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With a blink of an eye Naofumi found himself forcefully sitting before King Aultcray the XXXII. His moss green eyes glaring hatefully towards the 20 year old Japanese man. The shield hero quietly eyed his three fellow heroes who all bore similar disgusted glares before returning his full attention to the king. His ever present smile softened a smidge as he bowed his head in greeting. “Quite a beautiful morning wouldn’t you agree, your majesty?”
Raising his head he was pleased to see the King gripping his throne’s armrest in repressed rage. His emerald eyes lit up in amusement as he relished the heavy tension. “Don’t you dare try to act innocent you filth!” The king growled out as he lowered his head to avoid looking at that infuriating smile.
Naofumi merely blinked at the outburst before gazing at the red haired adventurer. The girl shaking and clinging to the spear hero as if he were a shield. Giving a soft hum, Naofumi finally thought to address his companion, “How good to see you safe and sound Myne.” His eyes lidded and gaze seemingly softened at his party member’s apparent welfare.
Myne seemed to freeze at the genuine relief before tearing up more and pushing herself behind the spear hero. Said blonde’s lips formed a snarl as his grip tightened on his spear. “Don’t you dare act like you care you scumbag!”
“My goodness, that’s the second insult thrown my way,” Naofumi stated with the smallest tilt of his head all while his brows squished together in utter confusion, “though I don’t believe I’ve done anything to warrant such disrespect.”
Nobles, guards and heroes alike seemed to seethe at the shield’s guiltless facade. Many muttering in disgust before the bow hero spoke with childish conviction, “How shameful to continue this act of ignorance!”
“You know what you’ve done.” The sword hero coolly pitched in, face a scrunched mess of righteous rage and revulsion.
“Hmm? Do tell me of my apparent misdeed.”
The king simply growled at the stubbornness the shield hero clung to before turning to Myne. His expression softened at her and spoke in soothing tones. “Myne, I’m sorry to ask you my dear, but would you mind repeating your testimony again?”
The female adventurer sniffled before finally moving out from behind Motoyasu. Her green eyes gleaming with tears as she choked out her traumatic experience, “T-the shield hero barged into my room drunk and pinned me down…” she curled her body in as if to protect herself from invisible hands. “H-he grabbed me and pinned m-me down…s-said something a-about the night is still young..and tore my clothes off! I somehow escaped and ran to Sir Motoyasu, who happened to be staying in the same inn, for help!” At the end of her retelling Myne was a sobbing mess that Motoyasu cradled into his arms.
Unsurprisingly the dimwit easily fell for the woman’s lies without even a token of skepticism. However, to think that the last two heroes easily succumbed to such poorly made claims was quite disappointing. Though, he supposed he should give the children some slack for their naivety. But, to think the silly girl would concoct such a lie to ruin him was truly humorous. Her tale was so comical that Naofumi couldn’t help the burst of tinkling laughter that rung clearly about the audience hall. All eyes once again pinning him down with harsh judgement.
“You find this funny?!” Motoyasu growled out with such heat that most nobles shrunk back.
“Why of course I do!” Naofumi easily chimed, lips spreading into a wide grin as his eyes crinkled in clear amusement.“After all, it’s quite silly to think I’d tolerate copulating with a human female, when I barely tolerate speaking to my own species females.”
There was a quick breath of stillness before Motoyasu loudly exclaimed, “WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?!?”
“Iwatani-San,” Itsuki quietly cut in, “are you-“
“Not human?” Ren rudely finishes earning a small glare from the bow hero.
“I never said I was human,” Naofumi says in childish delight, “did I?”
The shield hero’s vague wording all it took for nobles and the King to call for his head. “I KNEW YOU WERE NOTHING BUT A DEVIL IN DISGUISE!”
The accusations over his race brought another bout of laughter. “My goodness,” he barely gets out between his giggles, “I can assure you I am no demon, your majesty.”
“Then what are you?” Itsuki questions with the barest hint of frustration.
Smile widening Naofumi looks on with such uncanny serenity, “I could show you, however I would need a tub of fresh water.”
There’s a moment of everyone muttering in uncertainty. Many look over the shield hero in reluctant curiosity, while the three standing heroes speak amongst themselves. The spear and bow quietly arguing over whether to give in to the request or not, while the sword seems to be deeply thinking over the shield’s words. Eventually, Ren somehow persuaded Motoyasu to agree to the request, which led all three to look to the King. Itsuki being the one asking for the king’s cooperation, “Your highness, please allow the shield hero’s request.”
The king grimaces at the idea of aiding the shield hero even if asked to by the other heroes, however with the three swearing to protect everyone should the shield hero try anything he swallows his pride down. Hand hastily urging a small group of guards to fulfill the devil of the shield’s request. The rush to end this messy trial is the only reason for the red heads' astonished and indignant cries to go unheard. A fact that was not missed by the shield, whose eyes twinkled in childish glee.
Within minutes the guards returned lugging around a decently sized wooden tub filled with water. Naofumi silently praised them for finding an acceptable size for this show and tell. Emerald eyes critically inspect the clear water before deeming it suitable for his needs. After all, there was no need to ask for an extravagant tub when he would merely take a dip. With a content hum Naofumi made his way to the tub, uncaring of the idea of soaking his night clothes.
“Do you plan to ruin your clothes?” Itsuki called out with clear distaste.
“Hmm?” Naofumi softly hummed, “I wouldn’t say ruined, merely soaked. Though I do suppose one particular set will be ruined.”
“Wh-“ Motoyasu began only for Naofumi to easily ignore in favor of finally lowering himself in the tub. The size giving him barely enough room to somewhat stretch out.
