"Talking"
"Thinking"
[Status Magic or other reference to a system or power]
…
As Naofumi struck the wall it gave way easily enough, the wall was thin. As the three of them peered into to hole they each made a face. Naofumi's was a mixture of relief and disappointment, Raphtalia's was of excitement and joy, and Filo's was a one of anger and doubt.
"Dad please tell me you wont..."
Behind this thin wall, covered in dust was a small pile of gold and silver coins and at the bottom, a monster egg also covered in dust.
...
As they made it back to Teal and Monti, Filo was making her unhappiness known. She tried arguing to leave it, then she tried asking Naofumi to cook it. After she saw there was no budging him, she began sighing and grunting in a loud and annoying manner. She could of kept going with the arguing or been louder in her opposition, but she understood that today was a rough day in many ways and felt she couldn't let the full breath of her hatred of dragons be unleashed on the stupid egg. Yet.
As soon as Monti saw the egg Raphtalia was holding he spoke in a joking manner.
"Please be a little brother, please. Filo and Teal are too much..."
Teal decided to ignore that statement and ask to be sure.
"Are we to believe that this is another addition to the family?"
Filo's face was a mixture of pouting and sorrow.
"Our family is already kinda big... and there may be someone like family left of this one..." Raphtalia started
Filo immediately switched to hopeful, "Of course mom would understand that dragons are just-"
Naofumi continued after seeing Filo's reaction, "That said, If we can't locate that family, if they don't want it, or if they are unable to take care of it... We'll have another member to the family."
Filo nearly fell to the ground in overacted anguish. The rest of the family promptly ignored her.
Naofumi discussed the details he discovered inside the cave and shared what he thought the possibilities were. The facts are that Gaelion was killed by Ren on a quest by someone, they didn't know who. This place was ransacked and everything of value was taken. There was evidence of a child staying with Gaelion.
"So based on that, there are a few ways this could of went down. Bandits came after the news. Ren ransacked it after his victory. The townsfolk did this. A yet unknown third party did so... Thoughts?"
Each of the party gave their thoughts.
Raphtalia shot down Ren as the culprit. In the very limited capacity she'd met him, he seemed wholly uninterested in money and seemed non-confrontational in general. Further as a hero, Ren had many better and cleaner ways to make money.
Teal shot down the bandits. If bandits came, some would of died from the poison. If that happened, the other bandits would loot their body, but actually hauling the body away seemed unlikely. They saw no human remains around, so probably not bandits.
Filo chimed in, "So are we um, playing a game? Filo knows who's guilty and you guys do too. So why are we pretending?"
The rest of the party stared at her a moment. She had no tact, but that's because Filo wanted to find this person and remove this heretic lizard from her family. So for once, she'd knock off all the nonsense. Even if the nonsense she had to knock off, was someone else's.
The party hated to consider it. There still existed a possibility that they simply lacked the details to properly accuse some third party. The more they thought about it though, the clearer it became.
Gaelion was not a threat to the common people. So someone had to have sent Ren on that quest for malicious purposes.
Ren left the body, but why? It made zero sense. He weapon could of absorbed the thing. The only explanation is that he had to. Meaning it was part of the quest. Meaning the townsfolk wanted to collect the body of this dragon and sell it for a mighty profit.
That's why they knew the body remained up there. They must of sent people up there the following day, maybe sooner. They couldn't collect the body, but thought they'd find a dragon's hoard.
But they found nothing... unless.
Teal spoke, "What if the child didn't leave on their own after Gaelion's defeat, but was taken? If they're willing to kill a perfectly peaceful monster that has been here for generations with the intention of hacking up his body and claiming everything he owned as their own, then obviously money is the bottom line for them, right?"
Naofumi's anger flared at the thought, but he suppressed it for the safety of those around him.
"But if that were true, the child would have had to be a demi-human. You can't sell human slaves in this country." Raphtalia was also getting angry. They'd yet to confirm anything, that's what she kept telling herself to keep calm.
"... Why would you assume the child didn't escape?" Monti asked Teal.
"Because if they tried to flee, monsters would of claimed them and they'd know that, being raised by a monster... and if my parent was slain, I'd not leave them so easily myself..."
