Rise of the Sword and the Shield chapter 05: Alone
Lyall the Werewolf: This is the flashback part of chapter 13 of the original, but expanded upon. Again, this section should have been chapter 05. I'm still not sure where my head was at.
(I don't own Senran Kagura or Rising of the Shield Hero)
After accepting her first quest from the Adventure's Guild, Asuka traveled the road leading to the northern mountains. She didn't feel like paying for transportation, as that meant more people to deal with. Time to herself was all she wanted at the moment.
In the middle of the night, Asuka set up camp in a cave in the middle of the forest. She had made a small campfire with the old fashion sticks and stones. As a Shinobi, she trained on how to survive in the wilderness. She learned how to hunt for woodland creatures in case she needed food, and luckily for her, there were low-level monsters around she could kill with ease.
Like mushroom and rabbit monsters, it didn't take much effort to dispatch them.
She didn't see any use in absorbing the mushroom monsters. She trained to resist certain poisons and could still fight even when poisoned or paralyzed. But the rabbit monster parts she took from it gave her a Series of Swords to tinker with.
"So, using different monster parts gets me new swords and abilities…" Asuka mumbled to herself.
From unlocking the Usapil Series she gained the following:
|Unlocked: Usapil Series|
UsaPaw Sword
Base Attack: Plus 1
Equip Bonus Skill: AGI 3
UsaBone Sword
Base Attack: Plus 1
Equip Bonus Skill: Stamina Up (Small)
UsaLeather Sword
Base Attack: Plus 1
Equip bonus: Cold Resistance 1
UsaMeat Sword
Base Attack: Plus 1
Equip bonus: Dissection Ability
The Cold Resistance came in handy, as it was rather chilly at night. The Dissection Ability also helped with fried rabbit and mushroom. If she had better cooking utensils, she could have made something better than this.
However, she had no right to complain now. She chose to be on her own, and she had to stick with it.
The rabbit was at least edible, but the mushroom made her a little sick. Likely because they weren't the kind of mushrooms she was used to eating, and she didn't have a way to identify monster mushrooms.
Following the makeshift dinner, she couldn't go to sleep because her stomach was still upset from the mushrooms.
"I'll never eat mushroom monsters again as long as I live…" the poor Sword Hero whined.
It wasn't until she finally went to sleep that she began having nightmares again. The day she was killed by Orochi was one thing, but now she was seeing Naofumi's trial in her dreams.
The look of absolute rage on his face as he condemned the people who persecuted him was something she could never forget. She especially could not forget the distant and mistrustful expression on his face as he told her that couldn't trust anyone, not even Asuka herself. Most damning of all were the smug looks on Motoyasu, Itsuki, Aultcray, and that Vile Princess as they looked down upon the broken Shield Hero.
She'd never forgive them for what they did to him and how they used her for their selfish blame game. It made her sick how they treated her like a helpless victim. No, it was more like they treated her like a helpless damsel or child, unfit to be a warrior in their eyes.
On some level, Motoyasu and Itsuki must have thought of themselves as superior because she was the youngest among the Four Cardinal Heroes and possibly because they were male. If that were the case, that was all the more infuriating.
King Aultcray was utterly unfit to be King if he intentionally caused chaos among the Four Heroes simply because he hated the Shield Hero and allowed his spoiled brat of a daughter to get away with her crimes.
Speaking of Malty… Myne… whichever, she had to be the single worst human being Asuka had ever come across in her life. It really surprised her how she could establish herself as a deceitful witch in just two days. And from what she learned after the trial, Myne was unlikely to change her ways and repent for her evil deeds because her father protected and spoiled her.
For a select few, the people of Melromarc were not exempt from Asuka's scorn. Calling her a Fake Hero was one thing. She could even tolerate the harassment since it wasn't anything new for her. But the owning of slaves was unforgivable. Was everyone in this country okay with enslaving another race? And for what? Asuka had grown up in a world where slavery was considered a terrible thing to do to another human being. Yet here, there was no issue in enslaving the demi-human race. It was appalling.
Asuka swore that she would win the duel and clear Naofumi's name, no matter what. And to do that, she had to grow strong enough to clear the Second Wave. She also wanted to find some way of helping the demi-humans.
Morning came, and Asuka awoke, while bitter about her nightmare and upset stomach, was determined to fulfill her promise.
Heading north, Asuka eventually came across the village where the request came from. The village looked poor, and it seemed to be a bit rundown. It probably explained the low pay.
She met with the village elder amid the village.
"So, you're the adventurer who's decided to take on our request?"
"That's right. My name is Asuka. Please, direct me to the den of the Dire-Wolves, so I can deal with them properly."
"Are you planning to go by yourself?" the elder asked.
"Yes. I work more efficiently on my own." Asuka answered.
"I see. Taking on those beasts is difficult, even with a party, but it sounds like you're confident enough in your abilities, so I won't question your sanity. Just get it done so they won't kill our livestock and damage our crops anymore."
