Chapter Twenty-Three: Plenty To Think On

"Huahhhh."

Naofumi yawned tiredly. What a day it'd been. After the long, drawn out yawn, he rubbed his eyes before he got back to compounding on his makeshift desk in the back of the wagon.

It'd been almost eight hours since they'd been ambushed by a large group of Church Shadows. Eight hours since they'd escaped with the help of an ally Shadow. Seven hours since they'd left the forest and turned Southeast on the plains instead of Northeast like he'd planned. And four hours since he'd made Filo stop in a secluded area where they could camp.

He was alone with his Shield set to the Two Dogged Head Shield so it's special effect would alert him if any monsters approached his campsite while he wasn't paying attention. Or if the Church Shadows they'd shirked earlier that day came charging in to ambush his party again...

He paused in his compounding to sip the potion he had just created. It didn't taste as bitter as his medicine, but he still winced at its taste. He sat still for a moment, seeing if it worked or not…

He tiredly yawned again. Nope, the new potion he'd learned from his book only gave him resistance to the sleep status effect. He set the bottle of sleep resistance potion off to the side. It had, however, awakened Raphtalia earlier.

Whether it was because it actually eliminated the status condition, or because of its bitter taste, that was up for judgment. Regardless, it had worked when he compounded his first one and made her drink it…

Naofumi got back to compounding.

...

After a few minutes, Naofumi sighed as he put his compounding tools away, having finished going through the herbs he'd gathered from the surrounding area. He'd gotten a good amount, as the boxes full of freshly made medicines next to him attested to, but it hadn't been enough to help him work through his night shift. He still had a good hour left to go on his watch.

Perhaps... He pulled out another sleep-resistance potion and a poison-resistance potion and mixed the two together. He was curious to see what would happen if he combined the two different status healing medicines together.

After a moment, a notification popped up on Naofumi's status screen. Despite how tired he felt, he slightly smiled at the result as he read over the new potion's description.

Status Cure All (weak): Useful for curing most battle status effects.

If he remembered, this was a key ware Night merchants were better known for. Now that he'd discovered how to make them, he could add these to his stock and solidify his identity as a Night Merchant going around to heal sick people.

Despite being very tired, he was pleased with himself.

He was about to set it down when he felt the potion reacting with his shield. Curious, he allowed his shield to absorb it.

Conditions met!

Cure Shield Unlocked

The Shield had an equip bonus that gave him a small resistance boost to sickness. 'First, I find out Filo knows magic, then I unlocked the Mask Shield, and now this…'

His original plan after going through the mountains had been to travel northwest along Melromarc's border to continue the original route he had been taking as the Nocturnal Doctor. While they got some money to get better gear and helped Filo to reach level 40, he'd planned on gathering information about the countries around Melromarc. If there was a country he could go to without having to worry about the Capital, the Three Heroes Church, or the Siltvelt Agents chasing after him, that'd really help him out.

The next part of his plan would have been to find a way of using Raphtalia's illusion magic so that they could sneak over the border into said country after they'd maxed their levels and equipment. All he would have to do after that was find if there was an hourglass in the country and, if there was, get Raphtalia and Filo their class-ups. They'd be brought back to Melromarc eventually when the next wave happened, but at least his party members would be classed up for it. And it'd be much harder for the Church or the King to capture them if they got even more powerful.

Traveling southeast though, they were going to travel across flat plains into the interior of Melromarc. Eventually passing just a few miles north of the Capital before they got back into more familiar territory. However, they'd be far from any border up until they got to Mirso. If they traveled there.

It'd take at least a week of traveling nonstop to reach the village. And that didn't count the time they'd need to stop to rest, collect herbs, defeat monsters, take detours to various towns and villages to earn money, and so forth. If they made fast time, they could theoretically still escape to whatever country was over the border from Mirso, but if it was the wrong country, say, Siltvelt, then they'd lose even more precious time trying to get to another country.

While it was bad that they wouldn't be able to stick to the border towns as Naofumi had planned on doing, he'd realized that maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. It'd been almost two weeks since he'd left the Capital. The Church, having found out his movements, had probably guessed that he was trying to sneak his way to Melromarc's border. If they were smart, they would inform the King about it. Both of them would end up hunting the wrong areas in the exterior parts of Melromarc trying to find where he was going. Meanwhile he'd be traveling more freely on the opposite side of the country. Being able to hide more fully in his night merchant persona with the help of the Mask Shield.

They'd finally have a chance to catch their breaths and slow down a bit.

