The Substitution of the Shield Hero

When I woke up the next day, it was to a novel sight and sensation.

First, there was Rishia hugging my right side. She was wearing racy black lingerie and looked completely at ease, a warm smile on her face as she nuzzled my arm in the valley of her chest.

Now, to be fair, that wasn't completely novel. It was the natural progression of things at this rate.

But what WAS novel was the second thing... or rather, second person.

Robin.

Wearing absolutely nothing at all, the white-haired beauty was sleeping on my bare chest, resting her own bare chest against me. Close enough that I could feel her heartbeat against mine.

And if it was just that, it would be fine.

But when I turned my head to the left, I saw Lucina sleeping there, both her hands laced around my left hand and holding it up against her chest like a precious keepsake.

In short...

'Huh. This must be every man's dream.'

...I was in a situation that would make the average man green with envy or have a stroke from the sheer outrage at the convenient and cozy position I was in.

I didn't panic though. Nor did I rush to get out of it. Instead, I enjoyed it, feeling the warmth of the three women who clearly adored me in their own way.

But in the meantime, I tried to think about how it ended up like this.

'Let's see...'

After saving Lucina's world and killing Grima, I spent the day leisurely fishing and helping Rishia grill our catches for us to eat.

Robin was clingy the entire time, draped around me and hugging me like a lost puppy or child while continuously insisting I was 'comfy.'

Lucina finished teaching Morgan how to fish and then naturally drifted closer to me, talking about various things as I helped Rishia grill.

Rishia, of course, was just happy to be around me.

Meanwhile, Mirellia had ended up as makeshift babysitter while Filo, Melty, Mina, Nina, and Morgan played nearby. Of course, since they were all well-behaved, Mirellia just spent that time laying in the sun and sipping on various alcoholic drinks.

Eventually, the day ended, the kids decided on a giant slumber party, Mirellia volunteered to supervise them...

S'yne, of course, had gone off on her own to happily work through the night with the new materials she gained from Grima.

And I retired to bed in the manor with Rishia, only to be joined by Robin, who insisted on cuddling while she was naked, and Lucina, who said she didn't want to sleep alone.

Which led to the current situation.

Of course, I didn't have sex with any of them, but it was definitely a compromising position to be spotted in...

Since that was the case, I gently untangled myself from everyone and shifted them around to let them keep sleeping.

I gave Rishia my pillow, knowing that she apparently enjoyed my scent and instinctively knew if I wasn't nearby from the lack of it.

For Robin, grabbed a nearby pillow and placed her on top of it before pulling out my old robe and draping it over her.

And for Lucina... after a bit of thinking, I used [Synthesis] to make a mini plushy of me and gently placed it in her hands.

Lucina instinctively pulled it close to her chest and continued sleeping, completely at ease.

Seeing that the ladies were still sleeping and perfectly at ease, I quietly left the room and walked outside.

===

The faint salty air from the sea breeze. The glittering sunlight reflected upon the ocean waves. A cozy warmth, not too hot nor too cold...

I reached up and stretched as I changed into a plain white t-shirt and jeans. "Mm. Much better than Florida."

I never did understand why Mom liked that place so much. Or why she always insisted on taking me with her. Or the girls she kept taking with her as she barhopped while forcing me to be designated driver-

"Ohhh." I facepalmed. "Mom was trying to hook me up. Of course."

In hindsight, made perfect sense.

But I was a bit too busy at the time working on the project to end all projects and resolve the resource shortage on Earth to notice.

I sighed and idly picked up a shell from the ground to skip it across the water's surface. "Mom must have been laughing when I kept missing all the cues."

I had always wondered why girls were always so scantily clad around me. Or kept playfully poking me and fixing up their clothes.

I chuckled. "I guess that's why she never worried about me getting honeytrapped, huh?"

Though, considering that I now had a literal handful of beauties who made their intentions very clear, that might not have been a good thing...

"Meh. You live and learn."

I blamed Dad. Clearly, I got this from him.

...Except his obliviousness was because he had only ever had eyes for Mom, while I was very much a connoisseur of beauties.

What?

It wasn't like I was going to deny myself. I clearly enjoyed being pampered by beautiful women, and it was very nice waking up surrounded by them.

Though I still had quite a few things to handle before I could indulge in any more than waking up to that.

And speaking of things to handle...

I noticed S'yne nearby, scooping up a bucket of water, along with some sand. Seeing that, I walked over and said, "Morning, S'yne. Still hard at work?"

S'yne blinked and then let out a warm smile. "Good morning, Mister Naofumi. And yes. I'm testing how the dragon hide and various materials from Grima interact with different substances." She pulled out a few scales and then turned her sewing kit into crotchet needles. After that, violet light shimmered between the water, sand, and dragon scales before S'yne began knitting a thin cloth ribbon. And when she finished, she held it out for me. "Here. Take a look."

I did. And while it didn't feel any different to me, [Parallel System] clearly recognized it as a message window popped up.

===

[Conflicting Ribbon of Flowing Peace - S-Ranked Accessory]

A ribbon spun from the essence of water, relaxing sand, and the malevolent scales of a dragon bearing inverted divinity. While worn, malice directed towards you is forcibly suppressed and replaced with calm.

===

I slowly blinked. Then I looked at the shimmering violet ribbon with streaks of blue and white that made it look like a starry night sky. After that, I nodded and said, "As expected, conceptual weapons are utter bullshit."

It wasn't so much that the ribbon itself was a conceptual weapon. No, it was the fact that S'yne's Vassal Sewing Kit, and maybe her nature as a Skywing, allowed her to weave the very essences of things together into something new.

The ribbon itself wasn't casting a spell or inflicting a concept on the world. It was just... existing. And the description was just a description of its effects, not a 'prescription' that enforced it.

