I won't leave you my shield

"All right then..."

Following our victory over Yeti, we seized the opportunity to pay our respects and condolences to Midnight Aegis's mother by creating a simple grave. However, it seemed her body had already been consumed by Yeti.

As a kind of retaliation, we used the "Slaughter Sword and Yeti's Butcher" that appeared when we defeated Yeti as a makeshift tombstone. After all, it would be a waste of treasure for me, who couldn't use it.

"Mother... I did it."

Midnight Aegis stood before his mother's grave with a determined expression. "Mother, I did it," he said, his voice filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Despite the sadness of his mother's loss, he felt proud to have achieved his goal and wished his mother was still alive to share in his success.

The initial character setting of ending sentences with 'nya' was now completely gone. What was that all about?

"Now... sorry to interrupt your sentimentality, but do you remember our promise?"

Yes... we hadn't come all the way from the capital just to play around. Moreover, defeating Yeti, a raid boss, was definitely unexpected.

It was all for obtaining the "Shield of Midnight Aegis."

Yet...

"Um, what was the promise again, nya?"

"You're acting clueless now? And, do you really need that character quirk at this point?"

I calmly retorted to Midnight Aegis's shameless expression and act. After all the trouble we went through, I can't beleive it was acting clueless now.

"In the first place, if it weren't for my mana, you wouldn't be able to maintain that form. So, if another magical beast like Yeti appears again, you won't be able to handle it."

"Nyuuu..."

Midnight Aegis skillfully sharpened its mouth and growled. In reality, it got carried away after defeating Yeti.

"I am the Catastrophe Beast Midnight Aegis! There's no one who can rival me anymore! Nyahaha!"

Well, I excepted this, 'I have no choice but to stop my supply of mana.'

Well, after absorbing my SP, it could take on the appearance of Midnight Aegis from "Engage Hundered times," but unfortunately, it could only be maintained by constantly absorbing mana from the supplier.

In other words, unless the mana is continuously absorbed from the source, which was me, it would revert to its original kitten or miniature shield form.

"Nyaa..ny..no..no."

The disappointment it shows at this time makes it look like a pitiful clown for just a moment, but only I know how cunning and hideous this beast is.

"So, what will you do?" 

"Of course, if you don't want to leave this island anymore, I won't force you further. Even if breaking the promise with me, but it also means facing the fate of being trampled by other magical beasts."

"Nyuuuuu..."

'Hehehe... I fueled its anxiety even more.'

How about it? Do you think you can manage without us?

Probably not.

And, Mir, don't look at me with those eyes.

By the way, truthfully, I'd be in big trouble if it didn't come along. If not, there's a high chance I'd end up with a bad ending like in 'Engage Hundered times.'

However, having fought alongside this one, I understood how to handle it a bit. Probably, it would definitely join us with the next push.

And that is...

"Haa... I thought I had found the best partner."

"Wha...!?"

As I sighed and conveyed that, Midnight Aegis's golden eyes widened. 

'Kukuahaha!'

To be left alone after losing its mother, it seemed to be seeking someone to love it and it can rely on. 

'If tricked it with this I won't be so bad of a person, right?'

But why are both Serena and Mir are staring at me like that?

"D-Do you really think that about me?"

"Yeah, why?"

"But, but! Without mana, I'm useless..."

"What are you talking about? If it's mana, I have plenty of it inside me."

That's right... I have the highest maximum SP value among the characters from 'Engage Hundered times.' Despite not being able to use skill attacks due to different attributes, it was probably just a joke by the management.

Thanks to that, it was a huge help. Hooray for jokes.

"And besides, I can't handle any other weapons properly besides you. So, doesn't that mean we get stronger by being together?"

"!"

Alright, it took the bait. Now, this one would surely proclaim that it wanted to come along with us.

"W-Well, I guess... Elysion can't do anything without me. I'll help you just a little, as your... um, partner."

Hahaha, it's so embarrassed.

Or rather, it's easy to handle and cute. If other Engage Hundered times players found out about this Midnight Aegis, wouldn't they be wide-eyed in surprise?

"Alright! From now on, we're a team! Partner!"

"Yeah! Nice to meet you, partner!"

Midnight Aegis and I extended our fists and toward each other and gently bumped them together.

It was going well until now, but...

"...Elysion's fiancée is me."

Serena stated this with a wholly sulky expression, wearing a menacing demeanor. I couldn't appease her until we reached the capital.

But her jealousy toward a cat, or a magical beast, was so endearing that I felt like having several extra servings of freshly cooked rice.

It's my secret alone, though.

In this world, there is no rice.