Naofumi Iwatani | The Rising of the Shield Hero (WIKI)
Introduction
A lot of you would say that the real MC of the story is Raphtalia and not Naofumi as she stole the show from him from the beginning till the end. She picks up the entire series by herself!
She went through a lot. She endured the most out of all the characters in The Rising of the Shield Hero and yet she is the one always comforting everyone. Everybody knows her worth.
Table of Contents
Very different from your usual female protagonists in Isekai stories, she fends off for herself and goes after what she wants with full power and determination.
She is Naofumi’s trusted sword, his pillar of strength, his anchor, his everything. She saved him from the darkness, she saved him from himself and will continue to do so till the very end.
Table of Content
Raphtalia
Alive
ALIAS(ES)
・Katana Hero
・Heavenly Emperor
Race: Raccoon & Tanuki
Gender: Female
Age: Unknown
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Tea Red
OCCUPATION
Current:
・Vassal Weapon Holder
・Heavenly Empress of Q’ten Lo
Former:
・Slave
COUNTRY & DWELLING
Current:
・Melromarc, Rock Valley
Former:
Melromarc, Lurolona Village
EQUIPMENTS & MECHANICS
Lv. 87
Weapon(s): Vassal Katana
Anime: Season 1, Episode 1
Manga: Manga Volume 1, Chapter 2
Light Novel: Volume 1, Chapter 9
Web Novel: Arc 2, Chapter 9
Drama CD Voice Actress: Yui Horie
Japanese Voice Actress: Asami Seto
English Voice Actress: Erica Mendez
Appearance
Raphtalia might be the character that changed the most throughout the series. When she was first introduced, she had the appearance of a dirty little half raccoon half Tanuki kid. She wore dirty clothes, was always coughing, and her body was filled with scratches and scars (The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 1).
When she started traveling with Naofumi, she leveled up and evolved into a cute and beautiful young adult.
She has ears that resemble those of a dog’s, as well as a cute and fluffy tail. She has long light brown hair with shiny ruby red eyes.
Her outfit also changed multiple times but the one she wears the most is, of course, her armor.
Personality
When she was first introduced, she was shy and fearful, always trembling from all over. She could barely answer Naofumi when he would talk to her. She would get startled by the slightest movements (The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 1).
On the battlefield, she couldn’t tolerate the sight of blood and almost got Naofumi killed a couple of times (The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 2).
She was suffering from a deep trauma and every night, the same nightmares would come to haunt her. She would see her parents get eaten and hear the screams of her friend as they were being tortured. After all she’s been through, she managed to keep her sanity.
She’s the pillar of strength of her group, the one who can bring back Naofumi when he would lose himself to the darkness (The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 8).
After all the world threw at her, she is fighting for its stake. She is fighting to make sure that no other kid would suffer as she did.
She had all the reasons to turn evil and yet she remained true to herself. She’s one of the kindest and most caring souls you could ever encounter. All kinds of life mattered to her and she would gladly sacrifice her own to save another.
At some point, you can see how close the two protagonists got. Raphtalia would often scold Naofumi because he wouldn’t act as a Hero. She would also get mad at him for regarding her as a kid and not a woman (The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 2).
She grew to love him, even adore him, and is waiting for the day he will return her feelings. In the meantime, she proved herself to be quite jealous of other girls who would get close to her master. She’s especially wary of Filo in that matter as she also desires to make him her mate.
She’s strong and courageous and very protective of her friends. Despite the feeling that she gives off, she is naïve and extremely innocent. We tend to forget that despite her appearance, she’s still only a kid.
Background
Raphtalia’s backstory is a heartbreaking one. She was happily living with her mother and father in a Demi-human village. She was surrounded by family and friends and showered with love and affection.
The Waves hit her village and she had to watch both her parents get devoured right in front of her eyes. (The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 15).
She miraculously survives while wishing she hadn’t. Along with a bunch of other villagers who managed to keep their lives, they decided to rebuild the village they loved.
As they were doing so, a disgusting noble invaded and kidnapped most of the Demi-humans including Raphtalia and two of her dear friends.
In his mansion, Raphtalia was tortured almost every day and had to hear the screams of her beloved friends as their turn under the whip came. She had to watch them slowly die due to pain, lack of food, and sickness. She was literally living in hell (The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 15).
As she also fell sick, she was given to the slave trader and then sold to the Shield Hero, Naofumi.
She was scared of him at the beginning, however, even though Naofumi wasn’t as kind as he used to be, he still was the same loving person deep down.
He treated her with care and respect, protected her, made her strong, gave her a sword, and even helped her get over the nightmares that she suffered from every single night (The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 1 – 2).
As Raphtalia slowly fell in love with the Hero, she decided to become his Sword.
Powers and Abilities
Natural & Learnt Abilities
She possesses light and dark magic. Her favorite spell is illusions, she is a master swordsman, and also learned the Hengen Muso fighting style.
