By the time Shirou returned to his and Naofumi's make-shift camp inside a forest clearing near the edge of Melromarc's market district, it was already late into the evening. Far too late to attend whatever sophisticated victory banquet was being hosted in Melromarc castle, not that it really bothered him all that much when he considered how exhausted he was feeling.
The problem with his Reality Marble had been unexpected, but not something he couldn't fix after a little introspection and testing. As of now, he was just glad to state that his issue had been dealt with along with the added benefit of an expansion in his inner world and the things that comprised it.
There was now a literal bone yard that had now taken residency inside his Reality Marble filled with wandering undead and confused locust-man beasts. He hadn't tested whether he could summon the new inhabitants out of his Reality Marble like his Traced swords, but he'd try that at another point. What mattered was that he'd managed to get the new inhabitants to not interfere in his process of Tracing by intercepting the weapons he wished to Trace before he could get them out.
In any case, problem solved.
Sighing in relief that he hadn't inadvertently crippled himself, he still ended up shuddering as the future implications just now began to settle.
If the Waves of Calamity wreaking chaos on the land were products of clashing worlds that his Reality Marble could supposedly suppress by assimilating them, then wouldn't that mean he was a 'World Eater?'
No, no before even that. Was what he did the right thing?
The Waves of Calamity were a product of sperate worlds clashing and creating a violent reaction in which one world would likely have had been destroyed…
Each dot gradually linked into a larger picture.
Shirou could consider himself slow at times, but he was by no means a fool. The fact that the undead and locust monsters had appeared in his inner world, meant that they'd been saved, right? If the former world they resided in had to be 'killed' by the Legendary Heroes defeating the Raid Boss monster, then if he hadn't intervened, what would have happened to the undead and locusts?
They would have perished.
It was as simple as that, only they didn't. Instead, they were now part of his Reality Marble, a magic that imposed itself on the world to manifest. It was in a Reality Marble's nature to occupy and supplant, so this sequence of events was likely just the intermediary result of an unfinished product.
With each new coming Wave, if Shirou repeated his actions, then it would be like adding more and more pieces to an already large sandbox.
'But you'd be saving them…'
An inner voice whispered in his mind.
Undead and locusts were one thing, but what if the next wave was a world comprised of similar humans or sentient life? Would he be fine with closing the Wave using the original method and damning another world's inhabitants?
'You already know that answer yourself.'
The Waves of Calamity weren't going to be as simple as first described in his summoning.
Should he share his conjectures with Naofumi or hold off for the time being until he was certain of everything?
Frowning, Shirou deftly landed on his feet after leaping off a distant tree and into the clearing where he could already see the make-shift shelter he and Naofumi had made for themselves, Keel, and Raphtalia. In all honesty, they had enough funds to afford an Inn or hotel, but Melromarc's Demi-Human policies and relative dislike of the Shield Hero had forced them to remain outdoors.
Not that this was a bad thing. There was just something about the idleness and soft tranquility of camping that was relaxing in a way that no inn or lodge's services could imitate.
Minus the bugs.
Shaking his head in wry amusement, he trod forward past the clothes line used for laundry hung up by a metal wire secured to a low hanging tree branch, and just froze for a second.
There in front of him sat Naofumi hunched over a campfire absently prodding a stick into its flames. Keel and Raphtalia were nowhere to be seen, but if the rustling in the tents were anything to go by, the two were probably inside. It was late, so it was no surprise that children their age should be sleeping by now.
Raising his brows, he gingerly walked up to Naofumi and took a seat across from him. The flickering glow of the fire illuminated both of their features while the crackling of burning wood enveloped the air around them.
"You didn't attend the banquet?" He asked somewhat curiously. Before he'd parted with Naofumi and the others, he was fairly sure Naofumi had all the intention to attend.
"No," Naofumi replied deceptively flat, putting the stick he'd been prodding the fire with down.
Shirou hummed, seeing a strange tinge of helplessness flicker across Naofumi's features.
