Carius and Naofumi followed Beloukas into a tent, the prior ducking his head due to his height. "What exactly is your business Beloukas?" Naofumi asked. "Slavery." The shady businessman tensed when he heard the ultramarine growl in anger whilst raising his bolter.

"I do look after them to the best of my abilities." He said hurriedly. Naofumi knocked on the ultramarine's armor. "You can't share XP with me, remember? A slave can evidently." He said.

"That doesn't mean that I approve." Carius said before lowering his weapon. While Beloukas was showing Naofumi a Xeno or beast man in their terms, Carius looked around in disgust.

This man was looking after them to the best of his abilities? Suddenly, the sound of coughing caught the Ultramarine's attention.

Approaching a crate with a canvas, he raised it and his eyes widened. To his shock, he saw two malnourished and sickly-looking children no older than ten. "Abhuman children?!" he yelled out catching Naofumi's attention.

"Children?!" he exclaimed before glaring at Beloukas. "What kind of Trader sells children?" instead of panicking, they saw Beloukas smile.

"About time someone took interest in them." He said. "Beg your pardon?" the Shield hero asked. "Most people that I sell to don't care or bat an eye due to their condition." Beloukas said. "I've done my best to help them, but due to their previous owner, its been difficult helping them. I'm afraid they won't last much longer."

"What do you mean by, due to their previous owner?" Naofumi asked. The slave trader's expression turned grim. "Let's just say, he loved his torture." He said, every word dripping with venom.

Naofumi and the ultramarine shared a look vowing to give these two the chance at getting justice for their suffering. "We'll take them both." Naofumi said.

one of the two children, a tanuki by looks of it in the shield hero's eyes, grew fearful as the blue giant reached for her. She squirmed in fear as she was separated from her friend.

"Easy child, we aren't leaving her behind." Carius said in a tone that was unfit for an ultramarine whilst rubbing the girl's back. Naofumi reached for the other girl.

"It's ok, we won't hurt you." He said. the girl, a weasel demi-human, looked at him with a tired expression and got up. She clearly had begun to give up on life. Then she caught a glimpse of his shield and her eyes brightened slightly.

"Are you the shield hero?" she asked attentively. Naofumi nodded. the girl teared up and barreled into him, crying. "It's ok. We got you." the shield hero said.

Both girls whimpered as Beloukas prepared everything to make the seal. "Beloukas just be aware that the shield hero is to own both of them." Carius said making both girls, and Beloukas look at him.

"Why both? The tanuki girl seems attached to you." Naofumi asked. "It'd be a great dishonor for me to own a slave." Carius said. the shield hero nodded in understanding.

"What're your names?" Naofumi asked. "I'm Rifana, Shield hero." The weasel girl said with a weak smile. Rifana then nudged her colleague. "Huh, oh, I'm Raph…" the tanuki girl began to say before entering a coughing fit.

"She needs medicine." Carius said earning a nod from Naofumi. "I'm Raphtalia." The tanuki girl said after her coughing fit ended.

"Now then, I need a bit of your blood to complete the seal shield hero." Beloukas said. Carius felt disgusted by this. The way to make a slave pact here was similar to the chaos inquisition.

LATER

The now group of four walked through Melromarc to the blacksmith to get weapons for Rifana and Raphtalia. As they did so, Carius felt multiple eyes on him. The Ultramarine couldn't blame them.

It's not every day a Primaris space marine walks the streets on a land not scarred by war outside Imperium territory. That brought up a question; How'd the king not notice? Or even the heroes. Speaking of which.

"Naofumi, how are you not put off by my height?" Carius asked. "How would your height… whoa, now that you mention it with everything that's gone on, I don't think the other heroes, myself, or the king got a good look at you." Naofumi said as a loud growling was heard

They glanced at Raphtalia. "Hungry?" Naofumi asked. The tanuki shook her head. Another growl. "We're getting you two something to eat." Carius said ushering the two Abhumans along

Raphtalia could feel the coldness of his armor, yet the giant knight was gentle with the shove he gave her. She glanced up at him and him down at her. The Tanuki girl didn't know why, but she had a feeling of security around him more so than her owner.

As Naofumi entered restaurant, Rifana and Raphtalia paused in hesitance. "Something wrong?" Carius asked catching Naofumi's attention.

"What is it?" he asked. "They don't serve Demi-humans." Rifana said. Carius scowled behind his helmet.

"They will." He said priming his bolter pistol. 'By the emperor, can these people be anymore racist? I know I shouldn't be talking, but denying service to people who're a different race and haven't done anything wrong is downright cruel.'

Naofumi winced 'Yikes, Carius' is pissed.' He thought before ushering both demi-humans into the building while the Primaris Marine followed while ducking his head.

The patrons froze at the sight of them, Carius more so than the others. As Naofumi, Raphtalia, and Rifana sat at a table the Marine saw many glares aimed their way, presumably due to the Abhuman children in their possession.

