01x13 - The Devil of the Shield

[bunniefuu]

So return to--

[NAOFUMI] What the hell are you doing?!

Curse you!

How dare you take Princess Melty hostage!

I'm not taking anybody hostage!

You're a liar!

Fellow knights, justice is ours!

Let's destroy this Devil of the Shield!

[KNIGHTS yell]

Terrific, so now I've become a devil, huh?

Raphtalia!

Filo!

[giggles]

Full retreat!

[KNIGHTS yell]

[KNIGHT] Run away!

Can we chase them down?

Nah.

Mel, are you hurt anywhere?

[FILO] Mel, uhm...

[RAPHTALIA] Master Naofumi.

[NAOFUMI] How'd it go?

The altered images have made their way

to almost all the nearby towns and villages.

Entering them would be too risky.

I see...

[RAPHTALIA] Wait, isn't that...

What was the point of trying to k*ll

the second princess right in front of us?

[KNIGHT A] Hmph.

Y'hear what I said?!

I have nothing to say to the devil,

so you can k*ll me now!

That's a rosary from the Three Heroes Church.

Wait, the Three Heroes Church?

They worship the Sword, Spear, and Bow Heroes.

It's Melromarc's state religion.

That's weird,

I saw one of these at the church in the capital, too.

Yeah, all the heroes except the shield, huh?

[KNIGHT A] You will pay the price

of disturbing the natural order!

And you'll suffer for it!!

[RAPHTALIA] What was he talking about?

Y'got me, Raphtalia.

One of the king's harebrained ideas.

And thanks to the stupidity of her father,

we're stuck here with nowhere to go.

[MELTY] My father can't be behind this.

Yeah, right, and who else

could've ordered something like that?

[MELTY] Hmmm...

My sister, probably.

So she's trying to k*ll you and take your place

as crown princess, is that what you're saying?

[MELTY] Mm.

[NAOFUMI] But I know that those knights

who att*cked us are under the king's direct control.

It'd be natural to assume he's in the middle of everything.

If I'm right, those guys,

there's nothing they'd love more than to frame

the mythical "Devil of the Shield" for this whole thing.

[MELTY] Father would never stoop to something so low!

What makes you so sure, kid?

[MELTY] Because... Because Father is...

I don't know how you can stick up for him.

That scumbag...

But you're wrong.

How so?

You're totally wrong!

Why can't either of you understand?

We don't have time to fight each other,

there are problems before us we need to solve together!

Please!

Talk to Father one more time, I beg you!

[RAPHTALIA] Master Naofumi...

I can't...

How will I ever face Mother like this?!

I just can't do it!

You don't have to cry, Mel.

I'm still here for you.

[MELTY sobs]

We're out of time.

[FILO] Master.

Welcome back.

[MELTY] Hmph!

[NAOFUMI] Listen.

We're going to have to leave the country.

So what'll you do?

[MELTY] I'll return to the capital somehow.

I have to talk to Father and--

[NAOFUMI] Lousy idea.

Huh?

[NAOFUMI] You go back now, you'd only get yourself k*lled.

However, if you were to change your mind and stay with us,

I'll keep you safe.

I can promise you that, if nothing else.

Oh, come with us, please.

All right.

[NAOFUMI] We'll leave before dawn.

Make sure you're ready.

Master Naofumi,

where are we going to be traveling this time?

Don't worry, I'll let you know...

What about the wagon?

Come on, you knew the deal.

There's no way we could cross this range on a wagon.

We'll come back for it once this thing's over.

[FILO] Promise?

You promise we'll come back for it?

[NAOFUMI] I promise.

Let's take a little break in here.

Okay!

[NAOFUMI] You all right, Princess?

Fine, thank you.

She must be tired after everything.

Master Naofumi, why did you choose

the kingdom of Siltvelt over the other possibilities?

The extra security.

There's gotta be a really good reason they're trying so hard

to prevent us from getting there.

It might just be the perfect place to hide out.

Ah! Right!

[MELTY] Father...

There's something I need to ask you, Sir Shield Hero.

What happened between you and Father?

I mean, my mother said

that the Shield Hero should be treated well.

What happened?

Come to think of it, now that you mention it,

I don't know a single thing about your mom.

What's to say?

She's the queen of the country of Melromarc.

Queen, huh?

Yes, that means she's higher than Father

in the pecking order.

Wait, how come the queen's more powerful than the king?

Melromarc is a country based on matrilineal succession.

Gimme a break!

You mean the king married into the royal family?

What's so funny about that?

Nothing except for the fact that he acts like he runs the joint.

[MELTY] Well, he is the king, after all!

So he's like adopted royalty?

[gasps]

[NAOFUMI] Time to go.

[KNIGHT G] They're not over here.

[KNIGHT H] They can't have gone far.

Find them!

[KNIGHTS chattering]

They've blocked this route off, too.

We'll have to find another path.

[screams]

[KNIGHT I] There they are! Down there!

Looks like we're gonna have company.

Can you run?

I think.

[NAOFUMI] We'll make a break for it past that big rock!

[KNIGHTS shouting]

That's it, you've got nowhere left to run.

You're surrounded.

Even you have to admit that.

Cease your resistance and release Princess Melty at once.

[NAOFUMI] What's with this "release" business?

It's not like I have her tied up or anything.

Quit lying to us.

We have all the proof we need now.

Please, Sir Heroes.

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

The Shield Hero kept watch over me, making sure I was safe.

Wait a minute.

This whole thing is happening because Naofumi abducted you.

This is all a misunderstanding.

You see, someone is plotting to have me k*lled.

I asked him to take me with him and to protect my life.

He's protecting you??

Come on!

[MELTY] What advantage 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.

It's the only way we'll be able to thwart the catastrophes.

