Rise of the Sword and the Shield chapter 09: In the Shadows
Lyall the Werewolf: I was actually working on this chapter alongside this one. Hopefully, I do a good job of showcasing Asuka's Shinobi abilities.
This chapter will be long since I'm unpacking lots of information.
(I don't own Senran Kagura or Shield Hero)
"Let me ask you boys something… are you children on the playground?" asked King Aultcray, boring down on a nervous Motoyasu and Itsuki. Their respective parties were waiting outside the throne room.
"N-No, sir…" Motoyasu weakly answered.
"We're not children…" Itsuki replied nervously.
"Then tell me, why have there been rumors of Asuka-dono choosing to leave the Adventurer's Guild all week?" Aultcray asked. He had received reports from the knights and his retainer about these rumors. Needless to say, he was not happy to hear of them so late and called for the two Heroes involved immediately to answer for this.
"W-Well, she thinks she's caused trouble at the guild." Motoyasu replied, before pointing at Itsuki, "And that is entirely his fault."
Predictably, Itsuki was immediately irate, "What?! Don't you dare-"
"Stop!" Aultcray demanded before the two Heroes broke into another argument. "I have heard rumors regarding this matter, and the most suggested theory was it due to a dispute between the Three Heroes. Would either you care to explain what this dispute entails?"
"It's just like what I said. Itsuki's the one at fault! He was being a butthead to her!"
"Why am I the only one at fault here?!" Itsuki asked hotly, "You were the one creeping around her and invading her personal space!"
"In other words, you're both to blame?" Aultcray glared in annoyance at the two Heroes barking at each other, making them flinch.
That was the second time they heard that accusation. The first was over a week ago from that receptionist Asuka was friends with.
The King began to formulate the precise reason for Asuka's departure from the guild, and it had to do with the two Heroes that were presumably pestering her for some reason.
Aultcray turned to another man in the throne room. He wore white, gold, and red holy robes and small round spectacles. Around his neck, he wore a rosary of symbols of the Sword, Spear, and Bow. It symbolized his church, the Three Heroes Church.
"I'm sure you both are acquainted with Pope Biscas T. Balmus,"
"Yes, he informed us about this country's religion, the Three Heroes Church," answered Itsuki.
"It warms my heart to know that you remember me, Bow Hero-sama." Pope Balmus said, "However, after catching wind of these rumors about the Sword Hero, I took the liberty of sending some of my followers to the guild to confirm what had happened,"
There was an eerie shine to Balmus's glasses. It made Motoyasu and Itsuki flinch once again. Knowing that the Three Heroes Church was keeping tabs on them didn't help their anxiety.
"I must admit, I am disappointed by what they uncovered." Balmus said as he shook his head, "Not only were you harassing the Sword Hero, you also demeaned her for her activities and commitment to preparing for the Waves. The adventurers were very honest about that,"
The two young Heroes began to sweat. They never expected the adventurers at the guild to rat them out like this.
"I'll ask one last time... how did it come to Asuka-dono leaving the guild and vowing to never come back?" Aultcray asked. His stringent gaze fell to Motoyasu, "We'll start with you, Motoyasu-dono. What was your part in the harassment and mocking? Itsuki-dono claimed you were making an effort to invade Asuka-dono's personal space. Are you trying to become like the Shield Hero?!"
"N-No! Not in a million years! I-I was just so happy to see Asuka-chan that I couldn't control myself, Your Majesty!" Motoyasu declared, ashamed of himself.
"Then I suggest you put more effort into controlling yourself around her, Motoyasu-dono." said Aultcray, "It isn't difficult to notice your affection for her, but they're interfering with your ability to concentrate on the Waves and her own adventures. You should concern yourself with nothing but getting stronger to fend the Waves of Catastrophe off, as well as the upcoming duel with Asuka-dono. Is that understood?"
"I… yes, sir…"
"Itsuki-dono, what is your excuse?" Aultcray asked Itsuki.
"Your Majesty, I can assure you, my motives for pursuing Asuka-san are not as childish as Motoyasu-san." Itsuki said, to Motoyasu chagrin.
"Is that right?"
"I believe Asuka-san is hiding more from us than she's letting on. I've been trying to get her to tell me where she got her abnormal physical abilities, but she refuses to share." the Bow Hero replied.
To this, Motoyasu scoffed. "Of course, she'd refuse if you outright demand answers from her, Itsuki. Every cute girl has her secrets. You need to be a proper gentleman before she can reveal those secrets." said the perverted Spear Hero.
"Anyway…" Itsuki glared at Motoyasu for a brief moment before continuing, "We all saw it for ourselves when Naofumi-san's trial ended. Asuka-san displayed inexplicable strength and speed when she attacked you and Motoyasu-san. And let's not forget what she did to Mald-san last week."
"I remember the trial's aftermath." Aultcray grimaced. The murderous look in the Sword Hero's eyes was something he wasn't going to forget any time soon. It made his wife's temper tamed by comparison.
"If so, then why are we here getting reprimanded while she gets away with making threats and assaulting people?" Itsuki asked.
"Her killing intent may have been genuine, but even she knew that killing me would end poorly for her." Aultcray answered, "And if she were to have caused further problems, I would have Asuka-dono here to answer for them. But she hasn't. Also, Asuka-dono only acted in self-defense when your comrade was about to strike her. That's what the adventurers and staff informed us."
Itsuki's eye twitched. It seemed Aultcray was willing to excuse her behavior and even side with the Adventurer's Guild.
"And from what I've heard, she was working diligently to improve herself and her weapon when not taking quests. What justification did you have to mock her for it?" Aultcray asked.
"Improving herself by training? That's ridiculous!" Itsuki scoffed, "She's still far below us in terms of levels because she's wasting her time with such things." Itsuki refuted, "Our weapons and levels are more than enough to help in the fight against the Waves. We hold the Legendary Weapons, the strongest weapons known in legend! Are we really supposed to train with these weapons to unlock their full potential?"
"Your beliefs are your own, Itsuki-dono, and rest assured we have the utmost confidence in you both to protect our country from the Waves of Catastrophe. While it is concerning that she hasn't leveled as quickly as you and Motoyasu-dono, it does not excuse mocking her way of life,"
"Hold on, Your Majesty! I wasn't trying to make fun of her! Asuka-chan just took things too seriously. She thinks we could die on these adventures and possibly the Waves of Catastrophe, too. But, here's where I agree with Itsuki. We got the strongest weapons here. Surviving the Waves should be a piece of cake for us!" Motoyasu bragged.
"I admire your confidence, Spear Hero-sama. However, I must ask that you take the threat of the Waves seriously as well." Balmus said, "The Three Heroes must band as a united front if we are to successfully thwart the Waves of Catastrophe and protect our fair country,"
"That's right. How can we count on the Three Heroes to defend us when they bicker amongst themselves?" Aultcray asked sternly.
"That's Naofumi's fault, isn't it!?" Motoyasu shouted, "If he hadn't drugged Asuka-chan, we'd be working together right now! Instead, because the drug was controlling her, Asuka-chan refused my help at every turn. I offered my last few crystal balls to her, but she refused because she wanted to learn magic by herself. I even said Emerald-chan could teach her magic, but she still said no! If it wasn't for Naofumi, we'd be having so much fun now!"
