Chapter 18

The next day, we showed our faces at the weapon shop.

"Hey, it's An-chan, isn't it?"

"Is the item I ordered ready?"

"Sure is! It's been done for a while now."

The old man said this and brought out a suit of armor from behind the counter.

It was a rough, rugged, and even wild-looking armor.

The collar was made of Usapil skin processed to be fluffy like wool, and the chest was reinforced with metal plates.

The joints, which couldn't be protected by metal, were connected with Yamara skin. When I put my hand inside, it felt like the Yamara skin was doubled and filled with Piqupiqu feathers.

"…You're going to wear this?"

It looks like the kind of armor a boss of a bandit gang would wear.

They call it a barbarian's armor for a reason. If I wear it, I'll look like a generic thug from the end of the world.

"What's wrong, An-chan?"

"Well, it looks really villainous."

"What are you talking about now, An-chan?"

Hmm?

Are you saying I'm already a complete villain?

It's true that I don't care about the means to get money, but this is going too far.

"Mr. Naofumi, I'm sure it would suit you."

"Raphatal… you…"

You're starting to say things.

"Anyway, try it on."

"Ugh… I'd rather not, but since you made it, I guess I have to."

I hurriedly went into the changing room to put it on.

I was speechless at how the armor fit perfectly, even though my size wasn't measured.

The old man, who deals with weapons and armor, must have determined my size by eye.

I came out of the changing room to show the old man and Raphatal.

"Hmm… You don't look barbaric, but your eyes make you look like a thug."

"Huh? Are you saying my eyes are bad?"

"Maybe An-chan is just feeling down."

Seriously, what are you talking about?

"Mr. Naofumi, it looks great on you!"

Raphatal said with a smile.

I glared at her.

If she's getting too cocky, I'll have to teach her a lesson…

…She's being sincere.

What kind of environment did she grow up in?

Oh, right, Raphatal is a demi-human. Maybe her sense of beauty is different from mine.

Checking the status, it seems to have the same level of defense as chain mail, maybe even a little higher.

The old man winked at me. I guess this is an added effect.

"…Thanks."

Honestly, it's not my style, but if I need to prepare for the wave, I have no choice.

I convinced myself of this.

"Well, what should we do now?"

"By the way, the town feels tense."

"It's probably because the wave is coming, but when and where will it happen?"

"Huh? Didn't you know, An-chan?"

"Know what?"

If the old man knows and I don't, the country's disaster response is pretty lax. I grumbled to myself as I listened to the old man.

"Can you see the clock tower in the square?"

"Yeah, I can see a building that looks like it at the edge of the town."

"That's the Dragon Carving hourglass. When the hourglass falls, the heroes and their companions are transported to the location where the wave occurs."

"Wow…"

This area was probably where the damn king and the heroes' companions would have informed me.

"If you don't know when, why don't you go and check it out?"

"Right, I should."

Not knowing when and where I'll be transported is a problem for me.

I'll go to be safe.

"See you, old man."

"Sure thing!"

"Then, we'll be going."

After thanking the old man, we headed to the clock tower.

The clock tower, located in a high position in the town, was a large building that looked even bigger up close.

It had a dome-like structure, somewhat resembling a church, with the clock tower on top.

The entrance was open, and people were coming and going.

A woman in a nun's habit, who seemed to be at the reception, looked at me with a puzzled expression. She must recognize me.

"Mr. Shield Hero, right?"

"Yeah, I came to check on the timing."

"Please, this way."

She led me to a large hourglass placed in the center of the church.

The hourglass was about seven meters tall, with intricate decorations that gave it a divine impression.

…What is this? My spine tingles.

Just looking at it, I feel a strange sensation, as if something in my instincts is being stimulated.

The sand is… red.

I focused on the sand falling with a rustling sound.

I could tell it was almost done.

A sound came from my shield, and a beam of light from the shield reached the gem in the center of the Dragon Carving hourglass.

Then, a clock appeared in the corner of my vision.

20:12

After a while, the 12 on the clock changed to 11.

I see, so the exact time can be known this way.

We're supposed to act according to this.

However, 20 hours isn't much time. At most, I can only gather herbs on the grassland today.

I might need to prepare some recovery potions.

"Huh? Isn't that Naofumi?"

An unwelcome voice came from the back.

Looking over, I saw the Spear Hero, Motoyasu, walking over with a group of women.

I don't like him. I wanted to kill him right away, but I held back with reason.

"Are you here to prepare for the wave too?"

His eyes were lecherous. He looked me up and down with a disdainful gaze.

"What, are you still fighting with that level of equipment?"

