Biggest thanks for Ace-Triad for fixing my SPAG problems, and Angel Wraith for beta-reading the chapter, and providing feed backs.
As always, I will blabber some more in my end note.
Cross posted on AO3, for anyone who prefer that site.
Mr. Saito's slash is as fast and fierce as a shooting star. Raphtalia feels like even her breath has been cut in half by his attack even if she isn't the target. She hears a whistle coming from the side between the chunky sound of teeth grinding against hard nuts. At the same time, Mr. Yatsuhashi holds up his own blade and parries the sword out of Mr. Saito's hand at the last moment. She turns her head to look, and sees it's Zellus, the one who led the mercenaries against them under the crypt of Eclair's family. He's currently sitting atop of the wooden fence, tossing some kind of nuts into his mouth. "[Shooting Star] of the Koga (Tiger Eye) Style? Didn't think anyone still knew that technique since the students of the style all died since the fall of the empire."
Mr. Saito immediately jumps back after his own weapon, and Mr. Yatsuhashi doesn't follow up to chase him down. Naofumi's bodyguard chooses to readjust his own steps, from Granny's teaching, Raphtallia knows that he is trying to regain some of his posture to fortify his own defence. He managed to stop Mr. Saito's previous attack at the last moment. But it no doubt still had an effect. As for Mr. Saito, he reaches his hand out to grab the hilt of his talking sword, but he doesn't pull the tip buried in the ground. His right foot moves forward, seemingly holding the dull side of Deflinger between his toes. He also closes both of his eyes, and his facial expression relaxes like he has fallen asleep, or if he's in some kind of meditation. Raphtalia hasn't studied long under Granny, and she barely had learnt any actual fighting technique, let alone a proper fighting style. But even she found the stance taken by Mr. Saito looked strange, almost... forbidden.
"[Lightless Reverse Blade] of Irako? I thought this technique was lost in time too!" Zellus jumps off the wooden fence he is sitting on. He has a maniacal grin that split his lower face this time. "I got to have a go at the boy myself! To see how many lost techniques he actually has."
Raphtalia doesn't understand why Zellus is so excited. All she knows is the technique is probably both very dangerous and rarely used, so Mr. Yatsuhashi hasn't seen it before. She runs to the edge of the dueling ring between them and screams. "Let's stop this fight, Mr. Yatsuhashi! You are an important companion of Naofumi, and it doesn't make sense for you to get hurt training with an ally!"
Mr. Yatsuhashi's body tenses up, which Raphtalia wouldn't have noticed before her training with Granny since he was mostly standing still the whole time. But it seems like he has heard her words, and is thinking over her points. After a moment, he speaks. But he rejects Raphtalia's suggestion. "I'm sorry, Miss Raphtalia. But I have to continue this battle. If I call this session off while my opponent is preparing a new technique I have never seen before, my will as a warrior would forever be left in doubt. And I would not be able to serve my thane to the best of my abilities. Don't worry, I am confident that I won't suffer permanent injury even if I lose to this technique."
After replying back to her, Mr. Yatsuhashi slowly steps towards Saito while holding his defensive stance. But after each step, he begins to readjust the way he holds his sword till he settles his curved greatsword into a vertical hold. Raphtalia's understanding of sword art is still limited even after training with Granny, but she can definitely see it as a more aggressive stance compared to the one Mr. Yatsuhashi usually takes. And after he closed in on Mr. Saito, the smaller swordsman suddenly moves the leg he's using to hold the tip of his blade while pulling up with both of his arms, the talking sword of his makes a deep scar in the ground as it rises up at Mr. Yatsuhashi, like the fang of a great animal.
Chapter 64: The Other Me
"Aultcray, I understand you wish to spend time with the woman who looks so much like your first born daughter in another ten years. But don't forget - my own daughter was nearly assassinated by one of her companions." The voice of Duke Douglas Amelia catches Malty's attention. She turns her face back from her older counterpart to the group of nobles standing near her father, and sees the monocles of the House Amelia head reflexing light. "I am not asking you to imprison, or penalize these three other world heroes. But I would like you to find a way to keep my own daughter safe. And don't forget, my daughter is also an important advisor to your younger daughter. If these three heroes are allowed to walk around without proper supervision, your younger daughter might become a casualty when they lose control of themselves."
