Chapter 11: Righteous Justice
"Agh. Watch it, Brayden!" Delia winced.
The wave had concluded, but the battle, however, was far from over. With rogue knights and monsters on the loose, the subjugation force was spread thin, attempting to quell the chaos.
Deaths were at a minimum, with civilian casualties being at zero due to the quick work of squad B. And afterward, clearing the village of the insurgents, they all returned to the medical tent.
"I'm not a healing mage. Just sit down and take it."
"Randy would never." Delia scoffed
"Do you want to sit here and bleed out? Thought so." Brayden countered, shutting up the angry bunny.
"We got one more, make way!" A knight announced.
"Oh, come on!" Brayden groaned. "Where's master when you need him?"
"I'm not sure. But the shield hero is going to be preoccupied for a while. This kid also got bit pretty badly."
"Bit? There was no biting mon-" Brayden spat out some ink in surprise. "Dalton! What the hell happened to him?!"
The squid questioned. On the back of Kuro was Dalton, currently sound asleep and with a bloody shirt wrapped around his arm. His shirt, to be exact.
"A two-headed dog. I'm not sure if it was one from the wave, but it made him have a panic attack, then he got bit."
Kuro, with the help of one of the knights, put Dalton in one of the beds and slowly unwrapped his arm. Brayden looked away in disgust as the arm had a deep bite mark on it.
"Eww."
"Shut up!" Delia raged, kicking Brayden in the head.
"Oww. I didn't even do anything!"
"Just wrap his arm alright." Delia sighed.
"Alright, geez. For an injured bunny, you sure are energetic."
"Rabbit demi-humans do have faster heart rate than most."
"HOLY SHIT!" Brayden screamed, jumping away from the sudden appearance of Zalton. The platypus, meanwhile, was too busy holding in his laughter.
"HOW DO YOU KEEP DOING THAT!"
"I have a particular set of skills. Though I ask that you quiet down. We need to let the injured rest."
"Zalton. What's going on?" Delia asked.
"The lord has ordered a report on your end and asked if you need any assistance."
"Well, I got stabbed, Tebba got slashed, Dalton got bit, and Brayden's being an ass."
"Hey!"
"In other news. No civilians were harmed. You can thank Kuro for that."
"As you should!" Kuro struck a victory pose, garnering no reaction from anyone in the room.
"I see. The lord will be here to pick you up soon. Great job, everyone."
Zalton took off his fedora and tossed it into the air. A black circle expanded from it. And Zalton walked through, disappearing along with the hat shortly afterward.
"… how the-"
"Don't bother Ake. We don't understand either."
/~/
"Look, everyone! They're coming back!" A girl shouted.
Everyone ran over, cheering for the arrival of their master and fellow villagers. They were less stoked at the arrival of the knights but cheered nonetheless.
"Master, you're back!" Exclaimed Randy. "Where's Dalton?"
"Glad that you asked. We need to give these guys some medical attention." The final few carts pulled by the Filolial brought in the injured combatants. The medical team and everyone else gasped but were quick to act under their lord's orders.
"Get them to the medical building! I want potions, water, and bandages ready to be used!" Randy ordered, scrambling the team along with a few knights with medical knowledge.
"Rifana. Take the prisoners into the holding cells."
"Naofumi. We don't have the space for everyone. We can only fit 4 people at max, and we already have 2 spots filled." Melty explained.
"Just use the underground storeroom for now. If we still have no space after that, then just get rid of a few."
"Define get rid?" Rifana grinned.
"Ask Melty," Naofumi ordered before taking off on Sakura.
"… Soo."
"For the last time, we are not doing a battle pit!"
"Damn it."
/~/
"Melty. Are you okay? No cuts or bruises?!" Aultcray panicked as he checked up on his daughter.
"I am fine, Father. Nothing even got close."
"Thank the heavens." Aultcray sighed in relief. He immediately got back up the second Naofumi came into the room.
"Shield hero."
