12 The Death of... (Part 2)
Watching with anticipation as Naofumi absolutely dominating the undead dragon, we totally forgot about the one person next to us-
Raphtalia.
The fight was just that amazing.
And she had to stop it...but this leads to a much better development, both in plot and character. Its standard trope, where the mc goes too far and gets caught up in it, but someone has to pull him back.
We watched as Raphtalia stumbled onto Naofumi, already poisoned, and hugged his arm, holding down the shield.
She just got a first-class seat into getting burned and cursed by the black flames.
"Even if the whole world turns against you, I won't. And I'll say it again, and again, and again. No matter what, I won't believe those lies, Mr. Naofumi!"
As Raphtalia kept begging him, I saw Naofumi's anger started to leave him. The hatred that he tries to hold onto, the hatred that once fueled him, starts ebbing away, if only a little.
"Please believe me, after all this time, I know Mr. Naofumi. He'll never do the things they said. He gave me medicine when I was weak alone. He saved my life, protecting me from harm. He taught me-*cough*-how to fight, to survive in this world. He is the Shield Hero, one of the greatest heroes in the world, and I am his-your sword. I'll walk with you on your path, no matter how-*cough*-many hardships and obstacles we come across. I'll always walk with you."
It was actually working. Is this the legendary 'talk-no-jutsu?'
How truly frightening it is.
"Ra-Raphtalia!? Are you alright!?" asked Naofumi, bewildered as he noticed Raphtalia holding him on his shield arm.
"Ye-yes I'm fin-*cough*!"
It appears Naofumi realized not only is she still poisoned, she had been burned badly by the cursed fire.
"Why, Raphtalia? Why were you holding onto my hand?!"
"I thought tha-that if you to keep-*cough*-going, you would disappear,and I...I-!"
*Thud!*
Raphtalia tried to smile, only to faint, falling on to the ground with a thud.
Naofumi panicked, casting the spell.
"I am the source of all power. Hear my words and understand them, heal her!"
"First Heal!"
Seeing that it barely recovered her, he kept trying, until it seems like he ran out of magic power (MP).
"I am the source of all power. Hear my words and understand them, heal her!"
"First Heal!"
After a final spell, he saw it barely did anything, and he started to move towards the carriage with Raphtalia.
"GAAOOOHHHH!"
The undead dragon, finally withstooding the duration of the fire, swung its burned arm at him, preparing to deliver another dragon breathe.
"Get out of my way!"
He blocked it, and the shield started to activate its counter skill.
"Stop!"
The shield stopped.
If the shield exploded in flames, then Raphtalia probably would've died, and so he activated the skill, only burning the cloud of poison gas the dragon breathed onto him.
"Gah?!"
"Wha-What is happening?"
As the battle continued, it seemed like the dragon just noticed that it was slowly dying to the curse and burns from the flames.
Its time to make our move.
"Wolf!"
"This one is ready!"
While it was staggering, a 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 appeared above it.
"What is that?" Naofumi whispered as he saw it the 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸.
As soon as it appeared, I readied my skill [Piercing Horn Arrow], and let go of the string, flying towards the slowly dying undead dragon.
The arrow flew threw the air, striking the dragon in the forehead, dealing true damage as it drills into it as it fell to the ground, rendering it effectively dead.
"No match for us!"
"Few are, dear Wolf."
As soon as the dragon died, the 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 disappeared, and it started to dissolve, returning to its skeleton-like form. Something akin to essence flew out from the corpse of the now dead undead dragon, its essence flowing into me. Naofumi was staring at us both in shock-
I glowed yellow, orange and pink petals swirling around me, signifying me gaining another mark.
*Ting*
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𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 of the Kindred (74)(1) => (75)
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As I was basking in its glow, I flushed beneath my mask.
I realized that Raphtalia was still sick.
Apparently, Naofumi had the same idea, because he got up, staggered a bit, and ran for the carriage. Wolf and I grabbed Raphtalia, bringing her towards the carriage where Naofumi was looking around for the medicine.
He found the healing ointments in seconds, and quickly applied it to her wounds abd burns as soon as we set her down inside the carriage. After applying it all, he gave her the antidote for the poison.
"Ar-are you alright, Raphtalia?
"Yes, t-the medicine worked..."
