The Substitution of the Shield Hero

Night eventually fell on the Cal Mira Archipelago.

And with it came a pure starry sky due to being away from civilization.

"Huh." I stared at the very obviously green moon with a few dots of blue on it, as well as the dark green parts that were Iggy's leaves. "Okay, that stands out more than I thought it did."

I was thinking that it would just be a pale green, or that it'd be a murky color because of how the sun's light wouldn't refract off the greenery as much.

But nope.

Either because Iggy was making the moon actively glow... which wouldn't surprise me.

Or I was better at math than I thought and accidentally made the moon aesthetic while I was terraforming it.

Ren walked over and handed me a tropical drink similar to a pina colada. "Of course it stands out, Naofumi. It's a literal green moon glowing against the dark sky."

I chuckled as I took the drink from him. "Well, I didn't think it'd end up so colorful. But I guess that's fine."

At the moment, I was seated at a sort of picnic table I'd synthesized to have somewhere to chat. The sort you might see at a park, with a wooden tabletop and then two benches.

Ren sat down across from me with his own drink and idly looked around, enjoying a moment of peace and quiet.

Since the sun had set, and since they'd been having fun all day, the kids were all tired out.

Mina, Nina, and Bahamut had made a makeshift hut to share, huddled together to sleep in a giant pile on top of a big blanket they'd asked me for earlier.

Morgan was still awake since he was physically mature. But the kid (and he WAS a kid despite his insistence) kept almost falling over.

As I watched, Lucina whispered something to him, and Morgan reluctantly headed inside the vacation home I made, probably to go to sleep.

After that, Lucina walked over to sit beside me, a soft smile on her face. "Thank you for taking care of Morgan today, Naofumi. I truly appreciate it."

"Not at all, Miss Lucina." I reached down to the cooler filled with sodas I'd synthesized and handed her a Fanta. "Want a drink?"

Lucina's eyes lit up as she saw the orange soda bottle. "I have not seen one of these beverages since I was with Father and Mister Leon in Japan..." She stared at it with a nostalgic smile before cracking it open. After taking a sip, she let out a soft sigh. "...Those were kinder days."

Ren glanced at Lucina and then back at me, raising an eyebrow.

And then I remembered that I'd never actually introduced Lucina to the Three Heroes.

I pointed at Ren and said, "Lucina, this is Ren. He's the Legendary Sword Hero... or something."

Ren looked amused and said, "Or something?"

"Well, you haven't really done anything legendary, have you?"

"I think compared to what you've done, Naofumi, nothing is legendary... But yes." Ren nodded at Lucina. "I'm Ren Amaki. Nice to meet you, Miss Lucina."

Lucina smiled and tucked a strand of her blue hair behind her ear. "It is my pleasure to meet more of Naofumi's friends."

"Hey now," I interrupted. "Friend is a strong word... We're more like friendly acquaintances."

Ren gave me a blank stare.

I stared back and said, "Do you want to be the first on the chopping block when people try taking hostages to stop me?"

"Nope. Not friends. Just mutual acquaintances." Ren quickly responded and said, "Friendly, but that's it."

Lucina laughed and said, "Well, either way, an ally is an ally." After that, Lucina sipped on her soda, a warm smile on her face.

During that time, I took the opportunity to take a proper look at her.

'...It really must have been rough.'

Although I'd healed her as best as I could, whether because of the fact that she had divine dragon blood (according to Bahamut) or because the scars ran deeper than flesh, there were marks all over her body.

Usually, they weren't visible since Lucina was in the habit of wearing either robes or long sleeves.

But since she was wearing a bikini right now...

Bite marks on her shoulders and arms. Cuts and lashes. Robe marks around her wrists and... suspicious places.

I didn't let my eyes linger too long, but it was definitely clear what she had experienced. I'd been hoping it wasn't that bad, but...

'Yep. Kill on sight.'

Definitely murdering the entity responsible for the waves here in this world.

Lucina noticed me staring and fidgeted a bit. "My apologies. I know my skin is a bit unsightly. And after Morgan was born, my body-"

"No. You're strong, Miss Lucina." I didn't let her talk down about herself. "Remember that."

Lucina's breath hitched. Then her eyes teared up as she let out a soft chuckle. Wiping her tears away, she said, "You are just as kind as your father."

Ren glanced between Lucina and me and said, "So... how do you two know each other?"

"Oh. So, long story. But apparently, my world actually had a similar phenomenon to the waves too. But it wasn't worlds colliding so much as some crazy people on my home world trying to forcibly stitch dimensions together. Miss Lucina and her father fell into my world from theirs as a result and met my dad."

Ren slowly turned to look at me.

I tilted my head. "What?"

"...Am I the only normal human here?" Ren blinked and said, "Itsuki is an Esper, and Motoyasu apparently comes from a world where time travel is real. Then you're literally the love child of Ada Wong and Leon Kennedy..." He shook his head and said, "It's crazy."

I snorted and said, "I think coming from a world where people managed to quantize, measure, and duplicate the soul is crazier than all of our stuff, Ren. Honestly, the more I hear from you about Kayaba and the things Kirito was up to, the more I think you're the crazy one here."

"At least it's just science, not sci-fi."

"Your world LITERALLY has technology that can create an artificial world with a leveling system. Like, you guys could MAKE this world with the Alicization stuff."

