Two worlds, one shield

Chapter 26: Validated

As the Shield Hero party arrived on the doors leading to the main throne room, the woman guiding them there had asked them to wait.

"Wait here."

"Wait? For what?" Garfiel instinctively asked, something that Naofumi was also questioning. 

This was answered a few seconds later when they spotted Ren and his party walking by his side, assisting him in not collapsing onto the ground.

"Ren!" Filo and Garfiel shouted before approaching him, happy to see that he was fine though also wanting to check up on him. 

As they reached him in seconds, Ren looked at them for a moment before turning towards Naofumi's direction. 

He had a calm smile before speaking in a calm tone,

"Naofumi. Good to see you and your party made it out alive."

"Can say the same to you, Ren."

Although he was giving him a blank expression, the Sword Hero could tell that the Shield Hero was relieved that he was still alive. 

Ren smiled as he closed his eyes, trying to keep himself from moving too much since he was still in recovery mode with how the fighting had just barely ended. 

While he was trying to stay still, they all noticed Motoyasu approaching them. 

Naofumi recalled that Motoyasu had taken Ren to safety while he and Itsuki were taking on the Priest. 

He gave Motoyasu a blank look before shifting his gaze toward the door, not really having much to say. 

Though while he was going to remain silent, the Spear Hero noticed Filo, which prompted him to say:

"Filo-chan! You are okay!"

He tried to hug her only to end up getting slapped by her. 

Though before he could be sent flying, Garfiel caught him. 

Right as he did this, he looked at the Spear Hero with an annoyed expression, mainly annoyed by his antics, though in a way glad that he wasn't dead.

"Tch. You're still a pain," Garfiel grunted, pushing Motoyasu upright before brushing off his hands.

Motoyasu blinked, then grinned brightly as if nothing had happened. "Aw, come on! I was just worried about Filo-chan. Can't blame a guy for that, right?"

Filo huffed, standing behind Raphtalia now. "You're always weird, mister..."

"I'm not weird..." Motoyasu commented back, feeling a little hurt by Filo's words. Raphtalia shook her head with some disappointment, mainly because a hero shouldn't act so...weird. 

Ren and his party members chuckled when seeing this, finding it a bit light-hearted compared to the hell they had to go through for some time. 

As they were enjoying this, Ren turned towards Motoyasu's direction to tell him:

"I never got the chance to say, but thank you for getting me to safety."

Motoyasu got up as he shifted his attitude to a more serious one, catching on what the Sword Hero had told him. 

Motoyasu gave Ren a firm nod, surprising the others with his lack of dramatic flourish.

"You don't have to thank me," he said, voice low but sincere. "You're one of us. It's what we're supposed to do."

Ren blinked, momentarily taken aback. 

This attitude was definitely not something he'd expect from the Spear Hero.