"Get back here!" Raphtalia shouted, swinging at a running porcupine. You sat aside,

Watching her run to and fro, as Naofumi pulled a massive spike out of his arm, absorbing it into the shield.

Naofumi and Raphtalia have grown tons since the mines from last week. Raphtalia physically, and Naofumi skill wise. But, the latter still let his guard down, and got himself hurt for it.

"Y/n~Sama!" Raphtalia shouted. You looked at her, chasing the porcupine until it was running in your direction. You held a hand out towards it, shouting a spell you had recently learned.

"Arcane Bind!" Several spheres of blue light flew from your hand, towards the monster. Surprisingly, it remained unaffected by the scourge, same with a large number of small to medium sized wild creatures. That still left anomalies, such as the Infected Rabbit Raphtalia killed.

The light struck the porcupine, extending into a ring that held it in place while Raphtalia stabbed it.

"I did it!" She shouted, as the binds released, letting the monster fall. She got to work bagging it for later as Naofumi walked over, ignoring his wounded arm, getting a look at Raphtalia.

Her level had grown to 18, and as such, her body grew as well. Now she highly resembled a young adult, about as old as you were when you first became a hunter. You smiled, patting her head as she smiled back.

"Yes you did. Now, we gotta go get mr Shield Hero some better equipment, so he doesn't get done in by a porcupine." You told her, whispering loudly, so that Naofumi could hear you. Raphtalia lightly giggled as Naofumi rolled his eyes.

"Fine. We're getting an upgrade." He agreed.

"Wow, I hardly recognized you! You've grown into quite the pretty lady!" Boss, the blacksmith, told Raphtalia as you all approached him. You looked at her yourself, a hand to your chin as you studied her features.

"Well, haven't seen you two in a while either. How's she been?" He asked. Raphtalia, being her own independent self, answered for you.

"The innkeeper's been teaching me table manners, and Y/n~Sama's been teaching me in combat!" She exclaimed.

"Oh, and how'd you do that? Not just throwing her in combat, are you?" He asked. You gave him a tight lipped grin, flashing back to the day after the mine.

Raphtalia, still very young, was trying to stalk you through the woods. She did her best to step quietly, creeping up on you, who was looking the other way for her.

Gripping her wooden sword, she made her move. Planting one foot in the ground, Raphtalia launched herself at you, sword extended.

You seemed to phase of of existence for a moment, mist taking your place, as Raphtalia phased through you. Yelling out in surprise, she ran into a tree as she felt a light tap on her back.

"That was a nice attempt Raphtalia. But you made noise in that last jump. Remember what I taught you?" You asked. Raphtalia groaned, nodding.

"We don't need defense. A good dodge is more than enough." She muttered.

"Exactly! If you learned to fight me head on, you'd be doing much better!" You told her.

"It's no fair though! You're using that Quicking stuff!" She complained.

"It's called Quickening. And when the time is right, I'll give you your own methods of using it." You promised. Raphtalia got up, picking her sword up again as she lifted it towards you.

"Fine. I'll fight you head on now." Raphtalia said. You smiled at her, as you both dashed forward towards each other.

"....trial by hot coals." You told Boss.

"That so? Well..." he turned his vision to Raphtalia again.

"You've grown so much! Nothing like the pipsqueak you used to be." Raphtalia poured at that remark as Naofumi looked over at her.

"You think?" He asked.

"Well, somebody's hard to please." Boss stated, scratching his bald head.

"I'm actually quite shocked too." Naofumi stated, looking back at him.

"This country's full of lolicons." You snapped, pointing at him.

"Don't even bring that up. That's bad for me to think about." You stated.

"No, no, tell me about this." Boss requested.

"People are giving Raphtalia free stuff because she's pretty." You summarized it in one sentence.

"Never mind all that!" Raphtalia interrupted.

"We're here to get Naofumi~Sama some better gear!" She exclaimed.

"Do you have any recommendations?" She asked. Naofumi looked at her, raising a brow.

"But we're here for y-"

"Don't lie to her." You interrupted. The three watched as you turned around, and did so again, holding up a black and red set of armor. It was Knights armor from Cainhurt Castle.

"Here, put this on." You gave the armor to Raphtalia, who took it thankfully, leaving the room to put it on. As she left, you turned to Naofumi with a smug grin, placing a pouch on the counter.

"Here's her weapon budget. Now, Naofumi, did you already forget the plains?" You asked him.

