A single day had passed since he was framed. In that short time, Naofumi's world had crumbled, leaving him with nothing but bitterness and distrust. Once welcomed as a hero, he was now treated as a criminal, scorned by the very people he was summoned to protect. With no allies and no way to fight on his own, he was left with one option—to survive by any means necessary.

Naofumi sat silently at the corner table of a restaurant. He sat there pecking at his food ignoring the stares of the other patrons. But it wasn't just him they were looking at.

Naofumi slowly looked up at the young demi-human girl before him, chowing down like no tomorrow.

She was a slave he had purchased the night before. As the Shield Hero, he couldn't fight on his own, so he needed someone to battle in his place. That's where this child came in—she would be his sword in combat.

Naofumi quickly pushed a cup of water toward her as she started smacking her chest, presumably choking.

"Drink this, and slow down a little."

She quickly grabs the cup and gulps down its contents. She lets out a sigh of relief as she wipes her mouth with her sleeve.

"I assume it's good?"

She nods at him with a large smile plastered on her face.

Naofumi nods back before returning to his meal. His gaze lingered on her left hand which clutched the small white flag that had come with her plate. Only for a second before he looked away.

"We'll be going to a blacksmith to get you gear after this."

The girl looks up in surprise.

"You'll be taking on all kinds of monsters, I expect you to be ready."

Clack

Naofumi looked up at the sound. The girl had dropped her spoon and was staring at him with a mixture of fear and shock.

"What? You against it?"

The girl quickly looked down and shook her head.

"Good, now hurry up and finish, don't wanna waste any more time."

She quickly picked up her spoon and resumed eating even quicker than earlier.

Ring Ring

The familiar sound of bells ringing caught Erhard's attention turning to the door he saw Naofumi walking in.

With a smile, he opened his arms wide in greeting.

"Hey, welcome back here for more—oh, who's this?" He leans down to look at the demi-human girl hiding behind Naofumi's leg.

"Her name is Raphtalia, a demi-human slave I purchased last night."

Erhard straightens up with a look of discomfort.

"Slave?"

"That's not a problem, right?"

"Oh no of course not it's just I never liked seeing these types of things but I know you'll treat her well."

Naofumi nods his head

"I have more of a problem that it's demi-humans who are the slaves."

Raphtalia visibly perks up at this while Naofumi raises an eyebrow.

"And why is that?"

"Well, because my old master was a beast-man, and my fellow student was a beast-man as well."

Naofumi blinks in surprise

"Beast-man?"

"Ah, right, you probably don't know. Demi-humans are a non-humanoid race with animal-like traits, but they still resemble humans more than animals. Beastmen, on the other hand, have far more pronounced animal traits, making them look more like animals than humans."

"Huh. That's interesting and here I thought everyone here hated Demi-humans."

"Nah, that's just the majority of people in Melromarc but not all of them hate demi-humans.

"Your master was a beast-man?" A soft meek voice spoke out.

Naofumi and Erhard looked down at Raphtalia who had decided to speak. Naofumi looked surprised, not expecting her to talk to someone who she had just met. While Naofumi looked surprised, Erhard smiled.

"Yep, I ran into him back during my adventuring days. His craftsmanship was so beautiful that I couldn't help but be drawn to it. And after a couple of days of asking he finally caved and allowed me to be his student. Soon after that another person came knocking it was another beastman named Tolly. After a few years of training, we eventually went our separate ways, and eventually, I ended up here."

Naofumi and Raphtalia stood there listening intently, Raphtalia especially. But as Erhard ended his story Naofumi couldn't help but ask.

"What happened to them?"

Erhard paused for a second, thinking.

"I don't know."

Naofumi stared at him blankly.

"What do you mean you don't know? Do you guys not contact each other from time to time?"

"No, we don't. When we all went our own separate paths, that was the last time we ever saw each other—well, at least the last time I saw them."

A brief pause followed before Naofumi spoke.

"I assume you left because he had nothing left to teach you. So that means you're as good as your old master, if not better, by now, right?"

