Four weeks before the start of the second wave
The night capital plunged into universal sleep. For once, the starry sky was not covered by evil clouds, and the moon illuminated every house and street with its light. Like liquid silver, its rays spread over the pointed spires and lace arches. The shadow from the tall lancet windows fell on the stone walls, picking out details from the darkness – graceful stone flowers, carved faces of saints frozen in prayer, and patterned galleries that seemed weightless, like a spider web woven from moonlight. What is this mysterious structure? This, dear listener, is the Church of the Three Heroes. And the guests had already arrived at her door.
"You're late. Come in quickly," the nun blurted out with displeasure, inviting the visitors inside.
This, as it could already be understood, was our familiar Shield Hero. One beautiful night, when Raphtalia had already gone to bed, he quietly left the rented room, locked it with a key, and went somewhere late at night. His legs, tired after the day's experience hunting, led him through the night streets to the right place. Namely, to the intersection, where his faithful companion, hidden under a cloak, was already waiting for him. That was Melty. After exchanging a few phrases, the two headed towards the church.
The walls of the church, gray and harsh during the day, took on a mysterious hue under the moon. The stone, corroded by time and bad weather, seemed alive, breathing history. Thin rays penetrated through the stained glass windows, remnants of former colors flickered with fatal sparkles, turning each pattern into a ghostly mosaic fire.
Inside the structure, in the semi-darkness, heavy oak benches stood waiting, their surfaces glistening in the moonlight. The high vaults of the temple seemed endless, absorbing the light and enhancing the impression of grandeur and mystical depth. The air was saturated with the cold stone and the smell of antiquity, mixed with a light scent of incense, like a ghost of the past centuries. Casually glancing at the church architecture, Jun's eyes seemed to light up. It took all his attention, radiating an aura of mystery. At the same time, Melty looked rather sullen and focused her attention solely on the road. Iwatani decided not to inquire into the nature of this behavior yet, but he took note of her reaction.
The trio walked quietly, looking around every now and then and stopping for a while so as not to catch anyone's eye. After all, they are in the church illegally. It's not related to the law, oh no. It's all about religion. It's not for nothing that the church worships three Heroes, not four. This is just another confirmation that our Shield Bearer in the Melromark is far from welcome, that even religion ignores his existence, or even equates him to something heretical and demonic.
"This way," the nun said softly.
Her figure seemed thin and fragile, like a candle in the wind. A dark gray monk's cloak enveloped the girl from head to toe, almost completely hiding the outline of her body, only slightly revealing her narrow arms. Under a wide hood trimmed with worn fur, the nun's face was almost invisible, illuminated by the dim light of a hand lamp filtering through the glass. Only her hands, white as snow under the moon, and her eyes, black as night, stood out against the darkness.
She led our heroes further and further into the depths of the church. But where, you ask? When she reached the right door, the nun quietly opened them and the two of them saw... a huge hourglass.
It was the heart of the church. That's why it was built. Their frame, forged from raven-black iron, was encrusted with rubies that shimmered like frozen drops of blood. Rubies, pierced with fine veins of gold, laid out intricate, mystical patterns – symbols that only initiates could understand.
The clock itself was grandiose: the upper flask, made of rough-hewn gray stone with the size of a church bell, was filled with sand, the color of a buried ruby, transparent and iridescent in the light of rare moon rays that tried to break through the glass paintings. The lower flask, made of polished black marble, absorbed the sand with a measured, lingering sound, reminiscent of the slow breathing of an ancient creature. Ghostly shadows played on its surface, as if forgotten stories lurked in the depths of the marble. A gossamer-thin stream of grains of sand hung between the flasks, glowing from within like a myriad of small stars. When you look at the clock, you can't help but feel this invisible sense of eternity, mercilessly counting down every second of existence.
At the sight of this splendor, our protagonist was speechless. He was well aware that this world could surprise him with many more things. But Iwatani clearly did not expect such a discovery.
"This is an Hourglass from the Age of Dragons, Mr. Shield Hero," the nun quietly introduced the Shield Bearer to the exhibit. "A tool that has existed for several centuries."
"It is not known for certain how and from where they appeared in our world. According to legend, the Dragon Emperors, with the help of magic and human forces, built these clocks all over the world so that they would predict the time of the beginning of a new Wave of disasters," Melty conducted a short historical excursion. "Again, this is just one of the legends. The church probably has a slightly different explanation, am I right?" The princess asked the priest.
"That's right. The history of the clock is explained in the sacred books…"
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but... I don't think this is the right time for fairy tales," the guy awkwardly interrupted them. "You said yourself that we'd better hurry."
"... exactly. I'm sorry, Mr. Hero, we got distracted," Melty apologized to Jun's surprise. "What's next?"
"Shield Hero, please come closer to the clock."
It's easy to say. Jun carefully moved his legs, still staring at the instrument. There was a strange feeling in his chest. It was as if the clock was looking at him, as if it were alive. It was as if something organic was hiding behind this glass, not sand at all. And he couldn't just dismiss these thoughts, because he had no idea what the watch was capable of.
But willy-nilly, his feet dragged the otherworlder closer to the magical object. Up close, they felt even bigger than they seemed at first glance. The guy could clearly see how thousands of particles of magic sand were flowing from one flask to another. He was about to say the expected thing "What's next?" but here…
"Wow!"
The emerald stone of the shield lit up with a bright green light, as if making it clear that contact with the clock was taking place. And then the weapon flew out of the Hero's hand. Jun immediately grabbed his free limb, feeling a sudden lightness in her area. Still, he quickly got used to the constant heaviness.
The shield flew up to the clock itself, levitating a few meters away from them. The sand inside the tool stopped moving. The rubies on the watch lit up and reddish grains of sand began to come out of them, heading straight for the weapon. In response, the shield absorbed the incoming sand into itself.
"Why does it absorb sand?" The Shield Bearer asked.
"It establishes a connection with the clock. With this world," the princess replied to him.
