107Here it is, finally. The third chapter of our bestselling story.
Also, just want to clarify some things regarding a review from a guest. I was the one pulling medical jargon from Wikipedia, but RedFistCannon is a mutha fuckin PHARMACIST and knows his shit.
Naofumi sat on a blanket in the middle of the field just outside the walls, his back to the road. He had come here just as dawn broke to once again admire the beauty of this world and relax a little after a long sleepless night. His mask and hat were off as he sat and enjoyed a light sandwich he had prepared beforehand, idly wishing to find some coffee or tea. He had his notebook open in his lap, jotting down several more objectives, questions and inquiries that came to mind and which he would have to research. The existence of magic still fascinated him, being a man of science himself but he didn't think it was too hard to believe. He was in another world after all.
As he closed his eyes to breathe in the clean air once more and enjoy the various chirps and sounds of the surrounding flora and fauna, he opened his eyes as he felt something poking at his food. Looking down, he came upon the sight of a sizable black bird pecking at the piece of bread in his hands. It's feathers were mostly glossy and almost shimmering black with the exception of a grey underside. It resembled a crow very closely, going as far as to have a flat tail like said species, as opposed to ravens who had tails shaped vaguely like an arrowhead. The scene actually reminded him of his early college years when he would visit the park on the weekends and feed the critters living there.
He always did have a sort of kinship with animals, especially as a child. He remembered a distant memory from elementary school. Back then, there was a flock of chickens that lived in the schoolyard and were notorious for pecking at the other children, but they never seemed to have any issues with him.
His eyes glazed over a bit as he momentarily went down memory lane, remembering more peaceful times, and for a moment, he briefly wished to wake up and see that this was his reality.
The sight of the crow's vivid and almost glowing red eyes gazing at him curiously dispelled the feeling of nostalgia. The red orbs were looking him over with a primitive but scrutinizing gaze, it almost felt like something from a book of fiction, seeming almost demonic but not quite as unnerving.
It did well to remind him that this world was a lot more fantastical than his own.
The pitch black avian returned its attention to its meal and seemed to forget about the man's presence. Naofumi moved his hand slightly, startling the bird and making it fly a short distance away from him. The Doctor broke the corner of bread the crow was eating from and held it out between his fingers, idly presenting it to the animal.
This world is... beautiful, Naofumi thought as the crow cautiously hopped back closer to him. It hesitantly took the piece offered before flying off.
Even with the less than warm welcome it gave me... I can't help but want to protect it... if only to have other moments like these.
He heard hurried, clattering and metallic steps resound behind him on the road. Whoever the group was paused, as if to catch their breath, then he heard them approach his position at a faster pace. Naofumi sighed, hat and mask back on and swiftly tidied himself just as the footsteps came to a stop and a voice rang out.
"SHIELD HERO! There you are! Why weren't you at at the inn?! Did you think you'd be able to run from justice, you coward?!" yelled the leading Knight, a well decorated and pompous looking fellow. Naofumi's eyebrow twitched at the irritating voice. It grated at his ears and reminded him too much of his old superiors, both condescending and self-righteous.
Ugh, there goes my morning, he thought but didn't say anything. Naofumi was irritated at the interruption of his breakfast as he had been having such a relaxing moment. He swiftly got up and walked leisurely towards the lead Knight. The man seemed to want to say something else but his jaw clenched shut as a sudden feeling of fear overtook him.
"Shut up, your voice is annoying," Naofumi told him.
It didn't take Naofumi's analytical skills to know the knight took offense to the Doctor's tone. He marched over to him and grabbed him by the front of his coat in a show of strength.
"How dare you speak to the Royal Knights in such a way! Why I ought to-"
His next words were interrupted by Naofumi grabbing the man's hands and wrenching them from his front. The other knights stumbled and lifted their swords in preparation for a fight but were frozen by the very aura that seemed to emanate from their target.
"Shut. Up." Naofumi said, simply, his voice rough and harsh as stone. "Just show me what you want so we can get this over with," he finished and continued towards the castle as the Knights simply followed.
A pair of red eyes gazed at the Doctor's retreating back from a nearby tree before their owner cawed and flew off.
The ornate doors swung open slowly, as if to add a dramatic flair to the entire thing. This was something that the Shield Hero found to be a waste of his time. He just wanted to get this out of the way as soon as possible.
The Shield Hero, Doctor Naofumi Iwatani, walked into the room, his head held high, unshackled and untouched. The Knights escorting him were still sweating and shuffling awkwardly. He calmly strode to the middle of the room, a noticeable swagger in his step. The new additions to his outfit drew some attention, as it seemed to give him both an eerie and alluring air. He stopped, took off his hat and held it to his chest while putting his medical bag down, like a proper gentleman and took a look at everyone present. He made sure to note the distinct face of Myne, or should he say Malty, who appeared to be hiding behind Motoyasu and the other heroes. There was even a small assortment of Knights around her as an additional wall.
The three younger Heroes all looked visibly upset, Pretty Boy in particular. He looked tense and was barely restraining himself from lashing out. Malty was barely visible but he could tell she visibly flinched when she looked in his direction. Whether it was out of genuine fear or whatever bullshit act she was pulling off was uncertain. He panned his eyes over the crowd. The nobles were stationed on the upper rafters to have a better view of the entire thing from a safer distance while the floor was occupied by the Heroes, the soldiers, the King on his throne along with his advisor.
Huh, how about that? She even brought the other three, he thought, amused and stifling a chuckle. The fact that Malty thought she was being smart was cute to be honest. The kind of cute he'd call a small Chihuahua who tried to growl at him.
