Motoyasu was now thinking of what to do with his silver. He had just left the castle after getting paid. He thought about getting better equipment, but he wanted to wait until he had a plan of where to go next now, which meant he needed to know where that golem was.
Plus…he needed more assistance than Buddy now.
Buddy no longer functioned well as a tank. His base bear stats were still pretty basic for him, though his magic-based stats were growing at an incredible rate. He was definitely a caster now, which meant shifting him all the way from being at the frontlines to being in the back.
That meant the tank spot was open again, but thankfully seeing Ren and Wyndia's relationship had given him an idea.
Clearly slaves could actually be kept happy and didn't need to be forced into battle if things went right. With this info in mind, a trip to the slave trader was actually a good idea.
Motoyasu had avoided it before, but he couldn't trust people very easily.
The Slave Trader was more than happy to greet Motoyasu at the entrance. "Spear Hero! I was wondering when you would arrive!"
Motoyasu looked immediately suspicious of the man, but Buddy had a much different focus.
"Good sir, your suit looks positively dashing!" Buddy said with a tip of his chef hat.
Slave Trader actually had his normally unfaltering smile change into a surprised look for a moment. "Thank you, sir! I am glad someone finally noticed!"
Motoyasu loudly stabbed his spear into the ground. "I need a cheap slave."
Slave Trader nodded as he was brought back to the proper focus. "Slaves have been selling out much faster due to how well the Shield and Sword Heroes' slaves turned out. I am afraid I am out of cheap deals! I will allow you to look around though. Feel free to ask questions!"
"Thanks, I guess?" Motoyasu still didn't like this place, but he needed to prioritize his survival and party growth. He went around looking for tanky slaves, but each time he asked he would find each slave out of his price range.
The Slave Trader was silent for a moment before saying, "I have a special deal for one silver. I can't guarantee its effectiveness though."
Motoyasu blinked in surprise. One silver? That's a steal! What kind of slave could this be? He did want to save money, and this was a good chance. "Show me."
Slave Trader nodded as he led Motoyasu to a large egg he had kept in its own corner. "We got it from a nearby swamp. We have a slight idea of it is, and it will have to hatch soon."
Motoyasu looked at the dark blue and black egg, rubbing his hand up its side. He could feel warmth from it, so he could assume it was alive at least. He did appreciate the size though, with it being tall enough to reach his hip. "Why is it so cheap?"
"We assume it's a Swampstomper. It's a type of dragon that is incredibly hard to domesticate," Slave Trader explained. "I've been trying to get rid of it since I got it, and I just want one silver for the trouble I had moving it."
"Swampstompers are rather bulky in size. Normally peaceful, but easy to anger. Don't expect it to fly or breathe fire, but it would definitely fill out our absent tank roll," Buddy explained with an educated tone.
"…well with a slave seal, domesticating it won't be hard. I want it." Motoyasu pulled out five silver. "Here."
"This is five times as much," the Slave Trader replied with a raised eyebrow.
"I want the slave seal applied early, and I assume you needed a commission. Also, I'll need your help from now on in raising this creature." Motoyasu loomed over the Slave Trader. "To a long business relationship."
Slave Trader actually felt scared of Motoyasu, mainly because of the intimidation bonus of Motoyasu's armor. "To a long business relationship!"
Motoyasu now had other errands to run, so he was letting Buddy carry the new egg.
It had started raining a little while ago, so it was likely they would need to return to the inn soon.
The egg was marked with a slave seal that would activate after it hatched, so control wouldn't be hard.
Buddy was protecting the egg like he was its parent. "So many have been mighty kind, huh?"
Motoyasu nodded in agreement. During his errands, many people had given him things due to him helping Riyute Village. "I'm still not good at reading…"
"It takes practice, master Motoyasu," Buddy told him. "I have faith you will get it soon!"
Motoyasu sighed in annoyance but was happy Buddy had confidence in him.
"I'll teach you, master Motoyasu. I have a very good grip on it!" Buddy assured him.
"Maybe when I have more time." Motoyasu dug out a quest request from his pocket. He had to pretty much steal the quest because he wasn't allowed to take quests as a criminal.
The quest was to handle a giant monster that moved into a cave by a farm and was turning the area around it into solid metal, and Motoyasu could assume it was the golem he was looking for from the description given.
Motoyasu pulled out a cheap map he had and started planning his course while walking back to the inn, but he didn't get far with his thoughts when a soldier ran to meet him.
"Spear Hero! The king has requested all heroes return to the castle!" The soldier said quickly.