Father also pulls his own sight back from Malty's older counterpart to the Finance Minister. His eyes flashing with hesitation. But before he has a chance to reply, a blue blur runs out of the gate and overtakes them all. "Is it true? You are my Big Sister Malty from the future, or another version of Medea? You look... tired, and you look hurt. Was it because of the Burning Legion?! I can get you healers, and maybe take you to a resort run by Iris' family for you to rest up!"
"Be careful, Melty. We don't know what fully happened to this other... me. Her companion went completely insane as soon as she saw Iris. We don't know if she might do the same when she sees someone." Malty takes a few steps over, and pulls her younger sister back. Melty looks up at her with confused-looking eyes, but she nods her head in the end, stops her rambling and walks back with Malty behind the heroes and other warriors where she'll be safe.
The other Malty's head slowly turns to the side as she stares at Melty. Once again, the emotion in her eyes begins to take strange shades. There is a mix of annoyance, nostalgia, and a bit that looks like regret. But mostly, she gives the impression of genuine confusion. After a few moments, she opens her mouth and asks. "You aren't afraid of me? Even after Yuri nearly attacked you?"
"Why would I be afraid of you? You are my Big Sister Malty, even if you are from the future, or another world. Aren't you?" Malty can't see the eyes and face of her little sister, but it's easy to hear the confusion in her own voice. "Yeah, your friend was kind of scary. But she isn't you. And you jumped out to stop her immediately. I knew my big sister would never hurt me, and I can see you are the same."
"Is that so..." For a brief moment, the other Malty actually looks away from Melty, before she seemingly tries to hide the awkward reaction by looking at Melty from the corner of her eyes like she does to everyone else. "Perhaps you should listen to your own sister more. People aren't always sincere, and a lot of times they are more malicious than you like to think. The only way I survived till now is by always assuming the worst of everyone I met. In fact, I can already tell we are two different people from the way she hangs by the Shield Hero's side like a mere attachment to him."
"...now you heard the words right from her own mouth, Aultcray. She might look exactly like your own daughter in another decade or so, but she's not your daughter. Perhaps this is the time to stop being so sentimental about this other Spear Hero, whose past we have yet to uncover." The conversation between Duke Amelia and Malty's father is continuing behind everyone even with the scene caused by Melty. And from his tone, he's clearly asking Malty's father for something that he would disapprove of.
"She might not be exactly like my Malty, but she still called me Father. It's clear that I'm close enough to her own father to her, so that makes her my responsibility! You can't be serious about forcing the 'loyalty potion' down the throat of her, Duke Amelia." Father's voice is very indignant, and Malty expected that. Unlike Mother, he has always been sentimental to a fault, especially towards those he considers family (not only limited by blood, as shown by his relationship with Uncle Aldrecht, or even Pope Balmus). Malty isn't sure how she feels about his sentimentality in this situation though. On the one hand, they are facing heroes from other worlds with shady and unreliable pasts exactly like Duke Amelia said. On the other hand... one of them is a counterpart of herself. She knew better than to trust a counterpart of herself for anything, especially since this version of her clearly never developed trust with her version of Naofumi judging by what she already revealed. But then again, this other version of her is a Spear Hero who probably has a decade of experience running away and fighting this Burning Legion. Could they even afford to start a conflict with someone like her?
"I did not want to come to this, Aultcray. But you aren't the regent king nor the royalty of glorious Melromarc anymore.You are merely a general under the queen's command who happened to sire her two daughters. And as a duke and Lord Paramount of the Golden Coast, I can force the issue over your displeasure and objection. Because this other 'daughter' of yours has a companion who is clearly not of sound mind, and she was caught right-handed trying to murder my daughter." Duke Amelia stares right back at Malty's father with a cold demeanor. It is easy to overlook Duke Amelia as a major Player of the Game when there are figures like Prince Joseph who is as fierce as a mad tempest, Duke Arvis who leads the Crusader Block like an inferno capable of burning down the nation. But he is perfectly capable of reminding everyone that he is the head of the most powerful noble family in Melromarc, who controls the nation's wealth, and married the daughter of the top general. "If you are not willing to force the lookalike of your daughter to take the loyalty potion, then have her two companions go through it. That is the extent of what I'm willing to compromise."
