Melromarc
The arena was silent as a group of mourners at a cemetery just the sudden sounds of the torches flames moving with the wind currents that the gateway is producing as it slowly closed off into nothing. As everyone's eyes are staring at Santa as he looks down at King Alutcray, nothing else draws their attention. Not even Caboose's constant shaking of excitement as he looked frantically around the arena.
'I can't believe this is happening!' Caboose thought to himself. 'I went back in time. Now I can eat ice cream with horses, ride a dragon, be a cowboy, play chess with an actual noble, and save a princess from a evil castle!'
"THIS IS AMAZING!" Caboose exclaims with a joyful voice. "Oh Santa thank you so much for asking me to come. Now I can do the things from my bucket list that I wrote as a child."
"I see," Santa looks towards Caboose "it seems you had dreams to reach even during your time of age. I am glad to know this will push you to do my favor. Am I right?"
"YES!!" Caboose replies as he looks towards Naofumi.
"HEY, you're looking at me," Caboose states as he points at the Shield Hero " so that means I must say hi. HI!" waving at Naofumi during the process.
While Caboose thanked Santa for asking him to come to Melromarc, Naofumi looked at Caboose in surprise. Finding out that the person in front of him right now, who seems to be from the very distant future, had plans to do activities that were way long gone since the changing of time.
"Ummm...HIii?" Naofumi greets back with confusion.
'Why would someone from the future want to mess around with the daily life of a medieval civilian or knight? They have all different types of things to mess around with in their time period, so why would they go back in time to mess around with things that are from the very distant past?'
"You seem to be confused, Shield Hero Naofumi." Santa disturbs Naofumi's train of thought as he looks at the A.I. " All will be answered once I speak with the king, which reminds me."
Santa turns back to King Alutcray as he starts to increase his size to be on the same level with him. The guards closest to the king rush to the front of him and raise their spears prepared to defend their high noble.
"There will be no need for that king guards, I can't inflict any harm towards your high noble either way. I am only an alien A.I. construct to give passerby warnings or advice to activate one of the many towers that holds a relic within it." Santa states as he sees the hostility from the guards.
"Stand down men, it seems like this overgrown red looking orc won't cause any harm, but keep an eye on the blue boy down there. It looks like he has a weapon strapped to his back. Secure a perimeter around him and make sure he doesn't do anything dangerous." The guard holding Raphtalia hostage ordered his men as they started to descend the stairs.
Caboose hearing this started to shake in excitement knowing that he'll be able to see an actual knight from the textbooks he would read when he was a toddler.
"Ummm..excuse me guard up there holding the cute girl with you? Ummm yeah could I see the men that are surrounding me with vicious looking spears as they point them at me, up close. You see I have never seen a knight before and I can't hold this weird feeling inside me. So can I? PLEASE!" Caboose asks towards the guard giving the orders.
"Suuuure, just don't try anything funny. GOT IT?!" the same guard replies back at Caboose.
"THANK YOU!" The second Caboose heard confirmation, he rapidly went up to the knights surrounding him as he looked them over and they held the spears. "Eeeee..just like in the textbooks when I was young."
All the guards were surprised with Caboose's speed when he started to look them over.
"Now that there won't be any other distractions, I'll like to discuss the situation with the Shield Hero. It was as of 7 days ago that I looked upon this world, and it seems that out of every hero, which are 4 if I am correct, the Shield Hero is the only one being treated as if he meant nothing to you all. Isn't a hero that is meant to protect the civilians? Why treat him like if he was a monster? If he only means to protect you all from these catastrophic 'Waves' that threaten your kingdom? Santa asks as he gestures to Naofumi below him.
"Well you see, this…young demon, below you has caused such an act of treason that goes against the law of Melromarc and that is to force sexual intentions with the opposite. And to add on top of. It was with one of the adventures that I gave to them to accompany their journey in destroying the waves that harms this kingdom." Alutcray explains towards Santa, as the A.I. starts to see the flaw in what King Faubly said.
"THAT'S BULLSHIT AND YOU KNOW IT!" Naofmui exclaims over hearing what the king had stated.
