Chapter 5: Weapon and Armor
Chapter 5: Weapon and Armor
AKI took off alone to wander the imperial castle during her free time once she finished going over the plans for the journey with Elias.
After wandering for what felt like an eternity, she sought out a bench and contemplated her situation. Yup, I might be completely and utterly lost!
My lack of direction could become a life-or-death problem in the future! She sighed pitifully and caught sight of a familiar face walking toward her. There was no mistaking the tall man with a slender body clad in a black robe—it was Leo.
“Leo! Perfect timing!” Aki ran to him as if she had just narrowly escaped death. He pointed angrily at her the second she came in sight.
“Aaaaaah! Is this where you were all this time?! Geez, where have you been roaming? Just how long do you think I’ve been searching for you?!”
I angered him again! Aki forced a smile as she peered at Leo who had done nothing but lecture her since their first meeting.
“I wasn’t roaming. I was chatting with Elias…”
“With Elias?” Leo grinned knowingly. “Oh, I know why. You went to talk to him about what you heard from Johann.”
“How did you know?” Aki was curious if Mages used magic to predict the future. She tilted her head. “Could you tell with magic?”
Leo chuckled. “Nah, not magic. Mages aren’t fortune-tellers. It’s tradition for visitors from the parallel world to hear about the legend of the Hero and Dark Lord from Priests like Johann when they arrive in this world. So I just assumed your conversation related to what he told you.”
“Hmm. Does that mean passing on the legend has been the custom for generations?”
“That’s exactly what it means. Knowing you, you must’ve told Elias, ‘You have a hard life as Hero’ and ‘I want to be of use to you, Elias,’” Leo mimicked Aki’s voice and even copied the way she clenched her fists in front of her chest.
“H-Hey! I so did not say it like that!” Aki objected. She had said something similar but started mumbling random excuses.
Leo’s expression quickly softened. “My bad. Sorry for teasing you. How did it go for real then? You were worried about Elias, weren’t you?”
“Yes… Although all I can do for him is worry, and then I thought worrying is being meddlesome. But how were you able to see through me?”
Leo lifted his shoulders in a light shrug. “Naturally because I know everything about you—by which of course, I’m joking. I just theorized if anyone was going to have doubts about the absurdity of the Hero’s existence, it’d be someone from another world like you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Long story short, it’s only obvious to the residents of this world on how the Hero is fated to risk his life to defeat the Dark Lord and save the world. That’s why no one has any doubts about why a Hero and Dark Lord come forth on a regular basis or why the Hero has to defeat the Dark Lord. If something is the natural way of the world, you won’t feel anything over it even if it’s tragic,” Leo stated matter-of-factly.
When all is said and done, everyone is accustomed to the Hero grinding himself to dust to defeat the Dark Lord and won’t even bat an eyelash at the cruelty, difficulty, and struggle involved.
My initial fear the public’s recognition of the Hero is driving Elias into a world of solitude is sadly sounding truer by the minute. Maybe that’s why Elias tries to endure the solitude by locking himself behind a well-practiced smile.
Leo glanced at Aki as she seriously thought of Elias and fondly closed his eyes. “…With this kind of world around him, you’re the only person who can catch onto how difficult his position is because you came from another world. I think he’s grateful he has you by his side. Probably thinks someone who understands him has finally shown up.”
“You…think so? I wonder if I’m of any help to him.”
“Of course you are. You don’t have to think of doing anything on a grand scale to be of use to him. Just being by his side is enough. But you can still give him a slap whenever he complains too much.” Leo mimicked a girly slapping motion. Aki giggled at the pantomime.
Imagining what Elias would do if she slapped him ended in her picturing his astonished expression. She stared at Leo’s mischievous grin. Leo’s the one who’s the most worried about Elias. He’s a shy guy, so he hides his kindness behind jokes.
“Oh yeah, Aki!” Leo clapped his hands together. “Can I have a bit of your time right now? I have something I want to give you.”
“Oh, could it possibly be a present…or something similar?!” Aki asked with anticipation.
“Sure is! I’ve prepared the best present of all-time for you, so you’d better accept it!” Leo answered flashing a confident smile at her.
***
LEO led her down the endless depths of the second-story corridor until they eventually stopped in front of a conspicuously extravagant door. The iron double-doors were secured by a stalwart iron lock. The room limited access to people inside the castle as well. Aki grabbed Leo’s robe as he stood one step in front of her and glared at the door.
“What is this room, Leo?”
“Treasure room. Don’t get your hopes up though—we didn’t come for the treasure. With our journey ahead of us, you’ll need a weapon and armor to protect yourself, right? I’ll be using my summoning magic in this room for the Goddess to send a personalized weapon and armor to you. This is one job for the Hero Party’s Mage,” Leo explained over his shoulder.
“Oh?” Aki muttered, realizing the present Leo mentioned was actually supplying her with a weapon and some armor. “Thank you so much! A weapon and armor sounds just like something from a video game!” Aki remarked casually.
