Rise of the Sword and the Shield chapter 16: Preparations for the Second Wave Part 2
Lyall the Werewolf: I wasn't expecting there to be so little reception to the last chapter. I thought people would be happy to be going into the Second Wave Arc. At least the reviews were positive, so I can live with that. And it was the holiday season. Everybody was probably busy. I suppose I had too much time on my hands, like always.
For those wondering, I haven't forgotten about Conan. There just haven't been any scenarios that I could write him into. He will show up in later chapters, I promise.
(I don't own Senran Kagura or Shield Hero)
It came as a surprise to everyone that Asuka wanted to discuss the Second Wave of Catastrophe with all four Cardinal Heroes present, most of all, Naofumi.
He assumed he would have been excluded if it were left up to anyone else.
"The Second Wave?" Naofumi asked.
"Yeah. I went around town last night, and even I talked to someone I know in the Adventurer's Guild about Castle-Town's defenses against the Next Wave. Needless to say, I'm not impressed." Asuka shook her in dissatisfaction, "Evelyn-san explained to me that the knights were just now getting ready to mobilize against the Second Wave. That's not good enough. They have been prepared long before now."
"Oh please! Why do you, who hasn't been with us for weeks, think our knights' preparations aren't good enough?" Myne asked haughtily.
"I believe I asked you to be quiet," Asuka said.
"I don't take orders from you! And who do think you are that you can call a meeting about the Second Wave without permission from the Royal Family?!" Myne bellowed.
"A Cardinal Hero. One of the Three Heroes of your corrupt religion. Someone who has to deal with the Waves of Catastrophe, even though I don't like this country or most of its people. Not that you would be capable of understanding that, Myne-san." Asuka replied emotionlessly.
Sparks started to fly between Asuka and Myne. They were so tense everyone around them could practically see them.
Naofumi knew he hated Myne for what she did to him, but the Shield Hero could sense that Asuka bore more hatred toward her than he did. He wasn't sure if she was trying to keep it under control for the sake of this talk.
"If you really cared about the Waves of Catastrophe, Asuka-san, then you shouldn't have disappeared." Itsuki interjected, "Everyone in the country, including the King, has been worried. Instead of demanding apologies and our cooperation, shouldn't you apologize for causing unnecessary concern?"
"Whoopsie!" Asuka said without the slightest bit of guilt in her voice.
"Whoopsie?! Is that all you got!" Itsuki yelled. This nonchalant attitude made the Bow Hero wonder why she was being so difficult.
"O-Okay, I think we get it, Asuka-chan. Let's not start picking fights with Myne or Itsuki. Even if he does deserve a black eye." Motoyasu said while trying to keep the peace between the two ladies. And Itsuki.
"I'm the one picking fights, though," said Asuka.
"But in all seriousness, why do you want Naofumi to be here? We don't need him." Motoyasu shot a spiteful look in Naofumi's direction, to the Shield Hero's irritation.
It wasn't lost on Asuka, who immediately dropped the humor.
"Yes, we do." Asuka refuted, "Like it or not, he's a Cardinal Heroes, too. That's why I want us all to sit down and talk about how we're going to deal with the Second Wave."
"So, you want to hold a strategy meeting? I suppose I could devote some of my time to it, but shouldn't we ask King Aultcray first?" Itsuki asked.
"Tch…" Naofumi knew that bastard King wouldn't approve. Raphtalia wondered why they would need the King's permission.
"As if I'd count on him to permit a strategy meeting that included Naofumi-kun." Asuka answered, "We've got less than 20 hours before the Second Wave hits, so we can't go to him and waste time. We need to start strategizing on how we deal with the Next Wave effectively."
"How does she know about the time?" Naofumi wondered. It wasn't as if she got here before them. Word of her returning to the Three Heroes Church would have gotten out at some point. Did she sneak in and watch him check the timer on the Dragon Hourglass? That couldn't be right. There was no place for her to hide. Unless she had some invisibility skill?
"What's there to talk about? All we have to do is take out the Wave Boss, and that's all she wrote! The Second Wave of Catastrophe is over with before it even started." Motoyasu said confidently.
"Agreed. In fact, we don't even need Naofumi-san for the battle. He's the weakest out of all of us." said Itsuki. He almost sounded as if he was mocking the Shield Hero.
"Naturally!" Myne chimed in, "We can't count on a weak coward like the Shield Hero." Myne sniggered.
