Fairy Tail of the Shield Hero

by Tricksterverse

Lucy Heartfilia was a slave. She has no freedom, no future, and even her magic's been sealed. The idea of being sold off to another person was frightening, but she never imagined she'd fight by the side of the Shield Hero. Now, her and Naofumi fight the waves together, and if they're lucky, they might just create their own Fairy Tail.

2. The first wave

The wave is coming.

That fact looms over my head like an executioner's ax. It's been nearly a month since I first came to this world, and about half that since I bought Lucy from the slave trader. We've been working hard to develop my shield and get stronger. Because of Lucy, I've even learned how to read some of this world's language. That allowed us to buy a cheap grimoire, and I finally forged a connection with the mana of this world. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I have a great affinity for healing and support magic. With Lucy acting as my teacher, I've even managed to pick up some basic spells. Still, I don't think any amount of preparation is gonna make this current anxiety go away.

That doesn't mean it's not valuable, though, and that's why I once again find myself standing in Erhard's weapon shop.

The old man flashes a grin as soon as we step in. Not at me, of course, I'm the villainous shield hero after all. No, it's my erstwhile companion he smiles so brightly at. I've almost entirely separated myself from my hormones after that joke of a trial, but Lucy's undeniably beautiful.

"Hey there, you two are looking healthier. Finally ditched the mummy look, I see."

Sure enough, Lucy and I have finally fully recovered from our fight with the demon dog. For the immediate week after that encounter, though, we had to walk around all bandaged up. It was a pain, but at least neither of our wounds got infected.

"Yep. We're back at a hundred percent and ready to fight!" Lucy cheers, flexing her arm. I have no clue how she can have such a chipper attitude as a slave.

Regardless, I approach the blacksmith and say, "I need you to grab the best whip you have, Erhard. Money isn't an issue. The waves coming up and we need the strongest gear you've got."

Erhard's expression shifts, likely understanding the severity of the situation. "So it's that time, huh? I'll be right back," he says, and walks into the back of the store.

"Naofumi, I'm happy to take a better weapon, but we should upgrade your armor as well," Lucy advises. I haven't bought any new armor for myself since I bought Lucy, but I don't really need to since my shield's defense is so strong. I try to explain that to her, but she cuts me off, saying, "You're not invincible, or have you somehow forgotten how that hellhound tore us to shreds? That was a leftover monster from the first wave. If the upcoming one has ever stronger monsters, your shield alone isn't gonna cut it."

"...Point," I concede.

Erhard returns, interrupting us. "Ever since you first came by, Lucy, I've been working on this. I hope you like it," he says, and hands over the weapon. Strangely enough, it looks like a super miniaturized spear, with only a handle and pointed blade. "I call it the sword whip. Give it a try, kid."

Shrugging, Lucy springs into action. To my surprise, when she flicks her wrist, the blade detaches from the handle, sailing forward. The two pieces are connected by what looks to be a steel wire, and as soon as the weapon's arc completes it snaps back into place.

"Whips aren't exactly known for their power," Erhard explains, "But like this, you can keep all the finesse while adding a lethal option. Its distasteful to say out loud, but you could send that into a monster's skull pretty easily, I'd say."

Lucy appears too enamored with her new weapon to respond, so I turn to the blacksmith and say, "Looks like it's a keeper. How much?"

"Seventy-five silver."

Lucy winces upon hearing that number, but it's about what I expected. I asked for quality, after all. That said, I'm not gonna take such a figure lying down.

"When I have no insurance about its quality? Get real. Your last whip broke when we fought a leftover monster from the first wave, and the ones we're planning to fight are gonna be even stronger. I've got no reason to take you at your word about its craftsmanship. Sixty silver, and you're lucky to be getting that."

Lucy looks like her soul's about to leave her body from my harsh words, but Erhard takes it in stride. "...Alright, fine. Sixty."

I smirk, "Don't pout, you'll probably make a killing off whatever armor I'm about to buy."

Lucy looks pleased by the change in subject, and Erhard smiles. "I was wondering when you were gonna ask about that. I can sell you a full suit of plate armor for a hundred and sixty silver," he offers, and gestures to where said armor is standing along the wall.

