Chapter 56

"Are you going to travel while peddling goods?"

"Yeah. It's not just about earning travel expenses, but also to cover the cost of weapon production."

"Right."

"Still, the bird's food expenses are a problem."

The bird has considerable strength, but its consumption is also intense, and the cost of its feed is not negligible.

Even though we feed it monsters, the amount we can provide is not enough.

We don't know where we'll have to spend money, so it makes sense to earn some now.

We can sell things in the villages and towns where we stay.

With that in mind, our journey began... but.

"Finally caught up!"

It was in the evening of that day.

The brat who had caused trouble in the town at the foot of the castle had caught up.

After deciding on a place to stay and peddling goods, he had come riding his horse.

"You're persistent, brat..."

"My story isn't over yet!"

"Okay, okay. Your father, right? So what?"

"So what? You say!"

The brat's face turned red in an instant. He's quite emotional.

To be honest, his hysterics are annoying.

"My father, that shield is angry."

"Is that so? That's good."

"It's not good!"

This kid is so noisy.

We've already decided on a place to stay and paid for it, so I'd rather ignore him, but he's persistent.

How far does he intend to follow us? I wish he would just give it up.

"What's wrong?"

It seemed Filo had finished playing nearby and returned. Incidentally, even if party members are a certain distance away, they still gain experience points when a monster is defeated. Sometimes, experience points float into my field of vision, so I had Filo play while peddling goods. She sometimes brings back materials as souvenirs.

"Ah..."

The brat stopped again, looking at Filo.

"Pulling a cart, so you're a real Filo?"

"Yeah, you got it."

"The Filo I know is completely different. I've never seen this one before."

Well, there aren't many people who have seen a Filo-Queen, apparently. I might be the only one in the country.

"Master, is something wrong?"

"She's talking!"

"Hasn't she been talking from the start?"

You've been talking ever since we met.

"I thought she would just say 'haa.'"

"No, Filo can speak."

"Wow... amazing!"

"Hehe, it's amazing to be told that."

The brat approached Filo and touched her.

Filo didn't seem to mind and accepted it.

Maybe their mental ages are similar.

... This could be useful.

"If you want, this Filo can play with you."

"Really!?"

"Yeah, play as much as you want, and then go home when you're done."

"Okay!"

The brat stroked Filo with a smile.

"Master, what about Filo?"

"Go play with that kid. Don't let her get hurt."

"Okay!"

Filo picked up the brat with her wings and placed her on her back.

The brat's expression brightened instantly.

"Wow! So high!"

"Then, let's play!"

"Okay!"

Filo and the brat ran off together.

The knights behind them followed with confused expressions.

"Finally, it's quiet."

"Mr. Naofumi, you look kind of evil."

"No problem. This brat will forget about causing trouble now."

"Brat... Mr. Naofumi, do you dislike children?"

"Not really. If I did, I would have abandoned you and Filo."

"Well, that's true."

I don't like them because they cause trouble.

I always brush off the sparks that fly at me.

"By the time we enter the neighboring country, he won't come after us."

He seems to like animals, so letting him play with Filo should do the trick.

"... Right."

That day, Filo didn't return until very late.

She was very excited and told us about her new friend, but that's not really important.

Incidentally, the brat's name is Mel, apparently.

The next morning.

After a light breakfast, we left the inn quickly. On the road.

"Wait! Wait! Wait!"

I put my hand to my forehead, frowning.

I knew he would catch up, but not this quickly.

We had left early in the morning to get away from the village before he could remember.

"Oh, it's Mel."

Filo stopped, so I got off the cart to greet the brat.

"Thinking about it, I only played with Filo and didn't get an apology from the Shield Hero!"

"Sorry. Is this good enough?"

"Not to me, but to my father!"

This kid is so noisy.

I don't have time to deal with him.

"If you don't apologize, everyone will refuse to forgive you."

Saying that, one of the knight-like figures behind him drew his sword.

Are they going to fight?

