The Substitution of the Shield Hero

To organize the current situation.

First, Libertas (name still pending revote) was up and running.

Zeltoble was currently occupied by some trustworthy fanatics- I mean, loyal citizens of Libertas who were heading off to make a proper map of the terrain.

I'd already stripped the useful resources and buildings in that land, so I wasn't concerned about looting since there wasn't really anything to loot in the first place.

But anyway, Zeltoble was accounted for.

Melromarc... well, I still hadn't heard back from Mirellia. But as far as I could tell, the Three Heroes... or the Three Saints as the people were calling them..

After all,

Four Bray... honestly, I was curious to see what would happen if they were dumb enough to attack, so I just ignored them for now.

[My Body as a Shield] had no restrictions on distance, so if those guys actively invaded while I was, for example, in Siltvelt-

Wait.

...

'Write that down.'

I could totally cause a world war by misunderstandings.

Hell, I was a walking ragebait.

Perfect.

But that aside...

Back to the main point, the next pressing matter to resolve was the waves. Specifically, sorting out what exactly the waves were.

And we conveniently had someone who was a relative expert on that.

My office in my manor.

Rishia was still watching over the kids, teaching them to knit in the garden the last I saw.

But as for the rest of us...

I sipped on a cup of coffee and looked at the silver-haired girl with glowing violet wings seated across from me.

The same one that had been marked as my 'Sekirei' according to <Parallel System>.

"So. S'yne."

...Still weird how it was pronounced 'Sign' but spelled with an apostrophe.

But I ignored it.

Lacing my fingers together, with Lia standing on my right and Sylvia on my left, as well with Mein standing in front of the door...

I played up the role of an eminence in the shadow and said, "You have information. I need information. Let's discuss."

S'yne nodded, a relieved smile on her face. "Of course, Mister Naofumi. First... thank you for saving me and fixing my weapon."

I looked at the small pouch she held with a glowing purple gem. "...Right. Let's start with that." I tilted my head and said, "...Is that really a legendary weapon?"

S'yne nodded and held it up. "Yes. This is the Vassal Sewing Set. I am... I was the Sewing Hero from my world."

"Pause." I held up my hand. "...Are you telling me that, in your world, a SEWING KIT of all things is considered a legendary weapon? How do you even fight with that?"

"Like this?" S'yne held the small pouch off to the side and it turned into a pair of giant scissors.

Or, technically shears? Since it was for cloth specifically?

I stared at it.

S'yne stared at me, unblinking.

Then I slowly said, "...Mein. As a former princess privy to secrets... are all legendary weapons this weird?"

Mein blinked. "Um... I'm not sure, Master Naofumi?" She leaned against the door and said, "...I'll be honest. Past me was... well, you know. If I heard anything, I probably didn't pay enough attention to it... Oh." She tilted her head, as if reading something. "...The Seven Star Staff says that maybe legendary weapons and vassal weapons are representative of the most important aspects in the world? Something like that."

I stared at Mein. Then at the staff. Then I said, "...Shouldn't you know for sure since you're one of them, Staff?"

Mein paused, reading another message. Then she said, "The Staff says it's old and forgot all the details. Also, since Daddy was getting senile, it got affected. Or so it claims."

"...Alright. Let's assume that's true." I looked at S'yne. "Then... What, was S'yne's world known for making legendary equipment or some...thing..."

I stared at S'yne. The young woman marked as a [Skywing].

Then I thought about other myths... No, other fictional universes that would line up with it. And that would have had a 'sewing kit' be legendary...

"Oh my god you're a Zenithian."

S'yne blinked. "...A what?"

"...Hypothetically. Is your world known for crafting legendary- Or, magical equipment that can grant various effects? Say like, disabling magical enchantments, buffing the wearer, etcetera? And can you spin a dress from flowing clouds?"

"...Potentially?" S'yne tilted her head. "...I haven't tried it before, but it should be possible...?"

"Okay. Then..." I thought about it some more. "...What are the other weapons in your world?"

"A-Ah. Well..." S'yne expression darkened. "...My sister... the one who betrayed our world to destroy it. She had the Vassal Chains. And one of the Legendary heroes... the one I was supposed to help protect... She was the Legendary Fruit hero."

I slowly blinked. "Fruit. ...Fruit? ...It wouldn't happen to take the form of a fig, would it?"

S'yne eyes lit up. "How did you know?"

"...Okay. Not Zenithian. Celestrian. Still Dragon Quest adjacent though... And I have many questions. But I guess that's not too important."