Motoyasu began crying in frustration at how much Asuka had changed due to the drug. He swore Naofumi would pay for this.
"We are aware. Sadly, interfering with Asuka-dono's activities when she doesn't want you to counts as harassment. No matter how noble your intentions were, you ought to be more respectful of her wishes." Aultcray said.
This statement made Motoyasu's face turn pale.
Itsuki sighed, thinking that the Spear Hero was making a fool of himself.
"Let's get back on topic, Your Majesty. The only reason we laughed at her was that we honestly think Asuka-san is doing this all wrong. It's why she's still presumably at level 12. Refusing her party members was the first mistake she made. Defending Naofumi-san and pretty much refusing any help from the Royal Family made things infinitely difficult for her. And now she's left the guild and has nowhere to go. I'm afraid Asuka-san isn't much better off than Naofumi-san in this regard." Itsuki explained.
"And your point is?" asked Aultcray.
"I believe we can handle the Waves without her," Itsuki said confidently.
Aultcray and Balmus frowned deeply upon hearing this.
"That is a bold claim, Bow Hero-sama. I take this to mean that you see the Sword Hero as inferior?" asked the Pope.
"I wouldn't say it like that, but at the rate she's going, Asuka-san is likely to drag us down," Itsuki replied.
This roused Motoyasu's fury, "That's messed up, Itsuki! I mean, I know Asuka-chan isn't in the best of places right now, but we can't just leave her out of the fight!"
"It's her choice whether or not she wants to join the fight, but if you ask me, she's better off not showing up." Itsuki refuted, "That reminds me, why isn't Asuka-san here? I thought you would have wanted to speak with all of us about this,"
"That would be the case. Unfortunately, ever since she left the Adventurer's Guild, we haven't been able to find Asuka-dono." Aultcray answered.
"Asuka-chan's gone missing?!" Motoyasu blanched.
"Yes, it would appear that the Sword Hero has gone into hiding. Most likely to avoid any more spats with her fellow Cardinal Heroes, as well as scrutiny from the public." Balmus suggested.
"Well… that's unfortunate." Itsuki sighed.
"It can't be helped. After all, you're both to blame for her departure from the guild." the Pope's words caught the two Heroes off guard. They noticed a slight edge in Balmus' calm voice as he spoke. "Forgive my rudeness, but is it any wonder she would drop out of sight just to avoid the ones who mocked and harassed her so?"
"N-No! It can't be!" exclaimed Motoyasu, "She wouldn't want to avoid us, least of all me! It's Naofumi's drug that-"
"Please face reality, Spear Hero-sama. It's all but obvious that the Sword Hero does not care for your overt, and quite frankly, obscene displays of affection for her. No drug affects a person's personality to that degree. And even if there was, it would not have any effect on the Cardinal Heroes. Your weapons protect you from such things." Balmus explained.
"You're wrong! Myne said so herself! She wouldn't lie to me!"
"And yet, you know not what it looks like, or where it is manufactured, or it is even called. Have you done any research about this drug Princess Malty told you about?"
"U-Um… well…" Motoyasu faltered.
"Let's set the drug aside for now…" Itsuki said. He found Motoyasu's belief in this drug to be preposterous. It was the most obvious lie ever, and yet Motoyasu chose to fall for it because he couldn't bear the reality that Asuka genuinely hates him for his lecherousness. Well, it didn't matter to the Bow Hero. What mattered was Asuka's whereabouts.
"Have you found some clue as to where she might be hiding?" Itsuki questioned.
"I'm afraid not. It would appear that the Sword Hero has a talent for making herself scarce. Rest assured, we are working around the clock to find her." Balmus answered.
"Itsuki-dono, would you care to elaborate on why you're so fixated on Asuka-dono," Aultcray asked.
"Certainly, Your Majesty! I believe it's Asuka-san's determination to hide the secret of her abilities from us that are the main problem here. Someone with her abilities can't just be allowed to roam free!"
"What does that mean, Itsuki?" Motoyasu asked.
"C'mon! You saw yourself twice that she has more strength than a normal girl! Remember what we discussed three weeks ago? About the possibility that she's cheating!"
"But, we agreed it wouldn't matter if she was. I can still beat her in the duel after the Second Wave because I have more experience in this sort of stuff than she does." Motoyasu waved off.
"And there's still a possibility that she could use her cheating ability to win. She could even use it during the Second Wave and the ones after,"
"I fail to see the issue, Itsuki-dono. If she is naturally as strong as she is, then it stands to reason that Asuka-dono's abilities will be useful for the Waves." Aultcray refuted. "However, her stubborn belief in the Shield Hero and refusal to cooperate with anyone is cumbersome,"
"The only way we can convince her is by curing her of the mind control drug. Which means I have to win the duel to save her from Naofumi!" asserted Motoyasu.
"Sure, let's go with that." Itsuki shrugged, "But, what do we do about Asuka-san in the meantime? We have no idea where she could be hiding,"
"Leave Asuka-dono be for now." said Aultcray, "She must be allowed to cultivate her skills to combat the Second Wave in peace. When the Second Wave draws near, she will show herself whether she wants to or not. And if possible, when you eventually come together for the Second Wave, I want you to bury the hatchet and work together with Asuka-dono. It goes without saying that she is correct in that fighting the Waves will be a team effort. The Three Heroes are our only hope,"
"Of course! I'll convince her somehow that we're on her side!" Motoyasu said confidently.
"She slapped us both in the face and thinks she knows better. What makes you think she'll want to work together with us? She won't even tell us where her superhuman cheating ability comes from." Itsuki refuted Motoyasu.
"You're the only obsessing about it, Itsuki!" Motoyasu rebuked.
"You should be more concerned about this than I am, Motoyasu-san! I just warned you that she could still use her cheating ability to win!"
"Itsuki-dono, I don't know where this yarn about 'cheating' has spurned… but I sincerely hope this isn't coming from childish envy." Aultcray glowered at Itsuki.
"I-I… no…" Itsuki flinched. Aultcray's piercing gaze made it difficult for the Bow Hero to think of an excuse,
"Good. I expect you to put aside your grudge and work with Asuka-dono to clear the Waves!"
"Uh, sir, I know you said you all need to work together, but what about Naofumi?" asked Motoyasu.
"What about the Shield Hero?" Aultcray replied with a scowl.
"Good point. We're better off without someone like him." Motoyasu smirked before growling in frustration, "Because of him, Myne was traumatized, and Asuka-chan thinks we're the enemy! I won't forgive him!"
"He only has his shield, and he can't level up without help. It'll be useless to have Naofumi-san with us." Itsuki said.
"That's what I want to hear." Aultcray smiled proudly before adopting a serious frown, "Now then, our discussion on this matter is closed. You may leave now and go about your lives. But, before you go, I must reiterate one thing… I summoned you here to help us fight against the Waves of Catastrophe. I have given the two of you the supportive funds and your party members to aid you. There is one thing that I ask of you in return… do not make me look like a fool!" Aultcray's words and expressions were made crystal clear to both Itsuki and Motoyasu.
