The Substitution of the Shield Hero

"I'm surprised you came in person, Mirellia."

Mirellia took off the lacy white hat obscuring her hair, then she smoothed down the white dress she wore. "Well, considering you asked for so much, I deemed it efficient to simply recount it in person to avoid misunderstandings."

After S'yne explained what she knew about the Army behind the Waves... specifically, that there was DEFINITELY a world out there that was potentially a Type 2 Civilization or at least one that had achieved apotheosis through dubious means and were farming other worlds, we had all broken off for our own preparations.

Which, for me, meant meeting with Mirellia to confirm various ground truths about this world.

"Tea?" I slid over a cup of freshly brewed green tea, courtesy of a very versatile plant grown from a 'miracle seed' that a former villager had offered as tribute.

Honestly, that thing saved me a lot of time trying to brute force crop genetics with sheer processing power and synthesis...

Mirellia took the cup, an amused look on her face. "...This isn't poison, is it?"

"If it was, you'd drink it anyways to not annoy me." I poured myself a cup of tea and said, "No need to play coy."

Mirellia chuckled. "You are definitely not like any men I've met before..." She sipped her tea and said, "Do you always imply that you'll drug the women you invite on dates?"

"...I have to admit, you've got me on that. There's no way for me to answer that without ruining my reputation, so I'll just pass."

Mirellia smiled, a flash of mischief in her violet eyes. "My. Did I finally win one over the great Lord Naofumi?"

"You're talking a lot of smack for a woman whose country exists only because it's convenient."

Mirellia shrugged and said, "At the end of the day, we exist. So it doesn't matter too much, does it?"

I gave her a blank stare. Then I slowly said, "Okay. I can see how you're Mein's mother. Because you definitely can be just as shameless as her."

Mirellia chuckled, hiding her mouth. "Should I take that as praise or an insult?"

"Both." I sipped my tea. "Now, enough banter. Let's get down to business. To defeat-"

I coughed, forcibly interrupting the song lyric almost coming out by reflex.

Mirellia looked concerned. "Were you injured in dealing with Zeltoble? For someone like you to be coughing..."

"...It's just a habit." I glossed it over and said, "More importantly... I received some intel about the wave and legendary weapons. I wanted to confirm it with what you knew- Wait." I blinked. "Is it fine for you to be here in person?"

Mirellia chuckled. "I'm flattered for the concern. But Kage is acting as my body double as well as Melty's bodyguard."

I tilted my head. "Kage?"

"My personal Shadow. I decided it was about time she obtained a proper name from me since she's been doing an outstanding job."

"...Ah, right. That Shadow who stopped me from offing everyone at the first wave." I nodded. "Good judgment."

If that Shadow... or, Kage, I guess. If she hadn't intervened... Well, Melromarc would have taken Zeltoble's place in the line of countries to topple. Especially since I hadn't even known about how bad the situation was internally at the time.

'If I found out about just how deeply entrenched slavery and the corruption had reached after that incident at Riyute village...'

Well.

I DID have theories about bioweapons I needed to test. And I definitely would have started testing them instead of focusing on my other skillsets.

Probably respec into necromancy...

Hm.

Corpse explosions ARE a viable tactic-

No, no.

Can't traumatize the populace when I'm running a positive image.

Mirellia sipped on her tea and said, "I agree. Honestly, at the current rate, I'm considering promoting her to royal advisor."

I sipped my tea as well and said, "It wouldn't hurt. Now, about the waves... what do you know about them?"

Mirellia focused. Setting her tea cup down and composing herself, she said, "The records we have are scattered and incomplete. I suspect deliberate sabotage across the years... but from what we do know, the waves appear to be a result of multiple worlds colliding."

I blinked. "You mean like an incursion?"

Mirellia tilted her head. "An incursion?"

"Yeah. In my world, it's a theoretical phenomenon where two worlds within a parallel timespace dimension overlap, destroying both if it's not stopped. Although there's a brief period where the two universes can exist in harmony, one of the worlds has to be destroyed to stop it-"

I paused. "...Huh."

It was something that Uncle Chris had mentioned offhand after apparently meeting a strange doctor due to some confidential mission.

And also something that hadn't clicked until now.

"...Wait. Are all of these places not separate worlds, but parallel dimensions...?"

