Biggest thanks for Ace-Triad for fixing my SPAG problems, and Angel Wraith for beta-reading the chapter and providing feed backs.
As always, I will blabber some more in my end note.
Cross posted on AO3, for anyone who prefer that site.
The rumbling of cannon, and splashing water above the deck has ceased, so is the violent shaking of the ship. Raphtalia could only assume that the sea battle has concluded one way or another. She doesn't hear the sound of clashing weapons, so she could only assume there's no fighting above the deck either. But Naofumi and Malty haven't come to see her yet. She doesn't know if the battle ended in their favor or not. And honestly, she doesn't truly care about the conclusion of the battle so long as her family wasn't hurt. House Amelia, or the queen of Melromarc haven't exactly been nice to her, or her surrogate family. Especially the queen who almost married Malty away, reset Naofumi's level and had him whipped half to death. She doesn't wish bad things to happen to the queen like Fuckboy, because she saw how bad things got all around without the queen overlooking everything. But she wouldn't spare a silent prayer for her safety when she has more important things on hand.
Raphtalia lets out a sigh at big sister Sadina, begins to twitch and turn on top of the bedsheet, making a mess of everything. Once again, Raphtalia tucks her childhood protector in, and takes off the damp blanket on top of her forehead that's beginning to grow warm. She washed it in the bucket of cold water beside them, cooled it down before carefully placing the blanket back on big sister Sadina's head. Throughout the process, the only family she has left from her previous life lets out barely intelligible groans beside her. "...more...MORE~!"
Raphtalia feels the knot in her throat as she looks at her childhood protector lying on the floor. Big sister Sadina was her protector as far back as her memory could recall. Always there to look after her, make sure she doesn't put herself in real danger. Something that she made extra hard by playing with children outside of her family, instead of children from other Kyutenrou remnant families who Big Sister Sadina's family considered to be the 'right, proper friends for our princess'. Keel in particular, got Rifana and herself into more trouble than she could count. While Big Sister Sadina isn't always there right besides her, she knows her older protector was watching her just outside of her view. She looked so tall, so strong, like the mountain range north of their home. But looking at her big sister now... she looks like trampled mud. "You can't keep drinking like this, Big Sister Sadina. You are going to kill yourself one day."
"Non- nonsense! You worry too much, little Raphtalia. Here~ have a sip of the courage water. It'll make all your worries go away~" Big Sister Sadina raises her right arm towards Raphtalia. Or she tried to, since her hand is pointing two people's width right to where Raphtalia is actually sitting. The fingers in her raised hand are coiled around, like she's holding an invisible cup. Raphtalia knew what Big Sister Sadina meant by 'courage water' is more alcohol, so she lets out another sigh as her childhood protector seems to be lost in her own head. "Hey... hey? Why are there three of you, little Raphtalia?"
Chapter 23: Enter the New Player, Shield Hero
"Raphtalia! Good, you are okay." Keel half crashed her way into their cabin. Seeing how nothing happened to Raphtalia since she's gone, Keel lets out a deep breath, then slowly paces her way over and plops herself down besides Raphtalia. She reaches her hand over to a water skin, and dumps most of its content into her mouth. A bad thing to do, probably more so in a ship that's constantly shaking. She spits out half of the water right out of her mouth, letting some of them fall on big sister Sadina's blanket, and even her face. Raphtalia wants to chastise Keel for being so foolish, but she can't force herself to when her friend begins to violently cough.
"Slow down! Don't drink so fast, Keel! You are going to choke to death!" Raphtalia snatches the water skin away from Keel's hands. She puts the stopper on, and then tosses the water container aside before patting her friend on the back, helping her get the water out. "What's happening? Are the pirates chased away?"
"The- *cough cough* pirates? Oh, they are long gone." Keel recovers her breath after a few more moments of violent coughing. "Apparently the pirate ship turned tail and ran after the ship we were on had hit them with two full volleys. People on the deck are praising the queen for her quick act to chase away this Dread Pirate Robert fellow. But I don't know. I saw two masts snapped from the middle, and this ship looks sorry. But people aren't fighting anymore."