It's a rather bulky piece that would cover my entire body, even my head. I'm sure it'll have plenty of defense but… "I don't know."

"Yeah, I just can't see Naofumi as a full body armor sort of guy," Lucy adds.

"Well somebody's hard to please," Erhard grumbles. "Listen, with the wave coming up, I'm willing to give this everything I've got. How about you give me some of your best materials, and I'll have something made up special."

Lucy and I share a surprised glance. "You'd really do that?!"

"So long as you're willing to pay for it, sure. And no deals or discounts this time. If I'm selling this it'll be at full price."

I mull it over for a couple seconds, then say, "Fine. You've got a deal. How long do you expect it to take?"

"I should be able to get it done in a day if I start working on it now," the blacksmith explains, accepting the various monster drops I hand his way.

"That's good to hear. I wish I knew exactly when the damn wave was happening."

"You mean you haven't visited the Dragon Hourglass?"

I raise an eyebrow at Erhard's question. My first instinct is to turn to Lucy, but she looks just as lost as I am. "Do you really not know? The heroes are meant to visit the Dragon Hourglass so they can learn the exact time of the waves."

"I didn't read about that in the legends," Lucy comments.

"Would've been nice to know. I'll bet that damned three heroes church has something to do with this."

"It wouldn't surprise me at this point," Lucy says with a heavy sigh. "So I'm guessing that's our next stop?"

"Absolutely. The last thing I want is to be caught off guard by a monster invasion."

I turn to Erhard before we leave. "Make sure to get that done as quickly as you can. We'll be back the same time tomorrow."

"I'll have it prepared the second you walk in the door. Count on that," he says cheerily. I guess he's looking forward to impressing us.

Either way, I have a new mission in mind now, and it'll take me to the last place I want to be: The three heroes' church.

0 0 0

Walking up to the three heroes church, I feel a pit form in my gut.

It's ironic, really. Naofumi's the one they've got a vendetta against; what do I have to feel nervous about? Well, this is the same church that sold me the holy water I used to free myself. If one of the sisters happen to recognize me, it'll lead to a pretty harrowing confrontation. I still haven't told Naofumi that I'm no longer a slave. It's deceptive, I know, but I want him to be able to trust me. We've grown closer in the time we've spent with each other, but I know the only reason he feels he can count on me is because he thinks I can't defy him. When I tell him the truth, I want it to be on my terms, so he knows I'm not faking it. That I want to stay with him and fight the waves together.

But that time isn't now, no matter how much I may wish otherwise.

Naofumi and I enter the church with the same cautious gait. His eyes continually scan our surroundings as if he expects an attack. It's a little saddening to think he's only this anxious because of what I told him, but I know it's better than being ignorant.

Naofumi approaches the sister standing in front of the altar. She sneers at us, but Naofumi ignores it and says, "We need to see the Dragon Hourglass."

"...As desiphells of God, it's our duty to serve the heroes any way we can. Please, follow me," she directs, looking down her nose at us the whole time. The difference in treatment compared to the last time I was here is stark, to say the least. Is this what Naofumi's had to deal with this whole time? It's… sad. He doesn't deserve this.

Without warning, I grab Naofumi's free arm and hold it to my chest. He looks at me with a raised brow, but I just smile in response. I know he's not big on physical contact, but I want him to know I have his back.

I'm sure my thoughts manage to reach him, because he doesn't tell me to get off.

We spend the rest of the walk in silence, before finally arriving at the chamber of the Dragon Hourglass. It really is an impressive thing. A massing spinning structure made of glass and gold. The sand has almost entirely fallen to the bottom of the hourglass, but that's what we expected. We're here to learn the exact time of the wave.

Naofumi and I step forward. When we're about five feet away, his shield suddenly reacts. A beam of green light shoots forth from the gem on his shield and connects to the hourglass. It fades away after a couple seconds, and as far as I can see nothing's changed. Naofumi's expression is noticeably distressed, however, so I ask, "Hey, what's it-"

"Is that Naofumi I see?" A foreign voice suddenly interrupts me. I turn around to see a whole bunch of people standing by the chamber entrance. The one who's spoken is a blonde haired man dressed in red. He has a pretty face and carries a spear with him.

