Have to say, I've been looking forward to this. I will say for the marriage ceremony, there is no canon historical basis to what I did in it. Just going to warn you all upfront since I won't have time to at the end of the chapter.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy it.
Chapter Twenty-Five: Hero Village's First Wedding
The next day finally came, and the village turned into a commotion of activity.
Melty had gone above and beyond for the occasion just like she'd promised. The town square had streams of white cloth running from building to building. Tables were already set with the food that Naofumi had prepared last night. The large dance floor that Melty had raised out of the ground was covered over with planks of wood to make dancing a little more comfortable.
The Church was cleaned up. The windows sparkled in the light of the sun. The pews were thoroughly polished. The pulpit had been given special attention, with flowers from the florist set up in the shape of a heart around it, much to the demi-human's delight.
All those times where he'd accidentally thrown his waste onto the street hadn't been in vain!
The villagers and even the knights were all dressed up for the occasion. Many wore their best clothes, which admittedly, wasn't anything special. It mainly consisted of country dresses for the females and collared shirts and rough pants for the males, some borrowed from a friend or relative.
The people were beginning to file into the Church and talk to one another in animated voices.
After all, this would be the first wedding to be held inside the Hero's territory. Even the Queen had sent a small delegation of scholars to record the momentous occasion. They sat in a corner, scribbling down everything they saw.
They were also here for another purpose. In her Majesty's campaign to show progress towards equality, this marriage between a human and a demi-human would show that the Hero's territory was setting an example that Melromarc, Siltvelt, and other countries should follow.
The groom was smiling widely, waiting near the pulpit alongside the Bow Hero.
"Oh man, this is finally happening! Quick, does anything look off to you?!" The groom asked Itsuki excitedly.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" The Bow Hero asked. His eyes had already been darting around, watching for any signs of danger. It was highly unlikely that someone would dare to attack them when all four of the Cardinal Heroes were present, but recent events made Itsuki wary all the same.
The cat man rolled his eyes. "Dude, is there anything off with what I'm wearing? I don't want it to be too much." Gar gestured to his outfit.
It wasn't anything special. The cat demi-human was dressed in a plain suit. His tail was flitting from side to side, and he pulled at his tie uncomfortably while his ears flicked this way and that.
"You don't need to worry, you look great," Itsuki reassured him.
"Heh, sorry, I guess the nerves are finally hitting." Gar rubbed the back of his neck. "To be honest, I wasn't sure if I'd ever see this day." He admitted bashfully. "Between the way the Three Heroes Church treated mixed marriages and the Waves, I thought it'd never be safe for me and Rae to do this."
"But, didn't you propose to Rachel before she joined my party?" Itsuki asked.
"Yeah, I did. I hoped we'd be able to fulfill our greatest wish. I just… I never imagined it'd happen so soon." The catman's eyes were misty and overflowing with emotion.
"I'm nervous, but I'm… I'm so happy at the same time. Is that normal?" He asked, sniffling loudly.
Itsuki gulped, feeling like a weight had settled down in his throat. "I, I believe so." He began shuffling awkwardly as well, though it wasn't from Gar's question. Everyone was beginning to settle into their seats, and he could feel some of the people staring at them.
Or more specifically, at him.
"Anyway, I'm sorry I didn't speak much before." Gar chuckled. "Between building my home and leveling up, it just never felt like I had time to interact with the Heroes."
Itsuki didn't speak as his eyes briefly lingered over the groom's chest where the slave seal was hidden under his clothes. If he remembered that day correctly, Gar had chosen to sign up under Naofumi.
That made sense. The Shield Hero was far more trustworthy than Itsuki, the loose cannon… huh, come to think of it, could he copy a cannon?
He wouldn't be surprised since he could use a ballista.
"So, um, are you nervous about today?" Gar asked. "You seem surprisingly calm and collected."
"What reason do I have to be nervous? I'm just here to support you and Rachel." Itsuki replied offhandedly while looking off to the side. He didn't dare to meet anyone else's stares.
He was just here to make sure that everything would be ok. So many things could go wrong... but he had to make everything go smoothly for the sake of his friend.
A confused look appeared on the cat demi-human's face. His slanted eyes narrowed. Rachel had told the Bow Hero what he was going to do today, right?
"Psst. Itsuki."
The Bow Hero turned his head. Crystal had just awkwardly run up to them in a white bridesmaid dress. The poor silver-haired girl looked very uncomfortable in high heels. The guests might not have been dressed up, but the bridesmaids were. Rachel had insisted on it.
"What is it?" Itsuki asked.
"Rachel wants to see you about something." Crystal whispered again.
Itsuki looked at Gar. The cat man grinned and gave him a thumbs up and a wink. "Well, Sir Itsuki, make sure not to spoil me on what her wedding dress looks like when you get back."
Itsuki chuckled. "Sure thing." He followed Crystal out of the building. The pair headed towards the Bow Hero's house where the bride was waiting. "What does she need me for? Did something bad happen?" Itsuki asked worriedly.
"Hell if I know. Everything was going perfectly fine until she suddenly announced that she needed to see you." Crystal shrugged.
Itsuki frowned. Was it last-minute jitters? Maybe Rachel had decided that she didn't want to marry after all? But that didn't make any sense. She'd joined his party specifically so that this day could come sooner.
So... why was she asking for him?
When he arrived at the door of his house, he found that, indeed, just as Crystal had said, there were no problems in sight.
There wasn't any drama. No soap opera mess was going on. In fact, everything including the makeup on Rachel's face looked perfect.
Itsuki had to pause, admiring how beautiful his friend looked. She'd always been a bit on the pale side. But with her shoulder-length hair done up in a bun and the light dusting of make up on her face, the dark mage had never looked more stunning in her entire life.
Crystal whistled. "You look even better than when I left! Your fiance is one lucky guy, Rach." She said appreciatively.
The normally reserved girl blushed but smiled. "I'm sure when your wedding day comes, you'll outshine every other girl there, Crystal."
"Heh. I'll need to find someone before that ever happens." The spearwoman crossed her arms. "So do you need me here, or-"
"May I have a moment with Itsuki by myself?" Rachel requested quietly.
"Oh? Oh yea, sure, I'll go check if Maya and the other bridesmaids are ready then. See you later." Crystal turned around and left the room with a casual wave of her hand.
Itsuki looked around. Now it was just the two of them left in the room.
"Well, um, you really do look amazing." He complimented. "I'm really happy for you."
She smiled. "Thanks, Itsuki. Your words mean a lot to me."
