Chapter 29 Getting a party member.

"I've decided I'll take this one" Said Issei as the girls eyes widened.

The slave merchant took the girl out of the cage and they walked to another room.

"I'll need a drop of your blood" Said the slave master.

Issei showed his finger and the slave merchant made a small cut on the rip of his finger and a few drops of blood fell into a bowl of some purple liquid.

The slave merchant took the bowl and took a paint brush and painted something on her collarbone and she looked in pain.

"What's up with that?" Asked Issei.

"Nothing to worry about the pain will disappear soon, it's a slave crest, that won't let the slave misbehave or disobey its master" Said the slave merchant. Suddenly a screen popped up for Issei.

"Huh? set as a companion and slave shield?" Said Issei to himself confused.

"There you go, everything is set to go" Said the slave merchant.

"Alright how much?" Asked Issei.

"Twenty five silver coins" Replied the man. Issei took a bag of coins and gave it to the slave merchant and walked over to the coughing slave.

"So what's your name?" Said Issei but got no reply as she continued to cough.

"Please answer what's your name" Asked Issei again a bit more gently.

"I'm c-called Raphtalia" Finally answered the girl.

Issei grabbed her by the hand gently and they left the place.

Later...

"Welcome oh it's you" Said Agil.

"Hey what's with the girl?" Asked the man. Issei gave some silver to the man and said.

"Give her a weapon she could use and keep it under six silver" Said Issei.

After ten minutes the girl left the changing room with a dagger and battle cloak.

"Took you long enough" Said Issei.

"I-im sorry sir" Said Raphtalia.

"It's fine" Said Issei.

"Let's see you draw your dagger" Said Issei as he took out a monster Balloon but it was just an illusion to test the girl. Raphtalia let out a scared gasp as she backed away a bit.

"I want you to stab this thing" Said Issei as he took the monster in his hands.

"N-no" Replied Raphtalia.

"Stab it now, that's an order" Said Issei and the slave crest started to activate and she let out a pained scream.

"You only hurt yourself if you won't listen" Said Issei. Raphtalia then took the dagger and stabbed the monster a couple of times and it popped.

"Good job! you don't need to be so scared, I'll protect you if anything happens" Said Issei with a kind smile as he patted her head a bit shocking her at the same time.

"So I guess I'll get some experience too" Said Issei as he remembered when he read the guide.

"Yeah, when you get a companion and let them join your party everyone will get experience together" Said Agil and then he noticed issei's facial expression.

"What? don't tell me you didn't do that the first time with that girl" Asked the man.

"Damn that woman" Said Issei as he realised his mistake.

"Let's get a move on" Said Issei.

"Yes sir" Replied Raphtalia as she followed Issei outside.

"They were walking for five minutes until Raphtalia's stomach growled.

"Wanna eat?" Asked Issei.

"No sir" Said Raphtalia shaking her head.

"C'mon you can't fight on an empty stomach" Said Issei with a smile as they went to the same place he eats. As Issei entered Raphtalia stopped.

"Um sir but I can't" Said Raphtalia as she pointed at a sign that said 'we don't serve demi-humas'.

"What's the hold up come here already" Said Issei so Raphtalia did.

"Welcome to the inn" Said the waiter until he noticed that it was the Shield hero, everyone started to talk about him amongst themselves about his crime and such but Issei of course heard everything because his dragon senses are sharp.

"Can we get something to eat here!" Shouted Issei as he and Raphtalia sat down.

"Huh? ah yeah right" Said the same waiter as he came up to Issei.

"Get the cheapest lunch and she will have hmmm what that kid has in front" Said Issei.

"Um alright that will be nine copper but we don't serve demi-humas" Said the waiter.

"You will serve her" Said Issei as he gave a pain promising glare.

"Y-yeah right" Said the waiter as he left.

"Why are you doing this for me?" Asked Raphtalia.

