Motoyasu never made it to Birdie's room. Until that potion wore off, Motoyasu hadn't been able to stop himself, and then he'd been too exhausted to do anything but lie in bed with the two women he'd wound up with.
He untangled himself th e next morning from sheets and limbs and studied himself in the mirror before dressing for the day.
Even when he got drunk at parties, it was mostly his own bed that he woke up in with someone he barely knew. On the rare occasion where that wasn't the case, Motoyasu had been decent at finding his things. Although he'd abandon such moral scruples since learning not all women were angels, Motoyasu had once thought it only decent to stay for breakfast. Hanging around rather than slipping out while a girl was still asleep meant time to clean yourself up and search for your clothes on top of getting brownie points and a free breakfast. He always returned home at a decent hour, clean, with no hints that he had gotten drunk and had to
That was all to say that Motoyasu had never done a walk of shame before, but in that moment, he looked like someone in the midst of one.
He dressed himself and wondered if he could ask to wash off, but he would end up approached by more women in the bath. The potion hadn't acted like that rat claimed it would at all, but he definitely didn't want to find out if the part about it lasting twelve hours was true.
When Motoyasu stepped out of his room, his hair was still disheveled. He could comb it with his fingers while whichever guard was outside his door escorted him to Werner or breakfast or wherever he was supposed to be for the day. After all, what was he supposed to do, if not ask how high when Siltvelt told him to jump?
It wasn't a demi-human guard, but Takt waiting with a flat expression outside Motoyasu's door.
"I heard you had quite the evening."
With how close their rooms were, Takt might have heard in great detail. Werner's claims of thick walls aside, that potion had been potent.
"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
Takt all but rolled his eyes, and Motoyasu died a little inside. He really had been too noisy, hadn't he? And after Werner moved Birdie to the bedroom next door, no less. She must have spent the night in tears.
"Siltvelt has quite a few fine women," Takt said. "Don't think you can hog them all to yourself."
Motoyasu looked both ways for eavesdroppers, then leaned in and whispered to Takt, "Any that you pry off of me, you're welcome to."
Those girls were all interested in him only for what they stood to gain politically. Barely a step up from Melromarc's princess. He was willing to bet a few even knew about the potion. One of the women still asleep in his bed had the same rat-like ears and tail as that dammed apothecary.
"Is that so? Then I'll help myself to the cream of the crop."
If Takt had as good of taste in the looks department as his party suggested, then… Well, most of the women were lookers, but fingers crossed he'd take away a couple of the ones who had dangerous families and enemies. No one could blame Motoyasu for neglecting them if they chose someone else.
All Motoyasu could do was try not to give anyone a reason to kill him and hope for the best. With that in mind, Motoyasu knocked before peeking into Birdie's room. It wasn't as decorated as his and lacked the plush chairs for guests, but it was roomy and comfortable looking, and Birdie was half-asleep on the bed in her filolial form.
"Breakfast time," Motoyasu, who had yet to check the time, said.
"Aaah! I'll be ready in sixty seconds!"
So cute. Motoyasu could spend his whole life watching Birdie scramble out of bed and struggle to shake off her sheets.
"Forget that." Takt pulled Motoyasu away from the door. "We're raising your level today."
"But I'm supposed to meet with—"
"The body of that illusionist is being prepared for me to transport this afternoon, so we're getting your training over with now."
...Well! That settled it. No helping it if those were the Whip Hero's orders. No one could be mad if he was only following instructions.
Besides, if Motoyasu saw Werner or that war-rat before getting a bath, he might try and strangle them.
Motoyasu and Birdie followed Takt down the halls, breezing past guards and other palace occupants who stared as their Shield Hero broke routine. By the time they reached the palace doors, self-consciousness had overcome Motoyasu's anger over the previous night, and he had frantically tied his hair in a ponytail that didn't fully obscure his bed-head.
"Do you have a portal skill?" Motoyasu asked once he and Takt were outside.
He lacked one himself, but in-game you couldn't use portal skills inside buildings. Since Fitoria verified for Motoyasu that such skills existed, it seemed safe to assume until proven otherwise that the skill worked similarly to how it did in-game.
"None of the locations I registered will work for training you. The aircraft I brought is too large to be worth taking only three people as well. But that's fine. There's somewhere pretty close that we can go for now."
