One Punch Man belongs to One.
Rising of The Shield Hero belongs to Aneko Yusagi.
I own neither of them.
| Luxuria vs Vanagloria |
The next morning after the small feast, the Spear Hero's party held a strategic meeting, as unlikely as it could be. They talked about their next plan to reunite with their main mercenary group, who at that moment, should have arrived at the northern territory of this country.
In the middle of their talk, Sy'ne appeared. Her absence in the passing weeks didn't concern Suiryu since she had conveyed, through a tremendous effort, about her urgent business in Melromarc.
"Welcome back, Sy'ne. How's your journey?"
"No problem. I can hand−… fine."
"Guess your business's been taken care of, Miss Puppet Master." Sadeena chimed in.
"Yes." Sy'ne stood still near Mayu's seat, looking warily at her. "Um, who's this girl?"
"How rude." Mayu squinted her eyes at Sy'ne. "It's true that I'm a monster, but can you at least begin with an introduction?"
"Apologies. I'm Sy'ne. You m−…−yu's party."
"Can you speak clearly? What's wrong with her, Master?"
"Ah… that."
Suiryu gave a helpless smile. The sound that resembled radio static kept on bugging Sy'ne's speech. That trouble apparently was related to some sort of magic interference. There was still no way to solve it, so the best they could try was letting the girl explain repeatedly.
"Be patient, Mayu. And she originally doesn't speak Melromarc. Take a seat, Sy'ne."
"Okay."
"Then why don't you learn it?"
Sy'ne only pursed her lips. Under the pressure of the young griffin, her already petite form seemingly shrink.
"Hey, lil' Mayu, be gentler a little bit, would ya? Look. She's scared."
"It's her ineptitude that draws her own fear. And don't lump me with those murderous beasts I slay daily."
"Oh, isn't that same as saying you're more murderous than them?"
"If you wanna stop a war, you must take up arms. Flashing my beak at those pests is my duty. For the sake of nature's balance and my survival."
"I am impressed by your devotion and ideal, Miss Mayu." Eclair smiled appreciatively.
"Oho, of course you should! Praise me more!"
Suiryu still remembered how this cheeky brat jabbed his pride as a champ, but he didn't feel like sending any insult back to her. He believed that her strike was her honest way to motivate him despite how terrible it was.
"Then, can you share your wisdom with Miss Sy'ne, Mayu?"
She gave a sidelong glance at the silver-haired maiden. Sy'ne's look easily passed as a dainty lass. Her gaze was solemn, but Mayu felt that there was more into it. She couldn't describe it, but the girl had an air similar to her master. It made her want to poke Sy'ne more.
"Can you tell me how you fight, Sy'ne?"
"I control puppets."
"That's flashy. Can you fight with sword?"
"I have this." She produced a pair of huge scissors out of thin air.
"What a freakish weapon is that!? Can you even fight with that?"
"Don't underestimate her, lil' Mayu. Back when you're still an egg somewhere else, she put our back feet in the grave. She's seriously tough, playing with threads and traps and all."
"That's nasty. Don't you have any shame as a warrior?"
Again, Mayu's harsh remark hit the puppet master like a hammer to the head. She shrank helplessly under the monster's repulsed gaze.
"Miss Mayu, it is unwise to place her at the same position as us. She has a completely different way of fighting. Even so, she could still contend with us and almost prevailed."
"Hmm. I see. But in the end, she's still busted, right? And I'm sure it's Master who sent the finishing blow."
'Damn. Caring a kidis hard, huh? I feel like I wanna put a leash on her, but how?'
Are you retreating before the battle starts? Well, a coward like you can never succeed to pull out such a noble feat a parent should have. I expect that much. You are but the perfect fusion of lechery and laziness. You will be nothing but a plant that secretes gonad nectar.
'Ooh… How generous of you for adding more insult to my injury! That kid already made my head hurt. Now you also act up at this terrible time. Good... I'll make sure to bury you in a pile of monster dung! Just watch!'
Such a lowly threat from a bag of lust and empty pride! Make it true and I will crush that useless, beating lump in your chest!
"Nghk!"
A jolt of electricity zapped Suiryu's back, enough to move him from his chair. Catching the sudden shift on her savior's face, Eclair expressed her concern.
"Is something wrong, Lord Suiryu?"
"No. Nothing." Suiryu swiftly masked the pain with a bright smile. "I think a bug just bit my back. A nasty one, real−Ngrrh!"
A stronger jolt stabbed him. He clenched his jaw in pain. Fortunately, his companion believed him. If she really observed how his HP bar went shorter by one tenth, she would have screamed.
"Yes. I lost to him."
"Tck!"
Sy'ne's late reply set the mood of their talk dourer. The disappointment and impatience on Mayu's face left no choice but to wrap up their meeting. Telling Sy'ne about their plan in the shortest way possible was the best.
"Okay, Sy'ne, let me apologize if Mayu's words hurt you." Suiryu grabbed Mayu's head and forced her to bow. "She's still a kid, so she really likes to express her thoughts without any restraint."
"It's okay."
"And as for our next plan, we're going to catch up with Loren. Will you join us?"
"A war. Let me −n."
Sadeena in response sighed and slumped on her chair. Resting her chin lazily on her palm, she looked at Suiryu.
"Since we're ready, when will we set out, boss?"
