Virtue of the Shield Hero

by Allen Blaster

According to Newton's Third Law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Unfortunately, Naofumi and co will find this to be especially true after returning from their Otherworld trip. Rest of Summary inside. The third installment is here. Multiple pairings. Covers Season Three Territory and beyond. Arc 11: Chapter 37 & 38: Bad Tidings Abroad & Raphumi Engagement

178. 25: Vacation

Going to be a longer chap today. Think of it as two chapters in one. Hope you all enjoy :)

Also, in regards to S'yne, for when her real voice statics in the future, I'm indicating that text with bold italics in her dialogue. Let me know if that's better for you all or not.

---

Chapter Twenty-Five: Vacation

---

"Gahhh!" Gaelion let out a happy cry.

"I know, right? It's so relaxing here." Wyndia rubbed her daughter's head happily.

"Gah!" The baby red dragon nuzzled her head against her mother's hand. Eliciting a happy giggle in response from the dog girl.

"It does feel a lot calmer here, doesn't it?" Farrie agreed.

"With the Activation Event over, it's now back to being a regular tourist hotspot." Tersia pointed out while looking around.

"Does that mean we'll have the shops all to ourselves?" Farrie asked, her face beaming with excitement.

Tersia chuckled in response. "I doubt it. But we'll see."

"Boo! Blue wants to go swimming already! Why are we just standing around here?!" The group's deceptively young looking male filolial made his displeasure known.

"Oh my! To think this is where Cool Hero's Awesome Mate and Cool Hero are going to spend so much time together! Rikka's so jealous!" The black-winged girl yelled ecstatically, stars shining in her one visible eye.

"Blue told Rikka to come up with a better nickname already! It's too long and sounds stupid!" The middle-aged filolial rolled his eyes in response at his friend's overt enthusiasm.

"No way! Rikka will never change it! It's the name that was bestowed to Rikka in a dream from the Dragon Emperor himself!" The black-haired filolial posed proudly in an overly-exaggerated way. "He told Rikka that he will be reborn from the holy union between Cool Hero and Cool Hero's Awesome Mate! Rikka must see that it comes to pass!"

The blue-haired filolial just closed his eyes and let out a long and tired sigh in response, not willing to engage with the other royal's nonsense.

The Sword Hero's party stood in front of a familiar trio of animal totems. Situated in the middle and in-between them was a stone tablet which Three of the Four Heroes had learned their best spells from a long time ago on their previous trip here.

"..." Ren, who was dressed in a pair of casual shorts and a t-shirt, said nothing, but seeing the group so happy and rowdy, his lips curved slightly upward as he turned to his older brother figure and Raphtalia, who were standing behind them, watching them.

"Thank you again, Naofumi, Raphtalia. You didn't have to do this for me…"

"You kidding me? We got to have a room all to ourselves on the boat ride over." Naofumi grinned as he slung an arm over the half-tanuki's shoulders. "Getting here was practically a vacation in and of itself."

"All we did was sleep though." Raphtalia mumbled in embarrassment to her husband friend.

"Among other things." Naofumi grinned back at her.

"... ehehehe." Raphtalia blushed, turning her head away as a blissful smile worked its way onto her face.

The two's honeymoon phase had officially ended. Meaning they'd now moved into a more natural, mature relationship between the pair that wasn't dominated by constantly making love to each other whenever they had a spare moment. Raphtalia's smile only deepened as she hugged her husband friend's side, simply wanting to enjoy this feeling of happiness and intimacy forever.

"..." Ren shook his head, but couldn't really say anything as he looked at Wyndia.

The young teenage girl was now talking animatedly to Tersia and Farrie about the restaurants and shops they could remember from last time. Above them, Gaelion hovered in the air, loudly inhaling the ocean breeze with a pleased look.

Seeing Wyndia's happy, beaming face, Ren hoped they could be as close to each other one day as Naofumi and Raphtalia were now.

Wyndia felt his eyes on her, and turned to look back at the young teenage Hero curiously.

But before she could end her conversation, come over, and ask what was on Ren's mind, a familiar figure approached the trio of Heroes.

"Sir Heroes, I'm happy to have you gracing my lands with your presence once more. And in official capacity too, at last." Count Hadenburg, a gaunt man dressed in his signature pristine military uniform, smiled.

"A pleasure, Count. I take it you already know why we're here?" Naofumi reached out with his hand to greet the man with a firm handshake, recalling how easy and straightforward it was to work with him during the last wave.

"Yes, Her Majesty warned me a couple weeks ago to have a room and Hot Spring ready for one of the Heroes." The older gentleman answered after returning the handshake. "I believe it was pertaining to a curse."

Naofumi nodded. "Yes. Sorry that he's here later than expected. Things have been a little busy for us back home, but..."

Naofumi then gestured to Ren, who hesitantly stepped forward. "I… um… I'll be in your care, Count Hadenburg." The young Sword Hero bowed his head.

"No need for formalities, Sword Hero. This won't be the first time a Hero has been here to be cleansed of a curse in my lifetime." Hadenburg shook his head, his smile not fading from his gaunt face in the slightest.

"Really?" Ren asked in surprise.

"Yes, believe it or not, after the great War with Siltvelt, his Majesty was brought here to bathe in the Hot Springs due to a curse that the Claw King Tai-Lon had inflicted upon him in their last bout. Although, if it's just between us, I'm more inclined to believe that King Aultcray had inflicted it upon himself.

"After all, that is how it commonly occurs in the legends my family has kept and studied." The older man answered the question, before looking to Ren with a caring expression. "But I digress, it is not my job to prod about the specifics.

"I simply wish to be of service to the present Cardinal Heroes like my forebears. My Vassals and I shall do our best to make sure your stay is a pleasant one, esteemed Sword Hero, Ren Amaki."

"..." Ren was speechless, but his shaking body was stilled by his girlfriend appearing at his side, gripping his hand in hers. Their daughter then landed on his shoulder and started nuzzling her cheek against his.

"We appreciate it," Wyndia said on behalf of her Hero. "Thank you."

"Gah!" Gaelion raised a paw to the gaunt man, and Ren raised his hand, petting the small red dragon's wing in appreciation.

Blue seethed in the background as Ren gave pets to the Stupid Lizard. But he was smart enough to not interfere at this present moment.

"Would you please lead us to the room Ren will be staying in?" Tersia stepped forward to ask. "The sooner he can bathe in the Hot Springs, the better."

"Of course, if you'll follow me." Count Hadenburg smiled, his gaze focusing on the Sword Hero's small family.

He hadn't mentioned it, but in some of those past legends, it was stated how past Sword Heroes who came to cleanse themselves of their curse also came here with a dog girl of their own. Granted, he couldn't recall if any of them had also brought a dragon or not, but it almost felt like he was witnessing history repeat itself before his eyes…

Which might have also been why he made sure the Sword Hero had his own private Hot Spring.

The Count led everyone there away from the monument to the inn where the group had stayed at before.

…

On their way, Naofumi noted some changes from their previous stay. Like how much quieter the streets were and how business had seemed to settle down a bit.

There were still some adventurers here and there. But the majority of them were long gone, as well as many of the merchants, blacksmiths, and others who'd come to profit during the Activation Event. They were now replaced with regular tourists consisting primarily of wealthy merchants, lesser nobility, and their families who were here to enjoy the beach, relax, and have a respite from the events going on in the world.

The air also felt cooler. It had been a few months since Naofumi had last been here, autumn had already begun. It still felt warm enough to enjoy the beach, but come evening, it'd definitely be a better idea to use the Hot Springs.

…

Naofumi then smirked when he saw that the "Experience Boost Accessories" he'd suggested to that one ratty merchant when he was last here were still on display in some shops. With it having become a staple item in the local economy.

Sometimes, it just felt good to be right.

…

But then there was the knowledge that Aultcray had been here as well. And the Shield Hero's frown returned.

He couldn't help but wonder: was it possible that curse was still affecting the old King even now? He didn't have his weapon, but still…

…

Eventually, they reached the Inn, with Count Hadenburg leading the group up a set of stairs to a different part of the structure that they hadn't been in before. "Last time, I couldn't give you these rooms because you weren't here as Heroes. They had also been reserved by nobility who came to enjoy the Activation Event and the beaches.

"This time, however, you will get to stay in the best suite our island has to offer. And you'll have unlimited access to every service."

One of Hadenburg's Vassals opened a set of double doors, and the Sword Hero's party gaped as they took in the large room they walked into.

The ceiling was at least fifteen feet high, with skylights to allow natural sunlight in. Candelabra sat on nightstands and furniture, with scented candles ready to light up the area at night.

The couches and carpets were all a pure white. The room also had other dashes of color, from what looked like mahogany nightstands to fine red oak tables and chairs. There was a love seat that Gaelion flew over to and settled herself down in.

"Gahhh!" The young dragon loved the feel of the fine leather against her scales.

"Hey, don't get your stench all over the furniture! Noodle will be sitting there!" Blue ran forward as he yelled.

"Gahahaha!" The young dragon laughed at the stinky birdboy before sticking out her tongue.

"! So comfy!" Rikka sank into one of the couch cushions, nearly disappearing from view as she relaxed on the equivalent of a cloud.

"I can't believe we missed out on all this." Tersia picked up a fancy china plate from one of the tables. "Not that we didn't have good rooms before, but this is…"

"Mmmm." Farrie had lit one of the candles with her fire magic and breathed in. The scent of wood washed over her, and she couldn't help but smile as she relaxed and thought of nature.

…

As Ren observed his party, his attention was again drawn to the dog girl walking to the set of doors at the back. "Is... Is this all really private?" She asked the gaunt nobleman.

"Yes, this is the only entrance for this Hot Spring." Count Hadenburg answered with a smile. "No one else will bother you or the Heroes, aside from the usual daily room service, unless you need something."

Wyndia, after nodding her head, slid the doors open, revealing an open air room that had a Hot Spring in the center of it the same size as the one she and the other girls had relaxed in before. There was also an area to the side to clean up and prepare to go into the hot water.

Steam came up slowly from the Spring's surface. One could have never guessed the benefits it'd have for cursed individuals.

Ren was becoming increasingly more blown away at everything. And then, he ended up wandering to the side, away from everyone else, into another room connected to the suite to get away from it all, only to stop in his tracks.

He'd entered a large bedroom. It had a king-sized bed in the back center of it, and the floor was also covered in white carpet like the living room. A bucket of ice holding a bottle of wine rested on a nightstand next to the bed.

Walking up, Ren pressed his hand into the fresh sheets. It was softer than anything else he'd ever come across in this world (besides his girlfriend's thighs). And the pillows appeared to be even softer.

What… what did he even think or say at this point? A part of him felt grateful. And he did. Yet… was it really alright to just give him all this? Was it ok for him to be here enjoying this while everyone else was working hard on his behalf to protect the Hero's Nation, prepare for the Phoenix, and-

"So, this is what you'll be sleeping on for the next month, huh?"

The Sword Hero was pulled from his thoughts as Naofumi appeared at his side. "Well, I don't know if you and Wyndia will be doing much sleeping on this, but it should serve well for other fun activities."

The joke went over the Sword Hero's head as Naofumi pressed his hand into the bed. "Yeah, definitely soft. I wish our beds could be made from whatever this is. I'll definitely ask the Count about it before we go. Hopefully it won't be too expensive."

"... Huh?" Ren looked around. It was just him and the Shield Hero in the room.

Raphtalia had left her Hero's side to talk to Wyndia by the entrance to the Hot Spring. Gaelion was still making a nest on the loveseat in the living room. Blue was having some kind of argument with Rikka. Tersia and Farrie were examining the rest of the luxury suite. Looking in awe or happiness at the accomodations.

"But hey, my previous point still stands. This bed should definitely be big enough for all the nighttime romps you'll be having with your girlfriend." Naofumi continued to joke with a grin. "I'm almost jealous."

…

"..." Ren's face slowly looked back at where he'd be sleeping for the next month. He was lost in so many different thoughts. Torn between gratitude and guilt.

There was so much of him that wanted him to feel depressed about this. To make him think he was just being offloaded here because he was dead weight… and yet, he felt so much relief to be receiving help, and kindness, and that he'd get to really relax and… it was just so hard to decide on what he was feeling right now.

"... hey, Ren? In all seriousness, are you and Wyndia at that point in your relationship yet?" Naofumi asked.

"Huh?" Ren again looked confused. And Naofumi, frowning, finally seemed to catch on to that fact.

"You know, are you two having sex yet?" He clarified.

"I… oh. Oh." As the meaning of Naofumi's earlier words finally registered, Ren's facial expression finally changed. While he didn't stutter, his face did redden in embarrassment somewhat. "No… me and Wyndia… we do sleep together at night. And we've kissed a few times when I wasn't…

"But, well, no, we haven't gone that far yet. And I… I don't know when we'll become that comfortable with each other… or…" Ren looked down at the ground, seeming sad and lost.

…

"... just in case then, if it does reach that point while you're here, I want you to have this." Naofumi, after looking back and ensuring everyone else was distracted, pulled a box out of his Shield and handed it to Ren.

The Sword Hero looked at the label, confused since he couldn't read it. But when he opened the box to see what was inside, his eyes widened.

It was full of condoms.

"Where the hell did you get these?" Ren blanched in utter disbelief, his former embarrassment temporarily forgotten.