At his entrance, I feel Naofumi's form tighten considerably. I can practically feel the rage coming off of him. What happened between these two?

Before I can think to ask, the blonde man speaks again. "What's this? Don't tell me you're still using that flimsy equipment."

Naofumi stomps off wordlessly, descending the stairs to the hourglass. I hurriedly follow him, and as we come closer to the blond man I can't help but worry if Naofumi's about to deck him. That's how pissed off he looks. Thankfully, he just silently walks past him, but before we can go any further-

"Lucy…?"

My eyes widen in surprise, and I whip to the side. I've heard that voice before!

"Malty?!"

Sure enough, there she is. Standing behind the blonde man is a beautiful woman with red hair and green eyes. I haven't seen her in years, but I'd recognize her anywhere. This is Malty Q. Melramarc, the second princess of the kingdom, and my childhood friend!

"Lucy, it really is you!" she cheers, running over and grabbing my hands. "You should've told me you were visiting!"

Oh man, I have quite a lot to catch her up on, don't I? I first met Malty when my father came to Melramarc on a business trip. This was only a couple months after my mother died, so I was still hurting badly. Malty never let me dwell on my grief, though. She always dragged me into the mischief she caused, and I was so busy panicking about getting in trouble that I didn't have time to think about my loss. She was kind of a brat, sure, and we fought a lot during the start of our friendship, but before long we were practically inseparable. Even as my father grew colder and colder, I looked forward to my visits to Melramarc, since it meant I got to see her. That was until about a year ago, when dad forced me to stop coming so I could focus on the family business. I ran away not long after that.

"You two know each other…" Naofumi growls, and immediately my veins turn to ice. That's right, Naofumi had no idea about my past or lineage.

Oh shit…

This is exactly what I wanted to avoid! I know Naofumi and the king had some sort of disagreement, even if I don't know the specifics. If he finds out I have a connection with the king(even if it is a distant one)then how's he gonna react? The look on his face says it all. The hurt, the betrayal…

No, Naofumi. Don't look at me like that! I'm not an enemy! I would never hurt you!

I can't turn back the clock and prevent this, so I decide to get in front of it. "That's right, I hadn't told you, Malty," I say, trying to sound as confident as possible. I stand beside Naofumi and declare, "I've been traveling with the shield hero. We're going to fight the waves together!"

"...Please tell me you're not serious," Malty says in a clipped tone.

Her reaction shocks and unnerves me, but I push through it, "No, I'm serious. I never thought I'd meet one of the legendary heroes, but I can't just stand by when the world's at stake. I'm proud to fight by his side."

"Ah, you shouldn't say that," the blonde man says with a wince. "Staying with Naofumi… it'll put you in danger and-"

"I'm outta here!" Naofumi suddenly explodes, stomping toward the exit of the church.

My eyes widen in alarm. My eyes dart between Naofumi's retreating back and Malty's concerned gaze. There's so much I need to tell her, but right now, I know where I need to be.

"Wait up!"

0 0 0

"Naofumi!" I scream for what must be the dozenth time. He hadn't stopped since leaving the cathedral. Just kept storming down the streets of Melramarc. Going where? I have no idea. Away from me, I guess.

Thankfully, my most recent shout finally seems to have reached him. He stops in the middle of the alley, then turns to face me. His eyes burn with anger. "Why the hell are you still here!?"

I flinch before narrowing my eyes. I don't care what happened, I have no intention of backing down. "I'm your partner-"

"Stop lying!" Naofumi roars. "I'll admit you were close, Lucy. You almost had me convinced with that act. Too bad your precious little friend Myne showed up and ruined your scheme. Just go away! I have nothing to say to a traitor like you!"

"I'm not a traitor! Naofumi, you have to know I'd never hurt you," I plead.

"I know nothing. Not a damn thing," he retorts. "I didn't know about your magic. Didn't know about your past. Hell, I don't even know your last name! Makes sense now, I suppose…"

"I never intended to hide anything from you. You're right that I haven't told you anything about me, and I'm sorry for that. I'll apologize as many times as you need to, but I never kept a secret so I could use it as a weapon. I meant everything I said about my magic, and I genuinely have no idea what Malty's been doing. I don't know anything about what happened between you."