Feeling up on his luck, he took out a cut gemstone from his inventory. It was an amethyst, a parting gift from the accessory merchant. It was smaller but it was supposed to be of the same quality as a cut emerald. He infused it with his remaining MP, but it wasn't ready for enchantment yet.

He wished that he had vaster stores of mana to use. He set the gemstone back in his pack, took out some tools and some silver ore he'd gotten exploring a random cave with Raphtalia a few days before they'd arrived at Mirso, and got to work heating and shaping it into a necklace for the amethyst.

Besides the medicine and the potions, Naofumi hoped that crafting accessories would also become another integral part of his business. After learning how much they were selling for with the waves going on, he could make some serious coin. If he could only find a way to restore MP…

Maybe if he could find a way to get Raphtalia and Filo to saturate the gemstones... It'd certainly help having more than one person helping him out.

...

Actually, the more he thought about the idea, the better it sounded.

Naofumi put the tools down next to the unfinished necklace he was making. He then quietly exited the back of the wagon.

On his left, the glowing embers of a dying campfire flew up into the clear night sky. On his right, under a half tent he'd helped to set up under a grove of trees, a sleeping Filo cuddled into the warm hair of her surrogate sleeping mother under their sleeping bag.

A smile tugged at Naofumi's lips at the adorable sight. Damn, why did they have to choose now to look so cute? There was no way he could wake them up for this task. Hell, he was going to have trouble waking Raphtalia for her shift later tonight.

Even after her first nap and her impromptu nap, Raphtalia had gone straight to sleep with Filo soon after dinner. She must have been really tired from today, either that, or the status inflicted form of sleep wasn't as restful as the real thing...

He turned to walk away. Wanting to leave the two of them at peace.

"Mmm… daddy?" Filo murmured quietly.

Naofumi stopped. "What is it, Filo?" Naofumi asked.

"Is everything okay?" She asked, her eyes still droopy. She also looked a little worried though. Had she just had a nightmare?

He was still tempted to try his idea. But worry gnawed at him, so instead he said something else. "Yeah. Everything's fine. I was just checking on you and your mother."

"Okay." Filo smiled tiredly as she cuddled up to Raphtalia again. "Thanks again for protecting Filo and mommy today." She fell back to sleep before he could respond.

"... no problem." Naofumi found that a small smile was resting on his face.

He was really lucky to have the two of them, wasn't he? Damn, had he really just considered himself lucky to have Filo around? He must have been going crazy.

"Are... Are you thinking something rude, Master Naofumi?"

Naofumi quickly turned his head in shock. Only Raphtalia mumbled something unintelligible after that before yawning again, turning over, and going back to snoring softly into Filo's hair. He shook his head and went back to staring at the campfire.

He couldn't escape her mind magic even while she was asleep!

…

Naofumi stared at the embers of the dying fire. He still felt tired, but now that he wasn't doing anything, his mind finally thought over the events of the day.

Raphtalia was level 40.

He was at 36. Filo was at 34.

The two of them still had room to grow. But now, Raphtalia had a star next to her name in his status menu, indicating that she couldn't level up. Because of the growth maturation adjustments from the Slaver's Shields I, II, and III, Raphtalia's stats were already well above average. But unless she got a class up, the only way she'd be able to improve now was by getting better equipment.

Either that or she'd have to learn more magic. Her only offensive spell at the moment was Light Slash. Raphtalia would be needing a new grimoire soon, since she was almost finished reading through the one they had...

He shelved those thoughts for now and moved on to something else.

'We were ambushed in the middle of nowhere… and they almost got us too. If Filo hadn't known magic…'

He remembered the one Church Shadow who jumped for him. He could still remember clearly the hate searing from his eyes. The dagger poised to strike. The rosary hanging around his neck.

He involuntarily shivered as a ghostly chill traveled down his spine, and he put some wood onto the dying fire hoping to drive the chill away. Had Filo not intervened with that wind tornado spell, that moment could have gone down far differently... their escape could have gone down far more differently if she hadn't used her other magic spell…

'I don't get why the Three Heroes Church hates me along with the demi-humans so much. I mean, what did the past Shield Hero and demi-humans do that made them turn me into a devil? Or is there no reason other than the fact that they need someone to feel superior to?...' He couldn't attack, meaning he couldn't easily fight back. His main modes of offense were either counter attacks or being really creative with the effects of his various shields or the environment.

He could be a perfect target for abuse because of that...

