Chapter 12

As I kept my eye on Beloukas as she considers about the deal that I proposed for a few moments pass before she grinned and took the plate with 1 hand and held it out to me. I took 1 silver from my pouch as I took the plate, and then I gave it to her as I said with an unintentional evil smile "Pleasure doing business with you."

To which she responded with a scheming smile of her own as she said "No, really the pleasure is mine." after shaking hands with her I stored the plate in my shield first then turned to Raphtalia to see her shivering in fear... I didn't realize Raphtalia was afraid of me and Beloukas when she saw us with our evil smiles when we shook hands.

After getting the ink I poured some of it on to my shield and as expected it unlocked a new shield the [Slave Shield] which raises the stats of the slave that I own when it levels up a little bit, which is understandable considering that this is the first shield of its series.

After checking that I didn't need anything I brought Raphtalia to a shop to get her some equipment, and more importantly clothes because rags are NOT clothes by my standards.

When on the way to the shop Raphtalia didn't say anything she just followed me in silence with empty eyes gazing to the front it makes my blood boil when I saw her like this, which makes me strengthen my thinking of nobles in this kingdom are mostly trash.

Pushing away those thoughts I arrived at Erhard's shop... I know that Erhard is a blacksmith but I really don't have any other shops in mind considering how they looked at me with disgust in their eyes before and considering that I'm bringing a child slave with me... well, you get the idea.

Opening the door I heard Erhard greeting me "Welcome, what can I.."(Erhard) his greeting stops midway as he spots Raphtalia and the slave crest on her that made his face turn into a melancholic one as he said "Damn.. I don't know whether if it's you or this country that's gone mad."

Hearing him my face expressed my shame and my helplessness as I sighed and said "I know that this is wrong but I need some allies to survive and considering my current 'reputation' it's nigh impossible to get any trustworthy ones."

After saying that my expression changed into a resolute one and I said with a resolute tone "But so long as I'm alive I'll make sure that I'll protect her, because that's what I do." After saying that I put my hand on Raphtalia's head which made her body shake seeing that made me smile wryly, when I turned Erhard I saw him smiling wryly too while nodding to me with eyes filled with understanding and trust.

Seeing his gaze encouraged my will to fight to survive and to protect. Although I hate to end these moments, but Raphtalia needs some clothes right now so I said "Hey, Old man you got some clothes for her?"

When Erhard heard my question I can see his eyes twitching while asking doubtfully "Kid, you do know that this is a blacksmith shop right?"

To which I responded with a deadpan face which amounts to 'yes I know but there aren't any other shops thats open to me', when he saw that Erhard sighed and said with a resigned voice "Wait here for a minute, if I'm not mistaken I got a few clothes for beginers at her size." after saying that he entered the back of his shop.

After a minute or so he returned with a handful of clothes before laying them on the table and said "Here are the clothes that fits her, though the designs are normal I can at least guarantee the quality."

Hearing him say that I looked at the clothes he brought out and with just a glance I can confirm what he said was true, after thinking for a moment I chose 2 of them before handing one of them to Raphtalia to get dressed.

After getting Raphtalia to clean and change in another room after convincing her that it is NOT good to change in front of other people especially of the opposite gender, I suddenly asked Erhard "Oh yeah I just remembered, you got some knives here?"

When he heard my question his head that was supported by his arm slumped forward on the table before he faced me and with a tired voice he said "You DO know this is a blacksmith shop right?"

When I heard his question I just thought 'Oh yeah, totally forgot about that.' while I sweatdropped. Seeing me not answering an awkward silence fell onto the room and continued until Raphtalia entered the room with her new clothes properly worn on her.

Seeing her enter the room I snapped out of the awkwardness and asked him "Can you get me some knives or even some shortswords that suits her?" After hearing my question Erhard thought for a while before replying "Ok wait here for a while I got some knives that fits her if I'm not mistaken."

After he said that. he took some knives and laid them on the table after he laid them he said "These knives are made for people with small bodies so they should suit her."

I glanced at the knives before picking 2 of them and after handing 1 of them to Raphtalia I opened my cloak to reveal an orange balloon biting me persistently, the sight of the monster made Raphtalia pale and she instinctively backed away, I saw Erhard being surprised before putting a serious face from the corner of my eye.

"Raphtalia with that knife kill this monster." I ordered her resolutely. Hearing the order Raphtalia stood in a daze before the pain of the slave crest jolted her and in a panic she stabbed the orange balloon, but the stab didn't kill the monster so Raphtalia's eyes showed her panic and after that she closed her eyes as she awaited the pain that is to follow from the monster's bite, but the monster didn't attack her as she expected that's because it's busy biting me.

A bit of disappointment rose up in me seeing that she didn't kill the balloon in a single blow but I quickly pushed it away as she is still a child. So I ordered her again "Stab the monster again, this time use all of your strength!" Hearing the order she stabbed the monster and after after a while the monster died leaving behind an orange rubber-like material.

After killing the monster Raphtalia breathed heavily with relief in her eyes and also a bit of excitement in them. But still I wonder about the fear that she showed earlier, because it's a bit over the average which convinced me that she has a sort of trauma with monsters, which means that I'll have to work on it later.

Seemingly responding to my thoughts Raphtalia's body suddenly stiffened and then she looked around warily... I didn't expect for her to have this strong of an instinct, which means that I really have to train her later.

Come to think of it I wonder what Gudako is doing now?

-3rd POV

Unknown to Naofumi news of a mysterious master who is resting near a village not far from the capital has been circulating and made it to the other 3 heroes despite them being in different places.

Determined to use this 'hint' the 3 heroes made their way to the village to clear this 'side mission' to reap some rewards from the mysterious master and if possible recruiting him into their team.

When they arrived at the village they were informed that the master took some interest in some of the villagers and took them to his residence for him to train.

After getting the directions and somehow meeting each other the heroes decided to travel with each other as they decided that this is a 'co-op mission' as they arrived here at the same time despite being from different places.

As they walked leisurely they talked to each other as they were bored.

"So, what have you heard about this master?"[Motoyasu]

"Well, to be honest I just heard about the master defeating a pack of enraged griffins single handedly before deciding to come here."[Itsuki]

"I heard about him beating a pack of orthruses with just a branch and he didn't get so much a scratch never mind a wound."[Ren]

"Wow, sounds like a raid boss to me."[Motoyasu]

"Which reminds me Motoyasu."[Itsuki]

"Hm, what?"[Motoyasu]

"Your party composition has changed a lot since last time hasn't it?" Itsuki said while sweatdropping and looking at Motoyasu's party... filled only with girls.

"Ha ha ha" Motoyasu could only laugh dryly while remembering the male members of his party inexplicably leaving without any rhime or reason.

"Speaking of which, it seems Naofumi is sitting this co-op mission out" Ren said while remembering their shield peer.

At the mention of Naofumi's name Itsuki's and Motoyasu's face turn ugly before Motoyasu said angrily "It's good that bastard isn't here otherwise we would've failed to even get some information about this master."

Even though Motoyasu's words are harsh they are right as with Naofumi's current reputation he wouldn't be able to even enter the village should his identity as the shield hero is revealed, while conveniently ignoring his reputation amongst the male adventurers due to his overprotectiveness over the females.

"That's right, he should learn on how to be a real proper hero by saving those in need." Itsuki commented as he thought about his 'Robin Hood' actions of saving people while keeping his identity a secret.

Hearing his 2 peer's comments Ren sighed and said "Okay, just wondering if we needed a shield for this quest."

"We wouldn't need that bastard of a shield for this, but enough about that I think I can see a building in the front" Itsuki said as he pointed to the front at the end of his words.

That brought Motoyasu and Ren to look at the front and true to Itsuki's words they could see the shadow of a building which height is more or less the same as the trees around them.

As it is around afternoon, the sun isn't as bright as before so they could only see the shadow of the building. But as they near the building they could see that the building is actually very wide and is shaped quite familiar for them.

And after about a minute later when they could see the building clearly they realised the reason for the sense of familiarity.

They stood rooted in place with mouths open and their followers looking at them strangely until Motoyasu asked "Is that what I think it is?". And as the silence was broken by Motoyasu's question the other 2 were broken out of their trance, "Yeah, it is that." Itsuki replied stiffly after a moment.

"So, I guess it's not my hallucination then. To think that the mysterious master's residence is a Japanese mansion."[Ren]

Yes the reason why they are in a daze is that the building is a Japanese mansion with a gate and fox statues in front of it.