Author's Note:
Welcome back, all. Sorry for the long delay; pretty sure this is the story you've all been really waiting for an update for, and it's the same for me. I put Shield Hero at the end of my list because I want to dedicate the most time to it to make a good chapter to make up for the small hiatus that went on. Thank you for being patient and understanding, and with that, let's get back to it.
''Suspicion is a heavy armor and with its weight it impedes more than it protects.''
-Robert Burns.
At A Cost. . .
Naofumi, along with Valiant, trudged along in the snow following the failed attempt on their lives after discovering some form of treachery within Yak-Yakistan. Pairing that along with the two of them killing two of the assailants in justified self-defense with the notion that it may not be seen that way with Prince Rutherford certainly ticked within Naofumi's mind. Valiant's all but cold attitude at the prospect of killing the two and dumping their bodies in the water to remove a chunk of evidence did spark a small concern within him.
Perhaps he, himself had grown accustomed to 'killing', though it was often done in self-defense as a quest, finding new material to further improve his shield, or hunting for food. The undead, or oftentimes barely alive monsters from The Wave of Calamity could have been considered a necessary evil to be extinguished, though he held no qualms when a monstrous sword or weapons with the power of the 4 Legendary Weapons were pointed at him; he merely acted accordingly.
Valiant, however, seemed so used to the notion it somewhat began to engrave itself into his very being.
Something else that Naofumi thought about for a second that he was sure would come up whether of his own doing or that of the Yaks were how much trust was placed in them being who they were, and for his party, what they were. Without thinking too much of it, he was sure that, in some form or fashion, fate would play a cruel hand into possibly making the entire experience in Equestria anything but enjoyable.
Slowly taking his time to maneuver over an ice slick as he checked on Valiant's path; though he had metal grips on his hooves, a slip and fall could still occur, and he did not need that in a place he did not know and with creatures that did not look like him. A breath of hot air exited his mouth as he continued on as Valiant walked alongside him, seemingly feeling that he wanted to say something.
''What's on your mind, kid?'' Valiant asked, casting the otaku a side look as he blinked a few times before facing the guard as they continued their walk ahead. The Yak that Naofumi managed to incapacitate with his Shield Prison was still unconscious as Valiant pulled him along on a cart with straps to keep him down. They would get all the information they could out of this one before anything else.
''You seemed. . .I don't know; too-'' Valiant cut him off, his tone of no-nonsense filling his mind as he spoke.
''-Detached from what I did earlier?'' a sigh came from Valiant as he was sure he explained himself to Naofumi, but he was sure that being the Human that he was, Naofumi would not relent until he had a clear understanding. ''I can't really tell you in the way that you need get an all-important epiphany, but if you couldn't tell back then; killing another creature is only that big of a deal if you make it.''
''It's not that, really,'' Naofumi argued, just wanting to nitpick a bit to keep a rapport with him, though he felt that probably wouldn't be the best thing if he wanted to have a somewhat decent relationship with the guard. ''Just. . .I guess I'm asking; how many for it to not matter anymore?''
The question threw off the guard as he rarely heard that question. Ponies would more so ask what happened to make him the way that he was rather the specifics of what he did to continue on in the light of the action of killing that most who asked saw as wrong versus a need, should their own lives be in danger. Valiant lived by a strict code of speed, violence, and aggression because in his heart, he knew he would never allow himself to do anything but that.
Every slice, head stomp, choking, poisoning, spear through the heart, drowning, and whatever else got the job done mattered in another lifetime; but not this one. His care for emotion for whoever chose harm against him was as pointless as wanting to fly if he didn't have wings.
''There's no clear number, Naofumi. . .if there was, then that would be the hallmark of some creature that takes delight in that,'' Valiant said, looking the otaku in the eye as the gleam in his eyes soon died to be replaced with a dull, lifeless grey. ''Do these eyes look the ones of those who enjoy killing?''
