Yuya watched as the glove of the blonde idiot hit the ground. He glared up at the humans who had crowded around them.
"Naofumi," Motoyasu said to get the Shield's attention. "time to fight."
Naofumi looked so done with everything with those words. He gave the Spear a look that Yuya could only describe as pure irritation, not that he could blame his lord for that. The tall blond was a pain in the ass from the small interactions they had.
Yuya took a step closer to his lord. A smile crossed his face when he saw the idiot flinch ever so slightly. The blond man in red put on a brave face turning to Naofumi.
"I heard you enslaved those poor girls." the Spear Hero said. Yuya bristled, eyes flashing with growing rage. Before he could say anything.
"Having a human as a slave is illegal here." The red haired bitch said as she practically clung to the Spear Hero. "Poor thing must be traumatized to be parading around, pretending." She sneered with false worry.
Yuya saw red, his body sparked dangerously. This human was asking to be killed! How dare that imputant little insect disrespect him yet again!
"This isn't how a hero should be acting."The Hero in blue said with a shake of his head, Yuya thought this human needed a lesson in humility as well! So cocky for no reason, that holier than thou attitude brought fresh irritation to the divine creation.
"Yuya isn't human nor is he a slave, he chose to be mine, Raphtalia on the other hand is my loyal slave." Naofumi was strangely calm in tone, like the calm before the storm. Naofumi grabbed his puppet and slave by their hands.
Yuya felt his rage falter for a moment. His nonexistent heart skipped a beat. Did his lord have to word it in such a manner? Was it necessary to reveal his inhuman nature? It was unavoidable, he guessed. He bit back the poisonous words that wanted to spill from his lips as he felt his lord give his hand a warning squeeze, lest he electrocute everyone. That would make this situation way more complicated and tedious to deal with.
"How much lower can that guy sink?"The brat in yellow whispered with distaste, the Bow Brat glared as fierce as his stupid baby face could, Yuya was beginning to think these humans are doomed if this was the so-called Heroes that would save them. They were all children, barely even out of the nest, especially the Bow Brat and Sword Brat.
"This is ridiculous, we're leaving."Naofumi said as he dagger his shorter companions out of the ballroom. Of course things never went smoothly for the Shield's party as the guards of the kingdom started to surround the three on the stairway. The three Heroes standing alongside the ruler of this land on the landing of the stairs. Yuya wasn't very impressed.
"You can't just walk away Naofumi!"Myne barked out. "You have to accept Sir Motoyasu's duel!" She hissed out. The king reinforced this by claiming Yuya's lord broke the law of the land for having enslaved a human, owning a Demi-Human slave and breaking the most sacred laws. That his lord had to accept the duel if he wanted to walk away with both, should his lord lose, Naofumi would have to free them.
They grabbed Raphtalia from behind. "You leave her alone!" Naofumi hissed. Yuya grabbed his staff, shifting closer to his lord's side.
"Lowly worms, you dare threaten and dishonor my lord?!"He hissed, swiping his staff at the guard that tried to grab and pull him away from Naofumi.
"Wait! I'm with Master Naofumi by choice! He isn-!" The Demi human was cut off when the guards holding her gagged her with a white cloth. The king tutted at this display.
"Poor creature, being forced to defend that fiend Shield Hero, hiding behind a girl as well, they've clearly been brainwashed, seize the mage girl at once."The king ordered. Yuya snarled. His tolerance for human incompetence had just hit zero.
"Disgusting filth!"He raised his hand and shot a blast of electro at the poor guard that tried to grab him again. The guard was flung backwards with the recoil effect of the charged attack. Yuya heard Naofumi curse. Everyone stared at the blatant aggression, the guard was still alive but that hit had taken a good amount of HP.
"Stop this at once or face even worse punishment!"The king barked out as he snapped out of his stupur.
"Yuya isn't my slave damnit! Don't touch him again!"Naofumi growled pointing his shield, the guards responded again with raised spears.
"How can we be sure you're telling the truth huh? You know the situation yet you let your party member attack,"Motoyasu pointed out. Naofumi grew ferocious with those words.
"As if I'd let filthy mortals touch me!"Yuya hissed. He was preparing another attack. He paused when he heard Naofumi sigh.
