Chapter 31

"I need help getting my party into a Class Up ceremony."

The Ringmaster looked at us, "Ah, I see the difficulty you must be having, Yes Sir." The smile was gone, "This means you must seek out another Dragon Hourglass. And that means travelling to another country."

"So long as it isn't Shieldfreeden." I said.

"Sir? I thought that's where... Oh..." Usa blushed slightly.

"I said that to the lady, and whomever was listening in, so we can go anywhere else but there. It's not much of a misdirection, but..." I looked back to the Ringmaster.

"A moment, Sir Hero." He snapped his fingers, and one of the Muscle Clowns lumbered over with a roll of parchment. "Here we are." The parchment unrolled into a map, somewhat larger than the little one I'd gotten from the Hunt Master in Riyute, it had other bits on it outside Melromarc (the country's) borders.

"Here Sir, is the wondrous Castle City." He tapped the map, "Shieldfreeden would be this way here." He tapped a finger to the south east, "They've been quite upset with Melromarc, but our lovely Queen has tempered their reaction, Yes Sir."

"And they're Demi-Human friendly, and obviously liked the Shield Hero of another generation." I said.

"Indeed. Sadly, even if you were to go there, unless your lovely dragon girl can fly, it would take two weeks by boat or twice that over land." We all looked to Tetsu.

"Well, I don't have wings?" She said, "Um... Should I have wings?"

Raphtalia didn't comment, but gave Tetsu headpats.

"This way Sir," He slid his finger East, "Is Zeltoble. It is overall a small place, with no standing army but many mercenary bases. I may be a little biased of course, but I find a lot of fun at the Colosseum."

"Fighting pits and slaves." I frowned.

His smile just got wider, "Of course! But also powerful weapons, and a dragon hourglass."

"Sir?" Usa didn't even let me start chuckling.

"We could go there to 'win' the privilege. And some of the things we make in our spare time on the wagon would sell quite well." I mused, "Wouldn't take much to disguise ourselves as a mercenary band. Just another name for 'adventurer' except your boss is money."

"Well well, not quite done yet! But you sound like you might have decided already!" The Ringmaster said, moving his finger a little, "Here," his finger rested a little north west of Zeltoble, "Is Siltvelt. And I say, if you were to walk there now, you would be in the opposite situation you are in now, Yes Sir."

"Oh?"

"Indeed. An older name, if you look at the histories, was Shieldweld. That, and their local religion only accepts the Shield as the true hero." He explained, "Oh, not as impressed as I thought you would be!"

"I'm trying to do a job. I'd rather be counted as a hero when I succeed and leave. This sounds like a place where I'd do more hand waving than anything else."

My party already knew I planned on leaving. It didn't stop them from looking a little sad about it, but I had also said they'd be welcome to come with me, if possible.

"Then there's Faubrey. It is a little strange, Yes Sir. I know my methods may upset you, but they have taken many things in Melromarc to extremes. Their Church holds the Four Heroes up as divine. Many families there claim to have previous heroes as ancestors. The nobility is constantly trying to gain favour of the King... And if rumour is true, he is worse than the recently departed Idol Rabier."

"Don't tell me more than that." I said, "I know I'm going to hear about that from Altcray, but I would have no problem moving up the ranks, so to speak."

The Party laughed a little nervously. "Very well Sir!" The Ringmaster nodded, "It seems Zeltobe would be your next destination!"

"Seems so, but not before the Wave. However..." I looked at the map, then to the Ringmaster, "I think I am going to go to Shieldfreeden." I said slowly, "It would be a shame if a rumour spread about that, and it became impossible. Yes Sir."

The Ringmaster said nothing... at least until I set down a pair of gold coins. Then he was smiling brilliantly, (with sparkles even!) but replied in the same slow manner. "It would be such a shame, Yes Sir." He chuckled, then reached into his nice coat and set down a little bit of stiff paper. Huh, three of four worlds used business cards. "It would be even more of a shame if I didn't share a little of your good fortune with my family."

Aha, a contact.

I put the card away, "Thank you for your business." I said, "And please, remember my instructions."

He looked like I'd just told him the sky was falling, "Good Sir! You have paid for service! Thus you will get it!"

"Pardon me for being rude. Let's go." I paused, "Ah, right, we'll need a guide."

"Of course!" He snapped his fingers, and another Muscle Clown just... appeared out of someplace.

"Oh, and can I buy the leftover ink?" I set down another silver.

