I do not own Rising of the Shield Hero or any of the characters.
Announcement
By the time Fenris woke, it was already late afternoon. He slipped out from under the others and went to the bathroom before returning, finding ghe others were all awake and in various stages of getting dressed, except for Sofia, who passed him, as naked as she had been when he left, headed to the bathroom. Fenris pulled on clean clothes before picking up his sword and glancing at the sphere in the bottom, a small grin forming on his lips.
"I've got to head over to erhard's before he closes up shop for the night," Fenris said. "I'll be back soon."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Naomi asked hopefully.
"No fair, I want to come with you!" Riley complained.
"No one's coming with me today," Fenris said. "I've got important business to handle alone. Tomorrow we can get a few jobs to do."
"I'll see if Andrea has anything while you're out," Eileen said. "Maybe Princess Melty left us some work."
"I'm glad someone other than me is responsible," Fenris said. "Anyway, I'll see you guys when I get back."
He left the inn, walking through the city to Erhard's, finding him cleaning a sword, a cuirass on the counter. It had black plates, rounded pauldrons, and a small black oval grmstone in the center of the chest, a small spherical one in the back.
"Let me guess, it gets harder as I get closer to death?" Fenris asked.
"Nope," Erhard said. "Turns out, this ore's special. It has two distinct magical properties. Firstly, it has an auto-repair funtion. So long as it's not completely destroyed, it should fix itself in about a day. Secondly, it has the ability to alter its form at the wearer's discretion, meaning you can make it grow a tail, or thicker plating, or lighter armor. I should warn you though, making the armor lighter will lower its protection, and generating things like a tail will pulpull from the material. The gemstone in the back has some extra material magically stored inside specifically for transformations, but there's not a lot."
"Thanks," Fenris smiled, pulling the armor on, then generating a splinted sleeve down his right arm with short spikes coming out of them along the outside.
"Nice touch," Erhard nodded. "So, you mentioned other business?"
"Yeah," Fenris nodded. "Let me see an axe, a spear, and a sword."
Erhard nodded and walked to the back of the shop before returning. The axe was a double-bladed waraxe with a wood handle and a wolf's head biting the base of the two blades. The spear had a solid metal shaft, a gold sphere on each end with a small arrow-head-like blade on the back end and a large, elongated diamond-shaped blade on the front end. The sword was an oddly shaped one with a flat, circular guard with the hild and blade out of the flat parts, the hilt being wood with no pommel and the blade being a pair of pieces of metal, connected to each other by three strut-like sections and with one of the two pieces of metal sharpened and curving backward at the top, wrapping back to be even with the back edge of the other metal piece. In all, the sword was probably two feet and was single-handed.
"So, what're you looking for?" Erhard asked. "You usually don't deal in anything but swords, except that one time I gave you a bow."
"Watch and learn," Fenris smirked, picking up the sword as he held up his own.
His sword shone, then transformed into a replica of Erhard's, now with the black sphere as a pommel. Erhard gaped.
"You stole the Sword Hero's weapon!?" Erhard hissed.
"No," Fenris said. "I found a similar one. But mine is called the Vassal Blade. And it does any kind of blade."
He demonstrated by copying both the sphere and the axe as well. Erhard could only gape.
"Alright," Fenris nodded, setting two bags of gold coins on the counter. "Now, bring me anything you have with a blade."
Erhard nodded and rushed off. A hal hour later, he put the last sword back and Fenris sheathed his sword, once again back in its black form like his last sword. Erhard coucould only shake his head. "I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it. What kind of abilities does it have?"
"For one, I can turn the special abilities of my weapn's forms on or kff at will," Fenris said. "For another, passive abilities like stat enhancements are carried over across all forms. Skills like life or mana absorbing, or special damage types, or a special effectiveness against a certain type of monster are not."
"Damn man," Erhard said, shaking his head. "That's incredible. Hey, you gonna see Naofumi again soon?"
"I doubt it, why?" Fenris asked.
"I used a special kind of ore to make a special shield just for him," Erhard said, setting it on the counter.
