Chapter 31: Escape

POV: Clone 2 (with party)

We made our way to the weapon shop and it looked like the wagon was improved more than I had expected. Instead of just metal reinforcements, the entire frame had been replaced with it. It's should definitely hold up to Blake's speed better. Blake looked at it with a smile spread across her face; it's times like this when she really looks like a kid.

"Hey kid, the wagon is ready and I finished the katana last night." Erhard pulled out the new katana and handed it to Talia. "I'm still nowhere near the level of my master, but it should serve you well."

She unsheathed it and took a practice swing. "It's incredible." I'm not sure she should be smiling like that over a new weapon, but she's become a Haulia through and through and I'm the one who made her one.

"So, Shield Bro, I heard you got up to some stuff at the castle earlier."

"News travels fast."

"Well it is the spice of life."

A prisoner that they don't want me to meet? Interesting.

"Did the news include that the king was continuing to be disrespectful and insulting? Or that he actually tried to threaten my party?" I indicated Seb, Talia, and Blake.

"No, but it seems the issues between you two always comes down to feeling disrespected. I'm surprised it got to the point that he would threaten others though."

"Well he knows that he can't even touch me, let alone hurt me. And I would just like to point out that I have always shown him the same level of respect that he shows me, which lately just happens to be none."

"Well he is a king."

"Which do you think is more worthy of respect: A man who used his ability to strategize to helped win a war and married into a royal family, then abducted four people to fight for him, or one who has fought a war against a god's army and won, killed more beings that are capable of singlehandedly destroying countries than one could count, soloed a great labyrinth, managed to lay a scratch on the Godslaying Demon King in single combat, and became not only the right hand of said Demon King but also the next head of a clan of warriors that defeated an empire in a single night?"

"Well the latter sounds more impressive, but it is rather unbelievable."

"I realize that, but it is no excuse for the king's behavior."

"So you threatened to kill him?"

"Only if he tries something against my companions. I figured it was the best way to keep him off our back."

"Sigh, I was sure you'd do something crazy someday, but this is beyond my expectations." Erhard shook his head in disappointment. "Well, I have just about anything you need for a journey out of the kingdom, assuming you are still leaving to get class-ups."

"That's the plan. There's no way in hell the king would help us get stronger by letting us class-up here."

Erhard had a concerned look on his face, but didn't say anything. We bought the supplies we needed, luckily I had Seb and Talia each keep a few gold coins on hand as a precaution since most of our money was with my main body. We also told him about the monsters we fought in the wave.

"Almost forgot, Talia's old katana was chipped near the end of the wave. Think it's salvageable?" I handed him the katana so he could look it over.

"That is one hell of a chip. What in the world did this?"

"A metal fan was used to block one of Talia's strikes."

"Well iron fans can be sword breakers. Kind of surprising to hear a monster from the waves was using one though."

"We aren't really sure who or what it was, only that she showed up at the end, declared herself an enemy and attacked. Anyways, the sword."

"Right. I doubt it would survive another battle and there isn't much I can do to fix it. I could try re-forging it or shortening it, though I suppose that would turn it into a wakizashi. Either way it wouldn't cost much."

A former knight? She could be useful and seems trustworthy enough.

"Well it's probably going to be a while until you see us again, so this will be more of a 'in your spare time' sort of job, and I think the wakizashi idea would be best." It would also help give Talia a bit more of a samurai look, even with the barbarian armor.

"Alright then, I guess I can figure out how much to charge when you get back."

"Oh, and it looks like we are going to need an extra set of traveling clothes, for a woman slightly taller than Talia." Everyone looked at me in confusion, except Blake who was probably still daydreaming about the carriage. "Don't look at me like that, I can't explain now but it will all make sense later."

Melty's coming, we should probably hurry.

"Right… Kid you do know how it sounds when you say stuff like that, don't you?"

"Yes, but I would rather not go into details until I am sure things will go smoothly or, better yet, after they already have."