Following this, she headed to the mountains, where the dire-wolf pack lived.
While she was trailing the forest, Asuka couldn't but feel like she was being watched. She felt no bloodlust, so it wasn't a monster or someone plotting to attack her. Whoever it was, they were skillful at concealing their presence. They wanted to observe her from afar. Could it have been that woman in black hiding above? Come to think of it, something about the spy felt familiar. Asuka couldn't place it.
Whoever that spy was, finding out her identity would have to wait. Asuka had a job to do.
It didn't take long to the entrance to the pack's cave on the side of the mountain minutes later.
Taking a deep breath, she treaded her way inside. Upon setting foot into the cave, she immediately sensed an intense amount of blood lust. The Dire-Wolves already knew she was there, invading their territory.
From the shadows of the cave, the Dire-Wolves emerged, baring their fangs. Their eyes glowed with the killer instincts of a predator. To her surprise, the Dire-Wolves here were larger and more imposing compared to their much smaller cousins in her world, possibly as big and strong as a full-grown tiger.
There were six to eight of them, and they were poised to attack at any given moment.
Knowing that she was in for an immediate fight, Asuka drew her Legendary Sword and got into a battle stance.
However, flashes of Orochi and its insidious tentacles were projected onto the snarling Dire-Wolves.
She began to sweat and quiver upon seeing the hallucinations. The memory of the demise of all her friends flashed before her eyes. Suddenly, the idea that they could be devoured by these vicious beasts invaded her mind. Even Naofumi and the other two Heroes could fall prey to these monsters. The anxiety was too much for her to take. Her knees buckled from the strain of these frightful thoughts.
Noticing the intruder's lack of killing intent, the Dire-Wolves pounce toward her.
Snapping back to her senses, Asuka dodged one of the Dire-Wolves as it prepared to gnaw at her shoulder. She jumped over a second and third attacker as they lunged toward her.
Seeing a chance, she quickly dispatched the Dire-Wolves below her, slicing them to bits. As their blood spilled, Asuka began to see the images of her friends being slaughtered by Orochi once again.
Landing on the ground, Asuka breathed heavily from the vision. The stress of the fight and the memories of the past began to wear on her resolve. She was starting to tire. This was a costly mistake, as a fourth Dire-Wolf snuck up behind her, intent on avenging its comrades. This was much bigger and more fearsome looking than the others. It was most likely the Alpha pack leader.
It lunged toward the Sword Hero with a snarl and prepared to immobilize its target with a powerful bite.
With barely any time to react, she blocked the on-coming attack from the Alpha using her sword. She, unfortunately, tumbled back due to the force, during which one of her boots came off during the struggle, leaving one foot bare. The Alpha clasped its maw down on the sword and pushed the Sword Hero down on her back as she struggled to keep it at bay. She was completely helpless.
The rest began to slowly surround Asuka, licking their chops.
"Dammit!" Asuka cursed.
New visions began to flash as the feeling of helplessness began to set in.
She began to think of the trial not too long ago. Naofumi must have felt this way when he was dragged against his will to stand trial for crimes he never committed, being betrayed by people Naofumi thought he could trust while being surrounded by icy cold stares. Of course, her situation was much worse because she was about to be devoured by a pack of ravenous Dire-Wolves, and she had no one to help her. Just like when she made her last stand against Orochi before it incinerated her. She was going to die again, pinned down and helpless.
"I can't…" Asuka began tearing up and awaited the grizzly fate in store for her. That is until the wise words of her grandfather rang in her ear.
"Asuka… you're an independent sword without a compatible shield."
"Grandpa…"
She wasn't sure why, but she began thinking back to when she was a child. She wasn't always the friendly and cheerful girl she was today. Instead, she was a problem child, as she often picked fights with boys and girls alike. They were afraid of her for this, and they feared angering her. Her violent temperament was the result of her parents refusing to take part in the profession of Shinobi. Like any parent, they believed it to be too dangerous and worried for her safety. It frustrated Asuka to no end, and like any child, she lashed out in anger at not getting her way. She believed she was ready, but being denied made her angry.
Eventually, Hanzo came into the picture. She was always able to get along with her family, especially her grandfather. He was the one who told her that without a compatible shield, she was just an unfocused and directionless sword. He said that if she was to find balance in herself, she must become a Sword and Shield who protects those who cannot defend themselves. That was what gave Asuka pause for thought. Was that the true reason she was so angry and frustrated? Because she lacked direction? Lacked a purpose? Not being allowed to undergo Shinobi training certainly played a part.
Looking back, she was physically stronger than other children her age. She often wondered if she was supposed to protect them using that strength. Because they were weak and unable to fight back? When she thought about it more, she never really wanted others to be afraid of her. She simply didn't know how to make friends or how to make them feel safe. She tried changing her approach. She tried to be a calmer and friendlier person to the other kid to get them to see that she wasn't so scary.