"L'arc and Therese's world is more advanced than ours in some areas. I don't know how it came about, but contraception is taken very seriously there." Naofumi shrugged. There was no mischievous look in his eyes or anything to say he was joking around. He had a completely serious look on his face as he spoke his next words. "And not to say things could heat up in that direction while you're here. I'm certainly not the best person to ask on the subject of relationships.

"But in case it does and you two decide to do the deed, I want you to be ready for when you and Wyndia make love with each other for the first time.

"I won't give you any details or say what could happen or that it'll be the best thing you could ever experience… I just want you to know that if you and Wyndia do take that step in your relationship, I'm here to support you.

"Not just as a friend, but as your older brother."

…

"... … …" Not only speechless from the words, but with his eyes misty, Ren had to wipe the beginning of tears away with one arm as he stored Naofumi's gift inside his Sword's Gemstone with the other.

After everything else, this act of kindness was what finally broke the dam in the Sword Hero's mind.

"Y-You couldn't just tease me like normal to get a reaction or something?" Ren managed to say through his tears.

"Nah, maybe if you hadn't gone through a lot, I would have. But right now, it'd be like kicking a sick and adorable puppy." Naofumi gave Ren a soft smile, before it transformed into a devious smirk. "Besides, I'm already going to get my fun when I give Moto his portion of protection."

Ren couldn't help it anymore. Laughing to himself, he hugged the Shield Hero tightly as more tears fell down the sides of his face. The conflicting feelings from before had disappeared temporarily, leaving him whole for the moment.

"Thanks Naofumi!

"Seriously, all this, it means the world to me!

"I won't forget this, ever!"

"Ahhhh, glad to see you're still capable of being sappy." Naofumi rolled his eyes. His response caused both Heroes to chuckle or laugh as Ren let him go. And Naofumi patted the teenager on the shoulder.

Ren couldn't stop the tears. And as he and Naofumi were starting to walk back to the living room, a certain person noticed the Sword Hero's elevated emotional state.

"Ren, what's happening? Why are you crying?" Like magic, Wyndia suddenly rushed through the doorway. Grabbing her boyfriend's hands with concern on her face.

"Gah." Gaelion also flew in, looking at her dad with worry. And behind them, the rest of Ren's friends appeared in the doorway, concern written on their faces.

"S-S-Sorry." Stuttering, the Sword Hero smiled brightly and happily from the infusion of kindness and faith that his older brother had gifted him with.

"I'm just so damn happy right now..."

Shocked at his words, and that the realization that her boyfriend was crying from happiness and not depression, Wyndia was stunned speechless. Mouth agape upon finally looking past the tears to see how bright Ren's smile was right now.

The rest of his friends were also similarly surprised or overjoyed.

But Ren, wanting this moment to last, and being so motivated to not give into the pull of his dark cursed thoughts in the present, did something he knew would bring him more happiness then and there.

He leaned down and kissed his demi girlfriend on the lips. Embracing her tightly as he did so.

Wyndia nearly eeped in surprise at the liplock, but as her Hero's arms tightened behind her back, she melted into the kiss and embraced him back. Refusing to let go of him or this moment.

"Gahhhhh!" Gaelion flew happily above her parents. Her paws outspread and a wide grin on her face.

"Awwwww!" Tersia and Farrie both watched the interaction with hearts in their eyes.

"YES! MORE! MORRRRE!" Rikka was starry eyed, and clearly all for what was happening.

"Blech! That's disgusting, Noodle! Stop sucking on Dog Girl's face this-" Crack!

Blue's rant was cut off by all three girls in the doorway slapping the back of his head simultaneously. The force of it was so great that it knocked him out on the spot.

"Ahhh, just like in the stories my family passed down." Count Hadenburg wiped a tear from his eye.

He now knew for sure to tell his vassals to make sure the Sword Hero and his dog girlfriend would have privacy at night. Was it alright to cry about being a witness to history in the making?

Naofumi, off to the side, smiled with pride for his younger brother as Raphtalia appeared at his side.

The moment was so sweet, it was almost sickening. Were they in danger of getting diabetes?

"I'm so glad those two are finally together. At least some things are going right." Raphtalia spoke up next to him, smiling in relief as she did so. For once, she didn't address the rude thoughts her husband friend was having.

"Same. Honestly, I feel much better about Ren being in a relationship now that Wyndia's opened up a lot more. It wouldn't have worked out if she'd stayed as tsundere as before." Naofumi nodded his head.

"Tsundere?" Raphtalia asked.

"It's nothing." Naofumi then had a thought. "Did you ever pass along Therese's message to her?"

"I just did a few minutes ago." Raphtalia nodded. "I told her after she asked me a few things about being in a relationship with you. She wanted to make sure she wasn't doing anything wrong with Ren.

"Wyndia can't wait to see her best friend again. She really has grown a lot since the day me and the others rescued her from that spider nest."

"Ha. Who would have thought." Naofumi rolled his eyes and chuckled.

And honestly, while he could have used this as a moment to get revenge on Ren for interrupting a similar moment he had with Raphtalia at Van's Estate…

"Come on, Raphtalia. Let's leave the teenagers to their fun." Naofumi shrugged and turned to leave.

Raphtalia nodded with a smile, and the pair went to Ren's friends, escorting them as well as carrying away the knocked out Royal Filolial and the gaunt Count out of the room so the rest of Ren and Wyndia's loving and tender moment could play out naturally without interruptions from anyone else.

It'd be one of the most treasured memories of the Sword Hero's life.

---

The members of the Sword Party eventually worked out a schedule for visiting Ren and his girlfriend at Cal Mira (After the young couple's first ever impromptu makeout session had ended.).

Wyndia and their dragon daughter Gaelion volunteered to be with Ren full time. Something that Tersia initially tried to talk the dog girl out of, since they'd been trying hard to ease the dog girl's burdens when it came to taking care of Ren. It was also because the older nun didn't want what she'd been trying to accomplish in getting the two to build a healthy relationship with each other in the town to fizzle out by spending all their time together.

But Wyndia pulled her off to the side, and after their private conversation, the woman was convinced. No matter how much Farrie tried to pry what Wyndia had said out of her, she refused to budge, and ultimately accepted the dog girl's proposal. And Farrie naturally accepted it as well, eyes already shining in curiosity at what could happen here.

They'd have it where Tersia visited once a week. Farrie twice, or more if she could. The two women would help Ren out with his magic lessons whenever they visited, and would then spend the rest of the day relaxing in the resort, going clothes shopping or whatever with Wyndia while they were around.

Rikka and Blue would also be visiting together twice a week. Blue would get to practice blacksmithing with Ren, who'd be taking lessons from one of the remaining blacksmiths on the island, a close friend of Count Hadenburg. Meanwhile, Rikka would spend time trying to learn magic from Cool Hero's Awesome Mate. Mixing in other activities during their time there as well.

This had been decided on before, but Eclair would be visiting as well for a brief time in the morning on some days. Checking to make sure the Sword Couple stayed on top of their sword practice before returning with the Hero who teleported her and the person(s) visiting for the day there.

Should nothing happen to disrupt that schedule, Ren would get to see his friends plenty of times throughout his vacation while spending the rest of his time soaking in the Hot Springs, recovering from his curse, and doing whatever he needed to do in his free time.

The Sword Hero would remain in good hands. And seeing firsthand how good Ren and Wyndia were together, Naofumi was certain that even if something came up that occupied the rest of their attention, Ren would be just fine with just his mate and dragon daughter keeping him company.

…

But just in case.

Clink! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Naofumi watched as chains surrounded the Hourglass in the underwater Temple. The notification that he couldn't teleport appeared on his HUD as well as on Raphtalia's and the other Heroes present.

"Whoa. So this is what you did back at the Capital?" Motoyasu spoke up behind them.

The pair turned around. It wasn't just the Spear Hero. Fitoria was also there, watching as the Hourglass was chained up in front of her with a frown on her face.

She'd watched the ritual through Filo before, but seeing it in person…

She felt a memory beginning to surface in her mind. But it was very unclear, and she couldn't think of the context for it either. Like a feather, it fell through her hands and out of view, leaving her to question what she'd tried to recall.

…

Fitoria had come with Naofumi and Ren on their teleport here. And then went back after setting a save spot in the area to pick up Motoyasu. Naofumi and Raphtalia's portal skills could only teleport so many at the same time, unfortunately. But now everyone necessary was present.

"Yes, and now that we're done." Naofumi applied the accessory to the Hourglass, and the notification on his HUD disappeared. "We'll be the only ones able to portal to Cal Mira now."

Raphtalia used the accessory next, and then handed it to Motoyasu. He was unsure of how to use it at first, but mimicking his younger brother, he found it was surprisingly easy. All it took was walking up with it and accepting the notification of registering himself to the Hourglass on his HUD.

He handed it off to Fitoria, who used it last.

"Ah, so this is how we're ensuring Ren's safety while we're not around." Motoyasu smiled with relief.

"Hopefully. At the very least, any reincarnators or anyone else wanting to harm him would have to come here by boat, instead of by Karn's portal cheat." Naofumi nodded with a determined look. "Mirellia has a pair of Shadows keeping tabs on ships leaving the dockyards in Melromarc for Cal Mira. That'll give her plenty of time to warn us of any incoming attempts on Ren's life."

"... does this mean that I can learn more about them now?" Motoyasu asked, his voice growing tense in anticipation.

"Yes. Raphtalia, can you tell Motoyasu everything while you take him to the Hero's Tablet?" Naofumi turned to face his lover. It was extremely fortunate that Karn or someone else hadn't destroyed it in the time before or since the Activation Event. Or maybe it was made of tougher materials than he'd realized.

Either way, best to not take any chances. It'd be transported to the Capital for protection in the Four Heroes Church by the Heroes after this. Better Moto see it now and be the one to do it.

"Of course. See you later, dear." Raphtalia kissed Naofumi on the cheek, before holding her katana up. "Return Dragon Vein."

In a flash of light, and before Motoyasu could say anything in protest since he thought he'd be learning the truth from Naofumi right then and there, he and the half-tanuki girl were teleported to her save spot in the vicinity of the Hourglass on the island.

The Spear Hero would get his spell, and most of the missing details Naofumi hadn't told him or Ren on the Otherworld just yet. But those details weren't something that needed to be repeated here.

…

"Good, we're alone now."

Naofumi breathed in deeply, and then turned to Fitoria. The bird girl calmly stood in her spot, turning her head to the side quizzically with a blank expression.

"What was the thing you wanted to talk to Fitoria about in private, Naofumi?" Fitoria asked. "Is it more about the enemy that you haven't shared with the other Heroes?"

"No. I've been transparent about what I know of them up till now.

"What I wanted to discuss with you instead is a plan of mine… that might be a bit out there," The Shield Hero admitted.

…

The Filolial raised an eyebrow, but besides that, she didn't say anything.

"It's something that'd make it easier to defend the Hero's Nation. But I wanted to avoid bringing it up earlier, just in case we were still being watched somehow." Naofumi gestured to the underwater building they were currently in.

Honestly, if they were still being watched right now, then kudos to those who'd managed to go through all the effort. Not that they'd survive the Shield Hero and the all powerful immortal Bird Goddess standing there, but the bravery of such an individual would be commended, at the very least.

Fitoria nodded her head tentatively. And so, Naofumi explained.

"While we were in the Otherworld, there was a detail Itsuki noted of his trip to Lapis that grabbed my attention. That the nation had moved its Hourglass out of the city so they could build defenses in the room it was placed in." Naofumi said.

"... does Naofumi wish to build defenses around the Hourglasses around the Hero's Nation?" Fitoria asked.

"Actually, what I'm proposing is that we move an Hourglass… this Hourglass here specifically," Naofumi pointed to the Hourglass next to them, the sand in it frozen in place. "To the Hero's Nation."

…

…

…

…

…

Fitoria stayed silent for a long while at Naofumi's statement.

The Shield Hero remained quiet during that time, thinking over his next words, depending on Fitoria's reaction or knowledge. But what it boiled down to was the simple fact that the Hourglasses could be moved. He'd always assumed since his summoning that it would be impossible to do so, due to their ties to the Waves, but Itsuki's account blew such thoughts completely out of the water.

Sure, it'd required much of Lapis's standing army to accomplish. And it wasn't near as far as what Naofumi wanted. But the fact that it'd happened at all opened up a world of possibilities.

If they could be moved, then Naofumi needed to know how far they could be relocated. And if it was possible for said relocation to be permanent, then it'd make sense to move an hourglass not being used by anyone else to their Nation, where they'd be able to make use of it.

It'd also make it more convenient using the drop item accessories from Glass's world for the people of their nation to have access to that function. But Naofumi still had to see if the accessories he'd brought back could be replicated or not.

Oh well, thoughts for the future, he supposed. And that was only if this idea even had a chance of succeeding.

But given how long Fitoria was pondering over it, Naofumi was starting to suspect that this proposition was more probable than not.

…

…

"That is a long distance you're proposing for Fitoria to move it," Fitoria finally said after a while of thinking to herself, figuring out immediately what Naofumi wanted to ask from her.

"So you and your flock can do it?" Naofumi pressed on.

"Yes." Fitoria nodded before turning her head at Naofumi with a quizzical look. "But why? A task like this won't be an easy one even for Fitoria to accomplish."

