" ": You talking

' ': You thinking

* *: Narrator/Voice-off

Your POV:

Blacksmith: Oh ! OHHHH ! It's mister Shield and Staff ! It's been a while ! You been doing well ? I was pretty surprised when I heard there was a bounty on you...

"Yeah, things got a little hectic back there. But it's all better now."

Naofumi: It's because we had your equipment that we made it through safely. Thank you.

Raphtalia: Thank you so much !

Filo: Thanks !!

Blacksmith: haha, don't worry about it ! By the way, did you try using that ? That thing I made for your shield.

Naofumi: Oh, that covering accessory ? It produced some effect once, then it broke.

Blacksmith: Effect ?

"Wasn't that the idea ?"

Blacksmith: Well, uh, just a little curiosity on my part. So it broke... I see... It's the one-of-a-kind legendary shield ! I thought I might be able to analyze it a bit...

Naofumi: Analyze it... ?

Blacksmith: Sorry... For not telling you.

Naofumi: Don't worry about it. We actually came here to ask a favor about the Shield.

Blacksmith: WHAT ?! WEAPON DUPLICATION ?!!

"From what those moro- I mean, our colleagues told us, if it's the same type of weapon, it should be possible to copy it by grasping it."

Blacksmith: Should be... ? You're basically saying loud and proud that you want to steal stuff from my store. I recall the other heroes gathering a bunch of weapons, but never having bought a single one... To think that was how... !

"Well, if it does work, of course we'll pay for the copied weapon, after all."

Blacksmith: Hahahaha !! You really get it, don't you ?! Well, you're good friends of mine. let's try it out with a special shield of mine !

Naofumi: Special ?

Blacksmith: The meteoric shield. It's from a still prototype series, so you won't see them around much.

Naofumi: Alright...

Blacksmith: ... ? Nothing's happening... ?

"Shhh..."

Naofumi: ... 'I believe. It's simple and thus difficult. The distrust I hold towards them... The anxiety about being deceived and treated as a fool... Won't go away. That's why the one I believe right now... Is my shield. In order to live, I believe in you ! If even the legendary Shield deceives me, then that's how it is...'

"Success !"

Naofumi: I did it... ! 'I can do it too ! Weapon duplication !'

Naofumi: I haven't seen this interface before... C... C for common ?

"Rarity, I suppose..."

Naofumi: There's even a number for refinement level.

"So in the end, no one was wrong... All the different systems those three were arguing about were real. Could it be possible that you weren't able to access the other mechanisms, simply because they didn't believed it was possible... ?"

Naofumi: That reminds me of something... Fitoria's words weight even heavier now...

"At this rate, they'll just found themselves in a dead-end, unable to grow stronger..."

Raphtalia: "Everyone's opinion is correct, we should accept all of them"... Will they really take it to heart ?

"The least we can do is try... At least."

Naofumi: It's not like we really have a choice there.

Raphtalia: Those are... the followers of the Sword hero, I think...

Naofumi: Perfect ! Hey ! You guys !

Followers: ! Oh ! The Shield and Staff heroes...

"We need to speak to Ren, where is he ?"

Follower: I can relay a message if that's what you'd like.

"No, we need to speak to him directly. Is he not with you ?"

Follower: Yes. So that we don't get in his way, we act separately...

Naofumi: Separately... ? Even when grinding levels ?

Follower: Yes.

Filo: What ? Filo would be so lonely like that...

"Considering what happened to his last party members... At least he's taking things the safe way..."

Naofumi: Well, your training policies are your own. Will Ren be heading back to the castle ?

Follower: We're here in town today to procure supplies... Lord Ren has already left for...

Mirellia: Amaki has already left for Cal Mira island ?

"Yeah... According to his followers, he's already at the harbor..."

Mirellia: I see. Actually, Kitamura and Kawasumi were also in a hurry this morning...

"Motoyasu and Itsuki too ?!"

Naofumi: These fools... ! With this, all hope of cooperation is basically done for ! What was the point of that meeting, then ?!

"It's so obvious to predict their next move... Each one of them is trying to one-up the rest of us by leaving early..."

Mirellia: Well, even if they leave the castle early, the ship I've prepared will not be sailing earlier. They'll just be forced to wait.

Naofumi: There was a discovery we wanted to speak about...

Mirellia: Then should I put my instructions in writing, just to make sure ? Iwatani sir ?

Naofumi: It's nothing. We leave it to you.

'The plan is already in pieces. There's just no way to install any kind of "trust" between us... If things continue that way then... The future is grim...'

Mirellia: By the way, I've made preparations for those who need to perform class advancement...

"Already done for Filo. So it's Raphtalia's turn now."

Mirellia: You forced her stats to go past their limit, yes, but you still have to determine her new set of skills.