"You need to be back in time to study the fake Claw Hero, right? Birdie?"
"Understood!" Birdie transformed into her filolial form and shifted her wings for easy mounting. "Normally my back is reserved for Motoyasu-sama, but I have enough room for two people. I won't be able to run as fast, but we can get there faster if I carry you."
Motoyasu climbed aboard before looking at Takt, who regarded Yuki as if she were an oversized crocodile.
"Do you want to be in front, or in back? I've never ridden a filolial with two people before, so I don't know if it would be easier to hold onto her or me. We're in your care for this trip, so whichever you prefer, I'm fine with."
"Riding filolials? I suppose not everyone can figure out how to build a real vehicle. If you ever come to Faubrey, I'll show you some of my tank designs."
Who would want to ride in a tank? The soldiers in movies who used those always looked gritty, and the tanks blew up constantly.
"Motoyasu-sama, even though I wouldn't use it when running at full speed, I'd still like to have a carriage. Then it would be easier for me to transport multiple people."
"I'll keep that in mind."
If Motoyasu had any reservations about leaving Siltvelt, they were gone after the previous night. A carriage that served as a mobile home like Birdie suggested was a high priority. He would pitch it to Werner as a means of transport while they marched to war, so he could have it ready when they fled.
"I have a small plane ready for us," Takt said. "Your fillolial will have to use her humanoid form in order to fit. Both of you stay away from the controls. If someone so low level tried to fly it, it would take us all day to reach the hunting grounds.
-o-
Perhaps after spending a few months in a fantasy world, Motoyasu had forgotten how fast vehicles back home traveled. Takt's plane sped over Siltvelt at a rate that made Motoyasu's heart race. Riding on Birdie, it might have taken days to reach the spot where they landed, and she had been able to outrun Fitoria's flock.
Motoyasu managed not to get motion sick until the end. When the plane landed, it rolled what felt like five bumpy miles in five seconds before coming to a halt. He staggered out onto the ground, and thankfully had no breakfast to lose.
"I hadn't thought the Shield Hero would have such a weak constitution. The way I heard it, being sturdy was your specialty."
"Never flew much back home…"
"Oh? They have beauties like this in your world?" Takt patted the side of the plane.
He sort of reminded Motoyasu of a military otaku. The sort who geeked out over war machines and gun designs. On the social ladder of otaku types, Motoyasu ranked those one rung above train spotters. But from what he heard of the Whip Hero, this man was an inventor more than a fanboy.
"Nothing like this work of art," Motoyasu fibbed with the best smile he could manage.
One of his few male friends was in an engineering program. Motoyasu learned that a lot of generalized compliments that he could give when critiquing actual art from classmates could be similarly flattering on his buddy's blueprints.
The lesson translated well to the fantasy world. Takt swelled with pride and told him, "Maybe I'll show you a few more of my babies before you head out to fight Melromarc. But first, let's lift your level out of the 'pathetic' range."
He poked at the air in front of him, and a message appeared in Motoyasu's field of vision offering for him and his registered pet to join Takt's party.
"I really appreciate that you—What? How is your level this high? I didn't realize you could go over 100! Does anything even pose a challenge for you? Your stats must be insane!"
Motoyasu knew Takt had to be at least 20 levels above him, since that was the cut off for when you couldn't tell what level a person was. At most, he'd figured Takt could be 60-ish levels over him. That they had a several-hundred level difference made Motoyasu anxious. If that was the level a hero needed to be, then how was he ever going to reach it?
"Most people are stuck at 100, but heroes don't have level caps," Takt told him.
Another reminder that Emerald Online was more a list of suggestions and gave no hard and fast rules about the world he was in.
In the game, most battleable NPCs were scaled to be about 10 levels above nearby monsters, and that would be relevant information to confirm if he was about to go to war with a starter kingdom.
"I'm still pretty new to this world, you know. How long does it take most people to reach 100?"
Takt snorted. "Most don't reach 10. You wouldn't believe how many soldiers never reach the point of getting a class-up ceremony."
That was a relief. Siltvelt could be weak against Melromarc for all Motoyasu cared, but he needed to stand up to Melromarc's army. The only concern then would be Itsuki and possibly Ren.
"Birdie's almost to the point that she can class-up."
