The Substitution of the Shield Hero

"...And that's why we are absolutely not going to do anything for the next month, Mirellia." I sipped on a cup of green tea as I smiled at the Queen of Melromarc.

Mirellia stared at me, clearly in disbelief.

"What?" I set my cup of tea down too. "I'm serious."

Melromarc, night time.

After I had properly secured and claimed the territory from Siltvelt as Libertas, and after setting up living spaces and ground rules from any refugees seeking asylum from Siltvelt, we all warped back to Libertas.

I dropped off the kids and my party members, then I warped to update Mirellia on the recent events.

...Mostly because she could get the impression that I was a demon lord inflicting chaos for fun if I didn't inform her properly.

I wasn't.

Mostly.

I was just making sure to stir up the pot enough to drive out any hidden forces at play.

Wasn't working *quite* yet, but it should be working soon.

Mirellia opened her mouth to talk.

But before she could, a tiny pink chick popped up from her blouse, tilting its head at me. "Fi filo?"

I blinked. "Filo? Huh?"

The pink chick blinked too, also confused. "Fi fi?"

Mirellia looked amused and said, "Naofumi." She adjusted the pink chick to be more comfortable, nestled against her chest. Then she said, "This is Filo. She's a precious gift from my daughter. Filo, this is Lord Naofumi. He's... an ally?"

I gave Mirellia a blank look and said, "What's with that question mark? I'm definitely your ally."

Mirellia raised an eyebrow and said, "Well, pardon me for being mistaken with how you have a habit of causing destruction wherever you travel... I don't have to be concerned with a sudden aerial bombardment again in the royal palace, do I?"

I paused and triple-checked the settings for [My Body as a Shield]. "...No. You don't."

"...I am concerned that you had to check."

"You should be grateful I bothered to."

Mirellia chuckled and said, "Well... I take it that you and Libertas are well then? Because if you require aid, I'm sorry to say Melromarc is in no state to provide it."

I picked up my cup of tea again. After taking a sip, I nodded and said, "We're fine. Better than fine, actually. Libertas expanded to buffer between you and Siltvelt too. The only space left open is towards Shieldfreeden."

Mirellia idly stroked Filo's beak, watching Filo squish down in satisfaction. Then she looked back up at me and said, "Should I be concerned that you appear to be encircling my country entirely?"

"Don't worry. I kind of like having a country in the shape of a crescent moon, so we'll leave the space between you and Shieldfreeden open. That country also seems to be the only sane one in this world... probably because it's where all the reasonable humans and demi-humans left to."

Mirellia sighed. "I wish I could dispute that statement... but it's quite true. I believe that country has a few former citizens from Melromarc as well that were dissatisfied in the past."

I set my cup of tea down again, having finished it. Then I said, "Mmhm. Which is why it's going to be the second country that remains standing other than Melromarc by the time I'm done processing this world."

Mirellia paused and gave me a concerned look. "...Processing?"

"Well." I rolled my neck and said, "I was going to keep approaching this world like a traditional JRPG, gathering allies and everything to defeat the bad guys behind the curtains. But I recently had a better idea."

"...I am concerned. Your better ideas tend to revolve around subverting the world's natural order, Naofumi."

I chuckled. "No, no. This time I'm going to be reinforcing the world's natural order. But I just wanted to give you a heads up. I'm probably going to be busy for the next few months with various projects, so you should rely on the other heroes to defend against the waves. It shouldn't be too hard though if my plan pulls through."

Mirellia stared at me.

I stared back.

Filo popped her head up to look at me again too, staring at me with clear blue eyes.

I shifted my gaze over to Filo and frowned. "...Hm. Are you a Filorial Queen, I wonder? If so... I'm curious if you'll get a human form with blonde hair and blue eyes... I kinda miss her."

I got the same egg from Beloukas, and I was fairly sure that Nina was the same person as Filo. At least, in terms of physical location and everything since it all lined up...

But if souls existed, well, Nina DEFINITELY didn't have Filo's soul. The personality was completely different.

So I was a bit curious since I vaguely remembered Filo being born as a chick with fluffy pink feathers.

Mirellia blinked. "Who?"

"Mm... It'd be complicated to explain. But anyway." I shifted the cup to the side and laced my fingers together. "I think it's time I give up the ghost."

Mirellia paused in the middle of raising her cup of tea to her mouth. "...Ghost?"

"Ah, turn of phrase." I waved my hand and said, "What I mean is that I'm shifting into full offense. I was wondering if anything would pop up if I stirred the pot... but considering nothing really has, I'm going to preempt things and make full scale preparations to counter-invade the interdimensional entities causing the waves."

Mirellia quietly set her cup of tea down. Then she slowly blinked and said, "...My apologies, Naofumi. I do believe I misheard you. What did you say just now?"

