The Substitution of the Shield Hero

I popped back into my world... 'Our' world.

Gotta make sure to not slip up on that yet.

But anyway, I popped back into our world with Lucina, Morgan, Robin, S'yne, and a ton of high quality weapons and mythical arms that Lucina had picked up from her castle's treasury.

After I popped back into our world, we landed back on the beach where I first left.

But when I did, Mirellia tilted her head. "Back already? It's barely been a minute."

I paused. "Only a minute?"

I could have sworn it was already a few hours...

Lucina looked around, confused too. "Only a minute?"

Mirellia nodded. "That's right... And who's this cute little boy?" She knelt down and smiled at Morgan. "Hello there, Sweetie."

Morgan puffed out his cheeks and said, "It's me, Miss Mirellia! Morgan!"

Mirellia blinked. "...Eh?"

I waved my hand. "Long story, but in short, growth in this world is magical and Lucina's bloodline decided to take charge again."

"...I see." Mirellia nodded, clearly not understanding but realizing it would be better to not probe to deeply. But then she noticed Robin standing nearby. Specifically, the fact that Robin was a beautiful woman whose nude body was only barely covered by a black robe. "...And her?"

I opened my mouth to reply.

But before I could, Robin nodded her head and said, "I am Naofumi's reward for defeating the Fell Dragon Grima."

Lucina chuckled. "That... is not incorrect."

S'yne nodded. "It is, objectively, true."

Mirellia gave me a fierce side eye. "I see. Collecting more beauties even in other worlds, Naofumi?"

I decided to lean into it. Less trouble later. So I nodded. "It seems to have become my new hobby, so yes."

Mirellia laughed. "Well. At least you've become honest about it."

At that time, Filo, Melty, Mina, and Nina ran over from the nearby sandcastle.

Mina reached me first, jumping for a hug. "Papa!"

I smiled and hugged her. "Hello, Mimi. Good morning."

Nina reached me next and floated over to sit on my shoulder. "Welcome home, Father."

I shifted Mina around in my arms and then smiled at Nina. "Thank you, Nana."

Melty arrived next and did a double take at Morgan. "...Morgan?"

Filo gasped and pointed at Morgan. "You became small!"

Morgan blushed. "A-And so what?" He held up Falchion and said, "I can still fight! And now I can get even stronger when I grow up big a second time!"

Lucina chuckled and patted Morgan's head. "Yes, Morgan. But there's no need to rush to be big again."

Morgan tensed a bit at the action. But then he relaxed and leaned against his mother. "...Okay, Mother."

Seeing everyone settled in a bit, I looked back at Mirellia and said, "So you said only a minute's passed in this world?"

Mirellia nodded. "There abouts, yes. I had just finished talking with you and was about to make my way over to the children when you returned."

Robin spoke up and said, "Naofumi. It's possible that the time scalar is different between this world and Ylisse."

I hummed. "That makes sense. Since I planted Iggy on the moon, time here is objective. I guess since Ylisse had literal divine dragons and a Fell Dragon who was big enough to cover the planet, it operated in a partial spacetime bubble? Or a pseudodimension that allowed accelerated time?"

Mirellia slowly blinked and said, "I do not understand what you are saying, Naofumi. But suffice to say... the situation in Miss Lucina's home is resolved?"

I nodded. "More or less..." I paused and looked at Lucina. "Unless you want to go meet your father? Well, younger father. Mister Chrom, right?"

Lucina paused in the middle of fussing over Morgan's hair. She thought about it. Then she slowly said, "No. I think my fight there is over. And they are in good enough hands." She smiled softly and said, "My time in their world was always a borrowed miracle to begin with. I may send a letter in the future however... Would you help me with that when the time comes, Naofumi?"

"Of course. It's a bit difficult to physically travel to a place I've never been if I don't have a connection to it or a clear target. But if it's just sending a letter, I can brute force send a few."

Considering what we'd just been through, I was fairly sure that Lucina came from a pseudo multiverse of some sort. Finding the exact Chrom she knew would be a bit difficult without a proper catalyst or memento, and I was fairly sure that I'd get seen as a tactic by Grima if I just popped around into different worlds like that.

Dad probably had something back at home though, and since Lucina's world operated on a different time scalar, we could pop back in later anyway.

Lucina gave me a grateful smile and said, "Thank you, Naofumi." She placed her hands over her heart and said, "You have no idea how much this has all meant for me."

I quietly stared at her. Then I slowly said, "If you're planning on confessing your love or something-"

Lucina laughed and then walked over to lightly punch my arm. "I may be grateful and feel indebted to you, Naofumi. But it is quite a bit too soon for that." She teased. "Court me properly first."

It was a light-hearted response.

But I noted that it definitely wasn't a 'no' and was clearly a 'not yet.'

Mm... Life was going to get complicated later.

At that time, Rishia walked out from the small manor I'd made on the beach, rolling a small wagon with food. Then she noticed me. And Robin. And Lucina, who was definitely too comfortable in my personal space.

For a brief moment, I thought Rishia would get jealous and I'd have to talk my way out of things. But...

"Oh! Lord Naofumi has a new concubine! Welcome, Miss!"

I gave Rishia a blank stare.

Mirellia giggled and then gave me a look. "...Is she wrong?"

"...Let's just fish for a bit. I need to get my mind off things..."

Rishia fidgeted and quietly murmured, "I'm things..."

