This world was truly a weird one. Not even its inhabitants could offer a satisfying explanation to those who were wondering about its oddities. They just went with those phenomena and got used to them. People who were left questioning the nature and logic behind what they perceived would eventually find the answer, albeit with great peril in the process.
"Maasteeeer! I'm hungry!"
"Master, can we have our meal already?!"
Such circumstances had fallen onto the laps of the two wandering heroes. They cast their most mentally-drained gazes when two little girls, both had wings on their backs, asked them for food. These men, not natives of this world, were still finding it hard. They had been in this realm of sword and magic, yet this development still churned them.
With bland faces, they rummaged whatever that remained in their food reserve and handed their chunky share to the starved girls. These creatures would never stop bothering them unless they were fed.
"… What a glutton."
"First, Sadeena's booze. Now, this one has put more dent into my wallet. Guess it's the right call when I dropped by Erhard's shop."
"You got your end quite rough, huh, Aniki?"
One Punch Man belongs to One.
Rising of The Shield Hero belongs to Aneko Yusagi.
I own neither of them.
| Overflow |
Around half a month ago, Naofumi and Suiryu acquired their monster eggs. In three days, those eggs hatched, revealing baby monsters. Naofumi got a filolial and Suiryu had a griffon.
Both the little chick and the lion-eagle turned out to be some ferocious eaters. A staggering amount of food, veggies and meats alike went down their gullet. And it took only three days for them to grow into adult size. While Suiryu's griffin grew into a creature with good proportion, Naofumi's filolial had taken a bulkier built, almost like it got an obesity.
Aside from their nearly bottomless appetite, they were also quite the scrappy type. Their level went skyward whenever they entered the forest. Both small and big games were slain and devoured to the point that pure Raphtalia −blessed her soul− pitied those poor creatures. In contrast, Suiryu and Naofumi earned a little ease of mind since they could knot their purses. Not to mention that they could harvest the materials which mended their financial bruise.
Days passed without any notable events until those monsters turned into a pair of lasses on a certain morning. Gone the meager solace the heroes enjoyed. Sure, in their human forms, they looked like a pair of angels, garnering awes and adoration.
But deep down, they were greed given flesh.
"Mayu, aren't you full after eating that much?"
The griffin girl shook her head. "Not really. I think I can still eat twice as much as my breakfast this morning. I guess Filo's just the same."
"Seriously?"
That would be another blow to Suiryu's wealth. Since this she griffin had earned its human form, her palate for human cuisines also grew. He never imagined that raising a magical monster would be this costly. The bleak days ahead popped a bitterness in his mouth.
"Finish!" She wiped some bread crumbs off her lips with the back of her fist. "Do you still have anything I can have, Master?"
"You see, Mayu, we don't have anything. Anymore." He glanced at Naofumi, now sitting at a corner of the diner with his filolial girl.
"Huh? Ah, I see. Then I'll just go to the forest. Let's hunt some monsters, Master!"
"Can you go with Sadeena? I have something to do." He said with apologetic smile.
"Eeh? That's terrible! She's sure strong, but she always left the monsters after she killed them. She never helped me when I gathered any dropped items. She's lazy!"
"I guess you're right." Suiryu scratched his cheek with a helpless smile on his face. "What about Eclair?"
"Eclair? I guess that'd be alright. Okay! I'll go with Eclair."
If there was anything he should be grateful of, the griffin girl was diligent and obedient. Once she knew how to hunt monsters and harvest their items, she began to frequently rush into the forest under his party member's supervision. Beyond the looming black cloud, things still looked a little bit bright. Perhaps in a month or so, his efforts in raising her would be paid off.
'Talk about a high-risk, high-gain job.'
His train of thought didn't run any further since the ladies finally went out. Raphtalia, walking at the lead, striding over the Shield Hero. She bowed slightly at Suiryu before she took a seat beside her dear lord. As he returned her gesture with a smile and slight nod, Eclair and Sadeena claimed the chairs beside his, sandwiching him. His smile faltered when a familiar tang stabbed his nose. He glanced at his left side and met an innocent smile.
"Seriously, Sadeena, you must stop drinking."
"Oh, do I reek that much, boss?" She raised her bare shoulders. "And is that a thing a guy who couldn't hold his drink say to me?"
"How impudent." Eclair's glared coldly, then sneered. "Oh, I see. If that is the way you want to cover your loss whenever you serviced him, I think that is fair."
"Little Eclair… Look, we're not competing in that."
Before their talk could go bawdier, Suiryu interjected.
"Ladies, we're at the presence of our little hero. And she'd like to ask you for an escort."
Sadeena turned at Mayu, flashing her bewitching sisterly smile. "Oh, mornin', little Mayu! Goin' out for hunting again? I'm free today."
The griffin's smile fell. "Yeah. But I'll go with Eclair, so thanks. Just make use of your free time."
"I am looking forward to it, Miss Mayu."
"Huh? Why with Eclair? Haven't we gone together for some times?"
"Let me be rude. You are way too lazy. Whenever I picked the dropped items and materials, you just found a spot and perched on top of it like a useless daughter of a merchant I saw on the street. You spared no effort for helping me. I really hate that."
