03x04 - The Operation to Capture the Spear Hero

[bunniefuu]

Motoyasu...

He seems to be searching for his comrades,

who parted ways with him after the Spirit Tortoise fight.

One of them, we know, is in a town near Melromarc.

I see.

So, what about the others?

We haven't found anything.

Mal...

Bitch... was, as we last discussed, last seen near the northern border.

You can't use her sl*ve crest to find her?

We can't. She's blocking it somehow.

And Ren and Itsuki?

As of now, we know nothing.

But we've confirmed that all of the Sword Hero's companions are dead.

Iwatani-sama, it won't be much longer before the Phoenix revives.

I'll ask you to please persuade the Spear Hero while there's still time.

Persuade him, huh?

It doesn't matter how many times you ask.

I have no intention of reconciling with those morons.

If the heroes are fighting each other,

instead of the Waves of Catastrophe,

I must k*ll the Four Cardinal Heroes.

I can leave Eclair in charge of my lands...

And start with Motoyasu.

Where did you all go?

Come back to me...

Soon.

Elena...

Myne...

The Rising of the Shield Hero

The Operation to Capture the Spear Hero

Yah! Yah!

Yaaah!

Steady breaths!

Keep your focus on your blade, all the way to the tip!

Yah! Yah!

Yah!

Thanks!

Looking good!

Okay!

Naofumi-chan!

Hey, call him "His Lordship!"

Make me breakfast!

I'm starving!

Fine, fine.

Yay!

It feels like everybody's settled in nicely here.

Yes. Thanks to that, we'll have the outer walls done sooner than expected.

Right now, our problems are getting the money we'll need for food and things,

and the money to improve our domain.

Can we get any from the government?

We can't expect much.

Every place is trying to rebuild.

I see.

How'd things go with Sadeena-san and Fohl's level reset?

We got it done.

I heard they'd need to do some rehab to make up for the lost levels.

But from the look of it, they'll be fine.

Both of them have worked really hard to get where they are.

Unlike your status, what you've gained from training isn't lost during a reset.

Now we just need to raise our levels to get ready for the battle with the Phoenix.

The problem comes after they hit their limits.

Is the only solution for them to train more?

Probably.

Is food ready yet?

I'm so hungry!

It's almost done. Go play over there until it's ready.

Okay.

I'm starving...

I could eat everything on the table!

It's too early in the day to start drinking.

I know that!

And who are you?

I'm S'yne.

You're the clown girl, right?

Clown?

You know her, Filo?

You do too, Master!

This should remind you.

m*rder Clown?

What are you doing in the village?

I walked?

I didn't ask how you got here.

Did you come to eat?

Yes.

Just so you know, this isn't free food.

It's for the villagers.

Okay.

I'll give you this, then.

It's not about the money.

What I'm trying to say is...

Just leave the village.

Even though I protected everyone from slavers?

Why?

Naofumi-sama?

No.

I can't trust you.

I see.

Hey, Filo.

I have good news for you.

But first, let's finish breakfast.

Carriage! Carriage! Carriage!

My carriage!

Hooray! Hooray!

Okay.

You guys raise your level.

I know.

Sure thing!

I'll do my best!

And you'll be training with me, Rishia.

I'll help, too.

Don't let anyone suspicious into the village while I'm gone.

We know.

Let's go.

Okay!

Bye!

Have fun!

See you later!

It's been so long since we've been on a journey like this.

It reminds me of when we first met.

Yeah.

We can do some trading on the way home, maybe.

Yay!

How did I end up like this?

This is...

Yeah.

But for now, we need to find the Cardinal Hero.

Oh, you'll want the next street over, then.

Thank you.

Oh, and head to one of the taverns on the outskirts of town.

I saw someone there who looked like a hero.

Thanks.

This should be it, right?

Elena, you're alive!

I'm so glad! I thought I'd never see you again!

Oh, if it isn't the Spear Hero.

Wh-What's wrong?

