blessed with a hero's heart

Chapter 15: Taste of Freedom

Magnus: Sorry for the long wait. It is time to see how Izuku deals with loose ends, and prepares to move into a proper adventure! Enojoy!
Disclaimer: I said it before, and I'll say it again. I'm not dropping this story. Updates will take a long time, but I'll complete it. Please be patient.
This chapter was Beta'ed by Vandenbz
Chapter 15
The taste of freedom
Wiz the shopkeeper knew for a fact that the Arch Druid Izuku Midoriya was different. Different from other adventurers, from other Druids, even from most humans. He carried a family name, but claimed no nobility title; he demonstrated the bearings of a vastly superior education, and yet behaved in a glaringly humble way.
Izuku Midoriya was full of contradictions.
"A-are y-you sure?!" Yunyun stuttered as she clung to the item in her hands, "C-can I r-really have this?!"
The two Crimson Demons had been arguing over said item, a magic wand with the tip holding a heart-shaped magecite gem, for over twenty minutes now. Oddly enough, the argument was centered on the proper poses to make when brandishing it, and not even once touching the fact that it looked like something a little girl would use.
"Of course." Izuku promptly replied, flashing the cute smile he was known for, "You are part of the team, and you've been helpful. Why wouldn't you deserve a reward?"
"I am… part of the team?" Yunyun's eyes began to water upon finally hearing the words her heart desired for so long, "I'M PART OF THE TEAM!"
Megumin just sighed at the scene. Izuku meant well, and Yunyun wasn't an actual hindrance, but the fact remained unchanged that her boyfriend was weak to girls in need of being rescued, whether it be physically or emotionally. It wasn't a bad thing though, but such gallant disposition would surely cause a lot of problems along the way.
Izuku was quick to catch the cute little sound, and even quicker to react to it.
"And for you, I want…" Izuku dragged on in order to catch the attention of his girlfriend, finding success without trouble, "A new set of clothes."
Megumin blinked.
"What's wrong with my clothes?" Megumin asked in honest confusion; she was certain that they were revealing enough to keep Izuku's attention, "I thought you liked them…"
The last bit was said in a lower tone with a shy attitude. She wondered if he wanted something more daring, like something a Sorceress would use, like a battle bikini…
"Of course I like you. I like you the way you are, the way you look…" Izuku started, blushing all the way, "But you are growing, and your clothes aren't."
In the background, Wiz let out a small chuckle. Megumin, with her tiny body, looked adorable in her normal outfit as the combination of a rather small skirt and enormous hat made her look all the more eye-catching. However, Izuku was right, and her body would soon grow to the point of her outfit scratching indecency. The skirt eventually becoming too short to protect her modesty, and her chest no doubt would find the cloth too restraining.
Just looking at the other crimson demon was proof enough of how beautiful she would become one day, all thanks to a steady supply of food and shelter.
"I-if that's the case…" Yunyun called to their attention, "Why don't we… you know… go back to the village?"
"How many times do I have to explain that he is MY boyfriend?" Megumin instantly shifted into a defensive stance, practically shielding the now flustered Arch Druid with her tiny frame, "Stop trying to seduce him!"
As the flustered girl descended into a flurry of denials, Wiz continued to watch. Her heart and mind at war with each other, trying to find the right moment and the words required to ask her selfish request, and how to ask forgiveness for her disastrous blunder.
"We are ready to make a purchase." Izuku's voice brought back the ditzy shopkeeper from her troubled thoughts, "We also want to commission some new clothes."
Looking at the items before her, Wiz noticed that it was the girly wand and an assortment of accessories, all gifts for the girls that were fighting for his heart. The situation made her envious, especially because Izuku was sinfully kind and caring.
"Wouldn't it be better if you commission this with a seamstress?" Wiz asked in honest confusion, "I can make these pieces of clothing if you really want, but it will be more expensive."
The clothes in question were a couple of small chest pieces made of cloth with a small support made of thin metal placed below the breasts. She couldn't understand the function of the piece, but it wasn't armor.
"I'd rather you be the one to create it." Izuku replied with a kind smile, "Then I want you to take credit for these clothes, and sell them to all the women you can."
