On a certain stormy night, the first princess of the Melromarc Kingdom was shifting restlessly in her bed, an anxiety struck her. She had just earned a nightmare a moment prior, making it hard for her to fall back into slumber. She turned to her sides, then lying supine, then burying her face into her pillow while forcing to close her eyes, but drowsiness would not come.
All her effort to seek rest yielded nothing but her growing anxiety and fatigue.
When she darted her tired gaze towards the window, a shadow of a stranger fell into her chamber as a lightning passed. She squinted her eyes, trying to pierce the darkness. When another thunderbolt struck, her heart skipped a beat for the person was advancing closer into the door of the balcony. She heard a soft tap on the glass of that door and her eyes widened in horror.
The demon came to pay a visit, grinning at her. His body was all bright red in color. His pair of horns were an omen of doom for his foe.
One Punch Man belongs to One.
Rising of The Shield Hero belongs to Aneko Yusagi.
I own neither of them.
| Drifters |
No day without a challenge. That would always be the way a champion should live his life. One problem solved, another comes, often in multitude. That being said, this certain champion is also bound to that kind of life, filled with challenges.
After the mess with Jaegers and a deal with the queen's messenger, Suiryu earned two new companions, each having their own problem. Eclair the former knight should be in his care for security reason while his "pet" suddenly evolved into a young girl. These problems which were enough to change his smile of confidence into a tired one now weighed him down, somewhat.
The first problem he should solve immediately was the Filolial lass who always had her clothes annihilated completely every time she morphed into her bird form. Together with the ladies, they headed to his one among many trusted allies, the tailor lady.
Now, under her geeky gaze, the Filolial girl was being measured. Meanwhile, the Shield Hero and his companions were waiting at the side, busying themselves by checking the vigorous tailor's collections.
"Alright. As you have ordered, Good Sir, I have saved the size." The tailor dipped her quill into an ink pot as she closed her note book. "Now, what you need is to find the magical yarn since at the moment, I have none in my possession."
"Magical yarn, is it? Where can I find this item?" Suiryu asked, turning to Eclair who seemed to be withholding the answer as she smiled.
"Magical item shop." The tailor answered. "I think the good witch lady might have some."
"Then we must see her again." Rifana quipped as she turned to Suiryu, putting a red dress back onto a hanger.
"I guess so." Suiryu shrugged his shoulders. "Shall we head there now?"
"Sure, why not?" Rifana said as she fastened her big belt where her wood-cutter axes hung. "We also have some curious materials we need to sell."
"Agreed. And please leave the task of Filo's clothes to me." Raphtalia nodded as she came over the Filolial to neaten her dress. "It would be quite troublesome every time she transforms, right?"
"I don't think it's a trouble." The Filolial girl retorted, smiling cheerfully.
"Filo!" Raphtalia reprimanded as she patted her head.
"Thank you, Raphtalia. And Lady Eclair, do you perhaps have something to say?" Suiryu asked, catching a shift in the former knight's mien.
"No. It is merely my own thought about a visit to the magic shop that excites me." The knight answered as she gave a pleased smile. "Nothing truly important to be concerned with."
"I see. Then we'll take our leave."
Their visit to the magic shop was disappointing to say the very least. The good witch lady couldn't provide the needed material, saying that there was a shortage in crystal for making the yarn at the moment. Seeing that they might not earn anything if they stayed in idleness, they decided to search for it.
"The problem is, where should we start?" Suiryu scratched his head as he leaned his back against his new carriage.
"The witch lady said that there's a mine of magical crystal, but we don't know where it is." Rifana added, sporting a pondering look. "Should we ask around about it?"
"Guild of Adventurer, perhaps?" Raphtalia quipped. "We can just sneak in with our usual get-go."
"I don't think it's a good idea." Suiyu sighed. "Maybe we'll need to postpone our search."
"I see. Then, are we going back to training?" Rifana grinned in excitement.
"Yeah. And let's find a job." Suiryu climbed the carriage and nodded at Raphtalia. "Who knows, we can find any lead about the item."
"Understood." Raphtalia pulled off Filo's dress and the younger girl puffed into her bird form as soon as her clothes left her delicate frame.
The raccoon and the weasel girls skillfully placed the harness on the overgrown chick. They jumped into the driver seat as the former knight mounted on her horse. They departed as soon as they were ready.
After taking some training under the fallen member of the Council of Swords Masters, the Sword Hero ventured to the southeastern region of Melromarc to hone his skills. Switching his holy weapon into the form of a katana, he slew every single hostile creature he met in his way, thugs and highwaymen included. He applied every lesson he learned from his master into his path of carnage.
He at last met a formidable enemy in his way. It was a black dragon with a grotesque look who blew out flame from its mouth. The very moment they met, their killing intent flooded the battlefield. They clashed and turned the vicinity into heap of ash and charred ground in a matter of minutes.
The battle however had turned into a stalemate since neither party could land a decisive blow. The dragon's attack never reached Ren while his strikes failed to pierce its hard scales.
'Its movements are dull, but its physical defense is extremely high. This is where I must find its weakest spot.' The Sword Hero broke into a sprint when the black dragon blew a burst of flame from its mouth. 'It's good that this katana cannot break, but finding its vulnerable point is damn hard. And I don't plan to use any magic either, so where?'
He dodged a tail slam, folding his legs and used his free arm as a support to spring him back to standing. He dashed away to evade a breath of flame, never relaxing his guard.
Its neck bent sharply and the fire turned at him. With some consecutive slashes, he managed to disperse the arc, opening a safe path for him to retreat.
'I'm totally dead if I didn't learn kenjutsu from Haragiri-san. This is a real stress test.' He inwardly remarked as he huffed, wiping some sweat beads on his forehead.
The monster opened its jaws wide while spreading its wings. When Ren was expecting another fire blast, it shrieked a deafening roar, sending a large shock wave that blew the ground. He covered his ears in reflex while shutting his eyes, shielding his eardrums.
Bad luck. It turned out to be a diversion. The cunning lizard whipped its tail at him, throwing him into the air.
"GUAAAAAGHHH…!" His blurry vision caught the sight of the clear morning sky in his momentary flight.
The next moment was a crash landing, rushing him through some thick pine branches. He landed on the rocky ground with a bone-breaking slam, rattling his organs. Crimson liquid spurted from his mouth as his vision glitched. His HP dropped considerably as the pain pulsated throughout his body.
Despite the concussion and the ringing ears he suffered, the Sword Hero rose once again and stood on his feet. He sneered as he jammed his blade into the ground to steady himself. He turned his gaze towards the dragon and it replied with a roar, more like taunting him. His lips made a smirk as he raised his katana again.
'Freaking funny! I don't know whether I should thank you or not. If not because of you, I'll never reach this bloody hell.' Ren let out a hitched chuckle as he shook his head. 'I don't know, or maybe I don't care anymore if you're cheating, but I think this is fun!'
He spat some blood and breathed in a lungful air. As his nerves sobered up and shrugged off the pain, he opened his legs, lowering his body, placing his left palm over the blade of his scabbard-less sword while his right one gripped its handle. Assuming an Iaido Stance, he gained a momentary stillness amid the raging flames before him.
He opened his eyes and found his enemy was going to throw another arc of fire. An echo of a fallen rock was all he needed to trigger his move.