"Y-Yes, sir…" Motoyasu and Itsuki said in unison.
"Remember, we're counting on you."
"There's nothing to worry about, Papa!" Princess Malty said as she casually entered the throne room.
"Malty…"
"Hey, Myne!" Motoyasu said. His mood brightened after seeing her.
"With my support on the front lines, Motoyasu-sama and Itsuki-sama are sure to succeed, whether or not the Sword B- I mean, Sword Hero is there or not." Malty declared with the utmost confidence.
"Yes, yes, I'm well aware you'll support them to the best of your ability, my little angel. I especially have high expectations of Motoyasu-dono." Aultcray smiled.
"You can count me to protect your daughter, your Majesty!" Motoyasu gallantly said, earning him a hug and peck on the cheek from the spoiled Princess herself.
Itsuki was silent as Motoyasu and Malty began flirting in broad daylight. It irked him that the King was giving Motoyasu special treatment simply because his daughter had chosen his party. If she was in Itsuki's party, he would have the King's favor. The Bow Hero knew he had to work hard to earn the Royal Family's praise.
All and all, Itsuki was very unsatisfied with today's turnout. He was scolded and ordered to leave Asuka alone until the Next Wave. It was certainly not something he would enjoy or care to remember moving forward.
If there was one positive Itsuki could take away from this meeting, however, it was Asuka's disappearance. In his mind, she was afraid of being proven wrong about his and Motoyasu's false superiority. The fact remains, Asuka will still fall behind Itsuki. She could hide beneath the Earth for all he cared.
"Hey, Myne?" Motoyasu asked, noticing that his lover was staying behind.
"I have some things to discuss with Papa and Pope Balmus. I'll join you shortly."
"Okay. I'm sure you wanna catch up with your father. I won't keep you two apart." Motoyasu smiled.
With the meeting over, the two Heroes left the throne.
Now it was just the King and the Pope. Malty stayed behind as well, as she wanted to discuss something with her father and Balmus.
"King Aultcray…" Balmus announced to the King, "You said you would find some way of bringing the Sword Hero under control. Unfortunately, I don't see a scenario where that is possible. She is uncontrollable in a manner of speaking."
"You're right, Biscas. Asuka-dono has a strong moral character. She even speaks out against demi-human slavery." Aultcray groaned. It was bad enough his wife favored them, even after the misery they caused.
"Hmph! Only someone as miserable as that Sword Bimbo would pity filthy demi-humans." Malty scoffed.
"Her soul is righteous but on the wrong side. She is one of the Three Heroes, but she challenges our faith repeatedly. Her desire to save the Shield Hero and sympathies with the demi-humans will only taint the purity of our religion. Never before have we heard of such a Hero, besides the Shield Hero." Balmus sighed in apprehension. He would have reprimanded the Princess for her bemeaning moniker for the Sword Hero, but given the latter refused to accept the church's faith, he felt he couldn't.
"It is to be expected that a Cardinal Hero, a being from another world entirely, would hold different values compared to our own. If only she were not so rigid in them." Aultcray sighed.
"It can't be helped. That Spiteful Sword Bimbo is both stubborn and stupid. She'll regret challenging our authority in due time! She can't hide from us forever!" Malty declared.
"Malty…" Aultcray said hesitantly.
"In fact, I have the perfect solution to tame that unruly brat!"
"Oh, you have something in mind, Princess?" Balmus asked.
"This is merely a suggestion, but…" Malty devilishly grinned, "Once we ensure Motoyasu-sama's victory in the Sacred Duel, we put a slave crest on her. And not just any slave crest. We'll put a Royal slave crest on her! Then, the disobedient Sword Bimbo will have no choice but to serve us!"
"M-Malty!" Aultcray gasped in shock.
"You would dare strip the Sword Hero of her freedom? One of the treasured Three Heroes, a slave to the royal family? Not only that, you imply that we should allow you to deface a Sacred Duel in order to put such a sinful act into motion? Have you gone mad, Princess Malty?" Balmus asked in a serious tone. He wore a tranquil expression, but his anger at the idea was clear.
"Of course, she hasn't! Surely she is jesting! Right, Malty?" Aultcray asked.
"No. I'm dead serious." Malty frowned, "In time, the Sword Bimbo will become a major threat to the Royal Family of Melromarc. She may not have fans now, but some value her strength. They'll rally to her side before long, and we won't a chance if she grows too powerful to control. Not even the Three Heroes Church will be able to stand against her."
"Hmm… you may be right. The Bow Hero brought up an excellent point about the Sword Hero's superhuman abilities. I don't believe we've ever had records of a Hero having such a gift for combat." Balmus mused, "Regardless, this tactic is still ill advisable, Princess. If word gets out, there could be disastrous consequences. Are you even aware of the taboo of enslaving a Cardinal Hero?"
Cardinal Heroes had been summoned to this world numerous times. Naturally, because they were so revered for their deeds, it went without saying that attempting to abuse their power, or worse, enslaving the Heroes was a unanimous sin and those who attempted it would be punished severely. Over time, this rule had been all but forgotten, as no one was foolish enough to enact such a heinous crime. Very few even remember it today.
"So long as we keep the plan discreet, there's no cause for concern," Malty answered confidently.
"King Aultcray, what say you? Do you not find this idea too drastic?" Balmus asked Aultcray.
"Indeed, that outcome is the last thing I want. However… I cannot allow the Sword Hero to become a threat to my family, just as the Shield Hero did all those years ago." Aultcray sighed.
Balmus remained silent as Aultcray spoke. He was aware of his old friend's past. His desire to protect his current family from the Shield Hero and demi-humans was understandable, but it by no means justified such a sacrilegious act as enslaving a Cardinal Hero. And he should be aware that enslaving a Hero was strictly forbidden.
"And what of the Spear Hero? Would he approve of your plan? Moreover, will he stand any chance of victory in the duel?" Balmus asked Malty.
"Of course. I'm helping Motoyasu-sama prepare for his showdown with her. He's reluctant to use the methods I have planned, but I'll convince him one way or the other."
"Yes, he does listen to you. For better or worse..." Balmus sighed. Believing that outrageous lie about the drug was one example of that.
"Malty, are you truly certain enslaving Asuka-dono is the correct course of action? Barring the legality of enslaving a Cardinal Hero and what could happen if others found out, do we even know if it's possible?" asked Aultcray.
"The enslavement is the only way to keep the Sword Bimbo in line. She won't be rebelling against us once the slave crest is branded upon her. Just leave it all to me, Papa." Malty smiled devilishly. She knew it didn't take much to sell him on the idea of enslaving the Sword Bimbo. All the spoiled princess had to do was play on Aultcray's desire to protect his family, and it was set in stone.
Aultcray looked conflicted but conceded to his daughter's wishes. He couldn't imagine his wife approving of this decision, but maybe they could find some way of convincing her that this was for the best. The safety of the King's family was his top priority above all else. That was why he condemned the Shield Hero and will continue to do so, no matter what.