"Beardy with the evil monocle has the right idea. That's how you should treat any other world heroes who arrive in this world... Melty." The other Malty's eyes slowly leave the direction of Duke Amelia. Although Malty noticed something strange about her counterpart. She's making light of the situation too much, almost like she doesn't recognize Duke Amelia at all, and assumes him to be nothing more than the common bootlicker in a royal court. She could be intentionally making light of the situation to make herself look aloof, unpredictable. Especially if she's overconfident about her identity as the Spear Hero. But if Malty is in the shoes of her counterpart, this is certainly not how she would treat someone like Duke Amelia. Even if she wants to put up a mask of strength to increase her stack in the coming negotiation, she would at least find a way to make an example out of Duke Amelia to make everyone realize that she's not afraid of his power.
The other Malty's next action further proves Malty's assumption. Rather than further focus on the conversation between Father and Duke Amelia, she begins to slap the face of Yuri with the butt of her spear shaft. She isn't pretending, she is treating Duke Amelia like a common, unimportant noble who fights for mother (and father, before his massive demotion)'s favor. "Are you still awake, or alive? Neuer? Look at the mess you got me into."
The eyes of the crazed woman slowly become clear as she stops struggling. The other Malty turns her head around to give Noriko a nod as she slowly pulls her fork shaped spear up from Yuri's neck. The muscular woman also reels back the fabric and releases Yuri. The crazy woman seemingly regained her composure and mind, as she slowly pushes herself back up from the ground, pats away the dust over her dress and gives a noble woman's courtesy to everyone as if she merely tripped and fell rather than trying to murder the heiress of the most powerful noble family and made the nation's heir to the throne a part of the casualty. "I'm terribly sorry for my disgraceful act, my lords, my ladies."
"You will find your apology means nothing in the name of the crime you have committed, young lady. We are willing to somewhat overlook your offense, instead of immediately denouncing you and your fellow companions as heretical false heroes, only on the condition of you bringing important information about the Burning Legion. Turn yourself in, and cooperate with us in our defense against the Burning Legion, we shall grant you clemency in the punishment of your offense." Duke Amelia didn't wait for Malty's father to speak. He steps into the front, and loudly announces the judgement of Yuri in spite of father's obvious protest. Prince Joseph raises one of his eyebrows and gives Duke Amelia a stare from the corner of his eyes, but the mad prince seems content to let his most disruptive rival have the stage.
"You and what army, old fart?" Noriko snorts as she crosses her arms in front of her chest. The fact that the other Malty didn't stop her from making this derisive comment, or reprimand her for such an offensive behavior reveals that her earlier hypothesis was correct. The other Malty truly have no idea who Duke Amelia... and likely what the Amelia family is. What has happened to the most powerful Melromarc noble family in the other world? In this one, their rise to the most prominent power was all thanks to them preserving their strength and their land throughout The Great War thanks to Prince Joseph stopping the Siltvelt army, and Duke Amelia's marriage to General Anderson's daughter. But they had been an important noble family in Melromarc due to them being descendents of a previous Bow Hero. Were they ruined by The Great War in the other world, or their ancestors never bore the child of the Bow Hero therefore never raised to power to begin with?
"Whoever you are, I'm sure you think yourself high and mighty as some self-important aristocrat with a long prominent history. But you will quickly find these all mean nothing when pitted against power. Unlimited power." The other Malty didn't bother to turn around her body to fully face Duke Amelia. "Set aside the fact that none of us are going to let some pathetic, miserly coin counters threaten us, do you honestly believe whatever poison you bought with your coppers would have an effect on us? If that's the case, you are as foolish as you are arrogant."
Everyone's stance slightly shifts after the other Malty's clearly threatening words. Malty herself pushes Melty further behind her. Everyone has prepared for, even half expected this meeting with the mysterious heroes found by the Throwing Weapon Hero to go bad. But none of the nobles who act as the leader of the gathered fighters stepped forward to respond to the other Malty's challenge.
Well... correction. The body of Archduke Wales moves as if he's ready to step forward. But Vicar Vittorio moves his hand forward, and pulls at his sleeve. The archduke looked back and looked at the vicar, and got a shake of head as his only answer. Malty understands the vicar's concern. Nobody knows the real past of these three heroes who claim to have fought, and are running away from the Burning Legion. For now, House Amelia are the ones who have the most direct conflict with them due to what Yuri Neuer tried to do to Lady Iris - letting them fight it out, while preparing to step in to break up the fight, is the best way to observe both the strength of the three refugee heroes, and House Amelia.
