The Rising of the Shield Hero Volume 17

Prologue: The Coronation

“Make way for Queen Melty!”

After Melromarc’s victory in the war against Faubrey, for all intents and purposes it had become the largest nation in the world. Siltvelt held the achievements of the previous queen in high regard, the one who had forged an excellent relationship with the Shield Hero and also fostered friendship with Siltvelt itself. The two nations now had an alliance that made their long years at each other’s throats seem like a fleeting dream.

However, the two nations were also carrying on without bringing up the slave issue, placing a pin in that until a later date. For now they had simply formed an alliance in order to better prepare for the waves.

All of this was the result of defeating the whip seven star hero, Takt, and his band of hangers-on. Takt had apparently been a vanguard of the waves. Takt had been the one who interfered with our fight against the Phoenix and caused massive damage to the coalition army, not the least of which had been the loss of Atla.

We had proceeded to Faubrey, seeking to bring the seven star heroes to heel, who had shunned our summons and made no effort to participate in our battles. This had led to our first encounter with Takt, the one behind the whole messy plot. Falling right into his trap, I had been badly injured myself, and we lost the queen altogether.

I had been left to wander the border between life and death. During this freaky experience, and with the guidance of the shield spirit, I had even managed a reunion with Atla and Ost, now just spiritual energy. Trash, sinking into depression at the loss of the queen, was snapped back to himself by both the queen’s final words and my own rage at him. But he was awakened as the staff seven star hero.

We then joined Trash in fighting the forces of Faubrey, as led by Takt. Due to Trash’s strategy, the result was a victory. He had once been known across the land as the “Wisest King of Wisdom.” For my part, I absolutely kicked the crap out of Takt, seizing my own personal victory.

We proceeded to torture the captive Takt and his retinue of women, trying to get them to reveal who was behind the waves. Just as it seemed we might get some answers, not only Takt’s body but his very soul were shredded apart, ultimately leaving us with nothing.

In other news, there was also this nation called Shieldfreeden, which ostensibly espoused freedom but had sided with Takt. However, immediately after learning of his defeat, they had quickly changed their tune and replaced all the representatives from Takt’s forces. They had then tried to sidle up to us, pointing the finger at those same disgraced representatives as the ones who orchestrated Shieldfreeden’s involvement.