Disclaimer
The following is a fan-based Fiction.
Rising of the Shield Hero belongs to Aneko Yusagi
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To Prepare
Rifana lifts up her spear, holding it with two hands, pointing towards the trees and bushes. An orange balloon flies out ready to inflict pain.
Pop!
The Demi-human child smiles at the defeat of the monster. She turns around not aware of another orange balloon flying behind her with its maws wide open.
"Look out!"
Pop!
Rifana gasps, leaping back with her spear up, only to lower it as she sighs.
"Thanks, Keel." Rifana says with a smile.
Keel smiles but then frowns "Why didn't you stay close to me? You nearly got chomped!"
The Demi-human weasel pouts at her friend "You wouldn't let me fight! Besides, I wasn't that far away from you."
"Well-
Pop!
Keel and Rifana jump a little, turning their heads towards the pieces of a balloon falling onto the ground. The children look up to see Misato with his musket in hand, staring at the two with disappointment.
"Rifana, Keel… Remember what I said when you are in a fight?" Misato asks.
"To be aware of your surroundings…" Both Keel and Rifana speak with monotone voices in sync.
The Hidden Cardinal Hero nods "Ya I know it's annoying to hear the same thing like a hundred times but considering that you nearly got hurt..." Misato lectures "It seems I have to repeat it until it sticks in your brain"
"And also you cannot argue with each other in the middle of a fight-"
Rifana and Keel's eyes widen seeing a Usapil hops toward Misato from behind
"Or even let yourself get distracted."
"Uh, Misa-
"I know about the bunny" The Gun Hero interrupts as the rabbit attacks, turning his body instantly. His arm moves in a blur, intercepting the monster. The Asian American holds the Usapil by its ears, preventing it from attacking them. He holds it right in front of the children.
"So cool…" Keel mutters in awe.
"Okay, Rifana I need you to kill this for the experience and well experience with seeing blood I hope you can handle this." Misato says. "Keel had already killed an animal and had seen the blood. It did make her pause for a bit but to my surprise she took it with stride, relatively speaking." He thinks to himself, recalling how Raphtalia had trauma to blood and dog-like monsters in the Anime and considering how seeing blood is rather disturbing for most people.
Rifana nods and takes a breath. She points her spear at the rabbit-like monster, and with a battle cry, she dashes forward with the spear and stabs the Usapil. Some blood splatters on her and Misato.
The girl breathes, looking at the corpse.
"You good?" The Asian American asks with concern.
Rifana nods with a nervous smile. Keel rubs her back trying to comfort her friend. Ace nudges his head against the girl. "Ya I'm good, let's keep fighting," The blonde says with a determined look, reassuring everyone's worries. She needs to become strong, and find Raphtalia.
Misato smiles
"Alright then let's go back to Ace and go to another hunting spot."
"Kay!" Keel says jogging further ahead with Ace nearby, followed by Rifana and Misato.
The Gun Hero stops walking. He frowns "Now that I think about it… How am I okay with the blood?" He thinks to himself recalling the Adventurer/Slavers party that Fitoria killed and the leader that Misato himself killed. It doesn't make a lot of sense, after his death and experience seeing blood before he became the Gun hero, shouldn't he have issues?
And not only that but… He killed two people, they were unforgivable bastards but… why is he okay with it? 'I don't feel satisfied with the kill nor am I really horrified of what I did to Idol and that one slaver…'
'Also ironically I am using a GUN, shouldn't I be like Sinon, from SAO, having panic attacks seeing a gun?' Misato thinks to himself as he inspects the musket. 'Is there something wrong with me?' He still has nightmares of how he died and seeing the gun in the murderer's hand. But when he is awake and uses the gun, he is fine, like nothing happened.
"Hey Misato, what are you standing there for? We have to keep fighting!" Keel yells out from on top of Ace's back. Snapping Misato out of his thoughts.
"Sorry I got lost in thought." The Gun Hero answers looking at the children, not noticing that the orb on his Gun was a little brighter.
Rifana tilts her head "What were you thinking about?" She asks.
"How long it would take for you two to grow."
"With the rate we are leveling up we should be adults in less than a week, especially since you, uh, are helping us." Rifana says shyly.
Misato nods, ignoring the awkward pause "Ya, let's keep up the pace" He glances at his HUD
Misato Morgan: Archer (Gun Hero) Level 40
Ace: Adult Filolial Level 23
Keel: Demi-Wolf Child Level 8
Rifana: Demi-Weasel Child Level 6
Fitoria earlier explained that he can hide his real identity so that anyone in his party would think he is an Archer rather than a Gun Hero. Only Cardinal Heroes with higher levels and stats can see his true identity when in a party, which was why Fitoria didn't party with Misato at first, since she is a Vassal Hero, so Misato would have seen her status.