"Didn't they say that they'd be announcing the reward distribution during the banquet?"
"That's tomorrow."
"Oh."
Shirou opened and closed his mouth, the feeling that something was off only growing stronger. Did something happen to Naofumi in his absence? Had he been right about that Myne woman's character? He needed to test the waters.
"I thought that you wanted to attend the banquet?" He inquired.
It wasn't the tone of his voice per say that probably got a reaction from Naofumi, but the reminder of it all that caused his features to twist into bitter despondence.
"The banquet? You think I didn't want to go?" Naofumi chuckled grimly before his eyes went bloodshot all at once. "Kind of hard to when I kept getting mistaken as a pimp! I couldn't take it anymore and bailed on the way back!"
"E-Excuse me, what?"
Shirou's stupor must have been showing because Naofumi sucked in his breath and slowly released it out, smiling as a good friend would when sharing misfortune.
"Oh, why would I ruin the surprise?" Naofumi stood up, distanced himself, and then called out to the tents. "Keel! Look who's back!"
There was second's pause, confusion blatant over Shirou's features, and then the rustling in the tents abruptly stopped as a figure burst out practically in rags, tail wagging excitably.
"Lord Shirou!"
The features of the person were undeniably familiar- The shade of blue to her shoulder-length hair, the gleaming canines, dog ears, and practically everything else aside from one crucial aspect: Proportions.
"Keel?" He sputtered out, dumbfounded.
The child he was used to seeing had barely been taller than his waist. Now though, she was near his shoulders with a lithe build and a rather conservative bust just able to fit over a palm. The jarring realization that she was still in her child's outfit that was now several sizes too small, came next.
Her modesty was practically covered by a thin strip of cloth over her chest that still left her navel exposed not to mention the dangerously tight remnants of what were once pants.
"Lord Shirou!" Keel jumped him, tackling him in a hug that he'd barely managed to keep themselves upright. "Look, we grew up!"
Shirou blanked as he narrowed in on the word 'we.'
From the tent Keel had boldly jumped out of, an older and red-face Raphtalia came slinking out. Unlike Keel, she seemed to have more regard for her current state, granted Keel was raised as a boy, making her reservations almost non-existent.
Raphtalia's attire was even worse that Keel's considering the size of her bosom. Her clothing had torn just like Keel's but had ripped partly down the center of her breasts, leaving behind something resembling a skimpy bolero for her top. What was left of her pants would certainly turn many eyes as all that was left of it was basically the smallest short-shorts he'd ever seen over a pert and rounded posterior. It was honestly closer to underwear at this point if not for small tuft of inner lining reaching down to her thighs.
Recalling how close Raphtalia often kept to Naofumi, and Shirou could see the root of Naofumi's embarrassment and subsequent retreat from the public eye back to their camp.
The fact that Naofumi had the idea to make the two wear their spare blankets as make-shift pareos was kind of genius really as there weren't many alternatives available.
Not even considering if there were any businesses running in the market at night, the availability of those stores that catered to Demi-Humans in Melromarc was far and in-between. Not to mention, the sight of the 'Shield Hero' leading Keel and Raphtalia through Melromarc's street. If the Shield Hero's reputation was already bad before, then the sight of this would have only made it worse.
Naofumi had made a good call in returning to camp first.
Good call or not, it didn't explain anything.
"What is going on?" Shirou deadpanned, Keel still clinging onto him. Keel only let go dispiritedly when Shirou coaxed her to let go. Her behaviour was similar to a puppy running to greet their pack leader from a day's hard work.
"I ended up asking some of the Knights that came to fight the Wave, but Demi-Humans can grow rapidly in age and maturity through leveling," Naofumi explained, wincing. "And we leveled up a lot."
"Their physical age aside, doesn't that mean they're still children?" Shirou frowned.
Naofumi scratched the back of his head, also frowning. "Apparently not. Their levels have a correlation with both their physical age and maturity."
"Yeah, we're not jut kids anymore," Keel spoke up.
