The Rising of the Scythe Hero

The second Wave for this world was finally repelled. The casualties among the people of Rute Village? Practically zero. Not even seeing the official stats, I could tell — that result was phenomenal.

But what about other countries? Could they, without even a single summoned Hero, boast similar success? Highly unlikely.

I knew about the existence of the Heroes of the Star Weapons. And most likely, they were the ones taking the brunt of the Waves elsewhere. From the canon, I remembered that each major country was supposed to summon a Hero. But Melromarc… decided to stray from that plan.

That's exactly why the Queen of Melromarc wasn't even in the country right now. While she desperately tried to fix — or at least soften — the consequences of her idiot husband's nonsense, that very same husband was doing everything possible to ruin her efforts. His actions alone were enough to turn two of the five Heroes against him. Or hell, maybe even the entire country… or humanity itself.

And that's not even considering that there were originally supposed to be only four Heroes. In my case… there were five. The fact that all five were summoned to Melromarc? Yeah, that didn't exactly make the Queen's job easier.

I couldn't help but wonder if she'd manage to survive the negotiations with the other countries. Who knows what all this might lead to in the end?

But the Queen… I needed her. Sure, somewhere out there was an entire nation of beastkin girls, but…

I barely knew anything about them. Definitely not enough to make the demi-human countries a viable part of my long-term plans.

Melromarc, on the other hand, was simple and predictable. All I needed was to get rid of the lunatic on the throne and crush the influence of the Church — something the Queen herself was perfectly capable of handling. After that, this country would do everything it could to have me as an ally. At least… I had no reason to believe otherwise.

Mirellia was a wise woman and a skilled ruler. I really wanted to believe she wouldn't make any stupid mistakes.

But for now, back to the Wave. Once it was over, I managed to hear a few flattering words of gratitude from the villagers, and then I set off on my way.

Well… I wanted to.

"Brave Heroes! To celebrate your victory over the Wave… What the hell is this?"

It was pretty obvious that reinforcements wouldn't be limited to just a small squad of knights. Sure enough, more arrived a little later. Some even returned to the village alongside Ren, Motoyasu, and Itsuki. And some… had just shown up now.

So caught up in singing praises to the "valiant trio," they didn't immediately notice the groaning, moaning pile of bodies nearby.

"They probably tripped or something…" I suggested casually.

"Hm…" The older knight giving orders eyed me with suspicion, then glanced back at the heap of soldiers. "Tripped, huh?" He chuckled to himself. "Well, we'll deal with that later. Get these useless fools to the infirmary." He ordered, watching with visible disdain as they were carried off.

Huh. That was unexpected. Maybe… things weren't as bad as I thought?

"As I was saying…" The man cleared his throat and continued. "His Majesty, confident in the Heroes' valor, has prepared a banquet in honor of the Wave's defeat. All Heroes are, of course, invited. The rewards will also be distributed there."

"What do you think?" I asked Naofumi.

"Hm… I hate to admit it, but I'm broke. That scumbag king's promised monthly allowance would really come in handy."

"Gotcha." Perfect. For a second there, I thought I'd have to convince him to go to this banquet. "Well then, let's not waste time."

After all… the upcoming events promised to be very interesting.

***

The banquet was exactly what you'd expect from a typical gathering of aristocrats. One look was enough to tell — none of them gave a damn about the Wave or the human lives lost. The only thing they cared about… was their own assets. A bunch of people desperate to boost their influence, and what better way to do that… than getting cozy with one of the Heroes?

"Whoa, Naofumi-sama, the food here's amazing!" Raphtalia, whose mind was barely older than a teenager's, wasn't the least bit bothered by such thoughts. Naofumi and Nott both could've envied her for that.

"Yeah. Eat all you want. We don't often get the chance to eat anything that isn't cooked over a campfire."

"Right!" The girl nodded eagerly, but then… her face suddenly darkened. "But… if I eat too much, I'll gain weight…"

"That's nothing you need to worry about, my dear." A man's voice sounded right behind Raphtalia, catching her completely off guard.

"Kya!" The startled tanuki girl let out a squeaky yelp, hopping in place.

"Where the hell have you been?" Naofumi asked, unimpressed.

"Oh, you know… things, stuff. You'd be surprised what you can overhear when you know where to look…" Nott — who else could it be — smiled that unsettling smile again, sending shivers down the Shield Hero's spine.

If Naofumi had to describe it… it was like staring into the eyes of a snake, already licking its lips in anticipation of its meal.

"Nott-sama… what do you mean?" Raphtalia butted in curiously.

"Hm? Oh, right. You, Raphtalia, really don't need to worry about gaining weight. Not only is your body still developing, but with your lifestyle as a fighter, you'd have to seriously try to put on anything at all." His words made the girl stare at the dessert table with visible hesitation.

Seeing her doubt, Nott decided to nail the final blow to her resistance.

"And besides…" He leaned in close, whispering devilishly into her ear. "A little extra in certain places never hurts, right? Especially… the kind that draws every man's eyes…" He said, casually glancing toward Naofumi, who was currently debating whether to sneak a snack or two into his cloak.

