Chapter Sixty-Three: Your Name
Nukegara mitai na sora ni
Nani wo miteita
Mezameta riyuu de sura
Wakaranakatta
"Wheeee!"
"Filo, Don't run too far away from Daddy!" Raphtalia worriedly called after the blonde girl. They were outside the village in a nearby forest, grinding monsters together. Melty was in the village, getting into the duties of being the governor for a territory. Dou-Lon still had a couple of days before his arms were fully healed. And Eclair was busy, so it was just her, Filo, and-
"Relax, I doubt that the monsters around here could even scratch her," Naofumi said, blocking an attack from an LV. 25 Frog monster. It wasn't really necessary for him to block the attacks, but facing these monsters helped him to practice his skills as a shielder.
It wasn't even worth it at this point to try and attack. He might as well focus on what he'd actually be useful for. When he didn't have to defend, he picked herbs from the ground and nearby bushes. Those that were of worse quality even with the boost from his Leaf Shield's equip bonus he set to be automatically made into medicine inside his shield.
Thankfully, it seemed like there were a wide variety of various herbs in this forest, and not all of them were terrible.
"You're probably right… but still, I don't want her getting reckless." Raphtalia said as she sliced a monster in half like it was made of paper.
"That's why she has us to keep her in line." Naofumi absorbed the monster into his shield. He then held another monster down so Raphtalia could kill it. "Have I told you how great it is to be able to do this again?" He asked with a smile as, nearby, Filo crushed a large deer monster underfoot with her new claws. Not having all his stats halved anymore felt liberating, to be honest.
Raphtalia smiled. "Yes," It was far easier for the Tanuki girl to smile lately. "It really is great." They were out spending time together as a family. Without worrying about being fugitives or anything. The locket Naofumi had made for her rested just above her chest plate.
"It's nice. Relaxing, and best of all, we have no major problems to deal with-" Naofumi began to say when he was suddenly interrupted by their daughter.
"Mommy, Daddy, can Filo eat now?"
"Oi! Not until after I absorb part of it!" Naofumi yelled at her. Filo was drooling over the deer monster's carcass with a hungry look in her eyes. Was there ever a moment where she wasn't hungry?! He rushed up and began absorbing part of the monster into his shield so she wouldn't eat the monster drop.
"Nooooo, Filo is hungry!" Filo complained.
"I need these to get strong and rich!" Naofumi yelled back.
"BOO!" Filo pouted up at him. It was beyond adorable.
Raphtalia giggled at the display.
"Why won't Daddy let Filo eat all the monsters anymorrrrre?!" Filo whined.
"Because Daddy needs the money! That's why!" The Shield Hero shot back. He'd thought that he'd have plenty of money after paying Elhart back. But he'd forgotten the costs for building his home amongst other things in the village. Mirellia had commissioned castle builders to help build the Hero's homes, but they couldn't work for free. And Mirellia couldn't spare the funds.
In other words, he was nearly broke, AGAIN!
"BOO!"
Shinjiru koto ni hidoku obieteita
Datte zenbu sutetan da
A small, angel-winged girl observed the moment through Filo's cowlick.
Fitoria smiled, even as Filo continued to complain to her Daddy about him absorbing a part of her tasty meal into his shield.
"It's not like I can't bring it out later for you!" Naofumi complained.
"But it won't taste the sammmmmme!" Filo whined.
"Was that what it was like for Fitoria?" Fitoria said to herself curiously. She looked down at the water, trying to remember the Hero who raised her. She couldn't help but wonder if she'd been like that then. It'd be funny if that was the case.
She didn't know if she'd acted like Filo back then… but the memory she remembered before came to mind. Of her Hero's soft hand petting her hair lovingly.
"That's what I like about you. You have a good heart… I hope you keep it. I'm sure it'll guide you well… just like your mother."
Her eyes widened slightly. Her mother… the Hero that raised her knew her mother? But how...
"How does it not taste the same?! That doesn't make any sense!" Naofumi was whining too now.
"Filo doesn't know! Filo can only tell the difference!"
She still didn't know if she'd been like Filo back then. But at least she remembered that, like Filo, she'd been raised by someone who loved and cared for her.
She smiled as she continued to watch Filo and reminisce over her past.
Konna sekai nara mou
Kiete shimae to
Melty paused, her hand hovering over a piece of paper.
"Hmmm, what should I say…?"
She'd finished the paperwork. Or at least as much as she could bring herself to do. There were so many things on her pallet. Outlining the laws the new city-state would have. Figuring out how someone obtains citizen status. Where they'd supply food and other essentials for whoever came to join the Hero's struggle in saving their world.
It was a massive headache she knew would need lots of time and nights spent sleeping in Filo's warm relaxing feathers to think over. This would take her more than one week to figure out. Probably even months.
So instead of grueling over it more, she decided to write a letter to send to her Father. Something that'd let him know that she missed him.
After some time thinking it over, she didn't end up writing a long essay of encouragement. A poem of the daughterly love she had for her Father. Or any other stuff her tutors would have suggested.
In the end, she wrote a few simple words. But she smiled as she did so. She didn't need to write a long essay. She knew what she had to say.
I love you, Papa. Hope to see you soon. Love you!
Melty
She looked it over, smiling for a moment. It felt so simple, yet so perfect.
Then she frowned, something was still missing…
…
Oh!
P.S. c2 to c4.
There, now it was done. She ran off to find a Cardinal Hero that could deliver it for her.
Nikundeitan da
Harisakesou da yo
Shinjitemo?
Dou-Lon sat cross-legged, in the middle of his plain room. His arms wrapped in bandages.
Eclair had decorated her room with the weapons, armor, and other things that'd been left in her room in the destroyed manor. But his was the same as Sir Naofumi had left it. With the exception of the long lance Naofumi had gotten for him resting on the desk.
It was alright for him. He wasn't much of a fan of personal decor. And since the Shield Hero had set it up this way, he felt it'd be irreverent for him to mess with the room's layout.
