Chapter 37

"We meet again, Hero." An all too familiar voice echoed as Mercury stood in an endless sea of sand.

"This is beginning to become irritating." Mercury spoke. "Dragging me here whenever you like."

"I already told you I only do so when it benefits us both." The woman stated. "You should be glad, knowing you walk away with something of use."

Mercury glared at the woman in response.

"Who are you?" He asked.

The woman gave a slight smirk before suddenly launching herself backwards, performing a reverse flip as her red dress turned mist-like and she began floating in the air. She was floating on her side, her head resting against her right fist.

"I suppose I'll tell you. I am Eris, Goddess of Discord." Eris stated her name with a spin and smile.

Mercury recognized who this was.

"I see." Mercury cleared his throat. "And what does a Greek Goddess want with me, exactly?"

Eris' ears perked.

"I applaud your knowledge." Eris gave a genuine smile. "What else do you know of me?" She asked.

"Pretty much the personification of 'Chaos for the sake of Chaos." Mercury answered.

Eris smiled.

"Quite the flatterer."

"Mm."

"Well, Mercury, much like how you've established yourself in Siltvelt, as well as a small presence in Melromarc, I have eyes and ears on nearly every plane of existence." Eris answered.

Mercury remained silent as Eris spoke.

"Those same eyes and ears told me of a few interesting individuals." Eris continued. "Ones that were not living up to their full potential on their current plane of existence." Eris began twirling her finger in a circle, creating a small whirlwind of sand and mist. "So, I simply-" she grabbed the whirlwind and held it in the palm of her hand, watching it twirl like a ballerina. "-plucked you from that current one and dropped you in another. One where you could reach your full potential."

Mercury realized what Eris was saying.

"In other words, that silly summoning ritual wasn't the reason you were brought here. I am." Eris smiled as she flicked the whirlwind towards Mercury, picking him up and launching him into her grasp.

Letting him stand, Eris raised Mercury to her eye level.

"Why?" Mercury asked.

Eris chuckled at the tiny man in her hand.

"Personal entertainment."

She blew a kiss at him, causing Mercury to be launched backwards and into an eternal abyss.

As he fell, Eris flew in circles around him, taunting him the entire time.

"See you soon, Merc."

Sitting upright suddenly, Mercury fell out of bed, coughing as pain spiked up his back.

Looking around, a pop up appeared in Mercury's view.

"New ability: rewind."

Slowly getting to his feet, Mercury heard a thump to his right. Looking over, he was suddenly tackled by Makoto.

(Finally!) she hugged him tight. (I was so worried!)

Mercury, despite the pain, resisted the urge to wince as Makoto hugged him tighter. Returning the embrace, Makoto pulled away, looking Mercury in the eye.

(I'm glad you're awake.)

"How long was I out?"

"2 weeks." Another voice at the door answered.

Looking to the source, Naofumi stood in the doorway.

"How are you feeling?"

Mercury slowly got to his feet with the help of Makoto.

"Good enough." Mercury answered. "What's happened while I've been out?"

"A lot." Naofumi smiled. "And you woke just in time."

Makoto helped Mercury get dressed while he and Naofumi conversed.

"In time for what?"

"Myne's been sentenced to death." Naofumi answered.

Upon hearing that, Mercury stifled a celebratory cheer.

"Quite a bit has happened, it seems." Mercury smiled, only for it to fade as Naofumi frowned.

"It feels… I dunno… wrong."

"Wrong?" Mercury repeated. "Wrong? Need I remind you how much shit she put you through? Rape allegations. Public enemy. Fuckin'-"

"I know, man." Naofumi said softly. "It still feels wrong."

Mercury was gonna say something else but decided against it. Instead, he let out a sigh.

"You're too good, man." Mercury told him. "Don't let it bother you. When's the execution? I wouldn't want to miss it."

"Tomorrow at noon."

"Perfect."

The following day

Having rested a bit, Naofumi and Mercury were in the tunnels off to the side of the execution stage. Both Myne and her father were being sentenced to death for their lies and constant interference with Naofumi and his job as a Hero. As well as plotting against her own sister to pin her death on Naofumi's head, much to the surprise of the King.