Raphtalia's eyes widened, her face turning crimson at lightning speed. She couldn't even tell what shocked her more — the intimate proximity… or the heavy implications behind his words.

"Y-yes… You're absolutely right, Nott-sama!"

Beaming, her tail wagging like crazy, the tanuki girl decisively began annihilating the banquet's food supplies.

Nott almost melted into a puddle from how cute that sight was.

"I can't pet someone else's slave even if I really want to… I can't pet someone else's slave even if I really want to… Not even a headpat…" He clenched his mental defenses tight, though it was taking every ounce of restraint. But he had to. The real fun… was still ahead.

And it didn't take long to arrive.

"Naofumi!" A loud, confident voice echoed through the crowd.

"What now?"

Motoyasu, the Spear Hero, was storming toward Naofumi with a determined scowl. And no matter how much Naofumi rolled his eyes to the heavens, he wasn't escaping this.

"I challenge you to a duel!" Motoyasu dramatically pulled off his glove and threw it at the stunned Shield Hero.

"What?" Naofumi muttered under his breath. "What the hell for? Have you completely lost it?"

'Was the boss tougher than I thought and Motoyasu took a blow to the head?'

Looking around for backup, Naofumi realized with frustration that Nott… had vanished again.

'Why was I even hoping…'

His feelings toward Nott were still… mixed. On one hand, the guy helped him, believed in his innocence. But on the other… Naofumi couldn't understand his motives. Hell, he couldn't understand him at all. The Fifth Hero was just too unpredictable.

"I know everything! Raphtalia-chan only follows you because she's your slave!"

'…Seriously? This is about Raphtalia?'

"Huh?" The girl in question, currently stuffing her face with another pastry, froze mid-bite. Her ears twitched at the sound of her name, and she looked up with wide, confused eyes.

Somewhere in the crowd, muffled groans and the sound of heads meeting tables echoed.

"And?"

"And?!" Motoyasu's temper boiled over at Naofumi's casual, utterly confused response. "Seriously? You bought a slave, Naofumi! Aren't you, as someone from the modern world, disgusted by even the thought of that?!"

"But we're not in our world. Here, buying a slave is no big deal, and slavery's legal. So why can't I do whatever I want with my slave?"

"Whatever he wants…" The spoon fell from Raphtalia's lips as she closed her eyes dreamily. But no one paid attention to her. Except one single guest… watching the scene unfold.

"You bastard!" Motoyasu, completely failing to process basic logic, raised his spear at the Shield Hero. "Fight me! If I win, you'll set Raphtalia-chan free!"

"And if you lose?" Naofumi asked, deadpan.

"Then… you can do whatever you want with her!"

"Whatever he wants…" Raphtalia whispered again, practically glowing.

"So… either way, I win? Seriously? I refuse."

"Kgh…" Motoyasu was at a loss. Nott wouldn't have been surprised if that idiot just attacked right there in the crowd.

And Motoyasu… probably would've done just that, if not for an unexpected interruption.

"I've heard Motoyasu-dono's concerns." King Aultcray of Melromarc entered the conversation. "Even though you're a Hero, using a slave… I've only heard rumors of such a thing. But if it's true… then the Shield Hero really is a criminal." The King shook his head theatrically. "If it matters so much to Motoyasu-dono… I'll allow this duel."

"I don't care about your approval. Just give me my promised reward, and I'll be on my way."

But they weren't going to let him off that easy. With a wave of the King's hand, knights surrounded both the Shield and Spear Heroes.

"Naofumi-sama!" Naofumi turned to see Raphtalia restrained, unable to reach him.

'Kgh! That bastard… can't he stop screwing me over for one second?!'

"While you remain in this country, my word… is law. I have the right to confiscate the Shield Hero's slave if necessary. So fight, and earn your right to keep her… if that slave means that much to you."

'They're not giving me a choice… I've invested way too much in that slave to lose her now.'

"I hereby declare… the duel will take place in the palace garden!" The King smirked, seeing the resignation on Naofumi's face.

What he didn't notice… was the pair of cold, violet eyes watching his every move and word from the shadows.

…

This duel… had no point from the start. A man who couldn't attack, and a man built for nothing but attack. Shield versus Spear. A ridiculous, one-sided show with a foregone conclusion.

At least, that's what everyone thought.

"How… is that even possible?"

The crowd buzzed with excitement, whispering as they watched the scene unfold. And there was plenty to see.

At first, Motoyasu's advantage was clear. But over time — thanks to some sneaky tricks — the Shield Hero managed to bring his opponent to his knees.

With Nott's help — information, power leveling, you name it — Naofumi wasn't that far behind the others in strength anymore. And by getting creative with his arsenal — along with a few Orange Balloons he'd kept hidden under his cloak (those little monsters turned out surprisingly useful in… tough negotiations with stubborn merchants) — Naofumi managed to turn the tide of the fight.

"Give up, Motoyasu. You can't win. You lost the moment you couldn't break my defense."

"No… impossible! I can't lose to a useless Shield!"