In short, utter bullshit.

I looked at S'yne and wove the ribbon into her silver hair before saying, "Were you always able to make things like this, S'yne?"

S'yne blushed a bit as she let me weave the ribbon in. But when I was finished, she shook her head and said, "No. I was able to make small things in the past, but something like this..." She gestured towards her ribbon. "It's new." She let out a warm smile and said, "I can only do this because of you, Mister Naofumi."

"Well, keep at it then." I smiled at her as well and said, "You clearly enjoy it, right?"

S'yne nodded. "I do." She looked out at the peaceful ocean waves and said, "It's the first time in a long while where I can just... make things. And not have to fight for my life."

I patted her head. "Well, get used to it then. Most conflicts will probably end like with Grima."

S'yne teased. "You mean with you giving us all minor heart attacks, then you being eaten to defeat the enemy from within while coming back with a beautiful woman who declares herself your property?"

I shrugged. "Maybe?"

S'yne laughed, her silver eyes soft with affection. "Never change, Mister Naofumi." She paused. "Actually, make one change. Remember to warn me next time you plan to kiss me to enhance my abilities. It was... very overwhelming."

"Ah, right." I rubbed the back of my neck. "I'll give you a heads up next time." I paused. "...You aren't mad?"

S'yne tilted her head. "Why would I be mad?"

"Well, I did kiss you out of the blue and all..."

S'yne blinked. Then she giggled and let out a soft smile. "Mister Naofumi. You saved my life and wove my soul with yours. Even if I wanted to run, I can't, you know? And besides, you're very handsome." Her cheeks turned red and she said, "...I don't mind it."

I slowly blinked. Then I nodded. "I see." I rubbed my chin. "So the Sekirei comparison wasn't an exaggeration..." I gave S'yne a side-eye. "...You don't have the urge to crawl into my bed or anything too, do you?"

S'yne laughed. "I'm fine, Mister Naofumi." She gestured towards her crochet needles and said, "As long as I have materials to work with, a safe space to live, and plenty of food, I'm satisfied." She teased me and said, "Unless you wanted more? Are you not satisfied with the beautiful mature women you already have?"

I shrugged and said, "I'm a greedy man. If a beauty's offering, I'll accept."

S'yne turned a beet red and stammered. "W-What?! B-B-But... Y-You can't. I mean, I guess you can... B-But it's too soon..."

I poked her cheek and said, "I'm just teasing. But you're pretty cute when you're flustered, S'yne."

S'yne huffed and said, "You're terrible."

"I blame my mother."

At that time, a familiar sultry voice echoed from nearby. "What was that about your mother, my sweet little boy?"

I froze and slowly turned around.

And like my worst fear... there she was.

Mom, wearing her familiar red dress that left nothing to the imagination. And next to her, Dad... who had kiss marks all over him.

I reflexively took a step back and said, "Nothing, Mom. Did you and Dad have a good night?"

Dad cracked his neck and said, "You could say that." He glanced between me and S'yne before raising an eyebrow. "...And you seem to have gotten worse in the past day. Seducing more women now, are you?"

I felt my ears burn. "I'm not seducing anyone, Dad."

Mom laughed. "That's right. My sweet little boy doesn't need to seduce them, Leon. Beautiful women just drape themselves all over him, you know?"

Dad sighed. "...At least use birth control."

S'yne turned a beet red.

I deliberately didn't react in case it caused a misunderstanding. Instead, I said, "Since you're back here... did you come to chat? Or something else?"

Mom stretched and said, "As much as I would love to spend more time with my sweet baby boy and make fun of his love life... your father and I should probably get going."

Dad nodded and said, "We've confirmed your safety, and you've affirmed that you know how to get back and have a way back. Since that's the case, we're heading off first. I'm sure you're aware of how volatile the world was when you left."

I composed myself and focused. "...Is it that bad?"

Mom sighed and crossed her arms across her torso. "It's not 'world war three is any day' bad... but there ARE a lot of private actors in play. Your father took the rest of his PTO for our little trek here, but he's a busy man, you know? Not to mention the fact that he has to train the newbies in his department."

Dad chuckled. "Yeah... gotta make sure the kids don't become monster munch before the end of the year."

"Oh." I blinked. "So you're just... leaving?"

Mom tilted her head and smiled. "Why? Miss us already?"

"...That's a trap, so I won't answer it. But I was just curious since you went out of your way to come here."

Dad smirked and said, "You're safe. We have grandkids. And it seems like we'll have at least two daughter-in-laws by the year's end, so we have to get started early for the holiday preparations."

I froze.

Mom chuckled. "That's right~ Don't forget that you promised Rosie to come back with gifts. And remember that this year, your Uncle Chris, Auntie Claire, and Auntie Jill all managed to clear their calenders to visit."

Dad nodded. "We've got a few other family friends to introduce you to as well, Kid. So don't skip out or we'll send your Uncle Dante after you again."

I sighed. "Fine..."

I mentally started calculating dates and said, "Is the calendar lined up with Earth?"

Dad nodded. "Yep. It should be around the end of August."

"Got it."

Mom waved and said, "Then we'll be heading off early. Tell the babies we said bye and that we'll have a lot of gifts for them at Thanksgiving. Love you, baby boy~!"

Dad pulled out a glowing blue stone and nodded. "Don't do anything I wouldn't, Kid."

Mom winked. "And start thinking about what kind of big brother you want to be~"

Dad froze.

My eyes widened. "Wait, what are you-!"

Before I could finish, and before Dad could react, the blue light spread from the stone in Dad's hand and whisked them both away.

I groaned and said, "Dammit. Of COURSE she would leave with a bomb like that..."