"Guards! Why is that swine not in chains and his mask still on?! A criminal must show his face to properly answer for his atrocities!" The King bellowed, enraged at the lack of decorum the Doctor had, walking in here as if he owned the place! The nerve of that criminal!
The Knights flinched as if struck, looking between each other, indecisive as to who should suffer the King's wrath.
"Don't blame them, the cuffs were rather uncomfortable, so I've kindly asked them to let me come here without them," the Doctor answered with some amusement seeping into his tone. The Knights did not know whether to thank the man for saving their skin or to glare at him for the statement.
"SILENCE YOU PIG!" Bellowed the King, his face turning a shade of purple reminiscent of his own cloak.
"Well then your majesty, what seems to be the problem here?" the Doctor asked.
"I SAID SILENCE YOU HOG! The moment my eyes settled on you, I knew you'd bring nothing but trouble for our country!" King Aultcray yelled once again, rather vicious with his words, making the Shield Hero arch an eyebrow.
Is he going to throw every synonym he can think of? Naofumi mused, finding some amusement in the whole charade.
"Oh? Did something happen? Your Knights were pretty tight lipped on the issue," Naofumi remarked, the lenses of his mask seemed to shine crimson. He couldn't wait to see what the little princess had cooked up.
"Y-YOU! Don't pretend to be innocent! If the Princess hadn't asked me to wait for the morning, I'd have run you through myself!" Motoyasu shouted at him toting his Spear. The blonde squared his shoulders and took a step forward, the other Heroes opting to crease their eyebrows, seemingly in anger. "How can you live with yourself?" Motoyasu continued.
"Hmm? Care to refresh my memory?" Naofumi questioned, but was internally frowning.
So she was smart enough to reveal her identity to them. That makes it harder for me to use her initial disguise against her.
"Not only did you mistreat your companion, my own daughter, but you went ahead and committed the gravest sin in this country! Y-you-" The King stopped, as if it pained him to utter the next words but steeled himself. "You not only tortured Princess Malty, but you forced yourself on her as well! And to top it off, you dare march in here and act so disrespectful towards myself?!" Aultcray roared in anger. "Remove that disgusting mask at once and show me your face, you cowardly scum!"
The view seemed to center on Naofumi. A sudden menacing aura wafted off of him, making the Knights surrounding him sweat. Even the other Three Heroes were surprised by the intensity of the atmosphere.
Maybe it was just a trick of the light, but they could've swore Naofumi's mask and overall appearance had sharpened in definition and had become much more pronounced.
"I refuse," the Shield Hero spoke with such finality that those in the court and even Aultcray himself had to reel at his impudence.
"H-how dare you!" the King retorted.
"Not only did you interrupt my breakfast by sending your errand boys after me, but you demand such an inane request after insulting me and falsely accusing me?" Naofumi asked as the aura seemed to thicken and become more potent. "I have no reason to bend to your petty whims. Besides that... one of my absolute favorite things to do when confronted by a person of authority is to tell them NO straight to their faces."
The Hall fell silent at the declaration. Not a single person dared utter a word as they stared at either the most brazen or stupid man they had ever seen.
This guy! Itsuki's eyes were wide at the scene before him. Is he seriously quoting ChoCho's Strange Journey in this situation?!
The young Hero clenched his fists in anger at the sheer insolence of the man. He's even acting like one of them!
The redhead would have spoken up, but one glance at the Doctor and memories of what happened last night came flooding back. Her eyes widened and she started trembling again, opting to hug Motoyasu and bury her head into his chest from fright. Naofumi wasn't that surprised at her actions, and doubted she was faking them. It wasn't the first time he had to apply some torture to get his answers and he knew of the trauma it left some of his victims in.
Motoyasu was surprised by the sudden weight but wrapped one arm around the woman, the other holding tightly onto his Spear. "Malty?! Malty!" He realized that she was afraid and turned to Naofumi in anger "You bastard! Look at how she's acting! You think this is a joke?!" He yelled at the man, making sure to caress his charge's back.
Yes, that's her natural instincts doing their job, Naofumi thought with an eye roll.
"I-I-It w-was terrible! H-He t-t-tortured me for h-hours! I c-couldn't even tell the t-time!" Malty screamed in fake desperation. "H-He e-even r-r-raped me!"
The lying nuisance had chosen this moment to speak and damn was she acting on point. With short breaths, she confirmed her father's words by adding her own testimony. Tears ran like waterfalls alongside her eyes as she used her hands to cover her mouth. She almost fell down, only to be held by both Sword and Bow Heroes.
'You gotta admit, that was a good performance. Eight out of ten… However, the screaming was annoying' The Doctor thought uncaring. He already had his objective laid out. No matter what he said here, the court was already against him; not only was the judge related to his "victim," therefore making him biased - a big no-no in a normal trial - but there was no jury (unless you counted the nobility who were just as biased as the King) and it had been established that the national religion considered him an exception amongst the heroes, someone to be hated instead of revered. He didn't know if the other three were aware of that fact, given that they apparently played games with similar mechanics and characteristics as those present here. But his entire plan was banking on them being unaware of that fact. He needed to plant the seed of doubts in their minds and win them over, or at least convince them that the royals aren't who they claim to be.
"It's enough Myne, don't talk anymore," Motoyasu consoled her before turning to Naofumi and snarling at him. "I should've known you were a creep!"
Ren shook his head, almost solemnly, "All that talk about being a Doctor and looking out for others? I should've guessed it was just an act."
"I can't believe I felt pity for a criminal like you!" Itsuki spoke.