"Pope Balmus?" Malty turned to the Pope, who simply sighed in defeat, knowing that he was overruled by majority vote.
"If I must concede, then so be it. We cannot have the Sword Hero act on her own accord and eventually become a threat to the royal family and the Three Heroes Church, as she has shown disdain for our faith and customs. She must act as the symbol of faith she was chosen to be, even if it must be done by force." Balmus said grimly.
"Then, it is settled. When she is defeated, Asuka-dono will become our slave. Though, it pains me to resort to such drastic measures." Aultcray declared.
"I as well. The Waves of Catastrophe cannot be thwarted without her, and letting her run free will cause no shortage of chaos. The Sword Hero must be brought under our control." Balmus added.
"We're all in agreement!" Malty grinned in anticipation. She couldn't wait to see her spirit broken as she became the royal family's slave.
Unbeknownst to the three down below, a certain busty Sword Hero watched and listened from the shadows of the empty upper floor balcony.
As if she couldn't find the royal family anymore despicable. Now knowing that they were planning to enslave her should she lose the duel made them inexcusably vile. Of course, there was no way for Asuka to lose against an amateur. It still wouldn't hurt to use her Shinobi skills to gather info on them and figure out what they were up to, and possibly more, since they were hiding so much from her and the other Heroes as is.
After leaving the guild, time to herself was what she needed to get herself back together. True, Asuka went into hiding to avoid further conflicts with Motoyasu and Itsuki and the public eye, but she remembered the corruption in the country, and she couldn't let it slide. Especially since the root cause of Melromarc's corruption was right here.
"I can't believe it took this long to start gathering information on the enemy." Asuka thought to herself. She realized she was too complacent in being an adventurer, and her focus on fighting the Second Wave and the sacred duel to clear Naofumi's name shouldn't have been her first priority overall. What she should have done first and foremost was gather information about this country, especially now that she was aware of the corruption in high places.
"If only I did this sooner, I could have prevented Naofumi-kun's trial. I guess dying and being summoned to another world while being forced to take part in a false trial to incriminate your only friend instead of getting therapy will cause a few brain farts. Or was I just afraid of doing anything Shinobi like after what happened? It doesn't matter. Now more than ever is where I take the risk."
Learning magic and finding a place to live would have to wait. What was more important right now was gathering what info she could on the enemy.
After recovering from that emotional episode, Asuka remembered herself as a Shinobi. Her complacency and negligence made Asuka realize she disgraced her name as Hanzo's Heir. That would be rectified by putting her espionage skills to use. That meant dropping out of the public eye and staying in the shadows, watching and listening for useful information to gain a strategic advantage. She may not be able to transform or use the Shinobi Barrier, but fighting wasn't all a Shinobi was good for.
Besides, Malty was so bent on keeping track of her movements, it only seemed fitting to spy on them in return. Luckily, she knew well how to cover her tracks. No one knew of her whereabouts, and she was going to keep it that way, at least for the time being.
Asuka discovered two vital pieces of information during her investigation. One was about how the slave trade worked and where it operated. The second was about a knight being held prisoner in solitary confinement. Supposedly, this knight was accused of being brainwashed by the Shield Hero as they were hunting down slave hunters and other knights. This claim came from the Three Heroes Church, who taught those who follow it to hate the Shield Hero and the demi-humans who worship him. It was a good thing Asuka decided to trust the church as far as she could throw them, especially now that the Pope of the said church was onboard with enslaving her. Also, that knight must've had a good reason to hunt down people raiding certain villages after the First Wave.
Other than that, nothing else of interest came up. That is until now, as the King called Motoyasu and Itsuki to explain what occurred a week ago.
Last week's reunion with Motoyasu and Itsuki didn't help Asuka's mental state either. She still remembered the feeling of embarrassment and anguish that day, and it made it very difficult for her to accept them as friends. They made it clear they didn't see her as an equal. If that was how it was going to be, then what point was there in burying the hatchet? They would never learn. If they were to die like the fools they were, then it was of no concern to the Sword Hero.
"Somehow, it doesn't surprise me to see those two to argue over whose fault it is for my quitting the guild. Motoyasu-kun's lechery… Itsuki-kun's terrible attitude… It's hard to believe this is their real character after we first met… No, I can't let them distract me. I need to know more about who rules this country. I won't make the same mistake as last time during the trial." Asuka thought.
Any scheme Malty and her father cook up, Asuka would ensure they failed.
"I'll be taking my leave now. If you'll excuse me…" Pope Balmus exited the throne room.
And it was just Myne and her father.
Pope Balmus was a character she needed to watch out for. Asuka only interacted with him once, and while he was pleasant, he also gave off a shady vibe similar to Malty on the Heroes' second day in Melromarc. That and what his religion taught were very toxic to the people of this country. She decided to avoid interactions with him until she uncovered his true motives.
It would also seem he had his own agents working in the shadows. They were monitoring the activities of the Three Heroes, including herself. Dodging them was especially tricky. Luckily, some of the sword skills Asuka acquired helped her Shinobi skills. For example, the Lizal Scale Sword gave her the ability to Camouflage herself and blend into her surroundings. It was used during her game of cat and mouse with Malty and her goons. And it would certainly come in handy when she decided to sneak into the castle.
Combine this skill with Shinobi stealth maneuvers, and you have yourself an undetectable ninja. It also helped to use disguises every now and then so she wouldn't become reliant on her Legendary Sword or her various sword skills. It was surely a mistake that would cost her dearly to only rely on the skills she gathered for her Sword. For a trained Shinobi, anything was a valuable tool for a mission.
"By the way, Malty, how has Motoyasu-dono come along on his training?" Aultcray asked.
"Wonderfully! We just reached the right level he needed to fight that Giant Scorpion King monster I found. It has the right skill needed to pin that Sword Bimbo down." replied Malty.
"Pin me down?" That doesn't sound good." Asuka thought.
"I procured the location of that monster myself. In a few days, we'll be going to its hideout,"
"T-That's excellent news Malty, but do you think it wise to reveal such information out in the open?"
"As if anyone is around to hear it. We're totally alone in this throne room."
"Actually, you don't want to know who just heard that..." Asuka whispered.
"But enough about that, Papa! Has Mama sent you any updates about the conference?" Malty asked, "I've been away from the castle for a while, so I wouldn't know if she sent you any letters,"
"Mama? As in the Queen?" Asuka thought. She needed to hear the rest of this conversation out.
"Ahh, yes. The recent letter from your mother, Mirellia, stated our summoning of all four of the Cardinal Heroes to Melromarc has caused quite a stir among the other nations. She has managed to calm them down, thanks to her quick wit, but she'll still be away for quite some time." Aultcray explained.
"I see. Anything else?"
"She… she asked me to treat the Cardinal Heroes equally and to take special care of the Shield Hero… She believes Siltvelt may try something if we're not careful." Aultcray scowled. He loved his wife dearly, but her desire to foster peace with the demi-humans was something he could never understand. After all the suffering they caused him and his prior family in the past, why should he show them or the Shield Hero any compassion? And the Sword Hero was making things infinitely worse by defending him, opposing slavery, and rejecting what she represented for the people of Melromarc as one of the Three Heroes.
