Chapter Four: Beastmaster


Naofumi's fourth morning in this new world was like his third. While Raphtalia sorted breakfast, he had a wash, returned to do a quick inventory while Raphtalia played with her ball nearby. Knowing that today they'd actively be looking for usapils, he gave her longer than yesterday to play.

His fear seemed to be for naught however.

After a quick pause at encountering their first of the rabbit monsters for the day, Raphtalia had already dashed in, dodged it's opening attack and killed it with a single stab to the back of the neck.

Eventually they settled into a rhythm of Naofumi blocking and holding the usapil, while Raphtalia swiftly ended its struggling with precise thrusts to the neck. Only once did she falter in panic due to an ambushing one they hadn't seen while Naofumi had two occupied, and had resorted to slashing it's front before ending it with a stab through the throat.

They had twenty three in total in a couple of hours of work, and Raphtalia was level 8 while he had just hit level 10.

"We're going to stay here for a few days," Naofumi advised.

"Huh? Why, M- Naofumi-san?"

In response, Naofumi held up one of the usapil skins he'd removed while butchering, "We're going to treat the skins and sell them in the village."

He continued with pulling the guts out of the usapil, setting them to the side.

After ten or eleven, it just becomes a chore rather than disgusting.

"I've also got some medicine to sell too," Naofumi continued, "first thing we're going to do is get you a sleeping bag."

"Oh... thank you. But what about you, Naofumi-san?"

Naofumi waved her off.

"I'll be fine."

He continued unquestioned while Raphtalia treated her dagger with the whetstone she'd been given, as the usapil blood would end up being detrimental.

"Hey... Naofumi-san."

"Hm?"

"You're the Shield Hero, right?"

"Last I checked, yeah," Naofumi replied dryly, moving onto his tenth usapil from their collected pile.

"Then... why do you carry that sword? I've not seen you use it."

Naofumi froze after making the starter incision.

Raphtalia seemed nervous now at his silence, but Naofumi instead focused on not letting his temper get the better of him. He wasn't really prepared for a sudden reminder of Bitch's betrayal.

"It's part of my disguise," he said finally, "helps me go unrecognised, as people know the Shield Hero can't use a weapon."

"Then, why..."

"I've been accused of a crime I didn't commit," Naofumi stated, "we'll leave it at that."

Raphtalia didn't say anything further, and Naofumi get back to work. Still, it remained on his mind.

When we go back to town, will there be wanted posters, he wondered.

Things will be a lot riskier. The faster Raphtalia was levelled up the better, as he could send her into towns to handle any transactions needed.

How long will it be like this?

Naofumi didn't know. In his current state, he wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight. He didn't know what level his fellow heroes would be at, and they also had trained companions partied with them.

Meanwhile, he had Raphtalia. She was quickly improving, but he was doubtful it would be enough against three Cardinal Hero parties let alone the Meldomarican Guards.

He needed more... power.

Naofumi gently withdrew the monster egg container, examining the contents.

The yellow had faded, and looked a more healthy milky white. His Shield's orb gently glowed in response to the egg's presence.

Hopefully that's a promising sign.

He would train Raphtalia up, then the monster within. Then once he had enough coin, he would seek to buy Baerywn and restore his leg if possible. With a level 75 slave should briefly even the playing field until he had more companions.

Slaves. Not companions. They join not of choice.

"Baerywn would be loyal," Naofumi muttered.

Still, better safe than sorry.


Their first true challenging fight ended with injury, on Raphtalia's part.

That morning while he was just fitting his armour back on after a quick wash, he heard her scream and noticed about a tenth of her HP dip suddenly.

Throwing aside the chainmail he charged in, finding her on the ground as a hog monster snorted angrily whilst circling. One of the many tusks it had left a large gouge along her left arm.

Lesser Silver Boar LV10

He didn't know if it was supposed to be that colour but the beast wasn't silver, instead its fur was a pure white with glowing red eyes.

As it went in for another blow while Raphtalia scrambled for her dropped dagger, Naofumi leapt in front to take the hit.

He grunted as it actually pushed him back. After taking the brunt of the charge, he brought the shield back for an uppercut that rang his own arm.

That thing's skull is like metal!

"Get your dagger!" Naofumi bellowed through the monster's squeal.