Naofumi bore a scowl at being reminded he was the weakest of the Cardinal Heroes. Raphtalia also didn't like that comment.
"I think we can remedy that," Asuka said, surprising everyone once again.
"Huh?"
"Here!" Asuka said as she took out a bag from beneath her cloak and presented it to Naofumi.
"What is that?" asked Naofumi.
"The remaining materials I got from Cerberus after I killed it," Asuka replied casually.
This was a great shock to everyone in the room.
"C-Cerberus…?" Raphtalia uttered in shock. She had flashes of when the three-headed beast killed her parents.
"Yeah, the very same, Raphtalia-chan." Asuka nodded assuredly.
"You killed Cerberus, the First Wave Boss?!" Motoyasu asked.
"Yes, and it was very hard. That's the last time I take on a boss monster by myself." Asuka groaned.
After hearing that, Naofumi suddenly remembered the dim light from his shield that one night after the mine incident. Asuka just said she fought and defeated the First Wave Boss. That had to be around the same time Motoyasu went out of town and when Naofumi and Raphtalia went to Lute Village.
"Don't tell me… that dim light was warning me of…" Naofumi thought with a dreadful chill running down his spine.
"Hahaha! That's a good one, Asuka-chan!" Motoyasu burst out laughing. He was joined by Itsuki.
"Haha, please stop with the jokes, Asuka-san! It's unbecoming of a Cardinal Hero to lie about killing a powerful monster, let alone a Wave Boss by themselves." Itsuki chuckled.
While those two idiots were laughing, Naofumi noticed Myne was silent and wide-eyed in horror. It was like she came to some realization. Whatever it was, it brightened Naofumi's day, if only a little.
Except for a quiet sigh, Asuka was also silent. Naofumi could see resentment in her eyes while Motoyasu and Itsuki laughed to their heart's content. Now he saw why she left the guild. They don't take her seriously at all.
"I'm completely serious. Cerberus was more dangerous than the average monster. As a boss, it was smarter and stronger by comparison. We don't know if the same applies to other Wave Bosses, but it's better to err on the side of caution." Asuka said as she ignored the laughter.
"This is just like three weeks ago! Next, you're gonna tell me you almost died fighting Cerberus!" Motoyasu chuckled. He soon caught sight of the humorless expression on Asuka's face, and horror crossed his own. "Oh, my god…"
"I-Is that why my bow was glowing dimly that one time…?" Itsuki also stopped laughing when the grim realization crossed his mind. It seemed Motoyasu came to the same conclusion.
"So, I was right… that dim light was a warning." Naofumi thought. He and the other two were warned of Asuka's potential death. And evidently, no one ever told any of the Heroes of that feature of the Legendary Weapons.
"Glowing dimly?" Asuka asked.
"I don't know what it's about, but I guess it's some kind of early warning system saying that one of the Cardinal Heroes is about to die." Itsuki answered, "And it looks like me, Motoyasu-san, and Naofumi-san got the same reaction as my bow."
"I see. That's news to me." Asuka replied.
"Motoyasu-sama, Itsuki-sama, you mustn't believe her!" Myne suddenly shouted, "She's lying! There's no way the Sword Bimbo could have killed Cerberus and taken its materials for herself! If that were the case, she wouldn't have come back alive!"
"Why is she panicking?" Naofumi wondered.
Asuka didn't say a word.
"R-Right! She's still under-leveled compared to us, and it doesn't look like she's upgraded her equipment either. There's no possible way she could defeat the First Wave Boss. Nor is she properly prepared for the Second Wave." Itsuki nodded, "And since that's the case, you shouldn't be taking part in the Second Wave."
"Why?" asked Asuka.
"Well, you'd just slow us down," Itsuki answered.
"Who decided that?"
"N-No one in particular. I'm merely suggesting that you don't participate for your safety."
"Y-Yeah! In fact, Asuka-chan, I'm forbidding you from fighting in the Second Wave. No, I'm forbidding you from fighting altogether!"
Asuka said nothing after Motoyasu's foolish declaration, but the annoyance was evident on her face.
"I told you before, remember? I don't want you to get hurt or worse! Besides not being leveled up or having good equipment, you still haven't formed a party with anyone, right?" asked Motoyasu.
"Actually, I'm currently at level 27. And I have upgraded my equipment. It may not be up to your standards, but it has its uses. And I do have at least one party member. They're currently waiting for me at the inn." Asuka explained.