"Don't fret over it, Papa. You're doing a marvelous job. It's the Shield Hero and Sword Bimbo that are the problem." Myne said.
"Sure we are… But, Siltvelt, huh?"
Because she still couldn't read Melromarc's language, Asuka had yet to learn anything proper about the nations of this world. She did learn of the warring relations between Melromarc and the demi-human nation Siltvelt.
Siltvelt was the opposite of Melromarc. Instead of worshipping the Three Heroes like Melromarc, Siltvelt worshipped the Shield Hero for being the only hero to show them kindness.
With this fact in mind, it was of little wonder the Queen wanted Naofumi to be treated fairly. If what they did to Naofumi was found out by their rivals, it would cause a major war.
"And naturally, she can never know of how we exposed the Shield Hero for his crime against me." Malty bragged.
Asuka scowled at the spoiled Princess. There was no way people were going to buy that for long. Not with her disgusting personality, she made no effort to hide. And Asuka couldn't imagine Queen Mirellia not being aware of the trial by now if what Lora implied was true.
"I won't allow the Shield Hero to harm my family! I'll see to it that he suffers for what his predecessor and the demi-humans did!" Aultcray swore in anger.
Asuka was a little surprised to hear this. All of this was revenge for something in his past? That wasn't any excuse to drag the other Heroes into it, and Naofumi had nothing to do with what tragedy Aultcray's befell past. It all made the King look very petty in the Shinobi's eyes.
"Even if it means going against Mama's wish to establish peace with Siltvelt?" Malty asked snidely.
"Yes… surely she'll understand." Aultcray said solemnly.
This bit of information came as a great shock to Asuka. She hadn't learned anything about Queen Mirellia until now.
"That's strange. I thought people in Melromarc hated the Shield Hero and demi-humans. That was especially the case with Siltvelt, who worshiped only the Shield Hero. Why would the Queen care enough to ask her husband to take extra care of Naofumi-kun and foster peace with Siltvelt?" Asuka wondered to herself.
"Of course, she will. You did have that demi-human fishing village sacked for her sake!" Malty praised.
"Even without the lord presiding over that land, there's no telling what free demi-humans will get up if left unchecked. That's why I had the knights attack it after the First Wave." Aultcray scowled.
"That's what I thought. They were behind the attack on that demi-human village." Asuka balled her fist in anger after hearing this. No doubt, some of those knights were all too happy to attack a village of innocent people. And it must connect to that knight in solitary. The Shinobi decided to speak with that imprisoned knight directly for more answers.
Unfortunately, she couldn't risk doing so now without blowing her cover.
Thus, she remained calm and silent. The Shinobi's line of sight turned to Malty, who had a smug smile as per usual. Asuka was certain the King's spoiled daughter had a hand in his deplorable acts as well, or at the very least partially.
"Excellent! I know you'll do everything in your power to protect us, Papa!" Malty cheered, "Now then, I'll be turning for the day. I need to rest up for when we go hunt for the Giant Scorpion King,"
"Yes, of course. Good luck, Malty. And be safe!" Aultcray said
"With Motoyasu-sama protecting me, there's nothing to fear!" Malty assured.
"We'll see about that..." Asuka said. She decided it was time to vacate the castle, knowing it would be detrimental to stay any longer.
Asuka spent some part of the week learning the infrastructure of the castle by following Motoyasu's party in and out. Naturally, the former Shinobi used every stealth technique at her disposal to ensure she would not be seen. The Camouflage skill helped as well. She even disguised herself as a maidservant to avoid suspicion. It surprised Asuka how well it worked. All she did was put on the uniform, change her hairstyle and demeanor, and presto, her disguise was near flawless. The only downside was the uniforms not fitting her bust.
It would have been faster to use her Shinobi Transformation ability. It allowed her to change clothes on the fly depending on what kind of clothes she imagined. Unfortunately, because Asuka's Ninja Scroll was missing, she didn't have access to it. Luckily, her grandfather Hanzo taught her to use disguises in case she didn't have her scroll on her.
Wearing her hair in an upward bun, and her bangs framing her face, as well as glasses on her face, Asuka's maidservant disguise was ready. Now to make her escape.
With her knowledge of the castle's layout, Asuka made her way down the castle halls.
Unfortunately, her Enhanced Scent Detection gave away the scent of Motoyasu around the corner. Knowing that she couldn't risk trying to escape him, Asuka inhaled to steady her nerves and get into character.
Coming out from the corner of the hallway, Motoyasu appeared in front of the disguised Sword Hero.
"Oh, sorry." said the Spear Hero, "Are you one of the maids here?"
"Yes. How may I be of assistance, Spear Hero-sama?" Asuka asked politely with a higher pitch to her voice.
"Say, you're kinda cute. What's your name?"
"Felecia!" was the first thing Asuka thought of for an answer. She was thinking of an English voice actress from overseas. Asuka hoped this would work.
"Felecia-chan, huh? That's a nice name for such a cute girl." Motoyasu mused.
"He really can't go a minute without flirting with girls, can he?" 'Felecia' thought. She remembered seeing him flirt with other girls in the Adventurer's Guild. About half of them wound up joining his party. There were odd rumors about some of those women disappearing as fast as they joined, though.
"Anyway, I'm trying to find Myne's room, but I got lost. This castle's so big and all. I've only been here for a few weeks, but man…" Motoyasu groaned.
"It took me a week to memorize the hallways of this castle. How clueless are you?"
"Felecia-chan, I know you're probably busy, but could you show me the way? I'm worried I might get lost again."
"Oh sure. It would be my pleasure." Felecia smiled, "I should be trying to get out of here, but it wouldn't hurt to learn some things about Motoyasu-kun's party."
As the two began walking, Felecia began opening up, "Um… I grew up hearing stories about the Cardinal Heroes, so I'm a huge fan!"
"I'm sure you are. And you must idolize me the most, right? I am the most handsome of the Cardinal Heroes!" Motoyasu bragged.
"Y-Yes! Indeed you are! You are my absolute favorite of the Heroes!" Felecia smiled as best as she could. Inwardly, it actually hurt to pretend to be Motoyasu's biggest fan.
"I thought so! See, why don't I take you out on a date? I've got plenty of my money from all my big adventures, so it's my treat!" Motoyasu said with a flirtatious wink.
"Oh no! That would be too much for a woman of my standing. I would be happier to just know more about you and perhaps your party." Felecia said.
"Hmm… I don't know. Myne said not to talk so casually to the maids here." Motoyasu said.
"So you don't somehow divulge any secrets within the party, no doubt. In that case, I need to push order." Felecia reluctantly grabbed Motoyasu's arm. Her breasts smothered it as she leaned into him and gave him the puppy dog eyes, "Please, Motoyasu-sama. Won't you tell me more about yourself?"
"O-Oh! Well, if you insist! I couldn't possibly turn down a request from a cute girl!" Motoyasu proclaimed with a goofy smile and red cheeks.
"So easy…"
It was no wonder his party took advantage of him.