…

Naofumi shook his head. He knew nothing about the history of the Church. He knew very little about the history of this world in general. He had too little information to come to a conclusion about it now. If he tried to think about it anymore, he was only going to come up with conspiracy theories about the matter. And he'd seen enough Youtube videos back home to know where that would get him.

'What really concerns me is that Shadow from earlier…'

He still found himself replaying their short conversation in his mind.

"Can you at least tell me what you want, or who you're working for?" He asked.

…

"I daresay I cannot Sir Shield Hero." The Shadow answered. "For I cannot reveal my mistress's identity at this time..."

'I know this Shadow is working for some lady. I don't know who this lady is though…' Naofumi thought to himself.

"... I can say, however, that my mistress's main purpose is to keep you and the other heroes alive…"

That was certainly refreshing. At least somebody wanted him alive. Hopefully it wasn't for reasons like torture.

And of course, there was the big question of why she couldn't reveal who she was working for. For all he knew, the mistress the Shadow was talking about could have been Bitch, and this was simply her way of making him hope that someone was out there helping him before she came in and crushed him.

However, despite what she'd done, Bitch didn't strike him as one who'd plan something as complicated as that. No, she'd prefer a short-term plan that'd bring her more satisfaction than work on something long-term like this.

For now, he could assume that the Shadow was working against Bitch and her father Trash.

"...Us Shadows are spread thin. More of our ranks than I care to admit have been hired by our enemies. They grow and become more bold with every day…"

These words honestly did trouble Naofumi. 'Judging on what she said, those Shadows we met back in the forest were from the same organization as her or something like it. But now, the Church has bought their loyalty. And if she was able to appear in and out of my wagon the way she did…' Another shiver traveled down his spine.

He really hoped the Shadows the Church had hired weren't capable of the same feats.

"... I fear I may not be able to help you as I have in the past..."

While the previous part troubled him, this latter part confused him. 'I still haven't figured out if she ever assisted us before...' He definitely would have remembered her voice if he'd ever heard it.

He thought about it some more. The Church hadn't been sure if he was dead or alive after escaping the trap in the mines. The Church operatives in the area had been killed. Then there was the party where the Church was going to ambush him. One of Ren's party members had just happened to discover that Raphtalia was his slave. Hell, long before all this, Elhart had been given a note from a random stranger that had led Naofumi to the Slave Trader where he purchased Raphtalia.

Could... could she have been responsible for all that? If this Shadow and her group were really responsible for that and possibly more, he didn't know what to think about not being able to receive such assistance in the future.

He might have been overthinking it, there was no way she'd helped out with all those events… right?

"Beware, Shield Hero. Your enemies are more numerous than you realize. Some of them will be who you'll least suspect…"

'I mean, I know that almost everyone in this country hates me. But who would I least suspect to be my enemy?...'

Raphtalia was definitely out of the question. It would be beyond ridiculous to consider her.

She'd had plenty of times to betray him in the past. Hell, she'd had the opportunity to take her freedom and leave him to rot in a jail cell. She could have easily left him to die numerous times since he couldn't damage anything. She hadn't though. She'd stuck by his side, trusting in him, fighting for him, and confessing her love for him time and time again. She'd even made herself his slave after being freed as a symbol for how much she trusted him and for her desire for him to trust her.

He'd already won the lottery having someone as loyal, helpful, and kind as her in his life. The last thing he was going to do was doubt her now after everything they'd been through together.

There was Elhart, the man who'd first believed him after he learned about the conspiracy against Naofumi. He could have been secretly plotting to turn against Naofumi in the future. Naofumi had a hard time picturing the kind-hearted blacksmith betraying him though. Especially with the quality of armor and weapons he'd provided for both himself and Raphtalia. He was also out of the question.

Filo… Nah.

She was still a child that thought of herself as his kid… unless she developed a taste for human flesh, the chicken loli was also off the table.

'Who else would want to betray me then?... or are they people I haven't met yet…' He honestly didn't know. He hadn't gotten particularly close with many people in this world being on the run, and none of them were coming to mind as potential people to betray him. Did that mean the Shadow meant that there were possibly more enemies out there that he didn't know he had?

But he still had one major thing the Shadow had said in their brief conversation.

"... And soon, the time will come when you will come face to face with my mistress's daughter. I already know we will be unable to keep her safe when she arrives, for those in the country are already plotting against her. Only you will be able to protect her from the plots unfolding in our fair land."

"Wait, I have to protect someone's daughter?-" Naofumi tried to ask.