Naofumi had no words at that question; he couldn't really tell, even with the help of the internet when he was in Japan, but the reports of different serial killers, kidnappers, or those who wish death upon another often came with its own set of choices and upbringings to make it different from the others. ''I. . .''
''No; of course you can't tell. I don't blame you. True, I could have stopped myself, I know I had at least another second or two to do something different, but in that moment, all rationale went out the window in favor of instinct. I. . .won't expect you to understand anytime soon, or at all, but I hope you just know enough that I am nowhere near the worst of ponies or creatures that you'll meet in Equestria.'' Valiant told Naofumi with the hope that he would understand that part of his story at least if nothing else. It was always hard opening up to those who either chose not to understand or just did not grasp the concept. Every time, he would put on his best face and let his inner demons show, but with his track record, he only figured-
''-I guess. . .it's not that bad once you take a chance to look at it,'' Naofumi hummed, relaying the information of how he figured Valiant to be versus an outright assumption without any decent information. His claims were not as crazily assumed when his disposition was somewhat sunnier, at times. ''It's better to have a smart killer on my side versus one that doesn't have any remorse about anything or had nothing to lose. . .it might be me or just the things that I've done, but every killer can't be bad.'' Valiant's look of small shock was lost on Naofumi as he continued on walking as the conservation seemed to come to a stop.
Had he. . .gotten through to somepony, to some degree? The two of them walked back onto the main road to Yak-Yakistan, heading towards their home for the time being where they were here. While he didn't think much of it at first, Valiant also had a care for the other members in his little temporary group; Filo, Melty, and Raphtalia were special in their own little way, and even though he did not know much about them, but he would defend them against anything, no matter what.
Naofumi included.
''Well, I'll be damned,'' Valiant muttered to himself, the sound of semi-affirmation seeming like a foreign concept to him. ''Thanks. . .Naofumi. Huh, you're way better than I'd thought you'd be.''
The notion made Naofumi smile. He probably thought the same thing that Valiant was thinking; he probably made a friend. ''Same here,'' Naofumi said as he spied the small hovel that contained the rest of his party within a few minutes of walking.
"So, what's the situation with our little friend, here? Think he's with Night Order, trying to get to The Chain and cause some shit?" Valiant asked, wondering what kind of methods they would have to employ to get the result that they want. The other two were probably long gone as possible shark food, and this Yak was the one seen at the head of the pack, so it was important to bring one source of possible information back versus nothing.
Naofumi thought about the Night Order and their mission for the moment, and more specifically, what it mean for Equestria if the plan was allowed to meet its end. Destroying the world for the sake of bringing forth a figure that would rule the broken and charred remains? Seemed akin to cult rituals, which Naofumi knew would only result in death at the end for all with no possible reason for wanting to do anything but. "I don't think so, at least not without information. . .he could be the middle-man, not directly reporting to who is the big boss to protect their interests."
Valiant agreed on that regard; having a face pony if anything went to shit would mostly only lessen the blow versus avoiding it all together if he had to be honest. The better idea would be to get what one needed without alerting other; stealing, in a nutshell. "I'm guessing naval assault if nothing else."
Naofumi paused his own thought at the mention of fighting on the seas; granted Yak-Yakistan was a country, if he could even call it that, that would have a better chance of enduring with the various mountains and caves blanketed with snow to conceal various weapons and other advantages with early detection. "Huh; what's their chances looking like for success?" Naofumi asked as Valiant laughed a bit, shaking his head.
"No idea; have to get a look at their defenses, that of the enemy and what tactics both know before estimating," Valiant pointed a hoof towards the seas as Naofumi looked on. "Let's just hope we don't get caught in the crossfire, is all."
