Chapter 5 "Hourglass and unexpected meeting"
And such, two weeks have passed. Raphtalia and I hunted, leveled up, and explored. Thanks to the latter, I was able to find a rune to learn the "Windblast". 'I only lack two powers that are currently available to me: "Possession" and "Bend Time". Let's just hope I'll find some runes fast.' I thought as we entered a shop owned by an Old Man.
"Damn, I even hardly recognised you." Old man said this to Raphtalia.
An owner of the shop where I mostly buy equipment.
"I haven't seen you for a while? What have you been up to? Just fighting all the time." He continues, genuine care in his voice.
"I was taught proper table manners by the Inn staff. I wanted to eat in sophisticated manner, like Lord Naofumi." She answered him.
'Oh, that. I mean, it's nothing bad that she wants to know how to eat properly.' I thought reflecting on her words.
"No be honest, I was worried at first, but I managed to raise up my level." He answered, shedding a single tear from his eye.
"Well, she doesn't cough anymore, eats well, and her physique has gotten a lot better. Right, Raphtalia?" I decided to add my own sentence.
"Goodness, don't put it like that. You make it sound as if I've gotten fat!" She answered, pouting. But I have to say, she looks much better that she used to. Her entire body is now of a young adult, clothed in Warrior-like clothes.
"What a looker she's become!" Old man commented on her look, to which I could only answer
"...You think so?" In an indifferent matter.
"Well, aren't you stick-in-the-mild..." He said, saddened.
"Hey, I was surprised, too." I answered him, and continued: "This country is full of lolicons." As I said that, my mind went back to that time when a simple street merchant gave Raphtalia a sandwich. Almost every merchant tried to give her a treat.
"Even more so than before. I get it that 10-y/o girls are cute and all, but there's a line between admiration and unhealthy obsession!" I exclaimed, somewhat angry.
"Uh, kid...? Don't tell me that you don't know?" He asked me. I could only stare at him in a confused matter. Bet before he could explain it to me, Raphtalia asked him to stay quiet.
"Sir, please don't talk about that."
"Huh? Yeah, sure." He immediately answered.
"But anyway, why are you here?" Old man asked me.
"Oh yeah. It's about time to get this girl a new-"
"We came here to buy Lord Naofumi new protective gear!" Raphtalia immediately cut me off.
"Wait, what? We're here to buy your stuff, remember?" I spoke, entirely dumbfounded by her words.
"That is truly great, but please consider your own appearance beforehand. Aside from that Shield, you look indistinguishable from a villager." She pushed on with her demand.
"I don't need armor, I have 2 divine protections." I replied indifferent.
"Have you forgotten your injury not too long ago?" 'Ah, the incidence with Demon Dog. Still not letting it go?'
"Forget it already. If we get you an new weapon, then I can raise my level more." I replied.
She reached out to grab a sword hanging from the wall, all while saying: "Lord Naofumi? If you do not cease your dallying..." She then unsheathed the sword slightly "You may very well die." and gave me a weird look. I couldn't guess what kind of look. After that, she turned to the shop owner and started talking about the sword.
'Shessh. She's gotten a lot more stubborn in a way that it doesn't violate rules of the Slave Crest. Because of that, she became a real pain in the ass...'
"Lord Naofumi, I meant what I said before. It's almost time for the First Wave of Calamity." I was honestly suprised of her words. She continued regardless "This is the time when you need to re-equip yourself the most."
"Come to think of it, I asked about this a month ago, but how do you know when and where the Wave is going to take place?" I asked rubbing my chin.
"Kid, no-one told you?" He then cleared his throat and explained
"There's a church in the square where you can see a clocktower. There's something called 'Hourglass of the Dragon's Era'. When all of the sand falls down, the heroes and their comrades are transported to where the Wave will take place." 'How does Weapons Dealer know all of this,yet I wasn't told a thing?' I thought as he said "If you don't know when it happens, go take a look for yourself."
Raphtalia decided to push more
"Well then, before we go..."
"Alright, I get it." I answered, giving up on trying to persuade her away from that idea. Old man asked
"What's your price range?" And before I could answer him, Raphtalia replied for me
"Around the range of 180 coins, if you could."
"Wait, hold up! Who are you to decide that?" I tried to stop her, but the business talk was in progress.
"That sounds right about for a good, balanced gear." He answered her. I gave up on trying to stop them. He then turned around and showed us...
"Well, there's this..." It was a chainmail armor. Almost the same one that that Bitch Mein stole from me. The unwanted memories resurfaced.
Raphtalia, on the other hand, answered cheerfully
"Ah, a chainmail! It look quite easy to move around in."
"NO WAY IN HELL!" I shouted the sentence. They looked at me, Raphtalia slightly scared "L-Lord Naofumi?"
"I am not wearing that fucking thing." I said, my voice dripping with sheer hatred. Raphtalia looked at me, slightly confused, but Old Man just sighed and said:
"Okay, Okay, sorry. Don't glare at me like that." After that we left him to his devices, after he assured us that he will make the armor in question from our materials. Raphtalia was very cheerful about it. Meanwhile, we were headed to the church to church the remaining time.
"Isn't this wonderful? We had everything specially made for us from our resources." After a short break, she continued.
"We should be able to finish all of our preparations by tomorrow. I received my sword as a gift, and he sold us the coating to keep the blade clean, too."