"No, but-"

"Then get yourself some armor. I've got myself and Raph covered." You assured him. Naofumi sighed, complying as you walked over to the swords.

Picking a sword at random, you drew it, revealing an impossibly sharp edge, that flawlessly reflected your face and hat.

"Hey Boss, what's this?" You asked, flashing him the blade.

"It's magic iron. Wanna buy it for the little miss?" He asked. You nodded, grabbing the sheath.

"How about a discount, for her?" You asked, placing the sword on the counter.

"Sure thing, kid." He replied, as Raphtalia walked into the main room, wearing her new armor.

It was a bit frilly, especially around the neck, but otherwise, it her perfectly.

"Looking good Raphtalia. Here, it's yours now." You held out the weapon, handle first, as she grabbed it, admiring the blade.

"Now, armor." You stated, as Boss took the pouch you placed down earlier.

"Our budget is about 180 silvers." You told him.

"Hmm... in that case..." Boss brought Naofumi to a large suit of armor. Solid iron, enough to make someone with the proper strength a walking fortress.

"Hmm.... not quite my style." Naofumi admitted.

"Yeah, it would strip Naofumi~Sama of his individuality." Raphtalia commented as you browsed the shop.

"Then, I can make something to order." Boss suggested.

"Made to order!?" Raphtalia asked.

"Yeah, if you don't mind me using materials I've got on hand, I can have it done by tomorrow." He added.

"Do that! We've got other stuff to do!" You yelled out, comparing your Chikage to another katana Boss had, ultimately choosing to keep your own weapons. Nothing this world had could compare to your stuff.

"It was really nice of him to give us a discount on that sword!" Raphtalia stated, holding her weapon as she walked behind you, who walked behind Naofumi.

"Yeah, it was. Good thing we got it now. Wave's coming soon." You told her, not failing to notice the glares you and the shield hero received.

You all took a seat as Naofumi placed the order.

"One of your cheapest lunch sets and a kids meal." Raphtalia stood up upon hearing that, her tail wagging angrily.

"Naofumi~Sama! I'm not a kid anymore! I'll have one of your lunch sets as well!" She demanded.

I can't deny, she's becoming more fussy as she gets older. Maybe she wants to be more like Naofumi? You thought to yourself, leaning against the wall as the two of them paid for their food, which soon arrived.

"You don't need to force yourself to act grown up, you know." You called up. Raphtalia looked at you, offended.

"It's not forced!" She told you.

The day passed, and soon, you were admiring Naofumi's new look.

"Doesn't it make me look like a villain?" He asked.

"It's so cool! It suits you perfectly!" Raphtalia commented. You nodded.

"You do look rather dashing, Naofumi." You assured him. Raphtalia looked at you, admiring your new look as well.

All you did was switch to Cainhurst armor, plus a crow feather chest piece and a Yharnam hunter hat.

"I call this the barbarian armor!" Boss explained, as Naofumi looked at it in surprise.

"You sure are rocking it kid. You look like a real bandit." Boss told him.

"I'm supposed to be a hero, you know." He stated.

"But, you did make it for me. Would be insulting if I didn't wear it." The whole conversation was interrupted by the sound of horses galloping and shouting.

"Out of the way! He's bleeding out!" A knight shouted, galloping past a crowd with another knight over his shoulder. The one being carried sported several claw marks on his armor, as well as a missing arm.

"Oh my goodness..." Raphtalia slowly spoke as Naofumi looked at you.

"Nothing with claws that big live here naturally. Opinion?" He asked. You nodded.

"Scourge Beast. Giant wolf, first beast I had to kill. Big pain when their eyes glow. Especially if they glow blue." You told them. Naofumi sighed.

"The scourge seems bad enough, but we also have the waves to watch out for. If I only knew when and where they would happen, I could have a plan." He muttered.

"Wait, has nobody told you?" Boss asked. You narrowed your eyes, gritting your teeth.

"Lemme guess. There's a way to tell that nobody told Naofumi?" You asked. Boss nodded.

"If you go to that big church you can see from the town square, you can find a huge hourglass in their. As soon as the last grain of sand falls from it, the heroes and their waves are transported to the wave in order to fight." Boss told you. Naofumi had already began the walk as he finished. You nodded thanks as you jogged ahead to keep up, with Raphtalia following you.

Inside the church, a white-robed nun guided you three through some hallways, before being met with the biggest hourglass you had ever seen.

"Oh my." You watched as Naofumi climbed some steps to reach the base of it, as sand steadily fell.