The smith visibly flinched back at Naofumi's words.

"Oh no, no no no not in a million years. I didn't leave because he taught me everything he knew I left because he couldn't."

Naofumi couldn't help but be surprised. Erhard was already considered one of the best smiths in Melromarc, so if his master was as skilled as he claimed, then his craftsmanship must be on an entirely different level.

"I'll have to ask you more about that some other time, for now-." he looked down and tapped Raphtalia's head, snapping her out of her funk.

"We have some gear to purchase."

Ring Ring

The sound of the door opening caught their attention. They all turned to the door to see a young man with shoulder-length black hair and a sword strapped to his back.

Naofumi blinked in surprise.

"Ren?"

Ren blinked back equally shocked.

"Naofumi?"

Surprisingly, a barely noticeable smile found its way into Naofumi's face. The same thing happening with Ren.

"After everything that happened yesterday, I'm glad to see you're doing ok."

"Yeah, you know I never thanked you for defending me. It was nice to know that someone had my back."

"You don't have to, you don't seem like the type of guy to do something like that. Despite the fact that Itsuki and Motoyasu said they saw you, I won't believe it unless they can actually prove to me you're guilty."

Ren's words impacted Naofumi far harder than he let on. His smile grew wider as he chuckled.

"Thanks, why are you alone by the way? Where's your party?"

"Like I said yesterday, if they can't cut it they'll be left behind, so I sent them off to level up on their own."

Naofumi furrowed his brow in confusion.

"What? Why would you do that?"

"I prefer to work alone."

"That's…" Naofumi shook his head to stop himself. Instead, he decided to focus on something else.

"Why are you here?"

"I came here to purchase some new armor the set I have right now is… lacking." Ren looks down at himself, with Naofumi following his gaze. He wasn't kidding he was wearing some sort of leather armor, which definitely won't help in the long run.

Ren looks up at Naofumi.

"Why are you here?"

Naofumi turned his gaze down to Raphtalia, who was hiding behind his leg again. He gestured to her, which caused Raphtalia to flinch not expecting to be the main focus again.

"I'm here to get some gear for my new slave. As the Shield, I can't fight on my own so the fighting will be her job."

"Huh, Really now?" He looked down at Raphtalia causing her to retreat further behind Naofumi. He turned his gaze back to Naofumi.

"Well, I won't judge you since you'd need the help. But with all that being said, let's not waste any more time, let's get our gear and head out."

Naofumi nodded in agreement.

"Right." He turned back to Erhard, who had patiently waited for their conversation to conclude. Erhard, in response, smiled and folded his hands together.

"Alright, Heroes, let's get you looking proper!"

[Chaos Spear]

Motoyasu's spear split into multiple copies, each flying straight at the large dog before him. The beast sprinted and weaved through the attacks, narrowly avoiding them as the spears tore through every tree in its path. However, one spear struck true, hitting the creature directly on its left ankle.

The large beast tumbles and rolls to a stop whimpering in pain. It gathers its bearings and stands on its remaining three legs snarling at the spear hero.

Motoyasu smirks in return, already confident in his victory.

"You might've gotten the jump on us earlier, but without a leg, you won't be running and hiding behind trees anymore."

The dog barks at him as it charges. Motoyasu quickly glances back at the girls behind him to see if they're watching. When he sees that they are he quickly turns back and charges at the dog.

The large canine leaps at him with every ounce of strength it could muster in its three legs, mouth wide prepared to chomp down on Motoyasu. But all the dog bites is air as Motoyasu slides underneath him. Slamming his spear into the neck of the beast.

In response to the sudden pain the dog wrestles and shakes attempting to get away from the blonde. But Motoyasu twists, and digs his spear deeper into the beast's neck. Causing it to thrash harder.

Motoyasu smirks as he readies the final blow. He pushes the dog up forcing its front legs off the ground. He grits his teeth at the weight.

Ping

At the corner of his vision, a notification pops up.