Keel pushes a branch aside looking around the area for a monster with her ears perked up.
"How did you know the Usapil was behind you?"
"I saw it earlier spying on us, so I acted like I didn't see it so it would get it to lower its guard and try to attack me. I used my ears to determine how close it was.
"Wow"
"Now that was with my human ears, imagine how well you can hear with your ears?"
Her ear twitches, hearing a very subtle sound of dirt moving, but she doesn't hear the grass. She lays her head against the ground with her ear, hearing something nearby underground.
'It's near…' She thinks to herself as Keel raises her knife, and takes an amateurish stance, mimicking the stance from the demonstration the guards provided back at Reichnott's village.
Misato stands nearby, ready to help the Demi-human child, along with Ace leaning forward. A small animal pops out of the ground from Keel's left side leaping towards the girl. The Gun hero flinches, slightly moving forward but stops, seeing Keel dodge the monster.
The Demi-human Wolf points her knife toward the monster staring back at her. Misato notes how the monster has some similarities to a badger but with much longer claws, meant for digging more than just the ground. Its current level is 5, and Keel is 3 levels higher so she should be fine.
The badger-like monster growls as Keel inches forward. The girl's eyes narrow as she increases her focus. The monster crouches and leaps again with its claw raised but Keel moves faster, slashing it before it even touches her. It falls to the ground dead, splashing some blood on the girl.
Keel Leveled up!
"I did it!" Keel cheers, holding up the corpse.
"Good job Keel!" Misato says, clapping his hands.
Rifana thrusts her spear at Misato but the young man leans, dodging it, he grabs the spear and yanks it. The girl stumbles, falling on her belly.
"Oof! Ow…" Rifana groans, standing up, and undusting herself.
"So what did you do wrong?" Misato asks, kneeling, holding the spear.
The girl frowns, "I wasn't fast enough to hit you?" She says.
The Asian American shakes his head "No, you overextended your attack, allowing fast enemies to grab onto the spear like me." He grabs the spear with two hands, demonstrating his stance. "You put too much of your body to thrust the spear, so much that you have trouble pulling the spear back before it can get grabbed." Misato then thrusts the spear without extending his arm all the way. "On monsters that are dumb extending the spear is okay, but on other humans though, that is more tricky."
"Alright," Rifana says, dejected as the Gun Hero hands the girl back her spear and then flicks Rifana's forehead. "Ow!" The girl cries, rubbing her head.
"Don't beat yourself up about it, Keel made the same mistake when using her knife, one time she fell face first." The Gun Hero says with a smirk
Rifana giggles "Was her mouth full of dirt?"
"Yep."
"HEY!" Keel cries.
Misato Morgan: Archer (Gun Hero) Level 40
Ace: Adult Filolial Level 23
Keel: Demi-Wolf Child Level 13
Rifana: Demi-Weasel Child Level 11
Today was pretty productive, Keel and Rifana had gained a little more than 5 levels, and if the Gun Hero carefully looked at his new companions, they have grown from when they were level 1, literally in this case. After a quick wash from the blood at a nearby river and changing into clean clothes, Misato noticed that the clothing is starting to look a little small on the girls, when they stop at a nearby village they will get new clothes.
Misato looks at his HUD thoughtfully, they are close to level 15, maybe they should go back to Reichnott's Main Village and have some guards train Keel on a specific weapon that isn't a knife, and Rifana might need some advice, even though Misato has helped her, it doesn't hurt to have someone more experienced teach her.
The girls are getting bigger, and eventually, Keel will be 'old' enough to wield a different weapon, and depending on which one, she would need some training with it before venturing off into Castle Town, where Demi-Humans are not welcomed…
The Gun Hero then looks at his 'Messages Screen' and looks at Fitoria's most recent message.
I will now be preparing the new bounded field, I will be occupied for 3 days please be careful out there - Fitoria [5 hrs ago]
If this Bounded Field is like Fate Stay Night, then how much power does that thing have if it takes Fitoria, who is possibly the strongest person in the world, three days to recreate and hide its energy?
"Maybe if I calculated how many souls one bottle had and did the math I would have a rough estimate. Huh maybe that's why Forrest was so insistent on uniting the Cardinal heroes and having them actually trust each other to open the door, if they open it now, there's a chance that two certain Heroes would turn on everyone's backs and fuck everything up." Misato sighs, it's going to be tough to get Itsuki and Motoyasu to wake the hell up.