"It is a lot I ask of you, Sir Shield Hero. I daresay I am unsure if you will want to protect her after what has been done to you by Melromarc. But know that when you find her, then you shall know who it is I'm working for. And that it is within our best interests to protect you and the rest of the Cardinal Heroes from the politics of our world."

Naofumi found himself frowning. 'On top of everything else, I'm going to have to find out who this mistress's daughter is. Then I'm going to have to protect her from some conspiracy?'

That was probably where the Shadow had been the vaguest. He didn't know who this mystery girl was. He didn't know her age or what she looked like. He didn't know who was conspiring against her, though he could guess either the Church or the Capital being responsible for it.

Maybe Bitch, but that seemed like a stretch.

'What would be happening anyway to keep someone as powerful as her from being able to keep this daughter safe?'

Again, the Shadow had literally appeared and disappeared from his wagon in the blink of an eye. Her stealth stats must have been through the roof! If she wouldn't be able to protect this daughter, how the hell was he supposed to?!

He honestly didn't know. And the things he didn't know pissed him off the most. It sounded like this mistress honestly wanted to help him, yet she didn't trust him enough to reveal who she was. Or maybe the Shadow didn't think he was trustworthy enough.

Not that he was one to talk. He had only started to trust people other than Raphtalia and Elhart almost two weeks ago.

…

Naofumi shook his head. He'd been so lost in thought, the fire had started to die out again. Plus, he was feeling even more tired. They had a long day of traveling the next day.

'I better wake up Raphtalia and let her take her shift. I don't want her to worry about me taking on extra shifts again... And maybe I could use it as a chance to see if she can imbue gemstones with mana.'

With that thought in mind, he got up and went to wake up Raphtalia.

Even if she did look adorable being all cuddled up with her daughter Filo.

Ren Amaki leaned against a column of the Three Heroes Church, nervously tapping his foot against the ground.

In front of him, one of his party members, Welt, was in front of the Dragon Hourglass. A group of knights had just set a liquid into the grooves of the platform, and the Hourglass itself glowed a soft red. The swordsman was looking at a job tree, preparing to choose and receive his long-awaited class-up.

"What class should I choose… being a swordsman is great, but maybe I'd do better in a position that supports Bakta. Maybe a spearman?"

"Would you get on with it Welt?!" Bakta yelled a few dozen feet away. "I'd like to get my class up before I die here!" He was standing uncomfortably in his armor.

"We told you before we got here that you should have gone to the bathroom," Tersia said dismissively next to him.

"Honestly, you nobles and your noble pride sometimes," Farrie giggled next to Tersia.

"It's so embarrassing. You could have just admitted you needed to go to the bathroom before we came up here instead of saying everything's fine." Tersia said.

Bakta was about to yell at the two mages, but then one of the nuns nearby glared at him, effectively silencing him. "This is a Church, not a playground." The nun reproved him. "Be more reverent of the holy place you stand in."

Bakta's face grew red, and he continued to stand awkwardly in his armor. Tersia and Farrie both quietly giggled to themselves. "To think we almost ended up like that." Farrie pointed at the nun.

"Don't remind me." Tersia smiled.

"Don't put your breeches into a knot Bakta. I'm almost done choosing whether I'll be a spearman or not." Welt said back over his shoulder.

"Shut up," Bakta said angrily as he turned to the side, still blushing a fierce red at having been reprimanded like a child by a nun. Then a look of shock appeared on his face. "Wait, I wanted to choose to be the party's spearman!"

A reprimanding snap from the nun drowned out Welt's chuckles and Farrie and Tersia's giggles. He looked like he wanted to flip out as the nun proceeded to lash into Bakta about the sanctity of the holy room they were standing in.

Though Ren continued to express his nervousness with the tapping of his foot. And, if you looked closely enough, you'd see sadness in his blue eyes as he watched his party joking around with each other.

To think he hadn't noticed their camadarie before.

Tersia and Farrie giggled into their hands again, seeing the noble tank of their group effectively silenced by the nun. Even after she was done scolding him, the nun watched him carefully, obviously marking the noble as a problem child.

Ren had only realized a couple days ago that he wasn't playing in the world of his favorite game, Brave Star Online. Instead, he really was in another world. A real world filled with real people.

Another nun dressed in black robes walked by Ren on the platform, giving a respectful curtsy to the Sword Hero as she passed. This was a real lady, who'd made the choice to give her life over to the worship of her Gods. Even though Ren didn't acknowledge her with anything other than a glance while his foot tapped beneath him, she looked grateful to have, if only briefly, gotten the attention of one of the Three Cardinal Heroes she strived to worship and emulate.

