Devil of the Shield Arc

The Devil of the Shield Arc is the seventh arc of the Light Novel and Web Novel of The Rising of the Shield Hero.

Synopsis
With the third wave complete, Naofumi is able to continue his adventures. However, his growing list of enemies scheme to take the Shield Hero down.

Summary
Leaving the castle, Naofumi tries to figure out how to get Raphtalia and Filo to class-up since the church in Melromarc is refusing to help. With Erhard's advice and assistance, Naofumi decides to go to Shieldfreeden to get the ceremony complete. On the road, they are intercepted by Melty and her escort. Melty attempts to get Naofumi to apologize and talk to the king but Naofumi refuses. During their discussion, Melty's escort suddenly attempts to kill Melty while using a magical recording device. Naofumi saves Melty but some of the escorts escape.

Soon after the rescue, the party enter the town to find wanted posters for themselves and doctored footage which show them as the villains. With the whole nation on alert, they decide to sneak all the way to Shieldfreeden. During the trip, Melty proves her competence and the group is helped with their few allies along the way. Eventually the other heroes with Malty and a hoard of Melromarc soldiers catch up with them. While Motoyasu, Ren and Itsuki attempt to take Naofumi's party captive, Malty straight up tries to kill them. Thanks to interference from the Queen's ninja-like shadows, Naofumi's party is able to escape.

After escaping, one of the shadows introduces herself to Naofumi and asks him to change direction and move towards Siltvelt to meet the Queen. Seeing no other choice, Naofumi accepts and the group moves in the direction opposite of Shieldfreeden. On the way, they are hunted by Motoyasu and Malty but eventually escape. Upon Melty's suggestion, they meet up with a nearby, friendly noble who provides shelter for them. However, soon after, a neighbouring noble aligned with The Church of the Three Heroes captures the friendly noble on suspicions of hiding the "Devil of the Shield". To protect Naofumi, Melty also lets herself be captured by Idol Rabier. While hidden, Raphtalia reveals that this terrible noble used to own her as a slave and loved to torture demi-humans.

Naofumi, Raphtalia and Filo decide to save Melty and the friendly noble. Raphtalia is able to overcome her trauma regarding Rabier but he accidentally falls out of his own window and is presumed dead. Naofumi and his group head to the dungeon where the noble kept all of his tortured slaves. They free the slaves and Raphtalia finds both Keel and the deceased Rifana who used to live in the same village. However, Rabier released the sealed Tyrant Dragon Rex which starts devastating the area. Naofumi's party lures it away from the nearby civilians and attempt to fight the monster. When it seemed hopeless, the filolial queen Fitoria appeared and defeated the beast. She then takes Naofumi's party to her territory.

While in her territory, Fitoria threatens Naofumi that if he doesn't unite the Heroes, she will have to kill them all so that more useful heroes can be summoned in their place. She then proceeds to challenge Filo to battle with Melty as hostage. Filo is able to impress Fitoria, who then crowns her as the next filolial queen. Fitoria then teleports Naofumi and his party close to Motoyasu to make amends.

As soon as Motoyasu sees Naofumi, he tries to kill him. According to the Spear Hero, Ren and Itsuki were killed by Naofumi. Naofumi was able to repel Motoyasu when they were both suddenly targeted by an immensely powerful attack. The pope of The Church of the Three Heroes reveals himself and attacks the two "fake heroes". It seems hopeless for Naofumi and Motoyasu until they are reinforced by Ren and Itsuki who were actually saved from the pope's ambush by shadows. The four heroes fight together and seem to be on roughly equal grounds until Queen Mirellia shows up to stop the pope. Naofumi uses one of his Wrath Series cursed abilities to defeat the pope but is nearly killed in the process.

Volume 3

 * Chapter 14: On the Road Again
 * Chapter 15: The Shield Demon
 * Chapter 16: Appointment Arrangements
 * Chapter 17: The Princess' True Strength
 * Chapter 18: Persuasion
 * Chapter 19: The Tools
 * Chapter 20: Shadow
 * Epilogue: Name

Volume 4

 * Prologue: On the Run
 * Chapter 1: Demi-Human Adventurer Town
 * Chapter 2: Noblemen
 * Chapter 3: Tyrant Dragon Rex
 * Chapter 4: The Legendary Bird God
 * Chapter 5: Filo vs Fitoria
 * Chapter 6: Bird God's Peace
 * Chapter 7: The Battle of Shield and Spear
 * Chapter 8: Judgement
 * Chapter 9: Replica
 * Chapter 10: Shield of Wrath

Web Novel

 * Chapter 56: Shield Demon
 * Chapter 57: The Church of The Three Heroes
 * Chapter 58: Wanted
 * Chapter 59: Firo’s Secret
 * Chapter 60: Deviltry
 * Chapter 61: Persuasion
 * Chapter 62: Common Destiny
 * Chapter 63: Shadow
 * Chapter 64: Names
 * Chapter 65: Legend of The Divine Bird
 * Chapter 66: Ahoge
 * Chapter 67: Jungle
 * Chapter 68: Battle between Spear and Shield
 * Chapter 69: Judgement
 * Chapter 70: The Pope
 * Chapter 71: Replica
 * Chapter 72: Wrath Shield
 * Chapter 73: Price

Character Introductions

 * Biscas T. Balmus
 * Van Reichnott
 * Idol Rabier
 * Keel
 * Rifana
 * Fitoria
 * Mirellia Q Melromarc