There was a brief pause between them.
"Dad. If they did this, then... what do we do?" Monti didn't know what would be the right thing to do. The town had suffered for their crime already. Many had died, but the thought of doing nothing with this information. Nothing seemed fair or right.
The family turned to Naofumi. Raphtalia and Filo both couldn't find and answer, but Teal seemed to already come up with an answer.
Naofumi spoke "We'll get that kid or at least a lead. We'll treat the youngest in the town first and work our way up. I should be able to make the antidotes stronger, but I don't have enough materials. We'll save who we can. If we can save all the children, then we'll do what we can for the rest. Regardless Gaelion's wrath will still claim more victims before things get better... We may even withhold treatment entirely for people we believe are guilty until the presumed innocent are healed."
The suggestions were not without a level of cruelty, but at the same time, they seemed justified.
"In the best case scenario, we save everyone innocent... then charge the guilty heavily?" Teal asked.
"If the medicine goes that far, yes." Naofumi nodded, but thought he'd not get such a happy ending.
Teal began the slow process of producing the ingredient Naofumi had run out of earlier again.
The party made it's way back to the cart, passing the mound that housed Gaelion's corpse. Even buried and dead twice over, they felt a foul force come from it. Likely the cursed flames that Naofumi slayed it with would linger for quite some time.
...
Mirso Village
...
Returning to the village made them feel more than a little uncomfortable. What once felt like a doomed village, now felt like a town dealing with the consequences of their own actions.
The villagers once again approached their cart scrambling for answers and cures. One of the doctors was there to greet them, but became concerned when Naofumi's expression was far from happy.
"Was the poison too strong? Could you not approach the corpse?" the doctor asked.
Naofumi spoke, but didn't turn to face them.
"The corpse has been taken care of. With that, new victims should cease soon. I need to talk to someone about payment, Mirso has a lord, no?"
The doctor was becoming more nervous. She tried to hide it, but failed horribly.
"O-of course. Our lord would be the one to ask... He may refuse to meet in person though. Ever since the plague hit, he refuses to leave his estate."
"Well he better agree to meet me. I have a lot of questions and I'll have my answers."
Naofumi met the female doctors eyes and she nearly fell at the sight. "He knows. I don't know how he knows, but he knows!"
"W-well that can wait until the patients are-"
"No. How much more help we'll provide will be decided by the conversation we'll have with your lord."
The doctor tried to think of a way to dissuade him, but many other townsfolk heard the conversation and wanted to be treated. They hurried this along, wanting it to be over sooner.
"The lord lives there, that large building built into the hill." A random man offered.
Naofumi nodded and Filo began pulling the cart towards the lords residence.
As they approached the estate there was a gate blocking the path, the whole area seemed fenced in. On Naofumi's orders Filo broke the gate off it's hinges and continued forward until they arrived.
They were greeted by several guards that drew their weapons. One spoke.
"One more step and we will strike... State your purpose."
The man was large, maybe larger than any man Naofumi had ever seen, but his emotional state didn't care.
"I'm the savior of the heavenly fowl. I've removed Gaelion's corpse and have managed to create a cure, though it must be taken several times..."
The guard all relaxed and many seemed quite happy at the news, Naofumi continued.
"I now need to speak to your lord. I need payment there's something he likely has I'd like."
The guard became a little less relaxed, but still not on edge.
"And what would that be, savior?"
"Gaelion's adoptive child. The one kidnapped by this village." Naofumi's voice was as stone. In truth, he could not know that it was the truth until he said that.
The guard's exchanged looks and whispered amongst themselves. Their expressions and words confirmed it. Naofumi really wanted to be wrong.
"Savior or not, you do not make demands of a lord... and besides, that one's already been sold."
No sooner did the words leave his mouth did Raphtalia toss the egg to Naofumi and leapt at the man. Most were surprised at the speed, but the man simply readied a defensive block.
Crunch.
He was good enough to catch the blade with his own, but the strength behind it was beyond his expectations. Her strike collapsed the man's arm and shoulder with it. Even had he known, he'd of fared not much better. As he buckle to the weight of her swing the other guards gasped.
"J-just like that!?"
"A single blow!?"
"His arm... There's no way..."