"King."
The two stared each other down, both not daring to show weakness in front of the other. It went on for so long that Melty was forced to break the two apart.
"You two need to cease this squabbling already. We essentially had a coup, and Naofumi's life in jeopardy!"
"Bold of you too assume my life was ever in danger."
"That's not the point!" Melty grumbled. "People are threatening the lives of you and the people of Lurolona. Do you understand the possible war that could happen if they succeed at taking your life?"
"Then perhaps the king should figure out the problem. You know, since it was his knights who stepped out of line.
"You dare pin the blame on me, Shield!"
"Yes. Want me to repeat it!?"
Naofumi and the king began to argue once again, both of whom were ready to fight at a moment's notice. Melty could only sigh as her father and Naofumi ignored her pleas for peace until the door suddenly slammed open.
"NAOFUMI!"
The two's argument was interrupted as Itsuki stepped into the room, looking more pissed than Aultcray.
"Ahh. Bow hero. What seems to be the issue?"
"I'm afraid this is between me and Naofumi, king. I have some questions for him."
"Well, excuse you. We're currently in the middle of a very important—
"Meaningless!" Melty raged.
"As I said. Important talk. I don't have much time for—
"Save it, Naofumi. Tell me. Is what she said true?"
"... Father. Let's step out for a bit."
"I was planning on leaving anyway." Aultcray left the room, not slamming the door this time, much to Naofumi's surprise.
"Alright, who is she again?"
"The princess you have locked in your prison cells right now. Myne!"
/~/
Fifteen Minutes Earlier.
"Damn it. Agh." Itsuki groaned.
As night fell on Lurolona, the village erupted into celebration. The three heroes returned to the village shortly after Naofumi and were all excited to see the festivities firsthand.
Naofumi went off with Melty to figure out what to do next. Ren went off to the birdcage to re-challenge Eclair, and Motoyasu went off to chase some woman and some filolials, like usual.
Itsuki didn't know what to do and wandered about until he fell into one of the tunnels.
"I swear. Naofumi needs to fill up these tunnels." Itsuki complained as he stood back up. Looking around, he found no way back up, leaving moving forward as his only option. Using the light from his weapon, Itsuki made his way down the dimly lit tunnels of Lurolona.
After traveling for a few minutes. Itsuki barely caught himself as the tunnel system started to shake. He was going to question what it was until he heard a feminine voice chanting.
Rushing down the hall to the voices, Itsuki came across a brightly lit room. On the inside, there were two cells. One of them held a male with purple hair. He wore dark purple, a yellow shirt, and a purple cloak, along with the same colored scar. He was playing with a deck of cards on a table inside his cell.
The one causing the rumblings, however, was someone that Itsuki immediately recognized.
"Myne?" Isuki asked.
Myne immediately looked over to Itsuki, grinning at the sight of the bow hero. The other prisoner, however, had to wipe his glasses off before being shocked at the presence of the bow hero.
"The bow hero?"
"Lord Itsuki! Whatever are you doing here?" Myne asked, switching to her more innocent act, much to the annoyance of her cellmate.
"Myne? What are you doing here? Motoyasu said you went missing."
"Oh, it was terrible." Myne sobbed. Producing some tears at the drop of a dime.
"I don't know how. But the shield hero is taking over the kingdom?"
"What?"
"He somehow brainwashed my sister and got her to convince father and mother that I was lying! He then locked me in here for going against him and is now building an army of slaves!"
"The villagers… are slaves?"
"Yes. The birds, demi-humans. All of them have a crest. He even sold some of his people to Siltvelt a few days ago."
"Don't use me for your stories." The slaver grumbled. His thoughts, however, were ignored, as the bow hero was too lost in his anger.
"He did what!?"
"Yes. The shield hero is out of control. His brainwashing is getting strong enough to the point that monsters bow to him in reverence. You have to help me, Lord Itsuki, before everything I know is taken!" Myne crouched down, "sobbing" even harder than before.
Her cellmate scoffed at the performance, but Itsuki was too lost in thought to notice once again.
He had a hard time believing it. The princess and queen have outed Myne for being a liar, and the documents prove it. But the more he thought about it, the more he started to believe. The king's sudden tolerance despite his immense hatred before. The queen and princess came out of nowhere and to his defense almost immediately. And finally, all these villagers are willing enough to go to war for him. Not to mention all the knights he gathered despite being public enemy number one a few days ago.
All his thoughts culminated into one thing.
/~/
"It was hard to believe at first. But the more I thought about it, the less sense it made. How dare you!" Itsuki fumed. Pointing his bow toward the shield hero
"Are you seriously listening to her of all people? We showed you evidence that she is a pathological liar. To hell with that, actually. She's just a liar!"
"So you're saying you don't have slaves!?"
"Well, of course, I have those. Some for cheap even."
"And those bandits. You sold them to Siltvelt, didn't you!"
"The law requires that I answer no."
"Take this seriously, Naofumi! You're supposed to be a hero; you can't go around doing these things!"
"Not sure what the issue is. Slavery is legal."
"Legal? Do you have no morals? You're taking kids from destroyed and broken homes. Only to shove them into a fight with an interdimensional threat from hell!
"Yeah. I needed people to fight, and they stepped up when no one else would."
"Because you forced them? Or because they felt like they had no choice?"
"I gave them a choice; isn't that enough?"
"They're slaves Naofumi, child slaves at that! Most of them don't even have the will to disobey an order from their parents. And especially not their master, who can shock them at the slightest hint of disobedience.
"Damn, that's crazy and all. However, that's not an issue on my part." Naofumi scoffed. He peered his eyes over to a corner before returning to Itsuki.
"I can care less if I'm a hero, a lord, or the goddamn pope. I'm fighting the waves in the way I see fit. Which is more than any of you have accomplished. I brought the knights in; I assisted in making plans. My team evacuated an entire village with zero casualties! And now you're confronting me about morals and whatever else that bitch says." Naofumi began to chuckle, which was the last straw for the bow hero. Finding out that everything Malty said was true, he pulled his bow back and released an arrow.
Naofumi did nothing and stood there as the arrow flew towards his heart.
"Zalton." As requested. Itsuki's shadow sprung to life and grabbed the arrow heading for Naofumi.
"Greetings, my lord." The shadow went back to Itsuki's side, revealing Zalton standing between the two heroes.
"What the hell!" Itsuki shot another arrow, but it was caught once again. This time it was Sakura's coming out of her master's pocket.
"Change Arrow: Explosive Shot."
/~/
"You're nearing your limit, Erebus. One more and you're kaput." Sadeena teased as she downed another bottle. The catboy facing her was looking very tipsy. Mustering all his remaining strength. Erebus shakily brought his final bottle to his mouth.
BOOM!
"Bummer, now I have to get sober." Sadeena groaned as he grabbed her harpoon.
/~/
Naofumi tumbled to the ground, using his body to cover his Filolial as he skidded to a halt.
"Are they safe, Zalton?"
"All accounted for, my lord." Zalton appeared from a portal, dropping several of the cooks from his arms.
"Delia is not going to be happy about this," Naofumi muttered. The bottom floor of the manor was on fire, with all the furniture and walls on the inside being torn up by the explosion. As Naofumi got up and dusted himself off, he summoned an Erst Shield to defend against two arrows coming at him.
The shield took around six more arrows before the seventh broke through. But Naofumi was prepared and effortlessly knocked it away.
"This is getting out of hand, Itsuki. What sort of envoy of justice blows up a house with people in it?"
"I didn't want to. But you forced my hand. Now I'm going to make you pay for—
"I've heard enough. Kick his ass."
Sakura and Zalton rushed forward on command. Itsuki narrowly dodged a hit from Zalton before getting kicked into the air by Sakura.
