The Rising of the Shield Hero Volume 01 Read Online Free Page B

Then things would be perfect. If I was a Shielder, I wouldn’t do the fighting. I’d just protect my teammates, right? I didn’t really have a chance to meet any girls back in my world, but things might be different here.
    “Hmm… Well, it will be fine. I mean, we are in a whole new world! Even if I’m not the strongest character, I’m sure something will work out.”
    They looked at me as if they were looking at something pitiful… or at least, I thought that’s how they were looking at me. If I let it bother me, I’d be doomed before we even got started. Besides, I was equipped to defend, and this wasn’t a game. I could just get rid of my special shield and get a weapon instead.
    “All right, let’s do this!” I forced myself to show some gumption.
    “Heroes, we have prepared a meal for you.”
    What’s that? Looks like we were going to get a nice dinner.
    “Nice.”
    We opened the door, and the attendant guided us to the knight’s dining hall for dinner.
    It was like something out of a fantasy movie. The dining hall of a great castle! There was a large table in the center, laid out like a buffet with all sorts of food.
    “Everyone, please eat whatever you like.”
    “What? I guess we are eating with the castle knights?” Ren mumbled to himself.
    How could someone complain about a dinner like this? Damn he was rude.
    “You misunderstand. This food has been prepared for you. The knights will not be permitted to enter until you have had your fill,” said the attendant.
    I looked around the room only to find that the boisterous crowd we’d assumed were other diners was actually composed chiefly of cooks. I suppose this was meant to imply that the four of us were of higher priority than the castle knights.
    “Thank you. Let’s eat then.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Right on.”
    And so we began to dine on the food of this new world. The culinary sensibilities were not what I was used to, but it was certainly not disgusting. There wasn’t anything I wasn’t able to stomach.
    And yet, something that looked like an omelet tasted more like oranges, and many of the dishes combined flavors that never went together where I was from.
    We finished eating, and found ourselves growing sleepy on the way back to our rooms.
    “Think they have a bath?”
    “Well, it looks like the Middle Ages around here. They might have a bathtub though.”
    “If you don’t request it, I doubt they will provide one.”
    “I guess I can let it go for one day.”
    “Yeah, I’m getting tired, and the adventure starts tomorrow. Better get a good night’s sleep.”
    Everyone nodded in agreement to Motoyasu’s suggestion, and we went to our beds.
    The four of us, including me, were obviously excited for the next day to come. Still, we fell asleep very quickly.
    Our adventure began the next day!

Chapter Four: Specially-Arranged Funding

    Finally, the dawn arrived.
    We finished eating breakfast and were waiting in anticipation for the king’s summons. It was only natural to give us a little spare time in the morning. No one wants to feel rushed out of bed. Finally, when the sun was pretty high in the sky, probably around ten o’ clock, the king called for us. We could hardly contain ourselves, and hurried to the audience chamber, our hearts dancing in our chests.
    “The Heroes enter.”
    The doors to the audience chamber swung open to reveal a group of twelve strangers, all dressed as though they were about to embark on an adventure of their own.
    There were knights among them.
    The king certainly knew how to show his support.
    We all bowed to the king, and settled in to listen to his proposal.
    “As we discussed yesterday, I have called for others to assist you in your journey. Apparently my call did not go unheeded.”
    If there were three assistants provided to each of us, we might just survive.
    “Now then, gathered adventurers, please choose the Legendary Hero with whom you will travel with.”
    Wait, So THEY got to