The guards were in disbelief. The man Raphtalia had just beaten was apparently the strongest among them. They looked at one another for assurance, but found little.
Naofumi thought no less of her for doing this. Given her past, of course she'd do this. He handed the egg to Teal and exited the cart, walking up beside Raphtalia.
"Each member of my party could kill the lot of you solo. Luckily, we don't demand blood. Now pick your ass up and fetch your lord."
The man nodded and got to his feet, holding his now heavily damaged arm. He ran to the door and shouted to the guard near it. "Tell the lord he has guests that can not be ignored!"
There was a scrambling of guards as they tried to adjust to this shifted dynamic. Less than two minutes later the lord exited the building. He was younger than expected, though that is what probably led to his lack of foresight. He wore fancy clothes as expected and had a pretty face, but also wore a long scarf around his mouth. That was probably a precaution for the poison.
"I heard you call yourself a savior, yet you break onto my property and injured my guard. How are you not a common thug?"
"I heard you call yourself a noble, yet you trick heroes into killing the peaceful just to sell their children. How are you not the worst scum of this realm?"
There was a pause. To his credit, the lord didn't snap at that and seemed to look a bit guilty.
"So you know? ...What do you want?"
"I gave Gaelion the burial he deserved and made a cure to the plague you tricked Ren into causing... I was hoping to take Gaelion's child as a nice down payment."
"Are you telling me you dealt with the poison?" The man looked at Naofumi with much scrutiny.
"Yes. Doing so hurt two of my party members badly. I expect more than a little gratitude." Naofumi was trying to come off as disrespectful.
The man removed he scarf and took a deep breathe.
"Indeed. The crisp air these hills have had all my life are starting to return... It seems I'm at a disadvantage to you in many ways. Even with all thirty of my personal guards, I doubt you'd have trouble based on this one's arm. I also owe you quite a bit in both services rendered and in hazard pay."
Naofumi was hating this. The lord was far more reasonable than he expected. Maybe even more reasonable than he wanted him to be. Maybe he wanted a fight here. Raphtalia certainly did.
Raphtalia spoke next, "The one you owe the most is that child. You murdered her parent, then sold her as a slave! All your wealth wouldn't be enough!"
The man glanced at her, but returned his sight to Naofumi.
"Does this creature speak for you savior?"
If Monti wasn't heavily wounded, he'd of transformed and put the fear of death in the man. Though his father would of still beat him to the punch.
"Choose your words very carefully. Insulting my woman at this point? Are you begging to die?"
Under his cloak he switched to the [Dragon Shield] and used [Baleful Presence], which was further buffed by his armor's [Threatening Visage].
Most of the guards dropped their weapons. The lord himself nearly fell over, but he remained standing and did his best to appear fine.
"Truly terrifying... I retract my words. We honestly don't need anymore death around here... I have a proposal."
"You have more spine than most nobles to even suggest something, given the circumstances."
The lord sighed heavily and seemed to sound a bit more normal, not trying to sound stuck up.
"I'll pay you for removing the plague. I'll pay you for those that you save if they can not. I'll also give you the information on that sla-demi human that was sold..."
The family waited quietly
"So in exchange, cure my daughter."
It turns out that the lord had both a son and young daughter. His son went with the team to loot Gaelion's corpse and his cave. Everyone who participated were the first victims and they were all dead, his son included. After losing his son, he came to regret the decision. He admitted he was one of the primary conspirators and that of them, he was the only one that hadn't died of the poison yet.
In the lord's eyes, because his decision led to this, he felt he killed his own son. He seemed to hold little guilt about the demi human he had sold into slavery, but there was certainly some pieces of the man that could be called human.
"So even if you clean my coffers, please save my daughter."
"You seem to care so little about money now, but was this not all started over money?" Raphtalia asked.
The man considered if he should even respond to her, "I've lost my child. My first child. No amount of money will bring him back, but if spending all of it can prevent my only other child from joining him, then it is yours..." He bowed to Naofumi and Raphtalia.
They felt that justice needed to be served, but the other main conspirators were dead and the last remaining one had lost his child and was to become broke. Perhaps they could be satisfied with this much?