The people of this church were real too. The nuns and priests gathered together down below the platform for worship were as real as Ren was. It only made his nervousness spike, and his foot tapped more quickly against the floor. And he had no idea what to do. And-

"Could you please stop tapping your foot?" A voice opposite him spoke in a harsh tone.

Ren immediately steeled his leg, stopping the tapping. The nervousness needed an outlet though, so his hand tapped against his leg instead as he looked across from him.

Leaning against the opposite pillar, covered with a cloak to disguise her demi-human looks was Wyndia. Her face betrayed no emotion, though her eyes were still slightly red from grieving at night for Gaelion.

She watched her fellow party members go through the class up ritual with a steely glare in her gaze. She was only level 16, and wouldn't be going through the class-up ritual. One of her hands rested on the hilt of a small sword resting in a scabbard under her cloak.

A pang of guilt hit Ren as he stared at her again. Even though Wyndia wasn't looking at him, he could still feel the glare she was subconsciously sending his way.

He might have saved her from a group of slavers, and she might have joined his party, but she was nowhere close to forgiving him.

"The only thing this world values is strength... that is the only thing that matters, the only thing..."

…

She did not decline Ren's party invitation, and instead accepted it, joining Ren's party. "I won't forget what you did here today." She said in a flat voice. "But since I have no choice, I'll tag along to make sure you stick to your promise... Sir Ren." She said the name mockingly.

That was right. She was only sticking with him to make sure he didn't mess up. That he'd really grow and become the Sword Hero the world needed him to be.

He couldn't go on thinking he'd be okay working by himself anymore. He needed these party members, these people to help him.

But how could they help him? He wasn't even sure how he could help himself. If he'd only taken things more seriously. If he had listened to Naofumi instead of going off to relive his game, and...

...

"Ah, Sword Hero, what a pleasant surprise."

Ren stopped tapping his leg and turned his head, trying to hide his surprise. Walking through the doors behind him onto the platform was the head of the Church. Pope Balamus.

"I heard your trip to slay the Dragon was successful."

"Y-Yes." Ren answered, almost hesitantly. Than, he coughed into his arm and spoke again, this time, more firmly. "Yes, I was. The dragon emperor Gaelion is no more." He again looked like the normal, cool, aloof teenager he was normally seen as by the Church.

Though one hand was stuffed in a pocket, clenching and unclenching to help give his emotions an outlet.

If the Pope was surprised that Ren had learned the name of the dragon he killed, he didn't show it. "It is a pity. Another time, he was one of the more peaceful dragons living in our country's borders. He was well respected by the people in that area." The Pope said, a note of sadness in his tone as he walked by Ren, his hands clasped behind his back. Welt was still choosing what class he wanted to upgrade into. "I guess it goes to show how even those we respect can eventually turn against us and become our enemies."

Ren stared calmly at the Pope. The Pope was facing away, but his words held an ominous undertone to them. "I... I don't believe I understand, Your Excellency." Ren said calmly.

The Pope was silent for a moment more. At the hourglass, Welt finally chose a class for himself and was enveloped in a shining light. A moment later, the light died down, and he came back into view looking at himself in surprise. In Ren's status magic screen, the star next to Welt's name disappeared.

"It's happened before." The Pope finally sighed. "The mighty and well respected don't always live up to the promises of the people they promise to serve and protect." Had this been a game, Ren would have thought that this was a situation where an NPC gave him important background information about the world. Information that would influence his perception of what happened later.

However, this wasn't a game, and he got the real meaning behind the Pope's words as he spoke. And the meaning frightened him like nothing else.

"There have been people in the past who turned their backs on humanity. People who were once well trusted and respected by those below them. Whose actions affected humanity rather severely. Over time, we grew to see these respected people as enemies, rather than as heroes." The Pope said, watching as Welt was pushed out of the way of the hourglass by Bakta, only for the nun from earlier to then grab the tanker by the ear before pulling him away.

One of the mages, Tersia, took his place to get her class upgrade. The knights poured more of the strange liquid into the grooves of the platform. "Unfortunately, it seems the dragon Gaelion will be yet another addition to that sad list."

...

"People… like the Shield Hero." Ren commented behind the Pope.

"Yes, precisely." The Pope finally turned to face Ren again. A relaxed smile was on his face. "I'm afraid that even Cardinal Heroes can fall from grace to become the devils we fear. A past Shield Hero was no exception when he allied himself with the demi-humans while humanity was in danger from the waves. It was a sad blow indeed back when it happened. I'd hoped the current Shield Hero could be... redeemed."