Not even a month had passed after she hatched from the egg, but Mayu had shown a degree of wit and ability in speech that belied her vessel. That intelligence of her drove her tongue like a slash of a blade, cutting things she deemed unlikable. Given that Suiryu kept on indulging her, it wasn't far of a stretch if she would grow into a scathing tyrant in the future.
"That's the general assessment from Mayu, Sadeena." Suiryu added. "I never hate you, though. But I hope you can give her a hand, if only just a little bit."
"Right. Even the priestess from the temple uphill looks more respectable than you. She fed kids and sewed clothes for poor people."
At Mayu's mention of "priestess," Sadeena's complexion darkened. The tension spiked as the air ran cold. As sweat beads trickled down Eclair's face, she snatched a glance at Suiryu, finding him recomposing himself under the pressure. She turned to Naofumi's table, and she saw Raphtalia also had an uncomfortable look. The maiden must have overheard their talk.
Mayu's beastly instinct kicked in. She screwed up. In front of the sea predator that snacked on sharks, she mentally cowered. It was quite a nightmare-driver that rendered her to not make Sadeena her enemy.
"… Uh, I guess I went too far?"
Sadeena's smile soon returned like a beaming sunlight after a storm, fortunately. It made Suiryu wonder whether she had the words angry and drunk in her dictionary.
"Oh no. You're not wrong. I'm pretty useless when I must do boring things. If so, alright. I'll help. But when I feel like it, okay?"
Mayu offered no reply. That experience had hammered into her the rough figure of the Spear Hero's party strength. Shuddering internally, she looked at Suiryu. If Sadeena was that terrifying, just how big of a might her master could unleash that the stubborn predator stuck with him?
'Master, I never knew you're this strong.'
Suiryu gazed at the slender backs of his wards as they left the inn. Meanwhile, leaning her back on the wall, Sadeena looked at the sight, smiling warmly.
Before she met him, her life was nothing but a series of struggle. Being a castaway who should spend her days on a long journey into a foreign land, life seemed unmerciful. The man and woman she once served, Raphtalia's parents, were the only source of consolation amid the hardships.
Peace finally returned when they found a land they could settle in, the village of Lurulona, Saeotto. Its kind lord, Eclair's late father, had ensured their safety. Despite hanging under the pretense of showing a goodwill to a hostile demi-human nation, the refugees at last could live in ease.
And then Raphtalia was born.
"… And so did the other kids."
Her sad reminiscent faded with a long sigh. She couldn't rush back in time. As a result, she lost everyone, save Raphtalia.
"What's wrong?"
"Well. Nothing. Just wondering whether they'll be okay."
"I see. You sure has grown fond of them, huh?" He smiled teasingly.
"Hey, do you think I hate them? I like cute things. And they're cute." She smiled wryly.
They left the inn, heading to the town. They spent the rest of their walk with some idle chat, and soon arrived at their destination. It was a building several blocks away from Erhard's armory, close to the apothecary they once visited. It was a place Naofumi had recommended beside Erhard's and the apothecary.
"Magic items shop? I'm a little bit surprised."
"I found that learning magic isn't as simple as learning a martial art. Well, I know the way you teach me is excellent, but for a starter who never knew one bit about magic, I'm still confused. I think I need some background about how magic and stuffs work."
"Do you mean my teaching lacks theoretical side." She surmised, and chuckled. "Really, boss? I thought you like it more when you can practice it right away."
"Maybe my muscle memory is slow when it comes to magic. Oh, right. Magic doesn't require muscle."
"… Haha… Okay. Have it your way. As long as it helps you, I'm on."
Suiryu twisted the handle of the door and made his entrance. The first sight that greeted him was a myriad of wares commonly sold in antique shops and flea markets. An old lady in a wizard outfit ─a black robe, a pointy hat, and all─ greeted them from the counter.
"Welcome. Oh! Have I seen you around here?"
"Ah, hello. We're new visitors, as you can see." Suiryu strode over the counter.
"What can I help you with? Some magic items, perhaps?" The shopkeeper shifted her gaze towards Sadeena and her smile stretched wider. "Or is it something for the young lady?"
"Nah, actually the one in need is our respected man over here." She gestured at Suiryu. "He wants to learn magic, and I'm just a bad teacher, unfortunately."
"Hey, I never said you're bad at teaching." Suiryu narrowed his eyes at Sadeena.
"Nope. The fact that you couldn't cast a single spell after several sessions proves it."
"Oh. What kind of magic did you teach him, if I may know?" A wry smile graced the shopkeeper's face.
"Water magic."
"Water magic, I see. Did you conduct any aptitude test?"
"I didn't. Just my feeling." The orca lady answered innocently.
"Oh. If that's the case, it is natural, given that he has little or no aptitude for that elemental magic." The shopkeeper cast a pitying gaze at the couple.
"Crystal ball is expensive. Guess my shot this time missed the mark." Sadeena shrugged.