"Then this is what's going to happen. You'll give us Gaelion's child's details, everything you can... Then we'll save your daughter."
The man rose his head in relief, but Naofumi continued.
"After that we'll heal the young of the town and work our way up age wise. Our supplies are limited. You'll pay what they can't."
The lord interrupted "I-I'll do more than that! I'll offer whatever medical supplies we have."
Naofumi still wasn't satisfied and continued.
"While we'll charge a lot, you'd have plenty left over... But once we locate that child, we'll be back. And when we do, you will offer whatever you have left to them."
The noble made no attempt to argue.
"It's sad really. Gaelion could fly, but refused to retreat from the fight. Likely to protect the child you sold. He died defending a child that you threw away for doubtlessly a very small sum, but that child was worth Gaelion's life... That child probably felt similar about Gaelion. No amount of gold can pay that debt, but that's no reason not to try."
Against his better judgement, the noble spoke. "Are you claiming that a dragon and demi human's relationship is anything like what I as a father had with my late son!?"
"Yes. I currently have three children that call me father... They are monsters, but I'd die or kill for any of them. Each of them are my and Raphtalia's kids, without a doubt."
[fourth condition for F*m*** *r**t series has been unlocked]
After that the noble kept his word. He told them the demihuman was a young female dog demihuman. He didn't know her name, she wasn't here long enough nor did they let her speak, they had no way of knowing. The noble said he sold her not to a someone to be her master, but a slaver. Meaning Beloukas might be able to get her easily.
Afterwards the lord handed over all the ingredients Naofumi said were relevant over to him from both his personal supplies and those that belonged to the town. Naofumi equipped the [Zombie Dragon Shield] for the poison resistance, hiding it under his cloak the best he could. He was able to nearly cure people in two medicines. This plus his [Swarm Stomach] meant two medicines healed five to six people. This rate was better and with the new supplies, they saw that curing the whole of the village was possible.
They had to stay in the village another day just because of how many people needed treatment. Naofumi was the last to go to sleep, making sure to have medicine ready for both Raphtalia and Monti the following morning.
As he tried to quietly lay down next to Raphtalia he couldn't help, but try and take another look at the burn he gave her. As he reached for it Raphtalia caught his arm and pulled it around her.
"You've done too much worrying about others for the day. You need sleep."
"I will, I just wanted to take a better look. See if-"
"No. Even after I compared you to the spear hero last time, you still have this weird desire to think ill of yourself. Looking at it will only make you feel worse. I don't want that. Today... Today has been rough on all of us. Just sleep."
Naofumi wanted to pursue it, but as Raphtalia pulled him in, his fatigue caught up to him and he gave in to the urge to sleep.
...
The following morning in Opaltown, Lord Wagner's office
...
Lord Wagner was in his office discussing the noticeable loss of traffic they've experienced lately.
"While we may be at a slight downturn right now, we are in luck. Lerno Village recently gained these new fruits with a taste like no other, an entirely new fruit! Not only that, they have an abundance as I've been informed. So much so that they've already began making cider and glazed icing from them. It'll be a new regional delicacy and of course Opaltown will act as it's main point for distribution. I've even had the foresight to approach them first. Their response should be arriving any time now."
"Um, My Lord..." One of the officials began, "The lord of Lerno Village sent his response... He has refused to trade their fruit with us and has further ceased all trade deal agreements with us."
"Ah, I see. They understand they have a monopoly on a worthwhile product and wish to have more negotiating power? They overplayed though. That is a single product, compared to the loss of the various supplies we provide? I give them a month before they beg for forgiveness and when that happens we'll set more favorable terms."
His official tried to correct him, "That isn't it my lord. Lerno Village's lord has publicly sided with the savior of the heavenly fowl and against you. So-"
"Even better. They made a business decision without money in mind. It explains their blunder." Wagner refused to see this as a problem.
A different official spoke, "Lord Wagner. I've received five letter between yesterday and this morning... Four more villages have also severed all trade agreements with Opaltown for the same stated reason. The most confusing one is Lute Village. They're in a state of recovery, but still cut off trade with us."