The shield was white and the size of a tower shield, except it was designed with an arm strap that turned and two metal handles, one to wear it as a standard tower shield and one to wear it along the arm. Adittionally, it wasn't a usual shape. It had a cross shape, with the longest arm extending either downward or along the arm toward the enemy, depending on how it was worn. And it was sharpened. The entire long arm was sharpened around the edges like a blade.
"I like the thought, but the shield being sharp doesn't mean he wan use it to attack," Fenris said.
"It does in this case," Erhard said. "The ore I used has a magical proproperty to increas attacking power by ten times. So for a guy that has a tenth normal attacking power..."
"He'd be able to deal normal damage," Fenris said. "So with the sharpened edge..."
"He has the same attacking power with the shield as the average soldier has with his swor," Erhard nodded.
Fenris smiled, nodding. "Alright. Sure. I can deliver it for you."
Erhard nodded and Fenris picked up the shield, stepping outside, only to stop as he found Sofia waiting. She smiled at him and slipped her hand into his.
"Can we get a drink?" Sofia asked.
"I suppose," Fenris nodded. "Let's had back to the inn and-"
"No, not alcohol," Sofia said. "And...I'd like it to be just us. If that's alright."
"Of course," Fenris nodded. "Is anything wrong?"
Sofia shook her head. "I don't think so."
"You don't think?" Fenris asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sofia smiled and led him through the city to a small cafe. They sat in the corner, Sofia leaning on his shoulder, and waited until they had their drinks before either spoke.
"Alright, tell me what's going on," Fenris said.
Sofia nodded. "You remember when I was almost killed by that ogre, right?"
Fenris nodded. "How could I forget? I was terrified I was going to lose you."
Sofia smiled. "So was I. You remenber how me, Naomi, and Eileen had that private conversation after I was healed?"
"Yes," Fenris said suspiciously. "Sofia, what's going on?"
"Well..." she trailed off, her hands toying with the fingers of one of his.
"You're starting to scare me," Fenris said. "You're not hurt, are you?"
"No," Sofia said, shaking her head. "I'm alright. I just...try not to freak out, okay?"
Fear began to form in the pit of his stomach. He swallowed hard, nodding. She couldn't be saying what he thought, right? There was no way, right? Except, there was. He hadn't pulled out once, with any of the girls. Now that he thought about it, it was a wonder something hadn't come up sooner.
"I missed my period," Sofia said. "I...I think I might be pregnant."
Fenris felt his body go numb and cold. He wasn't shre how he felt about this. He loved Sofia. He always would. But he wasn't the father type. He was actively sleeping with an entire harem, for God's sake. But Sofia was watching him, waiting patiently for a response. Some kind of reaction. He swallowed again, realizing his mouth was dry.
"Are you sure?" Fenris asked, voice sounding frail.
"No," Sofia said. "Not entirely, but mostly sure."
Fenris swallowed again. How could he do this to her? He was a monster. Their child would have ears too. And a tail. It would be as much a monster as he was. It would be hated. How would she be able to love a child as inhuman as him?
Sofia's hand cupped his cheek, lifting his face to look her in the eye. "You are not a monster. You have never been a monster. I know you despise yourself for being a demi-human, but you are not a monster. I love you for who you are, not what you are. And I will love our child no matter what because they're your child. I will always love our child. Ears and a tail won't change that."
Fenris felt his eyes watering and smiled, nodding. Sofia smiled and kissed him, Fenris's heart melting inside of his chest as he felt her love for him, and her joy at having his child, throught the kiss. Finally, he pulled away, smiling.
"So...what was that private discussion about?" Fenris asked.
"We were discussing the possibility of you getting one of us pregnant, and what we'd do about it," Sofia said. "We had all noticed you never pull out already, so we decided to come to an agreement early."
"What did you all decide?" Fenris asked.
"It would be up to the mother and you," Sofia said. "It's only fair that way."
"And if I accidentally got more than one pregnant?" Fenris asked.
"Again it's up to you and the mother," Sofia said. "However, we were all expecting to all get pregnant with your child at some point. Even Eileen."
"And she didn't mind?" Fenris asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Actually, she seemed kind of excited at the prospect," Sofia smiled. "She said that she couldn't think of a better father, even though you could be unbearable at times, and then she could raise it with Naomi."