"Isn't it obvious?" Naofumi quirked an eyebrow at the bird queen. "An hourglass would help to make the Hero's Nation more independent, and also serve as an additional layer of security for the people there. If we're allowed to keep it there permanently, we'll be able to fight off the Waves that would have hit Cal Mira in more familiar terrain, and we'll be able to do class-up rituals without needing to visit Melromarc or the other nations.

"Not to mention, if I'm able to replicate some of the other accessories I brought back with me, others in our nation would be able to use this Hourglass to make use of the Hero Item Drop function…

"And beyond all that, from what I understand, it'd be a massive undertaking to move an Hourglass outside a city. Much less, across the sea floor to our territory. So really, the only person I can think of asking to head such a project is you."

…

"..." Fitoria looked around the submerged room. Odd, she felt like she could recall another memory of this place. Though, if she remembered correctly, it had been above water at the time. And was run by a group of beastmen that had long gone extinct… or vanished…

Hmmm…

…

"Understood. Fitoria will do it." The bird girl nodded her head. "It'll be difficult. But it won't be Fitoria's first time moving an Hourglass all by herself."

"..." Naofumi's face gradually looked more surprised. He'd expected her to enlist the members of her flock if she accepted, but!

"By yourself? Underwater?!"

"Yes. Do you think all the Hourglasses Fitoria has in the wilderness right now were there originally?" Fitoria finally smiled for the first time during the conversation. "Fitoria hasn't wanted to deal with humans for centuries. It would have been hard to do that if the Hourglasses Fitoria protects were close enough to be discovered by humans."

"And yes, there were two Hourglasses that Fitoria had to move that were underwater. Granted, it was not as far as what Naofumi wants Fitoria to accomplish here, but Fitoria is sure the same tricks she used then can work here."

Fitoria then frowned as she looked at the Hourglass again. "This one will be difficult though, given that Fitoria didn't have to move any of the past ones so far. And this will be underwater the whole way. I definitely won't be able to finish it in a few days, and Fitoria is spending time cleaning up her home nest as well."

"I'd say that Fitoria would need around two or three months." Fitoria determined in her mind. "I'll go slow the first two to three weeks. That should hopefully be plenty of time to keep Ren protected within the radius of the Hourglass before Fitoria moves it far enough away from the islands.

"In the meantime, Fitoria will see to it that Fitoria's flock is able to protect the Hero's Nation in her absence."

Actually, thinking about it more, Fitoria felt that memory of the ritual Naofumi performed surfacing in her mind again. For some reason, she felt that if she could recall it in full, then it'd be possible for her to extend the range of the anti-teleport effect using her powers to double or even triple of what it was now.

That'd keep Ren protected for far longer if that was the case.

…

…

"Would that work with Naofumi?" Fitoria asked as she turned to look at the Shield Hero with a curious gaze.

"... are you sure you want to move it by yourself?" Naofumi asked with concern. "If you need any help, then-"

"Naofumi. Fitoria can do it.

"Trust Fitoria on this." The little angel girl said, fists raised confidently in front of her.

...

"... heheheheh. Alright. I won't try to argue it." Naofumi chuckled. He walked up and began patting the girl on the head.

Plus, Fitoria was right, with that timeframe, by the time their enemies would realize the Hourglass was no longer here to protect the Sword Hero from individuals like Karn, Ren would be back at the Hero's Nation. So as long as word of this didn't get out, the Sword Hero and his family wouldn't be at risk.

Which was all the more reason why neither individual would share their plans with anyone else, not even the Filolials of Fitoria's flock or the wife friend of the Shield Hero. Sad to say, not even Raph-Chan would be made aware of what was happening here.

It'd be a secret held in reserve between two individuals for as long as necessary to ensure the Sword Hero's wellbeing and the secrecy of the Hourglass being moved from reaching unwanted ears.

"Just know it'll be hard for Fitoria to help out a lot of the time if Fitoria is busy down here." The girl warned. "And when I'm not doing this, I'll be very tired and resting if I'm not cleaning up my nest."

"Unless it's something really bad that us Heroes can't handle, me and Moto will take care of it." Naofumi promised. "You wanted us to take on more active roles, after all."

"..." The angel girl softly smiled. "Yes, I suppose Fitoria did say as much."

…

Naofumi got on his knees, and Fitoria hugged the Shield Hero around the neck.

"Thank you. This is a major relief for me." Naofumi muttered softly. If it meant more safety for those he cared about…

Heh, and to think the Hourglasses were meant to signify when Waves were supposed to strike a spot. How time and strength had changed his perspective.

"For her Heroes, Fitoria would gladly move the whole world." The Filolial Royal said in response as she hugged the Shield Hero back.

---

Nothing much was said afterward. Fitoria spent some time resting her head on the Shield Hero's lap so she could spend more personal time with him.

The most powerful Filolial in the world… and her favorite thing was lap pillows. It was a good thing their enemies hadn't discovered this secret far sooner, I say!

Later, after separating from the Bird Queen on the beach so she could gather Ren's friends and bring them home, Naofumi went and found his wife friend, who was waiting with Moto inside one of the island's numerous coffee shops. They'd planned on rendezvousing there earlier.

There wasn't anything of note about the place or the one barista standing boredly behind her counter in the back. It was on the main street though, and it was easy to locate.

Raphtalia, by the time he arrived, had finished giving Moto the details on the enemy. And, to Naofumi's surprise, he found S'yne sitting with the pair, alongside a small tiger girl he'd never met before.

Actually, looking at her closely, didn't she look similar to the bandaged girl who'd been sitting in a wheelchair outside the Spear Hero's house? The outfits appeared to match, at the very least. What was she doing here? Was she another new member of Motoyasu's party?

Scratch that, when had they gotten there?! It had to have been before the anti-teleport field was active, but he didn't recall seeing the two girls around before that!

"You learned a surprising amount about the Enemy, Raphtalia." The Bubba doll floating in the air next to the Otherworld Hero spoke.

"Yes, I just wish we both knew who these operatives were working for." The Katana Heroine sighed.

"I will break their spines on your behalf if I ever come across them, Sir Motoyasu." Atla promised. "They shall rue the day they ever thought to stand in your way."

…

You know what, however they'd gotten there, Naofumi sure was glad that the tiger girl wasn't in his party.

Motoyasu could keep all the crazies to himself.

"Oh? Is that the Shield Hero?" Atla suddenly turned her head in Naofumi's direction. Her eyes weren't open.

"Huh- oh hey, Naofumi." Motoyasu said, finally speaking up as he attempted to smile, but didn't really manage it.

"Greetings." The doll floating next to S'yne bowed its head in Naofumi's direction with a spin and a theatrical flourish. The Otherworld Hero's eyes shone with seriousness and determination that made Naofumi feel an instinctual surge of approval in his heart, despite him hardly knowing her.

She just looked reliable. And the more times he met her, the more he noticed that fact.

"His aura feels similar to yours, Sir Motoyasu." Atla said, again, her eyes remaining closed despite her head being turned in Naofumi's direction.

It felt like her eyes were on him, yet that was clearly not the case. The Shield Hero opened his mouth to ask, but looked to Raphtalia with an unsure look.

"Atla here is blind, but she's able to sense where things are around her using life force." The half-tanuki explained, looking to both girls for confirmation.

"I've been doing it for most of my life. Granny was just the one to point out how I've been doing it." Atla said to the Shield Hero's wife friend, not even a hint of jealousy in her voice as she said it.

She could tell Naofumi was nice. His aura was warm and friendly, and naturally drew in those around him. But Atla's heart and body belonged to Moto now.

The Shield Hero would never go on her 'love' radar.

"And, um… how did they get here?" Naofumi asked Motoyasu. If they'd somehow circumvented the anti-teleport field, then-

"I asked Fitoria to bring them with us earlier. Well, I actually just wanted to bring S'yne along, but..." Motoyasu chuckled awkwardly when Atla turned her head at him with a visible pout. "Well, anyway. Let's just say that we have some business of our own to take care of later." The Spear Hero shrugged after giving a vague answer.

"S'yne and Atla were already here waiting for us, Naofumi." Raphtalia explained further. "Motoyasu said that they were trustworthy, so I told them what we'd learned. S'yne is actually a hero from another world too, believe it or not. She shared some interesting info regarding these people we're up against.

"It's not really anything that we didn't know about already, but some of the details were..." The half-tanuki swallowed hard and paused before looking at S'yne with sympathy. "I am so sorry."

"Don't be, Mrs. Iwatani." The doll bubba shook its head even as the girl controlling it remained completely motionless. "I have accepted what happened already. Bringing attention to it will just cause needless stress."

"Of course." The Katana Hero nodded and then mouthed the word 'later' to Naofumi whose face began to grow more concerned at the strange turn in the conversation.

Figuring out that it's better to follow his wife-friend's advice, Naofumi turned to the Spear Hero.

"By the way, Motoyasu. Is everything ok? You look a bit tense. Is it because of, you know..." The Shield Hero gestured at S'yne's still form vaguely.

"Huh?" The blonde snapped out of whatever he was thinking about and shook his head. "Oh no. Well, I mean, yea, that too, but S'yne told me about it sometime after she moved in. No, I'm bummed out about something else."

"What happened?" The Shield Hero pressed.

…

…

Instead of explaining, the Spear Hero rested the bottom of his weapon on the floor of the shop next to him as he cast some strange spell.

"As Spear Hero, source of thy power I order thee. Decipher the laws of nature and take in the energies surrounding me, Fast Absorb."

…

At first, Naofumi couldn't tell what the Spear Hero had done. He looked around the shop to try and figure out what the spell was 'absorbing'.

It wasn't offensive in nature. There was no one else in the shop besides the bored barista standing behind the counter, but Motoyasu wouldn't have just caused wanton property damage without an excuse. Yet Naofumi couldn't tell if the spell was doing anything in his immediate vicinity.

"Look here." Motoyasu finally gestured with his eyes to his weapon.

Naofumi's eyes settled on the tip of his Spear, and he barely saw what looked like a field of energy spreading out from it. Now that he knew what he was looking for, however, Naofumi observed that It extended above the blonde man and spread out over ten feet away from where the Spear Hero sat in the shape of a dome. The man hadn't moved a single inch since the activation of his spell.

"Is that like a barrier or something absorbing… whatever in it?" Naofumi asked, sounding unsure as his finger poked at the roof of it above him, touching nothing but air. His MP and SP bars weren't dropping despite being in the field, and he didn't feel any weaker.

"Well, no. It isn't a barrier, but it sort of is. But it doesn't absorb 'everything' in it." The Spear Hero pulled his weapon out of the ground, and the energy field around him vanished right after.

"Basically, from what I understand, the spell allows me to absorb any and all magic that is the same level as or below the tier of magic as what I cast the Absorb spell as within a five meter radius of me. In that sense, it's like a barrier that makes me immune to all types of magic damage.

"The spells I absorb with it refill my MP, and it can even overcharge my MP bar if I absorb a lot of magic spells and attacks, making the magic I cast afterwards a lot more powerful."

"... wow, that's actually incredibly powerful." Naofumi said in surprise.

The Spear Hero frowned though as he continued. "Except for the fact that I'm unable to move while I have the spell active. Not to mention, this only works with magic and not physical damage. The range of the spell would only allow me to protect those within my immediate vicinity. And well… it absorbs 'all' magic spells around me. Meaning any allies I have who rely on magic wouldn't be able to be around me whenever I have this spell active."

"... … …" So in other words, Motoyasu had a spell that could be incredibly useful… but it was also incredibly situational, unlike what Naofumi and Itsuki got from the tablet.

Even what Ren got was less restrictive than that. And this was supposed to be the Hero Exclusive spell of the Spear that Motoyasu had waited a long time to be able to learn?

…

No wonder the Spear Hero was in such a bad mood.

So much for the joke of the Spear being rated E for everybody… actually, if it absorbed all magic regardless of where it came from, then perhaps the joke still applied.

"What rude things are you thinking about now?" Motoyasu groaned before stretching over the table in front of him.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Naofumi looked away guiltily.

"You're making fun of me, aren't you!" Motoyasu groaned again.

"Who's making fun of you, Sir Motoyasu! I'll destroy them for daring to mock your greatness!" Atla suddenly piped in.

"Atla, please settle down. It isn't like that." S'yne grabbed the tiger girl by the shoulder as her doll spoke.

"Is she always like that?" Raphtalia asked pointedly.

"We're working on it." S'yne's doll said in a deadpan.

Naofumi shook his head with a chuckle as Motoyasu frowned in the girls' direction.

"Well man… if you think I'm making fun of you now, just wait till later." Naofumi winked, before laughing to himself evilly.

"And with that, I think it's about time we head home, dear." Raphtalia suddenly butted in. "I want to help with power leveling some of my old friends before dinner. Also, remember that we're going to have a talk later this week when we have some time."

"Sure thing, I'll do some studying and help at the community kitchen after that." Naofumi nodded. "Gods know the kids you'll be helping will be hungry."

"You don't know half of it." Raphtalia laughed.

"I'm pretty sure I know the full of it after helping you out when- right, won't talk about it." Raphtalia unsheathed her blade just a bit, smiling sweetly at her husband friend as she did so, and Naofumi immediately wised up.

"Alright, get going already! You're making me jealous!" Motoyasu shoved Naofumi in Raphtalia's direction. He was pouting, but it did look like he'd cheered up a little bit after interacting with the Shield Hero.

Said Hero rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. Enjoy your 'plans'.

"Portal Shield!"

And with that, the Shield Hero and his wife portaled back home.

…

Wait. The way he said it. Did Naofumi figure it out?

Aww man. And Motoyasu was trying to keep it on the down low too!

…

…

"Moto?" A small delicate finger poked the Spear Hero's shoulder.

Motoyasu turned around in surprise, only now remembering that S'yne and Atla were there with him. It'd been her voice that spoke there, but her next words came from the doll floating next to her.

"It's just us now. Shall we get started?"

"Yay! A date with Sir Motoyasu!" Atla's face shone with excitement.

"I…" Motoyasu opened his mouth but then just closed it and shook his head with a smile.

…

Naofumi, you sly bastard. Well, whatever. The Spear Hero was going to enjoy this date regardless.

Granted, Atla was going to have to tag along as a third wheel, due to S'yne's request, but Motoyasu couldn't stop the wide grin that spread across his face. Yes, things were turning up for him now, I say!

He made sure to inform Larsa that he wouldn't be in Zeltoble that day. Granny's training was postponed too. And Melty was taking care of the usual administrative affairs!

"Alright, girls, let's hit the town!" Motoyasu said excitedly.

---

On the opposite side of the world, on a mountaintop located deep in the wilderness where no humans had set foot in hundreds of years, an endless snowstorm was raging.

Beyond the seemingly impassable wall of icy winds laid a small cave entrance. And within it, a group of five individuals huddled around a small fire, desperately trying to warm themselves.

They had no idea where they were at. Their respawn after their deaths in Zeltoble had placed them somewhere else in the world, far from where they'd died.

It must have been that fatso's fault! It had to be!

The respawning mechanic that they had been granted by their employer did not normally put them so far out of the way of any civilization upon death. That overpowered Meteor spell that nuked Zeltoble's capital must have disrupted the area their spawn point was based in when it impacted. That was the only logical explanation.

Even in death, that fatso had to screw them all over!

And now, they were left stranded in the middle of nowhere.

"Kanemoto, you %^$^#$ pig, quit stuffing your face! That's the only food we got!" One of the strangers cursed at the person standing closest to the fire, where a large ugly slab of meat was in the process of being crudely grilled.

It also didn't help that these individuals didn't get along with each other very well, outside of when they were fighting 'supposedly' stupid opponents.

"Piss off, I spotted the monster despite the blizzard. So I deserve the biggest share." The man who's cheat was useless here scowled.

"You are going to get the biggest %#^%$$% shank if you don't stop right now! We were the ones who killed it with our heat vision!"

"And started the fire."

"And gathered the firewood." The trio who all shared an identical cheat skill spoke one after the other.

"Can you idiots just shut up already? There's enough for everyone here. For now." The Rogue Reincarnator of the group scowled at his compatriots.

"Hmph!" The other four all turned their heads and scowled back at him.

Honestly, they actually considered just killing each other and seeing where they'd respawn next… however, they'd been warned that doing so could be… dangerous.

Stories had been told of how past reincarnators tried to fast travel around a world by killing themselves without a set spawn point placed in a region over and over again… only to end up dying permanently when they respawned in a nest of Soul Eaters. Or inside a dungeon where death fed one's soul to the dungeon.

There were countless dangers across different worlds that made such a strategy idiotic and time-consuming at best, and life-ending at worst.

They'd lucked out respawning in the middle of the mountains. They'd also, unfortunately, lucked out respawning so close to one another, most likely because they'd died in close proximity to each other within minutes of each other's deaths. Their next respawn point could theoretically drop them off somewhere more manageable.

Or it could be their final one.

As moronic as the lot of them was, they were not yet desperate enough to chance it. Especially since it was only a matter of time before their manager would come in to check on them and bail them out in the process with his power.

…

…

…

As if on cue, a black smoky portal materialized at the entrance of the cave. A lone figure stepped out from it.

He had just finished requisitioning some special supplies from the head office. He wasn't able to get a new coat, unfortunately, but the new Synthetic Taowu Tortoise Leather Armor fit him like a glove. A pauldron made from the same cloned tissue of said tortoise's shell rested on his left shoulder, while an exquisite glowing orange cape woven out of Synthetic Hundun Feather Fibres was draped over the right one.

The fabric glowed faintly in the dim light of the cave, causing the cold air around it to shimmer and distort as if reacting to some unseen heat.

"Greetings, gentlemen." The enforcer, Karn, cut through the silence with a small playful smirk resting on his lips.

"Yeesh! Finally! It's about time you showed up, boss!" Kanemoto dropped the greasy piece of troll meat on the cave floor as he stood up. The others in the room stood up with him as well.

"Oh? You were waiting for me?" Karn's small, carefully crafted signature smirk didn't leave his face as he took a step forward. His orange eyes glowed in the darkness along with his new cape. "And here I thought you were hiding from me!"

The enforcer continued to speak in a cheerful voice as his portal closed behind him. "I was having a far easier time keeping tabs on Momiji and Ikuyo's progress towards Faubley than finding out where you lot had hidden yourselves. And you've just been sitting here waiting for me all this time?"

"Pfft! Why would we need to hide?!" One of the heat vision trio spoke arrogantly.

"Why?" Karn cocked his head to the side slightly, his small smirk starting to subtly strain against the corners of his lips. "Why, because of your complete failure in Zeltoble. Or did you already forget it?"

"Yea, calling it a failure is an understatement." The rogue swordsman reincarnator shook his head with a frown while rubbing his shoulders to warm up. Why the hell did it suddenly get even colder in here? "It was all the fatso's fault. We had everything set up to kill the Spear Hero. The best buffs and debuffs I've ever seen. He'd gone through an exhausting battle against the Arena Champion and had hundreds of extras to be distracted with, and we still lost."

"Not as badly as Kanemoto did." One of the heat vision enthusiasts spoke up next. "He was beaten by literal children, and the tiger boy wasn't even half his level."

"Will you just drop it already?! You wouldn't have even survived as long as you did if not for my cheat skill!" The man closest to the fire raged, not paying attention to their superior slowly approaching them.

"Yeah, and that's literally the only time I've seen you be able to use it effectively in this world." The last of the heat vision trio rolled his eyes.

"I can't help it, alright?! This world freaking sucks in terms of magitech! Maybe if I could actually step foot in Faubley, I could make more use of my cheat skill!"

"Ha, good luck with that. We all know how that Tact guy is with any individual who 'steps' on his turf."

"Yea, you should have chosen a better cheat. Yours is just trash, just like your stats."

"Says the guy who chose [Heat Vision] as his cheat, alongside two other idiots!

"Very original! Some real free-thinkers here!"

Karn now stood directly in front of the fire, practically within spitting distance, and yet the men around him still did not notice his presence.

After spending so much time and effort tracking these idiots down… Karn was finally here.

And instead of begging for forgiveness, or pleading for him to spare their lives, they were too busy arguing with one another to pay him any serious attention.

Were they truly this stupid- oh, who was he kidding? Of course they were! He would have been genuinely shocked if anything worthwhile came out of one of their mouths!

This was why he was a manager and this lot were just regular contractors.

"Guys, can you just shut the $%^& up for like, five seconds so our boss can get us out of here?! I'm getting sick of this cold wasteland!" Rogue shouted as he began to rub his shoulders more intensely to get the now biting cold out of his shaking body.

Oh? It looked like at least one of these clowns was capable of showing some intelligence. Tiny as it was.

How very peculiar.

"I'm sure his portals would work even if we were screaming our lungs off." Kanemoto rolled his eyes. "Frankly, I'm tired of the rest of you always talking smack to me!"

And right back to their biggest flaw: Their shared selfishness, their desire to center everything around themselves.

"Hah! As if any of it isn't deserved! We always have to powerlevel your useless $%^ whenever we're assigned to any new world!"

"You can't even do that right! You never get me past level 68!"

"Because you need too much experience to get past that stupid roadblock!"

"It's only like, what?! Two million EXP points?! That isn't 'that' much!"

"Man, just grind slimes for a hundred years or something!"

"&%$# that!"

And thus, they continued arguing about themselves. Because they couldn't care about anything else besides themselves.

"Oh that's it! I am so done with your bull%&*! Let's fight it out and-" Kanemoto raised his greasy fists, ready to cast some sort of spell but...

Kth!

Kanemoto stopped speaking.

The hilt of a pale white dagger was sticking out the front of his chest. Yet, strangely enough, no blood was leaking out from the wound.

The others in the room looked to sneer at him when the confident prick stopped speaking, only to take a step back in surprise.

At first, they didn't realize where the dagger that'd stabbed their comrade had come from.

Soul Eater Dagger

Quality: Excellent

Effect: Paralysis

"Alright, gentlemen. Vacation's over. Back to work." Karn raised his voice slightly before lowering his hand.

"Now, I know we have a lot to do and a lot of stuff to catch up on, due to your negligence. But why don't we have our annual review a little earlier this year, what do you say?" Karn asked as he walked right through the fire without a care in the world. The flames parted, granting him passage, as they recoiled from his new unnaturally-crafted gear as if in fear.

"Let's start with you, Kanemoto."

Karn grabbed the hilt of his dagger. Kanemoto couldn't speak, between the paralysis, the physical pain, and beyond that, the feeling of his SOUL having been wounded just now. Karn then pulled the dreaded weapon out of the reincarnator's chest, causing a soundless scream to come from the man's throat.

And it only magnified when the enforcer then drove his other hand into the gaping wound.

The rogue reincarnator instinctively raised his sword while the eyes of the heat vision trio lighted up, ready to fire a barrage of lasers, but before any of them could make a move, Karn pulled his hand out of the man's chest cavity. And with it, something... else...

Wait- no, it couldn't be!

The four reincarnators' eyes widened in shock, and then terror.

It was a long silky smooth and pitch-black chain. The evidence of the contract that they had all been put under before their respective rebirths.

As Karn tugged on the black chain, the body of Kanemoto slumped forward, and out of it, an apparition of a portly ugly bald man in his 30's was dragged out and brought to his knees before the enforcer. And as if summoned by the appearance of the initial one, the rest of the black chains binding the reincarnator's soul appeared, coming out of his arms, legs, head, and torso.

"Yeesh, I knew your soul wouldn't match your body, since a lot of you contractors pick that option before being reborn, but you definitely weren't winning any beauty pageants in your previous life, were you, Kanemoto?" Karn laughed as Kanemoto's soul squirmed against his restraints. However, even in his soul form, the paralysis from Karn's first strike had carried over, making it harder to speak.

"Wh… What are… you…" The man managed to feebly get out through his mouth.

"Didn't you hear me earlier? This is your annual review. Please be patient as I judge your worth to the company." Karn explained with a simple smile.

"BASTARD! WHO ARE YOU TO THREATEN US WHEN WE OUTNUMBER YOU!?" One of the laser trio screamed as he finally fired a laser out of his eyes.

The cave was briefly illuminated by the bright flash of angry red light. But just as quickly as it came, it vanished; and with it, so did the only other light source there.

The fire got smothered out by a swirling black vortex, casting the icy cave into complete darkness.

"AAAAAHHHHH!"

The other two heat laser trio members fired their eye lasers out at random in panic, but their attacks got swallowed by the darkness too. It was followed by a terrible burning pain seizing their bodies, causing them to topple over and fall limply on the cold ground.

All three reincarnators tried to scream but no sound came from their throats as their bodies became completely paralyzed.

A loud metallic clatter reverberated through the darkness as the rogue reincarnator dropped his sword and stepped back, pushing himself against the cave wall and lifting his hands in surrender.

His eyes were wide as saucers, his hands trembling in terror as a new source of light manifested ahead of him. It came from a sword being brandished, but not his own.

The sword ahead looked almost molten with the otherworldly heat that was emanating from it as it cast the cave in an artificial orange light.

That light danced most intently over Karn's features, the twisting and crawling shadows making his calm, indifferent visage look demonic.

"Do you want to try and interrupt me too?" The enforcer asked politely while making a slow and wide sweeping motion across the room with his new weapon.

"N-N-No sir." The man shook his head, his voice coming out as no more than a pathetic squeak as he sunk on the floor against the wall while sweating profusely.

In the center of his pants, a wet spot began to form.

"Excellent." Karn's face relaxed into its prior well-practiced mask. The trio of heat vision harbingers laid uselessly on the floor. Still alive, but paralyzed, with their eyes glazed-over and expressions frozen in terror.

"I'm glad at least one of you nimrods has begun to grasp the massive pile of &%%$ that all of you have landed yourselves in. It won't get you a free pass, but at least you can congratulate yourself for not digging your grave any deeper, unlike your coworkers."

The member of the laser trio who'd tried to attack first screamed as Karn teleported next to him and drove the burning blade in his hands into his thigh. The wound around the blade sizzled as it began to cook. A nauseating smell of burning flesh began to fill the dank air of the cave.

"That's what I planned on doing to you, had you attacked me as well." Karn continued to smile toward Rogue as he admitted it. "Continue to show restraint and intelligence like that and you just might survive long enough to get yourself a promotion.

"Remember, the company gives more to those who show promise!"

…

Rogue paled even further. He collapsed to his knees, the wet spot on his pants growing bigger as fear gripped every part of his being.