"So what you do wanna know? About my skills or my dashing heroics?" Motoyasu asked, striking several unremarkable heroic poses to look cool in front of the fake maid after she let him go.
"Um… actually, I'd like to hear about your next adventure. I heard you were planning to slay some monster." Felecia said.
"Oh really? Well, don't tell me Myne, I told you this, but she says there's a monster that has what I need to win my duel against Asuka-chan. You know who she is and what's going on with her, right?"
"N-Naturally, I know who the Sword Hero is, as well as the sacred duel taking place after the Second Wave." Felecia answered, "She's the girl standing in front of you!"
"Then you must know about the drug Naofumi used to a drug make her loyal to him," Motoyasu said with complete seriousness, which inwardly irritated the disguised maid. Pope Balmus flat out said that the drug didn't exist, and the Spear Hero still refused to believe it.
Felecia kept on her cheerful smile the whole time, so she wouldn't raise suspicion.
"Anyway, Myne said that this monster, the Giant Scorpion King can paralyze its prey with its huge stinger. It can even bypass resistances to paralysis. Once I defeat it, I can claim its ability to use it in battle. Myne really wants me to use that paralysis ability on Asuka-chan to win the duel, but I'd rather not. Asuka-chan is still a novice at this game world, so I'd feel bad if I had to hurt her like that..." Motoyasu explained. He grimaced at the thought of hurting someone he considered a friend.
"You sure are kind, Motoyasu-sama." Felecia said. And by that, she meant painfully stupid.
"I know. But, the only way to cure her is to win. I want Asuka-chan to know that she can rely on me and that Naofumi is only using her for his sick pleasure." Motoyasu frowned.
Asuka would have been impressed by Motoyasu's chivalry had he not proven to be a lecherous idiot. Again, Katsuragi was an unabashed pervert, but she was truly reliable and cared for her friends like family. She was like the older sister Asuka never had. Motoyasu had similar big brother energy as well, but it was muddled by his naivety and lechery, and he didn't think of the Sword Hero as an equal.
"Speaking of which, you should stay away from Naofumi, Felecia-chan. If you see him and he tries anything with you, just come to me, and I'll teach him a lesson! It's my duty to protect cute girls!"
"Sure…" Felecia's voice nearly cracked with anger, but she held it together so the ignorant Spear Hero wouldn't notice.
"Anyway, Myne insisted on finding the Giant Scorpion for the duel. She even had Elena-chan get all the info on where the monster lives,"
"Elena? As in Elena from the Haven family?"
"Yeah! I'm surprised you knew she's one of my cute party members. I guess being a fan of the great Motoyasu-sama makes you that curious. Haha!" Motoyasu chuckled.
"Yes and no. It's because I looked into yours and Itsuki-kun's party members." Felecia thought. She remembered Elena stalking her before and hearing about Mald being a noble. During most of the week since her departure from the Adventurer's Guild, she spent time learning about the Spear and Bow Heroes' respective party members.
From what she observed, Motoyasu's all-female party follows orders from Myne and acts like they all love Motoyasu while also using the money he made for all sorts of frivolous things, like shopping or eating luxurious food or even getting spa treatments.
For Itsuki's party, they all just follow him blindly. They had a dictatorial hierarchy of sorts where he was at the top, and he could decide what rank his party members were at. Mald was his number two, which meant he could boss them around. Some didn't agree to this and eventually left the party. The ones who quit were the adventurers originally meant to join the Sword Hero's party before she disbanded it.
Neither parties were impressive, in her opinion. A party should function as a close unit. Motoyasu hasn't done anything for his party but lets them do as they pleased as long they continue to love him. And Itsuki didn't seem to care what went on in his party so long as they worshipped him.
It made Felecia think about her friends. They worked together on missions, trained together, and hung out together. They were a cohesive unit. Unfortunately, their fateful encounter with Orochi happened. She deeply missed them and often wished they were here with her. Felecia still regretted not being strong enough to kill Orochi. If she was, the horrible monster wouldn't have killed her friends and the girls from Hebijo.
"Hey, Felecia-chan. I think we're here."
"Oh!" Felecia gasped upon realizing they were in front of Myne's room.
"Thanks for showing me the way, Felecia-chan," Motoyasu said with a grateful smile.
"I'm just doing my job, Motoyasu-sama," Felecia said, knowing that questioning time was over.
"By the way, is something wrong? You zoned out for a bit." Motoyasu said, now looking concerned for Felecia.
"I-I'm fine. I was just thinking about something."
"If you're sure. But, if you got any problems, you can always come to me, okay?"
"Y-Yes, thank you." Felecia nodded. "He can be surprisingly sweet sometimes. If only he wasn't so obnoxious..."
"Hey, Myne! I'm here!" Motoyasu called out to the owner of the room.
Almost immediately, Myne came out and ran up to Motoyasu. She wrapped her arms around him lovingly.
"Oh, Motoyasu-sama! Where have you been?" Myne cried as she hugged him.
"Sorry, Myne! I got lost again." Motoyasu said as he hugged her back.
"Lost again? You are so silly! You've lived in this castle for weeks. You should have memorized our hallways by now." Myne pouted, "Do you have any idea how lonely I was without you?"
"I'm really sorry, Myne. I'll try harder to remember the rooms next time,"
"That's good hear, but as punishment, you'll be keeping me company tonight." Myne smiled amorously.
"As you command, Princess!" Motoyasu grinned with anticipation, but the two locked lips.
Felecia, who stood silent this entire time, watched the flirting with revulsion. You would think a victim of attempted rape would want to avoid sexual activities after the traumatic experience, but since Myne was a liar, her behavior here was unsurprising.
The disguised maid decided it was high time to leave before they noticed her.
"Hold it you!" Myne spat at Felecia, who halted upon hearing the spoiled Princess' voice. "Who are you, and why were you with Motoyasu-sama?"
"Relax, Myne. This is Felecia-chan. One of the maids here. She helped me find my way here." Motoyasu explained, "She's also my biggest fan!"
"Is that so?" Myne scowled at the disguised maid, "Fan or not, I have lived here my entire life, but I've never seen you before."
"T-That's because I'm kind of new here. Besides, a humble maid like me needn't garner your esteemed attention, Princess Malty." Felecia said. Inwardly, it made her sick to her stomach that she had to play the part of a servant to this vile woman.
"Hmph, I suppose you're right. You're nothing but a lowly commoner, after all. Why should I bother remembering the names and faces of some worthless servant?" Myne scuffed.
"Whoa, Myne, chill out!" Motoyasu rebuffed.
"Don't worry, Spear Hero-sama. As a Princess, she is allowed to speak the truth of me. Now, I must attend my maid duties. Goodbye!" Felecia bowed and was about to walk out the door, only to be stopped by Myne again.
"Wait a moment! Now that I have a good look at you, I feel like I have seen you somewhere before. But where?" Myne asked as she stared intensely at the false maid.
"N-No. Like I said, I'm just a humble maid who has the honor and privilege of serving the Royal Family of Melromarc. Someone like me would be beneath your notice." Felecia said calmly.