As he climbed up, the gem in his shield began to glow, before a beam of green light flew from it, reaching the hourglass as all it's components began to glow.

"Woah. That's something to behold." You admitted, as Raphtalia looked at you.

"Um.... Y/n~Sama? Your hand." She pointed out. You looked at your right hand to see it glowing white.

"Huh..." you lifted it towards the hourglass. As you expected, a beam shot towards it, as a timer appeared in your vision. 20 hours until the wave.

"Wait, why do I get one!?" You asked, looking at your hand.

"Is that Naofumi I see?" Your mood was instantly ruined when you heard the voice of the Spear Hero, Motoyasu. You turned around to see him, with Myne standing beside him, and a ton of other people around him.

"Dude, come on, you're still fighting with such flimsy equipment?" He asked. Your eye twitched as you drew a large, one handed hammer from behind your back.

"Watch your mouth, Motoyasu, or I may have to knock out a few teeth." You warned him. Myne stepped up you you.

"You dare threaten a hero?" She asked. You stood up to her, looking down on her.

"Yes, I do." You answered.

"Who are they, Naofumi~Sama?" Raphtalia asked. Naofumi didn't answer, instead walking past Motoyasu as Myne called out to him.

"Hey! Motoyasu's talking to you!" Naofumi ignored her, as he looked ahead, noticing Ren and Itsuki, the sword and bow heroes. He grit his teeth as Motoyasu grabbed Raphtalia's hands.

"Hello, my name is Kitamura Motoyasu, I'm the Spear Hero." Raphtalia turned her head.

"You're a hero?" She asked. Motoyasu beamed, enjoying her looks.

"S-so beautiful! Why don't you join my party? I'll protect you!" He promised. Myne walked over, looking grumpy.

"Motoyasu-Sama, why are you complimenting a filthy demihuman?" He ignored her.

"A girl as pretty as you shouldn't be wielding a sword." He told her. Raphtalia looked over at you, who was giving the spear hero a filthy stare. She pulled away from him, furrowing her brows.

"I've sworn to fight alongside Y/n~Sama and Naofumi~Sama!" She declared.

"With them!" Motoyasu looked legitimately surprised.

"You can't! If you stay with them, you'll be in-" you cleared you're throat, silencing him.

"Are you, Kitamura Motoyasu, implying there is danger while standing behind an impenetrable shield?" You asked. Motoyasu was visibly shocked, during which time you motioned towards the direction the door was in.

"We're leaving, Raphtalia." You commanded.

"Yes, Y/n~Sama." Raphtalia bowed her head, walking out with Naofumi.

"Surely you've heard the rumors-" you turned around again, Your eyes hidden by the shadows of your hat.

"Go ahead, finish the sentence." You dared him. Motoyasu grumbled to himself, turning away as you scowled at him.

"See you at the wave." Itsuki told Naofumi.

"Don't hold us back." Ren stated, as Naofumi grit his teeth in rage, walking away. You did the same, Raphtalia behind you.

Night came, and you simply stood outside of Naofumi's door, hearing them speak. Due to your weaker human hearing, you still couldn't hear them properly, only Raphtalia's statement about going to bed. You sighed, keeping watch.

Nothing had happened to you for several millennia. What was a few more hours?

The day of the wave came, and you stood by your sworn hero, with Raphtalia behind you.

"Naofumi~Sama? Y/n~Sama?" Raphtalia spoke up.

"Yeah? What is it?" You asked her. She hesitated.

"Well, I just wanted to say..." she paused again.

"I'm truly grateful I met you two. Naofumi~Sama cures my illness and fed me warm meals, and you have been training me in fighting in a style that lets Naofumi cover out defenses, as well as providing me with clothes and comfort. You both taught me how to live. You gave me a reason to fight, to battle the waves." Raphtalia's eyes flared up as she looked to Naofumi.

"I am your sword!" She then turned to you.

"And your disciple!" She held a hand to her heart.

"Wherever you go, I will go with you." She told you. You looked at the clock. 20 seconds left.

"That so?" You asked, putting a hand in your pocket. You drew your hand out, holding a pouch.

Taking Raphtalia's hand, you placed the pouch in it.

"Beasts are weak to fire. Rub these on your weapon to give it the kick you need." You told her. She nodded, taking it.

"Thank you, Y/n~Sama." 5 seconds left.

4

3

2

1

The sky turned red, and with a flash of light, the second Wave of Catastrophe-no, the First Wave of Scourge began.