Raphtalia lets out the breath she's been holding. The pirate didn't win the sea battle, that means they are safe. She didn't think the pirate they were fighting had enough high level people to beat everyone if they got onboard. But it doesn't mean they can't sink the ship they are on and kill everyone. It doesn't matter how strong the heroes are, they can't survive if they fall head first into the ocean without a ship and supplies to take them back to land. But then she realized something strange, how come Naofumi or Malty hasn't come looking for her if the pirates are gone? She already told them that she is taking big sister Sadina down under the deck to make sure she doesn't get thrown into the ocean. "What happened to Naofumi and Malty? Are they hurt?"
"They went after the pirates. At least that's what I heard from the crew." Keel shrugs her shoulders, clearly not as concerned about the heroes' whereabouts as Raphtalia herself. This answer instantly made Raphtalia's rapidly beating heart jump back into her throat again. Did Naofumi and Malty chase after the pirates on a ship? Or had they flown to the pirates? What if they get hurt while away from the fleet? Who is going to know if they are lost in the sea? Raphtalia looks down at Big Sister Sadina. Her childhood protector has already begun to snore, not caring and probably not know there has been a navy battle around her for a good while. Raphtalia jumps up to her feet, and runs out of the cabin. She can still hear Keel's voice behind her, even if she's not paying her friend any mind. "HEY! Where are you going, Raphtalia?! Wait for me!"
Raphtalia runs as fast as her feet can carry her, and she practically flies up the stairs leading to the deck. As she feels the spicy sea wind in her face again, a loud wave of rumbling and loud boom causes her to lose balance, and nearly tumbles back down the stairs again. Only Keel's support behind her back saved her from a painful fall. She jumps up to the deck again, and sees the sailors loading cannons to the right side of the ship. She turns around, trying to understand the situation around her better. And she sees the queen standing near the wheel. Her blue haired, mean little daughter (she's Malty, her surrogate mother's younger sister, Raphtalia reminds herself) being held back by a couple of knights. "Stop it, MOTHER! What if Big Sister Malty is on the pirate ship!? You'll kill her!"
"There's nothing for you to worry about, Melty. Your older sister has a great self preservation instinct. Something you could learn from her. She would not have willingly put herself in danger." The lack of emotion in the queen's voice makes Raphtalia feel cold. This... this is not how a mother talks about or to her own child. Raphtalia's own mother never speaks to her like this, nor does Malty. It makes her think that the queen doesn't really care if she actually hurt, or killed Malty by accident.
"As the representative of Noble Faubley, I must officially voice my concern. Your careless action would endanger the four Cardinal Heroes. Whose lives are crucial to repel the Wave of Catastrophe." The dark haired woman from Faubley takes a single step towards the queen with her bodyguard wearing the scary looking mask. She also gives a quick glance to the side, at the young looking girls who helped them rescue Naofumi from that B- bad bandit woman.
"Just like former princess Malty, there is no need for the heroes to remain on the pirate ship. They flew to the pirate ship-" The queen didn't have a chance to finish her explanation when Malty's voice boomed its way over from the distant pirate ship. She raises her hand with an unhappy looking face. "Cease firing."
Thankfully, things resolve quickly afterwards. The queen didn't want the heroes to take these pirates into fighting the Wave of Catastrophe for some reason. But in the end, she accepted the outcome. Raphtalia is vaguely aware of what's going to happen. The pirates pacified by the heroes would be turned into slaves to fight monsters. She isn't sure what to think about. How Naofumi turned people into slaves instead of freeing them. But these are criminals who had raided their ships and hurt a lot of people. So it's either death for them, or being turned into slaves to serve their sentence anyway. And the queen... she tried to push the heroes (most likely aimed at Naofumi and Malty, like what she did back in the capital) around. It made Raphtalia realize how even with a revered title like heroes, her family needs to have more to not get bullied by these nobles and lieges who have a lot of people they can throw at them.
How could she help her new surrogate family more? She's only a kid who can turn into an animal, or into her (supposed) adult body. And she barely started her combat training. But even if she finishes her lesson, she is only one person against many. The only possible way she could influence more people is... to use her identity as the 'last princess of Kyutenrou'. But would it only bring more trouble to Naofumi and Malty? Because the biggest group of her people that's been settled together are ruled by Lord Isshin. And he's been looking all around for Raphtalia's family.
