Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (LN) - Volume 3 - Chapter Ep

Epilogue: Name 

We were progressing on our journey to the southwest. 

We didn’t have a carriage, so we all had to ride on Filo. It got old really fast. 

“Should we steal a carriage somewhere?” 

We already had bounty hunters after us. What was one little carriage? 

“NO!” 

Filo shouted in disagreement. 

“If we have to steal a carriage, I don’t want to pull it!” 

I guess Filo was developing quite a sense of justice. 

“Well, I don’t want to steal one either, but riding on you all the time gets tiring.” 

“What do you think, Princess?” 

“Hmm…” 

The princess looked perplexed by my question. 

What was bothering her? 

“It might be a little dangerous, but it might be best to send Raphtalia to a nearby village to buy one.” 

That was probably a good idea. Or should we have asked Shadow for help? 

“The sun is getting low in the sky. Let’s stop for a rest, shall we?” 

“Yeah! Oh…” 

I’d agreed with her idea, but the princess was still looking at me with a scowl. 

What was wrong with her? 

Filo’s stomach was audibly rumbling. 

“I’m hungry!” 

“You eat so much, Filo!” 

Mel poked Filo with her index finger. 

“Heh, heh.” 

I’m glad they were friends and all, but they were starting to act like a stupid couple. It was annoying. 

I finished making the campfire and moved on to dinner. 

“Here you go, Princess.” 

I finished making dinner and was handing a plate of it to the princess— but she was still scowling at me. 

What was wrong with her? 

“Mel, aren’t you going to eat too?” 

“Yes, but…” 

She stole a glance at me then flicked her gaze away. She was worried about something. 

But what? 

“What’s wrong?” 

“It’s nothing.” 

When Raphtalia asked her what was wrong, she reached out and snatched the plate of dinner I’d been offering. 

“What’s wrong with you, Mel?” 

“Um…” 

Mel was acting strange enough that even Filo was concerned now. 

“You know I don’t have brainwashing powers, right?” 

“I know that!” 

She quickly turned and looked away. 

Though honestly she wasn’t acting so weird—all things considered. She was playing with Filo, and smiling and talking with Raphtalia. 

She was only acting upset with me. She ignored me. 

I had no idea what the problem was. 

“Don’t say that.” 

“Huh? What is it, Princess?” 

She was shaking, and she had muttered something. 

“What did I say?” 

“Don’t call me ‘Princess’ anymore!” 

She shouted. Her eyes were filled with tears. 

“Why are you so upset?” 

“I have a name, you know! It’s Melty!” 

“What? Why are you stating the obvious?” 

“I’m upset, Shield Hero, that you won’t call me by my name! You used to call me Mel!” 

The princess must just be venting the stress from our long journey. She was scratching her head and acting hysterical. 

Filo and Raphtalia were watching the princess freak out. They were clearly just as surprised as I was. 

“I’ll tell you again! I have a name. It’s Melty. But the Shield Hero keeps calling me ‘the younger princess!’ That’s my title, not my name!” 

“What? You wanted me to call you by your name?” 

“That’s not why I’m upset! Why do you treat me differently than everyone else does?!” 

“Treat you differently? It’s not like you’ve been part of my party for very long!” 

“But I’m sharing in your successes and trials, aren’t I? Don’t call me by my title!” 

“And yet, you call me the ‘Shield Hero.’” 

The princess seemed to understand. 

“Shield Hero” isn’t my name, after all. 

“Fine, I’m going to call you Naofumi then. I’ll call you Naofumi, so I expect you to call me Melty!” 

“Oh man…” 

“See?! Say it, Naofumi! Call me Melty!” 

I didn’t like the idea of acting all familiar. 

She was very polite with Raphtalia, but we have to act like we are really close all of a sudden? 

Still, I didn’t want her calling me “Mister” or anything. That would remind me of my time with the Bitch. She used to call me “Mr. Shield Hero.” 

If I tried to disagree now, she was sure to cause more trouble, and besides, she had helped us protect Filo in the last fight. 

As far as I knew, she hadn’t lied to us either—and she had tried to reconcile the Trash with me, at least until the knights jumped in and messed it all up. Thinking back even further, she’d saved us way back when Motoyasu had caused a scene in the middle of town. 

She hadn’t lied, and apparently she hadn’t been trying to steal Filo from us either. 

I had my doubts about believing anyone from this world, but if I was going to believe anyone, I guess I could believe in her. 

Filo was naive and innocent, but she was a good judge of character. If Filo believed in her, I guess I could try believing in her too. 

“Okay, fine. Melty. Is that better?” 

“Yeah! You better stick to it!” 

“Okay, okay.” 

So she was going to freak out anytime I called her “Princess”? That could get annoying really fast. 

“That was surprising.” 

Sure, Filo was crazy and loud, but she wasn’t hysterical. She only went nuts in a childish kind of way. 

Mel and Filo were similar in that way, probably because they were around the same age. 

“Oh Princess Melty, I didn’t know that you were so upset.” 

“Raphtalia, please stop calling me ‘Princess!’” 

“Very well, Ms. Melty.” 

“That’s better!” 

I wonder how Raphtalia felt about that. She had started calling me by my name back when we fought the two-headed dog. I guess when we used our names, it was kind of proof that we’d grown close. 

“Raphtalia, I’m glad you aren’t so picky.” 

She was only a real handful in the beginning, but she had eventually come around. 

Unlike Filo, she fought traditionally, with a sword. Since I was the Shield, we were really compatible. When we were selling things, she could run the shop. When we were on the run, she wore a disguise. She was always a big help. 

“Is that a compliment?” 

“Sure.” 

“And I guess you’re being serious?” she huffed. 

“What’s wrong, Master?” 

Filo now? 

I didn’t like the idea of Filo calling me by my name… 

“Filo, don’t use my name.” 

“Why?!” 

“He, he… Filo is the odd one out!” 

“But why? Why? How come I’m the only one that can’t use your name?!” 

“Go ahead and try.” 

“Naofumi!” 

I didn’t even get a “Mister?” And she over-pronounced every syllable. It didn’t feel right. 

“Yeah, I don’t think so. And can’t I get an honorific?” 

“Nanny, nanny, booboo!” 

“Okay Filo, relax.” 

“But!” 

“Melty’s right. Filo, you just call me Master. You could call that ‘being left out,’ but on the flip side, it makes you special!” 

“Boo!” 

“Fine. I raised you, so how about ‘Papa?’ ‘Dad?’ ‘Father?’” 

“Um… I don’t like that!” 

“Why?” 

Fair enough, I didn’t like the idea of such a big thing calling me “Papa,” anyway. 

“I’d rather call you ‘Master’ than ‘Father!’” 

“Right? Okay, then stick with that.” 

I wonder if she had some kind of motivation for preferring one word to another? Whatever. 

“Naofumi.” 

“What?”