Neither Motoyasu nor Itsuki expected Asuka to say that.
"Oh… okay. It's great that you've improved, but why would your partner wait at the inn?" Motoyasu asked.
"Let's just say they have some complicated feelings regarding you and Myne-san, and leave it at that." Asuka smiled darkly.
"Huh?" Motoyasu was confused by that statement.
"You said you've upgraded your equipment, but I'm not seeing anything besides that cloak," Itsuki said.
"I don't want Motoyasu-kun to get needlessly distracted, so I'm not wearing my upgraded clothes until the Second Wave starts," Asuka replied, ignoring the fact that her curves were noticeable, even when wearing a dirty cloak.
"W-Why only me…" Motoyasu wondered before getting back into serious mode, "A-Anyway, I don't want to see you fighting in such a dangerous event! I'll fight for you, so stay away from the Waves of Catastrophe from now on!"
Asuka shook her head in disappointment, "Unfortunately, you're not the boss of me, Motoyasu-kun. I'll get summoned to fight in the Waves of Catastrophe, no matter what I do. Besides, risking life and limb is par for the course of a Hero. I'll do that regardless."
"No, there has to be a way to make an exception for you!"
"There isn't. Life and death exist here. Remember what I said before? We can meet terrible fates if we tread lightly on them. And it won't come to that if we work together to get stronger." Asuka insisted, to Motoyasu's chagrin. In his mind, the drug was responsible for this development.
"And that's why I want Naofumi-kun to have these," Asuka said, hoping that Naofumi would accept them.
Naofumi froze with apprehension. Was Asuka willing to part with valuable items even after telling everyone that she nearly died? The balls on this girl amazed and terrified him.
"You probably don't believe me either. That's fine. You don't have to. I just want you to use these either way. They might not boost your current level, but I'm sure you'll get some useful skills and stat boosts out of them. Or if you want, you could sell them for a high price later. You are good at bartering, after all. It's your call." Asuka said to Naofumi.
Naofumi wasn't sure what to do or say. This was a kind gesture to be sure. He knew that after the old guy's generous offer, but that mistrustful part of him was about to resurface.
Raphtalia was aghast after the Sword Hero nearly died fighting Cerberus. Of the people here, she was the only one who believed Asuka's story because she knew firsthand what kind of horrible monster Cerberus was. It was the monster that killed her parents. It haunted her nightmares for a long time and caused much suffering after her village's destruction.
"I see what's going on now! Obviously, the drug you used on her compelled her to do this. Otherwise, she wouldn't give valuable materials away like this or be willing to throw her life away!" Motoyasu interjected, stepping between them to shield Asuka from Naofumi.
"How would you know that?" Naofumi thought.
Both he and Asuka found this to be predictable and pathetic.
"Seriously, the drug excuse is getting old. Can't you come up with anything original?" an exacerbated Asuka asked.
"But it's true, Asuka-chan! I know you heard Myne when she said so! That's why you should stay away from Naofumi too, Raphtalia-chan! He's a loser who would take advantage of any girl." Motoyasu decried.
The raccoon girl was appalled to hear the Spear Hero utter such nonsense. She didn't understand why he would go this far to ridicule her master, nor did she comprehend why he kept talking about a drug. She has seen some drugged slaves before being bought by Naofumi, so she could reasonably tell that Asuka was not affected by a drug.
Motoyasu's ignorant comment was met with another jab to the ribs by Asuka.
"Ow! What was that for?" the Spear Hero's groaned as he caressed his ribs.
"Stop doing that, Motoyasu-kun. It's Raphtalia-chan's choice to stay by Naofumi-kun's side. Just like it's my choice to fight and give unneeded items away. Don't start thinking you know what's best for anyone." Asuka said.
Motoyasu grimaced at Asuka's lack of care for his concern.
"And you think you have the right to know what's best for Melromarc?" Myne asked haughtily.
She had her fill of Asuka trying to usurp control over the current dynamic of the Cardinal Heroes. For one, it would ruin her fun. Secondly, if they start listening to her, it would be a matter of time before her future plans were ruined. She could also care less if the Sword Bimbo died. In fact, she'd be ecstatic to see her suffer a cruel agonizing death. But she wasn't about to let that bimbo give away valuable materials, whether they belonged to Cerberus or not.
"I don't presume to know anything. I just want us all to be at our most capable for the Second Wave. You and Motoyasu-kun interfering isn't helping." Asuka calmly replied.