There was no running.

No chance for escape.

No pleading for mercy.

Just… what the hell was this nightmare he and the others had landed themselves in?!

"Now… back to Kanemoto."

Karn's smile dropped as his gaze wandered to the soul 'sweating' in front of him. Fun fact, it turned out even as just a soul, you were still capable of sweating. Amazing what one's soul could do when it was outside its original body…

Well, maybe not original in this instance, but you get the picture.

"You know." Karn smacked his lips as he began to circle the bound soul. "It's not usual for me to be forced to take on such a crude and direct approach. My job as your superior, as your enforcer, is supposed to be an advisory one in nature.

"To sit back, give you some basic instructions and suggestions on how to proceed with your task, and then oversee that you stick to a regular schedule while following through with plans of my own.

"Given how easy your jobs are, I'd assume you'd be capable of doing the bare minimum assigned to you without dragging individuals like me in afterward to clean up your mess.

"Normally, us enforcers wouldn't even be stepping in like this, unless orders from up top told us to do so. This could be because you allowed a Hero to grow in power faster than predicted. Or because you failed to sabotage some scientist somewhere who was on the verge of creating something that they weren't supposed to. Or in case you failed to locate and destroy a cache of texts in a country closing in on the secrets of the Waves. And so on and so forth.

"You and your fellow operatives are meant to nip all these scenarios in the bud before they ever become a problem for enforcers like me to handle so us big dogs can focus on the bigger picture and ensure our boss's long-term plans for the worlds they conquer don't go to &%$#."

Boom!

Karn tossed the sword in his hands at the firepit that got smothered earlier, causing it to erupt in a huge column of flame that reached up all the way to the ceiling and began to spread out across it like an oil spill.

He then created a new portal and pulled out the Soul Eater Dagger from before, flipping it in his hand end over end, his face blank as the four reincarnators still in their bodies began to breath harder from the sudden stifling heat that began to spread across the cave. The unnatural flames of the Synthetic Hundun Talon Sword slowly spread out across the wall as well.

"The point of this annual review is this: Kanemoto, you didn't do your job. The long term plans I had set up in this world for the benefit of the Third Army have gone to &%$#. I've been outed as a traitor, and lost access to the Hero's Nation while trying to learn the full extent of your collective blunder.

"To say that this is bad is an understatement. The amount of operatives in most of the rest of the world is already effectively ZERO, due to the other idiots that were placed in this world years ago flocking to Faubley. And that got them all killed by the most successful one among them.

"I was the only person who used to keep tabs on Melromarc and the surrounding countries there. And now, we have no other presence in the area. The one part of the world where the four Cardinal Heroes have based themselves in. Where the World Guardian is establishing a second nest in the Hero's Nation. A stone's throw away from the recovering Staff Hero's residence.

"And it's all your fault.

"Do you have any idea how important it was for me to be there keeping tabs on all of this? And now I can't even enter that general area without the Shield Hero's mangy pet pointing me out. Instead, I now have to babysit you all and whomever else Chief Enforcer M'yne entrusts to me while trying to salvage this #$%^ by finding out a way to stall out or bring down the Heroes while slaying the leaders in Melromarc as they're getting closer and closer to discovering the true nature of the Waves of Catastrophe.

"Do you think that makes me happy? Do you think I'm grateful for all the extra work that you idiots have forced me to take on?

"Those extras you mentioned earlier were my personal army. They were the ones making my weapons, the ones who were spying on my behalf, so I'd be able to have an easier time keeping track of everything in that part of the world. They were making my job ten times easier, a hundred, no, a thousand times simpler for me to accomplish!

"And you lot managed to kill every single last one of them with that worthless, idiotic, AND UTTERLY BIZARRE plan of yours!"

Karn had been slowly and methodically building his voice with each sentence before this point. But now, a look of fury slowly began to overtake his face.

"I SPENT FIFTEEN YEARS BUILDING THAT CULT IN THIS BACKWATER HOLE OF A WORLD!

"FIFTEEN YEARS OF GROOMING CICERO TO BECOME AN ACCEPTABLE PAWN THAT DIDN'T REQUIRE CONSTANT MONITORING!

"FIFTEEN YEARS OF CULLING THE FLOCK WHENEVER THEY $%$%#^ UP AND DID SOMETHING STUPID LIKE ASSASSINATE THE CROWN PRINCE OF MELROMARC! OR TRY TO SEIZE THE POWER IN ZELTOBLE TOO EARLY! FIFTEEN LONG, STUPID, BLOODY YEARS OF EFFORT!"

Karn began to hyperventilate as his eyes shone with madness, reflecting the flames around him.

…

But after a moment of catching his breath he began to chuckle quietly again.

"They were such useful pawns. Loyal. Obedient. Competent. They could have continued to provide me with high quality weapons. To be my faithful hands whom I could reach out with where I could not step myself. To assist me in important tasks and to be in the thick of it as part of the backdrop of important events across the world..."

"But no, instead, all of them were wasted as mere cannon fodder against an OVERPOWERED HERO that you lot NEVER stood A BLOODY SNOWBALL'S CHANCE IN HELL OF DEFEATING!"

Karn's anger exploded again for a moment, his fury 'peaking'.

…

And then, after another small pause, his signature, 'pleasant', easy-going smile appeared on his face again.

"Did you really think there wouldn't be any accountability for a failure like that?"

"P-p-p-please, sir! Have mercy! It was all the fatso's fault! It was all his idea!" The bound soul wailed in desperation, forcing himself through his paralysis to scream. "He forced us to go along with it since he was the strongest among us! R-right guys?"

Kanemoto's soul desperately called out to his fellow compatriots but no one spoke out on his behalf, even to shift the blame on someone who was already dead.

"Tut! Tut! Tut!" Karn clicked his tongue and waved his finger in front of his face. "No shifting the blame on dead people, Kanemoto. Any one of you could have checked in with me at any point to clarify whether you should break your standing orders to try and go hero hunting. And yet, you didn't think my approval was necessary, did you?

"Now enough, your annual review is finished. And, hoo boy, it is not looking good."

"Masashi Kanemoto. It is with great relief that I must inform you that you are hereby released from your contract with your employers. This means that all the benefits that come with it, like your cheat skill [Magic Tool Thief] and your partial immortality, are now null and void."

"For your many years of poor performance, you will be let go, and receive the standard company severance package given to all operatives who fail to secure their mandate."

A glimmer of hope dared to appear in the soul's portly face at the uttering of that last sentence. Severance package? No, scratch that, he was being let go, and released from all the work the Third Army normally had him do?! SCORE! EVEN IF HE LOST HIS CHEAT AND PARTIAL IMMORTALITY, IT WASN'T LIKE HE'D HAD THE MOST USEFUL CHEAT TO BEGIN WITH, AND… AND… and…

That glimmer of hope turned to pure terror as Karn grabbed one of the black chains protruding from the soul's body again. The Soul Dagger Knife in his hand being held against it.

"You know, these chains are claimed to be indestructible." Karn spoke, as if he was a teacher lecturing a class. "And in many ways, they are. Physical attacks and magic attacks don't work on these even when they're made visible. Purportedly, the only ones allowed to break these chains are our bosses. Not those in the Third Army, but those above them.

"But did you know that they can be broken by others by using soul rending attacks? You'd think our bosses would be smart enough to not put such a flaw in our contracts, but it turns out it isn't a flaw at all. It's a hidden trap.

"Because when someone that isn't our bosses breaks one of these chains with such a crude method…"

Karn moved the dagger through the black chain, cutting through it like it was made of paper to everyone's shock and a series of horrified gasps.

"I do hope you enjoy your 'severance' package, Kanemoto. Let me say, it was not a pleasure working with you." Karn ended with a deadpan sneer.

With a loud hiss, the black chain began to rapidly dissolve at the cut off point.

"W-wait! Nonononono! WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT!" Kanemoto screamed in desperation, lunging towards the two ends of the chain as they unwound around him, grabbing them with his thick pudgy soul hands and futilely trying to put them back together. The paralysis he'd been under had disappeared.

"PLEASE HAVE MERCY! GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE, I BEG OF YOU!" He cried out in terror as all the chains that were bound around his soul before rapidly dissolved into smoke that then began to condense around his chest.

Karn crossed his arms, however, and didn't say anything.

As the chains surrounding Kanemoto fizzled out completely, the black smothering cloud forced its way into the soul's chest, vanishing from sight with seemingly nothing else happening.

For a second.

"AHHHHHHHH-" A screech unlike anything his fellows had ever heard before erupted from the soul. Not from his mouth, but from his very depths. But the wail of despair, agony, and terror did not last, as Kanemoto's chest, then head, and the rest of his body got sucked into a dark black maw in the shape of a snake's mouth that'd opened where his heart had been.

A shredding sound accompanied the disappearance as the very molecules that'd made up Kanemoto's existence were shredded down to the building blocks of their atoms by the conjured black hole.

Not even a quark of him was left behind as his original body turned to ethereal dust on the ground. Said dust vanishing from view before it could settle on the floor of the cave.

The black maw then closed, letting out a satisfied sigh before dispersing into mist and then disappearing completely.

In mere seconds, it was as if Kanemoto had never existed.

Which he no longer did, since Karn terminating the contract had just destroyed his soul.

Completely, and absolutely.

Unlike Kyo, there'd be no coming back for Kanemoto.

…

…

…

"..." Karn was expressionless for a moment more, staring down at the now empty spot in front of him. His eyes hadn't moved from the contractor's death whatsoever.

Karn wasn't naive enough to believe he himself wasn't rotten to the core. He was just more aware and accepting of that fact than these contractors. Even after witnessing the brutal soul death right in front of him, he felt nothing but cold hard satisfaction at what he'd done.

And he was going to enjoy what he was going to do next too.

Karn turned to the others with a grin. "Now that that's done, let's resume our annual review and see what the rest of you have managed to accomplish.

"I'll determine whether I'll need to perform further downsizing afterwards or not."

It was only then that the four idiots left trembling in terror on the heated floor of the cavern all realized how much they'd all collectively &%$#$ up.

The bitter cold outside would become preferable to what they were put through in that sweltering cavern soon after.

---

"Ehehehe! Which one is this Sir Motoyasu?!"

"This one? Hmmm, I think I remember it being called the Pengu in Emerald Online." Motoyasu answered the tiger girl sitting on his shoulders with an enthusiastic smile.

Atla had expressed interest in the totems surrounding the hero tablet, the animals comprising them to be specific, once Motoyasu described what they looked like. And since she couldn't see them, she had requested for the Spear Hero to give her a lift, so she could feel out the totems' contours with her hands.

The Spear Hero and the two girls with him had switched to a more casual attire. In Motoyasu's case it was a light orange t-shirt and a pair of red shorts, as well as sandals.

The tiger girl sitting on his shoulders was wearing a cute white summer dress with blue highlights that left her shoulders bare. She also had on a straw hat that hid her ears. Elena had apparently helped to pick the clothes out for her on short notice.

Which was strange, considering her usual cool indifference and even mild annoyance when Keel would show up with similar requests.

"Were they called that for the same reason as the other two?" S'yne's doll floated up next to Motoyasu's side curiously. The quiet girl appeared at his side right after with an interested expression on her face.

The Otherworld Hero was dressed in a white baggy hoodie, with a pair of black shorts shorts showing off most of her thighs. On her feet was a pair of black shoes with thick heel supports.

This was obviously not part of Elena's stockpile, but rather something that the Sewing Kit Hero kept in her weapon's gem.

Motoyasu had no idea how S'yne had been introduced to modern fashion or if it was just the norm in her old world. But he thanked whichever God/Hero/Deity was responsible for her fondness of short shorts, because DAMN! he was a leg man at heart and S'yne's legs were the most glorious thing on her body ever, I say!

Atla glared down in S'yne's direction. She couldn't see what the older girl was wearing, but she could definitely tell the creepy stalker was trying to seduce Sir Motoyasu!

Like there was any way in hell she'd allow that to happen while she was around! Truce or not!

"Why do you think they were called the Pengu, Sir Motoyasu?!" Atla asked loudly, grabbing the blonde man's attention when he was taking too long to respond to S'yne's prior inquiry.

"Huh? Ah, well, since it looks very similar to an animal in my world called a penguin. Yeah, I find it likely a past Hero named it just like the other two." Motoyasu said happily.

Atla stuck her tongue out at S'yne victoriously. The girl, however, simply smiled and didn't acknowledge the young girl's outburst as her doll floated up next to her head.

"What are penguins?" S'yne asked instead, one of her hands grabbing onto Motoyasu's.

YES! OH GODS SO MUCH YES! Motoyasu had to fight to keep a mad grin from coming onto his face.

"Oh, they are these funny little birds who live waaaaay out south on the glaciers in my world." Motoyasu started.

He went on for a while about what he knew about them whilst Atla began to pout at the older girl's success in seizing Moto's complete and devoted attention from her. She'd pulled her hands back from the totem at this point.

She knew S'yne wasn't really interested in the animal, as she hadn't been interested in the Squirely or Inult totems either. The seamstress just wanted an excuse to keep the Spear Hero talking so she could enjoy holding his hand and hearing his voice!

