Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

After falling through the earth into the glowing light naofumi didn't feel like he fell far just enough to lose his footing, when he actually hit the floor he didn't get any chances to recuperate before a voice spoke "brave heros, please save our world from the waves of catastrophe!" A person wearing robes had spokes with four other people behind him

"What is this? Where am i??" Naofumi heard another voice speak then when he whipped his head around he saw three figures.

After the robed figure spoke he continued to explain their situation, after the other 'heros' as they had been summoned as, they had stated their demands for rewards and comforts from this world without even thinking about how desperate they must be already

Upon actually meeting the king naofumi was fronted and had not been happy to be ignored, angel was watching the entire thing and had thrown naofumi off the front seat inorder to protect him,

While naofumi was accused of raping myne he asked for anyone to look at the evidence and believe him that he was innocent but his cries fell on deaf ears, all except the shadow in the corner had believed the shield hero had done a horrible crime

Silas had taken over soon after they had thrown him from the gates to the castle, not knowing what to do he returned to the inn and cried himself to sleep. He didn't know but shortly after naofumi had left ren had talked to itsuki asking if he saw the faces myne was making while during the trial, she was taunting naofumi!

Both itsuki and ren had argued for naofumi claiming myne was lying and that the evidence wasn't valid, "my heros even if the evidence isn't valid the shield hero has committed a terrible act-" ren had gotten angry at that "so you condemned him to his fate with evidence you know isn't valid for a crime he didn't commit?!" Ren had huffed and began walking away clearly pissed off. Itsuki followed behind also clearly pissed off. Both boys had made a silent truce between eachother to find out what was going on.

This is the first chapter and it will stay that way til I find inspiration to rewrite it.

Chapter Text

When he first met the small funny man he had no idea what awaited him while he followed what bug calls him the funny purple man. The man was very short and had a ring of purple feathers accenting his dark purple suit. Angel didn't like him but naofumi followed him nonetheless, they needed Allies right now. If this man can provide that then they won't be alone anymore!

Upon following the coughs leading towards the small girl with raccoon ears and tail, angel had shoved naofumi out of the way and had requested the small girl as his slave ignoring the funny man's protests and insistence that the girl wouldn't last a day doing hard work. Angel had developed a hard cold stare at the man, "I want this one." She stated coldly, buklaus suppressed a shutter "yes... well hopefully she'll last through the night." He said

After placing the slave crest on the poor pup, as angel calls her, Angel had huffed placing the 31 silvers on the table, buklaus could hear the shield heros voice change to be more feminine but not by alot, the shield hero sounded like a deep voiced women but other then that and the aura change not much was different "there's 31 in here-" the shield hero huffed "that's your commission you were gonna ask me for it anyway." Buklaus laughed delighted at the shield hero smiling widely "you sure know your stuff good sir."

After seeing the small demi human angel crouched down "now then you'll be staying with me for the long ride, I guess I have to know your name." The shield hero had gotten closer to the demi human "well? I asked you a question. Now answer!" Angel was losing her patience it was killing her to treat this poor baby like this.

But she needed to put on a good show, it's what naofumi and her talked about, they needed to be ruthless to survive this world and so this was necessary. The small pup coughed "im c-called raphtalia." The little girl- raphtalia said still on the floor whimpering in pain.

"Let's move." Angel said grabbing raphtalia buklaus laughed as angel practically dragged her on accident for while they were walking. After getting out of buklaus vision angel pulled raphtalia into her arms cradling her like she was something to protect. "Poor baby..." angel mumbled holding raphtalia, bringing her closer to angels face. Raphtalia smelled of dirt and blood but with a bath that can be fixed.

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Naofumi switched shortly after angel decided that their body has been adequately taken care of, now having to worry about the 'pup' as angel calls raphtalia naofumi has been trying to take care of her too.

