= [Chapter 02] =
...
It was almost night in this world's time when we were directed to our chamber. After we had a big dinner of course. As even though the King is a fool, he isn't a Royalty for nothing.
He needs to flaunt his riches and the variety of food was one of them. The meat was delicious, to say the least. Didn't touch any wine though. As even if I am immune to it, the memory of me literally out drinking an entire bar full of people made me realize this gift of mine, poisoning is still a problem that is possible to happen.
"Hiya~ah That was a nice dinner. There was so much meat there!" The Spear Hero, Motayu-something exclaimed as he drops on the very big and very comfy bed.
"And did you see how pretty the maid was! She was gorgeous. Beating those cosplayers that I know of!"
Well, he does have a point. That maid is eye-catching. Though not very professional, as she keeps sneaking bedroom eyes at Mota... Spear Guy, Spear Guy.
(I can't remember his name.) I thought dejectedly. Finalizing my earlier thought of me being bad with names. Both naming and remembering.
"Might be the Aura she exudes. Cosplayers don't have that aura, no matter how good their costumes are." I unconsciously commented. Still trying to remember the Spear Guy's name and while at it the Bow Brat's as well. Sword Boy isn't a problem. His name's Shiro Emiha.
"I know right! You just can't beat an actual maid!"
The conversation went from here on. The three of us talk about the aesthetics of the place and the people. How the place feels different somehow. Like there is this tingle that keeps brushing us.
I jokingly said it was the Mana of the world being denser and more abundant that made us feel it. With the reasoning that our world's Mana was close to depletion or already gone, that we are not used to this world's atmosphere.
Shiba Emirou gained a thoughtful look at this and tried using 'Reinforcement'. A strengthening Magecraft on himself.
"Whoa!" Spear Guy exclaimed upon seeing the circuit-like patterns that had appeared on Shir... Sword Boy's body.
"What was that?"
But he was ignored as Sword Boy was very focused on 'feeling' the change.
"Hm? Probably his Esper Ability. I don't know what though." Bow Brat answered.
"What?" Spear Guy repeated his earlier question.
"ESP ha? Close enough I guess." I commented. "I'm leaning more towards it being his bloodline. But that glowing part might be ESP alright."
Magecraft can be considered as ESP but looking at it from a cultural and traditional view it is a bloodline.
"Bloodline? Hey, what the hell are you two talking about now!?"
"Umu. Could it be that you don't know anything about this topic?" I frowned at this.
As far as I can remember, all four must at least have a special ability. But by the sound of it. Spear Guy doesn't have anything close to it.
(Maybe his obliviousness is his 'special' ability.)
"Well, ESP stands for—" I didn't get to finish what I was saying when he suddenly shouted back.
"I know what ESP and bloodline mean!" He took a deep breath at the end.
"What I'm asking is why are the two of you treating this like it is a normal thing!?"
"Hehehe! Well, the thing is I have the ability 'Accuracy' or Point Shot as my classmates call it."
Following his lead, I said. "I come from a long-living bloodline, from my mother's side. So, my ability is 'Longevity'."
"Does your ability let you heal faster?" Bow Brat asks.
"No, it gives me a higher than normal tolerance and resistance to many things, like viruses, sickness, heat, cold, and sometimes immunity. Though, Alcohol is the only thing I am immune to that I know of." As I finish, I adjusted my glasses.
The ability mentioned was based on Naofumi-senpai's ability. As I don't know what my actual ability is. Other than my immunity to alcohol and motion sickness to all things. The last one is debatable if it is an actual ability.
"Heh... Maybe that's why you are the Shield Hero."
"I guess..." I replied. Hiding my irritation. As a piece of information was brought up in my mind.
The Original Team in the Novell all look down on the Shield Hero class. Even Naofumi-senpai himself didn't think it was a strong class. And all of it started with the original three idiots sharing their view about the Shield Hero class.
(Hmph!)
"Wait! That means I'm the only one who doesn't have any special powers!"
"I don't think that's the case." Saying this I positioned my left across my chest and place my right elbow at it, supporting my arms and that has raised its pointing finger. I call this The Lectures Pose!
"Both of our abilities are more centered to support our class. Bow Hero with Precision and Shield Hero with Resistance." Bow Brat nodded in affirmation.
"That means you also have it, as the three of us are already confirmed to have one. It's just that you don't know."
But then again, the three of us are backup candidates and not the first pick, Sword Boy is a literal incarnation of a sword so he's a first pick for sure. So, a few problems here and there are to be expected for us. The lack of natural supernatural ability of a hero might be one of these flaws.
"Yeah, not everyone gets to know their ability till something is done to know about it. Besides, it would seem it is a requirement to be summoned to have an ability!" Bow Brat supplied.
"Yeah, your right!" Spear Guy roars out and starts muttering. "Spear... Spear..." Thinking what ability might complement it and start at that to know his power.
There is three ability category that I can think of. Will Power, Speed Boost, and Luck.
But none of it seems to have appeared in the novel... or I just can't remember it. The time loop thingy that had happened to him doesn't count. As it is more likely the Spear's doing that made it happen. Way too convenient if you ask.
Bow Brat then starts listing down the abilities that he can think of that can support a Spear Hero. With Spear intensely paying attention to what was being said. Like how to feel and do this and that.
My attention then moves from the two blonds to the redhead in our little group.
"... Gaia.... Potential...."
Yeah, I can't hear what's he is muttering under his breath. But it seems to me that he is looking at his Reality Marble. As his eyes are closed and his face in a form of serious concentration.
