Chapter 7: Bodyguard

A week had passed since Kirishima's hatching and he had developed significantly from a baby hatchling. He had grown from about the size of Bakugou's hand to about the size of a small house cat with his scales hardening and had been developing small horns on his head.

While still doing quests Bakugou would also play along with his tiny dragon. He bought a book on dragon care and had fun with the fire breathing beast like a pet. Even Neia had fun with him on occasion despite their opposing magic elements.

Bakugou had also trained him in many different skills like tracking, poison detection, and understand many other basic commands like an intelligent dog only this one breaths fire. He had also been learning how to glide across long distances from trees he climbed up from, while not technically flying it was still impressive for him just being a baby.

Bakugou had also gained several shields based around animal care along with his shields that affect his companions like Neia with the little dragon now an official member of Bakugou's group so the stats and effects would double with Kirishima as he counts as both teammate and monster.

While on quests Kirishima had mostly been playing around or just plain eating small creatures like mice. While not much, it did help the young dragon to level up as he helped take care of several people's pest problems gaining skill in tracking and chasing. One week old and he was already at level 7.

With Bakugou though other than playtime, he and Neia had been going around the country, visiting different towns and helping them in any way and doing quests. He had been lately nicknamed the saint of the star fruit due to his actions at Lelore. He hated the fact he was now being associated with a fruit even if it was his own creation, but he did rationalize that it was better than being called "Shield Devil." all the time.

Things seemed routine for a while. They travel by wagon, visited a town, and help them with whatever problems like healing there sick or killing monsters under his Kacchan alias. It was honest work and people appreciated his help, but Katsuki had been waiting for a big job to get the better recognition he deserved.

He finally did get his big break after encountering some mercenaries at an inn to a town close to the northern border of the country. They were hesitant to say anything to him even with his alias, but after a couple of drinks and losing an arm-wrestling contest to Bakugou and even Neia they told them about a big job. They even had a flyer for it as proof.

In North of the border, there is a small human kingdom called Tervein that has been dealing with some unrest lately from over-taxation by the young King there. His life is at risk with a rebellion developing and had been offering a bodyguard position and 20 gold to any wiling adventurer or hero for a small period of time.

While good pay, dealing with King assassins, or a possible revolution did not sound appealing to many people so mercenaries like them just ignored it. Bakugou however raved in a good challenged and it sparked his interest.

After some preparation, they hired another wagon driver and went on there a way to Tervein.

This ride lasted far longer than the ones before, it took about two days to finally make it to Tervein's capital which involves stopping and resting at a town for the night. Though they encountered some trouble near the border between Tervine and Melromarc with the guards not liking the idea of the shield devil moving around to different kingdoms. But after some yelling some death threats to the guards they were convince to allow him through after paying the toll. Had this been a demi-human kingdom it would've been another story, but Tervein was a human kingdom with next to no demi-humans with good relations with Melromarc so the cardinal hero leaving toward there won't be seen as that big of a deal especially since he would be teleported back to Melromarc anyway when the next wave happens.

The kingdom wasn't as big as Melromarc but was still a functioning kingdom in its own right with a unique culture. The people had noticeably darker skin tones compare to Melromarc, they seemed to resemble a bit like Middle Eastern cultures back at his world with turban-like headwear with some being just paper wrappings.

While passing through Tervein things didn't seem bad at first, but once the heroes got to the capital of the small nation it told a different story. There were posters and graffiti across a few buildings that were extremely against the current monarchy to say the least. But once near that very monarchs castle, there was a mass of people near the gates to the palace. The people here were all very angry and had been yelling demanding to see there king as the guards did their best to keep the peace.

Just outside the crowd the cart stopped and dropped Bakugou, Neia, and young Kirishima off, "Get yourself back to Melromarc, we can fast travel back there when we are done here." Bakugou told the driver as he nods understanding him and left-back his way to Melromarc away from the protests.

Bakugou had no patience with this mob and was just pushing himself through with Kirishima resting on his shoulder on his capes fluffy top and Neia following behind until the two forced their way to the front.

The main guard the Captain however tried to force him back, "Nobody can see the King right now! There has been a security risk lately and no chances are being taken so turn back and go home!" he yells at Bakugou seeing him as another protester.

But Bakugou just takes out the job flyer and lets it roll out in front of the guard, "We are here for this job idiot, if you don't care about your King's life then you can kiss my ass out of here!" he insulted back at him.

The guard quickly reads over the flier and quickly recognized it, "Ah yes, the temporary bodyguard job. Very well if that is what you are here for then you may come in. Just behave yourself" he told and approved Bakugou.

The guards then quickly open the gate a bit to allow the crew in while at the same time stopping everyone else from storming in. Bakugou and his crew made it through the gate in the castle's courtyard quickly as the guards slammed it shut again.

The two were escorted within the palace to their employer. It was nowhere near as big as Melromarc's castle but was still a big place with some art and paintings decorating the large walls.

They finally make it into the throne room as the observe a young man probably no older than his mid 20's wearing expensive-looking clothing as well as some jewelry, had a small trimmed beard, and had a bright red turban on his head most likely made of silk. He was pacing back and forth and looked very stressed out, Bakugou was not surprised considering how intense the protesters were outside, that probably would make anyone stress out. If they weren't him that is.

As they walked toward him they could hear him talking with another old person, "This is bad Qine, this is really bad. If this continues the red hand will no doubt gain more sympathizers and..." he then stopped when he noticed Bakugou with his small dragon and blue partner, "Who are you? I don't recognize you two or your dragon pet from anywhere?" he asked them though not as demanding as one expects from someone as important as he is.

"It's Katsuki Bakugou, the shield hero. Me and my team are here for your bodyguard job." Bakugou told him using his real name and title figuring this Kingdom with money and resources would probably already be aware of what the shield devil looks like unlike a random village of peasants, and from what he got from the locals just like Melromarc they follow the three Heroes Church as well, so he wouldn't be surprised to get just as many ugly looks like he is used to.

The young King was quite surprised to hear that title, "Shield Hero? Like the cardinal shield hero?" he asked

Bakugou then sticks out his left arm to show his shield off, "What the hell do you think this is!?"

The King gets a good look at it from a distance, being very impressed by the silver shield with it's glowing green gem, "I see. I was not expecting a cardinal hero to come to visit my small kingdom especially not the shield hero. But I'll put any religious dogma aside and take whatever help I can get." The King says to them who still seemed stressed out a bit as he walks up to them wanting to give a proper greeting as he bows to them, "Thank you for accepting this job. I am King Kardrum the first of the kingdom of Tervein."

"About time I get respect by some form of authority for once." Bakugou snarked feeling somewhat smug about it finally getting respect from an authority figure considering all he had to deal with back at Melromarc.

But after the young king finished his introductions the other man came up to them, he was bald without a turban on, wearing formal clothing though not as lavash as the young kings, and looked to be around his late '50s with a long straight beard. He did not look as enthusiastic toward Bakugou and his crew,

"Sire I understand the need for more protection at this time, but I don't trust these folks. The one who claims to be the shield hero looks like a mad ruffian who attacks people on the roads, that demi-human isn't under any slave seal so who knows what she could do with her free will, and I doubt that disgusting thing on his shoulder is housebroken." the man said to them making Bakugou and Neia look at him angrily from those comments with even little Kirishima growling at him.

But before Bakugou got violent the King quickly made him shut up, "Qine I understand your concern but I don't have the luxury to be picky right now on who's protecting me so they are allowed to stay for now." he told him not making the man happy.

Kardrum looks back toward Bakugou's and his crew, "I apologize Shield hero, this is my advisor Qine. He had been my father's advisor for decades and has been mine since my ascension to the throne. So please understand he's just looking out for the kingdoms best interests"

Bakugou and his team still weren't big on the guy, but they knew they had a job to do so they will have to tolerate him for now.

Bakugou of course wanted to have more details on the situation, "So tell me turban, why do you need to hire us?"

The King was somewhat surprised by what the shield hero called him with his advisor looking angrily, but he went on to answer him anyway, "I fear my life is in grave danger. The situation in my kingdom isn't a good one as you seen by the gates. I need protection from anything that could directly harm me by any outside force."

Neia however wanted to get deeper about it, "But why are your people so mad at you? Surely they are not mad at you for no reason?" she asked with Bakugou wondering as well wanting to see if he was going to be attached to a sinking ship.

Kardrum sighs knowing full well the answer to that, "It had all come down to bad luck and bad timing. My father the former King had passed away last year and I was coronated to the throne immediately after. I may love my country, but I knew full well it needed to have some major reforms and changes to be able to not just survive but to thrive. The first thing that immediately came to my mind when I came to power was our taxation system."

"Taxation?" Neia questioned him

"Yes, before my rule our kingdom's taxation policies have been extremely out of date and understaffed for years. It relied on a take a person by their word system which even the normal peasants could exploit so many places ended with barely any revenue collected. It has been severely mismanaged as well, some nobles ended up being forced to pay more than others with the same amount of wealth, some peasants end up overpaying, some underpaying, and some of the tax collectors pocketed in some of the money. It was nothing but a god damn mess. And of course, this always affected the treasury under my father's rule, some years end up fine, other times we struggle to keep the kingdom going because of lack of funds. So after I became ruler I had the whole thing overhauled, firing those incompetent or corrupt, hiring new reliable people, set up a system to properly look over records and wealth throughout the Kingdom, set up more proper guidelines and restrictions on the tax collectors, having an actual set of legal rules on taxation, and many other things to modernize our old system. This pretty much meant that all the peasants had to pay up at their proper rates and couldn't weasel out of it. None of them liked this and I knew full well they would protest over it. But I was prepared for such backlash and figured I just let it blow over after a year or so when they calm down and have them get use to the new system which by then I'll have the funds to reshape and reform our backwatered kingdom toward a new age of prosperity. But then..."