Naofumi had brought her to erhart "get her a knife and some equipment under 6 silvers" naofumi said placing the money on the counter, after buying her new clothes and a small knife naofumi forced her to kill a balloon monster "kill it now! That's an order!" As the slave crest activated raphtalia stood and killed it popping it while pieces of its hide fell to the floor

Naofumi softened and gave a small smile before his eyes had gone blank and cloudy, raphtalia and erhart looked a bit confused and leaned in a bit before angel had fronted and continued the small smile on her face "good job, I'm sorry I have to make you fight but this is the only way we will survive, will you help me survive pup?" Raphtalia looked at erhart in a silent question 'did you see that?' Erhart nodded confirming he saw that too, raphtalia nodded and looked convinced "I will master!" Raphtalia then stood up.

After watching raphtalia looking longingly at the kids playing with a ball naofumi had bought her a ball "you can play with it after work." He said raphtalia has never smiled so much as she did in the last 3 days she's been with her new master.

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There were a few more instances like that, where the shield hero acted one way and then paused and acted another.

raphtalia soon started to learn there were two 'masters' she was dealing with, one that was more angry and dark then the other, while one smiled and laughed the other always scowled and was grumpy. When asked the grumpy one would say "my names naofumi" but when asked the smiley one would always say "call me angel." Always smiling so sweetly at anyone they crossed paths with.

Angel as raphtalia learned to call her, was always so sweet and kind, naofumi though grumpy was kind too just less sweet about it. Raphtalia had never been more conflicted before then when naofumi 'goes cloudy' as raphtalia calls it, it's when his eyes glaze over almost like a soldier who was in a war.

Her master no matter who was around was always concerned over her and would take care of her no matter being angel or naofumi, and that was what she first learned about the shield hero.

There has only been one instance where the shield hero showed a new person entirely, he sounded dark and scary like a wild animal. He had brutally beaten a rabbit into the ground with his shield. All there was left was a smushed pile of fur on the ground, with bones sticking out of it

'Someone scary and dark for sure!' Raphtalia thought while watching and hearing the shield hero growl with anger,

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After asking around naofumi had gotten a few tips about how he could make money fast by traveling to lute village to mine for ores that could be sold for a decent price

When arriving in lute village after selling their rabbit pelts to a vendor and talking to said vendor, they headed towards the mines

In the mines naofumi had gotten alot of ores, before they had been ambushed by a two-headed dog monster. Angel had switched with naofumi, leaving them to be attacked by the dog monster, "raphtalia attack the dog monster! That's an order!"

All raphtalia did was crumple to her feet "I can't!" Angel huffed feeling the dogs teeth in her shoulder "fine! Forget about it, just run the hell away raphtalia!" Raphtalia had froze "but what about you master?!" She shrieked in fear she was trembling with tears trailing down her face.

"Don't worry about me! Just let me buy you some time for you to escape!" Raphtalia looked even more distraught "no! No no no!" raphtalia screamed she slowly stood and then charged at the monster fully intending on killing it, finally being able to move! She charged at it and stabbed the first head killing it instantly.

After the dog monster had flung raphtalia away it charged at her while she was still down-

"air strike shield!" Naofumi yelled

As the dog had ran into the barrier raphtalia stood up again, "now raphtalia!" Hearing angels yell she stood and stabbed the dog monsters chest, as the monster started flailing it had slowly bled itself out til it couldn't move anymore "good job pup" angel said with a smile

Raphtalia had flung herself at angel in a hug while both were happy to have survived angel had slowly leaned backwards while breathing hard "master are you ok?!" Raphtalia said still sobbing from the earlier scare "yeah I'm ok just need a minute." Angel was starting to slur her words before passing out.

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It had been a week after the fight with the two headed dog and naofumi had gotten careless, being attacked by a monster porcupine, had raphtalia making up her mind!

'Master naofumi needs armor!' She dragged him now that she was a teenager and strong enough to do so dragged a unresponsive Naofumi all the way back to the city from the forest once naofumi had finally woke up he had woken up on a chair, angel had been the one to front now that raphtalia has had a week of practice she can now tell immediately who's fronting and who's not.

Shortly after waking up angel looked around feeling confused usually when they dissociated that hard they would wake up in the same place but after asking raphtalia had dragged their body all throughout the city she looked a bit embarrassed "damn was I that out of it?" Angel said almost laughing erhart looked a bit concerned, he's never seen the kid do that before and raphtalia acted like it was a common occurrence.

