The Words I Wanted to Hear

The Words I Wanted to Hear (聞きたかった言葉) is the eighth chapter of The Rising of the Shield Hero manga adaptation.

Summary
Following Naofumi's unfair loss to Motoyasu, the Shield Hero tries to convince the audience of Malty's interference but nobody listens. As such, Raphtalia is forcibly purged of the slave tattoo that binds her to Naofumi. However, she reveals that she actually likes being Naofumi's slave, trusts that he didn't commit the crimes he's accused of, and the two leave to reform their slave contract.

Synopsis
Information to be added later on. In the stands, the audience members cheer ecstatically at Motoyasu's "victory" whilst Raphtalia looks on in horror. Proclaimed the winner by King Aultcray, the Spear Hero turns his back on his defeated adversary and prepares to leave in triumph, only for Naofumi to call him out.

Outraged, the Shield Hero tries to tell Motoyasu about Myne's intervention. Smirking, Motoyasu cheerfully dismisses Naofumi's claim. Desperate the Shield Hero turns to the audience members for support, only for the spectators to turn their noses up at him. A moment later a voice calls out. The same person that caused Naofumi to stumble tells the crowd not to let the "criminal" deceive them. King Aultcray shares this view, dismising Naofumi's accusations over that of his daughter Myne!

As the Princess and Spear Hero start to flirt with one another, Naofumi finally recognizes the full gravity of his situation. King Aultcray and Princess Malty set things up so that he would fail from the very beginning. Malty wanted to get the strongest of the heroes on her side and Aultcray protected her for no other reason than she is his daughter. This duel is nothing more than their latest setup. Malty knew that Motoyasu would not tolerate the idea of a woman suffering under Naofumi, so she deliberately manipulated him, knowing that she could intervene if things did not go their way.

Malty smirks evilly as Raphtalia's slave crest is removed. Whilst this is happening, darkness surrounds Naofumi as he realizes that he was doomed from the moment he landed in Melromarc. As Malty locks arms with Motoyasu, leading him to greet the girl he just "rescued", the Shield imagines everybody laughing at him (including Raphtalia). At long last, he understands what Myne's plan is: the evil Princess wants to remembered as a great hero. To do this, she deliberately framed him with the help of her stupid father. Meanwhile, the rest of Melromarc is just going to sit back and let it happen. Whilst the Shield Hero is contemplating this, Motoyasu approaches Raphtalia arms outstretched. Before he can embrace her however, Raphtalia (who is finally free of her bindings) strikes him hard across the face, knocking the Spear Hero off his feet. Motoyasu looks up in shock, whilst Myne grabs his shoulders and angrily demands to know what Raphtalia thinks she is doing. Her rage, however, is nothing compared to the tanuki's. Glaring at the Spear Hero hatefully and with tears in her eyes, Raphtalia tells Motoyasu how dare he do what he just did when she never even wanted his help!

Motoyasu tries to argue that he had to save her because she was a slave, but Raphtalia tells him flat out that Naofumi never abused her like he believes. The Shield Hero helped her overcome her fears, which Motoyasu still says isn't right. When Raphtalia states that Naofumi needs companions, the Spear Hero tries to argue that she doesn't need to help him. This causes Raphtalia to shout (at everybody) all the good things that Naofumi has done for her, including buying her food, clothing and medicine. Above all else though, the Shield Hero has protected her. Raphtalia then asks if the Spear Hero is capable of such kindness, to which Motoyasu insists that he is. The tanuki challenges this claim, however by asking where are the demi-humans in his party?

Throughout this argument, Naofumi is able to hear what Raphtalia is saying but does not listen to it. Having put the Spear Hero in his place, Raphtalia, much to Myne's astonishment marches past them and heads straight over to Naofumi. She offers her hands to him, but Naofumi pushes her back. Recognizing that he is suffering, Raphtalia admits that she heard the rumors about him being a rapist. Motoyasu tries to intervene, claiming that the Shield Hero did the same thing to Raphtalia, but the demi-human shouts that Naofumi did no such thing.

Naofumi does not notice this gesture of support and refuses to let Raphtalia anywhere near him. He declares that this nation is full of liars and that although he is innocent, nobody believes him. Hearing this, Raphtalia finally recognizes just how broken her companion really is. Asking him to calm down and listen, she says she wants him to believe in her. She assures him that even if the whole world is against him, she will be at Naofumi's side.

Not believing her the Shield Hero (who can still only see Raphtalia as a child) tries to back away from her. A second later however, the tanuki has her arms around him and says the words he has waited so long to hear, "You didn't do it!"

Upon hearing this, the illusion is shattered and Naofumi can finally see Raphtalia in her adult form. Caught off guard, the Shield Hero does not recognise her as the girl he purchased from the tent all those weeks ago. Raphtalia explains that the change in her appearance is due to being a demi-human. As children their bodies mature with their levels. This is one reason they are discriminated against.

Realizing that he is still not fully convinced, Raphtalia states that she is prepared to have the curse reapplied if necessary. Naofumi saved her and she promised to help him in return. She is his sword after all. It takes Naofumi a few seconds to digest this information. When he does, the Shield Hero is completely overcome. Nobody has said such kind things to him since he was first summoned. No ... Raphtalia has always been there for him, she even said as much before the onset of the wave, he just failed to recognise it. Overcome, Naofumi starts to cry.

