"Talking"
"Thinking"
[Status Magic or other reference to a system or power]
…
The wave finished. Several people collapsed in relief, Teal among them. They all helped Naofumi and the rest return safely to a ship. Many were heavily wounded, but everyone they knew had made it through this wave.
They'd have much to tell Naofumi and Motoyasu when they woke.
…
With the wave wrapped up, the ships collect those that fell overboard or were on the destroyed ship. The queen had Naofumi, Motoyasu and the others board the same ship as her and made sure they would dock first.
"See to the shield hero's medical needs!" She ordered loudly.
It was with such authority that even random adventurers that were not under her command did as she said. Some casting [Fast Heal] and [Zweite Heal] while others carried Naofumi aboard the ship. Raphtalia followed close by holding Filo, Keel did the same holding Teal. The family wasere soon united, though only Raphtalia remained conscious.
Their many allies did what they could to help. Liviccic cast [All Drifa Heal IV] on them all and Sophia used her [Mending Thread] on Naofumi and Filo as she already did on Monti and Leon. Raphtalia was grateful, but she was also quite upset. She kept to herself and tending to the others, not speaking much.
"I order the retrieval of the wave boss' corpse. I will need 5 sets of material prepared for the heroes."
"Also a sample of meat for Monti." Liviccic reminded.
"I'd also like some of those crystal protrusions. They'd be ideal." Mia requested.
Everyone coordinated their efforts. It was nearly an hour before any sort of good mood was gained from that 'victory'.
Mia and Godiva stayed near the docks to receive Mia's requested supplies as soon as possible. Because of this, they caught sight of what appeared to be Walter rolling an entire barrel off of one of the ships.
They approached him.
"What's in the barrel?" Mia asked.
Walter flinched and turned to greet them. "Ah, you know… stuff."
"...What kind of stuff?" Mia asked. She was smiling, but somehow it was scary.
"..." There was a tense moment.
"Rucolu fruit…" He finally said.
"Excuse me?" Mia asked.
"They used barrels of rucolu fruit to poison the water during the waves. They luckily had some barrels left so…" Walter trailed off.
Mia went to lecture Walter. "You can't just steal-"
"Hey, give Walter a break. He shot me over 100 meters on a ballista bolt, over the water and didn't miss." Godiva said, finally relenting that his skill was worth praise.
She slapped his back in an assuring manner, but it took him to the ground, clutching his shoulder.
"He-Hey! Stop being rough with him!" Mia chided.
"I'm not, I barely touched him." Godiva defended.
Mia went to check on him, but he waved her away. "Bum arm. She just touched it by mistake."
"That explains why you use a gun." Itsuki said, joining the conversation.
All three turned to see Itsuki with Rishia trailing behind him. Itsuki and Mia already butted heads a bit, so it seemed odd for Itsuki to approach her.
Itsuki saw their looks and spoke. "Look, I just wanted to say that your crossbow and gun were useful during the wave and… yeah." Itsuki wanted to apologize for his behavior, but didn't know how to approach it.
They collectively and awkwardly spoke for a bit, no one saying much of anything despite them talking for nearly 10 minutes. Eventually, Itsuki said what he came there to do.
"I'm just… Sorry. I was being a jerk when I was asking you for a favor. I was aggravated at other things and taking it out on you… Your stats are all so much higher than Rishia's and they just kept getting higher and I wasn't handling it well." Itsuki admitted.
"Speaking of… Her level, I've noticed…" Godiva began.
"Yeah, I lower it every day. She has nearly 100 levels removed via a power up method Naofumi taught us. It's supposed to increase her stats and it is, but… at level 70 she has less than a quarter of your stats." Itsuki pointed to Mia.
"Eh!? But I'm the weakest in the group! After everything Naofumi did to increase my stats, I'm barely above average." Mia was floored at that information.
"If you don't mind me asking… What did Naofumi do to increase your stats?" Itsuki needed more ways to help Rishia.
"He let us receive that stupidly strong class upgrade from Filo. He also gave me special supplements that boosted my stats permanently. Using them before class upgrading meant those were doubled too." Mia answered, not finding Itsuki nearly as annoying as she did before.
"There are permanent stat boosting items?" Itsuki was very excited by that.