"Misato?" Rifana asks, interrupting Misato's thoughts.
"Yes?"
"Can you show us how your weapon works?"
"Why?" Misato asks it's a waste of ammo to use it on low-level monsters, sure Forrest left behind a lot for him to craft ammunition but it's not unlimited and with his experience in video games there is no such thing as too many bullets.
Keel elaborates "Rifana and I are curious about your guns, the other kids told us what you and that other girl, Fia, did in Idol's home, but we were unconscious so we couldn't see what happened." Keel looks up at Misato with admiration. "They told us that you took down fifteen bad guys barely moving your arm and how Fia made a huge tornado without an incantation!"
"Uh…" Misato 'says', fifteen guys? He only took down five and Fia, Fitoria's alternate name, took down the rest, which was around fifteen people, she explained that the remaining guards got demoralized and quickly abandoned the place, only the zealots remained, and they took care of them outside the sight of the children.
The Gun Hero then displays his revolver, his first gun. "Well, this is a gun, guns are weapons that shoot metal pieces, kind of like a bow but easier."
Rifana tilts her head "Wait but the other kids said the guards went down instantly when you pointed the gun at them, they didn't see anything hitting the guards."
"That's because firing a gun is a lot faster and farther than a bow unless the marksman is the Bow Hero." that is if Itsuki got his head out of his ass. Misato mentally scoffs
"Kweh" Ace cries, looking up to the sky, and seeing a few wyverns in the sky. He glares at the lesser dragons. A perfect demonstration and something he could use to practice his new gun. Misato jogs up ahead of the party.
"Ace, I'll take care of these things, stay back and watch Keel and Rifana." The Gun Hero commands, the glass orb shining on his waist to hide the gun transforming into a different weapon. A gun modeled from the game he played a long time ago, Red Dead Redemption's Winchester Repeater.
"Might want to close your ears!" Misato yells, taking aim. Rifana and Keel comply and close their ears with their hands.
Bang
One wyvern goes down, instantly Gun hero then pulls the lever and fires more in quick succession.
Bang bang bang!
Another falls with its wings damaged and the other cries in pain and attempts to flee.
Bang
The last wyvern falls.
Both Rifana and Keel's eyes widen as they stare at the monster's descent.
"Woah, they went down so fast." Keel says in awe.
Rifana nods "Ya…"
Misato turns around with the rifle resting on his shoulder casually. "Come on, those wyverns might fetch a good price."
"Gweh" Ace cries poking his head against Misato.
"What is it, Ace?" The Gun Hero asks, moving his hand to pet the Filolial
POOF
"What the heck?!" He yells turning around as he wipes his face and blinks from the sudden puff of air. "Wait a minute..." He turns back finding a much larger Filolial. Ace grew again. Just like the show he's like a giant version of his baby form. His main body is still red and his feathers were jet black.
Ace: Royal Filolial Level 23
"Ace grew bigger!" Keel says in surprise.
Rifana reaches her hand to touch Ace, only to find her arm sinking into the Filolial. "He's so warm."
BRrrrr!
Misato, Rifana, and Keel all stare at Ace as he stares at the lesser dragons with some drool coming out of his beak.
"Oh, right…" Misato says remembering the scene where Naofumi fed all the Filolials in the anime, there's also the time when Filo ate the fragment thing from the undead dragon… Wait. What the fuck is a Filolial's stomach made of?
Misato absorbed some pieces of the Wyverns but then something happened.
Error
The Wyvern Series is blocked by Fitoria's Feather.
"Damn it Fitoria… I should have guessed." Misato murmurs. He's gotta convince Fitoria to unlock it later, somehow. He can see it happening if Filo and possibly Ace placed their feathers but Fitoria… Misato sighs, feeling a little disappointed in the Filolial Queen.
Then again he shouldn't expect too much, Fitoria isn't human. Actually never mind, humans have shown to not be great with grudges. A certain king has a grudge against demi-humans. "And I have a grudge against my murderers… Or anyone else that's like them." The Gun Hero thinks to himself.
"This is GOOD/AMAZING!" Keel and Rifana yell, eating the wyvern soup Misato roughly made.
"KWEH!" Ace says despite his face being buried in the bowl.
"You are an amazing cook, Misato!" Rifana
"That's because my gun enhances the taste and quality, I feel so bad for the chefs back at home mastering their work only for Heroes to have a tool that makes it the same quality with fewer skills." Misato mentally sighs.