"Mm. Like I said. I'm going to preempt things and make full scale preparations to counter-invade the interdimensional entities causing the waves."

Mirellia slowly nodded. "...That's what I thought you said."

Filo shivered from her place in Mirellia's shirt, clearly understanding the implications despite being a newborn.

Mirellia stared at me for a long while. Then she slowly said, "Do... I want to know how you intend to do that...?"

"Well. I'm going to claim the moon first."

"...What?"

===

Fitoria deliberately continued acting like a normal Filorial as she grazed in the garden just outside of Mirellia's private chambers.

Thankfully, the Queen adored Filorials and already had a small collection that she allowed to roam free.

Because of that, Fitoria was able to discreetly approach and eavesdrop on the conversation between the Queen and the former Shield Hero.

But now...

'Be calm, oh racing heart...'

...She had to do her best to play up the role of an oblivious Filorial.

Because she could sense it.

That former Shield Hero... the one that the Queen of Melromarc called Naofumi.

...He was not human.

Instead...

'A monster in the shape of a human. No, a monster with keen intellect and the innovation that comes from human ingenuity...'

...He was something close to the disasters that arrived in the final waves of the distant past that Fitoria desperately fought against, barely managing to resolve them.

As Fitoria continued to graze, currently in the form of a normal white Filorial, Naofumi's voice drifted from the window, almost as if daring any hidden parties to hear him.

"That's right, Mirellia. You see, since the waves are a global phenomenon, it would be best if we had a visual on when they break out. And if we had a visual on when they break out, it would also be good if we had an automated defense system. Deploying heroes is completely inefficient. While they're good against powerful enemies, for the general wave monsters, we need something simpler."

Mirellia's voice echoed, filled with curiosity but also an undercurrent of anxiety. "...And how do you intend to do that, Naofumi?"

"I'm going to turn the moon into a computational device, install optical lasers to focus the light from the sun to attack at a distance, and then, assuming I can reach nearby asteroids, set up some tungsten rod cannons too. I've confirmed that divinity is pretty easy to achieve in this world, so any local powers are probably planet-bound at best. That means that starlight should be able to scorch whatever god or goddess DOES pop up."

Fitoria's heart ran cold.

She wanted to laugh.

But the casual way that Naofumi spoke about it- No. The matter of fact way that he spoke about it, as if it was a simple equation...

'He can do it.'

It wasn't a boast. It wasn't even a declaration.

It was just small talk for him.

'What kind of monster casually discusses countermeasures on the scale of a planetary basis...?!'

Mirellia laughed, clearly trying to keep the conversation light. But there was a hint of fear and wonder in her voice. "...You continue to surprise me, Naofumi. ...Can I take this to be an admission that you were just playing us all along?"

"Well." Naofumi chuckled. "It's more like I was going along with things. But I recently just realized that my parents probably noticed I'm missing, and that my own planet is probably not a stranger to interdimensional activity... which means that they might be en route."

"...I BEG YOUR PARDON?!"

The window to Mirellia's room slid open.

Mirellia leaned out to look at Fitoria.

Naofumi leaned out to look too.

Fitoria was confused on why.

And then she realized it.

...She was the one who had spoken up.

Fitoria groaned and turned back into her human form, realizing it would just make things worse if she stayed hidden.

As she did... a thought crossed her mind.

'I'm sorry, Master. I don't think I can protect the world from a ridiculous being like this...'

===

Earth-30847. July 27, 20XX.

Leon Scott Kennedy quietly stared at the empty office where his son had just vanished into thin air. He idly rummaged in the pocket of his leather coat and pulled out a cigarette and lighter. After lighting his cigarette, he held it to his mouth and took a deep breath.

Footsteps echoed from behind him. And then a pair of arms draped around his neck, followed by someone resting their head on his shoulder. "...Standing around here all day won't bring him back, Leon."

Leon lowered his cigarette and muttered, "I know, Ada. But it makes me feel better."

Ada Wong pulled her arms back and then walked over to examine her son's desk. Her sleeveless crimson dress shifted as she moved. Stopping in front of her son's computer, she traced her fingers across the keyboard, which was already gathering dust.

And then she looked at the monitor, still turned on to a word processor, the sentence left unfinished.

Seeing that, she let out a sad smile. But she paused and looked over to Leon. "Should we see what our boy was working on before he vanished, Leon?"

Leon snuffed out his cigarette, tossing it in the nearby trashbin. Then he murmured, "He'd hate you calling him Boy. He always did."

Ada chuckled and said, "Well, he can complain about it when he comes home." After that, she reached over and grabbed the mouse connected to her son's PC, scrolling all the way to the top.