"Tomorrow. And I'll also ask Naofumi."
"Still, I'd never thought you come up with this half-baked departure plan and forced me to don this get-up."
Sitting leisurely in a carriage drawn by Filo, Sadeena tossed her complaint. Since she dressed like a normal country woman, she seemed uncomfortable and kept on tucking her collar. Sy'ne and Mayu who sat beside her remained calm. Suiryu and Eclair, sitting in front of them, took the best possible place between wooden crates. They had just passed the main gate of the capital city, and like usual, money talked.
"If it works, it works. Even treating me like a slave doesn't bother me." Mayu raised her hands, bound by rope manacles. "Why are you so whiny?"
"Miss Mayu, Sadeena is more of a seductress than a proper dame. Dressing her normally is like covering the passage of her breath."
"I don't dislike this dress, okay. It's just a bit hot. But a dame? My thirties is still far ahead, sorry. And I'm just a warrior, trying my best to survive."
Naofumi leaned in from the coach's seat and smirked. "Yeah. By mooching on a hero."
"Hmm, that's not wrong." Sadeena put on an easy smile with no trace of guilt and shame. "Right, boss?"
"Well…"
Suiryu could only smile wryly. He was certain that people like Naofumi would have branded him as a fool, easily used by women. His holy weapon even spat so. However, he had his own reason. Though this world seemed peaceful, it contained countless malice he never knew. Fighting alone would crush him in a blink. He needed people he could trust, and they came as his companions.
"At least we can work together."
"Is that so, Master? Come to think of it, from the time when you formed this party, how much have you earned?"
"Err, we can secure 254 gold, 172 silver and 203 copper along with monster materials we haven't cashed out." Suiryu read the capital section of his stats page aloud.
"You're rich, Aniki."
"Only that much? If we count our daily expenses, Sadeena's drinks included, that will only last for three months."
"That's why we make a trip to northern territory now."
"Talk about a strange adventure of a broke mercenary." Naofumi shrugged.
"I have a feeling that what you said befits a title of a story, Lord Shield Hero." Eclair perked her head in interest.
"Right. Lord Naofumi tends to say something with deep meaning." Raphtalia added from the front seat.
"That's Master for you!" Filo cheered.
"More importantly, Aniki, I join you this time because I want to get more experience from a battle outside the Wave."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. Don't tell me you forget our talk last night."
The previous evening, Suiryu dropped by Naofumi's place and told their plan. The awkward mood from the talk about slave still lingered, but it soon dispersed the moment they went down about money. It was a bloody gamble where human lives would be the chips, but apparently Naofumi took a more pragmatic stance, saying that war is a part of life, especially in this messy world.
Sadeena suddenly cast a concerned look at Raphtalia's back. "Little Raphtalia, I actually don't want you to come with us, really. We're not killing monsters. We're killing people."
"I know, big sis."
The girl grimaced. As her rein loosened from her grip, Filo tilted her head.
"Still, I guess if I forced you to stay away from the battleground, that won't make it better. So, I hope that you don't overdo yourself. You got what I mean, right?"
"I know."
Sadeena understood how ugly a war could be. She knew the terrifying fact that it could change people into starved beasts. Raphtalia was also a witness to that horrible truth, seeing how her beloved town ransacked and burned to the ground even after it suffered unrepairable damage due to the Wave. The little girl had seen too much. She was afraid that the little Raphtalia she knew would choose a vengeful path.
"Little Naofumi, make sure you keep her safe."
"I'm her master. It's my duty."
"Then I'll talk to Loren. I'll ask him to put you in the rear."
For a moment, Naofumi thought about Suiryu's proposal. Although he never went to war in his previous life, his experience as a player of various role-playing games with heavy emphasis on strategy taught him many things. Healers are normally placed at the back, but if they have fighting capabilities or enough people to protect them, they can be a precious asset for supporting the frontline fighters.
"Depending on the situation, this Loren guy probably will say the otherwise."
"Do you mean that he'll put you at the front?" Suiryu gave a doubtful look.
"Yeah."
As a moviegoer, Suiryu had his fair share of war movies. Medical units placed close to the vanguard would be a hindrance for the main fighting force. Things would change if they are able to defend itself independently or even fighting back-to-back with the vanguard. He wasn't against this idea if it was feasible, but there would be someone who disagreed with it.
"Let's stick with your first plan, boss. Loren will hear me. And you can sit down and have your tea, little Naofumi." Sadeena gave a reassuring smile.
"Nope. I'm the leader and I'm under Loren's employ." Suiryu flashed his golden mercenary tag. "I think Naofumi-kun's idea is sound. We'll discuss it with the chief."
"Well, if you say so, boss." Sadeena shrugged her shoulders in defeat.
"Anyway, how long we'll take to reach the place?"
"If there's nothing wrong in our way, we'll be there in three days." Naofumi replied.
On the second night of their journey, the group had arrived at the border of the main town. They reached the place ahead of time since monsters and bandits were absent along the road. Passing by some hamlets in the way, they could feel the tense air. Most of the townsfolk had fled their homes, leaving their abodes in the the soldiers' care for temporary bases.
They pressed on and nearing midnight, somebody in a hooded cloak stopped them by the road. Filo glared at them as Raphtalia's hand grabbed her sword's hilt.
"Who are you!?"