Sound of something hitting wood brings Raphtalia out of her own head. It's not as loud as an explosion, or something that completely snaps the wood. The pirate ship comes closer the big warship Raphtalia is on. Not too long after, some grappling hooks are tossed onto the railing to stabilize the two ships together. Boards are also brought out between the two ships to allow people to walk between both ships. Naofumi appears on the other end, and waves at Raphtalia. He also turns his face to the Throwing Weapon Hero with an equally annoyed look like the queen. "Come over Raphtalia! We are going to Stormwind first. And... you too. Throwing Weapon Hero Tairou, and your companions. Make sure to bring along Firo."
The sound of a bell echoes over the port of Stormwind city as Amelia fleet limps its way into port. Some of the lighter escort ships might be scuttled all together, while most others require the most extensive repair. Even the flagship Golden Wind needs to have two of its three masts (one of them being the main mast with the wind crystal completely destroyed) replaced. Needless to say, the dock workers and craftsmen of Stormwind will have a lot of work in the coming months, and will probably be paid well out of House Amelia's vault.
The Jackdaw also pulls into the port after the House Amelia fleet. Its former pirate crew have their hands bound, and tied up with ropes as they are paraded on the street, before officially entering their sentence in front of the church in the city of Stormwind. But instead of being owned by the nation of Melromarc (aka the Melromarc royal family), their master will be the Shield Hero for he is the one who subdued them. Naofumi will gain a group of fighters who are only loyal to him (enforced by the slave seal, of course), but House Amelia and the queen of Melromarc will also be allowed to save their faces for what would have been a crushing naval defeat by a single pirate brig. Everybody wins in the end, except for the pirates. But Malty can't be bothered to care for a group of criminals.
"We'll keep the ship safe for you, Lord Shield Hero." Lady Belladonna stayed on the ship with the dozen of her sea tribe warriors who served as her personal guards. Apparently, they are also experienced sailors in addition to marine fighters. It makes sense, considering their home is an archipelago even if the area of Cal Mira is more of a tribal confederacy than a proper nation. Most of the travels between their natives are done on smaller boats and canoes. But they still needed large trade ships to import materials and supplies they couldn't produce themselves, and escort warships to protect their transporters. The covenant that allows them to stay independent doesn't cover their ships, plus pirates... or privateers paid off by the other nations wouldn't exactly follow such rules. "And I'll pen a letter to Father, to let him send out some more seasoned sailors, so we can have enough men for multiple shifts."
"Good. See to it that this ship is safe. I don't know when we'll actually need it since we already have carriages and teleportation skills. But having a seaworthy ship of our own should come in handy. And also, thank you." The Cal Mira warriors didn't react too much to the Shield Hero's command, or his gratitude. While some of them are demi-human, they don't revere the Shield Hero as much as those who live in Siltvelt or Shiltfreeden. Probably because they weren't oppressed as badly as their mainland dwelling kin.
Naofumi turns around to leave the port with his fellow heroes and all of their companions. As the Jackdaw slowly begins to disappear from their view, Malty gives a quick look around to make sure nobody has their attention on Naofumi and herself. She leans into Naofumi's ear and whispers to him. "Once the original pirate crews are officially 'incarcerated', you should mix them with the Cal Mira crew, Master Naofumi. We still don't know if we can fully trust the people of Cal Mira Island yet. Having a mixed crew could have them guard, and monitor each other."
Naofumi stops his feet mid step. He places both feet on the ground and stays still for a few moments, seemingly thinking over Malty's suggestion before turning to look at her. "Wouldn't this decrease the overall effectiveness of our crew if they are busy watching over each other? I thought you should fully trust the people working for you, and simply not use them if you doubt their loyalty?"
"In an ideal world. Yes. But our situation is far from perfect." Malty also pauses her steps right behind the Shield Hero. "We didn't recruit the people of Cal Mira Island ourselves. They followed us because of your identity as a Cardinal Hero. We didn't have enough time to read over what kind of people they truly are. On the other hand, we did recruit the pirates. By threatening to kill them all, and forcing them to subjugate us with the threat of slave seals. Neither side are someone we can blindly trust with our lives, and not worry about them stabbing us in the back for revenge, or for their personal gain. We could start to trust them once they earn it, but for now, we need to come up with plans and contingencies to make sure of our own safety first. And think about it this way, Master Naofumi. If they truly are loyal to us, they won't be easily deterred by some minor inconveniences and open distrust. But if they are not... it'll put our own lives at risk."