"Even if those were Cerberus remains, the Shield Hero doesn't deserve such valuables or the skills and stats they would bestow upon him. And since you supposedly have free will, you should make the right choice. Hand those materials to Motoyasu-sama and Itsuki-sama." Myne ordered.
"Myne-san is correct." Itsuki added, "Frankly, it's unfair that you want to give those materials to one person specifically. Give them to me. I'll make good use of them. I did go out of my way to search for you, Asuka-san. If you don't want to return to the guild, then at least do me this favor."
Itsuki didn't actually believe Asuka killed Cerberus and took its materials for herself. He did have some reservations about whether or not he should believe Asuka's claim about almost dying again. After all, if she could die, he could die as well. But at the same time, if she had died fighting Cerberus and he could defeat it himself, it would prove he was superior to Asuka. If only he had been in Callma Village to hunt down the Wave Boss. At least then, it would not have been a waste of time to look for someone who refused to show up until now.
It would also be a waste if Naofumi were to get his hands on potentially good skills from absorbing materials from a powerful monster like Cerberus. As the least distinguished Cardinal Hero, Naofumi had no right to it.
Naofumi clicked his tongue in disgust over their selfishness.
"I suppose you're right. I did say we needed to work together. That means sharing resources. So, I'll give them to you." Asuka said. It surprised them all that she would give up so easily.
She walked up to Motoyasu and Itsuki and handed each a piece of Cerberus respectively. They were pelts taken from its hide.
"Uh… Asuka-chan…"
"You didn't expect me to give you guys the whole bag, did you? One item per person. That's the limit of what I'm willing to give you." Asuka smirked.
"What?!" Motoyasu cried.
"Asuka-san, please stop joking around!" Itsuki yelled.
"You dare to hold out on your fellow Cardinal Heroes, Sword Bimbo?!" Myne chided.
"You might think I'm being petty right now. I'll admit there's a pinch of truth to that, but I think those materials alone will be enough for you guys." Asuka replied.
"Don't be so cheap, Asuka-chan!" Motoyasu whined, "If it were me, I'd give you all the materials you'd want if it meant earning your love!"
"Motoyasu-kun."
"Yeah?"
Asuka gave the Spear Hero another lightning-fast jab to the ribs, causing him to stumble again. This worried and annoyed Myne and the other girls in the Spear Hero's party.
"Ow! Really?!" the Spear Hero groaned as he caressed his ribcage.
"Sorry, I'm just working out some aggression. Don't worry too much about it." Asuka replied tranquilly.
"Okay, but why, though?"
"In all seriousness, I do have specific reasons for just giving you those pelts. Motoyasu-kun, not only do you let your guard down, it seems to me you've neglected to increase your defense stats. I can tell even without looking through my HUD. Absorbing that pelt into your spear will increase your DEF. Or, since you're fond of smelting, you could smelt Cerberus's bone into your armor. It's pretty durable."
"Are you for real? Giving him advice like that?" Naofumi was damn near livid. Did Asuka lose her mind while she was out there all by herself?
"I didn't say this before, but I don't think your armor was made to protect you. It was just made so you'd look good and flashy. I wouldn't be surprised if someone kicked you in the groin, and you still felt it. If you had practical armor, it wouldn't a problem."
It was sound advice from the Sword Hero, but the Spear Hero wasn't interested.
"But defense is for losers! It's better to use your strongest skills to keep attacking so the enemy can't get a chance to counterattack."
"I have to agree with Motoyasu-san again on this one. In my case, I just need to keep my distance and attack from afar." Itsuki interjected.
"You'd still be helpless if the enemy got in close. I can tell you didn't train your DEF stats either, Itsuki-kun. Cerberus's hide was incredibly thick. None of my attacks could pierce it right away. So, you can imagine that it has good defense against skills and magic. You can add it to your Bow or smelt it into your armor. It doesn't matter as long as you have better protection."
"If you're smart and rely on the best skills to counter any attack, it's pointless to focus on developing my defense."
"No, it's not. Fighting a boss of any kind requires strength, appropriate strategy, and good defense. Excluding one of those three factors spells trouble."
"To which I reiterate, it is pointless to heavily boost one's defense stat so long as you have the best skills available to-" before Itsuki could finish his sentence, he felt Asuka was about to strike him. He moved his hand to block Asuka's hand from hitting his face.
