The Super Hero (Rise of the Shield Hero)

He did what?!

Disclaimer
Mention of rape in this chapter. If this bothers anyone, I will let you know what paragraph it is in so you may skip that portion.

The morning started with a unexpected event.

In the morning, a castle guard barged into Akio's room as he was getting ready to head out for the day.

"Sir, please come with me! There has been an incident involving the Shield Hero. I hereby, on behalf of the royal family, formally request you to follow me to the royal throne room."

"Uhhh, yeah, sure. Just wait outside and give me a moment."

The guard straightened up and quickly saluted. "Thank you for your cooperation." He closed the door as he walked out, leaving Akio to his thoughts.

He chuckled slightly to himself. Oh Naofumi, what could you have done that could be oh so horrible?

~~~~~~~~

Four of the five legendary heroes stood in the throne room. Naofumi was the only one not present.

When Akio first entered the room, it was utter mayhem. The king ordered people around and guards entered and left the room at an alarming rate. All the while, the other legendary heroes were aggressively whispering to each other, all the while, the red haired girl who was with Naofumi yesterday was clinging to Motoyasu looking hysterical.

Akio walked over to the heroes, wanting to know what happened.

"Itsuki, what's going on?"

Mention of rape in the upcoming paragraphs

"You haven't heard?" He gestured to Myne, who was whimpering in Motoyasu's arms, "Naofumi got drunk and raped her last night."

Akio was left speechless. Naofumi...raped someone? Akio had a stupified look on his face. Yeah, He says Naofumi was drunk, be even then, I don't think he could have done that. I haven't known him for long, but he doesn't give me that impression at all.

At that, guards busted through the door, practically dragging a disoriented Naofumi. Pulling him to the center of the room, the guards threw him down.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Naofumi said. He looked up and saw Myne, terrified. "Myne?" She cowered behind Motoyasu. "Guys?" All of the heroes, beside Akio, scowled at Naofumi.

"I never thought that the Shield Hero would do something so treacherous, so vile, to another person."

"What are you talking about? I didn't do anything!"

"Stop lying!" Motoyasu yelled back, "We all know what you did to Myne."

"What?"

"Shield Hero," the king began again, getting angrier by the second, "for the crime of laying your hands on another--"

"I never did that! I didn't touch anyone."

"We have been told otherwise that you have sexually assaulted Myne--"

"Myne? When? When did I do this?"

"You put your filthy hands on her last night after you went drinking."

"But I didn't drink a--"

"Enough!" The king yelled, "You have placed your hands on my daughter for the last time!"

The room went silent.

Akio stepped away from the group and towards Naofumi. He offered a hand to him. Naofumi hesitated for a moment, then took it, letting Akio help him.

Akio stood side by side with Naofumi, and faced the king. "Your Majesty, with all due respect, with no solid proof that this event occured, you cannot possibly condemn Naofumi of this crime."

"We all know--"

Akio shifted his foot slightly, causing the ground to crack underneath him. His body shimmered as well. "I was not finished, King." Akio waited a moment to see if he would be interrupted again.

He was not.

Akio let go of his spell before speaking once more, "As I was saying, without any solid proof, this event is a "he said she said" sort of scenario. That is why, back in our world, we had DNA tests and other kinds of evidence collectors, as well as witnesses, to see if the statement is true or not.

"So, I ask you this, King and people of the palace, what evidence do we have to prove this event happened?"

A guard stepped forward, holding what looked like fabric. "This was found in the Shield Hero's room last night at the inn he stayed at.

"There!" The king yelled, "There's your evidence. Now we can--"

"Hold on now, King. One article of mysterious cloth doesn't prove anything. Were there any witnesses? Were there any other guests at the inn, or perhaps a worker who might have heard anything?" The king glared at Akio, who wasn't fazed by the sight of the king.

The King sighed before he grumbled out a reply, "Perhaps."

Akio looked at a guard standing near the door, "Could you please go retrieve the person that was working last night?" The guard nodded and ran off.

It only took around 10 minutes for the guard to return, but it felt like an eternity with the whispers of the crowed growing louder by the moment. Even Naofumi attempted to speak to Akio who only waved away his questions or attempts to speak.

Ten minutes later, the guard came back with an older looking man.

"Hello sir," Akio said as the old man walked up to him, "Do you work at the inn that the Shield Hero stayed in last night?"

He chuckled slightly, "Sure do. Could never forget his face. It sure is an odd one."

"Thank you sir. Now, if I may ask a few more questions. Did you see the Shield Hero drink last night? Did you also hear any sounds of a fight, or similar situation coming from his room?"

He shook his head, "Can't say I recall the young lad drinking. Though I offered him some, he just refused. He also couldn't have gotten it from anyone else because I'm the only one that works in the bar.

"As for fighting or ruff housing, I didn't hear anything either. I'm a pretty light sleeper, so I would have heard anyone in distress."

"This is blasphemous." The king yelled once more, "He is obviously cover up for the devil of the shield."

"With all due respect, your Highness," the old man said, "I have a pretty good memory, and a good reputation for being an honest man. So you can take my word that I am not lying. And if that doesn't suffice, you can ask any of my regular patrons." The king huffed, but said no more.

"Thank you, kind sir." Akio said to the old man. Akio nodded to a guard and the old man got escorted out.

"I think that settles the matter, for now at least." Akio said. He grabbed Naofumi's hand and half dragged him to the door. "We will be taking our leave now. Good day."

Nobody said a word as the two heroes left, but when the door closed, all hell broke loose in the throne room for the second time that day.