by Aneko Yusagi
I wanted to avoid that if at all possible. I should just let them know I had no plans of doing anything special in Siltvelt. I would just take care of my business and get out of there as soon as possible. Yeah, that’s what I would do.
“Let’s do our best to get out of this country as quickly as possible,” I said.
We’d just have to do what we could for now, and that included addressing their objectives too. Filo carried on pulling the carriage, and we arrived at the Siltvelt castle the following day.
At a glance, the castle had a Chinese feel to it, but with elements of Western-style stone architecture thrown in here and there. I wanted to say the contrast was almost excessive.
From an overall-size perspective, there wasn’t much difference between it and the Melromarc castle. But something about it . . . Maybe it was because of a difference in stature of the demi-humans and therianthropes, but the doors, bridges, and flags all seemed larger.
On top of that, it was covered in ivy and gave off an impression of wildness. There was a crude, slightly barbaric atmosphere to it. It was just like you’d expect from a castle that served as a stronghold for demi-humans and therianthropes in a fantasy novel or something.
Still in the carriage, I looked behind us. The Siltvelt castle town was organized similar to the Melromarc castle town, but the area outside of the walls looked like forest or jungle. The buildings themselves also seemed a bit sloppy, and there were areas of the ground that were a mixture of dirt and grass rather than being paved with stone.
I wondered if it had to do with the races living there. Maybe it was because I’d gotten used to seeing Melromarc, but something about it felt slightly uncivilized. The weapons for sale, selection of foods, and overall atmosphere of the shops seemed at least on par with Melromarc.
And then there was a large, outdoor stage facing the town square. Was that the church? There was a huge shield symbol on display there.
“We have arrived, Shield Hero!” exclaimed the emissary.
“Oh, umm, okay . . .” I replied.
“What should I do with the carriaaage?” Filo asked.
“Just leave it there and I’m sure someone will park it where it belongs,” I said.
A therianthrope approached, clearly intent on taking over pulling the carriage for Filo. He was a burly therianthrope who looked kind of like a bull or maybe a minotaur. He definitely looked like he could pull a carriage.
“Okaaay!” Filo replied.
We got out of the carriage. I looked up at the Siltvelt castle and gulped. This was supposed to be the castle of a country that worshipped me, but for some reason it felt like a sinister castle full of demons and monsters. I’m sure I was just getting caught up in the moment. I couldn’t let it get to me. That’s right. I would just confidently strut in there like it was the Melromarc castle.
“Let’s go,” I said.
“U-understood,” Raphtalia replied.
“I’ve only been inside the castle a couple times. I’m nervous,” Fohl said.
“We must carry ourselves with pride, Brother! This country basically belongs to Mr. Naofumi, after all,” Atla replied.
This country didn’t belong to me! That’s what I wanted to think, anyway. But what she said did make sense, considering they worshiped the Shield Hero. So I couldn’t really argue with her either. Still, the country may have belonged to the Shield Hero, but it sure didn’t belong to me. Anyway, maybe I would be able to relax if I just thought of the citizens like they were my villagers.
We went inside the castle. Someone who must have been the castle porter called out to us and then took us to the throne room surprisingly quickly.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the Shield Hero! You must be exhausted after such a long journey.”
Once we arrived at the throne room, we were welcomed by a man with flashy red feathers on his arms and shoulders. Unlike Filo’s angelic form, his hands and feet seemed somehow birdlike. He must have been a bird-type demi-human or therianthrope. I was guessing he was in his twenties. He might have just looked younger than he actually was, though.
“My name is Werner. I serve as representative of the shusaku race. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance,” the man said.
“Shusaku?” I asked.
Shusaku . . . Maybe that was supposed to be from “susaku,” which was the name of the Vermilion Bird in Japanese. Fohl and Atla were hakuko, so I guess it wasn’t all that strange. The Black Tortoise was “genbu” in Japanese, so maybe they called the race “kuromu” or something here. I wondered if they looked like they were chrome-plated. The name might have been different, but I probably wasn’t far off. The races basically looked like human-type forms of the four holy beasts, so it wasn’t hard to imagine.
“My name is Naofumi Iwatani. I’m the Shield Hero. These are my companions. This is Raphtalia. That’s my familiar, Raph-chan. Filo there is a filolial. And that’s Sadeena, Atla, and Fohl.”
Giving long introductions was a hassle, so I decided to just keep it short.
“Pleased to meet you,” said Werner.
He bowed and then shot a glance over at Atla and Fohl. I decided to be extra careful to avoid any kind of diplomatic issues.
“Those two are slaves that I bought in Zeltoble. I’ve been told they’re not pure hakuko. I’m sure they’re not interested in making any claims to authority. Is that going to be a problem?” I asked.
My comment must have been effective, because Werner quickly returned his gaze and bowed his head.
“Is that so? No problem at all!” he replied.
I wasn’t sure how much of an effect it’d actually had, though.
“Umm . . . Hey, Maaasteer, are you going to be talking here for looong?” Filo asked.
“Probably. I’m sure you’re bored, but just be patient,” I said.
“Okaaay.”