The figure shuddered. Seeing a bulky bird that could talk glaring at them was unnerving. They tried their best to stay calm and could finally regain their composure.
"B-beyond this point, the area is under the protection of the Fighting Falcon. If you come here to sell some wares, please leave."
"Fighting Falcon?"
Hearing the conversation, Eclair jumped out from the carriage and met the man. "I am the vice-leader of this unit, Claire. We'd like to see Chief Loren."
The moment she showed her golden tag, the man bowed. "O-oh, we're expecting your arrival! You must be the people our leader is waiting for. Please go ahead to the town's square. We've a base there."
"Thank you."
Eclair climbed to the seat beside Raphtalia. Without saying any words, they left and headed straight into the town.
The situation was no different than the hamlets they passed by. The place seemed to be abandoned as soldiers were milling about the streets. It wasn't a large town, so they reached the square in no time. As Raphtalia parked the carriage, a tall man stood, leaving behind the bonfire in front of the tent. He came over the carriage and smiled.
"Talk about nice timing. I thought you'd take two days more to arrive."
"We got a very special carriage to deliver us safely and fast." Eclair hopped down. "I am glad to see you again, Chief Loren."
"The same goes to me. Where's Ryu?"
"I am afraid that he is still resting."
"Oh."
As Raphtalia put off the harness to free Filo, the carriage shook. Loren's crews began to gather around them and they could hear some ruckus.
"Aniki, wake up."
"Master, wake up!"
"Hey, let me show you the easy way to wake the boss up."
The carriage rattled, and an angry groan echoed from it.
"STOP PLAYING WITH MY CHEST, SUIKO, DAMN IT…! Huh!?"
"Suiko?"
"Who?"
"Oh dear…"
A moment later, the guest star finally appeared. Coming out in hist least presentable look, he fueled the laughter of Loren and his men, much to Eclair's embarrassment.
"Wow. I'm truly surprised that you can have a peaceful nap when you're about to enter the frontline."
Suiryu rubbed his eyes, ridding off the stubborn drowsiness. "Can't be helped. The carriage is comfy. Anyway, nice to see you again, Loren."
"Yeah. And I see you haul your big family. Not to mention you also bring Murder Pierrot with you."
"Many things happened, but she decided to come along. It's thanks to her that I know you're here."
"Right. I'll give her a proper payment after this."
Naofumi's party and Suiryu's gathered in front of the mercenaries. Some of them began to introduce themselves. Surprisingly, they were polite folks despite their roguish looks. It appeared that Fighting Falcon truly upheld their quality as a contractor who provided a premium service.
"If you're still kicking, let's go to the tent and get down to our plan."
"Okay. Lead the way, Chief."
The group entered the tent and began a meeting.
As Naofumi was concocting some healing potions with Raphtalia's assistance, Suiryu and his group had a chat with Loren and Larsazusa after the meeting. From the look of it, the situation didn't press them to set the alert high. The scouts they sent regularly offered a report on their enemy's movement. So far, their foes were still holing up in their fort and encampment at the east.
"This new guy you bring is a quite interesting person. It's a waste that he doesn't want to enter our membership. However, I'll guarantee a full payment for his service as a healer and an apothecary."
"Thanks very much, Loren. Well, you see, that kid is still having a hard time after someone of highborn threw some nasty plot at him."
"My condolences. That's rough. I hope that offering him this job can help him."
"Sure it will. He's eager enough to help people as long as he's paid properly. Isn't that cool?"
"Yeah. Very cool. He's the kind of man we need in this line of work." Larsazusa, sitting in her panda form, remarked. "So what about you, big sis Sadeena? Have a change of heart after your failed stunt?"
"Nah. I'm just drifting here, following this cool boss of mine."
"That's so very like you."
"But if you can fulfill my selfish request, I'll treat you to a drink."
"Oh, what is it? Let me hear it."
"She wants Naofumi's group to be placed at the rear." Suiryu spoke in Sadeena's stead.
"Boss, you really… Ugh."
"Why is that?" Loren squinted his eyes.
"Basically she doesn't really want his companion to harm people. You see, she's a worrywart on the inside."
"Boss, I'm glad you know what I wanna ask, but can you at least let me do the talk?"
"Sorry, but I don't think you have the gut to say what you want. You often choose a pretty roundabout way, you know?"
"Man… You two are really close, huh? Damn, I wanna have a boyfriend!"
"Oho~? Wanna have a way with him, lil' Sasa? We can share. My boss is a quite illustrious, cultured man."
"Uh… You think I can just do that kind of stuff?"
"Hey, don't drag in other girl like I'm a womanizer." Suiryu gave a tired look.
"The fact that you drag around women makes you a bad liar." Loren sipped his tea. "Still, I must admit you've got huge balls. I've got a feeling snaring one more won't be a trouble, especially for a gold tag owner."
Eclair sighed in a tad of annoyance. It was her in the first place who plunged Suiryu into debauchery, but she still felt the prudence of not spilling such a vulgar matter.
"Chief, I would appreciate it if we don't prolong the talk of our private matter."
"I know. " Loren grabbed a parchment from a nearby table. "So about the placement, I initially want to put that kid in the back. The reason is simply because his skill in drugs. He's a precious asset. If the tide changes for the worse and he got killed or captured, we're busted 'cause healers won't be enough."
"So, do you mean potions are substitute for healers when they're not around?" Suiryu asked.