"I see... and does the Princess have any proof to back up her words?" the Doctor was not the least bit affected by their hostility, he'd faced worse in his world.
"You dare question royalty?!" the King yelled incensed. The nonchalance in the raven-haired doctor's statement had brought him to a boiling point and he could see that even the Spear Hero barely held himself from attacking the accused.
"When the person making the accusation has lied enough for the Queen herself to deem her unfit for the throne, yes I dare!" Naofumi responded heatedly, throwing his first card. The statement brought a shocked silence to the hall, and even Aultcray found himself stunned at this information.
"What do you mean Naofumi?" Itsuki cut the silence, asking the question out of curiosity, even if he himself believed the King to be right, Ren nodded alongside him while Motoyasu gripped his weapon harder.
Their reactions brought a hidden smile to Naofumi's face.
So they didn't know after all. That makes things easier.
"I'm surprised she never told you! Since this is a matriarchal society, the Queen is the one who decides who inherits the throne. Out of the two Princesses, Malty S. Melromarc might be the eldest, but it's her younger sister that was given rights!" Naofumi explained.
"But that doesn't prove that she's lying! Stop denying your crimes!" Motoyasu made his opinion known.
"It does not, but it proves that her words aren't enough to serve as evidence. I ask again that you present some real evidence! She says I tortured her, but does she even have a single bruise to prove her statement? As for the rape, I did not even spend my night at the inn!" Naofumi answered.
"So where were you then?" Ren decided to join in before the King could put a stop to this.
Aultcray gritted his teeth. The man was right, there was no physical evidence to be found at the inn and his daughter's body hadn't received any visible injuries, but he'll be damned if he believed that Devil over his dear daughter! His dear friend Balmus' words rang out in his mind.
Do remember, the Shield Devil is cunning and his words a poison coated in the richest honey. You mustn't be deceived lest the kingdom fall to ruin.
He would have planted evidence if he could, but since they didn't know where the Shield Hero was last night, Aultcray had to rely on his daughter's words. Even then, he wasn't very worried. The only way for the Shield to get out of this would be through a witness, and no one in their right mind would oppose the King. Even if the other Heroes weren't mobilized against the Shield, the rest of the country stood behind the King and the Heroes would eventually see how wicked the Shield really was!
"I was out gathering information, specifically, at the 'Heaven on Earth' brothel," Naofumi answered.
"A brothel? Are you so depraved that you would seek out a prostitute after what you did? And you call yourself a Hero?!" The King interjected. Many of the Nobles gasped and made noises of disgust at the man. Motoyasu himself looked even angrier and the other two simply creased their brows.
"When did I ever say that I partook in any carnal activities? My sole objective was to collect information," Naofumi clarified. "The matron of Heaven on Earth, Madame Elizabeth Cresswell, is known to be the best information broker Melromarc has to offer."
The court was once again silenced and the nobles began to murmur among themselves. Yes, they knew who Madame Cresswell was and the fact that she was one of the most influential people in Melromarc, if not the whole world, was well-known.
Ren and Itsuki's expressions softened, but were no less weary. That name was too specific to have been made up, so perhaps Naofumi was telling the truth? But if that was the case, why would he assault a girl when he could pay for services legally? That would certainly save him from being in this whole scenario in the first place.
Damn. Too many questions, yet too little answers.
"Now, while I've given my side of the story, I'd like to point out some notable flaws in this whole trial in the first place," Naofumi announced while Aultcray was sweating bullets. "As it turns out Melromarc seems to really have something against me, especially when their national religion, 'The Three Heroes Faith,' reveres the Sword, Spear, and Bow Heroes as saviors while shunning the Shield as a Devil!"
Itsuki and Ren's eyes widened a little at the implication. Motoyasu however, wasn't having it.
"Well maybe they're right! And a brothel? That's your excuse? That makes you sound even more like a-!"
"Motoyasu… are you truly that stupid? The entire point of these statements was simply to illustrate how biased this entire trial is," the Doctor answered to the Spear's confusion, while every noble in the room squirmed uneasily, knowing where he was going. "Not only is the accuser related to the judge, they're also both ruling figures of a system that already despises me and one of them has a previous history of lying in these situations! Ask anyone here! Hell, ask the people in town! They'll all confirm my statements! The inn's receptionist saw me leave the inn and I spent the entire night at the brothel! You can go down and ask the Matron yourselves! If you're gonna make a case against me, you better make sure you have some good fucking evidence on your side!" Naofumi finished, almost losing his cool but glad to see some semblance of realization come to two of the three heroes' eyes.
"YOU INSOLENT BOAR! I've heard enough of your excuses!" Aultcray bellowed.
"But it's true isn't it?" Naofumi asked. "The Queen, Mirellia Q. Melromarc, who holds more power than you, has deemed Malty S. Melromarc unfit to inherit the throne due to several personality flaws that are unbecoming of royalty. The national religion despises me and you don't have a shred of physical evidence to back the accusation, hell why would I even do something like that?!"
"I choose not to understand what depraved thoughts a beast like you has!" Aultcray was getting almost desperate. He had banked on the Shield not having anything to defend himself with since he was apparently 'ignorant' of how this world works, but not only did he have one of his wife's own friends to back him up, he was tearing apart his daughter's testimony with little to no effort!
Motoyasu wasn't giving up however. "That still doesn't-"
"Motoyasu," his name was uttered with such irritation and with the tone of an adult scolding a child. "I really expected someone with your history with women to be a little more attentive."
Naofumi's words cut really deep into the Spear Hero, since Motoyasu did tell him that his girlfriends were his killers. The blonde simply stood stock still, pale as a sheet, and with his jaw clenched to a painful degree.