Even if he'd already stubbed his toe on the desk four times and counting.
His window was open, allowing a nice breeze to come in. The wind softly rustled the parchment resting in his lap. Parchment he'd read a thousand times over ever since Sir Naofumi had given it to him.
My dear Dou-Lon,
I know we talked on the field of battle. But I still felt there was much I had left to say. So much that I had to apologize for.
No words can account for how I felt abandoning you, for abandoning our comrades to their deaths. I am truly sorry. Yet I am grateful that you are alive, my dearest friend. I am also a tad jealous that you shall get to serve the great Shield Hero! If only I could be so lucky! I'd much prefer Sir Shield Hero to some of the Council Members here.
You have changed, Dou-Lon. I'm not sure how, but I know it was for the better. I hope to change too. To become worthy of being in the presence of that light which I saw the day of battle.
I feel there is much to atone for. I shall look forward to it. It is my prayer that when we meet again, I will be a new person. One that will be worthy to stand with you and our God against the evils in our world. Be it monsters, or the Waves themselves."
Until we meet with Love and camaraderie,
Chen.
Despite all the times he'd read it, Dou-Lon teared up, reading the words of his friend. On the inside, he still felt sadness for the loss of the others. For his careless mistakes ruining their lives.
But not all had been lost. At least one friend was still alive. And she wanted to atone, just as he'd had to atone.
He hadn't been sure what to reply with. And he knew it'd be weeks before he ever got a reply back. But he finally set the parchment to the side and pulled a fresh sheet of parchment from his pack. Setting it carefully on the ground, he began to write his response.
Dear Chen...
Hora kimi no koe ga
Boku wo sukuu yo
Nandomo yobisamasu yo
Kimi ga oshiete kureta omoi
"Ha! Hah! Huah!"
"Fix your stance! A toddler has better balance than that! And you, grip your practice sword properly! I want you both lying on the ground exhausted by the time we're done!"
Eclair watched over a spar between Ren and Wyndia. The two sparred with wooden swords. Wyndia's was a plain wooden one, while Ren's was the legendary Sword's copied version, Wooden Practice Sword.
It had really suckish stats, but it allowed him to spar without the chance of seriously harming his opponent.
Nearby, Welt and Bakta were having to do the same slashing motion, one of the katas Eclair had taught them to do, with their actual blades again and again. Welt seemed okay with it. Bakta, on the other hand…
"Please, my arms are killing me!" Bakta begged.
"You fight with a greatsword! As the tank, you'll be relied on to have the endurance to swing it a thousand times over!" Eclair yelled at him, eyes not moving from Ren's practice duel.
The party tank nearly sobbed as his next step and swing nearly toppled him over into Welt.
"Hey, watch it! I don't want to run laps like those two!" Welt yelled at him.
"Heh, huh, heh, huh!" Farrie and Tersia looked nearly dead from Eclair's endurance training as they finished another lap around the town.
Why were they doing this?! They were mages for crying out loud! They didn't need endurance! They needed magic training! Eclair's reasoning about strengthening their lungs to make them better able to cast magic hardly made any sense-
"Faster!" Eclair yelled at the pair. "Or else I'll make you run another fifty laps!"
"EEP!" The two picked up the pace.
"Save us, Sir Ren!" Bakta yelled.
"Keep complaining, and it'll be a thousand more katas from you!" Eclair yelled at the tank.
"WAHHHH!" The large guy actually began sobbing at the thought of having to swing his heavy sword a thousand more times. How many was he at now? 100? 200?
Oh no, had he lost track!?
NOOOOOOO!
Wyndia and Ren's wooden blades intersected. Both pushed to overpower the other. Both were exhausted, but neither of them cared.
This felt good, honestly. Better than sparring against Eclair for sure. Ren knew well enough that, as he was now, he'd never win a fight with Eclair without relying on his legendary weapon's skills. And Wyndia, even though her strikes left bruises, was a great opponent to face. So here he was with his friend, pushing themselves to the limit to improve and becoming stronger together.
It felt good for Wyndia too. She knew she had to improve on her magic as well. She had to learn to harness the true power of Dragon Vein, Earth Vein if she ever wanted to be something more than a glass cannon in a fight. But she was grateful to practice with a blade. This would allow her to stand confidently beside Ren and the others.
Their practice swords separated, and they fought anew. Sweat dripped from their foreheads as their blades clashed once, twice, thrice, but the small twin smiles never left their faces. Ren nearly yelped as Wyndia landed another solid strike on his arm, but he returned with a strike on her thigh.
She actually did yelp in pain at that.
His sword rested on his side. "Crap, are you ok-" Ren started to say in worry. He hadn't meant to put so much force behind the strike-
POW!
Wyndia's wooden sword hit him across the face before he could finish. Ouch. That hurt far more than her slaps. He backpedaled, holding the reddening skin on the left side in shock at how quickly she'd moved. She was far faster now thanks to the Dog Sword he'd unlocked, as well as her class-up.
"Focus, Sir Ren! You will not improve if you can't keep your wits about you in battle!" Eclair bellowed at him.
Wyndia smirked. "Come on, Sir Ren. You shouldn't be dropping your guard like that. You're going to make this more fun for me otherwise."
She'd pretended to be hurt on purpose! Ren growled. Oh, it was so on! He jumped into the spar anew.
"Keep your blade steady! That slash was mediocre! Fix your parry now, or I'll force you through my lesson on parries again!"
They had to learn the blade was not just an extension of the arm. It was an extension of oneself. Their body, their motion, it was all like a dance.
Their own, small, sloppy dance. Which they happily continued under Eclair's aggressive guidance.
Sou nando datte
Kimi no namae wo sakebu yo
Tsuyoku sono te wo nigitte
Hmmm.
From where he rested in the sword, Gaelion observed the moment between his daughter and the Sword Hero. Like two opposing forces, trying to overcome and/or subdue the other. Always storming, always brewing, always mixing, moving towards something new.
If he'd still had a form, he'd be smiling.
