Chapter 62

"Ah... Melt... You've already been brainwashed by the Shield Demon, haven't you...?"

"Big Sister!?"

The second princess looked at her sister, Bitch, with a look of shock.

This guy...

He's really going too far.

What brainwashing shield? If such a thing existed, no one would have to struggle.

To say that brainwashing can resolve what people have worked hard to achieve is just a convenient word.

Moreover, brainwashing is a common phrase used in religions.

What a joke.

"Are you talking about the shield with the evil power of brainwashing? I was skeptical about it..."

"I don't know when it awakened, but according to the church's estimation, it was about a month ago."

It was around the time the peddler's business started to take off.

Back then, he was selling medicine to sick people first.

Around this time, the rumors of the Holy Bird Saint began to spread.

Indeed, the timing matches. However, it seems to be fabricated to suit the church's convenience.

"The situation proves it, doesn't it? Everywhere he goes, the information is muddled, and he acts as if he's lending him power. Would ordinary people unite to fight criminals like this?"

"The whole country is acting strange. They say the Shield Hero wouldn't do such a thing, and even an energetic old lady was praising the Shield Hero like a deity..."

That old lady... She can be identified just by her words...

What are these guys babbling about?

It's true that I've been helped by many people recently.

But that's just the result of the seeds I've sown coming back to me.

To equate what I don't know with the enemy's strategy is ridiculous.

What are these guys' heads made of?

"Probably, just being near and talking to him is enough to brainwash people according to his will. Currently, the church and related personnel are working together to prepare to break the brainwashing."

"Are you kidding me, you fool!"

No one reacts to my interjection.

No, Raphatalia, Filo, and the second princess are all taken aback.

If I can deduce the situation, a royal decree was issued nationwide, but the information didn't gather, and they were puzzled by the high evaluation of me.

They proposed the story that I possess the brainwashing power suggested by Bitch or the Three Hero Religion as a plausible explanation.

It's a huge fabrication. It's far-fetched.

"Does the Shield Hero have such power?"

The second princess looks up at me with concern.

"Do you think I have it?"

"Hmm... I don't think so."

"I wanted you to answer that immediately."

If such a convenient shield existed, I wouldn't be struggling like this.

I would have brainwashed everyone from villagers to soldiers, knights, and magicians and taken over the country.

In other words, if I had such power, I would have taken action before this situation arose.

In other words, the credibility of the brainwashing shield is questionable since I'm being pursued.

Can't these so-called heroes understand such a simple thing?

"Raphatalia and Filo are also brainwashed by his power, right!"

"That's not true! We are not brainwashed!"

"We'll save you guys."

"Filo wants to stay with Master!"

Genkou, you still haven't given up on Raphatalia and Filo!

How much do you like women?

"Just listen to me! Depending on the circumstances, I might hand over the second princess to you."

"Eh!?"

The second princess exclaims in surprise.

"Let's hear him out."

Ren takes the lead in asking. The situation is tense, and I want to avoid making the wrong choice as much as possible.

"First of all, there is no such thing as brainwashing power. From there—"

"I can't believe it!"

"Shut up! I didn't say that to you, General!"

I yell to silence the tree before he can interrupt my explanation.

There's no point in dealing with a hypocrite who decides right and wrong based on one-sided information.

"Anyway, this is a conspiracy. The king, that woman, or the church people incited the second princess to attempt to assassinate me."

"...I understand. Then, instead of restraining you, I'll have you accompany us. In return, you promise not to harm anyone else. Give us time to investigate."

"Do you believe it!?"

"Yes, I do!"

"Hero of the Sword! Don't listen to the devil's words!"

"If we can avoid a fight, that's better. We'll verify the truth later."

Ren, as expected, is calmly analyzing the situation.

Does this mean he's willing to listen to reason?

"...No."

The second princess grips my hand tightly and pleads softly.

Her hand is trembling, and her face is pale.

"Probably... I'll be killed."

I suddenly check the surroundings.

The second princess will likely be treated differently from us.

They'll probably hand her over to the country's mages to remove the brainwashing.

What if, in the process of removing it, a deadly curse is triggered, and the second princess dies?

In that case, Ren, who is starting to believe me, will undoubtedly be convinced that I am the culprit.

Given that they are trying to pin the blame on me, Bitch is very likely involved in this incident.

To go as far as to harm her own sister...

"Help me..."

It was a faint, small plea.

Just when I was about to prove my innocence.

Sigh...

"Didn't we make a promise?"

"Eh?"

That day, the day I was falsely accused of rape. No one believed me.

Now, the second princess is standing on the brink of life and death.

Brainwashing... They have a convenient word to justify killing the second princess.

