Chapter 74

"Master!?"

My blood-soaked Filo worriedly held me in her arms.

The shield had somehow changed into the Chimera Viper Shield.

"Terrible wounds! Someone! Help Master!"

At Filo's cry, a woman who seemed to be the commander of the extermination army rushed over.

"Mother!?"

Melti exclaimed in shock at the commander.

Come to think of it, she was at the forefront of the extermination army... the same person who had brought Melti with her, just like when she had done so before.

Though her face was hidden by a fan, it was unmistakable.

"This time, your performance was truly remarkable, Shield Hero."

She must have been the one who held back the Pope.

"Everyone! Prioritize the treatment of the Shield Hero! This is by royal decree. You must save the Shield Hero's life!"

"“Yes, sir!”"

The healing team from the extermination army came to me and began their incantations.

"Dryfa Heal"

Light enveloped me.

However, the pain showed no signs of subsiding.

"Is this a curse... but such a powerful one..."

The healing team cast a dispelling spell with a look of shock, but it seemed to have no effect.

"We will conduct a detailed examination! Everyone, hurry!"

The queen and the healing team gave instructions to Filo and quickly took me away.

"Ugh..."

My body groaned in pain. However, I couldn't afford to lose consciousness here.

I still didn't know if the queen was an enemy or an ally.

"Are you the queen?"

"Yes, I am Queen Miliaria Q Melromarc. I apologize for not coming to your aid sooner."

"...Too late, isn't it?"

Regardless.

You have power, right? You are the true ruler of the country, right?

You must know the full extent of this incident, right?

There are countless things I could say.

Your husband and daughter are terrible scum, and I could easily express my resentment.

"Truly... this time, it is all my fault."

"Mother..."

"Mom, why are you apologizing to such a person!?"

The queen, with a vein popping on her forehead, smiled as she was pointed out by the bitch.

"Melti... When we return to the castle, I have a lot to say to you, so be prepared."

The air around her trembled with a "Gogogogogo..." sound.

Even though I wasn't the one being scolded, a chill ran down my spine.

She snapped her fingers, and a shadow appeared behind the bitch and captured her.

"Mom!"

"Silence that fool."

"Yes, sir!"

They covered the bitch's mouth with a cloth and took her away.

"What are you going to do to Melti!"

"I am Melti's mother. By my authority, I have ordered her to accompany us to the castle. Now, heroes, the battle is over. Let's return to the castle of Melromarc while resting."

The queen, emitting an aura, made the other heroes, including Motoyasu, fall silent.

"Now, Shield Hero... no, Mr. Naofumi Iwato. We will prioritize your treatment, so please rest. We will prepare immediately."

The healers brought various magical tools, potions, and holy water to me.

It felt like being rushed to an ambulance in my original world.

"However..."

Why are you here, Queen? Shouldn't you be in the southwestern country? Various questions came to mind.

"I understand what you want to say. Why I was always abroad and couldn't protect you, and why I was commanding the extermination army even though I should have been in the southwestern country... There are many things to talk about. But first, we need to heal your wounds."

"Mr. Naofumi!"

Raphatalia, worried, ran to me and clung to me, crying.

"I thought your heart had stopped! Are you okay!?"

"Well... I..."

I felt I had sustained quite serious injuries.

Standing was a chore, and pain assaulted my entire body, along with a severe sense of fatigue.

Filo, understanding that I was safe, transformed into her human form and followed me with Melti as I was being carried to a carriage.

"Severe wounds... come this way quickly."

Filo was also seriously injured, with black burn marks on her limbs. The healers tried to treat her, but they seemed more concerned about my injuries, so Filo hesitated to receive treatment.

"But, Master..."

"It's okay, Filo. Mr. Naofumi is being treated by these people. You should get your wounds treated too."

Raphatalia, worried, gently stroked Filo's head and whispered.

"But..."

"Mr. Naofumi would probably prefer it if you weren't injured and could stay with him, right?"

Filo tilted her head, looking at me. "Is that so?" She's usually so self-centered, but she gets worried at times like this.

"Go get treated."

I instructed Filo, and she nodded, starting to receive treatment as the healers directed.

The healers cast a spell that was effective against curses, different from healing magic.

"What a powerful curse..."

One of the healers muttered.

Yes, it is indeed a powerful curse.

It's a Cursed Series spell.

It has high performance, so I've used it in critical situations, but it's a direct curse.

It's far from just a simple curse.

"Prepare the group synthesis spell 'Sanctuary'!"

Are they going to use the one that dispelled the Self-Cursed Burning?

Not everyone here is a follower of the Three Heroes' Church... what religion is it?

If it were the Shield Church, it would probably be more powerful.

As I thought about it, my eyelids gradually grew heavy.

"Mr. Naofumi!"

"Naofumi!"

Raphatalia and Melti shook me awake.

"Yes. What is it?"

"Stay conscious."

"What's with that, it sounds like I'm going to die."

Well, it is a life-threatening situation.

I have no intention of dying here, but I'm quite exhausted.

I just want to sleep a little.

But I can't yet. I'm far from a safe place.

However, in my current state, I can't move.

Then...

"Raphatalia, if anything happens, use Filo to escape with Melti."

"Understood. But, you will come with us. So, please wake up."

I recognize this conversation.

...I remember.

It was when Raphatalia was still a child and had a habit of crying at night.

Back then, I used to give her orders for everything.

"Sorry. There won't be breakfast this time."

"...Yes. This time, I will guard Mr. Naofumi's sleep."

As we talked, my vision blurred, and my consciousness fell into a dream.

Two days later.