The Shield Hero doesn't immediately answer her back. He is clearly pondering over Malty's suggestions. She supposes it's a good thing that he is truly weighing over her words, rather than outright rejecting them like he sometimes did before the Third Wave. "Very well. I think you are right. We should be careful and make sure we are safe first before thinking about the feelings of other people. But once I'm convinced of their trustworthiness, I won't have my own subordinates work against each other."
"That's fine. I'm sure they'll be grateful once that happens." As Naofumi begins to move his feet after the parade of surrendered pirates, Malty follows right after him. She's willing to bet Naofumi's standard of fully trusting some previous strangers isn't the same as her own. Then again, her own method of how to manage her own subordinates would likely be different from him. As she would ensure she knows what's going on with her followers all the time, except those closest to her. But she does see the advantage of Naofumi's way, especially for the more upstanding and honorable types like Eclair's family. Perhaps she should learn from Naofumi's example and try to believe more in the faithful kind of people.
The queen's victory parade was longer than it needed to be. But if Malty knows her mother, she'll hold an even bigger celebration when they return to the capital. Not for the act of subduing the legendary dread pirate, but for taking back all four Cardinal Heroes from the Hero Conference held at Cal Mira Island. It didn't have anything to do with the High Queen of Melromarc, as the four Cardinal Heroes fought for it themselves. But it'll be a way to boost the failing prestige of the queen, at least in the eyes of unsophisticated common men who learn news from gossip, and whatever official announcement from a town crier. But regardless how needlessly drawn out the event held, and how much extra distance their feet covered. Their little parade of prisoners eventually reached the chapel in Stormwind, where the seal of the slave will be placed on the chest of the captured pirates.
The pirates took their sentence with surprising little fanfare. Their bodies twitched around a little as the guards stripped their upper body bare, and they let out some grunts of pain as priests drew the seal of servitude on their chest with magical ink. But they didn't try to fight back, or try to make a break for the crowd while they were being paraded around, for that matter. And for a few selected of them such as Dread Pirate Robert himself, and the still yet unnamed mask-wearing pirate, they didn't even move around or let out any noise as they are branded as slaves of the Shield Hero. At least Malty hopes her mother isn't dumb enough to try to pull some trick and make herself as their master. Consider it's the four Cardinal Heroes' insistence to stay in Melromarc that's going to boost her right to sit on the throne, and the three weapon wielding heroes all trust the Shield Hero. Openly stealing indentured servants that rightfully belongs to him would be the fastest way for her to lose her newly regained prestige and likely cause someone from the nobility to motion for another Vote of No Confidence against her again. She's going to have someone she trusts examine the condition of all their slave seals later anyway. Maybe the LeStrange wizards living in Whiterun County.
"Keep your dirty hands away from me!" A furious voice and a few shocked screams breaks the solemness of the act in the chapel. Malty looks up, and sees the startled guards are walking back, while trying to pat away the small bundles of fire on their bodies. Needless to say, they are caused by Oku, the pirates' fire sorcerer. The queen's knights who were only standing near the queen to protect her steps forward, looking ready to subdue the resisting pirate with stern expression (and in Palmer's case, gleeful expression). But before they close the distance, Oku already rips open his shirt at the front. "I'll do it myself."
Originally, Malty thought the fire sorcerer was being quite foolish. If he wanted to escape, the best chance to do so would be when he was being paraded around on the streets of Stormwind. There were guards walking by the side, but the queen's personal, high leveled escorts were at the front with their charge. Away from the pirate instead of within twenty paces of him and could subdue him in a blink of eye. There is also, of course, a large crowd of common people who could easily be scared into a panicked stampede by a fire user like him, which would in term allow him and his fellow pirates a chance to escape in the chaos. But seeing his exposed chest, Malty realized why the fire sorcerer acted the way he did. Well... correction, acted the way she did. On her chest, there are bands of fabric a woman uses to restrict her own chest. For ease of movement... or to look like a man.