"Lord Naofumi, Lord Shirou, we're adults. S-So Lord Naofumi, you don't have to baby me anymore!" Raphtalia's cheeks flushed in agitation, the way she was looking at Naofumi when she said this wholly going over the Shield Hero's head.
"And I told you this doesn't make any sense!" Naofumi felt like pulling his hair out. "You were what? Like ten before this? And now you're…?"
"I think eighteen, twenty?" Raphtalia guessed, approximating her current age from the influx of EXP. "We got a lot of experience from our party soloing the Raid Boss and defeating many Wave Monsters."
"I think I'm a bit older though since I was a higher level than Raphtalia before," Keel perked up in pride, her arms placing themselves over her waist, her thighs and curves gleaming under the shadow of the moonlight. "What do you think, Lord Shirou? Didn't I turn out well?"
She spun in a small circle, grinning as her ears twitched up.
No answer.
Shirou was taking a moment to take everything in, and ended up frowning at a certain point which all but killed any enthusiasm Keel had. Her ears drooped immediately, her tail dropping between her legs.
"I, I ugh, Lord-"
A flick to the head nearly caused Keel to bite her tongue as she winced and childishly rubbed the spot over her forehead.
"Alright none of that," Shirou shook his head. "Let's get this straight, we're equal here. Just call me Shirou," he clarified much to Keel's stupor as she realized Shirou wasn't actually dissatisfied with her.
Then Shirou's words sunk in.
"Really?" Keel felt her heart hammering in her chest, a foreign feeling bubbling in her stomach that her father had said was only allowed for someone truly important to her. "I-I can?"
"Didn't I just say so? There is no need for titles between us. We're party members of the Shield Hero, comrades, and that's all that matters."
Keel felt her mouth dry, a foot tentatively digging her heel into the ground in a gesture of shyness that only Raphtalia was able to pick out immediately. Keel placed a finger to her lips, glossy in the moonlight, and ever so carefully let the name roll out off her tongue.
"T-Then…Shirou?"
"Yes?"
"Shirou!" She repeated, this time stronger, more elated, euphoria causing her to become light headed.
"Yes?"
"Hehhe," Keel giggled candidly instead of replying, dumbfounding Shirou with how radiant her features were at this moment. A broad grin exposed her canines, a mesmerizing reddish tint over her cheeks as she stared low to hide a blush.
Nearby, Raphtalia looked utterly stunned at the development and glanced anxiously at Naofumi. A hand was placed over her chest to garner courage, and the other hand was gripping the hem of her tattered clothes. "L-Lord Naofumi!" She called.
Naofumi turned to stare at her kindly, willing to hear whatever she had to say.
"…" No words.
"Raphtalia?"
"…never mind," she bailed from the embarrassment of it all, inwardly crying at her indecisiveness while doing so. Pursing her lips, she sat by the campfire opposite to everyone else as a cloud of gloom rained over her.
Keel noticing Raphtalia's current state ended up walking to her and placing a hand on her shoulder, giving Shirou and Naofumi some time to catch up with each other.
"Well, this was a thing," Naofumi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose from second-hand mortification just imagining what others had thought at the sight of him prior.
Shirou mutedly nodded before shaking his head and getting himself out of his stunned stupor.
"Would it help you feel better if I said I have a gift?" Shirou chuckled, rummaging through a bag around his waist just as Naofumi glanced up at him. "Here, I got something for you, Naofumi. I only happened by it on my way back and remembered how your shield takes monster drops."
Without another word, a dead snake head, blackened from burns and cuts was given to Naofumi. It was undeniably the tail piece of the Chimera from the Wave.
"I thought the entire thing was reduced to ashes?" Naofumi whispered, gratefully accepting the gift.
"Not all of it, clearly," Shirou grinned good naturedly, letting the heat of the campfire warm his spirits. "The rest of the body was gone, but at least the tail was left. I'm just surprised that no one bothered to check."
"Must have been the shock," Naofumi murmured wryly to himself.
"The shock?"