Bakugou then interrupts to answer, "Let me guess, the waves arrived?"

"Yes, the waves had caused a lot of damage and left many of my people in disarray. Many of our crop fields were destroyed and I knew we needed to arm ourselves for when the next waves arrive. Repairing the damages sucked a lot of the treasury, and we needed to obtain food and weapons, but we didn't have the funds to pay for it all without going bankrupt. I had no choice but to increase taxes all around to be able to trade to get these weapons and food. Everyone is now thinking I'm some greedy tyrant exploiting my citizens when all I wanted to do was to feed them and protect them. Now they want my head." the King continued looking sadder than before feeling betrayed by the people he was trying to protect there wellbeing.

"Why don't you just tell the people this? I'm sure they could understand your reasoning." Neia naively said.

That just made Bakugou laugh cynically, "Ha, you expect an angry mob to just get over it like that."

Kardrum then answers her, "I have tried to explain the situation and the taxation to the people with some speeches and public decrees, but they don't believe me. They think I'm just making up excuses to tax every penny out of them."

Bakugou still knew there had to be more to this then that, "Why else do you need us? I doubt you be hiring random adventurers to protect you from random angry peasants?"

"Indeed, normally I would be worried, but I would just depend on my guards to aid me or evacuate if things got worse. But unfortunately, that's not the case, the Red Hand is involved now." Kardrum answers with a slight sigh made on near the last part.

"And who the hell is the Red Hand? Come on! Details details!" Bakugou demanded from him with Qine looking more unamused by this brat.

The King was silent for a second but finally answered the young hero, "The Red hand is a cult of rebels that had been against the monarchy since my father's reign, believing that the monarchy isn't needed anymore and seem to despise any form of moderation I've been trying to implement. They were just a minor nuisance before, but now ever since the tax increase and the rioting, they have been gathering up in strength and supporters. I've already been through a few close calls from their attempts to kill me and are now becoming more aggressive than ever. A few of my guards and other advisors had already been murdered by them and I think they are ready to kill me off and take over the Kingdom for themselves. They seemed to have gotten especially more ambitious after they gained a master archer on their side.

The last part sparked Bakugou's curiosity, "Master archer Huh?"

"Yes, he has been said to have murdered off some corrupt nobles down at Melromarc lately and he never misses his mark. No one knows where he came from, he sort of just popped out of nowhere. That archer alone had killed off all my best men without struggle," The King explained. Bakugou scratches his chin thinking that he might have an idea who that archer could be, but he decided to keep his mouth shut about it and had to be something to worry later as he had no evidence to prove it anyway.

After that Bakugou understood the situation well but he had to tell something to the King that he knew he wouldn't like, "Look Turban, I know you're going through a lot with this crap, but I can't be your babysitter forever. I have other places to go to and get stronger with the waves incoming. The job was explicitly titled 'For a small period of time' am I right?" he told the King. While he wanted the job for the pay and recognition, he didn't want to spend the rest of his life guarding a minor King, especially with the other heroes doing other things and in no way was he going to let them surpass him and to get back to his home world.

"I understand Sir Shield Hero, you have more important things to do like stopping the waves then constantly guarding me all the time. But thankfully I have a way to fix this mess that circumstance cursed me with." Kardrum told Bakugou making him think what hair brain idea this statesman had in mind.

"The large supplies of food that I told you before I ordered with the increase tax money is on its way to the capital in a few days. When it finally arrives I shall be able to feed my people and it will hopefully calm them down, now knowing where their tax money had gone to." the King continued but Bakugou had doubts on that plan.

"Feeding people isn't going to magically make this terrorist group go away turban, unless you finally kill those bastards you will always be their target." Bakugou bluntly told the King.

Despite wanting to deny it the young King knew he had a point, "I know sir Katsuki, but thankfully I have Qine on the job to investigate the whereabouts of the red hand and potentially any traitors among us. Hopefully by the time the food supplies arrive the people will turn their support to me again and with the people's support, we will finally be rid of them once and for all." Kardrum explained to Bakugou.

But the young hero still did not like any of this. Especially with this "investigation" being under the Kings advisor which Bakugou can see through the guy as one not to be trusted, but again he has no proof of it so he just looks at the man with his angry face.

Qine of course had similar feelings but had no issue expressing it, "My liege I still think it's a mistake allowing the shield devil to get involved, what if he is an agent working with the red hand to kill you in your sleep."

"Do you think I would waste my time going outside of Melromarc to kill some random politician idiot!? I would've killed off that dumbass consort in Melromarc long ago first." Bakugou insults the guy as he continued to look at him with distaste.

"Qine please calm down we don't need to start anything. For now, we will get along with the Shield hero until the food supplies come, and hopefully a revolution is avoided." Kardrum told his advisor but he and Bakugou continued to stare angrily at each other figuring something was up with the other.

The King finally just changes the subject, "Well then, I don't know about the rest of you but I'm starving. Let's all head to dinner and learn to get along." the King says as he walks away with Qine and Bakugou's team following suit as they continue to give ugly looks to each other.

During dinner time the King had his cooks make a great banquet. The king, some of his court, and team Bakugou went on to enjoy themselves to the many dishes and treats. The king was especially fond of the latter.

Things seemed normal with everyone eating, though there was some suspense from Bakugou, with how the King was describing things it seemed like anything could happen with the angry peasants and this rebel cult group. Nothing seemed wrong for now but he kept his eye out on anything suspicious.

Neia was just enjoying herself with the food not worried about anything and Kirishima was stuffing himself on a bowl of meat for the dragon.

Qine before protested the animal being on the table but after Bakugou shouting at him and the King's reinsurance they forced Qine to back down. Qine never seemed to be fond of dragons finding them to be disgusting creatures that cause death and destruction when they are both old and young in different ways. Kardrum on the other hand didn't mind and was actually fond of dragons. He even asked if Kirishima was for sale but Bakugou immediately turned him down, not giving any chance of losing his own pet dragon.

After the main banquet was finished the King was ready for some dessert and asked for it from a servant, "Yes sir. Tonight's dessert is a very special fruit pie." the servant said calmly with a big smile as he goes for the pie.

After getting the pie he was set to put it in front of the King who was looking excited like a kid in a candy store. But as soon as the pie was put on the table Kirishima stopped chewing on a bone he was biting into and started sniffing. It immediately caught Bakugou's attention as the young dragon continues sniffing until he looks toward the King. At that point, Bakugou knew something was up.

The King took out his fork and Knife and was ready for a sweet surprise.

But Bakugou finally quietly and quickly told Kirishima, "get!" and the young dragon finally storms off toward the King as he runs across the table through food and peoples plates shocking and surprising everyone until the dragon jumps right into the pie making a mess out of it surprising the young King.

Kardrum was quite shocked along with Qine, but Qine quickly became pissed off, "Throw this filthy animal out of this castle! NOW!" he yells calling the guards.

"Hold on a second!" Bakugou yelled as he walks up to the King side of the table.

"Your disgusting monster has spoiled his majesty's dessert! This is why Dragons are not allowed in the castle and we don't hire random strangers for a job like this!" Qine continues to yell at Bakugou.

"Shut up already baldy!" he insults Qine as he ignores him and walks over to the pie. He scooped up some of it and smells into it. He immediately found something off by the pie with a very weird smell with Kirishima reacting to it just as well.

He quickly turns toward the servant that gave the meal as he attempts to head out the door, "Hey you!" he yells forcing the servant to turn, "Why don't you eat some of it?"

The servant looked nervous even sweating a little, "Uh... N... No that's the King's meal I no right to..."

"Its already ruined. Just eat it!" Bakugou demanded.

"Shield what does this..." Qine attempted to asked until the King stopped him with his hand out now curious to what the cardinal hero was doing.

The servant continues to make up excuses to not eat the messed up pie, "I am not worthy to eat a meal worthy of a..." but Bakugou just grabs the guy by his shirt and forced him on the table by the pie as Kirishima moved out of it.

"Now eat it!" Bakugou continued to demand.

"No no, I can't eat..."

"I said eat it!" He demands again being more aggressive.

"I told you this is his majesty's dessert I can't..."

"Hey turban will you allow this idiot to eat the damn pie!" Bakugou demanded from the King.

"Very well, he can taste it." Kardrum quickly permitted without protesting, now seeing where this was going.

Bakugou looks back at the servant still at his grip, "You heard him! Now eat it!"

"I… I... I can't... This... this..."

Bakugou then slams the servants head on the table, "I SAID EAT IT!" he yells at the man.

Everyone at the table was surprised at the brutality of the shield hero as he kept slamming his head on the table over and over as the servant continued to refuse.

"EAT IT!"

"No! I don't want to die!" the servant finally confessed to, making the court confused about what he means by that.

"Kirishima detect!" Bakugou ordered his dragon as he holds out what's left of the pie, the dragon sniffed it and then quickly at the servant's shirt until the dragon finally reached into his shirt pocket took out a small vial of a purple liquid in his mouth, "Just as I expected, high-grade poison."

Kardrum was surprised to see this, a regular worker attempting to poison him, he then looked away toward his soldiers, "Guards, throw him in the dungeon for now and interrogate him for answers." he ordered with the guards taking the would-be assassin with a bloody head away from the shield heroes hands as he is dragged away.

Bakugou then pours in what's left of the poison in his shield which showed in the menu *Poison Shield unlocked, tolerance against poison increase by 20%*

"This is terrible. If even one of my own staff attempted to end my life like that the Red Hand must have already infiltrated my castle." Kardrum continued while having a hand on his forehead feeling stressed out.

