Chapter 74: The Queen

Firo: "Master!?"

Firo anxiously holds on to me, concerned that I am covered in blood.

My shield has changed to the Chimeric Viper Shield by itself.

"What horrible wounds! Someone, help Master!"

A woman, looking like the commander of the punitive force, runs towards us.

Melty: "Mother!?"

Melty exclaims in surprise when she sees the commander.

That reminds me... The head of the punitive force looks like the person that was with Melty when I first met her.

I couldn't get a good look because of her fan, though.

Queen: "Your efforts this time were quite amazing, Hero of the Shield-sama."

She might be the reason that the pope was trapped.

Queen: "Everybody, treatment for Hero of the Shield-sama is a top priority! This is a royal order - We must not fail to save Hero of the Shield-sama's life!"

All: "Yes Ma'am!"

The punitive force's treatment team gathers around me and begins chanting magic.

Treatment team: "Doraifa ・ Heal"

Light surrounds me… but there is no sign of the pain receding.

"Ar-are you cursed…? … but for it to be so strong..."

The treatment team cast purification magic, but it had no effect, much to their suprise.

Queen: "Do a thorough examination! Everyone, please hurry!"

The queen issues instructions to the treatment team and Firo follows hastily.

Naofumi: "Ugh..."

My whole body is screaming in pain, but I must not lose consciousness here.

I still do not know whether or not the queen is friend or foe.

Naofumi: "Y-you are the queen?"

Queen: "Yes, I am the queen of Melromark, Mirelia Q. Melromark. I'm sorry I couldn't help earlier."

Tsl note: I have corrected Merlot Mark to Melromark and removed the = since they are just spaces.

Naofumi: "...You were definitely slow."

Oh, what does it matter?

Do you have power? Are you the true ruler of this country?

Do you really see the big picture behind this event?

There are a million things I want to ask, my grudge towards her eldest daughter and the trash start to  begin with.

Queen: "Really...this time was all my fault."

Melty: "Mother..."

Bitch: "Mama, why are you apologizing to such a person!?"

When the bitch impeached, I could see a few veins pulse on the queen's smiling face.

Queen: "Malty... prepare yourself. There are a many things that I must tell you after we return to the castle."

Gogogo... (Sfx: The air trembling)

Though I'm not the one that this anger is directed at, a chill still runs up my spine.

With the snap of the Queen's fingers, a shadow appears behind the bitch and arrests her.

Bitch: "Wait, Mama!"

Queen: "Silence this fool at once."

Gaurds: "Yes Ma'am!"

The bitch's mouth is covered by a cloth.

Motoyasu: "W-What are you doing to Mein!?"

Queen: "I am Mei-... Malty's mother. By my authority as Queen, the fight between you heroes is temporarily suspended until we get back to the castle. Let's return to Melromarc castle and rest."

Motoyasu and the other heroes fall silent due to the Queen's aura of authority.

Queen: "Now then, Hero of the Shield-sama... No… Naofumi Iwatani-sama, your treatment is our top priority, so please rest. Everything will be prepared immediately."

The treatment team starts bringing out various magical tools, medicines, and holy water to use on me.

I feel like an emergency patient in an ambulance.

Naofumi: "But..."

Why did the queen come here? Why isn't she in the country to the southwest?

Queen: "I know what you want to ask. Why was I outside of this country for so long?  Why I am leading the punitive force?  Why did I not come defend you sooner?... There are many things that you need to know… However, that wait until after you are healed."

Raphtalia: "Naofumi-sama!"

Raphtalia anxiously runs to my side while crying.

Raphtalia: "I thought your heart stopped! Are you okay!?"

Naofumi: "Who...knows..."

I feel like I have some serious wounds.

My whole body hurts, it would be too difficult to stand up. (Ed note: Except his toes, his toes feel fine!)

Firo, in her human form, and Melty come from the carriage.

Treatment Team Member: "What terrible wounds... Hurry, come over here."

One of the treatment team members see Firo's burnt limbs and calls her over.

However, Firo doesn't want to leave my side to receive treatment, for she is worried about my wounds.

Firo: "But, Master is..."

Naofumi: "It's alright Firo, Naofumi-sama will be cured by these people. Go have your wounds healed."

Raphtalia gently strokes Firo's head and whispers this anxiously.

Firo: "But..."

Raphtalia: "Naofumi-sama would hate to be responsible for scarring Firo."

Will you listen to her, Firo…?  …Gah, it can't be helped.

Normally she is so selfish and carefree, but to be so anxious for my sake…

Naofumi: "I'll be fine, so go over there."

I manage to squeeze out some instructions for Firo. When Firo reluctantly leaves to receive healing, the treatment member nods at me.