{Chaos Spear ready!}

He smiles as he prepares to unleash his attack. As he lifts his head, the crystal in his spear begins to glow. The dog, seeing the light beneath him, begins thrashing even harder. But his actions only cause the spear to embed itself deeper into its hide.

Motoyasu smirks as he unleashes his attack.

[Chaos Spear!]

Multiple spears appeared with each of them flying and piercing through the large canine's upper half. Killing it instantly.

{EXP 350}

Seeing that the beast had stopped struggling, Motoyasu turned and pushed the large corpse to the ground as he stood up, pulling the head of his spear out of the beast.

"Sir Motoyasu, that was incredible!"

Motoyasu turned his head toward the girls in his party as they jogged up to him. Hearing Myne's compliment, he couldn't help but smirk smugly, pride swelling in his chest.

"I know, I know. But I couldn't have done it without you guys."

Being a seasoned womanizer, Motoyasu naturally responded with a smooth compliment of his own.

"Are you kidding? The way you used you utilized Chaos Spear to finish it off was genius."

"Well, it is a real handy skill. And the EXP I got from killing that thing leveled me up."

As he says this he opens up his status menu to see that he has already reached level 7. He closes his status soon after and looks back up at the girls. As he begins walking toward them.

"Why don't we call it a day? We've already spent most of last night and the entire morning doing nothing but grinding. I say we deserve a break!"

As he passes them the girls just stand there. When he realizes they aren't following he turns around.

"You guys not gonna follow?"

The girls don't say anything as they turn their heads toward the corpse, and then back to Motoyasu. All he does back is stare blankly his gaze flicking back and forth between them and the dog until.

"Oh right!" He quickly ran past the girls back toward the corpse.

"Let me absorb that real quick!"

Myne giggled in amusement, while the rest of the party could only sigh at the Hero's antics.

"Amazing shot Sir Itsuki!"

Hearing the praise coming from the tall knight, Itsuki smirked as he lowered his bow.

"It's not all that impressive, it was just a frog."

He says this while looking down at the large amphibian in front of them."

"Yes, but even so, to be killing such a beast so early in your journey is truly impressive sir!"

Itsuki turned away, attempting to appear humble, but failed miserably as his smile widened.

Itsuki and his party were in a swamp, which they had traveled to last night. They came on a mission to investigate why the frogs in the area seemed to be leaving their natural habitats.

Itsuki looked back down at the frog to examine it. They were walking through a very large but shallow pond when out of nowhere this little guy just jumped out and attacked them.

Itsuki leaned down and placed his bow on the corpse, absorbing it into the crystal. As a result, his bow transforms. He looks away from the light of the transformation and when he looks back he is actually a bit surprised by its look.

The bow had a sleek, curved frame resembling the limbs of a frog, with a deep green hue that shimmers like wet leaves. The grip is wrapped in soft, moss-like material for comfort, and the bowstring appears to be made of a flexible, vine-like fiber. At the top and bottom of the bow, subtle frog motifs are carved into the wood, with small eyes at both ends of the bow.

{Verdant Croaker Bow unlocked!}

'Verdant Croaker? What type of name is that?' Itsuki thought to himself in mild confusion.

He quickly opened up the status to see what abilities this new bow gave him.

[Frogshot] - Fires an arrow that expands into a frog-shaped projectile upon release, leaping toward the target before striking. The longer the shot is charged, the larger and more powerful the projectile becomes, increasing its impact and damage.

[Toxic Quiver (locked)] – Coats arrows in a mild toxin, poisoning enemies over time.

[Swamp Snare (locked)– Upon impact, the arrow releases a sticky, vine-like substance that slows or traps the enemy.

[Amphibious Agility (passive)] – Grants the user-enhanced movement in wet or marshy environments.

[Echoing Croak (locked)] – Releases a powerful croaking sound that briefly disorients enemies or calls nearby amphibious creatures for aid.

Itsuki blinked in surprise.

"Huh? That actually isn't all that bad." He muttered to himself. He turns around cutting off his party members who were about to speak.

"Move aside, I want to test something." His party makes way for him as he bends down a little and readies himself as he launches off. The water in the area he once stood shot backward from the force. Drenching Itsuki's party members.

Itsuki meanwhile, not expecting the speed, desperately tried to slow down. But his actions only cause him to trip and roll through the water. As his body slows to a stop he quickly pulls his head out of the water gasping for air.

He sits up on his knees looking down at his bow.

'It said it enhances my movement in wet and marshy areas, but this much? That must be why it's called Amphibious Agility—it must grant me frog-like attributes while in these terrains.'

Itsuki actually smiles at this as he stands up. Looking at his abilities once more.

"Alright then Frogshot don't disappoint me. Let's see what you can do without any charge up first."

Itsuki pulls back on his bow and to his surprise the eyes begin to glow and he swears he could hear the faint sound of croaking as he pulls back the string.

[Frogshot]

He releases the attack as a frog no bigger than the one he had slain shoots out from it in a spin it lands in the water jumps again and swings its arms around in wild abandonment before it stops and disappears.

Itsuki stared blankly. 'That was…disappointing. Hopefully, a charged shot isn't as bad.'

He pulled back the string once more as the eyes glowed and the bow croaked. He focused as magical energy began building up within. The bow began to pulse down from the eyes to the center. Itsuki grits his teeth as his arms began shaking from the strain.

He waited just a little longer and when he was ready. He unleashed the attack

[Frogshot!]

The sheer force of the attack launched him back onto his back.

He quickly sat up and looked up at the giant frog that had leaped out of his bow. But instead of coming out in a spin like the first frog, it came out belly first.

'Did it just do a chest bump?' Itsuki thought to himself in complete bewilderment.

Right after that the large frog shot out its tongue and swept it across the water in front of it. After it didn't catch anything it jumped forward, left arm pulled back as it swung and launched water everywhere. It follows it up by turning around and jumping in the air unleashing a double back kick.

It turns back around and jumps, lifting both its hands up and slamming it into the water. The large frog dissipates into green particles soon after it completes its final attack.

Itsuki, still sitting in the water, stares at the spot where the frogs once were and grins. He lifts the bow out of the water and examines it.

He opens his status window to check the most important thing, the bow's rarity.

{Verdant Croaker} (Epic)

Itsuki's eyes widened in surprise, his grin growing even larger. 'Who would've thought that I'd find an epic so soon, from a large frog no less.'

"Sir Itsuki!"

He turned back to see his party running toward him, each wearing a worried expression.

Itsuki stands up out of the water and turns around to face them.

"Sir, are you al—"

"Of course I am!" Itsuki eagerly cut him off, a confident grin spreading across his face.

"I've decided that we'll be staying here for a few more days."

His party members looked at one another confused.

"But I thought you wanted to leave and hunt more monsters to level up after we're done here."

"Yes, that was the original plan, Mald. But those plans have changed. We'll be staying here and leveling this up!"

He lifts his new bow for his party members to see.

"With this, I've already surpassed Ren and Motoyasu." Itsuki's thoughts were brimming with pride as he glanced at the others, convinced that his progress was leagues ahead. There was no way they could match his growth now, especially with the power of his new bow.

"Once we level this up enough, we can go fight more battles, face more powerful opponents, and get stronger! New bows, new gear! The others will be stuck trying to outdo each other while I'll be leagues ahead of them!" Itsuki declared, a gleam of determination in his eyes as he imagined his rapid rise.

He looked back and forth at his party members' stares of amazement, each of them seemingly stunned by his confidence. Their wide eyes and silent observations spoke volumes. They were impressed, perhaps even a little unsure, but still, they couldn't hide their admiration for his unwavering belief.

Itsuki tightened his grip on his bow, a surge of excitement flooding through him. 'This is it. The future is mine.' The path ahead felt clearer now, the weight of his dreams pushing him forward. With each step, he could almost taste the victory—his victory. The others might have their doubts, but for Itsuki, the future was already in his hands. The thought of surpassing everyone else drove him even further. He was ready to carve his own legacy, and no one was going to stop him.

The sharp THUD of a hand slamming down onto the wooden table echoed through the room. The surface rattled violently, and a low groan reverberated from the wood as if protesting the force. The documents and goblets on the table shaking from the force. Strov's fist remained clenched, the tension in the air palpable as everyone else in the room remained silent.

He stared deeply into Queen Mirellia's eyes seething in anger. Since the meeting started they've been having a constant back-and-forth. Even Verena joined in on the argument, her own anger palpable.

Strov growled at the Queen desperately trying to contain his rage.

Melty stood against the wall behind her mother, her eyes fixed on the ongoing battle between Queen Mirelia and the other leaders. Despite her mother's best efforts, it was painfully clear that she was losing ground. The tension in the room was thick, and Melty's heart raced with each exchange, her worry growing as her mother struggled to maintain control.

Melty clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she watched the debate unfold. Her mother's voice remained firm, unwavering in its arguments, but the weight of opposition pressed down on her like an unrelenting tide. The other leaders, seated in their grand chairs, spoke with sharp words and colder intentions, their angry dismissive gazes making it clear that they had already made up their minds.

Melty wanted to speak, to defend her mother, but she knew it wasn't her place—at least not yet. For now, all she could do was watch as the balance of power tipped further away from the one person in the room who truly had the world's best interest at heart.

"This is an outrage!" Strov bellowed, his sharp eyes burning with fury. "The Shield Hero—framed like a common criminal in your wretched country! Do you take me for a fool, Queen Mirelia?!

Melty flinched at the sheer force of his voice, but her mother remained unmoved. Queen Mirelia sat with perfect poise, her gaze meeting Strov's rage head-on. "I take you for a leader, Lord Strov, one who understands that deception runs deep in politics. You know as well as I do that this was not my doing."

Strov scoffed, his armored shoulders rising and falling with barely restrained anger. "Oh, I know exactly who's to blame—the rotten nobility of your kingdom and that filthy church clinging to its false religion! And yet, you sit there, acting as if your hands are clean." His fingers curled into a fist on the table. "You expect me to believe that you, the Queen of Melromarc, had no power to stop this?"

Verena, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke, her voice sharp as steel. "Whether or not the queen was involved, the fact remains—this scandal has humiliated the Shield Hero. An insult to him is an insult to both our nations Strov."

Melty felt her breath catch in her throat. This was bad. Really bad.

Across from them, Garaan tapped his fingers against the table, his expression unreadable. "Now, now," he mused, his tone firm and serious, "before we start declaring war, let's be practical. The damage is done—but damage can be repaired, for a price.

Queen Mirelia's expression remained unreadable. "Then let's speak of solutions, not accusations," she said firmly. "I have already begun working to clear the Shield Hero's name, but I will not have Melromarc bow to threats. If we are to move forward, I need to know exactly what each of you seeks."

Strov leaned forward, his voice a low growl. "I want justice. I want the ones responsible for this disgrace punished. And most of all, I want the Shield Hero to know where his true allies are.

Melty stiffened. She had expected something like this, but hearing it said outright sent a cold wave through her. Strov's people worshipped the Shield Hero—if they took him in, they would never let him go.

Lady Verena tilted her head, her golden eyes narrowing. "You would claim him as your own, Strov? Bold of you, but Shieldfreedon will not sit idle while Siltvelt takes the Shield Hero for themselves. If he is to be given protection, then it should be with those who value his role, not those who seek to use him for their own ends.

Strov's chair scraped against the floor as he turned it towards Verena, his patience wearing thin. "You speak of fairness, Verena, but let's not pretend your Shieldfreedon is without ambition. You claim to 'value' the Shield Hero's role, but what you really mean is that you want him under your banner instead of mine.

Verena's gaze turned icy. "And what of Siltvelt? Don't act as if your people wouldn't smother him with blind devotion. You would chain him with expectations just as much as Melromarc has shackled him with disgrace."

Strov slammed a fist onto the table, rattling the goblets and documents. "At least we respect the Shield Hero! Unlike Melromarc, we don't frame him for crimes he didn't commit and treat him like a criminal! If he came to Siltvelt, he would be given the honor he deserves."

Verena's lip curled in distaste. "Honor? Or control? Siltvelt has always seen the Shield Hero as a symbol first and a person second. If he were to stand under your flag, he would be paraded like a trophy, expected to fight your battles and serve your will. That is not respect—that is ownership."

Strov pushed himself up from his seat, towering over the seated Verena. "You accuse me of seeking to own him while your people whisper of making him a king? Don't act righteous when Shieldfreedon is just as eager to claim him as we are."

Verena stood as well, her voice unwavering. "Unlike you, I would see him free. If he sought refuge in Shieldfreedon, he would have choices. Can you say the same?"

The tension in the room became suffocating, both rulers locked in a silent battle of wills.

Melty stood stiffly, her hands clasped properly in front of her as was expected of a princess, but she could feel her fingers tightening with unease. This was getting out of control.

Steadying her nerves, Melty took a breath and stepped forward, the quiet sound of her movement drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Her mother's gaze flicked to her, surprise flickering in her eyes at her daughter's boldness.

With a small but firm step, Melty cleared her throat, her voice cutting through the tension that filled the air. "We can argue endlessly about who deserves the Shield Hero's loyalty, but the truth is, none of us truly know what he wants. If we're to find any solution, we must set aside our egos and focus on what's best for him, not ourselves."

Strov turned toward Melty. He leaned forward, his fingers digging into the table. His voice seething with controlled anger.

"Princess, it's clear as day—your country doesn't care about the Shield Hero. You think he'll listen to anything your people have to say to him after how fast you've thrown him to the wolves? Your country turned on him before he even had a chance to breathe. How do you expect him to care?"

Melty's hands trembled slightly as she realized the weight of her actions. She had spoken on impulse, her desire to fix things rushing her words without thought. She hadn't anticipated the full scope of Strov's fury, nor had she considered how deeply her words might be scrutinized. The silence that followed felt suffocating, and her eyes flicked nervously toward her mother, who still remained unfazed, her composure unwavering

Strov's cold gaze never left her, his expression hardening further as he waited for her to respond. But Melty, still caught off-guard by her own rashness, could only manage a shaky breath, her mind racing to find the right words. This wasn't how she had imagined this would go.

Strov took advantage of her hesitation, his voice sharp and mocking. "Is that all? Princess, if you want to make a difference, you'll have to think beyond what's convenient for you or your country. The Shield Hero deserves much more than empty words."

Melty opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Her earlier conviction had all but evaporated, leaving her standing there, exposed in front of these powerful leaders. At least Faubrey wasn't here. He would've definitely made her feel worse.

Lady Verena, who had remained quiet for most of the exchange, now spoke with a measured tone. "Enough. Scaring her will get us nowhere Strov." She turned her attention to Melty. "Princess, I understand your emotions, but you must learn to approach these matters more carefully. If you truly want to help the Shield Hero, you must be strategic, not impulsive.

Melty nodded weakly, her face burning with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. She had let her emotions get the better of her, and now she couldn't shake the feeling that she had just unintentionally shown a side of herself she rarely allowed to be seen. Her impulsive outburst wasn't typical of her usual self-control, and while she had always been mature for her age, this moment had exposed her vulnerability.

She wasn't someone who spoke without thinking—usually. But now, she feared this one misstep might overshadow the diplomacy and tact she and her mother had worked so hard to cultivate for her. How could she gain the respect of these leaders now? Would they see her as anything more than a woman who lets her emotions get the better of her, getting caught in situations of her own making?

Her gaze flickered briefly to her mother, seeking some kind of reassurance, but Queen Mirelia's expression remained as unreadable as ever. She was a queen first, always composed, never showing the cracks Melty felt opening beneath her feet.

The room was quiet for a long moment. Even Strov, who had been so quick to challenge her, seemed to be considering something. But instead of pressing further, he simply turned his eyes away, his frustration with her clear but momentarily subdued.

Garaan's sharp voice broke the silence. "There's no need to dwell on this, Strov. We all understand the stakes. Now, let's go back to how we can salvage this situation before it gets even worse." He shot Melty a brief, unreadable look, perhaps sensing the vulnerability she was trying to hide. He lets out a deep sigh.

Garaan's voice softened slightly, though his tone still carried a hint of his usual calculated seriousness. "You're a young kid, don't let this little mishap of yours affect your future actions. Your mother sees much promise for you as a future leader. We all do as well." He pauses for a second before grinning. "You're definitely much better at this than your sister, I'll say that much."

He leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, a grin still etched on his face.

Melty's heart skipped a beat at Garaan's words. His unexpected praise caught her off guard, and for a moment, she was unsure how to respond. The comparison to her sister stung, but she couldn't deny that his words carried a certain weight—an acknowledgment she hadn't anticipated.

She forced a smile, though it was small and unsure. She bowed her head in his direction. "Thank you, Lord Garaan," she said, her voice steady despite the sudden rush of emotions. "I will do my best to prove myself."

While the compliment felt hollow compared to the weight of the situation, she couldn't help but feel a faint spark of hope. Maybe she could still earn their respect—not just because of who she was, but because of what she was capable of.

Queen Mirelia, sensing the mounting tension and knowing further debate would yield little, spoke with poised authority. "I understand the gravity of the situation, and while Garaan's words may hold some merit, it's clear that emotions are running too high for any productive resolution tonight. It has grown late, and we've made little headway. I propose we reconvene tomorrow, with clearer minds and a fresh perspective."

Strov's brow furrowed in irritation, his pride still unyielding, but he couldn't deny the wisdom in Queen Mirelia's words. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping impatiently against the armrest. After a tense silence, he finally grumbled under his breath and gave a short, reluctant nod.

"Fine. We'll continue this tomorrow, but don't think for a second this is over, Queen Mirelia." His voice dropped, simmering with frustration. "The Shield Hero's fate is not something I'll allow to be delayed any longer.

Melty held her breath, relieved to see the conversation at least paused for the night. But the weight of what had been said still hung in the air. Tomorrow would surely be a difficult day, but for now, at least the tension had ebbed, even if only slightly.

The other leaders stood, their movements sharp and decisive as they prepared to leave the room. Strov and Verena, however, paused at the door, glancing back over their shoulders. Their eyes lingered on Queen Mirelia and Princess Melty, who remained unmoving, their silence echoing the tension still thick in the air.

Strov's gaze was sharp as if he were weighing something at the moment, while Verena's face remained unreadable. Neither spoke, but the unspoken challenge in the room was palpable. As they turned to leave, the heavy weight of their silence remained, leaving the Queen and her daughter alone in the room.

BOOM!

The loud sound of the large metal doors slamming shut reverberated through the room, causing the walls to almost tremble. Yet, neither Queen Mirelia nor Melty reacted to the noise, their composure unshaken.

Melty stood there, uneased, her body frozen in place. Her head remained still, but her eyes darted back and forth—first to her mother, who sat calm and poised, and then to the now vacant chairs in front of them. The weight of the tension in the air was suffocating, and Melty couldn't help but feel the weight of the meeting still pressing down on her.

Then, to her surprise, a soft giggle broke the silence. Melty's eyes widened, her gaze snapping toward her mother. She hadn't expected that sound, not from her, and definitely not after everything that had happened. Before Melty could speak or question her, Queen Mirelia's voice broke in, her tone light, almost amused.

"Garaan's right, you are better than your sister.

Melty blinked in disbelief, unsure if she had heard her mother correctly.

Author's Note:

Hey everyone! Just a quick heads-up—the next chapter will have a significant time skip, likely a week or two, maybe more. I'll be skipping ahead because not much will change during this time and things play out pretty much exactly like the light novel and anime. The only difference is with Itsuki, but I'm sure you don't want to read about him killing frogs for five chapters straight.