"SILENCE YOU EXCUSE OF A HERO! You're lucky I didn't kill you in the spot where you stood when the guards brought you in." The king retorted back to Naofumi.
"Hmmmm...as much as I agree with your reason to punish him" the king looks back at Santa with a smirk in his face. "your statement is flawed. If it were a civilian, you would have killed him/her in the spot. However, since it was a Hero that is here to save your kingdom from the threatening 'Waves' you can't kill him. All you could have done is let him continue his usual activities as a hero, with guards following and checking on him to keep him from doing the actions of a criminal. But instead you put him in a position where everyone, including civilians, want him dead. So from my perspective, what the Shield Hero went through was a set up made and ordered by you, King Alutcray." Santa states as the king starters to sweat nervously and Myne as well, over hearing what Santa said.
Naofumi started to smirk hearing what was said from the A.I., even if he just witnessed his activities along the previous 7 days, Santa was able to connect the dots of a false framing that the king had done.
"HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THEN? You said you began to see this world as of 7 days ago, which the event happened over 2 weeks ago. Why make up these accusations if you didn't see the actual situation with your own eyes?" King Alutcray retorts towards Santa, not wanting to keep the Shield Hero from going scot free.
"Your right about my experience seeing this world; however, it won't come to terms with what I mentioned about the guards being positioned to watch over the Shield Hero from doing any other crimes?" Santa replies back.
"I believe we won't need to continue our conversation if you won't believe me for what I have to say then." King Alutcray said not wanting to continue the conversation from going, fearing that he'll be found out.
"Very well then, I won't ask anymore questions." the king looks in surprise at Santa, believing that he won't continue to ask him questions. "However, I'll be leaving Michael J. Caboose, to accompany the Shield Hero and Raphtalia, his companion,on their journey." Santa finally reveals the intentions for why Caboose is here.
Naofumi, looks in surprise at Santa not being able to believe what the A.I. has just finished saying. The fully blue armored person right in front of him, would be accompanying him and Raphatlia on his journey to defeat the Waves.
"Why?" Naofumi askes towards Santa. "Why are you doing this for me?"
Santa starts to shrink in size as he turns towards Naofumi to answer his question.
"Because, you'll be suffering from the lack of help from the civilians or the kingdom's army since they all see you as a low being of disgust." Santa replies to Naofumi. "When I asked the people famairalized with Caboose if he could come to your world, he asked me a question that made it a much more reason for him to come."
"What did he ask?" Naofumi said in confusion, not understanding why Caboose would agree to coming to this world away from his loved ones.
"If you were in need of friends." Santa answers Naofumi, which makes him get a surprised look from what he heard. "You see Caboose, is a very friendly person. He likes to have friends surrounding any individual he sees. However, if he finds out that someone is alone by themselves, he'll offer himself to be the person's friends."
Naofumi takes a quick look at Caboose as he starts to play around with the spear heads. Everything he has heard about him is like dreaming of going into your favorite game's world. It's impossible to have someone as friendly as him around. On Earth, if you grew up alone without friends, it was a probability you would grow up without any friends at all. And it'll be based on your looks, what you like, where you come from, and your dream job if someone were to try to be friends with you. But it seems like Caboose would befriend anyone, even an enemy.
"If now you understand why Caboose will be staying with you, I would like to ask a favor from you." Naofumi looks back as Santa brings him back out of his train of thought. "I would like to ask if you could look after him as he accompanies you in your journey? As of recent, he lost someone dear to him in a battle and he is still recovering from mourning his friend. He may be smiling the whole time and in an energetic mood, but he is suffering sadness for the passing of his friend. Would you look after him while he accompanies you in your journey?" Santa asks Naofumi.
"Of course, I'll check up on him if he goes silent for any unreasonable reason. If you're giving me a chance to make it easier through this kingdom, I'll be sure to take care of him." Naofumi answers Santa.
"I am grateful for your help." Santa said as he bows his head. "Do mind his intelligence, he has the intellectual mind of a mountain."
"Wouldn't it be the intelligence of a rock?" Naofumi asks, confused at Santa's choice of words.
