Itsuki was amazed to have a quest in the starting city of all place. He had picked up the quest and immediately went to handle it, because the employer was paying big money for it.

The job was simple. The church believed that a cult had settled into a part of the city, and they wanted the cult gone.

Itsuki was waiting until nightfall to strike. He liked working from the shadows then collecting his pay later.

"Itsuki, are you sure this will all be worth it? It already looks like a bust," Malty complained as she stood next to him on his vantage point.

Speaking of bust… Itsuki watched Malty's bust bounce as she came up, appreciating her choice of bikini armor. "No activity doesn't mean it's a bust. It just means they are careful."

"Right…" Malty put her hand on her hip and rolled her eyes. "Nothing has happened since that woman tucked and rolled out of the door hours ago."

Itsuki looked over the manor he had been scouting. "I've been seeing strange lights in the windows of the lower floors. It might be some kind of magic the cult uses. I'm not leaving until I have proof. We may need to break in. Any word from the rest of the party?"

"Nothing." Malty hugged Itsuki's arm with a seductive smile, pressing her breasts against his arm. Really she just wanted no one bothering them and had sent the rest of the party off to do other things.

Itsuki blushed at Malty's upfront seduction tactics. "Then we'll be going in."

Malty was slightly annoyed at how Itsuki's sense of justice seemed to get in the way of her controlling him. She pulled away. "Then how do we go in?"

Itsuki looked up right as the sunset concluded, ushering in the night. "We'll check for an open window. It should be easy enough. I'll go in alone. Get the others to look for any suspicious movement."

Malty liked that idea at least. If she could avoid the work, she would. Then she would still take a cut of the money in the end. "I'll tell them then."

"Good." Itsuki jumped down from his perch and went to sneak around the building. He wasn't as built for stealth as Ren was, but he was still quite good at it. He went to the first window and tested it, surprised to find it was unlocked. He had literally found it on the first try. He then opened the window and hopped in.

The magic-crystal lights in the room seemed to kick on immediately, reacting to Itsuki's movement.

Itsuki was annoyed at how the motion-sensing lights were making things harder, but he was also impressed something like this even existed in this world. He hadn't even seen this kind of technology in the castle. He told himself to ask Malty about it later. He looked for what was most likely detecting his movements, but he saw no such technology. He had to assume it really was all magic-based.

A loud humming sound echoed through the manor, and the whole building shook. Lights flickered all over the lower floors, which had to have been what Itsuki had been seeing.

"Rather advanced for a cult…" Itsuki muttered as he pressed on to where he thought the humming sound had been coming from. He advanced closer to the center of the manor. He expected fancy twin staircases up to the second floor in the center room, but he was greeted with a vastly different sight.

It looked like an industrial site, the area all covered in black metal with several generators everywhere. It had twin staircases to the second floor, but the stairs looked more like what would be used for a fire escape. Past the stairs was some sort of control panel with a series of buttons, a shadowy man currently pushing the buttons in a way that seemed almost random. Past the panel was a large metal circle, like what Itsuki would expect to be a portal in sci-fi movies.

The man working on the buttons looked shifty, dressed in worn robes over some much more advanced armor. He had black hair that stuck out from the crimson sweatband that covered his forehead. He was probably in his late twenties or early thirties, and his face was of the scruffy but handsome type. He kind of looked like one of those crazy doomsday preppers, with his worn leather robes being like one of those leather dusters people in apocalypse films would wear. He had some sort of weapon at his side, but it was hidden in a form of very large holster.

Itsuki moved closer to the man. Only one? That's not enough for a cult…

The man stopped pressing buttons and reached for his holster. "I know you're there."

Itsuki swore under his breath before moving into view. "I'm here to put an end to your cult!" He grabbed his bow and prepared to fire. "Come peacefully!"

The man was silent for a moment. "So they're calling my place a cult now? From Siltvelt to Faubley to Melromarc… You people just won't leave me alone…" He turned around to Itsuki, putting his hands up and flashing a smile expected of a con-man. "You got me! Do with me as you wish!"