Three days to go. And like any big trip to the Dungeon, I planned to spend it getting myself and my party ready. It wasn't just more training either. We made sure to get proper rest. Eat proper food. Make sure our equipment was going to survive the trip.

But before all that, we had to address our newest member and her place in the Party.

"You owe me." Melty grumbled when she returned to Erhard's workshop. "Distracting my-" Her tone became acidic, "dear sister" then resumed its normal tone, "was almost as bad as fighting that dragon!"

"And I plan to pay you back." I said, my hammer paused in mid swing. I glanced back to the bit of metal on the anvil, and put it back into the furnace, "And I'll start with a thank you. Thank you very much Lady Melty Q Melromarc. Your distraction and my strength of arm may have helped pull the Spear Hero's head out of his ass-" My tail swatted me of course, "and hopefully gotten him set on the right track."

She 'humphed', turning her head sharply to the side. But when I didn't comment or look directly at her, she opened one eye and peeked at what I was doing. "What is it you are making?"

"Your new weapon." I said, keeping a close eye on the metal as it slowly shifted to the exact colour of red that I couldn't see properly, "Stand behind me while I hammer." Only two of the four worlds I'd been to had 'the safety line'.

"Weapon? Why would I need a weapon? My magic is perfectly fine as is it." She asked while moving behind me, "Hmm, you need to brush your tail."

I explained between hammer strikes, "Many people of my world use some kind of a magic focus. Most go for the obvious. A staff or a wand. My little sister uses a sword. My wife and apprentice use a little blade called a Tanto."

"Ah, I know that word." She said, surprised more by the blade's name than the rest. "We don't often have visitors from Q'ten Lo, but some of our knights, and many of mother's Shadows favour their style of weapons."

"I'd been wondering that. Melromarc has a similar style of arms and armour to a place I know of, and the curved blade is counter to the 'norm'." I set the steel back into the furnace, "Now, while that's heating up..."

I sifted through the Shield's inventory and started plucking gems from it. Aptly named 'aquamarine', they bore a water affinity. They were different sizes and cuts, ranging from square to teardrop, but since this was a 'personal' weapon, this was the point where the person it was for should start choosing parts.

"Here. Pick one of these. Take your time though. A proper spell focus should be made with care, not impulse." I set the handful of little gems on a workbench, then turned back to watch the metal.

"Why a blade? I would much rather a wand."

"You don't carry a knife. Everyone should have a knife. Especially a young woman in a world where people can buy children as slaves." I said dispassionately, "Don't worry. I'll make sure it matches your new armour, and look pretty."

I heard her drop one of the little gems, "Armour? You intend to make we wear armour?"

Only Usa would have been able to hear my sigh over the hammering. "Yes. Your dress is reasonable for combat, even with all the frills, but getting stabbed makes spell casting hard." I took a look at the curved bit of metal, nodded, then put it back in the fire, "I have Raphtalia at the tailor's place getting the proper fabrics. It will be like wearing a kind of corset, but otherwise be more or less the same dress."

She gave me a dirty look, but nodded, "Very well." She held out her hand, a teardrop shaped gem on her palm, "This one."

I smiled. It wasn't the largest of them, and it didn't have the most facets (thus increasing its value further). "Excellent." I accepted the stone, set it aside, then put the rest back in the Shield. "This also brings us to the last part of you joining."

I could only imagine her look as I turned back to the anvil. "Ah..."

"Trust me, as my party trusts me." I said between hammer strikes, "And we don't have to visit the Ringmaster, so no one will know but me, you and the others."

She was silent for a moment, "You know the ritual? But..."

"Unlike the other three heroes, blood magic is something my world has as well. And I only need to see the skin just under your collar." I smiled, though since she was still behind me, she couldn't see.

"I wasn't th..." She blurted, then sighed, "If you are going to enforce honesty upon me, I suppose I was thinking about that too."

"Good. Now when Raphtalia gets back, you can pick the lacing for the hilt."

I finished the blade just before bed time. Just before Raphtalia would start warming up her Big Sister muscles to try and get me to go to bed. Erhard gave me a hand with it as well, though since I was enchanting the metal he stuck with making the sheath and decorations. For a guy with such big hands, he could do really good delicate work.

And finally, the last touch.

The rest of the party stood behind me in Erhard's spare room, while Melty sat on a stool in front of me. "I present to you, your new blade. It is yours to name, but for it to be truly yours and no one else, you must bind it to you."