"You can say so. Though potions can't completely replace them."
"First aid, huh? I see. So it's Sadeena's plan, then."
It was a new knowledge for Suiryu. Being a guy with no background of gaming, he often found problems he could hardly solve unless he asked for help from his companions or through random conversations. The knowledge he absorbed from movies turned out to be terribly meager.
"Then what about yours?" Loren probed. "Having the kid run around with his fellas?"
"I haven't decided it yet, but he's got some experience in beating monsters. He's tough. Combined with his friends, your run-of-the-mill thugs can hardly touch them."
"Okay. I trust your judgment, but we need him more in the back. And if he can fight, that's more reassuring since the security around that line will be a bit thin. But don't worry. We'll put some veterans with them."
"Understood." Suiryu tilted his head, seeing Sadeena's slight smile. "How about it? Surely you like it."
"Yeah. Thanks, boss~. And Little Loren, I leave them to you."
"Not gonna promise, but we'll try our best. Right, Lars?"
"Yup. Leave them to us."
The next day, Suiryu and Eclair volunteered on a reconnaissance mission. Moving in a squad of four with two of Loren's men, they loitered around the perimeter of the enemy's encampment. When they finally got a glimpse of the place, they spotted the guards. They were uncharacteristically loose, but that only made them look all the more suspicious.
"It is as if they are luring us in. Don't you think so?"
"I cannot think otherwise, Miss Claire. Let's be more careful."
"What do you think, Lo─Ryu?"
After a little peek through a spyglass his comrade had handed, he got the answer. The opposing soldiers mostly had low morale. Their eyes were murky and the way they handled their weapons was terrible. They weren't qualified to be combatants. They probably were serfs, pulled forcefully by their lords into this war. However, his observation couldn't tell what lied beyond the tents. He should admit that their enemies weren't stupid enough to expose their fort to the lurkers.
"Maybe they're just poor peasants from surrounding territories. The bigwigs are in the fort. Any idea for taking a less risky way for getting nice intel?"
"Since they encircle the hill with those tents, approaching the fort on the hilltop will be difficult unless we're under the cover of darkness."
"But even if they are peasants, there are so many of them." Eclair took the spyglass, trying to find any open route around the hill. "In this season, the darkness tonight can still hardly cover us. And bonfires are everywhere. Passing them will be nigh impossible. Shall we make another round?"
The rest of the squad nodded and they walked around the foothill once more as the sun was descending. As they lurked near some log barricades, they spotted a carriage, passing smoothly over the road that led into the fortress. Suiryu widened his eyes, but that sign alerted Eclair. She quickly caught what crazy idea he might be thinking.
"Ryu, I know you may have a splendid inspiration like hijacking a carriage, but this is not the time to be reckless. We are to report to Loren as soon as the sun goes down and let the night sortie go."
"Oh, well." Suiryu sighed.
"Hmm?"
"What is it?"
As Loren's men were observing through the spyglass, Suiryu also kept his eyes locked on the fort's gate. Fortunately, it faced south, thus the dim sun ray helped their sight. It seemed that the carriage could only stop in front of the gate as some knights were unloading crates from it.
A moment later, some people who didn't seem to belong to any regular unit went out from the gate, followed by what appeared to be knight commanders. One of those curious people carried an ornate bow. Suiryu got a glint of shining pale green from it, and his heartbeat heightened.
"Hey, gimme the spyglass."
"Oh, sure."
"Hmm? No way…!"
"What's wrong Ryu?"
"This might be bad."
"Bad?"
Seeing Suiryu's stiff look as he lowered the spyglass, Eclair got a bad premonition. After a moment of pause, he faced his squadmates.
"Our enemy is the Bow Hero."
"Gotta say this slipped from our calculation. But anyway, thanks a bunch. We can get a very useful info."
Loren exclaimed and dismissed the team. The tent they were in was abuzz when the recon team reported their shocking finding. Since a hero had entered the fray, the outcome might be grimmer than they had anticipated.
As Loren and his team were planning a countermeasure, Suiryu paid a visit to Naofumi's post. So far, no one had noticed him as the Shield Hero. He came alone, parting with Eclair when they passed their quarter.
"You're back, Aniki. How's the recon?"
Suiryu's eyes bounced around the place, finding no one other than Naofumi. He gestured at Naofumi to come closer and whispered to his ear.
"Don't tell anybody. I saw Itsuki. He's with the enemies."
"What?!"
With a grim nod, Suiryu confirmed Naofumi's doubt. The boy's complexion darkened as he gazed at the shield that stuck on his left arm, taking the shape of a tome.
"What do you think?"
"I'm not sure. We only saw him once on the day you fled. After that, I only heard some rumors, saying that he went to hunt monsters around the countrysides, just like Ren."
"I see. So we cannot confirm his strength, huh?"
"I fear so."
Suiryu plopped down on a crate beside Naofumi and heaved a sigh. Ever since he lived in this world, countless troubles that forced him to use his brain kept on rising. He wasn't a man who drew enjoyment from solving things with his fists, but planning and hard thinking were never his strong suit, either. It left him with no choice but to rely on the people around him.
"So, do you know any idea on how to make him bend his knees, Naofumi-kun?"
"If we talk about something close to laying a siege, the easiest way maybe by cutting their supply route. I think robbing the carriages that regularly come into the fortress is feasible. But…"
"Is it Itsuki himself?"