Izuku, being an only child, and growing without a father for most of his life, was forced to know and understand the function of bras. It was a truly embarrassing fact, but the women of this world really needed such a thing. He decided to allow Wiz to take credit for the invention rather than carry the stigma himself, of course.
And of course, the very first models were aimed for Megumin, Chika, Darkness, Liza and Yunyun.
"Why?" Wiz asked, baffled at the selfless offer.
Izuku Midoriya was kind, caring and generous. Things that were hard to come by, especially together. It made her request all the harder to make.
"Because we are friends…" Izuku started before he seemed to grow hesitant for a moment, "Also, you seem to be… depressed… and I want you to cheer up."
Behind the Arch Druid, two Crimson Demons stood in awe. One shook her head in disbelief at the situation, the other just face-palmed, not in annoyance, but in an attempt to stifle a chuckle. No one, anywhere, would renounce the rights to an invention, no matter how silly or useless it may be. And Izuku was giving away something functional just to get a smile?
"If we are really friends…" Wiz started, knowing very well that if she didn't capitalize on the offering, she may never be able to come up with the courage to ask for what she really needed, "Can I ask for something really selfish?"
Izuku knew that something was up, but he had no idea what. Wiz was easy to read, especially when something bothered her. Her ditzy attitude was her way of enjoying life in a carefree way, to tell her worries to go away. Seeing her so focused, and yet so absent…
"No cuddles or feathers!" Chika interrupted the moment, using Liza as a shield, "Only Master can have anything Chika-related!"
That spontaneous demand made Wiz chuckle.
"No, it's not that." Wiz replied, finally smiling, "I need you to listen to an old tale, and then listen to my request. I promise that I'll reward you with something nice."
For the next hour, Izuku and company were treated to the tales of the legendary Ice Witch. How she traveled the kingdom with her party while tackling impossible odds, and how they earned their status as powerful and courageous adventurers. Then came the tale of their downfall, how their egos got the better of them, or rather, their over-reliance on the fabled Ice Witch.
In an attempt to boost their fame and glory, and the gold in their pockets, they had targeted Belida. The battle lasted for nearly two days, devolving into a duel between the mighty dullahan and the relentless Ice Witch.
It had been, according to Wiz, a simple slip of her mind. Caught in the rhythm of their deadly dance, the dullahan had positioned himself in the perfect spot, shooting his deadly curse at the Ice Witch. He didn't expect to hit her, but the people behind her, people she had forgotten where there during her adrenaline-fueled combat trance. She evaded easily, and her party members had paid the price.
Beldia, as expected, left the party to suffer for their shortcomings, warning them about the time limit before their final day, and how they were going to suffer… unless they could defeat him.
It didn't even take three days for the Ice Witch to find a way to save her friends.
Defeating Beldia alone was a no-go. She could stand against him on equal grounds, but without a powerful priest at hand, there would not be a killing blow. Instead, she sought another Devil King's General. The fearsome Duke of Hell, Vanir.
They battled for an entire day, with the Witch coming out on top at the end. With her victory, she demanded the Duke of Hell to help her in saving her friends. In the end, it meant shouldering the curse herself in their place. Vanir, of course, could do it, but he had warned her that her soul would not be able to shoulder such stress, meaning that she would die and the curse would be back on the original targets, barely buying a day or two more to live in agony.
Seeing her despair, the Duke offered an alternative. By becoming something more resilient than a human, she could shoulder the curse without dying, thus saving her friends as long as she kept shouldering the curse. That day, the Ice Witch abandoned her humanity, and shouldered the curse of her party members. That day the Ice Witch disappeared, never to be seen again.
"I am… was… the Ice Witch." Wiz finished her tale, sadness mixed with liberation in her features, "I'm a lich now, and a general of the Devil King's army. I mostly just help maintain the barrier protecting his castle though."
Taking a moment to see the faces of her audience, Wiz noticed that the looks she was being given were… sympathetic. There was a surprising lack of rejection, no cries of outrage, or even incredulous looks. She could say they looked ready to… help her.
"That's why…" Wiz hesitated. She knew this had to be done, that there was no other way around the problem, "The request… What I need you to…"
"Wiz…" Izuku interrupted the troubled shopkeeper, a kind and caring face illuminating the entire shop, "Do you want to reincarnate?"