After being given a glass of water raphtalia lifted angel over her body and carried her to their inn where they were staying, then the next morning dragged naofumi out of bed first thing in the morning. After the two had arrived back at erharts shop naofumi had been shoved into a changing room with new armor pieces "huh??? What is all this raphtalia?!" Angel had said with a bit of a laugh "that's your new armor set! Try it on master angel!"

"Master angel? you change your name now kid!?" Erhart said with a chuckle he hasn't heard the kid be called that before "I told you before pup, just angel is fine." Angel said walking out of the changing room wearing the new armor set after standing in front of a mirror naofumi had gone cloudy again "oh no, master... Mr erhart can I borrow a chair? Quickly!"

Raphtalia ran to grab the chair erhart was holding before placing it behind naofumi who had started to fall backwards raphtalia grabbed his hand and gently lowered him onto the chair with his head hanging backwards. After a few minutes of raphtalia fanning him naofumi sprung back to life lifting his hands up in a startled position. Once raphtalia was in sight naofumi had relaxed a bit "oh... I did it again didn't I?" Naofumi said a bit nauseous but otherwise ok

"What the hell was that kid? One second you were fine the next you were down for the count." Naofumi had shook his head a bit before answering "it's called dissociating, it's when-" raphtalia cut in and turned to erhart "it's when your brain turns off for a moment and your body goes limp! It's like passing out-!" Naofumi put his hand on her head "it's not always like passing out sometimes I can stand during an episode it's just hard too do for me." Naofumi said now actually looking in the mirror "what the fuck am I wearing??"

After raphtalia explained naofumi paid for the armor and left to the dragon hour glass after erhart told them about the church, and what the hour glass does.

Naofumi had just made it to the hour glass when the other heros had arrived "is that you naofumi?" Motoyasu asked a bit annoyed, that was until he spotted raphtalia "and who's this fine little lady you've got here naofumi?" Naofumi huffed "back off motoyasu, she's only 10 years old that's gross." Naofumi said before going cloudy, while motoyasu and myne started talking about lowley demi humans

swiftly and gently grabbing her hand and guiding her away from him, raphtalia was about to speak when naofumi put a finger over his mouth, and looked very nervous "shhh" he said before making raphtalia do the same thing, both of them them walked away not without hearing some snide remarks from motoyasu and myne.

Naofumi once they had gotten to the town square to prepare for the next wave naofumi had once again turned cloudy, the dark aura accompanying him. The scary darkness had returned and naofumi carried a very scary scowl raphtalia has never seen this face before she couldn't help but ask "what's your name Master?" The shield hero turned around before saying

"call me devil."

Chapter Text

Naofumi...

Devil.

Devil had been summoned to the wave along with raphtalia. The dark aura had her on edge, but she was confident that Devil would protect her.

Hearing and seeing the other heros charge towards the wave boss, he almost rushed after them, but raphtalia stopped him "master devil, look over there!" As Devil paused and went too look he saw lute village,"the village!" Raphtalia said, almost getting ready to run to their aid, but she waited for devils orders.

Devil paused and looked between where the heroes ran and the village. Before he had seen a flair be fired he started running to the village. "Hurry up! Let's move!"

After arriving, naofumi yelled "raphtalia go protect the villagers while they run. I'll get the monsters attention!" started gathering all the monsters attention, devil was punching and launching monsters in the air with his air strike shield, as naofumi had figured out soon after the wave had begun the air strike shield can launch their opponents very high in the sky and while the shield hero can't do damage the fall damage kills their opponents almost instantly

After protecting a mother and her daughter with his cloak devil had used shield prison to block the locust and wasps from getting to them but started running as fast as he could away before ducking under some broken boards that were burning up. Before launching himself back out and starting to run again.

After punching and launching the zombies like a springboard, devil dispersed his shield and continued running.