It looked like the conversation was going to move along smoothly thanks to Filo’s restlessness. She came in handy when I least expected it.
“Alright, I guess I’ll get straight to the point,” I said.
“As you wish!” Werner replied.
He stood up straight and looked at me without moving, like he was standing at attention. It wasn’t quite the same as staring. His attitude made it seem like he was waiting to be given orders. Something about it bothered me.
“I’m not interested in ruling over Siltvelt or anything like that. Accomplishing an objective of mine required me to stop by. That’s all. I promise not to do anything that would cause problems for those in charge of Siltvelt. I just want you to arrange a trading ship to Q’ten Lo for us. We plan to leave Siltvelt as soon as possible,” I said.
The queen had mentioned that my coming to Siltvelt would cause problems for those in charge of the country, so I decided to squash any concern about that right from the start. But Werner seemed to be at a loss for words and just stood there looking befuddled for a moment.
“I see. There seems to have been a misunderstanding, Shield Hero,” he finally replied.
“Huh?” I asked.
“Please take some time first to refresh yourselves after such a long journey. We would like you to join us for a party this evening, and then we can discuss business matters after that, if it pleases you,” Werner continued.
“We’re in a hurry . . .” I replied.
Frankly speaking, putting an end to the Q’ten Lo assassins was my top priority. I had absolutely zero intention of getting held up in Siltvelt.
“Besides, being here will only cause trouble for those in charge of Siltvelt, right?” I asked.
“I can’t deny that your presence might be problematic for some. However, I also believe eliminating such corruption is necessary, should it exist,” Werner replied.
He continued to voice his objection with polite assertiveness.
“But even more importantly, it is imperative that we demonstrate our devotion to the Shield Hero before anything else. Please think of it as a rite of passage,” he a
dded.
What a headache! The whole thing stunk of a sneaky attempt to lay claim to the Shield Hero as their own. I couldn’t help but feel like agreeing would gradually lead me further and further into a trap. But I was also sure that they would probably refuse to cooperate if I rejected his offer.
I looked over at Sadeena, but she just shrugged, as if to say, “What can you do?”
“Magnificent! A demonstration of devotion to Mr. Naofumi!” Atla exclaimed.
I decided to ignore the single, completely clueless bonehead that had been impressed by Werner’s proposal.
“Come, then! Please relax and make yourselves at home. Business discussions can wait until after you have rested,” said Werner.
His attitude made it clear that he had no intention of compromising. I was pissed off already. This feeling of only pretending to have a conversation really got on my nerves. It reminded me of dealing with Motoyasu lately or Ren and Itsuki from before we’d taken them in.
“Fine. But you know what’s going to happen if you try to ignore my request, right?” I said.
Siltvelt was supposed to be a country that worshipped the Shield Hero. So what would happen if I teleported out of the castle and started publicly badmouthing them? Because that’s what I was going to do if they tried to mess with me. I made that clear with a threatening gaze.
“Of course!” Werner replied.
He gave an exaggerated bow.
“Now then, Shield Hero, allow me to show you and your companions to the guest rooms we have prepared for you. Please make yourselves at home there,” he continued.
“Separate rooms are going to be a problem,” I said.
I wanted to avoid getting split up and left by myself if at all possible. I mean, I wanted to think there was no one who could stop me from handling the situation, even if they did try something, but just in case . . .
“I’m afraid we cannot treat others as your equal. To do such a thing would be a desecration of our country’s religion,” Werner replied.
Hmm . . . I guess I could understand that. It would be like having to entertain a CEO and several low-ranking employees and being told to treat them all the same. I think that’s what he wanted to say. I could see how that might be difficult, but since it was the CEO making the request in our case, I also wanted to say they should be more flexible and oblige.
“Can you provide us a room next to the one Mr. Naofumi will be staying in?” Atla took a step forward and asked.
Werner glanced over at me and stood there thinking for a moment. I wasn’t going to compromise any further if he wasn’t even willing to do that. He must have realized that, because he nodded.
“Certainly. We shall prepare the room at once,” he said.
Hmph. That was a nice move on Atla’s part. I guess the save went to her this time. I’m sure by their reasoning I should’ve been given the presidential suite, while Raphtalia and the others belonged in standard rooms. Or even worse, maybe they would have tried to throw them out of the castle without me noticing. Then again, there was no way I could see that happening with the lineup I’d brought.
And so Werner took us to the castle guest rooms where we were supposed to relax, but . . .
Chapter Four: Shield of the Beast King
“This seems more like one of the royal family’s bedrooms than a guest room,” I muttered.
Werner had brought us to a huge room prepared solely for me. I t was on the top floor of the castle and had a terrace with an amazing view.
I got the impression that the room that had been prepared for Raphtalia and the others was something like a waiting room intended for servants—allowing them to quickly come running when a member of the royal family called. There was nothing but a bed in the room, like it was just meant for naps or something. There were supposedly other rooms available, but they were all located further away.
“Yeah . . . It does seem that way,” Raphtalia replied in a whisper.
She was carefully checking the interior of the room.
“Surely this room can sleep several people,” I said.