It had come out of nowhere. An offer so outlandish that it couldn't be true.
Of course, an Arch Druid could learn Reincarnation, but to use it on an undead?!
Then again, this was Izuku, the wonderful adventurer who couldn't care less about impossibilities. If he was offering, then it was a real possibility.
BONK!
Seeing the young Arch Druid getting hit in the head, by an angry petite Crimson Demon, was another outlandish thing. Although it was clear that the hit wasn't aimed to hurt.
"STOP IT!" Megumin shouted, still holding her staff at the ready.
"What?" Izuku asked in surprise, while holding his head in a defensive way, "Why?!"
"You already collapsed today while reincarnating one ancient lich." Megumin stated, glaring at her boyfriend with worry, "I won't have you collapse again!"
"He did?!" Wiz was more than just surprised by such a declaration.
On one hand, this reckless behavior couldn't be right. Exhausting one's mana to the point of collapse was taxing to the body, as exemplified by the underdeveloped Megumin, who not too long ago couldn't go a day without using Explosion magic and collapsing.
On the other hand, this revelation meant she had a way out of her deal with the Devil King. Reincarnation worked differently than Resurrection, as the first spell threw the soul into its natural cycle of rebirth, meaning that all past sins and curses would be erased for a fresh start, while the second only returned the soul to the body, therefore lingering effects like curses would remain.
"Chika agrees with Megumin." Chika was quick to join in, taking the petite girl's side, "Master needs to rest and recover!"
With speed and agility that the young Arch Druid simply couldn't follow, he found his staff snatched away from his hands by a pouting Black Harpy. He idly wondered if the petite avian girl didn't use some sort of illusion too.
"Master… rest…" Liza added as she hugged Izuku from behind. It was a holding maneuver full of care and love, but Izuku could still say it felt as if he was being held by an industrial press… He could also tell that her sizable breasts hadn't shrunk in the slightest.
"Ah!" Izuku's squeal was a rather cute mix of embarrassment and surprise, "I get it! I GET IT!"
Even when he gave in, Liza refused to let him go, much to the increasing embarrassment of the party leader. Then Darkness and Aela entered the shop, getting a fantastic view of a now blushing Izuku.
"What's going on?" Aela asked, failing to conceal her curiosity.
"Izuku was going to recklessly use his super spells again!" Yunyun reported, barely able to emerge from her dazzled condition, "I have to side with Megumin on this, Izuku needs to properly rest for a day or two before attempting that spell again!"
Aela was actually surprised about Izuku not struggling against his slave. Such a scene should be impossible due to slaves being bound by the brand, making them unable to disobey or go against their master. However, that curiosity was overridden by the declaration.
"What?" Aela had no idea what they were talking about, "What spell?"
"Izuku! You need to rest before pulling any more stunts!" Darkness interrupted, truly worried about the saint under her care, "Miracles are tremendously taxing, you need to make sure you are always well rested before attempting any!"
"But…" Izuku weakly tried to argue, but Liza continued to smother him with love and worry, making it hard for the young Arch Druid to focus on anything besides calming his hormonal impulses.
Why did she have to be so… beautiful and bountiful?
"It is fine!" Wiz all but shouted, finally understanding that Izuku wanted to sacrifice his health for her, "I'm not going anywhere. I can wait for as long as needed!"
That declaration brought everyone's attention back to her.
Wiz didn't know how many would learn her secret in the meantime, but her life wasn't worth risking in exchange for her dear friend. If a party of heroes came in to slay her, she wouldn't mind as long as Izuku was safe.
"Would that be enough to keep Izuku still?" Darkness asked all of a sudden, she loved Izuku's heavenly disposition, but he was reckless when it came to helping people, "Can we trust him to not do anything until fully recovered?"
One look at Izuku was enough. It was obvious that he would sneak his way out to help someone in need.
"I can keep his staff while he rests." Wiz offered, knowing that such a powerful spell needed a focus to even be able to cast it.
"Let's go for that." Yunyun replied, immediately wincing as she realized she may have over-stepped her rank in the party.
"Agreed."
"Chika agrees!"
"Good plan."