"It would be, but he has the wisdom of an old man in his late years. Even if the way things he phrases are confusing in a way." Santa said as he started moving his way towards Caboose.
"Caboose, the boy in front of you is the Naofumi I mentioned back in the office, you'll be accompanying him on his journey with his companion." Santa tells Caboose as he starts to stop looking over the guards.
"Ok, Santa. Will there be anything else I should- wait. Can I still do the things in my bucket list?" Caboose asks.
"Hmmm, well if the party does anything similar to what you would like to do. You will be able to do what you wish to do." Santa replies towards Caboose.
"YAYYYYY!!" Caboose exclaims as he jumps in his air as he raises his hands.
"Hey Santa, can I ask you a favor very quickly?" Naofumi calls out towards Santa.
"What is it you need, Shield Hero?" Santa asks Naofumi.
"If it's ok with you, can you ask them to release Raphatlia. You see they believe I put some sort of spell on her to make it look as if I am forcing her to party up with me, and to add on that, we were dueling for her before you arrived. I believe that even if I won, they'll say that I cheated and other things so they'll just remove her from my party. If it isn't too much of a hassle can you ask them to release her?" Naofumi tells Santa of the current situation he was in before Caboose and Santa arrived.
"I see why not. I shall accept your favor." Santa states as he starts to grow in size.
"Thanks Santa." Naofumi thanks Santa as he looks up at him.
"King Alutcray, I have a request to make for the Shield Hero. If you would release his companion from your custody" Santa asks the king.
"Why would I release her just because the devil boy asked? Before you arrived, he was dueling the Spear Hero for her release." the king retorts at Santa.
"You make a point the dueling was interrupted. Hmmmmm, how about this. Let Caboose duel the Spear Hero for the release of the Shield Hero's companion. Would that suffice?" Santa asks
"How would I know if he isn't cheating?" the king asks.
"He won't have his weapon with him and will reveal his face to prove that he isn't an empty suit of armor. Would that suffice your terms King Alutcray?" Santa states the terms to letting Caboose duel with the Spear Hero.
"I'll ask the Hero. Motoyasu! Would you accept a duel with the blue armoured clad boy?" the king asks the Spear Hero.
"So I won't be dueling with Naofumi anymore, but the blue armored person?" Motoyasu asks.
"Yes, that'll be the new duel for custody for the demi human." King Alutcray replies towards the Spear Hero.
"As much as I wish it to be Naofumi to show him what it means to be a true hero. I'll accept the challenge to face off against him." Motoyasu states.
"Very well then, the duel will now be the Spear Hero facing off against the newcomer. May everyone in the arena clear the area, but the Hero and the blue armored boy. That includes you Shield Demon." the king announces as he notices Naofumi still in the arena.
"Ha, whatever you say...kinng." Naofumi responds with a smirk as he moves out of the arena.
As Naofumi exits, he notices that Myne moved out of the area as well. Connecting the dots as he walked towards the place they had Raphtalia.
Back in the arena
Everyone moved out of the arena, Motoyasu started to study his opponent. As he looked at the armor, he noticed spaces where the armour doesn't connect, but like a sort of skin suit was underneath the armour. Putting his spear between those areas would have a much more damage effect than hitting his opponent in the armour plates that surrounded him.
'If I land my hits where the armour doesn't meet then I could get him to lose his footing from the constant hits I land in between those spots. It could be a possibility that I may be hitting a few weaknesses on him if I do so as well.' Motoyasu thinks to himself.
Meanwhile, Caboose didn't prepare for the fight instead he looked at the flames that the torches were making.
'The fire looks so pretty. As if it's in a calming place. Like fluffy puppies. Or kittens. They are both cute and fluffy.'
"Caboose if you would please remove your helmet to let the king know that you aren't an empty suit of armour." Santa calls out towards Caboose.
"Ok!" Caboose replies as he begins to remove his helmet to reveal the human beneath the armour.
It came out as a surprise to everyone except Santa, that Caboose had a gentle face with light freckles on both cheeks meeting on his nose. His hair was a dark brown bringing out his lime green eye. His skin color was a light-olive tone.