It has been too long since I've seen you smile for someone so fondly, Little One… it looks good on you.
The two continued to fight. Unaware of the presence watching from inside the gemstone.
I am proud of you, and of the strength, you have achieved, my dear daughter. Your potential truly outshines mine. I am grateful for that, and grateful that you have learned to survive in this world.
The dead dragon chuckled. Slowly sinking back into the depths of the fragment to rest for the next time he'd be needed.
Be patient. This hatchling may be denser than an avalanche. But he has the heart and roar of a dragon.
Given time, he shall make a worthy mate for you, my dear Wyndia.
Mou hanasanai kesshite
Donna mirai mo
Kimi to nara nigenai
"Hehehe... not bad, not bad at all." A lone nobleman sat in his office, rubbing his hands together as he observed several large piles of gold coins spread out across his desk.
With his land being at the edge of Melromarc's border, it was spared from the chaos that enveloped the capital and the surrounding areas. Thanks to the civil unrest going on just across the border, there were plenty of opportunities for profit. Gouging prices for food and other essentials had never been easier, especially with his labor force being essentially free and easily replaceable.
He didn't give a rat's &^% about the Queen's new decree. No one was going to care or check what was going on in this backwater corner of the kingdom. His serfs were few in number, poor, and barely making their ends meet. He barely had to pay any taxes because of his land being "poor and unprofitable."
Yes. Poor and unprofitable indeed. He giggled like a child as he started to gather his wealth-
Crash!
"What the-" The noble turned around in surprise. However, several arrows pierced his sleeves, trapping his arms against the wall.
"Hello, Lord Bezewanst. I was told you've been treating your slaves poorly." Itsuki said in a dry voice. "I've come to liberate them."
"You, Bow Hero! You think you can do this to me! I am nobility-"
Pow!
Aksel's fist slammed into the guy's face. He slumped back against the wall unconscious. The arrows holding his arms up disappeared. "Yes, I believe I can do this to you. Bind him and feed him some of Naofumi's "nausea medicine". Make sure he doesn't wake up and kill his slaves before me and Rishia are done freeing them." Itsuki told his party members.
"Don't you still need some of his blood for that, Sir Itsuki?" Rachel asked as she fed the unconscious noble Naofumi's medicine.
"Fueh…" Rishia was still surprised. They were a few days away from reaching the country they were going to assist. But then they realized one of the nobles Mirellia had blackmarked was on the way. So here they were.
"Don't worry. I'm pretty sure I gave him a good bloody nose there." Aksel smirked as blood dribbled from the man's broken nose, almost falling onto Rachel's hand. "That should be plenty."
"Eh. I'd rather take it from the hand." Karn set some vials of a clear liquid next to the man. He smirked as he cut a small gash along the guy's hand. "That's what you get for not tipping me before, you rich bastard."
A moment later, his blood was settling in the various vials. The crest removers were complete.
"Sir Itsuki, are we going to kill this bastard?" Crystal calmly asked as Itsuki corked the various vials.
"Hmmm… no." The Bow Hero replied. He was done with killing these bastards. The killing had only served to traumatize him instead of making himself feel better. "Killing him is letting him off too easy."
"Ooh! Ooh! Maybe me and Aksel can beat him up instead!" Maya waved her hand excitedly. "Having a demi-human punish him will make him think twice about beating us!"
"Why does it have to be me?!" Aksel bellowed.
"Because you're the strong one, silly! You'd be able to help me give him a beating he'd never forget!" Maya tried to hug his arm, but he jumped away like he'd been shocked.
"No. We're going to do this by the book. It'll be up to the people of Melromarc to judge him when they haul him back to the Capital." Itsuki said. "Let's go, Rishia."
"Fuehhh! Um, o-okay!" The two left the room, leaving the rest of the party to observe. The girl stayed close to his side on the way out.
"How long do you give it before they're together?" Karn asked.
"One month. Two, tops." Rachel answered.
"I don't know. Rishia's pretty shy. Sir Itsuki's no better." Crystal said with a smirk. "I bet three."
"Get away from me! This is rape!" Aksel cried out.
"Aksel, why must you be so cruel to this pure-hearted maiden's feelings?!" Maya whined. She was trying to grip onto his arm again.
"There is nothing pure-hearted about you! Guys, help!"
Once more, no one in the party moved to help the tank out.
If only Rishia could be as bold as the aggressive Raccoon woman.
Nagareru kumo ni ano hi
Kasaneteita
Mamorenakatta yakusoku
Kamishimete wa
A large man, dressed in old, weathered, tattered armor, looked down at the fresh grave below him. The sky above was filled with dark, drifting clouds.
'I'm sorry… if only I'd known this would happen…'
It was a thought that'd repeated in Albert's mind at least a dozen times since that fateful day over a month ago. A stone with five Melromarcian letters engraved on it rested at the top of the grave.
BLAKE
The road from Lute Village had not been kind. Because of monsters, the scarcity of supplies, skirmishes with Church knights, and the wear and tear of travel, only one of the elderly men who'd left with them was still alive. A few of the younger men had perished too. His former comrade, Blake, had died yesterday protecting his younger brother from a monster.
The bloke. He'd always put his life on the line to help the town. He'd gone through the worst alongside the Shield Hero's companion to save people. And now, that same desire had led to his death too.
The worst part was that his heroic sacrifice would never go down in history. They were just a group who'd rebelled against royalty. Against the Heroes. They'd always be remembered as nothing more than bandits...
In total, the Order of the Spear Breakers had lost nearly a third of the people who'd originally formed it due to monsters, starvation, giving up on running away, or simply giving up on life.
It was the biggest tragedy Albert had ever borne witness to.
And it was all their fault.
Those damn royals...
"Sir."
Albert looked up. One of his hands had clenched into a fist. The person was one of Lute's former guards, dressed in tattered armor. "What is it?"
"One of our men came back from the town we found. He confirmed that we've successfully crossed the Shieldfreeden border. Melromarc has no idea." The man reported.