"Where are your friends?" Itsuki asked as he came closer.

"She's out. Really only two of us live here," he replied casually. "The rest of the space is for my lab. This isn't a cult, kid. It's a lab." He sat down on his control panel, happening to sit on a red button that had a whole panel to itself. "And I need a place for my Wave Warper."

"A…Wave generator of sorts? Are you crazy!?" Itsuki switched to a bow that had a binding arrow. "You'll get someone killed!"

"Not a generator, imbecile…"

The circle at the end of the large room started glowing, a green version of a Wave forming in it as a form of portal.

"A Warper. It teleports. Angel, be a dear and handle our guest." He waited in silence when nothing came through the portal.

No one came through.

He looked a little frustrated as he turned back to the portal. "I'm held up at bow-point, Angel!"

A woman came through the portal, carrying an unconscious and severely-wounded Ren in her arms. She gave the man a blank look.

"Oh…your hands are full. My bad," the man stood up from his control panel. "I guess you did send an SOS for a reason… Man! I am forgetful today!"

Itsuki widened his eyes when he saw Ren. "What did you do to him!?" He turned his aim to the woman named Angel.

Angel looked down at Ren before looking back to Itsuki.

"Speak for yourself!" Itsuki snapped at her.

"Kid, she's mute. Something I wish you were right now," the man explained.

Wyndia came in behind Angel, widening her eyes when she saw Itsuki. "Bow Hero! These people are helping Ren! They mean no harm!" She couldn't exactly stop him if she wanted to. She was still carrying the unconscious Keel and Rifana.

"They are a deadly cult and are tricking you! Did you see their strange Wave thing!?" Itsuki kept turning his aim, ready to fire at the first person to make a move.

"They did it to bring Ren to a safer place! He is dying! Please, Bow Hero!" Wyndia begged Itsuki.

Itsuki actually started to hesitate. He didn't know how to finish this job if the people were actually innocent. If he didn't stop them though, and they happened to actually be evil cultists, then that could mean there would be blood on his hands. He also made the assumption that if Ren really was killed, he would just respawn at the hospital. Of course, he didn't have to trust Wyndia either. He didn't know her since he had been out of town when Ren got her.

Angel went to set Ren down on a rolling stretcher before signing to the man.

The man nodded slowly. "You're right. I don't have time to waste. The kid needs surgery immediately." He finally grabbed his weapon from its holster, showing it to be a forge hammer. "Angel, buy me time."

Angel tucked and rolled in front of her partner, tucking and rolling seeming to be her favorite way of moving.

Itsuki fired at Angel, intending to bind her and her partner at the same time.

Angel grabbed the arrow out of the air and put it into her backpack, doing so like it was perfectly normal.

Itsuki then saw his status starting to freak out and go through his bows.

Transport Bow Forcibly Unlocked!

Special Equip Bonus: Transport

Loading Override…

Override loaded.

Transport Set: Dragon Hourglass, Melromarc

Itsuki was blinded by white light as he was suddenly teleported to the Dragon Hourglass back at the church. "Dammit!" He told himself that he had to go try to save Ren for his own sense of justice, so he immediately started running back.

Angel walked out to the front of the building and was waiting right when Itsuki made it back.

Itsuki changed to his Pipe Bow before unleashing bind arrows at her. "I will take you down! I will save Ren!"

Angel caught each arrow, putting them all in her backpack. She then pulled an arrow out and threw it at Itsuki.

Itsuki rolled out of the way of it, trying to figure out what kind of magic the mysterious woman was using. Normally it was hard for him to miss thanks to his Accuracy ESP ability, but he couldn't take into account his arrows being blocked.

Angel pulled out two arrows this time, throwing them at Itsuki.

Itsuki shot the arrows out of the air with his own. "Stop resisting! I will have to hurt you if this continues!" He then followed up with another arrow.