His advisor Qine attempts to calm him down, "Sire don't worry about this, I shall interrogate this traitor and find out what he knows about and get answers."

But as Qine continues to talk Bakugou saw something up the ceiling by the glass windows on the wood pillars, it was a cloaked figure with a grey mask on holding a large object. It was a bow and he quickly saw what he was doing.

Before he could say anything, the mysterious figure fired a magic arrow toward Kardrum.

"Turban look out!" Bakugou shouted and with his quirk, he jumps right in front of the young King and just in time blocked the green energy arrow that was going right to his head.

The King and everyone else were quite shocked as the archer assassin quickly flees the scene through the windows he came from, "Hey you cowardly bastard!" Bakugou yells as he uses his quirk to fly up toward the windows after the assassin jumped out of it.

Bakugou continued to pursue him as the two run through the courtyard. Katsuki attempts to catch up with his quirk but just as he got close the assassin uses his bow to launch himself up the castle walls, despite Bakugou doing the same thing, the archer jumps off the castle walls toward the densely crowded city.

Bakugou looks around on top of the wall but he could no longer see the assassin or any tracks to find him. To Bakugou's anger and disappointment, the assassin got away.

Despite feeling pissed off he immediately blasted back to the King with Neia trying to calm him down after that close call, "Oh my, I can't believe two attempts on my life in one night in quick session. The red hand is getting more and more ambitious now." Kardrum says to himself as he notices Bakugou coming back from the archers escape, "Thank you so much for saving my life twice tonight shield hero." He thanks to him.

But Bakugou wasn't in the happiest mood after losing the archer, "If only that bastard didn't get away. I would've smashed his head with that bow of his." Bakugou grumbles to himself about it.

Qine didn't look happy himself, "You failed to capture the assassin? You're supposed to be a cardinal hero and yet you can't even do your job?"

Bakugou then stomps right up to Qines face, "LISTEN HERE ASSWIPE! I didn't see you do anything else to help out! You nearly let Turban eat that poison pie and I didn't see you going after that coward yourself? So who's not doing their job around here again!?" Bakugou yells at Qine as he growls back at Bakugou not afraid of him.

The King then went to calm the situation, "Alright! Alright! Both of you, let us not kill each other here and focus on what we need to do going forward tonight." Kardrum says to the two, while both still hated each other the two decided to back down and look away.

Qine attempts to get back on topic, "Yes I understand sire, we need to take extra precautions now and have your food properly tested for now on."

"I agree," The king says and looked back toward Bakugou, "Sir Bakugou, I would like you and your partners to be close on my side for now on. And your little dragon can be my new poison detector as well." he requests from the hero as he calmly pets the tiny dragon next to him.

Bakugou didn't mind as this was his job anyway, but Qine didn't like this though, "Sire, are you sure its a good idea to put so much trust in this ruffian you meet in less than a day over your long serving advisor?" he continues to argue being more aggressive about it.

Bakugou growls ready to explode on him again, but the King stepped in, "It will be fine Qine, personally I never felt safer with these three on my side. Just continue to do your job and find out more on the red hand's whereabouts and we can finally end this nightmare for good." he tells his advisor who still didn't look happy at all.

But it did give Bakugou the opportunity for him to flip the bird on Qine with a shit-eating grin knowing the advisor can't do anything about him.

And soon came the end of night one on the bodyguard job which turned out to be the only easy day.

For the next four days, Bakugou remained close to Kardrum guarding him in any way he could as it seems like the whole world was out to get him.

Numerous attempts on Kardrum's life had been becoming more and more frequent. It seemed like everything was being thrown at the young king, poison food, venomous snakes, exploding packages, sabotage stairs, throwing daggers, and many more things to kill him. But thankfully in each attempt, Bakugou and his two sidekicks had been beside him to stop every one of them.

The worst though had been that archer, he had been the closest to kill the King with him always mysteriously coming out of the shadows from a far distance to launch an arrow only for Bakugou to deflect it and then runs away to disappear before Bakugou could follow. It always pissed him off, though he admittedly liked the challenge a bit compared to these other lousy assassination plots.

Many of the would-be assassins had been arrested thanks to Bakugou and Neia with a few even being castle staff members. They would always be sent to interrogation by Qine but so far no new information had been found from any of the interrogations with every single one of them just dying off without much out of them. It raised Bakugou's suspicion with his eyes always on Qine on the subject considering he's been in charge of them.

But other than assassination attempts Bakugou, Neia, and Kirishima had just been following the King as he does his Kingly duties. It seemed like boring political stuff but Bakugou had learned a bit of the geopolitics with the various Kingdoms, as well as negotiation and trading, giving Bakugou an idea on how to trade better that doesn't involve forced haggling or yelling death threats at the cheap merchants. Bakugou would also read through some of his books to learn more skills and history of this world as well as some reading new ones from the King's small library.

It would seem overwhelming for him to listen in on politics, reading books, and making sure nothing tries to kill his employer, but of course this was nothing to Bakugou and he had Neia and Kirishima as extra pairs of eyes.

Though the most exciting parts of bodyguarding were whenever they meet up with the captain of the guard Keva who is usually helping to train the troops and guards. While he was a hardened veteran he was really a nice guy, very loyal to the king and was willing to give some tips and information on fighting. He even taught Neia some tricks on her fighting skills and Kirishma learning to fight with the guard dogs. The captain even allowed Bakugou to go through the armory with all the weapons including shields were stored up, allowing Bakugou to copy dozens of new shields and some of their powers and traits. So even if things went south in this country Bakugou was at least happy he, his sidekick, and his little dragon had gotten more powerful overall without doing too much.

Kardrum even requested that Bakugou and his champions to sleep in the same room with him in case they're any attempts to kill him there while he was sleeping. And it was the right call as each night there had been many attempts on his life as the 3 continue to foil them. But it was always the archer they had to worry about as he seems to get closer and closer to getting an arrow on the King's head.

By day five though Qine was now continually in an angry mood as the young King remains so close to the shield hero and away from him.

"This needs to finally be addressed, your Majesty. I think the shield hero and his "partners" need to be properly interrogated." Qine demands from King Kardrum at the throne room with Bakugou not happy with the arrogant advisor.

"How about you explain why you low life ass?" Bakugou angrily asked.

"Ever since you have come to our Kingdom the number of assassination attempts on his majesty had increased tremendously with his life almost taken from him multiple times. It's probably no coincidence that you might have something to do with it." Qine attempts to justify as he dismisses Bakugou only to make him angrier at the ass of an advisor.

"If I wanted Turban dead I would've done it a long time ago, and like I said before I would've killed that bastard of a consort at Melromarc long before then. And what about you? Your work to find this red shit cult had turned up nothing. It also seems like anytime an idiot assassin is arrested, they always ended up dead before saying anything. Either you're an incompetent ass or your up to something?! Or maybe just both!?" Bakugou continually getting aggressive on the advisor with him getting aggressive back.

"Alright enough!" Kardrum shouts trying to maintain order with the two again as it was becoming routine at this point, "There is no need to finger-point at each other. Hopefully when those supplies will finally come in two days the red hand will finally lose their support and things start to calm down around here." he continues trying to calm them down with Qine backing down even if he didn't like it.

"They better get here soon; we can finally be done with this brats protection. He'll get his payment and head back to Melromarc where he should stay at." Qine finishes as he turns and leaves.

"Yeah good and I'll be glad to not listen to your bitching anymore baldy!" Bakugou insults back at Qine as the advisor grumbles and leaves the throne room.

Kardrum just sighs, "I'm very sorry Sir Bakugou, Qine while wise is a bit... full of himself sometimes. Feeling like he is above many things. But don't treat him as the representative of our kingdom, despite the tension right now it's a fine little Kingdom."

"Yeah whatever, I still would like to just beat the crap out of these rebel freaks and be done with it. I'm tired of standing around all the time not killing anything" Bakugou complains.

"Hopefully things will get better once the Kingdom is fed, and Qine eventually finds the hideout to the red hand with that archer gone to. It's a bit tense right now, but I have a feeling things will get better soon." the King says to lighten the mood. But all Bakugou could think is that he might've just jinx it.

Down at his private bedroom, Qine locked his doors and searched around his room for any intruders. He then went up to his desk where he unlocked a locked drawer and took out a specialized crystal ball in which he placed it on his desk and activates it with his magic.

Soon enough the magic of the ball shows an image of a shady looking man in red robes, "Brother Qine, what do you wish to discuss with us?" the suspicious man in red robes asked.

"Things have gotten more complicated lately, the Shield hero still remains in our Kingdom. He, his demi-human partner, and his filthy dragon had ruined all the assassination attempts I helped set up. Several of the men you had sent me had either been killed by the hero or were captured and I had to kill them off myself in interrogation to shut them up. It seems even our master archer we hired has been having trouble as well" Qine says to the red hand member showing his true motives.

"Yes, brother Qine I've been aware of the Shield hero's presence. But it's no big deal, the hero won't be here forever as he will be forced to be dragged in toward the head of the waves in Melromarc and I can just send over some more men." the red hand member ensures Qine.

"Yes that is true, but there is something you should know about. In two days a large supply of food is coming to the capital to feed the subjects. If that finally arrives, the young brat will win back the peasant's hearts, it will make it harder to control the Kingdom if we kill him after that, no one will follow us after we killed a King that filled there empty bellies." Qine explains to the member.

"Shall we ambush the supply caravans and give away the food ourselves?" the subordinate suggested.

But Qine had something different in mind, "No, I have a better idea. I think it is about time we finally become more direct with the King's early retirement. I shall give you more details later through a messenger, but it'll involve as many members of the organization as possible. So get everyone ready for combat tomorrow. We will finally be done with that brat and we'll have everything be blamed on the Shield devil, then we will take the Kingdom for ourselves as liberators of a tyrant, and with those food supplies we will take credit for we will get the peasantry on our side."

