Shield Hero With Barrier Magic

(Hiro's POV after he met Ren and Itsuki)

Thanks to my name, Ren and Itsuki got their identities revealed as Heroes... I also removed my hood and summoned my shield onto my hand which revealed my identity as Shield Hero...

Ren - So, you are still alive...

Hiro - Well yeah... And to be honest, I am in the capital all this time but they couldn't find me because I can hide my shield...

Itsuki - Why did you even hide in the first place ??

Hiro - I didn't like their eyes in the castle... So, I escaped from everyone's sight... I found the reason for that look though... In this country, Shield Hero is considered a demon due to the previous Shield Heroes... But after that, rumors about me dying or kidnapped by an escaped criminal started spreading... I didn't see a reason to come out though... I mean, it's better to hide my identity if everyone thought that I am dead, right ??

Ren - I see... That explains everything...

Itsuki - By the way, how do you know that we are here ?? Did you find that Ren is here and got surprised to find me too ??

This idiot... He thinks that his location is a mystery...

Hiro - Nah... Your teammates are shouting Itsuki-sama when I was searching for you guys... You really like publicizing that you are in this inn, don't you, Itsuki ??

Itsuki - It's the opposite !!

Ren - Pfft!

Hiro/Itsuki - ...

Ren - What ??

Hiro - That's the first time I saw you smile...

Itsuki - I never thought you could laugh too...

Ren - I am also a human, aren't I ??

Hiro - Hahaha... Anyway, guys, the reason for me to meet you is not only to explain why I went missing but also share about what I found about my weapon. It could be useful to you guys... And rely this information to Motoyasu when you meet him...

Both of them looked at me like an idiot for willing to share the info... But none said anything because they think they might gain something from this... Well, they won't...

Hiro - What ?? You are going to fight in my place... I thought these might be useful to you...

Itsuki - Ah... I forgot that you aren't fighting... How are you making a living, Hiro ??

Hiro - I can make medicines. Well, actually, it's the shield that makes the medicine when I feed it with required materials and I sell it...

Ren - So, you are using the item making of weapon for that...

Hiro - Wait, you already know about it ?!! And here I thought surprising you...

Itsuki - Ah... You don't know about this game... It's common sense, Hiro...

Hiro - It might be common sense for you because you already know about it !! Don't tell me that you know about the weapon copy system too...

Itsuki - Well... Yeah... But that's not in the game but the moment I held a bow, it was copied...

Ren - Yes... I didn't know about it till I held another sword too... I guess this world is a little bit different from what I know...

Hiro - Well... That's okay... Did you guys find anything new and useful ??

Both of them looked at each other...

Itsuki - Well, that's all I found out too... Everything else is in the manual...

Ren - Likewise...

Of course, they are not willing to share any info... I don't really care though...

Hiro - Haa... This world is really a pain... And I didn't even get a single companion...

Itsuki - Why didn't you ask adventurers ??

Hiro - Itsuki, I am the shield. The shield is considered a demon in this country... No one will be willing to form a party with me... That's also the reason no one took my side in the throne room...

Ren - You really are pitiful...

Hiro - Enough about me, how is it going for you guys ??

Itsuki - Well... Every quest is a cakewalk for me and my team...

Ren - I don't know about my team but I am leveling up fine... If you want to know about them, ask them yourself...

He says that and points to a table with four people... If I remember correctly, their names are Welt, Bakta, Tersia, and Farrie. They are supposed to die which will make Ren get the cursed series with Bitch as a final trigger... Normally, I won't care about their lives but if that situation did happen, it would be my job to bring Ren back to his senses... Well... I am too lazy to deal with every hero along with the Waves... So, I think it's better to change Ren from the start... Less work for me...

Welt - Hello, Shield Hero, I guess you didn't remember us...

Hiro - Wait for a second... Ren, why are you not sitting together with them ??

Ren - Well, I will always keep some distance from them. I sat here also because this table is relatively empty...

Bakta - We always have to keep track of him from a distance... It's quite tough... We often lose sight of him...

Hiro - Ren !! What are you ?!! A Hero or a lost child ?!!

Ren - I will be back every time though...

Hiro - That's not the point here !! *Sigh* Don't tell me you keep that distance when you are leveling up together...

Tersia - Oh, we don't level up together at all... He just gives us the place that's suitable for leveling up...

Hiro/Itsuki - ...

Both Itsuki and I give Ren a weird look...

Ren - What ??

Hiro - What do you mean what ?!! They are your party, not your guild !! Where can you get the coordination if you don't fight together ?!! I am trying like hell to find a teammate and here you are running your team like a guild !!

Ren - They just need to level up... When the Wave comes, I just need them to open a path to the boss...

Really... This guy's overconfidence... I guess I will go along with it...

Hiro - Alright, you may be strong but what about them ?? What if they encounter a strong monster in the wave ?? And you already said that there are some differences from the game you know... What if there is a strong monster where you sent them for leveling up ?? What do you think will happen and who will be to blame for sending them there ??

Ren - ...

Hiro - Ren, you are brought here to save the world... And your teammates are also part of that world...

Ren - ... *Sigh* I can't say anything against that... Welt, Bakta, Tersia, and Farrie... From now on, we will be leveling up together...

Welt/Bakta/Tersia/Farrie - Yes !!!

They shouted in joy...

Welt - Thanks a lot, Hiro-san !!

Hiro - You are welcome...

Welt - About that day in the throne room... The reason we didn't choose you is not that you are considered demon...

Hiro - Don't mention it... I actually profited from it...

Bakta - Can we express our gratitude somehow ??

Hiro - Hmm... Let's see... Pay the bill for me too...

Welt - Hahaha... You are so simple, Hiro-san... Very well, I will pay the bill for six of us...

