DEGARUTA! Episode 02.5

DEGARUTA! Episode 02.5: SPECIAL!! Princess let me tell you a tale! How the Heroes first met

    Having split off from Mike and having no idea that he is being attacked, Xavier shops for gear in the black smithing district, settling on some light armor and some enchanted clothing that matches his sensibilities, for weapons he takes a short sword, 2 daggers, and a small buckler shield he can freely equip to his left fore arm as necessary. He purchases some other gear for himself as well.

	The Princess is baffled as to why he doesn't choose the armor and weapons that look more heroic or are most expensive since they have the backing of the crown, or why he chose Rogue/Thief as his job-class. He tells her it's better this way, if he can't master and make use of the same weapons as everyone else, how can he master higher level more expensive weapons. The Princess does not buy this excuse but lets it go. Xavier gives an order to the smithy using a list Mike gave him before they split up for his own gear, to be fitted and adjusted later at the palace.

	To anyone outside of this situation, it may appear as though Xavier is trying to get in good with the Princess, instead of simply winning her hand by killing the demon lord, this assessment is correct because Xavier is an asshole and understands that since he has been Isekai'd, if he gets a chance to lay pipe, barring risk to life and limb, he's gonna take it. He asks if there has ever been a time in history when 2 heroes were summoned at once, the Princess says no, and that the result both surprises and alarms her. She is convinced that this is a sign that things are worse than they previously thought and the Goddesses sent 2 heroes to make up the difference, this being much more easy to believe than the Court Wizard and his cronies fucked up during the summoning.

	The Princess also asks if they are truly heroes. Xavier, tooting his own horn informs her that yes in fact both of them are heroes even in their own world, although admittedly the enemies they fought back home were much easier to deal with and less capable of tearing people to shreds. He explains that he first met Mike nearly twenty years ago, the two became fast friends despite being from different lands. They were brawlers, fighting every chance they got, engaging in gladiatorial like bouts in demonic arenas called “Midelskuls” and “Hiskuls” respectively. Explained that they became so notorious that fighters from other such arenas feared them, respected them, but also challenged them.

	Continuing his story as he searches through books at a local shop, he explains their most daring feet of heroism and combat proficiency to date. Before they were set to retire from the Gladiatorial arenas, in a ceremony called graduation, Mike's girl friend was kidnapped by one of his arch rivals who had never defeated him before. In the ensuing pursuit the two of them were forced to face every fighter and every champion from every arena, every major faction struggling for power locally, and even roving bands of bandits. Fighting their way across the city, not letting anything stand in there way. Until eventually the day was saved, the two were reunited, although in the end sadly their love was not to be. They still stood tall as the most powerful fighters having chosen to fight all the denizens of the River City, rather than pay the Ransom.

	The Princess does not realize this, nor do the guards, but Xavier is lying out of his ass trying to impress her. Also because as far as legendary heroes are concerned, an origin story of being great fighters and adventuring partners for years sounds way better than the two of them being Assholes from the internet who only met just a few years ago or so. The group returns to the Palace, Xavier finds Mike already there, he is exhausted, beat up, and irritated. They begin comparing notes, for they must prepare to leave the Capital on their adventure within the next few days.