Beloukas is having himself a late dinner one night. It was a busy day and he just barely closed up his shop so he could have himself a break. Sensing someone approach, he makes his way over towards the entrance because hey, who is he to deny a paying customer.
So he finds this group of soldiers, many of who have hidden their faces. Beloukas finds nothing odd about this; he's met up with many a citizen who didn't want to be seen buying a demi-human slave.
"We wish to discuss business," One says, and idly gestures to a wagon they have behind them covered with a large sheet. He leads them over to the 'unloading area' of his shop, where they reveal an unconscious young man with some kind of bangle on his arm.
One hooded female figure explains that he's a criminal and as his punishment is being sold off as a slave. Beloukas moves to object; after all, he's just got a new shipment today and has no need for any extra inventory.
Until she hands a large bag of gold, asking him to place one of the most complex slave crests on him that would make him very submissive and unable to speak. And so he accepts because holy shit that's a lot of gold.
The process is long and painful as the unconscious man wakes up screaming, his green eyes wide before eventually falling unconscious again. The group seems satisfied and leaves afterwards.
But what they don't know is Beloukas is secretly an agent, and he doesn't even flinch or jump when one of the Queen's Shadows suddenly appears behind him once the group has left.
"I had a feeling this young man was important~" he smiles.
"He is; he's the Shield Hero," the Shadow says, "Condemned under false charges. Someone used a high-level nullifying spell to inactivate the shield, hence its appearance. And with your seal, it will stay that way until it's removed."
"Oh, but even a simple slave trader as myself is being watched.…" Beloukas shakes his head, "I can't just release the poor boy.…" before he comes up with an idea, "I'll have him be one of my rarest items... Yes... This slave crest is so rare and costly to make, not to mention place on someone... He'll be reserved for only those customers of mine who can spare a pretty penny..."
And so throughout several weeks, Beloukas slowly removes the seal he's put up, which is a set if patterned runes that spread along his chest up to his neck, his arms all the way to his wrists, and all the way down to his thighs.
The process was painful, but the young man handled it very well. At the very least, it's nothing compared to the high-level slave crests. As the process continues, the young man, who's name is Naofumi Iwatani, can now speak but is still submissive. The shield is also still inactive, but the bangle has increased in size.
He manages to remove the seals along his arms and most of his thighs when one night he's visited by this redhead. He's never seen him before, but something in Beloukas' gut tells him, 'Him; he's the one…'
And so he starts talking to this redhead, who he learns is named L'Arc. As they speak, the redhead talks about how he's from another county, how he needs a slave to help his partner Therese. And so as he tours along the usual good picks, Beloukas stops for a moment, wonders if he should show him the Shield Hero when a voice calls for him.
"Beloukas? Hey, I finished reading the book you gave me..."
A small part of him panics; he has a reputation to hold up.
Before he can lie about the voice, L'Arc rushes over and finds Naofumi, standing in a cage hidden away from all the others and furnished much better. Naofumi finds it weird someone just ran over and is staring at him.
L'Arc saw this raven-haired, green-eyed beauty in a green cloak, a silver bangle on his wrist with a green gem in the middle. He was instantly smitten with him. His scythe glowed for a moment as he declares, "I'll take him."
Naofumi could only stare in confusion, "Uh…what?" as he put the book in his hand down.
Beloukas gives a rather high price but L'Arc can pay for it. Going with his gut, Beloukas sells him. After getting a painful slave seal with L'Arc's blood mixed in, he hardly flinches as he's too used to it.
Naofumi doesn't know if he should tell him he's the Shield Hero or not...nor if he can trust him. He's given a paper in secret before he's sold.
"Should anything happen, this will bring you back to me. But I have a feeling this guy's a good person," Beloukas whispers.
Nodding, Naofumi keeps the paper in his inventory, keeping it a secret from his new "owner."
"I hope we can get along Kiddo," L'Arc smiles as he introduces himself.
Naofumi pouts, "Don't call me that," before saying his name.
"Naofumi…Nah. I'll stick with Kiddo," L'Arc shrugs.
After they left, L'Arc introduced him to Therese.
They both check Naofumi's status as they get equipment at the weapon shop.
Naofumi Iwatani
Slave
Lvl 2
ATK: 5
MAG: 50
DEF: 25
MAG DEF: 25
SPE: 25
Naofumi was surprised that his stats are that impressive compared to when he was the Shield Hero as L'Arc just smiles, "Not bad…"
L'Arc noticed that the owner recognized Kiddo, but chose not to say anything about it. They buy a staff for Naofumi before going to check out the magic shop. Naofumi's elements are support and healing, which is considered rare. They got a grimoire too.
They go level for a bit before going back for dinner and a good rest.
Naofumi slept in L'Arc's room but was still awake. He sees the full moon out, and just wonders… 'Is it really alright like this? Not being the Shield Hero, and everything… Do I even want to be that anymore if it causes me nothing but pain?'
"Kiddo?"
"Hm?" Naofumi turns to L'Arc, who was sitting up on the bed.
"You OK? I know it's been a long day, and you're still getting used to me…but you know you can tell me anything, right? I won't judge you," L'Arc tries to smile in assurance.
Smiling, Naofumi sighs, "Just thinking about what's next for me…I suppose."
"Don't you mean what's next for us?" L'Arc cuts in, making Naofumi blink, "I don't know what's in store for us but…we'll do it together, OK?"
Naofumi nods, smiling, "Yeah."
"Now, get some sleep."
"Is that an order?" he laughs.
