The Rising of the Shield Hero (Original Japanese Version)

Due to Myne recklessly starting a 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.

Raphtalia corners Idol with vengeance in her eyes, her bloodthirsty blade reaching for his throat. Naofumi's words bring her back to her senses, but only for a moment.

As Naofumi and his party try to get the weakened kids to safety, Tyrant attacks them. Once Naofumi realizes that he's actually after Filo, he hatches a plan to lure him outside the city, but they can't even put a scratch on its massive body.

Fitoria tells Naofumi that she'll kill all Four Cardinal Heroes if they don't get back on the same page. She even takes Melty hostage, but Naofumi continues to refuse.

Naofumi decides to go straight up to the checkpost in order to talk it out with the other heroes. But there, he finds the one guy least likely to listen to him, Motoyasu, who attacks Naofumi without bothering to listen to what he has to say.

The Pope holds in his hands the ultimate weapon, which possesses the properties of all four cardinal weapons. Faced with its attack skill and its powerful defensive force field, Naofumi and gang are rendered helpless.

Naofumi and gang stay on the attack despite being trapped in the Pope's Great Cathedral, but its sacred subspace nullifies his Curse Shield. Naofumi turns to another Curse Shield, but the dragon's wrath threatens to swallow his mind whole.

After Naofumi survives with Mirelia's help, she tells him the truth behind the summoning of the heroes and the discrimination against the Shield Hero. She also promises to clear his name, and holds a trial for Aultcray and Myne's crimes.

After being unable to for so long, Naofumi finally gets to upgrade his party's classes. He then takes part in a meeting of the Four Cardinal Heroes, held under the guise of a celebratory banquet.

L'arc's friendly nature shines through, and Naofumi quickly takes a liking to him. After having a fun time grinding levels and a lively meal, Naofumi feels happy and fulfilled for the first time in this world.

Melromarc brings a large fleet to fight the Wave out at sea. While the queen takes charge and leads the operation, the other three heroes prove useless yet again, leaving Naofumi to do it alone.

It turns out that Glass, like L'arc, is also a hero from other world. Naofumi barely fights off their combo attacks and then corners Glass in a one-on-one battle, but is then faced with an all-important question: does he truly wish to protect this world?