On the night stand next to her, I set down a little dish and poured a little of the special ink into it. I then held out her new blade, a neat little thing just a little shorter than her forearm. Hilt wrapped in light blue, sheath made of nearly identical blue lacquered wood and a gold inlay of seaweed vines, it was quite pretty to look at. Set into the rounded silver/steel pommel was the teardrop shaped gem.

She admired it a moment, but waited for instructions.

"The first blood the blade will draw is your own." I said.

As Melty drew the little blade, the polished metal gleaming in the light of the room, I found myself really wanting to meet her mother. Melty showed no hesitation in pressing the point of the blade to her thumb. And as the drop of blood ran down the length of the blade, the blue stone in the pommel glowed slightly, a tiny hint of red curling up in its centre.

Blade bound to her, I held out a bit of oiled cloth. She took it and dutifully cleaned the blade.

I took out my own knife, poked my thumb and dribbled a little blood into the ink dish. "If you please?"

She glared over my shoulder for a moment, and I heard Usa and Clive shuffle their feet a little. Melty gave the tiniest of 'humphs' then lifted her chin and pulled down the collar of her dress.

A few careful brush strokes later, a sinister purple glow, a wince of discomfort from Melty, and suddenly my Status Screen popped up with a new addition to the Slave tab. "From here until my death or the job is done, you are bound to me." I said, unable to help myself with the 'ritual' vibe. "In life, you will speak no lie. In combat, you will heed my orders. And in practise, you will strike with no anger. Do you understand, Melty Q Melromarc?"

She let her collar go, sighed slightly, then replied, "Yes, I do."

"Excellent. Welcome to the family... of a sort." I smiled, the solemn air evaporating. "We have just a little over two days before the Wave, so tomorrow, you and I will head out for a little monster hunting."

"Just us?" She asked, looking at the weapon in her hands, then wiggling it into the belt of her dress.

"Well, maybe Kunshu."

"bzz." Replied Kunshu from the ceiling someplace.

"The rest of us will be working with Sir Erhard. As well, since all of us but Sir Kodori, Kunshu and yourself Lady Melty are at level 40... There is little point to monster hunting." Usa explained.

"The smaller party size will null the EXP penalty as well." I added, "Tetsu? You awake?"

"don't wanna, bed comfy."

"You'll be helping with the wagon tomorrow, okay? It can't come with us for the Wave, so we're leaving it here. But we'll still work on it to make it nicer to live in."

"k." She replied, followed by her rolling over. "food makes sleepy time."

"I suppose I should return then." Melty said. "Father dearest might wonder, and my sister will get suspicious."

"I suggest you stay here." I said, "Or go to the tavern we went to. If your father or sister try and lock you in the castle, it will ruin everything. Especially since they don't want anyone to help me."

She frowned, sighed like an old woman, then nodded, "Very well."

There really wasn't much to be said about the training. Kunshu, Melty and I headed out to the slightly wilder forest near Riyute, and I watched over Melty as she cut things apart with her magic, or poked things to death with her new blade. Like Raphtalia, she'd never actually killed something 'by hand' until now. But unlike Raphtalia, Melty had no past trauma about it.

My job, aside from shamelessly getting one or two XP every time she killed something, was to keep her from harm. My lopsided defence stats meant I could hug a porcupine with all my might and still not get hurt, so this wasn't a difficult task.

Kunshu's job was 'insurance'. The world was game-like, but not a game, and we'd seen weird monsters in the 'low level' areas before. She was also gathering medicinal plants. Lots and LOTS of them. Oh, and occasionally dropping down on a monster to eat it.

When we returned to the Castle Town, we found everyone in high spirits and our wagon home empty and upside down. To do what I planned for it, we had to refurbish it from the ground up. It had held up really well for the last month considering all the rocky paths and almost nonexistent roads, but it really did need an overhaul.

Thankfully, Erhard knew some people, and those people were listening to everyone BUT the King and his red headed goblin. Our war chest was basically empty now, but since we'd been gathering materials little by little, labour was about all we needed to pay for.

The other 'big' reason the wagon was getting an makeover, was because everyone knew what it looked like. Reputation was good, but when you had too many identifying marks, moving covertly became a problem. Raphtalia said she might be able to disguise Tetsu a little, but the wagon was out of the question.