"Ha. Still clinging to that nonsense?" Naofumi smirked darkly. "Well then…" His eyes gleamed mischievously. "Maybe I should use a more… effective way to crush your will?" He said, aiming an Orange Balloon straight at Motoyasu's crotch.

"W-what are y—"

"Take thi… huh?!" — Just as Naofumi swung his arm back, he felt a hard shove from behind.

Stumbling, he twisted mid-fall… and saw the smug, disgusting face of the red-haired bitch who had framed him the moment he arrived in this world.

'"hat… bitch!" Something inside Naofumi churned unpleasantly.

"My chance!"

The situation flipped in an instant. Motoyasu, now cautious and aware of Naofumi's tricks, no longer fell for them. The Shield Hero couldn't hold out for long.

"Victory goes to Motoyasu-dono!" The King declared as Naofumi collapsed to the ground. "The girl you saved awaits her true hero!"

Naofumi didn't try to get up. Didn't try to argue or seek justice. He knew… it was pointless.

The shadows. Grinning, mocking shadows of failure. They danced around him, their twisted faces reveling in his misery.

They laughed, they taunted him. They craved more of his suffering. More injustice. More hatred.

"Hmph, just as expected of the Hero chosen by my daughter, Malty." The King placed a hand on Myne's shoulder.

'What?' That last sentence broke through Naofumi's haze. 'She's… the King's daughter?'

"Yes… I only wanted to contribute to saving our world." She clasped her hands "modestly" in front of her.

'I see…' Naofumi's thoughts fell completely silent. 'So that's how it is…'

Bubble

And then, like a switch flipped, his quiet despair turned into a raging storm of hatred. It felt as though all his anger condensed into thick, black liquid… dripping straight from his soul.

What does it matter that I have a shield? That I can't attack? That I bought a slave? Is that my fault? Is it my fault they left me no choice? What does it matter… that I'm not as strong as him… The image of the Scythe Guy, effortlessly mowing down Wave monsters, flashed in his mind.

The hatred blinded him. Fed him images of sneering shadows. Showed him Raphtalia's expressionless face as she walked away with the Spear Hero. She… left him too.

On the edge of consciousness, Naofumi heard the sharp sound of a slap.

"Coward!"

But it didn't matter. He didn't want to hear their laughter anymore. Didn't want to see their disgust. Didn't want to feel the pain of betrayal again…

[Cursed Series:

Shield requirements… fulfilled.]

A system window popped up in front of Naofumi.

And then, through the lingering fog of hatred, another image appeared… a familiar silhouette.

It was Raphtalia.

"Naofumi-sama!" She dropped to her knees, grabbing his hand.

Her touch burned like boiling hatred. He yanked his hand away violently.

"D-don't touch me! Get away!" Naofumi screamed, not recognizing his own voice.

"I've heard the rumors… that Naofumi-sama's a disgusting Hero who tried to force himself on his companion…"

"He's a rapist! Bet he made you a sex slave too! You know that, right?"

"Why would you say that?! Naofumi-sama never laid a finger on me!"

"I didn't do it!"

"Naofumi-sama…" Raphtalia's eyes softened with concern. Without thinking, she did what her heart told her.

"Wh-what?" Naofumi gasped as he felt her… embrace him.

"I know how to earn your trust back, Naofumi-sama." She whispered gently.

"You only trust slaves who can't refuse you? Then take me back to where we met… and brand me again."

"Y-you're lying. You're just saying that to trick me!"

But… her voice didn't fuel more hatred. On the contrary, it… cleared away the dark clouds.

"No matter what happens, I'll always believe in you, Naofumi-sama. I don't believe you forced yourself on anyone, no matter what they say. You're not that kind of person."

The words he'd needed… since his very first day in this world. The words… he desperately longed for.

"I believe in you, Naofumi-sama. And Nott-sama believes in you too, I'm sure of it. And one day… others will too. So please… let's go back and renew the mark?"

The shadows were gone. Looking around, Naofumi saw no sneering faces. Most of the crowd had dispersed. Only the other Heroes, a dazed Motoyasu, the King, Malty… and Nott, appearing out of nowhere, remained.

"You… who are you?" Naofumi, confused, stared at the girl embracing him.

"Hm? I'm Raphtalia, Naofumi-sama. What do you mean?"

"No… no-no-no. Raphtalia's a little girl…"

"Oh, Naofumi-sama… still seeing me as a child?" Raphtalia… now he was sure it was her… pouted. That voice, that attitude… unmistakably hers. "Maybe I should start taking Nott-sama's teasing more seriously…"

"Please… trust me." She pressed on. "I know Naofumi-sama did nothing wrong. You're the Shield Hero who saved my life, gave me medicine, taught me how to survive and fight. I'm your sword… and I'll follow you, no matter what hardships lie ahead."

Naofumi… had no strength left to resist. For the first time… his defenses crumbled.

Drip, drip…

Tears fell onto the cold floor, uncontrollable and relentless. Naofumi fought back the storm of emotions… but kept losing.

Finally… surrendering completely, the Shield Hero broke down, sobbing in the arms of the only person… who truly accepted him in this world.

Perhaps… that really was the best ending this story could've had.