The weapon stopped the "devouring" process. As abruptly as it detached itself from Iwatani's hand, it also suddenly teleported back. A notification appeared in front of Jun:
The pairing process is completed. Loading the timer and available points…
When Iwatani read the notification, his mouth involuntarily let out a nervous laugh. It's literally a fast-moving mechanic, like he's actually in a video game. Perhaps this discovery was not something shocking for his fellow Heroes, but for him it is a completely different case. After the first day in the world, the Shield Bearer system was not actively used, and the interface displaying its primary characteristics and the icons of its partners disappeared outside the battle. For him, this world is not perceived as something artificial, developed by someone. It was also a real, vibrant Land. And such functions can temporarily unsettle.
"Mr. Hero, get it together," Melty brought him to his senses. "Take a look at the countdown."
The counter that appeared in front of my eyes in the middle of the top was decreasing by the second.
"Four weeks," the Shield Hero replied thoughtfully. "Four weeks, ten hours, twenty-three seconds."
"So we're lucky..." the princess mumbled thoughtfully to herself. "Although we have plenty of time, we shouldn't relax."
"Did anyone appoint you Captain Obvious by any chance?" From such a joke, it felt as if Princess Melromarc's eyes were ready to burst out of their sockets in order to get as close to the face of the Shield Bearer as possible in order to get a good look at his vile little soul. "Is that all for today?" He quickly decided to change the subject.
"...yes. We found out everything we wanted to know," and the coldness of her words seemed to freeze the ears of those who heard. "Although, perhaps our escort can add something else."
"You have nothing more to catch here. Get out faster, before anyone finds us," for the clergyman, the girl allowed herself some rudeness in expressions. "I don't want to get punished by father."
The couple did not linger. Following the same route, they again found themselves at the entrance doors to the church. Jun thanked the nun for her help, while Melty decided to refrain from saying anything and simply pulled out a bag with a reward for the girl from her jacket pocket. Having received the reward in his hands, the priest nevertheless decided to share something else.
"Be careful with the guards. Some are not who they say they are," and the door immediately slammed shut. Iwatani glanced expectantly at his fellow party member.
"Can you explain?"
"There are rumors that there are church-sent spies in the Melromarc guard," the princess replied, walking down the steps. "As you can see, it's not really a rumor."
"What are we going to do about it now?"
"Nothing," Melty said carelessly. "We have enough worries as it is."
"Does the king know?"
"Only at the level of rumors."
"Maybe we should notify him about this?" The Shield Bearer suggested. "Anyway, it concerns him. What if they're up to something? A coup, for example."
"If it concerns him, let him deal with it himself," malice could be felt in her speech. "And it's better not to involve me in everything related to the church."
The silence was the boy's response to such a harsh reaction from Princess Melromarc. Apparently, the church has played such a big role in her life that she is ready to ignore any potential tricks of theirs, as long as she doesn't touch them in any way. With each passing day, Melty became more and more mysterious in the eyes of the Shield Hero. He wasn't happy about it at all.
Saying goodbye to her at the same intersection, Iwatani walked alone to the hotel. All he wanted at that moment was to fall on a soft bed as soon as possible and fall into a deep and pleasant sleep. Because the realization that in four weeks he would face the very "main threat" of this world worried him seriously. I had to keep preparing. Through blood, through sweat, through tears.
***
Twenty-four hours before the start of the second Wave
"Well, that's as you asked."
The day, the forge, the warm air coming from the depths of the shop warmed the body through the lungs. A familiar uncle, a gunsmith, was presenting one of his creations, carefully wrapped in rags. He wanted the customer to have some intrigue left, but impatient hands did not hesitate for a long time and quickly freed the weapon from its fabric shackles. The elbow-long blade attracted everyone's attention. Steel, sharpened to a mirror shine, could easily replace the most expensive mirror, and on the silver-encrusted handle, small crystals sparkle like stars.
"What do you say, did it meet your expectations?"
The customer easily picked up the sword in order to make a couple of swings (of course, moving away from the blacksmith). After the first stage of the check, the newly minted owner took off the glove from his left hand, and lightly touched the blade with his index finger. The hand immediately jerked back, and scarlet blood gushed from the finger.
"It'll do," the customer replied in a calm female voice.
"Yeah... you can't please the current youth..." Erhard summed up with annoyance, sitting down on his favorite chair. He had expected a much more lively reaction. "Are you filled with this indifference from Mrs. Melromarc? You'll get a lot out of whoever you're with. Yes, Raphtalia?" The blacksmith mocked the customer. The demi-human in front of him winced at the comparison of herself to Melty.
"Did you have to mention her?" Tanuki asked, displeased, to some extent, even irritated.
"Hey, I don't know what kind of grater you have with each other. Show some respect for the old man!" Uncle Armorer was indignant, leaning back in his chair. "When you were a little girl, I couldn't say a word against you. And now you grew up…"
She's grown up. The key word in this conversation. Now, a girl of about eighteen or nineteen years old stood in front of Erhard. Her red hair, which was gathered into one long ponytail, took on a more fiery red hue at the tips, which also affected her raccoon ears and long fluffy tail, and her ruby eyes were now constantly frowning and wary, like a soldier with a lot of experience, which was also reinforced by the scar that had not disappeared anywhere from the lower jaw. She was wearing a black lightweight sweater, over which she wore a dark bib with steel shoulder pads, black leather gloves, slightly baggy dark green trousers with several pouches at the waist, as well as dark leather lace-up boots. Despite the, let's say, not quite appropriate image for a girl, even so, anyone could notice her rather feminine figure. A high level works wonders with demi-humans.
"And you shouldn't go into details. Otherwise, you will end up in a swamp from which you will never get out," the raccoon-like woman gave parting words, hiding the sword sheathed.
"I believe so…"
"Do we owe you anything else?"
"Oh, no, not really. Everything was paid for in advance by your Shield Friend, hehe," the blacksmith reassured Raphtalia.
