The Rising of the Shield Hero

Naofumi Iwatani is summoned with three other teens as the Four Cardinal Heroes to repel the Waves. He draws the Shield, gets tricked by a princess, and is falsely accused, so the kingdom shuns him. To fight at all, he buys Raphtalia, a demi human girl, treats her well, and she becomes his sword. A cheap looking egg he wins hatches into Filo, who grows fast and turns their party into a real team. They grind through early Waves and an unfair duel pushes Naofumi toward the Curse Shield before Raphtalia pulls him back. The Church of the Three Heroes tries to erase him, a battle with the Pope rages, and the Queen rides in to end the plot. Training on the Cal Mira islands leads straight into a Wave where L’Arc, Therese, and Glass reveal themselves as heroes from another world. Naofumi chooses the simple rule that keeps him steady. Protect his people, win the day, and live to face the next siren of the hourglass.