The Gun Hero lifts up the bowl to his lips and drinks the remaining broth. He places the bowl down and stands up, looking at Rifana and Keel finished and satisfied, while Ace nearly finishes his fifth and last bowl.
"Alright, let's get going." Misato says, packing up the utensils and placing them into his inventory.
"Where to?" Keel asks
"Back to Reichnott village for more training."
"Again? But we already did enough training, we know how to fight." Keel says.
"Ya on how to use a knife and other stuff, but now that you're bigger, you might be able to use a weapon that you like more now rather than before because back then you were too small. Which means when you choose a new weapon you would need some training with it."
"Oh."
"What about me?" Rifana asks
"Well, that's your decision if you still want to use a spear or not."
"Hmmm I don't think so, I like using a spear and I get to fight like you sort of…" She trails off recalling the Gun Hero's recent kill. "Could I use a gun too?"
Misato shakes his head "Um, I don't think it's a good idea to have you wield a weapon that might make you deaf, your ears are more sensitive than mine."
Keel chimes in with a wincing expression "Ya that would hurt a lot."
Rifana nods rubbing her ear "Yes it would… Alright, I'll stick with using a spear, but I want a new one, not one made out of wood."
"If your little body can lift it." The Gun hero says with a smirk, slowly walking ahead of the group
Rifana pouts and pokes Misato with the spear, the pointy end.
"Hey! That hurts!"
"But you're bigger than us, so you should be tougher." Rifana says with a smug grin
"Ya Bro…" Keel joins in with a smirk.
Misato frowns but then smirks, he turns into a black blur, in the eyes of the children due to their stats, and flicks both their foreheads quickly.
"Ow!" Rifana says rubbing her head
"Get back here!" Keel yells with her fist raised, running towards the Gun Hero.
"Ya!" Rifana says following her friend.
Keel and Rifana then chase Misato back to Reichnott's Village, Ace at some point helped the children catch up to Misato to enact their vengeance by ineffectively punching him.
Keel looks at the array of weapons, uncertain of which one to choose. Meanwhile, Rifana was happily holding her new iron-tipped spear. The Demi-Human Wolf stares at a sword she reaches to grab it only to step back shaking her head.
"What's wrong Keel?" Misato asks, Rifana turns concerned about her close friend.
Keel frowns "It's nothing"
Misato's eyes narrowed "Didn't seem like nothing."
The girl sighs "I just don't like the idea of wielding a weapon like the knights who enslaved me and my friends…"
Rifana walks up to Keel and nods, patting her shoulder "Me too, it's why I chose a spear."
The Gun hero's eyes widened. Right, the knights of Melomarc tend to wield swords most of the time. He sighs "Okay, it's your decision, just be certain that it is the one you want by your side when we head deeper into Melomarc."
Keel nods with a determined look, she turns back to the weapons, carefully examining each one, and she stops looking at a particular weapon, something that exemplifies strength. She grabs a hold of a small hand axe, holds it with two hands, and does some practice swings, it looked like she was meant to wield it.
Keel finishes with a final overhead swing, she stops taking a breath and turns to Misato with a smile. "I want this to be by my side."
The Captain of Reichnott's Guard teaches Keel how to swing an axe properly, while Rifana practices with her new spear. Within Reichnott's home is Misato studying Melomarc's written language. The girls kept practicing until they could not hold their weapons. It was then the captain decided that they had enough training for the day.
"Why are you alive?"
"I don't know."
"Why are you here in this world?"
"I don't know."
"WHY ARE YOU ALIVE AND WE ARE NOT!?"
"I don't kn-
BANG
Misato's body jumps straight up from his bed wide awake, he sighs, rubbing his eyes. "Another nightmare…" He mutters. He then hears small footsteps and a few knocks on his door. Misato cautiously stands up, with his weapon in hand, and slowly opens the door only to find a tired Rifana and Keel holding each other and wearing a blanket over them.
"Rifana, Keel, what's wrong?" He asks, subtly placing the gun away.
"We… had a nightmare." Rifana says, rubbing her friend's shoulder.
Keel explains "It was about our friends in our home getting taken away by the waves and slavers…"
The Gun Hero places a hand on her shoulder "Say no more."
"Can we sleep with you Misato?" Rifana asks
Misato smiles "Sure."
The Gun Hero lays on his bed and lifts his blanket, allowing the children to slip in on each side.
The Demi-human Weasel asks "Can you tell us a story?"