I'm not sure what to tell you.

Listen, Elena.

We've had a lot of adventures together, right?

Let's join up and save the world together again!

I'm sorry, but that's impossible.

I've been forced to take over the family business.

Now, good day.

If you want party members, head to a tavern.

No, I want you...

Motoyasu-sama... No, Spear Hero.

I couldn't take any more traveling with you.

What are you...

The days when you had fame and riches are long gone.

What are you right now?

I'm a hero...

You're a vagrant.

If you want to be with me, try to get somewhere in life.

Like the Shield Hero.

N-Naofumi!

We've finally found you, Motoyasu!

Hey, wait!

Hear me out!

Motoyasu!

Damn it.

Where did he go?

I don't know.

Now then, it's been a while since we've talked to her...

Of course. You'll be paying, right?

You'd better tell me everything you know in exchange.

I know.

Motoyasu-sama headed to the Spirit Tortoise's kingdom

with the intent of b*ating it ahead of you.

No need to run, men!

I, the Spear Hero, will defeat this thing easily!

See for yourself how much stronger I am than the Shield Hero!

Right!

Let's go!

Zweit Hellfire!

Take this and this and this!

Yah!

Here I go!

Thunder Spear!

Wh-What...

Motoyasu-sama!

R-Right!

Meteor Thrust!

Lightning Spear!

Hey...

I don't think this is working...

Take this!

I picked the wrong guy to suck up to.

Oh, trying to have me arrested won't work.

I've already given all the information I know to the authorities.

What? That's all I know.

There's one more thing I want to know.

Where are the taverns in this town?

Really?

This food looks so good!

Waiter!

Naofumi...

It's been a while, Ren.

Wait, wait.

I haven't come to arrest you or anything!

Raphtalia, Filo...

Sorry, but can you go look for Motoyasu for me?

But...

Leave us alone for a bit.

Very well.

Okay.

Let's sit down, I guess.

I just met Motoyasu.

He came to this town to meet one of his old party members, I guess.

He got away before we got a chance to talk, though.

I see.

His comrades are alive, then.

I heard.

All yours are...

Yeah. They're all dead.

I lost because they were weak.

It's not my fault.

It's not! It's not my fault at all!

Ren, I'm sorry about what happened to your party.

But you can still fight.

There's no time left before the Phoenix's seal breaks.

This time, we heroes need to face it together.

Please, help me.

All right.

Good. So here's what I know about the Phoenix...

You mustn't believe the Shield Demon!

Bitch!

You said you'd believe only me, remember?

I didn't say I'd believe you.

And Motoyasu is still looking for his friends.

The Spear Hero is not a true hero.

I told you that!

I told you that from the moment I laid eyes on you,

I knew you were the hero destined to save the world!

And the Spear forced himself on me, just like the Shield.

Motoyasu... That bastard!

Come on, Ren. You're not telling me you believe her.

You saw the trial at the castle.

Stop it! Or are you trying to shame me again?

What?

Ren-sama, that trial was a farce! A way to steal the throne from me!

My mother joined forces with the wicked Shield to humiliate me,

so that her sl*ve, Melty, could attain the throne!

And the Shield Demon here was secretly controlling the Spirit Tortoise

so he could gain the people's trust!

He's the one responsible for the death of your party!

You...

Is that true?

Ren!

I'm not lying.

See? My sl*ve crest isn't activating, and that's proof.

How?!

Do you believe me now?

I...

I care about you more than anyone!

The entire world may call you a criminal,

but I believe you!

I believe you fought for the sake of the world!

You absolute...

Even if you can't believe in anyone anymore, I believe in you!

Ren-sama... No, the great Sword Hero!

Shut the hell up!

Wait!

Motoyasu?

What are you doing with Ren?

I've been looking for you this whole time!

Myne... I mean, Slut!

Ren-sama, did you hear that?

He told me he's been trying to find me, but he called me a slut!

That's proof that he forced himself on me every night!

