Erhard

Erhard (also known as Elhart in some translations or the English dub) is a supporting character in the anime The Rising of the Shield Hero. He's a middle-aged, burly blacksmith and the owner of a well-stocked weapon shop in Melromarc's Castle Town.

Naofumi frequently visits his shop for equipment, upgrades, repairs, and advice on gear. As a retired adventurer himself, Erhard has a no-nonsense, pragmatic personality—he's one of the few people in the kingdom who treats Naofumi fairly and without prejudice from the start, even when most others shun the Shield Hero. He's gruff but kind-hearted, practical, open-minded (he doesn't discriminate against demi-humans like Raphtalia), and genuinely helpful to Naofumi and his party throughout the early arcs.

In the anime adaptation, his role stays fairly consistent as a reliable, down-to-earth merchant/blacksmith ally who provides crucial support without getting deeply involved in the larger plot twists.