As she did, she saw the title of the white paper that he had been working on, along with the synopsis.

===

Terra Nova: A Stellar Recreation of Fictional Magic to End Resource Scarcity

Abstract. The saying that sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic has never been more true. The current era consists of technology that inhabitants from the distant past would consider divine authorities or grand magics. Virtual realities capable of conjuring entirely simulated worlds with complete fidelity are close to completion. The question then becomes... what if the fidelity is perfect? In the wake of various conflicts due to resource scarcity, I propose a solution in the form of closing the gap between fiction and reality, simulation and fabrication. Through sufficient quantization of discrete variables, as well as utilization of the abundant energy resource that is stellar lightwaves, it is possible to structure a logical operating system on transcendental and self-proving axioms. Provided this logical operating system is Godelian complete, the underlying energy resource and implementation should be arbitrary. This paper details the structure of such a system, as well as a particular implementation utilizing the Dirac equation and the observer effect alongside thought waveform collapses.

===

Ada let out a wry smile and said, "Our boy was never one from half-measures, was he?"

Leon stared at the screen and murmured, "...The kid was always smart." He glanced at Ada, a faint smile on his face. "He gets that from you."

Ada rolled her eyes. "And he gets the stubborn belief he can do anything with enough effort from you."

The two stared at the screen for a little longer, reminiscing.

And then Ada turned towards Leon, her expression back to her usual business face. "Did you hear anything from Chris and his contact with Doctor Strange?"

Leon shook his head. "That doctor is hard to reach... Chris managed to get through, but they're dealing with an interplanetary threat. Something about a purple alien and some stones?"

Ada frowned. "...Then we can't count on any assistance from that side, huh?"

Leon crossed his arms and looked at her. "How about your contacts with Ouma?"

Ada looked amused and said, "They probably said the same thing that your contacts with Shinra said. The Portalstone is under lock and key, so it's not because of that."

Leon clicked his tongue. "So we're completely in the dark. It's already been a month... And we don't know when he disappeared."

"Mm..." Ada went back to her son's desktop. "I wouldn't say that." She clicked on the changelog of the white paper and said, "It looks like he stopped typing at midnight on June 21st."

Leon paused. "...The Summer Solstice?"

"Seems like it." Ada sat up straight and said, "Now, I'm not the superstitious sort. But considering our son looked like he was actually trying to remake magic from first principles..."

Leon uncrossed his arms and said, "Got it. I know someone I can call."

Ada raised an eyebrow. "Who's that?"

Leon pulled out his phone and opened his contact to someone called 'Tony Redgrave.' "...A guy who will take any job for the right price and who's involved in that side of things."

After that, Leon walked out of the office and made the call.

One ring.

Two.

On the third, someone picked up. A gruff and energetic voice.

"Leon, buddy. Long time no see, or-"

"I have a job. Ten million USD upfront, more if you finish it."

Silence.

Then the voice spoke up again. "Must be serious if you're asking for a commission. Details?"

Leon was quiet. Then he pulled out a photo from his wallet. There, a young man who looked a bit like him and a bit like Ada was rolling his eyes, wearing a white labcoat. Behind him, a blue umbrella logo was on the wall, next to a small flier saying [IEEE Guest Speaker].

"...It's my son. He's gone missing. It might be like the second X Zone incident. It might not. But if it isn't, and if those people were involved..." Leon clenched his phone tighter. "...Whatever you want. Get rid of them, Dante."

Laughter echoed from the other side of the line. "Jackpot. But alright. I get you. My brother's been itching for some action ever since we broke out of that place anyway, and the brat's been antsy too. We'll take a look around and keep you posted."

"Appreciate it."

"Don't worry, buddy. We're as good as family... and we technically are through my mom's side."

Leon snorted. "I'm not getting you more Italian pizza."

"Worth a shot. Talk soon."

===

Dante threw on his hat and his crimson coat. Then he glanced at his brother, leaning against the wall and already prepared. "We've got a job, Vergil."

"I'm aware, you fool. I have ears." Vergil rested his hand on Yamato and said, "Are we bringing the boy too?"

"Mm... thought about it. Finished thinking. And nah, I think we're enough." Dante grabbed his usual loadout and said, "Might even be overkill. But let's go. You wanted to get some practice with dimension sliding anyway, right?"

"...Very well." Vergil smirked and ran a hand through his spiked gray hair. "I will never pass up an opportunity for more power."

Dante rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Come on. Let's get going before the kid realizes we're gone. Like last time."

"...You make a good point. Then." Vergil swung Yamato, opening a crack in space to reveal a starry void. "Let us be off."

As Dante jumped in, he said, "You never recovered from being V, did you?"

"Silence."

"Heh."

===

Volume 1 End - The Legendary System

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