"[Blink]" Shooting an arrow. Itsuki disappeared, reappearing on the roof where his arrow landed.
"That's not fair! Fight me like a man, 1 vs 1!"
"I have people for that. For example." Naofumi snapped his fingers, and all the villagers nearby started to rush Itsuki.
"EVERYBODY STOP!" Melty ordered.
Itsuki looked on in horror as Sadeena, Sakura, and Zalton were on the roof. All of them inches away from skewing him on all sides. Thankfully. All of them were distracted by Melty's order and were looking down at the young princess.
"Lord Itsuki, Naofumi! Let's all settle down. This is all getting out of hand."
"Don't be afraid, princess. You don't have to be scared of him anymore!"
"What?"
"Don't worry. I'll rescue you and your father from his mind control! You can count on me."
"Lord Itsuki I can assure you that everything is fine. Just come down so we can talk this out. There are no crimes or mind control going on." Melty pleaded.
"I cannot. After everything I learned today. I've concluded that Naofumi is the worst of the scum here. He needs to be stopped!"
"Insult Naofumi again an-"
"Sakura. I know you're angry, but please calm down!" Melty ordered.
"Fine," Sakura grumbled.
"Listen, Itsuki. You're surrounded, outgunned, and acting completely insane. So unless you want me to toss you into a cell with the bitch herself, get down here already."
"Tch. Never in a million years. "[Blink!]" With expert precision. Itsuki jumped off the roof and shot an arrow into one of the tunnels, disappearing shortly after it landed.
"Damn it. Raphtalia, sound the bell!"
/~/
Itsuki tried to use his knife to cut through the vines acting as the cell door. But they regrew as quickly as they were cut, keeping both inmates trapped.
"I don't understand. Why are these so hard to cut?" Itsuki grunted as he tried again, only to achieve the same result.
"It's made of bio plant. This variant is specialized to be tough as iron and fast enough to regrow if cut down. Getting through with sheer force is almost impossible." The prisoner explained.
"Then how do I open this up?"
"Attack the core. Either douse it with weed killer or burn it. You find it under that box, 5 meters deep."
"You sure know a lot about this place. Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Myne asked, trying to hide the rage in her voice.
"Apologies princess. I am currently not skilled enough to hit an underground target halfway across the room." The prisoner explained, rolling his eyes.
"No worries, Myne. I'll get you out of here quickly."
"There's also the two knights that came in earlier. They too know the dangers Naofumi poses."
"So that's why they attacked him during the wave. It's all making sense now." Itsuki finished digging up the core and shot a [Flaming Arrow] into one of its eyes. When the plant stopped screeching. The cell doors wilted away, allowing Myne and all the slavers to escape.
"Been a while since I touched my gear… who am I kidding? It's barely been a week." The slaver chuckled as he opened a chest carrying his belongings.
"You, sla-... soldier. Take us to the knights, Myne ordered.
"My name is Tanji, Your Highness. And I suggest we leave. If we stay here for too long, then Chino will be up and on our ass in seconds."
"Chino?" Itsuki asked.
"Not the point. We need to leave now, or we have zero chance of escaping." Tanji put his chakrams on his belt, as he finished up his gear.
"I can teleport us out of here. Just take us to them and we'll be out of here in a flash."
Tanji sighed, seeing he had no way to convince them. "Alright, fine. This way, quickly!" Tanji ordered, running down the hall with Itsuki following. Myne, after some silent swears, begrudgingly followed as well.
After a bit of running. The party finally entered the holding block. It was blocked by a similar bio-plant door. On the inside, it was a large dugout room with dozens of bandits, slavers, and knights all on the inside.
"So many people. How insane is he?"
"We gotta move fast. The warden would notice that the plant withered and she'll totally—
"Kick your ass."
"Hi, Chino. Anyways, she'll kick our… shit."
Tanji jumped to the side, leaving Myne and Itsuki to be hit by a gust of powerful air.
"Damn it all. Princess, find the seed quickly."
