Report 3: The Rising of the Shield Hero

The course of events have led us to the outskirts of the kingdom of Melromarc. Here Naofumi discovers that his shield has the power to absorb almost anything he gives to it, changing its shape and overall stats, as in a video game. However, our protagonist is still unable to find any form of offensive capabilities within these transformations, but the shield unlocks an ability to reproduce ointments and medicines almost in mass by just putting the right ingredients. By this time in the novel, the shield hero realizes he could sell these remedies to the people who live in the countryside; he effectively does so and begins his career as a merchant, but sooner than later he finds out that he will not be able to become stronger just by selling things. Now, with even the smallest monster becoming an almost unsurpassable hindrance, Naofumi had to find a way to get some companions in order to help him level up and attack in his place.

A little bit later in the novel we are introduced to a very particular character that runs by the name of the Slave Trader, he offers the main character a (as redundant as it is) slave for some coin. Surprisingly, Naofumi in his desperation decides to accept and pays the fee. However, he asks for the cheapest slave, which is a young demi-human girl who appears to be really sick, whose name is Raphtalia. There is a whole ritual in order to secure the “loyalty” of a slave in this world, which consists in a sort of tattoo that causes pain (and could even kill) whenever the subject does not oblige to their master’s orders. This is really important, as it is the core of the bond between Rapthtalia and Naofumi. 

At first, Raphtalia is scared of Naofumi because of her position as a slave, but she sooner than later notices how mistaken she was when Naofumi gives her food, a good place to sleep, cuts her hair, and even buys a ball for her to play with. However, whenever they went out to level up Raphtalia’s coughs would ramp up and make her unable to fight. Here is where Naofumi decides to try different medicines in order to cure her, which takes very little time to happen. Now, there is a little time skip where Raphtalia’s appearance is the one of a young lass and it is revealed to us that demi-humans growth is determined by their level, and not their age. By this time of the story, Naofumi and Raphtalia’s relationship is akin to a father and daughter one, but the first wave is soon to come, and both will need to give their best in order to get out of it alive.

Diego Santiago Cervantes Chi
467 Words