"Like I said, Naofumi made them. They were extremely inconsistent and you can't boost the same stat twice. He also said they were a pain to make, taking over a week." Mia gave him some bad news.
"..." Either way, Itsuki needed Naofumi's help if he was going to make Rishia strong enough to stay by his side. He left her on a boat to fight Glass, meanwhile Wyndia with her magic and Naofumi's entire party fought well enough. Even their tangentially connected allies were noticeably stronger. He didn't want to leave her behind whenever there was trouble… otherwise she'd never be the hero she said she wished to be.
He gave them a nod and left.
"Uurrrm…" Walter quieted a grunt as he used lightning magic to electrocute his shoulder and stand.
"Eh? What was that?" Mia asked with concern.
"Just a little self-care, shoulder should be numb for an hour now." Walter waived off her concerns.
"Yeah… Sorry 'bout that. Need me to carry that?" Godiva offered, pointing to the barrel.
"Nah, but there's another still on the boat if you want to help." Walter answered with a grin.
"Both of you, stop. One rucolu fruit can make an entire barrel of high quality wine!" Mia chided them both.
"So five will make something to keep this arm numb." Walter replied.
"Ah, see? We don't want to get drunk, but this is a medical emergency." Godiva defended.
"Ehhh!?" Mia shouted and began yelling at the two of them as they kept doing exactly what she was telling them not to do.
Ren didn't reunite with his party until the ships landed at Cal Mira. They all ran to him with big goofy grins, no doubt proud of how well Ren did despite being in the worst possible environment. Ren would be lying if he said he wasn't a little proud of himself as well. He wasn't just useful and saved Wyndia and Leon, but he found a solution where no one died. Wyndia was the last to join, wanting to make sure Leon was going to pull through first. She came up to Ren, giving him an awkward pat on the shoulder.
"Good job out there… and stuff…" Wyndia seemed reluctant to congratulate Ren, at least from his perspective.
The truth was much different. Instead of struggling to compliment him, she was struggling to NOT compliment him. She had seen that while Ren was friendlier with his party than before, he ignored their advice very frequently. She needed Ren to actually listen to her in some way, because keeping him from making the mistakes he made before had become her mission. And the only way that seemed to work was guilt. That was why she was giving him a hard time and never seeming pleased, but even she couldn't deny how great of a job he ended up doing.
He'd saved the lives of the people he swore he'd protect and was able to broker a peace with an enemy that no one would have gambled on. She had to fight herself from blushing. He was keeping his word in every way he could. She never thought she'd trust Ren, but after that display, he really seemed like the type of person to follow through on any promise he made.
Ren didn't seem to notice her slight blush as Tersia and Farrie went to Ren's other side and spoke to him. This gave her time to compose herself a bit. The girls shared a knowing look.
The six of them set off for an impromptu celebration at Bakta and Welt's suggestion. Wyndia was never planning to like any of these people, but she found herself beginning to really appreciate them, especially Ren.
The queen traveled on one side of Naofumi while Raphtalia traveled on the other. The kids were also carried. Their destination? The lord's manor. They'd receive the best medical attention they could there. Motoyasu was also being carried to the lord's manor, but was in irons. The queen thought the worst had already come to pass and Motoyasu would be safe now, but she'd allow for no mistakes.
The day was sporadic, but mostly upbeat and hopeful. Ren, Itsuki, Liviccic, and many others didn't travel off the main island the rest of the day. Opting to exchange information, plan ahead, and revel in some light celebration, while also not being too happy, knowing Naofumi's situation.
…
The following morning
…
Naofumi's eyes opened a moment. He saw a ceiling, but not one he recognized. He wondered why he was here for a moment, the daze leaving his mind slow to recall.
"Motoyasu… Glass!" Naofumi remembered seeing Glass and feared the worst.
He shot up from his bed, but immediately felt a great deal of pain. Raphtalia was at his side and reacted strongly as well.
"Naofumi-sama! Lay back down! You're still very hurt." She scolded him while pushing him back.
"But Filo… and the others… I saw Glass." Naofumi was made all the more lightheaded by forcing himself up too quickly.
"It's fine. It's over… We're all still very hurt, but we all survived." Raphtalia comforted him.
Naofumi was still lost. "But how? Glass is-"
"She was strong, but she wasn't unbeatable. Ren and Itsuki convinced them to leave, using L'arc as a hostage. So please… rest." She finished explaining as she finally got him to lay back.
"Filo? Leon? Everyone else?" Naofumi was still so worried.
"Monti and Teal are just fine actually. Monti sampled Teal at some point we weren't aware of. He gained a slight amount of her regeneration. Not enough for combat, but he's upright and walking already… As for Filo and Leon… Motoyasu's spear had a cursed poison effect. Monti and Teal are supervising them right now in the hot spring. It seems the rumor of it helping with curses was well-founded." She told him while helping him take a sip of water.
Naofumi saw the bandage over Raphtalia's face. He remembered that her nose was broken.
"...And Motoyasu?" Naofumi asked with a sour face.
She understood his tone.
"Everyone managed to subdue him. He managed to free himself of the curse before he could…" Raphtalia trailed off.
"Before…?" Naofumi baited for her to continue.
"...Get some rest Naofumi-sama. I'll take care of everything for now. If you are able, the queen wants a meeting of the heroes as soon as you can manage it…, but I'm deciding when that is. So focus on getting a few more hours of sleep instead of pretending to be better. You can't lie to me." Raphtalia tried to finish, but Naofumi had something to say.
"This is… I failed." Naofumi said bitterly.
"What? This wasn't just your failure." Raphtalia tried sharing the blame.
"I'm the shield hero and yet I didn't protect anyone. I wasn't even standing when the real enemy appeared." Naofumi said his thoughts as they came to him.
"I understand your frustrations…" Raphtalia wished he'd stop.
"We gained so much strength so quickly. All these power up methods, all these levels… And not just that… Ever since the church fell, I've been too lax. We used to work ourselves to the bone and we barely pulled through. Now we get a little bit ahead and I start acting like the situation has changed at all." Naofumi said.
"..." Raphtalia actually agreed with that.
"I knew of the whip method and I didn't use it because I thought 'high levels will be good enough'... 'Good enough'. That's the kind of bullshit thinking that nearly got us killed. I used a shield other than the [Family Crest Shield] when Motoyasu was attacking us all. I should have switched shields. I haven't needed to switch shields in response to an enemy in weeks." Naofumi was becoming frustrated at all the mistakes he made.
"All the same, Motoyasu was truly powerful then. He improved his basic skills quite a bit and used all the same power up methods as you. He even had his four original ones much longer. Not to mention the curse series…" Raphtalia tried giving him an excuse.
"Doesn't matter. Even if he was still stronger than me, I had back-up and he didn't. If I never lost that mindset of doing everything I can, none of you would be hurt." Naofumi wouldn't take the excuse.
Raphtalia huffed and got slightly upset. "Had you done everything perfectly, how would that have stopped Leon and Monti from running at Motoyasu in the spur of the moment? How would that have prepared you for him stealing [Zweite Aura]? I understand what you're saying and you're not wrong, but you aren't the only person who failed yesterday." Raphtalia said.
"..." It was now Naofumi's turn to be quiet.
"We survived. We have the tools to get stronger. We'll find new ways to get stronger too. No one died. We can learn from this and see that it never happens again. So instead of hating yourself, focus on getting better." Raphtalia lectured.
"..." Naofumi chanted quietly for a moment. [All Zweite Heal V]. He healed Raphtalia and himself and tired himself. He shifted to the side and went back to sleep. Raphtalia stayed with him, never leaving. She had already told Monti that he was in charge of the others and to see to their needs.
…
Motoyasu
…
Motoyasu heard some screaming. He heard explosions and other loud noises. They were coming from every direction. He heard L'arc and Therese. Heard Therese crying. Then he heard someone else crying. It started faintly, but grew louder and louder. Just before he could place the voice, he opened his eyes. He looked down at Filo's bloody hand covering her bloody face, wailing like she was dying. He turned to see a snake in his hand, coiled around it, not letting go.
It met his gaze and spoke in his voice, "Dead or alone."
Motoyasu jolted awake in a cold sweat, his heartbeat racing. He tried to catch his breath as he went to sit up. He heard and felt the chains on him. He was in a prison cell.