…
"So, we finally did it…" Albert looked down at the grave again.
"Are, are you alright, sir?" The man asked.
"I will be. Make preparations at the village. We need to find work." Albert responded. The money they'd 'stolen' from the tolls to the village had been depleted a week ago. They needed to find work to get back on their feet. Afford better armor and weaponry, and the like. Many of them had already hit the level cap, and needed better equipment.
"Yes sir." The man bowed his head in respect before running.
Albert stared at the dirt beneath him a moment more and rested his hand on it. Bowing his head in respect. "I promise, your sacrifice won't be in vain."
Thunder boomed in the sky. Rain began to fall upon the scene.
"We'll get strong. And then, we'll return home, and make the royals and Cardinal Heroes pay for their crimes."
Utagau koto de jibun gomakashiteta
Namida mo mou
Karehatete
"Ah, so you're the young whippersnapper her Majesty asked me to train?"
"You got that right." Motoyasu smiled widely as he shook hands with the old, yet spry grandma lady.
"So young and handsome too." The granny grinned. "It's hard to think you're the weakest of the Cardinal Heroes."
"Urk! Now, who told you that-!" Motoyasu started to yell.
"Sir Motoyasu. It's a known fact that we must remedy if we ever want to contribute as much as the other Heroes." Rino chastised him.
"Grumble grumble…" Motoyasu crossed his arms and pouted, but Rino's glare only intensified. "Fine, fine." Motoyasu relented. Elena said nothing. She only hoped that she wouldn't have to sweat so much during the training.
"Do not worry, Spear Hero." The granny lady brought her hands together and bowed respectfully. "If it's for the good of the world, then I shall be happy to assist in the endeavor of a Cardinal Hero!"
Motoyasu perked up. Yeah, he might be weak now. But just you wait! He'd soon be the one taking the spotlight once again! Yeah, totally, without a doubt!
And then, he'd have the lovely Filo falling into his arms like the angel she was-
"HIYAH!"
"AH!" Motoyasu fell to the ground, clutching the back of his head. The granny lady had just karate chopped him on the head! AND IT HURT TOO!
"Sir Motoyasu!" Elena exclaimed in worry.
"Now pay attention! It's not every day I decide to disclose the secrets of the Hengen Musou technique!" The granny lady yelled angrily at the Spear Hero. "I wouldn't be disclosing this technique if you weren't a Cardinal Hero, so count yourself lucky!"
Elena and Rino helped the Spear Hero to stand. They'd thought he'd be angry, but he was smirking widely. "Such power! That wasn't a normal strike at all!" There'd been something different, even he could tell the difference. "You have to teach me now, I say!"
Had that hit to the head damaged his vocabulary or something? Both girls looked confused at his use of 'I say'.
The granny lady smirked. "Oh, I'll teach you alright." She popped her knuckles. "I'll teach you until the mysteries of life energy are pounded into your very being!"
And thus, the Spear Hero's intense and grueling training under the old Granny commenced.
Kurikaesareru warui
Yume ni oborete
"Hmmm?"
The Queen paused in the doorway. She could have sworn she'd left Trash sitting on the bed. But he wasn't there. Where had he gone-
"M… Mirellia."
She looked to the side in surprise. Aultcray sat at his desk, a quill in one hand. Had he moved himself there?!
"What's this?" Mirellia walked up beside him.
He gave her a small, guilty smile before looking at the piece of paper before him.
"A… Apology…"
She picked it up, reading it over for herself. As she read, her eyes gradually got wider and wider. And then, tears appeared in the corners of her eyes. "You… you were able to write all of this by yourself?"
He nodded, pointing to another piece of paper on the desk. Melty's handwritten letter, delivered by one of the Cardinal Heroes at her request, was still open where he'd left it. He went to staring at the chessboard as his wife read.
…
She wiped tears from her cheeks. There were a few errors in his sentences. Places where he'd obviously trailed off, and then resumed under a different line of thought. But he'd done it. He'd written out an apology just as he'd promised.
She looked down at him again. "D-dear-" However, she stopped speaking when he didn't turn to face her. She moved to look in his eyes, and she saw his mind had gone back to that somber place again.
She sighed. She felt sad again. The hope that had briefly ignited in her almost burnt out…
But then, she looked at the apology again as well as at Melty's letter, and smiled. It was a clear sign, if only to her, that he was returning in part.
"Thank you." She gave him a grateful peck on the cheek. "I'll have it read to the people immediately."
He didn't respond, and Mirellia covered her face with her fan before walking out.
'Yes… just as I promised…'
A look of clarity returned to Aultcray's eyes. He continued looking down at the chessboard. The game that Melty had set up for both of them.
So, she'd chosen to be the whites, eh? Did she really think that going first would help her out? A small smile returned to his face for a brief time;
He moved a pawn forward two spaces.
The look of clarity disappeared, and he sat, staring, waiting for his opponent's next turn.
Mayoikonda mama
Miushinaisou da yo
Boku ni ima
"I, King Trash, issue this apology to the citizens of the kingdom…"
An advisor stood on the castle wall. A recording crystal nearby broadcasted his words to the kingdom. A crowd of people had gathered down below to listen to the messenger.
"As a ruler, I should have been more watchful. More vigilant of the troubles going on around me. My ignorance allowed for many, many sufferings. Of which I am truly sorrowful to have taken a part of…"
"Shadow, a question if you would."
"Yes, my lady?"
Mirellia stood behind a corner, her fan covering the bottom half of her face. Kneeling in front of her was a familiar mysterious lady, garbed in black, and a mask covering her face. "There's something I've been wanting to ask you for a while…"
"Ask, and I will answer."
Mirellia studied her from behind her fan. "Why did you choose that demi-human to become the Shield Hero's companion?"
"My lady?" The Shadow asked confusedly.
"If what I've been told is correct, Raphtalia was a little girl when they first met," Mirellia stated. "She had no experience fighting. And worse, she suffered from trauma due to the destruction of her village and the cruelty of the worst noble in our country. So, why choose her to help the Shield Hero?"