"Hmm… Fine then. Get out of my sight already and go do… whatever maids are supposed to do!" Myne shooed.
"Thank you very much. And I apologize for taking up your time." Felecia bowed once again and walked away.
"Hey, Felecia-chan, let's hang out together soon time!" Motoyasu called out. He didn't get a reply, which was somewhat disappointing. "She sure was cute. Although, I can't help but feel like I've seen her somewhere too…"
Soon after Felecia left, Myne quickly distracted Motoyasu from his thoughts by pulling him into her room.
"Motoyasu-sama, forget about her and stay with me," Myne said seductively.
"Yes, ma'am!" Motoyasu cheered as he and Myne went into the latter's room and got down to business.
Though she was a few feet away, Felecia, or rather, Asuka could hear the loud pleasurable moans from Myne's room from where she stood.
"Have they no shame?" Asuka whispered to herself. Her cheeks turned from embarrassment from what she heard. They must have been doing it for a while now, seeing as they were so comfortable about getting straight to it.
Having heard enough of their shameless act, Asuka walked away and eventually escaped the castle with much disturbance.
It was after nightfall by the time she got out.
In a dark area of Castle-Town, Asuka quickly changed out of her maid uniform and into her adventuring clothes. She made sure to cover her face with a cloak she found. Soon after, the Shinobi stored the maid uniform in her Legendary Sword's storage space.
Since her departure from the guild, she made certain to keep her face hidden from the public if she was wandering the streets. It made life a little easier, knowing that strangers wouldn't think twice about looking in her direction if they didn't know who she was. They were still talking about her negatively, though. Thankfully, it was something she learned to ignore.
None of it was easy. When Asuka was done infiltrating the castle or spying on Motoyasu and Itsuki and went on to hide away the shadows, Asuka had this tired look on her face. She had to do all this by herself and it was getting to her. She wished she had people to work with for these stealth operations.
She especially wished she had an actual home to stay in, too. If only the houses weren't so expensive. The greedy and/or creepy nobles weren't the best option either.
Dwelling on being homeless wasn't going to help. Asuka decided to put house hunting on hold for now. It was time to scoop out the place running the slave trade. If her knowledge of Castle-Town was right, the slave trader's tent should close by.
On record, he was known to sell monsters for reasonable prices. Off the record, he sold demi-humans as slaves. This place was something Asuka needed to investigate.
[-Later: Slave Trader's Tent-]
Using the shadows as cover, Asuka came upon the tent where slaves were sold. As expected, it was as big as a regular circus tent, but it was also big enough to house numerous slaves.
Hiding in a nearby alley, the Shinobi was ready to move and sneak inside, but she stopped as soon as she saw a familiar face.
It was Naofumi. And he wasn't alone.
With him was a short man in a tuxedo adorned with feathers. He wore a creepy smile on his face as he led Naofumi to the tent.
Horrified as she was at the thought of even Naofumi considering buying a slave, Asuka immediately assumed that man was Beloukas, the slave trader who sold slaves in Melromarc.
He must have tempted Naofumi into buying a slave.
She hoped that Naofumi would have the same opinion about owning slaves as she did, but Asuka knew better. Given the Shield Hero's situation, it was all too clear that he had no choice. Even knowing that it was still disheartening for the Sword Hero to know her only true friend in this world had to resort to slavery.
Regardless, Asuka needed to get the information she was after. Steeling her emotions, Asuka discreetly followed them inside.
She kept her footsteps light to not attract attention, stuck to the shadows, and used her camouflage skill to keep out of sight. Glancing around, she could see a countless number of demi-humans in cages. A lot of them looked as miserable as one would expect. Some didn't even look human at all. These were likely the Therianthrope variants she heard about. They were used as bodyguards and for bets in deathmatches and whatnot.
It sickened Asuka to even be standing here. Nevertheless, she kept close by to Naofumi and the slave trader. But not too close, as she wanted to avoid detection. She overheard most of their conversation, and naturally, it was unpleasant to hear.
"Slaves aren't people. Training one is the same as upgrading my shield," said Naofumi.
That sentence from Naofumi was particularly disheartening. He really was willing to buy a slave. Asuka might have jumped out of hiding and called him out of this, but she knew she had no right to interfere with his choices. It was partially her fault he wound up here.
"I'm sorry… Naofumi-kun…" Asuka whispered to herself.
Finally, Naofumi and the slave trader stop at a cage where a young demi-human girl was kept. She had long brown hair and raccoon-like features. Or were they tanuki-like? The girl looked sick and half-dead. Of the demi-humans held here, Asuka felt the most sympathy for her. It wasn't right for someone so young to be going through such horrendous treatment.
"This mangy raccoon girl is quite sick and has trouble sleeping due to night terrors and panic attacks. I should also mention that her previous owner loved his torture. In her state, she wouldn't be of any use to you." the slave trader explained, causing the girl to tremble at the mention of her previous master.
"The poor thing's not long for this world, so I recommend something healthier."
"No, she'll do!" Naofumi announced, to the surprise of the slave trader and Asuka.
"What's your name? Or do you not have one?" Naofumi asked emotionlessly.
"R-Raphtalia…"
From where she was hiding, Asuka could tell what the little girl was thinking, that she was going to die. The fear in Raphtalia's eyes made Asuka want to stop this from happening, but she couldn't blow her cover now. This could also cause even further complications with Naofumi. Asuka didn't want him to own a slave so young and force her to fight. And if she did stop him, would he hate her more than she already did.
But then, how was he going to survive the Waves of Catastrophe if they were as threatening as promised? He needed someone to fight for him, and the only way that could ever happen was if Naofumi had enslaved someone.
Despite her reservations, Asuka felt that this was the only option to afford to Naofumi was to make this girl his slave.
In the office area of the tent, the still camouflage Shinobi watched as the slave trader drew what was called the slave crest over Raphtalia's chest. Doing so caused her pain due to the curse's effect on her.
It took a small portion of the master's blood in the dark ink used in the crest's creation to enslave someone.
Asuka's heart sank further as she watched Raphtalia wraith in agony.
Naofumi stood emotionlessly as this happened, even after asking how the slave crest worked from the slave trader.
After paying for his slave, the Shield Hero dragged Raphtalia with him.
"We look forward to your next visit! Our doors are always open!" said Beloukas, the slave trader. He was beside himself with glee. He never imagined his latest customer would buy that mangy traumatized raccoon girl. "He actually chose her…"
Originally, the slave trader intended to capture the Shield Hero and sell him as a slave. However, Beloukas changed his mind after interacting with the Shield Hero for the first time. There was another reason for him to approach the Shield Hero, but now the slave trader was interested in seeing how this lonesome youth would turn out as a slave owner.
"I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it." Beloukas chuckled as he watched the Shield Hero and his new slave exit the tent.
Moments afterward, the slave trader turned in a certain direction.
"You can come out now! There's no need to hide now that the Shield Hero is gone." Beloukas announced to the individual hiding in the shadows.
Asuka flinched upon hearing Beloukas call out to her. He knew she was there the entire time? Actually, it didn't matter. She was planning to confront the slave trader, anyway.