"Yes," L'Arc smiles.
Going along with this, Naofumi climbs into bed before quickly falling asleep. He's still unsure about trusting L'Arc but…for now, this is enough.
L'Arc stares at his new slave as he sleeps, petting his soft black hair. He sees the multiple crests still on his body and wonders what he even did. Whatever secrets Kiddo's hiding…he'll find out soon enough. With that, he goes to bed as well.
Over the next few days, they level up and get to know each other better. They had heard the rumors of the sentence of the Shield Hero…that he was to be a slave…to which Naofumi never said a word in response. When the next Wave came, they helped out as much as they could.
Afterwards, they were invited to a party. Naofumi obviously didn't want to go, but L'Arc ordered him to. Apparently, L'Arc can't resist free food.
Pouting, he keeps his hood up, not willing to talk to anyone other than Therese and L'Arc as he eats a plate of food that L'Arc forced on him, saying that he needs to eat more.
He can barely taste anything at this point, but it at least fills his stomach.
It was when Motoyasu and that bitch came that caused him to panic a bit. Hiding behind L'Arc and hoping they don't recognize him was instinct at this point.
L'Arc noticed his distress, and sheepishly smiles, "Sorry about him. Kiddo's just shy."
They bought that while L'Arc quietly asks, "You want to get out of here?" to which Naofumi nods.
Grabbing Naofumi's hand before just carrying him over his shoulder, they ran off and out the door, Therese right behind them once she realized where they went.
"L'Arc! Put me down!" you can hear him yell as they left.
That was when Ren, Itsuki, and Motoyasu recognized that voice. Itsuki just stares in shock after them, "Was that… "
Ren nods, "Yeah…"
"Naofumi?!" Motoyasu was shocked.
Ren and Itsuki sigh, 'At least he's OK…' while Motoyasu was being comforted by the bitch for letting them get away.
Once in a safe place, L'Arc put Naofumi down. It seems they lost Therese somewhere, but they're bound to meet up again eventually.
Right now, they're on a hill past the gates, the sun setting as it bathed them in red light. The wind blew off the hood, revealing Naofumi's face, but he didn't mind. It was just him and L'Arc here.
Taking a deep breath and feeling the cool wind on his face, Naofumi subconsciously smiles.
L'Arc stares at him again, breath-taken by the scene, 'Kiddo's so beautiful like this…'
Naofumi blushes at him, "…"
"Crap. Did I say that out loud?" L'Arc worries, only for it to be confirmed with a nod from Naofumi.
Groaning for a bit, L'Arc facepalms, Naofumi giggling at him.
After he stopped laughing, Naofumi turns to L'Arc and pushed on his shoulders, making him sit down on the grass. Sitting down himself, Naofumi sighs, "I have something to tell you…"
Alert, L'Arc sits up straight since Kiddo's trusting him with his secrets, "What is it Kiddo?"
Taking a deep breath, he just comes right out and says it, "I'm the Shield Hero."
L'Arc's shocked and speechless before frowning, "Explain."
Naofumi shudders at that look, so he tells him everything. The false accusations, the betrayal, and how he's under a high-level nullifying spell, making the shield inactive.
After explaining, Naofumi grips the paper in his pocket, ready to use it if L'Arc rejects him...but to his surprise, L'Arc hugs him.
L'Arc mutters, "It must've been scary…"
Naofumi tears up, and hugs back, no longer thinking about running off. He nuzzles and cries in L'Arc's arms, who just holds him tight, rubbing circles into his back to calm him down.
"I'll take care of you from now on, OK?" L'Arc whispers into his hair.
He nods, liking that very much.
Then L'Arc tells him about Vassal Heroes and his world.
Naofumi's eyes widened before he accepts it, "L'Arc… I don't care about this world anymore. It's just not worth it… I want to save yours. For your sake, and to repay you for all that you've done for me."
"Kiddo…" L'Arc smiles, "Alright then."
He kisses Naofumi's forehead, "I don't know why they did this to a Hero nor someone as sweet as you Kiddo…Naofumi…but I want to help you get revenge."
Naofumi blushes, "That sounds good," before nuzzling him.
After they met up with Therese and told her what they talked about, she was on-board with revenge as well. They ignored all of the other Heroes' messes as it had nothing to do with them.
As the shield's still inactive, L'Arc was allowed to bring Naofumi with him to his world. After letting Naofumi explore a bit, he brought Kiddo to his (L'Arc's) room for the night.
"Do you still want to be the Shield Hero?" L'Arc asks.
"…No. It has caused me so much pain…" Naofumi confesses, "I'd rather just stay with you."
L'Arc smiles at that, kissing him on the lips, "I'm glad then."
Naofumi blushes before shyly kissing him again.
They spent the whole night together.
'Naofumi once said to me that "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Well, Kiddo is certainly my treasure. They threw you away like useless trash...but they'll soon regret it.'
All of the slave crests and the spell was completely broken at some point, Naofumi getting all of his powers back. But even after that, he still sticks around L'Arc as a mysterious power was activated.
[Soul Bond established.]
[Cardinal Weapon now connected to Vassal Weapon.]
[Cardinal user can now travel freely with Vassal user, use combos, and share MP and SP.]
At this discovery…well, they milked it for all of its worth, increasing their teamwork and stats.
Eventually, they came to kill the Heroes and get revenge for the discarded Shield.
The ones who made him this way...the ones who made him hate and turn against this world. The Shield that had sworn to protect now wants to destroy... He's even worse than the Waves, so wish them luck.