Just for you to know: I base my fanfic around the anime, I only have read the manga until chap 70 and it was already some time ago. (Haven't watched S2 of the anime yet but from the clips i seen, I say it's pretty well made)
Chapter 2: A foul core within a veil
BEEP BEEP BEEP
"Oh my god! Stop this mind breaking agony!" After proving that pulling his pillow over his head won't stop his phone alarm, Lukas reached over to his phone to shut it up.
A few minutes of futile attempts to fall asleep again later, he stood up from his bed, opened his window and led the beautiful scenery of Melromarc put him into deep thoughts.
'It's still too weird to be not a dream, but it feels too real to be one. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I am going to be a protagonist in this fantasy world. I even don't know the language, hell, I even don't know the littlest thing about this world. What if I am stuck in a theocratic, authoritarian medieval North Korea… well that was overexaggerated.'
He began to periodically walk around his room trying to put his thoughts from the day before together again.
"Ahh, I need to learn the language, learn the culture and history of this country and most importantly have to survive those annoying waves the king spoke about. How terrible must they be for a whole country rely on foreign powerhouses only heard from legends?" Lukas vented all his current frustrations out loud.
In all his grumbling he somehow found himself in the hallway and passed some demi-human maids doing the cleaning as usual like in all cliché fantasy-castles.
Lukas dared to experiment with them. "Excuse moi, où sont les toilettes?" (Excuse me, where are the toilettes?) Maybe French would be recognised and break the language barrier.
The maids reluctantly backed away, whispering something to each other. That left Lukas with no choice other than performing the most embarrassing stunt he had done in a while.
Jumping like a fool while holding his crotch gave them enough hints to what he wanted.
Sometime later...
Lukas' bedroom.
Lukas had run out of options which would allow him a smoother path to learning the language of Melromarc. Yes, the idea of using Google Translate emerged, but it seemed like this language is based on Latin and deviated somewhere in the direction of Greek if Lukas had to guess. Neither of them was saved on the offline translate services on his phone and he never even considered learning both in his former world.
And to add the cherry on top, the letters were completely otherworldly to him.
This was disadvantageous.
The only people who could understand him were the heroes with their convenient translate skill of their weapons. Maybe if he asked them nicely enough, they would teach him the language.
With all his belonging on his back he stormed off to the other heroes' sleeping rooms.
As he turned around the corner, he met the group of Japanese casually bragging about what they will achieve in their stay in this world.
"Yo, Lukas. You also on your way to the throne room?", Motoyasu waved at him while checking him up in his exhausted state. "Huh, what's with that look? You can't last a hero's adventure if you already look so stressed on the second day. Oh, sorry you are not a hero."
Lukas could not decide if it was intended to mock him, but he brushed it off anyway.
"Hey, I wanted to ask you guys if somebody would be willing to spend their time teaching the language to me. I simply have no choice other way."
Silence prevailed over them for a moment in which everyone hesitantly glanced at each other before Naofumi raised his voice.
"I guess I could give it a try. All of us must go out into wilderness to farm Exp, so I am the most suitable to protect you from dangers."
"Yeah, Naofumi should do it. It would hurt our damage output the least and Naofumi could make himself a bit useful.", Ren spoke up after analysing the situation.
"Thank you, I really am indebted to you." Lukas gave Naofumi a respectful bow.
From this point on they all made their way to the throne room.
After arriving at their destination, Lukas eyed the king again, which was returned by the king with a stern yet not hostile glare back at him, giving him the chills.
'Yep, he's a king alright.'
His eyes shifter to the people, likely the adventurers who would be assigned to the heroes as said the previous day, right before the throne standing side by side of each other.
"Our kingdom has assembled its most experienced and competent adventures who shall now accompany the heroes in their campaign against the waves." King Aultcray declared. He swinged his hand into a forward motion. "Step forth brave adventurers and choose your hero with whom you shall serve the kingdom of Melormarc."
The adventurers began to line up behind their chosen hero and unsurprising to some, none had chosen the shield hero.
Lukas, standing beside said hero, gasped in shock, but not as expressive as Naofumi did.
'Is is how the heroes' parties should be composed? No sane person would reject a support/tank when they're about to face RPG-like monsters and bosses. It is like going to war without any tanks and medics.'
As if anticipating that this question would arise the king seldomly added:" It seems like a rumour has spread about the shield hero not possessing any knowledge about our world as a cardinal hero is supposed to."