While everyone else looked shocked, the Bow Hero smirked confidently.
"Hmph, unlike Motoyasu-san, I'm not slow on the uptake," Itsuki said before realizing that Asuka lightly punched his stomach. He stumbled back away from the Sword Hero, caressing his stomach. The pain was brief, but it caused the Bow Hero to freeze in shock.
"Don't look so surprised. You might have good eyesight, but you're pretty short-sighted. In more ways than one." Asuka said.
That comment earned the Sword Hero another hateful glare from Itsuki.
"And you don't have to get so mad. I've only been giving out love taps this whole time, so it won't hurt. Or is me being a weak girl getting the better of you enough to wound your pride?" Asuka asked.
"No…" Itsuki growled.
"That look in his eyes says otherwise. It's his own damn fault for antagonizing her, though." Naofumi thought.
"Look, I'm not doing or saying any of this to be mean. I just want you guys to know of your shortcomings before they get bad later on. If you aren't prepared for anything, including the Wave Bosses, then we'll all be in real trouble. That's all I want you to understand." Asuka explained.
"I can't believe she's giving them helpful advice despite how unpleasant they are. She must be a nice person." Raphtalia whispered to Naofumi.
The Shield Hero couldn't figure out what Asuka was playing at. He could tell she had no love for Motoyasu and Itsuki after all the crap they pulled, but if it were Naofumi, he wouldn't be so charitable to traitors. Especially not to Itsuki, given the things he said about her in the past.
And Motoyasu was Motoyasu. Naofumi figured that dumbass had to have done something to piss Asuka off if she kept jabbing him so casually. It was also baffling that she would give ultra-rare materials to Motoyasu since she had a duel to fight after the Second Wave was over. Even if it was just a measly piece of fur.
"But if you guys are going to complain, I might as well take those materials back."
"No! I'm keeping this pelt you gave me!" Motoyasu said.
"M-Motoyasu-sama, why…?" Myne questioned.
"It's not what I imagined, but it is the first gift Asuka-chan gave me. I'll treasure it as long as I live!"
"Do what you like. I don't care." shrugged Asuka before turning to Itsuki, "And what about you, Itsuki-kun? Are you keeping what I gave you?"
"Yes. I'll find some use for it." Itsuki answered calmly.
"Great! Then the rest goes to Naofumi-kun." Asuka declared, to Naofumi and Raphtalia's surprise, and the ire of everyone else.
"A-Asuka-chan, you're really giving the rest to him?" Motoyasu asked before being shoved out of the way by Myne.
"Didn't I just say the Shield Hero didn't deserve those materials!"
"I'm sorry, but I don't take orders from you," Asuka said.
"Oh, but you will soon enough when Motoyasu-sama wins the duel! I hope you haven't forgotten." Myne grinned.
"Of course not. Why do you think I only gave him that patch of fur? Maybe because he has a flashy skill or two, he could use it against me when he has to. In which case, I don't think he'll need anything else besides a modest defense boost."
Myne grimaced again. The panic on her face was becoming clearer.
"Asuka-san, I believe you said you wanted us to work together to fight the Second Wave. I don't see the logic in what you're doing here."
"I know what I'm doing. I gave you two materials based on my own assessment. I already have what I got from Cerberus's materials, so I figured Naofumi-kun needs the reaming parts more than the rest of us."
From this, everyone could see that Asuka was resolute in her decision.
"I said this before, and I'll say it again, this is a team effort. We need to work together for the Second Wave and those beyond. The Three Heroes may have flashier moves than our fourth, but we can't discourage him from getting stronger."
"Hey, I'm all for working together with you and Itsuki if I have to. But Naofumi is never going to amount to anything. You know that, Asuka-chan." Motoyasu said, "The only reasoning you're saying any of this is because of-"
"Enough!" Naofumi shouted, "Don't argue about me like I'm not here!"
"Eek! How scary!" Myne cried while hiding behind Motoyasu.
The act was so obviously fake, but Naofumi didn't care. He just hated being the center of attention. It spurred his decision to leave.
"Raphtalia, let's go!" Naofumi called to his slave.
"B-But what about the Cerberus parts?" Raphtalia was confused about why her master wanted to leave now. Especially when useful materials just presented themselves to him.
"I don't need them!" Naofumi was this close to leaving until he realized Asuka stood before him.
All she did was stare at him with an indiscernible face.