Ren - I can pay for my food myself... We split the bill equally...

I look at Welt and others... They sighed and nodded with a smile... I sighed...

Hiro - Ren...

Ren - What ??

Hiro - We should really teach you how to mingle with others... That's why... Inn owner !!

Inn owner - Yes ?!!

Hiro - Tonight will be an all-night party in this inn sponsored by Hiro Iwatani !! So, announce everyone to drink and eat as much as they like !! I can also cook if you need my help !!

Inn owner - Yes !!

Ren - What are you trying to do, Hiro ??

Hiro - I am trying to teach you the fun in mingling with others and you won't be sleeping today !!

Itsuki - Where did you get the money for this ??

Hiro - I didn't really use the money I got from that day... And I also have a stable income now... So, I guess I could use that money for this...

Welt - I thought I was supposed to pay for you, not the other way around...

Hiro - Well, what can I say ?? Someone needs to be educated... So, everyone !! Say it with me !!

Everyone - Party !!!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(next day morning)

Hiro - And that's what happened yesterday... Along with Ren and Itsuki, their team members and everyone who is in the party are a witness for me... So, that makes more or less about a hundred people who can act as my witness... Do you need more proof than that, Motoyasu ??

Motoyasu - Wait for a second... You are saying that three of you had a party without me ??

Itsuki - Well, it was a sudden one... But Hiro is a good cook... His dishes are delicious...

Ren - I must agree...

Hiro - Well, that's not the main issue here, guys. Now, could anyone tell me the reason for me being falsely accused ?? Don't tell me, it's also because of the hate to this shield...

Lesty - I deeply apologize for our mistake, Shield Hero...

Before I knew it, Lesty is already apologizing to me... I already expected it to go this route... This is the only way she can escape after all...

Motoyasu - Lesty !! Why are you apologizing ?!!

And Bitch comes into action... She had fake tears in her eyes...

Bitch - Motoyasu-sama... It is true that I have been defiled but I couldn't see the person's face as he was covering it and the only thing that I could see is his shield... So, I considered him to be the Shield Hero...

Lesty - Me too, Motoyasu-sama... I thought that it's the Shield Hero because of that Shield...

That's quite clever of these girls... They used a fake shield... Now, they are saying that they didn't know it's fake...

Hiro - So, someone who hates Shield Hero did this to put the blame on me... What I can't understand is why he chose her to frame me ??

I say looking at the Bitch...

Bitch - *sniff* It must be because Motoyasu-sama is Spear Hero and I am his companion... That someone must be trying to put Motoyasu-sama against Shield Hero...

Excellent story... Hats off, Bitch... I expected this too...

Motoyasu - That bastard !! Whoever it is, I will find him and I will kill him !!

Nah... These people must have killed that person yesterday... That's the part of their plan... No loose ends... I didn't really want to prove that Bitch did something wrong today... Even if I did, with Trash as the ruler, she could easily get away with it... I won't do anything to them till the Queen returns... But once the Queen returns, even the Queen won't be able to save Bitch... Anyway, my main objective today is...

Hiro - Well, that proves some things... I have been hearing a lot of rumors about Shield Hero's crimes when I was in the capital the whole time... So, they are all using a fake shield to put the crime on me...

That's right. My target isn't Bitch but the church... With this incident, they can't send fake shield heroes to do crimes and a super loss for them... And Bicas will be pissed... But he can't do anything because he can only blame Bitch and Trash for their foolishness... Hehehe...

I turn to Trash and say...

Hiro - So, what were you saying a while ago ??

Motoyasu - *whisper* It's not his fault, Hiro... Myne is his daughter and he is also angry as a father...

Motoyasu whispered so that only the Three heroes can hear it...

Hiro - It doesn't matter to me...

Trash clicked his tongue not knowing what to say...

Trash - I apologize for the misunderstanding...

Hiro - So, my life is worth only a misunderstanding, huh... I really don't know if you guys intentionally framed me or someone else did... But my life was on the line there...

He is really irritated... I like that expression...

Trash - What could I do to compensate ??

Hiro - Simple... The bounty... The money that you put for my life... Give it to me...

Trash - 5000 silver for doing nothing ?!!

Hiro - I am asking exactly because I did nothing !!

Trash - ...

How is my sense of humor ??

Trash - Tch... Very well...

He gave me a pouch with 50 gold...

Hiro - Thank you for your generosity...

I received the pouch and went near Bitch and said...

Hiro - I don't know if what you said was the truth but if it is, my deep condolences and I hope you can find the person who tried to frame me and kill that Bitchy Trash person...

That face... That face which really wants to show it's anger but could do nothing but cry... That's an excellent expression...

Bitch - *sniff* Thank you for your concern, Shield Hero...

And she went to cry in arms of Motoyasu... After that, I went to Ren and Itsuki...

Hiro - I am going to disappear once again but I will be reappearing here and there... Want to bid me farewell ??

Trash - What do you mean disappear, Shield Hero ??

Hiro - Exactly what it means... I don't like others to know where I am and it's more reason to hide because I am the Shield Hero... You won't be able to find me unless I wish to appear... You should have known it by now...

He made an ugly face... I went some distance from there with Ren and Itsuki and their team members...

Ren - Hiro, do you believe that it's not them but someone else tried to blame you ??

Itsuki - I hate to admit it... But by the looks of it, they might be the ones trying to frame you... But there isn't any evidence to that...

Hiro - It doesn't matter, Ren and Itsuki... That is the King out there and we can't offend him... If they did, they did... If they didn't, they didn't... Even if they did, they only are against me... So, don't do anything stupid in front of them... Bye, See you again...

Ren/Itsuki - Until next time...

And after that, I went into the alley to disappear from there... With that, the problem of false charges on Shield by Church is solved...