Wagner wasn't laughing this off anymore. Five villages in total severing trade with Opaltown, his Opaltown? And this downward momentum in trade. His spat with Naofumi was turning out to be possibly the worst financial decision he'd made since he took over as lord. He couldn't help, but remind himself of Teal's words, "I wonder what will happen when the word spreads that the savior of the heavenly fowl had to flee this city and never return because the greedy Lord Wagner tried to steal his name sake fowl. I'm sure the many people father has saved and their lord would love to have a word with you about that."
"... You said you received five letters... If four of them are village lords, then is the last the king? The pope?"
"Hickwaal..." The official spoke slowly
The room grew quiet and many of them turned pale. It was the new captain who spoke.
"The savior said he was good friends with mister Hickwaal..."
"Surely he must see that turning on Opaltown, turning on me, will ruin his own wallet!?"
"He and by extension six of the nine heads of Melromarc's merchants guild have sworn off this town. They've gone as far as to threaten less favorable deals with anyone who trades with us..."
The room was silent for a time. Wagner tried to walk himself through this mess.
"We'll need time to correct this... I'm not sure whose pockets are deeper, but two can play this game. We can upcharge those that trade with the guild and downcharge those who don't. We'll reach out to every village that still does trade with us and assure ourselves of who is and isn't with us. Weathering through this will not be easy... Though soon the Merchant's guild may be within striking distance."
The youngest official spoke for the first time, "Why not make a public apology? It costs nothing and it might be enough for these villages to reverse their decision, maybe even change a head's vote at the merchants guild or two."
"Costs nothing Eadwig? How are you a son of mine? It'd cost too much pride. A lord doesn't bend to a merchant!"
"Then use flowery language. Never admit fault, be vague. Say that it was a misunderstanding. Say something! As things are going, I'm to inherit very little."
Lord Wagner and Eadwig gave each other a look. Lord Wagner and his son Eadwig both had a love for money, but Eadwig had zero pride. That was one difference that kept them from agreeing.
Eadwig was right that a hollow apology would help in the short term, but not even he was aware of the plans his father were a part of, plans with Balmus and a number of other nobles. When it was all done, he'd just put the traitors to the sword and move on.
This was the other difference between them. Eadwig was a businessmen and a thief, Lord Wagner was a warrior.
...
Mirso Village
...
The following morning Raphtalia had to let Naofumi check her burn, she'd of liked to have avoided this. Unfortunately, it hurt quite a bit and felt not saying something would be worse. Naofumi couldn't do much for the wound, which added to his mood. Luckily the patients they were to treat were in the church.
There was no longer a proper priest in Mirso Village, as he was one of the conspirators that died first. He did have quite a bit of holy water left behind. Using it, Naofumi saw it tried to fight off the burn, but the burn was clearly the winner.
Examining the holy water showed quality ranging from many [Crude] and [Poor] to a single [Medium]. Naofumi tried the single best option. It did a bit better. It seemed to fight the burn somewhat evenly, which kept it from hurting.
Naofumi soaked a bandage in the holy water then wrapped it around her burn.
"I'm sorry. Just looking at-"
Raphtalia rebuked him with a sigh, "Naofumi-sama... Why do you have to blame yourself, when I don't? You weren't in control. I know you'd never harm me if you had the choice."
"That's just it though. I lost control. I...I don't even know what that was. Why would a holy shield meant for a hero have such a evil power?"
He looked at the item that was dropped from the zombified Gaelion or more accurately created by his shield.
[Idol of Curses]
[+5 hp, +5 sp, +5 mp, +10 mag, +5mdef]
[Grudge: Your curses last 25% longer. Other magic lasts 10% less.]
[Hate: Your curses are stronger by 25%. Other magic is 10% weaker.]
[Vengence: Gain a small amount of hp back when a victim of your curse dies.]
The object was a simple black ball. Naofumi was too scared to even pull it out. He kept it where it is.
"No matter how I look at it, this shield has an evil side to it."
"I don't know..., but we will get stronger and we'll be smarter. There will be no need to use that... thing."
Monti and Teal had to take shifts guarding Gaelion's egg from a certain little bird brain. Ever since they found out that Gaelion's adoptive daughter was no longer here, she understood that would mean they'd keep it. If it hatched before they found her, they'd raise it. Filo could not live a life if she was a sibling to a dragon. She'd die. Not really, but she'd die.