Well Atla saw right through her little trick, because the hakuko girl didn't care about these animals either! She'd only requested to be lifted on Moto's back so she could feel up the totems for herself while enjoying being so close to Sir Motoyasu! So take that, creepy stalker girl!

"Oh, right!" Motoyasu suddenly said. "Now that you've felt what they look like, do you want me to set you back on the ground, Atla-"

"NO!" Atla hugged Motoyasu's forehead tightly. "I'm just fine staying here on Sir Motoyasu's shoulders!"

…

Motoyasu raised an eyebrow to S'yne, who giggled in response. "I guess Atla really likes piggy back rides." Her doll suggested.

"Hahaha, is that right?" Motoyasu laughed. "Why don't I give you a piggyback ride at the beach later. How's that sound?"

Atla opened her mouth to protest, but then thought about it. Would she rather be on his back here, where all he could do was hold hands with S'yne, or on the beach, when S'yne would likely be changing into-

"Fine." Atla was still pouting, but she didn't resist as Motoyasu set her on the ground again.

Her legs shook only slightly before she straightened out. Motoyasu was surprised at how 'quickly' she'd improved physically. But grateful nonetheless for the miraculous aspect for her recovery.

"Where to now?" S'yne asked.

"Let's see…" Motoyasu thought to himself. He'd ended up going to the Hero's Tablet first since he needed to store it in his weapon, per Raphtalia's request. And he'd then been sidetracked by the pair of girls asking about the island's extinct inhabitants.

This outing was a bit of a spontaneous decision on the Spear Hero's part, when he learned that Naofumi wanted him to tag along to Cal Mira. The trio had enough time to pack some casual clothes and even swimsuits, but this was Motoyasu's first time actually being on the archipelago at the southern coast of Melromarc.

Sure, he remembered the general layout of the area from Emerald Online, but he was no longer stupid enough to think that everything would line up exactly.

Time to improvise then.

"Are you two hungry?" Moto asked.

"No." "Nope."

…

Alright, so not something involving food yet. Uh…

Swimming- no, wait, his heart wasn't ready yet. If he saw S'yne in a swimsuit right now...

Yeah, no, that'd just make his nose bleed. Way too dangerous territory to venture in right now. What else then…?

Oh, he knew! Cal Mira was famous for its Hot Springs! That was the whole reason why Ren was here! It'd be simple to visit Count Hadenburg and get one booked for-

---

'Ahhn~'

---

Within Motoyasu's mind, a disturbingly detailed picture of the Sewing Kit Hero had manifested. She was resting against the edge of one of the hot springs in the nude and letting out a short, breathy groan of satisfaction at the feeling of the hot mineral water on her skin.

Slap!

Motoyasu forcibly smacked himself hard enough to make his head swerve to the side, startling the two girls with him.

"Wah! Sir Motoyasu! What's wrong!?" Atla raised her voice in panic at the weird and uncalled for bout of self-harm. S'yne looked concerned too, despite not saying anything.

"No worries, girls! Just a mosquito! Ah ha ha!" The Spear Hero laughed it off jovially.

No, bad Motoyasu! That'd be even worse than seeing S'yne in a bathing suit! And Atla would be in there naked with her too! Not that he was interested in the young tiger girl, I say, it'd just be weird!

Anyway, stop thinking with your lower brain for a second and come up with a good idea already you blonde idiot!

"A mosquito...?" S'yne asked, sounding unsure. A sweatdrop had formed at the side of her head.

"I don't sense any mosquitos here." Atla echoed the Sewing Kit Hero's confusion, focusing inward to see if she had missed them somehow with her mind's eye.

"..."

"..."

"We probably should have planned this out a little better, huh?" S'yne spoke again after another awkward pause.

"..."

"..."

"Yea, sorry, this is my fault. I just saw an opportunity and jumped at it without thinking." Motoyasu sighed in admittance after a while. "I have no idea what to do here."

"Well… it's not a bust yet. This place does have a lovely atmosphere." S'yne said reassuringly. She then had a thought. "When was the last time you did something to relax that wasn't related to improving your skills, helping others out, or saving the world?"

…

Again, Motoyasu was silent for a moment, trying to think about it. He could have sworn he'd be able to come up with something on the spot that they could all do. Rachel and Gar's wedding preparations. The castle celebrations after the Waves. The… um… the Arena… uh…

Oh, wait! He'd just had that bar crawl with Sadeena and Larsa- aaaaand nope. Atla was definitely way too young to drink. And that kind of thing was best done in moderation… and with those used to drinking like that. S'yne did not come off as that kind of person to him.

Should he ask- no, no. Better to save it for later, after Sadeena returned.

Should he think further back? He was sure there were times when Myne was in his party and- blech, was he really thinking about that redheaded whore again?!

Urgh! Screw that bitch!

…

…

"It's been a while since you've just been able to be a normal person, hasn't it?" S'yne asked tentatively after observing Motoyasu go through a variety of emotions and thoughts. Despite none of them showing up on his face, the Sewing Kit Hero could discern them through the blonde's expressive red eyes.

"... Yeah. Yeah. It has." Motoyasu rubbed the back of his neck. Thinking about it, he really didn't know what people did to relax in this world, outside of parties or bar crawls.

The thought was very sobering. Had it really been that long since he last had 'fun'? Or were those times just not memorable to him in the present? "Did the uh, 'Armor Hero' suffer from that too?"

"He did." S'yne nodded, recalling some more bits from her past. "It was hard for my sister to get him to slow down and enjoy life after he was committed to saving the world. He was kind, but took his duties too seriously, and he… well, he became a little awkward around her from what I saw."

…

S'yne sighed, before forcing a smile again. "I don't think me and Atla would mind if we just wandered around town together with you. We don't have to do anything in particular.

"We'd just appreciate getting to spend time with you, Moto."

…

"... it would be more fun than just standing here." Atla said after a moment of thought, agreeing with the words from the silver-haired girl's doll.

"... … …" Motoyasu slowly smiled again. A date without any planning involved whatsoever. Sure, why not?

He changed his legendary weapon to the Toothpick Spear, before putting it on the back of his right hand where it'd be out of sight. "Alright. Let's give it a try then." He held his hands out to the two girls.

Smiling, Atla took hold of his left hand while S'yne gripped his right. And together, they walked back into the streets of the resort town.

---

The group of three found an open toy shop while wandering the streets, which S'yne immediately dragged them into, citing her want to seek sources of inspiration for her own dollmaking.

Motoyasu thought, what the hell. He still had an inner child in him and went inside to see if there was anything interesting there. He had the perfect excuse with Atla being there too. She'd missed most of her childhood thanks to her illness, so surely it'd be alright to grab her a toy or two to make up for it?

Pengu Mascot Doll: Quality: Average

Price: 50 Silvers

What Motoyasu found on display, however, looked to be for young kids of rich folk or nobility. The prices on some of this stuff was insane!

Motoyasu grimaced as he examined the prices on a display holding nothing but balls like the one Raphtalia kept on her nightstand. He'd seen accessories worth less than these!

"Hello there lass! You look like someone who'd love playing with this!" The shopkeeper appeared suddenly, offering something to the hakuko girl. He wasn't very impressive looking, being of average height and build, looking to be in his mid to late forties based on the small amount of gray in his hair.

"Oh?" Atla reached out with her hands, taking the offered item from the guy and examined it with her fingers.

It was a stuffed black dog toy wearing a cute red collar with a metallic tag that had the name [Bruno] engraved on it.

Motoyasu looked at the price tag on it, and nearly choked on his tongue.

Inu Mascot Doll (Limited Series): Quality: Average

Price: 5 Gold Coins

What kind of price gouging was this?! Was this made out of activation event boss monster materials?! That could be the only reason for such an outrageous price! What the hell?! He finally had some spending money after Zeltoble, but this was ridiculous!

Motoyasu could buy five monster eggs from Beloukas at that cost! He could buy food for all the current residents in Lurolona for a week! He could-

"We'll be fine." S'yne appeared, her doll speaking icily before she took the stuffed dog away from Atla and roughly shoved it back into the shop owner's hands.

"A-A talking doll?!" The man sputtered in surprise.

S'yne ignored his outburst, however, as she grabbed the confused Atla by her hand and began to lead her away. "Come on, Atla. I can make you a better toy than any of the garbage being shown here."

"W-what!? Garbage!? How dare you?!" The shop owner puffed up angrily. Who cared if a doll was talking or not, those were fighting words!

"Yes, garbage. Because none of these are real toys." S'yne paused, grabbing a different stuffed doll from a nearby display. This one was made in the likeness of a squirrel.

She then gave it a stiff squeeze with her hand, and immediately, the seams on it came undone as some of the threads tore apart or got unwound completely. "The material is cheap and awful to the touch. The needlework is terrible and the threads are even worse!

"What is this crap? I'd be surprised if this toy lasted for more than a day in the hands of a child! And you're charging 50 Silvers for it!?"

"Silence, woman! I am Roberto, the best toymaker on Cal Mira! I'll have you know that my wares are popular even among the children of the mainland Melromarc nobility! I even have a contract with Zeltoble lined up to ship our island's mascot series to Siltvelt here soon!" The shop owner argued back, turning red in the face.

"You're a fraud, a sham and a failure." S'yne cut the man off without mercy. "If you are the best toymaker on this island, then I feel sorry for all the children living here as well as the ones whose tourist parents you tricked into buying your garbage.

"I am a toymaker too. And I can make something a million times better than this trash out of scraps!" S'yne boasted before tossing the doll back on the shelf.

She then turned to the door as the man sputtered again in anger. "Come on, Motoyasu. I'm done with this place."

"Wh-Wh-Where do you think you're going, woman!? You've just ruined one of my prized Squirelly mascot dolls! You are not going anywhere until you pay for it, or I'm calling the guards!" The shop owner resumed his heated shouting as he grabbed the ruined doll and shook it in front of him, making the stuffing spill out from the numerous holes that had opened up on it.

"Oh, is that it?" S'yne turned around again, looking down at the man like he was walking garbage. "Fine, give me that!" She then snatched the doll from the shop owner's hands and reached into her pocket, pulling out a shiny needle with a miniature gemstone set in the middle, some fabric scraps, and a spool of black thread.

She then threw everything except for the needle in the air and her arms and hands turned into a blur of motion for a couple seconds.

In that short time frame, the squirrel doll became completely undone and was resewn and re-stuffed from scratch before landing on S'yne's outstretched hand, reborn anew and better than ever.

The material comprising its fur was still rather shoddy, but the squirrel's form had become rounder, more friendly, and approachable. Its expression now projected childish joy and wonder instead of dull blank indifference. It's tail had become much fluffier too and with a more distinct and cool bend at the end. The stitches were all ironclad and practically invisible and the stuffing redistributed and added in certain places to make the doll softer and more pleasant to hold.

"Here is your trash back. I tried my best, but there's only so much that can be done with junk like this." S'yne shoved the Squirrel doll back into the hands of the now stunned shop owner.

The man tentatively ran his hand over the toy's head and examined it from every angle with bewilderment in his eyes.

"H-how? It's so-, but-?"

But S'yne had already led Atla out of the store by that point and was giving the Spear Hero a meaningful look.

Motoyasu gave the shop owner an awkward smile and a reassuring pat on the shoulder, before leaving after the two girls.

…

After they'd walked a dozen feet away from the establishment, Motoyasu finally opened his mouth. "S'yne, um, no offense, but uh-" He was going to ask what the hell happened back there. Before he could though.

"Atla, any toy you want, I'll make it for you." S'yne promised. "And Moto will help too, right?"

"Of course!" Motoyasu immediately agreed. Then he nearly stopped, wondering what the hell he'd just promised out of nowhere.

But then, seeing how happy both girls looked at the words spoken, he decided to let it go and continue with what they were doing.

"That man is crying now." Atla suddenly pointed out and turned her head back at the closed door of the shop. Her smile had quickly vanished as guilt began to appear on her face.

"He better be." S'yne's expression had also returned to a more stiff neutral look. "I can't stand people like that. He obviously must have had some form of competence in his craft in the past to get a store open, but it has long since deteriorated as he grew complacent and lazy.

"Too many people climb an anthill and announce to the world how they've conquered a mountain. Never trying to get better afterward. Never growing or improving. Just falling victim to entropy and decay as what little success they managed to find slowly falls apart and drifts away as they do nothing with themselves except milk their rapidly dwindling past achievements."

"I can't stand individuals like that!"

…

…

S'yne paused in her tracks, her face turning red as the doll next to her spoke again in a less tense tone. "Oh. Sorry. I caused a scene, didn't I? And on our first date too..."

"It's fine, don't worry about it." Motoyasu shook his head quickly. "Even if his toys weren't shoddy, he was still charging way too much for them."

"They were kind of bad..." Atla deadpanned before taking her eyes away from the door at last. She did not have many memories of toys from her early childhood, but she could confidently admit that her mini Bubba doll that was currently valiantly guarding her new nightstand full of sweets felt much nicer to hold.

And it smelled strongly of Sir Motoyasu too.

Motoyasu said nothing to that, his mind instead preoccupied with what S'yne had been ranting about earlier, before she forcibly cut herself off.

'Wasted potential, huh...?'

He briefly wondered if he was living up to his. He certainly wasted a lot of time early on. Was this what Itsuki was feeling too?

...

Well, regardless, even if the toys were bad, he still felt bad for the shop owner, who he could hear sobbing inside his store as the group moved on with their day.