Suiryu for a moment cast a dumbfounded look. He once again questioned whether taking her in was worth his sweat. She was a nice girl when it came to hanging out ─a trait he liked quite much. But now, that positive side wavered. He had a feeling that this problem some day might bite him in the rear, hard.
"Then why don't we start with an aptitude test?" The old lady sent a sympathetic smile when she saw Suiryu's face twitch. "Do not worry. I only charge my customers no more than half of a silver coin."
'That'd be 50 copper, huh? Hmm… Since when have I become this concerned about money?'
The old wizard pushed a crystal ball that was already on the table. She gestured at Suiryu and Sadeena to have a seat. He placed his hand on the ball as the shopkeeper instructed and she began the reading. As the ball gave a dull blue and green light, she furrowed her brow.
"This is odd."
"Odd?" Sadeena cocked her head.
"Is it dangerous?" Suiryu gave a nervous look.
"No. No harm does it pose, but…" The old wizard trailed off, then looked at Sadeena. "Young lady, would you like to tell me how you taught him?"
"Before I tell you, can you at least tell us first about his magic aptitude?" Sadeena hinted with a cryptic smile. "I got a feeling I'm not wrong teaching him water element."
The shopkeeper rolled her eyes, bearing no sign of annoyance. "You truly are a perceptive one. And, young man, you actually have a high aptitude for both water element and healing magics."
"Then why can't I cast any spells she taught me?" He inquired impatiently.
"The problem might lie with either the manner she taught you or your own view towards magic." The shopkeeper made a double-check before she finished the test. "Young lady, did you start your lesson with an introduction to mana and how it flows through the body?"
"Of course I did. That's the basic of the basic."
As Sadeena had a serious consultation session, Suiryu's eyes bounced around the place. The shop was surprisingly cozy despite the presence of some shady stuffs normally found in sorcery. He glanced at the crystal ball, wondering what his problem was.
"… I see. So he is a master of a unique fighting art. A fist-fighter, I suppose?"
The wizard's response snapped Suiryu back to reality. He missed the parts about how the magic operated, but the moment she referred his martial art, his attention flared alight.
"Well, yeah. He can do some crazy stuffs like splitting a chunk of earth with a chop or even swatting aside my thunderbolt attacks."
"Oh my! Those are quite outrageous! Not even a hero of legend can do that without his holy weapon."
'… I'm a hero, all right.' Suiryu's smile turned bitter.
"If that is the level he conducts his fighting, then I am certain that he suffers a problem commonly found in fighting art practitioners. They cannot channel their magic properly because their bodies have been tuned to transfer a form of energy other than mana."
Suiryu's eyes went wide. A realization homed in like a lightning. If that was the problem, his venerable grandfather's legacy turned out to be its root. As his worry spiked, his eyes found their way toward the wizard.
"So, all this time, the warm thing that flowed through my veins wasn't mana? It's my life-force, then…"
"It appeared so." The shopkeeper replied, turning to Sadeena.
"Life-force, huh? Tempering with it gonna be like putting the cart before the horse. Is there any way out for this problem? He seems a little bit down because of this."
The shopkeeper took a deep breath, eyeing the pair carefully. The holder of Void Fist and his partner went stiff in silence, waiting for an ominous answer the old mage would say.
"… I assume you two have a quite good relationship, yes? If so, then I suggest you to solve it through a certain way. Well, if you would take my advice, I need you, young lady, to carefully listen to me."
With just a whipping glance of her azure eyes, Sadeena ushered Suiryu away from his seat. The man in trouble moved away and took his time, once again in silence, to look at the odd paraphernalia on the shelves while the women had a talk. Not a whisper did he catch, so the mute calmness was excruciating.
Before he left, he did remember that the shopkeeper would offer a solution that involves their relationship. Her answer yielded two possibilities in his mind. The good one might be something like deepening their bonds ‒something his playboy side would always welcome. The bad one, however, could be as bitter as breaking up. The latter rattled his fortitude as a man, stacking up anguish throughout his wait.
Ten minutes felt like an hour, but the moment Sadeena left the chair, her face was all smile with a hint of mischief. He couldn't bear his curiosity and asked.
"So? How's it?"
"Don't worry. We've found the cure. And it's gonna be fun."
"Fun?"
Whatever it was, her sunny, yet unsettling smile told him that the path would be treacherous.
"… Maaaan… Onsen is the best! It's a waste Naofumi-kun refused to join us."
Yeah. He finally found out that it wasn't a sick predicament at all.
Currently, the hero's party was spending their time in a local natural hot spring resort. Based on the belief that the place can offer a remedy for mana blockage, Sadeena proposed this short trip. Eclair at first was against it, but after she heard his grave circumstances, she thrust her full support. So off they went to the relaxation center at the countryside of Melromarc.
Leaving the good service the inn had offered aside, the moment Suiryu sank himself in the bath, the water's heat numbed him from his stress. He dipped his body deeper, letting the warmth seep through his skin, massaging his muscles. He moaned, savoring the blissful sensation. Coupled with the view of setting sun, his heart contained nothing but satisfaction.
That heavenly moment only lasted until a certain young lady barged in, leaping down from the adjacent pond. She flapped her wings and blasted water all over the place in the pool reserved for the Spear Hero. He groaned, rubbing water off his face.