The moment he sat up, one of two shadows left the chairs opposite the jail while the other one stood and began speaking.
"Do not panic, hero. If you are of sound mind and body then your chains will be removed momentarily. The queen wishes to speak to you." The shadow informed him.
"What happened…?" Motoyasu managed to ask.
The shadow tried repeating themselves. "As I said, the queen will-"
"What happened! Did I-did that really happen!?" Motoyasu demanded an answer while breaking the meager shackles they had placed on him as he stood.
The shadow backed away from the cell and placed their hands up in a peaceful manner. "We understand how upset you are, but know that everyone is safe. Please wait for the queen. She'd know best how to address your concerns."
"...Everyone is safe…? No one died?" Motoyasu calmed down a bit.
Loud echoed footsteps were heard coming down the stone stairs. "A small number of sailors died during the wave, three in total. An extremely low casualty rate for a wave… Are you well, spear hero?" The queen was speaking, she stopped in front of his cell.
"I'm fine, but what about everyone else? …L'arc and Therese? …Filo and the others?" Motoyasu was trying and failing to maintain himself.
"You seem to be under only an understandable amount of emotion. Then I'll release you. Follow me." The queen gestured to the shadows.
The pair performed a spell that dropped an invisible barrier of some kind over the cell. They then opened his cell and gestured for him to follow the queen. He immediately followed while she spoke.
"Most of what I say will also be covered in the meeting between the heroes once Naofumi is well enough to join. There seems to be more to the waves than we initially thought. We may gain allies from this, but betrayal is an option." The queen spoke, topping the stairs and exiting a door.
"Betrayal?" Motoyasu asked bitterly, still following her.
"The sword and bow heroes did well in negotiating a ceasefire, but this new enemy could simply attack during the next wave." The queen answered, turning down a hall.
"...So you always operate under the assumption that you will be betrayed?" Motoyasu spoke.
The queen realized what he was doing. "I grant trust slowly, earned over years. Even then, I was also betrayed recently. My husband, daughter and over a half dozen lords. It might be easier for me to say this because I have allies left, but please, don't give up." She'd normally use such an opportunity of a hero being vulnerable and confused to mold him, but she feared he was too unstable. He's been betrayed and tricked, using underhanded tactics on him might simply result in her death.
"So… what happened?" Motoyasu asked again.
"The two that you partied with are from another world. One that we connect to during the waves, it seems." The queen entered a room and went to sit in a chair, gesturing for Motoyasu to sit opposite her.
"For the sake of our world-" Motoyasu remembered L'arc saying.
"Then how did they…? Why did they…?" Motoyasu was lost.
"I'll give you a brief summary, we'll go over the details more finely during the meeting." The queen offered.
She explained briefly that L'arc and Therese were there to kill a cardinal hero to doom their world and that they were in league with Glass. She explained the reason for their decisions afterwards. She didn't explain what actually happened while he was under the effects of the curse series or unconscious. She told him to wait for those answers.
After that, he was free to leave.
…
At the hot springs
…
Monti and Teal had been watching over Filo and Leon in a private bath. Filo's wound was far longer than Leon's, but Leon's was far deeper, going all the way through the chest, just below his right shoulder. Filo was in more pain, but Leon would take longer to recover. The curse on Filo was not going to last long. Between the antidote and the hot spring, she'd be back to mostly fine by the end of the day. Her hands would take longer to heal, but she could just use her filolial form and be fine. Leon's wound kept him from flying, which was a bigger deal. Most of the curse was not on the surface either, meaning he'd retain the curse longer. He'd be able to fly after more than a week and his right arm would need to avoid heavy use, so melee combat was no longer an option.
The two of them were upset, but Filo could still kick and Leon could still use magic. They'd cope with their injuries. They were both more worried about their father. All four of them felt that way.
"Alright, time's up. We'll come back to soak in an hour." Monti told them.
"Does that mean we can eat?" Filo asked.
"Sure, let's eat." It wasn't time, but he couldn't deny Filo's request when she was injured.
They all seemed melancholy. They spoke little and moved slowly.
Monti helped Leon, while Teal helped Filo down the hall of the hotel. Filo wanted to walk on her own, so Teal simply steadied her. Leon would have preferred being carried, but didn't want to look weak to Filo, so he also walked himself.