Hengen Muso
- Point of Focus
- Supreme Ultimate: Slash of Destiny
- Moon Ripple
Accessories
- Gemstone Sheath
Spells
- Demon Emperor: Illusory Layers
Magic
RITUAL MAGIC
- First/Drifa Light
- First Mirage
- Zweite Hide Mirage
- All First Hiding
COOPERATIVE MAGIC
- Form is Emptiness
DEMON DRAGON MAGIC
- Magic Absorption
- Enchantment Shortening
- Raph-chan’s Vision
Heavenly Emperor Abilities
- Five Practices Destiny Thrust
- Five Elements: Destiny Split
- Metal Quells Fire
- Tree Grows Fire
- Fire Overcomes Metal
- Water Overcomes Fire
- Divine Birth of the Five Practices
- Divine Clash of the Five Practices
Sword
OFFENSIVE ABILITIES
- Illusion Sword
- Yin Yang Blade
- Eight Trigrams Blade of Destiny
- Eight Trigrams Blade of Destiny Formation Two
- Blade of Destiny Formation Three
- Eight Trigrams Blade of Destiny Successive Strikes: First Formation: Second Formation: Third Formation
Vassal Katana
OFFENSIVE ABILITIES
- Crescent Moon Sword
- Powder Snow
- Instant Blade: Mist
- Instant Blade: Mist
- Misty Moon
- Spirit Blade: Soul Slice
- Thrusting Technique: Lethal Formation One
- Thrusting Technique: Lethal Formation Two
- Wind Blade: Vacuum
- Triple Thrust
- Stardust Blade
- Life Force Blade: Guard Breaker
- Kagura Dance of Sakura: First Formation: Blossom
- Kagura Dance of Sakura: Second Formation: Beginning Blossom
- Kagura Dance of Sakura: Third Formation: Third Blossom
- Fourth Formation: Fifth Blossom
- Fifth Formation: Sixth Blossom
- Moon Katana: Crescent
- Swallow Fall
- Katana 0
- Wind Wing Cutter
DEFENSIVE ABILITIES
- Avoiding Trip
UTILITY ABILITIES
- Double Sword
- Scroll of Return/Return Transcript
- Return Dragon Vein
- Poison Sensing
COMBINATION ABILITIES
- Hiding Shield
- Mirage Shield
- Blade of the Thunder Emperor
- Light Stardust Blade
- Dream Illusion: Shadow Single Strike
Relationships
Naofumi Iwatani
(Shield Hero)
Naofumi saved her from slavery, helped her get over her past traumas, trained her, and made her strong.
He taught her to smile and love again. She became his sword. Eventually she also fell for him, and will at some point in the story become his lover.
Motoyasu Kitamura
(Spear Hero)
Raphtalia hates him for siding with Malty as she was accusing Naofumi of heinous crimes.
Ren Amaki
(Sword Hero)
Raphtalia respects him more than the others but still feels no love towards him.
Itsuki Kawasumi
(Bow Hero)
Raphtalia resents him not only for believing all the lies told about Naofumi but also because for the rare times he sided with him—all for his own personal gain.
Rishia Ivyred
(Projectile Hero)
She became a member of her party when the Bow Hero threw her out of his gang because she was falsely accused of a crime and because she was too weak to be on a battlefield.
Sadeena
(Harpoon Hero)
Raphtalia sees her as a reliable person. She was her family’s guardian before. She knew how strong she was and how when she’s around, everyone would be safe.
Filo
Filo can be considered Raphtalia’s best friend as well as her love rival since she also wants Naofumi to fall for her.
Melty Q. Melromarc
Melty is the second Princess of Melromarc and the next Queen of the country. After gaining Naofumi’s trust, she joined their group.
Keel
Keel is Raphtalia’s childhood friend. He was trapped with her at the mansion of the evil noble. She saved him when they raided the place. He is now living in Naofumi’s village.
Atla
Atla is also in love with Naofumi and she instantly became a love rival.
Eclair Seaetto
She’s Raphatalia’s sword instructor. She is trying to repay a debt to her since her father was part of the reason why her village was destroyed.
Erhard
He’s the Shield Hero party’s blacksmith.
Mirellia Q. Melromarc
She’s the Queen of Melromarc and she helped them multiple times during their adventures.
Malty S. Melromarc
She was the one who turned Naofumi’s life into a living hell, thus she absolutely detests her. Raphtalia thinks she’s the devil incarnate.
Idol Rabier
He’s the noble who kidnapped her and her friends when they were rebuilding the village. She’s terrified of him. However, when she had his life in her hands she decided to spare him because she didn’t want to stoop down at his level (The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 15).
Plot
The Four Cardinal Heroes were summoned to save the other world from the Waves of Calamity that were ravaging it. (The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 1).
Each of those Heroes was entrusted with a Legendary Weapon. One got a Spear, the second a Sword, the third one got a Bow, and the best for last, a puny Shield.
All the Heroes were worshiped and loved except for the one that wasn’t considered part of the group. While everyone already formed parties, the Shield Hero, Naofumi, was left alone.
However, the kind first Princess of Melromarc, Malty, asked for the honor of accompanying him. A beautiful and respectful person such as her, who would ever refuse her offer?
Naofumi bought her weapons and armor, fed her, and took care of her only to be betrayed by the devil who hid behind an angelic face. (The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 1).
She stole everything from him and even accused him in front of the entire royal court of abusing her.
He pleaded innocence but no one believed him, who would ever believe the Shield? Shunned by society, Naofumi left the Royal Palace to fight on his own.
The only problem is that he can only defend and has no attack skills. He needs at least one comrade who has to become his weapon.
However, Naofumi’s heart was left with a gashing scar. He was once a kind and cheerful person but now he is a cruel and hateful individual with massive trust issues. How will he ever be able to entrust his back to anyone?
The solution came in the form of a slave trader. That’s it! A slave! That is what he needs, a slave bound by an unbreakable contract. And this is how he came to meet Raphtalia (The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 1).
Voice Actors
Erica Mendez
Japanese – Asami Seto
English – Erica Mendez
References
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 1
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 2
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 8
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime: Season 1 Episode 15