"Ya I can…"
Misato would then describe a story about a young man with no memories except his name, who wakes up to meet a strong kind man with blue hair and a blonde lady and goes on adventures with a group of diverse and good people. Before Misato could start the story, the children were fast asleep, soon followed by Misato.
The Companion Series is now affecting Rifana and Keel. You, Rifana and Keel, have gained 3 points on all stats.
Misato is writing on a piece of paper with some quill and ink, he then puts the quill away and rubs his eyes, slightly fatigued.
"That is enough for today." The tutor says and the Gun hero quickly places the papers away and books on the shelf.
"How did I do?" The human says to his tutor, who is examining the papers.
"I am impressed, you have learned quite a bit, perhaps in a week you will completely understand Melomarc's writing."
"Oh, that's good." Strange, Misato didn't expect to learn so quickly, sure he can speak the language but it's progressing pretty well than expected when learning new written language. "I'm going to check on Rifana and Keel, thanks for your help these past two days."
"Of course, will I see you here again tomorrow?"
"Sorry, I don't think so."
"Oh, well before you leave you should read some of these books, they will help you learn more on your journey. Rifana and Keel are literate so they can help too."
Misato nods, grabbing the books. "Alright, thank you." He places them into his Gun's inventory and walks out of Reichnott's house. He jogs towards the guard's training ground. He finds Rifana and Keel, fighting some guards, from the looks of things, they are winning. Misato sits on a bench, observing his teammates. Keel was wearing a blue tunic with some metal playing covering her torso like a corset and short black jacket covering her shoulders. Along with a buckler shield on her left arm, while her free hand is holding her hand axe.
Rifana was wearing shorts and long leather boots, a tank top, a black jacket covering her arms. She had a large metal shoulder plate on her left arm and some leather on her right arm to protect it and to allow more movement with her spear. Both girls seemed to have copied Misato's fashion by wearing black jackets.
"Aren't they amazing?"
The Gun Hero immediately rolls off the bench, grabs his revolver, and points it at the source of the voice. Only to find Reichnott at the end of his gun hands raised, he sighs and holsters his gun. "Sorry about that."
The noble shakes his head and slightly bows "No, it was my fault for sneaking up on you like that, I tend to tease some of my villagers by surprising them. I should not have done that to you."
Misato rubs the back of his head and sits back on the bench with Reichnott next to him.
"They have grown quite fast, faster than any Demi-Human I know." Reichnott says
The Gun Hero nods "That's because we were together in a party and I made sure to weaken some strong monsters for them to finish off for the exp."
"There's also your newest companion, Ace, the Royal Filolial?"
"Ya... I knew about Royal Filolials but I didn't expect it to happen like this. Even though he looks Demi-Human he still acts like a Filolial most of the time." Ace looked like a kid who was twelve years old, his hair was mixed colored, its red on the top of his head which is pulled back, while the sides of his head were black. His wings were black as well.
"The stables master was quite surprised to see a young boy sleeping naked in the stables."
Misato sighs trying to not remember how the glares in the village got more intense. They got him clothing quickly thanks to the magic gemstone Misato grabbed back the Sanctuary, the tailor made a simple red tunic with black shorts to go with his hair and wings, it looked good, but Ace could use something a little better, perhaps a certain tailor in Castle Town might be able to provide that.
"Did you see him, how is he?"
"It looked Ace was having fun with the other children. I think Ace accidentally kicked the rubber ball too far away from the village though."
"I'll pay."
Reichnott chuckles
"I was uncertain at first about the idea of Rifana and Keel coming with you on your quest, but now that I see them like this, I am no longer worried as much as before."
"That's good to hear… Wait, not as much?"
The kind human noble nods "Yes, I am worried about this mission of yours. After seeing some of the documents you provided about Idol Rabier, I am worried about what the Church of the Three Heroes will do if you are attempting to help all the heroes, including the Shield hero. I barely kept my village together when Lord Seatto died and tried to promote good Human and Demi-Human relations."
"I won't-
Reichnott interrupts "I know you won't let anything bad happen, but just like the first wave, some things are beyond our control."
"..."
"So, before you leave my territory, I hope you, Keel, and Rifana have no regrets and are certain that they are ready to go with you. Not physically, but mentally because, there are some things that even adults, human or not, need help with." The noble says facing his fellow human.
Misato turns away, looking at Rifana and Keel cheering as they have won the spars, hugging each other. He recalls the night Rifana and Keel came to him for comfort, frightened by the memories of what they lost, the same with the other former slaves.
"I think… I know what I need them to do before we head off to Castle Town."
"Good." Reichnott nods
"Lord Reichnott, did you regret something that you did before?