Once Devil had started to lose steam naofumi switched with him taking the front seat. Naofumi ran and grabbed a bottle of oil from a ruined vendors stand and booked it to the watch tower, after running for so long naofumi was running low on energy they climbed the watch tower while dosing the oil everywhere on as many monsters as they could, after setting it on fire naofumi jumped off the watch tower and used his rope shield to swing off of a nearby house into the rubble.

Naofumi injured his leg but was otherwise ok. The villagers had returned to naofumis side and had started to fight the waves claiming "lute village is all we have we can't just abandon it!" Naofumi nodded "I'll provide as much aid as I can." Naofumi started running again looking for survivors.

While the villagers fought the wave had finally ended, the sky returned to its natural hue of blue and naofumi had fell to his knees trying to catch his breath

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After arriving to the banquet after some convincing from raphtalia he begrudgingly went to the rewards ceremony.

They had only been there for about 40 minutes before motoyasu had challenged the shield hero, raphtalia wasn't sure that her master was ok with it until he had started smiling, the very second motoyasu had thrown his glove on the floor and declared a duel.

naofumi had gone cloudy for a minute before devil had appeared "hell yeah! I've been looking for a reason to beat your ass! And now you've given me a way to beat you silly in front of everyone! sign me up!" Raphtalia grabbed his arm "master devil I don't think that's such a good idea-" motoyasu had gasped "you call him master devil?! Naofumi what exactly have you been doing to her?!"

Raphtalia smiled and tapped on naofumi's shield for her ball wich devil gave immediately "he bought me this! Isn't it nice! Master gave it to me!" She then handed motoyasu the ball angel gave her, motoyasu took the ball and gently squished it, seeing it puff back to life. Motoyasu threw it up in the air with a huge smile on his face before myne snatched it from him and held it under her arm, motoyasu looked slightly upset but brushed it off easily.

"You've been abusing that poor girl!" Myne said pointing at raphtalia, still holding the ball under her arm. Raphtalia snatched the ball back and place it back into naofumi's shield "no he hasn't! I am the shield heros sword!" Raphtalia fought back getting in mynes face

Devil huffed both amused and conflicted that raphtalia was fighting for him so quickly he gently pulled raphtalia back "I accept your challenge motoyasu! When I win I want a two thousand silvers!" Naofumi declared with a triumphant huff confident he would win

"Then we shall battle tonight! Naofumi when I win I will release your slave!" Motoyasu had said, pointing his spear at naofumi, or who he thought was naofumi.

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As devil stood in the dark room he looked at all the weapons admiring the glimmer of their blades.

As the doors opened revealing the coliseum with a single mage in the middle, motoyasu and devil walked to the middle of the stage a smile on both their faces both so confident they were going to win.

As devil had spotted raphtalia in the crowd he smiled extra wide more motivated to win now with the pup watching. Angel smiled at devils acknowledgement of their baby and was quietly watching what was happening.

As the battle had begun a huge surge of dark energy had begun to consume devil, the shield spoke of promises and rewards should they let hatred consume them and so devil did. Devils eyes glowed a bright red while their shield had turned black with red accents.

Devil had only 14 attk from the shields he had now, but he was making every attack count. At first devil had captured motoyasu inside his shield prison, but had then launched the ball into the air with a air strike shield.

"You like my new trick motoyasu? I learned it just for this!" Devil had then began allowing the hatred to eat away at him just a bit more while they watched motoyasu plummet and hit the ground like a wet sock, as soon as motoyasu hit the floor devil was laughing maniacally before bum rushing motoyasu trying to slam his shield into motoyasu's head, wich missed by just a hair leaving motoyasu scrambling to get back up "wait just a second-" motoyasu said still scrambling

"you prick! thought you could steal away the one thing that's brought us joy in years! Like I'd actually lose to you asshole-" devil had been hit by an air bullet wich only served to piss him off royally "you dirty cheater!" Devil roared with an inhuman growl to his voice

Devil blocked motoyasu's sun spear once again, before dodging to the side and bum rushing motoyasu again. All the practice with raphtalia certainly made a difference as naofumi was really fast now and could dodge easily.