As they rounded a corner, they saw Ren. He apparently had a late start today. He had overslept, having all that missing sleep catch up to him after the battle. Wyndia was there too, making jokes with Tersia and Farrie. The moment she spotted Leon, she ran over.
"Are you sure you are strong enough to be walking right now?"
"Oi, I'm the mightiest of beasts, I-mm." Leon winced. "...I'll be fine if I don't push myself." Leon admitted.
Monti gestured for Wyndia to help steady Leon, while he went to Ren. Ren wondered what Monti wanted. They weren't on the best of terms.
"Um, sword hero? I wanted to thank you for saving Leon and helping dad… here." Monti changed the replica into the sword form and held it out to Ren. "Copy this."
Ren paused a brief moment before reaching out and grabbing the blade. He copied the weapon, the form unlocked being very, very powerful.
"I know we're not exactly friends, but you fought for my family, so I'll let you have this power… Please don't misuse it." Monti finished.
"I won't. I'll only use it to protect and defend." Ren assured him.
Monti had seen Ren protect Leon and heard a little about him saving his father and making an agreement for L'arc and the others to retreat instead of fighting. He had been very helpful since Wyndia took a place at his side. He'd trust him.
Wyndia wanted to pay attention to Leon, but watched the brief exchange with Ren with a slight smile. Leon saw the way she was looking at Ren and was becoming annoyed, but was also too hurt to be loud about it. So, he didn't do much other than fidget quietly.
Soon enough, they parted ways, but unfortunately they'd be stopped by another person. One that none of them were eager to see.
Motoyasu.
He had finished his talk with the queen and came to apologize to everyone, but they gave him the reaction one would expect. Filo made a small noise of concern and let go of Teal, running behind Monti and Leon. Once there, she made herself appear smaller, shrinking behind them. Both of them stood their ground protecting Filo, even with Leon still hurt. The action made Motoyasu take a step back and hold up his hands.
"Listen, I'm in control! I…" Motoyasu brought his voice down. "I wanted to apologize. I know I did... such awful things... I'd never... I'm so sorry! I wasn't in control at the time, please believe me." Motoyasu pleaded.
The kids stared at Motoyasu as he hung his head in shame, bowing to them. Eventually Teal took a step forward.
"Monti, take them both with you, okay? I'll deal with this." Teal told him.
"Are you…? Okay." Monti was apprehensive, but agreed. He left down the next hall, keeping himself between Motoyasu and Filo.
"...Anything you want to say, say to me. You're never speaking to Filo again." Teal told him firmly.
"...I know it sounds like I'm lying, but I really wasn't in control. I wasn't even really awake until the end." Motoyasu began.
"...That lines up with father's words." Teal thought aloud.
"Naofumi is up? The queen told me I left him in a hard state of recovery." Motoyasu was relieved.
"You sure as hell did." Teal spat. "None of us have seen him since the wave and mom refuses to leave his side… I'm talking about when father used that 'curse series'." She spat the words 'curse series' just as bitterly.
"..."
"Father thought Monti and Filo were killed, each in a single hit. He thought we were all going to die in moments. His anger at the situation and the larger context caused him to lose himself and lash out. Mother and I were burned with cursed fire and had Gaelion's corpse not been the more pressing matter… He'd have likely turned on us…"
"S-See? The curse series is awful, I'd never hav-"
"I know that once the curse series is activated, whatever came after wasn't your fault…" Teal began.
"..." Motoyasu felt a little better knowing she'd forgi-
"But you're still a bastard." Teal said in an uncharacteristically strong voice.
"Wha-" Motoyasu was thrown off by the shift in mood.
"You promised me that you'd become useful and correct yourself and the very next time you faced hardship, you buckled to the curse series. You gave up, just a week after you promised. I don't blame you for your actions after you fell. I blame you for falling at all!"
"..." Motoyasu grew quiet.
"You were attacked by your friends. You're back to square one. That sucks, but my family is heavily hurt by you and you don't see me in despair. You-"
"Shut the fuck up." Motoyasu said in a very calm voice.
Teal silenced herself.