Overall, he looked quite constipated.
"Would you stop and think with your brain for a moment?" Naofumi asked as he rubbed his temples. "Why would I risk so much to accomplish something I could've done legally at the brothel? What could I possibly gain from stepping into this shit? Because this is all, quite frankly, a grenade I would not want to pull the pin on."
Itsuki and Ren were both at a loss for words; Naofumi's words were simply too hard to deny or to refute. The things that the King and Malty had said were pretty damning, but the things Naofumi said made them quite torn about the whole situation. Was Naofumi really guilty of his supposed crime, or was all this some kind of elaborate setup because of Melromarc's apparent prejudice?
"Even if some of what you're saying is true, then why is Malty so terrified of you?!" Motoyasu yelled out, once again brandishing his Spear. "Admit it! You must've done something!"
"Hmm... It's not me per se, but that might have been the work of the balloons we encountered yesterday."
"You expect us to believe such a ridiculous claim?"
"Don't look at me, I was just as surprised as you are!" Naofumi exclaimed comically. "When she joined me yesterday, I expected… what was it you said, Your Majesty? Oh, yeah! The 'best adventurers in the city,' so you can imagine my shock when Ms. Malty here was almost mauled by what is considered the weakest of monsters! Check her level if you don't believe me!"
Itsuki and Ren turned to do so, even Motoyasu momentarily glanced down at the woman to read her status.
"W-Wha… Level Three?!" Itsuki yelled out with his eyes bugging out while Ren simply froze with an incredulous expression. Even Motoyasu was shocked, his original constipated expression now getting worse.
"Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this? Did you really send your own daughter out to fight with such a low level?!" Ren demanded.
"You'll have to forgive me for this, Heroes, I wanted Malty to experience the world and get stronger as a result," Aultcray said in response. "My hope was that tagging along with the Heroes would both offer her protection and help her grow." He was paling rapidly, the tables had effectively turned and Naofumi had momentarily turned the heroes on him! Everything was going pear-shaped faster than he could keep up!
Classic Ad Hominem. While I wouldn't normally use such an ineffective strategy, it's the only viable option on the table. Turn the entire argument against the other party by pointing out a flaw in their character and you'll be able to weaken some of the foundations of their stance, if only for a moment, Naofumi thought pleased with himself. A moment was all he needed. He had already made them doubt Malty herself, so making them doubt the King and think him as either a bad father or someone who doesn't think their shit through was the most strategic move.
Who knows? Maybe they'll think he's gone senile altogether. While the man had apparently been known as the 'Wise Sage King' in the past due to his unparalleled strategic skill, he apparently lost all of that wisdom when it came to anything dealing with his daughters.
Which was… actually kinda sad, but somewhat understandable if the man was truly a doting father. It's simply unfortunate that one of his daughters turned out to be such a little bitch.
And that was putting it lightly.
"That still doesn't justify sending her with someone who's not only hated by the public but also a shielder to boot! That's just asking for her to die!" Itsuki retorted.
Oof... harsh, thought the Doctor almost offended, since Itsuki was indirectly calling him weak.
Ren himself opted to put his sword on his back and gestured for his party to move.
"Lord Ren? W-What are you doing?" The King asked, surprised by the boy's action.
"This whole thing is a waste of time, I don't know for sure if Naofumi's right but since he has witnesses, might as well conduct a proper investigation," the Sword Hero answered.
Aultcray racked his brain for a possible solution, while the Shield Hero's reputation has already been tarnished, as ensured by the Church, he could not risk losing the trust of the heroes, especially considering that he had summoned all four of them without the consent of the other countries. Knowing his wife, she'll no doubt try to put out the fire he had started by trying to placate the other countries. He couldn't have any of the heroes ditching Melromarc and he especially couldn't have the damned Shield join those beasts in Siltvelt. Before he could throw in another idea again however, his dear daughter seemed to have regained enough courage to speak out.
"... brain... shield..." Malty murmured, her voice low but loud enough for those close to her to hear, startling Motoyasu.
"Huh? What is it Malty? You want to say something?"
"The Shield Hero has a Brainwashing Shield! He must've brainwashed those witnesses with it! He even used it on me and made me feel pain that wasn't there!" Malty shrieked, at this point growing desperate.
"YOU BASTARD!" the Spear Hero's face colored to mirror the sheer outrage he felt at the revelation.
There was even more talking among the court, the Nobles whispering about the possibility of such a Shield while Aultcray jumped at the opportunity that had appeared right in front of him.
"Yes! A Brainwashing Shield!" the King yelled in preconceived victory. "We have historical records recounting the use of such a skill! The previous Shield Heroes possessed the ability to charm armies to do their bidding! It's only natural for you to use that innate ability to attempt and weasel your way out!"
The accused simply deadpanned under his mask, "Would these records happen to have been written by the Church of the Three Heroes? The same faith that has made it a point to label me as a Devil? Plus, if I had such a convenient ability, don't you think we wouldn't be in this sham of a trial?" Naofumi asked.
Malty interjected, "You used that Shield on me the first time! It took everything in me to break out of the trance! The ability grows with each use so when you use it on the other poor victims they can't break out easily!"
"You're awfully informed on that imaginary ability of mine, it almost makes me question why you joined me in the first place if you thought I had something of the sort… that or you're making it up as you go," The Doctor was growing annoyed with the series of baseless claims.
"Shut up! It makes perfect sense! You're a shielder so that ability must've existed to balance out your weak ATK stat! Stop lying and confess to your crimes already!" Motoyasu decided to add in his two cents.
