The king folded his arms on his chest and said:
No matter how much I wish to send the failed heroes back, there is no way to do that. Our researchers report that summoning new heroes can only happen after all the old ones have perished.
"… W-what did you say?"
"What the…"
"C-cannot be…"
Itsuki, Motoyasu, and Ren answered confusedly.
"So I can't go back home?!" Akira shouted, struggling to break free from the guards' grip.
One of the knights punched Akira, but she didn't even notice. The knight himself clutched his hand.
"Let's end this farce! What punishment awaits us?" I asked, trying to memorize the face of this "knight.""
" … Since you are now our means to counter the waves, I cannot blame you. But… all citizens of my kingdom already know about your crime. That will be your punishment. Don't even think about finding any work in my country. In a month, the wave will summon you, Shield Hero and Grimoire Hero, no matter how much of a criminal you are. You won't be able to escape your mission!"
The guards released us and stepped back, allowing us to stand up.
Ding
As Akira got up, a small coin pouch fell out from behind her shield.
"Hey! This is what you wanted, right?!" she shouted, throwing the pouch in Motoyasu's face.
"Waa! What are you doing?! Bitch!.."
"Ha-ha-ha… You'll answer for today's insult" I shouted happily, chasing after Akira.
After leaving the castle, Akira stopped and looked up at the sky.
"Akira,"I called, placing a hand on her shoulder. She shook off my hand and turned to me with a fierce expression.
"What do you want from me?"
"Akira, calm down…"
"I'm already calm…"
Words wouldn't help here. I approached her, hugged her, and held her close. At first, she tried to break free, but after a minute she started crying, soaking my shirt with tears. Stroking her back and head, I whispered comforting words. Only after five minutes did her hysteria pass.
"You can let go," she asked, removing her hands from my waist. "I've calmed down."
"Okay. You didn't have breakfast, right? Let's get some food, there's a street stall nearby, and then we'll buy you some clothes."
We had walked less than a hundred meters when Akira stopped and said with frustration:
"Damn! I shouldn't have thrown away my last money…"
"Don't worry. We have money."
""We"?" she said with a hint.
"Yes, if you don't mind teaming up. We're in the same situation."
She didn't answer, just looked at me suspiciously.
"Did I ever give you a reason not to trust me?" I asked, looking into her emerald eyes.
"That bitch didn't give her a reason not to trust her either, and look what happened?" she asked angrily.
"Yeah… She's just talented! A natural actress! Even though I knew what kind of monster she really was, sometimes I forgot it myself."
"Wait! So you knew everything and didn't warn me?" she asked stunned.
"First, would you have believed me if I told you?" she didn't answer, thoughtful. "Second, I had reasons for acting this way. And I'll definitely tell you about them… Just not in the middle of a crowded street." Looking around, she noticed passersby glancing at us. "Let's go. We'll continue this conversation later. Just bear with me a bit."
Approaching a street food vendor, I bought us a couple of meat pies.
"Tasty?" I asked when Akira finished one.
"Okay," she shrugged. "Too sweet for me."
I sighed in relief. I remembered that in the novel the Shield Hero lost his sense of taste due to emotional trauma. If something like that happened to Akira, I would blame myself too. Luckily, it didn't.
"What next?" she asked after we ate and looked at her bare feet.
"You don't know where to buy clothes?" she shook her head. "Then let's go to Elhart's. Even if he has nothing, maybe he can tell us where to go. Plus, you'll need to buy armor anyway."
"Armor? Do we even have enough money?" she emphasized "we." I silently pulled out the coin pouch I had "borrowed" from her yesterday. "Take it. I had my reasons for taking it yesterday."
"How did you do that?"
"Inventory, one of my Sacred Weapon skills," I explained.
"Do I have that skill too?"
"How should I know? So, are we going or do you want to split up? If so, I'll give you some books as well."
For a moment she stared at my grim face, then, having decided something, asked:
"What books?"
"Two volumes on Support and Healing magic for beginner mages."
She looked at me for another minute, then turned and headed toward the weapon shop. While walking, I explained why I chose those books and what magical affinity means. When I answered her question about their cost, I caught another look from her that I still couldn't decipher.
Ding-ding
"Good morning, Elhart!" I greeted, approaching the counter. "Haven't the rumors reached you yet?"
"Not so good morning, since you're here," he smirked, then noticing Akira's clothes, his grin disappeared. "What rumors?"
"Uncle, do you have armor and clothes for me?" the Shield Hero asked as she approached the counter.
"I do. How much can you spend?"
"With discount?"
Elhart first looked at me, then back at Akira, and sadly waved his hand.
"With discount, around two hundred silver," Akira smirked.
"I'll bring it now."
When Elhart laid out a good quality chainmail on the counter, Akira suddenly said with a somewhat growling tone:
"Anything without chainmail?"
"At that price, this is the best balance of protection, mobility, and cost," Elhart tried to persuade her.
"You already had chainmail," I decided to intervene. "Try to set aside emotions and remember if you were satisfied with it."
She looked at me thoughtfully. We didn't interfere.
"|I was fine with it," she admitted. "But… Ah, forget it."
Taking the items in her arms, she went to the fitting room to change.
"So what happened to you two?" the shop owner asked after Akira disappeared behind the curtain.
"Akira and I were accused of rape," I didn't hide it. Elhart was one of the few people I could trust in this world.
"And I assume you're innocent?" Elhart's face grew serious.
"Nope. Let's wait for Akira. I don't want to repeat it twice."
Ten minutes later, Akira returned. She was wearing black chainmail armor, something like a dress with sleeves ending mid-thigh, and leather knee-high boots. In her hands, she held a pouch and a dark green cloak with a hood. This armor was better than what I saw on her yesterday. Although her knees were uncovered, which bothered me a little.
