Reborn as shield hero with Garps Template

-------------

If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 80+ chapters at patreon.com/Darkphoenix11

-----

"How about it? Does this cake taste delicious? This is the first time I've eaten food from another world since coming here."

"Well, it's really delicious. As expected from Mr. Jason's recommendation," Raphtalia replied.

Jason and Raphtalia were walking along, talking and laughing as they enjoyed food similar to pancakes. Suddenly, a man appeared in front of them, smiling warmly.

The people passing by seemed to recognize him, their faces showing surprise.

"Hey, isn't that the owner of the medicine shop?"

"Oh my God, he's actually smiling! Normally, no matter who he's talking to, he always looks like they owe him money."

"I must be dreaming," another passerby muttered.

The crowd whispered among themselves, clearly taken aback by the man's friendly expression.

Jason recognized him as well. He had bought medicinal supplies from the man's shop on several occasions, and as the passersby had said, the owner usually wore a permanent scowl.

"Honestly, boss, that smile is kind of creeping me out," Jason remarked with a smirk.

"Master Shield Hero, don't tease me like that! Haha…" the shop owner laughed heartily, rubbing the back of his head.

Upon hearing the title "Master Shield Hero," the onlookers seemed to relax, accepting this unusual display of friendliness as something that naturally happened around Jason.

"As they say, 'You don't visit the temple without reason.' If you stopped me like this, something must be up, right?" Jason cut straight to the point.

"Actually, there isn't a problem. I just wanted to thank you and Miss Raphtalia."

"Hm?" Jason and Raphtalia both looked at him, confused.

"Here's the thing: I have a relative in Lute Village who was saved by you and Miss Raphtalia during the last Wave. He asked me to express his gratitude in any way I could. When I saw you walking past the shop, I rushed out to find you. I apologize if I interrupted you," the shop owner explained. Lute Village, being close to the capital, was home to many people who later moved to the city in search of a better life. The shopkeeper, clearly one of them, had relatives in the village.

"You're incredibly strong, so I doubt I could be of much help in battle. But I thought this item might come in handy."

With that, the pharmacy owner pulled a book from his pocket and handed it to Jason.

"Is this… an intermediate synthesis book?" Jason asked, recognizing the title immediately. The foreign characters in front of him automatically translated in his mind.

"That's right. More accurately, it's an intermediate synthesis formula book. With this, you'll be able to create higher-level medicines by following the recipes."

Jason's eyes lit up. This was valuable.

Until now, despite gathering plenty of medicinal ingredients during his travels, he didn't have any formulas to work from. He had been forced to experiment and sometimes ended up mixing harmful concoctions by accident. But with this book, he could follow the proven recipes, making the process much easier and safer.

Jason opened the book and, as expected, saw rows of otherworldly characters. In the blink of an eye, they transformed into letters he could read.

"I remember hearing that even a Hero would only understand the voice of things in this world. But I can read everything perfectly. Is it related to the system that lets me make choices?" Jason thought to himself. He couldn't quite figure it out, but decided not to dwell on it. Being able to read the language without any effort was a benefit he wasn't going to question.

"Thank you so much!" Jason said, smiling gratefully at the shopkeeper before slipping the book into his storage shield.

"You're welcome! It's just an intermediate synthesis book, nothing too special. Actually, I'm a bit embarrassed to offer it as thanks. But here's a deal: from now on, you'll get a 20% discount on any medicinal herbs you buy from my shop. Oh, and if you're not too busy… could I trouble you to visit the magic shop for me?"

The pharmacy owner smiled mysteriously. Though he didn't say much, Jason could guess that the man likely had more relatives in Lute Village, which was why he was eager to express his gratitude.

Not going? Jason thought. If there's something free to gain, why wouldn't I?

As the name implied, the magic shop specialized in selling books and materials for learning magic. Up to this point, Jason hadn't had any reason to visit, but today was different.

When he entered the shop, he looked around with curiosity, taking in the atmosphere of the place for the first time.

"Oh... Master Shield Hero, you've come!" called a voice.

An elderly woman, her face lined with wrinkles, approached him with small, hurried steps. Despite her age and somewhat plump frame, she moved with surprising energy.

"She must be the manager of the magic shop," Jason thought as he observed her attire, which resembled that of a traditional witch.

"Yes, that's right!" she said, as if reading his mind. "I'm the manager here. My grandson was saved thanks to your help, and because of that, I won't have to bury him before my time."

Her face radiated kindness, and compared to the pharmacy owner, Jason found her much more pleasant to interact with.

"It was no trouble at all," Jason replied modestly, waving his hand.

"Master Shield Hero, you're truly humble. But of course, I must offer you something in return. I have a gift prepared for you. Please, wait just a moment," the old woman said with a warm smile.

She disappeared behind the counter, retrieving a crystal ball, which she placed in front of him. After murmuring a series of incantations that only she seemed to understand, the ball began to glow faintly.

"The preparations are complete, Master Shield Hero. Please, come closer and focus your gaze on the crystal ball. I will use it to determine what type of magic suits you best," she explained, gesturing for him to step forward.

Jason knew, as the Shield Hero, he wasn't likely to be compatible with offensive magic. If anything, his affinity would lean more toward supportive magic. Still, out of curiosity, he approached the counter and stared into the crystal ball as instructed.

The crystal ball glimmered faintly, but to Jason, it didn't reveal anything particularly special.

However, the old woman's expression grew increasingly troubled. Her brows knitted together, and her face creased with concern. She muttered under her breath, "Impossible... this can't be…"

Jason's curiosity deepened. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, Master Shield Hero," she replied, her voice full of confusion. "It seems there's something off with the crystal ball. I can't see anything. How strange..."

She gave the ball a couple of firm pats, as though trying to fix it.

Jason, feeling like she might break it at any moment, spoke up. "Could it have something to do with me?"

"Maybe... Excuse me, Miss Raphtalia, isn't it?" the old woman said, turning to Raphtalia. "Would you mind stepping forward and looking into the crystal ball as well? I want to make sure it's not malfunctioning."

"Of course," Raphtalia replied, stepping forward. She did as Jason had done and locked her gaze on the glowing orb.

After a moment, the old woman nodded. "Miss Raphtalia has an affinity for both light and dark magic. So, the crystal ball isn't broken after all..."

The old woman raised her head and looked at Jason in surprise. .

-------------

If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 80+ chapters at patreon.com/Darkphoenix11

-----