just for asking the toughest looking guy to stand close.

"How about this. You guys are going to tag along all the time, right? So I'm thinking of a number between one and a hundred. You can all take turns based on whose closest. Birdie?" Motoyasu hid both hands behind his back. "Pay attention to how many fingers I'm holding. You're going to keep me honest. If my palm is facing towards me, that means the number is however many fingers you see. If I have it facing out, it's the number of fingers plus five. Left hand is for tens and right is for ones. Got it?"

"Understood!"

Motoyasu positioned himself so that none of the therianthropes could see behind him and held his fingers out.

"Ready?"

"Thirty-four!"

"Sixty-nine!"

"One!"

Motoyasu took stock of each guard's response, then looked back to Birdie and nodded.

"The number Motoyasu-sama selected is Ninety-eight."

It was not. Or was it? Which hand was the tens digit and what did outward palm mean again? He was so focused on how not to offend anyone that he hadn't memorized his own instructions.

"Well, there you have it. No one guessed, so we'll go in order of who picked the highest number. That means… Um… Wolf-san…"

"I am Ragnar, Motoyasu-sama." The wolfman stepped forward and sent Motoyasu a party invite. "It's an honor to serve you."

Motoyasu accepted Ragnar into the party and looked over what over what information on Ragnar appeared in his party roster.

"Wow. Level 42. But you'll let Birdie do most of the fighting, right? Werner said she and I need more practice working together."

"As you wish. I'll only intervene when a monster is too tough for you."

"Since you have our backs, can we fight things above level 5?"

"That wouldn't do…" Ragnar spoke slowly, as if looking for a way to disagree, but finding none fast enough.

"The more strong monsters we fight now, when I have you here to keep me safe, the safer I'll be when we fight Melromarc."

So they ended up fighting against monsters in the area of level 20. It didn't get Motoyasu or Birdie up a level, but it let them show off their teamwork. Maybe if he pointed out that Itsuki was probably level 50 or even 60, they'd let him train seriously.

Fitoria didn't want him to fight any of the other heroes, but she also wanted him alive, which meant doing whatever Siltvelt wanted. If they pitted him against Itsuki, then he'd have to find some way to restrain or capture Itsuki without killing him. Not killing was easy enough when his attack stat, after all his leveling and shield collecting, sat at a whopping 3 points, but the restraining without dying part would be hard if he was half Itsuki's level.

…Technically, it wasn't going against Fitoria's word if he let Itsuki get a little hurt in the process, was it? Maybe Birdie could kick him into whatever trap they used to restrain him. Or if there was still a level disparity, then he wouldn't risk Birdie. But Motoyasu wanted—just a little bit—to let Itsuki taste what he endured. Maybe after they captured him they could just… forget to feed him? They could forget for three days, maybe.

Next time he got to train, he would be sure to point out the Itsuki situation.

-o-

When Motoyasu returned to the palace that evening, the big lion demi-human who he sometimes saw was waiting for him by the front doors.

Subconsciously, Motoyasu drifted to the left as they walked down the hall towards the man, putting as much space between them as the width of the hall allowed. He was never at the general political slogs that Motoyasu had to sit through, but he was full of harsh opinions during every meeting to plan the attack on Melromarc, and at any meals he attended, he glowered whenever Motoyasu spoke.

"Did your training go well, Shield Hero?" the lion asked as they passed.

"He and the filolial queen are an efficient pair, Jaralis-sama" Ragnar reported. "Motoyasu-sama withstood each monster's attack and was swift in protecting his comrade, while she timed her attacks well to make his work easier."

Jaralis. That was one of the men that the old turtle had told Motoyasu that it will end badly if he made an enemy of. The turtle hadn't thought Jaralis to be much for poisoning, but not above sending an assassin to slit Motoyasu's throat. Motoyasu couldn't recall his exact status, but he had some sort of military sway.

"Thank you for supplying me with support on this outing," Motoyasu mumbled, giving Jaralis a bow.

It didn't matter whether or not Jaralis had picked out his guards. If he hadn't, he could still be pleased to get credit. Motoyasu wanted to give the man no reasons to have him killed off in the woods somewhere.

"Hmph. Think nothing of it."

So his men were among the guards. Motoyasu kept his head dipped to Jaralis couldn't see the color drain from his face. At least he'd been careful in how he dealt with the men.

"Run along, Shield Hero. They've prepared materials for you."

More items for his shield? Motoyasu gave himself a moment to restore a neutral expression before lifting his head.

He recoiled at the toothy grin Jaralis gave him. Like bared fangs.

"You'll need to be strong if you want to survive against Melromarc."

-o-

Motoyasu was still shaken from Jaralis when he arrived a room that he was pretty sure was normally used to hold meetings. Most of the seats were empty, with Werner and an attendant standing against one wall. The table where they had previously sat and attempted to minimize participation in war discussion was covered in a genuine trash heap.

"Yama-sama recalled that your shield can grow from absorbing items in addition to copying other shields and collected whatever materials people wished to donate for you. While we await the shields you described from Zeltobe, this might also be of benefit," Werner explained.