"You won't believe my words so I'll just show you that Yuya isn't branded by the Slave Crest."His lord's words made Yuya pause, the energy he had built up fizzled out. Yuya turned to Naofumi with genuine confusion crossing his face.
"Surely we can fight our way out? You don't need to lower yourself to those foolish mortals' whims!"Yuya tried, he rather fight than surrender to the circumstances. His lord shook his head.
"They won't leave us in peace otherwise, this is needed for them to realize that they are wrong."Naofumi said. His Shield had shifted to the Shouki no Kami String Shield, he kept his arm out of sight. Yuya froze.
"I can't…"Yuya felt unsure of what to do.
"It's the fastest way, sorry but I'll have to ask you to show them your chest, it's where a slaver would have marked you if you were one."Naofumi explained, Yuya hated how soft his lord's tone got, as if he knew how much the humiliation to follow would pain the puppet. "Please, Raphtalia is also counting on us to get her back safely."Naofumi added softly.
With an uneasy breath. "As you with my young lord… if its to get the filth off our case then I will comply." This is how it worked, Yuya was a tool, he shouldn't hinder his lord. He slowly unclasped his golden choker, letting the emblem on his chest fall into his dainty fingers. The room went quiet as they watched the short magic user with baited breath.
Yuya slipped his short kimono off his shoulders, they pooled around his waist, still being held in place by his obi, exposing the black turtleneck halter top fully, he removed the fabric as it wasnt something one could just pull down, markings on his body was exposed, his chest wrapped tightly in a sarashi. Black lines ran across his shoulders, his exposed neck had purple chain-like markings wrapped around it. From the back they could see healing scars perfectly aligned,
"Inspect the mage for the curse mark Sir Motoyasu."The king ordered. Yuya shot Naofumi a pleading look. Naofumi allowed the idiot to approach.
Yuya felt like crying with all eyes on him as his humiliation continued as the Spear hero took a closer look. "Hurry it up you pervert!"Yuya snapped. He felt the urge to hide away. He's never had to expose himself like this before.
He heard whispers from the other two Idiot Heroes. Each had their eyes trained on something else. "So you're just flat chested, no need to emberased, you are really pretty."The blond idiot said. Yuya's mind grinder to a halt.
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"Um What..?"Yuya dumbly uttered, he couldn't believe what he was hearing again.
"I mean you don't have to pretend to be a boy just because you don't have bigger boobs."The hero clearly lost track of what he was supposed to do! Yuya finally registered.
SLAP
The sound echoed loudly, Yuya was disappointed that the current level difference made the actual damage less but the reaction was satisfying all the same. "Stop with your delusional flights of fancy, disgusting pig and comfort that I'm not branded."He ordered. "I'll say this once more for my lord's sake, seeing as you are so incomprehensible brain dead and deaf too,I am not a woman…Get that wrong and I won't show you mortals any mercy."The doll hissed. Motoyasu cringed as he held his face.
"Okay,Okay geez… I'm sorry,,ouch that really hurts you know.."The blond complained, he touched just above Yuya's chest where the mark would sit. Peeking under the sarashi. Nothing was there but smooth skin. Yuya wanted to gouge the Hero's eyes out for ogling his divine form for so long. The moment the Spear Hero backed off Yuya rushed to put his top back on.
"He isn't branded."The hero announced. The crowd gasped.
"Then what are those other markings over his body?"The Bow hero asked. He had been staring at Yuya's neck for the entire time.
"Yuya isn't human, like I said."Naofumi broke the silence. Yuya rushed over to the Shield's side, gripping his cape.
"You owe me big time for that..!"Yuya hissed, face still red from the inspection.
"He still bears branding, so what is that about?"The bow asked. Yuya felt like burning himself alive again.
"Ch nosy little brat, that's a very loaded question to ask!"Yuya spat. Naofumi gave him a look. "Ugh fine, these markings aren't foreign so relax your ass, I was born with them, rather if you're talking about the marking on my neck, it's just a symbol bestowed on me for my divine lineage…"He kept it vague enough. Make it sound like some custom without spilling his darkest secrets. His lord already spilled the beans on his inhumanity and he had been carelessly throwing words around, so the puppet might as well play into that insinuation. They'd no doubt reignite in outrage if they found out he was a very controllable puppet.