"Yeah. If he decides to intervene, I don't think that trick will do. Even if we can impede the supply far from the destination, he can just trace it and blow up the interceptors."
"What about trap?"
"What kind of trap? Something you pull out like those in movies about revenge and betrayal? I don't think they're stupid enough to fall into one. And we're not smart enough to make one."
Naofumi's tone was marred with sarcasm. Suiryu truly felt bad for reminding the young man of the terrible thing that befell him.
"Um… I guess so. And sorry for being insensitive."
"It's okay. It serves as a good experience."
With no experience in waging such kind of war as a reference, they were at the end of their wit. The night grew darker, but no idea could they squeeze out. Amid their problem, only the gentle moonlight that seemed to promise them a bright tomorrow.
Suiryu rose from his seat, stretching his back. Being a carefree like he was, he left his pursue to his tomorrow self and his compatriots.
"I hope Loren can find a way out. A grunt like me must know about that."
"No need to underestimate yourself, but I guess that's for the better."
"Dude, what's the matter? Ya look like a rag already."
"Don't wanna say this, but it's like we've chosen the wrong client."
The next day, early in the morning, Loren exited the lord's house with his shoulders slouching. Apparently, the lord had demanded the mercenaries to annihilate the enemy forces sooner. As an insult, the man even went as far as berating them, threatening to dissolve the contract and nullify the payment. It was a tiring moment that such a lively chief suddenly looked like an old man.
As Loren returned to the command tent with all his suffering, Suiryu opened the window of a two-story house. Located only forty steps away from the command post, they chose it as their temporary base simply because it looked cozy.
When the sun ray invaded the room, Eclair and Sadeena woke up. With nothing to cover their embarrassing bits except the blanket they shared, they rose and gazed at their man.
"… Morning already? Ugh… Gimme a break, boss."
"Lord Suiryu!"
Seeing her lord was dressed properly, Eclair snatched her clothes that were strewn on the floor. She quickly slipped into them and washed her face. The matter of her untamed hair came later, just like Sadeena.
Out of consideration, Suiryu gently combed Eclair's hair with a metal comb. She accepted his kindness and sat on a chair. Her long, strawberry blonde locks were among many charms he adored.
"Thank you, Lord Suiryu."
"You're welcome. I just want to remind you that even as a mercenary, you should never forget that you're a diligent knight on the inside."
"I truly am honored. Then let me serve you with my utmost devotion."
Sadeena whistled in response. She went out of bed and rummaged the floor for her clothes.
"Wow. That's quite a cheesy line. Huh? Are you wearing my panties, lil' Eclair?"
"Oh, really?" The former knight's eyes widened as she saw her friend swing around her undergarment. "Ah! That one is mine! Just how bad my luck can be?! Give it back!"
Suiryu gave a wide grin as he finished neatening Eclair's lustrous strawberry locks. "Isn't exchanging clothes a sign that you're getting along very well?"
"Hell no!" "No!"
Suiryu reeled back, raising his hands placatingly. Inciting a cat fight around the waking hours was a bad idea, granting nothing but a plummet for his reputation. He left the duo with a big stride.
"ENEMIES! INCOMING ENEMIES!"
Around lunchtime, the mercenaries garrisoned at the neighboring village picked up enemies' movement. They mounted a full-scale attack, moving all their available units toward the heart of that territory. Upon receiving the warning, Loren mobilized his troops and rushed out to the potential clashing point. Twenty minutes later, the two opposing forces met at a plain.
Loren gave a lopsided smile as Suiryu observed the hostile force before him in astonishment. He knew that the mercenaries were outnumbered, but size wasn't the deciding factor. He was with professionals while their enemies were haphazardly organized civilians. They could easily maul those pitiful people and their leaders. However…
"Bow Hero, where is he?"
"Itchy already? If you beat him, I'll double the prize."
"Think I'm up for this bet?"
"Who knows?" Loren shrugged. "You can come up with unthinkable things. Just go wild already. That wall of soldiers surely are nothing to you, right?"
"Is that a command, chief? They haven't blown their trumpets."
"Do we need their signal to even start? We mercs don't go with that rule. Oh, right. Maybe this is your first time in a regular combat. Now listen. You are to break the enemy's ranks and inflict as many damages as possible. Bring your companions with you."
"Just that?"
"Knock down the Bow Hero if it's possible. That's the second objective."
"Understood. Then we're off, Chief."
"Damn…"
Itsuki huffed and kicked a pebble under his foot. His mood was sour. His exploration around this world so far raised his level significantly, but he felt that the progress lately stagnated. No level up, no notable achievement, and his burden turned heavier.
'Especially after I took that quest in the southwest for a dirt poor village, only to head northeast for this needless load. What a drag.'
He sent a look of contempt to a green-haired girl in his party. She didn't see it, but she somehow sensed that and fidgeted. Her clumsy trait only made her look all the more miserable. Itsuki's followers also gazed at her with disdain as they walked over to the knight commanders.
"Oh, Lord Bow Hero!"
"Tell me the situation."
"We managed to move all of our troops into the designated position. We are ready to engage any time."
"Good. We'll find a place to slay them. Make sure you don't fall prey to my arrows."
