Shield Hero With Barrier Magic

(Author Note: As I said, the situation here is hectic and even I don't know when the chapters will pop out. There is no schedule for the upcoming 15 days. Anyway, I changed my format of writing. I used a python code to do some changes like replacing '...' with '.' and during the start of a conversation, I replaced it with ':' instead of '-'. Well, I won't remove writing the names before conversation though. I will make two comments 'New style' and 'Old style' in the comment section. Like the one you prefer.)

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(next day morning)

(Third Person POV)

Hiro: "Alright, tell everything that happened when you are in Motoyasu's group as detailed as you can."

Currently, Hiro, Rino, and Rose are in a room where Hiro asked Rino for information. Eclair took Raphtalia out to train swordsmanship with her and she also doesn't want Raphtalia to hear all this. Rino told them every single detail of her time in Motoyasu's team. And in the end, Rino couldn't stop laughing at herself.

Rino: "Hahaha... How much of a fool I have been. Everyone who joined and left the party immediately. They are either dead or sold to slavery similar to my case. Hahaha..."

Hiro: "Yep, you have been a huge fool. Your former teammate knows everything and she chose to keep silent. Haa... I can't believe there is still someone who likes that delusional idiot. Wait for a second. "

Hiro thinks for a moment and once again analyzes Rino's story and starts smiling.

Hiro: "I see. Rino. The main one who is responsible for your situation is Elena."

Rino: "What? But she chose to stay out of it."

Hiro: "Elena knows everything. She likes Motoyasu and you liked him too. Bitch and her sidekick don't have a chance if Motoyasu finds their true colors but you are an obstacle as you are kind-hearted in the end. So, she made a plan to remove all the three of you. She knows that Bitch was never r.a.p.ed yet she discussed it with you and manipulated you so that you would talk about it to Motoyasu and she knows that it would anger Bitch who is already irritated with you, so the Bitch would do something about you and if Motoyasu finds about it, she can have Motoyasu for herself. Clever Bitch. She used your Bitch's cruelty and your foolishness really well. But unfortunately, she couldn't expect how delusional that bastard is. Well, in the end, one obstacle will be still removed for her."

Now it became clear to Rino. Elena cleverly orc.h.e.s.trated her every move. Rino laughed even louder.

Rino: "Hahaha... I thought of letting her go with slight punishment. I will kill them! I will kill them all!"

Hiro: "Hmm... Do you really want to do it?"

Rino: "Huh?"

Rino: "Never! I would quit the party next instant!"

Hiro: "Going by your story, Elena tried to tell you that many times in the hopes that you would leave the party. But you were so foolish that you kept thinking Motoyasu is just kind. She finally took this measure as you were going to accept Motoyasu because she doesn't want more competition, especially when the competition is just a foolish girl who likes Motoyasu for what he is not. She didn't do it with the intention to harm you unlike Bitch or her sidekick, she just did it with an intention to remove you out of the picture."

Rino couldn't deny it. Even though he was harsh, he is just saying the truth.

Hiro: "Rino. I think you are just blaming her for your foolishness."

Rino stopped laughing. She knew it. She knew it from the start but she kept denying it. But she won't deny the truth anymore. The person Rino is angry with the most is not Bitch or the Spear Buffoon. It's herself. Tears started falling out of her eyes.

Rino: "I... hate myself."

She was able to voice it out in the end.

Rino: "I hate myself more than anyone. If I had a little bit of sense, I might have been able to save all those who joined that buffoon's team. Instead, I kept believing. I am a fool. Now that I think about it, the revenge. I am so hell-bent on it because that's the only way I could think of. The only way in which I could say sorry to them. I am sorry! I am sorry! Please forgive me!"

In the end, she started crying louder apologizing to the people who weren't there. That's all she could do. Hiro came forward and hugged her.

Hiro started patting her hair. Rino then realized how big his hands were when compared to her. She liked those warm hands.

Hiro: "You know Rino. I was once like you. A guy who was drunk on revenge. A lot of innocents died because of me. A lot more than the lives you are trying to take responsibility for. I was called the 'Devil Emperor' in my past."

Rino couldn't help but look at Hiro with surprise. He just smiled at her. she couldn't believe that her hero, the one who is called the shield devil was actually once known as the devil.

Rino: "Did you make me join the team because you saw yourself in me?"

Hiro: "Yes."

Rino: "Are you going to make me stop my revenge?"

Hiro: "Not really. I just want you to know that revenge shouldn't be everything in your life. The people who are gone won't come back no matter what you do. Revenge is just a way to satisfy yourself. And once you took your revenge, if you don't have a way to satisfy yourself and be happy, that doesn't mean you won, that just means the other side lost. And I want you to know it. After I took my revenge, I became a lonely devil. I accepted that I was a devil and hated myself for being one. I hated the loneliness I brought upon myself. Until a certain female knight came to my life."

Rino: "Eclair..."

Hiro: "Yeah, my wife. Even though she is the one who is normally a crybaby, that time, she made me cry. She made me cry and complain about everything that I hate about myself. And then, she assured that she would accept me even if I couldn't."

Hiro: "More or less."

Rino: "Why tell that plan then? Wouldn't it be more effective to just say that you would accept me and some good points about me? That way, I would heal better and listen to you better, right?"

Hiro: "Well, true. But that incident made me fall for Eclair real hard. As her husband, I should try my best to make you not fall for me that hard, right?"

Rino started smiling. She jumped and gave a light peck on Hiro's lips.

Rino: "Too bad, Hiro-sama. I started falling for you from the moment you saved me."

Hiro also started smiling. He already knew that knight in a shining armor syndrome is not something he could take lightly.

Hiro: "Yeah, figures."

Both of them kept smiling at each other until a voice interrupted them.

???: "Excuse me, forgive me for ruining the moment, but does this count as cheating, degozaru?"

Hiro: "So, you finally decided to speak now?"

Rino buried her face in Hiro's c.h.e.s.t. Her face became bright red.

Rino: "Why didn't you remind me that she was still here, Hiro-sama ?!!"

Hiro: "Well, it's not my fault that you suddenly jumped and gave me a kiss."

Rino pouted at Hiro with a bright red face with tears at the corner of her eyes. Hiro found that expression adorable. Her tiny stature gives that look more effect like a little doll.

Rose: "Don't mind me, Rino. I just disturbed you because I got a doubt. If you wish, you can continue and I can note down all of my doubts and ask them at the end, degozaru"

Rino: "That makes it worse! Why didn't you say anything ?!!"

Rose: "Well, I just want to observe the relations so that I could understand them more. So, please don't mind me and continue, degozaru."

Rino: "The moment's over! I am so embarrassed that I want to bury myself somewhere!"

Hiro: "Not really. It would be cheating if I also fell for this girl or I started having s.e.x with her behind Eclair's back. I agree that I found her adorable when she was pouting but this girl has a long way to make my heart go doki-doki."

Rose: "I see. degozaru."

Rino: "I decided then. I will have my revenge. And I also want to be a part of this family as your wife, Hiro-sama. And I will try my best to make you fall for me. Wait, did I just break my promise I made to Eclair in not even more than a day ?!!"

Hiro: "You sure did. You have to explain it to her yourself. Anyway, Rose, I want you to report everything about this to the Queen. It's her daughter's mess. Maybe, she will do something about the victims and future victims. We will be going back to the capital today. So next time, meet us there."

Rose: "Very well, I will take my leave, degozaru."

And Rose disappeared from the room. And the next moment, Raphtalia and Eclair came into the room.

Raphtalia: "We are back!"

Eclair: "Did something happen while we are gone?"

Rino went and kneeled in front of Eclair.

Eclair: "Huh?"