"You dare tell me what to do! And dig in the dirt no less!"
"Alright, alright. You deal with the bird then."
"I told you not to-" Malty gasped for air as Chino kicked her in the stomach, sending her away. Using this as a distraction, Tanji started to search for the seed.
"Don't do this, Tanji!" Chino went in for another kick but was forced to leap away to dodge an arrow. When she landed, she pulled out a metal staff and thrust it. But the bow hero dodged by teleporting to his arrow.
"Forget the door. I'll just add them to my party and teleport us out."
"If that's the plan, I'll buy you some time. [Fast Flame Call] [Fast Thunder Song.]" Tanji drew his chakrams, each one radiating fire and electricity. Throwing them. The two elemental blades flew through the air, But the filolial dodged it easily.
Running then flipping off the wall. Chino then avoided the two blades as it returned and closed the distance even further.
"As the source of thy power, I order thee, decipher the laws of nature, and propel me forward with a powerful flame. [Zweite Flare Rush!]"
Tanji burst forward, taking the form of a drill of flame. Meeting the challenge, Chino met him in the middle of a powerful tornado and breezed past him.
"Damn it." Tanji tried to throw one of his chakrams, but Chino grabbed him by the neck and slammed him to the ground.
"I know we said you can leave at any time, but taking the princess with you is completely uncalled for," Chino whispered.
"Not that I have much choice. The bow hero came out of nowhere after trying to kill your boss. At least now I have an excuse to return to my father. Hopefully, I won't have to cross paths with you as enemies again."
Tanji burst into flames, forcing Chino away as she patted the fire off her dress. Once she landed. She was surrounded by a circle of fire that trapped her inside, and then exploded.
"Sorry to ask, Lord Bow, but are you done?" Tanji winced as he threw a knife into the smoke. "Yes. Just grab on and wel-"
"Spiral!"
"Shit. Go, go, go!" Tanji panicked as he touched Itsuki's shoulder.
"Strike!"
"[Portal Bow!]" The bow hero immediately sensed the danger and raised his bow to the sky. Once it changed, the party grabbing onto him all disappeared in a golden flash, narrowly dodging the drill of wind charging at them.
"He can teleport? Cool." Chino chuckled. "…I'm so getting fired." Chino sighed as she dusted herself off. As she walked down the hall to the tunnel exit, she noticed a knife with a white strip tied to it stabbed into the ground.
"Tell Rifana I'm sorry. Also, tell her she's a prick for not paying back my 5 silver."
"Heh. She sure is."
/~/
Character Entries Unlocked
Tanji ?
A slaver who, for some reason, caught the attention of Naofumi. He now acts as the village's number 1 prisoner. (He gets 3 meals a day, a nap, a walk, and some snacks if asked.)
/~/
Village Report!
Current Funds
40 Gold, 24 Silvers, 98 Copper
Previous Purchase: Various Food Items (300 Silver)
Housing
Lords Manor (Bottom floor heavily damaged)
4 Guest houses
1 Community kitchen
2 Community House
Exports
Bricks (Paused)
Apothecary Stuff
(New Products. Healing/Mana recovery Potions.)
46 Gold, 76 Silver, 23 copper
Crystal (New mine found)
74 Gold, 23 Silver, 56 Copper
Fishing (Work in Progress)
Hunting
30 Silver per hunt
Bio Plant Fruit (New Industry)
Small Crate: 10 Silver
Medium Crate: 30 Silver
Large Crate: 60 Silver
Debt
Elhart: Paid 30 Gold (More Equipment)
Tailor: Paid
Mirso Tavern:
8 Gold (6 Gold paid)
Magic Shop
30 gold (Unpaid)
Notes to Self
Itsuki is now banned from Lurolona
Switch bitch's status from Prisoner to attack on sight
Repair Manor
Make up more code phrases
Rifana is banned from making fight rings
Use the whip method on the kids
Repair Kitchen
Head to Siltvelt