Most of the knights still have their legs and halt their advance on Oku. They look back at their queen, waiting for further instruction. Not Palmer, she didn't let the fact that her opponent is unarmed deter her own charge. Even if a knight should very much even threaten someone without a weapon let alone trying to hurt and possibly kill them. Regardless, it didn't do Palmer any good. Oku simply catches the tip of the sword between the index and middle finger of her left hand. Azure fire envelopes her hand, goating, and then melting the castle forged steel blade to hot liquid as she kicks out her feet, and buries her feet into Palmer's stomach. The knight is sent flying backwards, faster than when she charged at Oku, even faster than the cannonballs fired out of the Golden Wind. The sound of crumbling stone, clanking metal and a newly created hole in the back wall of the chapel's hall tells everyone where Queen Mirellia's most favored thug ended up.
"Is this how the Shield Hero is going to keep his little private army? Letting them go around attacking other people?" The queen's tone is as accusatory as it is cold. She is using this as another opportunity to snub the Shield Hero. Did she intentionally instruct Palmer to make a sacrifice play for such development, or did she simply stayed back and allowed such a situation to come naturally? Malty can't say. But perhaps that's the reason why she would keep someone as brutish as Palmer as one of her most favored knight. Even if her behavior should have her discharged a long time ago.
"She had it coming. Keep acting like a complete twat, you'll get twat'ed by the bigger bully." Naofumi crosses his arms and snorts right back at the queen. He didn't take the trap before Malty even had the time to warn him of the pitfall. Maybe he knew the importance of a leader keeping his own men safe from threat to earn their loyalty and trust. Or perhaps he simply decided to go against the queen out of grudge due to all the mistreatment and abuse she forced onto him. Regardless, he openly challenged the queen rather than acted like some good, tamed dog of her. And his scathing words aren't leaving much dignity for the queen. "Don't treat me like I'm blind, deaf and stupid. I know you had it out for me as much as you had it out for your own daughter. And don't think I decided to stay in this country because of you. I stayed in this country with my friends in spite of you. And if you push me too far, I'm sure other nations would welcome us. Before you decide to accuse me for anything, clean your own house first."
"Of course, my king. Siltvelt will welcome the glorious presence of you... and your friends any time. While I can't speak for the other great clans, I can vow as the prince of the Red Phoenix. That all Vermili will support, and defend you to our dying breath as a repentance to what The Kingtaker did to our previous king." Prince Kael'thas bows down his upper body right behind the Shield Hero. Playing the role of an accommodating sycophant supporter of the Shield Hero well. "As for you, honorable queen of glorious Melromarc. You'd do well to remember that the person you're speaking to isn't one of your personal footstools who is constantly at your beck and call, but your equal. Master Shield Hero may have not assumed his rightful throne yet, but the moment he is summoned, he is the rightful king of all the children of Malis."
Needless to say, both the Shield Hero and Siltvelt's own Red Phoenix Prince had put Mother onto the metaphorical fire pit for a good roasting. And in a way, this is a complete reversal of the situation the queen tried to force onto the Shield Hero himself. Either sacrifice yet another one of her pawns to protect herself for a little longer and take a major hit to her already tattered reputation, or go head to head with the Shield Hero... and risk losing the support of the heroes which would have her lose her crown even quicker. At this crucial moment, someone else stepped forth and saved her from the one who would decide Sir Palmer's fate.
The one who stepped out is a woman with naturally curly golden blonde hair covering half of her face. With strands of gray mixed with her golden locks, and aged lines on her face, she looks at least a decade older than Malty's mother, with a suit of green tinted heavy armor. Malty doesn't know Sir Meggie as much as some of her mother's other lackeys. But she still knows the commander, and the lady of Castle Cello belongs to Mother's inner circle. Not only an attack dog, and a bodyguard Mother keeps around her like Palmer. The seasoned dragon knight is someone who had experience and success leading her fellow knights against Siltvelt occupation army back in The Great War. A general to rely on, not a pawn to be tossed away. "Sir Palmer acted out of her term, my queen. I suggest you discipline her for her repeated violation of our own knightly code."