"It seems like you were never properly educated by your parents, even though you were also born as a princess. Or perhaps you were not a very good student, and daughter. Regardless, I will gladly show you the proper etiquette to benefit your royal status, Your Highness." The voice of Iris' mother comes from behind Duke Amelia as she steps over her husband, to all the ladies who were born, or stepped into high society after the Great War, they aspire to be perfectly well mannered ladies like Iris' mother. But to say she's merely a social butterfly would do the daughter of General Anderson a disservice, since she used to fight on the frontlines alongside her father even as a girl. And right now, the lady of House Amelia is wearing a well-groomed military uniform, with light armor covering her vital organs, joints, and limbs. The sword she's carrying on her waist is also a broadsword used for real warfare, not a mere decoration to show a noble lady's status.
The other Malty still didn't pay much attention to Iris' mother. The only indication of her treating Lady Amelia's challenge halfway seriously was the slight twitch of her fingers, and Yuri's smile broadened towards being a maniacal grin once again. But Noriko stepped in front of them both before either of them accepted the challenge. "Don't either of you bitches dare to fight me over this. I want to loosen my bones and joints - those beaky things weren't even an appetizer."
"You stay, Neuer. You were the one who got us into this annoyance. I'm not giving you another chance." The other Malty didn't object to Noriko. She swings the tip of her spear around, and slaps it onto Yuri's shoulder. Not enough to cause actual harm, but definitely enough to cause discomfort. The crazy woman looks back at her with a slight frown, but steps back as she was told. In the meantime, Noriko bumps both of her fists together a couple of times as she splits both of her legs to lower her upper body while keeping both of her balled up hands in front of her face, clearly waiting for Iris' mother to make the first move. And the lady of House Amelia did.
A knight, or a duelist might have given a courtesy to their opponent first. And a martial fighter might have taken a defensive stance to gauge her opponent just like Noriko is doing right now. But General Anderson's daughter was raised as a soldier of war - moreover, a soldier of war who found herself on the losing side of the conflict. When other kinds of trained fighters might take a defensive approach to keep themselves safe first, her method of fighting was clearly to kill things in front of her eyes as fast as possible, till nothing stood in her way anymore. Without any hesitation, she lets out a cry of battle, and charges straight at Noriko with her sword.
It might be rather foolish to fight a duel like a war, since Lady Amelia doesn't have comrade in arms, or subordinates to watch her side and back. Yet even as she charges forward by herself, Malty could feel the ground shaking as if thousands of men are behind the general's daughter. In fact, she could almost see the illusion of transparent figures also wearing soldier uniforms and armor behind the steps of Lady Amelia. She has heard rumors about Siltvelt generals able to harness the aura of war, fight as if their army is constantly with them even as a single man. As she witnesses Lady Amelia's charge, she begins to believe this claim while becoming very conscious of the cold sweat running down the side of her face and back. And she isn't even the target of Lady Amelia's attack.
Noriko's body is still as a statue, and she only moves her arm as Lady Amelia is upon her. She raises her right hand, and grabs the blade of Lady Amelia's broadsword. The battle cry from General Anderson's daughter seizes, and the muffled sounding grunts of struggle indicate that Lady Amelia isn't able to take back her weapon from Noriko's hand. The muscular woman didn't wait long, as she pushed her opened palm forward, into the chest of Lady Amelia. With a loud bang that covered over her scream of pain, the general's daughter was sent flying backwards, leaving her broadsword still in Noriko's hand, and the muscular woman's hair and face covered in her puked-up blood. Noriko doesn't look annoyed by the stain, in fact, she looks excited as she tosses the sword right back at Iris' mother. "Here, you forgot your sword."
Noriko throws it with its hilt aimed at the Lady of House Amelia, but that doesn't make the weapon any less deadly. Knights often use the hilt of their sword like a makeshift bludgeoning weapon against opponents who also wear heavy armor. And Noriko already proved her to have enough strength to beat a prestige level range veteran with her bare fists. Among Duke Amelia's shocked gasp and Iris' scream, Motoyasu jumps out once again as he tosses his spear out of his hand at the coming sword. "[Aiming Lance]!"