Speaking of our dragon mascot, Melty was slowly warming up to her. Sure, she was a filolial fanatic, but it was hard not to like Tetsu when she was basically your little sister and tried very hard to be friends with everyone.

I will also note, that 'take out' food was also a thing in this world, and that...

Under Erhard's suggestion, I went to one of his favourite restaurants for food. I was a little curious what this world's version of fast food was, and everyone had been working hard all day, so I went with it.

And to my surprise, I spotted Ren and Itsuki. The two of them were playing up the stereotype of 'in the dark corner of the bar', but it wasn't hard to spot the unique looking bow, then the gloomy face of Ren sitting next to him.

Seeing the Sword Hero made my horns itch, and I had to carefully rub my forehead to make it stop. Except, when I stopped trying to push down the urge to go over and talk to them, my horns started to itch again.

So, yes. I went over to them. To be fair, they'd paid for a lesson, but hadn't stated what kind. As I made my way over, I noticed that Ren didn't have his party with him, but Itsuki had two of his. Like the Bow Hero, his two companions were both cloaked in a 'generic plain grey robe and hood', just like he was. To be fair, even I'd worn one of these before. And it lent credibility to the rumours around him pretending to be some anonymous vigilante.

Unsurprising, they frowned when they spotted me, but their reason surprised me a little.

"We were just about to go looking for you." Ren said.

"I guess being kind and sharing the reward for the second wave was a pointless gesture." Itsuki added.

Stopped before I could even say hello, I finished sitting down and tried to think of why they'd be mad at me. "What do you mean?"

"Don't play ignorant." Itsuki scowled. "You've been stealing our quest rewards."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I said, "I had heard you were North someplace. But I've been busy chasing after the messes Ren and Motoyasu had left behind."

Itsuki slapped his palms to the table in frustration, but Ren's scowl changed, "Mess? What mess?"

"The dragon you killed east of here. The mountain town of Mirso." I started.

"It was a good fight. Though, there's apparently a giant tree there now."

We both ignored the simmering Bow Hero, "When you didn't burn the giant corpse, its rot spread into the ground. That entire mountain was cursed and poisoned because of it. It took me days to cure everyone, and my party had a hard time exorcising the zombie dragon that got back up after sitting in the sun so long."

"I had left it there for others to harvest... Poisoned and cursed?"

I moved my hair out of the way, "Yes, cursed. I used medicine for one, and I ate the other. The tree is dealing with the last of it." I grumbled, "Next time you kill a giant monster, spend a few extra minutes cleaning up after yourself." I sighed at Ren's genuine look of shame, "I got there not long after people started falling ill, so the body count could have been a lot worse." I pointed at him, "That is my lesson to you! Clean up after yourself."

His expression changed again, from shame, to anger, to... penitent amusement? "Yes dad. I'll do better."

I chuckled a little, then looked to the still smouldering Bow Hero. "I haven't been anywhere north. So it must have been someone else. But what happened?"

He relaxed a tiny bit, "It was after my party and I took the quest to dispose of a petty tyrant would-be king."

"High taxes, harsh laws, pulling anyone who could hold a pointy stick into his army?" I asked.

Ren smiled, but Itsuki nodded, "So, we ousted him. I sent one of my party to collect the reward on my behalf, but the guild said it had already been claimed! The 'the bow hero' had already taken the reward."

"Sounds like identity theft." I shrugged, "Its fine to play the hidden hero, but unless you actually show your face? Anyone can claim they're you. Hell, I met a bandit on the road who said he was me." That encounter lasted just long enough for most of us to laugh and then have Tetsu walk over him.

"But we had a certificate! Magic identification! You can't just fake that!" Itsuki protested.

"Itsuki, you're wearing a sword on your hip. The world already knows the four of us can't use any other weapon than what we have. A child with a bow would be a better look for the 'real' bow hero than you right now." I sighed. "And while I do have someone in my party who can use a bow, he can't actually speak and has chameleon eyes.

Even his party members were giving him a plain (but respectful) look of 'we told you so'. "But that's not..."

I pointed at him, "My lesson to you. You are who you know. But your reputation is only as good as the people who know you. If you go about hiding and playing superhero, sure, you might do some good, but you won't set examples, you won't change minds, and you won't get free drinks in the pub. Case in point, everyone in my party has a nickname, and just about everyone near the Castle Town knows it."

He looked frustrated, but aside from a growl he didn't reply. I looked back to the barkeep, and he gave me a thumb's up. "Seems my order is ready." I stood.