Mirellia blinked. "...I apologize. I'm afraid I am missing the requisite context to comment on this, Lord Naofumi."

"Just Naofumi's fine, Mirellia. And one sec."

I stopped to think about it.

S'yne said that her world was destroyed. She mentioned that the Army of the Waves were run by something called a 'World Eater...' which she thought was a whole world of 'gods' that were causing the waves to harvest resources.

But the waves all appeared to have worlds with legendary weapons as well as vassal weapons. Although the details were different, the broadstrokes were the same.

Meaning...

"...Interesting. So this isn't interdimensional in the sense of completely different universes, but overlapping similar realities colliding due to an extradimensional entity... or at least something outside the local observable universe."

"...I beg your pardon?"

I waved my hand and said, "Long story short, there's a world of deity-like people running the show. The waves are the result of similar worlds being forced to collide. The monsters are either from the other worlds, or from destroyed worlds that were left in the in-between. And I am absolutely overqualified for this position." I chuckled.

Mirellia slowly blinked. Then she said, "...Naofumi."

"Yes, Mirellia?"

"Would you be honest with me?"

"I am always honest. Except when I'm not. But I'll be honest this time, sure. What is it?"

"...Are you a foreign god who was summoned by accident into this interdimensional game?"

I blinked. Then I burst out laughing. "Me? A god?" I shook my head. "No, no. I'm just a gifted human who's looking at the grander scheme of things."

"...I... do believe our definitions of humans may differ..."

"Maybe. It's not like I'm a mutant or anything. Probably."

"...Probably?"

"Probably. But anyway." I hummed. "Nature of the waves aside... mostly because I need to make preparations and test theories to confirm that. Let's talk more logistics. Do you know how the waves summon the heroes to fight in it? Like, the mechanism."

"Ah, yes." Mirellia nodded. "The Legendary Weapons are given a portion of the sand from the Dragon Hourglass, registering the weapon to that country and allowing the heroes to teleport there in an instant should a wave erupt. As the waves of calamity are a global phenomenon, it helps the heroes with transportation and to ensure casualties are minimized."

"...Wait." I blinked. "...How was I summoned to the wave then? I never got anything like that."

Mirellia paused. "...Were you not provided a portion of it along with the other heroes?"

"Definitely not. I just got some coins and told to head off." I rubbed my chin. "...But Dragon Hourglass, huh? What is it exactly? I have some vague knowledge about it, but not too many details."

Mirellia shook her head. "The records of their true origins are long lost. We know that there is one in each country, and that they accurately detail the time until the next wave. They can also be utilized for a class up ceremony to strengthen individuals who have reached a level cap-"

"Level cap?" I blinked. "Level caps exist?"

Mirellia paused. "...Do... they not for you? Your party members should be capped at level 40 without a class up ceremony."

I tilted my head and opened up the party menu.

Since Lia and Sylvia were training, and since exp share was still on, they should still be leveling up...

===

[Party]

Naofumi Iwatani(?) {SABER ✫ = Ascension 0} - Lv. 1/20

Lia - Lv. 40 => 45

Sylvia - Lv. 40 => 45

Mein Sophia - Lv. 20 => 30

Rishia Ivyred - Lv. 15 => 20

Nina Wyndia - Lv. 10 => 20

Mina Wyndia - Lv. 10 => 20

Bahamut - Lv. 10 => 20

<Familiar>

S'yne Lokk - Lv. 81 => 82

===

"...Yeah, I don't think that's a problem-"

> NOTICE: A new mechanic has been discovered!

> Your party members are qualified for a class change!

> [Parallel System] is updating...

> [Parallel System] is attributing classes...

===

[Party]

Naofumi Iwatani(?) {Class: A-Ray/SABER ✫ = Ascension 0} - Lv. 1/20

Lia {Class: Heavenly Empress} - Lv. 45

Sylvia {Class: Ji Clan Heiress} - Lv. 45

Mein Sophia {Class: Redeemer} - Lv. 30

Rishia Ivyred {Class: Onion Knight} - Lv. 20

Nina Wyndia {Class: Sylpheed} - Lv. 20

Mina Wyndia - {Class: Zenithian} Lv. 20

Bahamut - {Class: Dominant Eikon} Lv. 20

<Familiar>

S'yne Lokk {Class: Sekirei} - Lv. 82

===

...I have.

SO MANY QUESTIONS.