A red cross with a circle around its end connecting all four arms appears right on the hilt of the flying sword, as if marking it as the target. The lance thrown by Motoyasu finds its mark, not enough to stop the attack, but change its flying trajectory that it sails right past the head of Iris' mother until it embed itself into the capital wall with a loud crack. Miss Mala also jumps out in front of the flying body of Lady Amelia, she spins around on her feet, using her back to catch Iris' mother and set the noble lady down with her feet touching ground. The lady of House Amelia lets out another mouthful of blood onto the ground, and her immaculate skin is much paler than usual. But otherwise, she is unharmed as both her daughter and husband fuss over her. The other gathered lords didn't wait anymore - Vicar Vittorio used a miracle that sends red blades bursting out of the ground like teeth towards the three refugee heroes, he is helped by Archduke Wales calling down golden swords from the sky. Duke Arvis sends a crimson inferno out of his spell tome towards the refugee heroes' right, while Prince Joseph conjures up a lightning-covered tornado to attack them from the opposite direction.
"That's much stronger resistance than I expected, but still not enough. Yuri." The other Malty looks genuinely surprised for the first time since she revealed herself. Her eyebrows rise slightly, and she turns her body around a little to look at her 'welcome' group straight. She tosses her spear into the sky, the fabrics wrapped around Noriko's hands extend towards Yuri once again, but not to restrict her this time. The yellow dress on Yuri's body grows as if gotten blown up by air from the inside, but it keeps growing instead of bursting as it covers over not only herself, but her two companions as well. The spear tossed out by the other Malty flips into two segments, wrapping around what looks like a hood of Yuri's growing cloth as it begins to take the shape of a helmet head. The two points of the other Malty's spear sets on the 'shoulder' of Yuri's dress like a pair of horns, and the dress is further reinforced by Noriko's fabric wrapping around its outside till it takes what looks like a massive golem. But instead of a pair of legs, its lower body looks like some kind of metal gadget chariot. It looks completely different from the armored demon that emerged from Astaroth's portal and fought the Spirit Tortoise, but Malty still finds both shared some similarities in style. Energy blades, infernoes, and lightning-covered tornadoes all break on the golem's armor without even leaving a mark.
"STOP! EVERYONE STOP FIGHTING!" Naofumi opens his arms and begins furiously waving them as he steps in front of everyone. Seeing everyone cease throwing more attacks at the giant construct the three otherworld heroes made by combining their legendary weapons together, the Shield Hero turns around to face them. "I recognize the form you three are taking. Shin Getter 3! That was you three, wasn't it? The one who fought the giant Kaiju turtle! The giant red construct looked just like Shin Getter 1!"
"Some other summoned heroes, and reincarnate have mentioned this name." The voice of the other Malty rings out from inside the massive hero weapon construct. "It's good that you recognize the form we took together. I'm assuming this means we have no need to further demonstrate our power. But if any of you are still doubtful, I am perfectly happy to show all of you what this form is capable of."
Malty begins to think over her counterpart's words. Obviously, they are not the same person. Or else her counterpart would not have chosen the Spear Hero as the one to support (well... At least she assumes the other Malty joined Motoyasu's group judging by how he even left his legendary weapon to her, like her own father did), and she would especially not make an enemy out of Naofumi. But there should still be a lot of similarities between them, which means she should be able to get a better understanding of her own counterpart by putting herself in her shoes. Even disregarding all the talk about trying to escape the Burning Legion, the first thing she would do if she got lost in another world, and being threatened by those in power is make a display of her own strength - Make others hesitate in trying to control her, or trying to cause her harm. So it's very possible that her counterpart either isn't as powerful as she is showing, or her strength has some downside such as making her tire more quickly therefore can't be maintained for long. That would certainly explain the display of her arrogance since revealing herself.
Of course, there is also the possibility that her counterpart isn't trying to play mind games with everyone at all. That she really is as strong as a veteran hero like Dio and Prince Tact. In which case, her honesty wouldn't be coming from genuine sincerity, but born out of pride: The other Malty isn't showing all the gathered nobles some pretended contempt to make them overestimate her true power, but because she truly is that powerful, and has seen enough high level battles to look down at all the gathered Melromarc nobles. Malty isn't sure which one of the two options she wants to be true, and she suppose it's not up to her to decide how this encounter would end now that everyone seems to be forced into a corner.
"As the queen's appointed general... and Malty's father, I will place my support on her, and take full responsibility if she, or her companions harm Lady Iris, or any of my countrymen. It would be highly unwise for us to fight among ourselves when we just got more confirmation about the Burning Legion's existence, and the threat they press for everyone." Like Naofumi before him, father also raised his arms in an attempt at parlay, although he clearly wanted to achieve a more permanent solution. Malty isn't surprised at him willing to trust her counterpart, or to risk his own name and life for her. Family has always been the most important thing to her father.