The treatment team uses different recovery magic that seems to be effective against the curse.

"What a strong curse...!" Mutters one of the healers.

Yeah, this certainly is a strong curse.

It literally says Curse Series.

Since it's very effective, the price for using it is equally as high, such as directly receiving the curse myself.

It is very different from a normal spell.

Treatment Team Leader: "Prepare for Group Synthesis Magic [Sanctuary]"

Are they going to use that to remove the rest of Self-Curse Burning?

They aren't believers of the Three Heroes Church, right? What religion are they following, then?

It does not appear to be the "Shield Religion".

As I think about such things, my eyelids become heavy and it starts to get dark.

Raphtalia: "Naofumi-sama!"

Melty: "Naofumi!"

Raphtalia and Melty shake me awake.

Naofumi: "Yeah? What's wrong?"

Raphtalia: "Please stay conscious properly."

Naofumi: "What are you saying?  It's not like I'm dying."

Well, in this situation I certainly might die.

Though I have no intention to die here, this world still exhausts me in various ways.

I want to sleep... just a little… but, I can't sleep yet - we are still far from safety.

Unfortunately, I am unable to do anything in my present state.

In that case...

Naofumi: "Raphtalia, if something happens, run away with Melty on Firo."

Raphtalia: "Understood, but I will be taking Naofumi-sama too. So no matter what, please wake up."

Naofumi: "Okay. I'll just sleep a little... if anything happens wake me up."

During this exchange a memory surfaces…

…a Raphtalia still looking like a child… one who would always cry and scream at night.

…a Raphtalia that had to be ordered to do everything…

Naofumi: "My bad. It looks like there's no breakfast this time."

R"...It's fine, because this time, I'll defend Naofumi-sama while you sleep.

Tsl Note: Referring to where Raphtalia was crying and screaming at night by the river and Naofumi defended her all night from monsters

After getting off these last few words, my vision fades to black and I enter the dream world.

*****Two Days Later*****

Melty: "Ugh...Heavy."

Raphtalia: "Su...Su..."

Firo: "Munya...Master~"

Melty: "Heavy...Help.....Firo-chan..."

When I awake, I see Raphtalia, Firo, and Melty all on my bed.

Naofumi: "What the hell is this?! Get up!"

I wake the three of them up immediately and scold them.

Instead of them looking down, all three of them smile.

I am told that I got urgently rushed to receive treatment in Melromarc Castle.

The curse caused by Blutopfer was very serious, and even specialized curse treatments couldn't remove it completely.

When I ask how it can be cured, I'm told that it cannot be cured by magic or medicine. Time is the only cure.

However, the burns and scratches I had were healed, and my I have recovered physically. I only feel lethargic.

When I check my stats, everything except defense has dropped by 30%.

It seems that until Blutopfer's curse is cured completely, they will remain debuffed.

This is the price I pay for meddling in troublesome things.

Naofumi: "So, how long until I recover?"

Healer: "It will take roughly one month for you to make a complete recovery."

A month huh...that's long.

Will I recover before the next wave?

That reminds me… so I was unable to go to Silt Welt after all…

We ended up in a strange position trying to class up Raphtalia and Firo.

Queen: "How is your condition?"

While I was lamenting about the absurdity of the world, the queen came over to ask about my condition.

I do some stretches to show my body's condition.

Naofumi: "..."

I feel that I can trust her a little since she ensured that I was properly cared for even while I was unconscious.

The queen also had asked the treatment team at the hospital how I was doing.

Queen: "I see… Then kindly follow me."

Naofumi: "Where are we going?"

Queen: "We are going to the castle."

The queen produces her fan and hides her face, emitting a strange pressure.

Melty: "Mother is scary when she's angry..."

Melty hides behind my back, trembling.

I do feel an unpleasant atmosphere… Is that anger?

Naofumi: "Are you going to execute me?"

Queen: "I will do no such thing. Iwatani-sama."

I see her smiling and the atmosphere lightens.

Does the fact that I wasn't attacked in my sleep mean that I'm safe?

Queen: "I just think that Iwatani-sama would like to witness what will happen. Hohoho."

Naofumi: "What do you intend to do?"

Queen: "Please come to the castle, I am sure that you will enjoy this. There are various things that I need to talk to you about as well. I shall answer anything you wish after that, alright?"

It seems that the queen has created a situation in which I have no choice but to go to the castle.

She is necessary for me to prove my innocence, so there is no way I can refuse.

Well, there is no reason to decline her invitation for now.

Naofumi: "I want to ask one thing first."

Queen: "I would prefer to talk after we arrive at the castle but... What is it?"