The boar charged him before he could rotate his shield arm back around, pinning him to the ground.

Nafoumi nearly buckled at the impact, grabbing onto the tusks while the maddened animal raged, trying to gore his face.

As quick as it started, the slobbering crazed animal squealed again and recoiled, blood spurting from a stab to its neck.

As Naofumi got to his feet, guarded by a trembling Raphtalia, the boar snorted again, shaking its head.

Blood was steadily spurting out.

An artery had been cut.

It knew.

It didn't care.

Naofumi saw the animal's determination in those red, angry eyes.

If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me, those eyes raged.

Naofumi grimly readied himself.

A cornered animal fights the hardest.

And the boar did, until it eventually collapsed under the weight of its wounds, snorting weakly.

Raphtalia panted, hand with her bloodied dagger slumped, while Naofumi slowly approached the animal. They'd both taken hits and damage, but they won.

The silver boar twitched, but could do nothing else.

"It's- it's an albino," Raphtalia said in a mumble.

"A silver boar albino?" Naofumi asked.

"Yes. They get kicked out or die because they're too weak, or get eaten, or starve because they can't see so good. Some of the hunters back- back in my village, they brought back an albino filolial they'd hunted. P-put it's head in the tavern. They don't usually survive on their own, though..."

Naofumi nodded slowly, gently sitting beside the animal panting its last breaths.

Carefully, he laid a hand on its head.

The boar twitched again, but couldn't muster up the energy for anything else. Naofumi ran a hand through its thick hairs, trying to comfort it.

"It got abandoned for not being like the rest, huh?" Naofumi said quietly, "you were a tough bastard, though."

The boar snorted, one red eye foggy as it tried to focus on him.

"Raphtalia, come here. Give it mercy."

He brushed away the fur and showed her the best point.

The boar twitched once more, before stilling.

Still, Naofumi kept his hand on the animal.

It died alone, full of anger and rage.

"Get some of the Healing Medicine, apply it to your cuts," Naofumi said. "I'll... I'll deal with the boar."

The skins were carefully laid out on a rough wooden framework, salted and set to the side of the camp. He didn't have eggs to hand, but those eggug monsters looked like a promising substitute. Still, that was two days away. He'd worry about it then. He'd gently laid the silver boar skin in its own spot.

Raphtalia can have that.

It felt wrong to sell it.

instead of throwing out the head like he normally done with animals into the river or burying them, he'd kept the boar skull and cleaned it out. After some work, he was left with what the world apparently called a Silver Boar Mask.

Naofumi paused to check the stats on the thing.

Silver Boar Mask

Equipment Bonus: Animal taming + 1, Impact Resistance (small)

For one, he hadn't even known he could craft armour, having planned on waiting until they had enough or ended up fighting tougher creatures that he'd need to speak to a blacksmith.

The mask however, felt good. It felt safe.

Even if his hood was blown back in wind, or he got involved in a fight, nobody would be able to identify him with it.

Naofumi examined his creation with proud eyes.

Empty holes that with testing, didn't restrict his field of view too heavily. The bone was thick and powerful, something he already knew from several taken hits.

Eight tusks in total shot from the skull, two sets of steadily bigger ones protruding from the mouth while a massive pair meant for inflicting true damage erupted like stalactites as a lesser pair arched out from the sides; clearly intended to protect from side on attacks to the head. On the centre, a trio of spikes were adorned, small lumps now be he imagined if the boar was far older and more levelled, would be just as mighty as the front. Gently, he clasped it onto his face, strapping the leather around the back of his head.

Naofumi stretched, then readied his pack. Raphtalia noticed his movement and quickly got to her feet too.

Naofumi shook his head however.

"No, I need you to guard the camp. It'll be a quick trip into the village, I'm just selling off some of the medicine. Plus, you still have to heal."

"I... okay."

She still looked worried however.

"I'm not abandoning you," Naofumi assured, "I'll be back in a few hours."

Raphtalia nodded, ears perking slightly.


It was about a half-hour walk to the village from their camp, though it was mostly unimpeded as he travelled through open field, avoiding the balloons he could see roaming. He couldn't risk questions being asked about why a traveller with a clearly good quality sword wasn't dealing with simple balloons.

Soon enough, he reached the entry to the village. The young guard looked him up and down, before recognising him from the previous visit.

"Here to sell?" He said, hand stretched out.

Naofumi nodded, and deposited 5 bronze coins into the hand as toll fee.

People who lived in relative comfort could live on 20 bronze coins a day in most villages. The toll was a small 5 bronze coins, however Naofumi would have to declare on his way out any profit he made as a non-local merchant, and the gains would then be taxed.

It was a fair rate of 10%, simply put every 100 silvers he made, 10 would be paid to the village.

However if he only had profits under 1 silver, it was only 5%. This was for any people who came to barter, so any small increase wasn't taxed at the same rate as a merchant.

"Medicine today," Naofumi stated at the unasked question, "I'll have some furs in a couple of days too. Might be back tomorrow with more."

The guard nodded approvingly, making a small note on a book. He tapped it a few times with his quill. "What was your name again, sir?" He asked, eyeing the protruding tusks underneath the hood with suspicion.

Something must be going on, they didn't ask for anything last time...

Naofumi froze. "Bīsutoteimā."

The guard frowned. "Foreign sounding name, hey..."

Naofumi readied himself to run as the guard squinted at him, examining his features.

"You wouldn't be descended or from Q'ten Lo, would you?" The guard looked somewhat excited.

Naofumi nodded stiffly, no idea what he was agreeing to.

"My father," he answered.

The guard nodded vigorously.

"Yeah, I thought I might've recognised that first part. Animal, beast or something."

"Beastmaster," Naofumi clarified.

"Ah, makes sense with that, huh?" He said, gesturing to Naofumi's face, "my mother used to tell stories about there when I was younger," The guard grinned, "always loved them, especially about the Evil Fox and the Racoon Warrior."

Naofumi nodded hesitantly, adjusting his hood.

The guard noted, and frowned. The man wrote down on the book, before setting it to the side to dry.

"We'll just go with Beastmaster as a name, eh? Wouldn't want you getting any trouble... I know after The War there's been... tension. Pa fought in it. The name is Bate, Sir Beastmaster."

Naofumi nodded gratefully, making his way into the town.

Finding a spot in the market, Naofumi set his pack down and unloaded his goods on the small mat. The stalls cost coin to rent, and you could even buy ones too. One of the known hunters in the town was often found selling what he'd hunted that day there, same with a woman selling produce, while an elderly woman sold herbs.

People were quick to note the medicine Naofumi was selling however, and the high quality. Within a few hours, he'd sold his stock and left the village after a quick discussion with Bate, leaving with 63 silver and a couple of bronze coins more than he had that morning.

And some EXP too apparently, as periodically through his time in the town, he'd get the occasional notification of EXP gained.

Raphtalia must be dealing with any monsters getting near the camp.

"Good." Naofumi said aloud, pausing to examine the beauty of this world.

You don't get sights like these in the city, Naofumi contemplated, enjoying the gentle breeze through the field.

"It's also a relief that she can deal with monsters herself for a little while."

He'd seen an occasional blip in her HP, but nothing to worry about as it was soon restored. She must be applying a little of the Healing Medicine he left behind.

When he returned to their camp it was early afternoon and he was greeted by what felt like a cannonball to the waist.

"Oof," Naofumi audibly wheezed, staring down at Raphtalia who'd attached herself to his front, refusing to let go of her death grip of a hug, "well, hello to you too."

Raphtalia mumbled something and burrowed deeper. Naofumi gave her a hesitant pat on the back, pausing awkwardly.

Eventually she let go and allowed him to actually get seated, face red from the other side of the gently burning fire. After a couple of moments, her stomach rumbled. Naofumi arched an eyebrow.

"Haven't you eaten?" he asked, "there was about a quarter of the usapil meat left for you to cook if you got hungry."

The majority was currently being cold smoked to preserve the cooked food.

Raphtalia dipped her head in shame, muttering something.

"You're going to need to speak up," Naofumi sighed.

"It wasn't... as good as yours," she quietly answered, tail fidgeting.

Naofumi blinked. That wasn't the response he was expecting. Truth be told, he had found his food to be tasteless, but if she liked it...

"I'll stick some on," Naofumi grumbled, ignoring Raphtalia's excited yip.


Naofumi punched the incoming balloon to the side, grabbing the other latched to his arm and threw it to the right. Raphtalia effortlessly sliced it in the air after dealing with the two attacking her.

They were getting better at working in sync now, Naofumi was getting used to her movements enough to cover the gaps she left, and Raphtalia was quick to counterattack on the ones Naofumi repelled or blocked.

There was a beyond stupid amount attempting to invade their camp however, and they were working overdrive to deal with the monsters.

"They're probably attracted to the smell of the meat, the sooner it's done the better!" Naofumi called over the fighting, pausing to headbutt an incoming monster.

The good thing about his Silver Boar Mask was the fact that the tusks were actually effective not only in defence, but offence too. It made sense, after all - he wasn't actively fighting with a weapon, but if something with next to no defence value attacked 'spiked' armour, then that's going to hurt the monster stupid enough. In short, he had an, albeit not very efficient, method of attack.

In doing so he had glanced over to Raphtalia, and caught a glimpse of a usapil sneaking up behind her. Before he could shout a warning, it leapt, teeth bared.

FUCK!

Without thinking, Naofumi threw his shield, managing to take the usapil by surprise as instead of flesh it met metal, smacking it out of the air.

With a flash of green light his shield returned to his arm in time to block a balloon's bite. The move had given Raphtalia enough warning to turn and put an end to the usapil before it could be a threat.

"How... how did you do that?" Raphtalia asked, panting at the end of the fight.

Naofumi shrugged.

"No idea, did the first thing that came to mind. It can come loose so it can leave my person, but it always returned to my arm whenever I tried sleeping."

Raphtalia's eyes sparkled, "Naofumi-san is so smart!"

Naofumi uncomfortably rubbed the back of his head, "Come on, we've got work to do, lets get these cleaned up."

When they got a moment to rest again, he noticed Raphtalia intently studying his shield.

"What?"

Raphtalia started, "Oh, its, um... I just never really thought about it... but I'm with the Shield Hero."

Naofumi nodded slowly.

"It's just... we... uh, demi-humans... the Shield Hero is a big legend. M-mum used to tell stories about you."

Naofumi swallowed, "Oh? What were these stories?"

Raphtalia brightened somewhat, "There's one called The Shiver! It was my favourite! Well, it was a poem."

Naofumi smiled.

"Could you sing it?"

Raphtalia blushed, but nodded. She coughed, thankfully to only clear her throat as the cold seemed to be improving, and begun:

"Svalinn is his name,

he stands a shield before the cunning sun,

the shining deity.

I know that the hills and

the rivers would burn,

if it were to fall from its place.

In front of the sun,

does Svalinn stand,

The shield for the shining god;

Mountains and sea

would be set in flames

if it fell before the sun.

Shiver is its name,

he stands before the sun,

a shield against the goddess.

Mountain and main,

I know must burn,

if he falls off."

Naofumi was rigid during the retelling, watching the shield carefully. The metal felt... colder.

"Quite the song," Naofumi noted.

"W-well, I, um," Raphtalia stammered, "I really only know the first three parts. The rest of it talks about the Shield fighting back the sun, bringing the moon and the cold night. But um, the Shield Hero notices that neither is really good for the people. The sun wants to burn everything up, but if he keeps it away forever then the world withers. So day and night needed to merge mum said, and that's why there's the cycle. 'Shield against the sun, sword against the night' was one of the lines. He helped make a new world with both day and night!"

Naofumi's brow furrowed.

Shield against the sun, sword against the night.

For some reason, his thoughts drifted to Ren.

Also, Svalinn...

"Where did that name come from, Svalinn?" Naofumi asked.

Raphtalia shook her head apologetically, "I don't know, Naofumi-san. It's an old story I think, hundreds of years old."

Svalinn, Svalinn, why does it sound so... familiar...

Naofumi put it to the side. It was a mystery for another time.

"I'll be going into the village tomorrow, to sell more medicine," Naofumi advised, "so you'll be on guard duty again for tomorrow afternoon. The day after we'll take a break and the next day, we'll break camp and you'll come with me, since after we'll be going to the mines."

Raphtalia looked nervous, but nodded confidently.

"You'll be fine," Naofumi added, feeling foolish to keep reiterating it. Still, whenever he did, she tended to look a bit more reassured.

Naofumi checked on the skins and meat. The skins were coming along nicely, and the meat was snapping when bent instead of bending. He enlisted Raphtalia to help carefully wrap it and store away.

Truth be told he had been worried about cooking this way, as there were a lot of risks, and he hadn't exactly had much experience with doing so in practice outwtith knowing the theory behind the process and having watched a couple of internet videos before, same with the dissection and skinning.

He didn't want to take the risk of their food going bad suddenly, or the furs being contaminated. As game-like as the world was (or in his case, very like a light novel) animals bled, guts rotted, and people needed to take shits.

He wasn't going to die to food poisoning before his first Wave, damn it.

Thankfully, his cooking skill seemed to either subconsciously guide him, or apply magical effects, and all the meat displayed the same 'Smoked Usapil Jerky: quality: excellent' message, so he took that as a good sign.

"Appraisal is such a cheat skill," Naofumi murmured.

"Hey, Naofumi-san..."

"Hm?"

Raphtalia shifted, putting away the last of her portion of the jerky.

"Could you... could you tell me a story from your world? Please?"

Naofumi hummed, resting his back against one of the camps tree trunk bases. Raphtalia shuffled over to his side hesitantly.

His thoughts drifted to the oncoming waves, his summoning, and Bitch's deceit.

"Long, long ago in a faraway village by the sea, a young fisherman named Urashima Taro lived a modest life with his old mother," Naofumi began slowly, "one fall however, the sea was rough day after day and Urashima Taro was unable to fish. Early one morning, he went down to the shore and watched the choppy sea. He suddenly noticed three boys close to him, teasing and hitting a turtle with heavy sticks..."


The backpack was heavy, laden with goods and their stocks of food and equipment. Still, Naofumi bared it's weight without issue.

Can definitely feel the changes this world's put me through, he thought, absentmindedly keeping an eye on Raphtalia guarding him, dashing off to dispose of any balloons or mush that got the idea to attempt an attack. The rest seemed aware of their strength enough to not mess with them.

Raphtalia had finally caught up with him, and they were both Level 11 now.

Let's see, I got her on day two, day three we ended early, day four we got the skins... Naofumi blinked. Day eight in this world? Huh... where'd that time go...

"Are you sure you don't need me to that, Naofumi-san?" Raphtalia asked, pointing to his backpack with her knife.

Naofumi waved her off, "You're the one doing the hard work here, I'll be fine."

At seeing her disbelieving look, Naofumi snorted.

"Getting doubtful of me, huh? Don't get a big head now that you're the same level."

Raphtalia shook her head vigorously. "No Naofumi-san, never! It's just... I want to help you."

"You are," Naofumi pointed out, nodding towards the balloon remains. At this point, there were little gain collecting them to sell at 1 bronze. Seeing Raphtalia's still doubtful look, he sighed.

"Fine. We'll get you your own backpack, okay? A small one, though. I don't want it hampering you in a fight."

Raphtalia acquiesced without much of a fight, which Naofumi took as a win.

She is getting spirited now...

When they finally rolled up to the gate, he was pleased to see Bate standing guard.

"Sir Beastmaster!" he was greeted by the young guard with a smile.

"Bate," Naofumi answered in kind with a nod.

Regardless of his familiarity, Naofumi's hood remained up and cloak firmly around his features. His habitual pose allowed for people to see his left arm and the blade holstered, while concealing his right and thus, the incriminating shield.

News had started spreading of the Shield Hero's rape of a Crown Princess and his status of being on the run, having fled prosecution. He'd listened to the various tales close, ignoring his fuming anger. Any information was good information.

It turned out that Bitch hadn't had to lie that much, apparently, aside the obvious rape accusation. The news from Castle Town was that she had been found, bound and gagged in the Shield Hero's room at the inn they'd stayed the night in that afternoon, after the innkeeper investigated the still locked rooms.

She wove a tale of being invited in by him, before being thrown upon the bed and her virtue stolen. The Shield Hero had threatened to kill her, before realising that she was 'too strong willed' and would go to the King or the other Heroes, and so he had fled.

Naofumi had scoffed at that part.

Yes, her tear stricken babbling for her life was him realising she was 'too strong willed'.

What nonsense.

Word was slowly spreading across the country for the people to keep an eye out and report his presence to the nearest guard, so the Heroes could be send to deal with the 'traitor'.

Bet they'd never think to look so close to Castle Town...

Bate noticed Raphtalia's presence, and gave the girl a small nod.

"I guess that's how you got the name, huh?" Bate asked rhetorically, chuckling.

"Furs and medicine," Naofumi instead said in lieu of an answer, "will be sticking around for some trading before leaving."

"For the mine?" Bate elaborated, having discussed it was Naofumi before, "is good thing you're doing for us, Sir Beastmaster."

Naofumi nodded and handed over 20 bronze coins.

"Entry and when we get back," Naofumi explained.

To his surprise, Bate handed 10 back, shaking his head.

"If you can deal with that beast, it's the least I can do. Heh, you're made for the job I guess!"

Naofumi took his usual spot in the market, joined by a hesitant Raphtalia who sat behind him, hand on her knife. Already, there was a few people spotting his presence, and he knew today would likely be a good day for selling.

"Medicine's really needed in most of the villages," Naofumi explained to Raphtalia beside him, gently bringing her to sit beside him, "after the first Wave, there was a lot of illness and wounds that couldn't be treated. People are stockpiling to be ready for the next."

True to form, people began queuing to buy what he had for the day. He guessed word had spread after the last two times he'd visited that the new seller's stuff wasn't bogus medicine and was decent quality. People had bought before, but looked somewhat reluctant, put off by his shadowy appearance. Then again, they hadn't had many options, and so paid his price.

Now, they seemed a lot more enthused, a couple even interested in the furs.

He didn't know if it was because of the egg and smoke tanning, but all 23 were marked as 'Usapil Fur: quality: excellent' except for the one good which he put down to Raphtalia having stabbed that one several times, so they should sell for a decent bit. He'd set the price at four silvers with some room for bartering.

Raphtalia watched intently as Naofumi spoke back and forth with the customers, eyes following their movements alertly.

"Two silvers!" The man cried, to which Naofumi snorted at the opening amount.

"For a normal quality, maybe. If I was having an off day, I might've even took that for a good quality," Naofumi challenged, "this is excellent quality fur. Just think of how the wife will like her new gloves. Four is a fair price."

"Three," the man retorted, "she'll like them, aye, but not that much! Plus it's just the padding, I'll need to get the leather!"

"Three and ten." Naofumi set. "That's a generous three days of pay off, and it getting to that quality took just as many."

The man grunted, but accepted. When Naofumi exchanged the fur for the silver and bronze, a scuffle broke out to his right.

He shot to his feet, and the middling customer's around backed off with a couple of shouts, surprised at the scene.

Raphtalia had her knife against some kids throat who looked just about ready to shit himself.

"Give it back!" Raphtalia hissed, pressing it deeper. The boy whimpered.

"What's going on?!"

A woman broke through the crowd, and paled at the sight.

"Byron! What the- get away from my son!"

Raphtalia flinched, but kept her knife against Byron's throat, another hand around his wrist.

"Girl?" Naofumi said in askance, tense.

"He- he tried to steal from you Na- master!"

Naofumi rolled his shoulders, allowing the crowd to catch a glimpse of his blade. People backed off further. The woman however got closer.

"My Byron would never, you dirty little demi-human! How- how dare- discipline your creature, mister!

Naofumi ignored her.

"Boy," he grunted, slowly stepping before the trembling Byron, "open that hand. Now."

He opened the shaking hand Raphtalia had a grip of the wrist off, revealing a vial of his bright green medicine.

Naofumi snorted.

"Looks like my 'creature' was right about your urchin, woman. I'll have my goods back now."

Naofumi couldn't believe the nerve of the liar and her spawn. Raphtalia took to medicine back, but kept the knife to the boy's throat.

"What's goin' on here?" A guard approached, and Naofumi tensed again.

He was relieved to identify him as Bate however, and waited while the guard took in the scene.

"Some kid trying to steal from you, Sir Beastmaster?"

Naofumi nodded, while the woman paled.

"Byron, why would you-... I-" she stammered, eyes darting between her son and Naofumi. "A thousand pardons, Sir! I- I didn't-"

Bate grunted.

"You can tell your demi-human to let him go now Sir, I've got 'em."

Raphtalia looked at Naofumi in askance and received a nod. She sheathed her knife and put the medicine carefully back in it's rightful place, and sat back down. Naofumi noted her shaking form, but couldn't focus on it for now.

"So, which hand did you steal with, boy?" Bate asked, one hand firm on the shaking Byron's shoulder while the other drew his sword, "right, or left?"

The woman threw herself at Bates feet, bawling. "Please! He's just a lad, you- please, anything but-"

"Could have him flogged. Or maybe an ear instead," Bate continued, ignoring her sobbing and instead addressed Naofumi.

The woman noticed this, and turned to Naofumi, face red.

"Sir, Sir Beastmaster, please, spare m'boy. He- his father is sick, he was jus-... we can't afford the..."

"That's why I left out the fine," Bate muttered to the side.

Naofumi sighed, and spared a glance to the shaking boy.

On one hand, he could follow through with the punishment and nobody would bat an eye. He was the merchant consistently bringing in quality medicine the town needed at a reasonable rate, as before the travelling merchant had a monopoly on that - other prices were through the nose expensive, they had no apothecary.

On the other... he was just a kid. He never even managed to get a foot away, his goods were intact, and it was apparently to help his ill father.

"What was it you called my demi-human again... a 'creature'?" Naofumi asked.

The woman paled.

"I- I mean' no offence Sir, please..."

Naofumi turned to Raphtalia, and gestured to her to stand up.

"He tried to steal from me," Naofumi snorted, eyeing the kid, "pretty pathetic attempt though. You insulted my demi-human however woman, and called into question her integrity. Which is my integrity."

He ignored her stammering, and instead looked at Raphtalia.

"What do you think? Should he lose a hand?"

Raphtalia's eyes widened at being put on the spot. She hesitated, unable to figure out what he wanted.

Good.

Eventually, she shook her head, to which the woman sobbed in relief.

"An ear, maybe?" Naofumi grinned.

Raphtalia shook her head vigorously again.

"No? Hm... looks like my 'creature' is inclined to mercy for your spawn," Naofumi chuckled, which was followed by a couple of other hesitant laughs.

"But... he can't go without punishment. Tell you what..."

He stared down at the boy.

"Apologise. On bended knee to the girl," he ordered, emphasised with a finger pointed to the dirt.

"Both of you. You, for doubting her word," Naofumi gestured to the mother, "and you," he pointed at the boy, "for... being a little shit, and thank her for letting you keep your hand and ear."

Bate laughed, but didn't say anything against what Naofumi had commanded.

They did as told, the boy in particular getting a couple of jeers on his mumbled delivery, but soon enough the area cleared of the crowd, and business resumed as normal. Bate lingered briefly, before giving a nod goodbye as he went to take up his rotated post at the other entry. Naofumi did notice however that a guard was now assigned to the marketplace.

"Did I... did I do what you wanted?" Raphtalia whispered during a brief lull in the customer flow.

"Hm? Oh, I didn't particularly care either way," Naofumi confessed, counting their profits so far, "it's why I left it up to you. You're the one she insulted."

"But he stole from you," Raphtalia stated, confused.

"Us," Naofumi hummed, "and like I said, it was a piss poor attempt. Good job on that, by the way."

Raphtalia ignored his compliment, and instead eyed him suspiciously.

Damn rebellious phase, what is this, is she already a teenager or something?

Naofumi sighed and gestured for Raphtalia to shuffle closer.

"Look, it doesn't matter that we're selling needed medicine," he said quietly to her, "I've only been in here a handful of times to sell, and this is your second time actually being here. Yeah, I could've told Bate - the guard - to take the boy's hand. Yeah, nobody would've blinked an eye. But this way it looks better for us, and better if you're the one giving that judgement."

Raphtalia's brow was furrowed as he spoke, before nodding slowly, mouth agape in realisation.

"Because, because... I'm..."

"A demi-human, yeah," Naofumi finished. Before she could think on it too long, Naofumi took out a quill and small sheet of paper, and started writing.

"This is a list of things we should get," he said, continuing to note, "a clay pot would be better for cooking, another utility knife for you, a backpack-"

All of a sudden he was stopped in his writing by her hand grabbing his.

Naofumi blinked, then looked up to Raphtalia for an explanation.

"I can't um, read what you're writing, Naofumi-san," she blushed.

"It- it's not just the reading thing, but that language... it doesn't look like Melromarican?"

Naofumi paused, then slapped his forehead.

Of course.

Naofumi grimaced.

"You can go get a few things at a time, then, rather than me expecting you to remember everything. If there's still some things left over, we'll just go together."

While Naofumi continued to sell their goods, Raphtalia nervously went about purchasing the various items he had sent her to get, along with a strict budget to maintain per item.

It'll give her a good idea of the price ranges, and hopefully some experience bartering too.

She was timid, but that couldn't remain long if the responsibility of selling would eventually be hers.

He'd also set a couple of items to buy with purposely slightly low or too high budgets to encourage the bartering. Of course he wasn't a complete dick and told her he'd done this, just... not which items this would apply to.

Naofumi had chuckled at her betrayed look before she left.


After a couple of hours, he'd sold the majority of the medicine and was left with just five of the furs.

Packing away the goods, he was pleased to see Raphtalia returning with the sewing kit he'd requested, and a generous amount of coins as change.

"You did great," he smiled, packing it carefully away.

"I still can't believe you made me try and buy tools for 50 coppers. 50 coppers, Naofumi-san! That was just cruel!"

Naofumi snorted, openly laughing in the face of her irritated glare.

He remembered when she had came back meekly with just a small hammer as that was all she could get at that price range. He'd laughed and sent her back to the smith with a bag of silvers, and when she next came back she was a furious red but had scissors, vices, tweezers and other assorted tools he'd asked for, including a carving knife.

"You managed to get the hammer for about forty something coppers if I remember right, so chin up," he chortled.

"Only because Ekil-san took pity on me!"

"Good, take advantage of your cuteness then."

Raphtalia meeped, and Naofumi rolled his eyes.

Honestly...

Aside from a few pointed glares at her raccoon ears, the village people generally took to Raphtalia well. Quite well enough that she was able to get most of the goods on his list without as much trouble as he had expected, even under the sometimes small budget he has assigned.

Truth be told, outwith the initial amount for tools he'd given purely for his own amusement, the rest of the goods were given reasonable budgets, but he was pleased to see she hadn't went over on any.

This country is full of lolicons. 'Ekil-san', eh? Need to check this guy out, make sure he's legit...

Putting that to the side for now, he instead started leading the way to a the only inn the village had.

"It's a silver a night," Naofumi explained on the way, "so we'll just pay for the room for now, then head up to the mines."

Raphtalia's ears twitched, "Huh? Only one room?"

Naofumi tensed, suddenly aware that he had been sending her out alone, in the gossiping town.

What the fuck could she have heard from that Ekil guy?

Naofumi stopped, and narrowed his eyes under his hood.

"Just the one room," he repeated, "you can get some sleep if you can tonight, I'm likely going to be working anyway and we'll be back on the road tomorrow. I don't want to spend more than we need to."

He turned and gave his full attention to Raphtalia now, who looked nervous.

"Is that going to be a problem?" he asked pointedly.

Raphtalia shook her head.

But Naofumi was on guard now, and suspicious.

Did she plan something with this Ekil? Am I going to end up robbed in the middle of the night again, or are the guards going to turn up? Have I been betrayed again?

He slowed his step slightly to fall behind Raphtalia and opened up his menu carefully, navigating to Raphtalia's stat page.

Violation Conditions

Refuse Order

Attack Master

Attack [ ]

Get [ ] Metres from Master

Lie to Master

Flee

Item Use

Naofumi hummed under his breath. Only Refuse Order and Attack Master were enabled, and he eyed Lie to Master.

I could enable and ask, then I'd know for sure...

Raphtalia realised he was slowly following her behind and stuttered in her step.

"Um, Naofumi-san? I- I don't know the way to the inn..."

Naofumi looked down at her tea-red eyes, innocently looking up to him for guidance and protection, full of trust.

Naofumi swiped off the menu without further actions, and quickened his step, Raphtalia falling behind to obediently follow.

Hopefully she hadn't caught the shame in his eyes.