Reborn as shield hero with Garps Template

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"Master Shield Hero has already left?"

About 30 villagers kneeling outside the village chief's house turned their heads to watch Jason and Raphtalia as their figures grew smaller in the distance.

"Master Shield Hero is gone—what should we do now?"

"You're asking me? How should I know?"

"Master Shield Hero wouldn't joke around with us like this! He left us here, still kneeling, without even explaining!"

"No... I believe Master Shield Hero isn't that kind of person. He must be testing our willpower and loyalty. I'll keep kneeling until he returns."

The first person to understand Jason's intent was a brown-haired boy, quite young—about fifteen or sixteen.

Though he looked thin, his gaze was resolute, and even while kneeling, his back remained straight, exuding an air of unwavering determination.

"That's right! If Master Shield Hero won't accept me, I'll kneel here until he does."

This time, the voice came from a girl with short hair and a red shawl draped over her shoulders. She looked to be about the same age as the boy, with big blue eyes and a bright smile, her face speckled with youthful freckles.

"It's one thing for Jack to be so stubborn. Everyone knows he's always been single-minded. But Lilith, why are you being just as foolish?"

A stout man chimed in, having already sat down on the ground. After all, they all came from the same village and knew each other well.

The dark-haired boy was named Jack, and the red-haired girl was Lilith. The two were cousins.

"Hey... why are you sitting down? Didn't you hear Master Shield Hero? If he sees you like this, he'll definitely be angry."

Jack furrowed his brow, scolding the stout man.

"Oh, it doesn't matter. Master Shield Hero is long gone—he can't see us from here. I'll just get up and kneel again when he comes back. Same result. I'm not as foolish as you are."

The stout man waved his hand dismissively, a smug grin spreading across his face as if proud of his clever thinking.

Under his influence, many others began sitting on the ground too, convinced by his reasoning that there was no point in kneeling until Jason returned.

"If you don't want to follow Master Shield Hero, you'd better leave."

A striking woman with long blonde hair turned her cold gaze toward the stout man. She appeared a year or two older than Jack and Lilith, but her stern expression made her seem far more mature.

Her words wiped the smile off the stout man's face. "Irene, what's that supposed to mean?"

"It's simple—Master Shield Hero is sharp. Do you think he won't notice your little trick? Or do you think he's a fool?"

The blonde beauty, Irene, spoke with a detached tone, her expression unchanged.

"I-I don't think that at all!"

The stout man denied it quickly, but he didn't move from his spot, still seated on the ground.

Irene ignored him, closing her eyes and continuing to kneel silently. Jack and Lilith followed suit.

Time dragged on, and after an hour, the sun now high in the sky, all 30 of them were drenched in sweat.

The heat of the afternoon sun made every second feel excruciating, as if time itself had slowed down.

Even those sitting on the ground were struggling to endure the sweltering conditions.

Two hours passed...

Then three...

Around ten people couldn't endure any longer and gave in, choosing to sit on the ground. Many who had already been sitting were now lying flat, completely exhausted.

"So tired, so thirsty."

"Yeah... I just want to go home and collapse in bed."

"When is Master Shield Hero coming back?"

"I can't take it anymore! Master Shield Hero isn't coming back—you fools can keep waiting, but I'm out of here!"

Grumbling voices grew louder, until finally, one person couldn't bear it any longer. He made up an excuse and left.

With one person gone, others quickly followed, leaving behind taunts like, "If Master Shield Hero returns, I'll chop off my own head and kick it around!" and "If he accepts you, I'll spin in a circle and drink urine!"

In just a few minutes, only 20 of the original 30 remained. Thirteen continued kneeling, while the other seven either lay sprawled or sat on the ground.

Another hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Jack, who had been so determined to wait for Jason's return, now swayed back and forth, his upper body trembling as if he might collapse at any moment.

"Jack, are you okay?"

Although Lilith was in bad shape herself, as an older sister, she still worried about her younger brother.

"I'm not doing great," Jack replied. "I can barely feel my legs. They've gone numb from kneeling so long."

Lilith noticed how pale his face had become.

"Why don't you go back?"

"No... Master Shield Hero hasn't returned yet. I won't leave."

Knowing her brother's stubbornness, Lilith sighed and asked, "Jack, why do you want to follow Lord Shield Hero?"

"Promise you won't laugh when I tell you."

Jack's expression turned serious.

"Okay, I promise."

Lilith nodded solemnly.

"I want to be like Master Shield Hero—bravely fighting the Waves, helping and protecting everyone. And then, I want to marry a beautiful wife."

Jack's eyes gleamed with admiration, clearly marking him as Jason's devoted fan.

"Haha! That's quite the ambition. Or should I say, childish? You, fighting the Waves? You've been too scared to even kill a rabbit your whole life! As for the 'beautiful wife' part, with your scatterbrained personality, it would be a miracle to get any wife at all."

Lilith laughed, making Jack's face flush red with embarrassment. "You promised not to laugh!"

"But it's just so funny, haha..."

Though she was teasing him, Lilith's laughter had lightened the mood, and Jack's pained expression had softened.

"I don't think it's funny. Having a dream is always a good thing."

At that moment, Irene spoke up.

"See? Even Irene thinks I can succeed!" Jack, now brimming with renewed confidence, turned to her with a grin. "So, Irene, why do you follow Master Shield Hero?"

"I want to be like Lady Raphtalia—strong and beautiful. I want to prove to those men who underestimate women that we're just as powerful. And then..."

"As expected of Irene, the Ice Queen. Straightforward and tough! But what comes next?"

"Then..."

Irene hesitated, and to everyone's surprise, a faint blush crept across her usually stoic face. "Then, I want to marry Master Shield Hero!"

"Boom!"

The others, including Jack and Lilith, nearly collapsed to the ground in shock. Irene's words left them utterly speechless.

After all, Irene had always been cold and distant toward men, even ignoring the advances of nobles. And now, she said this.

"Master Shield Hero is the most remarkable man I've ever met," Irene continued, her voice dreamy. "Especially when he descended from the sky, his flame wings spread wide... his presence was just so... captivating."

Her eyes glimmered with longing as she spoke.