Chapter 004: Plots Within Plots

Author: WolfSpatial

Co-Author: Lucifer

[Never be afraid to fight alone... at least there is no one to betray you.]

•••••

I was doubtful of Maltys intentions – or, should I call her Myne – but I left her to her own schemes. Unless she did something untoward, I wouldn't interfere with her actions. Of course, if I just so happened to be around when she was messing with my Shield, I would step in. She didn't need to be bringing my future protection down with her plots.

Father Maxus spoke up, not giving Naofumi a chance to decline, "Great, now that the parties are decided, let's divide funds."

I could tell that Naofumi wasn't happy with his arrangement, perhaps finally seeing that these people didn't like him. However, he also understood his position. No matter his skills, Shields weren't suited for actual fighting. He looked like he would've rather died than have her, and he didn't even know who she truly was.

Father Maxus waved his hands and stewards with sacks of money stepped forward, "As Sir Naofumi has fewer party members than ever-"

"Except me." I raised my hand, causing a visible tick to form on Father Maxus' left temple.

"You have two party members," Father Maxus grit his teeth in frustration, though I could see it was only partially pointed toward me.

"Nope," I shook my head, gesturing over my shoulder at the female duo, "I refuse to take these ones. They're not fit for being in a hero party, only thinking about themselves instead of the greater good."

"Then we'll give you Sir Naofumi's funds and give him yours." I was okay with that, at least that meant Naofumi would have something to stand on.

They moved forward and handed brown bags to the five of us, though Malty moved to intercept Naofumi's money bag. She was stopped by him, his hand clenching around the bag tightly. I was glad to see him being more cautious around these snakes.

She gave a frown and whispered, "I'm just trying to keep it safe."

"I can do it," He didn't give her a second thought, keeping the bag by his side.

I relished the feeling as her face contorted into a look of anger and disgust. My former party members went over to her, talking quietly and ensuring nobody heard them.

The King sat atop his Throne with disingenuous interest, not really paying attention to us as much as he was to his own daydreams. The King stood up suddenly, his eyes focusing on me and narrowing in confusion, "Now that you have decided your parties, you're dismissed!"

I sighed at his antics of trying to look important and left without saying another word. I was followed by Itsuki, who jogged to catch up to me, and his party which all shared the same confusion watching their Bow Hero chase after the Mage Hero.

As he came up next to me, Itsuki adopted my pace with a smile, "So, why didn't you choose to have a party? Should I get rid of my party?"

I gave him a glance. Unfortunately, I couldn't speed up without running and I doubted that would complete my powerful mage look very well. There was no way I could escape his field of gay without a teleportation skill, which I currently had no access to.

Itsuki wasn't my biggest concern, however, as right behind his party – which walked a couple of paces behind us – were the two females that I had decided were too… intermingled to be a part of my party.

"Look, Itsuki," I set a hand on his shoulder – gross – and stared into his eyes, "Do whatever you want. Latching onto me isn't a good way to grow stronger. You should find another man."

"Uh," Itsuki blinked as I retracted my hand and wiped it on a nearby guard, removing the Itsuki grease, "Okay??"

With a short nod, I began walking away. A sudden urge filled me as I turned and looked at Itsuki, "One day, you may stand as high as Jayce Fateweaver. Work hard, young man."

Itsuki's confusion turned to a smile as he waved to me, making the scene look like I was going on a long and arduous journey and he was my… I can't finish that thought.

I found my way out of the castle fairly quickly. After using my bewitching looks on a nearby maid, she led me to the front gate without much fuss.

As I exited the main gate of the castle, I looked around and took a deep breath of fresh air. The air was crisp and seemed purer than what I was used to in my homeland, though I didn't recognize it while being cooped up in the castle.

The capital of Melromarc was a bustling hub of activity and commerce. The majestic castle of the royal family loomed large in the center of the city, its towering spires reaching toward the sky. Surrounding the castle, were sprawling neighborhoods of diverse architectural styles, from grandiose mansions to humble cottages. The streets bustled with the constant flow of people and carriages, all going about their daily business.