What?

Whose fault do you think it is? It's because of you and the bitches behind you.

Motoyasu was wearing equipment that was clearly much higher level than a month ago.

It wasn't iron. He was clad in silver-like armor, with a high-quality green outfit underneath, and chain mail between the armor, asserting absolute defense.

The legendary spear he held was no longer the cheap one from our first meeting but a painful-looking, yet cool-designed spear.

"…"

Talking to him is a hassle.

I decided to leave the clock tower, ignoring Motoyasu.

"Hey, Mr. Motoyasu is talking to you! Listen!"

My source of anger appeared from behind Motoyasu.

I glared at her, but she stuck out her tongue and mocked me.

I'll definitely kill this woman someday.

"Mr. Naofumi? Who are they…?"

Raphatal tilted her head and pointed at Motoyasu and his group.

"…"

I decided to leave without answering and started to walk away.

Until I saw Itsuki and Ren coming from the entrance.

"Tch"

"Ah, Motoyasu-san and… Naofumi-san."

Itsuki glared at me and then pretended to be calm as she greeted us.

"…"

Ren walked over silently, trying to look cool. His equipment was clearly much stronger than when we first set out.

Each of them brought a group of companions.

The population in the clock tower increased rapidly.

4 + 12 + 1

4 of us, the summoned heroes, 12 adventurers chosen by the country, and 1 Raphatal.

With 17 people, it's bound to be crowded.

"Um…"

"Who's that? She's so cute."

Motoyasu pointed at Raphata and said.

Does he think any woman is fine?

A hero lusting after a young girl… this country is doomed.

He approached Raphata with a nasal tone and introduced himself in a cheesy way.

"Nice to meet you, miss. I am one of the four heroes summoned from another world, Motoyasu Kitamura. Pleased to meet you."

"Y-Yes… you're a hero, sir."

Raphata nodded, her eyes wide with excitement.

"What's your name?"

"Um…"

Raphata looked at me, then back at Motoyasu, looking troubled.

"M-My name is Raphata. Nice to meet you."

She must have sensed I was in a bad mood. I could see her sweating nervously.

She probably wants to go to Motoyasu instead of me.

Damn, I just want to get out of here, but are they still trying to set me up?

"Excuse me, what brings you here today? Why do you have such a menacing suit of armor and a sword?"

"That's because I'm going to fight alongside Mr. Naofumi."

"Huh? Naofumi's?"

Motoyasu glared at me suspiciously.

"…What?"

"Where did you recruit such a cute girl?"

Motoyasu spoke to me condescendingly.

"I don't need to tell you."

"I thought you were going to fight alone… You're relying on Miss Raphata's kindness, aren't you?"

"Go ahead and imagine whatever you want."

Talking to this scum who trusts a demi-human more than his fellow heroes makes me angry.

I walked towards the entrance where Ren and Itsuki were.

They and their companions made way for me.

"See you in the wave."

"Don't be a burden."

I felt murderous towards the businesslike and condescending responses from Itsuki and Ren as I turned my back.

Raphata, looking around nervously, ran up to me.

"Let's go."

"Ah, yes! Mr. Naofumi!"

She perked up when I called her.

Damn, I'm so annoyed.

We left the clock tower and headed to the grassland, passing through the town.

"Mr. Naofumi? What's wrong?"

"Nothing…"

"Um…"

"What?"

"Nothing…"

Raphata followed me, sensing my bad mood.

…A Balloon approached.

Raphata drew her sword.

"Leave this one to me this time."

"But…"

"It's fine!"

I shouted, and Raphata flinched and shrank back.

The Balloon came in front of me.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Damn! Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!

I punched the Balloon to vent my frustration, which made me feel a little better.

I checked the remaining time in the corner of my vision.

18:01

18 hours left.

What can I do in that time?

In the end, I spent the day searching for Balloons and gathering herbs in the grassland.

I used the herbs to make recovery potions to prepare for the wave.

That night, while resting in the inn, Raphata spoke to me apologetically.

"Mr. Naofumi."

"…What?"

"Those people at the clock tower were also heroes, right?"

"…Yeah."

You're bringing up unpleasant memories.

I was just starting to forget about it.

"What happened…?"

"I don't want to talk about it. If you want to know, go to the tavern and ask around."

Even if I told the truth, you wouldn't believe me. That goes for you too.

But the big difference between Raphata and the others is that she's a slave.

If she disobeys, runs away, or shows any resistance, the curse will fall on her.

Raphata sensed I didn't want to talk and didn't ask any more.

I spent the rest of the night preparing potions for the next day.