The Shadow bowed. "Did I think it would lead to an outcome like this? I daresay, I did not know, my lady."
"Hmmm." Mirellia hummed in thought, waiting for the rest of her answer.
"When us Shadows first learned of the Church's plot and realized the scope of their ambitions, I daresay, I panicked. While the other Shadows left to report to you, I stayed to see if I could do anything to assist Sir Shield Hero. While I could not directly support him in fear of the Church unleashing it's retribution, I tried to find the right person who could. Someone small, weak, who could grow to help him... In retrospect, there were others I could have chosen." The Shadow said. "Others that could have been of use to him."
"If there were others, then why didn't you choose them?" Mirellia asked.
"Part of it was the panic. I didn't feel they'd be right for him. And the other part was because… because..." The Shadow bowed her head to the ground. "I felt I needed to find someone who could care for Sir Naofumi. Who would be loyal, and willing to support him, no matter what they were going through... And when I found that girl, I saw someone who was broken, yet, she still showed compassion. She was willing to sacrifice her life if it meant saving her friend… I daresay, I knew I'd never find anyone more loyal than her. My mind was made up then."
"... my, to think this was all possible because of your quick, panicked actions." Mirellia lowered her fan, revealing a smile. "You made an excellent choice, my faithful Shadow. You have my gratitude for saving the Kingdom."
"... Thank you, my lady."
"I will strive to make atonement for my past mistakes for those I hurt, both directly, and indirectly. And for those who suffered because of my eldest daughter, I apologize profusely for not raising her better." The advisor continued reading the apology to the crowd. "Should she be found, I will not stand in the way of her punishment. Nor shall I consider her my daughter any longer. For those in Lute and other places who fought righteously against her abuse of power, they are hereby pardoned." The messenger continued.
"Though," Mirellia sighed. "I'm a little disappointed I won't be able to have Melty marry Sir Naofumi. Having his bloodline in Melromarc's royalty would more than help to ease our situation with Siltvelt. Yet, he does not strike me as the type to marry multiple women." Mirellia raised her fan again and thought to herself. "Perhaps, Sir Itsuki or Sir Ren would agree to an arrangement?"
The Shadow sweatdropped. "Permission to speak?"
"Granted."
"My lady, please stop joking around. It is quite obvious that both of them are already taken."
Mirellia laughed.
Sou kimi no uta ga
Yoake no you ni jinwari
Hikari wo kureta
Fusagi konda mune no oku ni
"Hey, Elhart, do you have my order ready yet!?"
"Just a moment!" Elhart continued hammering away at his latest creation, a large smile on his face.
The front of his shop was full of customers. He had some swords, armor pieces, and other things hanging up on the walls and stands again. But they were quickly being bought by people who wanted to better protect themselves after all the insanity that'd gone down thanks to the Church. He was forced to work all day just to keep up. To top it off, he had the large order of construction tools that the crown had ordered him to make.
The business was booming. The money was flowing in like water.
"Elhart! I want to order five of your best swords for my family!" A customer yelled.
"Where's my magic steel chest plate!?"
The large man let out a deep bellied laugh. He was going to be rich in no time for sure. Even if his hands and back would regret all the back-breaking work. Ow! Did he just hammer his finger by accident again?! 'Thanks for the help, Shield brat. You're paying my medical bills once this fiasco is over!'
Chippoke da keredo
Tashika na kibou tashika na kibou
Boku ni kureta kara
"Raaphtalia!"
Naofumi, Raphtalia, and Filo were walking back into the village when they heard the yell. "What the-" Naofumi was asking.
"PETAL!"
Naofumi turned around, but Raphtalia had already abandoned him to run towards a running, laughing, healthy-looking Raccoon girl. The little half-Raccoon girl jumped into Raphtalia's arms, and the two spun, laughing and smiling together. "It's so great to see you!"
"I'm glad you're okay! How've you been?!"
"It was horrible! Daddy said we had to leave for a while! And then there were these scary men after us! But…" Petal continued to ramble on to her older friend as a smiling man walked past her.
"Ah, Sir Shield Hero."
He looked familiar to Naofumi… "Or I guess, I should be calling you, Nocturnal Doctor, since you saved my daughter."
Naofumi finally recognized him. This was the man who'd first begged him to heal his half-Raccoon daughter way back when. Raphtalia set the girl down as they continued talking excitedly with each other. Both their tails wagged fiercely behind them.
Demi-humans were truly amazing creatures.
"What are you here for?" Naofumi asked curiously.
"I heard my wife's town was being rebuilt and wanted to bring Petal here to see it." The man walked up and shook Naofumi's hand. "I also wanted to talk about trade if that's at all possible. I've found that my town is in need of medicine since returning from exile."
Exile? Damn. He must have had quite the adventure too.
"Hmmm, I think we could work something out," Naofumi said. He was smirking almost a little too widely.
The businessman in him already couldn't wait to unleash his global empire!
"Hey, is that Petal?!" Keel ran up excitedly.
"Keel-Kun! You're alive too!" Petal exclaimed excitedly.
"Hahahaha! I sure am! Now come on, I'm showing all the other kids how to become men of the sea!" Keel exclaimed excitedly.
"Wait, Keel, I was already talking to-" However, Keel and Petal were already running off together. She sighed. Hadn't Keel also volunteered to help with clearing the central part of the village of debris?
"Mommy! Filo wants to go to the sea too!" Filo exclaimed.
"Oh, okay then!" Raphtalia immediately perked up and the two ran off after them.
Naofumi took Petal's Father to the house where they could discuss what was needed.
Mou mayowanai nido to
Donna mirai mo
Kimi to nara nigenai
Mirellia walked through the castle gardens. Around her, flowers bloomed in an array of colors. Gardeners moved around the area. Trimming the hedges, using water magic to water the flower beds, fixing areas that had been trampled by the Three Hero Church loyalists, and other various tasks that they were hired to help with to make the castle grounds beautiful.