"Are you going to be ready for the Wave?" Ren asked, "You aren't even wearing armour."

"It's being worked on. Being the Tank is hard on equipment." I said with a shrug, "Make sure your party members do an equipment check. Oh." Just because I could, and hadn't gotten to selling them, I handed over a small collection of Shield Brand healing and Mana potions from the Inventory. "A literal drink to your health."

One day and a little bit left to go.

We replaced Usa's whip. It was basically exactly the same as the one he had to leave behind, except that now that I had a better handle on enchanting (as did Usa!) we actually added in some special effects. For example, the Light Metal spike on the end had a 'Lightning Magic up (medium)' on it. We also 'bound' it to Usa, much like Melty's dagger, adding in a little topaz to the handle that also took on a speck of red inside it once Usa had bled on it.

I found it very interesting that Blood Magic existed, yet no Gods. This world was just so... weird.

Raphtalia wanted me to make a 'normal' blade for her, but I put my hands on her shoulders and turned her towards Erhard. He was all too happy to replace the broken katana with a shiny new one that he personally made. He even gave us a discount, though that was mostly because I'd mentioned we were almost out of coin. Not like we couldn't make more, but for the moment we had very little hard cash.

And while everyone else was doing odd jobs or practising in Erhard's little backyard (he had to set up steel targets for Clive! Like... rifle grade targets!) I managed to get six more of the little metal 'drones' for Kunshu made. Unlike the harmless (less lethal) 'coins' these ones were shaped like slightly elongated six sided spikes. And because I could, the six of them fit together and were exactly the right shape to 'park' on Kunshu's smooth forehead, right between her eyes kind of like the setting of a tiara.

And while 'mute' like Clive, she was as smart (or smarter?) than Tetsu. Maybe if I got time, I'd make her a 'suit of armour' made up of these little things...

Another 'thing' that happened, was the perpetuation of the 'rumour' that I was going to Shieldfreeden. If anyone asked, I (or my party) would reply with 'maybe'. Not a denial, not a lie.

And lastly, between dinner and sundown, Melty showed up (dressed in the all concealing plain brown robe of oddly effective hiding) at Erhard's. Moments later, she, Kunshu and Raphtalia went to find some monsters to slay until nightfall. I was rather pleased at that. She could have taken a day off, but no, she came to get a little more training done.

That night, with less than twelve hours left before the Wave, we started our final checks. Well, more or less. Tetsu was enjoying the fluffy bed, and I couldn't blame her. She had been working just as hard as everyone else to spruce up the wagon. Kunshu was sleeping as well, hanging upside down on a rafter.

"Melty." I greeted her as she knocked and entered with Raphtalia, "New armour fitting okay?"

Her 'armour' was really just a treated leather undershirt and leggings. I would have liked to outfit her in something tougher, but she was still young, a princess, and if everyone else did their job, should never need to worry about monster teeth. We also didn't have time to really make something so form fitting.

"It is a little stiff in places." She said, "But I hardly notice it. I do wonder how you managed to get my measurements so exact?"

"The nice tailor lady who remade your dress told me." I said, "After the Wave, maybe we can get you into something closer to what Raphtalia wears."

Melty looked up to Raphtalia as she took off her leather vest, shoulder plates and bicep armour. "I... could wear something similar, yes." It was obvious she didn't want to though.

"Sir Kodori insists I wear armour on my lame side." Usa said, "It's not such a bad thing."

"Your arm is still stuck to you." Raphtalia countered, "It might not feel much, but you still bleed. Remember the poison?"

Yes, Poor Usa had been stung a few times. We all had! But we only noticed he had been stung on his lame arm after he started showing other signs of poison.

"True. I also use it as a hidden sheath." He smiled one of those rare smiles that reached his eyes, "I still remember the surprised guard at the castle."

"Something comes to mind." Melty said after most of us had a little chuckle. "How will we divide the party? Are we dividing the party?"

"If we weren't all stuck at the level limit, I'd split us into two smaller groups. But we are, so I'm not." I said, "I'm wondering if we'll add more people to our little family?" I sighed, "I miss home."

"Ah, Sir." Raphtalia perked up, "Do not forget your... tarot?"

My hand went to a flat pouch meant for storing delicate items (two out of four worlds had 'the potion pouch'). "I have them here. Hopefully, it works."