"What are we agreeing on again?" Aela couldn't help but ask. Understanding her new party members was becoming increasingly difficult.
"Don't I have the right to object?!" Izuku asked, annoyed at this development, but finding himself unable to struggle, or even order Liza to let him go.
"No." Liza's answer made it obvious that her desire for his wellbeing was overriding her ingrained obedience.
As the party continued to browse her items, Wiz contemplated the path before her. Izuku had become her friend easily and quickly, but she didn't understand why. It wasn't infatuation, as the young Druid had yet to properly ogle her, make an improper remark, or even try to feel her up during her many approaches. It wasn't greed, as she hadn't been asked, not even once, to lower her prices or to bring up the large collection of forbidden items she hoarded; in fact, most of the time the young Druid only bought lesser magic items and trinkets to make his party members smile.
Waving good bye as the group left after purchasing some Chameleon Cloaks and a few silk cushions, Wiz continued to wonder how to proceed forward. If Izuku's Reincarnation worked, the curse would be undone and she'd be free. Free to return to a life of adventuring? Maybe finally be able to find a proper romance?
Looking down at her desk, the troubled lich decided that pondering the future would do her no good. Instead, she focused on what she had in front of her right now. Izuku's staff was a thing of beauty; as primal as it looked, it had a perfect grip, balance, and perhaps the most beautiful resonance she had ever felt on a spell focus, but it hardly could be used as a weapon.
At the side of the staff, there was the beak of a cockatrice. Without the cockatrice's stone gall, it had no petrification potential, but it still held the powerful paralyzing venom perpetually attached to the edge of the beak.
"Maybe I should upgrade his staff…" Wiz muttered to herself as she held both items, then a cute smile adorned her features as she imagined how Izuku would react to the upgrade, "It would be a nice thank you gift, even if only for the thought of helping me."
Having no need to sleep or eat, the ditzy shopkeeper began to work on the upgrade while taking adequate breaks to touch the beautiful jet black feathers adorning the staff.
The next day, deep into the forest…
Quests were the daily source of income for adventurers. They came in a variety of shapes and grades of difficulty. Ranging from the boring gathering duty to the ever-exciting monster subjugations. However, they all shared one thing in common.
It was always impossible to determine the danger involved.
"RRUUUUUNNNN!"
"Why?! Why now?! Why US?!"
"Not like this?!"
A group of adventurers found themselves running for their lives. What started as a simple goblin extermination had turned into a massive fuck up.
RRROOOOAAAAAARRRRRR!
A large feline leapt at them from the bushes, missing one of the adventurers by the skin of their teeth.
"WHY IS THERE A ROOKIE KILLER HERE?!"
Dust and his party never imagined that a Rookie Killer, a feline best that resembled a black sabretooth, would be lurking so close to the town of beginners. Then again, the beast was known for hiding away from strong adventurers, and lure low level ones with weak prey. The lack of reports would be obvious due to the exceedingly low chance of surviving an encounter with one.
"Keith!" Taylor called while trying his best to not fall behind due to the weight of his gear, "Shoot it with your bow!"
"Sure thing!" Keith replied without stopping, or even looking back, "AFTER YOU STOP IT FOR ONE SECOND!"
Dust's party was not the weakest, but it was not above novice rank either. Facing off against a Rookie Killer was suicidal at best.
"GAH!"
Lean yelped as she twisted her ankle, falling to the ground with a face that reflected her panic. She hadn't hit the ground and she could already feel the beast breathing down her neck. Dying by being torn to pieces by this monster was a horrible way to go, doubly so with the knowledge that her party didn't have enough money to pay for a proper resurrection spell.
"LEAN!"
Dust screamed as he did the unthinkable. The pervert stopped dead in his tracks, and jumped to shield the girl with his body. They weren't an official couple yet. They just fooled around with the idea of being an item, to go on a date or two before committing. And yet, something inside the blond forced him to act like a man, even if it was for the last seconds of his life.
BAM!
The loud sound was followed by the whining of an animal. Seizing the opportunity, Lean and Dust looked toward the Rookie Killer, and saw it rolling on the ground with a crossbow bolt sticking out of one of its legs.
"Protect the adventurers!"
