Myne and Tomonari walked into a building with a green roof and a sword and shield emblem on the front.

Tomonari: Wow... I've been to equipment shops in games before, but being in one for real is amazing in and of itself!

???: Welcome! First time in a weapons shop? Well, you already know how to pick the best one!

Tomonari: Uh, thanks. But, actually, she brought me here.

???: Hm? Well, you do look familiar... Have we met before, miss?

Myne: Well, sure! I've been in here before! Your place is renowned after all!

???: Aww, sweet of you to say so! Anyway, who's your companion with the funny outfit?

Myne: You mean you couldn't tell?

The shopkeeper leaned over the counter and glanced at the shield attached to Tomonari's arm.

Reinhart: No. You mean to tell me he's one of those heroes? A shield, huh? So you're the dud, huh?

Tomonari: -_- What is it with everyone disrespecting me because of my class?
And why the hell are these dumb rumors spreading like wildfire?! It's ridiculous! Anyway, I am indeed the Shield Hero. My name is Tomonari Asuka. It's a pleasure to meet you.

Shopkeeper: Tomonari, huh? Well, as long as you're a regular, I don't give a damn what you wield. Good to meet ya, kid!

Myne: Now that introductions are out of the way, could you please provide Sir Hero with his equipment needs? Our budget is around 250 Silvers.

The shopkeeper nodded and brought out a handful of swords from the back room storage.

Shopkeeper: From left to right is iron, magic iron, magic steel, and silver steel in that order.

Tomonari: Nice. They look well made. You definitely put your heart and soul into your craft.

Tomonari grabbed the magic iron sword and immediately got a notification.

Notice: Weapon's stats halved due to Shield and Sword Ability's penalty.

Magic Iron Sword (Common)
ATK: 20 (10)↑
DEF: 0
MAG: 10 (5)↑
MDEF: 0
AGI: 5 (2)↑
Attached skill: Demon Fang

New Skill Acquired
Demon Fang (Mastery 0/100) SP Cost: 2
Release a pressurized shockwave along the ground. Non-elemental. Low damage. Aerial-enabled at 50 Mastery. Shockwave doubles in size at 100 Mastery.

Tomonari: Looks like I can equip it, but its stats are halved. It even comes with a skill. Demon Fang, huh?

Shopkeeper: Interesting.

The man brought out his Magic Lens and started to inspect Tomonari's shield.

Shopkeeper: Hmm. At a glance, it's like any other small shield. Does this thing not come off?

Tomonari: I can move it around my body, but, other than that, I can't find a way to actually remove it.

Shopkeeper: That's strange. I can sense a great amount of power in it, but my Appraisal doesn't tell me more than that. Well, thanks for showing me something interesting. Wanna buy some armor?

Tomonari picked out a set of leather armor and went to the changing room.

Myne: It looks great on you, Sir Hero!

Tomonari: blush Y-You think so?

Reinhart nodded his head in approval.

Reinhart: Good, good. Now you're starting to look the part.

Leather Armor (Common)
STR: 0
DEF: 21↑
MAG: 0
MDEF 15↑
AGI: 0

Resistances
Fire: 0
Water: 0
Ice: 0
Wind: 0
Earth: 0
Lightning: 0
Light: 0
Shadow: 0

Myne: How much for the sword and armor?

Shopkeeper: Hero's discount on both. 200 Silvers.

Myne: And the buyback price?

Shopkeeper: Hmm. If they're in mostly new condition, I'll pay 45 for the sword and 100 for the armor.

With that out of the way, the duo paid for the gear and went off to the field. Tomonari could only gaze in awe at the expansive world in front of him. Suddenly, his danger sense went off, making him draw his sword. His first battle. And what jumped out of the tall grass was...

A swarm of balloons.

Tomonari: ...

Balloons: ...

Tomonari: WHAT THE FU—

Intro

After that... Rather anticlimactic encounter, he looked at all the experience he got. Being the first enemy encounter, Tomonari didn't expect much, but he noticed they only gave 1 EXP per kill. Thanks to his Double EXP ability, he got 2 EXP per kill. The Balloons we're painfully easy to take out with his sword. Even more so with Myne's help.

Tomonari: Lord knows how long it would have taken if I had to fight with my bare hands... Well, Myne, shall we keep going?

Myne: Yes, let's!

After a few more hours of grinding, the two had collected all the Balloon fragments and fed them to the gem in Tomonari's shield.

Skill Acquired
Anti-inorganic
•Increases damage dealt and decreases damage taken against inorganic monsters by 20%.