"Fuel's difficult to manufacture, so I'm not flying back just to perform a class-up on her. If she gets stuck at level 40, then she'll have to continue leveling up later. Your the main one who needs their level up today."
If jet fuel was an issue, then it made more sense to Motoyasu to take a dragon. Although it had been easier to get Birdie into a plane than it would be to get her on a dragon's back.
Motoyasu switched out to his best shield so he could offer Takt some semblance of support, but he never had a chance to show off. Even when he tried, Takt only snapped at him for getting in the way. He and Birdie hung back while Takt struck dragons with his whip, leaving deep gouges that instantly killed their targets. By lunchtime, Motoyasu's level had risen to 48. Birdie, sadly, was stuck at 40.
They both sat quietly in the back of the plane on the return trip. Birdie was unused to someone else attacking for Motoyasu, and humbled by how much more effective Takt had been. For Motoyasu's part, he again wondered if there was any point to him having been summoned. A Seven Star Hero whose weapon was supposedly weaker than his own had made short work of any and all targets they encountered. Could the waves ever reach a point where power greater than what Takt possessed was needed?
They landed back in Siltvelt and parted ways. Takt left to collect the false Claw Hero's corpse while Motoyasu took Birdie to the Dragon Hourglass for a class-up. A little pestering of the priests who had been cold to their Shield Hero when he first visited the church under the pretense of being Birdie's servant, and all argument that custom demanded a great celebration for a class-up presided over by the Shield Hero fell to the wayside. The cowlick imparted on Birdie messed with the ceremony, but it was no great concern. If Motoyasu had been provided the insane stat boost it offered alongside a list of options normally present for a class-up, he'd have picked that option anyway. Double strength, double speed, and double everything else as well. That would go a long way to keeping Birdie safe in combat.
With that settled, Motoyasu returned to the palace, whereupon it turned out that him leaving with Takt had not been cleared with Werner or anyone else.
"I only followed instructions," Motoyasu grumbled as he was led to a late lunch.
"Then we'll provide you a list in the future of who all can be trusted to impart instructions."
Control freaks.
Whatever. Motoyasu would just let it slide. All he had to do was whatever they said. He didn't care if they dictated his schedule and ran his life. He didn't care if he had to nail women he wouldn't have otherwise picked in order to pacify the right politician. He didn't even care if they drugged him such that he wound up with a dozen children who he never had the chance to meet.
He cared an itsy bitsy bit about the notice that his Shield of Acedia had leveled up, but so long as he didn't use it, then he didn't care that much.
Actually, technically, if he used it, he wouldn't care at all.
A rat-like man smiled at Motoyasu as he took a seat at the table. Motoyasu smiled back even though his stomach twisted at the sight. He did his best from there to avoid eye contact and offer no contributions to the discussion that unfolded. only answering questions when asked. Even if no one was pleased with him having disappeared like he did, they were at least pleased with his level increase.
"Our spies report that the other heroes levels are higher still. If we truly intend to pit Motoyasu-sama against them, then we'll need to be more aggressive in raising his level."
"He's already out-leveled half our soldiers, and the Whip Hero left as soon as he obtained that phony's body to study further. We would put him at too much risk if we let him face more dangerous monsters."
So Takt already left, and without having had the chance to say goodbye. Regrettable, but it meant fewer chances for further ego bruising.
"What about the upcoming activation event?"
"Cal Mira is controlled by Melromarc. If we conquered their ports, we could force the islands to take Motoyasu-sama, but we can't make use of that before he leads us in this war."
Birdie nudged Motoyasu's side and mouthed the word 'Naofumi' at him, and he shrugged in response. For the sake of getting his level up, the more heroes Siltvelt expected to fight, the better.
"We are all forgetting that Motoyasu-sama is the Shield Hero," argued one man with a turtle shell. A relative of that old turtle's, no doubt. "I don't want to see harm come to him any more than the rest of you, but he is a specialist at withstanding attacks, and his talons are ready to fight for him even if our own soldiers lack the devotion to fight more dangerous foes. We would be wise to let him near more powerful monsters in the nest few weeks while we finish preparations to march."
"The Whip Hero has already taken his airship with him, unless Motoyasu-sama can coax his talons to ride a dragon, we have no swift transport that would enable him to reach any regions with monsters at a level suitable for training while still enabling him to return to the capitol in time for his various ceremonial duties each day."