She walked past the duel arena further into the garden. Eventually, she came to a stop in front of a new statue. One that she'd asked to be put up in the center of a small field of brown petaled flowers.
It was ten feet tall, depicting a beautiful young figure. The armor Mirellia remembered her wearing had been captured to the smallest detail. Her long, light brown hair had been captured perfectly in stone. It almost looked like it was flowing behind her as she pointed her twin magic blades towards an enemy.
The inscription at the bottom of the statue read: Victoria Bonaparte. Raccoon Representative of Siltvelt. Friend of Queen Mirellia Q. Melromarc.
She smiled. The sculptors who'd made this would receive a substantial reward for their accomplishment. To make this commission off of sketches she'd made so quickly and with such quality. It looked just like her friend in her prime. From the flowing hair, to the carefree smile on her face.
Being a monarch had its advantages. But this was one she'd made sure to use to its fullest possible extent.
What remained of the Church's records were steadily being made public. Scholars and historians from Melromarc and various other countries were looking them over. Either wanting to help with publishing a defamation of one the largest, most corrupt organizations to have ever existed, or to preserve the history of a turbulent time during the Waves.
She allowed them access to the documents. But not before making sure of one, singular detail.
That there would be no connection between Altara the nun, and her friend Victoria.
Later on, after the Waves, when "Defamation of a Church" was published by those scholars who'd survived, Altara was nothing more than a footnote in the book. An example of someone the Church's propaganda brainwashed into committing evil for them.
As for the history book published soon after, the one the Cardinal Heroes themselves would look over to maintain its accuracy, Altara wasn't mentioned once. The nun was deemed unimportant in regards to the history of the world. What was included instead was the story of Victoria; of her friendship with Mirellia, of her rise as the Illusion General in the Siltvelt Wars, and of how her death and the death of her family would eventually inspire the Shield Hero to make radical changes in Siltvelt. Changes that would change the country forever.
Altara the evil faded from the world's memory. But, just like the statue, the legacy of Victoria Bonaparte and the good she brought about was forever engraved into the world's history.
For all she'd been forced to go through, her friend deserved that much.
Doko ni itemo nando datte
Kimi no namae wo koe ga kareru made
Yoake mae ni niji wo mita yo
Uso no nai sekai de kimi ni motto motto ai wo
"Whoa..."
Naofumi looked down in surprise at the bounty of fish that'd been brought before him. Keel and Filo both looked over their catch with hungry eyes.
"They really went all out to impress Petal," Raphtalia said. The little girl had already left with her Father to head home. He'd also filled out an order for medicine that he'd have to help the apothecarian with making. Then there was the matter of delivering it. But that could be worried about later.
"Sooooo hungry." Keel moaned.
"I suggested lunch. But you wanted to stay out on the water." Raphtalia sighed as she chastised her friend. She really was becoming more like a mom. "And weren't you supposed to be helping with cleaning that one area-"
"Raphtaliaaaa, am I supposed to ignore what my Dad taught me about becoming a man of the sea?"
"No, but I wish you could help out more around the village. We need it…" Raphtalia sighed again.
"Hmmm, you guys did catch a lot…" Naofumi picked up a fish to examine it. Damn him, but he was already getting an idea, several, actually, of dishes he could turn these fish into.
And there was so much to cook with too, it'd be a waste not to use it…
"Here, how about I just cook for everyone in the village tonight to thank them for all their hard work!" Naofumi offered. "I owe several people some feasts after all."
Raphtalia looked at him in surprise. "Really?! But that's like-"
"A lot, I know. So I'll need you three helping me in the kitchen!" He gestured to Filo, Keel, and Raphtalia.
"You mean, Filo will get to cook with Daddy?!" Filo exclaimed excitedly. "Yayyyyyy!"
"See, we're totally helping out the village now!" Keel said victoriously to Raphtalia. She pouted at her childhood friend.
"Thanks. But no sneaking food while we're making it!" Naofumi made sure to add. Raphtalia smiled victoriously at that.
"... awwww…" Filo and Keel both sagged in disappointment.
So much for an early snack.
Hora kimi no koe ga
Boku wo sukuu yo nandomo
Yobisamasu yo
Kimi ga oshiete kureta omoi
"Mmmm, thanks for the meal Naofumi!" Motoyasu said.
"It tasted great!" Itsuki said. "But not as great as that Napolitan Rishia made for me before." He whispered under his breath.
"What was that Itsuki?" Naofumi asked. Were his god-like cooking skills being challenged?
"It was nothing!" Itsuki quickly responded.
"So good, ugh." Ren put a hand to his mouth. He'd really overeaten today. It'd been so long since he'd seen sushi, tempura udon, and several of the other meals Naofumi had prepared. And his excuse for eating so much besides the food reminding him of home was that Eclair's training had left him absolutely famished!
Eclair's training was intense, even with his high level! How the hell could she train them so hard when she was only level 30?!
It'd be horrible to see what it'd be like if she was around level 60.
"Ugh…" Naofumi himself also looked tired. But he looked satisfied as well. He'd managed to feed everyone. And he didn't die doing it. That was a win in his book. By the time their parties had dismissed themselves earlier that evening to head back home, they'd looked to be on the verge of passing out.
"Thanks again Naofumi! Hope you all have a good night!" Motoyasu called from his door before he retired for the night.
"Good Night!" Itsuki said before going into his home.
"Night." Ren managed to call out before going into his house.
Naofumi opened his door and went inside. He thought he was going to go to sleep immediately, but then he spotted all the dishes that he'd used to cook on the counter. There was also a mountain of dishes resting in the sink. 'Are you *&^%$# kidding me?!'
As he got to scrubbing the dishes under the sink's running water, he hoped this wouldn't become a daily occurrence. He only did it to thank everyone in the village for being here. That was all. He was no butler or anything like that!
And he definitely didn't want to have to deal with this many dishes ever again!
Sou nando datte
Kimi no namae wo sakebu yo tsuyoku
Sono te wo nigitte
Naofumi slowly tiptoed down the hallway. He was exhausted, but he didn't want to make any noise and wake anyone up down below with his loud footfalls.