“I’m afraid we cannot allow that. I hope your companions understand,” Werner replied.
He had adopted an attitude of humility that made it difficult for anyone to argue.
“We do understand, but . . .” Raphtalia mumbled.
“As long as we can stay in the adjacent room, it’s no problem at all!” Atla exclaimed.
“Atla!” I snapped.
“The bed looks so sooooft! Huh? I can’t lie on it?” Filo asked.
She’d tried to get on the bed, but some lady that looked like a maid had stopped her. The atmosphere in the room grew really tense. It seemed like Siltvelt was going to be a real headache, after all.
“Now then, allow me to take the rest of you to your room. Please follow me,” Werner said.
I tried to go with them but was stopped by one of the maids.
“Please stay here and rest, Shield Hero. You will have an audience with the leadership shortly. After that we will have the evening party, followed by your bath, and then it will be bedtime,” the maid said.
“Okay, and when do I get some discretionary time?” I asked.
“You are always free to act at your own discretion,” the maid replied.
“In that case, the audience can wait. I need to talk with my companions,” I said.
“I’m afraid that would be problematic. Your patience is appreciated,” the maid replied.
What the hell was free about that?! I started to get upset and Raphtalia got a frantic look on her face.
“Please be patient, Mr. Naofumi. Getting angry right now will solve nothing,” she said.
“No, if they’ve upset Mr. Naofumi, then we should punish them!” Atla shouted.
Her overly extreme response helped my anger subside a bit. What was with that little tyrant, anyway? I was fully aware that I acted like a dictator, but at least I wasn’t a tyrant . . . yet.
I needed to calm down. It was true that compromising a bit now would be best if I wanted negotiations to go smoothly later.
“Fine. It’s just for today, after all. But . . .” I said before turning to Raph-chan and beckoning her over.
“Rafu?”
Raph-chan came over to me and I picked her up in my arms.
“I demand that you allow Raph-chan to stay with me. She’s my beloved pet,” I announced.
“U-understood,” the maid said.
The Siltvelt maids glanced at each other and seemed to think it would be okay if it was a pet. I reluctantly trudged over to the bed and waved goodbye to Raphtalia and the others.
“Raafuuu!”
“You know what to do if anything happens, Raph-chan,” Raphtalia said.
“Rafu! Rafu, rafu!”
Raph-chan stood up on her hind legs and slapped her hand against her chest, as if to say, “Leave it to me!” Aww, she was so cute. But just like Raph-chan was linked to me, she also had some kind of magical connection with Raphtalia that would allow her to send a distress signal. She could probably act as an alarm if anything happened.
“Okay then . . .” said Raphtalia.
“I’ll wait in the adjacent room,” Atla proclaimed.
“I understand how you feel, but they’re going to show us to the guest rooms first,” Raphtalia replied.
“Come on, Atla! Let’s go! Our kind don’t belong with this guy. He’s on a completely different level,” Fohl snorted.
“But, Mr. Naofumi!” Atla called out.
Fohl was clearly doing his best to be sarcastic. He grabbed Atla and dragged her away. That little bastard. I’d started to feel bad for Fohl, but that attitude was crossing a line.
“Alright, little Naofumi, I’ll drop in to say hi later, okay?” Sadeena said.
“Sure,” I replied.
I still felt a bit uneasy about it all, but I went ahead and saw Raphtalia and the others off.
“Rafuuu!”
I was standing on the t
errace and enjoying watching Raph-chan explore the room. I looked out over the castle town below. The sun had begun its decline toward the horizon, but it wasn’t quite to the point of what I would’ve called setting yet.
I’d noticed on our way in that the Siltvelt townscape was a lot wilder than what I was used to seeing in Melromarc, but it was even more apparent when looking at things from up above. There was a lot of variation in demi-human builds too. Some were huge, and others were tiny. It made for an interesting sight from afar. And with a mixture of demi-humans and therianthropes, there was tons of diversity among the residents. There were probably quite a few races in all.
That went for the buildings too. Some had really primitive designs, while others were more ordinary wooden buildings. There were elements of Chinese style too. Siltvelt was a real hodgepodge of peoples and cultures when compared to Melromarc.
“Rafu?”
“Hm? What is it, Raph-chan?” I asked.
Raph-chan had her eyes fixed on a shield that hung decoratively above the fireplace. I’d figured it was some kind of ceremonial prop. It had a really extravagant design, but it also looked a bit beat up in several spots. It was hard to describe. The covering had clearly been made using a number of different tanned hides.
I wondered if I should try using my weapon copy on it. I took it off the wall and held it in my hand.
Weapon copy system activated.
Shield of the Beast King conditions unlocked.
Shield of the Beast King 0/80 C
special equip effect: power of devotion
Whoa! So it wasn’t just decoration! King of the beasts, huh? Did that mean the Shield Hero was the king of the beasts? Images of filolials, dragons, and Raph-chan appeared in the back of my mind. I wasn’t really sure how to feel about that.
“Rafu?”
I must have made a strange face, because Raph-chan looked up at me with an expression of concern. I smiled to let her know there was nothing to worry about and then checked the shield description one more time.
