The Devil of the Shield

The Devil of the Shield is the thirteenth episode of The Rising of the Shield Hero anime.

Synopsis
In order to prevent Melty from being Killed, Naofumi fight off her personal guards who tried to assassinate her. However, the group is forced to run away because they are being framed for Melty’s abduction and for killing knights. Various regions are in high alert. Naofumi and his companions get into a really precarious situation and decided to go to Siltvelt. Since there is a risk of Melty to be assassinated, if they returned to the castle town.

On their way, they get cornered by the three heroes, Melty steps in to clear off the charges against Naofumi but soon felts the conspiracy of her sister, Malty.

Will Naofumi able to save his party and Melty ? or is it the end for the Shield Hero's party?

Plot
Naofumi Iwatani defends Melty Q Melromarc from one of her knights who attempt to kill Melty, the knights shout about Naofumi trying to kill Melty leading to all of them attacking the group and in turn causing Raphtalia and Filo to defend the group. After few moments the knights run away seemingly in terror to the confusion of Naofumi's group.

Having recorded the battle and sent the footage to the castle town a group of mages alters the footage heavily. Rather then defending Melty from her traitorous knights, the footage now shows a clearly evil Naofumi and company joyfully slaughtering her escort and kidnapping a terrified Melty. With the footage as evidence Naofumi's party are shortly declared enemies number one forcing them to go into hiding. The altered Footage is being displayed in every corner of the nation.

After their interrogation with the Melty's former guards who calls Naofumi the devil and has committed the sin of disturbing the order of the country. It appears that The Church of the Three Heroes, has it's hand in the conspiracy, as the former guard was holding the rosary of that religion. Nafoumi suspects Aultcray Melromarc XXXII to be the the part of the ploy but Melty defends her father but suspects her sister. Malty S Melromarc who may want to kill Melty and frame Naofumi as 'the Devil of the Shield.' Melty breaks down crying as she realizes how bad the situation is and also because she failed in the mission given to her by her mother. Naofumi reiterates that they need to leave the country if they are to stay safe, and for her own safety Melty decides to go with them.

The group ditches their wagon as they cross the boarder over the mountains reasoning that the rough terrain should make it harder to follow them. Reasoning that the king is focusing most of his efforts on keeping them away from Siltvelt Naofumi decides that is their destination. While camping in the mountains Melty asks for the reason for the bad-blood between Naofumi and The king. Melty was shocked by the revelation. She tells the group about her mother Mirelia Q Melromarc.

Simply put since Melromarc is a matriarchy then the queen holds higher power then the king, for reasons that she doesn't understand Melty was told by Mother to make sure the Shield Hero, Naofumi, was treated favorably. While trying to sneak around another patrol the group is cornered along a cliff side by not only the patrolling guards but also the three heroes Itsuki Kawasumi, Ren Amaki and Motoyasu Kitamura.

While it seems at first the heroes are willing to listen to them, Malty steps in and 'reveals' that Naofumi has unlocked a brainwashing shield and is using it to control Melty, the 'proof' being the appearance over the past month of people singing Naofumi's praises calling him the Savior of the Heavenly Fowl. Even though the others are buying it Ren isn't as easily convinced, he proposes handing Melty over to their company until they know for certain that things are safe.

Melty however voices the fact that if she is put into her sister's custody then she will be killed. Naofumi declares that none of them can be trusted and orders Filo to transform so that they can use her speed and agility to escape. However as they're leaving Motoyasu nabs Filo with a magic shackle that forces her back into her human form while Malty fires off a magic flare. Motoyasu takes Filo hostage while Malty begins firing fire balls at Melty openly voicing her intention to kill her.

The group is forced to use their respective trump cards to escape, Naofumi's wrath shield, Raphtalia's mana sword and Filo's power gloves. Destroying the cliff side Naofumi tosses Ren the Rosary he took from the guards and tells him to figure out what's going on for himself. The group is met with a Shadow, whom Naofumi recognizes as the same noble woman who warned him about the church in the first place.

The Shadow asks that the group instead travel in the opposite direction of where they're going, Faubley. Though it may seem like a unreasonable request it's where Melty's mother the Queen is currently located, their only ally with the authority to counter Malty and the Church of the three heroes. Once the Shadow leaves Melty also asks that Naofumi call her by the first name and agrees to do the same with him in exchange. Meanwhile Malty is revealed to have set the forest on fire trying to chase them out.

Adaptation Notes

 * Light Novel: Volume 3 Chapters 15-20
 * Manga: Volume 5 Chapters 19-20

Trivia

 * The espionage working under the queen are called as Shadows.
 * The State religion of Melromarc is revealed to be the Church of Three Heroes who worship Spear, Sword and Bow(Except Shield.) They address the Shield Hero as Devil.
 * Naofumi's alias as "The Savior of Heavenly Fowl" is being confirmed by Malty Melromarc.