Seeing that we are all busy for a moment. I decided to look at my Stats window.
.... [System] ....
Name: ?? (Iruma Satou)
Class: Shield Hero LV 1
Equipment: Small Shield (Legendary Weapon), Other-World Clothes
Skills: None
Magic: None
.... [System] ....
Other than my disturbing lack of true name. Everything is a big Ok. The blank space of the magic and skill list is very disheartening though.
The status attributes come after this. Which are the Attack, Magic, Defense, Magic Defense, and Movement. The status attributes are self-explanatory. With my Attack being my lowest at 1 point and my highest being the Magic Defense at 20, beating my normal Defense by 3 points.
Right beside my attributes are resistance. Which are Fire, Aqua, Ice, Wind, Earth, Thunder, Light, and Dark.
There are also four bars on my stats and HUD. Which are the Health Point, Magic Point, Skill Point, and Energy Point.
The last one is a power-up method of the Shield, Energy Boost. Though it is more of an enhancement than an actual power-up method like the other Weapons. But the Shield's passive more than made up for it.
Sharing, an ability of the shield to be able to use any of this world's holy and vassal Weapon's power up method with a boost added in the mix, barring core power-up methods.
The power-up methods that I can remember are Mastery and Awakening from the Sword, Ore Equip and Job Level from the Bow, smelting from the Spear, and finally Weapon Synthesize from the Vassal Hammer.
My mind picks this up for it was very interesting for past me, so it was easily remembered. The other methods still elude me.
(Nothing to do with it.) I thought helplessly.
I began browsing. Looking for anything that can give me an advantage. There is this one interesting fact that was placed here. We are not working for the human salvation campaign, we are in the World saving group. Which means we are working for the world itself. Kind of like a Counter Guardian, but instead of Awaya... Araya? Buh! Anyway, we are working with 'Gaia'. The name of this world is still a mystery to me, so Gaia for now.
There is also an option of killing half the living population of the world to make world fusion much easier. And what I mean by life here is anything that gives of life Energy. Be it sapient beings or not.
(Not that I can do that anyway.)
I might not remember it well, but I do know that there is a roaming mortal god, small g, here that'll kill us if we didn't do our job.
"This sucks." I let out a surrendering sigh before dropping down to my bed.
"Trace..." The sudden whisper of that word made the hairs all over my body stand up. "...On."
Before I could even turn to where Sword Boy is, an explosion suddenly hit me like that moving truck that I once stop from the road killing a preschooler.
!BOOM!
There was a buzz of noises then silence. I hesitate in opening my eyes, but I did anyway.
Red Dawn and grave was the word that comes to mind when I saw what had happened. We are no longer in our chamber. Hell! we're not in the same world anymore!
As far as my eyes can see are blades of legends stab at the ground, acting like a tombstone for the Heroes they once been partnered with.
But there is something wrong here. The world, the reality marble, is unstable. I can't put it in a word that can describe it, but it is about to go ballistic on my ass.
And looking at my HP, which is already at low red, it wouldn't take even that much effort in doing so.
"Oi! Wake up!" I shouted to the nearest person within my area. Which is Sword Boy himself. He is responsible for this whole thing.
(What the hell did you do to get us all sent here!?)
Not to mention why are you drop unconscious in doing it??
My question was answered when I saw a bloody glitch version of the Legendary Sword on his side. Pulsing unnatural green energy.
But as I stagger towards his form I started noticing shards. Broken parts of something. A piece of metal calls me when I got closer. Upon closer inspection, it made my already low amount of blood turn cold.
"You tried tracing the Four Cardinal Weapons!"
The metal that I am holding right now is part of the failed Traced Legendary Shield!
"You moron!" I shouted at the body, my emotion not controlled.
"It is a Divine World Artifact! Made and is linked with the world itself!"
He couldn't Trace any Divine or any none processed Weapon, e.i Weapons that weren't made by mortal hands, and he has the balls to trace all four at once!? Just because he suddenly has a power boost!?
"Oi!" He still didn't respond. This time I decided to kick him from the position.
"It-tte!" I let out when I put too much force and hurt my severely injured legs.
"Shaaa! Ooouu! damnit!"
Rubbing the leg didn't do anything at all.
"Oi, Emiba! Wake up already!"
With no other choice, I walked, limp, towards him. This time my hands and limb were the ones that got cold.
(He's not breathing.)
"Ha.uh... Hu...fh..." My breathing becomes erratic.
(The world will implode and kill me!)
I didn't raise any hope that he will survive this. As his protagonist luck is out the window once he exited his world. Take this situation that I got in for an example.
"W-where are the others...? They should be around here."
Looking all over the place isn't easy. As it had taken me exactly an hour to find the other two.
"Both are dead. All of them are dead."
There are also extra bodies around the area that I didn't recognize. Unluckily the King wasn't one of the corpses.
As exhaustion finally reaches its peak in my body. I collapse.
"Huff... Huff..."
My energy gauges aren't refilling themselves.
(So, this is the end, ha...) I thought finally giving up and was just about to close my eyes when I heard footsteps.
Kruh-Kruh-Kruh!
(Ha?)
"Wa-what?"
A hand drops atop my head.
"This is something you must stop. Don't let Emiya use his Magic in this world."
I wasn't that conscious. But I recognize the voice and that silhouette.
"Naofumi-senpai..." I said weakly before darkness consumes me.
And when the light return, I was back in our room.
"Hah."