"Fine, but I am going to want to know what all this was about later."

"With how fast rumors spread, you'll probably be able to piece it together yourself before then, but I promise to tell you next time."

We finished our business with Erhard and loaded up the carriage. We were heading out the gates of the castle town when Melty caught up to us.

"Found you!" She came up to us with a group of knights, and my hidden clone, following her.

"Hi, Mel." (Blake)

"Is there something that you need Mel? Or should I call you Crown Princess Melty?" Once again everyone was surprised. Either from suddenly noticing my presence or from realizing what I had called Mel.

"So it is true, you really are the Shield Hero and you knew who I was all along."

"I never said I wasn't the guy stuck with the cursed shield, and I only found out your identity earlier today. So what is it you want, we are in a bit of a hurry."

"Please return to the castle."

"No."

"That was a fast answer." (Seb)

"That's because I was expecting the question."

"I'm asking you to return and have a real conversation with my father!"

"He doesn't want to see me any more than I want to see him. Plus he thinks far too highly of himself and constantly insults me. I currently have no reason to speak with that fool. Blake, let's go."

"Bye, Mel."

"Hey. Wait!" Melty yelled at us as we left.

After we were out of earshot, Seb asked, "Is she really the second princes?"

"That she is, I found out through another clone while meeting with the king."

"The one you have following her?" (Talia)

"Yeah, I still don't know the full story so I am keeping an eye on her for now."

"I thought you had trouble operating more than one clone, except as the Lord." (Seb)

"If it's for combat then yes, it is tiring, but if they are just walking around and gathering intel, then I can use several."

"So where is the real you anyways?" (Talia)

"Back at the castle, I found someone who I think will be useful to us."

"Who?" (Talia)

"Is that why you had us buy extra clothes?" (Seb)

"You will just have to wait and see, and yes. By the way, does the name Seaetto mean anything to either of you?"

"I've heard that the Seaetto territory practiced equal rights for demi-humans, but that's about it. My father generally tried to avoid relations that would make him a target for other nobles." (Seb)

"That's… My village was in the Seaetto territory. The lord of Seaetto died in the wave." (Talia)

We traveled northeast and Seb found an unfamiliar bag hidden in the corner of the carriage. Apparently Erhard had made a few experimental items for us, but didn't know how to bring it up. There was some sort of accessory for my shield, a pair of strength boosting gloves, and a magic sword. I'm not sure what the accessory would do but apparently the gloves would boost your strength in proportion to your magic power, sounds a bit like the way Shea buffs herself. The magic sword looked like a bladeless hilt until you pass mana through it, then it has a glowing blade. It was supposed to be good against spiritual enemies like the Soul Eater; I wonder if it can be used to cut through the flow of mana in a person like Shizuku can.

We stopped by a stream to rest and feed Blake when it looked like Melty was finally setting out to follow us. It's not like she'll be able to convince me to talk to the king just by asking, but the knights coming with her seemed to be up to something. Better they act out here than in the capitol. Anyways, it's time to switch. I stepped away from the others and black mist whirled around me. The next instant I was in the dungeons under the castle.

POV: Main

While one clone left with my party and another tailed Melty, I continued my investigation of the castle. I may have been able to use Melty's identity to my advantage, but didn't want to be caught by surprise again. I found the armory and copied the few shields they had. I also found the barracks, which had some soldiers slacking off. At least they were until the arrogant captain came in.

"You two, on your feet. You are to check the dungeon and make sure that each prisoner is accounted for."

"Yes sir. But, if I may ask, why the sudden check?"

"The Shield Demon was apparently heard saying that his party was going to meet up with someone and the context suggests that it may be someone from the castle. You are going to make sure that none of the prisoners escaped. I don't even want to think about what would happen if they were to join up with the Shield Demon, especially her. Now get moving."