Peaking into Filo's room, she and Melty were already asleep. Filo had surprisingly opted for her human form despite the larger bed, and the two girls were cuddled together under the blankets. It was super adorable, and he smiled a little at seeing it. It almost made doing all of those dishes worth it.
Okay, he could admit the Second Princess wasn't annoying all the time. Just most of the time. Like when she was awake and calling him rude for one thing or another.
After staring for a little while, he continued on to the door to his room. He slowly peaked it open, and found to his surprise that the inhabitant inside wasn't in bed.
"Raphtalia?" He opened the door fully. The Tanuki girl was standing in front of the window. Looking up at the night sky.
He walked up beside her, but she didn't respond. She just continued looking up, as if lost in thought. He almost thought she just wanted to stare up at the stars by herself, but as he was turning to go to bed, her hand rested in his, and her head, gaze still not turning from outside, rested on his shoulder.
Getting her subtle message, he gripped her hand firmly in response as he leaned his head on hers. She smiled.
It was probably then that Naofumi noted, for the first time in a long while, just how beautiful the night sky was. Because of all the light pollution in Japan, looking up at the night sky back home was just so, so… vacant. But here, it was breathtaking.
Here, it was like the sky was filled. The outlines of entire galaxies could be seen amongst their stars, like an artist drawing glowing shifting lines across the sky. As they looked, a shooting star shot across over the ocean.
The two smiled, looking out at the world together.
Their world. His world.
'... I'm sorry, little brother. I definitely don't think I can go back anymore. I hope you can find a way to manage without me.'
His younger brother would have to fend for himself, as well as his crappy parents. Naofumi truly didn't want to return to his world anymore.
Because this was his home now. This was where he was needed.
As long as he had his family with him, he wouldn't run away.
No matter what the future held, he'd hold onto them all.
Mou hanasanai kesshite
Donna mirai mo
Kimi to nara nigenai
Author's Notes:
Ah, this kind of makes me wish that this was where the anime ended. Cal Mira was just so rushed in it. But it's fine. It was a joy writing to this point. Everything's fine for the most part. I wish the scenes could line up with the lyrics more nicely, but eh, it works. Again, sorry for the delay. Finals week sucked the week before.
This marks the end of Hope. In two or three weeks, I'll be updating the story title and summary to mark the transition into the next grand arc of the story. The four arcs covered here covered what the community dubs the "Rising of the Shield Hero" arc. This next one will cover the "Heroes of Another World" Arc.
We have some happiness and potential growth for pairings in the future. And now we get to have some nice, easy chapters as the next arc kickstarts the road to Cal Mira-
Hey, wait. What's going on? Something's happening. Why is the ground shaking? Why do I hear boss music?!
Oh no! Don't tell me that she escaped literary confinement! Quick, wake the guards! Gather the men! We- wait, SHE'S ALREADY HERE! Stop! STOP! You're not meant to reveal yourself now- AHHHHHHHHH!-
...
...
Now, this couldn't just end without me making one last appearance.
*Abrupt end to Author's Note*
"Brrrrr…"
A redheaded woman sat in front of a fire, shivering as she tried to warm up her hands. The scarred half of her face was sensitive to the cold. When Bitch had fled the castle with her friend Lesty, she hadn't thought about grabbing warm winter clothes, but now she was regretting this decision. Several other individuals sat around the fire with her, struggling to stay warm just like her.
There were plenty of fires here in the small valley high in the mountains near Mirso Village. Yet those surrounding Malty represented only a small portion of those followers who'd escaped the Capital.
They couldn't all be gathered together in one spot. Otherwise, they risked exposing themselves and getting captured. At least this option allowed them to cook the monster meat they had.
It was food totally unfit for a princess. Then again, she no longer was one.
"Unbelievable! Unacceptable!" A man in priest clothes said opposite her. Sitting between the two was a girl dressed in warm clothes. Despite that, she was still shivering from the cold. "To think that, that, DEVIL, destroyed our great leader's soul! It was bad enough he was going to die! But to take away his rights to heaven?!"
The redhead continued to shiver, and grind her teeth in annoyance as the sad little man continued to rant. "And that purple-haired whore! How dare she mark the only true church as heresy! It is unforgivable! Unacceptable! Intolerable to the true believers!"
She was stripped of her title. It had been written in her Father's apology. Whether by that broken man's hand or the Queen's sly one, she didn't know. Regardless, it was an official document, one that had disowned her from the royal family.
Not only that, but it labeled her as a fugitive, one that would receive punishment for her crimes. That was beyond unfair! She was born a princess! It was her birthright to be above the common rabble! To be above consequences! She deserved praise! She deserved to have everyone cowering at her feet begging her for mercy!
But now, she'd never be the Queen. And this damn fool in front of her didn't care one bit. None of them cared!
"And to think she made peace with those abominable demis! To think she gifted those fake heroes the land needed to build their own nation! Why, if I had half a mind, I'd-"
"Shut up."
The Archbishop stopped ranting to focus on Malty. "What did you just say to me, child?! After we showed compassion and helped you escape, after we've shared what we have with you, do you not care-"
Malty stood up. "I said shut up!"
"Or what, what are you going to do, disowned daughter of-"
"Zweite Hellfire!"
Her spell slammed into the campfire, turning it into a blazing inferno. The wide-eyed man yiped in terror as he backpedaled into the snow away from the scorching flames.
"Silence, filth! You should count yourself lucky I don't kill you for your insolence!" More flames danced on Malty's hands. "You are nothing but dirt beneath my feet! Know your place!"
The Archbishop whined in fear. He'd been so caught up in his anger that he'd forgotten the power difference between himself and the former Princess. Thanks to having a Hero, and then nearly working a slavegirl to death, she was far higher in levels than he was.
"You should count yourself lucky that you didn't join your head preacher on that stake to be swallowed by the fires of hell! You and the rest of these worthless pawns! Or, maybe you want me to send you after him?!"