Bless whoever that was. Motoyasu had unlocked a few new shields while out training, but most of what he was allowed to face, he'd fought on his way to Siltvelt as well.. Since Emerald Online didn't allow for random item absorption, he had no sense of what would or wouldn't unlock anything, but in a large stack, he was bound to find something decent

Baring that, he would at least have more scrub-tier shields that he could unlock the passive stat bonuses from by wearing during boring meetings and un-fun things that didn't require his best gear.

Motoyasu set to work. Monster hides. Fur bundle. Old smithing tools. Piping. The Pipe Shield had a skill come with it after so many monsters gave him nothing? Well, whatever. About time he unlocked a new skill. Fur bundle. Fishing net. Fur bundle. Ruby broach. Fur bundle. Fur bundle. Bone of a monster he absorbed before, but look at that. You got a separate shield for bones as compared to when you absorbed the entire monster. That made for a lot of unlocks he missed on his way to Siltvelt. Good things he'd never been a completionist or that would drive him mad. Fur bundle. Rusted coin. Feather bundle… were those Werner's? Cast-iron skillet. Compass. Hand mirror. Another nice skill. He'd have to test that out later. Fur bundle…

"Are demi-humans in the middle of a shedding season, or did everyone clip their hair for this? Actually, forget I asked. I don't want to know."

The worst part was that aside from Werner's feathers, he'd gotten shields from all the demi-human sheddings. If each shield came with the chance of a new skill or passive ability that might improve his and Birdie's ability to survive, he couldn't ignore the fur he had yet to absorb.

If it turned out that a certain demi-human's shield gave better stats, Motoyasu hopes that using it wouldn't be taken as a political statement.

When Motoyasu finished transferring the entire table's contents into his shield, the table filled once more with food, and the usual figures (Jaralis included) filtered in to discuss war plans over dinner.

"We've done our best to mobilize forces without alerting any spies," a man with rat ears said. "Once the Wise King lays out battle plans, we'll have a tougher battle. If we can launch an initial surprise attack with maximum damage, we can cripple their ability to retaliate even with his strategies to aide them."

"Most of our allies are on standby. Some will add to our troops while others have agreed to let us pass through their borders without issue. We'll march straight to Melromarc with no resistance. That wolf has split Faubrey's support, but that their military is split between those abiding by the ridiculous bargain she made queen and those loyal to generals and the Whip Hero will at least keep them from participating in the conflict. Shieldfreeden has also expressed a willingness to attack. They are similarly outraged by the affront to their god."

Motoyasu did his best throughout the discussion to keep his mouth full so he wouldn't have to give any input one way or the other. That, and playing with his food. It turned out there was a Pie Shield. Also, he had two slices of pie now saved in his inventory for later, But hearing that, he dared ask, "Once Shieldfreeden gives a definitive answer, does the war start?"

"Knowing we have their backing for certain would give us solid confidence to march out," Werner told him. "One of our major concerns was getting your level up with the help of the Claw Hero, but that plan… Well, Faubrey has confirmed the Whip Hero wasn't replaced, and he should be here within a day or two. We'll allow you to train as you did today, and if the Whip Hero is among those seeking retaliation from Melromarc, then he may help you as well. Rumor has it he is on good terms with the princess from Melromarc who the queen has sold in order to gain Faubrey's support, so he may side with us in order to prevent the arranged marriage."

A princess? That bitch was used as a bargaining chip? That complicated Motoyasu's own feelings on the matter. If they got support in the conflict from someone who cared for her, then they might be expected to spare her. And if whatever deal Melromarc made was one where her friends were willing to launch a war against her own kingdom to save her, then there might be worth in letting the deal go through.

But that would mean arguing against the war that everyone at the table wanted.

Besides, the bitch princess had been the one to slander him, but she did so alongside Itsuki, and the king denounced him like it was nothing, and the people of Melromarc all watched him suffer and only intervened to throw rocks at him and tell him he deserved it. If the Whip Hero wanted that woman spared, then Motoyasu could practice some political discussion and negotiate that she would only pay somewhat for her actions. He didn't want all other guilty parties let off the hook at his expense just so that woman could face worse consequences.

"I'll do my best, then."

He still had a dozen other things he wanted to say, but was afraid to since talking with the old turtle. Wanting to negotiate with the Whip Hero could be one more thing he bit his tongue on and played subservient about for the moment. Since the Whip Hero was one of the heroes meant to fight the waves as well, even if he didn't like some of Motoyasu's ideas, he was at least unlikely to kill him over them.

-x-

STA: I have no author's notes today. Too tired.

PillowLover3939: Thank you. Hearing this is one of your favorites makes me blush.

PatRox: I think it's volume 15 that Naofumi makes a comment about how Motoyasu could've turned out if he made Myne the subject of his fierce loyalty. I always crave stories that show Motoyasu not having that sort of bad influence, because he's a better guy than a lot of people give him credit for. Not, like, an amazing guy, but better than he gets credit for.

reality deviant: I mean, yeah, but my thinking was just that even with those deviations, enough has been shown. Any more would feel redundant.

Uday Sra: Thanks.

Rob Rimsill: I appologize if I caused you to oversleep. That's an unfair trade off for having you make my day.