"Hahaha! Spare me the jest! A hero surely would never miss his marks. And our men are well-trained. Dodging arrows won't be a problem, unlike those ruffians."
Itsuki said nothing and left. If not because of the potential EXP he could gain, he would have cut down these arrogant fools. To him, they were nothing but NPCs, ripe for cheap EXP harvest.
The Bow Hero's group slipped out from the main ranks and traversed through the flank. They found an elevated ground and took it as a firing point.
"Hey, girlie, bring out the provisions."
"F-Fuwee…!"
"Tck! Useless!"
The clumsy green-haired girl set down a large rucksack and took out some of its contents. Her hands were shaky as she handed Itsuki's squadmates some breads. Some of them, losing patience already, snatched their shares and began munching with no care. They returned their focus to the battlefield, seeing the troops readied the cavalry.
The trumpets had yet to be blown. Apparently, the side they should support weren't as brave as their words. Itsuki was disappointed, knowing that the uprising he helped seemed to waste his effort. Nevertheless, he had chosen this quest. There was no turning back at this point, so he would take his part seriously.
Some minutes later, they saw three men broke off from the main ranks of the mercenaries. Two rode a single horse while the one at the lead dashed faster than the horse. He closed the distance between the facing armies and barreled through the row of horsemen with a brutal blast. Riders and their mounts flew like thrown feathers, and so with the rows of foot soldiers behind.
"Wha─!"
It was no sane feat. He continued to mow down the soldiers, deep into the back row as his companions followed him, working more mayhem in their wake. Gust and lightning raged around their trail, leaving behind maimed and scorched bodies. The surge of mercenaries that came later only heralded the rebel force's crushing defeat.
"Damn it all! [Meteor Bow]! [Meteor Arrow]!"
"Lord Bow Hero!"
In a fit of rage, Itsuki loosed some magical arrows at the freak. In a second, his shots hailed into the fiend, but much to Itsuki's horror, his target evaded them effortlessly. The man even had a moment to relax his guard. His companions caught up with him. One of them pointed their sword at Itsuki's spot. The glimmer of its blade was an omen of doom.
"No no no NO…!"
Itsuki trembled in terror. He fired more arrows, making smoke that served as a cover for their enemies instead. He hated this outcome. This sudden crazy event must have something to do with a bug. Crashing algorithm and hacking are the most plausible causes that crossed his hectic mind of a gamer. While he was still shaking in panic, his party members were ready to flee.
"L-lord Bow Hero, I'm afraid that those freaks might come our way! We should retreat!"
"Retreat!?"
"We don't have time! Mald!"
"Right!"
"Whoa!"
A burly man in a knight armor carried Itsuki, knowing the Bow Hero's inner turmoil might hinder their escape. Just when they were about to turn their heels, a scantily clad woman crashed into their path. She twirled her bident as blue sparks of electricity crackled around them.
"… [All Drifa Chain Lightning]!"
""Guahhh…!""
Screams of agony echoed as sparks of lightning stung them. They fell in cacophony, losing strength after the sudden, ruthless strike. Itsuki, in a desperate attempt to retaliate, stood. Biting back pain, he faced the attacker.
"Oh dear~! You're wasting your cute look with that glare, you know?"
"Shut up! It's all your fault! If not because of you, monsters, this battle is our win!"
"… Your win, huh? Too bad, this time, you're the loser."
That voice of a man he vaguely remembered was the last thing Itsuki heard. He felt something whacked his nape and everything went black.
Sitting alone while gazing at the setting sun, Suiryu pondered about the battle that went that day. Loren was right. The soldiers he had beaten were pitifully powerless. His presence was an unfair game-changer that utterly crushed the rebellion. He felt sorry for those poor souls he harmed.
Alas, he was just a soldier of fortune, taking this work to afford his daily bread. He did his job, earned some cash, and forgot everything that transpired the day before.
When the orange shade of the sky had gradually taken some violet hues, the recollection of his mayhem played again.
-/|\-
After Loren had spoken about the last objective, he gathered Eclair and Sadeena. They briefly discussed their bland tactic that focused on power, and bolted out as soon as Eclair got a horse.
The battle that turned into a one-sided onslaught passed in a blink. It began when he silently morphed his spear into a halberd. He rushed and swung it as the first row of enemies entered his view. He swung his weapon some more times and before he knew it, he had reached the end of the line.
Eclair and Sadeena caught up with him, and a long range attack fell from above. They managed to dodge the magical arrows without any trouble. Tracing back the trajectory, Eclair spotted the archer in no time. She raised her claymore and pointed it at a group of men over an elevated ground.
Suiryu's eyes widened. He was aware that in term of level, he couldn't match his prey. If level truly determines victory, his chance was terribly slim. However, after taking in the fact that he could still evade the flying arrows, his doubt vanished. He could still outmatch Itsuki.
The second volley came, blowing up dust and smoke around them. Sadeena saw it as a bother, but Eclair regarded it differently. Suiryu's thought was in parallel with Eclair's. He used the smokescreen, laid low for some seconds then burst into action. As his feet granted him a powerful sprint, his confidence thickened.
He could beat Itsuki. The second objective was within his grasp.
Sadeena jumped off from the horse and tailed Suiryu closely, acceleration lightning-based spell active. They finally reached the range of their strike. Instead of going with a normal entrance, he decided to repeat the trick in the arena. He gave a signal and she hopped onto the side of his halberd. She cast her incantation and a blue lightning sparked around her. His muscles contracted and his halberd creaked. With a powerful row, he sent her flying.