With an explosive jolt of his legs muscle, he dashed forth, heading towards the incoming inferno with an unlikely serenity. His expression was neutral, calm, as the wall of red was about to swallow him.
"[Third Stance: Fluttering Leave]!" He muttered his prayer, maneuvering to the side in a swift yet graceful manner, dodging the fire breath without losing his velocity.
The dragon tracked his agile movement, spraying its flame to the spot he was going to step on, but he evaded it, jumping to the air and diving towards it. It caught the sight of his suicidal flight. All it needed was just an upward tilt of its head.
His dive however delivered him faster before the dragon could react. With a mighty draw, imagining himself pulling out a katana from its scabbard, he unleashed a mighty slash to the monster's nape as he passed.
ハラギリ一文字斬
"[Haragiri Beeline Slash]!"
The strike landed, opening a deep gash at the side of the lizard's neck. Blood showered as the Sword Hero landed on the ground. He swiftly dashed away as the dragon began a rampage, thrashing about due to the pain from the first wound.
'I see… So it works that way, huh?' Ren nodded, grasping the idea of the successful tactic. 'This guy maybe cannot predict that.'
Seeing the violently frantic movements of the wounded lizard, he circled around it, looking for a wide opening. His attack only managed to cut 15% of its HP. There was still a long way to go, but he didn't falter.
'For the sake to attain strength beyond normal! Ultimate Swordsmanship!'
The lizard swung its arm at Ren in a brutal arc. He parried the slash, his blade even cracked its nail bone.
Another tail whip came from the flank. He lowered his body, raised his blade and used the working momentum to made a vertical slash, cutting the tip of its tail.
Enraged, the dragon blew a fire breath before it to obliterate the nuisance in one go, but he jumped onto its head. He rammed his katana into its left eye. The blade pierced through the tissue with ease. He grinned and twisted his sword and rowed it sideways, inflicting more damage. He kept on the torment until it moved its arm to ward him off.
Partially blinded, the dragon made a momentary pause, seemingly out of breath as blood gushed from its left eye. It roared, but its enemy wasn't in line of its sight. When it turned around, it still couldn't find him. Just when it was going to barricade itself with a fire wall that it noticed him, now under its belly.
It was too late however, for the swordsman had stabbed it in the side of its stomach. He pushed his sword deeper and cut everything that came into his blade's way, blood drenching his arms. He shoved his sword forth until he reached the farthest end of the abdomen.
"Hahaha… Die, die, die…!" He yanked his katana, showing off a twisted joy. "It's a payback for slamming me! Now, scream! Shout in pain! I'll bleed you to death and flay you!"
The dragon roared and spread its wings. As it took a flight with a debilitating injury, it released a desperate attack to roast everything under it. Blown by its flapping wings, the fire raged, scorching the ground, turning the rocks into red hot coals.
'The boss on the verge of death, huh? Something to be expected, but I never prepared myself for this. How troublesome…' The Sword Hero mused in irk as he swung his katana to dissipate the fire that blocked his way. 'In some games, there's a feature where a boss can also run. Could it be that this guy is retreating? Of course there's no way I'll let it escape!'
He climbed a burned pine, leaping from its charred branch onto the other. He reached the top and noticed the course of its flight. It appeared that the lizard was burning the forest in a desperate attempt to kill him rather than fleeing.
"Pitiful, so I must end you here…" He opened his weapon system menu and switched his katana into a new one. "Actually I don't want to use this stuff now, but it couldn't be helped. Guess I should thank that shady weapon dealer the next time I see him."
His sword now looked weirder than an ordinary katana. It didn't have a guard and the blade only curved some degrees near the tip. From its handle to its blade, all of them were bone white, save the crystal sphere in the hilt and its veins. The crimson arteries that spread across the cutting edge appeared to be pulsating, as if it was alive. The name of that sword was…
'Yukimura? Why should there be1/3 at the end of it. But anyway, since it can slice a Black Wolf like it was a butter, this thing is the real deal. Guess 5000 gold isn't too much for this monstrous sword.' He shrugged as he fixed his gaze at the lizard who kept on the deforestation.
Taking a breath from the smoky air, he placed Yukimura 1/3 on his left hip. He jumped from one tree to another, imposing as minimum weight as possible to the branch he stepped on before he made a new leap. He finally reached the hovering dragon. It didn't notice him. He aimed for its chest and hopped to the nearest branch from its underside.
He didn't have much time. It was burning all around him and he took some damage from each lick of fire. He made a final jump and with a daft movement of his arms, he drew his blade and put his all into the strike.
With a wide slash, he carved open its chest. Cutting through its rib cage, Yukimura 1/3 slid downwards smoothly until it struck a hard object in its chest cavity. The dragon shrieked in agony as it lost its ability to fly, an excruciating pain struck it. The moment it fell, Ren pulled out his sword and landed on the scorched ground.
Before long, the grotesque lizard finally let out a death throe, its life snuffed out as it lost the shine of its remaining eye. It went limp amid the fire it made.
The Sword Hero was standing still before it, staring at his kill with a hollow gaze. Some of its steel-hard scales shed off near it together with some potions and a bag of gold coins.
"So, it's dead, huh?" He turned to his sword, regarding it with a vacant look. "Was it that easy?"
As the trees around him burned down into black crisps, he kept staring at Yukimura 1/3. He finally dismissed the thought and changed his blade into his ordinary katana. He turned to the dragon carcass and took the prize. He went away as soon as he stored the items into his magical stash.
No longer than ten steps away, he heard a faint sound of wet gurgling. He turned around in alert and what he found was the carcass had revealed its hidden treasure. From the wound he sliced open using Yukimura 1/3, a big hunk of purple crystal slid out.
"A crystal? Is that its core?" Ren went back to examine the curious item. "This doesn't really look valuable. How can I use this? – Uh–OH…!"
D0 y0u w4nt P0w3r?
'Ack…! What's this overwhelming bloodlust!?' He held his head as his vision went glitchy. 'That voice… Could it be!? It comes again!?'
N0w t4k3 14 b3f0r3 y0u r3r63t 1t!
The voice went louder in his head, paralyzing him. He struggled to resist it by using Haragiri's breathing technique, but it was futile. He fell to his knees as he choked on his own breath. The pain intensified, suffocating him. His eyes were wide open, his jaw clenching.
His blurry vision all of sudden caught the sight of an incoming mysterious figure. It was a a pink, burly, humanoid. It walked leisurely, dragging an object in each of its hand. As it came closer, he could recognize its smirk as if it was enjoying his agony. When the pain consumed him and crippled his bearing, he just realized that the creature was brandishing a pair of machetes.
"Grrr… Why should be now!? The hell is that!?"
The worst part, its body was patched of all over with faces. They sported various expressions, joyful ones and mournful ones alike. Those faces were once belonged to its victims, ripped apart and stitched into its body through a gruesome means.
There was no way this guy would come over to have a talk. He was sure that it approached him to rip his face, or do whatever thing to harm him.
"Kukuku… What a pretty yet twisted face you're making, kid! Now I want to rip it and add yours into my collection." Grinning, the pink monster raised one of its blades, taking a pose of an executioner. "Sorry. You're such a cool specimen since I woke up here."