Motoyasu immediately loomed over the soldier. "No."
"This is for a quest, Spear Hero! The Shield Hero has gone berserk in the castle! No one can stop him!"
Motoyasu froze up in shock. "Naofumi?" He had always seen Naofumi as being a calm voice of reason, even if he was an asshole who set him up. He couldn't believe Naofumi would go berserk, let alone at the castle. "Why?"
"We don't know… We arrested him for the murder of local smith Erhard, and he only started resisting once in the castle!"
Motoyasu felt like a crack had formed in his heart. "Naofumi…" He turned to run to the castle. "Naofumi!" He then ran to go to the castle.
Buddy went to go after him, but his speed stat was much lower. "Master Motoyasu, wait-!"
Motoyasu went to the castle as fast as he could, and as he got closer, he could see sections of it up in flames. "The hell? The Shield Hero can do this-?" He ran in, pushing past everyone.
Ren and Wyndia were helping evacuate the people, and Itsuki's party was keeping Naofumi from escaping the castle to enter the city.
"Naofumi-! Naofumi-!" Raphtalia cried out as Itsuki kept her held back.
"It's not safe! Stay back!" Itsuki told her.
Motoyasu angrily stormed up to the perimeter set around the castle. "I'll handle Naofumi."
"Do you see what he is doing? He may be a Shielder, but he will kill you! As the strongest here, I have the best chance!" Itsuki told him.
Motoyasu loomed over Itsuki. "I wasn't asking for permission, you little shit." He then jumped the perimeter to enter the castle.
Naofumi was advancing further and further into the castle, his Rage Shield burning anyone or anything that got in his path. "Where is the king!? He did this, didn't he!?"
Motoyasu stopped in front of Naofumi. "You bastard. Erhard was my friend." He spun his spear and got into a fighting stance. "What did he not give you a good enough deal? Is that it!?" He ran at Naofumi and thrust his spear at him.
Naofumi blocked the attack easily before burning Motoyasu with the counter effect. "That curse will kill you, Motoyasu. Stay out of my way. I don't have time to explain this to you."
Motoyasu stood up still, even as the flames flickered over him. "No. I will crush you!" He shot webbing out of his spear to try to slow Naofumi down. He then ran around Naofumi to try to attack him from behind.
Naofumi had a strength bonus from the Rage Shield though, and he easily broke the webbing as he spun around to block the attack. "You don't get it, Motoyasu. You're weak. You've always been weak. The other heroes make you look pathetic." He then switched to the Sentinel Shield long enough to bash him away. "And you are especially not a match for me!"
Motoyasu slid back, his arms and legs starting to tremble both from fear and how much he was exerting himself. "Is that it!? Am I just weak!?" He pointed at himself. "I'm weak because no one was giving me a chance to be strong! I thought this would be fun! I thought this would be like Emerald Online! But this is nothing but suffering and pain! No one wanted me! I got tossed aside so you all could look better! You get to choose your party members! You even got a cute girl! I'm lucky to have found my best friend in an alley!" He started scratching at his face. "Why do you guys get everything!?"
Curse Series Unlocked!
Spear of Envy Unlocked!
Equip Bonus: Strength Bonus
Special Equip Effect: Curse of Longing, Field of Impalation (skill)
Combo: Bar Cell - Electric Fence - Field of Impalation
Motoyasu switched to the new spear and aimed it at Naofumi. "How about…" He unleashed sparks all over the area. "-I kill you instead?" He ran at Naofumi and attacked him again.
Naofumi blocked, but this time he skidded back after taking damage. "Motoyasu! Put that spear away, or it will consume you!"
"It will consume your soul!" Motoyasu kept attacking Naofumi over and over again, his cursed electricity clashing with Naofumi's cursed flames.
"Fine then!" Naofumi pointed his hand at Motoyasu. "Shield Prison!"
Motoyasu smashed the prison before it was even fully formed. "You can't contain my vengeance, Naofumi!" He then used the ability of Curse of Longing to tank a Shield Bash from Naofumi. His Curse of Longing ability would boost the stat that gave his opponent the biggest advantage, in this case defense, but the stat would then continue to drop lower and lower as the fight progressed.
"You really believe I killed the old guy!? He was my friend too!" Naofumi roared in rage. "How dare you blame me!"
Motoyasu slowed down a bit when Naofumi's words had time to process. Why would he kill him? Naofumi was in that shop as much as I was! He then came to a stop, trying to put together evidence. Wait… Naofumi was blamed first on that day. They tried to accuse him first. If things went wrong, it really would have been on him and not me. Was Naofumi not a part of that? Even if he was riding the glory of me being classified as a criminal, that doesn't make him guilty!