This distrustful Naofumi came back. Asuka definitely knew Raphtalia was his slave, and she could rat him out to Motoyasu or that bastard King. Hell, those materials she offered may not even be the real deal. He didn't want to misplace his distrust in her again, but the dark and cynical part of him couldn't help it.
"You don't honestly think offering free parts will win me over, do you? Or are you trying to buy my forgiveness or something?" Naofumi asked harshly.
"Yeah, I suppose I am." Asuka smiled, to the Shield Hero's surprise.
"You're not going to deny it?"
"Lying to you wouldn't do me any favors, would it? It's not like you trust me right now, anyway." Asuka replied, causing Naofumi to grimace.
"It's like she knows what I'm feeling." Naofumi thought apprehensively.
"It is disappointing that you won't accept them, but I did say it's your call if you want them. Guess I'll have to hand the rest over to Motoyasu-kun and Itsuki-kun." Asuka shrugged.
The Spear and Bow Heroes seemed hopeful that would be the case. However, Naofumi quickly snatched the bag away from Asuka's hand.
"Oh, I thought you didn't want them. What changed your mind?" an unsurprised Asuka asked.
"It was just on a whim. I'll take what I can get to survive." Naofumi said. His pride wouldn't allow Motoyasu and Itsuki to one-up him on the off chance these materials did belong to a Wave Boss. He may have a lot of decent skills right now, but a skill set from the Cerberus Series could be invaluable.
"Thank goodness! I thought I'd to be forceful for a minute." Asuka sighed in relief.
"You can't be serious." Naofumi groaned.
"I'm a bundle of laughs." Asuka retorted sarcastically.
Naofumi couldn't tell if Asuka was truly being serious or not. She must have lost a few screws while out there on her own.
Meanwhile, Raphtalia felt a sense of joy and relief. Not only did the Sword Hero rid this world of Cerberus's menace, but she also allowed her master Naofumi to wield its power. At the same time, she was relieved that Naofumi seemed to have a friend in Asuka, while the others didn't seem to like him for some reason.
"Hey, Naofumi! Those don't belong to you! Give those materials back to Asuka-chan!" Motoyasu yelled as he marched over to the Shield Hero. He was stopped when Asuka gave him another quick jab, this time to his side. This caused him to double over in pain again.
"You really need to work on this overprotective of yours, Motoyasu-kun. It's charming for a while, but then it gets tedious." Asuka advised.
"And you need to stop hitting him!" Myne yelled while at the Spear Hero's side.
Naofumi was certain Asuka was hitting him over some crap he did. As amusing as Motoyasu's torment was, the Shield Hero couldn't care less.
"This is ridiculous. I'm leaving." Naofumi said.
"What about our strategy meeting?" a pouty Asuka asked.
"I'm not going to stand here and listen to guys bicker all day. You can do what you want."
Without another word, Naofumi trotted past her, with Raphtalia following behind. She took a moment to bow her head respectfully to Asuka and joined her master not a second alter.
As he walked past Myne, he saw the condescending and resenting look on her face.
"You should enjoy your spoils while you can," Myne said haughtily.
"Y-Yeah, Naofumi! I'll make you pay for turning Asuka-chan against us!" Motoyasu swore as he stood himself up with his spear.
The Shield Hero spotted a similarly resentful look in the silent Itsuki's eyes.
Naofumi couldn't help grinning like he had won a contest. It made him want to enjoy his spoils, so he quickened his pace to get out of the Three Heroes Church as quickly as possible.
Once the Shield Hero and his companion were gone, Motoyasu and Itsuki turned their attention to Asuka. They were going to confront her over her decision to hand the remaining Cerberus parts to Naofumi.
However, all parties were surprised to see that the Sword Hero had vanished. There was no sound or indication of her disappearance. She vanished without a trace.
"What the hell?! Where'd that Sword Bimbo go?!" Myne shouted furiously.
"I only took my eyes off of her for a second, and she just vanished!" Itsuki groaned.
"Asuka-chan, where are you?!" Motoyasu cried out.
"Hey, look!" Elena pointed to two health potions on the ground where she stood.
"Where did these health potions come from?" Itsuki asked.
"Maybe she left them here for us." Motoyasu said, "Another generous gift!"
"Something tells me she doesn't think very highly of us." Itsuki sighed in annoyance.
"That's not true, Itsuki! She wouldn't have left these for us if she didn't care." Motoyasu smiled blissfully.