It didn't pan out like she had hoped, as they didn't trust her, and even the boys came back to avenge their previous defeat. She didn't give up, though. Even back then, she was stubborn.
One day, a big and vicious dog showed up at the park the kids usually played at. The kids were scared of the dog and ran away, but only Asuka remained. She saw how frightened of the dog they were and felt a peculiar compelling feeling of protectiveness. She kept thinking she needed to fight, needed to protect them. She was the first to challenge the dog and fight it, and while she sustained many bruises and bite marks, she chased the dog away.
That was when the children's perception of Asuka changed for the better. They gathered around her, awestruck by her courage and worried about her injuries.
She felt embarrassed, receiving this kind of attention from the boys and girls, but it wasn't bad. She felt really good about herself.
She told her family what had happened after her injuries were taken care of, and while her parents weren't happy to hear she got into a fight with a stray dog and came home covered in dirt and blood, they nonetheless were proud of their daughter for being brave enough to defend the kids that previously did not trust or believe in her. Praise especially came from Hanzo, who decided then and there that it was time for her ninja training to begin, feeling she was ready.
That meant leaving behind her old identity and her new friends. Asuka was initially hesitant, but she agreed to it because she knew she had to carry on Hanzo's name as his successor in the Shinobi world. The training was rough, and sometimes, she even cried and lost confidence in herself. But, remembering the courage she had that day helped her persevere. To be the Sword and Shield that protects the innocent. That was her goal, much like her grandfather, and especially, much like her classmates.
The courage she had that day, the spirit of her fallen comrades, and her grandfather's words of wisdom. These factors were all she needed to carry on and keep fighting, even today.
Suddenly, her resolve to fight came back. Using all of her strength, she pushed the Alpha back. Forcing it to release her sword, she quickly stabbed it in the throat, killing it and spilling its blood.
Angered by their leader's death, the remaining four charged in to kill the intruder.
"HAAAAHH!" With a mighty battle cry, Asuka lunged to her targets, and while the battle was long and taxing, with swift and powerful strikes, especially from her Sword Skills, Slant Slash, killed them all.
|Slant Slash Mastery – 10%|
Moments later, the Sword Hero stood tall, covered in blood. Her breath was haggard, and she had gotten some bites from the dire-wolves, but they were nothing she could walk away from. She scanned her surroundings. Blood and guts were everywhere.
In games, monsters would just disappear after they were slain. But here, in this world… Even though she knew right from the start, this sight could only reiterate the grim realization.
"This… is not a game. This is reality…" she muttered.
After recomposing herself, she collected materials to feed her sword from the nearest Dire-Wolf corpses. She honestly had misgivings about using dead monster parts to gain strengths and skills, but these were the rules of this world. Thanks to killing these beasts, the Sword Hero gained a tremendous amount of EXP and leveled up three times. Killing the Alpha was probably a key factor in it as well since it was the strongest out of all of the pack.
|Level Up: 8|
She also gained new skills from the dire-wolf parts absorbed into the Legendary Sword.
|Unlocked: Dire-Wolf Series|
Dire-Wolf Bone Sword
Base Attack: Plus 12
Equip Bonus: DEF 12
Dire-Wolf Fang Sword
Base Attack: Plus 25
Equip Bonus Skill: Soul Wolf Bite
Dire-Wolf Snout Sword
Base Attack: Plus 4
Passive Skill: Enhanced Scent Detection
Dire-Wolf Hide Sword
Base Attack: Plus 3
Equip Bonus: Cold Residence Up
Asuka didn't take a whole lot from the dead Dire-Wolf, just what seemed useful. She had taken some parts from the Alpha as well, but it seemed she did not have the requirements to use them yet.
She was also surprised to see a new prompt regarding Slant Slash.
|Slant Slash: 10% Mastered|
"10% Mastered? I used Slant Slash a handful of times during the fight… does that mean I can strengthen my skills every time I use them?" Asuka wondered.
Thinking she could ponder this later, Asuka decided it was time to go. She needed to tell the village chief that she completed her quest and collected her reward.
As she was grabbing the boot that came off, she suddenly heard whimpering noises from the cave. She turned toward the noise's direction and saw three wolf cubs curiously walking to their now dead elders. The cubs couldn't be any older than a few months old and could only stay in the den, safe and away from other predators.
They may not have known much at this stage, but they seemed to realize that the elders were dead, as evident by their mournful howling, as heeded by instinct.
Now that their only source of protection was gone, there was no way they could survive. Guilt for killing their family members washed over Asuka. She placed her Small Sword at her hip and squatted down to the cubs.
"I'm sorry. I don't think your relatives will be coming back." she sadly said. The cubs approached cautiously. They didn't seem to see her as a threat.