"…"

Naofumi remains silent, and I pray that means he's considering what I have to say. I step forward and touch his shoulder, "Naofumi-"

"Don't touch me," he snaps, pushing me away. "And stay away."

He begins to walk away, and I narrow my eyes. "No."

"...No?"

"I'm not gonna stay away," I say firmly. "I don't care if you can't trust me. I don't care if you hate me forever; I'll always stand by your side! Back when I freed myself from the slave crest, I made a promise to myself that I'd never leave you alone!"

Naofumi's eyes widen. He looks as though he's just been punched. "You said you're… free?"

I nod, and once again step forward. I'm not leaving anything left unsaid in this moment. "That's right, Naofumi. I undid the slave crest a little over two weeks ago, while you were asleep. I could've abandoned you back then, but I didn't, and do you know why?" His face says that he doesn't, "It's because you're my friend!"

Naofumi looks stunned. Well and truly lost for words. I don't think I've ever seen him like this. He always has an order to bark, or a sly comment to make. When he's quiet, it's his choice. But not right now. "...Tell me what happened, Naofumi. Tell me why everyone hates you the way they do, and I'll do the same. We'll swap stories, okay?" I say with a smile.

A long moment of silence passes between us. Then, Naofumi opens his mouth and tells me everything. It feels as though his body is acting without his consent. Simply unable to keep the words in any longer. Still, I listen with rapt attention. He goes over it all. His initial summoning, being left with no party members until Malty joined him. Then, finally, the trial. The accusations, the verdict. Being left with no money, no future, and no chance at survival.

Hearing the story, my heart aches terribly. I can't help wondering what must have driven Malty to act in such a way. I know she's always had a mean streak, but this goes way beyond an inappropriate prank. I'll put that to the side for now, though, because there's something I need to say.

"I believe you."

Naofumi doesn't look convinced by my words, though, so I say it again.

"I believe you, Naofumi."

He's not the most emotional guy, I know that. I'm not expecting a hug, or tears of joy. The small smile that quickly stretches across Naofumi's face, however, tells me everything I need to know."

"...Thank you, Lucy."

I nod, and then, I return the favor. I tell him about my childhood in the Heartfilia manor. About my mothers passing. About how my father became cold and dispassionate, slowly turning my home into a loveless place. I tell him how I ran away from there, and how I ultimately got tricked by Bora the Prominence and turned into a slave.

When I'm finished, Naofumi just says, "...This whole day's been exhausting, let's get something to eat."

I snicker at his words. "Sounds great. My throat's dry after all that shouting."

"Yeah, you really talked my ear off. Anyone ever tell you you're loud as hell?"

"Anyone ever tell you you're a grumpy jackass?" I fire back. I hug his arm to my chest once more, and Naofumi doesn't pull away.

"Just you, Lucy. Just you."

0 0 0

The next day, we walk into Erhard's shop somehow feeling more anxious.

The cause this time has nothing to do with my and Lucy's relationship, thankfully. No, it's the simple fact that the wave's only six hours away. Before the day is done, Lucy and I will be fighting for our lives against a horde of monsters. Worse still; if I die, nobody will care. Everyone will look upon my mangled corpse and think 'he got what he deserved'.

Well, everyone except Lucy maybe.

What an insane sequence of events yesterday turned into. I never imagined I'd go from wishing someone was dead to trusting them with my life in the space of a few hours, but I guess that's her secret second magic. Earnestly, though, I genuinely feel like there's nobody I trust more than her. Both in this world and my original. That's kind of a scary thought, I'll admit, but I won't lie to myself.

"Alright, Erhard, we're here. Let's take a look at this special armor you've been cooking up," I announce, approaching the counter.

The blacksmith smirks, "Sure thing. I'll let you get dressed and then you can tell me what you think." He proceeds to hand me a large bundle of clothes.

I take them and head toward the changing room. They're a lot lighter than I expected, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I change into the armor as quickly as I can, then look at myself in the mirror.