"There are many things I regret, like letting the children of this village get captured, or letting some of my territories be taken by those who look down on Demi-Humans… But there is one thing I regret the most… but that's a story for another time.
Misato stands up bowing, "Alright, thank you for everything."
"You and your friends are always welcomed within my land Misato." Reichnott says bowing back.
"Hey, Big Bro!" Keel yells out running up to the Gun Hero, followed by Rifana. "Did you see us?"
"Yep, I saw that uppercut you did on that one guy."
"Ya!"
"You think we are ready?" Rifana asks, holding her spear proudly.
Misato looks away for a second checking his HUD.
Misato Morgan: Archer (Gun Hero) Level 40
Ace: Royal Filolial Level 24
Keel: Demi-Wolf Child Level 20
Rifana: Demi-Weasel Child Level 19
He turns his sight back to the girls, they have grown, they are probably about a high schooler's age, and they are almost his height, he's just a head taller than them now.
"Do you think you are ready?"
"Hell ya! We're older now!" Keel answers
"But I meant deep inside, are you both certain there isn't anything you want to do before heading to Castle Town? You know that I intend to help all heroes and the Church won't like it when we help the Shield Hero too." Misato says.
Rifana and Keel both look at each other, but then the blonde turns towards the flag in the center of the village.
"Rifana?" Keel asks.
Rifana turns back, facing Keel and Misato "It might seem dumb, but I want to go back to Seatto's village and put the flag back up. So, when we save Raphtalia, and the other villagers, help the heroes, and go back home, we will see the flag standing despite everything we went through."
Misato and Keel slowly form a smile.
The Gun Hero nods "Alright then, let's go."
The Gun Hero's party rode by Ace pulling the Wagon. Misato sat at the front guiding Ace to their destination, while Keel and Rifana sat in back silently, perhaps trying to process that they are returning to their ruined home.
"Hey Big Bro Misato?" Ace asks turning his head to face the Gun Hero
"Ya Ace?"
"Why does Big Sis Keel and Rifana feel sad and scared?"
Misato glances back at the girls and turns to Ace. "Because we are heading back to their home which is broken."
"Are we going to fix it?"
"No, not yet Rifana wants to put a flag back up."
"Would this make her and Keel happy again?"
The Gun Hero pauses uncertain. "I wouldn't really say happier, maybe more fulfilled?"
"Oh, like getting my stomach full of delicious food?"
Misato chuckles and shrugs "Kind of."
"Okay! Let's go faster!"
"Wait don- oh god!"
"Woah!" Rifana lets out a startled yell.
They arrived at the ruined village, no bodies in sight, only rocks and some stones acting as tombstones were there. A village near the edge of the cliff with a great view of the ocean? Sounds like it was a beautiful village. Misato's hand clenches remembering the eager faces of the knights who enslaved the survivors, he will make them pay. He turns to see Rifana and Keel slowly enter the foundation of a house looking around. Misato and Ace walk up to them, Ace sensing the somber mood remained silent, Misato stares at them, wordlessly communicating his question.
Keel turns to them "This, was Rifana's home." Rifana walks back to the group wiping away some of her tears, Ace walks up to the blonde and hugs her. She returns the hug and faces Keel and nods. Keel nods back and walks through the ruins entering another foundation of a house. "Dad?" She yells with a slight quiver in her voice.
No one answers.
Rifana, holding Ace, walks up to her friend and pulls her into a group hug. The party then looks at the Gun Hero and he joins the hug, hoping to help his companions.
"I know it's impossible, but I was still hoping he would be here..." Keel murmurs.
Rifana nods and hugs Keel tighter. The group breaks up their hug and looks at the dirty flag buried under some debris. Rifana turns to Misato and Ace.
"Can you give me and Keel some time alone? We talked a bit, and we want to raise the flag ourselves." She requests.
Misato nods and holds Ace's hand, they walk away from the two demi-humans slowly removing the debris.
"Big Bro how could this make them feel better?"
Misato rubs Ace's head. "Well sometimes people need to do things even if it makes them feel sad. They feel sad about what happened, but they would feel better knowing that the flag is standing."
"I still don't get it."
The Gun Hero sighs "When you get older, you will."
"Alright..." Ace says frowning. He looks back at his older sisters, seeing Keel and Rifana place a long wooden pole up with some rope connected to the flag. Until he felt a presence, someone he knew a few days ago. The Filolial smiles and turns around seeing Fitoria holding some beautiful white flowers. "Queen Fitoria." Ace says.