"Thank you Caboose for removing. If it won't bother you. Would you keep your helmet off for the duel and remove Freckles from your use of weaponry. You'll be using melee to fight the Spear Hero." Santa tells Caboose, as everyone around Santa looks at him if he were crazy not knowing who is 'Freckles'.
"Ok!" Caboose replies back. "Freckles, you're gonna have to go with Naofumi for now ok. Don't kill anyone while you're with him." Caboose tells Freckles as he removes his assault rifle off his back.
"As you wish Captain Caboose." Freckles replies towards Caboose.
"Naofumi catch!" Caboose shouts at Naofumi as he tosses Freckles at him. Without safety on.
'Oh shit.' Naofumi says as he prepares to catch Freckles.
Sadly though, Freckles lands on the floor in front of Naofumi.
"Ouch." Freckles said as he made impact with the ground.
"Sorry about that ummm...Freckles?" Naofumi says as he picks up Caboose's assault rifle.
"It's alright Naofumi. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Caboose's MA5B Assault Rifle, but you may call me Freckles." Freckles tells of his classification.
"I think I'll just call you Freckles." Naofumi said as he looked back into the arena.
"The rules are simple, whoever gives up first loses the match as well as the individual who can't go any longer loses the match as well. Let the duel begin." the king announces as Motoyasu charges towards Caboose.
Closing the distance between them, Motoyasu goes for a stab towards Caboose's lower left side where the armour didn't meet. However, Caboose side stepped towards the left, which caught the Spear hero by surprise believing he would have stepped towards the right to avoid getting hit. Instead before the spear made contact with his stomach, he grabbed the head of the spear stopping further movement and jolting Motoyasu forward landing on top of the spear as he kept his hold on his Cardinal Weapon.
"Hello there. My name is Michael J. Caboose, what's yours? Caboose greets him as he gets his face closer towards Motoyasu.
"Ummmm its Mo-Motoyasu Ki-Kitaruma." the Spear Hero says as he gets nervous for what comes next.
"Well it is a pleasure to meet you Motoyasu, I hope we can have a good duel." Caboose finishes his greeting as he starts to shake the spear as if it were a handshake. Giving Motoyasu a hard time to keep his grip on.
'Oh, I think I'm gonna be sick' Motoyasu thinks to himself as he starts to feel nauseous as the movement of the spear was too much more for him.
"HAHAHAHAHA!!" Naofumi could be heard laughing as he sees the antics Caboose is doing as he fights Motoyasu.
"I'm a stop shaking the spear for you could get back on your feet, Ok?" Caboose tells Motoyasu as the spear starts to lose its momentum.
The audience was in shock, they all believed that Caboose had gone for the shot and hit Motoyasu as he was dazed from the shaking momentum of his spear, but instead he let him get back on his feet.
As Motoyasu tries to get his footing again, he starts to think of another plan as he regains his footing.
'I could hit him with my Lighting Spear, but I'll have to do it quickly before he can react.' Motoyasu thinks to himself as he starts to charge his spear.
"Ummmm, Motoyasu your spear looks like it has a fever. Is it ok?" Caboose asks as he notices the head of the spear turning red.
"LIGHTING SPEAR!" Motoyasu exclaims as he points his spear towards the ceiling as the spear head starts to create a longer spear head as well as lighting becomes the new head.
"Ohhh, I see we are gonna play tag right?" Caboose asks, believing that Motoyasu was extending his spear to reach Caboose easier. "You can't catch me" as Caboose begins to run around the arena to avoid the spear head.
"STOP MOVING!!" Motoyasu exclaims as he can't get a clear aim of Caboose.
"~Run Run As Fast As You Can You Can't Catch Me I'm The GingerBread Man~." Caboose sang as he kept running around.
"IF YOU STOP RUNNING I'LL LET YOU TAG ME WHEN I"M FINISHED!"Motoyasu exclaims as he grows frustrated with Caboose's child play.
"Ok." Caboose says as he slows down.
'Gotcha blue moron' Motoyasu thinks to himself as he unleashes the lighting from his spear head.
