Keel (Web Novel)

Keel (キール) is a Supporting Character in The Rising of the Shield Hero Web Novel.

She was the resident of the Raphtalia's home village and her friend. She became Naofumi's slave in hopes of rebuilding the village.

Human Form
She is initially described as a young man around the age of 10 with dog-like features, however as she levels and her appearance ages as well as her being verified to be female she is made out to be more of a tomboy who could easily pass as a pretty boy.

Dog Form
She looks exactly like a puppy. As for breed, she looks like a Siberian Husky. She is a loincloth-clad puppy walking on two legs.

Cerberus Form
This form is of a dog with three heads. That of Cerberus, the guardian of hell. Her form isn't particularly large. Since the base is Keel, it still looks like a wolf cub-like Cerberus. Looking from afar, her outer appearance is still relatively cute. She turned into what she feared to obtain strength, the Cerberus demon that destroyed her village during the wave. She thought something like strength = evoking fear. She's really fast. Her weaknesses are being unable to look away from sweets, and being weak to lullabies.

Personality
Keel can be bratty and whining when wanting food from Naofumi. Despite how she acts, she helps bring together the slaves and acts as a sort of leader. Though She was growing to be a gluttonous battle maniac, but she was able to cook as well. She shows a very little girly aspect. Keel has been shown to be a charismatic person by nature. Her actions are shown to be too erratic.

Background
Throughout her life Keel was raised as a boy, her father treated Keel like his son, and told her that gender was a state of mind.

Two months before the first wave, Keel was looking for a pretty shell to give "Father" for his birthday so he dived into the ocean and almost drowned but was saved by Sadina as well as the time he accidentally ate a poison mushroom he found in the field, messed up her stomach, and hid to avoid being scolded so when she, Raphtalia, found him she was told to keep it a secret including that he had even wet his pants Keel was looking for a pretty shell to give Rafatalia's father for his birthday so she dived into the ocean.

Summary
When Naofumi tells Raphtalia to choose anyone he recognizes from her village and Keel is the first.

Keel was first introduced in chapter 131 of the web novel as a slave owned by the Slave Merchant in Melromarc's Castle Town. At first, Keel doesn't recognize Raphtalia because of her grown-up appearance, but when all was said, he immediately acknowledged who she was. Kiel was purchased by Naofumi. c131. After having an unconvincing conversation with Raphtalia, Keel agrees to become Naofumi's slave with the hope of returning to the village.

On a trip to the beach, Naofumi and the others saw that Keel's chest was covered in a loincloth, and discover she was, in fact, a girl. c137Although she identifies as male, in chapter 137 it is revealed that he is actually a she. She rebuts with "father said that a man is a man if he thinks he is a man no matter what" but the revelation still throws her into moderate confusion.

Gives Naofumi shit about him sounding all rapey when explaining the difference between men and women. c138

Begins pedaling with Naofumi and Raphtalia and she receives a set of masculine armor for possible future battles as well as a cute one piece to help boost sells. c139

She, Taniko, and the mass of other slaves are found to be hoarding monster eggs they found while training. She and Taniko beg Naofumi to allow the village to keep them and he agrees. c143

While training with fellow slaves Kiel acts a bit too reckless and gets hit by an attack from behind. Luckily, Raphtalia realized and was able to save them, but from that experience, Kiel and many of the other slaves became more cautious when fighting and started formulating battle formations and strategies. They also began to respect Naofumi more for protecting them like he usually does. When he is able to class up he chooses to follow the same path as Raphtalia and Firo, using Firo's ahoge to gain superior stats in almost every field when compared to other class up choices, because she wants to become as strong as she can possibly be even if it forfeits her choice in the direction of her class up. c144

When she classed up, a smoke screen came out and covered the area and Kiel's stats rose significantly although they were slightly lower than Raphtalia and Firo's from when they classed up. c145

As punishment for assisting the cursed Noafumi, Kiel was ordered to take the form of an ordinary girl from then on, loincloths were prohibited, she had to wear the clothes that Imia provided, go peddling like that. In addition, she was assigned to gather as many fans as Firo, and she was to remain as a girl until she did. c290

She is presumed to be the "Guardian of Divine (crepe) Tree" in the Christmas Special.

Legacy
As the Hero of the Scythe, she saved the world. She is the progenitor of the race that continues to protect Rock Valley’s God Tree to this very day. Because of her, the God Tree continues to be praised as a symbol of world peace. Later, it was said she married the Hero of the Gauntlet, but the truth is uncertain.

Abilities
Just based on stats, she falls short of Raphtalia, but that doesn't mean she isn't strong. Due to her race, Kiel can make quick movements.

Kiel has the talent, for transformation, so she was taught by Sadina. She says that while transforming using magic, her senses are sharper and her body is lighter and easier to move in.

Kiel's level is on the higher side. But she hasn't achieved overwhelming strength like Raphtalia. She learned the basics of Chi later than the rest, so you could say she's a step behind.

Sickle SkillsEdit

 * Soul Ripper (ソウルリッパー)

Relationships
Legendary Heroes
 * Naofumi Iwatani: Keel showed hostility from the start, but she became attached to Noafumi seeing him as a big brother figure. In the beginning, he somehow destroyed the ruins of the home she originally lived in.

Seven Star Heroes
 * Raphtalia: They are the best friends of the village.
 * Wynida: They became good friends, been through the same harsh hardship of being slaves. Keel helped her to hide the monster egg and Dunes which they raised behind Naofumi, fearing that Naofumi might either kill or sell those monsters and egg. But was proven otherwise.
 * Fohl: Naofumi encouraged them to develop a bond which did seem to happen, as Fohl seems to blush when Atlas gave her blessings for him and Keel as an item, but Keel remained oblivious while considering Fohl to be cool and placed him third in the hierarchy, preceding him are the creep tree and Naofumi

Companions
 * Imiya: Though Imyia was not one of the former villagers, they get along fine. Keel seems to notice Imia's crush on Naofumi and encouraged her.

Trivia

 * Keel wasn't meant to be an important character, however, the personality the author gave him overlapped with another male character he planned to make down the road, so he decided to give ‘him’ a little… quirk. (Sex change)