"Well, at least he's a normal customer..." Tanuki said to herself.
"You better treat the guy more simply. He's not trying for himself," Erhard tried to reason with the girl.
"I can't promise anything," with these words, Raphtalia left the forge.
The door closes and the girl takes a deep breath. The smell of dampness from the recent rain was in her nostrils. Recently, unpleasant precipitation in the Melromarc has become more frequent, which is why most citizens of the capital do not have any special desire to get out now. Not to say that this was such a disadvantage. The fewer arrogant faces there are, the calmer it is.
Today was a relatively bright day. The sunbeams did their best to avoid the gray clouds that filled the entire sky. Raphtalia walked across the wet stone tiles, hiding her hands in pants pockets, and occasionally glancing at the buildings nearby. The urban architecture that had once terrified her no longer created the same effect. The feeling changed to... longing. Looking at the city in the dead of night, or on an overcast day, there was a feeling of anxiety. The capital seemed to be putting pressure on you, hinting in every possible way that you were in the wrong place, that you were not welcome here at all. Now that the Majestix had acquired such forgotten grains of brightness, it gave the impression that he was trying to protect himself from you in this way. Moss can be seen sprouting long ago on old buildings, green grass is emerging from stone tiles, statues of angels and gargoyles have not so much cracks as incurable wounds ... and even the townspeople with their tired, longing faces for the old days. All these were just signs of the true essence of the city.
And again that disgusting contrast in a girl's head. Q'ten Lo in her eyes always burned with life, joy and warm soft colors, while Melromarc seemed to drive itself more and more into darkness. And with him, Raphtalia herself is getting lost in the darkness every day.
Lost in her own thoughts, Tanuki did not even notice how she reached her destination, and as soon as she looked up, the tavern that had become her "native" appeared in front of the girl. It was a little empty inside. The unpleasant weather has affected the number of visitors, so that now even guests like Raphtalia are welcomed almost with open arms. But she didn't come here for a meal, but to meet her master.
"Oh, there you are!" The Shield Hero, who had been poking his fork into an untouched plate of food, rejoiced at the arrival of his companion.
Before the demi-human appeared in his field of vision, Jun looked downcast. Something was bothering him. Something approaching it's "triumph"... Wave. Four weeks have passed, and now there are only a few hours left before his first encounter with his main opponent. And no matter how hard he tried, Jun still couldn't imagine this fight. That the people they met who suffered from the previous wave, that fellow Heroes described this event in their own way. But it's one thing to listen to someone else's experience or to deal with the Wave through the prism of a computer game. Another thing is to be directly involved.
Raphtalia didn't pay much attention to her master's mood. To put it bluntly – she frankly didn't care. During the time they were in the same group, the girl had seen this face more than once. It was worth leaving Iwatani alone, as he became passive and always worried about something. He didn't share it with others. Whenever someone distracted him from his endless thoughts, the guy kept saying no, moving on to other topics, and generally behaving aloof. It didn't bother the girl. Rather, it was even funny, from the understanding that this half-hero did not want to share his feelings with anyone, winding himself up more and more.
However, that didn't stop her from sitting at the same table with the Shield Hero.
"So… How do you like the sword? The Shield Bearer decided to ask, as he was well aware of where his slave went.
"Not bad," Tanuki replied, looking at the sheathed blade that was currently resting on her feet. "But it's too early to judge. Let's see how he will be in battle."
"I'm sure he'll cut down monsters with one swing. Still, Erhard hasn't let us down yet."
"And if not, then what? Disappointed, would you give up your brand-new armor in protest?"
Oh yes, our protagonist couldn't leave himself without updating his image, so he got a new outfit. This armor was more of a workhorse than the armor of a noble knight. Forged steel plates covered the torso and shoulders, protecting them from blows, and leather inserts and patches on the chain mail provided some mobility. The metal was already covered with small scratches, but at least there were no dents or blood stains. It was an armor that was not a shame to wear in battle, but it was hardly something to brag about in front of the nobility. Well, the coat was still missing.
"I'd rather make you give me the money back," Iwatani replied to his partner's taunt. "Don't forget, I'm the only one spending money here."
"Oh, yeah, you're good at that."
Unfortunately, the verbal altercation was destined to be interrupted, because the waiter arrived at the table and asked the guests if they wanted anything else. Jun politely declined, defiantly starting to eat his cold lunch. At the same time, the demi-human did not refuse the offer and decided to order:
"Whiskey, if you don't mind," the Shield Hero frowned.
A few minutes later, the waiter returned to our heroes, holding a glass in one hand and a bottle of strong alcohol in the other. A couple of movements and now the tanuki is pushing a glass filled with bourbon towards him.
"Thank you," the man nods his head and leaves the table.
"Why are you drinking this?" With obvious condemnation, he asked his slave Iwatani a question, while Raphtalia sniffed at the smell of the drink.
"I don't know," the raccoon replied shortly, stupidly. "Maybe I want to get drunk as soon as possible and then die of alcohol poisoning," she added, taking her first sip afterward. "What about it?"
"I just don't really like your new hobby. It's obviously not going to do any good," Jun himself couldn't stand any alcohol. But most of all, his uncle, who died suddenly after years of violently sticking to the bottle, was remembered in association with alcoholic beverages.
"I don't like a lot of things either. For example, your disgusting snoring at night," which is a great opportunity for Tanuki to mock his master again. "It feels like it's not a human sleeping next to you, but another creature from the depths of some cave. Although, if you think about it that way…"
"Argh... forget it already..." And that's how it is every time. Any conversation with this demi-human sooner or later came down to mixing each other with shit. However, more often the rumble comes only from one side, until it reaches a boiling point.
Having won a landslide victory, Raphtalia solemnly continued to consume her drink. Most likely, the indulgence in alcohol came from her sister Sadina, who loved to indulge in such a hobby and often hold a competition in the amount of alcohol consumed with the imperial guards. Sometimes, in secret from her parents, Sadina took Tanuki with her to watch her victories.