However, her job was to ensure that all of the dire wolves were exterminated. Unfortunately, that included these cubs. The villagers would surely not want to adapt to them after all the trouble their elders caused. And she couldn't let them suffer the cruelty of being devoured by larger predators in the area. Therefore, there was only one option left.
"I'm sorry…"
[-Later: Village near Mountain-]
Asuka returned to the village after… completing her job. She was quiet as she spoke with the elder.
"You took care of those vicious Dire-Wolves all by yourself?" asked the elder, "That is quite impressive, for a Fake Hero."
Asuka flinched a little after hearing that. She never stated she was the Sword Hero, but the village elder knew of her identity. Did news of the trial really spread this far? Or was it that the Legendary Sword was recognizable enough for villagers near the mountains to identify?
She looked to the other villagers, and a large majority had sneers on their faces, like out of disdain for how she stood up for the Shield Hero and spoke out against demi-human slavery.
Their opinions didn't matter because her beliefs were her own. Still, it was hard, to gain such negativity over it.
"So then, I guess it's time to reward you, with what little we can offer." the elder took out a small bag of bronze coins from his pocket, and seemingly, he was handing them off to Asuka, but at the last second, he dropped the bag on the ground.
This caught Asuka off guard.
"Oops, clumsy me! I couldn't hold on to your money well enough and dropped it. Getting old sure sucks." the elder chuckled at what he purposely did.
Asuka grimaced as the animosity from the villagers turned to amusement from the exchange.
However, rather than give in to their petty games and lash out in justified anger, the Sword Hero simply bent down on one knee and picked up the bag of coins from the ground, and placed it in her skirt pocket. A moment later, she faced the elder and bowed her head respectfully, "Thank you for your business. Goodbye, and have a pleasant day."
She turned and walked away, ignoring the confused looks of the villagers.
Soon after, Asuka was back on the road again.
She needed to inform the guild of her success in completing this quest and chose another one to go on. However, because she chose to take the long way back to Castle-Town, it was going to be a long walk due to exhaustion from today's activities. She could go back to that village, but that meant dealing with more unpleasantries, something she didn't want to add to her laundry list of tiresome things to deal with.
When night fell, she ended up camping out in the woods again. At least there was a clean river nearby. She could soak away all her troubles for one night with a pleasant bath.
Having taken off her clothes and let her hair down, Asuka sank her body in the river water until she was shoulders deep and her breasts halfway submerged.
"Phew… nice and cool…" she murmured in bliss, "I can't remember the last time I had time to relax in a bath… with everything going on, it's little wonder I'm stressed."
Stressed was one way of putting it. Everything up until now had been one negative experience after another. Today especially was emotionally taxing. When she thought of those wolf cubs, a small tear formed in her eye. It didn't take long for more to fall from her face and into the river.
She knew she would have to take life one day as part of the job as a Good Shinobi, and if there were truly irredeemable individuals out there then death was the surest punishment there was, and her deeds were sure to bring about peace in Japan, or even the world. However, those cubs were so young and innocent. Of course, they didn't deserve to die yet. They may have been animals but taking an innocent life went against everything she was taught. The only comfort she could take away was that she ended their lives swiftly and without pain. It still wasn't enough.
"I'm sorry…" she whimpered, as though she was talking to those now deceased cubs.
The guilt over the cubs wasn't the only thing that the tears formed in her eyes. The feeling of loneliness had finally begun to sink. She had no one to help soothe her conscience from what she had done. She had no reassurance. No friends to comfort her in her hour of need.
Remembering her friends at Hanzo Academy and childhood victory may have given her enough strength to topple the Dire-Wolves, but now it was filling the loneliness and depression inside her. Asuka realized that she may never see her friends and family again if the Waves of Catastrophe were as much of an impending threat as they were made out to be, or if she failed some other job unrelated to the Waves.
An entire country's worth of people looked down on and even despised her for her differing beliefs. Part of it could be blamed on herself for acting in defiance of their King. It still meant that she had virtually no support in this country beyond at least one who was helpful and continued to believe in her and Naofumi.
All and all, it was frustrating and heartbreaking.
She still knew she had to press forward. If her actions could prove them wrong in the end, then it was more prudent that she put up with it for now. The Second Wave was the first real task ahead of her and then the duel with Motoyasu. She had to win the duel for Naofumi, and maybe it would restore his faith in the world. But, considering she was having issues with faith herself, such an outcome would be too optimistic. That outcome was all she had, and she needed to win it, no matter what.
"Okay…" Asuka sighed, with some of her resolve restored. Following her quick bath, she set up camp for the night and went to sleep.
[-The Next Morning-]
Surprisingly, Asuka was able to sleep peacefully for once. She didn't have a horrible nightmare. Maybe remembering some of her past during the fight with the dire-wolves had something to do with it. Hopefully, that would be the last of them for a while.
After gathering her belongings, she was prepared to set out and make her way back to the capital.