I didn't answer. I'd rather keep my thoughts about it to myself. She looked at me with worry in her eyes.
"The weapons dealer is a good man, don't you think?" She chuckled, and added " 'If it's for the shield kid, then...' he said". I replied shortly "He's watching over you."
"Very well, my lord." Was the answer.
"I wonder..." I trailed off.
"...And I, as well..." But then our thought process was cut off my a loud growl... Coming from my stomach. Raphtalia immediately acted defensively "That wasn't me this time..." at what I could only reply with "That was me this time. Guess we will go eat something.". 'Damn this. Nothing I eat has any flavor, but I still keep getting hungry...' I thought while we made our way to the nearby Inn.
At Inn Raphtalia tried to protest against me buying her Kids' Lunch, at what I at what I didn't payed much hassle. After arguing for a while, she eventually gave in and ate the Lunch, while I tried to taste something out of this launch. After that we decided to pay a visit to the Blacksmith's shop before we finally go to the Church.
"Hah, there you are! Hang on a second." The owner said as soon as we entered, and disappeared behind the desk.
"It's all done!" He said happily."The Barbarian Armor!"
I looked at myself as I finished putting it on me. The armor in question consisted of feathered cape, a vest with chestplate. On my legs were trousers with thigh guards.
"Barbarian... The Villager's clothing looks better that this." I commented the armor.
"With that expression in your eyes, you look more like a burglar!" Old man said, commenting my appearance.
"Shit..." I cursed under my breath.
"Lord Naofumi!" Raphtalia decided to reply "That fits you so well! You look dashing!" I looked at her with tired annoyed in my eyes "...Are you serious?" I continued "Well, you made it so it'd be my loss not to wear it."
"Exactly that!" Old man answered "And if you have more materials available, there is option to improve it."
"About that option... How pricey is it?" I inquired.
"We're good friends now, so I'll offer you a discount for this. But still, we've known eachother for only a moth, but..." he then stopped. "... I've always known you're not like the rumors said." he ended. I was stunned, to say the least. 'So he had always know that I didn't do it...' I thought as I looked at him, with grateful expression in my eyes. "Thank you." is all what I managed to say.
"Those are the eyes you had when you first came here. The look alone is worth it. Good Luck out there." And with that we were on our way, to visit the Hourglass of the Dragons' Era.
When we entered the church, I looked around and found nothing special. It's just a regular church. Then we were approched by two nuns, and one of them said "The Hero of the Shield, I take it?" I answered "Yeah. I figured it was about timeto pay Hourglass of the Dragons' Era a visit." She nodded, and pointed me to opened double door and said "Right this way." I went in there and the first thing I noticed was a very oversized Hourglass standing in front, at the furthest wall from us.'Figures. After all it is it namesake' I thought. Then a notification on the Shield appeared. It was a window with "20:12" in it. "Is this how much time we have left?" I wondered aloud. "There's about twenty hours left... We don't have much time lef-" But then a yell interrupted my thinking. "EW, NO! IF IT ISN'T THE GREAT CRIMINAL SHIELD HERO HIMSELF!" I'd recognise this voice anywhere. The bane of my existance arrived... The skirt-chasing Spear Hero and his cute little bitch, Malty. I slowly began to grind my teeth while fighting off the urge to cast Devouring Swarmright there and then. I'd watch them being stripped of their flesh from their bones until the only thing that would remain is the skeleton.
Motoyasu didn't noticed my face so he continued "Oh that's right. YOU CAN'T FIGHT!"
Raphtalia looked at them puzzled and asked "Are they friends of yours?" Noticing that I was silent, she turned her head to look at me... And she noticed my expression. My eyes had a slight blue flame within them, and coupled with my constant grinding of teeth, she must have deducted what it meant herself.
Meanwhie, Motoyasu walked closer while saying "You came to see the Hourglass of the Dragons' Era too,huh?" Then Malty demanded my attention "Come on you! Lord Motoyasu is talking to you! Answer him!" The only thing I could is slowly turn to face them. I glared at them, like you'd glare at the ugliest piece of trash in the bin.
With utter disgust.
I then said "Raphtalia,we're going. Ignore those scum." I commanded her, at what she just nodded. She will try to ask me about them later. On the other hand, the Spear Hero and his companions were stunned at my words "How dare you say such words at Lord Motoyasu?!" His little bitch, Malty yelled at me. But the only thing I did is to walk past them not caring one single bit. But then, Skirt-chaser tried to pull off something else. "Wait, Beautiful Mistress! If you come with him, everything you are will be in danger-" This is where my nerves run off. I approched him, and stared him dead in the eyes. His face on the other hand, remained indiffrent. "Something wrong? I'm only telling the truth." He contiued, putting on a smile "The only thing you'll be able to do during the wave is protect yourself as much as you can and watch while i'm out there fighting to do my utmost!" His entire party smiled while looking down at me. 'Damn you, you fucking skirt chaser!' "Well, it'snot like you haven't heard the rumor, right?' He said it to Raphtalia while looking at me with eyes full of smugness. I answered before she could inquire "Raphtalia! We're leaving! Now!" She immidedly answered "Y-Yes Sir!" and followed me the Exit. I ignored a small conversation that happened as we left.
What I didn't notice is that the Mark of the Outsider shined dimlywhen I remembered whathas happened to me.