Chapter 44

"Uooooooooooooooooo!"

Roaring in response, I shouted and blocked the shadow's arm with my shield.

It didn't hurt at all.

"GYA!?"

The black shadow, which had been mocking me, now twisted its mouth in shock.

It was ridiculous.

"Die!"

I blocked and then threw the black shadow away.

The large black shadow flew with a cry of surprise.

"GYAOOOOO!"

However, the large black shadow was unaffected by my attack and immediately got up and ran towards me.

... Can this shield not be used to attack enemies?

It's useless.

The black shadow, undeterred, struck me with its arm and tail from behind.

"Can't hurt me!"

With a sound like "Gain," the black shadow's attacks had no effect on me.

"Haha... Are you really that stupid?"

However, there's no way to defeat it.

Just as I thought that, a black flame erupted around me, burning the large black shadow's arm and tail.

"GYAOO!?"

The shadow was shocked by this and fell over.

"Hmm... So the shield has such a powerful counterattack effect."

The shadow tried to distance itself from me, as if afraid.

"H-Hey, begging for your life now? I won't forgive you!"

I slowly began to chant a skill.

"Iron Maiden!"

However, the skill didn't activate, and a skill tree appeared in my vision.

Shield Prison → Change Shield (Offense) → Iron Maiden.

Is there an activation condition?

This is troublesome. I'll just deliberately collide with the shadow to trigger the counterattack effect.

"Wait... I'll definitely kill you..."

The shadow, sensing the killing intent and anger I directed at it, swung its arms wildly in fear.

I blocked it with my shield, causing the black flames to ignite the shadow.

It burned the flesh and melted the bones.

The firepower isn't enough... I want to erase its very existence.

"――――!"

I see... The Shield of Wrath seems to grow stronger the angrier I get.

That's easy.

Just remember the feelings I have towards them.

Mine-Sphere... Her real name was Marti, right?

Just thinking of her name makes my anger rise.

Next, the Trash King, Mototada, Ren, and Itsuki.

Thinking about what I've endured from them...

I hate them... I want to kill them...

The shield turned red with my anger and then black.

"I'll kill you this time... all of you..."

I blocked the shadow's arm and burned everything to ashes with the flames of wrath.

The flames quickly enveloped the entire shadow, consuming everything.

Then, someone touched my hand.

Thump...

It was... the same gentle something from that time...

"Even if the whole world blames you, Naofumi-sama, I will say that you are not to blame... I will say that you did nothing wrong, no matter how many times it takes."

...Huh?

My vision, which had been dark and distorted, wavered slightly.

Somewhere in my heart, a feeling of unease stirred, warning me that I would lose something precious if I let my anger take over.

I want to deny it. But...

"Please believe me. I am certain that Naofumi-sama has committed no sin. You, who have given us valuable medicine and saved lives, who have taught us how to live and fight, the great Shield Hero... I will be your sword, and I will follow you, no matter how arduous the path."

The voice whispered to me.

I mustn't be consumed by my killing intent.

I must protect what needs to be protected.

Did you forget your anger?

...I haven't forgotten. But more than that, I want to repay those who believe in me from the bottom of their hearts.

Are you going to defy me?

I don't like the order. I will decide my own path!

...I will always be looking for an opportunity to strike...

The black voice faded away, and my vision became a bit clearer.

"Cough! Cough!"

I realized that Raphatalia was holding my hand tightly, trying to suppress her coughing.

"Are you okay!?"

She had severe burns.

There was no enemy here who could use fire.

What... What happened?

Ah...

The Shield of Wrath's special effect, Self-Curse Burning, must have affected her.

"Raphatalia!"

"Cough—"

Raphatalia smiled and collapsed.

It was my fault that Raphatalia was severely injured.

'The Shield Hero, the source of power, commands. Interpret the law and heal this person!'

"Fast Heal!"

'The Shield Hero, the source of power, commands. Interpret the law and heal this person!'

"Fast Heal!"

'The Shield Hero, the source of power, commands. Interpret the law and heal this person!'

"Fast Heal!"

'The Shield Hero, the source of power, commands. Interpret the law and heal this person!'

"Fast Heal!"

I continued to chant the spell until my magic power was exhausted.

Raphatalia... Raphatalia is the only one who truly believed in me!

The burns were severe. Healing them would require more than just a basic healing spell. I needed to hurry to the carriage and use the healing ointment.

"GYAOOOOOO!"

Turning around, I saw the Dragon Zombie roaring and lowering its unburned arm towards us, accompanied by a breath attack.

"Don't interfere!"

I raised my arm, and the Dragon Zombie's attack was blocked.

The shield glowed black, preparing to activate Self-Curse Burning.

"Stop!"

In response to my voice, the shield remained silent.

If it activated here, it would burn Raphatalia as well.

I can't let that happen. But enduring the poison breath would be too much for Raphatalia's vitality.