Naofumi: "You...Did you send Melty to me so she would get involved in this incident?"

This is the problem I am most worried about.

Depending on her answer, there may be the possibility that all the heroes will be rounded up gotten rid of at the castle, all according to the Queen's plan.

Queen: "...Your concern is only a baseless fear… Is that the answer that you are looking for?"

Melty: "Eh!?"

Melty is trembling while staring at her mother.

Queen: "Melty didn't say so, but she wanted to meet her father so much that she couldn't sleep at night. So I let her be selfish and meet him."

Meeting that trash... I was feeling uneasy at the thought the queen sent would Melty to meet him.

Queen: "There is no need to worry. When this thing happened, I told Shadow my idea."

Naofumi: "Idea?"

Queen: "Yes, I entrusted Melty to the Hero of the Shield.  If you had tried to murder her, then you would have been arrested."

The queen snaps her fingers and suddenly a group of assassins appear.

Naofumi: "What an annoying story."

Queen: "...I apologize to have troubled you. However, I think that many problems have been solved."

Naofumi: "You're misunderstanding… What would you have done if Melty had died!?"

I cannot hide my sympathy for Melty as she looks down sadly.

Queen: "There were always two bodyguards following her and supporting you in various ways."

Naofumi: "I see..."

Queen: "For example, the one knight who tried to assassinate her."

One of the shadows transforms into the shape of a knight, just like that anime with the phantom thief!

Queen: "Villager."

One of the villagers who helped us in village to the east.

Queen: "Merchant from neighboring country."

Even the guys from the neighboring country that thanked me...

Certainly, it was strange for a person from a neighboring country to show up, but…

Queen: "I'll explain the circumstances later. Do you still doubt me after the shadow appeared when Melty was truly in danger?"

That reminds me... a shadow did appear when the Church ambushed us.

However, that was a really dangerous situation so I wasn't thinking straight.

Firo and I were the only ones able to nullify the Three Heroes Church shadow's poison...

Melty: "Mother... did you know I might have been killed?"

Queen: "It was a possibility."

Melty hangs her head when the queen answers her flatly.

Well, as expected of the Parent of Bitch and Wife of Trash – she is quite fine with being a bad person.

Naofumi: "Are you people really parents?"

Queen: "I could not argue about that even if I were one. There are many lies told over the years... Let's see… Do you understand what it takes to be Queen of this country for an extended period of time?"

Well... Even if I guess I won't understand.

This person... I can only agree that she is Trash's wife.

Queen: "But...I believed in Iwatani-sama. Is this a suitable answer?"

Naofumi: "...Coward."

Queen: "I could not otherwise protect this country."

Naofumi: "Hah...Wouldn't it have been better if you hadn't arrived?"

Raphtalia: "Naofumi-sama!?"

Raphtalia speaks anxiously.

Naofumi: "It seems you are unable to refute it. I won't spread rumors, don't worry. In the first place, if we were enemies, I would not have received treatment from your men."

Queen: "Yes… Certainly… Now, I think you will want to be present for what is about to happen."

If we share a mutual interest, then there is no problem with us lending each other a hand.

I don't know what you are after, Queen, but if necessary I will use the Wrath Shield again.

Queen: "I brought the carriage of the holy bird here. You should go get both it and your luggage."

Firo: "Really!?"

At the queen's words Firo steps forwards excitedly.

Queen: "Truly. It is in front of the hospital, if you desire to confirm my statement."

Firo: "Yay~! Mel-chan, let's go!"

Melty: "Okay!"

Firo and Melty run out of the room together.

She really loves that carriage huh…

After watching them run off, I stare at the queen.

Naofumi: "I feel disgusted."

Although I have received some goodwill, I do not know her real intentions.

The queen has antagonized the Three Heroes Church, and furthermore treated the devil of the shield favorably. I wish to know why.

I can't even think of a reason for her actions.

I do not believe she has some noble reason, such as fighting the wave together.

There may still information that I am lacking…

Queen: "I have a goal and I will use any means necessary to achieve it. Although the way we go about things is different, I believe I have the same feelings as Iwatani-sama."

Similar feelings to me....

I don't know why, but I feel that I somewhat understand what she means.

After coming to this world, I have experienced many things, from slavery to dragons to heros.

At least this one person is speaking to me as an equal.

Naofumi: "I will follow your instructions for now."

Queen: "I am grateful. Iwatani-sama."

After obtaining my consent, the queen smiles.

The smile has a strong sense of determination mixed in.

Queen: "Auckley...Malty.... This isn't over yet...."

Tsl note: Auckley = Trash king for those who forgot.