Malty's father takes a few more steps towards the golem-like construct of three legendary weapons. He still has his arms extended, but in a way that looks more like he's ready to give an embrace, rather than stop people from fighting and asking them to enter parley. "Malty. I understand I am not your father. But to me, you are as much my daughter as your sisters. That's why I need you to trust me, dispel this form you took with your two companions, and give me a promise that you and your companions will not harm anyone from this nation unless they want to harm you first. And then... then we can talk about other things. The Burning Legion which you are escaping from, and the same one that's invading our world now. And maybe about more of your own past. Your current standoffish does nothing other than raise more suspicion, and get in the way of us fighting against our common enemy."
"Regardless of what Yuri wanted to do, I did not want to make any of you my enemy. Very well. I shall listen to what all of you have to say." The giant golem suit made of three legendary weapon constructs nods its head. Its eyes briefly flashes ruby, and it begins to unravel itself slowly, shrinking down till only the three women remain standing in front of them all. They look much less intimidating than the giant golem made of their three legendary weapons, but thankfully nobody was dumb enough to renew their previous conflict. Yuri Neuer gives a toothy grin to Iris, making her shudder on her knees. Motoyasu quickly steps between them to hide Iris behind his back, and Malty can't help but notice the strange look her counterpart is giving to the Spear Hero. There's definitely something going on with her parallel world counterpart she's dying to know, but she isn't about to ask her out loud in public.
The other Malty moves her sight away from Motoyasu, and looks at Father once again. "I know when I am not welcomed. And frankly, I don't have the patience to deal with arrogant, self-important idiots in the court. Since neither of us like each other, we might as well take our leave."
As the other Malty turns around with her two companions, Naofumi takes another step and holds his hand up at them. "WAIT! Before all of you leave - you have been traveling through many worlds, right? Have you heard of an arrogant demon lord named Astaroth? He apparently has very powerful dimension magic, especially since he stole a mirror hero weapon from the world he's currently in. He made a portal in this world, and we are concerned that someone from that other world would invade us."
"Creating a stable portal to another world? Is he crazy, or is he a complete idiot? That kind of action could easily have both worlds collide into each other, and destroy both before the Burning Legion even gets here." The other Malty's feet suddenly stop moving as she turns around and looks at Naofumi. The frown on her face grows even deeper. "Take us to the portal you talked about. I'll seal it and lock up your world to fortify it. It won't be a perfect seal because of the nature of imperfect worlds. But it should delay the frequency of the Wave and make it harder for the Burning Legion to get in. This isn't the world I was born into, but if it's under threat from the Burning Legion, I'll do what I can to make it harder for those monsters."
"You speak about sealing a breach to our world as if it's as simple as locking up a door with a key. Are you perhaps favored by the gods, Lady Malty?" Vicar Vittorio's smooth voice sounds more shaken, unsure of himself than usual. Perhaps the series of unexpected events have shaken his understanding of the world, maybe even his faith towards the gods. "Dimension magic is considered one of the most incomprehensible fields of arcane, or miracle studies. Even the heroes chosen by the gods can only scratch the surface with their ability to teleport to pre-set marks using population center as an anchor. Yet, you are talking about sealing an entire world. If you have a way to better connect to the god, I would implore you to share it with everyone. So we may have a better chance at resisting this Burning Legion."
"The gods don't like me. And that's just fine. Because frankly, I don't like them either. But this whole dimension of magic being the art of gods is ludicrous. It's another arcane tool, just one that causes much more power." The other Malty holds her spear forward as it changes shape once again, and the blade on the top of the shaft takes the shape that resembles a key.
"A keyblade! Or... I suppose it's a key spear?" Naofumi takes half a step back, his body also leaning backwards in shock. Malty gets the sense that the word he let out of his mouth probably has deeper meaning than what's on the surface. "Did you meet a keyblade master or two on your journey? This is great! If this works like I think, it'll be way more important than being another hero or three!"
"I don't know anything about this so-called Keyblade Master. But I did meet a bean sprout of a young man while escaping from the Burning Legion. He said something about going to different worlds to look for his kidnapped girl, and he unlocked this form for me so it's easier for me to escape from the Burning Legion, and makes it harder for them to invade other worlds. So that was what the pipsqueak called himself." The other Malty looks down at the key shaped tip of her spear, looking thoughtful.