"… Mayu, I told you to stay with Eclair and Sadeena, right?"
"Yes, but… I don't like it. It's like they were quarreling or something."
"Quarreling? Those girls…"
A tired sigh from him blew some of hazy air. He wondered whether those two could eventually become good partners outside of battle.
Mayu splashed around before him as he closed his eyes. Despite being blessed with strength in intelligence, she was still a child. The best he could do was imploring her to stop and sit still. She obeyed, and sit calmly she did.
The moment of solace once again broke when a pair of figures went in through the mist. Judging from their slender frames, they were women. He was about to rise when the curtain of steam finally revealed their faces. The last defense of their bare skin from his gaze were their towels. Neither hesitance nor shame did hinder their pace into the warm water.
"Sorry for the wait, boss."
"Please stay, Lord Suiryu. This part is usually rented for family, so there is no need for us to move away."
Her stare was directed at statuettes of a man and a woman, in a suggestively obscene pose, carved at the corner of the pool. He hadn't noticed it until she looked at it. Engraved under them was an explanation about the bath's health benefits, written in Melromarc.
"Were you just in the bath for ladies?" He asked, trying his best to look at their faces as they sat closely beside him while casually removing their towels.
"We were. However, that was a short dip to ward off the stiffness in our bodies."
"What's with that roundabout answer? Can you just say we're gonna start our lesson here?"
For an unknown reason, this certain lesson Sadeena said granted him a misleading idea. Its side-effect was quite dangerous. It ignited his manhood's engine, heating up his lower part. Coupled with the situation that raised the mood in a new way, his true spear rose up. Worst, it caught Mayu's attention.
"Oh? What's that? Is that a fish?"
Eclair widened her eyes and her cheeks went red. Although hidden underwater and obscured by steam, its sudden appearance was quite a surprise. Only Sadeena who remained composed. She casually grabbed it, prompting its owner's grunt.
"I heard this place is teemed with some weird eels. They're… a little bit dangerous, 'cause if they attack you, you'll get a troublesome illness for nine months."
"Eww, really? Sounds terrible. Gross." Mayu's face twisted in disgust. "What about that one?"
"I think this one is docile. But who knows?" Sadeena shrugged and began stroking it. "Still, you don't need to worry. I'll handle it. You can play over there."
"Oh. Okay."
"Mghh…!"
"Sadeena!"
Suiryu's muffled moan and Eclair's hiss didn't slow down her daring, relentless strike. It even went faster, ignoring his unwilling protest.
"Don't worry, boss. We'll start our lesson about magic after your junior has calmed down. Oh~?"
"Erghh! Sad−hah!" Right after she winked, the first eruption happened.
Out of goodwill and a tad of curiosity, Eclair assisted in the next attempts. The torture had taught him about the true meaning of resignation. He went with the flow, hence his name was Suiryuflowing water. In the end, it needed three times more before his raging weapon could finally settle in peace.
The study about mana channeling began after that. Despite all the fuss, their young companion remained oblivious. He stored the discomfort and mild humiliation throughout the session.
When the night came, he launched his retaliation. It was a total lie if he said that he hated that kind of play, but a crime needs a punishment. As for their penance, he forced them into a wrestling fest until the sun was up.
By the time Mayu went out from her room to check on them, what she found was a totally messed-up bed with some odd marks. She remained wondering about it until an inn worker went in, smiling wryly. She paid no more heed and headed towards the bath to start a day.
'… Man, the trip to the onsen was wild. I hope Naofumi-kun's mission on finding the magical thread is going well. We cannot strip Mayu every time she's going to transform, right?'
In his musing, Suiryu cast a simple water blob and tossed it to the ground. He glanced at his MP bar that decreased slightly. The special course at the hot spring resort bore fruit, and now he practiced it diligently beside his martial art regimen. First tier magic was all he could cast at the moment, but Sadeena said that it was a good start.
"Hey. You can cast something bigger than that, right? Why are you still throwing that sad-looking water ball?"
Sadeena's question yanked him out from his reverie. He knitted his brow, pursing his lips in disagreement.
"Can you let me have my own curiosity? Just look. We utter the spell, keeping the mental image in our head while channeling our mana. What happens later is this transparent circle with symbols I don't know appears in front of me. It's totally different from martial arts."
"Hmm, is that so? Then, are you into arcane art, boss? Guess I'll ask the magic items shopkeeper to enroll you into the state-owned mage school."
He burst into a mirthless chuckle. "Haha… Are you trying to sell me to the royals? Thanks, but no. I'd rather go back to Zeltoble and have you train me there."
"Oh, my! Hearing my disciple treat me like a true teacher makes me wanna cry!" She sniffed, pretending to rub a tear. "I'm so happy!"
Eclair who was nearby joined them. She rested her claymore beside the stone she sat upon and gave a tired look at Sadeena. The instructional tutorial Sadeena gave was easily understood, but the practice truly lacked intensity.
"Enough with the act. The manner you train Lord Suiryu doesn't even suit him. You should at least put more effort into it."