Still though, the wounds still look pretty nasty. Although the wounds have shrunken and closed for the most part over time, there were black scars still remaining. Most likely due to the cursed black flames from the shield. The wounds looked like nothing compared to the burns.
"It's okay, don't wo-worry about me, take care of th-the dragon."
"It's already dead."
"Oh...the-then hurry, and get rid of it...the skeleton."
"Alright."
Raphtalia stared at Naofumi with desperation. Probably scared about the fact that the skeleton might revive once more. It's nothing to worry about now, as it can't revive quickly, but its good to be cautious.
"Are you okay staying here for now?"
"I ca-"
I interrupted them.
"We'll protect her, go take care of the corpse."
"Oh-alright then.
Naofumi stumbled out, slowly walked in the directon of the corpse. We watched as he approached it in silence, and in deep thought. He must be thinking that Filo is already gone, and that he has to take care of the corpse of both of them...
But still, Filo is...
The belly, where the internal organs are suppose to be, started twitching and shaking.
"What the-!"
Naofumi readied his sheld, walking backwards.
After what seems to be minutes, the wriggling belly stopped...then shook even faster! The stomach started tearing, and then...then-
Filo popped out.
"Phew. It was stuffy in there!"
She got out, shaking her feathers as the bird was covered in rotting and mushy liquids.
Disgusting.
She seemed to be happy and not injured, despite getting out of the stomach.
"Filo! Are you alright?! Are you hurt?!" Naofumi desperately asked, hurrying over, concerned.
"But, what was all that blood when the dragon ate you?"
"Blood? What blood? Oh! When the dragon swallowed me, it squished my belly, and I threw up."
Threw up? Ah, she was eating in the carriage as we started taking care of the poisonous flies. It must be the tomatoes in there.
"Don't scare me like that, I thought you were dead!" Naofumi exhaled in relief.
"An attack like that? That didn't even hurt me at all!"
I underestimated the filolial. With the shield's maturation effecting her growth, and her high enough level, its no wonder she's strong.
Weaker than us though.
"Master, were you worried about me?
"Whatever."
"Master, you are! You're embarassed!"
"Do you want me to give an euology for your funeral once we get back?"
"Hehehehehe, I'm happy! Just don't replace me!"
Filo teased Naofumi, who was having none of it. Wolf whispered in my ear.
"Is this what they call...a tsundere?"
"A tsundere? What's that?" Raphtalia was still awake, apparently overhearing Wolf's question.
"Perhaps Wolf...perhaps..."
And we started discussing what a tsundere is. As we got into a heated argument with Raphtalia about a tsundere Naofumi, I saw Filo transform back into her human form.
With her childlike size, her blonde hair swaying in the wind, angel like clothes, small white wings, and her bright blue, innocent eyes-she really does look like an angel. No wonder Motoyasu will be enamoured by her once he sees her.
She held out her wing, and something dropped into her hand. She gave it to Naofumi, whose hand was held out.
It was a shard of a glowing purple crystal. The dragon's core. It must be why the dragon was reanimated, with all that remaining magic power left.
He broke it into three seperate pieces, absorbed one, and kept the others. He then started talking to Filo.
"Raphtalia is hurt, so you and I are going to clean up this drag-"
"I'll help to!"
Wolf flew over, grinning with his teeth showing.
"...ok, we three are going to clean up this dragon..."
"Okay!"
"I'll taste-I mean....okay!"
Wolf, is the rotting dragon meat too tempting?
"Oh boy, this is yummy!"
"Filo! Don't eat the meat, its rotten!"
"Meat that's starting to rot is the best kind of meat, Master!"
"I agree, it is an interesting taste!"
"It's not just starting to rot, its already completely rotten!"
I kept Raphtalia company, watching as the three cleaned up, Wolf and Filo trying to sneak a bite.
After they finished removing the remains, Naofumi took some of the bones and skin, and brought them to the carriage, loading them up. I absorbed some of them. There were plenty after all.
...
We returned to the village, and Naofumi rushed Raphtalia over to the doctor, who was in his room, to see if there was any way to treat the burns.
"It's a curse, a very strong curse indeed. Was the dragon in the mountains capable of such a powerful curse?"
"Well, uh, actually..."
Naofumi's sweated, trying to make up an excuse. It was mostly his fault after all.