Both soldiers left the room and I decided to follow. If there is someone here who the soldiers don't want me to meet with, then I should probably talk to them. They made their way down to the dungeons and took a piece of paper from the guard that was sitting by the entrance. I took his keys, just in case I needed them.

"So what did these people do that makes the captain so nervous anyways?"

"Oh right, I forgot that you're still new? Most of the people kept here are criminals with some connection to nobility. It's too risky to let them walk free, and they can be useful as leverage, so they're kept close. If the Shield Hero broke them out and convinced them to help him, he might be able to cause enough chaos that we would be unable to defend against the waves."

"And they keep people like that under the castle?"

They walked through the dungeons checking each cell against a list.

"Most of them, there's one other." They stopped at a cell a good distance from the other occupied ones. "And there she is, Eclair Seaetto. After the first wave she betrayed us and attacked her fellow knights to side with demi-humans. The only reason she hasn't been executed yet is because she's the daughter of the man who ran that territory and it is up to the queen to decider her fate. Personally, I hope she's given to Faubrey."

In the cell was a woman shackled in a standing position. It looked like she had been here for a while and the shackles were the only thing supporting her weight. I suppose that if she was arrested shortly after the first wave, then she would have been here for close to three months now. Her clothes may have been fine once, but now were filthy and practically falling apart. I never understood how things can get so dirty without touching anything; the filth must be in the air.

"Everyone is accounted for, now we can get out of this stink hole."

The soldiers left and I was alone in front of the woman in the cell.

"So, what really happened that put you in this predicament?"

The woman slowly raised her head, the first movement she made since the soldiers first came in. Her hair was a mess and she might have been considered attractive if she hadn't gone through months of what I assume to have been abuse and neglect. Her eyes were barely open. "Who's there?" Sounds like she hasn't used her voice in a while either.

"I'm here, and I'm curious. So if you wouldn't mind answering my question…"

"There were soldiers hunting demi-humans that they were supposed to be protecting, I punished them. I was arrested. They took my knighthood. I'm just a prisoner now."

"You were arrested for protecting people?"

"They don't care about that, only that they could make money and that I was stopping them. I must have finally lost it. I'm hallucinating and talking to it."

"What will happen to you if you stay here?"

"It's been months, if the queen hasn't seen fit to free me by now, I will likely die like this."

"But the queen hasn't been back since the first wave, she hasn't had the chance to fix things here."

Eclair looked at me intently. "Are you a hallucination?"

"No." I unlocked the cell door.

"Then who are you."

I thought about how to respond. "Someone who the king apparently doesn't want you to help and can get you out of here."

"If what you say is true and the queen really hasn't returned, then I just have to hold out until she does."

"The problem with that is that we don't know how long it will take. You don't seem to be getting much to eat, you're practically skin and bones. Are you sure you will survive?"

"No, I'm not. But what other option do I really have? If I were to go with you and run, I won't be able to prove my innocence when the queen returns."

I unlocked her shackles and she immediately collapsed. I helped her to a sitting position then gave her some of the water and dried meat I had stored in my treasure trove. "You should eat."

"Thank you." She trembled from lack of strength as she ate.

"As for making your case to the queen… I'm actually going to have to meet with her at some point to clear up the false charges made against me by the king and first princess. If she is the type of person I hear she is then there shouldn't be any problem."

"So, you're considered a criminal too?"

"Falsely convicted due to the king's nepotism and pre-existing hatred."

"Pre-existing hatred?"

I spoke softly, "I was summoned as the Shield Hero."

Her eyes shot open and she turned to look at me. I held up the shield for her to see. "That would explain it, but why would the king lock up a legendary hero? False crime or not they are needed to protect this world."

"He didn't. I followed the soldiers earlier because I heard them talking about prisoners and I was curious."

"And they let you?"

"They didn't notice me. There aren't many places I can't get into if I feel like it."

"That makes you sound like a thief."

"Close, I was originally an assassin."

"An assassin was summoned as the Shield Hero?" She looked incredibly confused.