"Oh~? Said the one who'd never beaten me."
"I admit your remarkable combat prowess. Indeed, you are strong, verily. To the point that it is sickeningly−"
"Thanks for the compliment." Sadeena interjected.
"I haven't pointed out your mistake yet! Would you like to listen?"
Sadeena sighed. "Fine. What is it?"
"This training is too mild. Lord Suiryu needs a stricter regimen. Take his regular martial art regimen as an example."
"Stricter regimen? Oh, I see. Yeah, I guess you're right."
Much to Eclair's surprise, Sadeena accepted her suggestion. She expected that at least the spear master would argue with some lazy yet acceptable reply. However, it appeared that if anything could impose a discomfort to Suiryu, Sadeena would take it. Her vengeance was at play.
The ladies soon heard Suiryu's audible gulp. Sadeena's head tilted slowly as her smile turned empty, purporting a new doom.
Training was actually something he didn't like. He used to skip those rigorous regimens his good grandfather held in his younger days. Countless times did he escape. It was a pure luck that he was blessed with an overflowing talent that he could master most part of Void Fist without much effort. It was only recently, right after the summoning, that he realized the importance to hone his Void Fist and push it to a greater height.
'… But training magic? Why did I get a feeling that I'm gonna die?'
So far, if he could master the basics of things, he was sure that he could walk into intermediate level through a carefree pace. Same with magic, once he got the grasp of it, he was able to reach second-tier spells. And Sadeena confirmed so.
His impotence in magic that was proven wrong had blown away his worry, but he also found Eclair's sense of urgency wasn't misplaced. A hero who couldn't put his utmost into his training was a failure of a savior. Of course he didn't embrace that noble idea, but his self-pride would still suffer if he failed to master something he was talented in.
Nonetheless, that didn't assure him that his well-being would be safe. Pain and hardship were the kinds of discomfort he should endure throughout his daily exercise. To make matters worse, this new training had a new kind of terror that he might have never experienced before.
"Come on, don't give me that look, boss! The worst thing you can get when you're training in magic is mana exhaustion. Normal people may have kicked the bucket if they got their mana squeezed empty. But you… Given your jacked body, I think you'll just hurl your breakfast, then faint."
"I didn't sign a contract where I'll barf and collapse in front of you." He took a step back.
"You're my one and only good disciple. Would you hear your dear master's request?"
"I'd rather have my master give me more lenience in my training. When I find a hardship in the future because of my laziness, I'll find a way out on my own. I beg you, so please spare your pitiful disciple."
After a furtive agreement with Sadeena, Eclair slipped past bowing Suiryu and hugged him from behind. She unleashed her devious charm in that push, putting her mouth close to his ear.
"… Lord Suiryu, for the sake of our delightful future, would you reconsider? Withdrawing before you even start does not fit the bravery you had shown to us."
"Call me a coward, or whatever. I'll train in magic with my own pace." He insisted.
"We will make sure to heal you after the laborious training." Eclair added as Sadeena nodded eagerly.
"Now that I think about it, aren't you girls the ones on the receiving end of the fun? I feel like I got wrung dry whenever you two felt thirsty."
"Just your mind playing tricks on you, I'm sure." Sadeena rolled her eyes. "Come on, give it a try. It's gonna be fun."
"What in the blaze are you guys doing in the morning?!"
Just when Sadeena pushed her bosom into Suiryu's, Mayu stopped in her tracks with the spookiest frown a girl her age could cast. The longer she stared at the depraved bunch, the deeper her gaze could carve a hole in their mental walls. The ladies swiftly leaped away from him as he composed himself like a suave man.
"… Let us explain, Mayu." Suiryu raised his hand.
"Right. Our boss has a little problem in his training. So… we offered some help."
"Does it work?" Mayu quirked a brow.
"Apparently, we still need some time before we can step onto a higher level." Eclair answered with a grim look.
The little girl heaved a sigh. Her long, dark-brown hair was fluttered by a morning breeze. Her eyes that reflected her understanding of the things around her for a moment dimmed. It wasn't a feat a common girl her age had. Some seconds later, the gleam returned and she looked sharply at Suiryu.
"Master, don't tell me you can't even do this."
She cast a sphere of whirling wind and tossed it toward a nearby tree. It hit its branch, breaking it, felling a bunch of fresh leaves. It garnered the older ladies' awe. By the look of it, what she cast had surpassed an ordinary [First Wind Ball]. A normal mage would need years to attain that level of mastery for such a basic spell. This showed how talented Mayu was.
"If I can't?" Suiryu probed.
"I was born not long ago and I can just do that. How long have you been around, anyway?"
"Old enough to be your father, I think?"
"Then you're a sore loser of a master."
"What!?"
Rage overran his countenance. The veins around his neck and forehead bulged, his eye twitching. He was a champ, no way in hell would he accept such an indignation! The thick fortress of his pride, built upon countless victories in the arena, shook violently. Like a thorn piercing the flesh beneath the nail, being called a sore loser by a kid from yesterday truly hurt.
"Say it once again, brat! I'll show you who's the real sore loser!"