"It feels like it was only yesterday when you and Karn stayed with me in that tavern. Standing by my side even when everyone else had left…" Itsuki looked off to the side. "It really made me happy that day when you two didn't abandon me."
Rachel nodded and walked up to the Bow Hero.
"What did you need me for?" Itsuki finally asked. She didn't look nervous to him or anything. Was she just hiding her issues, or was it something else?
...
The brunette took in a deep breath. "Sir Itsuki." The Bow Hero looked surprised at the sudden formal way that she addressed him. "I know you don't want us to call you that. But I asked you here not only because I wanted to see my friend. But there is something that I need to request from The Bow Hero, Itsuki Kawasumi."
She lightly smiled. "I'm sorry that I didn't bring this up sooner. But between my studies of the waves and you going off to train, it nearly slipped my mind till now... and I also had a feeling that you wouldn't accept this unless I waited until the last moment."
… Itsuki swallowed hard. "What is it?" He asked tensely. He had no clue what was coming anymore.
"Sir Itsuki, I want to ask you to be the officiant for my wedding." Rachel finally said.
…
...
Itsuki stared at her in stunned shock.
Rachel remained quiet, allowing the young man to process what had been asked of him.
...
...
Finally, after a moment, his face became downcast. "I wish you could have asked me for anything else. I'm glad you asked. Truly, I feel honored. But… I'm not a person that should be doing that."
"Why is that?" Rachel leaned forward a little to get on the same eye level as him.
"I… I've never done something like this before for one thing, and besides, I'm not worthy of that honor." Itsuki's shoulders sank. "You know what I've done. You know about all the people I've attacked. All the people I've killed..."
"After all that, nobody here would want me to officiate. Not when the memory of what I did to Naofumi and the kids is still fresh in their minds. It would ruin your wedding. Why not have the priest do it? Or I can teleport to the Capital and bring someone from the Four Heroes Faith. Or..."
Rachel patiently listened to the Bow Hero's monologue. He went on for a good few minutes, giving further and deeper reasons for why he shouldn't be the one doing this. How anyone else would be better qualified than he.
Then, when he'd finally finished, Rachel surprised him by giving him a hug.
"Itsuki, I do understand what you're feeling." She gripped his shoulders and forced him to look at her face to face. "But the only thing that you could do to ruin my wedding today would be refusing to marry me to Gar."
"I don't want a priest or some other stranger to marry us. And I don't want one of the other Heroes to do it either. I want you to have that honor. You, Itsuki." She continued, sounding deathly serious.
Itsuki tried to look away, but Rachel kept the boy's gaze on her. "You might not feel worthy of it, but that bow on your back says otherwise. Sir Itsuki, there is no one more worthy in this world, or in any other right now, to wield that weapon more than you. And there is no one more worthy of marrying me to Gar, than the person who made it all possible in the first place."
Tears entered Itsuki's eyes, and Rachel gave him a reassuring smile. "You don't give yourself enough credit. You've been so hard on yourself lately. I get the feeling that you got interested in Granny's training not only to become stronger but because it would put you out of sight of everyone here."
"I wish everyone else in the village could see you the way I do. The way we all do." She gestured around the house. "But just this once, I want you to ignore how everyone else feels, including yourself. What I want is for the Hero who I've grown to trust on many a battlefield to marry me to the love of my life."
Rachel pulled him into a hug again. "Could you do that for me... please?" She asked.
...
He hugged her back, sobbing into her shoulder. "I… I don't even know the words for the ceremony!"
Rachel chuckled. "Don't worry, I asked the priest to lend you his book and have the proper passages circled. If Rishia taught you how to read, you should have no problems."
Wow. She'd really planned it all out.
Thus, instead of the bride being the one to have a breakdown, it was the Bow Hero, the officiator of the wedding, who had his breakdown in the arms of his friend.
...
Later, when he came out of her room, he stood just a little taller than he had before.
Right, it was time to put his own personal feelings aside and be the Hero his friend needed him to be.
The Church didn't have anything as fancy as a pipe organ. When the wedding music started, it was played by a violin and some flutes, and sung by Dou-Lon, Filo, and the rest of the choir he'd trained the night before.
The Heroes were the best dressed out of everyone there. Naofumi sat near the front, alongside Raphtalia. His arm rested over her shoulders, and the two snuggled with each other. Eclair also sat with them, though she said nothing without her Hakuko friend to antagonize. She merely stared at the choir, her face blank of expression.
Ren sat with his friends behind the Shield Hero and kept on pulling at the collar of the shirt that he had to wear for the occasion. Eventually, Wyndia slapped his hand away and fixed his collar for him, much to his embarrassment.
Thankfully, she didn't make a big deal of it. And she stayed sitting next to him after she was finished. The fact her head leaned against his shoulder meant nothing, nothing at all.
Motoyasu sat with Rino and Elena on the other side of the aisle across from Naofumi. The Shield Hero had to admit, Motoyasu really knew how to dress well. The Spear Hero was the best dressed out of them all. He wore a stylish tux and a black bowtie that looked rather good on him.
The boutineer was a nice touch too. It matched the color of the dress that Rino was wearing. But the most curious thing was the design of their outfits. They seemed more... 'modern' compared to what he'd grown accustomed to seeing in this world. It wasn't quite the same type of suit design that was commonplace in his world but it was eerily familiar.
Did Motoyasu sew those himself? No, no, that's impossible. He probably just hired a personal tailor in the capital at some point. Although, how would the tailor know how to make these? Did Motoyasu draw the designs and describe the fabric types?
Naofumi pondered on this while he listened to Filo and the rest of the choir sing songs that he was unfamiliar with. The wedding music of this world appeared to be different from his world. It was only when the bride appeared that the song they were singing became more familiar.
Was this song the influence of some past Hero? Naofumi probably wasn't far off the mark with that thought.
Rachel walked down the aisle, led by her father, who'd personally come to their little town to marry off his daughter.
Rachel looked absolutely stunning, and happiness was plain to see on her face. The dress she wore clung to her body like fresh snow, and the sunlight streaming through the windows made her hair glitter like a field of flowers. Eyes stared, especially Gar's, wondering if an angel had descended down into their midst.
Naofumi simply smiled, snuggling more deeply into the angel beside him.
When her father had brought her to the altar, Rachel surprised him by hugging him, thanking him for doing this for her. It was such a touching moment between father and daughter that many people began to tear up. Naofumi himself couldn't help but let a tear fall as he and Raphtalia both glanced at their daughter singing along with the rest of the choir.
