The Shield, the Labyrinth, and the Adventurer

From the time Rolf became aware of the world, he lived in a garbage dump. It was the master of the Faerlan school—a dojo that skillfully wielded one-handed swords and shields—who rescued Rolf from such circumstances, giving him education and a family name. Rolf desperately studied the Faerlan school to repay his foster father's kindness, but results did not follow. Rolf had a fatal lack of talent. Ten years passed since Rolf was taken in, and as the gazes of those around him shifted from disappointment to contempt, Rolf received an ultimatum from his foster father, the dojo master. It stated that if he could not produce satisfactory results in tomorrow's match, he would be expelled. Rolf failed to produce results in that match as well and was ultimately cast out. However, Rolf could not entirely abandon his aspirations. Taking the shield given to him as a parting gift, he resolves to become an adventurer in the labyrinth city.