The Substitution of the Shield Hero

Four Bray.

Originally a noble country built by a coalition of the four heroes, it has long since fallen into decadence, hedonism, and extreme degeneracy.

Due to having a long tradition of marrying the Four Summoned Heroes, the Seven Star Heroes, and their various children into their family, it was known worldwide as the land of heroes.

Various heroic bloodlines entwined here, leading the nobles and general populace to believe that those with the blood of the heroes coursing within them were those closest to god.

...Unfortunately, such a belief naturally led to treating those without the blood of heroes as less than dirt.

The proof of that was in the one known as the pig king by the other country rulers, but to who the nobles and general populace simply called King Faubrey.

A lustful sadist who saw woman as just lust outlets and toys to break and be disposed... A man who being 'engaged to' meant being executed.

And a man that all of Four Bray allowed to do as he pleased because they thought it was his divine right.

The nobles saw no problem with it, since they were doing similar things.

The people, if they did have a problem with it, had no recourse because the nobles were overleveled and had insanely high base stats due to the constant influx of heroic blood.

And while overall people lived in peace... it was the sort of peace that cattle or farm-raised livestock would know before being executed.

The standard of living was high. There were clean streets and various technologies recreated from other worlds. Adventurers were free to roam and perform quests. Slaves were, publicly at least, treated well... because it was faux pas to showcase your 'intimate affairs' or signs of it where others could see.

But it was also a place where the rule of the jungle applied. Due to the nobles being so powerful, and with that power cemented in place due to the Status Magic System, those who weren't born with the fortune of having a heroic bloodline were cursed to be a resource.

===

"...And that all changes today!" From atop a Filorial, Eclair drew her sword and pointed in the air, looking at the gathered army from Libertas. "Libertas is freedom! Freedom is good! And Libertas is good! We have all experienced that! Lord Naofumi razed Zeltoble to the ground to free its slaves and its oppressed! He rejected the Tyrant King and allowed his name to be dragged through the mud to save all of us and restore Queen Mirellia to her rightful place! So, shall we sit back and just watch as others still suffer?!"

"NO!"

"NEVER!"

"GIVE US LIBERTY OR GIVE US DEATH!"

Cheers erupted from the gathered army.

Eclair grinned, feeling a rush of excitement and righteous fury well through her.

A few days had passed since she had first asked Erhard to make weapons. And in those days, Eclair had gathered a group of like-minded individuals to come with her.

Although she had tried to get word to Lord Naofumi, the automatic system at his manor said he was in the middle of an important event and shouldn't be disturbed.

So, like he always emphasized, Eclair decided to exercise her free will.

And with that free will, she asked her fellow citizens of Libertas to join her to free those still oppressed within Four Bray.

She expected just a few to come. The knights who were captured like her for supporting demi-humans. The demi-humans who knew what it was like to suffer under slavery. The adventurers who would finally have a chance to act on their morals instead of just money...

Those were who Eclair thought would come with her.

But...

"Lord Naofumi is too kind." Atla adjusted a pair of metal gauntlets, the young white-tiger demi-human letting out a serene smile as her clear blue eyes looked towards Four Bray's steampunk-like cities with cold wrath. "Waiting for the country to surrender means that people continue to suffer."

Fohl adjusted a pair of gauntlets as well, staring at Four Bray. "...So this is mother's hometown. No wonder she ran." His nose wrinkled and he said, "This land defies nature."

Sadeena chuckled, though her eyes were cold as she stared at the capital, leaning against her trident. "It's ironic. They defy nature while following the oldest rule of nature: the strong devouring the weak."

Erhard sighed, adjusting the war hammer on his back. "...The kid is going to either laugh at us doing this or be pissed off. But honestly." He smirked, looking at Four Bray with eager eyes. "...I've been wanting to rip this place down for ages. I knew a girl who was sent to that pig king. Nice adventurer who got involved in the wrong place..."

...It turned out that everyone in Libertas thought the same.

Not just those four, but every man and woman, child and elderly...

Taking up what arms they could, they had marched with Eclair all the way to Four Bray's doorsteps.

Close enough to where they could see the soldiers armed with the infamous metal sticks that shot arrows faster than any bow could. Not only that, but they could also see the cannons mounted on metal carriages that were powerful enough to breach fortresses.

Looking at it, Eclair felt nervous.

'We could all die here.'

It was possible.

If Lord Naofumi had truly just saved them once and severed ties with them. If he had simply given them freedom without any continued protection other than his name.

Then they would die here.

But.

Eclair turned around and pointed her sword at Four Bray. "Dying for the sake of saving others... What better death could there be?!"

Cheers erupted behind her as the citizens of Libertas roused their spirits.

Eclair saw the soldiers standing guard at the entrance of Four Bray hold up a small black box. No doubt informing others about the current situation.

...It was reckless.

It was bold.

Daring to attack the strongest nation in the world with just a ragtag group of men and women who had only recently been restored to a healthy state...

Daring to challenge the absolute notion that the bloodline of Heroes was unassailable...

Daring still to think they would amount to any more than corpses against soldiers with a baseline level of 200 while Libertas's army average only level 80 at best...

"CHARGE!"

...It was exactly the same audacity that their Lord Naofumi had when stating he would burn Melromarc to the ground unless it changed.

Eclair roared and kicked the stirrup on her Filorial, leading the charge towards the gates.

Demi-humans rushed past her, their increased physiques and strength allowing them to reach first.

And then it began.

A sound like the heavens erupting. Thunderous explosions that rushed towards the forces of Libertas.