"...So, who wants a fish fry?"

===

Bahamut took a look around at the devastated infrastructure in front of him and slowly said, "I... may have miscalculated."

Sylvia walked over and tugged his ear. "What did I tell you about using such destructive spells, Bahamut?!"

"Ow, ow, ow! Th-The people are okay! See?" Bahamut pointed at the ruins of the country called 'Raybul' where people were slowly standing up amidst the rubble of what had been their home.

Lia nodded. "It's fine, Sylvia! No one was killed!"

"THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM!"

Daji chuckled, pulling out a fan from somewhere as she idly fanned her face. "I do not see a problem myself. Those people thought we were trophies to claim. Our brave young man here defended us. Right, Bahamut?"

"That's right, Daji Mama!"

Daji paused. Then she let out a genuinely warm smile and said, "Mm... I like the sound of that. I'll excuse the impertinence this once."

Bahamut gave her a thumbs up.

Sylvia groaned.

At that time, the wandering military forces that had intended to charge at Bahamut and the others slowly rose to their feet.

"Wh-What in the world was that?!"

"Heavenly pressure?! A push from the Heavens?"

"Was that the mythical Shinra Tensei?!"

Bahamut noticed the military forces getting back up and cracked his neck. "Well... Should I do what Dad does and kill them all? Or do you think scaring them is enough?"

Lia pulled out False Mercy and said, "I think we get exp from normal battles now too, so it's more efficient to keep fighting them, right? We can farm them!"

Sylvia's violet eyes widened in horror. Then they narrowed in calculation. "...If intimidation as well as dominance are considered as 'victory' and tabulated as experience, it WOULD be efficient."

Bahamut smiled. "Right? Plus, I've always wanted to try something since Dad did it."

Sylvia paused. "...Try what?"

Bahamut's smile sharpened and then he walked forward, holding his Ultimate Weapon in the air, letting the clear blue flames coalesce into a shining blade. At the same time, he said, "I am Bahamut, the High Lord of All Dragons! I have come to liberate this world from the False Dragon Emperor! All who hear my voice, know that your time of salvation has come! Libertas!"

Sylvia facepalmed.

Lia giggled, especially seeing a few of the men break ranks in panic. After that, she started walking forward. "Well, I guess we're doing a round two of salvation!"

Daji started walking forward too, light and darkness swirling around her. "Well, well, well. I suppose it is a nice change of pace to be a savior instead of a villain..."

Bahamut lowered his sword and looked at forces up ahead.

At the forefront, there was a young man with his hair in a ponytail, and one wearing samurai armor over a Japanese high school uniform. Said young man looked furious at Bahamut's declaration and shouted at the fleeing men. "Is this all the men of Raybul amount to?! After all that I did for your country?!"

"Lord Kazuki! We all feel it!"

"Yes! That young boy is the true High Lord of All Dragons!"

"Did you not feel that pressure?! Opposing him is opposing the weight of the heavens!"

The young man, Kazuki, gnashed his teeth and drew his blade. "Cowards! All of you!" He glanced back at a woman with long black hair and a naginata, dressed in cloth armor. "Tsugumi! With me!"

"Yes, Kazuki-sama!"

Bahamut watched it all, slightly amused, as he calmly walked forward.

Lia walked beside him, practically bursting at the seams with anticipation.

Sylvia sighed and said, "Well... I suppose this is useful data for Master?" She drew her blade as well and hummed. "And I suppose it is much harder to disable than kill... It will be useful training for precision attacks."

"Right?!" Lia giggled. "It'll be fun!"

Daji tailed behind them all and said, "Do have fun, children. If things go awry, your mother here will destroy the unsightly ants."

Bahamut nodded. "Thanks, Daji Mama. Now..." He let out a deceptively innocent smile and pointed his sword at Kazuki. Then, with a completely serious voice, he said, "Ban... kai."

Kazuki froze, quickly raising his sword in a panic.

Tsugumi, the woman with him, quickly moved in front, pointing her naginata with wide eyes.

But nothing happened.

Bahamut smirked. "Gotcha."

Kazuki blinked. "Wha-"

Before he could finish talking, Lia was already there, swinging False Mercy at Kazuki's neck.

Tsugumi gasped and pivoted on her heel to slash at Lia. "KAZUKI-SAMA!"

Lia laughed and lightly kicked Kazuki away before parrying Tsugumi's naginata and closing the distance in a flash, wrapping her free left hand over Tsugumi's neck.

Tsugumi froze.

At that time, Kazuki coughed, his trembling hands clutching at his neck. "I'm... alive?"

Lia smiled and shoved Tsugumi away before backflipping to Bahamut's side.

Bahamut noticed and smirked. "...Grandfather taught you, didn't he?"

Lia just let out a sly smile.

Sylvia sighed. "Well, if you two are going to just play around all day, I am heading into the city." She held her rapier low at her left side as she calmly walked forward. "One of us has to be the responsible one... and it clearly isn't my mother."

Daji chuckled and said, "Go and be responsible then, my daughter. I will keep an eye on your dear siblings here."

Sylvia shook her head and continued walking, idly shattering the weapons of any soldier that tried to attack her on her way to Raybul's capital. "Honestly... Master is such a terrible example. Even if it's effective, he clearly lacks a proper moral compass. ...Though I suppose that's to be expected considering his mother..."