"Grhhhh…! Alright, just give it to me, damn it!" Ren couldn't bear the pain anymore and took the offer.
H3r3 y0u g0!
"WHAT…!" The monster only muttered that one word before it could swing its blade at Ren.
The next moment, its body fell into hundreds of pieces, diced by an unholy power it never had the mercy to know about. It was dead already before it registered what had just happened.
Even its machetes were not spared from the mysterious strike. They fell into chunks of metal along with the meat.
In front of the finely minced monster, the Sword Hero was standing stock-still, holding his bloodied katana. He only felt a momentary surge of energy in his body and what he found was the slaughtered creature. He stared in bafflement at the spectacular murder he just committed. His face slowly contorted into that of a deranged person. He raised his hand and laughed.
"Ehehe…aHahahahahaha! What a power-up! THIS IS WHAT I NEED! BANZAI!"
His hoarse cackle echoed throughout that mountain as a drizzle fell, extinguishing the remaining fire.
The Shield Hero's party had been drifting from town to town, gathering monster materials, doing some training in the woods and selling some medicines. They made a quite steady income and so far nothing notable happened. They had quiet and peaceful days.
On a certain calm day, they passed a mountain range on their way to reach some cities far from the capital. The weather was pleasant and the road was smooth although it was a rock mountain highway. During that travel, Suiryu took his time to read the book of medicine he got from the good apothecary guy. Thanks to Eclair's teaching, he finally could read the content, little by little.
"Lord Suiryu looks very serious. I wonder why he becomes so absorbed in the craft of medicine and healing." Rifana whispered, glancing back from her seat beside Raphtalia who held the rein.
"Sheesh… Talking behind him? How impolite of you." Raphtalia sighed, showing a displeased look at her friend's attitude. "Why don't you just ask him?"
"Ahh… I'm afraid I don't have the confidence to do so." Rifana turned away as she blushed, flustered.
"You should learn to be honest, Rifana. Well, you see…" The raccoon girl inched closer to the weasel's ear. "Lately, he sticks close to Miss Eclair. I know you're jealous, so why don't you–"
"Uhh… Please, stop!" Rifana pushed her pal way. "Aren't they just friends? Friends are supposed to…"
"Miss Eclair, do you know how long until we reach a normal road?" Suiryu's calm voice came from inside the hooded carriage.
"Normally, we would reach the larger highway by noon. Is something the matter, My Lord?" Eclair spoke while riding her horse, tailing the carriage.
"Ah, nothing. I just feel kind of… bored. Don't you also feel so? And you look tired. Why don't you take a rest?"
"I thank you for your concern, but I am fine, Sir. I… was a knight. So this kind of burden is nothing compared to my training I used to endure." She replied politely, declining his kind offer.
"Well, I see. Just don't overexert yourself, okay."
"Understood, Sir Ryuu."
The two in the front who listened to the whole exchange gave different reactions. Raphtalia who was well aware of their relationship only put on a neutral face. She considered that as normal although the tone he addressed Eclair with often sounded affectionate. She turned to her side and there she found the real problem she wished to talk about.
"See? So what's this pout for?" Raphtalia poked Rifana's puffing cheeks, putting on a smug face.
"It's none of your concern! Hmph!" Rifana tuned her face away as her cheeks grew red.
"Ah come on… Lying is bad. Haven't Lord Suiryu told us about its bad effect from a passage in the Secret Healing of The North Star? It might block your meridian like a boulder closes a waterway." Raphtalia teased. "Isn't that scary? You can't fight if that happens."
"I'm not lying! I just don't have the courage to say what's on my mind." Rifana crossed her arms, sporting on a displeased look. "Right, Filo?"
"I don't really get it, but big sis Rifana is nice, so I'll say right!" The Filolial answered joyfully.
Rifana turned to Raphtalia and snickered. One supporter was all she needed. The raccoon sighed in response.
"Allies of truth surely would never find a smooth path." Raphtalia exclaimed, placing her palm onto her face in an unnecessarily graceful manner. "What a fate!"
"Tough luck, Raphtalia. Just like…" Rifana narrowed her eyes when they passed a man who was running along the road. "Hmm… Oi, someone's in need of help. Slow down."
Raphtalia tugged the harness and Rifana jumped out from her seat to meet the running man. Suiryu who noticed the intrusion went out to the front seat.
"Good day, Sir. Can we be of help, perhaps?" Rifana asked, furtively sizing up the middle-aged man who held a bottle of medicine in his hand.
"Oh, good day… young lady. I… Need to deliver this medicine… to my mother. She is… ill." The guy answered between his ragged breath.
Rifana turned to Suiryu and he jumped. Eclair also came over and dismounted beside Filo.
"I'll go. Please, show me the way, Sir." He immediately offered.
"Is… Is that really alright, Dear Lord? I am afraid that we cannot offer you something in return for your kindness." The man gave a troubled look, holding the bottle tightly in his hands.
"Please don't be too concerned about it. We're not a group of bandit. We extort you nothing for a help." He joked, giving a reassuring smile.
The man warily looked at the demi-human pair and the former knight. The group looked suspicious, but they didn't bear ill-intent. He relented to his urge and nodded with hesitance.
"T-thank you, Dear Lord. My village is at the other side of the mountain."
"Lord Suiryu, we will wait here." Raphtalia spoke as she relieved Filo of her restraints and fastened the saddle.
"Oh, okay. Then we'll be off." Suiryu took Filo's harness and helped the man to mount. "I'll make sure to return as fast as I can."
"My Lord, if you would like, we can still travel further until the end of this path. I will let my horse draw the carriage. There is a wide clearing near a cabin up ahead before the road to the village. We will wait there." The former knight suggested.
"That sounds great. What do you think, Rifana, Raphtalia?" He raised his brows in interest at the proposal.
"No objection." The weasel nodded.
"I agree with that. It saves us time and we don't block the road with this carriage." The raccoon smiled.
"Cool. Then I leave it to you, Eclair." Suiryu gave a thumbs-up.
"I will do my best, Lord Ryuu." The former knight bowed.
"Thanks. And be good, Rifana, Raphtalia." He gave one last glance before he lightly tapped Filo. "I'm off."
"Trust us, Lord Suiryu! Take care!" Rifana waved as her master left, garnering a smirk from her friend.
"Oh!" Suiryu also waved as he had Filo raise her speed, kicking the dust.
The martial artist turned to the hitchhiker. "Is it far, Sir?"
"It would take almost half a day if we are walking."
"I see. Then please brace yourself." Suiryu pulled the rein as he hunched slightly. "Filo, can you go faster, please?"
"Oh, sure, Master!" The bird stomped the ground and flapped its wings, adding the speed with a jump start. "Get ready!"
"Eh! It talked!?" The man never got his answer since they ran swiftly, bursting wind that blew off his thought about how fast human could travel.
Filo's claws scratched the hard ground with rhythmic beatings as she accelerated above the top speed a 750cc motorcycle could perform. The hitchhiker screamed, holding Suiryu tighter as the Filolial brought them faster through the meandering mountain path.
'Man… I really miss the thrill when I rode my motorbike. This sure is different, but this is what makes it newly cool.' An expression of bliss flashed on Suiryu's face as the wind ruffled his spiky black hair. 'But then again, I'm riding a bird who can turn into a little girl. Isn't this a child abuse?'
Following the man's guide to turn left, he passed the rest of the high-speed travel with that hard feeling. No matter how beautiful the scenery his eyes could behold, he still felt kind of wrong for enjoying it upon his daughter's labor although she was happy.
'I surely should reward her like how I treat the girls.' He mused as a waist-high wooden gate came into view.
He immediately having Filo to slow down as he saw a guard armed with a spear manned it. He dismounted and mustered a friendly smile.
"Good afternoon, Sir. I am a traveler, accompanying one of the villagers to the place beyond this gate. Would you like us to pass?"
"Hmm… I know this guy, but we don't allow any stranger to enter freely. We're sorry." The guard frowned in suspicion, sizing up Suiryu apprehensively, noticing his adventurer attire.
'Thought so. I heard bandits roamed this part of Melromarc. Really, the knight is at fault.' He raised a brow as his hand ran into the pocket of his waist-bag.
"Well, I happen to be a traveling vendor too. Would this be okay?" He handed a flat bronze stick with some inscriptions to the guard.
"Oh, I see! So you are a merchant!" The guard's face brightened up as he saw the merchant pass. "Then please go ahead. We welcome you, Good Sir Merchant."
"Thank you." Suiryu took the pass and rode Filo as the guard opened the gate.
They passed the gate and continued the journey. Suiryu soon remembered a very important thing he needed to ask.
"By the way, Sir, how does your mother fare. If I may ask, what kind of sickness she suffered from?" He inquired as he gazed at the distant settlements.
"Um… She has a light fever in these three days with some coughs." The man answered with a grieved tone. "I am afraid that her illness is severe, so I hurriedly traveled to the other village to acquire this medicine."
"I see…" Suiryu nodded, trying to figure out the illness from the description of the symptoms. "What about her daily meal?"
"Since she is old, she doesn't eat much, but during her illness, she ate far less than usual."
"Do you perhaps know her last activity or any event which might lead to her sickness?" He asked further.
The man paused. He rummaged his recollection about the probable cause of her mother's suffering.
"If my memory serves right, four days ago, she was tending our garden from morning till late at noon. The weather was mild and it was windy. That night, she complained that she got a light headache. In the morning, she couldn't rise from bed, saying that she might have caught a cold. Her malady then worsened." The man elaborated in detail.
'Might be a normal cold and flu. Ojii-san once told me that the elderly tends to get a cold easier since their heartwhich functions like an engine has waned. It cannot provide the needed heat for the body properly, resulting in some fatal cases of cold which lead to cardiac arrest.'
"I believe she only catches a cold." Suiryu concluded.
"Oh? Is that true?"
"That might be the case, but to make it sure, would you like to let me check her later?" The martial artist offered.
"O… Oh. I would be so grateful if you kindly do so." The man pointed at a house near the edge of the hamlet. "Ah, that is our house!"
"Understood." He reined Filo faster before having her slow down at the grassy yard.
The two entered the small house in haste. The man led Suiryu to the sick lady's room. He frowned when he noticed her condition.
'I see… A mild fever, but for the old people, this can be life-threatening.'
"Sir, would you like to boil some water? Please leave the medicine to me." He offered.
"Y-yes…" The man handed the bottle and hurriedly went to the kitchen.
"Now, shall we try the thing I learned so far." The martial artist silently cracked his fingers, coming over the sick woman whose breath slightly labored.
He gently opened the blanket at the side to reveal her left arm. He placed his index over the back of her palm, discerning the faint flow of her vital energy. He turned her cold palm to face up and pressed some points on it tenderly. He traced his finger up to her inner forearm, jabbing some spots which might alleviate her illness.
"… Ah… A doctor? I see…" The old lady shifted as she opened her eyes slightly. "And a young one."
"Please be at ease." He told, giving a reassuring smile. "And excuse me. This will be over soon. I wish you would tell me if you feel any discomfort."
"Go on young man. I am quite familiar with this treatment."
"Huh?" Suiryu missed the last point since his focus was on the theraphy.
The old lady showed a smile that hinted her immediate recovery. Suiryu's eyes widened for a moment, surprised by the effectiveness of the acupressure treatment he barely mastered its basics a while ago. He proceeded to press some points around her neck and she gave a relieved look.
"Ah~. I feel much better. Did you pour your qi into each pressure?" Her lips suddenly curled into a curious smile. "That does feel really nice."
"Uh, yeah. I use qi in this treatment." He answered with perplexity at her reaction.
"Thank you very much. I think I am fine now. It is enough, young doctor." She slowly rose from her bed, a refreshed look adorned on her face. "But if I should trouble you, can you please poke the point of the heart on my back?"
"Um, this one?" He turned to her back and jabbed his finger in the spot under the left shoulder blade, just beside the spine.
"Precisely. Uuuh…!"
He pressed it and she let out some burps. It was apparent that she did catch a cold.
"Whoaaaah…! Now I feel good! Far, far better than before. Thank you so much, young man!" She grabbed his hand, giving a bright smile of gratitude.
"Oh… Uh. You're welcome." He was flustered by her response. "Then what about the medicine?"
She took the bottle, uncorked it and downed the content, surprising Suiryu even more. "Well. I wouldn't be as cruel to leave my son's effort goes for nothing. However, your deed is the real deal. Now, in what way should I thank you?"
The man returned, carrying a kettle of hot water. His jaw dropped when he saw his mother had turned well, seemingly without any trace her illness. She escaped from bed without any help, sporting a delighted look.
"M-mother? Are my eyes seeing a mirage…? Ow!"
The old lady flicked his forehead. "You've done well. You've brought the most excellent doctor I need! Now take that water for brewing some tea."
"O-oh… R-right away." The man strode back to the kitchen to prepare the beverage.
"I'm flattered to hear that. I'm so glad that you're fine." Suiryu gave a wry smile, scratching his nape. "However, I'm afraid that I should be off right away."
"Oh, how sudden. You must be a busy person, eh? I have nothing, but at least I wouldn't let you go empty-handed. Wait for a bit." She dashed into the kitchen in nimble steps, unfitting of her age.
Suiryu who caught a glimpse of that display only thought that she was probably an adventurer in her youth. That thought soon evaporated as he found himself standing near the door, waiting uncomfortably for the wage of his service.
"Here, take this. I cannot thank you enough, truly." The old lady returned and handed a basket full of vegetables, ranging from carrots to spinach.
"Oh… This… Don't you think this is too much?" He hesitantly took the basket as he noticed how well those veggies were grown. "I did nothing, honestly."
"Nonsense. You really saved my life. Your ability in acupressure is a cut above the rest. I still cannot say that you are a master, but I believe that soon, you will become one." The old lady put on a sincere smile.
"I wish that I would meet your expectation."
Suiryu gave a troubled look as his eyes rolled around the room, which suddenly landed on some objects he didn't really pay attention to when he entered. There were some spears and blades at the edge of that room.
"In case you are wondering, I was an adventurer when I was young." She spoke as soon as she caught his puzzled gaze. "Well, it was a long time ago when the great war was still razing this land. Are you probably have interest in those weapons? I would be glad if you can take them. They are actually gifts from some my old friends who fought alongside me. It is unfortunate that they are only gathering dust and rust over there."