Certain death.

At least, it should be.

But.

At that moment, every person in Libertas saw it...

> Your protector, the man who calls himself Naofumi Iwatani, has declared that you shall not be harmed.

> All attacks directed towards you have been diverted.

> All negative effects directed towards you are neutralized.

...Three messages that proved their lord was both a liar as well as a man kinder than any god ever was.

"LORD NAOFUMI IS FREEDOM!"

A wolf demi-human roared and kicked the steel gates, making them crumple like paper.

"FREEDOM IS GOOD!"

A bunny demi-human roared and lunged towards a soldier, laughing as the hail of bullets rushing towards him suddenly flew off into the distance.

Eclair finally reached the gates and she finished the saying. "LORD NAOFUMI IS GOOD! NOW, FOR LIBERTY! FOR JUSTICE! FOR ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE! WE FIGHT! WE SAVE! WE! ARE! LIBERTAAAAAAAAS!"

Roars erupted from the combined forces of Libertas, answering the thunderous gunfire.

===

On Four Bray's side, it was an impossible hell.

The captain overseeing the defense of the outer wall stared at the charging ragtag army and kept firing his gun. "What in the world is going on?!"

"THEY KILLED KENNETH!"

"Oh god! Oh GOD! The rumors were true! It's divine retribution!"

"The guns...! They're worthless!"

Chaos and pandemonium erupted as the soldiers who had easily slain anything that came their way until now using the guns that Lord Takt provided realized they were worthless.

The captain grit his teeth and said, "What are you all panicking for?! We are Four Bray's elites! The level difference is enough! Go fight and- Grk?!"

A sharp pain in his throat.

The captain's eyes widened as he saw a tomboyish female dog demi-human glare at him, lowering a wooden bow.

'The arrow... pierced...?'

The captain instinctively clutched his throat.

Something warm and wet dripped down from it. And something was piercing it as well.

'Impossible...'

He wanted to say it.

He wanted to scream that it wasn't possible.

He wanted to shout that a mere child, no matter what weapon they had, could not breach the absolute stat difference that his level should provide.

But before he could do anything, he saw the point of another arrow fill his field of view.

And then he didn't know anything else.

===

On Libertas's side...

"Lord Naofumi is watching us from a distance!"

"Oh Lord... grant us grace as we fight in your name!"

"Lord Naofumi! Rest assured, we will save those who you cannot reach!"

...It was divinity in motion.

No matter what the forces of Four Bray threw at them, all the attacks were either neutralized or flew off into the distance, like some divine hand had brushed it aside.

Slaves sent as meat shields were immediately freed and healed the moment that they declared they would follow Lord Naofumi and return to Libertas.

And those who joined hands with the forces of Libertas as it advanced... they found that the absolute level difference that had kept the nobles safe. The absolute bar that prevented any resistance.

Suddenly, it didn't exist.

A battered woman forced into a brothel let out a mad laugh as she ripped out the eyes of the client who had been trying to force himself on her. "YOU BLEED TOO!"

A child on the streets who had been kicked around by a bored nobleman grabbed the nobleman's leg and bit hard, tearing off a chunk of his skin. Then the child laughed and said, "You aren't invincible!"

In the slums, an elderly woman who had been desperately trying to stop a young nobleman and his guards from taking her granddaughter as a concubine swung a cleaver at the young nobleman's neck and sent his head flying. Then she laughed, staring at the panicked guards. "Oh... Divine retribution has finally come. The gods finally answered our prayers...!"

Those who heard the call of Libertas, of freedom spreading on the streets, of resistance against those who would wield strength that wasn't earned...

"Fight! Rise up! Revolt! Under Lord Naofumi's gaze, all are equal! Under His eyes, even gods will die!" Eclair shouted as she rushed through the streets on her Filorial, swinging her sword at anyone who tried to stop people from leaving Four Bray.

...Before long, they too, were Libertas.

===

I had just arrived in Siltvelt with my party. We were on our way to meet the Seven Star Claw hero as well as the leaders of the four clans running Siltvelt.

Since the girls had gotten along better from the journey, Lia, Sylvia, Rishia, S'yne, and Mein were up ahead, chatting and bantering each other.

Meanwhile, I was walking in the back, with Mina on my right shoulder, Nina on my left, and Bahamut walking beside me.

And as I had just walked inside the building where we were going to meet the representatives...

I saw it.

A flurry of system messages that were like a bolt out of the blue.

===

> Your ally, Libertas, has engaged in battle with an enemy nation!

> [My Body as a Shield] is redirecting all attacks to your current position!

> Libertas is the Roman goddess and personification of liberty!

> Due to your actions, and due to the belief of those who follow Libertas, you have created a Divine Authority!

> The Divine Authority [Inviolable Freedom] is bestowed upon those who have inherited the name of Goddess Libertas!

===

[Inviolable Freedom]

There is always a choice. The world belongs to the people, not those with stolen power.

When choosing to leave a territory, you cannot be obstructed.

When faced with commands or bindings, you will shatter all that you do not wish to follow.

When arbitrary rules deny the inherent right to live within all living beings, they will be erased completely to reset the balance.

When facing authority, recognition is not required.

===

"...Well. This is going to be interesting."

Nina leaned forward to look at me and said, "Father... Interesting?"

Mina gasped and said, "Papa! Fighting?"

Bahamut, however, seemed to get the gist of what was going on. Then he chuckled and said, "...Father forgot about free will."

I felt my ears burn. "...Shut up, Boy."