"Very well. I shall leave Sir Palmer to you to straighten out some of her worst behaviors. As for you, Lord Shield Hero. Now that you have a proper retinue, and started to recruit more men from the unsavory type. I believe I have a job that's right up your alley." Mother waves Sir Meggie off. Malty isn't sure if she is meant to let the knight commander work on her pet thug's behavior, or simply an excuse to take the brutish knight way. Regardless, she turns to look at the Shield Hero. "There's a sighting of a group of bandits that's been targeting peasants and merchants traveling up and down the road between the capital and Whiterun County. They haven't been the most dire threat our nation faced considering the other, more pressing matters such as the ongoing Wave of Catastrophe, or the rebellion of the Three Heroes' Church. But now the church has been pacified and the matters with the waves settled, I need someone to clear out this nest of bandits that's been sowing chaos in my realm. Especially now there's witnesses reporting that they are building some kind of camp. Seeing how you have experience dealing with bandits, you will be tasked to resolve this matter. I expect this matter to be settled in the following week to ensure there will be no further disruption for us to prepare for the following Wave battles."
Mother is, of course, talking about Porter's group. Unless there's another band of highwaymen, robbers and thieves who moved into their abandoned camp after they resettled near the abandoned tower with the Lestranges. It suddenly occurred to Malty that her mother most likely doesn't know the relationship Naofumi already built with Porter's group, or else she likely wouldn't have sent the Shield Hero out for this task that would have no doubt given him another excuse to start recruiting some people to his cause. But in a twist of irony, Mother isn't the only one who has no idea what's at play here when Kael'thas voices his objection. "Queen of Melromarc, you have no right to command the rightful God King of Siltvelt for any task as if he is but another one of your subordinate. Moreover, it is unfair to dispatch our king, the one who you forced into a level reset, (I)to go fight a group of vicious bandits(I) when his fellow heroes will have free reign to do tasks, or train themselves as they please."
"Now that all four Cardinal Heroes have chosen glorious Melromarc as their base of operation, it is in their interest to ensure the smooth operation of my nation for our effort to prepare for future waves. I will also be delegating tasks to the other heroes. But if the Shield Hero is not up to the task, I will have one of his fellow heroes pacify this bandit group." Mother continues to cross words with Prince Kael'thas. Neither realizing the conflict they are fighting over should have already been settled in Naofumi's mind. Although the Shield Hero did surprise Malty when he took over the argument.
"Back, Kael. I'm always up to the task of making this world safer for the innocent common people. However, I would like to ask for some reward since I'm now on official business from the royalty of this nation." Naofumi holds his hand up to silence Kael'thas. The honest thing to do for the Shield Hero in this situation would, of course, be to reveal his previous connection with Porter's group. It might very well be what Naofumi would have done before the Third Wave, and their sordid business with the Three Heroes' Church. Which is why 'the right thing' is not what the Shield Hero is doing. Rather than explaining to mother the nature of the bandit group, he is using this opportunity to ask for a reward. Malty doesn't know if some of her words finally got through to Naofumi, or if he would have independently come to this method. She's proud of him regardless of thinking less as a hero, and more as a player in The Game. "I have seen a soldier, or some clerk guy asking his lord for a reward when his lord asked him to go after some records. Surely, I'm also within my right to ask for a reward now you want me to risk my life to fight some bandits."
This time, Malty has to pause and truly think about the event Naofumi is talking about.
"Asking for a reward to defend the innocent is not a fitting action for a hero." The frown on Mother's face grows deeper. The queen didn't even wait to hear what Naofumi wanted before showing her disapproval. It could be a genuine reaction, or it could be a calculated attempt to intimidate Naofumi into abandoning his request. It makes no difference when the Shield Hero's face barely even twitched at her displeasure. So the queen turns to look at Naofumi's fellow heroes. "Would your fellow heroes approve of what you are doing?"
"Why shouldn't we? You are the one who abused Naofumi since your return. And if that's how you treat Naofumi, what's to say you won't have the three of us whipped for whatever reason you please?" Ren narrows his eyes at the queen. Itsuki and Motoyasu didn't say anything, but they all took a few steps to stand behind the young Sword Hero, seemingly content to let him speak for both of them. "But Naofumi is the one who decided we should give you another chance. If anything, you owe Naofumi without sending him on a job."
"Yeah! What's that about, queen? Why are you being extra mean to Naofumi, and Malty? I get you don't like Naofumi because he's the Shield Hero, but isn't Malty also your daughter like Melty?" The Spear Hero once again, speaks what everyone knows deep down but doesn't voice out loud with the sincerity of an honest child. "I'm cutting you some slack because I don't want to upset Melty. But don't think I haven't noticed you had it out for Naofumi and Malty."