Against a hero?

Wait, the one at the back is pointing a crystal ball at me and the brat.

What is that?

Suddenly, I realized.

These guys... they're not looking at me.

A chill ran down my spine.

It felt like the same bad vibe I got when I was deceived by a bitch. The kind of atmosphere that someone is trying to set someone up, which I've become familiar with over the past few months.

I ran towards the knight-like figure.

My premonition became reality as they attacked us.

The knight raised his sword at the brat.

"Kyaaaaa!?"

"Air Shield!"

The brat screamed. I quickly cast Air Shield to block the attack.

"... What do you think you're doing!"

I stepped in front of the brat, who had collapsed, and glared at the enemy.

"You, shield! How dare you take the princess hostage!"

"Huh?"

Princess?

What are they talking about?

The brat also seemed to realize this and turned pale.

"The shield is evil! It's been decided from the start!"

Saying that, the enemies attacked us.

I pulled the brat close to protect her.

The sound of metal clashing echoed around us.

"Damn..."

The enemy began to cast a spell, raining fire from above.

I had no choice but to cover the brat with my cloak to protect her from the magic.

"You, demon of the shield!"

"Filo, Raphatalia!"

"Yes!"

"Okay!"

Following my orders, Raphatalia and Filo charged at the enemy.

Realizing the counterattack, the enemy mounted their horses and fled.

"Idiots."

Filo's legs are faster than a horse. She quickly knocked one of the enemies off his horse.

"Kyaah!"

"To a demon!"

As I continued to pursue, I managed to take down a few more, but some managed to escape.

"What the hell are these guys?"

They weren't the brat's guards?

And a princess?

I had no choice but to interrogate them.

I asked the bound enemies.

"Alright, why did you try to kill this kid in front of me? Give me a reason."

"We have no mouth to speak to a demon."

"Hmm..."

Demonic, huh. It's been a while since I've heard such a straightforward insult.

Since being known as the Shield Hero, I've encountered a few who have said this.

"Do you understand your position?"

I gave Filo an order.

"Food?"

The enemy's face turned slightly pale.

"Even if we die, we will only be martyrs in the holy war... God will guide us."

... Religious fanatics.

These kinds of fanatical people don't respond to threats even when their lives are on the line.

"Brat, do you have any idea?"

The brat shook her head, trembling with fear.

"Hmm, then what religion do you follow? It's probably some kind of cult, right?"

"The Three Heroes Church! Demon! Do you mock our God!"

Of course. These kinds of people can't stand it when their religion is mocked.

All I need to do is talk them into it.

"This country's religion."

Raphatalia muttered.

"Do you know about it?"

"Actually, most people in this country follow the Three Heroes Church. I didn't join because my parents followed a different religion."

"... Then, search their belongings for any religious items."

"Okay."

Raphatalia found a rosary-like accessory from the bound enemies.

"Put it on the ground."

"Ha..."

It's a strange symbol. Three weapons overlapping.

A sword, a spear, a bow?

What a nasty combination of weapons.

"Alright, if you don't talk, I'll step on this item."

"Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop!"

The enemy's veins bulged as he snapped.

He loses it quickly.

Is this metal object really that important?

It looks like a normal accessory, with no special enchantments, just a fashion item.

In my world, there are also people who start wars over religion, so it might be similar.

"Here, here."

I repeatedly lifted and lowered my foot just before stepping on the strange symbol.

"Demon of the shield! Our God will never forgive you!"

"Whatever, just tell me why you tried to kill her. Or what? Is your faith that weak? Huh?"

"Gr..."

"Would your precious God allow a demon to step on his symbol right in front of you? What a kind God you have."

It's the opposite of a fumi-e.

If they recognize me as a demon, they can't stand the barbaric acts of a demon.

"I won't step on it if you tell me the truth."

"I have no intention of answering a demon's sweet talk!"

"Alright then."

I pressed the symbol into the ground with all my might.

"Damn youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu