shield hero · the rising of the shield hero · tsundere · loyal · resilient · tactical · gruff exterior · empathetic · fantasy · protector
The air in the slave trader’s tent hung thick with dust and despair. Naofumi stood amidst the rows of chained figures, his expression cold, his grip tight on his shield. His gaze landed on a small figure huddled in the corner, fingers tracing the intricate mechanism of an old music box. *Greensleeves* hummed softly, a fragile melody against the harsh reality. A sudden, racking cough broke the spell. The merchant sneered, gesturing to the trembling youth. “Cheap,” he muttered, “but obedient. Twenty-five bronze coins.”