I can't stop myself from frowning when I do.

The armor I'm now wearing looks to be made of some kind of reinforced leather. There are sizable round plates which fit around my legs, a small steel breastplate in the center and fingerless leather gloves. On top of all that, the whole thing is lined with some kind of fur. I can tell it has really good defense, so what's my grievance? Simple.

"This thing makes me look like a total villain!" I complain as I step out of the changing room.

"Well at least now you're dressed for the part!" Lucy chirps, unnecessarily.

"What do you think, kid? I call it barbarian armor!" Erhard exclaims.

I snort, "Well if nothing else the name fits. How much will it cost?"

"A hundred Seventy-five silvers," he says, uncompromisingly.

Lucy and I both wince, but we knew this was gonna put a dent in our finances. My life is worth a lot more than some coin, though, so I begrudgingly hand over the allotted amount.

With our business settled, Lucy and I leave the shop behind. There's still quite a bit of time before the wave, but we don't have much else to do but wait. I guess I could compound some medicine in the meantime, but I'm not sure how helpful that'll be.

"Naofumi, let's get something to eat," Lucy abruptly suggests.

"Might as well. I'm feeling a little hungry too."

"I'm not talking about a cheap lunch set, Naofumi. Let's really splurge!" Lucy says, surprising me. "We're about to risk our lives fighting against the waves. That's a really scary thought, and I'm sure a lot of other people are being crushed by it. But you know what? Screw that! I'm not gonna spend today all miserable. I'd rather stuff my face with the best food we can afford!"

I take a few moments to mull over Lucy's impassioned speech, then say, "You know what? You're right. I'm gonna shove it in those other heroes faces that I'm not afraid."

Lucy giggles, "You're really petty sometimes, Naofumi."

"And proud of it. Now c'mon, let's get something good to eat."

Lucy leads me to a posh looking restaurant. As usual, everyone's eyes follow us as we take a seat, but I don't even care. I'm gonna enjoy what might be my last day on any world, and nobody's gonna stop me.

The waiter walks toward us with a wince, and I let Lucy order for both of us. I trust her judgement. Our food and drink arrives not fifteen minutes later. Lucy and I raise our glasses, ""Cheers!"" we echo, and proceed to take big gulps of juice.

We dig into the food, and I can feel my heart skip a beat. I can actually taste it! For the first time since the trial, my food has flavor. I scarf down the first dish on the table, then proceed to the second with little delay.

"I guess you were more hungry than you let on," Lucy comments.

I cough to mask my embarrassment and straighten up. "That's not it. It's just… I can actually taste this."

Lucy's eyes soften in sympathy, and I immediately regret my words. I don't need her to pity me. "Hey, Naofumi…"

"What is it?"

"I want us to make a vow," she declares firmly.

"A vow?" I question.

"That's right. I refuse to challenge the wave thinking 'I'll fight even though I'm gonna die'. That kind of thinking is a load of shit! That's why, if we're gonna do this… promise me we'll win," Lucy says, extending a closed fist.

She's overdoing it, I can't help but think. First the restaurant, and then this. She's putting it on slightly to mask her fear. I don't blame her given the situation. With that in mind, I still feel her words reach me. It feels a little childish, but I reach out my fist and bump it against hers, "I want to live, so I swear we'll win!"

Lucy smiles, and the rest of our meal is a merry affiar filled with pleasant chatter.

0 0 0

Thirteen seconds before the wave hits.

Lucy and I stand in the northern plaza of Melramarc, silent. We've said everything we need to, made all our preparations. All that's left is for the clock to run out.

I feel oddly peaceful about the whole thing. I don't know if I'd call what I'm feeling confidence or resignation, but it's preferable to the anxiousness I felt earlier.

Three seconds left.

"Get ready, Lucy."

"You too, Naofumi."

The timer hits zero.

Lucy and I are swallowed in a golden light. I cry out in alarm, but the light fades as quickly as it appears. When I can see again, we're standing on a hill overlooking the countryside of Melramarc. My eyes hurriedly scan the surroundings for enemies, only to snap upward.