"I assure you I have no personal grudge against Lord Shield Hero, or my foolish elder daughter. I do everything for the greater good of my nation, and my people." Malty's mother quickly tries to change the topic, and appease the heroes to not lose any more face than she already did. She turns to the Shield Hero next, seemingly resigned to the fact that she will have to accept whatever reward Naofumi asks for... within reason. Of course. "I am open to hear your demand in exchange for your service to pacify the bandit group south of the city of Trumpet, Lord Shield Hero."
"First of all, I'm not going to ask you for money. I know you probably need all the money to train your army, pay off all the damage caused by the Three Heroes' Church and I'm not another fat, greedy noble here to bleed you dry. I'll find my own way to make coins to pay off that Prince Joseph guy." The Shield Hero turns his face to the side, and nods his thanks to his fellow heroes first before looking back at the queen. "Which is what I'm going to ask of you. I can make potions with my shield ability, so I'm going to be open to selling my surplus to anyone rich enough to buy them. Even you. I'm sure you'll find a use for healing items to help the people you apparently treasure so much, and you'll need them for your army in the following wave battles. I'm not here to skim you from the top either. But I am asking for an official contract. Buy what potion you need from me at a reasonable market price, and I'll use whatever I get from you to pay back Prince Joseph for the damage I caused him. I don't care if you turn around and sell these potions at higher price to your fellow orders, but don't let me hear you jacking the price for the common people you apparently cared so much for. Because if I hear something like that, you'll bet I'll re-negotiate a contract that's less favorable to you for the next shipment."
"Easy enough. Consider it done." Mother nods her regal head, agreeing to the Shield Hero's term like she's doing him a favor. But she continues to look at the Shield Hero afterwards, almost like she's expecting him to ask for more. A reasonable expectation. The contract Naofumi offered her is more than fair, and in a lot of ways he is the one doing the queen a favor. Healing potion is a valuable supply to have during the Wave of Catastrophe, and the Three Heroes' Church has caused Melromarc a lot of damage with its badly thought out, even worse timed rebellion. Local apothecaries and alchemists likely won't have enough stock to supply the royal family, not to mention whatever demand local lords would also have. And if the queen of Melromarc tries to import them from outside of Melromarc, she'll be buying them at a very high premium considering the other nations will also need such items for the Wave battles.
"Next, I want a place where I can set up shop. Somewhere to call my own. Somewhere I can run to with my friends and hunker down in case someone else in this country wants my head like those church guys. That place you said the bandits are building a camp of... sounds like it'll make a nice summer vacation house. Since I'm also a Thane of Jarl Balgruuf like Gaston, I'm sure I can convince him to let me take over the camp once I take care of its residents. But I'll be needing more manpower to turn it around." The Shield Hero points his finger at the queen of Melromarc, not showing her any respect her title should command. "And what do you know? I happen to know you are sitting on a lot of manpower you aren't actively using. I know, because I have been to the slum in your capital more than once. Almost got shanked by a bunch of squatters, and I did get mugged by a gang. So let me take these people to help me build my summer vacation home and employ them there."
"You are asking for a lot, Sir Shield Hero - To ask for a new sanctuary fully dedicated to your own when you already have two right at your fingertips." Mother narrows her eyes at Naofumi. Malty didn't miss the beat that she stopped using the title 'lord' to address him. It's a clear hint that she doesn't intend to let him claim the full right he is rightfully entitled to. "If safety is what you want, then it is to my understanding that Lord Spear Hero and his companions have made the city of Stormwind a fortress. And if a walled city isn't to your liking, or if you want to have an active role in the direction of a settlement, then you could have put in the effort to help rebuild the village of Balafon. It is to my understanding that Count Balgruuf appointed the rulership of the village to a former ranger, and hunter from the village of Lute. Someone who shares close confidence with you."
"Don't you dare to bring the village of Balafon up! You wanted to give it to your daughter... oh, I'm sorry. Your favorite daughter who is still a kid, while you were perfectly happy to send your older, adult daughter to a known rapist murderer! If Jarl Balgruuf didn't step in, would you have let Balafon be a place opened to us all, or would you have made it your precious golden child's personal fief?" Naofumi is not intimidated, or shamed by the queen in the slightest as he takes a step forward and glares right back at the queen. "I'm not going to mince words here. The people I'm looking for are rough. Squatters, thieves, gangsters... probably even murderers and other terrible people. People I won't feel bad about sticking a torture device and killswitch on their skin. Do you even want these kinds of people around your precious golden daughter?"