Raphtalia helped Naofumi up, making an excuse about the dragon's meat burning her on accident.
After talking, the doctor went too another room, and brought out a bottle with clear liquid.
"This is holy water. Curses are best removed by holy power..."
"Oh."
Holy water is not the best way, but it is a good way to remove impure things, like curses. You need a high quality one to heal the worse of the scars Raphtalia gained.
"We'll soak the bandages in holy water for now...but it might not cure it all. If you are able to, you should go to one of the large cities-the capital for best, as the main headquarters of the church is there. Holy water is procured and made by the church after all."
"Oh dear lord..."
Naofumi rubbed his eyes. The Church of the Three Heroes, as I have warned him, hates the Shield Hero with a passion. To try to grab a holy water from there...phew wee. Let's hope he will remain unnoticed.
"Oh, and the villagers need medicine, Beloved Saint. I have only made a little, so please, help the sick."
"Sure."
Naofumi left Raphtalia with the doctor, and went to visit the patients. I stayed in the room, Wolf leaving the room, and looked to the sky outside the window, seeing the clouds starting to part ways, the sun shining once again.
After an hour, Naofumi came back, and walked up to Raphtalia, who was already wrapped in bandages.
"I'm...sorry."
"It's okay, Mr. Naofumi!"
"*Sigh*, I-"
"I was more afraid of you leaving me-us, that you're going somewhere far away."
"What?"
"That power, its strong, but it's scary. It wants to take you somewhere that the light will neve hope to reach, that I can't reach for you again. That's what I felt like anyways. So if I had the choice to stop you from leaving, then these scars and burns are a fair price to pay, compared to the consequences."
She smiled brightly, and I saw Naofumi turned his head away.
As they were talking about the more emotional, in depth type of conversation that makes people think deeply and philosophically, Filo jumped in on the conversation in her human form. After pulling the carriage here, she transformed back to her human form, and started playing around.
"Is Big-Sister okay Master!?
She appeared next to him, looking at Raphtalia with nervousness and anxiety.
"Im okay," she said, reassuring Filo with a smile.
The two left the house to let Raphtalia rest, and we started moving out to. It's time we take our leave.
As I got to the door, I turned back to Raphtalia, who was looking at me from the bed.
"It is about time for us to leave as well."
"I see...then you'll...?
"We'll come back for sure when the next Waves of Calamity arrives, but otherwise....if fate deems it to be so we'll meet up earlier than you expect. Until then...take care of yourself, Filo, and Naofumi, Raphtalia."
"Yes, please take care of yourselves, Kindred."
I nodded at her, and left the house.
Going outside, I saw Filo and Naofumi talking outside.
I waited a bit farther away, meditating on one leg. I also managed to eavesdropped on their conversation. Not really meditation if one doesn't clear the mind, but I wanted to listen in on their conversation.
"-going to do the best I can, for Master and Big-Sister! I'm going to try real hard, and do all I can to help you all! Yep!"
"Hmmph, you better. Protecting you is my one job after all."
"Yep!"
As their conversation continued, Naofumi saw me waiting off to the side, and walked over. Filo scampered off somewhere.
"Thank you, Kindred, for being there...if you both weren't there...they would probably have died. I owe you one."
"You would be fine, Naofumi. You and your party members are exceptionally strong, even stronger than the other hero parties combined. I'm sure of it."
Naofumi mouth barely curved upwards in a smile. I continued-
"I am also here to tell you that we're leaving."
"Oh, yeah. Having you with us for only a couple days, it feels like forever."
"You would definitely see us again soon during the Waves, but if fate allows it...our paths would soon cross, eventually."
I'll hunt for a couple days, and go back to Melromarc's capital. There's a scene in the Iight novel that I really wanted to see.
Hehehehe-*cough.*
"Until then..."
As I started to leave, leaving Naofumi's party, with Wolf appearing next to me.
Naofumi stopped me.
"Wait! I have something for you..."
He grabbed something from a pouch on his waist, and held out his hand. His hand opening, I saw a glowing crystal.
"Is that...?"
"The dragon core? Yes, Filo ate some of it, and gave the rest to me. I already have some, and so as thanks and repaying the favor...I'll give this piece to you. I don't like owing favors anyways."
Naofumi looked away, scratching the back of his hair.
Wolf spoke up next to me in realization after observing his action.