Mercury was more than eager to see their heads separate from their bodies for the amount of shit they put Naofumi through. However, Naofumi was having doubts while Myne begged for her life while being put to the guillotine alongside her father.

"Motoyasu! Motoyasu!" She shouted her party leader's name, desperate her Spear Hero would come save her. However, Motoyasu turned his head. "Mother!"

Her mother responded by raising her hand, signaling for the executioner to raise his blade.

Myne pleaded with whoever she could for forgiveness. Just like the rat she was.

"Is this the right thing to do?" Naofumi asked, watching as Myne pathetically begged for her life.

"Want a piece of advice?" Mercury said. "Walk away and let what's to come, come."

"Not sure I can-"

"Naofumi!" Myne shouted his name out of pure desperation as a last attempt to save her own neck. "Naofumi, please, I beg you!"

Mercury's eyes widened in surprise as Myne began shouting for the very person she accused of rape to come to her rescue.

"Holy shit." Mercury couldn't help but chuckle. "She's fucking pathetic. She's-"

"Hold up!" Naofumi shouted as he emerged from the tunnel.

Mercury rushed after him.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Mercury asked him as he grabbed Naofumi's shoulder, only for him to shrug Mercury off.

"The death penalty is too light for these scumbags!" Naofumi shouted.

(No!) Mercury thought to himself as he looked from Naofumi to the now silent crowd.

"Death is instant release, after all." Naofumi continued. "That's a bit light, if you ask me."

"The slave crest didn't react. She's so thick-skinned she can beg a guy she tried to kill for her life, and actually mean it!" Naofumi mocked her. "With skin that thick, the guillotine might not cut it." The crowd laughed at that comment.

"I'd like to test that theory." Mercury growled under his breath as he eyed the rope holding the blade suspended.

"So, I have a proposal." Naofumi continued, all while keeping a mental note of Mercury, knowing him. "The King will change his name to "Garbage" and the First Princess to "Bitch"!"

"Garbage!" Garbage growled under the boards that held him kneeling.

"Bitch?!" Bitch shouted in clear disapproval.

Mercury raised his eyebrows at the new punishment. He found it rather appealing to be able to call her Bitch along with everyone else.

"The rest of your lives you will live by these names!" Naofumi continued. "Or you can die here. I'm sure Merc's itching to cut that rope, aren't you?"

"You know me too well, brother." Mercury crossed his arms, slowly beginning to side with Naofumi on his decision.

"Just a reminder;" the Queen spoke, getting Naofumi and Mercury's attention. "Bitch goes by "Myne" as an adventurer. What about that?"

"Then Bitch can also go by… Slut!" Naofumi answered with a satisfying snap of his fingers.

"Slut?!" Slut shouted in disapproval.

The crowd erupted in laughter as the Queen smiled.

"The man's who done the most to put things right here, the Shield Hero, has granted his oppressors the greatest mercy. As such, King Aultcray will henceforth be "Trash". And Princess Malty with be "Bitch" with "Slut" as her adventuring name. And the Three Heroes Church, the root cause, will be abolished. Melromarc will now adopt the FIVE Heroes Church as its state religion."

Mercury and Naofumi looked around at the crowd as they began throwing their Three Heroes Church necklaces onto the ground of the execution arena.

In a dining hall, the five heroes gathered around a table with the Queen.

The heroes met to discuss their training options and share information, but most were unwilling to reveal what they'd learned about the world. Meanwhile, the heroes' allies squabble in the other room.

Makoto stood off to the side with a watchful eye over Bitch while Christine enjoyed the food provided. Daenerys and Filo were having a glaring contest on opposite sides of the room. And Raphtalia seemed to be getting into trouble with some of the guards.

The Queen was the first to speak up, mentioning the other four heroes defeat during the previous wave.

"Defeat?" Mercury repeated.

However, the other heroes were each glaring at Naofumi.

"Where'd you get that cheat shield of yours?" Ren accused.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Naofumi shrugged. "I built it up just like the rest of you."

"Would you fuckers get off his ass for two seconds?!" Mercury growled in angered frustration. "We're supposed to be discussing what we've learned."