"I suppose... Well, as long as it makes her stronger. Filo ?"

Filo: Yaaaaaay !!!

Mirellia: Alright. Then, touch the hourglass and concentrate.

Filo: Right !

"Wow-wow-WOW !"

Mirellia: It's a map displaying all her advancement potential. She's a magical beast in your employ, correct ? Then you are to select her path, Y/n sir.

"Me ? ... ... You know what, on second though."

*BEEP*

"I think Filo should decide by herself. Hear that Filo ? You decide !"

Filo: Hooray !! What should Filo choose ? Filo wants to be able to spit poison !

"Starting to regret my decision a little here..."

Naofumi: Raphtalia, you should decide for yourself as well. If you decide, you won't have any regrets.

Raphtalia: Regrets... ? I...

*POOF*

"Is it done ?"

Mirellia: Yes, it seems the "Path choice" part of the class advancement was completed without issue.

"Was that only a path choosing ? All of her stats suddenly doubled just now... I don't think it was supposed to happen..."

Mirellia: Everything doubled ?! Normally, even a normal, complete class-up would only make them goes up by about twenty percent !

"Well, I don't know what you just chose, Filo, but it seems you picked a good one."

Mirellia: Then, the next one.

Raphtalia: Oh, yes !

"Filo ? Something's wrong ?"

Filo: Umm... I... Couldn't make a choice.

"... What ?"

Filo: There was nothing I could pick... And it ended like that.

*POOF*

Raphtalia: ... Uh... Huh ? The class advancement is... Over ?

Filo: WAAAAAH !! Filo wanted to be able to spit poison !!

Mirellia: She couldn't select anything ? What might this mean ?

"I don't know everything about this, but there's one thing I'm sure of... I'll need to have a word with Fitoria as soon as possible..."

Mirellia: I've heard that, by using special devices, one can modify the class advancement procedure...

"Not surprising she can. I did it too myself after all... If doubling all stats is that unusual, it must be a consequence of her works."

Mirellia: if that is so and this is the blessing of the queen of Filolials, then is it not beneficial... ?

Naofumi: No ! It doesn't help them like this ! The day we're no longer with them, they must be able to decide their future on their own terms !

Raphtalia: ... ...

Filo: WAAAAH !!

"Naofumi. Right now, I think this more of a 'good' thing. They'll need to make their own decision, yes, but they'll also need to be strong enough on their own to achieve them."

Mirellia: If this is what you want, there is the possibility to start over...

Naofumi: Can we ?!

Mirellia: They'd have to reset their levels and start all over again, though...

Naofumi: That's... Impossible.

"Weren't you crying just a moment ago, Filo ? You sure switch moods fast..."

Filo: Well, I got a new cart to drive !

Raphtalia: Ah, Filo, take a right there.

Filo: Right !

Raphtalia: Welcome back, Rifana.

???: Raphtalia...

Raphtalia: K- Keel !!

Naofumi: So this is Raphtalia' hometown...

Noble: I heard you're heading to Cal Mira island. i'm glad I was able to contact you before you left.

Naofumi: ... They wanted to bury her... ?

Noble: Yes. We'd have liked to have done it earlier, but after that incident with the church, everything has been so chaotic... In my position, I've been trying to mediate between humans and semi-humans, and even if we see the shift to the church of the five heroes, the gap won't disappear any time soon...

Naofumi: ... What a pain.

Noble: Truly a pain.

Naofumi: ... Aren't there things that makes you resent it ? Don't you never ask "Why do I need to do this ?"

Noble: I get that feeling. All the time.

Noble: ... ...

Naofumi: ... ...

Noble: Hero, do you know ? Seaetto's lands are no more, but its daughters are yet alive. Like Raphtalia and Keel, there may yet be survivors from this village. I'd like them to have a place to return to.

Raphtalia: Thank you very much. I leave Keel in your care.

"Sorry about leaving you two so suddenly, we didn't wanted to interfere."

Naofumi: that's fine. Where were you anyway ?

"Baptizing Filo's new cart."

Naofumi: i'm scared...

"Filo, put these on. Now that you've got a new cart, it's time I teach you how to properly drive it."

Filo: We need sunglasses master ?

"We do. Now, behold, the way... of the drift !"

https://youtu.be/yuGFhEQGYK0

Naofumi: So that's why you were fixing the wheels... Don't do it anymore, please.

Raphtalia: ... ... ...

Naofumi: Raphtalia.

Raphtalia: ... yes ?

Naofumi: from now on, the state will cooperate with us. The other heroes are fools, and the chasm between humans and semi-humans won't simply disappear. But now, we have allies. Surely we'll be able to limit the casualties of the next wave.

"Not just 'Surely' We definitely will."

Raphtalia: ... Yes. Let's go ! To Cal Mira island !