This seemed to satisfy the Hero for now. "That's one accusation proven false, now for the matter of the Demi-Human's freedom. The Spear Hero will valiantly fight for the poor slave's freedom against the dastardly Shield!"The king declared. Naofumi sighed again, he felt like if he didnt die first he'd go gray and bald early. This world hated him so much.
"Fine but grant me one condition, Yuya will fight with me, I can't attack on my own."Naofumi said. Sure he had the Archon Residue Shield and his Balloons but those were just chip damage and the other shield made him feel off when using it. It drained HP to function. That was the last thing he needed. He'd use it but he had to be sparing or he could get himself killed.
"Sounds good to me as long as I get to bring someone with me, it's only fair."Motoyasu brandished his spear at the two. He motioned to the red head. "Myne, will you partner up with me for this?" The hero asked. The woman gave a fake laugh, Yuya could tell just how two faced this woman was by that alone, so the Spear really was just a naive fool like his old self, Yuya should do him a favor and break his delusion for him.
With that settled they were all escorted to a battle arena. Yuya guessed duels before the throne were a thing here too. It was much more public than what duels in Inazuma were formally. With a few exceptions. Yuya and his young lord got shoved into one of the gladiator pits to 'prepare'. Weapons mockingly lined the walls and racks.
"Sorry for putting you through all that…I have no idea what they would have done to Raphtalia or you if they took you both. I'd be defenseless…well attackless."Naofumi said. Yuya grunted.
"It was a necessary sacrifice…my pride means nothing if I can't serve the best and between you and those losers, you my lord are the best option by far. So you have some of my respect, those children and old fools are not worthy to command me. Though put me through that again and I will make you regret it!" Yuya ended his praise with a threat.
"So let's kick these suckers asses and go, the stench of human idiocy is making me ill."Yuya said, readying his staff. Naofumi felt a warm feeling cross his chest, one he hasn't felt since he got there. Trust. He trusted Yuya to not betray him, Yuya very much could have during the inspection, could have told them about the Shouki no Kami's String Shield's disgusting abilities. But he chose to defend Naofumi and take public humiliation for Raphtalia and his sake, maybe even Yuya's own.
The duel was about to start as the announcer did his thing, hyping up the crowd of uncaring nobles. The gates opened letting the rivaling Hero parties enter the battle arena.
The arena was as boring as it was grand, Yuya spotted no interesting details. So he focused on the enemy. The Spear Brat and his snake of a woman. "The battle between Heroes and their selected Mage companions will now commence in front of the throne and the pope!" Yuya spotted Raphtalia being held captive next to the youngest hero brats. His indigo eyes focused back on the duo.
Naofumi readied his shield. It turned square. "I still don't understand why you would willingly follow someone as bad as Naofumi."The spear spoke as he got ready. Yuya cringed at how horrible the hero's stance was, so many errors in his posture Yuya could exploit with ease.
"My loyalty isn't given haphazardly, lowly worm, know your place."Yuya said pointing his staff's tip at him. Yuya's biting words got the woman more riled up than the hero.
"You clearly don't know your place by choosing that man to be your 'lord'! Sir Motoyasu is way more of a Hero than the Shield would ever be!"Myne barked out.
"Enough prattle, I am not privy to too much trash talk before battle, less I lower myself to a former co-worker's standards."Electro burst from his staff in a flash. This spared the battle to begin. Motoyasu rolled to get out of the way. Wind was shot at Yuya's direction but it got blocked by a well timed Air Strike Shield. Yuya nodded to his lord, jumping backwards in an impressive display of acrobatics. Letting Naofumi block Motoyasu's sloppy stabs.
"You can throw him off balance right now if you stun him."Yuya advised as he condensed electro, throwing it at Myne's direction returning the favor, the blade of electro narrowly cut her cheek. The contact was all he needed to apply Elecro to her. Yuya chuckled as he heard her gasp.
Naofumi rushed forward, bashing his shield. While it did no real damage, it stunned the Spear Hero, the blond staggered. Yuya grinned, taking advantage of that. Sending a blast that cut through the air. Hitting the Hero head on. The contact sent the unbalanced hero flying.
