After some discussion, the four of them made an astonishing discovery-well, damn! Not only did Chuan Wenwu come from somewhere different from the other three, but those three were all Fusang natives from different worlds, too.
So the summoning had really plucked one person from each world to serve as a hero.
Yet even though they came from different worlds, Motoyasu Kitamura, Itsuki Kawasumi, and Ren Amaki each had a famous game in their own world that bore an uncanny resemblance to the world they were currently in.
Motoyasu Kitamura slapped his thigh excitedly and declared with absolute certainty, "See? This really is a game world!"
The other two, who had also played similar games, nodded in agreement. "Exactly! This is a game world!"
"No, no, no. At most, you can say this is a world that resembles a game world, not an actual game world, right? Don't seriously treat this world like a game!"
Watching the three get so fired up that they looked ready to charge out on an adventure and show off their skills at any moment, Chuan Wenwu still spoke up to warn them:
"People die when they're killed. Even if this world is a lot like a game, it's not something to fool around with. That careless attitude of yours could be dangerous..."
But Motoyasu Kitamura, despite being the oldest among them and the only college student, was just as easily swept up in excitement as the two high schoolers, Itsuki Kawasumi and Ren Amaki. Even after Chuan Wenwu's warning, he still thumped his chest confidently.
"Aw, sure, but even if this is a real world, we're heroes summoned here by destiny! We might run into some trouble, but as long as we put in the effort, we'll work it out. We're here to save the world! No matter how you look at it, there's no way we'd end up in a situation that actually threatens the lives of the people who can save it, right?"
Seriously, have you never read any novels where the hero protagonist drops dead right at the start?
Itsuki Kawasumi said, "Don't worry so much. Even if you're a shield user, Wenwu, we won't completely abandon you. As long as you don't deliberately wander into dangerous areas, your class should at least let you stay alive, right? If you're afraid of getting hurt, just stay safely in the city and experience life in another world. Leave saving the world to the three of us combat-focused heroes!"
Wait, what's with that weird tone? Why are you making me sound so weak?
Ren Amaki noticed the confusion and bewilderment crossing Chuan Wenwu's face and spoke up. "After all, in the game from my world, Shield Warriors were a completely obsolete, useless class. You had the bad luck to become the Shield Hero, so it's only natural to worry about your future..."
"Hold on!" Chuan Wenwu couldn't help interrupting. "What's with this attitude... like you've already decided I won't be useful at all?"
Motoyasu Kitamura asked, "Wenwu, have you ever played online games?"
Chuan Wenwu replied, "Who hasn't? Sure, high school keeps me pretty busy, but I still often invite friends to an internet café to play together. I've played plenty of different games, too. Why?"
Motoyasu Kitamura still looked skeptical. "If you've really played that many games, then you should know. Shield users in games are super weak! Nobody even plays them. They're the kind of class the developers are planning to remove."
"Huh? Do you even hear what you're saying? We're talking about Shield Warriors! They're the most important role, okay? Without a tank up front soaking damage, controlling mobs, and holding aggro, a powerful world boss only needs to throw out a few large-area AOE skills to wipe the whole party!"
Having played World of Warcraft for a while, Chuan Wenwu found Motoyasu Kitamura's answer unbelievable. He loudly argued back, determined to defend the Shield Warrior's good name.
Itsuki Kawasumi pursed his lips. "But even though shield users start with high defense and are pretty useful, the damage we take keeps increasing as the game moves into its later stages. Shields can't scale fast enough, so they can't tank it at all. It really is a useless class."
Of course they can't tank all of it!
If a Shield Warrior could withstand all of a boss's damage alone, with tankiness that out-bossed the boss, what would they even need teammates behind them for? Even if their damage barely scratched it, they could eventually wear it down solo. That would be completely broken.
Generally, a party brings several Shield Warriors to rotate tanking duties, with anyone low on health falling back to recover!
Especially you, Itsuki Kawasumi! You've been assigned as the Bow Hero, for crying out loud. Without someone up front holding the mobs, how the hell are you supposed to deal damage safely? How do you have the nerve to complain about Shield Warriors?
Chuan Wenwu pressed his fingers to his brow, at something of a loss for words, then asked instead, "So how do you fight bosses?"
Ren Amaki answered casually, "You just raise your level, equip the best gear, and learn the strongest skills. Even alone, you can easily beat the final boss. If that still doesn't work, bring a few more damage dealers. You'll overwhelm the enemy eventually."
Smack!
Chuan Wenwu slapped his forehead. He wasn't some gaming expert, but hearing Ren Amaki's... crude approach to combat was still hard to stomach. It made him feel as though ants were crawling all over him.
Had they never considered building a team around different classes?
Chuan Wenwu patiently explained how games worked in his world, trying to correct their belief that "Shield Warriors are useless."
When he finally finished, he looked at the three expectantly, hoping they had changed their minds. What he got instead was-
"Wow, that sounds like such a hassle. It's just a game. As long as it's fun, why make it so complicated?"
"Exactly. You can solo a boss just by sorting out your gear, weapons, and skills. Why go to all that trouble?"
"Aw, Wenwu, you do have a point, but your world doesn't have a game like this other world, does it? All three of ours do! So many things here match the game settings. That means this world probably works just like the games in our worlds, and shields just aren't that good... So leave saving the world to the three of us. Don't make things so hard on yourself. Just enjoy life!"
These guys were treating this world completely like a game.
A vein throbbed at Chuan Wenwu's temple, but after a sigh, he stopped trying to persuade them. Different countries had different circumstances, after all. These three seemed accustomed to games where they could simply pump up their stats and mow down everything in their path, and they had carried that mindset into this superficially familiar world.
But how could a real world possibly go as smoothly as a game?
Watching the three revel in their new cheat, the Hero System, as though they intended to throw their brains away and go adventuring on the strength of their hero powers alone, Chuan Wenwu felt utterly drained.
What was this supposed to be?
Everyone else's gaming skill had dropped a millionfold, while mine stayed the same?
That would be so fucking bullshit.