Naofumi nodded as he knocked on the door to their temporary home, sifting the small layer of snow off his cloak and shoes as he waited to hear a response from Raphtalia before going in. When nothing came, he knocked again, a bit more forcibly, waiting a few more seconds to hear nothing. Looking at Valiant, he nodded, summoning his Chimera Shield as Valiant dropped the cart, unsheathed the small short sword on his back and grabbed the handle with his magic, rushing in after Naofumi when the door opened.
''Guys! You ok?'' Naofumi shouted, scanning the room in an instant, not seeing anything besides the furniture and small firepot, he systematically thought to clear all of the rooms to ascertain the threat.
''Come out slowly!'' Valiant shouted, his sword leveled in front of his face, slowly creeping ahead as Naofumi took the opposite room, rushing in to see nothing. Valiant checked the other room and kitchen as Naofumi pointed his shield towards the bathroom, figuring that was the last place he could think of before somewhere else.
''Valiant,'' Naofumi whispered, nodding towards the bathroom as the guard nodded and crept forward, waiting for Naofumi to pull the door back, seeing laying eyes upon Filo, Raphtalia, and Melty in the large bathtub, their faces red, eyes blurred and bodies slumped against the porcelain, steam rising from their heads as they muttered to themselves, nearly sinking into the water as Raphtalia managed to look at Naofumi open her as she slowly realized who was looking at her.
''M-Master. . .Naofumi. . .'' Raphtalia sighed, slowly sinking into the water as Naofumi rushed over and pulled her up so her she wouldn't drown.
''What the hell happened?'' Valiant asked, shying away to preserve their integrity.
''Valiant; they're too hot. They're burning up, help me get them out!'' Naofumi shouted, his instincts taking over.
25 Minutes Earlier. . .
Raphtailia had agreed to climb in the bath with Filo and Melty; it would be better than dealing with just sitting around for Master Naofumi. A bath would be nice, anyways.
''Filo, are you being careful?'' Raphtalia asked, hearing the sound of Filo splashing around the water and being loud as she knew she would always be. It did bring a spark of relief to know that Filo's nature of being a child would not diminish anytime soon, or if it attempted to, she would do everything to make sure she remained as pure as possible. It never dawned on her until Master Naofumi and Erhard told her; she, herself was growing up, even she still was a kid.
Her Demi-Human side would want to say otherwise, but she knew, and that was all that mattered. She was a mature 10-year old.
''Hey, Raphtalia, come on in, the water's just so nice and warm!'' Filo cheered, splashing around in the water, catching Melty in the eyes a few times as she had to shield herself until her friend stopped. The bath itself was huge, it looked to be able to fit 5 or 6 people comfortably, and the rising steam from the water was tempting to go and jump on in, but it had to be precautions taken so the water wouldn't be too hot. ''Has Master come back yet?''
''No, Filo; he and Valiant were following a lead; remember? We're waiting for him to come back.'' Raphtalia said, shaking her head as she walked over to what was she assumed to be a window of sorts to see the part of the entrance of Yak-Yakistan that Naofumi came in, or rather, shield-boarded his way into the town square.
The skid marks were still there.
''I hope they're okay,'' Melty said, combing her fingers through her hair as she soaked her hair in the water. She would have to use Wind magic to help get it back to her original style, but it was a necessary evil to take care of her hair. ''Do you think we'll be able to help Prince Rutherford?''
That question was something that Raphtalia herself was unsure about, yet the same question wormed its way through her mind ever since they were sent here. The Chains of Paradox were something any of them held any strong knowledge about, so, they played everything they were presented with by ear, and in time, that would fail to be of significant use to them if they were going to save the world and prevent this Night Order achieving their goal. And whatever else came after that, they were. . .unsure. Filo and Raphtalia would follow whatever their Master wanted, but that in itself would come to light when it was ready.