He wondered then if he'd have the privilege of doing something like this for any daughters he and Raphtalia had together. Not that he expected them to have kids right now. But maybe, sometime after the Waves… when the world was at peace...
As Rachel's father stepped back to stand beside the groomsmen, the choir stopped singing. Rachel and Gar knelt in front of the altar, together.
Finally, after a short pause, Itsuki appeared. He'd changed to a special set of robes for the occasion. He gulped nervously, fumbling with an open book in his hands as he stepped behind the altar.
There was a stir among the crowd when it was revealed that the Bow Hero would be the one to officiate the wedding. There were some whispers wondering over why Naofumi or Ren or even Motoyasu hadn't been chosen to do so. But no one got up to stop the wedding. Probably because Rachel had finally looked back at everyone to give them a harsh glare.
For just a moment, the dark mage reminded them that she wasn't an angel. And that if things best left unsaid were said, she'd turn demonic pretty quickly to rectify their unfortunate slip of tongue.
Naofumi didn't pay attention to that though. Upon seeing Itsuki's outfit, he was reminded of the robes that Balamus wore…
He bit down on his tongue, trying hard to focus on more positive thoughts. It didn't help that he couldn't feel any pain. In fact, he could have sworn he heard a small clang! as he tried to bite the appendage. A spike of anger welled up in him at that.
"Is everything ok, Naofumi?" Raphtalia whispered to him.
...
He forced a smile on his face, pushing the anger back down. "Just picturing myself leading our future daughters down the aisle is all." It wasn't technically a lie, since he had been thinking about that before.
Raphtalia started to blush heavily. He blushed a little himself and focused on Itsuki again.
The Bow Hero had finally started reading the passages marked for him to read. He stumbled through his words every now and then, looking up at Rachel a time or two to make sure he was reading the wedding ritual correctly. When she and Gar both smiled and nodded encouragingly at him, he was able to continue with a little more confidence than before. Seeing the kids in the choir giving him encouraging nods only helped him further.
The thought of Balamus didn't come back to his mind, and Naofumi breathed a sigh of relief as he was able to focus on the wedding without any other harmful thoughts getting in the way.
…
"I still can't believe Rach is getting married," Karn whispered to his fellow party member. He was dressed as one of the groomsmen and kept on pulling at his collar like Ren.
"What? Are you jealous that you aren't up there?" The normally stoic girl whispered back in a teasing tone.
"... no, of course not." The swordsman's eyebrow twitched. "I'm fine with this."
"You better be, or else." Crystal shrugged and the two listened for a moment.
...
"... Karn, do you sometimes wish you were a Hero?" Crystal suddenly asked.
"Not really." Karn quietly chuckled. "I'm not into being given such a huge responsibility. Besides, it'd be too much trouble with all those knives constantly pointed at their backs all the time."
"Hmm, I don't know. I think you could probably pull it off with how self-sufficient you are. After all, you were able to level almost as much as the rest of us despite being by yourself at Cal Mira." Crystal reminded him.
The swordsman shrugged and smiled. "What can I say? I'm just that good. Now shhh, it looks like the vows are about to start."
The two went silent as Itsuki finally began to read the vows.
"Rachel, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold. To love and to cherish. Through sickness and through health…" Itsuki paused as he looked the passage over again.
Was he reading this next part correctly?! He read it over and over again, but the words didn't change. He looked at Rachel, who gave him a reassuring smile.
...
It felt like the entire weight of the world had settled on his back all over again. All of the confidence he'd managed to muster up was gone. Not even the kids encouraging stares made Itsuki feel better. The Bow Hero breathed in heavily, hoping he wasn't reading this next part wrong.
"A-And for all of eternity."
…
Rachel nodded at him. "I do."
…
...
Itsuki almost looked like he'd been sucker-punched. He hadn't read it wrong at all. The crowd was staring at him again, but now in awe. It was after a long pause, and fighting the tears that wanted to come to his eyes before Itsuki finally turned to face the cat man.
"Garfield, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold. To love and to cherish. Through sickness and through health… and for all of eternity."
Garfield also smiled and held Rachel's hands in his. "I do."
Itsuki shook where he stood. These two really loved each other that much?
"Then, by the authority of the Holy Bow." Itsuki began to speak a little louder. "I ask the spirit of the Bow to bind these two souls to each other for all time. I now proclaim these two, husband, and wife." He managed to finish without openly crying in front of everyone.
A bright flash of light came off his weapon's gemstone. It shined on the couple in front of him as he finished with the words: "You may kiss the bride."
The two stood, faced each other, and embraced in a firm, loving kiss.
The people in the congregation began to cheer and clap loudly. Naofumi and the other Heroes stood up, openly smiling as they clapped.
Mirellia's scholars, who'd been scribbling furiously ever since Itsuki's appearance, were writing so fast now that it looked like their quills were about to catch fire.
This was history in the making! A once in a lifetime opportunity! The tears they were shedding were likely because they never thought they'd be alive to see an event like this occur in their lifetime! They were so happy that Mirellia had sent them to record the occasion!
Back in the crowd, Jerry started to openly bawl and blew his nose loudly into a handkerchief. The Apothecarian and Witch both rolled their eyes at him while the blacksmith shouted: "I made them! I made their ringssssssss!"
When the couple ended the kiss, they turned to everyone, smiling widely while still embracing each other. The glow from Itsuki's weapon faded with that, but the blessing bestowed by the Bow remained on the couple.
The Bow Hero quickly left the stand. The rest of his party was quick to surround and congratulate Rachel and her new husband. "Truly amazing there, Rachel. And wow, must I say you look stunning!" Aksel smiled happily.
"Hell yeah! I have the most beautiful wife in the world, my dude!" Gar put an arm over the girl's shoulders, causing her to blush in embarrassment.
"You really do look beautiful Rachel," Maya said, staring up at the dark mage in awe. "I want to look just like you when I'm married."
"You look good the way you are, Maya." Rachel held one of the Raccoon girl's hands, giving her a calming smile. "Don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise."
Itsuki smiled a little, seeing his other party members congratulate the dark mage. However, in the middle of that, Rishia approached him, looking especially happy.
"Fueh! It's been so long since a Cardinal Hero officiated at a wedding! I forgot the weapons' held the power to make a marriage official beyond death!"
The others turned at her excited cry, smiling at him. "Yeah, I forgot that too. I hope Itsuki won't mind if I ask him to officiate at my wedding." Aksel said.