Angel tucked and rolled through the attack. It would seem she had a special dodge skill, which explained why she tucked and rolled everywhere. She was up in time to catch Itsuki's next arrow. She seemingly couldn't attack, relying on catching projectiles and sending them back.

Itsuki clenched his teeth. "Let's see if you can keep up." He then sped around her, unleashing a volley of arrows.

Angel widened her eyes, tucking and rolling as much as possible to keep phasing through as many arrows as possible. She had a few moments of being open between rolls, so she had to time it the best she could.

Itsuki wasn't known for missing an opening though. He waited for the opening and fired with perfect timing.

Angel was caught by a binding arrow and hit the wall. She just stared blankly at Itsuki, unable to move until the bind effect wore off.

"You should be careful when you challenge a hero. You'll lose." Itsuki walked past her to get to the door again, kicking the door open. "I'm here for Ren!" He expected Wyndia to be waiting for him inside, but he didn't see her around. "Did she run while I was coming back?"

"No." Naofumi knocked Itsuki over with his shield, having somehow sneaked up from behind. "She came to get me."

"Naofumi, Ren is still in danger! You need to hold the Bow Hero back!" Wyndia told him.

"Naofumi! Don't listen to her! She has to be with the cult here!" Itsuki told him as he recovered. He hadn't taken much damage from Naofumi's sneak attack, but he had certainly been staggered.

Naofumi raised an eyebrow. "Cult?"

"The church has hired me to handle the cult here! It's dangerous! I even saw them summon a Wave!" Itsuki explained.

"Wyndia, explain," Naofumi demanded.

"Ren was hurt really badly, and a woman was there to help… She was able to summon a Wave somehow…" Wyndia couldn't fully explain it herself.

Naofumi knew that Waves technically led to other worlds, so it made sense to be able to use them for travel. At least he could assume so in theory. The real deciding factor for him was that between Ren's actual partner and Itsuki, Naofumi would trust Wyndia every time. "Wyndia, go be with Ren. Itsuki, I'll handle this. Take a walk," he told him firmly.

"Are you trying to steal my job now!?" Itsuki drew his bow.

"No. I am trying to make sure Ren survives the night. Between your reputation and Ren's life, I will choose Ren every single time." Naofumi switched to his Red Small Shield, which was just a red version of his normal shield that had a higher defense rating.

"If Ren's life was in danger, he would just respawn at the hospital! That's how it is!" Itsuki claimed. "I can risk Ren, but I can't risk this cult getting away!"

Naofumi sucked in a deep breath as the area went cold. "You still think this is a game?" He clenched his fists. "Wrong answer." He pointed his hand at Itsuki. "Shield Prison!"

Itsuki didn't have time to react when the prison formed around him. "Naofumi! Why are you listening to her instead of me!?"

"She's Ren's partner, Itsuki. I know that because I haven't been leaving other heroes behind to play in the shadows. You might want to learn from this." Naofumi just waited to see how Itsuki responded.

Itsuki shattered the Shield Prison with one arrow. "Naofumi, don't make me fight you."

Naofumi expected this. Even if he knew the leveling system better this time, that didn't change how much of a higher level Itsuki was currently at. Still though, he could get through this with raw skill, just until he could think of how to make Itsuki give up this stupid chase. "Air Strike Shield." He sent the shield after Itsuki like a projectile.

Itsuki dodged and prepared to fire an arrow at Naofumi.

Naofumi created an Air Strike Shield behind Itsuki.

Itsuki bounced off the wall and fell over. "You can't do this forever, Naofumi…" He started pushing himself up.

"I can't, but I can certainly use this time to vent." Naofumi picked Itsuki up by his shirt before punching him down into the dirt. Was he actually doing damage? No. Did it feel good? Absolutely.

Itsuki rolled back and fired at Naofumi.

Naofumi blocked, cursing as his defense didn't hold up well at all against it. He had been in a losing fight from the beginning, but he didn't need to beat Itsuki to win. "Last chance, Itsuki. You can give up now, or you can find out just how unjust you are being." He picked up Itsuki before slamming him into the dirt again. He just needed to get rid of Itsuki's will to fight.