"Really? Is there any proof of that claim?"
"Well can you prove that you don't have it?"
"You're asking me to prove the non-existence of something? Are you serious?"
As the two continued to bicker, Itsuki was growing more restless while Ren was simply getting annoyed.
"ENOUGH!" Aultcray interjected, silencing the cacophony of voices and the bickering heroes. He needed to seize upon the opportunity his daughter gave him.
"Both my daughter and the Spear Hero are correct! The Brainwashing Shield is a valid ability exclusive to the Shield Hero! Any testimony your witnesses may present are therefore null and void." Murmurs of agreement from the present nobility rang out.
Naofumi simply shook his head, "Not only is your claim flat out wrong, but it's also deeply flawed," the Doctor said. "If anything, it would be much more logical for me to have a shield that can reflect damage back at an opponent."
The nobles murmured some more. That did sound like something a shield would do.
Naofumi continued, "And another question, why would a Holy Weapon have the ability to sacrifice the free will of human beings? That is also completely illogical and mighty convenient for your little story there, Malty," Naofumi said. "And you had somehow used every ounce of willpower to 'break free?' Is that why you were crying when a Balloon jumped at you yesterday?"
"I-I-I didn't cry!" Malty yelled indignantly. "I was the picture perfect example of grace and skill! Every word you say is a lie!"
Immediately, the Sword and Bow Heroes cast somewhat doubtful looks at the redhead while Naofumi had to cough to hide his laughter.
"Ahem, excuse me, I didn't get that impression from you yesterday," Naofumi said, cocking his head to one side not unlike that of a raven. "You were swinging your sword with the 'grace' of a bumbling toddler, it would have been more generous to describe you as someone who's had their clothes infested with a colony of ants."
"Y-Y-You! UGH!" The Princess' face had gone scarlet from embarrassment and anger, she grabbed Motoyasu and practically screamed into his chest, an action that the boy in question interpreted as crying.
"Damn you! First you assault her and now you insult her?!" Motoyasu yelled out, once again brandishing his Spear.
Ren deadpanned, "Motoyasu… you saw her level, didn't you?" Ren asked. "She was level three. I don't think anyone in the single digits would have the grace that she was talking about earlier. I still don't believe Naofumi entirely, but he's making too much sense to be lying."
Itsuki nodded, "I'm with Ren on this one," Itsuki stated. "Everything that's been going on here today is making very little sense and frankly, I think this requires a full scale investigation."
Naofumi nodded, satisfied in knowing he had at least made two of the other Heroes dubious of the Royal Court's judgement, "If that is all then I'll be taking my leave," Naofumi said as he turned on his heel and began walking away. "Thanks for wasting our time."
"Y-Y-You! I still say you're guilty!" Aultcray yelled, his face turning into an ugly shade of purple. "You hear me?! Guilty! You cannot escape justice forever! Your crime shall be known throughout the land!"
Naofumi said nothing, he simply turned around, put on his hat and took his bag off the ground. He ignored the yells from Aultcray, the man screaming for the guards to stop him. While the men who escorted him did not move, the two stationed at the door opted to cross their tridents in front of the door to bar Naofumi's entrance.
The guards, to their credit, glared defiantly at someone they knew was more dangerous than them. Naofumi was undeterred however, he continued walking up until he was a breath away from the crossed tridents, and continued walking through them with little resistance, the tridents seemed to sink into his body before exiting his back, as if going through a block of gelatin.
The guards themselves didn't move to further block, considering they, like everyone else in the courtroom, was rendered speechless and stiff as a board. They had just witnessed the Shield Hero somehow phase through the tridents as if he was made of water!
Just what was he?!
Naofumi laughed a little in his head. It took him the better part of two years to fully master that little trick, but it was all worth it. Made exploring and passing through attacks much easier. There might have been a slight problem with revealing this particular skill, but it could give the Church the idea that physical attacks were useless against him, especially when combined with his absurd defensive stats. So while it was risky, he might as well limit their options since he had already made an enemy of most of the country.
Before exiting completely out of the door however, the Doctor stopped and looked over his shoulder.
"Motoyasu, Ren, Itsuki, be careful of who you ally yourselves with," Naofumi warned. "Corruption seems to be everywhere here, so tread carefully. You never know what you might get caught up in."
Motoyasu stared at Naofumi's back in a strange, twisted combination of confusion and anger. Ren and Itsuki simply nodded.
Satisfied, The Doctor made his exit.
Leaving silent chaos and uncertainty in his wake…
Itsuki was at a loss, coming into this world had felt like a dream come true, he finally felt like the true protagonist of his own life and he hadn't even begun adventuring yet! Summoned into a powerful position, given respect and adoration, the boy truly felt like he was a step above everyone else. Something he had yearned for back in his own world.
This was part of why he had felt so satisfied with himself that morning, when he had heard of what Naofumi had supposedly done and been asked to attend his trial. He had been feeling very intimidated by the man up until that point, from his posture, his aura, everything about him was suffocating to the Bow Hero.
So to see someone like that, brought down to the very bottom of society was something Itsuki would have normally found exhilarating.
Except this wasn't what happened. What started out as a valid case against Naofumi was quickly rebuffed by him when he started dropping heavy facts about the Kingdom around them. While he could have just dismissed them as lies and excuses to cover up his mistake, it all made sense, especially if one were to judge how the Nobles around them were reacting to his claims. Add to that the fact that the accusers had zero physical evidence and how they seemed to jump from argument to argument without any consistency, and the Bow Hero was very much tempted to simply call off any investigation and declare Naofumi innocent on the spot.