After missing another strike devil had launched motoyasu up into the air watching motoyasu break his fall by attacking the ground had been amusing to watch, that was until naofumi had bitch slapped the shit out of motoyasu open hand and all, watching motoyasu then hit the ground hard devil didn't hear any of the crowd booing at them

All he could hear was his heart roaring in his ear, the hatred commanding him to kill motoyasu while he was weak, devil listened to these voices, almost considering following through with their demands but managed to calm himself down hearing angel in his ear 'don't go to far devil.' "I won't" devil said to himself motoyasus head snapped to look at him truly looking at him.

Devils red eyes faded revealing the green eyes the shield hero has always had, devil had huffed, stepping towards motoyasu "admit you lost motoyasu" motoyasu has bowed his head "no! I refuse to lose-!" Another blast of wind tried hitting him but was blocked "Welp too bad!" Devil interrupted motoyasu as he slammed his shield on motoyasu's head, motoyasu had gone limp

Devil smiled wildly "I won! And now I shall claim my prize-!" Devil had suddenly gone cloudy, "I told you not to go too far!" Angel suddenly fronted she took a step away from motoyasu before yelling "greater heal!" As motoyasu glowed green. Angel huffed before walking away towards where the king and myne were, angel held her hands out to the king

"This was an official dual, motoyasu lost so I will be getting my prize correct? Even though you clearly cheated i am willing to let it go if i get what ive earned" Angel said sweetly clearly pissed the hell off

Myne started grinding her teeth "no! Absolutely not! I refuse! You didn't win! Gaurds capture that dirty demi human this instant and remove her slave crest!" As they had forcibly removed raphtalia's slave crest angel took in stride using the wrath shields help with the dark aura angel had stunned myne by staring into her soul with the most predatory stare angel could muster.

Angel had gently grabbed raphtalias hand and guided her away from said gaurds, the king who begrudgingly gave the two thousand silvers to angel and allowed them to leave

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The very next morning raphtalia had dragged angel back to the slave trader buklaus' tent, angel was really trying not to go cloudy but naofumi was fighting her.

Before they left angel spotted a large amount of odd looking eggs, each looked the same but each had crests of some sort on the shell "what are those?" Angel pointed at the egg case "these are my monster egg lottery! By buying one you are guaranteed atleast a filolial!"

Angel had smiled thinking of their old world "is it like a gacha game?" Raphtalia looked confused "what's a gacha game?" Angel picked up an egg gently "nevermind, I'll take this one." Buklaus smiled wildly "very nice choice! And if your lucky you can get a dragon! that beast is worth 20 gold!"

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Angel had finally allowed naofumi to front finally after fighting for the front seat since the very start of the day, naofumi had looked at the egg and examined it "I hope it's healthy and strong, that's what I want. Something that can help you while you fight." Naofumi said holding the egg close to him while looking at raphtalia

Raphtalia looked a tad bit jealous, the egg was only just bought and naofumi was treating it very delicately. "Ya know I don't need something to fight with me on the battle field." Naofumi smiled "yeah I know, but atleast this way you can have a monster that will fight by your side. if we end up not liking it we can sell it to the slave merchant" as they were walking naofumi started to go cloudy again until they had fallen backwards in the middle of the street

When he hit the floor raphtalia picked him right back up and threw him on her shoulders and carried him to the apothecarys shop where angel had taken control, when they first entered the apothecarys shop the shop owner had stopped them and pulled them over to the counter top.

"I have many relatives in lute village, this grimoire has new recipes that are higher quality then what you give me take it, its yours." The older man said he smiled "I can't read this worlds language yet, but tgank you anyway." Angel said trying to read it "oh the old hag down the street wants to see you for a simular reason of course."

While they headed towards the magic shop naofumi had collapsed again, having gone cloudy whilst walking "master angel? Hm..." when naofumi had fronted and they had gone to the magic shop the older woman had expressed her gratitude with a grimoire for raphtalia "I wish I could have given you a crystal ball instead but I've unfortunately ran out of them."

"Thank you so much!" Naofumi had paused after saying that 'thank you so much?' He seemed confused almost concerned