"I'm sure he'll be fine with it, right?" Rachel directed a glance at him.
"Oh, well… um, maybe it wouldn't be so bad?" Itsuki said unsurely.
"Fueh…" Rishia awkwardly shuffled in place while blushing furiously for some reason.
"Well, I say it wouldn't be bad at all!" Aksel slapped the Bow Hero on the back, almost knocking him over as he laughed. "Not when we have the bestest friend we could ever ask for?!"
"Oh, I'm curious, who do you plan on marrying Axie?" Maya asked, leaning up against the tank's arm.
"That's a secret!" He said that, but he laughed good-heartedly while setting said arm over her shoulders.
Those two had really gotten closer since Cal Mira. Seeing everyone around him looking so happy...
It made Itsuki smile a little wider. Maybe, being happy here in the village was okay after all.
"Come on, glorious leader, it won't do any good if you become soft on us," Karn said in a joking tone.
Itsuki expected Crystal to set him straight, and she did so, digging her heel into his foot rather painfully. "Ow, I thought you were actually starting to act nicer during our chat earlier!" The swordsman complained.
"Learn to control your mouth then. I'm sick of the message never getting through." The silver-haired spearwoman rolled her eyes.
"Fine, whatever. Are we going to the party or not?" He asked, pointing at everyone else who was already leaving the Church.
"Yeah, let's have fun with everyone," Itsuki said, still smiling happily.
Thus, he and his party joined the reception to celebrate Lurolona's first wedding.
And Itsuki, the Bow Hero, was one step closer to escaping the darkness once and for all.
The party at the reception lasted all day, and it was looking like it'd go well into the night too.
Most of Ren's party members could be found on the dance floor, dancing to the upbeat folk music that was being played. Many of the couples there swing danced, others participated in traditional folk dances, and those that weren't dancing at all clapped and hollered along to the music.
Itsuki helped to lead the band with a violin. On a dare, he started to play the harmonica with his mouth and a set of drums with his feet at the same time. At times, he'd switch and start playing the accordion with his hands while his feet played the violin.
He was definitely showing off.
The fact that he was able to play the three sets of instruments all at once, skillfully at that, was beyond breathtaking. Rishia could often be found nearby, staring at her Hero in complete and utter awe. A few kids would also loiter around with her, tails wagging and eyes glowing with awe. Had the green-haired girl had a tail, it would be wagging furiously with each new song he played just like the demi-kids.
Itsuki recalled how Naofumi had told him back at Cal Mira how he should play music for the townspeople more often to win them over. And, seeing how happy everyone was now, he found the Shield Hero was right. It was almost like what had happened several weeks ago hadn't happened at all.
It made him play all the better.
Bakta and Aksel could be seen off the stage playing one of the classics of parties. A good old tug of war between the two of them and the various kids that participated.
"Pull, I say, pullllll!" Bakta gritted his teeth.
"Come on Keel, it doesn't look like Bakta's learned his lesson yet! Let's show them how strong real men are!" Aksel happily proclaimed to the dog demi-human behind him.
"Yes! A man of the sea is worth a hundred men!" Keel exclaimed.
With a powerful jerk, both of them managed to pull Bakta and the kids behind him off their feet and into the mud. Aksel started laughing hysterically, giving Keel and the others high fives. "Haha, yes! That makes us 5-0!"
"It's no fair! You took the strongest kids to help you out!" Bakta whined after spitting some mud out of his mouth. The kids with him began to climb out of the mud pit.
"What a payne. Are you seriously complaining about a few kids being stronger than you?" Aksel bent down on his knees at the edge of the mud pit as he smirked. "You don't deserve to be in a Hero's party if you're going to remain this weak!"
"Why you- I'll show you pain!" Bakta gripped Aksel by his collar, and pulled him into the mud with him.
"AH! Hey! That's cheating!" Aksel screamed as Bakta put him in a headlock. His best suit was ruined!
"You've been a pain in my neck for too long! It's time you faced defeat!" The loser shouted.
"Ahahaha! You said my favorite pun!" Aksel started laughing.
"Wha- I didn't mean it like-" Aksel used his rival's momentary distraction to escape the headlock and turned around, tackling him into the mud.
"Haha! Now it's a real fight!" Itsuki's party tank shouted.
The kids watched, tails wagging fiercely as the two grown men mud wrestled. "Boys." Crystal rolled her eyes as she made sure she was a sufficient distance away from the splash zone that the two had suddenly created in the mud.
Some of the other kids there had surrounded Granny. The old lady looked to be in a good mood as she showed off various party tricks for them. "How did that appear in my ear?!" Anya looked shocked as Granny held up the silver coin in front of their awed eyes.
"Uh uh uh. A magician never reveals her secrets." Granny wisely stated.
"Magician? You just used a sleight of hand trick to fool their eyes and-" Welt began to say.
Granny turned her head, a smile on her face. However, it didn't quite match up with the menacing aura that surrounded her form. "What was that, did I hear three weeks of mountain training for you, young lad?"
Ren's fellow swordsman paled. "Tersia?! Farrie!? Where are you two!?" Welt ran off to find his fellow party members. One was clapping her hands politely to the music while the other was dancing and hollering like a one-man show.
Tersia had never been more embarrassed to be near Farrie in her life.
Meanwhile, Filo and Melty could be seen entertaining a group of small kids.
"Wheeeeeee!"
Or rather, Melty and the kids were being entertained by Filo.
"Like this, Mel?" Filo asked.
"Yes, look everyone, we're flying!" Melty exclaimed happily. Filo laid on the ground beneath her and several other kids fortunate enough to join in on the fun. The Filolial's wind magic was currently being used to levitate her best friend and several of the laughing kids up and down in the air like an invisible trampoline.
The group of smaller kids all around laughed and pushed each other to get closer. All of them wanted to go next on the fun ride!
As for the Shield Hero, Naofumi had to take a break from talking with Ren and dancing with Raphtalia every now and then to make sure that the food kept on coming. The people were quickly plowing through thirds and fourths this late in the evening. He should have been annoyed by this since he was essentially being a butler for everyone there, but Naofumi kept on smiling and kept on serving.
It probably helped that Motoyasu came over to help him each time. The Spear Hero claimed he was a good cook before coming to this world. And his time feeding all the kids in the village had really helped him to become more quick and efficient than ever before.
He was even able to use his fire magic to produce the exact temperatures that Naofumi needed.