"That sounds good brother Qine, we will be ready for it and await your instruction." the member agreed to.

"And make sure that master archer is involved as well, he'll be the key to all of this. By tomorrow night the whole kingdom will be under our rule." Qine finishes as he turns off his crystal ball.

The next morning was quiet, too quiet for Bakugou's taste. Things remained routine as he, Neia, and Kirishima continue to guard the king toward the throne room to help answer more complaints to the nobles and peasants. Though it was almost noon and there had been no crazy assassination attempts nor that archer again. Once there though Qine walked up to the king giving a suspicious smile, "My lord, I have good news, I've finally gotten a lead on a red hand hideout somewhere in the outskirts of the capital. I'll be needing as many men as you can spare to help raid the hideout."

Kardrum was excited about the good news, "Perfect, inform captain Keva about this and get them ready to raid it, tell him that you have my approval to do so."

Qine then made a specific request, "If you also don't mind, I request the shield hero to come along to help with the raid, with his fire magic he should be of great assistance."

While that might be what Bakugou wanted, he found this whole event to be suspicious, "How about just sending blue with you, she should be more than enough to kill low life cultists. I'll continue to guard turban." he suggested making Qine raise his eyebrows.

"I prefer if you have the Shield Hero involved, rather than this low life Demi." he insulted making Neia and especially Bakugou mad.

"LISTEN HERE YOU BIGOTED ASSHAT! Blue can kick any pathetic ass of the red shit cult, so don't be telling us who's actually strong here with your stupid ass beard!" Bakugou exploded and yelled with Kirishima hissing at him with Qine barely keeping himself calm.

And as usual it's Kardrum who has to calm the two down and settle it, "Alright calm down Sir Bakugou no need to raise your voice like that. But Qine that was uncalled for to dismiss the Shield hero's partner like that after all she has done for us, I've seen enough for myself from the armory what she is capable of so she has the right to prove herself against the red hand. Besides, like he said I still need the protection of the shield in case I have any more attempts on my life while his partner is gone"

While not happy about it Qine just smiles and accepts it, "Very well my lord, Miss Neia can go with the raid and be back once everything is finished. I will just be heading out sire while I get everything ready for the captain.

Once he's out of the room Neia readies herself to go to meet with the troops, "Well wish me luck Sir Bakugou, hopefully things will turn out alright."

Bakugou just huffs and nods his sidekick away as she leaves the room. Bakugou wasn't sure what but he knew something sinister was going on and looks toward at his little Dragon on his shoulder as usual,"I know something is up Kirishima. Be ready for anything." he ordered Kirishima with his basic command as the little dragon was smart enough to understand a command like that. He then jumps off his shoulder and went to play along in the throne room with a toy Bakugou bought him amusing the King.

"I hope this raid will bring a crippling blow to the red hand. If it's not assassins I think this stress will kill me first." The King jokes, but Bakugou had a feeling things are going to get more stressful soon enough.

Down at the armory captain Keva with a small army of soldiers and guards were all ready to head out to destroy the supposed red hand hideout. Most of the troops were eager including the odd one out of all of them Neia, but the soldiers didn't care as she has proven them before that she was more than capable at fighting.

The Captain now decked out in heavy armory had gotten on his horse, "Alright soldiers, we need to be swift on our approach and give no mercy to these bastards. Let's show them how real soldiers fight, face to face!" he encourages the soldiers with all of them shouting in unison as they got on their own horses with Neia being a passenger on one of them as she doesn't know how to ride a horse yet.

Before they head out Qine finally came down to the armory holding a scroll as he walks up to the Captain with it, "This is a map with instructions on how to find the hideout. Make sure you follow it to the letter, going anywhere out of the intended path will get you lost so don't waste the kings time with your foolery." he rudely tells the captain as he snatches the scroll out of his hand, like Bakugou he hardly got along with the Kings advisor.

The large doors open up with the Captain leading the way, "Alright men! Let's move out!" he shouts as he and the rest of the men's horses head out to find the rebel hideout and finally remove this terror from the land forever.

Soon enough they pass through the castle's gates toward the outside of town to find this red hand hideout.

But Qine from a window watches as he laughs to himself knowing he had rid of one of his obstacles for his little coup, "Now with that idiot and demi out of the way. The Revolution will now begin."

A few minutes later things seemed rather calm on the castle walls as the few remaining guards on the lookout continue to patrol the area. But suddenly a bunch of magical arrows came out of nowhere and killed them off. And like a swarm of ant's a bunch of mysterious robed figures wearing red masks began their quiet assault on the now lightly defended castle.

More guards began to drop one by one by stray arrows and throats cut from behind as dozens of these figures began to take control of parts of the castle without resistance.

In the throne room, Kardrum finished talking with the last noble as he gets up from his throne with Bakugou in his side, "Alright now then Sir Bakugou why don't we have lunch now. Hopefully this time there won't be any explosive poultry in it."

But as they were walking down toward out the throne room doors Bakugou had heard some noise and it sounded familiar to him. And before the King could notice an energy arrow was flying right toward his face, "WATCH OUT!" Bakugou shouted as he jumped in the way of the arrow with his shield surprising the king and before he could say anything Bakugou grabs him and pushes the young king on the ground as he continues to block away a bunch of other deadly projectiles mostly being throwing daggers from other points.

Little Kirishimia had also immediately stopped playing and got close below Bakugou knowing danger was nearby.

After blocking all of them the two quickly noticed that the room was now becoming surrounded. Dozens upon dozens of red-robed figures with masks surround the throne room holding different sorts of weapons.

The King looked terrified knowing what these people are as he holds his head on the ground.

Bakugou looked concerned as well but he was showing no fear to the surrounding forces as he stood his ground with a pissed off look in his face. He noticed some odd things in the group, four individuals also had masks but had different looks to them and had different attire to the red hand forces.

Two seemed feminine and looked to be magic users. One that seemed to have green hair looked like she was stumbling a bit. Unlike any professional assassin should be. Another was feminine but looked like a typical warrior with a male one as well. The last one was the most unique who was the tallest of all of them wearing a large set of heavy armor bearing a large sword.

All Bakugou could conclude was that these people are the ones working directly under that archer wearing similar masks. Speaking of him, he was where he usually was up high at the ceiling on a wooden platform away from Bakugou holding onto his powerful bow.

From up high the archer finally spoke, "I have nothing against you Shield, leave now and let me kill off this tyrant for good then you and your party will go free."

From the tone of his voice Bakugou could tell he was using some sort of voice modulation spell to hide his real voice for whatever reason. But he didn't care either way as he stands over the King still laying on the floor with his hands over his head, "Kiss my ass coward! If you're going to threaten me, then come down so we can have a proper fight!"

The archer then readies another arrow, "If you want to be on the wrong side of Justice, then I'll be glad to serve it to you and that tyrant. Attack!" the archer shouts and launches another magic arrow forcing Bakugou to block it.

A bunch of the hooded minions then started their attack intending to go after Kardrum. But Bakugou continued his duty and had to fight them off blocking their attacks and blasting them. And Bakugou was no longer pulling any punches with these assassins, he goes for the kill by blowing them up.

But it was becoming difficult for the young hero as he was not only surrounded by an army of enemies, he is forced to block off the archer who keeps firing from above doing all he can to protect the helpless king.

It a vicious fight as the cultists attempt there turns on their attempt to Kill the king as the fight with Bakugou while keeping there distances from his explosions. All the while, little Kirishima was just doing his best to help his master by biting on the cultist's toes to distract them.

But Bakugou had a better idea for Kirishima, after another cult member attacks him with a sword Bakugou blocks it and then grabs the guy's arm and with an explosion launches the guy through a window to his death as the window breaks.

Bakugou then calls for his dragon, "Kirishima! Track Blue!" he orders with little Kirishima hearing it and goes off toward the open window, cult members attempt to kill the little dragon as it runs but Kirishima was to fast for them as he jumps and glides around the room even jumping on one member who gets his head cut off by another trying to kill the dragon. Despite their efforts, Kirishima was able to jump out of the open window and started to glide his way out of the castle grounds and walls to find Neia and the others.

The small army of cultists look back and focused at Bakugou as he continued to stand his ground right above the King still alive and scared out of his mind. Bakugou knew he was now in for a slog. And the archer above was ready to make a name for himself for not just killing the King but the so-called shield devil as well.

"Well we are absolutely lost!" shouts captain Keva, he, Neia, and the armed cavalry had been wandering around in circles for a while outside the capital to find this red hand hideout, but the directions given on the map seemed completely asinine as they seem to lead all over the place with no rhyme or reason.

"Have you tried to check the back Captain?" Neia suggested.

"I check this damn thing at every angle and it still doesn't help. I swear I will shove this back up in Qine's ass if I see him again. Those red hand bastards are probably hiding somewhere in this field laughing at us trying to find them." the captain continues as the men grew restless trying to figure out Qine's confusing map.

But then, "Hey captain, there's something in the grass!?" one of the soldiers shouted as the captain the crew turns to see the grass moving around with the sound of fast pacing footsteps heading toward them.

"Men be ready to attack!" the captain shouts as they pull out their swords and spears ready to attack whatever's in the grass.

But as soon as they were ready for the kill, out came little Kirishima, "Huh? A baby dragon?" the Captain question in confusion as no domestic Dragons are nowhere to be found in the kingdom.

But Neia quickly recognized him, "Wait! It's Kirishima, Sir Bakugou's dragon." she quickly got up from the horse's back to see why the little dragon was all the way out here.

