The Rising of the Shield Hero is a light novel originally posted on the "Let's Become a Novelist" website. It was adapted into an anime in 2019, and its long-awaited second season will begin in April 2022. To recap, we've summarized the contents of Season 1! This is the second part, covering the story from the end of the second wave through to the end of Season 1!
The Shield Hero kidnaps the second princess, Melty!?
Although the Shield Hero's efforts repelled the waves, the conflict between the King and the Shield Hero became decisive. Melty tries to repair their relationship, but her subordinates frame Naofumi for her kidnap and attempt to assassinate her. Naofumi takes the opportunity to escape with Melty, but it's clear that his sister, Myne, is pulling the strings. Myne brings along the other three heroes to expose Naofumi and his companions.
The Past of Raphtalia, Servant of the Shield Hero!
During their escape, the group comes near the site of the destruction caused by the first wave. This was Raphtalia's hometown, a place that suffered great damage. However, Raphtalia's hometown suffered more damage from the rioting of the country's soldiers than from the direct damage caused by the waves. The background to this was that an influential lord who sought reconciliation with the demi-humans was killed by the waves, which prompted the king to expel the pro-reconciliation nobles. This was also the reason Raphtalia was sold as a slave.
Rescue the Captive Melty!
She somehow finds shelter with a sympathetic lord, but he is captured and Melty is taken away. The nobleman who abducted Melty was Idol, who had previously attacked Raphtalia's village, enslaving and tormenting the beastmen. Raphtalia, her best friend Rifana, and the other beastmen were all tortured by Idol, until Rifana lost her life. Naofumi and his friends stormed into the nobleman's mansion and rescued her from Idol's clutches, but Idol fell from a great height. Naofumi and his friends decided to recover Rifana's body and hold a funeral at the place where Raphtalia had once been held captive. However, there was one survivor among the captives. He was Keel, a beastman who Raphtalia had known from her village.
Idol Resurrects the Tyrant Dragon Rex
After rescuing Keel, they head outside to find Idol alive. In a fit of madness, Idol unseals a monster sealed within the city. The revived Tyrant Dragon Rex rampages through the city, but with Filo's help, they manage to lure it outside. However, there are limited ways to counter this powerful monster. Suddenly, a horde of Filolials appears, along with Fitoria, the queen who leads the Filolials. Fitoria easily defeats the dragon.
Fitoria and Filo's Battle
Fitoria takes Naofumi and his companions to the Filolial Sanctuary, where she scolds the Four Holy Heroes for their ongoing internal conflict. However, Naofumi, who has been framed and betrayed, has no intention of making any concessions of his own. Seeing Naofumi like this, Fitoria takes Melty hostage and demands that he make peace with the heroes. She threatens to kill all of them if he doesn't, but this proposal is still unacceptable to Naofumi. Fitoria then proposes a one-on-one duel with Filo. Although it was a forceful offer, Filo was determined to determine whether the Shield Hero was trustworthy.
Shield Hero vs. Spear Hero Again
Naofumi, reluctant to accept Fitoria's words, positively considers reconciling with the other heroes. However, just as he was about to head out to negotiate, he was attacked by the terrifying Spear Hero, Motoyasu. Motoyasu had heard that Naofumi had killed the Sword Hero and Bow Hero, and blindly believed the false information from his companions. Believing that Naofumi was the one who unleashed the monsters on the city and brainwashed Raphtalia, Melty, and the others, Filo vowed to avenge them without even confirming it herself. Of course, behind the scenes, there was Myne, who was manipulating Motoyasu.
The True Nature of the Church of the Three Heroes!? The Shield Hero and the Spear Hero are Cornered
During Naofumi and Motoyasu's duel, Filo suddenly senses something. Panicked, she interrupts the duel and tells Naofumi to strengthen his defenses. Naofumi does as instructed and takes up a defensive stance, but immediately afterwards, a rain of incredibly powerful magic rains down. Naofumi's shield powers manage to avert any harm, but the attack is intended to wipe out Melty and Myne, the two heirs to the throne, as well as the Four Holy Heroes. This attack is from the Pope and his followers of the Church of the Three Heroes, who are supposed to worship everyone except the Shield Hero. To the Church of the Three Heroes, the Shield Hero is a demon, and the other heroes are a nuisance. The Pope assassins the heroes and princesses, and also reveals that he has already killed the Sword Hero and the Bow Hero. Outraged at having been tricked, Motoyasu turns his back on Naofumi and tries to join forces with him, but Naofumi has no intention of forgiving his past actions.
All Four Holy Heroes Assemble!
However, the Pope was a formidable opponent, wielding powerful weapons fueled by the magical energy of his followers. While the Spear Hero's attacks were completely ineffective, Naofumi and his friends were joined by the Sword Hero, Ren, and the Bow Hero, Itsuki, who were thought to be dead. Just before they were assassinated, the two were rescued by a shadow directly under the Queen. Although dissatisfied, Naofumi chose to join forces with the three heroes and fight the Church of the Three Heroes to overcome this predicament.
Activate the Curse Shield! The Pope is dead!
The group struggles against the Pope, who uses the lives of his followers to unleash powerful attacks. Naofumi attempts to use the power of his trump card, the Cursed Shield, but is nearly consumed by the Pope's rage. However, with the support of Raphtalia and Filo, he regains his senses and defeats the Pope with the evolved Curse Shield. However, the price he pays is that Naofumi loses consciousness and loses consciousness.
The Truth Behind the Church of the Three Heroes and the Persecution of the Shield Hero
After waking up, Naofumi is briefed by the Queen about the current situation. The King's conspiracy with the Church of the Three Heroes to frame the Shield Hero stemmed from a conflict with demi-humans. In the demi-human country of Sildveld, the Shield Hero is worshipped, while humans are treated like slaves. Despite an agreement to summon one hero from each country and share their powers, the King unilaterally summoned all the heroes. This left the Queen stranded, trying to avoid war. It turns out that every country has internal problems, like the current king or the Church of the Three Heroes, and it would be impossible to send the Shield Hero to the demi-human country.
Restoring the Shield Hero's Honor! The Scum and the Bitch Condemned
By order of the princess, the acting king, Orthoclay, and the first princess, Myne, are brought before the Four Holy Heroes and the princess. There, they are exposed for conspiring with the Church of the Three Heroes to frame the Shield Hero, especially for Myne's initial stigma of being a rapist and her attempted assassination of his sister, Melty. With the slave mark carved into her, Myne is unable to lie, and her misdeeds are exposed throughout the country, finally clearing the Shield Hero's name. Orthoclay and Myne were about to be publicly executed, but Naofumi told them to live their lives as shameful scum and bitches, so the execution was called off. Orthoclay will live as scum and Myne as a bitch (adventurer name: whore).
Earn experience points on Cal Mira Island!
Due to their lack of skill in the previous wave, the group attempts to level up on Cal Mira Island, where they can efficiently earn experience points through a phenomenon called activation. However, as usual, the other heroes are disorganized and trying to outwit each other. On the boat to Cal Mira Island, Naofumi and his friends meet two adventurers, L'Arc and Therese. As usual, the heroes are scattered, but they deepen their bond by fighting alongside L'Arc and Therese. However, Naofumi finds the hourglass in the underwater temple and learns that a wave is approaching.
The fourth wave is coming! Unexpected Betrayal
During the fourth wave, the boss is defeated with the help of the Queen's reinforcements and the help of L'Arc and Teris. However, L'Arc, who Naofumi thought was an ally, suddenly turns hostile and attacks Naofumi. Furthermore, Glass, who attacked during the third wave, joins them. They learn that they are heroes from another world, and that the wave from another world can only be stopped by defeating the hero from that other world. The battle with Glass is back and forth, but thanks to the quick thinking of Itsuki's companion, Rishia, they are able to corner Glass, but time runs out. However, after the battle, Rishia was banished by Itsuki, and Motoyasu and Naofumi, unable to bear seeing her, rescued her.
[The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2] A Look Back at Season 2 (Part 2)
With Season 2 of The Rising of the Shield Hero set to air soon, we've compiled a summary of Season 1. This is the second part, and includes episodes 1 through 12, in which Naofumi continues his journey despite being disgraced and dishonored, so be sure to check that out too!