Carius gave them a stern look and they backed off. A short time later, the three got their food whilst the Space Marine stood guard. Raphtalia glanced up at him.

"Are you going to eat Mr. Carius?" she asked. "Another time young one." Carius said. the Marine saw the girl nod and chow down on her meal. Mentally Carius seethed.

May the emperor show mercy to the bastard who starved and tortured these poor souls. Then again, the emperor might not. Carius made a promise right then and there; he'd show no ounce of mercy to the person. The codex be damned.

"So, this is where you went." A familiar voice spoke up. Turning, Naofumi, and Carius saw the Spear hero with the same red-haired woman. Carius narrowed. "Let me guess, she still wants to party up with Carius and I, Motoyasu?"

The blonde nodded. "The answer's still no woman." Carius said walking up to the two. Only now did they both realize the height difference. 'Mommy.' The spear hero thought seeing the tall and slightly hunched form of Carius.

Myne trembled slightly. Her father had been adamant about getting in a party with the shield hero to make him fail, but now that she's gotten a good look at the knight… there would've been no way unless she didn't have what she about to declare.

Smirking, she spoke. "Unfortunately, you and the shield hero don't have a choice. The king declared that I'm to be a part of the shield hero's party." Carius narrowed his eyes knowing fully well that this was another ploy to undermine Naofumi's efforts to aid the country.

"The false king's proclamation can go straight to hell." He said. "We don't exactly have a choice Carius." Naofumi said whilst giving the red head a suspicious glare.

"Try anything against the shield hero and your life is forfeit." Carius warned. Myne would've smirked, but Carius' warning made her think twice about her father's plan.

Was angering this giant worth sabotaging the shield hero? She sighed. Still, she couldn't go against her father and the church.

THE NEXT DAY

Naofumi woke to rapid knocking. "Who's there?" he asked yawned. "The King's Guard. Your presence is demanded."

THRONE ROOM

"Beg your pardon your highness but he's done what?" Carius eying Naofumi. "You heard me sir knight. The Shield hero has raped the adventurer named Myne." The Space marine glanced at the shield hero.

"I swear Carius, there wasn't anyone else in my room at all. You were up at the time they said hence why you're here." Naofumi said.

"Silence!" the false Ruler said. "As punishment you'll be stripped of any gear you've obtained and party disbanded. Sir knight I'm assigning you to the spear hero's party." Carius gave him a cold glare.

"I refuse." He said before opening his screen and pressing leave party as soon as he saw that he joined Motoyasu's party. "I told you false ruler, you wish to play favorites, then so shall I."

Naofumi couldn't believe what he was hearing. Carius was refusing to abandon him. the Space marine saw myne and glared at her. However, for a split second, the ultramarine swore she mouthed the words 'I'm sorry'

"Know this Sir knight, if you do this, your reputation will be ruined." The false ruler said confidant he'd won Carius over when the Ultramarine froze mid-step.

Carius looked back at the false ruler. "I was never a knight of Melromarc in the first place. I serve the one true leader; the Emperor of man." The false ruler's eyes widened as he now saw Carius' true height and nearly had a panic attack. This man wasn't a man. It was a Golem!

His piece said, Carius left the throne room with Naofumi.

"Wait where're Raphtalia and…" Naofumi began to ask. "Left them with the blacksmith. He can be trusted. That much I can tell." Carius said.

Carius glanced at Naofumi. "Before I was summoned I noticed Rifana take an interest in two daggers. Raphtalia has yet to decide." He said.

"Well, let's help her then shall we?" Naofumi said as they reached the door of the blacksmith's building.

ELSEWHERE IN THE GALAXY

"You're joking lord Calgar. An Ultramarine vanishing into thin air right in front of his squad's eyes" an ultramarine lieutenant said flabbergasted at what he just heard. " I wish that were the case Titus, I wish it were."

A/N: Thus ends chapter 2 of my Warhammer 40k/ROTSH fanfic. What's this? Malty's having second thoughts about going up against Carius. Also, Titus has entered chat. Lol. Y'all also didn't expect me to save Rifana now did ya? What does this mean for Keel? Wait and see.

Now before you all flame saying how Carius wasn't acting like an ultramarine should in regards to Raphtalia and Rifana and how he should've been a salamander instead…. He's got a soft spot for kids

Scenes regarding the main Ultramarine chapter prior to the reunion will be extremely short in some chapters like this one.

As always, please read and review. That being said peace.

NEXT UP: RUBY OF BORG

Reviews;

SSJ-Jolt: I've tried writing what you're saying for paragraphs before in other stories, but writing them out makes them feel extremely short.

As for descriptions, I feel that having a long description could take time away from the actual story. Thanks for the advice though.

I've chosen to make Carius a Primaris Marine. Also, I hope that Naofumi's words to Carius help explain how they didn't notice it beforehand, though there's more to it than just that.

Lastly, its fanfiction. We can alter events in canon to fit our vision of fanon.