"If this keyblade truly has the ability to seal a breach and fortify our world, then the help it would bring us would be immense. But someone will have to bear witness of it in action. Since I am the one who spoke for Spear Hero Malty, it is only right that I go with her as the witness and to bear the most risk." Father pushes through everyone in the group, and walks to the side of the Shield Hero. Malty finds it a bit ironic that he is now standing side by side with the very hero he thought to be prosecuting his daughter.
"You shall not go alone, Aultcray. With your previous action during the Three Heroes' Church's rebellion, someone might question your words. To avoid this outcome, I shall accompany you and serve as an independent witness." Archduke Wales steps forward. His words may sound a bit accusatory, but his action was clearly meant to help father. He looks over at the faces of all the gathered nobles and clergy members. "If any of you would question the words of both General Aultcray and myself, step forth and speak now. Do not harbor doubt for later."
A few of the nobles avoid his gaze, but most of them hold their stances yet remain silent. The entire Amelia family is still back there, fussing over Iris and her mother. Motoyasu is among them. Naofumi turns to look at the Spear Hero as Itsuki walks towards them. "Are you coming with us, Motoyasu?"
"I think I'll stay with Iris a bit. She's a bit scared after what happened just now. And her mother got hurt. You be careful, Naofumi. I don't think the new Malty and her friends like you very much." The Spear Hero gives a conflicted look towards the other Malty. The other Malty tries to look like she's ignoring his words, but there's still a brief pause in her movement when Motoyasu mentions her.
"You're also going, Big Sister Malty?" Malty feels someone grabbing her hand. She looks back down, and gives her sister Melty a nod. For a brief moment, she wonders if her little sister is going to throw another small tantrum, or maybe asks to tag along. But to her slight surprise, Melty looks down at her feet, which is in the process of digging holes in the dirt. "I want to go with you... but my place is here at the capital, and the village of Balafon. You stay safe, alright? And the other big sister Malty... I think she isn't as mean as she's acting. She feels very sad for me. You would probably know her better, try to cheer her up a little?"
"Don't worry. Your sister is very good at staying alive. I survived the persecution of the Three Heroes' Church, after all." Malty reaches her hand over and rubs Melty on the head. To her surprise, she didn't feel anger, or jealousy for Melty acting more mature as befit her position of Melromarc's crown princess. Maybe all the crisis that's been happening in their world is also starting to get to her. "I'll see what I can do for her, Melty. She's clearly not me."
Melty nods her head, accepting her words. Without much more fanfare, Malty walks over to Naofumi's side, as they get ready to port once again to the mountain village and see if her counterpart could successfully seal the portal opened by Astaroth.
"This doesn't make any sense! A landmass of this size suddenly appears in our world, close enough to the shoreline to be observed by the naked eye! The amount of water it displaced should have caused a giant wave to wash us all clean off the shore!" Not too far away from General Ironwood, Lord Arthur Weasley is in the process of pulling his hair out. The first time he went off on this line of thought, the general considered it educational. But after repeating it a few dozen times, he considers it to be quite the annoyance. No wonder Lord Weasley is not a popular lord among the House of Lords in spite of all the newly established Department of Technomancy was able to achieve under his watch.
"In that case, we should be glad whatever magic, divine intervention or foul sorcery is stopping the scenario you described from happening. Regardless of the origin of the phenomenon, I consider it a good thing that it could kill us, but didn't. At any rate, Dr. Richtofen has already taken a team of volunteers to investigate the island. I think we should keep a calm mind, and wait for his return." General Ironwood withdraws his attention away from the department head and looks into his spyglass. The small boat has already turned around and is heading towards them. The marines rowing the boat look to be calm and steady, which tells him that they aren't under any immediate threat. The general also considers this to be a good thing.
"General Ironwood, Lady Kyrie, the Axe Hero, is here to meet you." To the general's slight surprise, he hears one of his soldiers announce a name he didn't expect nor recognize immediately. The general has to think over it a bit to realize the name belongs to the disciple of the late Inquisitor Emon, a young and... highly idealistic inquisitor. She hasn't been around the inquisition for that long, and much like her mentor, she was already making huge waves throwing out the dirty laundry of the nobility regardless of their affiliation and political faction. Not that it's a bad thing, on principle. But a disruptor like her needed to be handled with extreme care to not shaken down the very foundation any order is built upon. Who thought it was a good idea to make her into a hero on top of inquisition duty again? Oh, right... It was Lord Regent Dumbledore. It must be his usual scheme of promoting passionate, but easy to manipulate and control young men and women into positions well above their qualifications so he gets to pull all the strings in the back. And for everyone's sake, the general genuinely hopes this latest scheme by the revered headmaster of the Hero Academy doesn't blow up in everyone's faces.