The crowd gasped in horror and booed the Shield's side. "What a barbaric move!" A random noble in the crowd screamed. Yuya rolled his eyes. These humans haven't seen barbarity. He felt a blast of air hit him. His Electro swirled. The reaction made the puppet recoil as his HP dropped a bit. He wasn't immune to his own Electro.
"This shouldn't be allowed! The Shield Hero is making the Mage do all the work!" Another annoying gnat shouted.
"Poor thing must be brainwashed!" Another. Yuya was losing his patients.
He used his staff to block another wind strike. The sound of metal blocking metal ceased, Yuya glanced at Naofumi. The hero had frozen. Was the crowd's blatant disrespect getting to his lord?
He jumped back again. Raising his voice. "Insignificant worms! Shut the hell up! This is a battle so show some respect and be quiet!" He hissed, sending a blast into the crowd. Purposefully missing, the electro cut into the stone. The crowd went quiet.
The former Harbinger smiled oh so sweetly. He had missed the rush of putting mortals in their place." You can't just attack the crowd! Their non-targeted NPCs!" The blond shoute, as he recovered from the sudden interruption to their duel.
Yuya sighed, a headache forming as he ignored the blond in favor of reaching his lord. He felt his lord flinch. "I'm here, you can't just freeze up in battle, you'll die." Yuya scholded.
"Hey! Naofumi! Your party member is going against duel rules!" Motoyasu shouted. He readied his spear. Sparks began forming as the legendary spear changed shapes, so that was a feature all the weapons had.
"My lord! Snap out of it!" Yuya did the only thing he could think of. He slapped Naofumi across the cheek. The impact didn't damage him but it made the hero lucid again. This probably wasn't the best way to deal with it but Yuya didn't know much about human interaction outside of violence.
"Yuya…?" Naofumi sounded so out of it. "Yes it's me, now get ready, we're fighting, the brat is saying weird things, now translate." The puppet demanded. His lord looked very disoriented however. The sound of wind rushing caught the duo's attention.
An attack from Myne again. Naofumi reacted this time. He used his Air Strike Shield. The woman scowled as her attempt was foiled. Naofumi was still plagued by thoughts unknown to Yuya but he noted the change in shields. It was the one he got from the Archon Residue.
"Defend me and I shall lay waste to your enemies." Yuya declared. "On your command." Yuya was curious to see what his lord would do.
"Focus down Myne. I'll start chipping at Motoyasu's HP." Naofumi said. Yuya's smile turned a bit sinister. He jumped into action once more just as Motoyasu finished charging his spear attack. Naofumi met the Spear with his Archon Residue Shield. The crystalline surface shimmered and released a black smog opon contact.
Naofumi watched as his HP drained with the release of the Miasma skill. The Shield alerted him that the corrosion took hold. He smirked a bit when Motoyasu suddenly stopped. Small cuts appeared, making the Spear bleed.
Yuya had broken through Myne's defenses and locked her into close combat staff to sword, he'd give her some credit. She had some basic grasp of swordplay but compared to someone of his standing, she was nothing but a lamb to the slaughter. The thrill of battle enhanced his mood enough for him to smile while he man handled the wind user.
Myne was being pushed back. She wasn't nearly as fast as Yuya with the firing of spells. He had to be cheating! Myne didn't see him do any incantations! She shrieked when the sharp end of Yuya's staff hit her right on the chest. Sending her flying into a pillar. The crowd burst out in rage. Just to spite the audience Yuya stuck his tongue out, pulling his eyelid down with the childish bleh tacked on the end.
Yuya turned to see Naofumi trapping the Spear in a Shield Prison. "Face it you've lost!" Noafumi said as he let the prison vanish. Motoyasu was on his knees panting and bleeding. Clearly tired. A good handful of wounds freshly glinted in the light, each wound laced with a dark aura.
Yuya made his way over. "Yield so we can end this farce of a daul."Naofumi said. Motoyasu scoffed.
"You haven't won this game yet.. I still have HP left." The blond said as he struggled to his feet. Yuya stared dumbfounded yet again.