The sky has changed colors, becoming a deep blood red with swirls of blue and green mixed in. Monsters and demons rain down on the lands. I hear heavy footsteps to my right, and turn to see the other three heroes and their parties charging into battle. Seeing them makes me feel nauseous, but I'll play ball if it means this ends quicker.

However, before I can run after them Lucy calls my name. "Naofumi, look!"

I follow where she's pointing, and swiftly spot the village of Lute. The heroes charged in the other direction, so it's completely defenseless. Not even a second later, a cylindrical object fires into the sky above the village, leaving a trail of green smoke behind it. A flare? "Do they really think letting the knights know they're in trouble is enough?"

"What do you wanna do, Naofumi?" Lucy asks, her voice grave.

It only takes me a moment to decide. "We're going… to Lute village!" I declare, and the two of us race in that direction.

By the time we arrive, everything's descended into chaos. Monsters roam the streets, leaving the helpless villagers to scramble for safety. Some of the townsfolk try to make a stand with what weapons they have on hand, but it's not nearly enough to contest the horde of zombies and other monsters.

I race toward the nearest villager. Right as a zombie is about to cleave him in two, I jump in between them. The zombie's sword deflects harmlessly off my siderite shield, before Lucy's new whip spears through the monster's skull. It drops like a sack of rocks, and I turn to the shocked villager. "If you can move, then get the hell out of here!" I bark.

"Uh, right. Thank you!" He says, then runs off.

Of course, that's just one person in a village quickly becoming overrun with monsters. There's only so much I can do on my own. "We need to evacuate everyone as quickly as possible. Lucy, can you help speed things along?"

"I can do more than that," Lucy declares, and grabs one of the keys at her waist. "Open, gate of the crab, Cancer!"

By her command, a man with dark skin, sunglasses, and crab-like features appears from thin air. Bizarrely, he carries a large pair of scissors in each hand. "What do you need from me, baby?" The crab spirit asks.

"Cancer, can you help the townspeople evacuate while Naofumi and I distract the monsters?" Lucy requests, killing another zombie in the process.

"Consider it done, baby," he says, before darting away faster than I can track.

I marvel at the efficiency of her spirits for a second, then face forward. "Let's get to work, Lucy!"

"Right!"

We take off! Rushing through the village streets, the first thing to capture my attention is a mother and daughter. A pair of giant wasp monsters bear down on them, ready to strike.

"Air strike shield!"

The skill responds to my command, appearing in front of the villagers and saving their lives. A second later, Lucy's whip flies forth, severing the wasps' heads. "Get out of here, now!" I call back as I continue to run.

There's so much to do. So many enemies that I can't hope to protect everyone myself, but I'll be damned if I don't give it my best shot.

"Shield prison!" I cry, encasing a trio of kids in a sphere of shields right before they're skewered by a crowd of zombies.

"Open, gate of the bull, Taurus!" Lucy casts, bringing to the battlefield a giant bull man with an ax. With one sweep of his weapon, he tears through all the zombies. He disappears a second later, and I notice Lucy looking rather winded.

"Hey, don't over-exert yourself. Can't have you passing out halfway through."

"Don't worry, I've still got plenty of energy. I just wish we had a way to gather all the monsters together."

She has a point. We've done a decent job protecting people and getting the monster's attention so far, but we're only two people in a village full of them. My eyes stray to the nearby watchtower, and I say, "I've got an idea, help me attract as much attention as we can."

Lucy grins determinedly and nods. I race in the direction of the watchtower, protecting everyone I can see with my shield and skills.

"Air strike shield!"

"Shield prison!"

"Net shield!"

While I'm occupied with that, Lucy wreaks havoc with her whip. It travels like a beam of light, piercing skulls and severing limbs, all while occasionally getting some help from the odd spirit. I could've done without that bull guy praising Lucy's 'udders' after an attack, though.

We make it to the base of the clock tower with a sizable horde of monsters following us. I urged the two of us up the ladder, and before too long we find ourselves at the top of the tower. The monsters are quick to climb after us, but it's slow going with so many of them.

"Alright, what's the plan, Naofumi?" Lucy asks.

