Rise of the Soul Hero

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***

By evening Naofumi, Andrew and Raftalia were at the castle. All three of them didn't really want to be here, but if they didn't come they wouldn't get their reward, and unfortunately there wasn't much money again. So they had to go inside.

In the castle itself there was a celebration in honour of the victory over the wave. Not much music was playing, people were talking to each other, eating different food, in general the celebration was in full swing from the very beginning. Andrei looked around and realised that almost all the nobles were here, which worried him a little, as Rabier might be here. Thinking about it Andrei clenched his fists and continued to follow Naofumi who was walking towards the window at the corner of the huge room.

Naofumi sat down on the stone window sill and stared out into the distance. Andrei sat next to him and leaned against the wall, looking up at the ceiling, which was decorated with chandeliers and candles. Raftalia looked at them and looked round and began to speak.

- Mr Naofumi, Brother Andrei, would you like to have something to eat? There's a lot of food on the tables here. If you want, I can bring you something. -

Naofumi looked at Raftalia and with a disinterested face began to answer, while leaning his palm on his cheek.

- Thanks for the offer Raftalia, but I can't taste the food anyway. So if you want you can go and eat yourself, and maybe Andrei wants something, do you have any requests Andrei? -

Andrei took his eyes off the ceiling and turned his gaze first to Naofumi and then to Raftalia and after some thought he began to answer.

- I'll have something, but I'll look for something to my liking. I don't trust food that isn't cooked by one of us or from the tavern where we sometimes dine. By the way, maybe you'll have something Naofumi. -

Naofumi once again replied that he didn't want anything and Andrei shrugged his shoulders and went with Raftalia to look for something to eat. But after walking a little ahead Andrei stopped Raftalia and began to speak.

- Though our harmful comrade says that he doesn't want anything, but he should eat something. I don't want him to grumble as usual, though he always grumbles, but he can't bear to be hungry. So bring him a nice piece of cake. -

Raftalia wanted to go and do it at once, but she stopped. She had a confused look on her face and began to speak.

- Naofumi-san might not like it. It's just that I certainly don't want him to grumble either, but isn't that an intrusion on personal feelings. -

Andrew smiled slightly and stroked Raftalia's head and began to answer in his kind tone, which he used only with her and those he considered friends.

- Believe me, he'll be glad if you bring him something. He's happy to see you every time you're around. I can see it in his eyes, so take a piece of cake and bring it to him. Then say you want to eat together and try to insist on it. -

Raftalia immediately blushed slightly and her tail began to swish slightly. Andrew smiled even wider and Raftalia began to speak.

- Do you think this will work? -

Andrei nodded and winked at her and gave her an answer.

- I'm sure sister, so go ahead and do it. I believe in you. -

She nodded and went to one of the tables. Andrew, satisfied, went not much in the other direction and looked at the guests of the event. Everyone was very beautifully dressed, almost every woman had rich jewellery in the form of necklaces, diamonds on pendants. Rings with rubies, bracelets with beautiful stones. Andrew sighed heavily and began to speak very quietly to himself.

- As soon as I earn enough money, I'll buy Raftalia a ring. I don't have any jewellery, you can't do that. She deserves the best. -

Saying this he went to the table where there was no one around and started to look at what was on it. There was fruit, cut pieces of meat and fish, salads and wine in glasses. With not a big smile Andrew tried first a piece of meat, then fish and wanted to try the red wine. But as soon as he took the glass in his hands a black-haired young man with a sword behind his back approached him. Andrew looked at this young man slightly and when he saw him he almost choked on the sip he took.

Beside him stood the sword hero Ren, and a second later, Itsuki stood beside them. They tasted some of the food as well and it was Ren who spoke first.

- Good to see you again Andrei, hope I didn't mispronounce your name. I hope you're doing well. -

Andrei blinked a few times and after taking another sip he began to answer, trying to stay calm and not tell them to go away.

- Yes, I'm fine, but why are you so worried about someone you've only seen once? It's pretty weird. -

Itsuki answered that question.

- You seem like a typical manga character who wants to go down in history, but I can tell from your eyes and the joy in your voice that something is wrong. So without further ado, Naofumi is holding you against your will and torturing you. -

Andrei looked at him with a very serious look and without hiding the irritation in his voice began to speak.

- Why the fuck do you think so much about Naofumi. If it wasn't for him, me and Raftalia would still be slaves. He has become a loyal friend to us and I don't believe what he has been slandered for. So don't you dare think Naofumi's some kind of villain in front of me. And go to hell, you two sheep. -

There was a look of surprise on the faces of Itsuki and Ren, but they stopped Andrew. Then Ren started talking.

- Okay, maybe Naofumi really has changed, but we doubt him for obvious reasons of the old case. You and your sister seem like good guys, so we have some concerns. We're heroes, after all. -

Andrei sighed heavily, wiped his eyes and began to speak.

- You fools are heroes, but you seem to be gullible. Well, and I must have boiled up too much, that's my nature. I'd better go, I don't want to spoil the mood of those who defeated the boss of the last wave. -

Andrew wanted to go back towards Naofumi and Raftalia, but now he was stopped by Itsuki.