Leo pushed his bangs up with a groan. He spun around and flicked her forehead with his index finger. “It’s not like I don’t get where you’re comin’ from, but this is no game. You need to get it into your head that this is reality. You can’t save and load real life. I’m scared for your safety if you keep thinking this world is like your own.”
Aki’s shoulders sagged like a scolded child. Right, it was rude of me to liken this world to a video game. Without a doubt this world is real.
“I-I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me… I guess this just still feels so surreal to me.”
“You weren’t thoughtless, but you might still be out of sorts because this is your first time traveling to another world. Your perception of things will change once we start traveling. Sorry for coming down on you,” Leo added in, patting her on the head.
Aki was convinced he was a kindhearted person. Promptly remonstrating her when he thought she said something foolish was his way of caring.
Leo faced the door and pulled a worn-out tiny book from the leather pouch fastened to his thigh. An intricate magic circle detailed the book’s cover, hinting it was some sort of grimoire used by Mages. He flipped the book open in his left hand and placed the palm of his right hand on the treasure room’s door.
“Unlock,” he whispered.
Instantly, small magic circles formed around the palm of his hand on the door and engraved themselves across it until they eventually disappeared into the door itself. The treasury door lost all color, turning transparent, and completely faded away.
Wh-What just happened?! Leo told the door to unlock. In other words, this door is set to be opened by magic? Aki clapped.
“Amazing! Awesome! The treasure room door opens with magic!”
Leo turned around triumphantly. “For me, it does. The treasure room is set to open based on the authorized person’s unique set of skills.” Leo briskly walked inside the room without waiting for her.
If they open based on skills, does that mean Elias has to use his sword for it to open? How would a sword work? Aki imagined Elias smashing down the door with his sword and groaned as she chased after Leo.
Dazzling gems, precious jewels, ornaments, and jewel-encrusted swords packed the inside of the treasure room for safekeeping, turning it into a mountain of treasure. Aki gawked at the disorienting amount of treasure most people would never lay eyes on during their entire life.
“I-Incredible! The epitome of glamour and luxury!”
“You can say that again. The majority of the castle’s assets are stored here for safekeeping. I’ve got special permission to come inside as a member of the Hero’s Party.”
Aki ignored Leo’s snorted bravado to examine the abundance of jewels lining the shelves.
“Can Elias and Johann freely come in and out of this room too?”
“Of course. But those guys have no eyes for valuable items, so they’ve probably never even come near it,” Leo answered, walking past all the treasure at a brisk pace without even giving it a look, as if he didn’t have an ounce of interest in treasure either. He proceeded deeper into the labyrinth-like treasure room.
“Ah, Leo, wait! Wait for me!”
Aki jogged to catch up to Leo. She found him chanting the unlock spell in front of a small wooden door installed in the deepest section of the treasure room. The entire door disappeared again, and Leo had to bend down to pass through the narrow doorway. On the other side was a secluded space with round walls and a sprawling stone floor. Not only were there no treasure-lined shelves, but no tables, chairs, or anything else except for the excessive floor space.
What is this room used for? Aki wondered in front of the doorway. Leo looked back at her from the center of the room.
“Hey, what’re you zoning out for? Come here. I’m about to summon your weapon and armor,” he beckoned. She glanced around the empty room.
“Um…” She cast a glance at Leo. “…Say, Leo, how are you going to summon a weapon and armor in this empty room?”
“Huh?” Leo’s eyebrow shot up. “The room isn’t empty! The magic circle I painstakingly drew to perfection for this day is right here! You’re extremely rude!” Leo stamped his foot and thrust his finger toward the floor.
She skeptically looked where he pointed to discover a mysterious and meticulous magic circle with multiple circles inside it drawn on a portion of the stone ground. The faint ashen lines were hard to see in the dimly lit room. She proceeded farther inside and crouched to get a better look at the magic circle. Hieroglyphic symbols were tightly drawn inside each individual circle.
“See? Just as I said, right? This is the epic work I laboriously crafted for you night after night. Be deeply honored by it.”
“Oh brother, you ruined the moment by saying it yourself… Oh, that reminds me, you left the shrine saying you had something else to attend to. Were you working on this?”
“Yup. I went on a search for you after I finished all the prep work,” Leo answered and spread out his arms to show off the magic circle he prided himself on. “Aki, we’re going to get right into it, so stand in the center of the magic circle for me. Let the tension out of your shoulders and relax.”
“O-Okay…” She nodded, but the fear of what might occur while she stood in the center of an esoteric magic circle stopped her from moving toward it. Leo narrowed his eyes and rubbed the back of his head.
“Don’t be so scared. Why don’t you trust me?”
“…I would say your personality has something to do with it.”
“Hey now.” Leo briskly walked over to Aki. “You leave me no choice then.” He put his arms under her lower back and knees and swept her off her feet. The sudden shift made her head spin.
“Eeeeek! Wh-Wh-What are you doing, Leo?!” She turned her head and got an up-close look at Leo’s handsome face. Flustered, she thrashed her arms and legs.
“Gah! Don’t struggle! I’ll drop you!”