His complexion turned more awkward. He saw it difficult to accept the reward from a person who was in need. She only wished to show her gratitude, but his hesitance had dragged him longer in this chain of inconvenience. Still, he couldn't refuse her generosity.
"If it helps you, then very well." He smiled, coming over the weapon stash to take a look.
He browsed through the display. Most of them looked old, but the owner had put a quite good care on them. His eyes soon landed on the weapons he would never see in Erhard's armory – a nunchuck and a pair of tonfa. A look of nostalgia graced his face.
'I think these guys might help the girls with their training. Among many weapons out there, these are the ones Ojii-san taught me with. Though, Suiko is far more proficient, I think.' He examined the wooden weapons, swinging them a little as to not alert his shield system.
"Hmph!"
He reflexively raised his left forearm when a high kick sped at him. His eye peered into its corner, noticing the old woman was rising her leg, stopping just before it touched his sleeve. He frowned, but soon letting his guard down as she lowered her leg.
"Only those? I see. But my conjecture is correct. You are a fine martial artist. An excellent one even." The old lady grinned as she noticed how he showed a bit of his proficiency in the art of fighting.
Knowing that she only tested him, he couldn't help but loosen his lips into an amused smile. "So you knew from the start. Well, yeah. I'm a martial artist. And you are one as well. There's no way a normal person your age moves so nimbly unless you're trained in this art."
"Hahaha… You guessed! And indeed, even kids wonder why I can still handle some hard works. In this day and age, it is quite rare to find a practitioner like us. The young ones are nearly impossible." She maintained her amused look. "By the way, from what school do you hail from?"
"School? Do you mean the martial art I learn?" He asked and she gave a nod. "It's called [Void Fist]."
"[Void Fist], is it? Hmm… Curious. I actually wish to see how you perform it, but I am afraid that this old bones have detained you from attending your matter for too long." She offered her wrinkled hand. "The name's Elrasla Grilaroc. I came from the school called [Hengen Muso]."
'Peerless Phantasmagoric Style? That sounds like a martial art that can grant you everything. Like Bang-sensei's Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, maybe?' His face scrunched up in curiosity as he wondered about the foreign art.
"I'm Suiryu." He took her hand and lightly shook it. "And I also wish to see your fighting style, Master Grilaroc, one day."
Some days had passed and the Shield Hero's group resumed their job, moving around countries to sell some monster materials and herbal medicines. Other than paddling, they also took some requests to administer drugs. They didn't take charge from the service since they had included the fee in the drug price.
On a certain day in their journey, a lone jeweler hitchhiked their carriage. The stubby middle-aged man looked really glad when he got a ride. He was a cheerful and talkative guy. He shared some of his stories to Suiryu as soon as he sat and put down his big rucksack.
"Wow, that's fantastic, Sir! Compared to you, I'm no more than just a wandering peddler." Suiryu threw a compliment, chuckling lightly. "And I'm still stuck in this country, no matter how far I wish to extend my reach."
"Oh no, no, no. Being a vendor as young as you who can operate with crews and own a carriage is truly, far more amazing. You can sell almost everything and transport wares nearly everywhere. With such a bountiful investment, I am certain that your business have a very bright future!" The man praised as he nodded in awe, glancing at some medicine crates near them.
"Hahaha… I'll take it as a compliment. And hopefully my business would thrive as you wish."
"And also, I am honored to become a passenger of this carriage. I heard a passing rumor about a carriage drawn by a divine bird."
"So, do you mean Filo is a deity?" The girl in her bird form chimed in, interjecting the conversation.
"Hey, Filo! Haven't we told you to not bother people when they are talking?" Raphtalia reprimanded.
"It's not good, okay?" Rifana gave a slight tug to the rein.
"Eeeeeh…"
"Oh! So your Filolial can even speak!?" The wandering jeweler exclaimed in awe. "How magnificent! As expected from of a divine bird! You truly are a saint, Dear Sir!"
"Ah, please. I'm just a lucky person, that's all." Suiryu smiled wryly. "I'm not a saint. I still take some wage for my service."
"True, but I heard you saved countless lives."
"Oh, that's just an exaggeration. You shouldn't take it seriously."
"Hahaha…."
"Oh, why are there some people on the road?" Filo wondered loudly as she slowed down the carriage.
"Lord Ryuu." Raphtalia poked her head into the carriage, giving a serious look.
The master perked his head up to take a look at the hindrance and raised a brow. "Bandits, huh? Just run them over."
"Understood."
Unlike assassins, bandits were just a bunch of barbarians he never considered worthy to be spared. He held no qualm for weeding them down since they were the real threat that disturbed the society's peaceful life. In his view, they were just like monsters, ransacking people and killing their targets indiscriminately. Since he shared that view with Eclair, he didn't see any wrong in eliminating those pests.
Rifana and Raphtalia nodded. The weasel flicked the rein and the carriage accelerated.
"Let's ram those baddies, Filo!" Rifana yelled.
"Aye, aye!"
"Brace yourself, Sir. We'll rush at some obstacles." Suiryu calmly said as he held the railing of the vehicle.
"Oh. W-well." The peddler reached the railing behind him, putting on a nervous look.
"STOP! STOP! STOP!"
The carriage passed smoothly, however. Those bandits managed to move in time. The carriage went into a stop as indignant shouts of profanities followed.
'Time to whack some goons.' The martial artist wordlessly moved from his seat.
Suiryu and his disciples jumped out from the carriage as Eclair dismounted from her horse. They faced the bandits, stretching their muscles a little bit for the combat.
"Oh dear… Apologies, gentlemen. We're in rush, so we actually don't have the luxury of exchanging any pleasantries." He shrugged his shoulders, regarding the agitated bandits with a defiant smile.
"Bastards! Who d'ya think ya're!?" The leader of the bunch snarled as his lackeys prepared themselves for combat. "Guys, let's cut 'em! And spare those demi-human hotties, ya hear me!?"
""" Yeah! Yeah! """ They clamored as they pulled out their weapons.
"Wow! This sure will be messy." Suiryu cracked his fists, grinning as he glanced at his disciples who were ready at any moment to pounce at the hoodlums.
"Just t'let ya know, we're here t'take that fatso in your ass wagon!" The bandit chief announced, pointing at the terrified jeweler.
"D-dear Lord, i-is this alright?" The jeweler nervously called out.
"Rest assured. I'll show you how we deal with highwaymen. Just make yourself comfortable while we run the show." Suiryu smirked and turned to Eclair. "Can I leave his safety to you?"
"Understood, My Lord." Eclair nodded, sighing as she retreated in guard near the carriage. "Knight of Melromarc… Letting ruffians run rampant at the countryside. Such a shame. They are as unreliable as they can be."
"Now then, shall we tender some meat, Ana, Lia?" Suiryu assumed a lax fighting stance, enough for showing that he was going to beat some small fries.
"Oh, that's the thing I love the most!" Rifana excitedly exclaimed as her fingers curled into claws, taking her beast-like low stance. "Though, butchering them isn't bad!"
"Ready anytime." Raphtalia cooed, taking a boxer's pose as the brigands surrounded them.
"KILL 'EM!" The bandit chief shouted.
"""OOOOHHH!"""
The thugs who mostly wielded swords charged. The master and disciples took the shouts and footsteps as a cue to deliver their strike.