"You intend to talk with your home? None of the legends have ever spoken of that..." Melty mused, "Only that some stayed in this world, while others returned to their own after the Waves."

"I suspect that those who returned home created the games that the others played, to give them information on this world before getting summoned. Sadly, all I had was a book, and it was from a couple of generations ago. At least two sets of Waves I'm guessing."

There was a moment of silence as we all went about our equipment checks. Then Usa asked, "Sir? If you can talk to people back home, what will you tell them?"

"That I miss them, love them, and that I've found some reliable people to help me return." I replied. "Hopefully, they'll tell me the same, and that everyone is still okay."

"You won't ask about your children? Your wife? Parents?" Raphtalia asked, a little surprised.

"If this works, I won't need to ask. I'll know. Sadly, I won't have time to talk long. We have a job to do after all." I rubbed around my horns, "I trust the people at home to take care of things while I'm away. And they trust that I will do my best to return. And if beating the Waves means I can return? Then that's what I'll do."

"I wonder if we can talk to them too?" Usa asked, "It's... well... they sound like everything to you."

"Maybe I can get you guys into the picture with me. If it works at all. Anyhow. Melty? Are you staying here for the night? We can set up a hammock for you or something..." I looked around Erhard's spare room. It wasn't a... mess. No. But with all of us in here we basically had to step around people or over stuff to get to the hammocks or the one bed (that Tetsu was hogging all of). Even the desk I was at had been moved to a corner so others could walk across the room.

"I will stay at the inn you suggested. Like you said, it wouldn't do for me to be locked up at the Castle." She tapped her chin, "Though... You said you and your party are pulled to the Wave's location? Would it matter if I were locked up?"

"It would tell everyone you were in my party." I said, "Though, if we meet your sister, she'll know anyhow."

"She has no authority over me." She grumbled, "And truth be told, Father does not either. Not by word of law anyhow."

"Good to know." I nodded, "Get some sleep then. Kunshu? Would you like to keep Melty company? It's dark out."

Melty was about to protest, but the Empress Bee slowly, leg by leg, uncurled from her 'I'm a fuzzy ball' on the ceiling, and dropped to the floor almost without sound. She shivered in place a couple of times, then reached out with one hand and put it on Melty's shoulder.

"Don't forget your spear. And we will meet up when the wave starts." I instructed.

At the breakfast table, Erhard showed up looking like he'd stayed up all night. So much so, that Raphtalia had given him her best Big Sister Look of Disappointment.

"I know I know. But I got it done." He said, taking a wrapped up bundle out from under his arm, "I wanted to surprise you, but I'm too tired, and old for that kinda thing." He flicked out the bundle, his hands holding the 'shoulders'. "Most of the pelt you were wearing was too cut up to really use properly, so I hope you like it."

Hanging from his hands was a vest of leather and Black Dog fur. It no longer had a 'cape', but it still had plates of leather over all the 'long' surfaces. Upper arms, upper thighs, shins, forearms...

"I know you wanted to make your own armour, but you can't go into battle with just that." He motioned to my original 'battle kimono house robe' that I'd arrived in. "At least this will protect some of your squishy bits, and let you do all that fancy fighting you do."

"Now that I've figured out the Air Wake enchanting... Well, thank you, and I'll use this as a base for my real armour." I set the bundle down in my lap, "Breakfast first though. Raphtalia?"

Her Big Sister Look of Disappointment changed to 'of Demand' and Erhard was all but pulled into a chair to join us for food.

One hour.

We had all eaten. Done one last check. Did a little light exercise to warm up... And waited.

Of course, at almost the last minute (the ten minute mark), Tetsu had a question.

"Hey boss?" Tetsu started, turning her dragon body around on itself to face Clive, Usa, Raphtalia and I. "If you could have any one thing from your home, what would it be?"

"Your wife?" Usa guessed.

"Maybe Lady Hestia?" Raphtalia added.

"Your favourite pillow?" Tetsu wiggled her big clawed hands inside her new gauntlets.

They waited for my answer. And it took until the timer was down to only three minutes before I slowly replied, "I think I would want one of my friends. Though, not my two legged ones. If Sir Skitters were here, I could have a near endless amount of spider silk for making cloth. If Jiru were here, I could grow anything, and make a near endless amount of useful things with alchemy."

"That smile again..." Usa said with a little shiver.

