Everlasting Memory

Everlasting Memory (消せない記憶) is the fourteenth episode of The Rising of the Shield Hero anime.

Synopsis
Due to Myne recklessly starting a massive forest fire, Naofumi and his party are forced to flee to a village at the base of the mountain. However, it won't be easy to break through the Knights' net. Melty suggests going to the nearby manor of a nobleman she knows for help, and it just so happens that Raphtalia's past is linked to his domain.

Plot
Malty S Melromarc orders her archers and mages to set fire to the trees in order to force Naofumi Iwatani's party out of the forest. A checkpoint has been set up in the nearest town where Naofumi's group has set up their base of operations. Naofumi informs Raphtalia, Filo, and Melty Q Melromarc that they have no choice but to travel to Faubley to meet Queen Mirellia Q Melromarc.

Traveling to the next region, Melty explains that the lord there is an ally to the Queen and a pro-demi-human activist, who will be more than happy to hold them up for a while. Sadly, he seems to be the last to hold his position, after the death of the Queen's right-hand man, the Lord of the Seaetto region during the first Wave, all other pro-demi-human noble people were banished.

For Raphtalia, the story hits her both literally and figuratively, as she lived in the Seaetto region, and was a victim of the riots that ensued after the Lord's death. Basically, after the death of Lord Seaetto, a group of Melromark soldiers rampaged through the region, kidnapping the various surviving Demi-humans living there and selling them off as slaves.

Melty promises to deal with the slavers personally, though Naofumi states their current priority is the trustworthiness of the Queen's associate, Van Reichnott. The man in question reveals himself after having snuck up to the group and invites them over to his estate where they can eat and explain what is going on. According to Reichnott, Malty's forces are claiming that Naofumi started the fire in order to cover his tracks, a claim that Naofumi shoots down as a blatant lie.

Though Naofumi is quite suspicious, Van is determined to prove his trustworthiness. Naofumi, however, points out that the nobleman's trust is irrelevant as they will be leaving early the next day. Until then, Melty and Filo explore the estate during which Melty comments on how it seems that she's been acting differently around Naofumi.

Meanwhile, Aultcray Melromarc XXXII is snapping at his soldiers to hurry up and find his daughter already, though Malty states that she will bring Melty back safely. Dismissing his eldest daughter, the King once again curses Naofumi for taking away his family. Meanwhile, Melty is shown to continuing to doubt whether or not she's doing the right thing by running away.

Putting Melty to rest for the night, Raphtalia once again begins having nightmares from her time as a slave. Awakening frightened, she is informed by Naofumi that Reichnott has been arrested for harboring the Shield Hero. A maid arrives at their room and hides them inside a cupboard in the kitchen. When the Knights come to arrest the maid, Melty tries to call out their behavior but is soon confronted by Idol Rabier, who escorts Melty to his own mansion while he makes arrangements for her safe transport. Still hidden inside the cupboard, Raphtalia somehow recognizes Rabier and gets intensely enraged, something that doesn't go unnoticed by Naofumi.

After reuniting with Filo, who was apparently playing hide and seek with Melty, Naofumi explains to her what happened to Melty. Filo wants to go after Melty immediately, but Naofumi is weighing his options first. While they could run away as fast and far as possible, leaving Melty behind, there is no certainty that she will be safe with Rabier, yet after everything that Melty has done for them, he would not feel right leaving her behind now.

Cue a nighttime rescue mission by Naofumi's group, Raphtalia angrily explains that Rabier is the one who tortured her during her time as a slave and refuses to stay behind as Naofumi gives her the opportunity. Reichnott's demi-human people try to storm into Rabier's domains, furiously demanding him to be released; this provides a distraction as Naofumi's party punches into the mansion - they even notice the inner courtyard has an eerily-looking stone obelisk, considered of "very bad taste" by Naofumi. Rabier reveals Reichnott to be his prisoner and brutally tortures him in front of Melty, as the young nobleman refuses to spill the beans about Naofumi's location, informing her that she's next unless she tells him what he wants to know.

Naofumi sends Filo to rampage against the enemy while Naofumi and Raphtalia poison one of the guards (via Chimera Viper Shield) and informs him that without their antidote, he is going to die unless he tells him where Melty is. As Rabier prepares to torture the Second Princess, Filo tears into his room. The girl tries to escape, but Rabier takes her as a hostage at sword-point; Naofumi simply separates Melty from Rabier with Air Strike Shield, and Filo kicks him towards a wall. A thoroughly enraged Raphtalia confronts Rabier and removes his whip from him, soon having him begging for his life.

Trivia

 * Presence of Pro-demi human nobles in Melromarc is revealed.
 * The King isn't aware of the conspiracy plotted against Melty and believes the fabricated evidence.
 * Raphatlia's past is being revealed along with the introduction of her previous abusive owner.
 * This episode marks the very first time in the anime series to have Naofumi activating the Slave Crest curse on Filo.

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