After taking a couple more sips, the demi-human finally decided to talk to the Shield Bearer about the case.
"So where's your mom... oh, I mean, your precious partner?" She didn't forget to insert another mockery. Looking at his slave with a haggard expression, Iwatani nevertheless decided to speak.
"She should be here soon. She organizes a general gathering of Heroes and their groups in a place where waves are supposed to occur. She wants us to take a look at something," the Shield Bearer said wearily, simultaneously eating his dish.
"U-u-u-u-u... intrigues."
"Considering how indifferently she told me about it, it's not worth waiting for something interesting."
"It's like the princess shows her entire emotional spectrum every day..." Melty was also hit by the raccoon's taunts. "You should support me here."
Jun pressed his lips together and sadly looked away. As much as he didn't want to admit it, there was still some truth hidden in Raphtalia's words. It's been a month since he was drafted, and he still can't understand Melty. Her real motives, her real feelings. All this is hidden by a thick veil, and to whom, but for her fellow party members, she will not move it. She won't show her true self.
As soon as they remembered her, it was as if no one else, except the Higher Powers, had summoned Princess Melromarc to the tavern. The doors swung open and the girl went inside. She hadn't changed at all, still as gloomy as a cloud. After taking a cold look around, Melty noticed her teammates and immediately came over to greet them.
"I see everything is assembled. Excellent. I suggest you do not linger and go to the meeting place as soon as possible. Everyone is just waiting for us." as quickly as she appeared, she disappeared just as quickly. Jun had doubts about his status as a leader.
"She doesn't stand on ceremony," Tanuki remarked, finishing her whiskey. "Cuts straight from the shoulder."
"What can we do, the princess..." one could tell from the tone that Iwatani himself was uncomfortable with such an overbearing attitude. Especially considering that Melty doesn't really want her teammates to think of her as royalty.
However, the duo did not test the patience of Princess Melromarc. After paying for the services provided, our heroes left the tavern, where Melty was already waiting for them in the company of two guard soldiers, behind whom stood the royal carriage. Raphtalia immediately tensed up, putting her palm on the hilt of the sword. Jun also slightly covered himself with his shield.
"Calm down, they won't touch you," the princess tempered the ardor of her allies by holding up her right palm.
"Depends on how they behave," the cunning guardsman instantly received a slap on the helmet from his colleague. He clutched at his helmet, simultaneously making irritated grunts due to a slight ringing in his ears.
"We can't do without the royal guards today, we'll need to visit populated areas to notify residents of the impending Wave," Melty explained.
"What prevented you from doing this not the day before it started?" Tanuki asked an obvious question.
"You'll find out," the princess answered her mysteriously. "Now, if there are no further questions, please sit down," Melty pointed to her transport.
"The Shield Hero and the demi-human will be transported like gentlemen. What an irony..." Raphtalia understood all the comicality of what was happening.
And they sat down. The carriage was spacious, so there was enough room for everyone. Jun, Raphtalia, and the Prankster Guard sat on one side, while Melty and the remaining soldier sat across from them. Tanuki took a seat closer to the window, forcing Iwatani to position herself in the middle to get as far away from the guards as possible. She really didn't want to have any contact with them. They didn't exactly enjoy being around two of the most hated creatures in Melromarc, either.
The ride was completely silent. It was hard to start a normal conversation with such a group, so everyone adopted the tactic of "being quite as possible ". The city's structures were replaced by grassy meadows with flashing thickets. The carriage turned off the road and then rolled somewhere in the pasture.
"Are you sure they're not taking us somewhere to be slaughtered?" Tanuki decided to play it safe. "You've turned off the road and are driving somewhere in the middle of nowhere... strange, don't you think?"
"Don't you have that much patience?" Melty reacted coldly to the tricky questions from her partner.
"Not at all. I just don't want to fall into the trap again."
The atmosphere in the group became tense. The two girls glared into each other's eyes, as if shooting lines of electricity that collided between them. You could definitely tell what their relationship was like. Raphtalia remembered that day like a nightmare, and now Princess Melromarc looked like the monster that lurks in the guise of a fragile girl. Naturally, she can't say this directly, because she knows perfectly well that Melty has the right tricks up her sleeve to make the Tanuki shut up. Maybe even forever.
"Girls, please don't fight," Jun squeezed into their confrontation. "I know you're both in a bad mood, but this isn't a good time for intra-group conflicts." Iwatani wearily issued his own complaints to his party members, as if making a hint that he was tired of it.
"Yes, Raphtalia. Cover your mouth for a while, if you don't want your fears to suddenly turn into reality.
"This also applies to you," the Shield Hero said to Melty, not so much for the demi-human as for his own shattered nerves.
"...whatever you say, Mr. Hero, " pride and common sense were fighting inside the girl at that moment.
The Melromarc soldiers sat in silence, choosing not to take part in the verbal sparring of the Shield Hero's group. Fortunately, none of them could see the critical stares of the guards hiding behind their iron headdresses.
Yet, contrary to Raphtalia's prejudices, everyone had arrived safely. When Jun saw what was at that destination from the carriage window, he was surprised. After all, it was a large metal pole with a dish on top, resembling a satellite dish. Around this structure, fellow Heroes and their groups were really waiting for Iwatani and his team to appear.
"I hope we're not too late," the Shield Bearer worried.
"They've only just arrived, don't worry, Mr. Hero," the princess hastened to reassure him.
"How di you... okay, stupid question."
The carriage stopped. The guards who helped Princess Melromarc out of the transport were the first to get out, and then the Shield Hero and his slave were out in the fresh air. The first thing that caught his eye was, of course, the local environment. There were also closed tents next to the previously mentioned pillar, and some guards were standing near devices that resembled control panels. Iwatani suddenly wondered how advanced the technology was in this world. The second, no less important point is the trinity of Heroes with their companions. In the intervening time, Iwatani had rarely had a chance to interact with them, let alone catch a glimpse of them, so it wasn't surprising that he didn't even recognize them immediately at first. The first person he turned his attention to was definitely his old acquaintance Motoyasu... because he immediately came over.