Ren continued to stare calmly at the Pope. His hand in his pocket clenched so tightly, his knuckles were turning white.

The Pope wasn't saying it, but the hidden threat was there. Even Ren could be made an enemy if he made one false move the Church didn't agree with.

Even if the betrayal was something as simple as partying up with a demi-human.

"I won't betray humanity. Not like Naofumi." The lie came to him naturally. After all, he'd been lying to himself ever since he'd been summoned to this world.

"Good." The Pope turned back to the doors to walk away. However, before he left, he glanced at the hooded figure standing opposite of Ren. "Before I go, may I ask where you found that girl?"

Ren looked to Wyndia. She still wasn't looking at him. She was calmly staring as Tersia finished getting her class upgrade, and Farrie moved to take her place. The nuns again poured more of the strange liquid into the grooves.

"I met her at a town during my travels." Ren answered after a moment. "She was living with her dad... but an idiot sacked their home and killed him." He said, his voice measured with sadness and guilt. He remembered how the slaver had mentioned the Pope being the former owner of Wyndia's parents. He briefly wondered if the Pope would recognize her or not. Or if he'd recognize how her hood stood up above her hair slightly higher than normal because of her hidden dog ears... so he felt to add one last sentence.

"She's traveling with me now so she can grow strong enough to find and punish the idiot that murdered her Father." He said with finality.

"... Interesting…" The Pope faced her again. He didn't appear to have recognized Wyndia as his former slave, or as a demi-human. "Then my child, you shall have my blessing on your quest. May your father find rest in the halls of heaven." With that, he turned to the doors leading outside. "Farewell, Sword Hero... And do remember what I told you about the Shield Hero."

Ren gave a small nod of his head, and with that, the Pope departed. The same relaxed smile that spoke of how God was on his side still being on his face as the doors closed behind him.

...

With the Pope gone, Ren took his man out of his pocket. His other hand massaged his knuckles. They felt so tight that it hurt.

'That man…' He knew it. He had to look more into the Three Heroes Church's activities. He'd garnered that part of the reason for their distrust of Naofumi was because of a past Shield Hero. And that it was somehow related to demi-humans… but that didn't explain why they would hate him so much… he had to figure it out.

"Finally, it's my turn-" Bakta was saying as Farrie walked away from the Hourglass. Looking pleased with having been able to class upgrade.

"I'm sorry, you'll have to wait a moment." The nun interrupted him.

"Wait, what!?" Bakta yelled in surprise. However, when the nun glared at him, he quieted his voice. "Why do I have to wait?" He quietly asked.

"One, because of your rudeness and irreverence. Two, we used up the rest of our holy class up water on your friends. It will take time to bring more up here." The nun said calmly.

"How long will it take?" Bakta desperately asked.

"Longer if you can't learn to be reverent in our halls!" The nun snapped at him.

"Awwwww…" Bakta lied down on the floor, moaning in pain.

The tank of Ren's party had to go to the bathroom so badly, it wasn't even funny to him anymore. Tersia, Farrie, and Welt all chuckled quietly nearby to themselves. The three of them going over their new stats and abilities in their status menus.

"You didn't turn me in."

Ren was startled. He looked, trying to find where the voice had come from. It took him only a moment to realize Wyndia had spoken. She was still looking at the others, but she'd addressed him.

"Why would I do that?" Ren asked.

"I don't know... it seemed suspicious to me that you'd bring me here after killing my father." She spoke, her flat voice tinted with anger.

"..." Ren didn't speak for a moment. He looked at his party again, and then sighed as his shoulders fell. "Because I meant what I said... I'm going to help you grow strong enough to punish your Father's killer... what you do then is up to you."

...

For the briefest of moments, Wyndia glanced at him. There was a flash of emotion across her eyes.

By the time he was brave enough to face her again though, he found that she was looking back at Bakta. And that glaring feeling from her hadn't lessened at all.

Guilt weighed heavily on his soul. How could he possibly make things up to her? How could he possibly shape up and become a Hero this world needed...

...

But did he really have any choice besides giving up?

Ren forced himself to promise once again that he'd make it up to her. That he'd fix things up with his party for being not helping them to grow stronger. And that he'd find out the Church's real plans and put a stop to them before more people like Naofumi got hurt.

As for Bakta... he merely continued to moan in agony on the floor as he wished for the knights to hurry up so he could choose a class and find a bathroom.

Till Next Time

Allen