However, before going to Castle-Town, she decided to test out one of her new skills from the Dire-Wolf Series. She switched her Small Sword to the Dire-Wolf Snout Sword. Through its unique Passive Skill, Enhanced Scent Detection, she caught wind of three distinct odors nearby in the forest.
She dashed past the bushes and through the trees toward the direction of the smells. She eventually came upon the sight of two men, most likely a pair of bandits and a demi-human child. One of the bandits held the demi-human down on the ground while the other stood close by.
The demi-human child was a young boy who had black, spiky hair and dark gray eyes. He had black canine-like ears and the same color canine-like tail, both of which looked wolf-like, so Asuka deduced he was probably a wolf of some kind. The boy wore torn and worn-out clothing.
The two human adult males had malicious intent toward the demi-human wolf boy, and if civilians tended to mistreat demi-human slaves, the Sword Hero didn't want to imagine what a group of bandits wanted to do to an innocent child.
Thanks to being further away, they hadn't noticed her, and if she were to make any noise that would alert them, they would no doubt take the boy hostage or kill him and escape. She had to act fast if she wanted to save him,
Swiftly, soundlessly, and making use of the shade provided by the trees and bushes, Asuka approached the second party with the intent of limiting her presence until it was time to strike.
As she was inching closer, Asuka was able to hear what the two bandits were saying.
"So this is the rumored demi-human wandering around these parts? It's almost impressive nobody's caught this little shit yet." said the one bandit holding him down while the wolf boy struggled to get loose. This bandit was thin and lean and he carried what looked like a crossbow.
"He survived this long on his own. I wager this mongrel's gonna fetch a fairly good price. I'd say the boss will be impressed." the second bandit grinned. He was a tall, muscular, and intimidating man, carrying a large battle-axe on his back.
"So, they make a profit from selling demi-humans..." Asuka growled under her breath.
"We better get moving before some goodie toe shoes show up."
"Grr…!" the desperate boy continued to struggle, knowing what fate awaited him if he didn't escape. Unfortunately, he was too weak from hunger to be able to free himself.
"Relax, who would risk their hides to save a demi-human, let alone this one?" asked the crossbow bandit.
Deciding now was a good time to strike, Asuka launched forward. After having switched her Legendary Sword to the Dire-Wolf Fang Sword and activated its Bonus Skill.
"Soul Wolf Bite!" Asuka called out, releasing an aqua energy wave, which formed into an ethereal howling wolf head. It lunged from the energy wave as quick as lightning and struck the crossbow bandit, biting its target hard, and sending him flying away from the demi-human boy and into a nearby tree.
|Soul Wolf Bite Mastery – 10%|
"The hell?!" the battle-axe bandit exclaimed in shock and anger at his comrade being attacked. Taking holding of his battle-axe, he reared back and blocked an incoming strike from the Sword Hero. "Who the hell are you?!"
"What do you care?! What I want to know is what you're planning to do to that boy!" Asuka demanded. The boy looked at Asuka in confusion and shock that another human had just come to his rescue.
"Shouldn't that be obvious? We're gonna turn him over to our boss and get paid!"
"You scumbag!" Asuka growled.
"He's a demi-human! He'll be dead in no time, no matter where he is!" the axe-wielding bandit pushed the Sword Hero back and prepared to swing down with a horizontal ax strike on her. As the bandit's axe was swung down, Asuka quick-stepped to the right and leaped upward, using her knee to collide with the axe-wielder's face, breaking his nose and knocking him out. With a graceful forward mid-air somersault, Asuka landed behind the downed Battleaxe, none the worse for wear. Once combat was over, she switched her sword back to its original Small Sword form.
The unharmed demi-human boy looked up in astonishment at his savior.
"Are you alright?" asked Asuka as she knelt to help him up. However, something unexpected happened. The boy recoiled in fear and backed away from her as quickly as he possibly could.
"Eh? What's wrong?" the confused Asuka asked. The boy didn't answer as he backed himself up against a tree.
"Is he afraid of me?" the Sword Hero wondered.
No, it wouldn't be just Asuka, would it? He was fearful of all humans, and given how the people of this country treated Demi-humans, it wasn't surprising. There was a good chance he wasn't a slave, given that he seemed to be roaming free based on what those bandits said. He still must have faced heavy discrimination and abuse from the people here. And of course, there was this latest incident with these bandits planning to sell him to their boss, whoever it might be.
"It's okay now…" she spoke softly, "I won't let anybody hurt you. You're safe."
The boy didn't reply. He assumed she would betray him the first chance she got, just like everyone else who seemed kind to him. But then, why would she risk her life to save him? She was human, while he was a demi-human, and humans in this country treated demi-humans horribly, as he learned in the years he had been here. It didn't make sense to him.
"My name's Asuka. What's your name?" Asuka asked patiently. He didn't answer due to still being suspicious of her. She knew he would have issues trusting a human. He must have seen the uglier side of humans more times than she could imagine. Asuka decided not to try to force him to open up. "That's okay. You don't have to answer."
