VI

I struggled against my bindings, the guards doing their best to keep still as I watched the fight go on.

The sparks and clanging of metal to metal showed the intensity of the fight.

'Master!'

Watching as he clenches his fist, outstretched to motoshitsu as he entraps him in a chain prison. Buying time for his next attack as the spear hero breaks through.

"Goddamnit! I've had enough of this! I refuse to be beaten by you Naofumi!"

However right as he bursts through the prison, master charges up an attack. Aiming it directly at his face as it lands for impact, knocking motoyasu back.

I couldn't hear everything, but the look on their faces, the sparks flying, and the way master fought told every story.

I stopped struggling as master slowly gained the upper hand, all the way until the desive blow was about ot land.

My eyes snap as I see mana gather, and a gust of wind blows it's way over to naofumi momentarily knocking him back.

It wasn't much, but it was enough to let motoyasu gain his rythm and knock master out of his own. Fighting back and turning the tide as he cried out in victory.

I could feel my ears and tail droop as I watched him clench his teeth on the ground.

"Hold on! Someone interviened, that doesn't even come close to counting!"

The crowd went silent, bursting into mutters about the current situation

"What are you talking about? Are you that upset that you lost?"

"Don't screw with me! Everyone saw it!"

He threw his hand out, emphasizing his point to the crowd.

"Don't be fooled!"

A figure stepped up, I raised a brow in question.

"As you all know, this hero is a criminal! You have no idea what the intent behind his words is."

The king chuckles, clapping as the woman walks up to him.

"Well said my daughter, Malty."

'His... daughter?! Your telling me that shitty guy has a daughter? Though with the way she's acting it makes a lot of sense.'

The guards started to drag me and Raphtalia closer.

"Well then, shall we rid these girls of their curse?"

I struggled as they ripped open my shirt, presenting the slave creast on my chest.

I flinch in pain as they pour some kind of liquid, making the crest disperse. Panting in pain I watch on as they do the same to Raphtalia.

[The restriction for "Curse Series" has been lifted.]

'Huh? What was-'

A piercing pain suddenly struck me, I grip my head as tremors of pain blow through my head.

"&$^@*#%/ CH@$S"

And suddenly it all dissapeared, like the pain was never there to begin with.

Refocusing I look up and see motoyshitsu holding his cheek, Raphtalia having slapped him.

"Who told you I needed saving!"

Motoyasu's face shifts in confusion.

"What? But you're a slave, you were getting mistreated!"

"The only time he's ever forced me to do anything was when I was too afraid to fight!"

Raphtalia spoke, speaking against whatever remarks they made.

"At no point has Master Naofumi ever made us do anything we didn't have the strength to do!"

I shifted my attention to someone else, to master.

Watching as he clenched his fist on the ground, his shaky breathing. I stood up uneasily, walking towards him.

He staggers back.

"Don't come any closer!"

I flinch, not expecting him to react like that. But I still reached out and held onto his arm.

"Stop! I don't want to be touched... by a woman."

He slaps my hand away, i could feel my face shift to sadness as he clenches his teeth.

"I didn't do it."

A hand places itself on my shoulder, I look up at Raphtalia a cold breeze hitting the tears I didn't even know I was shedding.

"Please, listen. We're right here trying our best to reach out to you. We're here, for you."

He flinches as I reach out, hugging him tightly to never let go. Raphtalia joining as she speaks.

"We believe you. You didn't do it master!"

Some time passes, the voices around silenced as he hugs back tightly. Finally after a bit we seperate, his face one of confusion as he looks at us.

"What the... w-who are you guys?"

Raphtalia laughs, patting his shoulder.

"It's us master, Nyx and Raphtalia!"

"H-huh?! But, no that can't be you guys were just kids!"

I wipe my tears, giving him a smirk as he waves his hands around embarassed.

"This is as good as a time as ever to tell you anyways, us demi-humans aren't actually human. There's a reason we're treated the way we are, when we raise our levels as kids our bodies will grow in proportion in the most efficient manner."

He takes a second to look at us, Raphtalia fidgiting under his gaze.

"I'm still mentally a child but... my body is that of a woman. Do you... still not believe what i'm saying?"

He looked more shocked than confused, I reach out and grab his hand placing it on my breasts.

He quickly snaps back his hand flustered. Raphtalia laughs at his reaction, grabbing his hand and holding it dearly.

-:Naofumi:-

"If you need a reason to believe me... to believe us... place a curse on us, so that we may be your swords once again."

She smiles, the gentle way she spoke spuring on my emotions.

"Please, for the hero of the shield and the man who saved me. I will do all I can."

Nyx nodding, a soft smile on her face. A look that wasn't common.

'Ah, the words I wanted to hear... the warmth I always needed... was right here all along..."

-:Nyx:-

"That'll do it."

I stand up, admiring the new slave crest in the mirror.

"Are you guys sure about this?"

Master looks at us a little worried, though it was quite a bit too late to ask that.

"Little too late for that master."

Raphtalia giggles, placing a hand on the crest.

"Well y'know I was just-"

He scratched the back of his head.

"What a suprise it was you know, that those little slaves would grow into such fine young ladies."

I rolled my eyes, this guy was weird.

"Neither letting them live nor die, what a true example of what a slave owner should be!"

The penguin rejoiced.

"What kinda person do you think I am?"

The penguin shrugs walking over to me examining me.

"This one really is a marvel though, this pitch black hair, and oh! Those golden shinning eyes! I could take her even deflowered at a fair price of 30 gold coins!"

I blink, confused on what he meant before Master pushes me away from him.

"I can assure you I didn't do anything like that."

"Yet?"

I see his eye twitch.

"And I don't plan to."

-:Naofumi:-

Walking through the streets, the usual stairs of disdain. And the attention Nyx and Raphtalia were getting.

I take a glance behind me, noticing Nyx's attention was more on what was in her hand than what's in front of her.

"Careful Nyx! It's fragile!"

Raphtalia scolded Nyx, as she fumbled around with the filolial egg in her hand.

I sigh softly, the events of the day passing through my mind.

"Yet?"

I stopped, Nyx bumping into me with a light thud.

"Fuck."

I lift my hand placing it on my forehead, trying my best to get rid of those thoughts.

"Master?"

"... It's nothing."

Walking on, I think about the duel and the events that unfolded.

I stop, Nyx shoots a light glare in my direction as she bumps into me.

'How did...'

"When we raise our levels as kids our bodies will grow in proportion in the most efficient manner."

"How did Nyx... grow up."

I look back at her scanning her features as she looks at me in confusion.