"You wouldn't understand."
To Shirou it may have been normal to witness the strength of a Noble Phantasm, but to everyone else, it was unbelievable.
"In any case, thanks man," Naofumi grinned, feeding the Chimera tail to the jewel at the center of his Legendary Shield. It glowed a bright green before consuming the material and breaking it down into motes of light filtered into the jewel.
[Chimera Viper Shield: Unlocking conditions met]
[Base Defence: 70]
[Equip Bonuses: Antidote Concoction up, moderate Poison Resistance]
[Special Effects: Snake Venom (Passive)]
[Snake Venom: Poisons attackers]
"Whoa, I really got to thank you again." Naofumi's eyes sparkled as he reviewed the stats. A second later though, and he recalled what could only have been better. "Hey, it's good and all, but didn't you say you'd show me one of those shield-type Noble Phantasms?"
Shirou blinked. He did recall promising Naofumi something like that before the wave, but Naofumi had never been this excited at the prospect until now. Then again, Naofumi did just see what Noble Phantasms were capable of.
"I'll see what I can do before the next Wave, but I can't do it right now. There was a 'small' complication with my magecraft and I have to rest a bit first," Shirou explained.
"That's no problem, I can wait!" Naofumi quickly agreed, not wanting to pressure Shirou or anything like that. He was grateful to the man as he was already. "Just take care of yourself first. Oh, and before I forget, I heard Motoyasu saying something about class advancement at the Three Heroes Church. It might be something worth checking out considering our levels are pretty high, and if we're going by game mechanics, then were long overdue for advancing."
"Class advancement?"
"Right. You're not a gamer," Naofumi placed a hand beneath his chin in thought. "How do I explain this?"
"I don't think you really have to. Most of your terminology will go over my head, and we can probably get a better explanation from the priest in the church- actually, that doesn't sound like a good option."
Naofumi raised a brow. "Bad experience?"
"You have no idea." Shirou grimaced. He wouldn't put it past his luck if another fake priest showed up. "Still, I don't think they'd risk lying to a legendary hero about something so important."
"Fair point. We can head to the Church tomorrow morning then-"
"After getting the two actual clothes that fit," Shirou immediately interjected, earning an acceptable nod from Naofumi who had enough being mistaken for a trafficker.
"A good call. Keel, Raphtalia, get to sleep! We got an early day tomorrow!" Naofumi called a moment later.
Now that Naofumi brought it up, it was getting fairly late, and he had too many things to think about on his mind.
Putting the issue of the origin of the Waves of Calamity and the implication that they were derived from the clashing of worlds aside; he still had a promise to keep with Aultcray before the next Wave.
Lips thinning, he dwelled over this issue while laying out his bed roll and getting ready to sleep. It was fairly humid outside and the temperature was mild, not cold enough to get sick, but not hot enough to be unable to fall asleep either.
Making sure that the rest were resting on their individual bed roles, it wasn't long before he heard the soft sounds of Naofumi snoring. The man was likely exhausted as all of them would be after participating in the Wave.
Still, rest did not come easily to the weary.
He mulled to himself on what he'd do with Aultcray's matter. Aultcray had been showing positive changes, and it would be a shame if all that came to nothing if Shirou couldn't get his part done and re-instil even a fraction of the man Aultcray once was.
Using the history and experiences that he'd witnessed from Aultcray's staff, Shirou inferred that Aultcray's younger sister wasn't quite as 'dead' as Aultcray had assumed her to be on their last meeting.
He had to search for a trail, and that meant possibly returning to old mercenary tracking habits and devising a clearer picture in order to follow a several year's long mystery. The problem was how old this case was, and that any traces of evidence were likely long since gone by now.
No wait. He didn't have to search in such a roundabout way anymore.
He had access to larger reserves of magic energy and as such shouldn't remain too frugal if it meant inconveniencing himself.
Old habits die hard, he supposed. Still, he had to test if this would work in the first place.
"Trace. On," he murmured.
A Mystic Code appeared in his grip.