''We'll just have to see, how long have the two of you been in this bath? I think you guys are clean enough,'' Raphtalia hmmped, tying her hair up and stripping down as she slowly began easing her way into the hot bathtub, exhaling sharply as the heat was a bit greater than she expected, though not overly hot where she could not bear it. Each second felt like miniature suns on every inch of her skin until it mellowed out, slowly causing her to sigh in contentment as the water came up to just before her collarbone as her back rested against the tun. ''What are these?'' Raphtailia raised in her hand to stare upon small light-blue fragments that slowly inched their way towards her body.
''Silver Mark gave us bath salts! He said they make our skin shine and relax our muscles!'' Filo cheered, relishing in the feeling as Raphtalia slowly began to feel the effects slowly work their magic on her, slowly giving her muscles the rest she did not know that she needed. She would have to definitely talk to Silver Mark before they left Yak-Yakistan. Casting an eye to Melty as she allowed the fragments to soothe her body. Melty was the only one in the group who was still new to the idea of being an adventure and associated with the Shield Hero.
Being the only one in the royal family barring her mother who contained any semblance of sense was here rather than being in the kingdom to be groomed the next leader to hopefully bring about the era of peace that she knew Melromarc deserved. Her somewhat bold nature mixed with that of the knowledge of what she was taught gave Raphtalia the inkling that she would be ok when the future pertained to her being an adult and living whatever life she chose, be it by the political or the life of adventuring.
''I just hope we can see more of Yak-Yakistan and whatever else Equestria has to offer before we try getting back to Melromarc,'' Melty hummed, not being as shocked as being taken from her home as Raphtalia thought. ''And just maybe Naofumi can learn some manners while he's here too,'' Melty puffed her cheeks, not letting even the smallest instance of her being made fun of or looked down by the Shield Hero go as she personally took it as disrespect when she was the royal in this situation and the Heros of Legend were to be the heralds of whatever kingdom summoned them, rather going off and doing whatever suited them as Naofumi did.
But. . .if she were, to be honest with herself for a moment; Melty altogether did not mind his forward-thinking, especially when danger was present.
''What about Valiant? He seems nice!'' Filo thought about the Unicorn that came to join their party. He didn't say much at times, and he liked making jokes when he did speak, but Filo took a liking to him; maybe he would join their party for good if he didn't want to be in Equestria anymore.
Raphtalia nodded, finding the guard's actions, fighting style, and overall demeanor good, even though she was only able to render judgment due to Master Naofumi's, and while she may have not been the best one to ask about matters concerning her Master, she would always speak highly of him. ''Hmmm. . .'' a small warbling began to find its way into her mind, her core began to heat up, or had it always been this hot? And when?
SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH!
''M-Melty!'' Filo shrieked as Melty's body suddenly began to jerk and throb before freezing, her face of shock slowly being worn down with a look of peace as she began to sink under the water, Filo trying to reach over to pull her up only for her own muscles to do the same, causing her to bonk part of her head on the tub before slowly falling back and the water to meet her mouth as she slowly began to sink as well.
"Fi. . .lo.~ Melll. . .ty," Raphtalia gasped as her own body went against what she wanted when she reached across to catch her friends, only for her to slip as she felt her strength slipping as she, too fell under the water, as she possessed none of the strength to gasp when water began to flood into her mouth.
"Master Naofumi!" Raphtalia shouted in her mind, hoping something would save the three of them from a most morbid death.
Naofumi finished administering the last potion to Melty as Valiant made sure that Filo and Raphtalia had drunk some water and finished draining two cool rags to lay on their foreheads. The reading on his shield told them that the three of them were bordering a temperature near 103, which gave him the knowledge that if they were a few moments late, that they would be. . .he. . .couldn'teven say the word as it came to them. Slowly, their temperature came down as Naofumi's rage went up.
Who did this. . .
''What happened?'' Valiant asked, feeling the notion that some creature was behind this. The three of them being as smart as they are, would never deal with something such as that, and what happened just did not sit well with the guard. ''We weren't gone that long, did any figures come by and try and do something to you?''