Thus the girls bore witness to the rising of the Spear Hero. The master of martial arts, the master of offensive water magic. One who would hold the title Overflow.
A day after Suiryu began his serious water magic training, he met with Naofumi again. The boy looked a little bit haggard, but he also seemed to be relieved over something. He recounted his story along his journey over their breakfast at a pub. No one noticed that they were the supposed wielders of the Holy Shield and Holy Spear‒the damned, wanted criminals.
"I see. So you visited an old mine that keeps the legacy of an evil alchemists group, huh? How far is it from the capital?"
"Two days worth of travel to the southwest. On carriage." Naofumi took a sip of ale. "And don't ever think you can rob the treasure. Once you find it, I'm pretty sure you'd treat it as a junk."
"I think I'll go straight to the mine and harvest the crystals. And that's not so far, by the way."
"Oh, right. But it's thanks to Filo."
Naofumi's reply garnered Suiryu's confusion. He had seen how the blonde girl in her oversized chicken form fought and ran. She was brutally fast. However, he got an impression that such a magical beast could still have a further evolution which allowed her an ability of flight, folding the time needed for a distant travel. The possibility that Naofumi had unlocked it during his travel was high.
"Um, sorry? Did you fly there on Filo's back?"
"Huh? Fly?" Naofumi blinked, then snorted when he noticed the Spear Hero's lingering confusion. "No. It's not that flashy, Aniki. She can't fly, but she can run as fast as a city train. On a dirt road."
A glimmer of pride flickered on Naofumi's face. It invited more awe and interest from Suiryu. After all, he was a fan of speedy wheels. He might not be a road king in his old world, but he had a motorbike for showing off and for picking up a girl as well when he was going out.
"Oh, wow. Guess having a vehicle is nice, especially when you need to reach some towns out there."
"Sure is. It's also cool if you want to earn some extra cash for transporting goods or people."
Suiryu shoveled some bits of vegetables into his mouth. He sighed lightly, feeling a little jealous at his brother-in-arm's success.
"The more you tell me about your story, the more I got the feeling that I picked the wrong egg." Suiryu raised his hand in a placating manner. "Sorry. Please think of it as a joke, okay?"
"Yeah, I got that feeling. That's kinda understandable. After all, I was the one who gave it to you. Still, you don't seem satisfied at all. Now that I think about it, shouldn't I be the one who got envious? You got a battle asset that's almost equal to an attack chopper."
Suiryu took a deep breath. He exhaled and bridged his fingers in front of his mouth.
"To be honest, Naofumi-kun, I haven't ridden her."
"What!?"
Naofumi's spontaneous reaction drew people's stare in the room. He sent an apologetic look at some of them and returned his eyes to the Spear Hero, speaking more quietly.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. The girls did ride her, but I… Let's say that for a stupid reason, I can't. I always get this feeling that I'd turn into a… err… pedophile… If I ride her."
"Pfft!" Naufumi stifled a laughter. "Now I don't know whether I must laugh or pity you, Aniki! Like… Really? I thought that kind of stuff won't bother you, but turns out, you have that kind of side."
"Oh, quit it, already." His displeased reply made Naofumi chuckle. "It's a matter of time until I can find the courage."
"Yeah, I hope you will. Soon."
"That doesn't sound encouraging at all."
"Because I'm afraid that by the time you muster your courage, she won't consider you as your master. Unless you have a binding contract put on her."
"A binding contract?
Suiryu frowned. He hadn't grasped its full idea, but that term pricked his part as a lover of freedom.
"Correct me if I'm wrong. That sounds like a monster that becomes a slave."
"Spot on. A binding contract is for slavering a monster. Hell, even people. And to tell you the truth, both Raphtalia and Filo are my slaves."
Out of reflex, Suiryu slid his palm onto his face. That reality struck him like a storm, and he put his hardest to contain his inner turmoil from bursting. If he were his old self, he might have punched Naofumi in the face. The existence of bullying didn't bother him, perhaps, but slavery was another matter. Although he was never a fan of justice, stripping people of their right as human beings sounded heinous.
"Um, Aniki, it's not like I enslave them. I bought them from a slave-trader. And I found later that the binding contract can accelerate their growth. I don't have much choice."
Suiryu didn't reply. He scooped the vegetables on his plate and shoved them into his mouth. The tastiness grew faint. With the remaining appetite he still had, he scarfed the remaining dish and chunks of rye bread, washing them down his throat with pale ale. He stood up and left three pieces of silver coins beside his plate.
"… Aniki?"
"It's my treat. You can take the change."
"But, Aniki… I'm sorry if I…"
Naofumi cast a miserable look as if he committed a grave sin. He tried to hold Suiryu's leave, but the older man's bitter smile was an enough sign for not prolonging their talk.
"It's okay. I just need some time to sort my mind. If you want to see me, I'm sure you know where it is. Have a great day, Naofumi-kun. See you."
With that, their joyous talk ended.
Suiryu was never a hard thinker, but the absence of modern entertainment in that world somehow had served him an ample moment to contemplate about the reality of that world. The thought about slavery still weighed him down. Before he knew it, the sunlight that streamed into his room had turned golden. He straightened his back over his chair and sighed. His long musing had eaten a good chunk of his energy.