"Little Kirishima, what are you doing out here?" she quickly asked as she got near the dragon, but after some screeching and running around her, he got everyone's attention making Neia worried.

little Kirishima quickly turned around and run back toward the castle.

"What the hell is it doing?" one of the soldiers asked wondering why the dragon ran out only to turn around.

But Neia caught on quickly as she looked back up toward the castle quickly putting two and two together, "It's just as I feared. The King and Sir Bakugou are in trouble!" she quickly shouts out alerting the soldiers including the captain knowing now something has to be up.

After Neia quickly got back on the horse the Captain takes charge again, "Come on men! Back to the castle!" and without hesitation, the small army of men charged back to the castle as soon as possible.

After a few minutes of galloping the horses made it back near the castle, they all quickly noticed a few individuals above the castle walls wearing red robes, only confirming their worst fears. The Red hand had taken the castle.

The cult noticed them and began to fire arrows at them, "Watch out men!", Keva yelled forcing the army to back off. As the archers continued firing the captain wonders to himself to how they can get back in the castle without wasting too much time knowing the king was in danger.

But Neia quickly noticed Kirishima climbing up on the wall and when the little thing got on top he went on to bite on the feet of the archers now stopping there firing as they tried to stomp on the quick-moving pest.

While the archers were distracted Neia came up with an idea, "Soldier get me as close to the wall as possible!" She ordered with the man not questioning her and quickly rode their horse close to the wall still trying to avoid any arrows of those trying not to be distracted by the dragon.

Once right up at the wall, Neia carefully stood up and with her magic-powered jump got herself high up on the wall as she grabs onto a part Kirishima was able to get up from. And with her sword she was able to get herself up on top of the wall.

Once over the red hand men quickly ignored Kirishima and attempt to kill Neia, but they were all no match for her as she slices and stabs them off the wall. The Archers and few mages within the walls attempted to snipe out Neia, but her reflexes were high enough to dodge them. Neia quickly finds the mechanism being a large lever and activates it opening the walls.

With the castle wall now open Captain Keva and his men quickly storm back in the castle courtyard with a cavalry charge. The charged killed off many of the red hand members still focused on Neia but the advantage of the horses was quickly over as the numerous cult army began to group together to fight off the knights as they jump off the their horses. The two small armies engaged as they all start to attack each other in an intense battle.

The red hand had the numbers advantage, but they lacked any armor on them, so the knights were able to hold them back as they try to fight their way back to the castle. But the way back inside was also blocked off by another gate into the armory with a door only able to open on the inside. As Neia was fighting with the men back on the ground she heard shrieking and saw it was Kirishima again as he climbed up high into a small window to inside of the compound.

Neia quickly acted as she sliced up a few more cultists and by jumping on one of their heads with her super jump she got up to the window with her hands barely holding on to the edge. Despite being targeted by a few archers below she was able to get herself through the window into the compound, she doesn't see Kirishima anywhere but saw a bunch of defending cultists. They quickly saw her and attempted to attack, but she made quick work of these weak enemies.

After that brief fight, She quickly looks around to find the mechanism to open up these doors, only to find Qine her looking stressed out, "Sir Qine are you alright?"

"I'm fine but the red hand has captured the castle and the King and shield hero are in danger you need to get to him now!" Qine answered and told her what to do.

Neia understood, but she knew the rest of the army is needed once they are done with the red hand army in the courtyard, so she continued to look around the messy armory to find a lever, "I will, but first we need to open the gate, quickly look for the thing that opens the gate." she continues to look around to find the lever.

She continues to look around the walls, but unknown to her Qine had token out a sword. As she approaches near the large doors where the lever might be close at, Qine was ready to stab her in the back through behind the chest.

But suddenly Kirishima screeches out loud from a distance alerting Neia as she looks behind and just in the nick of time she dodges Qine's blade.

He swiped at her head but Neia jumps out of the way as she takes her sword out again as Qine evilly smiles toward her, "So you were working with them the whole time?" Neia quickly asked him.

Qine just laughs as he drops his robes revealing in red light armor with his arms fully exposed showing off a tattoo of a red handprint, "hahaha, yes. I've spent years being an asskisser to some idiot despot for years, I helped kept this country together while Kardrum's father would waste his time with trivial crap like horse riding or watch theater plays, do you have any idea what measures I had to go through to keep this country from going bankrupt every single damn year with my limited power!"

Qine then took out another sword now dual wielding swords making Neia warier than before, "So yeah I joined up with the Red hand with them eventually making me their leader and with there underground resources I was able to kill that incompetent bastard in his sleep without ever being a suspect. I figured that I would keep his son alive as a puppet while I actually manage the country and hold all the real power. But of course, this kid thinks that he can just radically change things without needing to listen to me. So, I finally had it with this royal family and I plan to rule the country directly under the Red Hand's rule or more accurately my rule. And now with this shortage of food and the peasants angry at him, I can safely be rid of him and those idiots will fall in line."

"Your nothing more than a self-centered murderer Qine. Your group won't get away with this, Sir Bakugou will make sure of it." Neia comments back as she held her sword awaiting Qine to make his move.

Qine just laughs, "haha, We'll see about that." Qine then whistled in which six cult members jump from the ceiling down right surrounding Neia.

They all attacked Neia at the same time with Qine finally engaging himself. Despite his age, Qine was quite the swordsman using both of his swords very aggressively as he swings and stabs at Neia.

The young elf struggled, the six regular cult members wouldn't be much trouble for her normally, but it was now a challenge as she was fighting a master at the same time with his fast and deadly moves. Neia might've had strength behind her single sword but she didn't have Qine's dexterity and reflexes.

She did manage to kill two of the cultists, but she was still struggling as Qine repeatedly strikes her over and over.

Being overwhelmed Qine went all-out to strike her over and over until he kicks her into a wall.

Tired and injured, Neia couldn't get herself back up in time as Qine stabs her through her left shoulder pinning her on the wall.

As Neia struggles in pain Qine smiles and laughs with his cult members standing beside him knowing he had won , "hahaha, You know this wouldn't have been this violent or bloody had you and your shield devil master didn't get involved. It would've been just a simple assassination with an arrow through his Majesty's skull, but you two had to make things complicated. And look at all of this death it caused. But it will be over now." Qine then holds on to his other sword and aims the blade ready to stab Neia through her skull. But despite this, she didn't look scared, she actually had a subtle smirk on her that Qine didn't notice.

"Now time to...YAAAAAAA!" Qine screams as he feels great pain on his foot. It turned out to be Kirishima biting on his right big toe. Before he could resist Kirishima bites on it so hard with his sharp teeth he bites it completely off, "AHHHHHHHH!" Qine screams as he holds on to his foot up applying healing magic as quickly as possible as little Kirishima runs with his toe still in his mouth.

"DIE YOU FILTHY MONSTER!", Qine yells so pissed off by the little thing he started blasting magic at the dragon as the little Kirishima dodges the attacks with Qine now directly going after him with his sword and magic to kill the little thing while his cult members watch in confusion.

But by doing this he completely forgot about Neia, she took advantage of this and quickly ripped the sword out of her shoulder and then stabs a red hand member with it. The others quickly noticed and attempt to stop her while their leader was distracted with Kirishima. Despite her injuries, Neia was able to hold the three off as they all attempt to attack at the same time attempting to stab or blast her with magic. Neia knew she had to act fast so after she managed to push off the group she shouts, "Electric blast!" blasting electric bolts out of her sword at the three in quick succession. With there lack of armor they felt the full force of electricity allowing Neia to make quick work of these cultists by chopping their heads off.

She then looks around to find Qine as he was still trying to kill Kirishima with all of his power as the dragon continues to mock him with the toe in his mouth. But after enough blasts, Qine finally got one hit on Kirishima as he is blasted into a wall and dropped his toe.

Kirishima attempts to get up but Qine quickly places his left foot on Kirishima's head holding him down, "You'll pay for that you filthy little monster, I'll have your little blue friend boiled in water after the royal brat meets his end. You'll go great with her after I slice you up! Dragon soup will taste great with Demi-human flesh!" Qine raises his sword up ready to chop the little helpless dragon in half with an evil grin on his face.

But just right before Qine could kill him, Neia jumps in just in time and slices right through both of Qines arms. Like cut fruit, both of Qine's arms fall off on the ground. Despite the pain, Qine could only look horrified to his now stubs for arms with an elf right next to him smiling in victory next to him to realize what had just happened.

And just as quickly Kirishima managed to get himself off from Qines foot and started biting down on his other foot. Qine screams in agony as he attempts to shake him off but without his arms, he was no longer a threat to the dragon, "Get off Get off!"

Neia then raised her sword again, "Sure, Let me help you out." she said with a sarcastic tone, and without hesitation, she slices both of Qines legs off as he falls in pain on his face. The once-proud advisor was now nothing more but an armless legless piece of meat as the little dragon continues to chew on his now severed feet.

Neia quickly applied her healing magic on Qine to his bleeding stubbed limbs, they were now heal no longer gushing blood, not from mercy but so he wouldn't bleed out before his inevitable punishment, "No! No! This is impossible! I'm the most powerful person in this country and your nothing more than a filthy demi with a dirty animal." Qine insults in pain trying to maintain some source of dignity. But what was left of it got ruined when Kirishima decided to piss on Qine's helpless face.

Neia just laughed and walked toward him, "Like your opinion matters to me anymore. Oh and I'm not a demi-human, I'm an water elf." she then steps over him across his worthless body as he groans in pain.

Neia went back on tasked and looked to find the lever to open the armory doors until she heard Kirishima shrieking again. When she ran up to him, she finds the little dragon next to the lever, "Good work Kirishima." And without hesitation she pulled it finally opening the doors.

