Shield Hero With Barrier Magic

(next day)

(Hiro's POV)

My body feels heavy. I woke up to find Rino sleeping on me and my sides are completely covered by Filo and Sakura. That's right, Rino and I slept in stable with my babies yesterday. Eclair and Raphtalia aren't here. The reason is that Eclair scared Filo and Sakura by releasing her killing intent while they are still babies. They got a trauma of her due to that.

So, Rino and I are taking care of them. Yesterday we leveled up a lot and it increased Filo's and Sakura's level due to their growth stats skill. Yesterday was filled with growling sounds due to hunger and creaking sounds due to their bones as I also put their maturation to the max. So, I think they will be able to take their human forms by tomorrow morning at least. I am so excited! I will be getting two little immortal daughters who won't grow at all!

Anyway, I did some research on them. Filolials can be said something between mammals and birds. While all the normal birds have a single hole down there, filolials have two holes separate like humans. Even though their human forms have b.r.e.a.s.ts, I am sure that they won't have mammary glands that produce milk. So, even if they have human form, they can't be considered mammals. They are more like birds with two holes down there instead of one. I am seriously interested in how they were created. Well, I guess I have to ask Fitoria about that.

Anyway, after our dinner yesterday, Filo and Sakura couldn't leave me, so Rino and I brought mattresses and slept here. As Filo and Sakura are afraid of Eclair, she reluctantly agreed to it and took Raphtalia with her to sleep in the inn. And that's how I ended up in this situation.

I shook Rino a little to wake her up. She cutely woke up while rubbing her eyes and gave me a kiss.

Rino: "Good Morning, Hiro-sama."

Hiro: "Good Morning, Rino."

Rino looked at her sides to find bigger Filo and Sakura and made a shriek of surprise and got off from me as a reflex. But that woke up Filo and Sakura. Once they woke up, Sakura rubbed her face with mine while Filo just shouted 'Gah' and went back to sleep. But this time she slept on my body taking Rino's place. I started gently rubbing Filo while I patted Sakura.

Hiro: "Good Morning, my dear babies."

Sakura: "Gah!"

Sakura cutely answered and went back to rubbing her face to mine.

Rino: "Wait, they are Sakura and Filo!"

Hiro: "Can't you tell?"

Rino: "Now that I look at it, they are really Filo and Sakura!"

Once Rino realized it, she came and hugged us.

Rino: "Oh, my dear babies! Forgive Mommy for not recognizing you!"

Yeah, Rino thinks herself as their Mommy as I consider myself as their Daddy. Well, that's true to some extent as she takes care of them as much as me. It made Eclair jealous, by the way. And Rino made a victory symbol. Well, it's also Eclair's fault for inducing trauma in Filo and Sakura. Sakura made another 'Gah!' and rubbed her face with Rino this time.

Eclair: "Will you please stop it? My eyes are tearing with blood at this scenery."

Sakura immediately made a panic shriek and even Filo who was sleeping woke up with a loud shriek hearing Eclair's voice. We got up to see Eclair with a complicated expression and a normal Raphtalia. Eclair started crying.

Eclair: "Uwaahhh! They won't even let me near them!"

Hiro: "Who the hell told you to release killing intent in front of newly born babies ?!! Although it was e.r.o.t.i.c, they aren't at that age to understand that!"

The three girls immediately gave me a weird look. Filo and Sakura looked at me with a question mark face.

Anyway, this is going to be a problem though. But now that they m.a.t.u.r.ed a little and as filolials are a good judge of character, I think I can reduce their trauma. I went near Eclair and took her hand and called Sakura and Filo to come near me. Both of them hesitated a bit but they slowly came near me. Sakura closed her eyes as I gently patted her and I swapped my hand with Eclair's hand.

Eclair kept gently patting Sakura and now had a smile on her face. Sakura noticed the change and opened her eyes. But she didn't back away. Filo observed this and came near Eclair herself. And they got on good terms with Eclair.

Eclair: "Hurray! They got attached to me! Now, who's your mommy ?!!"

Filo and Sakura looked at Rino. Rino made a victory pose while Eclair got heartbroken again.

Raphtalia: "But I can't believe that they are already like fully-grown a.d.u.l.ts. But I have a doubt. If they are Rino-nee's and Daddy's babies, should I consider them as my sisters or my nieces?"

Eclair: "Well, our family is already complicated. Anyway, I also think that they are growing too fast."

Rino: "I know, right?"

Hiro: "Umm... I think it's because they have both effects of Slave and Monster User Shield. It's having a rapid effect on their growth and leveling."

Rino: "I see... That explains it."

