(MHW X Rising of the Shield Hero) The Hunter, the Handler, and the Hero

Subornation of Perjury

Naofumi left the blacksmith's shop dejected. "All I got was armor," he mumbled and huffed along with his rucksack of supplies. Now I get why no one wanted to come with the Shield Hero he thought and let out a sigh.

"Hey, that's not necessarily a bad thing," the hunter pat him on the back. "That shield may be legendary, but armor is always a good insurance policy if something hits around it. Not to mention, it might just be chainmail, but it still makes you look kind of cool. All that's missing is a helmet."

"And the blacksmith was kind enough to give it to you for free," the handler added.

Naofumi smiled. "And he gave me some clothes," he continued listing positives and looked at Myne, who wore a bright smile that accentuated her glimmering gear.

"I can't believe you bought all of this for me, Sir Hero," she beamed.

"Well, I don't know what's good and what's not," he explained. "And it's not like I could buy any weapons for myself. Though, maybe we did spend too much..."

"I'll fight for you!" Myne declared.

"We've got your back, too, Iwatani," the hunter pumped his fist in support.

"Thanks, guys!" They all traveled to a nearby field to level up and sorted out the name situation along the way. An orange balloon charged them in the field, but it was promptly popped by the hunter's lance. Naofumi gave him a thumbs up before an entire pack of balloons swarmed them. His hunter friend brought their oversized shield up in time to block the blighters, but most of the throng plunged their fangs into Naofumi's body. Surprisingly, however, it didn't hurt. The handler sprang into action, effortlessly slicing through several balloons in a single slash. Myne joined soon after and cleaved through the ones clinging to his body.

"Are you alright?" Myne asked as Naofumi laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. "I didn't think so many would come at you at once. They must have really hurt you!"

"I'm actually fine," Naofumi sat back up. "It didn't hurt at all."

"Oh, Naofumi, you still have one on you," the handler gestured at his arm. Sure enough, one balloon remained chewing on his bicep. He started prying it off as she drew her sword and said, "Hold still, I'll get it."

"No, I..." he grunted and finally pried it loose. "I know my defense rating is high," he raised a fist menacingly at the balloon after failing to rip it apart, "So now let's see what my attack rating is like! TAKE THIS!!!" Naofumi slammed his fist into the top of the balloon, creating a deep crater on impact... only for it to bounce back into place without so much as a scratch. He heard the handler stifle a snicker and immediately apologize for it.

"You sure you don't-?" the hunter asked.

"I've got this!" Naofumi shouted and continued punching the fodder mob, each hit seeming to do nothing. After what seemed like forever, however, the creature finally burst with a satisfying POP! and awarded him one EXP. "I did it!"

"Good job! What a hero!" Myne's eyes sparkled in admiration.

"Yay!" the hunter cheered while lying on his back. Their party member sat up and asked, "So where do we go next to take on some larger prey?"

Myne and Naofumi looked at the setting sun and back to each other and then to the completely-serious hunter before Myne said, "Well, there's a dungeon nearby that's good for leveling up early on, but-"

"Excellent!" he shot up and offered a hand to his handler.

"Don't you think it's a little late?" Naofumi asked.

"Well, we were able to rest for a little bit, so I'm ready for a night hunt," the woman in blue said. She gazed at the sky and nudged her husband to do the same. "But, if you're both tired, then turning in for the evening may not be a bad idea either." Naofumi looked up as well and it didn't take long to sympathize; with less light, it was easier to notice they were standing beneath a foreign sky. He quickly grew homesick and gazed with them.