The Rising of the Yokai and Shield Heroes

Saving Slaves

Seeing the state these girls were in made Simon both sad and angry, looking at the racoon girl and weasel girl being so close to each other Simon could tell that they know each other, as for the fox girl she was close but not too close to the other girls, so he figured she didn't know them.

"Sir's, over here," said the slaver. "I recommend this for a high-class gent such as yourselves."

Everyone walked over to the slaver as he removed the curtains from the cage and a big wolf beast-man jumped forward grabbing the bars on its cage looking at the group.

"It's at level 75," said the slaver.

"That's almost 20 times my level," thought Naofumi.

"Interesting okay how much you want for it?" asked Simon.

"Well, it is highly capable in battle and fairly rare. How does 15 gold pieces sound?" said the slaver.

"Showing us your most expensive slave knowing full well I can't afford it? said Naofumi.

"Indeed, you and your friend gonna become one of my best customers, I got a nose for these things. So, I gotta make sure you both develop a keen eye, if you catch my drift, good sir's," said the slaver. "Well now, since you've seen my best, lemme ask you a question. Exactly what kind of slave are you in the market for?"

"One that's cheap and obedient will work," said Naofumi.

"In other words, a demi-human, if I understand right? said the slaver. "These aren't much suited for combat or manual labor."

"Doesn't matter. If I need'em in battle, we'll train them," said Naofumi.

"That's an amusing response, when you don't believe in people," said the slaver.

"Yeah, but slaves aren't people. Training one's the same thing as upgrading my shield," said Naofumi. 

Simon knows that his friend doesn't mean any of what he said but could tell that his friend does not trust people anymore.

"Haha well, you got me there, that for sure," said the slaver. "These are the cheapest slaves I can offer you all. Other than the dead ones, of course on the left I have-"

"Raise your heads," said Naofumi.

The three girls raise their heads as they all began to cough.

"That mangy half-raccoon, weasel, and fox are sick as a dog and a couple spokes short of a cartwheel, I'm having a hell of a time with them myself. Especially with the fox she's a fighter," said the slaver.

Simon looked at the fox girl, he could she that the fire in her eye's were still burning but not by much.

The raccoon and weasel girls held each other close in fear of the group and the fox girl glared trying to look tough.

"You see, their previous master loved his torture. Their not long for this world I'd suggest something else."

"I've decided," said Naofumi. "She'll do, I'll take the raccoon one."

"And I'll take the weasel and fox," said Simon.

The raccoon and weasel girls held each other tightly in fear. And the fox girl growled in anger.

Naofumi, Simon and the group stood in the slaver's office as Naofumi and Simon cut their fingers dipping their blood in ink.

The slave girls huddle together as Ena, Erma, and Eran tried to comfort the girls to let them know they would not be harmed, but it didn't seem to work.

"Let's begin," said the slaver as he walked over to the girls.

He moved their hands away from the chest, shoving their slave crest And apply the ink to it. Their slave crest glowed bright as the girls hissed in pain.