The Substitution of the Shield Hero

At the outskirts of the territory Naofumi claimed as Libertas, just before Siltvelt territory began.

There, Bahamut lowered his hand, staring at the barren crater that used to be Siltvelt.

Mein swallowed and said, "Uh. Not to... question you or anything, Bahamut. But..." Her emerald eyes flitted towards the crater that had once been an entire country. "...Did we have to go with the whole... destroy everything tactic?"

Bahamut nodded, a serious expression on his face. "Yes. From what Miss Lucina told me, they were horrible people. And if Father learned, they would be... processed instead of die a clean death. This is kinder."

Mein blinked. "That's..." She paused to consider it. "...No, that's true. Your dad's not the type to just kill someone if they've committed sins... Wait." She blinked. "What did they do?"

"...Crimes against life. Playing at godhood by crossing bloodlines."

"Huh? What do you mean- Oh. OH. Oh Spirits... they actually did that?" Mein paused and glanced back towards Lucina's house in the distance. "...No, I guess they must have considering Morgan exists. But... Ugh. Why is this world so rotten?"

Bahamut tilted his head to look at Mein. "Do you want a proper answer, a clean answer, or a summary answer?"

"...I'll pass on all three, thanks. I don't think my heart can handle it..."

Bahamut nodded. "Very reasonable."

Mein paused and gave Bahamut a blank stare. "...Why are you fine with all this? Aren't you just a kid?"

"I am a King. ...Also, I am Father's son. And he is... candidly speaking, not the best example for a normal human individual."

Bahamut appreciated his father and would side with him unconditionally.

But even with Bahamut's young age and lack of experience, he recognized that his father was someone who was very much 'the ends justify the means' sort of person.

Or in other words, his father's morality was very... flexible.

Especially when it came to potential advances for the sake of humanity.

At that time, footsteps echoed from behind.

Lucina walked over, wrapping a blanket around her thin body. She stared at the devastated country with a mixed expression on her face. "...Naga would not allow such wanton destruction. ...Father would never approve it either."

Bahamut nodded. "I agree. And yet, this is the only proper solution." He shifted his blue eyes over towards the crater, his emerald hair fluttering in the wind. "...Sometimes, sins and corruption can only be purged with extreme force." He paused. "...And death is often a kinder fate to sinners than continued existence."

Lucina was quiet, her eyes clearly contemplating Bahamut's words.

Mein looked like she wanted to say something. Probably about how a child shouldn't be saying anything like this.

But before she could...

"BOY!"

...Blue light flashed and Naofumi appeared in a ripple next to Bahamut.

Bahamut's ears immediately turned red with shame and he said, "F-Father. I can explain-"

Naofumi scooped Bahamut up over his shoulders and said, "You are GROUNDED, Boy. Until you understand what I mean when I say we do NOT use country-leveling abilities without proper authorization-" He suddenly cut off when he noticed Lucina.

And when Lucina saw Naofumi, she gasped. "You...?" She took a step forward. "...By any chance. Is your father... Mister Leon?"

Naofumi blinked. "...Miss Lucina? I thought you and Mister Chrom went home after Dad was your bodyguard in Japan?"

Lucina let out a bitter laugh. "Yes. Well..." She pulled the blanket tighter around herself and said, "...Father made it back safely. I did not."

"...Okay." Naofumi let out a long suffering sigh. "...Guess I can't keep pulling a Mom..." He glanced at Mein and said, "You're a princess. Spend some time to cheer up a fellow princess, Mein. I'm going to ground Bahamut, check on the fanatics who waged war in Four Bray on my behalf, make extra sure no other things are afoot, then I'll be back later."

"W-What?" Mein's eyes widened. "W-Wait, Master Naofumi... And he's gone. Hah..." She rubbed her face. "...Well. I suppose this is better than dealing with more of the nonsense that happens around him." She looked back at Lucina and said, "Your son's asleep, but I'm guessing you have nightmares too, right?"

"...Too?" Lucina blinked. Then she stared at Mein's face. And she let out a wry smile. "Ah. You understand."

"Well, it's not as bad as your situation... but I can empathize. I'll make tea. I'm sure Master Naofumi stocked these houses with enough supplies somewhere..."

===

The moment I returned to my house in Libertas...

"Master!"

"Naofumi-dono!"

...Sylvia and Lia both greeted me, having changed into casual attire.

For Lia, that meant a cozy plain silk kimono.

And for Sylvia, that was a white sundress.

I set Bahamut down, my son still looking a bit embarrassed and guilty from running off and doing his own thing.

But I ignored him for now.

Because there was someone new sitting at the table next to Sylvia and Lia.

