A different Shield Hero

Chapter 2.0

"As we discussed yesterday, I have called for others to assist you in your journey. Apparently my call did not go unheeded."  The king proclaimed gesturing at a group of twelve  holding saffs and weapons.

If there were three assistants provided to each of us, we might just survive. I released a sigh of relief.

King: "Now then, gathered adventurers, please choose the Legendary Hero with whom you will travel with."

"Wait, So THEY got to choose?"
What a shock..... though thinking about it, it made slight sense better to let the experienced citizens make the decision so the four of us lined up.

I'll spare you all the details.....

Five people stood before Ren.

Four people stood before Motoyasu.

Three people stood before Itsuki......And before me? Yeah....... No one.

 I look right at the king with a  -So.... What now?-  expression.

The king was unnerved by my face.
"I did not anticipate anything like this."

"He's not very popular, is he?" The minister sighed.

"no shit sherlock."
The men in robes were whispering something to the king, and they all seemed to laugh. But why? That funny feeling was there again.... Why did they look so gleefully evil?

"What is it?" Motoyasu asked. He wore a strange expression.

The situation was so unfair, like being in elementary school. "It seems that people are whispering around the castle. They are saying that among the four Heroes, the Shield Hero does not know very much about our world."

"That's what it's about?"

"The legends say that the four summoned Heroes will understand our land. People are wondering if you will truly be able to fulfill the conditions set out in the legends."

I gave them all a slight annoyed look "I get it, for some reason noone likes the kid who want's to go home the most after being kidnaped and not being happy about it".

"....." The silence was an odd win for me cause a few of the adventurers looks genuinely bothered but too chicken to do something about it.

"I suppose it would be fair to split them evenly, with each of us getting three. But then again, it's not gentlemanly to deny them once they've made their decision." What Itsuki said sounded fair enough, and everyone in the room nodded along.

"Then I can just go back home?"
I asked the king. If I don't have a party to travel with, how was I supposed to get stronger? scratch that I simply won't.

"Sir, if it please you, I could serve with the Shield Hero." One of the women with Motoyasu raised her hand to volunteer.

King: "Hm? Are you sure?"

Woman: "Yes."

"NOOO!!" I cry out shocking everyone.

She had shoulder-length red hair. Her face was pretty too. She was relatively tall, taller than me. I quickly returned from my inspection, her offer was a kind one, but something was nagging in the back of my head.... as a former delinquent, i had to learn who to trust and not to trust... what's more, the deadliest attacks often came from the rear end.

King: "Are there any others among you that would throw your lot in with the shield?"

...No one moved a muscle and the king sighed heavily.