Reborn as shield hero with Garps Template

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"Let's get down to business. The wave of disaster is coming soon, and I need equipment!" Jason announced as he stepped up to the counter and addressed the shop owner.

"A wave of disaster? It truly is that time again." The shop owner's tone shifted to seriousness upon hearing the phrase "disaster wave," understanding the implications for the country's survival and the world at large.

"Hmmmm... Boss, please select armor with exceptionally high defense for Mr. Jason. Money is no object; we've hunted and slain numerous monsters during this time," Raphtalia chimed in, her respect evident in the way she referred to Jason no longer as 'brother' but as 'adult.'

At her suggestion, the shop owner pointed to a suit of armor hanging prominently in the center of the store. "How about this one?"

The armor looked like a full suit, reminiscent of medieval castle armor. It enveloped the body entirely, even concealing the eyes. A faint magical aura shimmered around it, indicating it had been imbued with magical attributes.

"Though this armor appears bulky, it has been processed with air turbulence to reduce its weight while maintaining impressive defense." The owner explained his craftsmanship slowly, making sure to highlight its advantages.

"Air turbulence processing?" Jason asked, somewhat familiar with the term, though it sounded mysterious.

"It absorbs the wearer's magic power to lighten the armor, alleviating the burden of its weight," the shop owner clarified.

"I see…" Jason nodded, grasping the improvement in equipment technology within this world. He considered it but ultimately shook his head. "However, I don't need it. I'm mainly here to help Raphtalia find some gear."

"Why not, Master Jason? This piece of equipment looks exceptional!" Raphtalia protested, her concern evident. "You know what kind of danger you've faced, right? A high-defense armor is absolutely essential."

"Well…" Jason hesitated, scratching his face in slight embarrassment.

"What did Brother Shield Hero do before?" the shop owner inquired, curiosity piqued by Raphtalia's passionate defense of Jason.

"Boss, let me tell you about Lord Jason. He once halted a charging rhinoceros, and he even reached out for a dragon's bite. That's a subspecies dragon!" she began to recount a series of Jason's reckless feats, continuing for about five minutes. "He always does such dangerous things—if he doesn't have good equipment, how can he possibly survive? Don't you agree?"

The shop owner stood agog. Dragons existed in this world, including riding dragons and massive ground dragons. Technically, the ground dragon was a subspecies, too, hindered by its undeveloped wings, relying on sheer strength. Its bite was enough to crush ordinary armor instantly. Faced with the knowledge that Jason had reached out to a giant dragon to be bitten, the owner thought he must be out of his mind.

"Okay, okay. I really don't need it," Jason waved, understanding Raphtalia's concern for him. "With my current defense, I can get by without armor. Wearing it would be more of a hindrance to my movements."

He acknowledged Raphtalia's intent to protect him, realizing that her excitement stemmed from genuine worry for his well-being. As for why he engaged in such reckless acts before, it wasn't due to a lapse in judgment. Rather, Jason aimed to test the limits of his defenses, believing that only through risk could he truly understand his strength.

"In that case, Boss… do you have any lightweight, high-defense equipment?" Raphtalia pressed, slamming her hands on the counter in determination.

Even though Jason insisted he didn't need it, Raphtalia refused to give up. To her, Jason was everything—her protector and her hope.

"Lightweight and high-defense equipment? You're putting me in a tough spot, little girl. Wait… Brother Shield Hero, have you encountered any ground dragons before? If you have any materials left, we might be able to craft some excellent equipment."

The shop owner's eyes brightened as an idea sparked in his mind.

"Yes, I have, but I'm unsure where those materials are," Jason replied, now intrigued. Looking down at his tattered armor, he realized it was indeed time for an upgrade.

With a swift motion, he emptied his bag, spilling the contents out onto the floor to reveal a multitude of materials collected from his recent hunts.

"O—oh my God! Brother Shield Hero… how many monsters have you hunted during this time?" the shop owner gasped, eyes wide in astonishment.

"It's not a big deal. I originally tossed away a lot of materials I couldn't keep," Jason shrugged, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Brother Shield Hero, you're too modest! If you sold all these materials, you'd have at least 30 gold coins! No wonder the little lady said you weren't short on money," the owner muttered, looking at the piles of materials with disbelief.

"Okay... let's see what materials we have available," the shop owner urged, excitement palpable in his voice.

He began rummaging through the scattered items across the floor, exclaiming as he uncovered various treasures. "I found the scale armor of the Earth Dragon! And look, we have the fur from the Earth Violent Bear and the feathers of the Black Magic Falcon..."

As he emerged from behind the counter, his excitement mounted while he gathered a collection of materials, placing them on the counter. Jason then retrieved the remaining items he hadn't used.

"Is this enough? What kind of equipment can you craft with this?" Jason asked as he assessed the pile. "Let me start with my requirements: defense isn't a top priority for me. What I need is something that boosts my strength and agility."

He knew that this personalized equipment would need to align with his unique skill set.

"Honestly, I can't say for certain what can be made. This will be a fresh attempt for me, but I'll construct it according to your specifications. With the quantity of these materials, I could even build a second set of gear. So, little girl, do you have any specific requests?" The shop owner shifted his gaze to Raphtalia, eager to hear her input.

"For her, the focus should be on enhancing strength and agility, specifically prioritizing agility in light armor," Jason interjected, understanding Raphtalia's attributes well. He recognized her growth path leaned heavily on agility, supported by strength, making her a nimble fighter. Too heavy armor would hinder her natural advantages.

"You can also craft a longsword. What type does she need?" the owner asked, turning back to Jason.

"Well… it should be strong, light, and possess high attack power. That's all I need," Jason stated. He chose to let Raphtalia provide input this time, knowing she was the one who would wield the sword and would be most aware of what style suited her.

"Alright, understood! The crafting process will take about three days and cost 500 silver coins. After all, we're making advanced equipment here." The shop owner thought for a moment, calculating the necessary expenses.

"Three days? If I recall correctly, that means it will be ready the day after the disaster wave hits," Jason mused, resting his chin in contemplation. He wasn't dissatisfied with the time frame; he understood that customization took time—this wasn't an easy job.

"Well... time is indeed tight, but I can work overtime to prioritize creating your set first. How does that sound?" the shop owner proposed, eager to accommodate the Shield Hero.

"Then I'll trouble you to craft a set of equipment for me first," Jason replied, knowing the urgency of their situation.

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