"This," I state bluntly, and proceed to ring the bell hanging nearby. Its whistle-like tones resound throughout the village, capturing the attention of nearly every monster in town. I can personally see several villagers being passed over as the zombies and wasps approach us.

"Naofumi, I don't mean to be a nag-"

"Like that's accidental."

"-But, how are we supposed to be getting out of this one?!" Lucy wails, gesturing to the dozens of monsters clamoring to get at us.

"I have a plan for that too, but you probably won't like it," I admit, and proceed to grab a torch from a nearby barrel. I grab a pot from the floor, one whose contents I'm well aware of, and proceed to upend it on the approaching monsters. Gasoline rains on them like fine wine, and the flow only increases when Lucy joins me, picking up on my intention.

After we've tossed all the gasoline, I light the torch in my hand. I take a deep breath before grabbing hold of Lucy with my free hand and pull her against me. Finally, I change to the wire shield and tell Lucy to hold on tight.

I drop my torch onto the watchtower, setting it ablaze. The rotten flesh of the zombies lights up like a christmas tree, and I can immediately feel the wood under me creak unsteadily. Not wasting another second, I leap from the watchtower, holding Lucy tight.

She screams in fright, but I quickly let loose a line with the wire shield. It wraps around a wooden beam protruding from the watchtower, slowing our descent. We still approach the ground rapidly, however, and I cover Lucy with my body while we tumble to the earth.

A large dust cloud is kicked up by our landing, but we both come out of it relatively unharmed. Moreover, the blazing watchtower collapses in on itself, taking a large host of monsters with it.

Despite everything, however, the wave isn't over, and the last remnants of the monsters are still terrorizing the village. "What the hell are those idiots doing!" I growl, thinking of the other heroes.

Those thoughts are interrupted, however, when a trio of zombies swing their blades at our downed forms. I raise my shield in a panic, but right before the attack hits, Lucy's crab spirit comes in from behind!

Perhaps sensing its contractor's distress, Cancer comes barreling in and dispatches the zombies with some artful swings of his scissors. "The evacuation's complete, baby! I'm all yours now," the crab man reports.

Lucy sighs in relief, "Thank you, Cancer. Why don't you rest now. You've earned it." With that, she calls him back to the spirit world.

"Don't get too comfortable. We're not out of the woods just yet," I warn.

"I know," Lucy says, and the two of us stand up. We face the monster horde, ready to fight. Right before we're about to engage, however-

"Ragh!"

"Haah!"

A small group of villagers charge into the fray! Holding nothing but simple swords and pitchforks, they rail against the monsters with all they have. "We've decided to fight with you, shield hero!" one of them declares, approaching us. "Lute is our home, and we won't let it be destroyed!"

Finally, something good happens! "Smart choice. We'll take care of all the monsters we can. You guys beat down any stragglers. Use numbers to your advantage and never fight more than two at a time," I instruct.

"You heard the man! Let's protect our home!" He shouts to the other villagers, and they roar in kind.

"Fly, Lucy!" I howl, feeling my blood pumping in my veins.

The two of us charge toward the horde of monsters. We fight together, and we're so in sync it's almost like we rehearsed it. Lucy swings her whip with pinpoint accuracy, cutting down monsters by the dozens. As soon as one gets anywhere close to her, however, there I am, blocking the attack and keeping her safe. Her whip flies right past my head and I don't even question it, knowing her target is the enemy behind me. When she's too far for me to reach physically, my air strike shield is there to guard her. We don't fight as two people, but as an extension of one will.

Our dance is broken up, however, when I notice something unusual in the sky. It's like a miniature sun has appeared above us, but I quickly recognize it's intent. "Lucy!" I cry out, and she instantly responds, running to my side. I pull her against me and crouch down, changing to the siderite shield. "Shooting star shield!" I declare, and the translucent barrier appears around us.

Not a second too soon, as well. The miniature sun suddenly explodes into streaks of fire which descend on the village. Thankfully, my skill keeps Lucy and I protected. The same can't be said of the villagers' homes, however, nor the few monsters who actually get caught up in the attack.

"That was ritual magic, but who cast it?" Lucy wonders aloud.