"Yeah, I find it rather irritating, but there are a few benefits to this cursed shield, for example: As Lord of the Abyss, the source of all power, know my intent and bring it to fruition, bend time to my will and restore her health. [Drifa Restoration]." I managed to learn Restoration from the intermediate healing spell book I got last month, it is a healing magic that specializes in reversing the effects of deterioration over time like rots, infections, and slow acting poisons. It also has an effect on atrophy and malnutrition, but those are a bit tricky due to conservation of mass, so it will take several treatments with meals in-between to fully restore her. I did test it on some non-living things to see if it worked like the Restoration Magic from Tortus, no effect. The book also specifically stated that it won't restore youth.

"I can feel my strength returning, how?" Her voice was sounding better as well.

"Healing magic, a particular form of it anyways. So, would you be willing to help me?" I already bought those clothes for her; it would be a waste if she said no.

"If everything you've said is true, and this isn't some trick or crazed hallucination, then I will do what I can to assist you, Sir Shield Hero."

"Great, but we're going to have to wait a while."

"Why, did you bribe a specific guard?"

"Not quite, but if any guards come to check the cells now and find that you aren't here, it could cause a bit of trouble."

"And what about finding that you are here?"

"They won't. Sorry but you're going to have to go back in the shackles for now."

"Sigh. I really hope this isn't just some dream I'm having."

I helped her up and put the shackles back on her. Then I locked the cell door and leaned against the wall to wait. She eventually lost track of me and slumped back over, similar to how she was when I first saw her. Almost an hour later guards came down looking for the keys. They started asking the prisoners if they saw or heard anything. A few said that they heard voices from Eclair's cell. Of course the guards then came over to look.

"Seaetto, wake up!" (guard 1)

"Who? What? Sigh. It really was a dream."

"Stop blabbering nonsense and tell us if anyone has been by here."

"Anyone? There were some soldiers earlier."

"Anyone that isn't supposed to be here."

"Just the phantoms in my head." She looked like she had just lost the only hope she had.

"She probably started talking to herself from the isolation. Surprised it took this long." (guard 2)

"Probably, but where did those keys go?" (guard 1)

"How should I know? Those idiots could have left them anywhere. We're going to have to check the place top to bottom. And none of the prisoners get fed until we find the keys!" The last statement was loud enough that everyone in the dungeons could hear. Probably so if one of them did manage to get ahold of the keys, the others would rat them out for a meal. Anyways, the guards left to continue their search for the keys.

Tears started rolling down Eclair's face. "Why are you crying?"

"What? You're back? You really are a hallucination."

"I never left. And I am not a hallucination."

"Then why couldn't I see you? The guards didn't either."

"People have a hard time noticing me, especially when I don't want them to."

See looked at me like she didn't believe a word of it and still wasn't convinced that I wasn't part of her imagination. "Sure, and just what is your plan for getting out of here anyways?"

"All in due time. There are still events in motion that could be disrupted should news of an escape be released." Melty is getting ready to chase after me; if she hears that I released a criminal things could develop in an unexpected direction. "Just hang on a while longer."

"Like I have a choice."

I waited another half hour. Melty was on the move and my party was stopped by a stream. "It's time." I once again unshackled Eclair, then I tossed the keys on the floor a few feet away.

"What are you doing? Won't we need those to open the cell door?"

"Not to worry. Air Escape - Air exists throughout the entire world."

Black mist encircled us and we appeared where my clone had been an instance before, with my party.

AN: So after months alone in that cell, I figure Eclair wasn't really in the best state of mind and initially didn't question how Endou got the keys then decide not to question it. Not much info is given on that transportation technique, but I am assuming it takes mana proportionate to mass and distance, so that escape would have used of a good portion of his reserves.
Also a shout out to downix2k for the review with the initial idea of having Endou search the dungeons and find Eclair.

setokayba2n: too sadistic and creepy.

Z: you are part right, won't say which part though.