"Very well, lead Lady Kyrie to me and let us see what affair she is presenting to us." The general nods his head, thinking that must be what the purpose of the stream of light traveling to the ruin of Stormwind City was not too long ago. But before he can complete his thought, he hears the commotion of people shouting, and the sound of people being pushed around to the side. "What's going on here?"
His question is quickly answered as a young woman with raven hair, wearing the same colored armor pushing through his soldiers as she stomps her way over to him. An axe with a piece of purple crystal in hand, as she holds it towards him. Not far behind her, a man around the same age with red hair and beard is giving him an apologetic look. "General Ironwood. You are in suspicion of committing high treason to Noble Faubley by taking the air battleship [Gerard the Golden] without permission from the high command, and breaking it in the process. By the power vested in me, I am relieving you from your active duty, and taking you back to Faubley where you shall receive your fair judgement. Resist, and I will have the authority to pass judgement on you."
"I admit, I didn't complete the proper procedures before I took [Gerard the Golden] on this special mission. And my command has made it suffer possibly irreversible damage. I will take full responsibility for both and serve my punishment once I complete my current mission and return to Faubley soil." The general narrows his eyes, and replies back to the passionate, yet inexperienced young hero with a severe voice. He's not one of her mentors or benefactors, therefore he has need, nor the patience to cuddle her with nice words. "But I will not accept this farce of an accusation of me committing treason. The reason I took [Gerard the Golden] was because the Mirror Demon, the culprit who committed acts of severe, inhumane aggression against Faubley, such as sending out raid parties on heavily dense civilian centers, and activating a plague bomb in an academy for young adults, teens, and children. The demon who, need I remind you, had taken control of the Spirit Tortoise of the Guardian Beasts. There was no time to go through the usual bureaucracy and wait for the order of the Faubley high command if I wanted to stop the Mirror Demon's action and stop the situation deteriorating further. And I did not take [Gerard the Golden] without informing anyone. House De La Valliere has submitted my request for this mission to reinforce our ally Melromarc as soon as I am given the command to take off. One of their daughters was even aboard the mission. Your new title as a hero does not give you free reign to judge and punish a general of the Faubley army as you like, Lady Kyrie."
"You may give as many excuses as you want, but it doesn't change the fact that you took Faubley resources, and lives to appease the heroes summoned by Melromarc. - The Shield Hero especially, General Ironwood. Your reckless action that endangered Faubley lives to cultivate favor with the heroes speaks for your treasonous thoughts much louder than your words." The newly appointed axe hero continues to throw her accusation even in spite of the action of her male companion trying to stop her.
"My action was to stop the crime of the Mirror Demon inflicted upon Faubley. Something he would have escalated if he was allowed to destroy, or take over Melromarc. Were you blind and deaf to these facts because you did not actively participate in the battle against him? Or perhaps you are intentionally ignoring these facts because of your personal vendetta against Lord Shield Hero? Because make no mistake, Lady Kyrie. I know your aggression towards the Shield Hero is motivated by your personal grudge due to your mentor Emon being killed by the Shield and Bow Hero." The young axe hero's face quickly morphs from a self-content smirk into an angry snarl. Her body posture also changes from a speaker to that of a fighter. But whatever act she planned is cut short when flying figures begin to emerge out of the portal in the sky. The army that they have been prepared for has arrived.
End Note:
If anyone is curious, the two skills used by Saito at the start of this chapter come from manga/anime [Shigurui/Death Frenzy].
Originally, the idea of having older Malty, Noriko and Yuri combining their respective hero weapons into the three forms of Shin Getter was once again, me making a pointless easter egg reference. But I think it does also work with the three of them each represent Body, Mind, and Heart like the three Getter pilot. Although in this case Malty, whose dominant form is Shin Getter 1 would represent body, while Noriko whose dominant form is Shin Getter 2 would represent body.
And like always, whenever Kyrie makes an appearance she acts as what we Chinese would call 'shit mix stick'. Someone who basically create chaos and make things bad for everyone. And to be honest, a lots of main characters are like this when you stop seeing the whole 'story' purely from their perspective and assume they are in the right all the time.