Then stop making me perform those duties, Motoyasu wanted to say. But it wasn't worth picking a fight over.
"Jaralis, you oversee most of our high-level fighters. Surely you have men to spare," the turtle argued. "You could even train Motoyasu-sama yourself. I'm sure that so much personal time would be beneficial, and your could review military plans with him to compensate for any meetings he might miss."
The lion glared at the turtle, but it was the rat who spoke up in opposition. "Don't barter away that level of influence without everyone else's approval. Since when did the Genmu align themselves with those muscle-headed upstarts in the first place?"
"No one is bartering Motoyasu-sama or influence," Werner said. "The point of level disparity is an important one, but there are still traditions to uphold. We will look into importing monsters for Motoyasu-sama to train against. Jaralis, I have noticed that a number of your men are on standby to march rather than helping with supplies. You could spare a few while also providing them with last minute training by assigning them to capture these monsters. In the meantime, Motoyasu-sama, don't trouble yourself with worry over this conflict. We will ensure that all goes smoothly."
"Got it."
Why trouble himself at all? If he didn't disappear before they reached Melromarc's border, then surely he could slip away in the chaos of battle.
Motoyasu almost let the meal pass without any voluntary input, but as servants gathered up his plates and political big shots excused themselves to return to their duties, Motoyasu remembered something and grabbed Werner's cloak.
"About travel arrangements… Is there any chance a carriage could be made for Birdie to pull? I had to sleep in the dirt my whole way from Melromarc's border to here, and a carriage outfitted as a mobile living space would make for a more comfortable triumphant return."
"We'll have each of our best carpenters on the task at once. Surely at least one will make a carriage worthy of you."
"Please just pick the best one for me," Motoyasu said. He didn't need political ramifications behind carriage selection as well.
From there, the day fell back into its usual routine. Motoyasu studied and endured more discussion over dinner, and was amazingly left alone in the bath.
A tonic in the same vial as the last two waited for him on a silver platter by his bedside. Motoyasu pulled the stopper out and, seeing no potted plants to dispose of the contents in, drizzled the tonic instead into his shield.
Unproductive Shield
abilities locked equip bonus: defense 1
Status enhancement: none selected
First off, The Holy Shield, treacherous as ever, displayed unrepentant Siltvelt favoritism. That ought to be called the Responsibility Shield. Motoyasu did not deserve to be shamed while attempting to take proper precautions.
Second, why now give him the right tonic?
Motoyasu balked at the description of the item absorbed and the recipe unlocked. This time, he'd received the real protection he requested. Synthesizing his own was the safest bet, but where did half those herbs come from?
A hand sliding up his arm and beneath his shirt pulled Motoyasu's attention from his menu.
The girl caressing him was familiar. It had been a while since he'd seen her, but her turn must have come again.
Tort. The old turtle who first told Motoyasu about how he would be used for political marriages and breeding had a granddaughter named Tort, and this was her.
Motoyasu had retained only a broad overview of political factions, talking note more of which races were dangerous to offend or safe to favor than who allied with who or what they stood for. But be recalled the old turtle's own stances, which must have placed them on an enemy faction of the war-supporting rats.
So that was why they finally gave him the real birth control.
Because he waisted his tonic on his shield, it would be yet another night were he might get a girl pregnant, and Motoyasu didn't care. Her couldn't even be bothered by the risk of retaliation when he cupped a hand under Tort's chin and kissed her until he needed air. Signaled with his devoted attention to her that the other girls behind her need not bother, even though one was clearly a relative of Jaralis.
Come morning, he would ask for access to all the potion ingredients he could get in order to make his own tonics. Until then, if they only cared about his wishes when it was convenient to then, then he didn't care about the wishes of anyone in Siltvelt either.
-x-
STA: I'm not 100% satisfied with this chapter... but I am very, very excited for the next one.
reality deviant: I-I mean... Reprise!Takt also shows up acting friendly and then takes his first day in Siltvelt to focus on Tulna's remains. Besides, I promise he's a serious issue! He's not murdering Motoyasu as fast as he tried in Reprise because Motoyasu wasn't directly responsible for Tulna's death and also some other reasons that are lowkey spoilery for either this fic or the LNs, but he's definitely gonna be a serious issue.
Uday Sra: Do you mean like the chapter is good, or that it's good that I have no idea how to respond to you?