It was obvious to everyone that the shield hero was drowning in anxiety.
Naofumi gave up on the notion of getting companions from the crown after even his fellow heroes were not successful at ceding one of their own.
To his side Lukas flinched almost unnoticeable after getting the gist of it. He just barely withheld his remark about how irresponsible it was by the king to let the shield hero, one of the only means to defend against the waves, in a certainly avoidable disadvantage.
'And here I thought he was a competent king. Neglecting his own people for annoying the shield hero is clearly foolish. No, there has to be a hidden reason which forces the king to act in such way.'
At this point Naofumi was destined to venture alone unless he scouted travel companions by himself… so long as Lukas was overlooked.
"Yo." Lukas gently elbowed the shield wielder on his side. "I'll help you grind exp in the early phase, beginner level monsters are no problem for me although I'm a noob. Have to pay for the lessons you'll give me, you know."
He didn't have any combat experience nor did he had the intention to face the waves without any cheats like a cardinal weapon. The closes logical thing he had in mind was to get rich by selling his modern knowledge of for this world advanced technology and sciences or start a business with those.
Still, Naofumi was going to teach him the local language so it would be sensible to give him something in return.
"Thanks, Lukas." Naofumi's body posture relaxed and he led out a dry laugh in relief.
A female voice suddenly flared up. All eyes redirected themselves to the direction of its source.
"Sir shield hero, I would be willing to change parties to aid you in our battle against the waves."
A red haired adventurer from Motoyasu's party stepped forward while raising her hand.
The spear hero, surprised by this woman's actions, showed a glint of worry. "Myne, are you sure about this? You don't have to. I am sure that he is able find somebody else by how friendly he is towards Lukas."
"Yes, I am sure. I can help sir shield hero to find around the capital city and even introduce him to potential recruits I know of." Myne emitted an innocent aura, her smiles only conveying benevolence and compassion.
Motoyasu no longer bothered her with questions, so Myne transferred herself to Naofumi's party.
"So be it. To cover the travel expenses 600 silvers will be given to the heroes monthly while the shield hero, because of his lack of party members will be given 800 silver this one time."
Each hero was given a pouch brimming of currency. None of them had the slightest idea how much worth it really had but they accepted it nonetheless.
"Lukas Weber, as a compensation to your misfortunate summoning you are hereby allowed to reside in my castle with a monthly allowance of no less than 50 slivers. You will be assigned a maid who will help you to integrate into our country by teaching you the language, culture and history of Melromarc."
As usual, Lukas got Naofumi to act as an interpreter.
'Certainly generous, but it stands in odds with my deal with Naofumi.'
Lukas thought about not taking the risks of being killed in battle but he was curious about the all the magical aspects this world had to offer. Unlike Ren, Naofumi would not be so hardcore as the antisocial sword wielder would who declared his willingness to abandon a party member if they fail to meet his standards. He's a shielder so all the progress would revolve around the isekaied non-hero. And of course, the newest party member: Myne.
As easily as he breathed, Naofumi repeated every sentence Lukas said. "Lukas wants to accompany me for the first few days of my journey because we made a deal about me teaching him the language and him grinding exp for me in exchange. He hopes that you would allow him to freely leave the castle to join me whenever he can."
A blitz of hesitations blinked in the the kings eyes but it faded just as fast. "I think this would be acceptable, but you must return to the castle before nightfall to begin your lessons."
Lukas and Naofumi threw a smile at each other, while Myne did not hide her discontent of feeling being left out right after she joined their party. She thus led out a small pout.
Naofumi somewhat got inflicted with nervousness but did nothing as the king began to speak again.
King Aultcray reserved the last words for himself. "Set forth and begin your preparations against the waves."
With that, the adventurers and heroes were dismissed and were set free to explore the world beyond the castle.
A/N Ah, I didn't expect myself to be hyped for how Lukas will affect the plot and how he will interact with the others. Then I found myself breaking a chapter out of my brain. It might have helped that I rewatched clips of key moments of the anime, and I have to say: The animation quality is far greater than I have in my memory. There were many obstacles while writing but in the end it moved forward.
Next chap is going to take a while bc the deadlines of my procrastinated assignment are coming uncomfortably close. I cut the chapter here bc the next will be about Lukas outside the castle for the rest of the day. See you next time.