Misato waves his hand, he and Ace walks over to Fitoria. "Hey Fitoria, how are you feeling?"
Fitoria gives him a small smile and nods "I am a bit tired, I was awake for three days, but after I woke up this morning, I wanted to see you sooner."
The Gun Hero smiles back and pats her head. Fitoria then hugs Misato's stomach and when the separate he asks the Carriage Hero "What are the flowers for?"
"For the girls, they are grieving for the dead are they not? I do the same when I visit Forrest and Mamoru's grave."
Misato nods somberly, he walks back to Rifana and Keel, followed by Fitoria and Ace. They see the flag up billowing in the wind.
Rifana's eyes widen "You're Fia, you're the one who saved me."
Fitoria nods "Although my true name is Fitoria, I am the one who healed you that night, I brought you these flowers for those you two have lost." She says handing Rifana and Keel the flowers.
"Thank you." Keel says with gratitude.
"I know a good spot to place these flowers, Raphtalia would appreciate it if we did it." Rifana says.
Keel nods and the duo walks to the cliffs with a rock standing near the edge. If Misato recalled correctly, in the anime, this was where Raphtalia's parents died during the Waves. They kept their distance from the girls giving them privacy as they speak to Raphtalia's parents. A little later, Rifana and Keel walk back to the party, eyes slightly red, they rubbed their eyes wiping away their remaining tears.
Rifana gives Misato a determined look "I promised her parents that we will find her."
Keel chimes in "And we will rebuild the village like it was before."
"We're ready to go deeper in to Melomarc." They both said.
Misato looks a Fitoria, who nods, he turns back giving Rifana and Keel an uncertain expression "Well before we go, there is something I need to tell you."
"What is it?" Keel asks.
"Let's talk at our old camp."
They went back to their old resting place and sat on some logs near the fireplace.
Misato sits down with Fitoria next to him holding his hand and Ace on his other side. Keel and Rifana sit on the opposite side, waiting patiently. Misato takes a deep breath, trying to calm his beating heart.
"Rifana, Keel, I'm not native to this world, I was summoned here as a Hero. I'm sorry for not telling you."
Rifana blinks and stares at Keel who sheepishly rubs the back of her head.
Fitoria's eyes narrow "You are not surprised." she states.
Rifana nods "Well, we had our suspicions."
Misato stares at them utterly confused. "H-how? How did you know that I was a Hero?"
Keel smiles "We knew that you were a Hero the moment you invited us to your 'Party' and how we grew so fast." She answers. "Only Heroes can connect to other people and give them a boost in stats and levels than normal people would when in a group."
The Gun Hero eyes widened recalling a recent memory.
"With the rate we are leveling up we should be adults in less than a week, especially since you, uh, are helping us."
Was that why Rifana stuttered a bit when he asked about when they would grow? They knew he was a hero this entire time, he's such an idiot! Of course, normal people here can't make parties or groups!
"Only a Hero would save us from bad people like Idol Rabier, just like the stories. I knew the moment I saw you, that you were a hero..." Rifana says with a smile.
Misato frowns, but he nearly forgot about her for a whole week while she was suffering! How is he going to explain that to her? Before he scrambles his brain to find the right way to explain it Keel interrupts.
"But there's just one thing we don't know... Are you the Bow Hero?" Keel asks.
The 'Bow' Hero blinks. "Uh no, why did you ask that?"
"Well, in our HUD it says you're an Archer, you use weapons that are like a bow but better. It's either that or you're the Projectile Hero." Keel answers.
"Well, I'm neither of the heroes you know of, I'm a different one. I am the Gun Hero." Misato states.
Rifana and Keel's eyes widen, surprised by the statement. "You are a different hero, but how?"
"Let me explain..."
Misato and Fitoria would then explain the Gun's original world, even provided some recordings of Forrest's message.
"The Previous Gun hero came from another world, destroyed by the waves?" Keel mutters in shock.
"And there's someone who controls the waves and monsters?" Rifana says.
Misato and Fitoria nod somberly.
"Why is it that we never heard of a Gun Hero before?" Rifana asks.
"Because Forrest couldn't trust people who would later on summon heroes to manipulate and trick to doing terrible things."
"Why would people trick heroes to do bad things?" Keel asks.
"Because some people are selfish and evil, you two should know that the most..."
Rifana and Keel became silent from that answer.
Misato continues. "The stories and legends about these Heroes are wrong, we are not gods, before being summoned we were just normal people who didn't have to worry about saving the world, what makes us special is just the weapon in our hands..."
"But you saved me..."