A beautiful woman with snowy white hair and matching fluffy fox ears... as well as a pair of human ears? Her eyes were a clear violet hue, deeper than Sylvia's, but similar in color. Wearing a flowing white robe, she looked almost draped in clouds. And although her form was a bit more curvy than Sylvia's...

Considering how long I'd been around Sylvia and how familiar I was with her, it was impossible for me to not notice the family resemblance between the woman and Sylvia.

Which meant...

"...Sylvia. My lovely adopted daughter. When you said your mother was Su Daji, I didn't think you meant LITERAL Su Daji."

...This was Sylvia's mom.

Daji chuckled and said, "Adopted daughter?" Her violet eyes flitted towards Sylvia and she said, "Yan'er, you didn't tell me that when you call him 'Master' you mean 'Sifu' and not 'owner.'"

Sylvia turned a bright red and said, "I was getting to that!"

Bahamut gave Daji a wary look.

I noticed and said, "What's wrong, Boy?"

Bahamut pointed at Daji and said, "She's not from this world either, Father."

"...Well, obviously-"

"And I don't have any knowledge of what she is."

I blinked. Then my eyes sharpened.

Although I didn't know the exact reason why yet... I knew that my son basically had a search engine for lore in his head.

Some casual probing had shown that he knew quite a bit about my world as well as the other world that Uncle Chris mentioned a few times. And he definitely knew about some of the 'fictional' worlds I had played in the past too, like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.

But the fact that Bahamut didn't know anything about this mysterious woman who called herself Su Daji... and who might ACTUALLY be Su Daji...

I gave Daji a cautious look too and said, "...Should I be concerned about you, Miss Daji?"

Daji raised the hem of her sleeve to cover her smile and said, "My. How polite. But no." She chuckled, her voice slow and sultry. "...If anything, I should ask you that. Should I be concerned about you, mysterious young man who veils himself with a false title and name?"

"First of all, seduction doesn't work on me. Mom put me through a crash course of that when I was a teenager because my dad is terribly weak to it and she wanted to make sure the same wasn't true for me. Second of all... it's just generally icky for me since my mom is, objectively, a temptress of a woman. Especially when she has long hair. And third of all, since you're Sylvia's mom, we're cool. I call custody though."

Daji blinked. Then she let out a genuine laugh, leaning over with clear interest and letting just a bit of her cleavage show. "Oh, I like you."

I reflexively cringed.

Flashbacks of Mom demonstrating the exact methods that women used to convey interest, feign interest, and draw the male gaze played back in my mind...

"...Please don't."

Daji blinked again. And then she let out a full belly laugh, dropping any pretenses of being a seductive beauty. "You're funny. And adorable. Although..." She looked genuinely curious and said, "...To be unaffected by my beauty, and also not fall into temptation with my lovely daughter who clearly adores you... Tell me honestly, young hero. Do you practice yang cultivation?"

I gave her a blank stare. Then I slowly said, "I am not going to bother dignifying that with an answer." I ruffled Bahamut's hair and said, "Be good, Boy. Reflect. I am going to sleep. The world is not making sense, and I have too great a sleep debt to deal with this."

After that, I ignored everyone staring at me, walked upstairs into my bedroom, and plopped down into my bed.

The moment I did-

"Eep!"

...Rishia scrambled to a corner of the bed, her face a bright red. "L-L-Lord Naofumi! I-I didn't think you'd be back so soon!"

I blinked.

Then I noticed Mina and Nina softly sleeping on a bed nearby, hugging each other.

Rishia had probably moved them here to be cozy when they were sleeping... and I'd almost squished her mid-sleep.

I stared at Rishia.

She stared back, her green hair a mess and her face a pure bright red.

Seeing that, and being too tired to care, even with Homeostasis Shield keeping me wired and raring to go...

I just said, "Screw it. Body pillow."

"Body- Kya?!"

I pulled Rishia close and then placed my head on my pillow to go to sleep.

But the moment I felt her in my arms...

'Huh. Note to self: hugging a person while going to sleep is superior to hugging a teddybear or bodypillow.'

...I felt myself tangibly relax.

"L-L-Lord Naofumi?" Rishia squirmed a bit. "T-This is a bit sud-"

That was all I caught before I blacked out.

===

Rishia felt her heart pound in her chest as Lord Naofumi's arms wrapped tight around her. Especially more so when he placed his head against her chest, like he was trying to listen to her heart.

But after a few moments, she realized that Naofumi had genuinely fallen asleep. Not only that, but for the first time since she had met him...

"Oh."

...He looked completely at ease.

Rishia let out a soft smile and gently fixed Naofumi's hair. "...Rest well, Lord Naofumi."

It was a bit awkward. But seeing the one she cherished so comfortable in her presence...

It made Rishia happy. So, although hesitating a bit at first, she gently wrapped her arms around Naofumi as well and hugged him close before drifting off to sleep as well.