The Substitution of the Shield Hero

Late at night, a local tavern in Melromarc.

Sitting at a table a few spots away from the Three Heroes, Welt brushed his brown bangs away from his glasses, reflecting on his role as a normal and simple mage in the party of that young Ren.

And as he did, he couldn't help but think...

'How did I end up here?'

Welt wasn't doing much. In fact, he was taking the time off from the Express as a bit of a vacation. But...

'There aren't any stellarons here. And this isn't even on the same imaginary tree...'

Too many things were wrong.

The fact that this world abided by rigid game-like rules, complete with status systems, the fact that everything was so WEAK in comparison to what he was used to... and the fact that it was all just so fantasical.

Although it was somewhat similar in nature to Amphoreus, it was deifnitely a real world, not simply memories and data.

Moreover...

'I can use my powers... but I have a vague sense that I'll be whisked away the moment I do.'

...For him, the entire world seemed a bit like a dream.

From what he could gather since arriving in this world and playing up the role of a wandering mage by quickly learning the local magic system, it was a lot like the cartoons he remembered from his world.

Moreover, the 'heroes' that the world hailed definitely appeared to be similar to the one he knew.

As Welt watched Ren, Itsuki, and Motoyasu chat at the table over and frowned.

'Ren is definitely Japanese. But Itsuki and Motoyasu... they look a bit different.'

Although the names were definitely Japanese, the appearances were more like the locals, letting them blend in.

Welt tapped his finger on the table, lost in thought.

'I can still vaguely sense the express. And the flow of time seems to be desynchronized, so it shouldn't be a problem. Getting back should be fine too...'

It was different from when he crossed that portal with his 'partner' and landed in the Astral Express the first time. While that time was a one-way trip to the express...

...Actually, no. This seemed to be the same.

Welt had a vague sense the moment he used his powers here, he would get another one-way trip back to the Astral Express.

'But that would be a waste.'

Welt looked around, quietly taking in the atmosphere.

...Although it had been a bit of a mess, Welt had learned a lot.

And for someone like him, knowledge was power, in more ways than one.

'The lack of knowledge was power too.'

Nothing in this world knew what he was. Although Welt had been concerned that the Status Magic System might reveal things... it appeared that since his powers came from a different ruleset, to the world and its people, he was just an ordinary human.

Nostalgic to think about really.

Someone sat across from Welt. A familiar face by now.

Farrie, the female martial artist who had joined Ren's party around the same time he had.

Unlike her usual martial arts robe, and unlike her usual ponytail, Farrie was wearing a simple brown dress with her hair let down loose.

She smiled and said, "Sitting all by your lonesome again, Mister Welt?"

Welt smiled back at her and said, "I'm just thinking, Miss Farrie."

Farrie laughed and slid over a mug of mead to Welt. "It's just Farrie, Welt. Since the others left, it's just us in Sir Ren's party."

"...Right. I had forgotten."

There were two others in Ren's party, but because of everything that unfolded with Naofumi...

Farrie looked a bit sad. "Yeah. Well... not everyone joined the hero party to protect people. I don't blame Bakta and Tersia for leaving. They joined for the fame and experience. When things got tough like this..."

Welt nodded. "It's human nature. Inevitable."

Farrie sighed. "Still a bit sad." She looked over at Ren, Itsuki, and Motoyasu. "...They're just kids. The fact that the whole country's counting on them... and that the entire world's against us... it's rough."

Welt hummed. "I think it'll be fine. You'd be surprised at the heroics that children are capable of. Unlike us adults, they still believe in hope and all the beauty in the world, you know?"

Farrie laughed. "All the beauty in the world? You're so dramatic."

"Well, that's a saying from an old friend. I suppose a more fitting one is how the moon always tells the warmth and brightness of the sun?" Welt looked over at the three heroes and said, "You never know just how much your influence will reach. So as long as we're here, we should do our best to make sure they keep shining, right?"

Farrie sipped on her own mug of mead and said, "You know, Mister Welt. Sometimes, you talk like an old man."

Welt chuckled and said, "I get that a lot. But I have to say, I've regained quite a bit of vigor being around so many youthful heroic individuals recently."

That girl who reached the end and held onto all the beauty in the world...

That newbie on the express who acted like a goofball but always focused when everything hit the fan...

And now these young heroes who had been whisked from their home worlds into a war they weren't ready for, without even any knowledge of how to properly fight.

'Hm. Maybe I should step in a bit more to teach them.'

It was a worse position than the other young ones that he had met in the past. Unlike those two, who grew up in conflict... these young heroes seemed to have come from a world of peace.

'Ah. Except for that Naofumi.'

Welt still had doubts about that one.

From the start, he had noticed that the 'Shield Hero' seemed off. That 'Naofumi' had also seemed to be moving similar to him, hiding his true nature while learning the local rules.

...But he was different from Welt too.

'Creating that entire city across the grasslands in an instant... I could do the same. But for him to do so without being rejected by this world...'

It wasn't a Stellaron. It wasn't the power of a Herrscher either.

And Welt couldn't understand it.

He could guess... but he was missing too many clues. And the clues he DID have didn't make sense.

Welt chuckled. "I suppose there's much even someone like me has to experience."

Farrie looked amused and said, "There you go, speaking like an old man again."

Welt smiled. "Bad habit of mine." He took off his glasses to clean them. Then as he put them back on, he saw Ren walk over.

"Welt." Ren nodded and said, "What are your thoughts on staying in Melromarc as a homebase versus elsewhere?"

Welt raised an eyebrow. "...Well, unless 'elsewhere' is your friend Naofumi's territory, it would be a terrible idea." He hummed and adjusted his glasses. "Even if you and the other heroes are indispensible to resolving this 'wave' phenomenon, odds are high that the other countries will hold grudges. And considering that slave crests exist, and that you all still have yet to go through the first class up... it will be dangerous."

Ren frowned and nodded. "...I thought so."

Farrie tilted her head and said, "Is there a problem, Sir Ren?"

Ren tapped his index finger against his thigh and said, "Not a problem. More of a concern. There's a powerful monster that could awake soon. But it's near Siltvelt territory. If we let it run rampant, it could cause a lot of trouble, so the others were talking about trying to see if we could negotiate with Siltvelt." He frowned. "But if Welt thinks it's dangerous..."

Welt adjusted his glasses. "If you want my honest opinion... I believe that you and the other heroes should focus on training your skills with your weapons."

Ren paused. "...I've been doing that."

"No. I don't mean your skills in the system. I mean swordplay and spearmanship, as well as archery. If I might be a bit rude... you're all novices. Compared to your friend Naofumi, who clearly has experienced life and death battles without systems aiding him, you're all a bit lacking." Welt frowned. "...And this may be just paranoia. But there might come a time where you will have to fight without the Status Magic System. Securing your life will be difficult if you rely on external power."

Motoyasu walked over and said, "What's that? You think that our skills suck, Mister Welt?"

Itsuki walked over too, frowning. "What's there to train when you never miss?"

Welt hummed.

It was meddling.

Buuut.

He was effectively on vacation.

And it bothered him to see young ones so woefully unprepared.

So...

"Very well. It's not my forte, but I suppose I'll tutor you all properly. There is a decent amount of time before the next wave, and Melromarc is stable enough. Before some ridiculous enemy emerges, let's have you three at least be able to secure your lives. First lesson."

Welt kicked the chair leg out from under him and swung it at Ren. "The element of surprise!"

"GAH!?"