Raphtalia hummed, in disagreement. ''I. . .don't know. Filo said. . .Silver Mark gave her some bath salts for us to. . .use,'' Raphtalia breathed, coughing up a bit of water.
''Raphtalia, don't talk,'' Naofumi said, his tone a bit forced as he rubbed her hair and laid a hand on her forehead to check on her fever. ''Save your strength. Filo; are those bath salts still in the bathroom?'' Naofumi asked as Filo nodded as Valiant trotted over to the bathroom, using his magic to bring out a watermelon-sized bottle of the bath salts that Filo said she was given. The bottle itself was filled with pale blue fragments with a corked lid. ''That's it? When did he deliver it?''
Valiant sneered, taking the lid off and smelling the salts as he shied away, the scent being too much for him to handle. ''What does it matter? He gave them the salts, which in itself should tell you that something is a bit off.''
Naofumi was inclined to agree, but even he would need proof to make sure before he went over to start cracking heads open.
Luckily, their quarry was still outside, passed out and tied up.
Melty wheezed, sighing in content at the heat being replaced by cold on her forehead with the rag that Naofumi put on her. He looked positively worried, his eyes losing their normal stoic indifference to hold genuine fear and concern for the three of them. It was comforting. "W-W-What. . .are you going to-"
"-Do?" Valiant asked, looking over Melty with a watchful eye before he looked to Naofumi. "We're going to go find whatever lowlife tried to kill you guys-" Naofumi stepped over closer when Valiant began talking, a fire burning in his eyes.
"-And drop them from the highest point I can get to like a egg, being crushed by the weight of gravity and my bloodlust," Naofumi growled, turning his attention to the Yak outside that they had yet to question, but figured that this would be the best time to do so while the two of them were in a reasonable place.
"I'll wake our little buddy up, just set him over there," Valiant pointed to an empty chair as Naofumi dragged the Yak inside as he transferred the rope and ensured it was extra tight as Valiant's concentration was within sync with his current emotion that he calmly created a pale blue wave of magic that slowly enveloped the entire house before stabilizing. When Naofumi looked at him, he explained. "Sound barrier; no sound at all gets out; well, no sound that can be heard by these Yaks, so we're free to do whatever we need."
"What are you. . .guys doing?" Melty asked, regaining her strength enough, albeit a bit hunched over. Filo stayed on her bed that was pulled out while Raphtalia did the same, only settling from looking at the angle she was able to.
SPLASH! Naofumi watched as Valiant threw a bucket of cold water at the Yak, setting for taking the nearest blunt object and throwing it across the Yak's head as he began to stir.
"Huh?" W-What the?" Nafoumi listened to the Yal stir and look around, visibly confused as he sounded unsure of himself. Valiant only settled for taking off his helmet and setting it on the table, casting a look of mild disgust to this Yak, even though he was unsure if there were a closer relationship with that bastard Silver Mark.
Or Night Order.
"Well, would you look at that? Kid, it looks like we have a volunteer. . .for Operation D." Valiant said, unamused at the Yak's panicky nature that would only make things worse for him, the longer he went on.
"What does the D stand for?" Naofumi asked, throwing his own glare at the Yak who looked a mix of scared and confused at the statement.
"Degrade," Valiant replied, almost in a whisper of a tone as the Yak in front of him struggled to get away. "Take the girls in the other room, I don't want them to see this,"
"Hey! What are you doing?/M-Master?/Master. . .Naofumi." Melty, Filo and Raphtalia all voiced their protest as Naofumi ushered them to their rooms, the look on the hero's face being that of no-negotiation, as his rage began to boil like water. Once the door was closed, Naofumi slowly began to walk towards the Yak, a sneer on his face as his normal shield was summoned.
"Don't blink." Naofumi simply said.
"Wha-" Valiant understood what Naofumi meant as he sidestepped, giving him room as he charged forward, his shield cocked back with his fist as embers began to form and hit the wood floor. The Yak's face was the perfect target.
WHAM!