Meanwhile, Myne was fuming again. She fell for another of the Sword Bimbo's tricks. Well, that was going to be for the last time. Motoyasu had obtained the skill needed to win the sacred duel. All she had to do was make sure he won and that conniving Sword Bimbo will be Myne's slave. Oh, the torment Myne was ready to heap on that brat.
First, she would reveal the Sword Bimbo's deceit to Melromarc and squander any hope of the people siding with her. And then Myne would parade that brat's nubile form around town and maybe let perverted men have their way with her for a mountain of gold. She was certain that one governor would pay twice a fortune just to have her for a night. Myne couldn't wait to take her new slave out for walks.
Speaking of slaves, there was that demi-human slave girl with the Shield Hero. Perhaps Myne could use not just that knowledge to torment the Shield Hero but also the Sword Bimbo as well. No, she would definitely use it against them.
"I hope you're enjoying your freedom, Sword Bimbo. Because you and the Shield Hero will suffer my wrath." Myne thought while smirking maliciously.
Unbeknownst to anyone in the room, Asuka was indeed still there. She was just invisible, thanks to her Camouflage skill. She stood still against the entrance wall and watch the confused group.
True, she left those potions there for Motoyasu and Itsuki. She had a feeling trying to get everyone on the same page would be in vain. She had to try at least, but it was safe to say their stubbornness was a major obstacle. They wouldn't let her give Naofumi something to work with, after all.
Asuka was certain Naofumi made the best use of his shield he could over the past three weeks, but she wanted to make sure he had the skills he could use in the long run. The bonus skills she got from Cerberus proved to be invaluable, so there was no reason he couldn't have the same thing.
Of course, she realized her pettiness probably made things more difficult for Motoyasu and Itsuki. She only gave them parts to get them off her back, having predicted they would demand their share of the materials. They were also going to challenge the Second Wave's Boss, regardless of whether or not they had a Cerberus Series of skills. But maybe they'll learn not to underestimate a Wave Boss if it got challenging. Asuka learned firsthand that a Wave Boss was more intelligent than other monsters. She could only hope they played it smart when facing off against it.
Last but not least, Myne.
"She's so predictable."
After getting to know her over the past month, Asuka had a pretty good understanding of how the vile princess's mind worked and she wasn't about to fall into another of one her schemes.
"You haven't suffered my wrath yet, Myne-san."
The Sword Hero made a silent exit soon after.
[-Later That Night: Inn-]
"Wasn't it nice of the Sword Hero to give you those materials, Naofumi-sama?!" Raphtalia asked excitedly.
It wasn't very long after Naofumi and Raphtalia returned to the inn. The raccoon girl could barely contain herself. Her tail was whipping around all over the place.
"Why are you so excited?" Naofumi asked.
"How could I not be? Asuka-san defeated Cerberus! That three-headed dog destroyed my village and killed my parents!"
"Oh yeah, you mentioned a three-headed dog when you talked about your past, didn't you? Who would have guessed that was Cerberus, the Second Wave Boss?"
It made sense for Raphtalia to idealize Asuka for killing the monster that killed her parents. But how could he verify if Asuka was telling the truth or not? She was right in believing he still didn't trust her. At least not completely.
Everyone woman in this country was still the same as Myne. That was something he'd like to believe. Sometimes he thought Raphtalia might leave him. That was why he hasn't told her of supposed crimes. But Raphtalia has shown nothing short of genuine loyalty.
Asuka was different as well. It seemed like she knew Raphtalia was his slave, but she didn't say a word. According to the rumors, Asuka opposed demi-human slavery, so why would she keep quiet about Naofumi being a slave owner? Could it be that she understood his situation? No, she had to, because she must feel it was partially her fault that he was forced to buy a slave.
And now she was making up for the crap he had to deal with by giving away free materials from a Wave Boss. Asuka didn't seem like she was lying when she said she wanted his forgiveness by giving those items to him.
"Well, there's one way to verify, isn't there...?"
Naofumi fed the Cerberus parts to his shield.
This unlocked the |Cerberus Series| for the Legendary Shield.
|Unlocked: Cerberus Series|
Cerberus Fang Shield
Base Attack: Plus 20
Cerberus Claw Shield
Base Attack: Plus 20
Equip Bonus Skill: Savage Counter-Strike
Cerberus Leather Shield
Base Defense: plus 40
Equip Bonus: Magic Defense plus 30
Cerberus Bone Shield
Base Defense: plus 41
Equip Bonus: Dissection Improvement
From this, Naofumi gleamed that Asuka was telling the truth. Although there wasn't a whole of lot materials in the bag, they would definitely be put to good use.
