Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (The Rising of the Shield Hero)

So return to the capital—

What the hell are you playing at?!

Curse you! How dare you take Princess Melty hostage!

Hostage?

Fellow knights! Justice is on our side!

Destroy the Devil of the Shield!

Resorting to calling me a devil now, huh?

Raphtalia! Filo!

R-Retreat!

Oh no! Run away!

Wanna chase them down?

Nah.

Are you okay, Mel-san?

The Rising of the Shield Hero

The Devil of the Shield

Mel-chan...

Naofumi-sama...

How'd it go?

The altered footage has made its way to the nearby towns and villages.

Entering them would be too risky.

I see.

Isn't that...

Why'd you try to kill the second princess in front of us?

Answer me!

I have nothing to say to the devil!

That's a rosary from the Three Heroes Church.

The Three Heroes Church?

Melromarc's state religion, which worships the Sword, Spear, and Bow Heroes.

That reminds me... I saw it at the church in the capital, too.

The three heroes other than the Shield, huh?

You'll learn just how grave the sin of disturbing our country's order is!

What was that about?

Dunno, but it's probably another one of the king's schemes.

Thanks to her stupid dad, we're stuck here with nowhere to go.

My father can't be behind this.

Who else could've ordered it?

My sister, probably.

So she's trying to kill you and take your place as crown princess?

But the knights who attacked you are under the king's direct control, right?

It'd be natural to assume he's in on this.

Knowing them,

they want to frame "The Devil of the Shield" for this whole plot, huh?

Father would never!

What makes you so sure?

Because Father is...

Why stick up for a scumbag like him?

You're wrong.

Mel-chan...

You're wrong!

Why won't either of you understand?

This is no time to be fighting among yourselves!

Talk to Father one more time!

Naofumi-sama...

I... I can't face Mother like this!

Don't cry, Mel-chan.

I'm here for you.

I've decided.

Oh, Master.

Welcome back.

Listen.

We're going to leave the country.

What will you do?

I'll return to the capital and talk to Father—

Bad idea.

If you went back now, you'd only get yourself killed.

But if you decide to stay with us, I'll keep you safe.

I can promise you that, if nothing else.

Come with us, Mel-chan.

Okay.

We leave before dawn.

Make sure you're ready.

Where are we headed, Naofumi-sama?

I've already got a place in mind.

Master!

You knew it had to be done.

We can't cross these mountains on a wagon.

We'll come back to get it once this all settles down.

You promise to come back for it?

I promise.

Let's take a break here.

'Kay!

You all right, Second Princess?

Yes.

She must be tired.

Naofumi-sama, what made you choose Siltvelt?

The extra security.

There must be a reason they're trying so hard to prevent us from going there.

It might be the perfect place to flee to.

Ah!

Right!

Father...

Tell me something.

What happened between you and Father?

What?

But Mother said to treat the Shield Hero well.

Come to think of it, I've heard nothing about your mom.

She's the queen of this country.

The queen?

That means she's higher than Father in the pecking order.

The queen's more powerful?

Melromarc is a matrilineal monarchy.

You mean that king married into the royal family?

What's so funny?

He acts like he owns the world.

So what if he married into the family?!

But he's adopted royalty?

Let's get going.

They're not over here.

They can't have gone far.

Find them!

Look for them!

Where are they?

They've blocked this route off, too?

Let's backtrack a bit.

There they are!

Over there!

They found us?

Can you run?

Yes.

We're making a break for it past that big rock!

There's nowhere left to run.

You're are surrounded.

Cease your resistance and release Princess Melty at once.

"Release"? It's not like I have her tied up.

Quit lying. We have all the proof we need.

Heroes, I'm perfectly fine, as you can see.

The Shield Hero kept me safe.

Hang on. Didn't Naofumi abduct you?

A dastardly plot was behind all this.

I asked him to take me and protect my life.

"Protect"?

What could the Shield Hero possibly stand to gain by abducting me?

The queen told me...

This is the time for all of us to work together to thwart the catastrophes.

Our world cannot withstand any further pointless conflict!