The commanding voice held a cute tone, which made them recognize the owner well before his form came into view. Izuku the Arch Druid, somehow, had come to their rescue… again. It may be shameful, but they were truly grateful for this timely rescue.
"On it!" Darkness jumped out of nowhere, lifting her thorny shield to protect the downed couple, thorny mace at the ready.
"What the heck is that?" Keith couldn't help but ask as he looked at the one who managed to shoot the Rookie Killer.
Aela the Ranger, unintended slave of the Arch Druid, was holding an artifact that the archer had trouble calling a crossbow. In the delicate hands of the pink-haired girl, rested a contraption that looked more like an elongated box with trigger on one end, a tiny metal bow on the other, and a small barrel in the middle of the box.
It was, of course, more complex than that. The cord of the bow ran inside the box through a slit, below the tiny bow was a secondary handle with what appeared to be another trigger. On one side of the box, a third small handle could be seen. And at the top of the box, there was a spyglass attached.
It looked too complex to be a crossbow, but it seemed to function like one.
"Reloading!" Aela shouted. It was the normal thing to do, and it was to be expected that the girl would seek cover while struggling to pull the cord back and replace the bolt.
The Ranger began by relaxing the grip on the secondary handle, causing the arms of the bow to move back and release all tension from the cord. Then, with barely any effort, she pulled the third handle back, which moved the cord back into position, which was signaled by a rather discrete clicking sound. After that action was finished, she rotated the barrel below, which made more clicking sounds, revealing that another bolt was now set into a ready position thanks to its tip now being visible at the end of the box. Then she returned to applying pressure to the secondary handle, which forced the arms of the bow to move and tense again. Finally, she moved the artifact so she could see through the spyglass.
"Ready!" Aela shouted after not even 10 seconds.
RROOOOOAAA-
BAM!
As the beast made to roar in defiance, the Ranger shot, scoring a hit right inside the mouth of the beast, piercing right through its brain. The party of adventurers looked on with incredulity. Kyouya's cheerleader had soloed the Rookie Killer, in just two shots!
"Are you all right?" Izuku asked the group, his sincere worry soothing the hearts and nerves of the battered adventurers, "Is anyone injured?"
The sheer impact of seeing someone so useless act like a badass hero was soon replaced with acceptance. It was Izuku's party, after all.
"I think I twisted my ankle…" Lean replied, seemingly ignoring that Dust was still hugging her.
If he was doing so out of worry, or out of fear, it was difficult to say.
"Let me help you." Izuku said as he went to place his hands onto the injured limb.
"Cure Wounds." Izuku intoned.
Emerald light shone upon the ankle, and almost instantly the pain was gone.
Cure Wounds was a basic healing spell. Common among all priests, and not uncommon in the hands of Druids and other divine casters. The surprise that those watching felt, thus, came from the fact that it came out with a greater potency than what priests would use, and the light was far more intense than what was seen at the different temples. The fact that it wasn't white was also of note.
"Uh…" Lean was hesitating to talk, the feat may be irrelevant, but it was still yet another oddity to crown the young Arch Druid with, "Thank you."
Lean had confessed to finding Izuku intimidating. Too much power, too many unique skills, so much more capable… that she couldn't even begin to imagine the hurdles of the girls following him. Just what kind of acts of devotion did they need to perform to gain his attention?
Dust had never been so grateful in his life for small misunderstandings. Seeing the green-haired boy drunk once had been more than enough to understand that he was still human, and thus, relatable.
"Glad to hear it." Izuku finished, turning around to address his party members, "Well, how was it?"
Their quest was about collecting healing herbs. It was simple, easy and quick. Finding that the custom crossbow was ready just added the intention to find some moving targets for a field test. Izuku had no way to know how big of a deal this particular target was, or the fame that the pink-haired Ranger would incur because of what she did.
"It's…" Aela drawled on as she began to look at every part of her new experimental weapon, "Heavy. But I can manage."
Bianca. That was the name that Mr. Talenof gave to his creation. A complex mechanism that used heavy duty springs and gears filled the boxy casing of the crossbow, the hell-melted mithril making for a powerful alloy for most of the pieces, while the Iron Bark formed a not so heavy casing. The weapon was not easy to operate, as it required high coordination to quickly load the next shot, but it required far less strength when compared to other crossbows.
