Resilient Shield

Chapter 5

Naofumi learns well from his experience. When it's time to sleep, he would take out his phone and played some soft ost he downloaded. The gentle music soothes Raphtalia's fears and helps her sleep through the night. There's occasional whimpers or short cry, but none like that blood-curling screams Naofumi had gone through.

Even if the downsides he had to play the music all night long, or at least until Raphtalia enters deep sleep where she no longer dreaming. Resulting in a low battery come morning, forcing him to charge it (Thank whatever deity above he bought that Solar-powered charger even if it was murder to his wallet).

With that one out charging, Naofumi was very reluctant to stray away in fear that some monster might damage it, or worse, some idiot gets their hands on it. That and combined with his other Slave was sick, he was forced to picking fight near the camp. The Orange Balloon Shield (Small) had become VERY useful in luring waves of balloons. And with the balloons making a ruckus, it attracts the attention of other small monsters.

It's forced him to think and using his skills and ammunition creatively. Naofumi is pretty sure he has gained some skill-based on Martial Arts like [Punch] [Kick] [Throws] and something like that.

The first time he's happy about being Monster Bait.

The only time he went away was to get some food and medicine material.

On the Fourth morning after that Dreadful Night, they had a surprise. The boy was awake. Sitting up even. Sunken eyes, hollow cheeks, pale as corpse skin, and bones wrapped in skin. He was not a picture of health by any stretch but compares to a breathing corpse he used to be, it was a great improvement. Almost miraculous even.

"You're awake, huh?" Naofumi was pleasantly surprised. "Now, can you talk?"

"Y-yeah... *cough*" comes the raspy answer. It was not even worth being called a whisper. Naofumi threw him one of the cough medicine and the boy drank it without any complaints, despite the bitter taste.

Naofumi threw Raphtalia a 'why-you-can't-be-like-him' look.

"What is your name?"

"...Lucas." It was still incoherent, but louder.

"Lucas that is." Naofumi nodded. He handed him Raphtalia's dagger. "Try to wield it."

The boy's grasp is weak if Naofumi wants to be kind, and pathetic if he was being honest. The hands were shaking and he had to grip it with both hands and Naofumi can see clearly he was struggling with it, but in the end, he was able to, so Naofumi didn't see the need to correct him.

"Okay. Gimme a minute." He walks out and comes back with some balloons chewing on his body. Raphtalia twitched and reach for a dagger... that she realized now was in Lucas' grasp. Naofumi internally nods in approval. Good. He trained her hard enough it was her second nature to stab any balloon she saw. It won't yield her any high-level skill, but muscle memory was much better because her body already does it without her mind prompting her. It would make things easier.

Now, he only has to train Lucas to do the same.

"Attack this." He lifted one Balloon. Orange.

Lucas look hesitated, before shifting to standing and slowly walk to the balloon. He then raised the makeshift dagger, and stab the balloon. It took him six times whereas Raphtalia needs only two... and she hit Red balloon.

It doesn't help Lucas collapse and panting.

Naofumi gave him five minutes before make him attack Balloon again.

It was a slow process, as he keeps collapsing every time he was done with a balloon, but Naofumi notices that he's been doing it easier every time he tried it again. They're only pausing for mealtime, and Raphtalia was left to do her own devices. She uses it to look after the potions and trying to make something from the grass. Naofumi let her be.