"No, please, I'm sorry-"
"Actually, now that I think about it, maybe it would help me feel better!"
"You- you wouldn't-" His screeching was starting to attract the attention of nearby Followers.
"Malty." Lesty rested a hand on her friend's arm.
The fire over her hands disappeared, but the inhuman scowl on her face didn't.
"How dare they! It's not fair!" She started to rant, throwing Lesty's handoff. "I shouldn't be living like this! I shouldn't be sitting in the dirt out here surrounded by a bunch of sniveling cowards!" Malty ranted. "I should be in the castle, receiving a Queen's treatment!"
"I should be having food prepared by the best chefs in Melromarc!"
"I should be drinking the finest brews from Zeltoble!"
"I should be enjoying the latest technology from Faubley!"
"I should be sitting on a throne looking down on those beneath me instead of running for my life!"
"It's all their fault! It's all your fault for roping me into this!" A crazed look appeared in her eyes. "Yes, that's it. That's why I'm in this mess. Had I chosen to just stay in Sir Motoyasu's party, the Shield Devil would have just run himself into the ground without anyone to help him! Yes, that's exactly what would have happened! But your horrible idea led to Sir Motoyasu betraying me! ME! The true crown princess of Melromarc! He wasn't supposed to defy me, but your sheer incompetence led to him turning independent and breaking himself off from me!"
She started to laugh crazily. Lesty and the others slowly packed away in case she went berserk. It wouldn't be the first time since they got here. "I see it now! This was all a set up just to remove me from the picture! To make me look like the villain! Well, I see through all of you! You're the ones deserving of punishment! Not me! Not perfect royal me! Aha! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Malty, please, you're scaring us…" Lesty quivered cowerfully in her spot.
Bitch didn't hear her. She continued ranting for a while. Coming up with excuses for what was ultimately her horrible behavior landing herself here. Yes, she'd been given the offer by the Church to defame the Shield Hero, yes, it'd been the Church who convinced her Father to summon the Four Heroes, but she still chose to accuse Naofumi of rape. She took it a step further with her later interactions.
It was her choice to drag him and his name through the mud. It was her choice to force him to duel Motoyasu. To tax the people of Lute. To sell Rino off into slavery. To buy her back and almost work her to death. Hell, she had the choice to come forward and admit to the Church's wrongdoing long before they had the chance to perform a coup. There hadn't been a single moment from the time the Church approached her with an irresistible offer where the choice hadn't been hers to make.
But she chose the path that'd give her the most fun. The most feeling of satisfaction. The most sense of suffering that she could bring about on other people.
She chose to be terrible. She chose to be the world's biggest Bitch. She chose this route, and even now, she rejected the consequences that should have fallen squarely on her shoulders.
"And you know who's most to blame!? Those damn Cardinal Heroes! It's all their fault all of this happened!" Malty screeched to the skies above.
"I couldn't agree more."
A figure approached their fire. The Archbishop and his followers all stood up, drawing their weapons. "Who are you?! How did you find us?!" He demanded, trying to hide his terror and surprise.
Malty stopped ranting, curious about who'd be dumb enough to approach them.
"How could I not? These mountains are my backyard, after all." The figure was tall. When he came within the light of the campfire, he had brown hair, and a scowl on his face. He was dressed in armor.
Lesty looked him over in recognition. "Mald?"
The man nodded. "Mald?" Malty spat at Lesty. "Who is he?!"
"He is a noble, Princess Malty." Lesty quickly appealed to Malty by adding the Princess title. "He was in the Bow Hero's party, before he turned his back on the kingdom."
Malty studied the large man over with a curious eye. "What brings you here to us, Mald?" Bitch asked with contempt.
"It's simple. You have a vendetta against the Cardinal Heroes. So do I." The Bow Hero had so insolently tossed him aside after Lute. After all the praise and hard work, he'd given him. And he'd left with a threat against his life.
Not only that, but one of his relatives had been killed by Itsuki, only because he'd been a slave owner. That could not be forgiven.
"Mirellia can play pretend that giving the Heroes their own nation will keep them safe. But no borders will protect the Bow Hero from me." Mald said angrily, his fists clenching at his sides.
"So you are here for revenge?" The archbishop scowled and turned away. "Get in line then. But don't expect any help from us. After what that whore Mirellia has done, we are hard-pressed trying to keep the faith up amongst our own. We are in no shape for staging any coups anymore."
"You seem to misunderstand, Lord Archbishop." The mustached knight cracked a foreboding smile. "I am not just one man on a suicide mission, if that's what you think. The faith and her young Majesty here were not the only ones who had suffered losses and hardships from the recent actions of the Queen and the Cardinal Heroes."
There was a long pause in the camp. The followers of the Three Heroes Church looked up at their leader expectantly. He looked hesitant. Eventually, it was the first princess that spoke out.
"Go on, Mald." She purred.
"The new policies being established in the wake of the failed coup are hurting members of nobility here and outside Melromarc, both financially, and in regards to their standing. I'm here to represent those nobles. The only thing we need is manpower and a member of the royal family. And that's something you can both provide."
"..." Malty was seriously considering it over. The Archbishop was too.
"We won't have to freeze out here any longer?" Lesty asked.
"I can lead you straight to my manor if you accept. My family's land and influence are vast, and our servants are both loyal and quiet. You'll be provided both succor and sanctuary from the heretics sitting on the throne. We can discuss further details there."
That decided it. "Then lead us on, Mald," Malty said with a smile.
She didn't care what depths she had to sink into. She would be the next queen, whether the people wanted it or not. If Mald was offering to help her, she would accept. And if he betrayed her, she would obliterate him, without mercy.
If anyone got in her way, even the Archbishop that saved her and Lesty's life back in the Capital, they would die by her hand.
And above all, she'd make Motoyasu and the other heroes pay for all the suffering and humiliation that she had to suffer from! A thousandfold!
Yes, that was what a Bitch like her deserved!
To Be Continued…