Naofumi watched the two Sword Heroes, Kirito and Asuna, with a mixture of bewilderment and fascination. They'd just… walked out. Like, right in the middle of the king's speech. Their parting words had been well, kind of rude, honestly. Something about "stupid" and "electricity" and "not wanting to be abducted by idiots." He wasn't quite sure what they meant, but their blatant disregard for the king and the entire ceremony was, well, kind of awesome, in a rebellious sort of way.
They were definitely a far cry from Itsuki, the calm and collected Bow Hero, and the rest of the nobles, who all seemed so stiff and formal. He wondered what made those two tick. Were they just eccentric, or did they know something he didn't? They'd mentioned something about noticing things, but it had all happened so fast he couldn't quite grasp it.
A few minutes later, a loud thump echoed through the hall, like someone had just slammed a giant door. He figured it was probably the front gates of the castle. The king, who Naofumi was starting to think was kind of a phony, cleared his throat and spoke.
"Remaining Hero of the Bow," he said, lifting a bag that clinked with coin, his voice all sugary-sweet and fake-sounding. "Here is 1500 silver. Please, choose any of these seventeen heroic companions." He gestured towards a group of adventurers who looked way too eager to get their hands on some cash.
Naofumi blinked, confused. "What about me?" he asked, tilting his head. "Don't I get to pick companions too?"
Silence. Everyone just ignored him. The king, the nobles, even the adventurers. It was like he'd suddenly become invisible. He felt a lump forming in his throat, a mix of hurt and bewilderment. What had he done wrong? Why was he being treated like he didn't matter?
Just when he was starting to feel completely dejected, Itsuki, the Bow Hero, spoke up. "This doesn't actually make sense," he said, his voice calm but firm. "What's your problem with the Shield Hero? You just met him."
Naofumi's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected anyone to stand up for him, especially not one of the other heroes. A wave of gratitude washed over him. Maybe there was some hope for him in this strange, confusing world after all.
Just then, a nobleman, resplendent in polished armor and radiating an almost tangible aura of charm, approached them with a practiced smile. "Ah, the Heroes of the Spear and Shield," he greeted them, his voice smooth as honey. "My apologies for the oversight. It seems there's been a slight discrepancy with your summoning documents. A minor clerical error, nothing to be concerned about, of course. But we do need to rectify it immediately to ensure your heroic endeavors are properly documented and compensated."
Itsuki, despite his initial suspicions, found himself swayed by the nobleman's persuasive explanation and disarming demeanor. After all, paperwork mix-ups were a common occurrence, even back in his own world. "I see," Itsuki replied, nodding thoughtfully. "Well, we certainly wouldn't want any complications down the line. What do we need to do?"
The nobleman's smile widened, a glint of something unreadable flashing in his eyes. "Just a few signatures here and there," he assured them. "If you'll follow me, we have a designated area for such matters, a comfortable and private space where you can review the documents at your leisure."
He led them through a labyrinthine network of corridors, the castle's opulent decor doing little to dispel the growing sense of unease that gnawed at Naofumi's gut. He exchanged a worried glance with Itsuki, but the Bow Hero seemed to have been completely won over by the nobleman's charm.
As they reached a fork in the hallway, the nobleman gestured towards the left passage. "If the Shield Hero would be so kind as to follow this way," he said, his voice smooth and persuasive. "Your documents require a slightly different authentication process. It won't take long, I assure you."
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Naofumi hesitated, his suspicion flaring. "Wait, why do I have to go a different way?" he asked, his voice tight with apprehension.
Before the nobleman could answer, a pair of guards materialized from the shadows, flanking Naofumi on either side. "This way, Shield Hero," one of them grunted, his grip tightening on Naofumi's arm.
"Hey, what's going on?!" Naofumi protested, struggling against the guards' grip. "Itsuki, help!"
But Itsuki, distracted by the nobleman's continued reassurances and engrossed in the discussion of the supposed "clerical error," didn't even notice Naofumi's plight. He continued down the right passage, oblivious to the unfolding events behind him.
Naofumi, his heart pounding in his chest, tried to wrench himself free as he was tugged out of view. The guards' grip was too strong. He felt a sharp pain in the back of his head, and the world dissolved into a swirling vortex of darkness.
---
Naofumi woke up with a pounding headache, disoriented and confused. He was in a grimy alleyway, the stench of garbage and smoke filling his nostrils. He vaguely remembered being in the castle, then nothing. Had he been mugged? He rubbed the back of his head, wincing as his fingers brushed against a tender bump.
His eyes widened as he caught sight of the city in the distance, engulfed in flames. What in the world was going on? This wasn't like anything he'd ever seen, even in those crazy anime he sometimes watched.
Then he saw her – a girl with strange, ram-like horns on her head, running for her life. Behind her, a massive dude with an axe, looking like a reject from a Viking cosplay convention, was chasing after her with a terrifyingly gleeful expression.
Okay, Naofumi, think. You're supposed to be a hero, right? The Shield Hero? Time to put those late-night manga readings to good use.
He stumbled out of the alleyway, his legs shaky and his heart pounding. He had to do something, he couldn't just stand there and watch. He raised his shield just as the axe-wielding maniac swung, the impact jarring his arm.
Whoa, that was close! He felt a surge of adrenaline, mixed with a healthy dose of terror.
He tried to push the attacker back with his shield, but it was like trying to move a brick wall. Nothing happened. He kept trying, frustration mounting with each failed attempt. Was his shield defective? Did it come with an instruction manual he missed?
Suddenly, a weird notification popped up in his vision, like something out of a video game.
Patch Notes:
[I think that shields are, in fact, a blunt weapon.
0 damage makes no sense at all!
Base damage of standard blunt weapons normalized at level 1 to be 5 base dmg. Shield Hero bonus is now multiplied by 3.
That means you. Your shield now deals 15 damage as a base instead of just 0.
Please enjoy this 'not a garbage person' bonus exp buff. 500% exp as long as you aren't a walking pile of human garbage!
love, your new over-goddess, Yui.]
Okay what? Over-goddess? Was this some kind of elaborate prank? He didn't have time to dwell on it, though, as the attacker lunged again.
This time, Naofumi reacted instinctively, slamming his shield into the man's face. He heard a sickening crunch, and the man crumpled to the ground. Blood splattered across the cobblestones.
Naofumi stared at the body, his stomach churning. He'd never even seen a dead body before, let alone… caused one. He felt bile rising in his throat, and he barely managed to turn away before emptying the contents of his stomach onto the already filthy street.
Another notification blinked into view:
[+250 exp]
Experience points? Seriously? This was all too surreal, too much like a bad dream.
He looked at the dead man, then at the burning city, then at the girl with the horns who was staring at him with a mixture of fear and awe. He was supposed to be a hero, a protector. But right now, he just felt lost and terrified.
He had a long way to go before he could even begin to understand what was happening, let alone how to fix it. But one thing was clear: his life had taken a very unexpected, and very terrifying, turn.