He would never say this out loud, but Motoyasu was a surprisingly good cooking aid. He wished others could be trained to help as easily as him to decrease Naofumi's workload further.
Maybe when he found the world's equivalents of the ingredients needed for it, he'd ask for the Spear Hero's help in preparing a wedding cake for the next wedding. That would be tough though since sugar didn't exist here. He'd need to find a sweetener similar to it that'd work with the world's version of flour and eggs.
Cooking across worlds was tougher than it looked.
"So, when are you going to put a ring on Raphtalia, eh?" Motoyasu suddenly teased.
Naofumi nearly spat onto the sandwich he was making. When he was over the surprise lump, he turned to face Motoyasu. "W-What?" He sputtered.
"I mean, after hearing what Itsuki said back there, I wouldn't mind the thought of a marriage lasting after my death." Motoyasu grinned. "And with how much you and Raphtalia love each other, I'd like to think you'd jump on a deal like that."
Naofumi blushed. "That... does sound nice." He admitted. "I'm not sure if we're ready, but maybe..."
Seeing Naofumi actually pondering it and not lashing out to hide his embarrassment, Motoyasu paused.
There it was. Naofumi acting off again.
"Is something wrong?" Naofumi asked him, noticing the Spear Hero's silence.
Motoyasu shook his head. "No, it's nothing. Pass the salt, would you?"
Naofumi did so, and Motoyasu began rubbing it into some fish that would be grilled later while Naofumi prepared various kinds of sandwiches for the guests.
The two remained silent after that, working tirelessly on the next meal.
…
Eventually, when they were done, Motoyasu held his hand up for a high five. "And now we won't have to worry about anyone starving for at least the next hour!"
Naofumi returned the high five. "Yea, thanks Motoyasu, this would be a lot harder without your help."
Motoyasu was left speechless once again. Naofumi was smiling. He looked happy. He had referred to Motoyasu by his name instead of calling him a simp or some other degrading nickname. Above all, he had actually thanked him.
Motoyasu shouldn't have been bothered by any of this. But then why, why did it seem like Naofumi's friendliness was so… so … incredibly forced?
He opened his mouth to ask Naofumi something, but the Shield Hero had already caught sight of his girlfriend on the dance floor. Itsuki had started leading the band in playing another song. Had the Bow Hero managed to find a way to mix one of the local folk tales with an anime intro?!
"Oh, I can't keep Raphtalia waiting, see you later Moto!" Naofumi told Motoyasu excitedly as he ran off to dance with Raphtalia once more.
Motoyasu stared after him. He really wasn't sure what to say. 'Why do I feel like something is wrong with him? He seems ok, but it's just…'
After a moment, Rino hesitantly approached him. "Hey, um, Motoyasu…" She gestured towards the dance floor, unable to speak the rest.
Motoyasu shook his head to clear it. Maybe Naofumi was just trying to act friendly so the party atmosphere wouldn't be ruined. Yeah, that sounded right, I say! What a great guy!
"I would love to have this dance." Motoyasu held his hand out to the light green-haired girl.
Rino smiled, settling her hand in his. Together, they walked onto the raised platform and, with exuberance in their steps, began to perform a swing dance together.
Ren stood off to the side, nervously nursing a drink in his hands. He'd been having a good time, not being the center of attention. He sometimes talked with the other villagers. He'd been gone for a moment when he teleported Mirellia's scholars back to the Capital, but otherwise, he'd been there the whole time.
He also appreciated that Naofumi came to talk with him every now and then so he wouldn't feel alone. Not that he was alone, surrounded by everyone there. He was perfectly content with clapping along to the music, perfectly ok...
But he was aware of how alone he was now, and of others that were alone. Wyndia was sitting at a nearby table with a contemplative expression on her face.
Things had ended so well yesterday. Yet he was just standing there like a nervous wreck!
A wedding reception was the perfect time to dance with someone he… he… l-l-liked a lot. But he just felt so anxious. Everyone was dancing so quickly. He didn't even know how to dance, much less, swing dance.
What if he had two left feet? What if he made an embarrassment of himself? What if he embarrassed her?
He briefly pondered asking someone for a quick dance lesson. But he was too nervous to do that. And Eclair was in a similar boat as him. She clapped along, she watched others dance, but she didn't dance herself, which probably meant she didn't know how to either, so asking her for help was out the window.
But even if he did discover that he could dance just fine, what if Wyndia said no? What if she didn't like to dance? What if she didn't even want to dance with him?
What if she didn't like him back? What if yesterday had just been one big fluke? They hadn't really talked about yesterday, so he wasn't sure where they stood right now, so what if he tried to ask her, and she said no? Then his heart would be crushed, and he'd throw himself off a cliff and drown in the ocean and-
"Um, Ren…"
He quickly turned around.
Wyndia stood there, looking absolutely stunning in the same blue dress she'd worn at the castle during the last celebration. He felt his breath catch in his throat as her ears fell on her head in nervousness. Hadn't she been sitting at the table?!
How long had he been standing there drowning in his anxiety?!
"Y-Y-Yes?" He badly stuttered. Ren, you idiot! You couldn't have looked less cool if you tried-
"Would you… would you like to dance with me?" The dog girl asked, cheeks steadily filling with red.
…
Oh no. Ren's brain hadn't planned for this. She was asking him to dance!?
What should he do?! What should he say?! Did he want to do this-
Wait a second, OF COURSE HE DID! He'd been fretting over that detail for at least the last hour! But wasn't the guy supposed to ask the girl out?! What if he made an idiot of himself?! What if he stepped on her feet, or tripped, or, or-
"Uhhhhh…" His mouth was open, but the hamster running the wheel in his brain couldn't go fast enough to make intelligible words come out.
Wyndia felt her blush deepen. It took another moment, then Ren actually was able to say something. "I… I don't know how to dance."
"Oh…" Wyndia's face briefly fell, but then she stood up tall. "Then, I'll just have to teach you!"
Taking the initiative, she grabbed Ren's wrists. "First, hold your hands out palms up. That'll let me grab them like so. Now, extend your arms like this. Then place your foot here. Now swing your arms in like so. Then step, and pivot, now repeat…"
What…?
After a little while, Ren's brain finally clicked back into gear. She was smiling as they moved like a flowing river. "See, the basics are easy. Anyone can learn them."
Ren was dancing with the dog girl. His hands were holding hers, and hers were holding his. Even though his brain had been fried just moments ago, she'd gotten him to start swing dancing almost like it was second nature.