Seeing where I was looking, Elhart suddenly remembered something and disappeared into the storage room, then handed Akira some straps matching the armor's color.
"What's this?" I asked.
"Suspenders, so the boots don't slip down".
Slap
I facepalmed. The fetishist in me said it was fine and how it should be. But logically, leaving so many vulnerabilities… for reasons unknown to me. Well, at least it's not armor bras and panties, so that's good. Shrugging it off, I waited for Akira to pay.
"So? Tell me how things came to this."
"Well, I think it's safe enough here for me to tell some things…"
Akira and Elhart listened carefully as I told them about the princess, the Church of the Three Heroes and their plans, what I knew was prepared for us with Akira, and why I didn't interfere. Why I took four hundred silver from the Shield Hero and why I couldn't tell her everything earlier.
To my surprise, I managed to finish within fifteen minutes.
"Hmm, something doesn't add up," Akira said after thinking over everything she heard. "Why would the other Heroes help with this setup if you claim they're not involved? Why were they so hostile towards us?"
"You're just not taking one fact into account…" I answered with a slight smile.
"What fact?" Akira asked.
"They're idiots…"
"… That's exactly it…" Akira said, picturing it in her mind. "Is that all?"
"Almost," I leaned a bit closer so she could reach me. "You can slap me. After all, I didn't interfere with the princess, and you had a really rough day today…"
Then Akira did something that left me stunned. She kissed me on the cheek and whispered in my ear, "Thank you."
While I blinked in confusion, and Elhart covered his mouth trying not to burst out laughing at the silly expression on my face, the Shield Hero explained her behavior.
"There's something you left out. You didn't have to meet us yesterday or get involved, leaving me to deal with it alone. But now the main blow has fallen right on you," this time when she looked at me, there was no suspicion in her eyes. She looked much more like the cheerful girl she had been until this morning. "So, what are our next plans?"
"We need to figure out our Sacred Weapons. Find out the suppression range and find a way to increase the level," I suggested after snapping out of my stupor. "Stop giggling!"
"You should've seen your face, man… Ha-ha… I can't," the merchant wheezed, wiping tears after calming down. "Do you need any help from me"
"If it's not too much trouble, explain to the other shop owners that they shouldn't believe everything they hear about us."
"No problem."
"And also tell me where I can buy camping gear. We can't stay in the capital."
"Aren't you going to buy armor?" Akira asked.
"Right, almost forgot. Elhart, how much would armor cost for me?"
"The same as hers? Chainmail?"
"Heavier is fine, my physical condition allows it."
"You won't have enough money for plate armor… I'll think of something. How much can you spend?"
I smiled and pointed at the Shield Hero:
"She manages our money."
"Oh?" the girl was surprised. "Alright then. Uncle, where were we? An 80% discount? Right?"
Slap
Apparently, that gesture is contagious, as Elhart demonstrated it too. His eyes were full of sorrow…
We left the shop already in a good mood. Watching Akira haggle was a pleasure.
First, we went to a grocery store. Rumors hadn't reached there yet, so we stocked up on ten silver worth of spices, bread, meat, and vegetables. Nearby, there was a cookware shop where we bought a camping pot, forks, spoons, and other small items. I don't know if there's some inventory limit, but so far there was no sign of it.
Leaving the city, Akira led me to the clearing where she and the princess had hunted spheres. It was finally time to figure out my combat abilities. The walk wasn't far, and in half an hour we were there.
On a fairly large meadow, orange and yellow spheres flickered here and there among the grass.
Approaching one of the yellow spheres, I picked it up and clenched my hand hard while straightening up. The sphere immediately burst, almost splattering me with a jelly-like substance, and its skin remained on my hand before dissolving into thin air.
[Obtained: 1 copper coin]
[Obtained: Skin of Yellow Demon Sphere]
Calling up my status, I examined my current grimoire again:
Small Grimoire 0/5 F
Equipment Bonus: Magic Attack +2 (mastered)
Skill: 6
Interesting, I don't remember this in the novel. The Shield Hero there only increased stats by mastering various shields. But here there's also equipment class and skill…
Akira stood nearby watching my actions.
Summoning the freshly obtained sphere skin in my hand, I brought it to the crystal.
And…
Nothing! Absolutely nothing. Irritated, I threw the skin over my shoulder.
"Something wrong?" the girl asked, seeing my thoughtful look.
"Yeah. Your shield can absorb parts of monsters and unlock new shields?" I asked, not quite sure if I remembered correctly.
"Yes, I unlocked the small shield of the yellow sphere like that… but I can't equip it. My level isn't high enough."
After a moment, I took out a book from the inventory. A plain book, one of three that the bookstore owner had given me for free to experiment with. No idea what it was about, but it didn't matter. I carried it to the crystal thinking that if Akira could do it, then I should too, as long as I don't give up… What the heck?
The book in my hand was absorbed into the crystal, and a message appeared before me:
[Unlocked: Small Book Grimoire (not mastered)]
[Requires level > 5 to equip]
Turning around, I picked up the sphere skin I had thrown away and brought it to the crystal…
[Unlocked: Small Yellow Grimoire (not mastered)]
[Requires level > 2 to equip]
Damn! I don't understand why it didn't work before but works now?
Opening status, I searched the skill tree and found the magic tomes I had copied to check their level requirements.
It turned out they require level five to equip.
"It worked, right?" Akira asked excitedly.
"It worked," I said proudly, sitting down on the ground and taking out the thinnest remaining book, salt, and pepper from the inventory.
"Ah, what are you doing?"
After I told Akira the story about how I promised the grimoire that if it absorbed the book, I'd eat the next one, a clear girlish laugh rang out over the meadows. And as I ate the salt-seasoned pages, the laughter grew into uncontrollable laughter.