"I see you're all in paphos today. Eh, Jun?" he asked his colleague, unable to ignore his spectacular appearance.
"I didn't expect to come running like this..." Junpei replied awkwardly, shaking Kitamura's hand.
"He's also shy here. On the contrary, you should be proud of yourself that you were lucky enough to find Princess Melromarc herself, " Motoyasu tried to guide his friend on the right path. "I swear, if I were you, I'd keep it like the apple of my eye, so that not a speck of dust would fall on it."
"Oh, you just don't know what it's really like, buddy…"
"Really?" Seeing the haggard eyes of his fellow otherworlder, the Spearman had a rough idea of what was really going on. "I think I get the idea…"
"Well, never mind. Let's talk about you. I see you've also bought yourself a new armor, " Jun noticed the new armor of the Hero of the Spear.
Motoyasu's armor could only be described as a combination of strength and grace. It consisted of plate elements made of dark, blued steel, fitted to the shape. The breastplate, faintly etched, emphasized an athletic figure. Shoulder pads and bracers had a segmented structure, providing protection and freedom of movement. Beneath the armor, a dark doublet and bandages were visible to soften the blows. On the belt is a neatly made leather bag, indicating readiness for long trips. The scarlet cloak fell from his shoulders like flames, contrasting with the grim steel and adding to the image of nobility and audacity. This is the armor of a warrior who is used not only to battle, but also to recognition.
"Oh, so you noticed? The Spearman was pleasantly surprised. "Well, what can I say, armor justified all the money invested in herself. I see you've also had a small upgrade."
"I try to keep up."
"Hey, both of you!" Elena's furious voice came from behind. "Stop flirt with each other. We're just waiting for you!"
"You heard her, Jun! Get your ass over here!" Raphtalia supported Kitamura's partner.
Jun and Motoyasu mentally sympathized with each other as they joined the others gathered near the pillar. Each group whispered to each other and looked askance at the others. It was as if some rivals, rather than colleagues, had come here. Raphtalia noticed that she could feel the disdainful stares from the Bow Hero's group. Iwatani only advised them to ignore them, but he kept that moment to himself. He had noticed this strange contradiction many times before. When meeting Itsuki, he directly demonstrated his attitude towards other Heroes, so that in their circle he is not just a white crow, but rather an uninvited guest. But as soon as someone mentioned him from outsiders, everyone spoke of him as a guardian angel, God's dandelion, who seemed to have descended from heaven to this sinful earth in order to radiate goodness and justice.
Kawasumi looked the part. The Archer's armor was more of an elaborate camouflage than a crude defense. The main part of the outfit was a long cape with a hood made of dark green material, allowing you to blend in with the forest landscape. The shoulders and forearms are protected by metal plates, artfully woven into the structure of the armor. Their surface is decorated with a complex golden pattern that resembles the bark of a tree, which further contributed to the disguise. Under the armor, dark, tight-fitting sleeves and trousers could be seen. On his belt was a leather bag, necessary for storing supplies. The color scheme and design of the armor made the archer invisible in the darkness of the woods, turning him into a shadow from which there is no escape. All that was missing was a triangular hat on his head and he would have looked like Robin Hood.
But the Shield Bearer couldn't say anything about his group. No one stood out from the leader and, as if, did not try. It's like they've accepted the rules of the game and are paying all the honors to a Sacred Hero. And saying something at this time is not the most appropriate idea – the princess is performing.
"Please pay attention!" Melty silenced everyone to give her the floor. "Gentlemen Heroes, dear partners. I am very grateful that today we were able to gather all our forces to discuss one painful topic. Before I start, I'll ask you to take a look at the structure that is behind me" the girl pointed to the previously marked post, and then moved away so that everyone present could see this invention.
The structure is made of hardened steel and shimmering stone, rough at first glance, but full of hidden mechanisms on closer inspection. A delicate panel resembled a satellite dish, and inside the pillar, a flask of liquid fire pulsed like a beating heart. Its light changed periodically, becoming brighter and dimmer. The long metal tentacles surrounding the plate stretched upward as if searching for something. The structure gave the impression of a hybrid of ancient craftsmanship and daring ingenuity.
"We call it 'Wave Echo,'" the princess added, after a few minutes of silent inspection. "These installations were generously presented to us by Faubrey as a sign of a long and successful friendship. Thanks to these devices, we are able to determine the exact location of the next Wave of disasters. I'll answer your questions right away – unfortunately, at the current time, the Echo is able to pick up the signal of the wave only a day before the start, " tanuki chuckled with displeasure, crossing her arms. It seemed to her that the princess could have mentioned this even at a personal meeting, there was no need to start such an intrigue. "But, nevertheless, it already makes it much easier for us to work in preparation for the impending threat."
"It's all very beautiful. But you still haven't explained why we were all called together, Your Highness."
The daredevil who dared to put in his word was the Sword Hero who stepped forward. Jun had no idea what this otherworldly man had been doing for almost a month. That meeting at the market on the third day after the draft was the last intersection of the two Heroes. It was as if he had disappeared into the darkness and stopped showing any signs of life. And yet, he stands here with his entire team. And, of course, he also got a new outfit.
The swordsman was wearing a set of light but sturdy armor, combining protection and grace. The base was made up of a dark quilted doublet, on top of which was a plate armor covering the chest and back. The segmented plates provided good mobility, making it easy to maneuver in combat. The shoulder was protected by a large shoulder pad made of silver metal, decorated with an embossed pattern in the form of intertwining lines, which gave the armor a noble appearance. The bracers are made in the same style, providing protection for the forearms. A long dark tunic flowed over her hips, which did not restrict her movements. The image was completed by a light blue cloak falling from the shoulders. All the armor is made in dark colors, which emphasizes the seriousness and concentration of the wearer.