"Now, hold your arm up and spin me like so." She paused briefly to demonstrate the movement, then had him perform it. He was surprised at how easily it came to him.
Had he unlocked a sword that improved his dancing skills recently? He couldn't remember if he had one like that or not. But with how many different swords, knives, daggers, and the like that he'd been unlocking for stats and bonuses, it didn't seem quite so far-fetched to the Sword Hero.
He spun her again and this time, the dog girl spun into his embrace.
"Dummy," She gave him a smirk, spinning back out before they settled into position to continue the swing.
Ren really hoped she couldn't hear how much his heart was pounding at that moment. The Sword Hero swore, he'd never been happier in his entire life seeing her smile at him.
The two continued to swing to the music. The dog girl steadily helping him to have more confidence in his steps.
…
Nearby, Raphtalia and Naofumi were in a similar position. Naofumi watched as the entire event transpired, and he found himself smiling just a bit genuinely at it.
"Raphtalia, look." He gestured for her as he gave her a spin.
She turned her head, and a wide smile filled her face at seeing Ren and Wyndia looking so happy.
"Do you think they might be… boyfriend, girlfriend now?" Raphtalia asked her dance partner.
"I mean, I don't think that's the kind of dancing 'friends' do," Naofumi whispered in her ear before he put her in a dip, holding her with just one hand as she became almost parallel with the ground. He then pulled her up and they began to swing once again.
"And look. Itsuki has a secret admirer." Raphtalia began to chuckle.
Naofumi looked at the band. Rishia was no longer off to the side. The kids around her were gone, and she had moved a chair and was sitting near the band. She looked up at Itsuki as he played with happy eyes and the most wholesome smile ever.
The action caused the Bow Hero to blush, and he actually did almost stumble in his playing. The fact that he managed to keep playing all three instruments despite the array of emotions crossing his face was an impressive feat. Naofumi almost wished he could do the same thing.
It wasn't like he wanted to serenade his girlfriend whenever he wanted. Or to play music to set the mood.
No, no he definitely didn't hear any saxophones playing in his head or anything as they danced.
While they danced, Dou-Lon led some people in doing a folk dance jig.
Wait, the guy could sing and dance?
Holy crap. Dou-Lon had really been holding back on them, hadn't he? Just what other skills did he have that weren't necessarily combat-related?
Eclair stood off to the side, still nursing her drink. She'd look towards Ren and Wyndia every once in a while and a smile would cross her face. But then she'd drop the smile as she looked once again at the Hakuko with an unreadable expression on her face.
This wasn't like her.
He would have expected her to be in the tug of war event. Or in the strong arm event, which his girlfriend had already won earlier. He would have expected her to be in any of the other tests of strength being held.
Was she actually jealous that Dou-Lon was better at something than her? Hmmm, he almost felt tempted to ask her. But then, what was it his business to try and pry?
It was fun just watching her be jealous of somebody else.
"What rude thoughts are you thinking now?" Raphtalia asked him.
"..." Oddly, a spike of anger sparked up at that comment. He brushed it off and smiled at her. "Nothing as important as you." He swung her close, putting their faces only inches apart.
The way her breath hitched at the action told him she'd already forgotten what she'd asked him about. And so, he didn't feel the need to dwell on it as they continued.
After passively observing Dou-Lon's dance routine for a while, and watching as the Hakuko walked towards the tables to get something to drink, Raphtalia suddenly stopped dancing and excitedly pointed back at where Ren had been dancing before. "Naofumi, look!"
Itsuki had started a new song just a minute ago and the Sword Hero and his girl looked to be competing against the Spear Hero and his girl. At the point his girlfriend pointed it out, it had really begun to flare up. The people around them had started to give the two Heroes and their girls space, beginning to clap and holler to the tune of the music. Soon, he and Raphtalia stopped dancing and started to do the same.
Itsuki saw the change and went into overdrive with the band. Seriously, was that kid using magic to assist with his playing or something?! Why did it sound like three violins were playing instead of one?!
At the sudden draw of attention, the Sword Hero looked beyond nervous. However, Wyndia didn't give him much of a chance to be flustered about it. "Just focus on me." She told him.
"O-Okay." Little did he know she was also extremely nervous. Yet staring into his deep blue irises as they danced made her ignore those cheering them on.
She could almost tune out Farrie's cries to kiss too. Her ears flared red. She really hoped that Ren wasn't listening. Or maybe, she hoped that he was and that he would kiss her.
Rino moved behind Motoyasu, her hand dragging across his lower back. As she appeared from behind him, his left hand grabbed hers, pulling her up into a spin. The Spear Hero repeated this another two times, with him and Rino both smiling widely.
Ren almost stumbled upon seeing them do the move repeatedly. Motoyasu wasn't even looking at her yet he placed his hand perfectly to capture her in the movement!
"Don't worry. We can do better." Wyndia smirked up at him.
She then started doing the same move Rino did, letting go of Ren's hands and sliding behind his back. Ren nearly freaked out, moving his hand to where he hoped Wyndia would appear and doing his best not to look and make himself look like a fool. But the quick spike of nervousness ended as Wyndia's hand gripped his, and he began to move her into a spinning motion. She spun once but then continued into a second spin.
"Hand to my back." She ordered.
Without knowing why he did as she asked as she completed her second spin. And then her arm rested over his shoulder as she leaned back. Ren quickly stepped forward, hand supporting her as he held her in a dip.
The crowd began to cheer more loudly for both Heroes as they returned to normal swing positions.
"Ha, not bad Ren!" Motoyasu called out.
"Y-You're not so bad yourself." Ren smiled as he yelled back, some level of confidence in his voice.
"Unfortunately for you, there's only room for one couple on this floor!" Motoyasu and Rino went into another move. And Ren and Wyndia followed behind them.
For several minutes, the two couples continued. Motoyasu and Rino kept on moving to greater and greater moves, with Ren struggling to keep up with Wyndia's guidance. Yet, whether because of her or some sword he'd unlocked assisting him, he was able to somewhat keep up.
It became a competition where neither Hero wanted to back down.
At the end, Motoyasu finally pulled a move that almost made Ren stop. He picked up Rino, spinning the girl around his shoulders before effortlessly catching her beneath him on the crook of his elbow. With the finished movie, the girl was exactly parallel to the ground.
'What the- HOW!? THERE'S NO WAY I COULD POSSIBLY TOP THAT!' Ren thought frantically. He had mere seconds as the audience applauded the Spear Hero's performance before he was expected to do some great feat! There was no way he could-
"Push me up." Wyndia suddenly asked.