Itsuki took a breath before agreeing with Mercury.

"Very well."

Motoyasu explained that, by touching any weapon of the same type of his Legendary Weapon, the Hero can copy its properties into his own Weapon; Ren added that, by feeding specific materials and recipes into the Weapon, it can later craft desired items while Nafoumi had been doing it manually; Itsuki declared that the Legendary Weapon allows instant teleportation to any place the Hero is registered on.

Mercury was stunned by the news. This was sure to come in handy.

"What have you learned, Mercury?" Itsuki asked.

"You can use a second weapon as long as it matches your cardinal weapon." Mercury answered.

As the conversation continued, it became more argumentative as the other heroes bickered about what they'd learned.

Outside, Makoto watched as Slut snuck away from the party, given the perfect distraction being Raphtalia fighting Itsuki's crew.

Following close behind, Makoto saw Slut sneak into the kitchen. Heading over to a cake meant for Naofumi's table, Slut pulled out a vial and poured a few drops of its contents on top. She proceeded to do the same with the cake meant for Mercury's party as well.

Smiling to herself, Slut turned to leave, only to be met with a blade pointed at her neck.

Inside the meeting room, Naofumi was growing more and more irritated by the constant shouting.

"ENOUGH!" Mercury shouted over everyone, getting them to quiet. He then glanced to the door. "We have a problem."

"What-"

Ren was cut off as Makoto barged in with Slut. Makoto had Slut's right arm twisted painfully behind her back.

"Myne? Er, I mean, Slut?" Motoyasu called out to her.

"My party member caught Bitch poisoning the cakes meant for Naofumi and my tables." Mercury stated. "Makoto caught her red handed."

"I wasn't-" the slave crest on her chest flared painfully, proving she was about to lie about her actions.

"Attempted poisoning after Naofumi showed you mercy." Mercury spat. "You truly are the lowest of scum."

The Queen was about to speak when Mercury beat her to it.

"She needs punishment." Mercury stated.

The room fell silent.

"What do you have in mind?" The Queen asked.

"A permanent reminder."

Within an instant, Mercury had Bitch's left hand pinned against the table as he drew his dagger.

"What are you-?!"

"Don't move, otherwise I might take your whole hand instead of just a finger." Mercury warned her before pressing the blade against her ring finger. Looking to the Queen to see if she approved the punishment fit the crime, Mercury hesitated. With no objection, other than Motoyasu's lacking attempts, Mercury pressed the blade until her finger separated from her hand. Picking it up, Mercury placed it in Bitch's other hand. "Shove it up your ass, Slut."

Bitch looked to her mother for any sign of help, but was met with a cold stare.

Glaring at the Queen, Mercury's hatred for the royal family only grew.

"I thought your Whore of a daughter would've been appreciative of Naofumi." Mercury growled, watching Bitch leave the room. "Seeing as to how she so pathetically begged for him to spare her."

Motoyasu began to argue, causing Itsuki and Ren to begin the same, siding with Mercury.

Eventually, Naofumi shouted in frustration.

"Screw this! Clearly none of you can work together!" He turned around and left the room.

The Queen glared at the other four heroes.

"If you five can't work together by the time of the next wave, the only one to survive would be the Shield Hero." She stated.

Mercury rolled his eyes as those words rung in his ears. "I'm capable of holding my own."

He was heading back to his mansion, having fast traveled to Siltvelt with his party thanks to the Dragon Hourglass, and Itsuki's advice.

Greeted by the maids and children of the mansion, Mercury returned it before heading off to his room. Taking off his gear, Mercury laid in bed and was about to let himself drift off when Makoto walked in.

(Hey.) she greeted, locking the door as she kicked her boots off and began removing her gear. (You up?)

Mercury rolled onto his back, looking at Makoto over the sheets.

"Nope." He replied with a grin.

Makoto swiftly moved over to the side of his bed, kneeling beside it, inches from Mercury's face.

(I think you're lying.) she told him, running two fingers up his arm. (Don't suppose you have the energy for some fun.)

Mercury smiled.

(I'll always have energy for you.) he told her before she climbed atop him, giving a passionate kiss.

(Leave it to me.)

End of chapter 37