With that the army came storming in, they were successful in beating the red hand army at the courtyard now filled with their corpses with the few live ones tied up as prisoners.

Captain Keva ran up to Neia, "Thank you, miss Varon. You don't know how much time you saved us for getting the armory open." he compliments making Neia feeling happy about herself, "But your shoulder, it's bleeding what happen?"

Neia noticed forgetting about her injury, but she simply applied some of her healing magic on herself, "Don't worry it's not that bad. But listen, this whole thing was all Qine's doing. He joined this cult to kill the King and takeover his kingdom."

Keva wasn't surprised by this revelation, especially now that he sees him on the floor armless and legless," Sir Keva, don't listen to this animal she is trying to.." but Keva just kicks him in the head knocking him out and throwing him back his worthless map.

"I've heard enough of his bullcrap. But I'll shove it up his ass later though. The King is still in danger." Keva says to Neia.

"Yes, I'm sure he is still in the throne room with Sir Bakugou holding the red hand forces there off," Neia says as the captain nods in agreement.

"Men! To the throne room! Now!" Keva shouts with him, Neia, and a bunch of soldiers go off to the throne room hoping they are not too late.

It was a long battle, but Bakugou continued to fight valiantly as he was outnumbered and was forced to protect a helpless target as he continues to fight off the swarm of cultists that surround the room while blocking off magic arrows from the master archer from above as he yells out orders.

Despite their numbers advantage, the cultists continue to struggle to get close to the King underneath Bakugou as he blocks and blasts any attack with a few dying by his power. Despite Bakugou's high defense however, he has earned himself some cuts from the many weapons being thrown at him as he was forced to remaining stationery the whole time.

Had this been a normal fight he would've easily killed all them off with his quirk, but he had to protect the king at all costs so he is forced to limit himself in defense as much as possible.

One of the supposed leaders went right to Bakugou with a small long sword with few others trying to strike the terrified King. But despite getting a bunch of cuts Bakugou was able to counter this swordsman and broke her arm and blasted her into a wall knocking her out.

Another of the swordsman leaders attacked soon after, but this time the two leader magic users were blasting at him as well. The amount was starting to overwhelm Bakugou as he could no longer protect the King directly anymore as one magic arrow goes toward him. Bakugou finally shouted "Shield Prison!" creating a magic ball around the King now temporarily protecting him from any attacks.

Bakugou was finally allowed to be more on the offense and blasted away a bunch of the cultists and continued to dodge and block the magic attacks from the leaders. But the scared sounding magic leader creates one more large blast right at Bakugou to finally put an end to the fighting, but he simply ducks and without any time to prepare the magic blasts hits the more competent magic leader knocking her out, "Oh no! I'm so sorry!" the magic leader suddenly shouted sounding more like a young teenager than a killer assassin.

But the swordsman continued to attack until Bakugou bashed him in the head, breaks his wrist to drop his sword and blasts him right into the incompetent magic leader taking them both out of the battle.

The master bow archer as he waits for his power attacks to cool down he signals the strongest leader, the heavy metal armor swordsman, he engages Bakugou quickly as the other cultist attempt to break open the shield prison. He was stronger than the other leaders with each swing having a ton of power behind it. Fighting him while also avoiding the archer's arrows was quite a challenge with the armored man being able to hold up against Bakugou's blasts while he was trying to stop the other members from breaking through his shield prison.

But despite the armored man's heavy attacks, he could not break through Bakugou's shield defense only being able to stagger him. And Bakugou retaliates back with his explosions, despite the heavy armor Bakugou did manage to blow parts of it off, pissing off the man even more as he becomes more aggressive with his swinging.

The archer fired another arrow on the shield prison with it finally breaking open leaving the King out in the open exposed as he continues to duck in fear.

Bakugou quickly noticed and with no hesitation just takes a hit from the armored man's sword to get close and blast him away, and with quick work of his quirk he jumps in just in time of the multiple arrows being shot at the King. And blasted away some of the surrounding cultists.

The armored man got himself back up, now really pissed off from his ruined armor and goes berserk intending to kill Bakugou with full force.

But when he was close Bakugou yelled "Explosion shield!" transforming his cardinal weapon.

The armored man finally hits his shield with all of his might but once his sword strikes the shield then, "Boom!" the Shield blasts the armored man away, breaking his long sword into two and sent him crashing into a wall. Despite struggling the armored man was now stuck inside the wall unable to do anything else for the fight.

The archer was getting more pissed off as all of his best men had been defeated, but this didn't stop him as he continued launching more elemental arrows toward the King and Bakugou but he continued to block them off with his shield.

After nearly draining himself of his mana the archer had about enough and yelled out, "All of you just gang up on him at once! I don't care if you kill him, just leave the King to me!"

With that, the entire court of cultists finally launched themselves against Bakugou. They all attack at once, but Bakugou's defense held up as he goes on blasting the cultists who were now grouped up as well as blocking their attacks. They were using all of there power against him but Bakugou continued to resist them as they hit him over and over.

He eventually stopped though no longer using his quirk as the members continued to hit him as much as they could draining his health quickly even with his high defense. The archer assumed he used up his power and figuring it was going to be over soon with him dead then he would get the glory of freeing this land of it's King.

But when Bakugou's health was near 10%, he smiles as his palms we're now filled with his explosive sweat. And as soon as he reached 5% health he moves out his arms and, "Boom!"

He unleashed two giant explosions, sending all of the surrounding cultists flying. With many dying or severely injured unable to get up.

The archer was quite shocked with Bakugou all cut up as he looks up to smile, "Looks like it's just you and me you little bastard! Now come down to fight me like a man or I'll force you down myself!" Bakugou yells out.

But this only pissed off the archer more as he shouts "Wind Arrow!" and continues his array of attacks but with no one else to worry about he just continues to casually block away the arrows as the King remains underneath him. The archer kept attacking and attacking nonstop doing everything in his power to just kill his target already.

He soon puts most of his mana in one more arrow as it charges and glows yellow ready to pierce through the shield's defense and blow them both away, "Now justice is served!"

The arrow launches, but Bakugou anticipated this one as he quickly moved his shield in a specific angle, and right before contact Bakugou had managed to knock away the arrow back at the archer.

The archer quickly noticed and barely dodged his arrow hitting the ceiling causing a big explosion, The archer quickly readies another arrow, "Ha you missed me, now here's a sec...AAAAHHH!" but the archer gets hit on the back with falling debris as a part of the ceiling collapses from the missed arrows explosion breaking the wooden poles making the archer fall to the ground.

The falling debris caused a lot of dust to spread when it impacted the ground. But when it quickly fades away, Bakugou and the last of the cultists that were able to get back up all saw a pile of marble and concrete and underneath it was the master archer still alive but now completely stuck under hundreds of pounds of debris.

"Told you I force you down." Bakugou mocks the archer as he curses him as he attempts to get out, but even his prize bow was now out of his reach.

The master archer had been defeated and with that the red hand's coup was a failure with the king still alive as he finally stood back up next to his bodyguard.

The last of the red hand in the room all look horrified as the shield hero remains up and strong after neutralizing the master archer and his companions.

"He's a monster! A Monster! Retreat!" one member shouted, knowing they have no chance to fight him off they attempted to cowardly run away toward the throne door to escape, only for the door to open for them with a bunch getting cut down by none other than Neia with Kirishima on her shoulder with a bunch of other guards finally making it to the throne room.

Now cornered the surviving red hand members all drop their weapons and surrendered to the guards and the shield hero as they are arrested and restrained by the guards.

Neia was worried and ran up to Bakugou, "Sir Bakugou are you alright?!" she quickly asked.

But after brushing off his arms Bakugou didn't react to much, "I'm fine Blue as is Turban. What about you two?" he answered and asked back.

"Got stabbed on the left shoulder and got hit a few times but with some health potions and healing magic I'll be alright as should little Kirishima," she answered back.

Bakugou was happy to both of them fine especially when Kirishima jumped onto his shoulder and rest on it with Bakugou just smiling knowing he had a rough day as the rest of them did.

Captain Keva ran up to the King as he helps him, "My lord are you alright?" he quickly asked him as he was taking some deep breaths after that stressful experience.

"I'm positively fine Captain, and it's all thanks to the shield hero, he fought with great strength despite being outnumbered and had me to worry about. But what in the heavens had just happen?" The king said and asked wondering how this failed coup was able to happen in the first place.

Neia quickly answered that, "It was Qine sir, he was a part of the red hand all along and conspired to kill you."

Bakugou just laughs at that, "Ha I knew that bastard was up to something all along."

Kardrum couldn't believe what he heard, "Is that true? Qine had done all of this?"

Keva then reinsured him of the truth, "It is indeed sir, that location was bullshit and was just a wild goose chase when we got back to the castle he fought against miss Neia and told her his true nature, but he has been captured by my men, trust me he will no longer be a threat anymore."

Kardrum sighs to himself, "I'm still shocked by all of this, but now looking back it all makes sense now, the assassins within the castle, the interrogations, and his dismissal of my protectors it was all to kill me and to take the kingdom for himself.". He then looks back at Bakugou and his group, "I'm sorry for ever trusting him Sir Bakugou, and again thank you for all that you have done today." he tanks Bakugou.

"Whatever turban, I just want to see that bastard when you put his ass on trial and see the look on his face," Bakugou answers with the King being happy to oblige.

Many of the guards then turn towards the still alive master archer still trapped under rubble struggling to get out but to no avail.

Bakugou with a smirk finally decided to walk up to the mysterious figure, "I think it's time to see what's under this Halloween mask." he jokes as he grabs on to the top of the mask and quickly rips it off.

To most of the court's surprise, the master archer was just a young teenager, but Bakugou knew who it was instantly. Cardinal Bow Hero Itsuki Kawasumi.