In the modern world that Shirou came from, it was fairly common for magus families to have disputes regarding successorship. This was why most magus families opted for creating only a single heir, but in the cases where multiple siblings were born, infighting may occur. In such cases, the apparent heir would be rather ruthless and track down any sibling to eliminate competition.
The small dagger he'd just Traced was one such mystic code that could track the presence of one's blood ties to prevent escape. Aultcray's sister could fall into this category if he used Aultcray's image as the catalyst to the mystic code.
Sure enough, a force acted on the dagger, shifting its tip in the direction to follow. It's only down side was that it was meant for a Magus who had access to their family's Crest, and hence larger reserves.
Even now it was draining him to maintain.
'At least it works,' he surmised before dismissing the projection.
It pointed him in the direction he would need to set off with Naofumi and the rest after they registered for some sort of advancement at the Church of the Three Heroes. And then there was still the loot distribution ceremony later int eh evening. There was a lot to do.
Nodding, he shut his eyes and let him himself drift to sleep.
Exhaustion played a key part in why he'd been able to drift off into his subconsciousness so quickly.
However, in the twilight hours he oddly felt like he dreamt of a loin-cloth wearing blue-furred puppy tentatively make its way over and nuzzle itself onto his chest, curling up into a ball where it boldly sprawled its limbs out. He also dreamt Raphtalia blearily waking up and gnashing her teeth at the puppy in envy while glancing at Naofumi and pursing her lips indecisively.
For a dream, this seemed awfully realistic, but Shirou didn't buy it in his state of lucidity.
Absently raising his hand and running his fingers through the puppy's silky fur, he froze when he noticed his fingers running through Keel's hair instead, her eyes blinking up at him in contentment. The tail on her back was wagging animatedly.
'What?'
Yup. Now he was certain that this was a dream.
There was no way he wouldn't have noticed Keel approach him let alone turn from a dog into a humanoid form. Watching her hug her arms around him, then lay on his side, before pressing her cheek to the groove of his shoulder to make herself comfortable, he firmly decided to shut his eyes again.
The raging tanuki noises filtering into his ears only made him even more incredulous.
"Keel, that's not fair!"
And now there were actual words in this bizarre dream.
"H-How can you be so direct?! L-Lord Naofumi hasn't even held me yet and you're already being so daring…"
Was he really dreaming, right now?
Stop. Just think about it. Considering what he'd just put himself and his reality marble through today, hallucination may as well be some sort of side effect.
He was just tired from the day's events. That's all this was.
/-/
He'd wake up alone on his bedroll the coming morning to see Keel utterly refreshed and radiant while Raphtalia had bags under her eyes from staring too hard at Naofumi who'd yet to wake.
[Dog 1, Tanuki 0]
Elsewhere, word had spread quickly about the events of the most recent Wave of Calamity, and Itsuki knew now more than ever that he needed to acquire the bow still in Erhard's shop. Therefore, he'd appeared at the blacksmiths at the crack of dawn after practically begging Motoyasu and Ren with his Wave distribution shares to help him afford it.
Who could have expected the sudden twist though?
"No way, y-you're lying, right?!" Itsuki stumbled back in disbelief while Erhard remained expressionless in front of him. "Someone really already bought it?"
Erhard crossed his arms and shrugged. Business was business, and the person who bought it checked in with the requirements Shirou had asked of him.
"Tough luck Hero, but it caught someone's eye just before you got here."
"Who?"
/-/
"M-Mother should know that I don't use a bow…?"
A shadow could barely hold in her amusement before replying with a straight face to the recipient.
"Your mother says it looks cute on you, so just hold onto it for now. If it's like the other weapon, it may even be a Hero-Class weapon. This can be good for you, and it's not like you can't learn in time."
"…Fine."
Thanks for reading, and sorry for shorter chapter. My little brother's birthday was today and I ended up spending too long there.
Next update: Huntsman V2
P a treon. com (slash) Parcasious
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The Lonely Peak
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