Notice
Balloon Shield (10/100)

Myne: Wow. There's no limit to how much it can absorb! That must be part of a legendary weapon's power!

Tomonari: Yeah. And it's prolly why I don't feel any pain when I get attacked, either. Hmm. Looks like I'll need more fodder if I wanna upgrade this shield. Speaking of, are these balloon fragments worth anything. Can we sell them?

Myne: Well, we can, but at most, they're only worth around one copper apiece.

Tomonari: Well, considering how weak they are, I guess it's all they're worth. Anyway, that should be enough for now. My shield should evolve once I level up, too.

Myne: Well, let's call it a day, then. Let's stop back at the weapons shop! If we can get some new equipment for me, we'll get even farther tomorrow!

Tomonari: Heh. Fair enough.

As the two went back to town, Tomonari was lost in thought. He thought back to his childhood escapades with Miharu. They would always run around in the woods near her home.

Timeskip

Back at the weapons shop, Myne was browsing the various weapons and armor.

Shopkeeper: Fancy something for your lady friend? Well, you'll be a lot stronger with better gear.

Tomonari: This might get expensive, so, better start haggling now. What say you cut the price by eighty percent?

Shopkeeper: Hah?! You some kinda comedian? Twenty percent extra!

Tomonari: Why'd you jack the price up?! Ninety percent!

Shopkeeper: Anyone who tried to haggle before seeing the goods deserves to pay extra!

As the two were bickering, Myne grabbed the best silver armor and magic sword she could find before plopping them down on the counter.

Tomonari: So, how much is all that? At sixty percent off?

Shopkeeper: 480 Silvers. And that's including a discount.

Tomonari: 480, huh? We spent 200 of our initial 800 earlier, so that leaves us with... 120 Silvers. Hey, Myne? Would you mind dialing it back a bit?

Myne: Don't worry, Sir Hero! We'll be fine! The stronger I am, the more loot we'll collect!

She waltzed up to him and pulled his arm into her chest, making the young man blush a bit.

Tomonari: She's so close!
Guess we'll take it all.

Shopkeeper: Thanks a ton! You have an eye for good deals!

Tomonari: By the way, do you know if there are any places in town that'll buy monster parts?

Shopkeeper: There are stores that specialize in monster goods. They'll buy most of those things off ya.

Tomonari: Great. Guess we'll head there tomorrow, then.

Another timeskip

Myne and Tomonari booked a place at the nearby inn that had a pub on the main floor. There, they ordered some food and drinks. Tomonari started to scarf it down greedily.

Tomonari: Oh, man! This rocks! The food at the castle was amazing, but a pub is where it's at!

Myne giggled at the childish antics if her party leader. Once he finished, he took a sip from the wine next to him.

Tomonari: Hey, Myne? Thanks.

Myne: Hm?

Tomonari: You offered to join me when nobody else would. You didn't give in to the stupid rumors that were spreading. So, yeah. Thanks for joining my party.

Myne: It's my pleasure, Sir Hero.

Tomonari took another sip of his wine.

Tomonari: You know... You remind me of an old friend from back home.

Myne: Oh?

Tomonari: Bright, bubbly personality, athletic, not to mention cute... Heh. I don't know why I'm telling you this. We barely know each other.

Myne: I've always been told that I'm easy to talk to. So, I guess that's why.

Tomonari nodded in understanding before pulling out their map. The two planned out their next move from tomorrow onwards before finishing their meal.

Tomonari: Aw, man. I'm stuffed. Yawn And I'm tired. Wanna head up to our rooms?

Myne: Mmm... You go on ahead. I think I'll stay down here for a bit longer and have a few more drinks. Have a pleasant night.

Tomonari: Thanks. You, too.

Tomonari walked up the stairs to his room and rummaged through his bag before pulling out his phone.

Tomonari: Man. I almost forgot I had this. Well, I'm sure it'll be useless once the battery dies.

He opened up his music player and started playing his favorite songs before blowing out the candles and laying down on his bed.

The next morning

Tomonari was woken up by a pounding at his door. He groggily stood up and answered it, seeing a group of soldiers standing outside.

Soldier: You! Are you the Shield Hero?

Tomonari: Huh...? Yeah. Why?

Soldier: His majesty has issued a summons for you. Please, come with us.

Tomonari: Sure, but could you at least tell me what's going on?

Soldier: His majesty will explain once we arrive at the castle.

Tomonari and the soldiers arrived at the throne room, only for him to be thrown down and had lances pointed at him.

Tomonari: Ow! What the hell is going on?!

He looked around the room and saw Ren, Itsuki, and Motoyasu plus their party members glaring daggers at him.