Unfortunately, he was right. Caboose is a moron.
Tripping over himself. Caboose goes flying instead of coming to a stop like Motoyasu thought he would. Missing Caboose's feet by inches, the lighting that shot out of the spear head lands on the wall next to Caboose.
"WHAAATTT?!!" Motoyasu exclaims with shock seeing as he missed his shot.
"Sorry about that Motoyasu," Caboose tells him as he starts to get up. " I must have forgotten to tie my shoelaces. But since I did what you told me to do. Now I'm it, so start running." as he prepares himself to give chase.
"Yeah right, like I'll run as if I were a coward." Motoyasu states as he gets himself into a defensive position.
"If you say so." Caboose says as he launches himself at Motoyasu at a speed that even he couldn't see well.
"Gotcha you." Caboose said as he wraps the Spear Hero in a bear hug from his waist below and picks him up into the air.Not knowing what to do he starts to throw his fists into Caboose's upper head.
"Hey that feels weird." Caboose said as he suplexes Motoyasu towards the ground under them.
Once landing on impact, Motoyasu gasps for air as all the oxygen in his lungs disappear. Unfortunately for him, he didn't get a chance to get a second breath of air as Caboose picks him up from his ankles and proceeds to slam him onto the ground multiple times. Every impact felt worse as Motoyasu started to lose consciousness. However, before he loses full control of his vision, he feels Caboose stop the momentum as his body is laid on the ground calmly.
"So do you wanna continue going to Motoyasu or are you gonna yield?" Caboose asks Motoyasu as he is crouching next to the Spear Hero in one of the holes Caboose created using Motoyasu as a ragdoll.
"I…...Yield…….ughhhh." Motoyasu yields before he loses consciousness.
"YAAAAAY!! I win! Did you hear that Naofumi?!" Caboose exclaims as he looks back towards Naofumi.
Naofumi gives Caboose a shaky thumbs up, as his face is horrified with what he witnessed. Caboose antics may seem dumb, but when he starts to land his hits things get real, and he still believes its all a game of tag.
"Go-od j-job Ca-Caboose." Naofumi replies towards Caboose in a shaky voice as he tries not to imagine what it's like to have him mad.
Naofumi looks towards the people around him, everyone has the same reaction. A look of horrified faces, except Santa, as they saw Caboose use Motoyasu as a sledgehammer to create the holes around him. If he counted correctly, it was 6 times that he slammed the Spear Hero onto the ground.
'Not gonna lie, I actually feel bad for Motoyasu. Hopefully he can make a speedy recovery.' Naofumi thinks to himself.
"This is why you should never underestimate Captain Caboose. He may seem ignorant to process things, but he can demolish anyone that he comes to meet." Freckles said as he can tell from the silence that Caboose destroyed his opponent.
"Thanks for the advice, Freckles. I'll remember that." Naofumi replies towards Freckles.
"As you can see Caboose has won the duel, now you must set the Shield Hero's companion free as agreed." Santa tells the king.
"R-Right. Release the demi human." King Alutcray tells the guard holding Raphtalia.
Removing the binds from Raphtalia, she takes off the piece of cloth from her mouth and runs up to Naofumi.
"Naofumi-sama!" she exclaims as she almost tackles him into the ground as she gives him a hug.
"Oof, Raphtailia are you alright?" Naofumi asks Raphtalia as he recovers from almost being tackled.
"Yes, I thought you were gonna lose because Myne shot a spell at you while you were unaware, but thank god that the duel got interrupted. I feared the worst if the spell had impacted on you." Raphatlia states as she tells the truth to why Myne stayed back.
'So she was gonna cheat to have Motoyasu win. Rotten bitch would have done that just to keep me from winning.' Naofumi thinks to himself.
"Well at least that didn't have to come into play. Our new companion saved us from that cruel fate." Naofumi states as he looks back at Caboose with his helmet back on.
"Right" Raphatlia as she looks at Caboose as well.
'This is gonna be the start of a beautiful friendship.' Caboose thinks to himself as he waves at both Naofumi and Raphtalia as they wave back. 'Yup, a start of a beautiful friendship'
To be continued