“Yeah. It looks like we won’t have another wave for a while, thanks to the Spirit Tortoise’s energy.”

The surrounding knights responded with gasps of excitement.

“We should be safe until the seal is broken on the Phoenix—the next guardian beast of the four benevolent animals.”

“And how long is that?”

“Around three and a half months. That may not seem long, but . . . we’ll just have to make do.”

“Understood. I’m sure you are all exhausted after such an arduous battle in another world—in enemy territory, no less. Please, this way.”

“Sounds good. I’d like to hear how things have been going here, too.”

I nodded, and the queen stepped aside and motioned us toward the carriage she had prepared for us. We boarded the carriage and headed for the castle.

Chapter One: The Seven Star Staff Hero

“Come, Mr. Iwatani. The people of Melromarc are offering you their ungrudging appreciation. Please, give them a wave.”

“Yeah, yeah. Sure.”

Such an exaggerated show of appreciation had the opposite effect. It made it all feel so contrived.

“Thank you, Shield Hero!”

“Hero!”

It was like a real hero’s welcome, with the crowds waving to me as we headed toward the castle in the carriage prepared by the queen.

What a conniving bunch they were!

Then again, stuff like anime and history had taught me that this kind of thing was just a natural part of how the collective consciousness worked. I humored them and waved back as much as I felt comfortable with. But if it had been just two or three months earlier, my welcome would have likely been something like a piece of trash thrown in my face.

I was the Shield Demon, after all.

After we defeated the first wave, there were people glaring at me like I didn’t belong here. I knew I should be happy that I was finally getting my due appreciation, but it still really bothered me.

I wondered how much time had passed in this world since we had crossed over.

“By the way, Queen . . .”

“Yes?”

“How much time has passed here since I left?”

I had made a point of keeping track, but I still wanted to check to make sure. It was always possible that an exceedingly long amount of time had actually passed, like in the tale of Urashima Taro—the Japanese Rip Van Winkle.

“Two and a half weeks.”

“Oh really?”

Strange. Apparently time passed quicker in Kizuna’s world. You could see the surprise on Raphtalia’s and Rishia’s faces when the queen said it had only been two and a half weeks.

“What is it?”

“Around a month had passed in the world we followed the enemy to.”

“I see. To think there would be such a difference . . .”

I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing, but I figured it meant we had saved some time . . . maybe?

We finally arrived at the castle and were taken to the throne room.