Before anyone could argue and demand the shield show proper respect to his betters everyone was forced to stare in awe. The once man was slowly changing into something else. His legs seemingly fusing together to form a wide fishtail that hung limply over the tub's lip. Nails sharpening into a dark deadly point as his ears seemingly grew out with four bones sticking out all held in place by a thin layer of skin that was a light green that gradually grew darker til it met his head. Many eyes noting the same thin skin could be found between his fingers effectively creating webbing. Eyes faintly glowing as well as being almost split in half with the pupil taking on a more feline like aspect. On his neck there appeared to be three thin lines on both sides. Both arms now possessing dorsal fins that could certainly bring pain to anyone misfortunate enough to be stabbed by them. The slightest movement bringing attention to the two smaller fins flowing gently in the water. The fins taking after the tail that was long and flowing almost see through like a veil. Scales at a glance black, but glimmer a beautiful shade of green with every turn in the light. Those closet noting the small accents of gold lining at the edge of each individual scale.
It was several moments of silent amazement before nobles once again murmured to one another. Most comments on the unnatural beauty the shield hero was blessed with. Others warily eyeing his claws before questioning whether he was even civil enough to keep from attacking.
All whispers being ignored by the creature, who simply marveled at his sacred weapons' new form. The once bulky shield now a simple silver armband with a green jewel in the middle sat snug on his upper arm. The simple yet welcome change making him laugh softly. His moment of happiness quelled at the gritting noise of Myne’s voice.
“Th-this proves nothing!” Naofumi shot her a dark look before berating her for rudely interrupting the discovery of his shields shifting ability. His rant only earning him bewildered looks as he realized with a start that he wasn’t capable of human speech in his natural form. His voice only coming out in a series of chirps and clicks to those present. Sighing out, he pointed to the three heroes and beckoned them to him.
Each straightening up quickly at the motion, before eyeing him in clear wary. Lips pulling a pout Naofumi chirped in soft tones as if to ease their minds. With one last glance to each other the three moved as one to stand a foot away from their non-human hero. Naofumi smiled slyly as he purred out in satisfaction. The soft rumbling making the others flush as the shield quietly rummaged through his inventory before lighting up in repressed joy. With a happy chirp Naofumi gave each hero a single scale. A scale that resembled those found on himself.
With a quirk of his brow Ren was slowly about to absorb the scale into his sword, only to stop at the harsh hiss directed at him. Looking to the shield hero he almost backed away at the now noticeable long elongated sharp teeth. Teeth meant for ripping chunks of meat off of prey. Gulping audibly to all heroes he gave a grunt in lieu of a question. With a huff Naofumi motioned his hand to his mouth as if to feed himself a piece of candy pointedly nodding to the small scale in the sword hero’s hand.
Motoyasu was the first to loudly complain at the idea of consuming any part of the shield hero, only shutting up at the harsh glare he garnered from said hero. With one last look to each other the three heroes hurriedly swallowed the scales with the thought of it being an unpleasant action. Only for all three to blink in shock at the almost sweet yet floral taste the scale left behind. Naofumi smiling impishly at their shock, “Now you can understand me.”
Motoyasu almost jumped at the non-humans voice. The voice that was once soft and mellow seemed to have become a sinful lure for all who could understand him. And he wasn’t the only one to think so as the two younger heroes' cheeks flushed deeply. With a small laugh that felt like a feather light caress to their cheeks Naofumi continued on to speak, “Don’t be shocked now. Though, you will be pleased to know that this is a permanent gift.”
Ren easily shifted his eyes to his status to see whether Naofumi spoke the truth or not.
Skills
* Goddess Atargatis Blessing
- A blessing that is given by the goddess of Atargatis and her children through the offering of one’s scale. Gifts the ability to understand her children's voices.
*added benefit of 30% increase in stamina.
“30 PERCENT INCREASE?!?!”
“Shut it Motoyasu-san.”
“Bu-“
“Zip it!”
Motoyasu clicked his mouth shut with the saddest pair of kicked puppy eyes ever.
“Consider this a small token of trust.” Naofumi easily cut in bringing the attention back to him. “All I ask is that you hear me out.”
The three went right back to looking at each other in silent conversation only for the bow to speak first, “What did you mean by barely standing your species females?”
“Just as it sounds. Their voice grits my nerves and don’t get me started on how they seem to not even be aware of the concept of personal space.” Naofumi scowled at the reminder of his last encounter he had with one.
“What does this have to do with proving your innocence?” Ren immediately cut in, growing impatient at the wasted time.
“Simple, if I can barely speak to my own kind’s females, what makes you think I’d ever intimately touch a human female?” Green eyes glowed in open amusement as he continued, “Plus, I must admit that her scent is quite unpleasant to be around.”
“What? Myne smells fine to me.”
“Maybe for your nose, but for mine all I smell is an overuse of perfume with the added stench of something rotten. Though,” Naofumi’s gaze settled over the king before tracking back to his fellow heroes, “I suppose father and daughter are one and the same.”
“WHAT?!?” Motoyasu exclaimed before turning to eye Myne and the king critically. Both, blinking in surprise before Motoyasu seemed to pale. The other two soon coming to the same conclusion with the sudden widening of their eyes.
With a cough Itsuki veered the conversation back on track, “While that does put things into perspective I still believe that isn’t enough to prove your innocence.”
Humming softly, Naofumi tapped his chin in thought before finally relinquishing one piece of information of his kind, “I’m a carrier.”
“And what does being a carrier entail?”
“A carrier is a male siren capable of getting pregnant. There are a few identifiable characteristics of a carrier, however one major difference between regular males to carrier males are our sex organs. Simply put I don’t have testicles and instead have a vagina in place of them.”
There was a long bout of silence before all three yelled out, “WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!”