Shield Hero With Barrier Magic

(next day)

Currently, the four of us are going to the throne room where my plan will be set into action. I did some experiments with my barrier magic yesterday. It seems the barrier can disconnect the connection between me and the shield. I can easily remove and put it back. And the moment I take off the barrier, the shield teleports back to my arm. It would be easy to conceal the shield by putting in on my back and covering it with a coat. That way, no one can find that I am the shield hero. Anyway, I turn to the other three.

Hiro: Guys, you remember what we talked about yesterday, right?

Motoyasu: I remember.

Itsuki: Yeah.

Ren: I will support you.

Alright, as long as I have their support and keep looking down on the shield, I will be okay. Anyway, we finally enter the throne room. There are many people who are looking from upstairs. And there are soldiers lined on both sides. There is 'Trash' who is sitting on the throne and there are twelve people or adventurers who are standing in a line in front of Trash.

We walk forward and stand in front of the twelve. And I finally look at Bitch. Man, that beauty is really a waste on her. She looks at me and smiles. And I smile back. It's funny that both the smiles are just acting. She has a plan, I have a counter. Anyway, Trash starts talking.

Trash: We have gathered the brave warriors who will fight the Waves with you, legendary heroes. Now, our future champions, time to begin your journey!!

And the twelve start walking towards us. And my back is left empty. Ren got 5, Itsuki got 3 and Motoyasu got 4 with 'Bitch' in the team.

Trash: I have to admit, I wasn't expecting this.

Head Priest: No volunteers? He must have no charisma.

I smirk. Just according to keikaku.

Hiro: Well, that's convenient.

Trash: Huh?

I stretch my body to show a carefree style.

Hiro: Well, I am quitting from being a Hero.

Trash: What ?!!

Bitch: Huh?

The crowd starts talking among themselves.

Trash: Shield Hero, what do you mean you are quitting from being a hero?

Hiro: Well, just exactly what it meant. I don't plan on helping you stop the Waves.

Trash: Why ?!!

Motoyasu: Ah yes. Actually, this world is more like a game I played in my world.

Trash: I can understand. Legend says that Heroes come with a firm understanding of our land.

Hiro: Well, that's the case for Ren and Itsuki.

Ren/Itsuki: Yes.

Hiro: But me, I don't know a single thing about the world. I don't know anything.

Trash: Well, that may be the case. but...

Hiro: That's not the only thing. Motoyasu, could you continue?

Motoyasu: The class of Shielders is basically losers. They may have a high defense but that would be useless when the strong enemies appear.

Ren: The case is the same in my world too.

Trash: Ah...

Hiro: Well, there you have it. I am basically useless.

Trash: That might be the situation but.

Hiro: What? You can also see that none of the adventurers chose me. Why do you think that is? There are only two possibilities. They either think that the shield is useless or they hate the shield. Which one do you think it is?

Trash: Ugh.

It's the second one but he can't say it. And suddenly, the Bitch raised her hand.

Bitch: Sir Hero.

She comes to me.

Bitch: Sir Hero, I am willing to join you.

He looks really upset. Well, that's in my favor though.

Bitch: Yes!

I expected that you would try to meddle. However.

Hiro: I am very pleased that you are trying to join me. but I don't want someone to join me out of pity.

She is surprised by my answer.

Bitch: Sir Hero, it's not pity.

Hiro: What is it if it isn't pitying? If you didn't pity me, you would have joined me at the start, right? But you only joined after all this happened. What is it if not pity?

Bitch: That...

And Motoyasu starts talking.

Motoyasu: Yeah, you really shouldn't do that.

Itsuki: Even if you join the party, as a shield, he will just drag you down.

Ren: I think it's better to do what he wants.

Motoyasu comes forward and pulls Bitch back to his party. Nice going, guys. I turn toward Trash.

Hiro: You can send me back to my world. If you want, you can summon another Shield Hero.

Trash: Ah, no. New heroes can't be summoned unless all the four are dead.

Motoyasu/Ren/Itsuki: What?

I turn towards them.

Hiro: Well, then I will be staying in this world till you stop the waves, guys.

Motoyasu: Well, that's alright, I guess.

Itsuki: Don't worry, we will take care of the Waves ourselves.

Ren: Rest assured.

I salute to your overconfidence.

Hiro: Thanks, guys.

Trash: But Shield Hero, you are a hero.

Hiro: I am Hiro and I am not a hero.

Trash: ...

Hiro: Hey guys, don't you think that's cool ?!!

Itsuki: I agree.

Ren: Your name is really funny.

Trash: Shield Hero, please reconsider. You will be transferred to the position the wave will occur every time.

Hiro: Then, I just need to survive. I will just run away.

