-If Naofumi was the Spear and Motoyasu the Shield Hero-

The King introduced our party members.

Ren: Five people

Motoyasu: Zero people

Itsuki: Four people

Me: Three People

“Huh? Why is there no one in my party?” Motoyasu, the shield hero, cried in protest.

Strange. His type gives a good impression, so you’d expect him to attract more allies. But he’s better informed than me, so he’ll get strong faster.

“Crap! I know the shielder is a loser’s class, but how am I supposed to get stronger without party members!?”

Ultimately, one of the girls who picked Itsuki initially raised her hand and went to Motoyasu. The king also increased his financial support, and with a face like his, he’s bound to draw in plenty of companions.

-

I’d gotten the hang of how to fight and gone to an inn to rest with my party. Then, early the next morning, soldiers came and summoned me to the castle. I was brought to the throne room and made to wait.

There, crying behind Itsuki, stood the girl who had joined Motoyasu.

Then Motoyasu was dragged in.

“Huh? What’s going on? Myne!”

I felt completely lost.

“Ugh… Hic… The shield hero was drunk. He burst into my room and forced me down.”

“Hm? Myne encourage me to drink, and I was drunk before I knew it… Uh?”

Ah. ‘I become a predator when I’m drunk.’ That’s a common story.

“It was terrifying. I fled my room screaming and ran to Ikki for help.”

As the lovely Myne told her story, Motoyasu’s face went pale.

“My country has no tolerance barbarism like sexual assault. Were you not a hero, you would be executed immediately!” the king yelled at Motoyasu.

“I was so drunk I don’t even remember!”

“I thought this since we first met! Now the demon shows his true colors!”

“D-demon? How am I a demon?”

“Isn’t that the case? I had thought he was different from us. He got carried away thinking that with that face, he could have whoever he wanted.”

“Exactly. I didn’t expect him to dabble in such crimes but… He must think he belongs to some privileged class.”

“Um… doesn’t everyone forget what happened when they get drunk?” Motoyasu nervously asked.

Personally, I don’t get drunk, so I can’t relate. However, my friends forget things while drinking all the time.

Incidentally, Motoyasu’s face had gone from white to red. Why…? Behind Itsuki, I saw Myne sick out her tongue at Motoyasu.

“You bastard! You two planned to steal my money and equipment before framing me!” Motoyasu shouted, jabbing a finger at Itsuki.

“The words of a rapist mean nothing.”

This was an accusation and retort that reflected poorly on Itsuki. Motoyasu, engaged, stormed out.

As I watched him go, doubt rose in my mind. Did he really try to rape her?

-

I left town and returned a few days later to rest. While in town, I separated from my party and went for a walk in the shopping distract. It was there that I spotted a homeless-looking man garbed in tatted clothes.

Motoyasu.

He had his eye on an item in a store’s display. That glint in his eyes… In only a few days, he developed such a savage look.

Before he could make a run for it, I grabbed him by the back of his collar.

“Whatever it is you’re planning to do, I advise you give up.”

“You—Naofumi!”

He glared at me with those savage eyes. If looks could kill, then I’d be dead already.

Well, it’s not too hard to guess what happened. I purchased food from a nearby stall and held it out for Motoyasu.

“Y-you’re giving me this?”

“Mm-hm. Eat up.”

He snatched the food from me and scarfed it down.

Turns out he hadn’t eaten this whole time. As a last resort, he was about to attempt stealing food. How frightening, that a single smudge on your name can do that.

“Whew… I feel calmer now.”

“What was up with that? You changed so quickly.”

“Ah. Everyone in this country decided from the very start that I was some sort of villain. I couldn’t find anyone who could work with me.”

“That’s… weirdly harsh.”

I’m willing to treat him like a regular comrade. Three heroes might not be enough on their own. It makes sense to have more allies. No matter how suspicious or sordid his past, it’s downright bizarre that everyone would make things so hard for a hero summoned to protect the world.

“Hm?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a demi-human watching Motoyasu from a distance.

I got up and left Motoyasu temporarily to approach her.

“You’ve been watching us, haven’t you?”

“Y-yes.”

Ah~ It’s a cute, meek girl. She has animal ears and a tail, but I can’t tell what animal species she’s supposed to be, The feel she gives is so typical of that beast-girl vibe you see in isekais.

It appeared she was worried for Motoyasu.

“Am I making you uncomfortable? If so, I’ll leave you alone.”

“N-no. That’s not the case.”

“It isn’t?”

The demi-human girl glanced left and right, then leaned in and whispered to me.

-

“I see. Don’t worry about it.”

I invited her to follow me, and we returned to Motoyasu.

“What’s going on?”

“Hey, Motoyasu, it seems like this country has it out for you just because you’re the shield hero.”

With that, I told Motoyasu everything the girl had shared with me. All of the things we felt were unusual were due to the country’s conspiracy against him.

“Is… that so?”

His eyes glowed with anger. That’s to be expected. He’d been living like this for three days now.

“Shield Hero, please come with me to my country.”

“I get it. And… Dammit! Myne and Itsuki should have to live like this!”

Motoyasu shot to his feet.

‘He got drunk and attempted to rape her’… Yeah. Seems that was a lie. I thought it was strange to see that princess hide behind Itsuki and provoke him like she did.

This country is messed up in so many ways.

“Well then, best regards from here on out.”

The demi-human girl prepared clothes for Motoyasu, and discussion began of leaving for another country.

“Well then, let’s go, Motoyasu-sama.”

Two more demi-humans, the girl’s companions, appeared and shook hands with Motoyasu.

“Spear Hero-sama, thank you so much for your help.”

“It was nothing.”

“Please, don’t be so humble.”

“Naofumi, Thank you. I’ll definitely repay you someday. Until then.”

And so Motoyasu departed. Must be nice, being with such a cute girl.

However, there soon came endless calls for retribution. The Shield Hero is an object of worship in the demi-human’s country, and they said that Melromarc’s actions were unforgivable.

It wasn’t safe in that country. Ren and I talked and agreed to get out as fast as possible. As for Itsuki… as the princess’s favorite, it was impossible to reach him.


Conclusion: The situation resolves faster, but afterward, war is inevitable.