It's a predictable request.

I can imagine that much.

The death of the second princess means our defeat.

We are a community of fate, as I thought before. Who would entrust her to someone we can't trust?

"Sorry, but I can't trust you guys. If I hand over the second princess here, you won't be able to protect her. I made a promise to her. I'll protect her no matter what."

I put the second princess on Filo's back and instruct Raphatalia to get on as well.

"Filo, even if you don't want to, abandon the cart and run from these guys!"

"Okay!"

"See you."

Filo, who was in a combat stance, confirms that I'm the last to get on and then leaps forward.

"Wait—"

"Let's go!"

In an instant, we are about 7 meters away. Filo's legs, unmatched in speed, are truly impressive. Even with three people on her back, her speed doesn't decrease.

"We won't let you escape!"

Magic and arrows from the tree are launched at us.

"Air Shield! Second Shield!"

I turn around and cast my skills. The target is the attack aimed at us.

With a loud thud, the shield shatters, but the attack is neutralized.

"We won't let you escape!"

The tree's second shot is on its way.

I can't cast a shield due to the cooldown.

"Eagle Piercing Shot!"

The arrow from the tree's bow is shaped like an eagle and flies toward me.

Come on. The second princess, who is under your protection, is with me. Why are you using such a powerful skill?

I barely manage to change my position while riding Filo.

"Are you okay, Master?"

Filo supports me to prevent me from falling.

"That arrow... It's chasing Filo."

"Yeah, it's quite fast."

The arrow, a ball of energy, is about to catch up to Filo.

It's clearly a guided projectile.

I change my shield to Chimera Viper Shield and prepare.

I think I can withstand it.

I focus on the eagle made of energy. I see a single arrow coming straight at me at high speed.

Can I do it? If I block it with a shield, the impact might cause Filo to fall.

Or... Given the skill name, it likely means a piercing attack. I've played a few online games, so I'm familiar with bow skills.

Piercing means creating a hole, like a piercing.

If this skill is named for its high penetration, it's likely aimed at me.

Then, I can't let that arrow hit me.

If so, to neutralize this guided piercing attack, I need to either escape its range or grab it... Can I do it? I have to, or it's dangerous.

Is the life of the second princess expendable for the sake of justice?

I concentrate my mind.

I focus on the incoming attack, gently stroke the eagle's head, and grab its neck to stop it!

"What! You caught the Eagle Piercing Shot with your hand!?"

The tree's voice suggests he didn't expect my reaction.

The eagle, made of energy, is not very strong. When I apply force, it disperses and returns to an arrow.

"Wait!"

Oh no! Ren and Genkou are catching up and raising their weapons.

The reason is that I made unnecessary movements to avoid the tree's arrow, causing me to lose balance and slow down. Their allies haven't caught up yet, which is a relief.

"I don't want to attack Filo, but this is all your fault—Geh!"

"Out of the way."

Filo stomps on Genkou's face. Was this unexpected?

That's not the issue now. Ren is raising his sword at me.

Thump...

The shield pulses, and almost unconsciously, I extend my right hand toward Ren's sword.

Fresh blood splatters, and pain shoots through my hand.

What! This is not what I expected. It feels like someone is controlling me, and I can't shift my gaze from Ren.

The shield glows red, and a black flame flies toward Ren.

"What—"

This was unexpected. Ren desperately tries to defend with his sword.

Is this Dark Curse Burning? Is it the dragon core that Ren killed, now invading the shield and retaliating?

The shield, pulsing red, gives me a sense that it might change on its own.

Thump... Thump...

This is bad. If the shield turns into a shield of wrath here, Filo will go berserk and we won't be able to escape.

"Raphatalia, hold my hand..."

"What? Naofumi-sama! You're injured!"

Raphatalia, who was focused on the front, reaches out to me with concern.

The pulsing stops and the shield becomes quiet.

"I'm fine, Filo! Run at full speed!"

"Okay!"

Filo, adjusting to my repositioning, sprints at full speed.

The heroes quickly disappear from sight.

After that, we ran at full speed until Filo was exhausted, wary of any pursuers.

"We should be safe for a while."

"Yeah. Filo is fast!"

"Filo is a bit tired."

"That's true... But we left the cart and all our belongings behind."

"It can't be helped."

We left behind everything except money, portable food, and a simple cooking knife.

Even Raphatalia's armor...

I'm a bit worried, but I can't show it.

"What if we can't cross the border..."

Running around aimlessly within the country is not an option.

We have no choice but to head to Siltvelt via a detour.

We will continue our life on the run, evading the heroes.

By the way, I healed my injury with Fast Heal.