"Lord Suiryu, you look exhausted. Would you at least take a rest?"
"Eclair?"
She seemed worried about his health. He tilted his head and left his chair. He took a seat beside her on the bed, his shoulders slouching with the mental burden he carried.
"Is something the matter, Lord Suiryu? If there is, would you like to share it with me?"
"Thank you, Eclair. Well, how should I put it? Maybe I'm just a little bit shaken."
"I see. Then please take a rest."
Wordlessly, she pulled him closer to her and placed his head above her lap. For a moment, a look of surprise colored his face, but he turned more relaxed when her consoling gaze met him. She stroked his head and like a cat, he lightly squirmed in comfort as he lifted his legs and put them on the bed.
"Does it feel good? Actually this is the first time I do this, but I have seen how my mother treated her beloved husband this way every time he returned home from a campaign."
"This is fantastic, Eclair. Guess your father must be a really happy guy."
"Indeed, he was."
"Now I'm afraid I cannot reward you properly if you do this." He cast a wry smile.
"Telling me your problem would be a great gift. Information is vital in a war. Aren't we accomplices closer than friends?"
Suiryu's pleased smile fled from his face. Eclair's sincere smile that accompanied the words she quoted from him had put him in a bind. He felt like she spewed those words back to his face.
"… Eclair, for now, let's not stick too much with that accomplice thing. We're friends, but also closer."
"Lovers, then!"
"Lovers, huh?"
The manner she reached that conclusion proved her genuine affection towards him. He viewed her merely as a girlfriend, but she had shown how devoted she was to stay by his side. It truly stung his conscience.
"Don't you think it sounds wonderful?"
"Yeah…"
The power to hold longer onto any talk suddenly left him. He sank into a pleasant tranquility that he began to doze off. His mental weariness wrapped him in a blink while Eclair's lap offered the best refuge for his burdened head. Everything he was about to talk with Eclair went fuzzy as his vision turned black. His snoring sound soon filled the entire room.
"Rest well, Lord Suiryu. Let your worrying thoughts fade with your slumber."
Due to his overstretched nap, Suiryu dragged his companions in a pretty late dinner. He had apologized to them for his tardiness. Eclair forgave him, no doubt, but Sadeena was oddly disgruntled. Mayu, on the other hand, had had her dinner earlier without them. She was independent when it came to her meal. She could even manage her allowance well, surprisingly.
Yet a beast is still a beast. Her hunger was so stubborn to the point that she still demanded more despite having had her dinner.
"So why do you still sit with us?"
"Am I not allowed to have my second?"
Mayu stood her ground like a proud predator before Sadeena's ridiculing gaze. If it concerned with her gluttony, even trespassing the orca's territory was still deemed acceptable. Besides, she could cover herself with her master's spoiling kindness, keeping the bigger predator's jaws at bay.
"Oh, my bad. You're still a growing kid. I guess that's normal."
"You can say that I got cursed with a bottomless appetite."
"Now, now, let's leave it at that and enjoy our meal. See, we get a potato soup and some grilled meat tonight. Oh, and some cheese too."
His advertisement worked, and the ladies began to grab their share, opening their humble feast. Some patrons were still around, but most of them ordered drinks to accompany the night. Seeing that, Sadeena couldn't miss the chance.
"Barkeep, gimme a pint of your blue mushroom wine!"
"Comin' right up!"
"You don't mind it, right boss?"
Sadeena's shameless grin hurt Suiryu. The fact that he could never say no hurt him even more. In the end, his wallet took a deeper damage that it needed.
"Okay. Just one pint."
"Oh, just one? How stingy~."
"Haven't I paid your meals all this time? Then add the booze. And you still owe me that money for saving your sorry hide."
"Huh? Have I even agreed to pay you back?"
Suiryu's eyes opened wide. His blood flooded into his head, coloring his entire face dark red. His thought about her debt was rather muddled, but he still remembered that she promised to pay him. Her forgetfulness ground his nerves. When his grip crunched a wooden spoon, Sadeena nonchalantly sipped her toxic-blue wine and gave him a wry smile.
"Just kidding, boss. I've never forget about that."
His bubbling up rage subsided, and he sighed. He feared that he couldn't contain his rage and beat her there. He began to feel that his heart would collapse before he could enjoy the prime of his manhood.
"Really, Sadeena? I thought for a second that you've cut my lifespan by several decades."
"Then make some kids before you regret it. You only live once, so make the best use of it. And I don't mind with one or two kids, really. Think of it as an investment."
Unbeknownst to them, the person who held back a wrath the hardest was Eclair. Until a moment ago, she could contain her anger upon hearing Sadeena's disrespectful responses. However, when the conversation jumped towards the matter of the fruit of their relationship, she couldn't stay quiet anymore. And as ridiculous as it sounds, that anger contorted into a noble vigor.
"Lord Suiryu, no matter how many children you wish to have, I will raise them with my all. However, to create a fulfilling life, I implore you to not neglect your health so that you can be with us for the longest moment we can wish."