Following his lady friend, he rushed and landed not long after her. Apparently, she had just felled their targets without any meaningful resistance. However, their biggest prey refused to go down. Even with his HP bar running red, the Bow Hero didn't let his pain take over him completely. For a moment, that feat did impress Suiryu.
All it took, however, was a babble about being a winner to erase his positive impression. A champion he was, the Spear Hero couldn't let that slip. With a chop to the nape, the prideful archer fell.
A sense of satisfaction washed over Suiryu, but it was a faint one. As Eclair came over and he handed some ropes using his [Rope Spear] utility for rounding up the fallen party, the victory became tasteless. Was that the extent of a hero's strength? How could that kid even become a hero in the first place? Did the level system really work?
Or, was he simply too strong?
He banished those questions from his mind and regrouped with the main force. The battle that day was a landslide victory for the mercenaries.
-/|\-
When the sun finally sank, Suiryu returned into the town. From its half-dilapidated gate, he could see Loren's men were preparing a feast of victory.
A contrasting sight came into view as he passed a clearing by the main street. Around a hundred war prisoners were sitting, their hands bound by rope. Their complexion darkened after finding their ill-predicament. For a second, he felt a slight tingle in his core, but that sense of pity flew by as he headed to the bright place in front of him.
He went straight into the command post to see Loren. Amid the merriness outside, the paperwork trapped the commander in place. His quill moved almost ceaselessly, filling reports on the state after the combat. Suiryu stole a little peek, but Loren's glance stopped him.
"Only a commander-wannabe or a curious skirt-chaser who dare to see the contents of these papers."
"What if the ladies shove my head under their skirts on their own free will?"
"Are you flaunting it 'cause you got the makings for that?" Loren chuckled and pressed his quill a little harder, puncturing the parchment. "So, what brings you here? Are you taking your payment early? If that's the case, I'll bring it as soon as I submit these damn reports to that fat bastard."
"Oh, no. Just take your time. I'm here to ask for your evaluation on my team's performance. But seeing you're busy right now, I guess I come here for saying hello."
"Oh, how very considerate of you." Loren put his quill into the ink pot. "All right. Let me be brief. You've pressed our regular expenses, no joke. On top of that, no casualty on our side. Most gold-tag owners will pull out their all for achieving that. You'll get a plenty share. As an extra reward, I'll write a recommendation to raise your rank."
"Wow! For real? I'd be grateful for that. Thanks, Loren!"
"No need to thank me. I'm just doing my job. This is simply for binding you to our guild. We're running a business, so wasting a great employee means courting disaster in the future."
"Damn right."
Their chuckle came to an untimely halt when Loren's man, apparently the one guarding the sentry, barged in. His haggard look already spoke how grave the news he was going to convey.
"Ch-chief… the lord fled from the back with a cart, laden with gold!"
"Are you fucking kidding me!?"
"So, Master, are you finally going to fly with me?!" Mayu asked excitedly.
"I need your help. Let's go, Mayu! Follow the main road!"
"Aye aye!"
Suiryu finally decided to use Mayu as his mount in this manhunt. Time was of essence, thus they took off as Loren's men rode on their war horses.
It took him around three minutes to spot the speeding cart. Pulled by a pair of dash drakes, it still couldn't run faster than a car on a smooth asphalt. Should it run without the burden, the passengers could make a safe, fast escape.
"Are you going to slay the fat man, Master?"
"No. I'll just stop the cart and let Loren's guys deal with him. Get closer to it, Mayu."
"On it!"
The griffin flapped her wings, catching up with the cart. As she glided just above tree-top level, Suiryu switched his basic spear into [Chain Spear]. He pulled its head, expanded it from its shaft and spun it like a grappling hook. He threw it, and its head punched through the back of the cart. With a forceful yank to the side, he sent the cart off the road, crashing into a tree. The lord soon crawled out uninjured, miraculously.
"Damn it! Just what in the blaze had─!"
The fat man stopped mid-sentence when he saw the imposing sight of Suiryu, mounted on a fierce griffin. He shrieked, stumbling over some rocks. He fell on his rear as he found his drakes had dashed away in panic. His face grew pale as each flap of the majestic predator's wings counted his impending doom.
"Hiiiiiii…! J-just don't kill me!"
Suiryu jumped out from Mayu's back. A neutral smile graced his face. As the remnant of twilight still lingered, the curve of his smile seemed more dreadful as he walked closer. The crooked lord, terrified to his bones, wet himself as he cowered helplessly, his back pressed against the broken cart.
"Oh, I won't go that far, good sir. I've come over here just to ask for our payment." Suiryu tilted his head to his side, hearing the chasing team come closer. "But well, my friends might have different things to say, perhaps."
"Huh?"
Suiryu shrugged his shoulders. When he moved aside to allow the horse rider squad to pass, an object flew by him. He only let out a whistle the moment a knife lodged itself into the forehead of the greedy lord.
"A fat rat trying to run away from us? Too bad, you've sealed a deal with some hungry cats."
The conclusion of the battle in the Northern Territory and the fate of its people went into obscurity in the annals of history. No valid record was ever found, but majority of historians agreed that both the Bow and Spear Heroes crossed paths in this conflict with the latter came as the victor.