Ren opened his mouth. Then he stopped to think about it. After that, he coughed and said, "...It's just rumors."

"That's a lie and you know it. Cope."

"Well, you're from a world where superheroes are real!"

"No, I'm from a world NEAR a world where superheroes are real. My world is apparently a zombie apocalypse world. Even though it isn't. We're good at containing the undead, you know?"

Lucina perked up and said, "You can contain the undead?"

"Yeah. Why?"

Lucina looked at me with hope in her eyes. "Do you truly intend on fighting against the Fell Dragon then? His main authorities revolve around raising the dead and in decay. If you truly possess the capacity to contain the undead... Then it should be possible to win."

I laughed. "Miss Lucina." I reached over and placed my arm around her shoulders. After that, I pointed at the green moon and said, "I claimed the moon. Can your Fallen Dragon or whatever do that?"

Lucina flinched a bit at the contact. But then she gazed at the moon, wonder and awe in her eyes. "...No. Even at the heights of his power, the Fell Dragon never claimed the moon."

"Well, I'm planning to claim stars and planets." I smiled and said, "Don't worry, Miss Lucina. I'll be using that snake's skin as a wallet cover soon enough."

Lucina laughed. A bright, carefree, and warm laugh.

As she did, I couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was.

"Huh."

Lucina stared at me and tilted her head. "What is it, Naofumi?" She smiled, a serene expression that lit up her face. "Do I have something on my face?"

"Only beauty. Why?"

Lucina immediately turned a bright red. "Th-That...! I-I mean... Th-Thank you?"

Ren gave me a blank look and murmured, "Oh no. He's aware of his face card now..."

I laughed and pulled my arm back from Lucina before saying, "Well, I've always known I had a face card. I've just never used it because it seemed troublesome. But it really is fun teasing girls."

Lucina covered her cheeks before pursing her lips. "...You are terrible. Teasing me like that?"

"Well, you are beautiful though?"

Lucina's breath hitched.

Ren sighed and said, "Naofumi."

"Hm? What is it, Ren?"

"You realize that this is literally how Motoyasu died? Playing women?"

"Nah, I'm not playing them. I haven't said one lie, and I draw the line in the sand."

"It's sand though."

I paused.

Ren stared at me.

"...It'll be fine. Dying is hard for me anyway."

"...I can't wait until your parents get here."

"Oi, don't jinx-"

A firm hand grasped my shoulder.

I flinched.

Lucina gasped.

I closed my eyes and said, "...Please tell me that isn't Dad standing behind me."

A familiar gruff male voice echoed. "I won't tell you then, Kid."

After another soft pat from him, the male speaker (please don't be Dad) settled into the seat on my left.

And the moment that happened, I felt a pair of arms drape around my neck while a traumatically familiar pair of breasts pressed against my back.

"Mm... My little boy's all grown up and leading women around now, is he?"

I kept my eyes closed for a bit longer, hoping against all hope that I might just be hallucinating things or that it was just a dream.

But then...

"HA! JACKPOT! I told you killing the Moon Lord for the tenth time would get us here!"

"I cannot believe such foolishness worked..."

"Young Man. This world is... strange."

"King! This place is just like the Amala Network!"

...I HAD to open my eyes because I felt space tear open like in the waves.

And standing behind Ren were two people I'd seen pictures of, and two people I'd never met.

The Sons of Sparda, Dante and Vergil, dressed to the nines in glittering armor that screamed 'godslayer.'

An ambiguously gendered person with fabulous blue hair and futuristic armor.

And then a guy with tribal tattoos, golden eyes, and a tiny fairy- No, a pixie? Floating over his shoulder.

"Wait." Dante looked at Lucina and said, "Is that Little Cici? ...What the hell happened to you? And who do we need to kill?"

Lucina turned around, her eyes wide in shock. "...Mister Dante? Mister Vergil?"

At that time, Sylvia, Lia, Mein, and S'yne all ran over, weapons drawn.

While wearing bikinis.

"Master!"

"Naofumi-dono!"

"Master Naofumi!"

"Mister Naofumi!"

But it wasn't just them.

Daji and Mirellia ran over too.

Daji was wreathed in white flames, nine tails flickering to life around her while staying close to Sylvia, clearly on edge.

Mirellia was wreathed in icicles, violet eyes narrowed in concern.

But everyone stopped when they saw my mom draped around me and my dad sitting on my left.

Mom looked at the assembled people, clearly noticing that they were all beautiful women who looked ready to fight to the ends of the earth for me.

Then she reached up and turned my head to look me in the eye. "It seems we have a lot to talk about, my cute little boy."

"...Um. I can explain?"

At that time, Rishia walked out from the house, a towel over a racy bikini. And in her arms, she carried a bottle of lotion. "L-Lord Naofumi. Since it's dark, would you like me to..."

She froze, noticing the gathered people.

"...Service you?"

Dad clamped his hand over my head, preventing any escape. "...It seems it's time we had the talk."

Mom pinched my ear. "And discuss family planning."

"Owowowo! Mooom! Not the ear! I'm not a kid anymore-"

"26 or not, you are always going to be my little boy. Now, take us to your house over there before I decide to spill all your embarrassing secrets in front of-"

"GOING!"