Naofumi and Raphtalia knew they'd have to talk to her about her attitude and behavior. They'd allow no racial hatred within their family.
After treating Raphtalia and tending to Monti's injuries the family had a quick breakfast, then stopped to count up Gaelion's hoard. The sum was over 60 gold and nearly half that value again in silver. Naofumi was floored by the amount, but he also didn't want to keep it. It belonged to Gaelion's children. That said he may take from the hoard in an emergency and do his best to replace it later.
Naofumi thought it best to forget they even had that coin, otherwise he'd act loose in his own pockets. Even with all of thier traveling he'd only managed to make a little under seven gold gold in total profit. He cleared his head before returning to treating the remaining sick of Mirso Village.
Monti was on egg protection while Teal was assisting their father. Monti felt that if he wasn't hurt, Filo would of straight tackled him to the ground and snagged the egg. From there she'd of thrown it as far as she could. The injury kept her from that, but he wasn't relieved in the slightest. Filo was behaving entirely too well. She was up too something and it was likely too stupid to predict.
By midday Naofumi was done and he wasted little time on the thanks of the people and met with the lord for payment one last time before they'd leave. He made sure to meet him in the town proper and for there to be plenty of witnesses.
"You actually managed to save everyone. I'm pleasantly surprised."
"Luck played a part. Those who were further along were older, the young had only the early signs."
"That makes sense... The young that catch it lasted little time. My own son died in less than a week from when he got sick."
"..."
"So how much are you charging us?"
"How much did you sell that little girl for?"
"You might not believe me, but I only received 45 silver for her..."
"Then 45 silver per person. That's how much a life is worth in this town."
"...I don't have that much. You cured around 80 people... that'd be 35 gold pieces... having that on hand..."
The noble looked like he wanted to ask that he charge him less, but he wouldn't come out and say it. His injured guard offered a solution.
"Now that everyone is cured you could invoke that. As lord, you could claim the property of those that died in your lordship if they had no family left... A number of families have been lost entirely."
"True, but trying to claim what remains after a death is how we got into this mess in the first place... For the time being we'll leave their homes as is."
Naofumi couldn't tell if the man was truly remorseful or putting on an act. Still-
"Fine, ten gold for the lot. If I clean your coffers now, then Gaelion's child will have less to claim herself."
That began the whispering among the onlookers. The lord hated to let this spread, but could do nothing.
"Of course. I'll do my best to raise enough funds as to... quell her grief, the best I can."
He then motioned to his injured guard to hand Naofumi the gold. He accepted it.
As Naofumi was climbing into cart and they were about to depart, many people shouted their thanks. Naofumi couldn't know who were innocent and who were not, so he didn't respond to them. However one thing said caught his attention.
"First those three days of rain halted the plague, now the savior cures us. We had good forces working for us."
Naofumi stopped mid-step. Teal nearly fell in fright. It only took the others a moment to understand why his statement mattered.
There had been rain and with it, the poison was washed away for three days. Poison directly from Gaelion's corpse was mixed with rain water.
Where did that water naturally flow to!?
.
[Author's Notes]
I'm usually faster, but stupid computer decided to delete my chapter progress and it made me not want to rewrite the same part again.
I think due to more suggestions for a boy, the dragon will be a boy. For a name, I'm thinking Leon. It'd take after it's parent Gaelion, but is also a normal name like Monti.
Leon's outfit though... I must think.
FYI Leon will be the dedicated mage of the group. Everyone can use magic, but Leon will be magic first, physical second... Even though he'll have a hardened hide that'd be great in close combat. Thinking they'd actually get a weapon unlike most of the kids. A weaponized staff. basically a crystal with a blade around it. So it's kind of a spear. Figured Filo can make spear guy jokes.
Thinking Leon'll be kinda prideful. But being the lowest level in the party and having Filo lording over him leaves him having to make excuses and the like. Kinda hard to be a super cool dragon, when the whole family is powerful and has cool abilities.
Lord Wagner is feeling a bit of the weight of his actions. And some of his business rivals will doubtlessly take this chance to hit him while he's down.
Next chapter, prepare for sadness.
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