Said victor, after parting ways with the Shield Hero's party, joined Loren's group to return to Zeltoble. With their pockets filled from the coffers of the dead lord, they could get a lavish feast once they hit a town. Booze and women drowned them. Suiryu's little tolerance for alcohol and the presence of Eclair and Sadeena were a blessing, fortunately.
The backwater town the Fighting Falcons visited lacked common amusements, but since it was close to the traveling merchants' road, goods were cheap. Slaves were no exception. The ladies that kept the mercenaries company mostly, if not all, were slaves. Since the place was still a part of Melromarc, these unfortunate women were of demi-human races.
After spending the night with his partners in their usual depravity, as the moon slipped away from its apex, Suiryu quietly went out from his chamber to get some fresh air. As he passed the room reserved for Mayu and Sy'ne, he felt a sudden urge to check on them. He was about to reach the door handle, but he opted to not open it, knowing that Sy'ne would do her job well.
Although Sy'ne still looked a bit uncomfortable around Suiryu, she had earned his trust to the point that he could ask her to guard Mayu. Both Eclair and Sadeena also welcomed her, thus everything was fine.
He walked by the inn's reception desk, finding the friendly old man have retreated for that night. Only some drunk mercs were left in the dining hall, sleeping, making the place messy. The inn was surely cheap and offered a relatively good service, no wonder the bunch holed in this one.
He opened the door, and a cold wind struck him. Dressed lightly, that wind should have sent him a chill, but he didn't feel cold at all. His old life in the mountain had granted him resistance to this level of cold.
His steps brought him farther from the inn and down to the dark road. The lodgings Loren's men chose had already turned off their lights. The only source of illumination came from the half moon above, momentarily covered by the speeding cloud. If it were a horror movie, he would expect the sudden appearance of a ghost, a monster, or a random guy trying to stab him from behind.
Much to his shock, it was the third that appeared. And not only one, but two. They were grinning like deranged men. One was holding a saber, the other had a chain-and-sickle, a kusarigama. Laughing, the swordsman lunged forward and brought his saber down at him, but his slash missed an arm long.
"Woopsie! My hand slipped!"
"You can't hit him? You're lame, dude!"
"Shut your trap!"
"Yeah. Pretty lame, I admit." Suiryu gave a dumbfounded stare at the assailants, agreeing with the kusarigama wielder. "For someone who managed to hide their presence pretty well, missing an object as huge as me is a shame. So what's the deal, gentlemen? This isn't the right time to meet me, don't you think?"
Suiryu's smile bent into a predatory one. After sating his carnal thirst on Eclair and Sadeena, his hunger for violence bit him. The blood that pooled around his lower part some moments ago began rushing to his entire body, heating his muscles. His opponents felt that change, and they hardened their guards.
"Wow. Chickening out already?"
"Shut up, and drop dead already, Spear Hero! We need you for powering us up!"
"Hoh? Guess I'm quite popular." Suiryu suddenly narrowed his eyes."Are you some sort of hero hunter?"
His recollection returned to the flickering moment of his life, back in his old world. The greatest hero he ever met, Saitama, once insinuated about the danger a hero hunter posed. If it was the case here, he would take it seriously. He regretted over his ignorance on Saitama's warning.
"If we are? Are you going to put up a fight? We've killed a bunch of heroes. Resistence is futile."
"Well, let's see…" Suiryu took a fighting stance, curling his fists. "Whether you really deserve the title of hero hunters or not."
"Big talk from a small timer!"
The swordsman rushed forward again, only to meet Suiyu's explosive kick. The force produced a blast of wind, crushing the swordsman's ribs inward. As the force in motion suspended the miserable attacker in the air, Suiryu followed his attack with a flying left roundhouse kick, sending the man back to the ground. For the finisher, he stomped the thug in the head.
"Huh? What the hell…?"
Weirdly, there was no blood. There lied the corpse of the swordsman, his head missing and his chest caved in, but no gore or red bits stained the ground. It was eerie, and soon, the body disintergrated into motes of blue light.
"Shit! We've got careless! Met–!"
The kusarigama wielder was about to activate a spell, but his words halted when he found the Spear Hero's fingers have pierced his neck. Suiryu twisted his palm, forcefully snapping the man's neck from the inside. Again, no blood spilled, his hand clean. His foe dropped limply and turned into motes of blue light without leaving any trace of his existence.
Suiryu gave a wary look at the vicinity. He found no one in sight. Their bout didn't seem to cause any disturbance. He scanned his surroundings some more, and out of nowhere, Sy'ne appeared. With a look of panic, she came over him.
"Sy'ne? What's happening?"
"I sensed vassal heroes? Did y– them?"
"If what you mean is armed men, yes, I fought them. Do you know who they are?"
She only nodded, glancing at the cracks on the ground. It seemed that Suiryu, the Spear Hero, had granted those madmen more than they could ask for. She had gotten the taste of his unbridled power firsthand, and it made her wonder whether it was enough to deter those fools or not. She shrugged and went back into the inn, followed by him.
Author's Note
Double update. Yes.
Sorry for the very long wait. It's been tough for me in these couple of years. Work bites me hard and writer's block hits me. Still, I have time to read my favorite LNs.
Thanks for all your support, dear readers, and see you next time. ;-)