After that, we had breakfast and of course, Filo and Sakura ate a lot. While Sakura is being reasonable to her appetite, I think Filo is eating more than needed. Sakura is obedient but Filo just does whatever she wants. And we went to the forest to make a trial run. The moment I climbed Filo, she took me and ran as much as she can but Sakura also ran with her having Rino on her back. And after talking to each other in filolial language, Filo and Sakura exchanged us.

When we came back, Eclair and Raphtalia also asked for a ride. Well, both of them got motion sickness and are now bed-ridden. Well, this is going to be a problem. I guess I have to make a barrier around them to stop motion sickness but how should I explain it? Well, let's make some pills for them.

And now,

Bitch: "Citizens! In recognition for his glorious victories in the last wave of destruction, the King of these lands has granted this man, Motoyasu Kitamura, governorship over these territories."

Well, there she is... along with the buffoon and some knights riding dragons. This must be her revenge. If I am not wrong, Mirellia must have already written the governorship of this land to me. It's just a matter of time for Shadows to appear.

Bitch: "First order of business: there will now be a toll levied on those entering and exiting the village. If we don't, we will never be able to raise appropriate restoration funds. The fee due upon entrance will be 50 pieces of silver, and the fee upon exit will be 50 pieces of silver. That makes for a total of one gold piece."

The villagers were explaining that they won't be able to survive like that. Some of the villagers looked at me with anticipation. I sighed and went forward.

Hiro: "Umm... I think that's one hell of a tax, Motoyasu."

The moment he heard my voice, his face became pale. He found me and looked around.

Motoyasu: "Umm... They aren't here, are they?"

Hiro: "Eclair and Raphtalia are bed-ridden with motion-sickness."

Motoyasu: "Ah, I see... That's a relief."

It looks like he didn't find Rino due to her short height and her being between Filo and Sakura. Rino is already pissed at Motoyasu. This made Rino even more pissed.

Rino: "Are you looking for someone?"

Motoyasu: "Kya! Save me!"

Motoyasu immediately got scared and hid behind Bitch. The villagers started laughing.

Bitch: "How dare you laugh at Motoyasu-sama ?!! Knights!"

The moment the Bitch raised her hands, knights came forward and suddenly, Shadows appeared.

Shadow: "Ms. Myne, you got a message."

They handed over a rolled sheet of parchment. Immediately, all the color from Bitch's face is gone.

Bitch: "What ?!! How ?!! Why ?!!"

She is panicking at the letter's contents. She pointed at me.

Bitch: "Shield Hero! I am challenging you for the ownership of this land!"

Hiro: "Umm... What?"

Bitch: "It will be a race..."

Hiro: "Hold on!"

Hiro: "Who are they ?!! What is that letter ?!! Why are you challenging me when you own this land ?!! I need answers!"

Bitch: "You don't need to know that, just accept the challenge!"

Hiro: "No way! I need answers first!"

I turned to the shadows.

Hiro: "Who are you ?!!"

Shadow: "We are employed by a certain someone to hand over this letter to Ms. Myne."

Hiro: "What's in the letter?"

Bitch: "It's none of your business!"

Shadow: "Negative, we were ordered that this will be in the Shield Hero's hands after Ms. Myne read it."

Bitch: "Wha ?!!"

Before she knew it, the letter was taken from her hands and it was in my hands. I read through its contents.

Hiro: "Why does this thing say that I am the owner of this land?"

Rino immediately took it from me and read through the content.

Rino: "Let's see... 'In the view of the recent achievements of the Shield Hero in saving Riyute, I, Mirellia Q. Melromarc, give the governorship of Riyute to Shield Hero'. It's a royal letter with the royal seal, Hiro-sama! The queen gave this land to you!"

Everyone was surprised and Bitch couldn't do anything but grit her teeth.

Rino: "In Melromarc, the Queen's decision is final! No one can do anything about it! This land is officially yours, Hiro-sama!"

The villagers were relieved hearing that.

Bitch: "Shield Hero! Accept the challenge!"

Hiro: "Do you think I am an idiot? This land is mine and you can't do anything about it. So, I don't need to accept your challenge at all. And even if I accept, you will try to cheat like to did the other day."

The anger could be clearly noticed in Bitch's expression.

Bitch: "Haha! I know! You are just a coward!"

And she went for her final choice. Provoking me.

Hiro: "Haa... Who's a coward? If we are talking about the real coward..."

I looked at Rino. Rino nodded and stared at Motoyasu and released her killing intent.

Rino: "Boo!"

Motoyasu: "Save me!"

Bitch: "Motoyasu-sama!"

And with that, Motoyasu ran from there without looking back. Bitch and the knights ran after him. The villagers, Rino, and I laughed like hell after that.