Suiryu who aimed for the leader jumped into the air and sent a flying double kick. His feet planted into the scrawny man's stomach, flinging him to the nearby cliff. The man's back crashed the rock face quite hard. He slid down to the ground, twitched in spasm briefly and eventually ceased to move.
"BOSS!"
His subordinate shouted, only to be silenced by Rifana who used the tip of her curled index finger to slash his jugular. He staggered in anguish as blood gushed out from the mortal cut. The weasel girl kicked him in the stomach to rid him from her view as she dodged an ax swing to her side. She turned around and slugged her fist at the burly ax-man's chest. Her mighty blow planted the steel plate piece into his chest, rending his lung in the process.
"GUAAAAHHH!" The muscular ax goon in Mohawk cut gurgled out blood and fell with shudders.
"You, filthy demi-human cur!" A man in an assassin get-up swung down his dagger at Rifana, avenging his cohort. "Huh!?"
Raphtalia daftly snatched the assassin's forearm and used his back to shield her from an incoming arrow. As he screamed in pain, she slammed him to a nearby mace-wielder, toppling them to the ground. Rifana took the opening Raphtalia had made to jump, flipping mid-air and stampeding them. Needless to say, her stomp busted the assassin's body beyond salvation while the guy under didn't fare better. A basin of gore formed below their wrecked bodies.
"Thanks, Raphtalia!" Rifana smiled at her best pal.
Raphtalia only flashed a thumbs-up as her off hand caught a swordsman's wrist who threw a slash at her. When her eyes focused on him, she quickly released him, wary of a sudden surge of killing intent. She frowned when he took a foreign sword fighter stance, re-sheathing his thin sword into its wooden scabbard.
"So, you notice I'm a league above you, demi-human? You're very sharp!"
"I heard that the church provides a service called Class-Up. Now I wonder what one can achieve after taking it." Her lips curled into a fearless smile as she pulled out her twin cutlasses.
"You can see through me? How commendable!" The swordsman smirked, lowering his center of gravity. "Now that we are even, I wish you won't disappoint me."
"The same goes to you!" The raccoon grinned.
They dashed, aiming at one another. The swordsman unleashed a sword-draw technique while Raphtalia made a crossing guard. Her trusted cutlasses managed to impede the swift slash, but the force almost stunned her. Their blades bit at each others, grinding out sparks. She pushed forward and he drew back his sword, distancing away.
She bolted forth and swung down her blades consecutively to follow his retreat. Alternating between horizontal and diagonal slashes, she fought the swordsman who defended his ground. He truly lived up his class as a swordsman as he skillfully parried her attacks, but a trace of wariness became more apparent as she kept on dumping heavy slashes.
'I see… So he relies heavily on his sword-draw move to cut down his foes before they could attack. Once in this situation, he's pretty much cornered.' Raphtalia concluded as the man's jaws clenched hard. 'He is… chickening? Ah~… I suppose he never fought a stubborn enemy before.'
With a diagonal crossing slash of her swords, she pushed the man back. He wobbled on his footing. She grabbed the chance to kick his knee, crippling his bearing. He fell to one knee and she kicked his sword hand, throwing his blade away.
"Ah! M-my sword!?" He was too shocked to realize that his weapon had left his grip as his hand went numb.
She deftly homed her cutlasses into their sheaths as the shock still overcame the swordsman. She gripped his wrist and twisted it, bending his arm altogether and ripped it off with a forceful yank. As if it wasn't enough, she drove an uppercut to his jaw before he could cry in pain, breaking it.
"Fighting fairly with a bandit seems too noble for me. Or… I guess you are just too chivalrous to be a bandit." She coldly exclaimed as she tossed away his arm. "You've earned my respect. Rest in peace, swordsman."
With a punch to his windpipe, she ended the swordsman's suffering. As he lied still, she collected his thin sword and its wooden scabbard, taking them as her trophy.
On the other side, Suiryu ran into a rampage. He kicked the rest of the bunch everywhere, mostly throwing them to the wood above the cliffs. He held back quite much in his onslaught, but there was no guarantee that they survived the fall.
By the time the trio finished with the skirmish, there were only two remaining female bandits who buckled down. Overwhelmed by fear, their gaze were hollow. At the sideline, the jeweler slacked his jaw while Eclair kept staring at them with wide eyes. The annihilation didn't last longer than five minutes. It was, swift, brutal and bizarre in its own right.
"Good work, Rifana, Raphtalia." Suiryu complimented as he threw a body to the roadside.
"It's also thanks to you, Lord Suiryu. And look! We got two chicks over here!" Rifana sported a devilish grin as she walked over the cowering women. "Let's round them up!"
""EEEEEEK!""
"Well, true. It would be a waste if we just cut them down? What should we do, Lord Suiryu?" Raphtalia asked as she joined her friend to harass the powerless bandits, poking their cheeks with the scabbard of her newly acquired sword. "So, ladies, between beaten like the rest of your mates or taken by us to anywhere we want, which one will you choose?"
Left with no idea on mind, the Shield Hero instead turned to the former knight. "Miss Eclair, do you have any better idea to handle them?"
"Hmm… In normal circumstances, we either execute them or incarcerate them in the capital. However, I suppose you might have a much decent idea than me." Eclair shrugged as she gave a sheepish smile.
"No, no, no! Please, wait! D-don't kill us!" The bow wench screamed, terrified.
"We-we… We'll do anything! Anything! So please spare us!" The other, a rapier wielder, begged desperately as she slammed her face to the ground.
"You ambushed us and did try to kill us. So, why should we spare your unworthy life?" Raphtalia shot a cold gaze and tore open the top of the rapier woman's shirt, revealing her generous bosom.
"HIIIIIIIK!"
"Please, spare us…!"
"Now you beg us to let you go? Seriously? Did you even spare your preys when they begged like you do now?" Rifana added with a scathing glare. "Surely you never."
Filo strode over the group to look at the commotion. She felt being left behind since she couldn't participate in the skirmish. She sulkily pushed Suiryu, earning her a comforting pat to her head.
"And look at these lumps of raunchy meat! With this, you can feed our Filolial until she's full." Raphtalia threatened as she prodded the woman's bust. "Wow. They're soft."
"Master, can I eat them?" Filo chimed in as she leaped before the poor women. "I'm hungry and they look tasty."
"Err… Filo, remember, humans are not food." Suiryu ruffled her head as he let his disciple vent out their anger at the survivors. "If you're hungry, we can get some beef later."
"Really!? Yay!" The bird cheered as she jumped in glee.
"Hmm… Really, huh? With that kind of body, you can at least put it into a good use for…" Rifana hummed and hammered her palm. "Right! Let's just sell them!"
"Where?" Raphtalia cocked her head.
"Sell them? But I don't think we hold any human slave trade in Melromarc." Eclair mused aloud. "Are you going to sell them to Siltvelt?"
"Don't give me that look, Raphtalia. You sure know what I mean." Rifana wriggled her brows as she nonchalantly squeezed one of the archer's lumpy assets, the woman moaned in pain and utter humiliation.
"Ah~… Yeah. There, huh?" Raphtalia nodded as she smiled deviously, looking down at the losing bandit pair with pity. "This time, you'll fetch us some gold, losers. Rejoice for your wish comes true."
