The Rising of the Shield Hero (盾の勇者の成り上がり)

Where am I?

I'm a familiar of the Spirit Tortoise.

Up until now, I've done my duty and taken many souls.

I did it to protect this world from the threat of the Waves.

That's what I told myself.

But...

If I have no need for emotions, why did I need to tell myself anything?

Why do I suffer so when I see their smiles?

Why does a mere familiar need these feelings?

Who's there?

Who is it? Who's there?

You're...

Well, guess you found us out!

It's been a while, lad!

Why did we even bother with those disguises?

You had no intention of hiding, did you, L'Arc?

L'Arc! Therese!

And Glass!

Why are you here?

They're supposedly heroes from another world, sent to kill us Four Cardinal Heroes.

We just need you to die for the sake of our world.

But they were supposed to have gone home during the Wave at Cal Mira Island.

Don't look so tense.

We're not here to fight you this time.

What do you mean?

The Spirit Tortoise, was it?

And the guy who broke the seal?

We're here to kick his ass.

Episode 5 Ost Hourai

You're here to defeat the one who broke the seal on the Spirit Tortoise?

Why do you have to get involved?

Whoever it was, they probably came from another world, like those three.

Is that right?

Yes.

He's trying to take control of Guardian Beasts across several worlds,

and make their power his own.

It goes against the very laws of the world.

The laws of the world?

I know what you're thinking.

We want to kill you for the sake of our world.

But he's different.

He's willing to make a mess of things in this world for the sake of his own personal greed.

And in the end, this will bring misery and destruction to our world, too.

So he must be stopped.

Our vassal weapons whisper this to us.

You're after him, too?

So why don't we call a truce and join forces again?

L'Arc! That's...

I refuse.

I'm not joining someone I'll have to kill eventually.

But if you're not going to start a fight with us right now,

then I don't care what you do.

Go do whatever you want.

Yeah, figures.

We'll be on our way then.

Bye, lad.

Naofumi-sama...

This is for the best.

Impossible...

We paid such a high price for nothing!

From the speed at which it's regenerating,

there's not much time before it's active again.

What is the Shield Hero doing?

The Hero and his party have entered the Spirit Tortoise's body.

They've gone to destroy the heart deep within its body, and stop it forever.

It's up to us to stop its advance until then.

I, Mirelia Q. Melromarc, shall lead the charge to inspire the knights and men!

Your Majesty...

We will be right behind you.

Then let us go.

It's hard to believe that somebody from L'Arc's world is the one controlling the Spirit Tortoise.

We don't know that for sure.

But...

What I'm thinking about is...

Why was Glass dressed like that?

I don't know.

Ost...

This way.

She's started to remember a lot.

I guess that just means we're close.

Which way do you think the scythe people went?

L'Arc, is this really the way?

Yeah, look at all these familiars!

He has to be close!

That tells us nothing!

This is... a dragon hourglass!

It's blue!

The sand's all in the bottom part.

Does it have nothing to do with the Waves?

What does this icon mean?

It shows the number of souls taken by the Spirit Tortoise.

When it's full,

it was supposed to create a barrier to protect the world from the Waves.

So this isn't the heart, then.

Yes.

It's to show how many souls

have been gathered and transformed into the Spirit Tortoise's power.

The knowledge just came to me, clearly.

Let's hurry!

This is the turtle monster's heart, huh?

Let's destroy it.

But then what happens to the Guardian Beast?

We don't have a choice.

The most we can do is release the Tortoise from his grasp.

I understand.

This is disgusting!

What is this place?

Are you okay?

I don't understand anymore.

My task was to steal souls and use them to power the Spirit Tortoise.

I thought this would save the world.

But...

What kind of world is worth protecting

if it means stealing the lives and smiles of those who fought alongside me?

Aren't the souls of the people who smile like they did what I really need to protect?

Don't try to carry all the burdens yourself!

We can all think together about what to do!

We're all comrades now!

Comrades...

Yeah!

I'm sure Naofumi-san feels the same way!

He'd get mad if he heard me saying that, wouldn't he?

Don't worry.

I guarantee you that's what he's thinking.

And...

Me, too!

And us, too. We feel the same way.