"Ugh... heavy..."

"Breathing... breathing..."

"Mnya... Master..."

"Big... I... Filo-chan..."

When I woke up, Raphatalia, Filo, and Melti were lying on the same bed, pressing against me.

"What is this! Wake up!"

I woke them up and scolded them.

All three of them looked embarrassed but were smiling.

I had been rushed to a large town near the Melromarc castle for treatment.

The roots of the curse caused by the Blue Toad were deep, and even a specialized healing facility couldn't completely remove it.

When I asked how to cure it, they said this curse couldn't be dispelled by magic or medicine and would heal over time, like a wound.

While my burns, injuries, and physical strength had recovered, the fatigue and other symptoms persisted.

Checking my status, I found that all my stats except defense had decreased by about 30%.

It seems that the Blue Toad's curse causes a decrease in abilities until it is fully healed, as a consequence of the price paid.

"How long will it take to heal?"

"Based on estimates, it will take about a month to fully recover."

A month... that's a long time.

The wave is coming soon.

Come to think of it, I never made it to Shieldvert.

The purpose was to level up Raphatalia and Filo, but I ended up in a strange place.

"How is your condition?"

As I lamented the unfairness of the world, the queen came to see me while I was receiving a check-up. She showed some concern for my health.

"..."

I don't fully trust her, but... she did give instructions for my treatment while I was unconscious.

The queen was asking the healers about my progress.

"I see. Then you can come with us."

"Where are you going?"

"To the castle, of course."

The queen, hiding her face with a fan, had a vein popping on her forehead and emitted a strange pressure.

"Mother is really angry..."

Melti, trembling, hid behind me and observed the situation.

I felt an unpleasant atmosphere, but I wasn't sure if she was angry.

"Are you going to execute me?"

"Of course not, Mr. Iwato."

She smiled, but the atmosphere felt affirming.

Given that she didn't attack me while I was unconscious due to the curse, that possibility seems low.

"I want you to witness that moment. Hehehe."

"What are you planning?"

"Consider it a surprise when we arrive at the castle. We have a lot to discuss, and I will answer all your questions after I speak."

The queen is creating a situation where I can't refuse and wants me to go to the castle.

I want to say no, but to prove my innocence, I need her.

There's no reason to refuse for now.

"I have one question."

"Better to wait until we arrive at the castle, but what is it?"

"Did you send Melti, knowing she would be involved in this incident?"

This is the most concerning issue.

Depending on how you look at it, everything could have been under the queen's control, and the possibility of all the heroes being eliminated upon arrival at the castle is not out of the question.

"Perhaps it's best to answer that I was concerned about the possibility."

"!"

Melti, trembling, looked at her mother.

"I didn't tell Melti, but it wasn't to see her father's face. Her father was throwing a tantrum, wanting to see her. He was being quite demanding."

That... scum wanted to see her. I was very uneasy, but the queen sent Melti to meet him.

"If nothing happened, it would be fine. If something did, I had my thoughts conveyed in the shadows."

"Thoughts?"

"Yes, if the Shield Hero was to be given the justification of killing Melti, I would entrust her to the Shield Hero."

The queen snapped her fingers, and a group of assassins suddenly appeared.

"That's a troublesome story."

"...I caused trouble. But I believe many issues have been resolved."

"That's not it. What if Melti had died!?"

I couldn't hide my sympathy for the trembling Melti.

"I always had two guards with her, and I took various measures to support Mr. Iwato and the others."

"Hmm..."

"For example, one of the knights who tried to assassinate you."

The shadow, in a familiar motion, transformed into a knight I recognized!

"A villager."

One of the villagers who helped us in the eastern village.

"A merchant from the neighboring country."

Even the neighboring country's people, who thanked us... Indeed, their positions were a bit suspicious.

"I have explained the situation to the individuals involved. If Melti's life was in danger, the shadow would have appeared directly, I believe."

I remember... the church's shadow appeared when they launched a surprise attack.

But, thinking back, it was a truly critical situation.

Filo and I completely nullified the attack from the Three Heroes' Church's shadow... the needle was probably coated with poison.

"Mother, did you know I might be killed?"

"Perhaps."

Melti, looking down, seemed to understand.

Well, the wife of scum and the mother of a bitch. It's understandable that she's a bit off.

"Are you really a parent?"

"I have no material to refute that. I can lie a lot, but... how about this: after being a queen in this country for years, can you understand if I say it?"

Mmm... she doesn't flinch even when accused.

What a person. It's understandable that she's the wife of scum.

"But... I trusted Mr. Iwato. Is that not an answer?"

"...Coward."

"Otherwise, the country cannot be protected."

"Hmm... I guess I have no choice but to go, then?"

"Mr. Naofumi!?"

Raphatalia, worried, called out to me.

"It seems I can't refuse. I have to go. After all, I received treatment, so they're not my enemies."

"Yes, I want you to witness it."

This type of person will lend their strength if their interests align.

I don't know what their goal is, but if they become an enemy, I can use the Shield Shield again.

"The divine bird's carriage is also in our custody. We will return it with your belongings."

"Really!?"

Filo stepped forward at the queen's words.

"Yes. It's parked in front of the healing facility. Please check it."

"Okay! Melt, let's go!"

"Okay!"

Filo and Melti ran out of the room.

Filo really loves carriages.

After seeing them off, I looked at the queen.

"You're creepy."

Her seemingly kind intentions feel like there's something hidden.

I want a reason that everyone can accept for the queen to turn against the Three Heroes' Church and favor the Shield Demon.

I can't think of one.

At least, I can't believe a noble reason