Trash: Huh?

Hiro: I won't go and try fighting the Waves. I will stay behind. As the shield. is. useless. Do you think the shield would be useful?

Trash: Ah. that...

Hiro: See, even you don't have confidence.

Trash: Ah, there will be rewards if you help us fight.

Hiro: As I won't be useful, I don't want to take rewards. No matter how high the reward is, my pride won't allow it. So, please don't be generous enough to make that offer.

Trash: ...

Hiro: So, instead of going through all of that, I would rather just train moderately, get a job other than the hero and start earning. You don't even have to consider me Hero, you can just call me Hiro. Hahaha. Now, even I think my name is funny.

Trash: Hiro-dono. Alright, I will arrange for you to stay in the castle.

Hiro: As I said, please don't be generous, I will go to the town and live in there. And try to get a job there.

Ren: You shouldn't force him. You summoned us here. In the end, it's our choice if we decide to fight or not.

Itsuki: Right! And as the Shield is weak, they would just drag the party.

Motoyasu: I will take the same decision if I was in his place. You should approve of this.

Trash: Ah. Okay.

Yes! Finally!!

Trash: Every month we will provide each hero with the funds they require. I guess only the three heroes.

Head Priest: Each hero gets 600 silvers.

The servants come and put the pouches with money in the hands of each of the three heroes.

Hiro: I think I should earn money too.

Ren: King, I think Hiro should also get some money.

Trash: Huh?

Ren: Although he isn't fighting. It's not his fault that he is the shield. He is summoned without his consent, so I believe that you would have to give him some compensation.

Motoyasu: Well, yeah, it might not be as much as we got but I think he should get some.

Itsuki: Yeah, not giving him would be an injustice. He still will be transferred to waves, so he still needs to train, get equipment for basic survival. I think it's better to give him a three months head start as he won't be coming in succeeding months.

Ren: Based on what we got, it's better to give him about 1000 silvers.

Trash: Ah. That's right. Hiro-dono should get some money too as he is starting a new life. I guess 1000 silvers would do.

I could see the displeased expressions in the faces of the priest, Trash, and Bitch. A servant comes over and hands me the pouch. I take it and say with a bright smile.

Hiro: Thank you for your generosity.

Trash/Bitch/Head Priest: Tch.

Trash: Anyway, the Three Heroes, use these funds to procure all the necessary equipment and set forth on a journey.

Ren/Itsuki/Motoyasu: Yes, Sir!

This is called using the plan of enemies against themselves.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Motoyasu: Later, Hiro!

Ren: See you again when the time comes.

Hiro: Alright! Thanks and bye, guys!

And they left me. I go out of the castle and start walking. I can see that I am being followed. Well, I expected this. I randomly stop strangers and ask about cheap inns. And they show me directions. Weel, they gave me weird looks as the shield stands out. All of them told different places and I randomly choose one place and go to the inn. I enter and the hostess gets startled a little bit and when I ask how much it is for a night, she answers it's about 25 coppers with meals. I take out a silver coin and give it to her. saying it is for two nights. She gives me 50 coppers back. And she shows me my room. I guess, 100 coppers are 1 silver and 100 silvers are 1 gold.

I went into the room and took off my hoodie. I put the shield on my back and put on the hoodie back and covered the face with a hood and hid the coin pouch inside the hoodie. And I escape from the window. After I went far away and got mixed with a big crowd, I asked about Erhard's weapons shop in there and finally reached it. The people following me won't be able to find me now as I hid the most distinguishing feature of mine. The shield and the coin pouch. Anyway, I entered the shop. and closed the door.

???: Welcome.

I find the middle-aged Caucasian male whose well-built body, notably face and arms, is full of old scars. He has a shaved head, Amish-style beard without a mustache, brown or black eyes, and partially darker skin. He wears an off-white undershirt with medium-length sleeves beneath a beige overalls-like forger apron hung only by the left shoulder, black gloves, dark brown pants, and brown-beige upturned boots. Erhard.

Erhard: Is this your first time in a weapon's shop? You sure know how to pick them.

Hiro: Actually.

I remove my hoodie and summon the shield back to my hand.

Hiro: The one who told me about this shop is a female knight who I helped in escaping yesterday. Did she come here?

Eclair: So, you made it here, Hiro-dono.

She appeared from my back in a female knight outfit.

Erhard: So, you are the shield buddy. You sure are clever, boy.

I take the coin pouch and put it on the table.

Hiro: I got us some money from the King, Eclair.

Eclair: How much is it?

Hiro: 1000 silvers.

Eclair/Erhard: 1000 silvers ?!!

Hiro: minus 50 coppers.

Eclair/Erhard: ...