But something still didn't make sense.
This world was too much like a game to be anything else but one. So if that were the case then what use did this event even have? Was it here just to throw an extra bit of drama and realism into the entire setting?
Events like these usually directed the paths that the protagonists would take. Had Naofumi done something wrong, he would have taken the path of a villain while Itsuki himself would remain as the paragon of righteousness and a dispenser of justice in this world. But if the Doctor hadn't committed any crime, then why waste their time with this event?
It might be used for exposition and world building, showcasing how the powers and authorities functioned in this case, but does that justify throwing one of the heroes under the metaphorical bus?
It didn't…
Was Naofumi right? And the system was stacked against him? But why would that be? He's already the shielder, and thus already at a massive disadvantage. Could the game really be that unbalanced?
And if he wasn't? Then everything that happened would be Naofumi's fault. He might have been angry at his own class and lack of ability, so he took out his frustrations on his partner and is now trying to weasel his way out…
But what if he was right?
What he did before leaving also threw him into a loop. Did the Shield allow phasing through attacks? But that wouldn't make any sense! That was not how a Tank was supposed to function!
Did that mean that his Shield class really was different from what he saw in his game? In that case, could Malty's claim be true?
Then again, Naofumi was also right, there was no motive for him to commit the crime and that particular ability sounded far too convenient; especially considering that Naofumi hadn't even fled the country. Something he would have done if he truly was a criminal who's victim ran away.
If the Shield really could control others, they wouldn't be in that courtroom. They wouldn't be dealing with this whole issue in the first place…
Ren was in a similar state. He had been secretly ecstatic upon his summoning, since it had felt like a second chance at life and one where he could be the cool hero he's always pictured himself to be: the lone wolf who was both strong and kind, yet reserved. It was similar to a kid transferring to a new school, since no-one knew him and he already started his journey with a cool title. That would be his chance to live the life his games (as advanced as they were) could only ever give him a taste of.
But then Naofumi entered the picture, he had initially thought him to be an edgy cosplayer or a chunni who just wanted to check every box there was on the edge lord archetype.
Except that wasn't the case…
While Naofumi did look like he would fit perfectly in one of the darker themed games he used to play, his mannerism revealed a personality that defied his expectations. Where one would expect to see a pessimistic, nigh-emotionless shell of a man, constantly haunted by ghosts of their past, the man seemed to have made peace with his past and had shown a willingness to cooperate despite any misgivings he and the others might have had towards the usefulness of his class.
And now this? He didn't know Naofumi enough to judge him completely innocent but the fact that he had some sort of alibi to back his stance whilst the accusers only relying upon the victim's testimony gave the Doctor more credibility. Add to that the fact that the King was behaving irrationally, what with sending out his own daughter at a low level to fight for someone who can't do much in the means of attack, and you got even more of a reason to trust Naofumi over Malty.
But something was bugging him, the way Naofumi had presented himself, the way he so eloquently presented his case and dissected Malty's words, even the seemingly random display of cheekiness and disobedience to the ruling authority. All of these factors painted the image that Naofumi had somehow expected this. That or he had planned it beforehand.
It was like watching a poker game where one side is able to read the others' cards.
He had prepared to leave the throne room to conduct his own investigation, frustrated that he even needed to waste time on this side-quest but his endeavor had been stopped by the Princess' latest claim.
A Brainwashing Shield? The idea itself sounded ridiculous, the skill was never one he saw any of the Shielders in his games use. Even if that were true, that would be one of the most OP skills he'd have come across.
How was that fair in any way?
His phasing trick had also surprised him, it threw everything he knew about the Shield class into question and even made him reconsider Malty's claim before dismissing it.
The phasing ability might have been some sort of skill innate to the Shield, to protect them from attacks too high for their DEF stat to handle. That theory still made more sense than Malty's claims in his mind.
Motoyasu wasn't as confused as the other two, mainly because his inner chivalrous self had been directing his thoughts and actions since the moment Malty came to him almost naked. Even if there was a small corner of his subconscious screaming at him that he was making a mistake, the Spear Hero was pretty sure his judgement on this matter was sound.
After all, even though this world was a game, it simply felt too realistic, he couldn't help but take on the role of the chivalrous knight in shining armor. Especially when a fair maiden, and the princess to boot, came to him pleading for help.
It just seemed like the right thing to do at the time.
That, and he's always been a connoisseur of the fairer sex, and a princess was definitively as fair as they came.
Naofumi's case was a no-brainer in Motoyasu's mind. After seeing Malty's state yesterday night, he had come to the conclusion that the man was either someone who let their new status go to their head or a degenerate and a monster who used to violate women like that in his world. Heck, if his attitude was anything to go by from last night, he was one of those Incels who claimed women were at fault for them being celibate. He was probably just a creep who's never even gone out with a woman and was simply overwhelmed by Malty's beauty when he was summoned here.
His actions at the trial had thrown Motoyasu into a loop, momentarily at least. He had fully expected the man to lash out or even to run away in fear of the consequences of his actions. But not only had Naofumi stood his ground and denied what he had done, he had the nerve to use the Spear Hero's own past against him! Now that was a low blow!
The fact he mocked and insulted poor Malty only added fuel to the fire.
There was little doubt in Motoyasu's mind on this issue.
Doctor Iwatani Naofumi was a villain.
Naofumi strode out of the castle gates with a composed gait. The guards stationed outside looked at him in disgust, sneers adorned their faces and for some of the bolder ones, insults and jeers escaped their mouths.
The walk through the adjacent streets yielded similar reactions from the townspeople, some went as far as to throw a rock, a fruit or some other kind of food in his direction. Something he simply ignored as it was apparently, not high enough to pierce through his defense. The foodstuffs were disgusting and stained his coat, something that he would normally go ballistic over, but he figured that attempting to dodge it would be too much effort. He'd bear it for now then just clean the cloak using Overhaul... provided it doesn't damage it or its effect.
Maybe he should experiment on that…
Still, Naofumi had dealt with so much worse than a few insults. He cared very little for his reputation since he lived for years in a broken society where almost everyone was out to get you.
Add to the fact that these people were simply being misled because of a preconceived notion established by the state religion, and anything he might say wouldn't hold up in these people's eyes.
He'd just have to let his actions as a Physician and a Hero speak for themselves.
The Three Heroes Church did carry an eerie resemblance to what he read about the European clergy in the Dark Ages.
These times were called the Dark Ages for many reasons, not just the Black Plague.
It was the general ignorance of the peasant population that allowed anyone with a silver tongue and a few promises to pretty much extort them of their riches to empower the Noble class. This was also the case for issues of racism, and xenophobia whereas the Clergy in Medieval Europe would simply deem those they viewed as outcasts to be "impure" or "unholy" in nature.
It seemed like a similar phenomenon was occurring here.
One might wonder why a Japanese Doctor had such knowledge on the idiosyncrasies of historical and societal norms.
He had nothing better to do with his free time really, it was either read whatever he finds or die of boredom.
Speaking of boredom, you'd think his audience would come to realize the uselessness of their actions and move on but that was a mob mentality for you.
It was one thing to let a few pelted stones and foodstuffs hit him, it was another to be manhandled directly, just as Erhart had done as soon as he turned a corner on the street.
Pulling him by the front of his tunic, Erhart fixed Naofumi with a sharp glare, "I heard about what you did to that adventurer," he said bitterly. "And to think I gave such scum items of personal value."
Naofumi was momentarily shaken by the man's strength and aggressiveness but brushed it off moments later. He wasn't really surprised by the sudden scorn he was receiving from the smith he had bartered with just yesterday, it was a given after the rumors that spread.
"You too, huh?" Naofumi said coldly as he met Erhart's gaze with his. He grabbed the man's hand and wrenched it from his tunic, much to the smith's surprise.
"Then again, it's my word against the national religion isn't it? I shouldn't really expect much," he finished somewhat bitterly.
Erhart looked at him silently, as if trying to figure out whether the man was being honest or not. Although it was a difficult task because of the goggles and the mask obscuring the Doctor's face.
"If you're telling the truth, then look at me in the eyes and say it," the blacksmith said with a tone of finality.
"Not gonna happen," was the Doctor's immediate response and it honestly surprised Erhart. He had expected the young man to grasp at any chance to proclaim his innocence.
"Then why should I believe you?"
"Believe what you wish, I'm not gonna bother repeating the same tirade I gave at the castle. If you want to believe me, then just watch me," the Doctor said with a tone of finality as he adjusted his dirty coat before looking at the blacksmith.
In that instant, for some reason he could not explain, Erhart felt as if he could suddenly see the Doctor's eyes with unusual clarity. Even as they laid behind a thick pair of lenses that obscured them to everyone else, it felt as if the man, even when hidden, was being more open than most customers he's had to deal with.
"I-" Erhart paused for a moment, before sighing "let's just take this conversation inside" he resigned to give the man a chance to explain himself in private.
"Oh?" Naofumi raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you afraid of the 'Big Bad Shield Demon?' I might eat your soul!" the Doctor joked in a dry tone, something that both clued the blacksmith on the story and dispelled the tense atmosphere between the two.
The two men entered the shop before moving to the back. Erhart had the decency to ask the Doctor if he wanted to wash up after seeing his state of dress, something which Naofumi agreed to. The two men could be found in the blacksmith's bathroom as Naofumi sat over a basin in his pants, undershirt and mask while he scrubbed the dirty coat.
"Well kid? You gonna tell me what happened?" Erhart asked after sitting down and crossing his thick arms over his chest. His expression was one of patience but there was a silver of annoyance hidden under it, probably upon seeing the coat he sold not a day ago already needing to be washed (and possibly fixed).
Naofumi was silent for a few moments, his covered eyes focused on the rhythmic task at hand and inwardly lamenting at the fact he couldn't just use Overhaul to clean it. Before Erhart could express his impatience at the delay, the younger man started talking.
And talking…
And just kept talking in such a bored and droning tone that Erhart would've yawned if it weren't for the shocking contents of the Doctor's story.
By the end of Naofumi's recounting of the events, the older man was gripping his knees and frowning, both in anger and disappointment at his country's leaders.
There was also some disappointment at missing out on the absolute circus that the trial must have been, but Erhart wasn't going to admit it.
One thing he would admit however.
"Well kid, you either got some steel eggs down there or you're just dumb," Erhart grinned at Naofumi's invisible deadpanned expression. "You do realize that you've pretty much burned any bridge with Ol' Aultcray because of your stunt right?" the smith's grin didn't falter.
Naofumi grumbled, "Not like there was even a bridge there in the first place."
Erhart raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean by that?"
Naofumi sighed, "According to what Cresswell told me, Aultcray has had a deeply rooted hatred for the Shield Hero by proxy because of previous history with Siltvelt."
Both of Erhart's eyebrows raised in realization, "Ah, right, the previous war... I guess some wounds are still fresh from it…"
Naofumi's eyes narrowed under his mask, "In essence, I was screwed from the very start."
The Blacksmith hummed, "I wouldn't exactly say that."
It was the Doctor's turn to be surprised, "What do you mean?"
Erhart scratched his cheek, "Well it could be worse, least you got your stuff and Madame Cresswell must've taken a shine to you if she's willing to tell you this much…" Naofumi actually snorted in amusement at the last statement.
The man then smiled at Naofumi and raised his hand towards him, "Plus you got me kid," he said with a grin.
Naofumi was still skeptical, "Why should I trust you?"
Erhart's grin only stretched further across his face, "'Believe what you wish.' Ain't that what you told me? Besides, I've got years of experience in spotting scammers and liars, and you kid just don't fit the bill."
Naofumi was still suspicious but was willing to cooperate with the man for now. Thus, he raised his hand to meet the man's in a shake to seal their alliance.
The blacksmith just had to ask, "Does this mean you'll show me your face?"
Naofumi snorted, "Don't push your luck."
"Well damn," Erhart remarked while snapping his fingers in mock disappointment. "Eh, it was worth a shot."
The Shield Hero cracked a smile behind his mask.
A/N: RedFistCannon here! Whooooo this chapter was a riot to co-write lol. I hope y'all spotted the Jojokes we put in there and as an apology for this long delay, here's two Omakes for the price of One.
Talon C.: Yeah, like Red said, this was a riot. Still, after many bumps and bruises, we finally managed to shit this one out.
Readers: Please stop explaining scientific/boring stuff! We beg of you!
Talon & RFC: *Laughs in TED talk*
Omake 1: The Strongest Shield (This was supposed to be for the second chapter - Talon)
As Naofumi entered the changing room and started to disrobe for the first time in days, something clattered on the ground, having fallen out of his old overcoat. He saw it was his old phone, one of the old Nokia bulky models that somehow survived the radiation and EMT bombs. He didn't use it much anymore, mostly for playing some of the music he used to listen to, the man was a big fan of late 20th and early 21st-century American bands. Unless he made up a potato or citric battery, he wouldn't have a way of charging it back up, so it was pretty useless. He could always sell it to some merchant for some big money or use it for something else.
Looking at his Shield, he came to a conclusion and brought the phone closer to the Gem. It seemed to react and the phone disappeared into it just as a series of notifications popped up.
[Antenna Shield unlocked]
Increase in defense +3
+Equip Bonus: Awareness (I)
…
[Playlist Shield unlocked]
Increase in defense +2
+Passive skill: Background Music Player
The Doctor grinned, he could use some good background music on his downtime, maybe even get some good rhythm in battle. Before he could ponder any further, however, a new notification popped up, seemingly glitching and lagging.
[̴̮̌N̷̰̾o̴̹̤̊k̴̝͍͝i̴͎͌̔ȃ̵͖̌ ̵͓͇̚S̷̡̰͒h̶͕̯̿i̸̺͉͠͝e̷̼̎̉l̴̢͊͒͜d̷͇́́ͅ ̷͈͇̍u̸͓̗̔͠n̵͖͂̾l̸̲͉̏͆ọ̸͗c̴̤̩̑̌ḱ̶͔̥e̷͓̅d̶̟̄̾ͅ]̸͖̋̀
̶̬͝[̸͈̀̂Ī̶͈n̷̨͊͝ͅc̴̹̈́̚r̷͔̓͋ẽ̸̦̜a̴̱̚s̷̲̽ẹ̵͕́ ̷̞́̈́ị̵͒n̶̯̚̚ ̶̛̣̖͐d̵̬̂̀ě̴̖̽f̵̳̭̿e̵͙̲͐ǹ̶͖s̶͚̩̓͌ȅ̸̬̃ ̷̣̊E̵̛̝Ȓ̶̘̐R̵͙̈͗O̴̩̦͒̀R̷̠͕̈ ̵̥̇E̴͉͠Ŕ̴̖̼̈́Ř̶͔̘̑O̷̧̍R̵̬̉͑ ̷͍͗͋E̷̟͂̑R̷̝̝͛̐R̶͉͉̃̓O̷̻̊Ŕ̵̖̚ͅ]̷͇̈́
̶͇͇͊[̵̫͠Ĕ̵̘R̵͇̦̍̽R̵͈̋O̴͕͆̈Ŕ̴͖ ̸̦̗̎̔4̴̳̙̾͠0̶̤̪̔4̸̩̠̎̕:̸̳͓̊͊ ̷̨̻̈́̀Ḓ̶̗̾a̴̱̐̌m̵̜̾̿á̴͇̑g̵̟̟̚ë̴̡̘́̕ ̶̠̀͌n̸͙̺͑̉o̸͈͋͘͜t̵͚̅ ̵̰̹̔f̷̥͋o̸̙͝ų̷͝n̴͎͙̉d̶̼̳̏]̶͈͌
What the fuck?
Omake 2: "Bigger and Blacker"
Myne waited outside near the counter for the Doctor to change, but her patience was running thin. What was that idiot doing in there? She wondered before she heard the air itself seemingly pulse with power, extremely loud music blaring from it.
[Play BGM: "Back in Black" by ACDC]
The Shield Hero stepped from behind the curtain slowly, opening it with a flourish and walking in a manner befitting of a peacock showing off its feathers.
He walked past Myne without saying a word, merely throwing two gold coins at the counter and continued on, undeterred by the looks his partner was sending him as the music continued to fuel his swagger.
Stepping on the street had many folks reacting surprised, men were suddenly feeling inadequate, teenage girls were feeling their estrogen levels rise, and middle-aged mothers were hiding their children from the strange, strange man in black.
Myne just lowered her head.
I might have made a horrible mistake.