While the court wonders who this was Bakugou continued to mock the trapped hero, "Well well, what do we have here? If it isn't bow bitch playing a rogue?" he mocks Itsuki as he continues to squirm.

"Get me out of here you cheating evil bastard! Let me show you who's the real bitch here!" Itsuki shouts back at him.

It was quite a shock for Neia to hear. From what she saw of Itsuki he seemed like a calm and noble person. And here he is acting all rude and nasty.

The King was also confused, "Sir Bakugou do you know who this is?" he asked.

But Neia became the one to answer, "This is Sir Itsuki, your majesty, he's the cardinal bow hero."

"Bow hero?! The cardinal bow hero was trying to kill me this whole time?" Kardrum asked in shock surprised to know that a cardinal hero was his most feared assassin the whole time.

But despite being a cardinal hero after all that happened in that room, Kardrum wasn't in a merciful mood and quickly took up action, "Men confiscate his bow and after you get him out of that rubble make sure he is tied up I want answers soon and we will get them in a trial next morning once this room gets cleaned up and I get something sweet to eat after all of this."

After that last line Bakugou quickly smugly smiles again, "Oh man I just got to see this. This is going to be fun"

By next morning the throne room was cleaned up with parts of it still under construction with workers trying to repair the damages, but it was still ready enough to begin the trials. Unlike Melromarc's court, there are no nobles witnessing everything from the stands just rows of guards and a few court members watching the event. King Kardrum remains at his throne as usual with Bakugou standing beside him as he awaits the trials along with his sidekick Neia and little Kirishima resting on his shoulder.

The first to be tried was none other than Qine as the guard holding on to his pathetic limbless body throws him on the floor as he was forced to look up at his angry King and Bakugou giving an arrogant smile, "Oh man Blue you did this? This is so hilarious!"

Kardrum wasn't amused to see someone like Qine to betray him, "You have a lot to answer Qine, and it better be the truth." Kardrum demanded from his limbless former advisor showing real authority toward him.

The pathetic man looking terrified began to speak, "Please Sire! You misunderstand! This was all the shield devils doing! He was behind all the assassination attempts, he brought the red hand here, and tried to pass off as your savior! You have to listen to me!" Qine begs and lies trying to save himself.

But it did no good as Kardrum wasn't buying it one bit, "You have conspired with rebels to attempt to overthrow the Kingdom, and you're expecting me to believe you!? With all the witnesses and evidence confiscated from your room!?"

"I'm being framed sire this is all a part of his plan. Just look at him with his smug face!" Qine continues blaming Bakugou, but despite the shield hero giving a big smug smile the King still didn't believe him one bit especially since he never even bother to give or point out any proof of his innocence.

Kardrum then nodded toward to captain Keva with a cloth holding something as he walks up to Qine, once right up to him the captain takes the cloth off, revealing it to be Qine's severed left arm and with nothing to cover it up showing off a red hand tattoo revealing his true membership of the group, "That's not mine sire! That was all the shield devils doing, he's trying to take over the Kingdom and frame me for it!" Qine lies saying the same things again as he continues to beg but Kardrum heard enough.

"I think that's more than enough to prove your guilt along with other things. I declare you Qine guilty for treason, attempted murder, and many other heinous crimes with your association with the red hand. You shall be executed as soon as possible.

"Hold on Turban." Bakugou interrupted.

"What is it sir Bakugou?" Kardrum asked curious to hear what he had to say. Qine attempts to sway the King from Bakugou but he refused to listen to the fallen advisor.

"I think a quick death would be too good for this bastard. After what he had done and all the people he killed directly or indirectly. With how he is right now, how about we just cut his tongue off, and then throw him in the dungeon and let the bastard rot for as long as possible. Make him suffer and send an example on those that try to betray you again." he suggested.

While brutal Kardrum likes the idea, even Neia didn't protest knowing other people like Qine deserve such punishment, like Myne from Melromarc.

"Very well then, Qine you shall not be executed, but you will have your treacherous tongue removed and you will spend the rest of your pathetic life in the dungeons!" Kardrum finally sentences him.

Now completely horrified, Qine is grabbed up by a guard again who is off to enforce the punishment, "NO! MY LIEGE! NO! Please you can't do this to me! I have helped kept this kingdom together for decades! You cannot do this to me! No! Noooooooooooooooo!" Qine helplessly yells his last words as he is taken out of the throne room.

"Alright then now send in the bow hero next," Kardrum orders not having a second thought on his former advisor.

Soon enough Itsuki was brought in on the throne room. Chained up with his bow in possession by one of the guards, his 5 injured partners were also brought along unarmed and handcuffed. They were mostly quiet, though the young girl with the green hair was acting the most scared fearing what might happen to them.

Itsuki was finally thrown in the middle of the throne room as he finally looks up angrily toward King Kardrum and Bakugou who was giving another smug smile at him liking how the tables had turned now.

Kardrum finally spoke, "I'm sure you know why your here now Bow hero Itsuki. Along with the rest of those conspirers that work directly under you. You are all under trial for the attempted assassination of me and collaborating with rebels to overthrow the monarchy."

Itsuki was struggling as he attempted to get out of those chains to no avail, but he eventually spoke up, "What I've done here was for justice! You can call me and your enemies' traitors but you're nothing more but an evil tyrant! I came here only to liberate the people from your tyrannical rule!" Itsuki yells at him justifying his actions.

Kardrum was somewhat confused and demanded to know more, "An evil tyrant? And what exact tyrannical things have I done that justify you killing me?"

"Have you not looked outside!? You are taxing your citizens from every hard earn penny they earned to fill up your pockets. People are struggling to survive and you're just pinching every penny out of them to fatten yourself up!"

Bakugou just shakes his head as he speaks up himself, "Let me ask you, bow bitch. Did you ever figure out "why" he was taxing so much or what he was actually spending it on? Or did you just assume stuff and took the word of a bunch of shady ass characters?"

Itsuki could only grit his teeth as he is forced to listen to this stuff, "Don't lecture me with pointless crap! I'm aware of what is going on here without pathetic excuses!"

After that, the King ordered a servant to show Itsuki a bunch of important documents that involved the nation's budget and the food and weapon trade agreements, as well as the budget on private spending which was a lot lower than it usually is with the kings spending cuts, "As you see cardinal bow hero, this shows how the tax money was being spent on and they are certainly not for any personal items or luxuries you're accusing me of."

But despite the blatant proof in front of him, Itsuki refuses to back down and admit he was wrong, "I don't care what you're spending it on, your citizens are being taxed to death and are struggling to survive."

The king just shakes but before he could say anything else Bakugou decided to speak his mind, "So your answer to that is to murder this nation's king and assume everything will be hunky-dory afterward? How did you know this group you were working with wasn't going to abuse their power as well? If they are willing to do so many underhanded tricks to get there way, do you think they would give any damns about the people?" he scolds Itsuki.

But just as before the bow hero refuses to admit he made a mistake and continued to yell at Bakugou, "I don't give any damn what you have to say! Your nothing more than a rapist and a spoiled bastard! You have no right to be called a hero! Your not worthy of such a title compare to me!" Itsuki shouts acting extremely arrogant.

Bakugou just shakes his head as he grins, "So straight to name-calling? You pretty much have nothing to argue about then. I knew talking to you was a waste of time, but its fun to see you continuing to whine like the bitch you are." Bakugou insults and turns his head away finally having enough talk with the stubborn wannabe freedom fighter.

"And to think I supported you in that duel and your payment with Aultcry! This is the thanks I get from you and that bitch you drag around!" Itsuki continues to yell. Neia did felt somewhat hurt when he said that last part. Itsuki seemed like a nice enough guy before but now he was acting like a prideful unlikeable bastard.

The King heard enough and decided to finally lay his verdict, "I think that's about enough. This trial is officially over. You are found guilty Sir Itsuki the cardinal bow hero. Under normal circumstances, you and your team would be sentenced to public execution just like the rest of these traitors and assassins. But due to the fact you're a cardinal hero, you're too valuable for our world for me to kill you even if you deserve it. So your lives will be spared. However, this will not mean you will go unpunished. Firstly you are to pay a tremendous bail in coin or valuables for your crimes. You shall be imprisoned without your bow for the time being, you will also be forced to pay another bail for your companions or they shall be imprisoned forever for their crimes. I will also spread the word of what you have done here to every Kingdom from Silvelt, to Faubley, to Zeltoble, and even all the other minor kingdoms will be informed of your exploits here. They will now know you as the hero who assassinates anyone he doesn't like and will forever permanently ruin your reputation along with the guild you associate with."

Itsuki was so pissed off by this, that this minor tyrant to him was going to do all of this and ruin his reputation. And all the while Bakugou continued to stand by and enjoy the show, feeling satisfied that one of the heroes during his sham of a trial in Melromarc was now getting a taste of his own medicine when he did nothing to oppose corrupt and biased King Aultcry.

Kardrum wasn't done yet though, "I also want to discuss religious policy that will matter to you. As of now, my kingdom follows the three heroes church, where the sword, spear, and bow are worshiped equally while the shield is demonized. But as of now that changes. We will still be a three heroes church; however, the shield hero will no longer be seen as a demon to the people of Tervein, but as a Lord and saint he deserves to be labeled as. The bow hero for now on will be referred to as the bow demon to be feared and never trusted throughout the land."

Itsuki started to thrash around attempting to free himself from his chains to kill them but it did no good as he looks back pissed off at Bakugou, "You bastard! You evil greedy bastard! It was enough you made Motoyasu look like a fool, but now you went out of your way to make a fool out of me!?" Bakugou did not comment back, he honestly found this very amusing that this teen was blaming all of this on him.

"I see! This is because I'm small right? You think that I am so damn weak that even with that dumbass shield you try all you can to make me look inferior!? It's always the same with people like you, it's the god damn same as in prep school! Always picking on those smarter and better than you to make yourself look good! I'll make you pay for this Bakugou! I will god damn show you who's the better hero here!" Itsuki finally shouts until he was too tired to even yell anymore.

Without any objection from Bakugou, the King had Itsuki and his crew taken away to the castle dungeon where they will negotiate with the bow hero later on his bail payment.

After a few more trials on other red hand cult members the King finally stood up and bows to Bakugou, "I want to thank you again Shield hero, for all your work and effort I like to double the award as well as a knightship for both you and your partner."

Neia bowed back in thankfulness but Bakugou just continues to look serious with his arms crossed, "Sure whatever."

"I believe a new dawn is coming toward this Kingdom now, with the rotten leaves gone it's time for the produce to grow in the garden," Kardrum says, while it seemed naïve though Bakugou had a good feeling that the king might be right this time.

Later that afternoon, the food supplies had finally come to the small Kingdom's capital.

With help from the King, his guards, and the shield hero team the food supplies had been evenly distributed throughout the Capital, with the people who before we're rioting against the King are now happy to see his King's generosity now happy for there monarch.

Even after the brutal punishment he gave out to his former traitor advisor who was now tongueless set to suffer forever unable to say or do anything about it in a cold dirty jail cell.

But as Bakugou and the King were helping to distribute the captain came up to them with news, "Your majesty and Shield hero, we had successfully interrogated all the surviving red hand members and were able to arrest the remaining traitors within the capital. And even better news we have found the locations to all the bases of the remaining red hand members throughout the Kingdom. If we strike them now while they are disorganized, we should be done with them once and for all."

The King liked the idea, "That sounds good captain, and while you're going to these bases visit any town along the way to continue to distribute the food supplies." He ordered.

"Yes your highness."

The king then turns toward Bakugou, "And Shield hero Bakugou, would you mind accompanying the captain for these missions? With your power they should be nothing and my palace should be safe for now."

Bakugou quickly smiles with Kirishima climbing on his shoulder, "Hell yeah! About time we go on the offensive as I kill things!" he excitedly agrees but then turns toward Neia, "But Blue you're going to stay here on guard for now while I and Kirishima go out there. Turban might think it's safe now but it's best not to take chances. Can you handle this by yourself?"

"Yes Sir Bakugou, I'll continue our mission and train more in any way I can," Neia answers confidently.

With the group satisfied they continued to help the food distribution.

3 days had passed since the failed assassination and coup, Bakugou had been helping the Captain with his soldiers to go across the Kingdom to kill off the rest of the red hand and distribute the food supplies. Most of the places they went had only small groups in them but they were all killed or arrested just the same.

Unlike before they were able to identify the locations of their bases especially with the help of Kirishima's sense of smell helping to find these bases. In places where the soldiers would've quickly left not finding anything the little dragon would find these hiding places exposing the red hand. And in combat with the Red hand members, Bakugou used his small dragon as a distraction during the confrontations biting on their feet as Bakugou blows those distracted up. For all the killing Kirishima had leveled a lot faster than before, he was now at level 20 despite being only a few weeks old.

Neia remained at the capital as the King's bodyguard as ordered to protect Kardrum in case of other assassination attempts. Thankfully nothing serious came about it other than one desperate mad man attempting to stab the king with a steak knife only to be cut in half by the young elf. Though it wasn't all guarding, she had also helped out finding and tracking the last remaining traitors inside the castle with the King. She also began to train her sword skills some more as she betters her technique. After her fight with Qine Neia knew she had to train and better her skills to fight skilled men like him again without the need of a toddler dragon's help.

She also began to train and do research on something that sparked her curiosity from that fight, Dual wielding.

On day four everything was pretty much done, all the towns were given their share of food and all of the Red hand is either dead, captured, or are fleeing the country.

Bakugou had met up with Neia again at the place with a more experienced Kirishima. They walk up to the King for their final rewards and goodbyes.

"Thank you again Shield Hero Bakugou. For not just me but for my country and people too. Eliminating the last of those murderers and giving them hope. You shall be given 40 gold coins for your other services as well as a bonus 10 for your work in destroying the last of the red hand and for these Katsuki fruit tree seeds, I've never heard of this fruit before but if they really can help deal with future famine's then I won't care either way." Kardrum says to him while holding a large bag of seeds Bakugou gave to him as a servant gave him his bag of reward gold, "I'm aware your off now back to Melromarc. I can understand, Trevein is not known for powerful monsters and you helped solved most of this countries problems already so you have nothing else to gain here. But you are always welcomed here if you're in any need or refuge Sir Bakugou" he continued.

"Yeah whatever, just make sure you keep this nation of yours together and hire a competent advisor next time," Bakugou advised the king.

Kardrum just nods and smiles as the group turns away, "Good luck shield hero and continue to protect those in need."

Once outside the castle the two went to the market to pick up a few more things before they fast travel back to Melromarc. Bakugou wanted to get a special rare metal from one of the merchants to finally complete the gauntlets he had been working on.

After purchasing the metal Neia wanted to say something to Bakugou after thinking about it for a bit in the castle, "Sir Bakugou I wanted to ask you something about Sir Itsuki?"

"Yeah what do you want to talk about Bow bitch?" Bakugou asked.

"Well you see, when I first saw him back at Melromarc he seemed like a very nice person even defending us when things got rough but suddenly he acts horribly here in this country calling me a bitch and other horrible insults to you and taking a job like this with those kinds of people?"

"It was because he was just playing hero," Bakugou answered quickly.

"Playing hero?" Neia wondered

"He acts like an ideal hero that everyone would like as an act but all the little ass hat cares about is shallow pride and recognition. He never cared about being a hero. I have seen too many heroes in my world who lie behind the publics back to suck up to the press." Bakugou explains with heroes like Captain Celebrity in mind, a man who acts good on camera but is nothing more than a womanizing loser behind that very camera.

Neia understood what Bakugou was saying though it did make her think, "Not to say you're like him Sir Bakugou but is that not too much different than how you act?" Neia didn't want to insult her master but when on that trial she couldn't help but see some of Bakugou in Itsuki.

"Because unlike me I don't pretend to be someone I'm not. Bow bitch lies to himself to act like someone everyone wants to feel good about himself. I know I'm an asshole by other people, I hear it all the time here and back in my world, and I don't care."

"Why not?"

"Because actions speak louder than words. They can say whatever they want to me, but I'm intending to prove them wrong with my accomplishments. I'll kick the ass of every villain and evil-doer in my way and make them regret the day they crossed with me. People will see that they were wrong, I may be an asshole, but I'm an asshole who is also a hero, with the actions of a hero to prove it. And I'll show the rest of the people in Melromarc the same. As will you, the pathetic weakling that had became the worlds greatest heroes sidekick." Bakugou says to Neia.

Neia understood her master's words, actions speak louder than words, and despite his status of the devil he proved many other people otherwise, "Thank you Sir Bakugou. I'll continue to fight with you and help prove everyone else that we are true heroes, not by formalities but by our actions."

Bakugou smiles back with approval and turns toward his little dragon who decided to jump off his shoulder on the ground, "Ha, and you were a good boy too. You helped toasted those red shit freaks showing them what you are made off. Soon I'll have you burn whoever's ass I want you to and you will become the most ferocious beast this world has ever seen." he says to his little dragon as he rubs his head like a dog.

Kirishima was happier than ever as he starts to shriek loudly in happiness toward Bakugou. He continued shrieking until suddenly he started to glow. It immediately freaked out Bakugou and Neia wondering what was happening to him.

But the glow quickly consumed the dragon and soon it got bigger and bigger until the glow turned into fire.

Once the fire died down, Bakugou and Neia looked back and couldn't believe what they see.

Kirishima had grown to about the size of a large horse, with his winged arms now long and wide and can now breathe fire for a long period. Kirishima just a couple of weeks old was now a teenage dragon.

Both heroes were surprised by knowing what had just happened, "Sir Bakugou do you have any idea..."

But Bakugou interrupts her before she could finish, "I have no clue blue, all I can say now is that our food budget is going to skyrocket now."

Author's note: I knew I would Jinx myself. Yes people I'm alive, I'm so so sorry for how long this chapter took as well as the one before. Real-world stuff takes priority and I'm a terrible procrastinator, much of this chapter was also mostly original stuff I had to make up, in the original manga and anime the King Itsuki killed and his kingdom was described pretty barebones so I had to fill in the banks myself which took time, and I have had a bad habit of thinking ahead of time with how I want this story to go so by looking toward the future I forget about the present. I've also been fixing up my grammar errors from my earlier chapters to make it less cringe-worthy, it seems that any mistake I fix I find a new one when I read through my own story. I don't want to jinx anything else but I hope to get these out faster without me rushing the story. So I'm still going, but a chapter is just done when it's done.

On a lighter note, The Red hand cults name is actually a reference to the real world black hand group that was involved in the assassination of the heir to Austria-Hungary's throne in 1914 that eventually resulted world war 1. So it was somewhat a Nod to that.

Also something that came to my mind while writing this and re-reading this story, I've been using imperial measurements in my story (miles, pounds, and feet) which I an American am use to so I don't think much about it until I remembered that Bakugou is Japanese so he would be using the metric system (kilometers, grams, and meters). Looking back it seems silly to ignore that, but no one seemed to mind it so I didn't bother to do anything. But if enough people find it immersion breaking to those outside of the U.S or Myanmar then I can always go back and change those measurements to fit the metric system, but if no one cares and want me to just get on with it then I'll do just that.

Again thank you and I hope to get the next chapter out soon.