For the first time in a long time, Motoyasu had been allowed to think things over. He had a new mindset built through suffering and the logic needed to survive, and that gave him something his past self had lacked, the ability to see through bullshit. And as things were put together, tears formed in the corners of his eyes.
Naofumi ran at Motoyasu, his shield charged with bright flames. "I'll kill you! I'll kill anyone in my way of avenging him-!"
Motoyasu dodged the shield with a quick step and changed off of his cursed spear. He wouldn't need it anymore. He then wrapped his arms around Naofumi, not to stop him but as an actual hug. "-I'm sorry."
Naofumi froze in shock. "Excuse me-?"
"I'm sorry… I know how it feels to be blamed for something you never did… I'm sorry…" Motoyasu then started crying. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" He kept repeating himself over and over, his heart cracking more and more as he did. He knew he was in the wrong. He may have been since the start. He had been blinded by his own emotions for so long, and he just wanted things to be right. He only knew one way to fix things, starting with making Naofumi rethink his current course.
Naofumi switched off of his Rage Shield. "Yeah…I'm sorry too…" He had almost killed Motoyasu. He had almost lost to his rage and killed another hero for no reason other than being an obstacle. He knew Motoyasu had suffered as much as he had in the last rendition of this world. He couldn't blame Motoyasu for hurting when one of his only friends passed. If he had been in Motoyasu's situation, he admittedly wouldn't have held back either.
Motoyasu slowly pulled away. "You're surrounded. You need to go. For what you just attempted…they will hunt you."
"Let them come," Naofumi said firmly. He knew he could take them. He could do so barely and with a lot of effort, but he could. He would need to kill to do so though.
"…no." Motoyasu turned to the room's entrance. "I'll buy you time."
Naofumi looked even more shocked than he had been already. "Then they will be after you too-"
"That's fine." Motoyasu switched to his Chimera Spider Spear. "If they are going to treat me like a criminal…I may as well go all the way."
"But why? I thought you hated all of us?" Naofumi asked.
Motoyasu sighed softly. "You didn't mean for me to take your place, did you? You only meant to defend yourself. And after being falsely accused myself, I'll be damned if I let someone else end up like me. I'll get Raphtalia for you and meet you outside of the city." He was starting to breath louder and louder, likely because of the powerful curse placed on him.
"You're cursed though. You could-"
Motoyasu held up his hand to stop Naofumi. "No more arguing. Fuck off and run." He was losing bravado as he started having to balance on his spear. "You said it yourself. I'm weak. I don't need to worry about accidentally killing anyone like you would. So go."
Naofumi nodded and turned to run off, just in time for soldiers to start flooding the room.
"Get him!" The captain of the soldiers ordered.
"I defy you! I defy you all!" Motoyasu started unleashing hell onto them.
Naofumi stopped running outside of the city and moved to hide. He still couldn't believe all that had happened. Had he literally just got along with Motoyasu? Had he just been helped by Motoyasu? He couldn't even be mad anymore.
Motoyasu stumbled up, Raphtalia supporting his weight when he almost fell over.
Buddy brought up the rear, carrying Motoyasu's monster egg in one arm and preparing to use his magic staff with the other.
Motoyasu gave Naofumi a shaking smile. "See? I told you I'm fine."
Naofumi quickly went to check on him. "You're still badly cursed. You need holy water."
Motoyasu pulled out the holy-element crystal he had stolen from the Wave's dragon boss. "This will keep me alive and kicking for a while. I'll be fine until then. Are you ok, Naofumi?"
"Barely a scratch on me," Naofumi told him.
"Not what I meant." Motoyasu started crying again. "He's gone… He's not coming back…"
Naofumi felt tears form in his eyes too, but he managed to keep from losing to his sadness like Motoyasu did. "I'll…manage."
Motoyasu nodded. "Ren…said he'd bring us what we need. I'm guessing he's on your side?"
Naofumi helped Raphtalia sit Motoyasu down on a rock. "He has been for a while. Itsuki is the one I'm not sure about."
"So that's why Bitch ended up with him…" Motoyasu grumbled angrily.
"So you call her that too?" Naofumi chuckled a bit.
"She has a different name?" Motoyasu joked with a smirk.
Raphtalia smiled as she watched the two of them, happy to see them getting along.