"Of course you've got it together, they're still here. You've lost nothing. Imagine having no one at all? Imagine that every time you tried to get close to someone, they tried to kill you? L'arc and Therese was the third time. Third! So what? Am I supposed to just go through life alone? Driven only by the guilt I feel for others that still have their own little happy lives?" Motoyasu questioned bitterly.
"..." Teal's attitude deflated quite quickly. She felt dumb saying she was doing better than him emotionally when she had people to rely on and he didn't.
"I tried… and I'll try again…, but it's just getting too damned hard. I know I promised, but... Sorry." Motoyasu turned and left. Teal said nothing.
Motoyasu felt he blew it again. "That's par for the course for someone like me."
Teal realized that she was the one that really just screwed up. She was probably the last person whose words meant something to him. She hurried to catch up to the others. She'd ask Monti his opinion.
…
Hengen Muso
…
Itsuki and Rishia weren't going to leave the main island today. It was annoying to be denied time during the activation event, but when Naofumi recovered enough, the queen would call an emergency meeting. Itsuki saw during the wave that his stats seemed a bit higher than the others and he had a good idea why. He certainly enjoyed that, but he still couldn't have beat Glass on his own. He thought of how Raphtalia fought alongside him and he wished it could have been Rishia. He'd lowered her level quite a few times, but her growth rates still weren't that good.
He'd need Naofumi's help to get the results he wanted, the results Rishia wanted.
So he'd be more cooperative than normal. Whatever it took to have Rishia gain the stats needed to fight by his side. He didn't need a full party like Naofumi, he just needed one, maybe two allies.
He and Rishia were walking down the main street of the island when Rishia called out.
"Fuee!?" Rishia was being grabbed by some old woman by the hand and was inspecting her roughly.
Itsuki put a little base in his voice. "Oi, get your hands of h-"
"Incredible, simply incredible. You have some much potential… Oh." The old lady seemed to remember herself and take a half-step back.
"Who are you and why were you touching her?" Itsuki demanded.
"I'm the last in a long line of martial artists. The style I carry is called [Hengen Muso]. I simply lost myself seeing this girl's raw talent. She has real potential." The lady eyed Rishia more.
"Me? Talent? …I doubt that." Rishia said meekly.
The old woman's head swiveled fast to meet her eyes. "Nonsense. I see it in you even now. Momentary pops of true brilliance. Your body fights against it, but you have the makings of an excellent practitioner of the [Hengen Muso] style." She wasn't taking 'no' as an answer
"We aren't buying it. We aren't paying you anything." Itsuki's first thought was that she was the type of salesman that promised the weak strength, then had them pay for lessons that went nowhere.
"Hmm? I never asked for anything. This young lady truly has a wealth of untapped talent. Who are you to speak for her?" The old woman rebuked.
"I'm the bow hero and she is my party member." Itsuki was beginning to show frustration.
"The bow hero? Shame. All the same, I ought to train you, lass." The old lady seemed to deflate a bit at the announcement of Itsuki's title.
And why wouldn't she? This was the elderly woman who Naofumi saved using his medicine while he was acting as the savior of the heavenly fowl. The same old woman who fought alongside Naofumi and the others during their second wave. Her village was saved and no one had died thanks to Naofumi's efforts and the efforts of his allies. So of course she didn't like Itsuki. She had heard of his crimes against Naofumi and felt a bit bitter herself.
It was simply the fact that Rishia really did give her the vibe of being the next master of [Hengen Muso], so she'd tolerate the bow hero.
"Fuee… Um… I…"
"Hmm, speak." The old lady told her.
"You think I have hidden talent?" Rishia asked again, a miss of doubt and hope in her voice.
Itsuki understood why she'd hope it was true. "Rishia, don't fall for it. She's clearly-"
The old woman put one of her fingers out and softly touched a nearby brick wall. The wall gave no resistance, as her finger sank into the brick. Like plunging your hand into fresh snow. She then softly dragged her finger to the corner of the wall, destroying everything between where her finger began and where it ended.
The pair was stunned at how effortlessly she did this. After a moment, she turned back.