"Game? You think this,"The doll motioned to everything." Is some game? How have you not died yet?! "This human confused Yuya on so many levels.
"Oh right… The others think this is one too. "Naofumi informed. Yuya's face grew darker. He pushed his staff tip into the Hero in red's face.
"You're clearly still so delusional. Just because you have some fancy spear, doesn't mean you know how to use it! "He barked, sending a blast of electro into the Spear's face. The man got flung backwards a bit, the hero reoriented himself with his spear.
The puppet began glowing dangerously, the air crackled with purple lighting as he gathered the elemental particles around them, no one but Yuya seemed to have noticed them. The power he gathered caused him to float slightly as he raised his leg. The energy had begun to stabilize into a ball.
"I despise humans like you the most!" With a forceful kick Yuya sent the sphere crashing down on the Spear Hero. "Thinking they're superior because of their tools!" Yuya laughed at the scream the Spear hero released once the ball hit.
Try as Motoyasu might, he didn't have the time to block or dodge the powerful magical spell Yuya released. The mocking sound of the pretty inhuman overshadowed the ringing of his ears, the pain stopped just shy of his HP dropping to zero, he was barely holding on with a grand total of 10 HP left.
"This farce is over, return Raphtalia to my lord."Yuya spoke as he landed, foot planted right on the Spear's face. "Don't think I won't end him if you don't comply."The doll casually threatened. Motoyasu grunted pathetically as the pressure on his face increased.
It was lightened when the lighting mage was shot at by the bow hero. Yuya had a look of surprise across his face as the arrow had grazed his cheek, cutting into his flesh."That's enough."The yellow brat spoke. Huh, so those weapons could hurt him more efficiently than most. Yuya realized with a laugh when the pain registered.
"Alala, so you do have some capacity for violence, there's hope for you idiots yet."Yuya stepped away. He saw the blue one scowl even more at his mocking tone.
"Naofumi has won clearly, no need to go to the extremes,"Ren said. The king looked livid with the outcome, like they all expected the Shield to lose. The looks of utter disgust, fear and disappointment filled Yuya with immense joy. Naofumi walked up to Yuya placing a hand on the puppet's shoulder.
"Since we won, bring Raphtalia to me."The Shield demanded. The king growled in frustration but ordered the guards to escort the Demi human back to her owner. The Demi human grunted as she was pushed towards Naofumi, her tail bristled with anger, they had the audacity to gag her,
Once they let go the gag was removed, Raphtalia whirled around slapping the nearest guard across the face, something she clearly picked up from Yuya."Brute!"She huffed. "Can't say I'm surprised by the treatment but I'll say it again, I'm with Master Naofumi by choice…"She reiterated.
"I still can't believe you'd stoop so low, it's real scummy you know that Naofumi, also rein in your NPC Mage, such behavior isn't fitting for a Hero's Party."Ren continued his last thought. Yuya scoffed.
"The hell are these losers even saying, my lord?" These terms were being thrown around like they meant something. Naofumi didn't answer as he pushed Yuya to Raphtalia's side then pulled her closer. Raphtalia was relieved they won.
"Let's go before they frame us for something else."He ordered, Yuya sighed a little irked that he was being ignored but he'd tolerate it for now. His lord was right, the faster they left the castle the better.
"Don't think you'll get away with assaulting royalty!"A voice cut through the tension. The Shield's party froze. It was Myne, she finally came too after her beat down. The woman looked just as livid as the king.
"What?"Naofumi's voice was shaken as he registered what Myne just said.
"You heard me! I am the Princess of this kingdom! You clearly broke duel etiquette and went too far!"She barked. The apparent princess looked ready to start several wars.
The bitch was royalty!? "Malty please don't." Motoyasu said as he finally got up, there was a new look on his face, Yuya felt pretty proud of himself for instilling that fear.
"Just go Naofumi."The Spear hero said, he then winced accidentally aggravating his wounds. Naofumi didn't need to be told twice, though rage had begun building up in him when the Shield realized the gravity of his own situation.
The Royals were purposefully trying to screw him over.
Archon Residue Shield Proficiency +2
New Passive Skill Unlocked: Orobashi's Anguish
Companions can now inflict Corrosion when the shield is equipped