Tomonari: W-what's with those looks?

Aultcray: Silence, you filth!

Tomonari: H-huh?

Aultcray: Myne, I'm sorry to ask you, but would you mind repeating your testimony?

It was then that Myne stepped out from behind Motoyasu with tears in her eyes.

Myne: It was late last night! The Shield Hero forced his way into my room! He was stinking drunk. He pinned me down!

Tomonari: Excuse me?!

Myne: He- He whispered in my ear, "the night is still young" and tore all my clothes off! Luckily I managed to escape and found Sir Motoyasu, who was staying at the same inn!

Tomonari: What the hell are you even talking about?!

Motoyasu: You're lucky that she told me to wait for dawn and call the knights. Otherwise I would have gutted you like the pig you are!

Tomonari: What have you been smoking! I went straight to bed last night! She said she was gonna stay down at the pub and have a few more drinks before turning in!

Then, he took a look at what Motoyasu was wearing and the sword strapped to Myne's hip.

Tomonari: Hold on. That's my leather armor and my sword! Where'd you get those?!

Motoyasu: What are you talking about? This armor was a gift from Myne.

Aultcray: To think the Cardinal Shield Hero would commit the greatest sin in this country!

Tomonari: W-What?!

Advisor: In Melromarc, even attempted sexual assault is punishable by death!

Aultcray: If you weren't a Hero, I'd have you executed immediately!

Tomonari: Executed?! I promise you! I didn't do it! That bitch is lying through her teeth!!!
This isn't real...! I must still be dreaming!

Ren: I didn't peg you as the type of person to do something like this.

Itsuki: Just because you're a Hero doesn't mean you get to whatever you please.

Tomonari: Not you, too! You're really buying into this bitch's pity party?!

Suddenly, one of the soldiers came into the conversation holding a pair of torn up lingerie.

Soldier: While we were searching the Shield Hero's room, we found these underneath his bed...

Tomonari started to get angrier and angrier. He saw Myne out of his peripheral vision stuck her tongue out at him.

Tomonari clenched his teeth and curled his fists. Suddenly, he was calm.

Tomonari: This bitch wants to ruin my life by making me look like a monster? I'll show her.

He then chuckled. That chuckled turned into quiet chortling, and then, full blown laughter.

Tomonari: That's right... I did do it.

Motoyasu: Why you—!

Tomonari: Heheheheheh. I must say she was tight in all the right places. Ah. Virgin pussy is the best~! The way she screamed when I toyed with her, the tears that ran down her cheeks as I plowed her virgin soil... She should think about getting an abortion, unless she wants to give birth to her rapist's child.

Myne: Wait, what?

Aultcray: You scum!!! Very well, then. I care not that you are a Cardinal Hero! Kill him!!!

All the soldiers rushed him at once. Unfortunately for them, thanks to years of playing basketball, Tomonari was just too fast. He knocked all the guards unconscious, leaving only Motoyasu, Ren and Itsuki, who had their weapons trained on him. He snatched a sword from a fallen soldier and pointed it at Motoyasu and Myne.

New Skill Acquired
Sonic Thrust (Mastery 0/100) SP Cost: 6
Perform a lightning fast sword thrust. Non-elemental. Mid damage. May change when inflicting Wind-elemental damage.

Tomonari: You have something of mine. I'm taking it back.

Myne was genuinely terrified this time as she saw an evil aura surround the shield hero. She drew her stolen sword, preparing to fight. Then suddenly, more soldiers burst into the throne room, weapons at the ready.

Soldier: Drop your weapon!

Tomonari went to say something, but was interrupted when a smoke bomb crashed through the window and exploded.

???: This way.

An unseen hand grabbed Tomonari by his collar before quickly leaving. When the smoke died down, Tomonari was nowhere to be seen.

Aultcray: FIND HIM!!! Any who bring me that demon's head shall be rewarded handsomely!!!

All the soldiers rushed out of the castle room and began to comb the city in search of the Shield Hero. Meanwhile, Ren, Itsuki, Motoyasu, and their party members remained in the throne room.

Ren: Now that I think about it... Something's not right...

Motoyasu: When I get my hands on him... I'll wrong that bastard's neck!

Itsuki: He didn't look like the kind of person who would do something like this, but, I guess appearances aren't everything.

Ren: I'm going to the inn. This whole mess doesn't sit well with me.

The other three Heroes left the castle to do their own thing. Meanwhile, all around Melromarc, soldiers were putting up wanted posters for Tomonari. The bounty was 500 Gold.

Outro