“Th-Then put me down! This is embarrassing for me!”
Aki assumed Leo’s body was feeble because of his job as a Mage, but his chest was surprisingly solid and she could feel his stomach rippled with toned muscles. Leo strengthened his hold so as not to drop Aki as she struggled to escape; dying from her heart pounding out of her chest as his masculine body pushed against her.
“I’ll get this over with in a flash to keep you from gettin’ too scared, so bear with me for just a few minutes. The weapon and armor will be summoned by this great and all-powerful Mage. I promise it’ll be the best present you ever get. Hehe,” he bashfully laughed, his happiness showing through. His expression stole Aki’s eyes for a moment before she smiled back at him.
That’s right. Leo is summoning the weapon and armor for my sake. I’m being rude by fearing what he’s doing for me.
“I’m sure it will be!”
“Just you wait,” he responded back cheerfully.
Leo advanced in to the center of the magic circle with Aki in his arms and put her down. He retreated a small distance back from the magic circle. He pulled the grimoire out of his pouch, held it open in his left hand, and spread his legs to take the correct position to cast the summoning magic. Aki stood alone in the circle anxiously watching Leo as he kept his eyes on the grimoire.
What is going to happen? I’m sure I will be okay with Leo doing the spell, but still…I’m frightened of the unknown when I’m so unfamiliar with magic.
Leo looked up from the grimoire and carefully moved his lips for her to see him say, “It’s okay,” when their eyes met. He smiled at her before stretching his right hand’s index finger in her direction. He held the grimoire in his left hand against his chest. The second he closed his eyes, the air around him instantly tensed. Aki gasped at the overwhelming power in the air.
He began chanting the spell in an electrifying voice, “Protect her morning and night like a sword, like armor. Make it so even the raining sparks won’t reach her, for all that is and was exists here.”
With the final words of the first spell, the magic circle gradually took on light; the lines filled in as if someone poured water in to them. Light surged into the air the moment every circle was completed. Surprised by the blinding flood of light, Aki looked at Leo. A soft vortex of light erupted around him as he continued to cast the spell from afar. His appearance as the torrent of light gently fluttered his robe captivated Aki even with the blinding luminescence all around them.
“So pretty, Leo…” she muttered unconsciously. The solemnity and refinement exuding from him as he fervently chanted the spell with his eyes closed almost made his usually rough attitude a mere memory.
His purple eyes opened partially just as he finished the spell. He gave her a visible nod, his face illuminated by the light.
Aki gave him a questioning look in return, when the light enveloping her fluctuated until it converged on top of her right and left hand. She quickly held out her hands and watched the light accumulate. A light pressure weighed down both of her palms. Something was passing through the light and into her grasp.
The light gathering in her hands vanished and she peered down at what remained. A silver pen rested on top of her right hand and a dark-brown leather notebook sat on her left.
Weird. Is this possibly it? Leo said he was summoning my weapon and armor. Since this pen and notebook appeared from the light caused by his summoning spell… Aki’s mouth fell open.
“D-Don’t tell me this pen and notebook are my weapons?!”
The word weapon had conjured images of a sword, staff, or something that could actually harm someone, but who would have imagined a weapon could be a pen and notebook.
She casually looked down at her clothes to see she wore the same suit she had on when she arrived, but it gave off a faint vestige of the light from the magic circle. Power seemed to well up inside her, unlike how it felt before he cast the spell. In other words, her suit had taken on the defensive effects of armor when Leo summoned armor for her.
A pen, notebook, and business suit. Aki trembled at the utterly outrageous weapon and armor. No matter how she looked at it, they were all items necessary for a secretary.
Leo broke down laughing upon seeing her weapon and armor. “Pft! Hahaha! Aki, what is with your weapon and armor?! You seriously are an unprecedented case! The Hero’s Secretary, huh? Your armaments are perfect for your job.”
“Th-This is no laughing matter! How am I supposed to defeat the Dark Lord with this stuff?!”
She had no sword to charge the Dark Lord with or any magic to blow him away. Her armor looked like it was made of material that would rip at even the weakest of attacks.
Leo clenched his stomach to stop his laughter. “M-My stomach hurts! W-Well, I don’t get why, but the Goddess gave you those weapons and armor, so I’m sure they’ve got real attack and defense power. Plus, with your new pen, you should be able to write the journey’s record without feeling restricted by our writing system.”
As Leo predicted, she suddenly felt like she comprehended this world’s writing system. Some piece of the Goddess’ power was at work. Leo chuckled lightly as he walked over to Aki staring down at her pen, notebook, and suit with an indescribable expression.
“Looks like the Goddess thought up the perfect equipment for a secretary. I’m looking forward to goin’ on this journey with you, Aki.”
“You’re grinning too much! You’re getting too much of a kick out of this!”
“That’s not…untrue.”
“Oh, for crying out loud!” Aki pursed her lips.
Leo peered at her face and smiled angelically. “Well, isn’t it great you got weapons and armor that suit you? I have high expectations for your power.”