Making my way down into the business district of the city, I soaked in the fantasy atmosphere of the new world and made sure to keep my money pouch close. It was always these kinds of situations – a hero being new to town – that caused eager kids to pilfer our pockets and find themselves miraculously saved.

I would have none of that. I don't want to save a bung of street rats and have them come live with me in my mansion or set up an orphanage for them. I knew that it usually happened after the hero had some renown, but I didn't want to take my chances with the little buggers.

The shops in the capital were as varied as its residents, with merchants selling everything from fine silks and jewelry to weapons and armor. The markets were alive with the vibrant colors and smells of exotic fruits, vegetables, and spices from far-off lands. Craftsmen plied their trades in open-air workshops, hammering and chiseling away at metal and stone to create intricate works of art.

A winding river flowed through the capital, its waters teeming with fish and other aquatic creatures. But even here, danger lurked in the form of river monsters that could swallow a man whole. Fishermen braved the currents to cast their nets and bring in their catch, while adventurers sought out the more dangerous creatures for sport or profit.

After being absolutely certain I wouldn't be touched by the dirty hands of minors, I made my way to the city gate. Then, it hit me. Not physically, of course, but mentally. I was a minor. I could beat the fuck out of those kids and no one would care, probably.

If they brought up me being a hero, I was dealing justice. The kids tried to steal from me, which meant either their hands got snipped, or I hit them… hard… a lot. I'm sure most would go for the latter.

But, I digress. The city gate reminded me of a smaller version of the one from Assault on Giant, an anime where the main character, Rein, fought against large Giants that looked like fucked up humans.

The towering stone wall encircling the city stood tall and imposing, a formidable barrier between the bustling hub of civilization and the dangers of the outside world. The wall was several feet thick, made up of huge blocks of rough-hewn stone that had been expertly fitted together by skilled craftsmen.

Atop the wall, sentries patrolled back and forth, keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding countryside. Large, sturdy gates were spaced evenly along the wall, providing access points for travelers and merchants coming and going from the city.

I stopped near the gate, looking out across the people trying to enter and leave the city. There were two lines. On the left, people entered the city, large carriages and small wagons alike paying tax or showing small tokens that gave them passage. On the right, people signed a small book and left with whatever they had in their carriage, wagon, or on their person.

Beyond the city walls lay a vast expanse of flat, open land. This leveling ground stretched for miles in all directions, offering ample space for training exercises and military drills. But it was not without danger, as monsters roamed freely in these untamed lands, preying on the unwary and the weak.

It occurred to me that, despite the perils that surrounded it, the capital of Melromarc remained a thriving and vibrant hub of commerce and culture, a beacon of hope and prosperity in a world fraught with danger and uncertainty.

I had no interest currently in leaving the city, so I turned on my heel and walked back to the business district. I found Naofumi and Malty entering a blacksmith shop, though I could tell that Naofumi wasn't too happy about it.

Frowning at the duo, I walked over to the shop and posted myself at the door. With my eyepatch, strange hair, and floating staff nobody dared to come up to me to either strike up a conversation or ask me questions. Though, I could see some guards take notice of me and begin watching me from across the street on an outdoor patio.

"Are you sure you want to buy that?" Malty's voice – I really hated the sound of it, I found – came through a small crack between the door and its frame.

"Yes," Naofumi responded resolutely, his voice firm and giving no leeway.

"You're the Shield Hero, you have plenty of defense." Malty tried to barter with her party leader, though she was severely outclassed by who walked in next. ME.

"That's true, but you're a trained warrior," I decided not to out her as the princess yet, even with the glare that she gave me. I decided to take Leofric's advice for now, not getting too involved with the fuck-fuck games of royalty, "So you should have good armor and weapons already. I find it strange that you're so… underequipped."

She scoffed, setting her hands on her hips and leaning forward to accentuate her well-developed breasts. Unfortunately, she wasn't anything special to me. Her voice was like a cat being dragged across a blackboard as she said, "What would you know about warriors?"

"You think I'm only a Mage?" My mouth twisted into a grin, and I stepped closer to the girl, whispering into her ear, "Go ahead and test me… Malty."