Asuka turned to the two unconscious bandits. Since these were outlaws, no one would complain if she assaulted them and left them unconscious here. It wouldn't weigh on her conscience if a predator found them. They were scum and they probably deserved their fate.
"I'm heading to Castle-Town. You're free to follow me if you want. I'm sure you don't like living out here. Just so you know, I doubt anyone will be welcoming toward. I don't have a good reputation there right now either. If you come with me, I'll do what I can to protect you. If not, you're on your own." Asuka said before going on her way.
The boy looked on as the human was leaving. True, he didn't like living in the wilderness. He may have learned how to survive off the land, but he still hated it. No one in this country cared about him. They either chased him away from their villages or tried to capture him to auction him off as a slave. He hated being on the run, hiding from humans or predators.
But this human girl. She seemed different from the rest. She didn't have any trace of scorn in her eyes. He learned to discern true intent from a person by paying close attention to their eyes or tone of voice. Sure, you could hide your true intentions behind a smile, but the eyes were more of a dead giveaway. Therefore, he couldn't true them. But, Asuka was different. She was sincere in her tone, and she had no malice in her eyes.
It still wasn't enough to make him trust her, though. He immediately ducked into the bushes and disappeared.
Asuka wasn't surprised by this decision. She knew she could try to be more persuasive, but it was probably not a good idea to make him come with her. Castle-Town may not be the best place for the wolf boy. She just hoped she'd run into him again and figure out a way to help him.
With that out of the way, it was time to return to Castle-Town.
[-Hours Later: Castle-Town-]
Asuka had returned to Castle-Town from her long trek.
Her first order of business was to inform the Adventurer's Guild about her success in completing the quest and finding another job.
The scornful stares were back and the Sword Hero did her best to ignore them.
After what seemed like forever, she finally reached the Adventurer's Guild.
There was some catharsis to be had when she saw how surprised those other adventurers looked when she returned from such a dangerous assignment. She actually hoped Motoyasu and Itsuki were here too, so she could see the surprised looks on their faces when they saw she was more capable than she looked. It'll happen one day, though.
Asuka approached the reception desk and the one from yesterday was there.
"Sword Hero-sama, you've returned!" Evelyn exclaimed.
"I completed the quest and received my reward. Can I choose my next quest?"
"Eh? So soon?" Evelyn asked.
"I need to get as strong as possible for the Second Wave. Not to mention my duel with Motoyasu-kun right after."
"I-I see… your work ethic is truly admirable, Sword Hero-sama." Evelyn said, "But, I think maybe you should rest up before you take on another quest."
"I don't need to rest. I'm perfectly fine. Taking on another quest won't be a problem for me." Asuka argued.
Evelyn wasn't convinced. She was an intelligent woman, and she could tell that Asuka was more exhausted than she let on.
"I'm sorry, but I must insist on this. I know you have much on your mind, but it is important to rest while you can." Evelyn refuted, to the Sword Hero's surprise.
At that moment, Asuka remembered one of the key things her grandfather taught her as he put her through her Shinobi training. Training hard was important, but it was equally important to rest the mind and body.
"Okay, fine…" Asuka sighed. She was about to turn around and leave, but Evelyn stopped her.
"Are you going to a hotel? I recommend one of the guest rooms we have here at the guild." Evelyn suggested.
"You have guest rooms?" Asuka asked.
"For weary costumers and adventurers, yes. Of course, you'll have to pay a fee to use one." Evelyn explained.
"Alright. It'll be easier than having to walk back and forth between an inn and the guild." Asuka said, "Plus, I won't have to deal with those stuck-up desk clerks..."
After Asuka paid the required fee, Evelyn guided her to the guest rooms on the upper floor of the guild.
"This is it. I know it's meager, but we will do our best to provide any servant you may need." Evelyn said as she allowed Asuka entry into one of the available guest rooms.
Asuka looked around the room. It looked somewhat like the room in the inn she stayed at. It had a bed, a few drawers, a desk, and some books.
"It's fine. As long as I have a place to sleep and not be disturbed." Asuka said.
"Very well. Please enjoy your stay." Evelyn bowed and stepped out.
As soon as the receptionist did so, Asuka finally let her fatigue show.
Traveling alone to a village near the mountains, fighting and killing a pack of monsters, and saving a demi-human took a toll on her.
"That receptionist wasn't kidding about needing to rest. I think I'll take a nap…" Asuka muttered. She threw off her clothes, except for her underwear, and collapsed on the bed. She immediately fell asleep.
[-Meanwhile: Medicinal Shop-]
"And you said you found these herbs outside of the castle?" asked an old apothecary.
