Raluva informed us that a filolial queen
with the same feather pattern as Filo was worshiped as the national bird of Q'ten Lo,
and so we put her in the lead as we began our march to the old capital.
The effect was incredible. We were welcomed in every town we passed,
and were able to put them under our control without fighting.
I can't believe it worked so well.
The same goes for you, Raphtalia.
Correct.
Seeing you in those clothes, which are the symbol of the emperor,
will cause any who are unsatisfied with the current emperor to join us.
It will help us expand our forces even more.
I see...
Thanks to you and the Divine Bird, the old capital is almost in sight.
We'll wait here in camp for the rear units to catch up.
It should take two or three days.
I don't want to stop our march, but I guess we don't have a choice.
Once we have the old capital in our control,
we'll do the imperial succession ceremony at the holy grounds.
It'll just give you the emperor's powers.
It doesn't mean you have to suddenly become the new emperor, right?
Don't worry about it too much.
You're right.
Oh dear...
That way? This way?
Which way?
I heard they were around here...
Is that them?
Yes! That way!
Yup! Yup! Yup!
The Rising of the Shield Hero
Episode 9: Zodia
And so our enemies still don't want a cease-fire, right?
The Imperial Adviser, Makina, has no intention of doing that.
I'm hearing reports that the government's army is gathering at the old capital.
They're ready to fight us, huh?
The emperor's personal troops are led by the Water Dragon miko,
who has already entered the capital.
What are they like?
Unfortunately, we've sent many spies to find out but none have returned.
Sorry, I don't know anything about what happened in this country after I left.
I'm sure it's someone from my clan, but...
So even if we get to the old capital, we'll still have to fight, huh?
Stay sharp, everyone.
Yes, sir!
Oh! Master!
Food's ready, they say!
I'm going to go check out the forge.
You guys eat without me.
Raphtalia and Filo, get some rest early for tomorrow's parade.
Atla and Fohl, train after dinner.
Even you, Naofumi-sama, shouldn't be going alone in a strange place.
Let me be your bodyguard.
Atla, you...
Shield Hero, would you let us protect you on the way there, at least?
We'll train or whatever else you want after that.
Fohl-kun, that's...
I told you two to train.
Stop spoiling Atla already.
I'll guard you.
She says nobody gave her orders, so she'll protect Iwatani-san.
Watch the place while we're gone.
Okay!
S'yne-san, take care of him.
I lost my job because of you, Brother!
I was doing it for you, Atla!
You should've just stayed out of it!
Stayed out of it?!
Whoa!
Sorry!
No, I wasn't looking...
Is something wrong?
No, are you okay?
Yes!
I'd like to ask... Do you know where the main street is?
The main street?
If you're looking for that...
It's right down that road.
A talking stuffed animal!
How cute!
Aw, you're flattering me.
Aren't you headed to the main street?
Oh, right.
It's this way, right?
No!
This way!
Oh, right.
Thanks...
What was her problem?
Hey guys.
Hey, kid.
Good timing!
Tell him to take these ropes off me!
What's going on here?
He said he was going to leave his work and go drinking.
Ah-huff! Ah-huff!
We meet again, young lady.
You're as beautiful as ever.
Your beauty is dazzling me! I can hardly see!
About that sword...
What happened to that cursed sword we gave you the other day?
For a master like me, that curse is nothing!
But...
The tools I need can only be found at my forge in the old capital.
I know, young lady! Why don't we go look for them together?
I'm sure I can find the best tools with you at my side!
Stop messing around.
Well, it's supposedly true that he has a forge in the old capital.
So the sword will only get reforged after we take the old capital?
Um, sorry...
You're that girl from before!
I got lost again!
Young lady!
Ah-huff! Ah-huff!
What's your name?
Um...
Zodia!
Zodia?
What a splendid name!
I am this nation's, no, this world's greatest blacksmith!
Muramasa!
I know a place that serves the most wonderful sake.
Why don't you come with me?
Hey, get these ropes off me!
But I have to go see the parade for the person who'll be the new emperor.
The parade?
That's tomorrow.
Oh, dear!
I'll show you the way tomorrow!
So tonight, why don't the two of us have some sake and get to know each other better?
If you're going, I'll go...
No, I'm leaving. Let's go, S'yne.
Aw, don't be like that.
Ah-huff! Ah-huff! Ah-huff!
I'll fix that cursed sword or forge your weapons, whatever you want for the rest of my life!
I'm begging you!
Well, do it for me.
Fine, fine.
Hooray! Sake!
Hooray!
Now, right this way.
It seems to be closed...
This is where I'm staying...
The second floor is an inn.
Oh, it must be fate!
Stop causing a ruckus in front of my store!
I don't have anything to drink, with what a mess the world is these days.
Go try somewhere else.
Aw, please... Come on!
Oh?
Welcome back! Come in, come in!
I'm back!
I'll be right behind her!
Hey, you guys, get a move on!
This meal is amazing!
Whoa, whoa...
Here you are.
Oh, thanks.
Now, to our meeting!
Cheers!
Why are you taking the lead?
Are you crazy?
You can hold your liquor, huh?
That's wonderful!
So can I, you know...
Don't even try.
Hey, I forgot to ask your name!
Iwatani Naofumi.
Naofumi-chan, then!
"Chan"?
What race are you, Naofumi-chan?
I'm human.
I'm a Komai!
Humans can drink this much?
People say my ears and tail are super-cute!
Wow! I'd better drink up, too!
Hey, let's all play a game!
A game?
This always makes for a memorable night.
The emperor's game!
