Sorry I forgot to write this for the last chapter,
I'll add delete this after a week and after it's been added onto the last chap
After Naofumi left the store he only had one thing to say
"Okay, I now have a gun and a way too replace the ammo. Now all I need is someone that can actually use it."
"Perhaps I can be of some assistance." said a voice and turning around Naofumi could only think of one thing 'when did the circus come to town?'
Sometime later
"So everyone here is a slave?" asked Naofumi, clearly uncomfortable with his surroundings but how could he not? You hear on the news about 'modern' slavery and companies that under pay their workers to a criminal level but this was full blown lord of the flies and 12 years a slave kind of bullshit
"Yes these are my wares, I'm a bit low at the moment though. With the waves a lot of nobles have been buying more than regular for protection should the worse happen. Thing is that unless there a high level it won't make a difference, I don't tell them that though...bad for business you understand. This wolfman here is level 75 and is going for a mere 15 gold coins."
Looking into the cage and the eyes full of rage and madness Naofumi got the feeling that if he got too close, he'll rip his throat out. 'What the hell did they do to you.?' thought Naofumi sadly
"Actually I..." whatever Naofumi would have said next not only he knew as he was interrupted my the sounds of harsh coughing
Finding the source of the coughing Naofumi gazed into yet another cage. This one holding a painfully thin and sick girl.
"I wouldn't get this one if I were you. Her last master didn't treat her very well and she has night terrors."
'Okay, option one I buy a slave and there's no nice way to say that. Option two I take the high road and I walk out of here and this girl dies sometime later.' thought Naofumi before coming to a decision
"How much?" asked Naofumi
"Hmmm, well it's your money after all and she'll be yours for 40 silver." said the slave merchant, 'B something' thought Naofumi
"Heres the money." said Naofumi handing over the required amount
"Nothings nicer than a customer eager to pay I always say, now all that remains is transfer the control of the slave seal from me to you."
"Is there anything else other than a slave seal that can be used instead?" asked Naofumi, half hating himself for asking such a question
"Hoho, looking for something exotic are you? Well I might be able to help but it will cost extra, what are you looking for?"
"Something that will stop her from stealing from me or betraying me but won't take away her free will." answered Naofumi
"Hmm it sounds like of the mark of the black hand would suit you." answered the merchant
"The mark of the black hand?" asked Naofumi
"Many generations ago there was a great war and most of the countries soldiers and knights died. After the war the country came under attack by a multitude of monsters who had bred unchecked during the war and fed upon the bodies of the dead. With the war over there were no more fields of bodies to feast on and so they came into towns and villages for food. The problem was that we neither had the quality nor the quantity to hold them back. So a decision was made, instead of being charged for criminal offenses or hung they were sent to fight these monsters, how long they had to fight for depended on the severity of their crimes. Some served merely a week or two while others spent their whole lives there. Of course when you have an army made up of thieves, cutthroats and rapists you can hardly trust them to do their jobs let alone not stab you in the back now could you? And so each one was branded with the mark of the black hand and every commander had a golden hand to command them. Now they still had free will of course and didn't have to necessarily have to obey every command given to them as this was well before the slave seal was made but they couldn't steal, pillage, plunder or more importantly for you, stab each other in the back or at all really. To be put bluntly it forced strangers to trust each other as if they had been fighting together for year's as everyone knew that they couldn't be betrayed. There were downsides such as they could refuse orders though, which unless there was a good reason for doing so they would end up receiving the very punishment that receiving the black hand. The black hand was later replaced by the more sophisticated slave seal that we use to this day."
"Sounds perfect, remove her seal then apply the black hand to her and then to me." said Naofumi
"My how unusual. Usually you can't apply the slave seal to either a cardinal or vassal hero but the black hand is more robust even if it isn't as complex as the slave seal. It will also cost and extra six silver."
"Done." agreed Naofumi
With that the slave merchant removed the slave seal and applied the mark of the black hand which took the form of small black hand on the underside of the left forearm near the wrist
"Also if you find anyone similar to her let me know."
"Very well Sir shield hero." said the slave merchant much to the shock of the girl
After they left the slave tent the girl turned hesitantly to Naofumi
"A-are you really the"cough cough "shield hero?"
"I am." replied Naofumi
"W-why then did you get the m-mark too?"
"My last team member betrayed me and I needed to make sure that didn't happen again. But you also need to know that I won't betray you." said Naofumi much to her surprise "Listen your free to go if you want but I ask that you at least stay a week before you make up your mind." answered Naofumi
'Shes a lot younger than what I wanted for my first teammate but if she can use the gun then at very least she can take out monsters from a safe distance.' thought Naofumi to himself 'maybe from a tree or some sort of hide?'
That's right everyone raphtalia will be using dead man's tale, how many are picturing a rooten and tooten raph in a poncho or stetson hat?
https/m./watch?v=LxJsXK8R2xE
I'll either have raphtalia dressed similar to the cowboy with the revovler or girl with what looks like a Remington rifle