"That's right," said Naofumi. After strenuous effort to defeat monsters and experimenting with his shield he discovered that he could unlock new shields by absorbing any materials into it, even plants. He got the Leaf Shield and Mush Shield through this experimentation. The Leaf Shield granted the bonus skill Absorption Ability 1, which increased his ability to absorb materials, while the Mush Shield could enhance the quality of any plants he collected. These were passive skills, so they still worked no matter what shield Naofumi was using.
The apothecary was very impressed by the high-quality herbs Naofumi presented him, so he bought them for a fair price. He even gave him a silver coin among bronze coins. This old man appeared to be someone who didn't judge others based on rumors. He had a very businesslike attitude, and it seemed he was welcoming to new business opportunities.
While he didn't completely trust him based on this, Naofumi decided it would be foolish not to entertain the idea. It would make his life easier to come here and buy whatever he needed. He could care less about what the other Heroes were doing, as long as he could get by and eventually go home.
[-Fancy Hotel-]
"Motoyasu-sama, last night with you was simply divine…" Myne cooed. She and Motoyasu slept in the nude after a long night of passion. They woke up as the sun rose.
"I always aim to please Myne. Especially with someone as gorgeous as you." Motoyasu said with a charming smile. Of the girls Motoyasu had slept with up to now, Myne was perhaps the best lover. In the back of his mind, he wondered what Asuka would be like in bed. She was still young and likely had no experience, so perhaps waiting until she was older and more mature would be for the best. But, her breasts were incredible. He remembered feeling them when he hugged her before, and the sensation was marvelous.
"My sentiments exactly! Although, I can't help but feel that you might prefer the bosom of that little girl." Myne said with a suspicious glare.
"Little girl... Do you mean Asuka-chan? W-What gave you that impression?" Motoyasu sputtered.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's the fact that you kept thinking about her whenever your mind wanders." Myne said.
"I-It's just that… I don't know what I did wrong. How could she be so angry with me after I protected her from Naofumi?" Motoyasu asked in regret of not being able to convince Asuka of the truth.
"It's not your fault, Motoyasu-sama. It's all the Shield Hero's fault. He's the one who tried to rape me, and he's the one who drugged that poor girl. Only your gentle touch can heal me, and only you can save her from her ill fate." Myne said.
"Only me?"
"Yes, only you. If you don't treat the drug soon, the Sword Hero will fall victim to the same fate I nearly suffered at the hands of that dastardly Shield Hero."
"Of course, I won't allow that to happen!" Motoyasu said, "I'll protect you from Naofumi and save Asuka-chan, too if my name isn't Motoyasu Kitamura!"
"That's the way, Motoyasu-sama!" Myne cheered. However, behind her cheery expression lay a manipulator. She was celebrating winning this idiot Spear Hero over. He was a complete idiot who bought everything she told him. He hadn't even realized the signs that she wasn't a rape victim. After all, rape victims wouldn't usually sleep with a man right after the deed had been done. Controlling this simpleton would make her life much easier, especially when she made her move to take the throne for herself.
The only thing standing in her way right now was that miserable Sword Bimbo. She would deal with her when the time came.
[-Late Afternoon: Adventurer's Guild-]
"Excuse me! Sword Hero-sama!" called out Evelyn's voice from behind the door.
Asuka had been asleep for most of the day, so she wouldn't be in the best of moods when she woke up from her slumber due to the noise.
"Yes… Asuka here…!" Asuka groaned loudly.
"You have a visitor. Will you permit us entry?"
"A visitor? Who?"
"She said she came from the castle and that she knew you."
"From the castle?" Asuka thought it could be Myne. She was the only one she could think of who was from that castle and knew her personally. But maybe it wasn't. It might have been someone else. There was one way of finding out.
"Sure… just give me a minute." Asuka got out of bed and threw on her tunic and skirt to look presentable. She had her Small Sword with her, just in case Myne was ready for a fight. Asuka opened to door, revealing Evelyn and another familiar face.
"H-Hello, Asuka-sama…" Lora said shyly. Instead of her maid uniform, she wore peasant clothing consisting of a long blue skirt and a white sweater. She was also holding a small basket.
"Lora-chan?" Asuka exclaimed in surprise."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude." bowed Lora.
"It's okay, I'm happy to see you." smiled Asuka, dropping any hostility she may have had.
"Thank you. May I join you? I brought some food for you." Lora took out some food she had in the basket she was carrying.
"Thanks, I could use something to eat!" Asuka said.
"I'll leave you two alone for now. Please, don't hesitate to ask if you need anything." Evelyn said and left the guest room to return to her duties at the reception desk.
Asuka and Lora sat on the bed while eating some of the sandwiches Lora had prepared.
"These are good. Thanks again, Lora-chan!" said Asuka, thoroughly enjoying every bit.
"It's my pleasure, Asuka-sama." Lora replied with a smile, "I'm sure you're working hard for the fight against the Waves of Catastrophe. Not to mention your duel with the Spear Hero after the Second Wave."
"So, you know about that?"