"I am the one handling justice! I need to take down this-!"

Naofumi didn't even let him finish. "Innocent until proven guilty. Surely you've heard of that if you're so just. This isn't Twitter. This is life." He then let Itsuki go. "Last chance."

Itsuki just glared up at Naofumi from the dirt. Victory was now his to take, but even he understood what Naofumi was saying. "Fine. But if you're wrong, I'm taking you in too."

"I'll be waiting then." Naofumi then left him before going to see Ren.


Ren slowly woke up, wincing at the blinding, white lights. He was in some sort of medical room, far too advanced for the world he was in. He slowly turned to see Naofumi and Wyndia sitting in seats close to him, both of them waiting for him to wake up. "On your left." He also noticed Rifana and Keel were in beds in the same room, both of them still passed out.

Wyndia perked up immediately. "Ren! You're ok!"

"Ok is relative. I can't feel my anything." Ren didn't even bother moving.

"Because I had to drug you up good while I was putting all of your bones back in place, kiddo." The scruffy man from earlier came in. "I believe you were too unconscious to meet. I'm Clyde. You're in my home."

"You a doctor, Clyde?" Ren asked groggily as he tried to process his thoughts through the pain killers.

"Not at all. I just have a lot of experience putting people back together. Wish I didn't, but things happen." Clyde pulled up a chair and sat down.

Naofumi was silent up to this point, but he finally decided to speak his thoughts. "Itsuki almost got you killed, Ren. He thought this place was home to a dangerous cult apparently. I can't say you're safe here."

"Eh… I'd go if I could walk. I still need to do some leveling before the Wave…" Ren wiggled a bit as he tried to move.

"Don't worry. You'll be able to fight in the Wave," Clyde assured him. "Because we'll be damned if you can't… Anyway, you'll notice a new layer of material under your armor. Don't remove that. It will hold you together and help heal you up faster. You should be fine to fight as long as you're wearing it, but don't be taking blows out there."

Ren slowly managed to lift one of his hands, narrowing his eyes at the new gloves he had on. "And what are these for?"

"Your Curse series will make you dissolve valuables you touch for a little bit after using it, so I made you some cheap gloves for safety." Clyde pulled out a few bottles of medicine and handed them to Wyndia. "He needs to take these once in the morning and once before bed. Make sure he does, starting tomorrow."

Wyndia bowed her head politely as she accepted them.

"Now that things are calming down, and Ren is awake to hear the answers with me…" Naofumi stood up to loom over Clyde. "Who are you?"

"…I'm a wanderer. You know how Waves lead to other worlds? I abandon worlds and go to new ones. Angel is a hero from my original world. You see, things out there are a lot more complicated than expected. Sometimes things are twisted a bit. You know how you all were teleported to this world of legends and made to be legendary heroes? Our world was different in how the legends came to our world instead and chose heroes among our masses. We had a modern society. Things were wonderful, but then it turned out that lead and bullets aren't quite as effective on beings from the Waves. We weren't a magic-based society, so we didn't even make it three Waves in. Our world is gone," Clyde explained.

"And you expect me to believe you two aren't Vassal Heroes intending to kill us all?" Naofumi asked.

"Because I have no world to kill you for. Never cared much about where I came from anyway. Do you know what happens when a leveling system is suddenly added into a world where you're already the top of the food chain?" Clyde crossed his legs and gestured at them all. "Go on and guess!"

"The best grinding fodder becomes other people," Ren replied.

"He gets it! The big oof right there!" Clyde made a swinging motion with his arms at Ren. "My world became a recreation of The Purge virtually overnight! Jobs weren't properly handled anymore, and society collapsed! My family all died in the first month! I survived how I had to survive, and I found Angel rolling down the street like a psychopath! We ditched that world on Wave two!"

"Naofumi…Waves really do lead to other worlds?" Ren asked.