The female bandits lost the color on their faces. The sly raccoon's hint pointed at nothing but one of the most dismal place in the capital. Their hearts sank as they lost any power their body could exert.
"Um? Would you like to enlighten me about this certain place?" Eclair who was still in the dark curiously asked.
Raphtalia whispered closely to Eclair's ears. The former knight's cheeks got a faint shade of red as her face contorted into a mild disgust. She looked back at the limp bandits and sighed.
"Well, I guess it is better than slaying them. They are some lowlifes though, so such a punishment suits them."
"Right~." Raphtalia winked.
Suiryu watched the predicament that befell those survivors hid a guilty smile behind his palm. He was responsible for Rifana and Raphtalia's growth and was well aware that he made a mistake in the process. It the result of his lax and permissive habituation on them.
He even had introduced them to the bleak part of a society too early. However, he didn't plan to intervene any further since they were also matured enough to learn about that. More than that, they had the right to punish those wrongdoers. What he could do was keeping them safe from the festering corruption.
'This feels wrong, but I guess I can't do much at this point.' He heaved a sigh of surrender. 'To combat a corruption, sometimes you need to be move evil. To fight monster, you must become a monster on those monster's eyes. Or simply like Saitama implied, train and get stronger. That, if you get plenty of time in your hand.Not a fan of McCoy'steachings, but sometimes pragmatism is better than a complete ignorance. As long as they behave well to good folks, acting like this on criminals is… justifiable, maybe.'
He silently watched as the girls dealt with their hauls. They knocked-out those poor women with chop to their napes, restrained them then loaded them into the carriage.
The perplexed jeweler moved to the side uncomfortably. Suiryu boarded on after talking with their disciples. They continued their journey as soon as his disciples set their Filolial to the rein.
"D-dear Sir, that really was a splendid performance." The jeweler nervously stated a compliment as his eyes repeatedly shifted between the unconscious female bandits and Suiryu.
"Thank you. Then?" The martial artist nodded casually.
"By the way, Sir, where are you going to… deliver them?"
Raphtalia's ears twitched. She turned around and leaned her back inside.
"Well, Sir Jeweler, have you ever heard Black Rose Street?" She asked as she covered the side of her mouth.
"Black Rose… Uh-oh!" The chubby man gasped. "Don't tell me!? Isn't that the spot of the shadiest market where dark businesses thrive!?"
"You guessed. We have some connections there. Well, you see. Some Melromarc nobles have penchants for this kind of stuff, so people like them are in relatively high demand." Suiryu glanced at one of the bandits with pity. "Or, are you interested in one of them? You're free to choose. Think you can safe them from a more terrible fate?"
"Oh, no, no, no!" The jeweler shook his head, sporting on a nervous smile. "I have a wife and some children."
"Hahaha… What a faithful husband and good father! Just kidding." Suiryu waved his free hand.
The jeweler also laughed, but for some moments afterwards, he put on a pensive look. He shifted his gaze and looked at Suiryu straight in his eyes. Rather than the seriousness of a fighter that spelled a threat, the vendor's face gave an impression of an experienced businessman who wished to take on a gable.
"Say, Dear Sir, is this the first time you sell humans?"
Suiryu's lips curled into a smile. "Hmm, you know it? I'm impressed. Is it because I lack the quality of a typical trader you know?"
"That much holds truth. The way you handle them is too… affectionate, should I say. It does not seem like you are treating them as salable things. You are too merciful."
An unnoticeable groan whizzed from the front. A giggle that followed only hinted nothing but a fun chat of the Shield Hero's disciples. Of course, the truth was Rifana sulked again from jealousy from her Raphtalia's teasing.
"Really? I guess that's because I cannot bring myself to harm women, unless they are… monsters." Suiryu admitted and sighed. "Despite my uncivilized way of fighting, I'm not a fan of murder."
"I see. Indeed. You really are a gentle man. If I were in your shoes, I probably wouldn't hesitate to finish off all those nuisances."
The clacking of their vehicle's wheels marked a silence that slipped into their conversation. The men could hear some idle chats between the girls in their front seats. The jeweler averted his gaze at the canvas hood that roofed the carriage. His eyes went back to Suiryu as he smiled.
"Dear Lord, as a form of gratitude for protecting me, I would like to extend my reach to you."
"By extend, do you mean you want me to be your partner in business?" The monk fighter quirked a brow.
"That is right, Sir. I am interested in the prospect of your business."
"So, what benefits might I get if I partner up with you?" Suiryu inquired as he stroked his chin.
"I will share my knowledge as a jeweler and my connection as well. What do you think?"
Suiryu hummed, pondering about the offer. Being an easygoing man, he regarded it as a good opportunity he found no pain in taking. He looked at the jeweler's eyes once again. The chubby man didn't strike him as a swindler. He smiled and gave his open hand, taking the deal.
"Interesting. Then let me be in your care, Sir."
"Thank you. You can count on me." The jeweler enthusiastically shook his hand.
Queen Mirellia Q Melromarc was sitting in a chair in the royal dining room. She was contently partaking in a breakfast while momentarily exchanging some words with a group of representatives from the conference she attended. She looked refreshed although she should have been enduring a series of sleepless nights.
Her second daughter, Melty, who often acted as her assistant, felt a nagging strangeness about her mother's behavior. She noticed that the queen's mood suddenly improved in the passing days. Seeing how her mother who should wrestle with a stream of disheartening news from their country truly upset her, but the fact that the queen had regained her joyful demeanor almost in a blink now unnerved her.
Melty kept observing the queen, trying to scrounge any clue about her dramatic change. She subtly cast a worried glance as her beloved mother sipped some tea, smiling brightly when a maid served some freshly baked cookies onto her table.
'Something is amiss about mother. That bothers me, but what might that be?' Melty's brows creased as she helped herself with a bite of cake. 'Oh, dear mother, I do wish neither sickness nor lunacy ever lay their vile fingers on you. Never! Still, I ought to investigate this!'
"Dear Melty." Mirellia softly called her daughter.
"Yes, Mother?" A practiced smile she trained herself with through a strict education of a royalty rose on her face.
"The meeting this day would be held in an hour from now. I would like you to collect some notes I wrote last night, please. I slipped them into the book of agenda over my desk." She ordered with a smile befitting of a caring mother.
"Right away, Mother." Melty nodded as she slipped out from her seat with a grace of a princess.
"Oh, I am not in haste, truthfully. We still have an hour, so you may take your time laxly."
"Please, Mother. I would like to do it as soon as I can." She declined politely. "I am afraid that a mere intermission in the middle of my task would make me forget it."
"Oh, how cautious and diligent!" Mirellia complimented, a smile of elation floated on her face. "I truly am so glad that you have aided me in my duty. You have my utmost gratitude, my dear daughter!"
"I am flattered, Dear Mother." Melty cast a bashful smile. "Well then, shall I be off and sort out the documents you requested?"
"Ah, thank you. And let us see again in the conference chamber."
"Understood."
The princess bowed and left her beloved mother who was still putting on a proud and hopeful smile of a successful parent. As her blue twin-tail swayed about with every step she took, her gaze shifted around, observing the passage she trod from the dining chamber to her destination. Nothing warranted her suspicion that led her to her mother's condition, thus she relaxed her guard.