"Everyone in town is talking about it. Just to clear the Shield Hero's name and leave this country, you even went as far as threatening the King." Lora's eyes fell sadly, "I'm so sorry that you were put through that. Your anger at being used like that during the trial was very justified in my opinion. And you're absolutely right that we need the Heroes to work together, but now it seems impossible."
Asuka was glad that Lora understood what really happened, but she had to know what she thought of Naofumi.
"So, you believe Naofumi-kun is innocent?"
"To be honest… I don't particularly care for the Shield Hero myself, but even I think what the King and Princess did was beyond excessive." said Lora, "Don't they realize how much chaos they've wrought, now that two Heroes have become outcasts?"
"You're referring to the rumors about me?" Asuka grimaced. Those tall tales must have spread quickly in Castle-Town.
"These baseless rumors cause nothing but division among the people. It shouldn't surprise anyone that you hold differing beliefs." Lora turned to Asuka with a pleading look, "But, I can see that you're hurting because of this. Asuka-sama, I know you made up your mind, but please, call off this duel with the Spear Hero and stay in Melromarc."
Asuka was surprised to hear this request, "Why?"
"I know the trial was a horrible way to make a good impression, but I'm sure someone with your compassion can change things around here. If you leave, then this country won't change at all!"
"I…" Asuka hung her head, conflicted. She wanted to leave Melromarc because of the corruption in plain view. They refused to see what they did was wrong. She decided she wanted out on impulse. However, after learning more about Melromarc and how they view the Shield Hero and demi-humans, she felt she couldn't leave, not with such twisted things happening in this country. As a Good Shinobi, it was her duty to protect the innocent, no matter where she may be.
"You don't need to listen to my selfishness." said Lora, "But, I'm sure even now, you must know things can't be left as they are, and leaving would probably make things worse. Please, think about that. You have three weeks to decide how you want this to go, after all."
Lora stood up from her seat and was about to walk away. Asuka kept a steely gaze on her.
"I have places to be. Again, I apologize for taking up your time, Asuka-sama," said Lora was departing.
"Wait, Lora-chan." Asuka called, "How did you know I was here?"
Lora stood frozen after Asuka's question.
"Have you been following me this whole time? Ever since I spotted you hiding on that balcony? Even when I went up against those dire-wolves? You can't just be a simple maid if you've been watching me and the others this entire time. Just who are you, and what are you after by trying to convince me to stay here?"
For a few moments, there was silence until Lora broke the ice.
"I dare say, your senses are very sharp," Lora spoke in a more subdued and refined tone. She turned back to Asuka, wearing a face full of mystique and refinement and a hint of gentleness, "Rest assured, I am no enemy to you. Neither is my employer. For now, you must stay put in Melromarc. You've seen the ugly side of our country, but even your just nature has you second-guessing your desire to leave."
Asuka remained silent as Lora spoke. Although, she couldn't be sure if Lora was her real name.
"You can fight and earn your right to leave, or you can choose to stay and help those who truly need it. Isn't that what the "Sword and the Shield" is about?"
Asuka glanced aside, unsure of how to answer.
"For myself, I am merely fulfilling my obligation to the one I serve, nothing more. She wishes for the best interests in Melromarc, and she rightfully believes that King Aultcray and Princess Malty have no such interests. She rightfully suspected that they couldn't be trusted to care for her country in her stead."
"In her stead…? You don't mean you work for…"
"I dare say, I've said too much." said Lora, "Please, forget we had this conversation. I'll be observing from a quiet distance, as I can't act on my own unless it is necessary. What you do from here is up to you to decide."
Lora walked to the door, but as soon as she took hold of the knob, she turned back to Asuka, "Before I go, I want to apologize for not helping you during your fight with the Dire-Wolves. I have my orders, you see. And in all honesty, I believed you were capable of defending yourself, and you delivered on that."
Asuka felt that Lora's apology was genuine. She was sure about Lora's employer, but she was sure the woman standing in front of her must be a good person.
Lora exited Asuka's quest room soon after.
After this conversation, Asuka had plenty to think about. She wondered what she would gain to leave Melromarc after the duel. Honestly, nothing if one was to think about it. There was still much of this world she didn't know about. She could try to locate the Queen, but at her current level, even with her leftover abilities from her old world and the ones she gained from her recent adventures, she probably wouldn't get very far in this world without help. So yeah, leaving wasn't an intelligent decision at the moment.
That and she would be leaving Naofumi alone in this corrupt country. He could travel with her, but she had her doubts he would want to since she failed to help him and he probably didn't trust her too much. Hopefully, winning the duel in the coming weeks will change that.
That being said, there wasn't time to lose. First, she had to train hard so she could deal with the Wave of Catastrophe incoming. And then, she can win the duel, and from there, hopefully, things will change.
Lyall the Werewolf: Okay, this took some time, but I finished. The next chapter may be more original.