03x12 - The Ones We Must Protect

[bunniefuu]

I'm, uh... well...

Yes?

Naofumi-sama, I...

I'm also feeling... a bit...

Oh my! Oh my!

I guess there's a reason they call these sakes Tanuki and Dragon k*ller.

Maybe it was a little too strong for Raphtalia-chan and Gaelion-chan.

I can see why you'd want to keep a great place like this a secret.

Wonderful, isn't it?

I feel like I can definitely learn the Way of the Dragon Vein here without Atla bugging us.

Gaelion-chan's a great teacher.

It won't take long at all before you've mastered it!

He is? Really?

You can't go f*ring off your magic power!

You don't want to unleash your power like magic.

Instead, envision yourself as an empty vessel being filled with power!

That's too abstract! I don't get it at all!

And you're also telling me that Raphtalia

already has a blessing on her so it's hard to teach her.

The big surprise for me was that Gaelion-chan can talk!

So what's the deal?

I'm talking about Raphtalia-chan!

How do you actually feel about her?

What's the deal with you two?

Naofumi-chan, Raphtalia-chan and her parents were what gave my life meaning.

Gave your life meaning?

So if you want to marry her,

you'd better act real careful when I'm around!

I just think of her as a daughter, that's all.

Is that really all?

Naofumi-sama...

Oh, you're awake?

Okay, you'll get cold if you fall asleep out here.

Let's head back.

Come on, you wake up too, Gaelion-chan.

I fell asleep?

Aw, time to get up!

Yeah...

Let's drink again sometime!

THE RISING OF THE SHIELD HERO

EPISODE THE ONES WE MUST PROTECT

Looks like you're up to something fun here, huh, kid?

It might be best to put Gaelion's blessing on all the villagers.

The more people who can use the Way of the Dragon Vein, the better.

Hey there, kid!

Mister!

Hey, how ya doin', missy?

Good.

What brings you here today?

What you asked for is done.

It was a lot of work, but it should be pretty good.

Thanks.

And sorry for making you come all the way out here.

That?

BYAKKO MIKO DRESS • CRUDE

It doesn't seem that different from what you're wearing now.

Sorry. It's the best I could do.

No, you did great.

What's up?

Clothes for Raphtalia-oneechan?

Let us see!

Raphtalia, why don't you try on your new outfit,

since he brought it all the way here?

Naofumi-sama, there's a look in your eyes...

You're beautiful, Raphtalia-oneechan!

Am I?

Wow, you look incredible, Raphtalia-chan!

You look even cooler than usual!

Seems like people like it.

From now on, Raphtalia, you're wearing this miko outfit!

I want to wear one too!

Okay...

I've never seen cloth like that!

I can't understand why it's so important to you.

I'm so jealous.

It's not far that Raphtalia-san gets all the attention.

So what are you going to do now?

Go see Tolly?

Maybe I will check on him.

Teach 'im some things.

Feel free to stay the night if you like.

I'll think about it.

Bye.

And so Raphtalia got her new miko outfit, and I...

started helping Eclair with her paperwork duties for the rest of the day.

I don't know where Motoyasu is or what he's doing.

But Ren and Itsuki are here in the village.

Two months.

We need to make sure we're ready for the battle with the Phoenix.

Naofumi-chan!

We're back!

Welcome back!

I pulled in a big catch today!

Whip up something special for dinner!

Sure. I figure we can fry 'em with salt!

Sadeena-neesan, welcome back!

I'm back, Raphtalia-chan...

Sadeena-neesan?

Raphtalia-chan, take this off, now!

What are you doing?

Are you drunk already?

And what do you think you're doing?

I said that you'd better act real careful, didn't I?

Now take this off! Now!

S-Sadeena!

Naofumi, is everything okay?

Yeah...

Just calm down and explain, okay?

First, make her take this off.

Fine. Raphtalia, go change.

Okay.

What? You're changing?

That's no fun.

Why?

What's gotten into you?

Wearing that outfit means she's declaring herself in line for the throne in that country.

Hey!

I'm too late!

As source of thy power, I order thee.

Decipher the laws of nature...

Raphtalia!

A kunai?

An enemy att*ck?

Damn it! And at a time when Eclair and the old lady aren't around?

Prepare to die!

Lightning, pierce those before me!

All Drifa Chain Lightning!

Are you okay?

Sadeena-neesan!

Itsuki-sama, let's fight back!

All right.

She's badly wounded.

Rishia-chan!

Okay!

What's going on?

What's happening?

I've got no clue—

We have witnessed your declaration!

We shall do all in our power to stop you from taking the throne!

Who are these people?

What do they mean by "throne"?

Naofumi-chan, we need to defeat these enemies first!

Meteor Shield!

What?

Hundred Swords!

Arrow Rain!

Air Strike Shield!

Now!

Brave Blade: Mist!

He's tough!

It worked?!

Don't tell me...

They're only immune to the heroes' att*cks!?

Raphtalia!

I don't know if this'll work, but we don't have a choice!

Right!

Power of two, lend your strength to confuse the enemy with an illusion!

Re-spin the threads of fate, and turn our defeat into a victory!

Dragon Vein, hear our plea!

As source of thy power, I implore you...

Decipher the laws of nature and create an illusion to deceive my foes!

Form is emptiness!

What's going on?

We did Choral magic.

It'll make them confused for a little while.

They seem really resistant to any hero's att*cks.

We'll just have to use our big moves to overwhelm their defenses.

That's right.

I guess we don't have a choice.

Here I go!

Meteor Slash!

Eagle Piercing sh*t!

Eight Trigrams Blade of Destiny!

Glory to the Heavenly Emperor!

Run, everyone!

Is that...