"Only because..." Misato sighs "Because I have knowledge about this world..."
"What do you mean?"
"I know... The future." He admits explaining the important aspect of his knowledge.
"You knew I was in the dungeon?" Rifana says, her expression was stoic.
"Yes... Rifana, Keel, I-I am so sorry for letting you all suffer for so long." Misato says bowing.
"Wait." Fitoria interrupts, standing up, with her arm in front of the Gun Hero. "Before you say anything about Misato, just know that before he was summoned, he, his friends and family were killed, so during his first week here, he was in pain for what he has lost."
"..."
Rifana and Keel stares at the Gun Hero. Then they stared at each other and nod, and both hugged the Gun hero.
"We forgive you Misato..." Rifana says.
"You were suffering like us." Keel says.
"But it's nothing compared to-
"It doesn't change that you were in pain and that you lost people like we did!" Keel interrupts.
"Besides, in the end of the day, you managed to save us, I'm alive thanks to you and the knowledge you have of this world." Rifana states with certainty.
"Rifana..." Misato mutters.
The blonde continues "In the stories, it is said that heroes provide wisdom and knowledge of things beyond our comprehension, your knowledge of the future must be it. You and Fia, saved me from certain death..." She says with an appreciative smile.
Misato smiles "Thank you..."
"Can you explain everything else now? I want to know more about the Previous Gun Hero."
Misato and Fitoria would then explain the secret weapon and their mission to unite the cardinal heroes.
Rifana and Keel sat there for a few minutes processing the information. After that, Misato continues.
"Our mission is dangerous, if the Church are anything like the ones, I knew in my visions they will try to kill us for our attempts to unite the heroes, because their belief is that only three heroes are good and the fourth is evil. Anything that goes against that belief, some people will do anything to make it look like it's true."
"But why? The heroes are meant to save the world wouldn't making them not trust each other make it harder for them?" Keel asks incredulously.
"The Pope is the leader of the Church, he is rich and has many loyal followers of this religion, he has power because so many people believe in the Three Heroes belief. If people realized that the belief is wrong, he would lose that power and would do anything to keep it because he loves it and doesn't care about everyone else but himself."
Rifana scoffs "So instead of admitting that he was wrong, he would lie and frame the Shield Hero to prove that their religion is true and doom the world? Disgusting."
Keel nods gritting her teeth and cracking her knuckles. Already picturing herself punching the robed liar.
Misato nods "So Rifana, Keel, if you want to back out, stay at Reichnott Village and wait until the Three Heroes Church is defeated, I will understand."
"Hell no. If you're taking them down, I want in on that!" Keel states standing up with determination and anger.
"I'm in too... The Three Heroes Church needs to pay for what their followers have done to our home and for making the Shield Hero look bad. The best way to do that is by everyone sees the truth about them." Rifana says with venom in her words.
Fitoria, Misato and Ace smiled.
The Gun Hero stands up, filled with energy and excitement. "Alright, we'll gather up some things at Fitoria's home and then we will take... The Next Step" he says.
Author's Notes
(4/16/23) Misato revealing his true knowledge is a bit too soon so I decided for him to say that he knows the future, although it is limited to one timeline. A good cover story, until he meets another summoned hero.
So sorry for the wait everyone and thank you all for waiting patiently and not spamming me with messages and reviews to continue the story. I had to deal with things and every time when I had the chance to write, I couldn't form the words for some reason. Plus I rather go at my own pace and write a chapter I can Mostly be proud of rather than rush the chapters and mess up the pacing for being impatient to write the parts that I daydream the most about when thinking of this Fanfic. There was also the fact that it's a little hard to write a character with little to no screen time and a character who was supposed to die.
If you read previous chapters, you might notice a very small detail, Misato has Amber eyes, I don't know why but I thought Hazel eyes were yellow for some reason, so ya I meant to describe that Misato has yellow eyes the same color as his Weapon in the Image Cover of this fanfic. Because I like the idea of Cardinal Heroes having the same eye color as their weapon, like the Cardinal Weapon itself has adapted and changed to the Wielder's liking. Although Itsuki is confusing, going to change his eye colors to match his bow. I know Glass's eye color does not match the Vassal Fans but that's a vassal weapon and she wasn't someone who was summoned, she a native that was chosen by it.
I have made a fanfic about rather than Naofumi eating up Bitch's humiliation from her new name, what if he asked Bitch if she cared about Motoyasu? Something that in hindsight, somebody should have asked. It might be a two-shot story, not certain when I will update it though.
Thank you all and have a good day.