I was getting side-tracked.

Fun coincidences aside... especially if S'yne could like change vocations or something...

"You said your world was destroyed?"

S'yne lowered her head. "Yes. It's a bit of a long story..."

"We have time."

"...Well. How much do you know about the Army of the Waves?"

Lia's crimson eyes flashed. "An army is behind the waves?"

Sylvia hummed and looked at me. "...Does this mean we're going to war after all, Master?"

I paused. Then I slowly smiled. "S'yne. My dearest new friend. Are you telling me... there's a world out there with an army advanced enough to breach interdimensional walls just ripe for the taking?"

S'yne blinked. "Y-Yes...? Wait, what do you mean ripe for the taking?"

I chuckled.

Lia giggled.

Sylvia laughed.

And Mein sighed. "...They're doomed."

===

The country known as Libertas.

Sadeena was quiet as she walked around, taking everything in.

'This is the country of the man who took Raphtalia-chan in...'

It was an inconceivable land.

Towering buildings of glass, stone, and steel pierced into the sky.

Paved roads, perfectly leveled and wide enough for multiple carriages sprawled through the entire country.

Alongside that, a separate pathway for pedestrians, along with benches and water fountains to refresh anyone traversing the pathway.

If it was just that, Sadeena felt that it would already be incredible.

But there were also sprawling emerald hills with lush grass. Colorful and spacious homes with wooden sidings that looked well-insulated against the weather, completely blocking out the outside climate. Fans that whirred to control the internal temperature...

It was like stepping into another separate world.

Seeing that, Sadeena let out a wry smile. "It seems that the legends of the Shield Hero are true."

There were old tales whispered across the world. Stories of a man summoned from another world, traversing the land with two angels to save the demi-humans from the oppression of humanity. A divine being who fought against a demonic bird of pure flames, and who revived his fallen companion after the battle.

In short, a man of miracles.

It was the origin of the religion behind the Legendary Shield and the reason demi-humans had such faith in it.

Of course, it was myth. Legend. Tales spread via word of mouth down through the ages. A story no doubt embellished by time.

...Or it should have been.

But for the people living in this land...

"Lord Naofumi is freedom! Freedom is good! Lord Naofumi is good!"

"Lord Naofumi! Lord Naofumi! Lord Naofumi!"

"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

...There was living proof that the myth was reality.

Sadeena watched with mixed emotions as a crowd of demi-humans and humans alike gathered in a plaza to praise a flag with Naofumi standing on a pile of knights and pointing into the sky.

"Libertas!"

"Lord Naofumi!"

"Freedom!"

'...They've all lost their minds.'

Anyone seeing that crowd would have the same opinion.

Children were crying with happy smiles.

Elderly men and women were crouched on the ground, pressing their heads against it in prayer.

Freed demi-human slaves, still bearing marks from the chains and collars they were forced to wear... they knelt down on one knee and placed a hand over their heart, as if swearing allegiance.

Humans from Melromarc who had been forced to stand by and watch the mistreatment... including a young female knight with long strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes.

They stared at the flag with burning resolve, as if determined to never allow it again.

And the humans from Zeltoble, the ones who had resented the slavery system from the start...

They were already looking towards Four Bray, as if waiting for a reason to head out.

Seeing all of that, Sadeena pursed her lips.

She wanted to object to it.

War like this wouldn't lead to anything but despair.

Not only that, but the children who would grow up in the flames of war...

Raphtalia-chan's crimson eyes, crazed with fury and burning resentment came to mind.

But.

'...They need something to cling to.'

Sadeena didn't know if it was good. No, she would undoubtedly say it was NOT good.

For children to look towards revenge and fight... to take it out on the oppressors and wage war...

'...I'm sorry, milord.'

Sadeena thought about Raphtalia's father who had entrusted her to protect Raphtalia.

'I'm sorry children.'

Sadeena thought about the children from that seaside village who were sold into slavery and suffered horrible fates because she had been away at the time.

'...But the only thing I can do is fight.'

Sadeena tightened her hands on her trident, clenching it tight.

She had failed once.

She wouldn't fail again.

Although she could not... WOULD not call that Naofumi her lord because of what he turned Raphtalia-chan into.

...She would fight beside him.

Because Raphtalia-chan was alive. Because Raphtalia-chan was strong now, stronger than her.

And because Raphtalia-chan wasn't alone.

That was enough for Sadeena.