Chapter 46

We finally arrived at the location of the Dragon Carved Hourglass.

As always, the facility exuded a quiet but heavy atmosphere.

"Are you the Shield Hero?"

A sister, with the same suspicious look as before, approached us and spoke.

"Yeah..."

"What brings you here this time?"

"I want to class up."

"Then... please pay 15 gold coins per person."

15 gold coins!? That's way too expensive!

The sister's expression didn't change, but her eyes were smiling.

Did she think we couldn't pay and was mocking us?

"15 gold coins, huh."

Reluctantly, I showed the bag containing 30 gold coins, equivalent to the amount for Raphatalia and the others.

The sister's face changed, and she retrieved some documents from the reception desk.

"...The Shield Hero is prohibited."

"What! What do you mean!"

"By direct order of the king, the class up of the Shield Hero's party is not permitted."

That damn king! He's really pissing me off!

He demands an exorbitant class up fee and then refuses permission when we meet it. Get a grip!

What are we supposed to do if we can't level up?

This is some kind of masochistic play, isn't it?

"Are you kidding me!"

"It's the rule. More importantly, the Shield Hero... no, never mind."

"From the beginning, what do you mean!"

As I got angry, knights started to come out from behind the reception desk.

"Damn it! I get it!"

I put force into my legs and we left the Dragon Carved Hourglass with a loud noise.

Really, how far does this country intend to make us miserable!

"But what should we do?"

Raphatalia muttered, looking troubled. Indeed, this is a big problem.

"Hey, hey, what's that hourglass? Filo wanted to see it more."

"Be patient."

Feeling unpleasant, I checked the help.

...I found the class up.

Class up is a ritual to expand the potential of the members who have joined the hero.

Go to the Dragon Carved Hourglass in the country.

It is recommended to do it after reaching ★.

There is no growth limit for the hero.

So, there is no growth limit for the hero...

That means only I can go over 40.

But this is really unpleasant!

We need to find a way to class up Raphatalia and the others, or we'll be at a disadvantage in combat.

"What should we do..."

"There's nothing we can do. Let's put it off for now."

Fortunately, we didn't plan to level up until after the wave, so we can think about it later.

We could also consider entrusting Raphatalia and the others to adventurers who might have a letter of introduction for class up.

We could probably get them to do it with money.

But we don't have time now.

It's a hassle to look for them.

By the way, I remember there were slaves over 40 at the slave trader's. I was planning to go there to buy Filo's weapon, so let's go.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

What's going on?

I turned around and saw Genkou and his group pointing at me and coming closer.

"You! What are you thinking!"

"What are you talking about? Don't start trouble."

"Are you kidding! I know you're the owner of that fat bird."

Fat bird... Filo, huh.

"By the way, did you crush your crotch?"

"I thought it would be crushed, you bastard!"

"What...!?"

It didn't get crushed! What a joke!

How could you not lose function after being kicked with that much force?

"You've disappointed us."

"You...!"

"I'm different! What do you mean by crushing the crotch!"

Raphatalia asked, looking exasperated.

By the way, Raphatalia didn't see the satisfying moment when this guy flew away.

"Why are you looking at me with pity?"

"No, it was a very satisfying moment."

"I'm glad I didn't see it!"

"Enough, bring out that fat bird! I'll kill it!"

"Even if you say that, what's wrong? It was because you approached carelessly that time."

"Are you kidding! That fat, ugly bird keeps knocking me down every time we meet!"

Huh? What's he talking about?

Is this some kind of grudge?

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, your fat, ugly bird keeps running over me every time we meet!"

I looked at Filo.

Then Filo said,

"Yeah, I kicked it every time I saw it."

"Good job, good job."

"Hehe."

"Why are you praising her!"

I pet Filo's head.

Then I noticed that Genkou's equipment had become more luxurious, and he was wearing a foul cup on his crotch.

This is hilarious! He's traumatized!

I burst out laughing.

"Ha ha ha!"

"Cut it out!"

"That's right! It's inappropriate for a Shield to harass Motonari-sama!"

What are you saying, you lackeys?

The bitch is also condemning me with a red face.

This is satisfying.

"Naofumi-sama is smiling more brightly than ever."

"This..."

Just as Genkou clenched his fist and grabbed my collar,

"Master, Filo is hungry."

The bird, oblivious to the situation, made a self-assertive statement.

Genkou's gaze turned to Filo.

He froze and locked eyes with Filo.

...What's going on?

"DEEEEEEER!"

Then, without even looking at me, he threw a telephonic punch, but I caught his fist.

"What are you doing? If you want to fight me, use your spear."

"Miss! Run quickly! This guy is very dangerous."

Genkou, who was desperately trying to appeal to Filo as a good guy.

You were just saying you wanted to kill that fat bird.

Oh, right, she was in human form.

Probably because she's a beautiful girl. That's Genkou for you.

"Eh? Master isn't dangerous?"

"Master!?"

Genkou's face turned red with anger.

"Another slave, you!"

"No... more importantly, are you saying any girl is fine?"

"No!"

He said something grandiose.

"Amazing... I've never seen such an ideal girl..."

"...Huh?"

"I never thought a girl like Freon from the Demon World would exist!"

Who's that?

...A game character, I guess.

By the way, Filo's appearance is like a typical pure angel girl from a game in my world.

"I'm into angels..."

"Shut up! I don't want to know your sexual preferences!"

"Another world, the best!"

Genkou's mood reached its peak.

The lackeys' moods, on the other hand, worsened.

It's hard to believe this is the same person who was raging just a moment ago.

But suddenly, he looked at Filo with a serious expression.

"Miss, what's your name?"

"Um, Filo."

"Answer honestly!"

Genkou, being a flirt, put his hand on Filo.

"Does this guy make you work like a horse? I'll save you."

"Well, I do make her pull a cart like a horse."

I had to admit that. That's the kind of race she is.

"I've made her pull a heavy cart every day for over a month."

Well, she gets noisy if I don't make her pull it.

"You...!"

Genkou is being noisy.

I don't have time to waste. I want to move on quickly.

"Free Filo-chan!"

"Again, you!"

If Raphatalia wasn't enough, now it's Filo?

Do you really want to take my subordinates away!

Genkou released a killing intent and pointed his spear at me.

At that moment,

"What are you doing to Master, Filo!"

Filo, frowning, questioned.

"It's okay, Filo-chan! I'll save you."

He's not listening! He's completely out of sync.

"You called Filo ugly and fat bird."

"Naofumi! How can you say such things to a girl?"

"You did. You were saying 'kill' and 'fat bird' to Filo."

"Huh?"

He's looking at me like I'm talking nonsense.

Even though he actually said it.

"Without further ado, quickly—"

"Filo will protect Master!"

With a puff, Filo returned to her true form.

"Huh? What?"

Filo, looking bewildered, kicked Genkou's crotch with her powerful legs.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH