I

"From the moment I laid eyes on you I knew you'd be nothing but trouble!"

The king shouted, echoing his voice throughout the whole throneroom.

"You fiend!"

'Wha-!'

"Just what the hell did I do wrong?! This is all your fault for bringing me here! I'm innocent!"

I screamed at the top of my lungs, hoping to finally nail in their heads my innocence.

"Guards! Get this criminal out of my sight!"

His hand motioned forward, ushering the guards to drag me out the throne room doors.

-:-:-

I clenched my fist, scowling at the my empty wallet. The guards having taken the rest of the money I saved from my earlier shopping spree.

"My second day in this world and i'm already living lower than dirt."

I take a deep breath before relenting to exit the city, my goal being the only thing I had even a slight chance of as of now.

'Off to the forest then.'

In this world I started off as a hero, but in less than 48 hours I had lost everything. My money, my respect, and my friends.

'In this world, I'm truly alone. So i'll do my best to pay them back 10- no 100 times their due.'

-:-:-

Days pass and I continue the same routine of killing baloons turning them in for copper, and turning in for the night.

A hero only in name.

I sigh as I continue down the street, getting light glares and passive ignorance from passerbye.

Trudging my way to an open doorway I find myself in a blacksmith, a familiar one.

"Yo, shield kiddo. Coming back so soon?"

I softly sigh, nodding my head. Placing the equipment on the counter I show him my tattered arm brace, not even close to it's best condition.

"I needed repairs."

"Holy, what the hell did you do? Run it through acid?."

The thought of the baloons chomping at my arms passed through my mind.

"Something like that."

He looks at me and sighs.

"I'l have it done by tomorrow, just get yourself some rest."

I shrug in response, not really feeling the 'get rest' part.

"Yeah, yeah."

I wave him off, leaving his shop.

-:-:-

"You appear concerned, young man"

'Huh?'

I glare at him skeptically, I wasn't too sure what he was on about.

"Were you not looking for assistance?"

His massive top-hat swayed with his motion, it was much too large for his small size. His clothes were odd too, purple and green. Like something you'd see at a circus.

He was also on the chubbier side, but his smile eclipsed everything so far. Definitely one of the people your parents warn you about when talking to strangers.

"And just what are you on about?"

His smile widened, the me 5 days ago probably would have been shaking in his boots.

"If you're here to be my comrade you showed up at the perfect time, a few spots just opened up."

The scared faces of my "ex-party members" flooded my thoughts.

He chuckles a harty chuckle.

"Comrades, what a useless notion. What I offer you yeilds no tricks, but a person of talent who would never betray my lord."

He bows, showing respect. Something I haven't seen someone give me in a bit.

'If this was his tactic of convincing me it was working.'

"You-"

"Hero of the Shield, am I right? Word travels fast you know."

I flinch, not expecting him to interrupt me, nor with that response.

"People speak of a hero with no one but demons at his side..."

I glare at him, the topic starting to piss me off.

"I knew it, I like your eyes the most."

He started leading me through the alleyways.

Eventually making our way to a giant tent. The doorway massive in size, we entered inside. Our path being lit by torches and candles as he makes his way through rows and rows of cages.

Groans and stares present from each of them.

I had a guess, no. I knew what it was, given the state of this world. I knew exactly what it was.

Slaves.

"These all are..."

"Slaves my dear friend! The most loyal companion man could ever buy!"

I took a glance at one of the caged slaves, their cold dead eyes stared into mine as my attention moved back to the slave trader.

"What makes you think i'd want a slave?"

He chuckles in responds, a low harty chuckle.

"Well, where else would you go for aide?"

I sigh.

He promptly turns around, pointing out the various chained figures, like objects.

"The majority here are demi-humans, though that makes this much easier."

"Hm? What makes them so different."

Hands reach out of the cages hoping to grab something to help them. I ignore them and walk past, not much care for them at all.

"They're humans for the most part, however there's some identifying differences."

He clicks his cane on the ground a few times.

"People say they're close to what demons are, so obviously some unfair responses would ensue. Thus comes my profit."

I snicker, finding the situation ironic.

"Perfect for me I guess."

He stops infront of a cage, showing off it's contents as a wolf stares directly back at me.

<Offense-based Slave>

[Lv75]

[Race:Wolf]

"Isn't he quite strong?"

'Almost a little too much.'

He clicks his cane.

"As for the price-"

"Leave it."

I interupt him, causing him to look right at me. My attention drawn to him aswell as I stress my point.

"You know very well how much I have, so showing me the most expensive option is a dirty trick y'know."

I smirk at him, he smiles in return.

"A customer with good eyes I see."

After walking away, I take a glance at the wolf before completely forgeting it.

'Isn't my problem.'

-:-:-

"Here are the lower-priced goods, fitting nicely within your budget. They're problematic, but they can be trained."

'I can already tell why these are low priced.'

The smell of death waved it's scent, giving air to the state they were in.

My attention snaps at the sound of coughing, I walk forward reaching the source.

"Sir Shield Hero?"

Off came the cover as I yanked it up, two cages small in size. Each holding small figures, one coughing while the other curled up in a corner.

"Raise your heads."

The one coughing slowly lifts her head up, staring me directly in the eyes as I feel my eye twitch. Her brown hair shown off the small amount of light coming into the cage. Her ears twitched at my voice as she continued coughing.

'They're the same-'

Meanwhile the other figure jumps at the sound of his voice, slowly looking up to me her golden eyes bore into mine. The slits down the middle and the twitching ears showing of her felinity. Her pitch black hair that almost made it seem night was messy and scrunched up.

"Names?"

"Huh?"

It was simultaneous, both uttered their confusion. Though the black cat's was more of a head tilt than words.

"R-raph... talia"

I stare at her, then slowly turn my head to the black cat waiting for a response.

She shakes her head "no". I sigh.

"How much?"

I hear a cane click behind me.

"This ones sick, and compared to the fox species, racoons are not all too popular. She might not have long to live."

He waves his hand at Raphtalia, listing off her issues.

"While the cat over there is a mute, she is-"

"That's fine, i'll take them both."

He snickers, holding out his hand for a handshake to which i return.

"I'll tell you what, due to you being a first timer and my hopes of you being a wonderful future customer i'll give the cat over there for free."

My eyes widen a bit, before voicing a "sure" in response.

'Unexpected, but welcome.'

I turn to the cages, taking in their apearances. Ruby and gold eyes stared back.

Something new was coming.