---

"Sir Motoyasu, right here?" Atla asked.

"No, just a bit more to the left- sorry, my left, your right." Motoyasu quickly clarified.

The tiger girl's tongue stuck out to the side. She'd already messed up several times before now, but she slowly placed the bucket full of packed wet sand about where Motoyasu had wanted it in her mind's eye.

They were at the beach. They'd been walking along, enjoying the feel of the sand beneath their feet when Motoyasu had a brilliant idea. He remembered coming across some sand buckets and shovels while organizing his inventory a while ago. He then brought them out so the three of them could build a sand castle together.

Well, S'yne had backed off to build her own sand castle, leaving Atla and Motoyasu to make one together. But Motoyasu found it highly enjoyable doing it with Atla, even if she was having a bit of a harder time due to her being blind.

It brought back memories of when he was younger, and when he had the chance to do this with his parents on a beach. How long ago had that been?

Well, regardless of the intrusive thought, he'd already found out that the seawater was too cold to swim in, so they weren't going to use the swimsuits they'd packed for the date anytime soon.

"Here?" Atla asked again.

"Yeah, perfect!" Motoyasu praised her.

The tiger girl smiled, and as she pulled the bucket up, Motoyasu threw the finishing touches on the walls of their small fort.

It couldn't have been more than two feet high, with the walls around the main keep being little more than one feet slabs connecting towers that didn't look very well held together.

But even with all that in mind, Atla had made it despite being blind. That was an achievement in and of itself worthy of his praise and headpats, I say!

"Well done, Atla! It looks great!" Motoyasu grinned widely as he proceeded to headpat the tiger girl.

"Ehehehe!" Atla enjoyed the Spear Hero's hand on her head for all it was worth.

She turned in S'yne's direction, ready to gloat about how much better her sand castle was and that Sir Motoyasu was enjoying her hair more than he'd enjoyed the creepy girl's hand and-

Weird. Why was S'yne's aura signature ten feet off the ground?

"Oh, are you two finally done down there?" S'yne's doll asked smugly.

Motoyasu turned around as he stopped headpatting Atla, only for his eyes to bulge out of their sockets.

"DID YOU MAKE A SAND FORTRESS INSTEAD OF A SAND CASTLE!?"

S'yne grinned where she stood on the ramparts of her sand castle's wall, leaning over the edge of it to peer down. "Possibly." Her doll said smugly.

The wall she stood on stood eight feet tall and several feet thick behind a moat, which was filled with sea water. Behind it, a fifteen foot tall keep loomed high into the air. The towers on the four corners looked as good as those surrounding the Taj Mahal in the Spear Hero's world.

Motoyasu's stunned look turned into one of amazement. "That's so amazing, I say! How did you build it so quickly?!"

Instead of saying anything to answer, S'yne revealed the strings surrounding her, each one lifting up a different bucket or sand shovel into view.

SO COOL! SO SHE COULD USE THOSE STRINGS OF HER TO CONTROL MORE THAN JUST PUPPETS! TRULY SPECTACULAR, I SAY!

Beside him, Atla began to pout.

"It's still made of sand! It won't last long if I hit it!" The tiger girl got up, taking a running leap at the wall of sand that caused her hat to fall off.

"Wait, Atla, that isn't very nice-" Motoyasu began to move to stop her.

Pow!

Clearing the moat, Atla's glowing fist hit the outer wall.

The whole sand structure promptly collapsed, burying Motoyasu as he'd tripped into the moat in an effort to stop her.

Atla herself was only partially buried.

S'yne alighted on her feet next to the tiger girl who glared in challenge at her. S'yne's sand castle had been entirely leveled, leaving only Moto and Atla's structure standing.

"Ha, see, it didn't even hold up to one punch!" Atla smirked victoriously.

"Has Granny already started teaching you how to harness your Spirit Energy for attacks?" S'yne asked curiously, not feeling offended in the slightest at Atla's destructive childish outburst.

This caused the tiger girl's smirk to drop. "No, we just barely started with helping me to recognize my connection to my life force."

"... Heh. I can really see why she's taken such an interest in you now." S'yne smiled, patting the tiger girl on the head this time as she did so. The Bubba doll then floated close, carrying Atla's hat before gently setting it down on her head.

…

Atla stood there in confusion, wondering what was going on and why S'yne wasn't angry with her. But then…

"Pbbthh!" Motoyasu's head finally popped out of the sand, spitting it out everywhere.

"Ehehehe!" S'yne began to giggle upon seeing the Hero. And Atla, though she tried to continue glaring, couldn't help but giggle too.

"Ugh, can one of you help me out already?" Motoyasu complained. "You have no idea how hard it was to stay buried and not interrupt the bonding moment you two were having!"

"Wha- we were not bonding, Sir Motoyasu!" Atla yelled in embarrassment, her tail shooting up.

"Sure sounded like it from here." The Spear Hero grinned.

"I- Hmph!" Atla turned away, crossed her arms, and pouted. "Come on! I'll help you rebuild the castle to be even better than before!" She instead spoke to the older girl, who nodded her head with a pleased expression on her face.

"Uh, aren't you guys going to help me out first?" Motoyasu pleaded. Really, he was buried all the way up to his neck. He could hardly move!

But instead of giving him a response, the two girls left Moto buried in the sand a little while longer as they built a new and improved sand castle around him.

Had there been a competition going on, they would have definitely got first place.

The group of three eventually returned to the streets as the afternoon turned to evening.

---

S'yne and Atla had to clean sand off their hands and feet while Motoyasu needed a full body shower to get sand out of places where it didn't belong. Fortunately, he had another set of casual clothes stored in his weapon, which he was able to change into.

Even if it did feel like sand was still sticking to parts of his body. Would his defense stat prevent him from chafing? That'd suck if it didn't. Now he was remembering why he didn't like going to the beach that often.

It was mainly because of the swimsuits that it was ever worthwhile.

Because of how much time had passed, the group was hungry. But instead of going inside to one of the restaurants, S'yne pulled both Moto and Atla along toward a street that was full of food vendors who were out to offer goodies to the crowds returning from the beaches and other islands in the evening.

The silver-haired girl got something at almost every stall. Her doll doing the talking while she stuffed her face with whatever she got. This got her some weird looks from some of the vendors, but others were too excited by how much the silver-haired girl was spending to give a damn about her strange use of magic.

Sometimes, she remembered to give some of what she was buying to Atla and Motoyasu as they continued on. But a good portion of what she bought was consumed before they'd even gone more than a few stalls.

Wow, this girl could really pack food away when she was hungry! It made Motoyasu think of Filo, and the fact that both girls shared the same trait brought a cheerful smile to his face!

Eventually, they did sit at a table with what they had left. And S'yne was about to continue with her feast when Motoyasu put his hands together, having not eaten anything before that point.

"Itadakimasu." He said while bowing his head and smiling.

"Huh? What does that mean, Sir Motoyasu?" Atla asked curiously.

"It's the Japanese way of saying 'thank you for the food'." He explained with a smile. "It's something me and the other Heroes have been doing for most of our lives. Want to give it a try?"

Atla didn't even need a moment to think about it. She put her hands together, and then bowed her head like Motoyasu had done in her aura vision. "Itadakimasu." She repeated what the Spear Hero had said, with perfect pronunciation to boot.

"Perfect." Motoyasu smiled at her, causing the blind tiger girl to beam with pride, before he looked in S'yne's direction expectantly.

"S-Sorry." The girl blushed and looked away, suddenly feeling embarrassed. "It's been so long since I've seen it done."

"Wait, you already know about it? Did the Armor hero...?" Motoyasu started to ask, only to trail off.

"Yes…" S'yne looked like she wanted to say more, but instead, she clasped her hands together and bowed her head.

"Itadakimasu." She said with her own lips.

Afterwards, she ate slowly, looking more at peace as she did so. As if saying the one word had brought back a host of memories for her.

Atla wanted to feel jealous and cause a scene, but she'd sensed the sea of emotion behind the girl's real voice. The amount of weight behind her use of it here and now.

…

The sight brought a smile to Motoyasu's face, and the group of three proceeded to eat together in peace.

One of S'yne's hands resting in his under the table as they did so.

---

"Atla, you don't have to stand between us." Motoyasu pouted.

"Sir Motoyasu was holding hands the whole time we were eating. I have to do something to ensure Sir Motoyasu and cr- S'yne will behave." The pouting tiger girl walked between both Heroes, holding hands with both to ensure they wouldn't try to reach over her to continue what she'd discovered at the dinner table.

And to think she'd given the creepy stalker girl a pass while they were eating! She was insufferable, I say! Give her an inch and she'd take a mile!

She really was too much like Atla!

Motoyasu looked to S'yne, silently asking if the young tiger girl was being a little unreasonable. But S'yne was still smiling softly like before.

"It almost feels like we're walking our child together, don't you think?" S'yne's doll asked the Spear Hero.

"Pbbtth!" Motoyasu spat from first surprise, and then laughter. Ha, what a nice joke that was!

"Hey, I'm not a child! And I'm especially not your child!" Atla glared up at the Otherworld Hero.

"I don't know. Our hair colors are pretty similar, aren't they?" S'yne teased the girl with the same warm smile on her face as before. "Or maybe you'd prefer it if I was called your older sister instead?"

Atla opened her mouth to argue back but found herself unable to and instead just looked away in embarrassment. Her face was burning up and her heart was beating fast again for some reason.

How annoying! Ever since their talk at night, it was hard to deal with the stupid stalker girl. What was the deal with her? Atla was trying so hard to get under her skin this whole time but instead of getting mad, S'yne just kept giving her that weird creepy smile that made the tiger girl feel...

"Wah!~"

The hakuko was so deep in thought that she didn't notice a hole on the road right in front of her and tripped right over it.

"Whoa!" Motoyasu instinctively raised his hand which was gripping Atla's, as did S'yne, causing the tiger girl to get lifted in the air, instead of landing on her face.

"Ah." Atla's breath hitched in her chest at the sensation of her body being held aloft. But as soon as the sensation came, it passed as the two adults set her down on the ground.

"Atla, are you okay?" S'yne crouched by her with a concerned look on her face. "Sorry, we should have told you that there was a pothole ahead!"

"Ah, no, it's fine, I can see stuff like that around me with life force." Atla said.

"Really?" Motoyasu asked.

"Yeah, I just wasn't paying attention there, Sir Motoyasu..." Atla responded lamely.

…

"Well… Shall we continue then?" Motoyasu offered Atla his hand again, as did S'yne.

...

Atla hesitated for a moment but then nodded, giving a bright smile of her own as she grabbed the hands of the two adults again before they continued on.

…

…

Things were quiet for a few moments, but Atla then spoke up again. "Umm... can you... do that thing again?"

"Huh?" Motoyasu looked down in puzzlement which Atla matched.

"Where you made me fly for a moment, I mean." Atla mumbled quietly, her face growing rosy again. "It was a lot of fun."

"Oh? OHH! Ahahaha! Of course! S'yne, on the count of three?" The Spear Hero suggested.

The Sewing Kit Hero nodded enthusiastically in response.

"Alright then, on three! One."

"Two."

"Three! Upsy daisy!"

Atla felt her feet leaving the ground again, her body soaring up into the air. She laughed in joy as the same sensation from before appeared again.

"Again! Do it again!" She shouted needily.

She didn't land on the ground as Moto and S'yne swung back, and then forward, bringing her even higher into the air. Atla laughed and laughed as this continued.

Even if it was not very far, she felt butterflies in her stomach as well as an overwhelming feeling of joy, which made her burst out in a fit of giggles.

The three of them might have looked like a young family to anyone passing by, but Motoyasu couldn't have cared less.

This… this was wholesome. This was fun.

…

And this was what he'd needed too.

---

The Spear Hero sat on a lounge chair at the beach, looking at the coming sunset.

"Did you have fun today?" S'yne's doll asked where it floated next to his head.

The seamstress herself was sitting in a chair next to him on his left. Atla had the last laugh in their 'battle' however, by falling asleep next to Motoyasu on his chair with her head resting on Motoyasu's lap.

She wasn't faking it though. She'd managed well today with the physical exertion, but she'd really tired out at the end after playing around so much with both S'yne and Sir Motoyasu. Playgrounds might not have existed in this world before the Hero's Nation, but they'd managed to have their own kind of fun even without that.

"Yeah, I had a lot of fun." Motoyasu admitted as he patted the tiger girl on the head. Atla purred happily in her sleep.

So cute. Atla wasn't even a cat demi-human, but how was she more adorable compared to Anya?

Maybe that'd change after she'd trained with Granny for a while. The thought made Motoyasu appreciative of the fact that S'yne had brought Atla along. Even if a part of him might have wished to enjoy having S'yne all to himself, having the younger girl along had made things more fun and enjoyable in its own unique way.

And delayed the inevitable of Atla turning into a miniature version of Granny.

…

He… really hoped the young girl would pace herself. Now he was getting to understand in part why Naofumi felt guilty for taking Raphtalia's childhood away from her. Except this was Atla's personal choice on the matter. Something she'd made explicitly clear when Motoyasu found her in the morning training with the kung fu Granny.

But even knowing that, she deserved at least a chance to experience a small portion of what she'd been unable to do for most of her life.