"[Hengen Muso] is the means by which you harness your own life energy into a weapon or even bolster another weapon. Regardless of your stats, the stats of your foe, your weapon, fighting style, even if you only use magic… [Hengen Muso] will enhance all things to a peerless degree of excellence… If you were to master it." She spoke with much reverence for the ability.
Itsuki's doubts fell away.
"...What about me? Would my arrows…? Would the holy bow…?" Itsuki wondered.
"All things can be made more excellent using [Hengen Muso]. There are no exceptions." She answered sternly.
Itsuki and Rishia felt like they just found a once in a life-time opportunity. If this was to be believed, Rishia had a faster path to being a useful partner to Itsuki.
"I'll d-"
"Say we believe you, you'd train us for free?" Itsuki questioned, interrupting Rishia's attempt to talk.
"I'd train the lass, not you." The old woman answered.
"Why not?" Itsuki asked with a frown.
"I owe my life to the savior of the heavenly fowl twice over. I came here to reach level 100 then possibly offer my services to him and his family. I still may…, but I am old and I shouldn't allow [Hengen Muso] to die out. I need a successor… Mayhaps this lass or one of the shield hero's allies can serve as a possible successor." She spoke, only slightly answering him.
Itsuki was once again frustrated to hear that Naofumi had saved even more people while under his alias. He knew he shouldn't, but he subconsciously compared himself to Naofumi and felt he came up rather short. He'd be nearly bitter about it had he and Ren not just won a wave Naofumi lost.
"I'm no longer Naofumi's enemy. I helped defend him when he fell in the wave yesterday." Itsuki argued.
"...Forgive me, but I will not take your word for it. If you can get the savior to vouch for you, then I'd be willing to train you." She rebuked again.
"Fuee… Um…" Rishia tried to speak again.
"Hm? Speak up." The old lady commanded.
"Fuee, I um, I'd very much like to get stronger… Even if it's just for today, Sir Itsuki, would you mind?" Rishia eventually expressed herself.
She found it hard to ask Itsuki to let her benefit without him, especially when he had been putting in so much effort for her. Itsuki would have agreed either way, but the answer never needed his consideration. He saw the lord of the island, the Earl of Habenburg, approaching him. Itsuki already guessed why.
"Seems Naofumi is up and we have to do a post wave meeting. Try your best while I'm gone. I'll get Naofumi to convince you to train me too." Itsuki told the pair.
He walked off and met the lord halfway and, as he suspected, the meeting was beginning soon. The old lady didn't wait a single moment before making Rishia take a low stance. Forcibly moving her into the position.
"Let's see what I'm working with. Try doing this. Hyaa!" The old lady lifted her right foot and quickly kicked forward without moving her back foot.
"Fuee… he…yah?" Rishia appeared to give it a poor attempt. It was somehow both halfhearted and too enthusiastic.
The old woman sighed. "No, no. We have much work ahead of us. Like this, hyaa!" she repeated her strike exactly as she did before. Almost photogenic in how it matched her previous kick.
"Heyah!" Rishia tried again, but fell. She felt useless.
"Your strength isn't a factor right now. First you need balance and control, from that comes the basic physical discipline needed. After which, I'll begin teaching you how to wield your very life as a weapon. Again! Hyaa!" The old lady was not going to give up on Rishia. She'd do this all day if she had to…
Which she very well may.
.
[Author's Notes]
Next chapter is the meeting where Naofumi and Motoyasu will be caught up. Motoyasu only knows the bare minimum, he doesn't know that L'arc and Therese gave up or that they teamed up to save him from his curse series. That should remove some of his bitterness.
Filo went from not liking Motoyasu to actively fearing him and for good reason.
Spirits are high despite all that happened.
Next chapter might be the rest of Cal Mira. From that there are things that will finally happen that have been hinted at. Siltvelt and the centipede. A bit of spice before Spirit Turtle enters the game.
And I plan on doing Spirit Turtle right. With its many BS familiars, proper level of strength and obstacles.
Sorry about how long this chapter took. TBH I had two issues.
1: Writing Itsuki is a pain. I have plans for him, but he specifically is unfun to write for me.
2: I've been watching this season of Rising of the Shield Hero and… If I hadn't been further in the LNs, I'd have dropped the series as a whole. As of now, I am dropping the anime though. Maybe season 3 won't tap into the speedforce.
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