Naofumi nodded slowly. "They do. Usually Vassal Heroes come through to kill the Legendary Heroes. It's like a contest. Only one world may live between the worlds linked by the Waves." He turned to leave. "I'll believe you because you helped Ren, but don't back off from that trust and try to kill us."

"Now hold on. I'm not done with you, Naofumi the Shield Hero." Clyde stood up. "I owe you payment. You may not remember since you did this job for me the last time around, but I still owe you anyway." He placed a hand on Naofumi's shield

Naofumi watched as his status started going berserk, selecting shields and compiling abilities.

Inspiration Series Shield Generated!

Sentinel Shield I Unlocked!

Equip Bonus: Guard bonus (low)

Special Equip Bonus: Shield bash (skill), shield throw (skill), defensive wall (skill)

"What is this supposed to be?" Naofumi switched to the shield, finding it to be a circular shield that was made of condensed energy. He didn't expect to have so many skills on one shield.

"You haven't used the inspiration ability yet, so I got you started off. You should have seen it in the help tab upon entering this world. You can combine shields, and sometimes you get completely unique results. You don't have many shields yet, but try to get that one to its best when you have more shields to throw into it." Clyde looked around. "Now I need to find Angel…"

"She's…tied to the wall outside," Wyndia admitted.

"Ah. Ok." Clyde waved as he walked off.

Naofumi switched from the Sentinel Shield to his normal Small Shield. He was surprised by the new skills, but the new guard bonus meant his defense would be higher when guarding, which would be a big help. What he didn't understand was how Clyde had accessed his shield. "Stay safe, Ren. I need to think on this, and I need to return before Raphtalia worries about me." He then left without another word.

"Whelp… Help me up, Wyndia. Let's get going." Ren already started to slide off the bed he had been given.

"At least rest for the night! It's late!" Wyndia snapped at him as she pushed him right back on the bed.

"You need to rest too, so we need to find an inn. Sleeping in that chair will be bad for your back," Ren insisted.

"You're not moving until tomorrow morning. I'm not arguing this with you," Wyndia told him.

Ren knew he could use Wyndia's slave seal to make her let him go, but he decided against it. He was still feeling incredibly sluggish anyway. "Fine." He slid over for her. "Get in."

"W-wha-?" Wyndia blushed softly at the offer. "Ren, we shouldn't. What will everyone think if they see us sleeping together?"

"You certainly didn't mind making me kiss a little girl. I'm sure you'll be fine." Ren pat the spot next to him. "Don't make me turn this into an order."

Wyndia bit her lip before sliding up next to him. "If I must."

"You must."


Itsuki returned back to his party, still disappointed by the progression of things tonight. He wasn't going to get paid for this job, and he had wasted his time being knocked down by a pathetic shielder of all people. His pride was absolutely burning. He had checked around the manor more just in case, but he still had no evidence needed to complete the job.

"How did it go, Itsuki?" Malty asked immediately.

"The church was wrong, thus it was more just to leave things be." Itsuki returned his bow to his back. He now had a noticeable distaste for Naofumi. This is a game world, Naofumi. You shouldn't ruin it with fake morals. He didn't even realize how hypocritical his thoughts towards Naofumi were.

"Well you are the best of the heroes. Don't let it get to you. The fact that you didn't force it shows how true of a hero you really are," Malty told him just to tell him what he wanted to hear.

Itsuki smiled as the rest of his party praised him. He felt much better with their praise. "Onto the next fight then. As the strongest hero, I need to be ready to carry the others through the Wave."


Things are being set up for the next Wave. It will be coming real soon. Itsuki is currently the strongest by a wide margin, which could be a problem while he is under Bitch's thumb.

Random trivia... The red button panel on Clyde's Wave Warper is actually the same red button used in Isekai Quartet but rewired. How he got it? No idea. He's not the main character.

No matter how many extra heroes come through the Waves, the priority will always be on the parties of Ren, Motoyasu, Itsuki, and Naofumi. And unlike Angel and Clyde, heroes that come through the Waves won't always be friendly.