"If I could ensure her survival... My expert in magic spell crafting and architecture." I could almost physically feel the ideas moving through my mind when I thought of HIDA-lite. The things I could do with her... But I shook my head, "I would settle for a little more of my abilities before I showed up..." I reached back so I could grab and hug my tail, "I miss my tails, even if they needed constant brushing..."

One minute.

"Anyhow." I put my hand on my delicate item pouch and told the Shield to switch to the Book Shield, "Get ready."

Three, two-

The timer on my Status Screen hit all zeroes, and with a sudden familiar lurch and a twisting miasma of purple warping effects in the sky, we were all suddenly elsewhere. We were in close enough proximity to it, that I knew exactly where we were too.

Mirso. Or rather, at the base of the little mountain Mirso was on.

"Sir Hero!" Ah, it was Ake and his eleven other knights (nine other knights and two wizards if you wanted to be literal) "We've all assembled!" He started to march over to me, but there was a silver/black blur that made him pause.

The blur resolved into Kunshu, who hovered to a halt in front of me. "Sorry you had to show up with the secondary party." I said, giving her forehead and antenna the usual greeting. "Melty?"

"I'm here as well." She replied, "Likely causing my maid a heart attack with how I vanished."

"Sir." Usa caught my attention, and I spotted the other three heroes and their party jogging... Well it was up the mountain, but not on the path my party and I had taken up, or down.

"Where are they going?" I asked, not expecting an answer. "Anyhow. Ake, you and your knights, head to Mirso. Melty? Do you think you can run support?"

Ake looked down to Melty, and realized exactly who she was. "Ah! Ma'am! I'm sorry!" And he got to one knee.

"It's fine, sir Knight." She said, "If you offer me protection, I will lend you my skills as a water mage and healer."

"Of course!" Ake stood and tapped a fist to his chest, "Sir Hero? Where will you be going?"

"I'm going to attempt to plan with the others." I looked to the rest of them, "I'll probably join up with you soon. For now though, go with the knights. Tetsu, if you please?"

"Be careful Sir." Usa said, the others nodding. "We'll be sure to keep the citizens safe while you're gone, but still..."

Tetsu the Dragon-newt vanished in her own personal puff of smoke, and was replaced by Tetsu the Dragon. I was sure to give her forehead and that hard to get spot above her eyes a pat before hopping up onto her back, "Of course."

Tetsu, while not as fast as a Filolial, was easly faster than a bunch of humans (huh... all humans in their parties...) on foot.

"Going to actually help us this time?" Motoyasu taunted as they noticed the rapid thumps of Tetsu's run.

"Maybe. I've got my party and auxiliary parties heading towards the towns up the mountain." I said, "Mind if I fight with you this time? I've even got a dragon."

"I'm the Dragon!" Tetsu said cheerfully, "Rawr." And did a cute clawing motion at the air... Well, cute, if it wasn't about two hand spans away from someone's face.

"Auxiliary parties?" Itsuki mumbled to Ren, who shrugged.

I resisted the urge to facepalm, "I don't know about you, but there are a LOT of help files in my Shield. And unless the standard of education in your world is less than 'third world', I know you can read them."

"Focus on your 'job' useless Shield." Myne said from behind Motoyasu, "You'd only slow us down, isn't that right, darling?" And yes, leaned a little into Motoyasu.

It didn't surprise me that Motoyasu agreed with her. But his tone stopped me short of being disappointed. "Yeah, go take care of the people. We got this one."

"Hey Boss? Does this mean we aren't helping them?" Tetsu asked.

"We are. But from over there. If we can get a proper defence in place, I'll come find you guys." I said, starting to turn around.

"Whatever." Motoyasu waved a dismissive hand, "I think we'll be over there?"

The other two nodded, and I looked in that direction. "Huh."

It was a flying ghost ship. Sinking/falling out of the purple miasma coloured sky, it had all the usual things. Thanks to my Shield giving me telescopic vision, I could pick out rotted timbers, a massive zombie squid clinging to the stern, tattered sails, even rusted cannons on its broadside.

I did a little 'where it is/where it's going' guesswork, "Well, I know where I'm going. Good luck."

There was a mix of gestures, from dismissal to rude, but everyone got into motion again. And since it looked like I had a moment or two before we'd catch up with my party, or meet up with monsters, I took out my Tarot of Haruhime.

NOTES!

Next episode? A peek into how Orario and Earth have been getting on in the last 45 days. :)

Thank you for reading! And if you want to see any full colour art, join the discord!

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