"Have some patience, Sword Hero, I'll explain everything now," the princess replied calmly, gathering all her poise into her fist. "As you might have guessed, we are now in the area of the upcoming collision. Everything would be fine, but only two nearby villages fall into the same zone."
"So that's the catch..." the Spearman said softly.
"We can't leave these settlements unprotected," Melty explained the whole situation. "I ask the Sacred Heroes to arrange their own meeting, during which you will decide who will stay here, closer to the epicenter of the wave, and who will go to protect the villages."
"Wouldn't it be easier to send detachments of your royal guard to the village?" The Spear Hero interjected. "I think there are enough people for such a case."
"You are thinking correctly, Spear Hero, but there is an unpleasant situation here," the princess's voice quickly darkened. "When the first wave started, Melromark sent a hundred people to the point. Of all the soldiers, only twenty survived. And that's not counting civilian casualties."
There was silence in the air. No one could say a word to Melty, because everyone was well aware of how out of control the situation was.
"We were not ready for this... we were not trained enough to adequately face the impending threat and because of this we suffered huge losses. The Royal Guards definitely raise their level during combat training, but they are only able to raise it to a certain rank."
One important remark should already be added here. The creatures inhabiting this world, as is already known, are also able to raise their level. However, unlike the Sacred Heroes, the level of ordinary warriors is divided according to the rank system. Each rank marked a milestone through which a warrior could gain a new branch of skill development. The catch is that the rank can only be crossed if there is a Sacred Hero in the team, or if the necessary artifact is available. Apparently, Melromarc hadn't had any of the above up to this point.
"Which means we have to pay off for the whole watch. Is that what you meant?" Amaki asked a completely logical question.
"Don't take it easy, but do your duty as a Legendary Hero. You train, develop, and improve solely in order to stand up to your enemies. First of all, to the Waves, Sword Hero," Melty did not raise her voice, but with the intonation that she uttered these words, it seemed as if she was speaking into her very soul. "Any more questions?" She turned to everyone else. There was no response. "Great. In that case, I ask the Heroes to gather at the same table in the tent next to where my carriage stopped. You have ten minutes."
That was the end of the briefing. As soon as the princess said her last word, she immediately retreated with her entourage towards the tent. Jun continued to gaze thoughtfully at the pillar.
"Are the Waves really that deadly?" The question wasn't addressed to anyone. It was just thinking out loud.
"Have you already chickened out?" The sarcastic comment from his partner did not bother the Shield Hero.
"I didn't say I wasn't afraid. As if you're not afraid, Raphtalia," as if hooked on something personal, Jun forced the demi-human to turn away angrily.
"I can't tell you about the others, but I'm not afraid at all," a sudden voice behind her made Iwatani flinch. Turning around, he saw a Swordsman holding out his hand. "Hello, Jun. Long time no see."
"Yeah, it really has been a while..." the Shield Bearer agreed in a hushed voice, shaking Ren's hand. "Where have you been? I could meet Motoyasu sometimes, I often heard about Itsuki, but you seemed to have disappeared."
"I was doing the same thing as everyone else. I've been leveling up, developing," Amaki replied briefly and clearly. At the same time, there was still a bit of understatement in his words.
Ren moved closer to the Echo and carefully examined the liquid fire shimmering inside it. A substance similar to lava or magma was rushing up and down, changing in its brightness. It was like you were looking at a giant lava lamp.
"To think that in such a fantasy world there is a place for technologies that are not so far from modernity. This is a television antenna from the time of the tenth, twenties of the twenty-first century," something clicked in Iwatani's head and he remembered that Ren came from the near future.
"Well, no, it's more like the same principle as weather stations, satellites, or, in extreme cases, aerodynamic probes," one could easily read surprise and even some confusion on the face of the Sword Hero.
"I didn't know you were interested in that."
"Yes, it's just that somehow I came across information, so…"
"By the way, you have, like, a meeting scheduled there," Raphtalia reminded that, actually, the Heroes should hurry up.
"Yes, we'd better go," Amaki agreed.
Jun and Ren headed towards the tent where they were supposed to discuss the distribution of forces during the Wave. As soon as they were inside, the first thing they saw was Motoyasu smoking alone at the table. The Sword Hero immediately frowned.
"You could at least smoke on the street, now it's going to stink of smoke everywhere," he scolded his colleague grumpily, sitting down next to him on a wooden chair.
Motoyasu took a drag on his cigarette. "It's not even tobacco. It's just a plant that can be consumed in the same way, but it will smell like a strawberry air freshener sprayed. It feels good for me and it feels better for you."
"The combination of strawberries and bitterness isn't such a pleasure," Iwatani shared his impressions, sniffing the smoke.
"Okay, just a little more patience. At least let me finish my smoke."
As soon as he took the last drag, Itsuki walked in... unexpectedly. Without further ado, he sat down in the only remaining chair and looked at his colleagues. The Heroes had mixed feelings of confusion and tension on their faces. Only Ren looked at the Bow Hero with calmness.
"What are you staring at? We were all told to pack up, so I'm here..." the Archer said innocently and openly. This further stunned Jun and Motoyasu.
"Don't pay any attention. They just aren't used to seeing you in that light," Amaki reassured him. Now, the sharp gazes shifted to the Swordsman's colleague.
"Ren, I'm sorry, but what kind of show are you two putting on here?" Motoyasu asked in a hushed voice.
"I'm talking to Itsuki. And what?" He didn't seem to understand what the Spearman meant. "Calm down, Itsuki is not who you think he is."
"I guess I should explain myself," Kawasumi got up from his chair and leaned his hands on the table. "My behavior on the first day of the draft was due to the fact that I still could not get over the fact that I was dead. I was filled with rage, which later turned on you, for which I apologize. It won't happen again."