When Talenof asked for a new name for this type of weapon, Izuku blurted the name… Bowgun.
"What is that thing?" Keith asked as he approached the Ranger, who immediately hugged the bowgun while taking a step back, "And where do I get one?!"
Back at the Guild hall…
Izuku was kind of used to the intense staring every time he entered the guild. If it wasn't after saving someone, it was simply because he was surrounded by loving girls. Said girls, of course, were talented and strong, and not merely accessories to show off.
Today, though, the intense staring was not directed at him.
"Can you please stop shielding your weapon like it's some sort of baby?" Megumin asked to the nervous Ranger, "It's rather disturbing."
Aela just reinforced her grip on Bianca.
Apparently, Dust's party had begun to spread the news of the Bowgun, and how powerful it had been against the Rookie Killer. There were actual eyes full of envy, animosity, and greed directed at the Ranger right now. And she was well aware of them.
She failed to notice the fear though.
"I can understand her." Darkness joined the banter as they walked to their table, "Every day I get offers for the weapons Izuku made for me, but I'll never let go of them."
There was a healthy amount of fear coming from the stares. The feat of killing a Rookie Killer in two shots was the equivalent of saying that she could kill two dozen adventurers, just like how dangerous Darkness looked due to her being able to stand her ground against Beldia.
The greed and envy were there, but so was the survival instinct telling them all that attempting anything would end in instant death.
"I think Megumin is jealous." Yunyun's statement earned a loud gasp from the petite Crimson Demon, "She doesn't have a custom item, while others do."
The idea of teasing Megumin brought shivers to anyone who was aware of the existence of Big Bang. Seeing the small Arch Wizard tremble in anger only made things scarier.
"Is that true?" Izuku asked with a warm smile, earning a cute pout from his girlfriend, "Should I make something special for you? Maybe a staff?"
That question earned a reaction from the explosive girl.
"You mean it?!" Megumin asked with sparkles in her eyes, earning a resolute nod from her boyfriend, "Can it… can it have that Iron bark you grow? And a… lock of your hair too?"
Unknown to Izuku, Megumin was asking for a tradition between lovers. It was believed that exchanging locks of hair would protect each other from ill intent. And for spellcasters, this meant a more potent focus.
"Well…" Izuku playfully drawled for a second, "If I can have a lock of your hair…"
Megumin nodded as they finally sat at their table. It didn't take long for her to snuggle up to Izuku.
"A lock of Master's hair…" Chika muttered, imagining having a bracer or a ring, or even a pendant with such a treasure.
"I want… only Master…" Liza was much simpler on her thinking.
THUD!
And then she finally placed the other thing down. The thing that had nearly every adventurer drowning in awe and fear. It was the corpse of the Rookie Killer.
To be honest, Liza would have preferred to tear it to pieces for easier transportation. But Izuku had requested to have it intact, as he had an idea for the materials.
"I'll see what I can do to please you all!" Izuku replied with a well-natured chuckle, completely failing to notice the stares of those who misinterpreted his wording, "But for now, we need to make a revision for Aela's debt."
In her seat, said Ranger winced.
Situations like hers required regular revisions to ensure that the debt was being paid in a proper manner. It also guaranteed that the one paying didn't try to steal or cheat their way around. For Aela, this was an obvious move, something that was long overdue, even if her time in this party had been rather short.
She had been given a room at the inn, even if it was a small one. She had been having three meals a day, new clothes, and now, what amounted to a legendary weapon of her own. If the debt were to increase by another 20 million, she would still call it fair.
While the Ranger made a mental list of all the benefits she had enjoyed, and failing to suppress the need for a comparison with her time with Kyouya, Luna had arrived at their table, with a few papers in hand.
"Here is the balance." Luna stated as she placed the papers on the table, "Please check that there are no errors or discrepancies."
Luna had a knowing smile adorning her face. It had all played out like Izuku wanted without a doubt.
Taking her time to read through the three pages that corresponded to her, the Ranger couldn't help the gasp that escaped her. It was impossible, there was no way the numbers were right!