Her face drained of color as she took a step back. She clearly wasn't used to being on equal footing with others, and boy was my footing sturdier than hers. Malty couldn't compare to the sheer mental strength that I commanded with as much ease as she breathed.

"You… who are you?" She reached for her sword, though I could feel she was hesitant to draw it.

Making a show of power, my staff lit up and two balls of red energy swirled behind my head, "I'm The Goddamn Fateweaver, Bitch."

Her eyes widened as she looked from Magic Missile to Magic Missile, the torrent of Mana – which I found I had a lot of, despite my Magic stat – causing a small disturbance in the air.

She dropped to her knees, unable to muster the strength needed to stand. Kneeling down to her height — which was about as close to rock bottom as one could get — I dispelled my Magic Missiles and kept the grin on my face, "Keep in line, and you may avoid my wrath. I don't know what kind of shit goes on in your head, but ingrain those words into your mind right next to your fear."

With a gulp, Malty crawled from her weak knees and sprinted out of the door of the shop. I watched the door for a few seconds before turning back to find Naofumi and the shopkeeper with their jaws wide open.

"You'll catch flies if you don't close that," I was a little curious as to why Malty had suggested this shop to Naofumi. Perhaps it had good wares, but maybe it was because it was overpriced. Everything in here was worth more than all of my money except for a single sword and thin armor.

I could afford them both, but it would leave me with about thirteen silver coins. I decided that I didn't want to do as such. There was a single staff in the shop, but I felt a rather strong repulsion to it. It felt like my body would rather spontaneously combust than come into contact with a staff besides mine.

I didn't feel like confirming or denying whether that was the case, simply opting to step away from the staff and turn to Naofumi and the shopkeep. They had been having a hushed conversation since Malty left, though I didn't invade their privacy.

The shop's centerpiece was a large display case in the center of the room, showcasing Erhard's finest weapons and armor. Gleaming swords, sharp axes, sturdy shields, and intricately designed armor sets were arranged in an artful and eye-catching manner. The edges of the weapons were razor-sharp and the armor was polished to a mirror-like finish.

Along the walls, racks of swords, axes, spears, and other weapons were arranged by type and material. The racks were filled with an array of weapons, from basic iron swords to rare and exotic weapons made from rare metals and enchanted with magical properties.

Clearing my throat, I gained the attention of the shopkeeper, who I found to be named Erhard, "So, what can I do for you, Mage Hero?"

"I was just stopping by, Erhard," He seemed taken aback by me knowing his name before his character was introduced, "Looking to see about your weapons and armor, but you don't have anything that looks good to me."

"I have a staff-" He gestured over to the gray staff that sat in the wooden barrel in the corner.

"No," Vehemently refusing, I shook my head, "I have no interest in the weapons of mortals, even if they are of fine quality."

"I'll… take that as a compliment?" Erhard seemed confused by my statement, though I didn't mind that and leaned against the counter instead.

I turned my head to gaze into Naofumi's green eyes, "So, have you decided on what armor you're going to buy? Surely, it should befit the status of my friend, the Shield Hero, and give credence to the fact that you are an impenetrable fortress."

"I have a couple of such options," Erhard moved around the counter to show us a couple of different armor types.

"Could we special order something?" Naofumi clearly didn't understand how blacksmith shops worked. Of course, you could special order something.

"I can do that," Erhard looked over Naofumi's attire, "It might cost a bit more, though, unless you bring me the materials. Is that alright with you?"

"Yeah," Naofumi set his bag of coins on the counter, "Is this enough?"

"I'll have to count it to be sure, but I think so." I smiled at Erhard's words, it would be good for the Shield Hero to have some extra armor so he could tank more hits when protecting me.

"Could you hold onto the extra coin for a while?" Naofumi and Erhard seemed surprised by my question, "So he's not hauling around a big bag of coin. That's just asking to be robbed by some lesser vagrant."

"Do you need me to store yours too?" Erhard was an honest man, so I wasn't worried about Naofumi losing any of his money to petty tricks.

"No," I stuck my bag of coin into my robe, making it seem to vanish, "I do not worry about such tactics from small-time criminals. It is they, instead, who should fear crossing me."