As the Shield Hero's companion lovingly embraces him, the focus shifts back to the royals and their allies. The mages stare on in shock (a reaction no doubt shared by the rest of the audience), whilst the King and his daughter look on angrily. Acting like a spurned savior, Malty declares this situation boring and orders her father to start the reward ceremony. When Motoyasu objects, Myne makes it clear that she no longer cares about the Shield Hero or his companion. Instead, she tells her father to just pay the wizards, so that she and Motoyasu can collect their money and get out of there. With that the Princess turns to leave ... only to be confronted by Ren and Itsuki.

Glaring at her coldly, the Bow Hero demands to know what is going to be done about the injustice Naofumi has just suffered. To the shock and confusion of the Spear Hero, Ren declares that Motoyasu is the real loser of that duel. Myne cringes nervously as the Sword Hero verifies her intervention, whilst Itsuki tells Motoyasu that the rest of the spectators are lying. Although he states that Naofumi is not his friend, the Bow Hero is disgusted at the unfair treatment that Motoyasu and the citizens of Melromarc are forcing upon the Shield Hero.

Defeated, King Aultcray turns his back and begins to walk out. To Myne's chagrin, he orders the mages to give the Shield Hero some money, which they acknowledge. Satisfied with this, Ren and Itsuki prepare to leave only to be stopped by Motoyasu. With his triumph now completely undone, Motoyasu desperately tries to provide some justification to his actions. The Spear Hero insists that he isn't in the wrong and that Raphtalia is probably brainwashed. Ren and Itsuki simply give their comrade a cold look. Not convinced in the slightest, they express their "amazement" that Motoyasu can say such a thing, in spite of everything going on in front of him.

Ignoring everyone around them, Raphtalia continues to comfort the crying Naofumi. A statement reveals that they stayed like that until the following morning.

The next day, the pair leave the castle and head straight down to Beloukas' tent. There Raphtalia has her crest reapplied (rending Motoyasu's actions pointless). Although Naofumi expresses some doubt, the trader is more interested in the fact that Naofumi was able to raise Raphtalia, who was originally on the brink of death, so well. He states that her new value would be 20 gold pieces, but ups it to 35 upon learning that she is a virgin. Naofumi is shocked at this amount, which offends Raphtalia.

Seeking a distraction, the Shield Hero notices a box of eggs that were not present when he last visited the tent. Admiring his observations skills, Beloukas explains that this is his real business, whilst Raphtalia reveals that they are monster eggs. The trader explains that this set up is a lottery. Each egg costs 100 silvers and that whilst most of them are standard, hidden amongst them a few rare ones, including a knight dragon. Naofumi is suspicious, with Raphtalia adding that the price is simply too high. Despite his reservation however, Naofumi does end up buying an egg. Raphtalia is not impressed but soon drops it.

When Naofumi suggests buying some food, Raphtalia produces some sandwiches. She made them from the leftovers at the feast. Unconcerned, Naofumi takes a bite and to his amazement finds out he can actually taste its flavor. This is a sign that the trauma Malty originally wrought upon him is beginning to heal. Raphtalia is relieved to hear this and assures him that she will be there for him. Grateful, Naofumi gives his treasured companion a kiss on the cheek. His situation may not have improved, but he no longer has to face his struggles alone.

As the Shield Hero misinterprets Raphtalia's reaction to his kiss, the two companions fail to notice a crack forming on the egg they just purchased. Soon, Naofumi will have a new addition to his party.

Characters

 * Motoyasu Kitamura
 * Naofumi Iwatani
 * Raphtalia
 * Malty S Melromarc
 * Aultcray Melromarc XXXII
 * Itsuki Kawasumi
 * Ren Amaki

Weapons

 * Legendary Spear
 * Chaos Spear
 * Legendary Shield
 * Pipe Shield
 * Legendary Bow

Locations

 * Melromarc
 * Castle Town

Differences from Light Novel

 * Raphtalia merely knocks Motoyasu back after hitting him in the original book. The Spear Hero does not fall onto his backside like he does here.
 * In the Light Novel, King Aultcray and Malty do not utter a word following the removal of Raphtalia's curse series. In this illustration, Malty comes to Motoyasu's aid after Raphtalia strikes him.
 * The order of events following Raphtalia's speech differs slightly between the two sources. In the original story, Ren and Itsuki immediately call out Malty's interference in the duel, much to Motoyasu's shock. The audience only leaves once the Spear Hero has made his accusation of brainwashing, only for Ren and Itsuki to shoot this argument down. The heroes do not receive their promised rewards until the following novel.
 * Here Malty demands that her father begin the reward ceremony straight away. Ren and Itsuki then call her out, prompting the King to reward Naofumi just to placate them. There is no indication that either the Shield Hero or Raphtalia attended the said ceremony.
 * Similarly, Raphtalia did not have her crest reapplied or Naofumi purchase Filo's egg until Volume 2.

Trivia
Information to be added later on.