…

Realizing he'd gotten lost in thought, he turned to face S'yne, in case she'd said anything. But the girl wasn't looking at him.

The Otherworld Hero was smiling and facing the distant sun as its bottom touched the horizon.

The effect on the water was mesmerizing. The darkening blue of the ocean met with the orange lines dividing the sky. Cutting into the blue gradually fading in tone as the sun slowly sank.

Motoyasu turned his head away with a blush at how beautiful both the girl and the scene was.

When… had been the last time he'd sat down to do this? In all the many dates and outings he'd gone on with friends in his world, had he ever thought to do something like this with them?

Motoyasu couldn't recall. He'd seen sunsets before, but he never, you know, saw them. It was just something that happened before night. And yet, here with S'yne...

…

"... it's as beautiful here as it is in my world." S'yne spoke again, her voice staticing in and out.

"... you watched the sunsets there too?" Motoyasu asked as an ice breaker. Even if the girl's voice crackled in and out as she spoke, it held an emotional depth to it that her doll just couldn't fully capture.

Like trying to tune a radio to hear the goddess speaking on the other side.

"Yes, sometimes growing up. With my sister. Before… before the Waves." S'yne muttered softly.

…

The young girl's face fell. "Things were so much simpler back then. When it was just us."

"You didn't have parents growing up, right?" Moto asked, recalling some bits and pieces of their prior shorter conversations at their home.

"I... no." S'yne shook her head.

She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, then looked at her doll. Somehow, Motoyasu knew that she wasn't changing to it so he'd have a better time understanding.

It was because what she wanted to say was too painful for her to speak normally.

"They died when I was little." The doll spoke in a passive, dead tone. S'yne wasn't in any effort to change its tone like she normally would. "I don't remember much about them. I know they were nice people. That they left us with enough to take care of ourselves when they passed.

"The majority of my life though, it was just me and my big sis. We…"

…

…

"... what about you? Did you have parents, Moto?" S'yne turned her head as the doll asked the question, abruptly changing the subject.

"Of course." Motoyasu smiled, deciding to not press the girl for further details on what she'd wanted to say. "What do you want to know?"

"What… what were they like?" S'yne asked.

And Moto answered, and then spoke more as S'yne listened.

Motoyasu described life with his parents. How they'd mostly been absent, but were nice people who worked a lot. Their jobs forced him to move around quite a bit whenever they were reassigned somewhere else in Japan.

The Spear Hero was worried about having to explain some of the nuances of living in a modern world, but S'yne readily understood most of what he had to mention when talking about the kind of lives he and his parents lived.

He paused to ask, and she shrugged and mentioned how her Hero brother told her and her sister a lot about his world in their downtime. He'd also had photos of his world and a fashion magazine with him when he was summoned. Both of which were shown to the two sisters, as well as the rest of their friends while the Armor Hero explained what was in them.

The volume covered that year's best summer season wear and that was how S'yne learned about Japan's modern fashion.

It didn't hurt how comfortable shorts were in general too, which was why S'yne was a big fan of them, even wearing a different pair with her usual outfit; although it was not immediately obvious there, due to how her dress extended down a bit.

'BRO! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!' The Spear Hero prayed for the soul of the departed hero in gratitude.

Other than that, Motoyasu told her what it was like as an only child who moved around a lot thanks to his parents. How he tried to make friends with lots of different people whenever he moved, though he never was able to get close with any of them for a variety of reasons. Including the fact that within a few months, he could be moving into yet another school district.

Even after he finally moved out of the house and settled into a college dorm, that style of life stuck to him. And he ended up spending a lot of time playing a game called Emerald Online since that allowed him to play with a group of people that didn't change as constantly as his life had over the years.

He'd gone on a lot of dates and made lots of friends. And yet…

"Your life before being summoned sounds like a lonely one." S'yne's doll said after a while.

"Yeah… yeah, it was lonely." Motoyasu admitted. "I think that's just another reason why I'm grateful to have been summoned here. Even if I have messed up a few times along the way… I finally have a home to settle down in. People I can serve and protect. Brothers I never knew I wanted. Friends and… maybe even someone who's a lot more than just a friend for me to care about."

It wasn't too early to admit that much on the first date, right?

…

Looking from the distant horizon, where the sun had long since vanished, to his side, Motoyasu saw S'yne blushing a bright red at his words. Her hands were covering her mouth, and he mentally facepalmed.

Crap. Maybe he'd gotten too comfortable with talking there. And here he'd been trying to take it slow-

"Thank you." S'yne's voice spoke, and then the rest came from her doll. "I haven't been in the Hero's Nation for that long. But…

"After years of wandering, I feel like I've found home again too.

"... and you were a big part in helping me to feel that way." S'yne's face lowered, but her hands moved away, revealing that while she was still blushing, she was smiling.

…

…

"Moto, your nose is bleeding." S'yne pointed out after a moment.

"Oh- OH!" Motoyasu put a hand to his nose and pressed down. Damn it, it'd just been too much adorableness for him to handle! Why did S'yne have to look so beautiful in the fading light of dusk?!

"Hehehehe." Giggling, S'yne took some cloth from her weapon, then leaned over and helped clean off his face and lips with it.

"Sowwy." Motoyasu grumbled out.

"It's fine. This doesn't ruin anything." S'yne continued to smile. "I'd say for a first date… this has been one of the better ones I've been on."

"Not the best?" Motoyasu asked.

"Close. But it was just me and the guy I was with back then." S'yne admitted before her face took on an apologetic look. "Thank you again for agreeing to take Atla along. I know this wasn't really what you wanted, but I made a certain promise with her and couldn't betray it."

"Oh?" Motoyasu quirked an eyebrow. "What sort of promise?"

"Can't say. It's a secret between girls." S'yne shook her head. "But I think you can tell that she appreciates you a lot."

"Haha. Well yea, you don't need to tell me that much. I'm not dense." Motoyasu chuckled as he ran his hand over the sleeping tiger girl's hair again.

"Though, to be perfectly honest, my reasons to bring her along aren't entirely selfless." S'yne's doll then added as the girl leaned back in her lounge chair to look out at the sea again. "I can't fathom what sort of nightmare she had to live through, but I at least know what it's like to lose your parents and to only have an older sibling to look out for and care for you."

"Like you did with your older sister?" Motoyasu asked, feeling his stomach turn as he recalled the details of the parting between her and S'yne that the girl briefly touched on before during her talk with Raphtalia.

The Sewing Tool Hero nodded while keeping her eyes on the horizon. "Yes... While I still don't understand why she did what she did, I cannot forget everything that she did for me.

"She basically had to be the mom for the both of us. When I was little, I was always upset at her for dragging me around with her everywhere.

"I wanted to be alone in my room most of the time. Working with fabric and thread since they were easier to deal with than people I didn't know or cared about.

"But now... I understand why socializing was so important to her.

"We're made up by our experiences and memories. And the greater the variety of them we have, the greater our understanding of the world around us is. And when we understand the world around us, it becomes easier for us to understand different people too.

"So... I figured I could at least keep that bit of good in the world going. What my sister did for me. Even if M-... she... doesn't care about it anymore.

"Atla desperately needs to experience the world around her now that she can experience it for herself. I want to help her to be able to do that as an older sister figure to her."

...

Motoyasu breathed in deeply, before moving his hand off the tiger girl's head and onto the arm of the girl sitting next to him. "S'yne... I'm not going to press for any details right now. To be honest, I'm impressed you shared so much with me and Raphtalia earlier. I feel like I've learned more about you today than I have in the past couple of weeks.

"I still don't feel like I have the whole picture yet... but I'm okay with that. Between your backstory, the wandering you went through, the, um... way you're able to use your pins." He grimaced.

S'yne grimaced as well. "I'm sorry again for not, um..." Her voice staticed out, and she sighed as her doll took over for her. "For not telling you about that sooner."

"It's fine. I'm grateful you did tell me. Honestly, having had time to think about it and after the day we had... I'm glad that if I had to have someone watching my back, it'd be you." Motoyasu told her gently with a smile.

"And... just know that when you're ready to share more about your past, about... your older sister, and the Armor Hero, and everything else you're not comfortable sharing right now... I'll be here, ready and waiting to listen." The Spear Hero told her with a smile.

The silver-haired girl blushed lightly at his response. And Moto moved his hand back to the tiger girl's head, thinking about what she'd said prior to his comforting.

"Also, what you did bringing Atla today, it's no problem, really." Motoyasu said, his hand idly resting on top of the hakuko child's head. "Your outview on this kind of puts my early life in a different perspective too. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all."

"It's just what I think. I don't know if I'm right or not. "Syne shrugged in her seat before smiling a little wider. "I was already presumptuous enough to trick Atla to come out here by suggesting that I'd be stealing you from her otherwise."

Motoyasu suppressed a chuckle at the ridiculousness of the notion. "I don't think she needs to worry about that. I don't leave the people I trust behind, unless they break that trust.

"Just know, Naofumi's the same way, so you should probably admit to him that you put a pin on Ren to keep an eye on him as well. And that said pin is how you and Atla teleported here before the anti-teleport field became active."

"I'll make sure to tell him." S'yne promised.

...

...

...

After another minute of watching the sea, the Spear Hero spoke again. "So... will there will be a second date-"

Instead of answering, S'yne leaned over and pressed her lips against the Spear Hero's cheek.

She leaned back into her chair. She was blushing profusely at the action, but looked incredibly happy.

…

…

…

…

…

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Yep, it appeared that he'd done good. And after what S'yne had just did, Motoyasu was determined to not wash that part of his face ever again!

Gods, he just felt so happy right now! Was this what a healthy relationship was supposed to feel like?!

Atla who had woken up at some point during the conversation, but continued to pretend to be asleep, really wanted to do something at that moment. Maybe knocking the chair over or kicking up some sand 'by accident', but...

She just didn't have her heart in it for some reason. Maybe it was because of the admittance from S'yne. Or maybe it was because of the heavy, yet heartfelt conversation both individuals had shared...

She pouted again instead while staying still. There may be no rules in love and war but the tiger girl was no barbarian. The creepy girl won this round fair and square.

This just meant that Atla had to work even harder next time.

And thus, as the day at Cal Mira ended, the Spear Hero portaled home with the two girls.

Like his brothers, feeling happier about his progress and relationships than he ever had in his life.

---

"Thank you so much,"

"It's nothing. Stay safe out there."

"Seriously, thank you for helping us get here, Bow Hero."

"We would have never gotten past the destroyed lands without your guidance."

"Thank you, may the Gods watch over you."

…

Itsuki said nothing, merely nodding his head before the young couple holding a set of twins in their arms went through the gate of the town, disappearing into the streets.

The Bow Hero continued to say nothing as he secretly followed along the length of the wall. Watching the couple as they went down a side street, knocked on the door of a home, and got welcomed in by grateful relatives, relieved that their nephew, his wife, and their children had survived the Spirit Tortoise catastrophe.

They were amongst the lucky ones. Even though Itsuki had successfully guided this small family of refugees across the wastes, he'd spotted with his skills many of those who'd perished trying to traverse the changed landscape.

Patrols normally done by adventurers or soldiers to cut down the local monster populations weren't being performed often, if at all, due to the high casualty rate of the Spirit Tortoise's rampage. And while the giant monster had targeted both persons and monsters in its path of destruction, the monsters were the ones recovering and using the changed landscape to their advantage first.

Itsuki found a nest of spider monsters out in the open that'd been feasting on survivors trapped in silk cocoons. He had to direct the family of four a different way so they wouldn't come across it. And then he disappeared for a moment and slayed every last monster in the nest.

Unfortunately, while he'd slayed all the spider monsters and destroyed all their eggs, there'd been no survivors left in the silk cocoons for him to rescue. All he could do was cremate their remains with a fire skill and then move on after offering a short prayer for their departed souls.

As Itsuki sat in his spot, stuck on the memory, he automatically pulled his bowstring back, feeling the grip Naofumi had made in the Otherworld for him protecting his fingers as he sniped an unsuspecting monster in the darkness. An EXP notification came in right afterward telling Itsuki he'd killed it in one shot.

If only he could protect everyone here like Naofumi…

He should have been happy to have helped this small family, at the very least. But he didn't. It was partly his fault that he hadn't stopped the Spirit Tortoise in time.

A part of him knew he wasn't the only one to blame. That he and his brothers didn't even share that blame since Kyo had been the one to awaken the Guardian Beast. Yet he still blamed himself for their failure regardless.

Somebody had to shoulder that blame and atone for it, after all.

The empty void in his chest only felt more desolate and alone as the Bow Hero was left to his turmoil. He pulled a hood over his head and vanished back out into the darkening plains.

There were still people out there in need of his help. And there were plenty of monsters that needed to be slaughtered.

Itsuki continued to work, feeling no pleasure nor happiness as he focused on his duties as a Hero in this part of the world.

---

Author's Notes:

Bit of a longer chap, but still good. I think I'm now a third of the way through what I want to cover this arc.

Yep, that's right. A third. And that's my best guestimate right now. I won't keep you around for an omake this time. Enjoy your weeks.

Also, to . Can't remember if you were the artist on the Shield Hero Discord who liked posting all those syneyasu hand drawn arts years ago on the Shield Hero Discord, but in case you are, I hope this chapter and future chapters gives you plenty of more content for you or that artist friend of yours to draw :).

---

Till Next Time

Allen