"That's very sweet, Eclair. I truly appreciate your concern, but even if I hold people's common sense, asking me to not die is a tall order."
Eclair put on a grimace. She was aware that the mission that he shouldered demanded great sacrifices − time, energy, wealth and even the very soul of the hero. It sounded painful, but he was right. Telling him to not get killed or die from any cause within this merciless venture was absurd.
"That sounds like you've given up on living, Master." Mayu chimed in, wiping some crumbs of bread with a napkin. "Still, do humans also have mating season? After hearing how the ladies got fiery over having kids, I can't help but wonder."
Suiryu's jaw hung, and so did Eclair's. Simply answering 'no' wouldn't guarantee Mayu's curious side from hounding the truth, resulting in a very long lecture they were too tired to give. However, explaining to her about the concept of affection would probably dissatisfy her. For a blink, they placed their wish upon Sadeena.
"First, what makes you think humans are the same with animals, lil' Mayu?"
"Eat. Sleep. Mate. Humans also do those, right? Those lead me to the thought that humans are just like animals and monsters in common. Though, maybe humans are smart because they're weak."
"That's…"
Both Suiryu and Eclair were at a loss. She got a point. Should they put themselves in the place of a race outside of humankind, they would share Mayu's conclusion. However, they also knew that her way of thinking stemmed from her nature as a monster. Her beastly instinct ran ahead of her logic, or even became its driving force.
"Hmm. That's not wrong. We do eat, sleep and mate. But do we have something like a mating season? If you can think until this far, why don't you try finding out on your own?"
Their hopes were dashed. They should never expect more from Sadeena when it came to this kind of complicated stuff.
"I see. Interesting, and I half-expected you'd give me that answer. But it's fine. I'll find it on my own."
"Good luck with that~."
Mayu only nodded and continued her dinner. She savored the dish in silence. Amid the merriness of the bar, the party continued their little feast.
As Suiryu swallowed his food, he recalled the unpleasant stuff about slavery. His mind raced, weighing some options about the right time to talk it. He already missed it once before his nap that afternoon, much to his regret since dinnertime isn't nice for that kind of sour talk.
"Wanna have a sip, boss?" Sadeena offered her mug.
Suiryu's nose twitched. "Smells flammable. Hard pass."
"Bummer. So can you at least throw something to talk about? You look as gloomy as your water balls."
"For real?"
"Yeah."
Now the women scared him since they could almost read his mind. He brought it to himself, actually, since he couldn't hide his troubled look. Their concern should be a blessing, but he couldn't value it well. His thought was clouded. But at the very least, he could finally catch a chance to spill his problem.
"Well, what do you think about slavery?"
"Huh? Slavery? I don't really get it, but if what you wanna know is my opinion, I think it's pretty common. Something that I can't help but shrug."
He glanced at Eclair, who decided to follow the conversation. She hadn't shown any sign to give her thought yet. After a moment of pause, he steeled himself to shake the hornet's nest a little.
"Pretty common, huh? Then what about if somehow, it tangles you or the people close to you? Do you still see it as something that doesn't bother you."
Sadeena's face made a frown. She didn't look offended, but her countenance showed a tinge of sorrow. Suiryu realized that he had pushed a little bit far. Noticing his look of guilt, she took a deep breath before he could answer.
"Just so you know, boss, the world is just like that. It's like when you know that you're a girl and you've nothing for just affording a loaf of bread. Where else will you go? Well, you know the answer, right?" She cast a sour smile, making Suiryu shift in his seat. "The same goes to slavery. Whether it's for punishing criminals, paying debts, or for some other stupid reasons, it'll keep on living as long as humans exist. Nothing can we do about it. That's why I try my hardest to track and take back those kids."
Sadeena's answer did put Suiryu into rumination. A gritting silence followed as he left the rest of his dish, spoon still in hand.
"Wow. I'm surprised to learn that you seriously think a lot lately, Master."
"Ugh… Do I look like a fool to you?"
"I praise your astute observation, Miss Mayu, but your words may deliver pain to his soft heart, so please refrain from doing so." Eclair gave a sharp warning, narrowing her eyes.
'Thanks, Eclair You're sweet like always.'
"Understood. Still, he's feeble, huh."
'Damn you. When did I wrong you that you turn this harsh?'
"Oh, you think a guy who can defeat me in a fight is feeble? I can't agree with that one, lil' Mayu. Try to fight him, and you'll find yourself in a pinch before you know it." Sadeena slurped her blue mushroom wine and swallowed it with a satisfying gulp.
"Sadeena, you've my thanks."
"Then two pints, please~."
His grateful smile fell as he met her cheeky grin. Everything came with a price, and the softness of his heart appeared every time he was in such a situation.
Suiryu huffed loudly in surrender. "Alright. Just place an order already."
"Yay! Thanks, boss! You're the best!" She pecked his cheek. "Barkeep, two pints, please!"
"Lord Suiryu, I pray that you would be spared from the ill-outcome that my envy casts." Eclair shot a glare of jealousy at Sadeena.
"If he can't say no, he's weak." Mayu shrugged.
"Hey!"