They swung into the next position. "What do you-" Ren tried to ask.
"Just trust me." She whispered back.
He gulped as they swung in place a few more times. Then, as the crowd focused on them, his hands moved down to her waist and lifted her up in the air.
Her body moved, making him drop his left hand as she rested his right hand on her back and faced the sky, reaching out with her arms and legs. Ren, as if on instinct, spun with her like a top above him.
He was breathless. To think he'd wondered if he'd be able to dance earlier. And now, he was doing such an advanced move!
He really had to check his list of swords and find out what the hell he'd unlocked to accomplish this! Or maybe it wasn't his sword, and Wyndia was a really good teacher...
Then, in the middle of his spin, he felt his left foot slip. He almost cried out as his right hand teetered, but Wyndia was quick to react. She grabbed Ren's arm using it as a lever to control her fall, and Ren's other arm caught her before her feet hit the ground.
Ren was now kneeling, Wyndia's body held close. Their faces barely an inch apart. The finishing move came right as the song ended.
If one observed closely, you would have seen their breath hitch at the proximity of their lips. It was like the world had shrunk. It was only the two of them in this sphere of existence.
…
Before either one could summon up the courage to move that last inch, the people around them began to clap and cheer loudly for them, bringing them back to the real world. Itsuki and the band had stopped playing, and the Bow Hero was giving Ren two thumbs up.
The Sword Hero stood up, pulling his girl up with him. The two stared at the people all around them applauding their performance with matching blushes on their faces.
Nearby, Motoyasu pouted at the fact that Ren had beaten him in a dance-off. The edge was taken off, however, thanks to Rino rubbing his arm in comfort. "If you asked me, you were the best dancer out there." She said.
He smirked. "Well I had a little bit of help with that." He draped an arm over her shoulder.
She rolled her eyes and chuckled.
Eventually, when Itsuki and the band started their next song, Ren turned to face the dog girl. "Wow, um, you were… you were really amazing there." He said nervously.
"You… you weren't so bad yourself." Wyndia, still blushing, looked off to the side, running a hand along one of her french braids. "I think I've had enough dancing for tonight." She grabbed his hand, leading him off the dance floor.
"Same." Ren gladly took the opportunity to leave the area of attention with her.
Naofumi watched them walk off. He felt so proud of the formerly dark and broody teen. It was refreshing to see him open up more and more lately.
A few minutes later, Itsuki spoke up, grabbing everyone's attention. "For this next song, we ask that everyone give some room for the bride and her Father for the customary father-daughter dance."
Excited whispers came from the townspeople as they walked to the edges of the dance floor.
Itsuki and his band started to play a new folk song, though this one was slower than most of the others they'd played. After a few seconds, Rachel and her Father walked to the middle of the floor, with Gar proudly watching from the side as his beautiful wife shared a moment with her Father.
Naofumi smiled, watching the old father and his daughter have their moment. The open display of familial love made his own heart stir as he watched everyone else.
Filo was off to the side, playing with only Melty since the knights had taken it upon themselves to escort the smaller kids back to the orphanage after letting them stay up far past their bedtime.
Rishia stood near Itsuki again, watching him play with the world's most wholesome smile on her face. Often, Itsuki would return her look with a smile of his own.
Ren was still standing with his dog girl. As they watched Rachel and her Father, their hands, still holding each other's, began to interlock fingers.
Naofumi chuckled. Maybe it was a little cliche for love to abound at a wedding. Naofumi almost expected that when the bride would throw her flower bouquet into the air, all the girls here would fight like animals to catch it so they would get married next.
But, maybe… it was alright for love to be celebrated like this.
Looking down at Raphtalia's hair, he didn't have to wonder long if he found the idea of being married to her appealing or not.
He was unable to picture himself being married to anyone else in the whole world.
…
"Hey, Raphtalia." Naofumi opened his mouth while turning to face her.
"Hmmm?" She turned to face him as well.
He said nothing more, and leaned in, planting his lips softly against hers.
She was surprised at the boldness of his action. But she melted against him, perfectly content that Naofumi had initiated the moment of his own free will.
He'd acted like such a good friend this evening. Perhaps, the Shield Hero really was becoming the Hero she'd always imagined that he could be?
...
"Wyndia…" Ren, seeing what Naofumi was doing, bucked up his inner courage.
"Y-Yes?" Wyndia asked, blushing as she looked up at him.
He was silent, his breath caught in his throat. She looked so beautiful, so amazing…
He'd messed up so badly in the past, especially with her. But she'd forgiven him. She'd stayed with him. She'd helped him…
"I-I wanted to say… thank you." He managed to say.
"F-For what?" She asked.
Both were now facing each other, their hands interlocked together.
When had his other hand moved to hold hers?
Actually, that wasn't important.
"For… for everything, really." Ren gulped. "For helping me dance in front of everyone. For slapping some sense into me whenever I needed it. For saving my life countless times. For helping out our other friends when they needed it… for putting up with me and my flaws."
"Ren…" Wyndia's breath hitched. Ren was genuinely smiling at her now.
"You've helped me for so long. Wyndia, you're just so amazing, so… so beautiful."
His heart pounded hard in his chest. The whole world around them seemed to darken and the noises of the party became muffled. It was like they knew that, if they took this step, nothing would be the same anymore.
And they were okay with that.
"Wyndia… I… I really…" Ren struggled through his anxiety, his teenage awkwardness, and a whole heap of emotions to speak. Wyndia, silent, amber eyes filled with joy and anticipation, listened to the Sword Hero intently.
This was unlike before, when he'd been blackout drunk. This time he was dressed like a prince, and she a princess. They'd worked so much to get to this point, and everything had lined up so perfectly. This was everything Wyndia could have asked for.
It was like a fairy tale come to life.
The end of the first verse was about to hit. Rachel and her Father, along with everyone else, they all looked so happy.
"Wyndia." Ren steeled his resolve once and for all. The two were so close. He just had to take that one, last step. "I lo-"
Before he could finish, however, something swooped over Ren's shoulder towards Rachel's father. The weird disturbance to their little world caught his eye.
"Huh-"
And then, the old man was impaled. Blood splattered over the bride's dress, dying it red.
Just like that, the wedding party came to a crashing halt.
Author's Notes:
Allen: Hmmm, interest seems to be lagging lately, how do I spice things up a little bit?
Inner Allen: Looks at deck of evil: Ruin romantic build-up, interrupt a love confession, past foreshadowing comes to life, probable death of a character, cliffhanger… *looks at last card* ALL OF THE ABOVE.