"Is this…" Aela couldn't help but read it again, unable to believe her eyes, "For… real…"
Tears were now rolling down her cheeks. What was in the papers was in no way correct. There was not a single person in this world that had the heart to do this…
"That's right." Izuku said with a triumphant smile, "Congratulations on earning your freedom!"
The words of the young Arch Druid were followed by soft applause. It was a momentous occasion, but for the rest of the party members, this seemed like the most Izuku thing to happen.
"How?" Aela weakly asked, wondering if she was just about to wake up to a crueler reality, "Why?"
The tears were getting more numerous, so Izuku thought about explaining a little bit.
"Well, you were already part of the party when Belida attacked, so, technically you were part of the party that defeated Beldia." Izuku's words made absolutely no sense, it was, after all, common sense to exclude the weaker members from rewards, right? "So, technically, a part of the reward is yours."
"It was a small portion due to your small participation." Darkness clarified, "Acting as bait is not enough for an equal share."
The words of the noble-born were a poor attempt to lessen the impact. The Ranger didn't deserve any of that money. In fact, she was the reason why Izuku had to fight back then.
"You've also been helping us with all the quests we were taking." Izuku continued, making even less sense, as her participation was that of target practice while adventuring, "Every little bit of help matters!"
Aela stared crying.
She didn't deserve this. Izuku, the man she hated at the beginning, was showing her kindness in a measure that was unthinkable.
Instead of taking advantage of her like anyone else would have done, Izuku had helped her in every aspect he could. He polished her skills, letting her understand that everything she could do was helpful. He helped her regain her dignity, as giving her sensible clothes made her more respectable in the eyes of the Guild and the other adventurers. He made her strong, as what she did today wouldn't be but an unreachable dream for her old self. And now…
"How is all that enough to pay my debt?" Aela asked, her mind still finding it difficult to believe that the one to fight for her freedom was the guy who she thought had taken it away in the first place, "Here it says that I'm getting money for myself."
She wasn't being kicked out. That much she understood. But to be given money when not too long ago she seemed to have endless debt? Wasn't this too much kindness for just a party member? Was he trying to also win her heart?
"You've earned it." Izuku replied, being followed by the rest of the party nodding in agreement, "You also need to learn how to spend your money."
Aela had been prone to always let others do the important stuff. When she was with Kyouya, he would do the fighting and all the guild-related matters. Izuku had been given that last role too.
"In fact, why don't you talk with Luna about your last kill?" Izuku added, getting a startled look from the Ranger, "You need to learn how to negotiate for the parts, or decide if you want to keep them to commission an item for yourself."
"You could totally keep the pelt of the monster and commission a cloak!" Yunyun suddenly interrupted, years of solitude dulling her social sense and timing skills, "It would be adorable to turn the head into a hood!"
While Megumin face-palmed, either because of the untimely interruption, or her odd fashion sense, Izuku limited himself to giving her some head pats. She may not have been a demi-human, but she purred all the same… much to Megumin's annoyance.
"Come with me, Aela." Luna called as she extended a hand towards the overwhelmed Ranger, "Let's talk business at the counter."
As soon as the pair were out of hearing range, Izuku made a serious face. It was time to discuss something important.
"Now that that is done, we need to get ready." Izuku proclaimed, getting resolute nods from his party members, "We'll be able to pick up the carriage in three days. Food and water are no problem, but…"
Turning to look at the masochistic Crusader, they found the blond smiling.
"Don't worry." Darkness replied without hesitation, "I'm sure my father will not object to the journey."
While Izuku, Megumin and Yunyun could freely move around the world, Darkness had strong ties to the city. Traveling between cities was not an actual problem, but the journey Izuku intended required a degree of dedication that a noble-born couldn't just give. She wasn't just bound to not return to her family anytime soon, she was also liable to never return at all.
"Chika will forever follow Master!" The harpy said in a low tone, one which Izuku was now comfortable with.
"I… follow…" Liza voiced her loyalty and determination, much to Izuku's happiness.
"We'll defeat the Devil King, together!" Megumin was quick to strike a heroic pose, making Izuku smile while remembering the first time he met her.
"Yes, together!" Yunyun posed by the petite girl's side, "Because we are a team!"
"Don't you have to ask your father for permission?" Megumin instantly broke character, now poking at the side of the now flustered girl, "Did you even ask permission to be here to begin with?"