She finally arrived at the quarter reserved for the queen and her entourage. She made a hurry into her mother's chamber after passing the armed guards. She walked over the queen's work desk and found the book. She carefully collected the parchments slipped in between the pages and arranged them into a bundle. As she worked, her eyes landed on the magic sphere that sat near a stack of books. She couldn't help but wonder about the record it contained.
'A crystal ball? That must be holding precious information about the current state of our country.' She mused as she finished her task. 'I should never touch it, unless mother ordered me to.'
She tidied some books on the desk out of diligence. As she ran her hands fast on her work, a curious parchment slid out from among the pile. It had traces of folds on it. Taking a glance at the tittle in order to return it to its proper place, her eyes widened in mild surprise.
'The Traveling Buckler? Does it mean this is… The Progression of The Shield Hero?' She scrutinized the meaning behind the cryptic message. 'So the writer is Shadow. Is this alright if I read this?'
Melty was conflicted. On one side, she wanted to abide to the values she had learned as a royalty. On the other end however, she wished to find out about the truth behind her mother's change. She felt that the paper might lead her to find the answer. After some thoughts, she proceeded to read the rest of the message.
Poring through its metaphorical phrasings and disheveled letters unique to Shadow, she finally got the gist of the situation around the Shield Hero. She hummed as she returned the parchment onto the table. She was surprised that the message only told the mundane parts of the hero's journey, unlike a serious report. It only talked about his daily activities as a wandering vendor with some companions in tow.
'But why it is so meticulously detail? It is almost as if Shadow poured all their effort to ogle at this particular hero? What about the others?'
As she pondered about another meaning beyond the coded report, she felt that the air inside the room turned rather stuffy. She strode to the window and opened it. As a fresh morning air came in with the flooding sunlight, her gaze spotted other crystal ball that sat atop the table beside the bed. There were also some stray notes and her mother's diary near it.
'Those ones… I should never touch them.' She shook her head, shrugging off a drive of unnecessary curiosity. 'How deplorable ones could be to poke their noses into others' personal matter.'
She sighed, turning back to the table. When she was sauntering back, she found a weird bulge in the queen's bed, right under the blanket. Out of concern, she opened the sheet and found another crystal ball. This one had a noticeable crack on it and it made her wonder why it was there. She also found a piece of paper near it. She picked them and brought them to the work desk for a quick inspection.
She carefully placed the items over the table. She started with the paper and she cringed at the words inked over it.
'Let us strive to become men of culture! What kind of outrageous jargon is that!?' Melty's smile twitched.
The message was oddly provocative and condescendingly true, especially for those who were born as noble. She once heard from her mother that the nobility of Melromarc as of late had shown marks of apparent decline since they indulged themselves in base enjoyments, dulling their mind even further by their hatred for intellect.
It was such a miserably gruesome reality that even the Cardinal Heroes might not be able to cure.
Heaving a breath of stress unlike a girl her age, she turned to the cracked crystal ball. She poured her mana and surprisingly, it was not broken. The ball began to play the record, displaying the image of a young man in his early twenties, likely at the top of his manhood.
'So this man is the Shield Hero. I see… I believe every woman might say that he is very attractive. His appearance is worthy of praise, indeed.' She hummed as the display showed his preparation before a fight in the kingdom's arena. 'Is he going to fight with…? Huh? Are those the rest of the Cardinal Heroes!?'
The next moment, she couldn't think anything as the playing record absorbed all her attention, enamoring her. The utter absurdity of the bout numbed her mind, perplexing her beyond the reach of her wildest imagination. A man wielding a shield who skillfully subdued his foes with excellent fighting art was unheard of. Beholding one should be a devastatingly dumbfounding experience.
In the end, the Shield Hero came out victoriously. He walked out from the arena with his demi-human retainers after putting down a punitive force under her father's disposal. Melty's jaws dropped, noticing the bewitching quality of his servants. She didn't have any idea regarding what kind of relationship they lead, but they appeared to be quite content with it.
At that point, she forgot that it was just a test to check the crystal ball. Even her disciplined part that always alerted her about "what must and must not for this and that" went dormant.
The scene changed into a fight in the middle of a forest. He took down a group of assassins that attacked him with such a taunting grace that he looked almost like dancing under the moonlight.
And again, he came out while brandishing that mesmerizing smile of a champion.
The scene once again changed, but this time, it was during a more private moment when the hero was building his body. The display showed her almost all manners of body workout that could kill most knights due to its extreme intensity. Full body push-ups, reversed get-ups, and even squats with boulder lifting were to mention some of them.
Above all else, the activity exposed the very body he built to the eyes of those who wished to see it. The flexing of his muscle fibers, the curvatures that contoured over his stomach like bricks down to the hot steam he blew out every time he exhaled were quite the spectacle to behold.
"W-w-what kind of monstrous virility is that!" She stammered as the image of his chiseled body and his thick arms burned into her mind, her cheeks went red. "C-could this be?"
Her mind made a click. She finally caught the source of her suspicion. Her mother once told her that the quality of a man is also determined by his strength, and she emphasized about muscle. Now, it wouldn't be surprising if Mirellia possessed such kind of kink. She didn't dare to think that the queen had rebelled against her husband, but the horrifying thought led her to nothing but that terrible conclusion.
'Oh, Mother! My dear, sweet, venerable Mother! What kind of pandemonium should you face that you fall into such an abyss of desperation!? At this point, no speech my weak self could utter! I truly am at a loss! I… I always do pray that you would never fall for the evil temptation of lust, but what can I do now!? Are you trying to incur Father's rage as a form of punishment for his grave misdeed?'
The second princess clutched her head in confusing sorrow. She threw the ball back to the bed in a fit of anger. Neither the hero nor her father she blamed for this twisted reality. What she cursed was the world itself for robbing her mother of her sane faithfulness.
A man in a tattered cloak was standing tall by the edge of a barren canyon. He was observing a Filolial-drawn carriage and a single horse rider that sped over the road below. His pale blue eyes tracked their journey that ended in front of an edifice which was carved out from a cliff's face. Its passengers one by one descended from the vehicle.
A murderous grin played over his face, revealing his jagged teeth. A pair of crimson horns that adorned his forehead sparked some little jolts of electricity as adrenaline rushed through his veins. He brought up his hand, curling his fingers to size the minuscule sight of the people he was looking at. His grin stretched wider when he spotted a single man among them.
"… That bitchy redhead was vague in her description, but well, I finally found you, Suiryu. Guess die once isn't bad. This time, I'll kill you for sure. You'll pay for the humiliation you did on me, dearly."
Author's Note
Uwaaah…! How long has it been? Half a year without an update?
I'm so sorry about that, Dear Readers. I just want to take some change of pace since ideas kept on bombarding my mind, so I prioritized my newer projects. :-3
Well, anyway, before long 2022 arrives and here, as a gift and apology, I wish this new chapter might fill you with new energy. :D
Changes in writing style probably is because, lately, I also binge some light novels. My favorite so far is Asato-sensei's 86 (Eighty Six), so you can expect some new projects from that title. ;-)
And man… One Punch Man truly has been reaching its most awaited climax. Garou has taken the limelight as one among many cool manga-anime villains we have ever seen. And it brings me… stimulation. XD
So, I hope you enjoy this. Thanks for your visit and see you in the next story. ;-)