The Rising of the Shield Hero Volume 01 Read Free Page A

everyone seemed to think it was, this numerical expression of your physical body.
    “And what are we supposed to do? These numbers seem awfully low.”
    “Yes, well. You will need to go on a journey to further polish your abilities, and to strengthen the Legendary Weapons you possess.”
    “Strengthen them? You mean these things aren’t strong right from the get-go?”
    “That is correct. The summoned Heroes must raise their Legendary Weapons by themselves. That is how they will grow strong.”
    Motoyasu was spinning his spear and thinking. “Why don’t we just use different weapons while these ones are bulking up? Seems smart to me.”
    That did seem like a good idea. And besides, I was stuck with a shield, not even a weapon in its own right. I’d better get another weapon.
    Ren cut in to clarify, “We can work all that out later on. Right now, we should focus on improving ourselves, just like the king has asked us to do.”
    It was so exciting! We were heroes summoned from another world! It felt a little like manga, but any Otaku worth his salt would jump at a chance like this. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I couldn’t get myself to calm down. It looked like the other heroes around me felt the same way.
    “Are we going to form a party? The four of us?”
    “Wait just a moment, Heroes.”
    “Hm?”
    Just as we were preparing to set out on an adventure, the king spoke again. “The four of you should set out separately, to recruit your own companions.”
    “Why is that?”
    “According to the legends,” he began, “The Legendary Weapons you possess will interfere with one another should you form a party. Both your weapons and yourselves can only grow when you are apart from one another.”
    “I don’t really understand all that, but if we stay together, we can’t level up, right?”
    Huh? Everyone found instructions near their weapons. We all began to read at the same time.

    Attention: the Legendary Weapons and their owners will experience adverse effects if they fight together.
    Caution: it is preferable that the Heroes and weapons are used individually.

    “I guess it’s true then…”
    But why did all of this sound so much like a game? It was like I’d been transported into a game. Anyway, games don’t feel this real, and there were real humans living here, so I guess it was still a reality of one kind or another. Still, the system reminded me of a game nonetheless.
    The instructions on the weapons went on at great length and detail, but there wasn’t enough time to read them right then.
    “So you think we should try and form our own parties?”
    “I will attempt to secure travel companions for you all. Regardless, evening draws near. Heroes, you should rest for the night and prepare for departure on the morrow. In the meantime, I will find companions for you from the village below.”
    “Thank you very much.”
    “Thanks.”
    We all thanked the king and retired to our room for the night.

Chapter Three: A Heroic Discussion

    There were ornate beds prepared for us in the provided chamber. Everyone was sitting on them, closely inspecting their weapons, and letting their vision drift absentmindedly to check on their status screens.
    I glanced at the window, only to find that the sun had set long ago, which just goes to show how much time we had spent reading the instructions.
    Ok, so let’s see here. The Legendary Weapons required no maintenance at all. They were powerful and sturdy enough on their own. The material the weapons were constructed of reacts to the level of the hero who wields them, and any slain monsters were recorded in something called a weapon book.
    The weapon book was something that apparently kept a list of all the forms the Legendary Weapons were capable of transforming into. There was a weapon book for my own shield that could be viewed from the weapon icon. I opened it.
    Fwip!
    The border of the window quickly expanded to fill my field of vision, and it was