Our world can't withstand any more

of these ridiculous, pointless conflicts!

Put your weapons away, please!

Like she says, this whole thing was a setup from the beginning.

I have no secrets.

I'll tell you everything I know. And then--

[MYNE] I command you not to listen to him!

That lying devil possesses a brainwashing shield!

It allows him take over your mind by simply talking to you--

it's the most dangerous w*apon he has!

Huh? Wha...?

Who would believe something so stupid and silly?!

The Three Heroes Church has discovered that heretics

who worship the Shield have started popping up all over

the kingdom in the past month.

The Three Heroes Church again??

The Devil of the Shield calls himself

"the Savior of the Heavenly Fowl"

and goes around brainwashing the innocent!

Sister, you're mad...!

Melty, my dear, little, deranged creature!

It's obvious that Devil of the Shield

has already brainwashed you.

Now I see!

That means that Raphtalia and Filo

were brainwashed by Naofumi, too.

No, you're wrong!

Master Naofumi hasn't brainwashed any of us!

If my shield really had the ability to do that,

we wouldn't be in this damned situation in the first place!

Do we have a guarantee that it can't?

What kind of proof can you give to convince us

that you're not lying?

[REN] Naofumi, hand over the princess right now,

and no one'll get hurt.

I promise you she won't be harmed in any way.

[gasps]

You know, if we can avoid all this fighting,

I guess it might be for the best.

[MYNE] You are absolutely right, Sir Ren!

I'm so glad we all agree that Melty's safety comes first!

[gasps]

Come.

Let's all go home together now.

No...

If I go, I'll be k*lled!

[MYNE] Come to me, dearest little sister.

Please, Sir Hero!

Please help!

Y'know, Ren, I have to admit that your offer is generous

but I just do not trust that woman with the princess.

What are you suggesting?

[RAPHTALIA gasps]

[inaudible]

What's that devil talking about now?

Melty is my dearest little sister,

I wouldn't dream of anything--

Come off it, lady, you're not fooling anyone.

You want to be crown princess so badly

you'd k*ll your own sister!

You'll say you're undoing the "brainwashing"

and then k*ll her when nobody's looking.

I'll bet that's exactly what you're planning!

Don't forget, I promised to keep you safe.

Filo, now!

'Kaay!

Ready when you are!

Air Strike Shield now!

Not so fast!

[screaming]

[grunts]

[NAOFUMI] Huh?

I've called for backup,

so it's too late for you to try to escape.

I can't get this off. It's... Huh?

--[shrieks] --You're finally mine, Filo!

L-Let go of me, heeelp!

I've lost all my strength!

--Please let go of me! --I had the royal alchemists

come up with this ankle bracelet for ya.

So now you're gonna stay my little angel forever and ever!

[MELTY] As source of thy power, I order thee.

Decipher the laws of nature and slice through

my target like a blade of water.

Zweit Aqua Slash!

Let her go!

I'm not gonna miss next time!

Myne, wait a sec!

Are you trying to k*ll your sister Melty?!

I have to defend myself since she att*cked first!

Zweit Hellfire!

Zweit Fire Arrow!

What are you doing?!

Stop now!

To save her from Naofumi's brainwashing, she must die!

Master Naofumi...

Can I leave Mel with you for a bit? I'll be right back.

[NAOFUMI] Sure.

Step back a little.

All right...

Come forth, Rage Shield!

Here I come, Filo...

Huh?

What's with the shield?

[MYNE] Bring down the hammer of justice

on the Devil of the Shield!

Archers, fire!

[gasps]

Not on my watch.

It's my turn now!

Annihilate the Devil of the Shield and his whole party!

[REN] Wait, don't!

That light, what is it??

[REN] What the hell's going on?

[NAOFUMI] Ren...

I know you'll be able to figure this all out--

what's really happening here.

Wait, Naofumi!

[FILO] Yay!

[rustling]

[MELTY] Wait!

She's on our side.

That's one of the Shadows,

an espionage squad under the queen's direct control.

Sir Shield Hero,

this is the first time I'm meeting you

in this form, I daresay.

"Daresay." What's that about?

[SHADOW] Allow me to get straight to the point.

Sir Shield Hero, you are hereby requested to meet

with Her Majesty the Queen.

With the queen?

The roots of this commotion go deep, you understand?

I daresay we would appreciate all the help you can give.

This abduction and the events leading up to it were set up

by those who find your accomplishments alarming.

Oh, that's terrific,

more pains in the butt to deal handle.

Yeah?

So?

What would I gain by meeting with her?

I have no doubt you'll understand better

after you've met, I daresay.

[NAOFUMI] The queen's in the opposite direction

from Siltvelt.

Hey, Second Princess, you know anything about this country?

Oh, yeah, Second Princess.

You know how to use magic, don't you?

[MELTY] Don't call me that.

[NAOFUMI] What was that, Second Princess?

Stop calling me Second Princess!

What's gotten into you all of a sudden?

I have a name, and it's Melty, that's what!

Why on earth do you keep calling me

"Second Princess," Shield Hero?

You keep treating me like I'm just an outsider!

Hey, you're the only one around here

calling me "Shield Hero," y'know.

Well then...

I'll have to call you Naofumi.

And you can call me Melty, which is what I prefer anyway.

So tell me, Naofumi, what's it going to be?

[RAPHTALIA] Straight to his first name?

Well, Second Princess, y'see, it's like this...

Hey, wait--!

[NAOFUMI] Okay.

Melty.

Happy now?

Once again, please...

Huh?

[MELTY] Say my name one more time.

Fine, Melty.

Good. And I suggest you don't forget it, either.

One more thing...

Thanks for that.

[NAOFUMI] Hmm? What's up?

Nothing!

I'm fine, just forget it.

Huh?

Where's that smell coming from?

[MYNE giggles]