Allen: Dew it. (Sheev Palpatine vibes intensify)
I hope everyone's ready. It was about time we jumped headlong right out of this Slice of Life portion into the plot once again.
Also, I hope it's obvious who Rachel and her husband are based on now. If it's not, well, I don't think I could make it any more obvious.
Checking On Everyone: Part Two
"Urgh... huh?"
Elhart slowly sat up. Why did it sound like the door to his room had just opened?
"Oh, I'm glad to see you're okay."
"Huh, Shield Bro?!" The blacksmith sat up in surprise. "What are you doing in my house this late at night?!"
Naofumi shrugged. "Just felt I should check and make sure all my friends were safe."
"Well, I appreciate the sentiment, but bother me in the morning after I've woken up!" Elhart turned over in bed.
"Whatever, good night old man."
"Good night brat!"
Naofumi poked his head through an open window to peek into a large, spacious room.
Her Majesty and Trash laid together in a large bed. The Queen was snuggled up against her husband, who was holding tightly to her, just like Raphtalia would hold to him whenever she was suffering from a nightmare.
He breathed a sigh of relief, seeing the two were okay. But part of him still wanted to go in and check to make sure. Before he could climb through the window, however, a shadowy figure appeared in front of him.
"I daresay, you need not worry, Shield Hero," Shadow spoke. "Us Shadows have made sure her Majesty is doing just fine."
"H-How did you know I was here?" Naofumi asked.
"We are well aware that you have been checking on all of your friends, making sure they are ok. I daresay, your incident at the Sword Hero's home earlier tonight was quite amusing for us to watch, Sir Naofumi." Shadow said.
"Well, um... I didn't mean for that to happen..." Naofumi looked past Shadow at the Queen and King's sleeping figures. "Are you sure they're ok? I know Au- Trash, didn't seem so good the last time I saw him." Naofumi said in a small voice.
"... yes, the King seems to suffer from nightmares each night. He does seem a bit better than usual, though that's probably because he and Princess Melty finally finished their first chess match." Shadow disclosed.
"Who won?" Naofumi asked.
"He did, and quite resoundingly at that," Shadow said.
"Oof." Naofumi chuckled upon hearing that. Even in his lowly state, Melty still hadn't managed to beat her Father. Perhaps Trash was smarter than he gave him credit for.
Or maybe the Second Princess was dumber than he'd been led to believe.
"He truly does feel sorrow over his past actions, Sir Naofumi. I do hope you've truly forgiven him for what he's done."
Naofumi was caught off guard by the Shadow's serious words. Wasn't this supposed to be nothing but a moment to be funny in a scene or something?
"I... I understand better now, taking care of Filo and all..." Naofumi trailed off. Filo wasn't even his real daughter, but if he thought anyone had even tried to rape her...
God, Raphtalia would have to stop him from using his Cursed Shield to murder the bastard. It made him wonder how the King managed to show such incredible self-restraint trying to deal with him in the past...
Shadow shrugged. "Either way, I'd say his chess matches with his daughter have been great for his mental health. I'd like you to encourage Princess Melty to consider a rematch."
"I can do that..." Naofumi turned around, pondering if omakes were an appropriate vehicle to drive a serious situation on, then he paused.
It wouldn't do any good to end on such a sad note. No, he had to go above and beyond to set things right!
"Before I go, could you help me track down one last group of friends for tonight?" Naofumi asked.
"Certainly." Shadow smiled. "Who is it you're looking for?"
"Some... people I got to know, over at Cal Mira," Naofumi smirked.
"Huahhhh."
"I know Therese. We certainly killed a lot of monsters today." L'Arc yawned as well, stretching his arms above him. "What level are your weapons at now, Glassy?"
The pale woman said nothing to the red-haired kindergartner as she laid down on a bed. "Well, this beats just laying around in a castle, waiting for our world to implode, right?" L'Arc tried to ask upbeatedly.
Glass said nothing, only raising her middle finger towards him. L'Arc frowned at the action. "Perhaps we should leave her alone for tonight," Therese suggested.
"Yeah, frankly, I'm surprised we convinced her to level with us in this world at all," L'Arc said in a resigned tone. Ever since that day, Glass had just been... well, like glass.
Instead of hunting heroes, the trio hunted monsters in other worlds, searching for new weapon forms to unlock as well as gaining levels so that when their worlds collided in the Waves, they'd be far stronger thanks to their combined strength.
If only they convince their Cardinal Heroes to get stronger too...
Glass suddenly stood up. "Who's there?!"
L'Arc and Therese also jumped to alertness. Looking around the room for any intruders. But it didn't look like-
"I daresay, I should work on my illusion magic more."
"It's fine. Thanks for your help Shadow."
"You are welcome, Sir Naofumi."
With that, Naofumi appeared in the doorway of the room.
"What the- Kiddo, what are you doing here?!" L'Arc asked in surprise.
Naofumi shrugged. "Aren't I supposed to check on all my friends?" He asked.
The seriousness of the situation was thrown back out the window, right where it belonged.
"Well, it's appreciated that you still consider us friends Master Craftsman," Therese spoke up. "But aren't you supposed to not be aware that we're in your world right now?"
"Yeah, we're like, not supposed to see each other for at least ten chapters!" L'Arc shouted.
"Ah, some good old fourth wall breaking. I think this omake really needed that." Naofumi stated happily.
"Fourth wall what-" L'Arc started to ask.
"Anyway, for all I know, this could just be some weird dream I'm having. I already met one strange lady earlier tonight." He then stared. "Does Glass have her hair styled in twin pigtails like Melty?"
The pale woman covered her head with her blanket before they could verify Naofumi's observation. The Shield Hero shrugged. "Oh well, glad to see you three are alright." Naofumi turned around. "Good luck, and make sure not to pull a BigDamnHeroes moment on us, please. That might ruin some of the tension of the plot down the line."
"Big damn what- what the hell are you even talking about-" L'Arc started to yell in confusion.
"Portal Shield!"
After a bright flash of light, the Shield Hero disappeared.
...
"Do you two have any idea what just happened?" L'Arc asked.
Therese shrugged. Glass stayed under her blanket. "This is probably a sign that we are going insane."
"Perhaps it'd do us some good to rest for tonight?" Therese suggested.
The three did so. But it was hard for them to fall asleep.
They really hoped Naofumi hadn't been pulling a Foreshadowing move on them in the omake.
Till Next Time
Allen