There's something you haven't told me yet, isn't there?

They... Those assassins that att*cked us... were from Q'ten Lo.

Q'ten Lo?

Here!

Okay!

Raphtalia-chan was actually born into the royal family of Q'ten Lo,

an island nation far to the east.

She's a descendant of the Heavenly Emperor.

And what's that got to do with her miko outfit?

The outfit you call a "miko outfit" is something

that only the Heavenly Empress is allowed to wear.

This is...

So when Raphtalia-chan, who is royalty, wears it,

it's like she's declaring herself empress.

Q'ten Lo already has an emperor.

So this is the equivalent of a declaration of w*r.

They'll be sending more assassins.

That's horrible.

Raphtalia's parents d*ed during the first Wave, in this village.

Why would descendants of an emperor be in Lurolona Village?

Because of a w*r over who would be the next emperor.

Her father got tired of the endless struggles

in the royal family over who would be heir.

He fled with his wife here to Melromarc.

My family has served as bodyguards for the royal family for generations.

But I decided to abandon my mission and follow them so I could protect them.

After Raphtalia-chan was born, I was always with her.

But...

On that day, when the first Wave hit,

I was far out at sea fishing,

and was att*cked by the Wave's monsters.

I couldn't protect the three of them.

When I finally made it back,

the slavers had already come and gone.

I'd sworn to protect the family with my life, but...

Raphtalia, do you want to be the Heavenly Empress?

No!

The fire's out.

How is that child doing?

Not out of the woods yet.

I see. It was Q'ten Lo...

They picked a fight with us for a very stupid reason.

No, it's common for something to look stupid to one country

and be a matter of survival to another.

Sadeena, there were times when you were acting like

there might be someone on the outskirts of the village.

Were you watching for them?

Yes.

How long have they been watching her?

Since before she was even born.

So when the first Wave hit and the slavers came,

when she was being mistreated as a sl*ve...

When she became my sl*ve and almost d*ed again and again...

They did nothing!

From their perspective, they'd be better off if she d*ed.

As much as it infuriates me to say it.

I bet you're right.

But if they'd been watching her that closely,

they'd know she didn't know about her royal blood,

or that she had no intention of taking the throne.

They intend to use her wearing that miko outfit as an excuse to finally k*ll her.

Just so they can make sure there's no thr*at to the current emperor's rule.

They sent assassins without even sending messengers first.

There's no need for international formalities when it's just a tiny territory of Melromarc's.

They probably figured it wouldn't result in a w*r.

And I'm gonna make sure they realize they're damn wrong!

Naofumi-sama?

They came after Raphtalia.

They badly injured one of my citizens.

They violated the territory of the Shield Hero!

It's a clear declaration of w*r against one of the Cardinal Heroes.

But Naofumi, what are you going to do?

We can't get ready for the Phoenix if we're constantly watching our backs for assassins.

Naofumi-chan, don't tell me...

We'll go and have a talk with them.

And if that doesn't work, I'll crush Q'ten Lo into submission!

Atla, we don't have to do this here.

We must always keep up our training regimen.

Hello.

Please leave preparations for the battle with the Phoenix to us

while you and your party are visiting Q'ten Lo.

Thanks.

I'll send knights to Lurolona Village to protect it.

You're being awfully helpful here.

You've completed your great task and brought the four heroes together.

We must be prepared to do anything we can to reward you.

I'd also like to know the fastest route to Q'ten Lo.

I want to waste as little time as possible.

As the knight, Eclair, says,

they've isolated themselves, and we have no relations with them.

But I'm told there's a regular ferry that goes to Q'ten Lo that leaves from Siltvelt.

I'll see if I can arrange something.

Thanks.

Siltvelt...

That's where Fohl and Atla are from.

Are those two doing well?

Yeah.

They're here today.

They insist on following me everywhere I go these days.

I see.

Then they'll be going to Siltvelt, too.

Hey, old guy.

Don't you have anything better to do today?

Watch your mouth!

This man is...

Enough.

Be silent.

Yes, sir.

Are you feeling all right?

Are you eating?

Yes. Thank you for asking.

Atla eats enough for two!

Yes. I'm full of energy.

I see...

The Shield Demon hasn't hurt you, right?

"Demon"? Don't say something so sad, please.

Naofumi-sama saved my life.

Atla would've d*ed in a sl*ve's cell in Zeltoble if the Shield Hero hadn't helped her.

She was so sick that she was never even able to walk.

But now...

Naofumi-sama!

Farewell.

U-Um, will we see you again?

Yes.

At some point.

And so I left Queen Mirelia in charge,

- Welcome back, Naofumi-sama. - And so I left Queen Mirelia in charge,

And so I left Queen Mirelia in charge,

and headed for Q'ten Lo.

First, we'll head to Siltvelt, where the ferry departs.

I'll go with Wyndia and Gaelion and fly straight there.

Then I'll use a portal to summon the rest of you.

Be careful, please.

Wyndia-san, Gaelion... take care of him.

Leave it to me!

I'll be back before long.

There are less than two months before the Phoenix revives.

Maybe I don't have time for this.

But...

This is a battle I have to fight.

This will decide Raphtalia's fate!

Wait, Filo-chan!

You're too fast!

Here we go!

Just you wait, Master!

I'll come back even stronger!

W-Wait!

Off we go!

Maybe I've got no right to interfere with any of their fates.

But right now, they're my precious comrades...

And for the sake of my comrades,

I'll fight the Waves, the Guardian Beasts, or anything else I have to!

Father! For the sake of my beloved Filo-tan,

I am always ready to fight by your side!

Even if I have to fight an entire country!

Because that's the path that I, the Shield Hero, must follow!