Fenris chuckled. "Should have known." He sighed, eyes falling to Sofia's exposed abdomen, his fingernails lightly dragging over her skin. "I hope it's a boy. I don't want Eileen corrupting our daughter with her lesbian cooties. At best she'd turn out bi."
"Oh yes, because you so obviously hate lesbians," Sofia smiled.
"Well that doesn't mean I want my daughter to be a lesbian," Fenris said.
Sofia giggled. "A better question is, what do we do about the haren while the child is growing up? Male or female, it's not the best environment."
Fenris nodded. "We'll think of something. Eventually."
Sofia nodded and smiled. "At least I get to brag that I'm first."
"I would have wanted you to be first anyway," Fenris smiled. "I love you, Sofia."
"I love you too," Sofia smiled, kissing him again.
After a few seconds, she pulled away and they finished their drinks before heading back to the inn. As tbey arrived, they found the others in Fenris's rolm, putting clean bedding on his bed.
"Welcome back!" Riley smiled, greeting both of them with a kiss. "So, how was your trip?"
"Enlightening," Fenris said. "We have a job to deliver a shield to Naofumi."
"That's not all," Eileen said. "Melty payed us to escort her to him. She's dow stairs with Andrea right now."
Fenris nodded, then glanded at Sofia. She smiled sweetly and slipped her hand into his.
"It's up to you," she smiled.
"What's up to him?" Eileen asked.
"Sofia thinks she might be pregnant," Fenris said.
All three cheered, rushing over to congratulate them. Fenris sighed. He supposdsupposed all girls will be girls, even when competing for the same guy.
"So, what does this mean for the harem?" Eileen asked. "Do we...have to find somewhere new to live?"
"Of course not!" Fenris snorted. "None of you are getting away that easily. As for the child...that'll be a bit...complicated. We'll figure it out later, I suppose. For now, we should do our job. It's not polite to keep a princess waiting."
"True," Sofia smiled. "Everyone go grab your things. Meet us downstairs when you're ready."
They all nodded and congratulated them again on the way out. Fenris grabbed a bag of money from his stash, then headed downstairs with Sofia. They headed to the bar and sat down beside Melty, who leveled an annoyed look at Fenris.
"I've been here for thirty minutes," Melty said.
"And I've been busy," Fenris said. "I don't just sit around and wait for work, you know. Anyway, escorting you to Naofumi. How much did you pay Eileen?"
"Five gold," Melty said. "We're going to have to move fast to catch him. He's headed for Shieldfreeden."
"Excellent choice," Fenris nodded. "We'll need horses. You could use your authority, but I think it'd be more fun to just steal them."
"We're not stealing horses!" Melty snapped.
"I could help," Fenris's familiar spoke in his mind. "We just have to find a monster capable of carrying you all first. Like a Chimera. Or a Nue."
"We'll get around to you, Shadow," Fenris said. "In the mean time, if you can get us horses, Princess, feel free. We'll leave when the rest of the girls are ready."
"Fine," Melty said. "Now, who's shadow?"
Fenris smiled and gave a short whistle, Shadow forming from his shadow, tendrils of darkness reaching up to his shadow and forming into the bird, then separated from his shadow. "Melty, Sofia, meet my Familiar, Shadow."
"Why a bird?" Sofia asked.
"Haven't unlocked anything else yet," Fenris shrugged. "He has to kill something to be able to take its form."
"He's beautiful!" Riley said suddenly, running over and beginning to pet him. "Who's a pretty birdie?"
"This is humiliating," Shadow grumbled.
"He said he wants a hug," Fenris said.
Riley cheered and hugged Shadow, only for him to transform into his namesake, retreating into Fenris's shadow once again.
"You're a dick," he grumbled.
Fenris chuckled as Sofia and Eileen walked over. All three of the girls had wcleaned themselves up, as evidenced by their wet hair, and had clean clothes on. Fenris stood, gesturing for Melty to lead. She left, leading them to l the soldiers' stable where she got them each a horse. Then, they left the city, heading toward Shieldfreeden.
Leave a review.