He said he'd k*ll my father if I refused!

Liar!

Did you do that?

No, Ren! Slut is lying to you!

Believe me!

How can I?

...and tore my clothes off!

Listen to me, Ren!

I didn't do anything to her! Or thr*aten her!

If she hadn't asked me to wait till dawn

and call the knights, I would've cut you down myself!

You're going to run as soon as things go south?

As the Spear Hero, I...

I'm amazed it's possible for one human being to lie that much, Bitch.

Stay away from Myne!

Listen, Ren. Think very carefully about who's more trustworthy, me or her.

Shut up!

Myne's right! You were behind it all!

The reason my party all d*ed, and that I'm being blamed for it,

is you, Naofumi!

Oh, so that's how it is, huh?

If that's how you're gonna be, then I've got some sh*t to say to you, too.

Your buddies all d*ed?

That's 'cause you treated this whole thing like a video game, isn't it?

What?

It's not your fault, huh?

Yeah, it's a lot easier when you can just blame everything on somebody else!

This world's not a game.

You had people who believed in you, and followed you wherever you went!

And you...

Right now, you're a failure not just as a hero, but as a human being!

No! It's not... It's not my fault!

Ren-sama! You mustn't believe the Shield Demon!

Get lost, Bitch!

And shut your mouth before I k*ll you right here.

You know exactly what you should be doing right now.

But you're refusing to do it because it would mean admitting you screwed up!

Am I wrong?

Shut up!

Shut your mouth!

I'll say it as many times as I have to.

You know exactly what you should be doing right this very moment.

I can tell you for sure at least that it's not listening to that whore.

Shut up!

It's not my fault!

It's not!

You're using a skill in the middle of a crowded building?

I'm going to fight for Myne... for the person who believes in me!

Don't do it!

Meteor Slash!

Naofumi-sama!

Oh no!

Impossible!

Ren-sama, let's flee!

This is impossible!

You have to be cheating somehow!

Look at the reality in front of you.

Flashing Sword!

Ren-sama!

Get off me!

You abandoned me!

Now!

Portal Sword!

You're the one who abandoned him.

Naofumi-sama, are you okay?

Yeah. I am, at least.

Why... Why are Bitch and Elena both...?

Motoyasu! Hey, Motoyasu!

I believed in everyone...

Why does this keep happening?

The townspeople are all so cold to me... I'm so tired.

I'll never trust a woman again...

Is he okay?

I don't care.

Can you guys see if there are any wounded?

I'm so tired.

Why am I the only one this happens to?

Why did this happen...

I never want to talk to a woman again...

Remember the fluffy clouds in the sky!

How they change shape every second!

Yesterday and now are different, right?

So what about tomorrow?

It's okay if things don't go your way

I'm sure that stuff's important if you want to get big and strong

So raise your head!

I'll stuff all the sparklies in a box and give them to you

I'll tie it up with a special ribbon

A wind will come to blow all your troubles away

So hang on tight and stay close to me

Take my hand in yours!

Hug!

Filo-chan...

Naofumi-sama, what is this?

Maybe something she gained from her time as a Humming Fairy.

Eat this and cheer up!

Filo-chan!

Filo-chan!

Motoyasu...

I'm glad you're doing better.

Believe in the method I gave you to get stronger and work to get ready for the fight.

Understood!

This is everything, right?

What about the Spear Hero?

From the look of it, he's not ready to come with us.

I'll explain the situation to the Queen and head back to the village.

I want to head back...

Good morning, Father!

"Father"?

Yes.

Your daughter saved me in my darkest hour, and taught me about true love!

I promise to make her happy in this life, the next, and the life after that!

Please, give me your daughter!

Let's be happy together, Filo-tan!

No!

Stop it, you're scaring her!

Don't get in my way, raccoon pig!

"Pig"?

Let's get going.

Y-Yeah...

Filo-tan! Filo-tan!

Don't leave me!

Filo-tan!

Each of Their Paths