Let's play Masuzu cards!
M-Masuzu cards? Wow, what fun!
Hey, I never said I would!
My master says she can't wait to play!
Let's start, then!
I win.
What?
Wasn't this your first time playing this game?
I've played something similar before.
Wow! Wow!
Let me have another drink!
Damn it! I lost again!
Naofumi-chan, you're good!
One more game...
He's finally out, huh?
My master is tired, too, she says.
We have an early start tomorrow. Time to go home, I guess.
One more game! Just one more game!
You're going to see the parade, right?
We're calling it a night.
Next time we meet, we're playing Masuzu cards again!
Promise me!
Fine, fine.
Let's drink to our promise, then!
You're still drinking?
Okay, I'm gonna get him home.
I had so much fun today!
I've never had so much fun!
You drank too much.
Oh, right!
This is for you!
What is this?
A card with my autograph, to celebrate our meeting today!
Aw! I'm so embarrassed!
Hey! Do you want to marry me?
Did you take that seriously?
I bet you did!
I've got better things to do than deal with drunks.
See you around, Naofumi-chan!
It's a promise!
Whatever. Just go to bed.
I'm serious, though, actually.
I'm amazed you found so much food.
Well, it's all thanks to the emperor.
What did you do, exactly?
Here you go.
Thank you.
Anything I can help with, big sis?
It's fine.
And can you stop calling me "big sis"?
Line up here! Hey, no cutting!
Fohl-kun...
Everybody lines up in a single file!
"Big sis"?
Well, last night...
What happened?
The two of us talked about Atla-san...
You never stop, do you, Brother?
I'm doing it for you!
In the end, I didn't get to go with Naofumi-sama.
Fine.
I'll go see if we can slip out.
Okay.
Fohl-kun.
It's fine, right?
I can leave for a bit...
I did my training, and Atla says she wants to go.
Why aren't you telling her no?
If you're really thinking about what's best for Atla-san, then I won't say a word.
But right now, it just looks like you're spoiling her.
No, I...
If you don't fix this, something terrible may happen someday.
If you really want what's best for her,
sometimes you'll have to stop her, even if it means getting in a fight.
As her older brother, you have to protect her, right?
You're right, big sis.
Big sis?
You're right! I have to be the big brother here!
I'll be a great big brother, just like you're a great big sis!
I see.
Why?
We finally enter the old capital tomorrow, huh?
What?
It's Naofumi-chan!
You...?!
I'm coming in, too!
Wait! Stay out!
Jeez. You got lost again, didn't you?
Did you get to see the parade?
Yes, and the new emperor, too!
Did you see her, too?
Yeah, well, actually...
Hey, what do you think she's like?
What she's like?
Why do you care so much about the new emperor?
I think the current emperor is doing their best.
Q'ten Lo is in bad shape, and everyone's having a hard time, but...
Well, with as bad as the government is...
My job's getting harder and harder, and I have to do work that isn't clean?
Dirty work?
I have to do all that myself.
Dirty work, huh?
Yes, that.
It's not fair.
I want everyone to be happy, but it just doesn't work out that way.
I see.
But coming here, I saw how happy everyone is for the first time in a long time.
And the new emperor was at the center of those smiles.
And when I saw that, I thought that maybe she knows a way to make everyone smile.
So I wanted to talk to her, I decided!
Sorry for rambling on like this.
It's fine.
I know! Let's play Masuzu cards!
We promised we would next time we met!
Fine, fine.
Let's go to my inn, then.
It'll be more fun with more people.
Yay! We can have a drink to get warmed up before we go!
Huh? It's gone...
I might've left it in the bath...
I'll check the men's bath. Wait here.
Okay! Thanks!
I've come to get you.
Oh, dear.
Here, this is it, right...
I guess being the Water Dragon miko is a hard job, huh?
Sure is.
You serve the emperor personally.
"Water Dragon miko" is a fancy name,
but what I did was stuff like lead armies in battle,
or carry out death sentences imposed by the emperor on criminals...
Death sentences, huh?
"Criminals" just meant anybody who was a problem for the emperor, you know.
Dirty work, huh?
I'm sure another member of my clan is doing it right now.
It's sad to think about.
You mentioned that before. What do you mean by your "clan"?
Our race always gets chosen every generation, because of our fighting skills.
They sometimes call us the "Slaughter Miko."
"Slaughter Miko"...
Scary, huh?
I'm actually pretty spooky, you know!
I know that.
Oh my.
You didn't have a choice, given your position.
Well, at some point we'll have to put an end to that.
It's rare to see the two of you together.
Naofumi-chan was trying to cheer me up.
You were?
Maybe.
We'll be at the old capital tomorrow.
Let's get to sleep early.
Okay!
Message!
Last night, a town to our rear suffered a surprise attack by the government army!
We left Itsuki and Rishia in the town behind us...
Atla! Fohl! S'yne!
Can you take Gaelion and go help?
Got it!
Right!
What's wrong?
Look at this!
What's going on?
Reporting!
We have a message from someone claiming to be an enemy messenger!
From the enemy?
To the rebel commander...
From the Water Dragon miko!
The Water Dragon miko? What does it say?
Read it, please!
Yes, ma'am!
"Last night, one of my units took rash action.
This was not my wish as commander of the government army.
I have regained control of them.
For this war,
I would like to have representatives of both sides meet and try to talk things out.
I will represent our army, and I would have your commander,
or someone of equivalent standing, represent your side."
That's rather one-sided.
Well, for my family, it's actually pretty considerate.
Let me see that letter.
Here you are.
Prayer