"So he is a tsundere."
I nodded. A tsundere indeed.
"I'm a what? A tsundere? How do you even know that word, and I absolutely am not one."
Naofumi glared at him, making us both snicker, and our snickers turned to outright laughter when his glare became even harsher. What a typical tsundere reply. If only he said 'baka' at the end...hehehehe.
*Cough*
I coughed into my hand, and Wolf stopped laughing, having the shame to look away. As for the core... I took it, allowing the bow to absorb it.
"Thank you, Naofumi, for this gift. We shall remember and treasure it. With this, we swear, and with this, we promise."
I took a step back.
"Until then, Naofumi, farewell. We'll see each other again soon."
I turned to the village gates, and started running out.
As I ran, Wolf following behind me, I heard Filo.
"Goodbye Bow Girl and Wolf!"
We turned to look back, seeing Filo jumping and waving her hand.
Wolf snorted and I nodded to her, stepping out of the village gates.
We sped down the mountain path, I running and skipping as we moved on to our next hunt.
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10:15:08 - till Third Calamity
10 days, 15 hours, and 8 minutes left.
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Kindred (Lamb and Wolf)
HP: 560/560
MP: 560/560
-𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Hero of the Bow Level 47 / The Eternal Hunters ???
STR: 172(1)(+16) =>189
VIT: 48(+8) => 56
DEX: 343(3)(+16) =>362
INT: 48(+8) => 56
LUC: 53(+8) => 61
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Bow of the Hunter (Legendary Armament)
Attack: 230(+85)=> 315
Special Skill:
-Portal Bow
-Piercing Horn Arrow
(Unlocked!) Special Passive:
-Cursed Arrows (New)
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[Naofumi] POV
We left the village the next day, exhausted as the healed and cured villagers send us off.
"Thank you Beloved Saint!"
"Take care!"
"Happy travels!"
A young girl from the sick house waved at me on her father's shoulders, shouting into the air.
"Thank yooooooouuuuuuu!"
I waved back at her as finally left the village.
On the path down the mountain, I started to think.
Did I protect and save them in the end?
I know what to do now. I am the Shield Hero, and the Shield Hero protects those who needs protecting. If I couldn't protect those who needed protecting, and I'd just protect myself...it isn't a life worth living.
After all, I wasn't alone anymore. I must make a world worthy for them, for Raphtalia and Filo. A world where they can live out their lives in happiness.
As I was contemplating, Filo still pulling the carriage, Raphtalia spoke up from behind me. She was laying down on a bedroll, still covered in bandages.
"Mr. Naofumi, are you alright?"
"Hmm? No, it's nothing."
"You looked concerned though."
"Yes Master!" Filo started speaking, turning her huge bird head around. "You're such a worrywart, of course we're worried."
Me? A worrywart?
"Yeah! You keep saying to us these days, 'are you all right?'"
"Yes, she's right Mr. Naofumi. But you need not to worry anymore, we're safe now.
"But..."
"Don't treat us like children anymore. We can think for ourselves now. I know you care about us, but we also care for you too. We'll be fine if we stick together."
"Big-Sister is right!"
"Hmmm...I guess you're right."
That's right, they're both growing up. They have their own thoughts and feelings even if they're at the age of children. Filo is like a month old, and Raphtalia is ten-eleven years old. I guess Raphtalia's mentality has caught up to her appearance. I guess I can't treat her like a child anymore.
We're a team, and we stay with each other.
Worrying about these things on my own won't help at all, or do good for anyone. Bringing peace to the world is an almost impossible task, even more so if one does it alone. There's still the waves after all, and I'm the Shield Hero. I can't even attack on my own.
If we desired to make a world of peace, we'd have to make it together.
"All right, let's do it, together."
"Yes! Oh, Master smiled!"
"She's right, and it wasn't a fake, forced one either. It's a real smile."
They both smiled at me happily.
So I never actually smiled, huh?
Well that doesn't matter. I am smiling. Smiling because I wasn't alone anymore. I'm smiling because I have friends I could depend on. Friends who would share my burdens. Friends who would walk every step of the way, towards a world we wished for.
...
"Oh! Master? I have a question."
"What is it Filo?"
"What's a tsundere?"
"..."
And the feeling of sunny happiness left.
I'll remember this Wolf.