The situation was strange. On the one hand, the Bow Hero sounded sincere and it seemed that he really regretted his behavior. On the other hand, Motoyasu was still frowning at him, as if he didn't believe a single word he was saying. However…
With a bright smile, the Spearman got up from his seat and bowed to reconcile with the Bow Hero. "The main thing is that we were able to discuss this moment and now we can fight monsters together!"
"Thank you, Motoyasu," Itsuki bowed back. "It's nice to know that there are still people who don't hold grudges."
"Jun, what do you say?" Kitamura asked the Shield Bearer.
"I think I'll agree. Itsuki can be given a second chance," a good-natured smile reluctantly appeared on Iwatani's face. He really wanted to believe that Kawasumi was really just nervous, but... something was pricking in his chest, as if hinting at a double bottom in this story.
At the same moment, Princess Melromarc entered the room along with the guards. A bundle could be seen in her hands. Iwatani immediately had the idea that the girl had brought a map with her.
"Is everyone here?" There was a hint of surprise in her words. She had heard a lot about the trinity's attitude towards the Bow Hero. After all, one of them still has her as a companion. "Excellent."
The soldiers remained at the entrance, while Melty went to the conference table and unwrapped her bundle on it. Indeed, there was a map of the Majestix and the area next to it on the piece of paper. Here you could see all the nearby villages, ponds, forest thickets and other important points.
"So, we are here now," the girl pointed to a small area somewhere in the south-western part of the map. "If we follow this route, we will find ourselves at a crossroads between two villages that are also in the affected area. This is..." Melty pointed to the southern area. "...Ryut village. And this..." now she pointed to the northern point. "...the Tisage village. They don't differ much in size from each other, and the population of the village will be smaller, so more efforts will have to be made for the northern village. What are your ideas, gentlemen?"
"Obviously, we need to send people with a smaller squad there," the Sword Hero replied with lightning speed, glancing at the map. "Itsuki and I have five partners each, we can take out the boss by one or two."
"It sounds logical," Kawasumi agreed.
"Well, you know, twelve average adventurers might be a less effective group than seven more advanced ones," Motoyasu pointed out. Ren frowned at this reply and adjusted his glasses.
"Is that how you just said that we are underdeveloped?"
"No, no, absolutely not," the Spearman began to spread his hands. "I'm just saying that it's not necessarily in numbers that all the power lies. Quality is also an important fact, and at least I think I have a pretty strong team.
"Well, it's a strong team that can protect the village," Ren tactfully turned Kitamura's counterargument in his favor.
The Spear Hero noticed how the Swordsman was twisting him around his finger.
"Personally, I don't mind going to the village" Iwatani adopted the strategy of his colleague Amaki. "My group is small, two people can attack at all."
"A wise decision, Mr. Hero," the princess standing next to him chimed in.
"Well, yes, it will be easier to protect two of them while they are fighting off monsters," the Archer shared his thoughts.
"Everything is clear with Jun. But we still haven't done with me," Motoyasu decided not to back down.
At the same time, while the fellow Heroes argued among themselves, Raphtalia quietly stood aside, leaning against a tree. Nothing foreshadowed trouble, the girl calmly looked at the other companions of the Heroes from the shadows, without attracting any attention to herself. Every single one of them was human, who knows what was on their minds.
"Yo!" But someone still bothered to disturb the raccoon's peace.
"Hmm?" Tanuki raised her eyes to look at the man who decided to approach her.
In front of her, with her hands on her belt, stood the faithful red-haired companion of the Spear Hero, Elena. The girl looked more like a fashionista than a warrior. A gray shirt, the top buttons of which were unbuttoned so that a golden pendant on a chain could be clearly seen. On top of the shirt, the girl wore a black jacket, to which shoulder pads similar in color to bronze, as well as plates on her forearms, clung with straps. Downstairs, Miss Haven was wearing light brown trousers and high black boots. Raphtalia noticed that there were strange metal ornaments on them, as it seemed to her.
"We've seen each other so many times, but we still haven't been able to talk. You're a Shield Hero's demi-human, right?" squinting her greenish eyes, the girl asked.
"What do you want?" The slave exposed the spikes. Now that Jun wasn't around, she didn't have the slightest desire to contact people.
"It's nothing special. I want to get to know each other better," Elena has never been confused by the unfriendly attitude of the demi-human. "I don't really have anyone to talk to. One is a disciplined soul, the other is a Sacred Hero who constantly thinks about leveling, eating and sleeping. The third one is actually a bird," the red-haired woman poured out her soul to Raphtalia. "I'm dying of boredom, anyway."
"I can only sympathize," the raccoon replied, not very involved. "... it's almost the same for me."
"I can imagine, considering that you have a princess as your partner. He must be walking with you from a distance."
"You bet…"
"And the Shield probably doesn't perceive you as a person at all, does it? How often are you beaten with a seal for disobedience?" Elena's questions made Tanuki want to beat someone up more and more.
"You won't believe it, not once," the redhead was pleasantly surprised. "I'm more likely to beat the shit out of this idiot faster than he has time to turn on the seal," Raphtalia herself did not notice how she began to smile. It seemed that talking to Motoyasu's companion was starting to amuse her.
"Oh, good mood!" It felt like the girls were starting to talk to each other on the same wavelength. "So, if he doesn't hit, then... are you fucking, then?
"What?!" Tanuki's blood pressure hasn't been so high in a long time. "How did you even come to this?!"
"I'm just guessing. Well, it can't be that the master doesn't even lay a finger on the slave... or is your Hero, well... staring at others?" Miss Haven asked in a whisper, so that God forbid someone would not hear the possible terrible truth.
"Are you sick or something?" Elena shook her head negatively. It didn't make Raphtalia feel any better. "Argh…"
The demi-human felt great shame as she listened and even thought over in her head a possible answer to Elena's stupid questions. She knew perfectly well that Iwatani favored the fairer sex. What was the cost of those moments when the group had to wash in forest ponds and Jun, embarrassed, walked away and waited for his partners to wash. Tanuki is already disgusted to remember this, but she, of course, will not tell about it.
