Наофуми Иватани вместе с тремя другими людьми был призван в параллельный мир, чтобы стать его героем. При переносе каждый из них получил специальную экипировку, которая соответствует типу героя. Наофуми достался легендарный щит, и парень решил отправиться в путешествие по сказочному миру.

Но уже в самом начале пути у него возникли проблемы.

Не обладающий выдающейся харизмой, парень к тому же оказался совсем не готов к геройским деяниям, поэтому сразу получил прозвище слабейшего из призванных.

Брошенного другими героями, Наофуми в результате ограбили и подставили. А затем начали остерегаться все кому не лень: и крестьяне, и даже король. Сильные мира сего обратились во врагов, и неудачливый герой потерял веру в людей. Но кое-что всё-таки изменилось — он преисполнился гневом и желанием отомстить.

The Four Cardinal Heroes are a group of ordinary men from modern-day Japan summoned to the kingdom of Melromarc to become its saviors. Melromarc is a country plagued by the Waves of Catastrophe that have repeatedly ravaged the land and brought disaster to its citizens for centuries. The four heroes are respectively bestowed a sword, spear, bow, and shield to vanquish these Waves. Naofumi Iwatani, an otaku, becomes cursed with the fate of being the "Shield Hero." Armed with only a measly shield, Naofumi is belittled and ridiculed by his fellow heroes and the kingdom's people due to his weak offensive capabilities and lackluster personality.

When the heroes are provided with resources and comrades to train with, Naofumi sets out with the only person willing to train alongside him, Malty Melromarc. He is soon betrayed by her, however, and becomes falsely accused of taking advantage of her. Naofumi then becomes heavily discriminated against and hated by the people of Melromarc for something he didn't do. With a raging storm of hurt and mistrust in his heart, Naofumi begins his journey of strengthening himself and his reputation. Further along however, the difficulty of being on his own sets in, so Naofumi buys a demi-human slave on the verge of death named Raphtalia to accompany him on his travels.

As the Waves approach the kingdom, Naofumi and Raphtalia must fight for the survival of the kingdom and protect the people of Melromarc from their ill-fated future.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]