51 Conflict between heroes

Eventually, after more than one wrong turn, we reached the emperor's tent. A page brought us into the tent and then left, leaving us alone with the Emperor and his Imperial Guards, as well as some of the nobility.

"Your majesty." I said while kneeling with my head down. "I have returned to deliver the weapon you ordered. I am also returning the summoned hero Miyata, as well as delivering you the summoned hero Tatsuki, who we met on the journey to the mountains."

"Welcome back, Kvalinn. You may all rise." The emperor was sitting in a large, and only mildly elaborate chair, while various nobility were lounging around the tent. The Emperor turned to a page. "Boris, bring Takamori here, and the commanders of the armies. Tell them we will be discussing plans for the coming battle." Once the page left, he turned back to us. "Miyata. Your unexpected departure caused us much worry, next time you run away without alerting your guards, you will be restrained at all times."

"Sorry." Miyata grumbled, definitely not looking sorry. The emperor sighed as he put off a long and repetitive conversation for later, and looked at Tatsuki with a solemn look in his eyes.

"Tatsuki Mihara. I am Emperor Wilhelm Kant. Ruler of the Throndian Empire. I am truly sorry that humanity's weakness has necessitated you being dragged from your world, away from your friends and family. If we survive this conflict, then you may expect to live as one of the imperial nobility for the rest of your days. I know that this is not sufficient recompense for the outrage you must feel, but it is the best I can offer."

"Your majesty." Tatsuki nodded in respect. "There is nothing to apologize for. You summoned me to protect your people, and I will do my best to keep everyone safe from the monsters."

There were some quiet murmurs of admiration from the nobles. They were probably mentally comparing Tatsuki and Takamori, and finding Tatsuki the more desirable summoned hero.

Speaking of Takamori, he was escorted into the tent with several Imperial Guards keeping a close eye on him, while Bekhi and Jenise each held a firm grip on his arms. I wondered to myself how they had landed the job of being his babysitters.

"Mama!" Ignoring the critical stares of the nobility and the Imperial Guards, Gerde leaped over to give her mother a hug. "I've missed you, mama! We got to fight some mean goblins in the forest, and then we met Tatsuki. He's nice, and not as annoying as Miyata. And then we got to spend some time making weapons with papa and grandpa. There was this mean old dwarf who shouted a lot, but he turned out to be nice. But only to me for some reason. It was a lot of fun!"

Bekhi returned the hug with one arm, since her other arm was occupied with keeping Takamori in place with an iron grip, and smiled kindly as she listened to Gerde tell about the trip in her childish manner. "Sounds like you've been busy, Gerde. Here, I saved something for you."

"Yay! A sweet roll! I love you, mama!" Gerde happily took the proffered treat, and cuddled up against her mother while nibbling on it. Bekhi let go of Takamori, and patted her on the head before walking over to me.

"Glad you listened to me and kept her safe, Kvalinn. Did you make sure she ate enough and went to bed on time? She's looking especially tired, there was barely any strength in her hug."

"That's only because she's been up all night working with me. The only time we had access to the rune forge was when the rune smith's were asleep."

"You kept her up all night!" Bekhi loudly exclaimed. I realized my mistake and was tempted to beat a hasty retreat, but she grabbed my shirt to prevent that. "Kids her age need to sleep through the night! Not work through it! What were you thinking? Having her work through the night?"

I remembered, perhaps a bit too late, that studies on Earth said something about lack of sleep being bad for kids, and messing up their sleep schedule was even worse. A bit late for me to fix that though, so I just apologized multiple times until Bekhi stopped scolding me.

Her mood rapidly shifted once she realized her lesson had gotten through. She smiled and gave me a quick peck to the cheek. "It's good to have you back, Kvalinn. I'm really glad you're safe."

"Don't point that puny bow at me, you little shit!" Our conversation was interrupted by Takamori loudly shouting at Miyata. From what we found out later, he had noticed her new equipment that she had gotten from the dwarves, and demanded she hand it over, leading to her threatening him with her bow. Although her hands were slightly trembling as she kept the bow taut, likely from years of trauma from his bullying. "That stuff's too good for you. Give it to me now. I'll be able to use it a lot better than some sneak."

Before Takamori could take a step forward, and potentially get shot by one of the explosive arrows that would've killed us all, (I really should have held onto those until the battle,) Tatsuki stepped between them. Facing off against the bully.

"Hello again, Takamori. Looks like not even getting sent to another world can change you from being an asshole. Or as the dwarves say it, a wazzock."

"Tch, Tatsuki. They just had to summon you. At least now with my new powers, I can finally wipe that smug goody two shoes look off your face myself." Takamori grinned, and had a face like he was letting a silent fart out, but it must have been some form of offensive magic because the Rune of Protection on my back started to react.

The surrounding guards and nobles reacted to Takamori's magic like a pond to an enormous rock. Shaking violently, and backing up in an ever expanding circle. The only ones not affected completely were myself, Bekhi, and Tatsuki. The rest of the Yankee Party were affected, but they didn't back up, they just white knuckled their weapons as if scared of whatever magic was being output.

"What's the matter, Baka?" Takamori asked in a sneering tone, not noticing that Tatsuki was immune to his magic. "Feeling your knees going weak? Your vision starting to blur? Go on, pee your pants like you did when I used to kick you!"

Tatsuki didn't respond to those weak taunts, other than taking a judo stance, and instinctively releasing his own form of magic, which seemed to act as a counter to Takamori's, causing the tension to visibly drain from everyone.

"That's enough of that." Bekhi said with annoyance clear in her voice, she left Gerde half asleep on my shoulder as she returned to Takamori's side, and punched him in the gut hard enough to cause him to double over. "Botvid's bilge, I leave your side for one minute to talk to my boyfriend and daughter, and you start causing trouble for everyone." His only response was some breathless coughs, he must have been trying to say some sort of threat or curse though since Bekhi punched him again.

"Enough, Bekhi Mubrimssdottir." The emperor boomed out in an authoritative manner. "Takamori, leave the other two summoned heroes alone. The gods have sent them to fight alongside you. Do not squander their gift." After some sputtering from the bully, the emperor nodded to the servants, who all stepped out of the tent. "Good, let us begin planning for the battle. Before that though, this young dwarf has made weapons for myself and my guards. Kvalinn Runecursed, step forward."