Buddy came over and used some holy healing magic to help with Motoyasu's wounds and hold back the curse. "I'm glad we're working together now, but the kingdom definitely won't let us take residence in their inns anymore. We need a different place to live."
"Riyute?" Naofumi suggested.
"Yes and no. There's a place nearby that I'd prefer to try." Motoyasu pulled out his map. "…I think someone there would be willing to protect us."
Naofumi blinked in surprise. "Protect us?"
"During the Wave, it saved my life. I want to see it again."
Naofumi knew he could trust Motoyasu now at least, so he gave Motoyasu a smile as he helped him up again. "Then let's see it."
It took them a while to get to Riyute Village, but it only took them one more hour to reach the abandoned farm Motoyasu's quest listing had told him about.
Naofumi curiously looked at the metal that was extending from a nearby cave. "What is this stuff?" He swapped to his Sentinel Shield and tried to break it with Shield Bash, unable to even dent it.
"No clue, Sir Naofumi… It appears alien in origin." Buddy fingered through a book on metals. "I'd say it's stronger than Orichalcum."
"I think it's simple feeding ground for it. Beings need to eat, and they leave behind some kind of excrete," Motoyasu claimed.
Raphtalia gave Motoyasu a blank look. "So it's poop?"
"Excrete doesn't always imply poop. I think of it as…what is left." Motoyasu went to enter the cave.
Naofumi kept his Sentinel Shield on, worried about just what could turn so much land into lifeless metal. "Raphtalia, be ready."
Motoyasu didn't seem afraid though, going inside until he saw a familiar figure. He smiled excitedly when he saw it. "There you are, big guy."
The giant golem that saved him during the Wave looked down at them.
"That thing lived-!?" Naofumi prepared to attack it.
Motoyasu stopped Naofumi. "It saved my life. It's friendly."
The golem loomed over them. "Akoo akoo, au bakudat," it said softly with its booming voice.
"I don't understand you! Do you know a human language? Any will do! The legendary weapons will translate it!" Motoyasu told it.
The golem tilted its head curiously.
"It speaks closer to how an animal does. Allow me," Buddy went up and started letting out growls.
The golem nodded slowly before going through languages it knew.
Motoyasu just waited patiently. "We speak Japanese primarily. Does it know Japanese?"
Buddy asked the golem the question, but the golem didn't seem to know.
Naofumi then thought for a bit. "English? Does it know English?" He wasn't much of an English speaker himself, but he was guessing the Legendary Shield would translate well enough.
"Yes, I speak English," the golem said suddenly in a very cool and very familiar voice.
"…Peter Cullen?" Naofumi asked blankly.
"Oh my god… The transforming golem sounds like Optimus Prime…" Motoyasu said in shock.
The golem got down on one knee in front of them. "I am Orion. I was named by the heroes of my world after the stars of their world. I mean no harm. After they passed, I inherited their four heroic weapons, and I carry on in their memory." He bowed his head. "I am happy other heroes have come to see me. I am truly honored."
Naofumi stood with his mouth agape. "You have four weapons?"
Orion switched from shield, to spear, to sword, and then to crossbow. "In my world, the weapons must be near each other in order to grow. I have done my best to keep them together since the passing of my friends." He folded back his head, showing a round blob of green slime with one eye that had to be his true form. He ejected the slime, the slime changing to look like a handsome man with green hair and eyes and dressed in traditional European-style clothing.
Naofumi and Motoyasu stepped back as the slime took a human form.
The human Orion looked Motoyasu and Naofumi up. "You two carry the Legendary Spear and Legendary Shield. You two carry much might, and you two carry the ability to learn great things from each other." He gave them both a warm, fatherly smile. "As a warrior who has been fighting for thousands upon thousands of years, I would be honored to train you two. I can make you better than you ever thought you could be." He summoned the Legendary Shield to one arm and the Legendary Spear to his other hand. "If you will allow me."
Motoyasu and Naofumi just stood with mouths agape, neither have expected this outcome.
"I get to be trained by Optimus Prime…" Motoyasu said in a stunned tone.
This has been a hard chapter to write due to my new depression meds... I wasn't able to reread this chapter as many times as I usually do, so I'm sorry if there are more typos than usual. I've been mainly writing smut on my alt account recently, so serious writing has been...a task.
Now we have something I wanted since the beginning, Motoyasu and Naofumi to form a strong bro bond. Now as they get trained by the mysterious Orion, they will find new abilities in their weapons even Naofumi never knew existed. Who says a shield can only defend? Who says a spear can't defend? It's time for the weapons to grow stronger.