- Stay, you probably wanted to eat in peace and we interrupted. Let's talk about something else if we're going to talk. You're quite an interesting person Andrei, and there's quite a lot of appetisers here. -

Andrei stopped and thought for a few seconds, he scratched his cheek. Then he turned towards them and started talking.

- Okay, you're lucky I'm hungry. But one word about Naofumi and that you don't trust him, I'll leave. Okay, now I'll have a salad. What would you like? -

Ren and Itsuki made a slight bow with slight smiles, and then started talking about anything that wasn't about Naofumi. Ren and Itsuki talked about who they were in their worlds, how they got here, what adventures they had had. When the stories were over, Itsuki decided to ask Andrei a question.

- Andrei, who were you before you met Naofumi? It's just interesting, you don't look quite like the people here, and you don't have the usual accent. -

Andrew remembered that he pretended to have partial amnesia, so he made a small smile and started to answer.

- Well, unfortunately I can't tell you exactly about that. I have partial amnesia, I remember parts of the past, my name, the names of my relatives. But where I come from, where my relatives are now, and how I can do some things is also a mystery. Now I live in the present, not the past, so even if I remember, that me is definitely not me anymore. That me no longer exists, only the present me. -

Itsuki and Ren looked at Andrei very carefully and after a while Ren decided to change the conversation and asked a new question.

- Andrei, where did you get those swords? Pretty good work, comfortable handles, thin yet long blade. With a good swing, you could probably cut off a head easily. But you've got to be able to wield them pretty well. -

Andrei nodded and rubbed his palms together and began to answer.

- Well, I forged the swords myself. It wasn't easy, I wasn't as strong then as I am now, though even now it's hard to say I'm strong or anything like that. But I got used to them quickly and they're like a part of me. But to control them well, I practised and I practised a lot. -

Ren gave him a surprised look and started to speak.

- That's interesting, you know, if we were in a game, I'd characterise you as more than just a swordsman, but something else. Hmm, you're not an unambiguous man after all, Andrei. Strong, fast, and sharp-tongued. You're a kind guy, but I can still see some sadness in your eyes. You're holding something inside, but you're not ready to talk about it. -

Andrew scratched the back of his head with a thin smile and looked at his hands. At that moment, Itsuki looked at Andrei's hands and noticed that his left palm was missing a ring finger. Itsuki then looked at Andrew's cheeks and only now finally realised that they were scars from something sharp.

Despite his promise not to talk about Naofumi, but Itsuki wondered if Naofumi had done it and wanted to ask the question. For some reason he was worried about his new acquaintance, but he couldn't ask the question because Motayasu's voice came out and he was next to Naofumi, pointing his spear at him.

Andrei tensed up and put his hands on the hilt of his swords, then began to speak to himself.

- What is that stupid blond guy up to? I have to be there to make sure nothing bad happens. -

Itsuki and Ren tried to stop him, but Andrei ran to the spot and heard what Motayasu was saying.

- I challenge you to a duel, Naofumi, and if you win, I demand you remove the slave seal from Raftalia and Andrei as well. -

Naofumi looked at Motayasu and with barely contained anger began to answer.

- What happens if I don't agree? It's kind of my choice. -

Motayasu didn't know what to say, but he didn't need to, as Princess Malthy began to answer with obvious snarkiness and a certain contentment.

- This duel is authorised by the king himself and you can't refuse it, you'll have to fight or someone who wants to stand up for you, but there's no such person. -

She looked at everyone, but to everyone's surprise Andrew came up to them and began to speak, barely holding back his anger, but his face did not seem to emit any emotion, and his green eyes glowed as in the darkness. He walked forward a little more and began to speak.

- I will fight in Naofumi's place, in addition the spear hero is a direct attacking force and Naofumi does the defence. So it'll be a fight between me and that fool. -

Malthy immediately frowned, but with a wry smile she began to answer.

- A slave who belongs to the one called to fight can't go in his master's place, so he'll have to fight on his own and he can't use the seals you're wearing. -

Malti hoped that this would undermine the morale of the two comrades, but Andrei made a wry smile and laughed a little as he began to reply.

- Foolish fool, I don't have a slave seal. I walk with Naofumi of my own free will, and if he had treated us badly, he would have been gone long ago. That's why your ranting doesn't work here. -

Malthy didn't know what to say, but now Motayasu, who had been silent all this time, began to speak.

- Andrei, you shouldn't lie if you're afraid of him. He must have made you say it, understand, I can save you. -

Andrei shook his head unhappily, realising that words would not be believed. He unbuttoned his leather sleeveless shirt and then the top part of his shirt so that the stone was not visible, but it would be quite clear that there was no seal.

Everyone looked there and Andrei began to speak.

- As you see there is no seal, I am free as a bird in the sky. So I will fight, if necessary I will know no mercy. Are you ready to fight someone who can give a decent answer. -

Motayasu gripped his spear even tighter and began to answer.

- I challenged Naofumi, not you, no matter what you say. And if you want to fight, I'll have help then too. You just can't understand that I want to help you and Raftalia. -

Andrei wanted to say something to these words, but at that moment Naofumi put his palm on Andrei's shoulder and began to speak.

- Don't worry, we can handle it. We are ready to fight, you can take whoever you want to help you. Andrei and I are not as easy as we think. -

Motayasu agreed and began to speak.

- If so, I'll have Ren with me, expect to be defeated. -