The queen doesn't speak. She continues to look back at Naofumi with her silent, but piercing gaze. As if questioning the very practicality of Naofumi's plan. The Shield Hero takes half a step back. Normally, such an act could be interpreted as a sign of weakness. But from the way Naofumi's upper body bends slightly backwards and his eyes narrowing into a slit, it looks more like an act of confidence, Like he is looking down at the queen of Melromarc. "Think about it this way. I'm doing an experiment at my own expense. I'm trying to see if I can rehabilitate a bunch of people you can't put to use in any way. If I'm successful with my little attempt at establishing a new village, you'll get a bunch of people who used to commit crimes as a living becoming good, tax paying citizens. And those who can't be rehabilitated will be sent out as the first Wave of cannon fodders to die in the Wave battle. And if this experiment fails, you'll have a lot of dead criminals at the end of the day that'll only improve the order of your country. You win either way. All I'm asking is the right to pardon them when these undesirables get turned into a proper, loyal citizen again. If anything, I'm doing a favor for you."
"Fine. You will have your right to take criminals, and the right to pardon them if they are properly redeemed to proper, loyal citizens of Melromarc again. But knowing this, these criminals will be your responsibility. If any of them relapses back to their criminal way again, or worse, manages to fool you into thinking they have turned over a new leaf to have you release them. Whatever evil deed they'll commit in the future will be answered by you, and weigh on your conscience." The high queen of Melromarc finally relent to Naofumi's demand after much convincing... and some thinly veiled threats from the four Cardinal Heroes. She turns around, and leaves with most of her knightly escort through the front of the chapel. Sir Meggie did take a few of her fellow knights and split from the queen's entourage to leave from the back. Presumably to collect Sir Palmer after she's knocked through a wall by Oku. Because of course, the gloriously splendid High Queen of Melromarc would not exit from the back of any building. Not after she made a huge event parading the captured pirates through Stormwind anyways.
Naofumi's eyes follow the queen and her entourage as she leaves the hall of the Stormwind chapel, and then disappears down the street. He finally lets out a long breath he's apparently been holding this entire time as he turns to look at his fellow Cardinal Heroes. "Thanks for the support and vote of confidence, guys. If you guys didn't have my back all the way, there's no way she'd let me get what I wanted.
"Don't mention it Naofumi. Everyone who isn't blind, deaf and dumb could tell this queen has it out for you and Malty." This time, the one who answered the Shield Hero happens to be the Bow Hero Itsuki. He nudges his head slightly towards Motoyasu. "Even Motoyasu was against the queen this time."
The Spear Hero furiously nods his head along Itsuki's words. Besides him, Ren asks with one raised eyebrow. "You do realize Itsuki isn't complimenting you? He's saying you blindly agree with women and let them walk all over you."
"Hey, that's not nice! I respect women, but I don't let them walk all over me!" Motoyasu stays silent for a few seconds. He suddenly jumps on his feet as his brain seems to finally catch up to what the Sword Hero was saying. He looks at the rest of the Cardinal Heroes, who all stare at him at various elevations of their eyebrows. "Do all of you think I'm a doormat to girls?"
"If you need us to spell it out? YES." Naofumi answers all of them. His composure is quickly broken when Motoyasu suddenly charges at him, and puts his head in a headlock. The Spear Hero drills his balled up free hand into his skull for a few spins. He then moves onto the two younger heroes to ruffle their hair too.
Malty silently looks at the four Cardinal Heroes running around, trying to push each other onto the floor and mess with each other's hair. A bit childish for heroes who have the world rested on their shoulders. But perhaps they earned this carefree moment of respite after fighting off an invading outer goddess, and the players of The Game from different nations.
End Note:
Here we get the beginning of Sardina's (and Azula) character arc. I'm rightfully critiqued a lot about me blowing my load too early and basically tell everything about a new character I introduce right away. Hope I'm getting better at this problem. As it's not an intentional flaw I made in pursue for some other aspect of the story.
And Naofumi begin to take more and more steps to become a proper Player in The Game, rather than being used as a pawn by others. He's actually trying to play the queen in this chapter.