The shield, responding to my will, burned only the poison breath with Self-Curse Burning. However, it wasn't powerful enough to kill the enemy.

What should I do?

The shield constantly supplies me with anger and killing intent, and I'm barely holding it back with my conscious mind. I don't know when I might be consumed by my anger again.

I need to get back to the carriage and treat Raphatalia as soon as possible.

My will is barely maintained by my determination to protect Raphatalia.

"GYA!?"

While we were engaged in this struggle, the Dragon Zombie suddenly made a strange sound, clawing at its chest and writhing in pain.

"What... What's happening?"

Is the Self-Curse Burning flame eroding it?

"GYAOOOOOOOOOO!"

Eventually, the Dragon Zombie stopped moving and returned to its original skeleton.

I can't just observe the situation.

Looking around, I saw that the Poison Flies, which had been buzzing around, were gone. They must have fled due to the Dragon Zombie's rampage.

I carried Raphatalia back to the carriage and applied the healing ointment and a mixture of herbs I had prepared for burns to her wounds.

I also gave her an antidote.

"Ah... Naofumi-sama..."

Raphatalia, whose breathing had calmed, opened her eyes and smiled at me.

"Are you okay!?"

"Yes... Thanks to Naofumi-sama's medicine..."

Still, the burns were severe. The burns themselves were healing thanks to the medicine, but... there were black magical effects, leaving black marks. They were healing slowly, but not well.

"More important than me... quickly... deal with the dragon..."

"The Dragon Zombie isn't moving."

"No, I mean... quickly dispose of the corpse."

"...Understood."

Raphatalia's gaze was strong, reminding me that I needed to deal with the dragon's corpse.

"Is it safe to leave you here?"

"I can defend myself."

"I see... Understood."

I got out of the carriage and walked towards the dragon's corpse.

I needed to dismember it and let the shield absorb it.

And for Filo... at the very least, I needed to drag out the corpse and give it a proper burial...

As I approached the corpse, I could see its innards writhing.

What's going to happen now...

I still have the means to fight.

The Shield of Wrath...

This dangerous shield that invades the mind has powerful defensive and counterattack capabilities.

I can't keep it active all the time because it would overwhelm my mind, so I've switched to the Chimera Viper Shield.

But I'm always ready to switch back.

I approached the corpse.

The writhing stopped in one spot, and something burst through the abdomen!

"Phew!"

There, a familiar bird covered in rotten liquid was emerging from the dragon's corpse.

"Phew... Finally got out..."

"Filo? Are you okay!? Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm not hurt at all."

"Then... what was that blood when you were eaten?"

"Blood? When the dragon swallowed me, I was pushed and vomited up my food."

The red fruit Filo was eating... it must have looked like blood when she vomited it up!

She had been eating a lot before the battle.

"Don't scare me like that! I thought you were dead!"

"That level of attack doesn't hurt Filo at all."

Is this bird a monster?

No, it is a monster, but...

Damn... you scared me.

"Master, you were worried about Filo?"

"Of course not."

"Master is blushing!"

"Maybe I should send you to the afterlife myself?"

"Yaaan!"

Sigh... It's good that you're safe.

I'm angry at Filo's smug smile. Remember this for later.

"So what happened?"

"Yep. I tore through the dragon's stomach and found a large purple crystal..."

"Hmm..."

Could that be it?

The large crystal that was controlling the Dragon Zombie's body?

Filo emerged from the chest area... the heart.

But why would such a thing exist...

Because it's a dragon? Maybe the magic power that remained in its body after death crystallized and brought the corpse to life...

It's possible.

"So... what happened to the crystal?"

"Gefffuuu!"

Yeah, that's it. She ate it. Her abdomen is glowing.

I want to punch her...

"I have a little left. Here, a souvenir for Master."

Filo handed me a small purple fragment.

...What should I do with it?

I split it in half and let the shield absorb it.

It still wasn't enough to unlock the tree or level.

"Raphatalia is injured, so Filo, you'll help me clean up this corpse."

"Okay!"

Damn... This bird always surprises me.

Looking at Filo, I think...

I'm glad I didn't let my anger take over back then.

I changed the shield to avenge Filo, but in the end, I lost control completely.

If Raphatalia hadn't stopped me, I would have burned Filo as well.

Wrath... the cursed shield.

What was it trying to make me do, taking over the hero's consciousness...

If I had continued, I would have gone to kill them.

...At least at that moment, that was all I could think about.

"Yum yum!"

"Hey, Filo, that meat is rotten! Don't eat it!"

"Rotten meat is the best, Master!"

"It's not just rotten! It's completely rotten!"

Somehow, the tension was gone, and the cleanup of the Dragon Zombie was over.

There were bones, meat, and skin, but the tree wasn't satisfied.

Still, the Dragon Zombie's skin and dragon bones could be useful materials, so I decided to take some back to the carriage.