The Shinobi canceled her camouflage skill and walked up to Beloukas. She removed her hood and adopted a stern expression as she glared in contempt of the slave trader.
"I'm surprised you knew I was here. I thought I concealed my presence." Asuka said.
"To the Shield Hero, maybe… But, I haven't been in this business for so long by being lucky, you know. There are dangerous things and people in this world. If you don't watch your own back, who will?" asked the unfazed Beloukas.
"In other words, you're smarter than you let on." Asuka thought. Come to think of it, none of the demi-humans reacted to her presence at all, even though she did all she could to keep hidden. They must have senses similar to animals. Perhaps the slave trader made sure to train some of them to discreetly warn him of danger without suspicion.
"Then again, luck appears to be on my side today. I never imagined I'd get to meet the disgraced Shield Hero and the infamous Sword Hero in quick succession." Beloukas chuckled.
"Don't flatter yourself. I wouldn't be here if I wanted to." Asuka grimaced.
"Of course not! Not if you wanted something from me. As a business, I'm always ready and willing to cater to a potential customer's needs." Beloukas tipped his top hat and bowed to the Sword Hero.
"I'm not interested in buying a slave. What I want is information." Asuka replied.
"Information, you say?"
"That's right. For starters…" Asuka paused as she glanced at cages of sad-looking demi-humans and Therianthropes in the tent, "Where did you find all of these demi-humans, and who are the buyers?"
"Oh… I'm sorry, but I'm afraid such information is a trade secret. I can't uphold my business without any merchandise and buyers, now can I?"
"Even if it means your life?" Asuka drew her Short Sword on Beloukas, who stood perfectly still.
Despite a blade being pointed at him and the Shinobi Sword Hero threatening his life, the slave trader kept his unnerving smile.
"My dear, what good will that do?" Beloukas asked, "Even if you killed me, what're you going to do with all of these demi-humans? Set them free? In a country that hates demi-humans and would sooner kill them instead of letting them go free?"
Asuka's face faltered when faced with that question.
"Not only that, there are other slave traders like myself out there. Do you truly think you could do away with them all? Let's not forget about the buyers who purchase and own slaves, either. A large majority of them are nobles, and targeting them will eventually result in a bounty on your head. And what would the country say about one of the Three Heroes trying to liberate all of the demi-humans here? Assuming you intend to assassinate them. You ought to start caring more about your reputation if you want to survive in this cruel world, Fake Sword Hero."
"Shut up!" Asuka said as she sheathed her sword. Even she knew that it was impossible to free the demi-humans enslaved in this country. Not without making things worse for herself in the long run.
"My apologies." said Beloukas, "I normally don't drum up the background of those who visit my humble tent, but I needed to emphasize my point. Your efforts to oppose demi-human prejudice and slavery are for naught!"
"What about the Queen? Isn't she trying to mend relations with Siltvelt? Wouldn't that mean demi-human slavery will eventually be abolished?" asked Asuka.
"Hehe! I see you've done your research. You're not as naïve as the Spear Hero or the Bow Hero." Beloukas chuckled in amusement.
"I had no choice. Going into hiding was the only way I could uncover as much info as I could. But, enough about me. I still want you to tell me Queen Mirellia." Asuka demanded.
"Okay, but first, give me a good reason to tell you anything about our fair Queen!" Beloukas said.
"Huh?"
"I said I would cater to your needs, but I never said I would do it for free." Beloukas grinned.
"You want me to buy something from you in exchange?" Asuka frowned.
"Haha! Stubborn and smart! I like you." Beloukas declared, "You know the saying about money making the world so 'round, don't you?"
"Too bad I'm not buying any slaves!" Asuka glared at the slave trader.
"Don't look so irate. I'm not foolish enough to suggest buying a slave. Especially not with my life on the line. You are a young lady of principals, after all." Beloukas chuckled.
"He should at least consider himself lucky he hasn't been beaten to a pulp."
"I was merely going to suggest buying a monster," Beloukas said.
"A monster?"
"Come now! Aren't you aware that I sell monsters on record?" asked Beloukas, "Some people are willing to buy and keep monsters as tamed pets or use them for manual labor. I'm sure you've seen the Tyrella dragons and Filolials in town. The Filolials are commonly used as transportation. The Tyrella dragons are used in battle by the knights. Seeing as you're the type to rigorously train, I would recommend buying a dragon. They'd make for good training partners!"
Asuka remembered the Filolials in town pulling carts and such. She had also seen knights riding the Tyrella dragons as well. From what she gathered, the Tyrella was a sub-species of dragons. They were much smaller compared to other dragons, and they had no wings, thus they were unable to fly, making them easy to ride into battle. To her, they sort of looked like miniature t-rexes.
"What do you say, Sword Hero-sama? Are you interested in doing business? You'll have the information you want. And since you don't have any fondness for the people of Melromarc, I'm certain even a monster would provide better companionship, am I right?" Beloukas asked with yet another creepy grin.
The Shinobi had to admit, having a tamed monster could be useful. As the slave trader said, it would make an excellent training partner, and she wouldn't have to walk everywhere. Training it to fight other monsters wouldn't be a bad idea either. And yes, a monster probably would make better company compared to the morally bankrupt people of this country. It sounded tempting, but there were two problems. One, she still had no place to call home. And two, she barely had enough money, and these monsters were likely very expensive. That, and it felt like this slave trader would win this exchange if she gave in so easily.
"I'll… think about it…" Asuka muttered.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that." Beloukas teased. He realized he hooked something from the Sword Hero and was eager to reel it in.
"I said I'll think about it!"
"Oh, but what about information about Queen Mirellia?" asked Beloukas.
"I'll figure something out. You're not the only source of information I could potentially go to." Asuka said before turning on her heel and walking out.
"Like with the Shield Hero, I'll look forward to your next visit!" Beloukas said as he watched the Sword Hero leave. He was confident she would come back. He knew he piqued her curiosity.
While outside, Asuka could see that it was almost morning. She decided would be best to get some rest before plotting her next move.
However, she could shake the concern she had for Naofumi and Raphtalia.
"Maybe, I'll check on them…"
Lyall the Werewolf: And that's it. This chapter was particularly difficult to write, so hopefully, I did everything right here. I'm especially hoping I got the Shinobi aspects of Asuka's character and her interactions with Beloukas you couldn't tell, It got pretty long, so I split it into two chapters. Part 2 is coming, but it won't be for a while.
The beginning part with Motoyasu, Itsuki, Trash, and Balmus was something I wanted to add to chapter 08, but I realized it wouldn't fit there. Now it's in chapter 09.
To Saiyan4ever, you'll be happy to know that I am planning a SK/DBZ crossover. However, it will be a lot different than what you envisioned. Some of the concepts you came up with are interesting, so I may use them. Don't ask when it's going to happen. I'm still working out the details of what I'm going to do.
See you guys next time.
-Update-: Remember TotallyNotMark? Well, a few months ago, he lost over 150 to Toei, but he got all his videos back thanks to the helpful crew from Youtube. Awesome! So now, I'm free to watch his videos again.