The answer soon reveals itself in the form of a group of knights. They stroll into the village, completely uncaring of the wanton destruction they just caused. The man I can only assume is the head knight steps forward, "Don't tell me that's the shield hero? What a sorry state you're in."

Lucy erupts at his words, "What the hell were you thinking?! You almost hit us with that attack, and you've destroyed the village!"

"I'm only performing my duty as a knight. Do yourself a favor and stay out of our way. Less chance you'll get caught up in the crossfire that way," the knight says, his voice radiating smugness.

I snort, "Okay. I'm happy to let the zombies tear you to pieces."

It's only now that the idiot knights notice it. There's a giant zombie clad in armor standing behind them. It rears its large ax back for a swing, and with how unprepared the knights are they can't dodge it.

Luckily for them, I'm here.

I jump in between them and catch the zombies ax with my shield. The force of it nearly knocks me over, but I hold firm. "What's the matter? Too scared to die honorably in battle?" I taunt, unable to resist. There's something scarily satisfying about seeing their faces, knowing they've been saved by the 'lowly' shield hero.

Lucy's bull spirit cuts the zombie down before disappearing. "You have the worst personality, Naofumi," she snarks as she stands beside me.

I can't help myself, "And yet, you're still here. You have really crappy taste in friends, Lucy."

She smirks, and we face the dwindling monster horde together. "Listen, we'll give you time to get into formation!" I shout at the knight, then the two of us return to battle. Our dance from before resumes, and we cut a path through the numerous monsters.

This continues for several minutes before I finally hear someone shout, "Phalanx formation to support the shield hero!"

Finally, the idiot knights join the fray. Although I can't help but notice there's not nearly as many as before. I guess most of them decided it wasn't worth it to aid the shield hero. Whatever, at least we have some support. About time, too, since I can see Lucy is reaching her limit.

We fight alongside the knights for several more minutes. Then, in an almost anticlimactic fashion, the sky returns to its normal colors, monsters stop falling from the sky, and the wave has ended.

There are still a few monsters left roaming around that we didn't kill before the end, but Lucy and I easily dispatch them with the knight's help. With that being finished, and the fires put out, Lute village is safe once more. It survived the wave, and that's undeniably a result of my and Lucy's efforts.

Survived, yes, come out unscathed? Not even close. There's gonna be a lot of rebuilding efforts, I'm sure. And that's without considering the lives I wasn't able to save. I suppose this is a pyrrhic victory, but I'm content with what I've accomplished.

I share a look with one of the knights, but he turns away and wordlessly leaves. I guess his assistance really was a fluke, and now he doesn't want to be associated with us. Fine by me; looking at him kinda pisses me off.

Someone suddenly pokes my ribs, and I turn to see Lucy, a small smile on her face. "Well, Naofumi, we won."

Her simple assertion brings a grin to my face, "Yeah, we did."

"Shield hero," someone suddenly calls. I turn to see a crowd of villagers, with an old man at the front. "Thank you, sir hero. Without your courage and strength, our village wouldn't have survived the wave."

I can practically feel Lucy's cheery smile to my right. "Don't know what you're thanking me for. I did kinda destroy your watchtower."

Lucy snickers, and the rest of the townsfolk grin. "Nevertheless, Lute stands today because of your efforts. We're eternally grateful."

"Sure, whatever," I dismiss. I couldn't care less for the villagers' gratitude. It doesn't change the fact that I'm seen as a criminal. Even as they stand their giving their thanks, in the back of their minds they believe that I'm a rapist.

Wham! Lucy's elbow suddenly finds itself in my ribs. It doesn't hurt, but it does shock the hell out of me. "Can't you just say thank you like a normal person! It doesn't matter if you're lying!" she complains.

Getting bitched out by her after everything, I can't help but smile. "That's just not my style."

Lucy sighs, "I guess you wouldn't be Naofumi if you weren't a grouchy, rude, unbearable-"

"Geez, tell me how you really feel," I snark. Standing here with her, I can hardly believe I ever considered Lucy an enemy. Malty's betrayal really screwed with my head, but I'm still here. Still fighting, still living, and still moving forward.

The next wave will come in a month and some change. Bring it on.