"Looks like Asuka was telling the truth." Naofumi smiled.
"I knew it!" Raphtalia said, "But you know, a part of me wanted to kill Cerberus too."
Naofumi turned to Raphtalia, who had a dark look in her eye.
"Don't get me wrong. I'm glad she took care of that beast. It surely would have continued its killing spree if it was allowed to run wild. But I would have liked to kill Cerberus and avenge everyone in my village, including my parents. I still haven't forgotten how they were eaten right in front of me."
The Shield Hero understood Raphtalia's desire for revenge. He had vengeful desires, even now. What Myne, Motoyasu, and Itsuki did to him could never be forgiven. He wanted them to pay for their betrayal somehow. Asuka winning the duel and clearing his name probably won't be enough.
From what he observed of Motoyasu and Itsuki, they've only become more insufferable since the last time Naofumi saw them. Because they had better equipment and presumably higher levels and useful skills, their egos skyrocketed. If there was a way to break those egos down, that would be a sure win.
Honestly, he didn't hate them as much as he hated Myne. Nothing could quell the hatred for that bitch. Everything was her fault, including the mess with Asuka.
Speaking of Asuka, Naofumi still couldn't figure out what Asuka's game was.
First, she disappears, then she comes back offering materials from Cerberus after she supposedly killed it. And why would she want to hold a strategy meeting even knowing it was pointless? She obviously didn't like Motoyasu or Itsuki, and she and Myne hated even more. What could possess to want everyone to work together again?
"Are you thinking about the Sword Hero?" Raphtalia asked.
"Yeah… she hasn't changed much since I last saw her, but her actions earlier were odd."
"I think she's a really nice person. But there's something I don't understand either." Raphtalia said, "Like, why you, she, and the other two Heroes don't get along? I noticed the animosity between you and the Bow Hero that one time. It seems to have gotten more intense with the Spear Hero and that red-haired woman. And they kept talking about how something terrible that you did. What was it?"
Raphtalia saw a conflicted look in Naofumi's eyes. It was like he had something he wanted to say but couldn't.
After what seemed like pondering for a while, Naofumi turned to her with a serious look on his face.
"That's none of your business."
"Huh? Why?!" Raphtalia exclaimed.
"Because… I said so." Naofumi said sternly, "You should get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow."
Naofumi sat down in front of the crafting lab set and began crafting medicine and others to take his mind off of things.
"Naofumi-sama… I'll… turn in the for the night. Good night." Raphtalia went to bed soon after.
Meanwhile, Naofumi found it hard to concentrate on making his medicine. He knew why, and the Shield Hero couldn't be any more apathetic to the situation. The country still thought he was a rapist, and Asuka was ostracized to the point where she dropped out of the public eye. It didn't help that Motoyasu and Itsuki did nothing because they believed Naofumi was a weak coward and a rapist.
"What's the use… no matter what she or I do, no one will see the truth." Naofumi thought.
Meanwhile, outside the Shield Hero's room in the inn, Asuka stood by the door. She overheard most of the conversation Naofumi and Raphtalia had.
She thought that Naofumi was still mad at her for failing to clear him of suspicion. At least it seemed like he was doing better than the last time she saw him. It had been over a week since then. Having Raphtalia around for companionship might have had something to do with it.
Asuka wanted to chat with them a little more, but she decided it was better to let them rest. There were only a few hours before the Second Wave hit. They'll all need their energy. She also needed to get back to her own companion, who was waiting at a separate in.
Lyall the Werewolf: Okay, that was a lot. I wanted to include a lot more, but I think this should do it. After this, it's on the Second Wave. Finally!
I'm sure most of you will find this boring since the characters are talking in circles, but I made the last chapter part 01, and left it on a cliffhanger, so we naturally need a follow-up. I also wanted to highlight how the dynamic of Cardinal Heroes hasn't changed. It was also an excuse to give Naofumi the Cerberus Shield Series, so he'll have new skills to use for the Second Wave.
I'm sure some of you have guessed who Asuka's partner is from the little hint dropped in the chapter.
Thanks to bloodyredrose1994 for giving me ideas for the Cerberus series.
That's all for now. Til the Second Wave! Whenever that will be.