"Megumin!" Yunyun was now trying to shield her sides from Megumin's fingers, "It doesn't work like that! Don't give the wrong idea to Izuku!"
Izuku couldn't help the laugh that escaped his lips. He loved these girls, his teammates. He couldn't help but reinforce the self-promise he made, to never allow his precious people to get hurt. The path to return home was about to finally begin, and he needed to make sure he was prepared to ensure not only victory, but a safe return for the people he loves.
Magnus: Slowly but surely, we are moving forward with the story. Don't expect it to go like canon!
Omake – Emergency meeting – For AllAboutNothin
Inside the Adventurer's Guild, in one of the private rooms, a group of people were holed up, trying desperately to find a solution for their current crisis…
"And that is the situation." Luna reported to the crystal ball sitting atop the table, those around her showing faces of utter distress, "The dwarves couldn't be stalled, and I'm afraid the churches did a tremendous job at alienating him."
Him. Izuku Midoriya, the Arch Druid who had completed more quests on his short time as an adventurer than many veterans in a lifetime of hard work. The same adventurer who defeated a General of the Devil King's army, bringing great fame to the city, and to this branch of the guild. The same cute boy that had been recognized by the King, and who was basically bullied by the churches of Eris and Aqua. And that wasn't even taking into account the attempted assassination by the Lyndon College upon his teammate!
"I understand…" The elderly voice that came out of the crystal ball belonged to the Grandmaster of the Guild. An elderly man who was diligent and hardworking, if a little bit of a pervert too, "Losing him to the war, or worse still, to another city or kingdom, would be catastrophic. Is there anything he is weak to? Alcohol? Women? Men?"
There were groans of annoyance at the antics of the Grandmaster, although he had a bit of a point. A few promising adventurers had been tied to the town thanks to their… proclivities, but Izuku was a special case.
"That is unlikely to work." Maria, another of the attendants, and a beautiful elf, spoke, "He already has a sizable harem following him. Two Crimson Demons, Two Demi Humans, and two nobles."
Startled stares fell on the elven attendant, who sighed in exasperation.
"Lady Lalatina Darkness Dustiness Ford and Fio Aela Bella Flora." Maria elaborated, "The daughter of the Duke, and the daughter of a lesser noble. There is literally nothing else we can throw at him to make him stay… at least in that regard."
In his seat, one of the male attendants, the accountant, to be precise, began to take notes. The Arch Druid seemed to have everything on his harem at first glance, but closer inspection revealed that he still lacked pieces for his collection. In the Crimson Demons he had a loli and a younger sister-type. In the slaves he had a brute and a pet. The nobles provided an older sister and a tsundere. He still lacked the kuudere, the lewd bitch and the daughter types!
"Right!" Luna was quick to shout, forcing the man's mind to return to the present, "He requested land to own!"
Murmurs quickly arose. Owning land was reserved for nobility, which the young Druid was not. Then again, through being recognized by the King, a case could be made about the boy being basically knighted!
It was a stretch, of course. Nobles would complain, that was a given. But if the ruling Lord could be convinced to give away one parcel of land, even a bad one, Izuku could be convinced to call this town his home!
"Excellent!" The Grandmaster joined the discussion, "Start sending letters to the lord. I'll try to contact His Majesty to ensure cooperation. We only have a couple of days to convince Izuku to become a permanent resident!"
In his seat, the accountant couldn't help but see the glaring holes in the desperate plan. He could only think of two places that the local Lord would be willing to sell, both too small for a Druid to create a comfortable Grove, and the Lord wouldn't accept less than a King's ransom for them, and even then, he would make it clear that he'd be in a position to reclaim the lands on a whim.
His idea was more promising. He just had to contact Dust to have him go to 'The Cream Café' to request a 'special' service for the young Druid. That would confirm what kind of bait was needed to ensnare Izuku Midoriya for good.
"If everything fails." Maria spoke once more, earning some attention at her grim tone, "I vote for Luna marrying him."
That idea made Luna blush and sputter for hours. Then her blush deepened when she was asked why she didn't make a comeback about Maria being the one to marry the young boy. That lack of argument also gave more ideas to the perverted accountant.