"He's just an idiot, that's all," the demi-human said, turning her gaze away from the redhead.
"Clearly..." Elena made some conclusions for herself.
The atmosphere was tense. Raphtalia tried her best not to let out her accumulated anger at her companion, even though her fists were already itching. It was as if she felt herself in the place of the Shield Bearer and now she listens to one taunt after another. And Elena, smiling maliciously, glancing at the ground. She definitely cheered herself up.
"Que!" Nevertheless, a sudden bird's voice behind her quickly brought her down from heaven to earth.
"I knew you'd come crawling here sooner or later," the girl said angrily and turned around.
Behind her was a large, chicken-like bird, a head taller than Miss Haven herself. She had cherry blossom pink plumage and bright blue eyes. Her face radiated carefree and somewhat childishness.
"Sakura, I told you to sit still and wait for Motoyasu to finish chatting with the other Heroes. What do you need?"
"Que!" Bird chirped fervently.
"Damn, I don't understand you at all..."
"Where did you get such a healthy filorial?" the demi-human asked with undisguised interest.
"We raised her. By some miracle, the Spear Hero was able to knock filorial out of these magical eggs. And, as you know, when they live with Sacred Heroes, they grow up to their "royal" form," the redhead marked the quotation marks with her fingers, pronouncing the name of the form.
"Que!" Sakura continued to sing merrily.
The muscles on Tanuki's face relaxed, and there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. Motoyasu named his bird the same way as the tree species from her homeland. One of the main national symbols. She has always admired the light sculptures. The way their petals glowed with a delicate pinkish hue filled the young heiress with feelings of calm and security. It seemed to her that sitting under this tree, she could not be afraid of anything. Never be afraid.
The realization that the girl was stroking the soft plumage of the filorial did not come immediately. As soon as she returned from her thoughts to reality, Tanuki immediately pulled her hand away from Sakura, being completely perplexed. Today, contrary to her wishes, passes in a continuous reflection on the old days.
"I see you liked her," Elena smiled kindly this time. "I thought that your soul was completely hardened, but in fact you were already wagging your tail."
"Shut up," the demi-human retorted, putting the glove back on.
And then Raphtalia's ears pricked up sharply. The girl shifted her gaze towards the noise, and she saw her fellow Heroes finally leaving the tent.
"They're done," Tanuki concluded, and immediately went to her master.
Junpei looked normal. Not annoyed, but at the same time, there was nothing to be happy about. Apart from the protracted dispute over who should go to the boss, now they had to think about how they were going to get people out of the village. The tension in my chest grew. There was less and less time left.
"Well? What is it?" the demi-human asked. "What is the next course of action?"
"We will protect the village from monsters," the Shield Hero briefly summarized further events. "They're coming to pick us up and take us there. And then we will decide how to evacuate people."
"What, are we all going straight? Will even the princess be with us?" Raccoon girl asked in her sarcastic manner.
"She will join us tomorrow. She's got her hands full, you know," the Shield Bearer replied wearily.
After twenty minutes of waiting, two wagons arrived behind the Shield and Spear groups to take them to their villages. In addition to the main groups, the two guards who accompanied Melty went with them. The ride was quiet, the carts were riding next to each other, and Sakura was running behind them. Jun sat next to the coachman, while Raphtalia stared at the guardsman. She made sure he didn't do anything wrong.
"I hope you don't have rabies," the soldier broke the silence.
"Are you scared?" Tanuki asked mockingly.
"No. I just cleaned my shoe yesterday."
Soon, the carts split up and the Shield Hero's group headed south towards Ryut Village. They arrived half an hour later, where worried citizens were already waiting for them. The village itself looked quite ordinary. Low wooden houses, well maintained despite the fact that they are not the first year. There was a sense of comfort, as if you had left a bustling metropolis for your native lands to visit your grandparents. Iwatani was even a little sad, realizing that this place would suffer because of the Wave.
The guard made a statement to the residents, explaining the whole situation. He sounded confident, and there were no signs of rudeness or indifference. Jun caught himself thinking that the guardsman was really concerned about the safety of the citizens. What surprised the otherworlder more was that the man introduced the Shield Hero and his slave with all due respect. It's clear that this was most likely an order from Melty, but it was a pleasant order.
The rest of the day was spent helping to transport residents. Jun, Raphtalia, and the guard helped people collect their valuables, which they took with them because they were afraid that the monsters might hurt them. Some individuals, on the contrary, refused to leave, assuring that they could stand up for themselves and protect their homes with all the goodness. However, under the pressure of the residents' neighbors and the light threats from the guardsman, along with the piercing gaze of the demihumans, they also surrendered. As a result, the village was completely empty by nightfall.
Grateful residents left our heroes free rooms in a local hotel, where they could relax and gain strength before the coming cataclysm. The soldier settled in one, while the Shield Bearer and the Tanuki settled in the other. Both took turns taking a hot bath and were about to go to bed. But Jun couldn't sleep. He was sitting on a chair, looking out the window melancholically. The night sky was brighter than ever today. A huge full moon, supported by thousands of stars, prevented this world from plunging into pitch darkness.
"Just think," Iwatani began in a hushed voice. "At night, the Melromarc becomes much more colorful than during the day. I even wonder... what will the sky be like when the Wave starts? What if something that seems scary to us looks like something beautiful? I hope this doesn't happen, otherwise I'll look forward to every next coming with ecstasy."
"Jun..." the tanuki addressed her master in a soft and quiet voice, lying covered with a soft blanket.
"Yes, Raphtalia?"
"Can you think to yourself? Your thoughts make my ears wither," she did not change herself.
"Ah... can't even philosophize..." the guy was jokingly sad, but still listened to his partner.
Tomorrow will be harder than ever. Tomorrow will test everything that Iwatani has been able to learn and achieve. The Wave starts tomorrow.