"Why wouldn't I? I'm not a bad guy here, I didn't need a slave either, but when I saw you I wanted to get you out of there and give you a better life, of course you will have to fight" Said Issei.

"Thank you so much sir" Said Raphtalia as her eyes sparkled.

After ten minutes their food was served, Issei paid for it and gave her the food.

She started to eat slowly and then almost inhaled the whole plate but she choked on some. Issei gave her a cup of water.

"Here, drink this and don't rush, no one is going to take it from you" Said Issei with a chuckle. Raphtalia slowed down.

"So how is it?" Asked Issei. Raphtalia only nodded in satisfaction. Issei took a bite of his own lunch.

'Dam, still can't taste a thing' thought Issei.

In the evening they were hunting those monsters and leveled up. Later they set up a camp by the river and caught some fish.

"Sir who are you? I mean who really are you?" Asked Raphtalia.

"Well in this world I'm a hero, Shield hero" Said Issei. Suddenly Raphtalia remembered her parents telling her about four Cardinal heroes and how the Shield hero treated demi-humas with care. Her eyes lit up with excitement.

"You are really the shield hero? then what should I call you?" Asked Raphtalia.

"My name is Issei Y Ddraig Goch but you can call me Issei or ise" Said Issei.

"Okay Issei but.....what do you mean this world?" Asked Raphtalia.

"I was summoned here and became a Shield hero but before I was the Red dragon emperor" Said Issei with pride filled voice.

"Red dragon emperor?" Asked Raphtalia.

"Yes, I had, and right now still have the heavenly dragonys soul which I released later on. His name is Ddraig and we became brothers but when I got summoned here he got trapped into this device again" explained Issei as he summoned boosted gear. Raphtalia watched in awe.

"Greetings young one, as he said my name is Ddraig one of the heavenly dragons and one of issei's brothers" Introduced himself Ddraig.

"Wow! so cool! so you are not just the Shield hero but the Red dragon emperor! so maybe then everyone should call you the Red dragon emperor of the shield! or the Red dragon emperor of protection!" Said Raphtalia excited.

"That actually sounds good" Said Issei.

"I agree" Said Ddraig

"but ya know what's cooler?" Asked Issei.

"What?" Asked Raphtalia.

"That I'm a dragon myself" Said Issei shocking Raphtalia.

"What?! what do you mean you are a dragon?" Asked Raphtalia.

"I'm a dragon in human form but I cannot show you my true form because the shield sealed it away for now, but I can show you my wings" Said Issei as he showed hit red Wings with fire on the tips and his eyes turned to slits.

"Wow can I touch it?" Asked Raphtalia.

"Sure" Replied Issei and Raphtalia touched his wings.

"They are so warm and the fire tickles and somehow calms me down" Said Raphtalia but suddenly she started to cough.

"Here drink this I just grinded some of the medicine" Said Issei as he used the boosted gear to strengthen the medicine. Raphtalia was too focused on his wings so she didn't even realize that she just drank medicine but as she finished her face turned into a disgusted one.

"It's so bitter" Said Raphtalia.

"Good medicine supposed to be bitter" Said Issei as he chuckled.

Later on it got dark and Raphtalia went to sleep while Issei sat beside the fire.

Raphtalia had a nightmare, how at the first wave her parents ran holding her while some three headed monster chased them as they reached a cliff and have been cornered by the monster the parents apologized and wished her a happy life and pushed her into the water so she could survive while the monster devoured her parents, later how her friends were tortured to death while she was the only one who survived...she literally was forced to watch her friends die painfully...

She woke up in cold sweat with a scream repeating the same thing with her eyes closed.

"Aaaaah they're dead they're dead they're" Repeated Raphtalia over and over again while tears streamed down her cheeks.

"What's wrong" Asked Issei as he ran up to her.

"They're gone ...my parents...are dead...my friends.....are dead...." said Raphtalia still with her eyes closed.

Issei brought her into a hug.

"It's alright, everything is fine, let it all out,you will be fine" Repeated Issei as he continued to hug her and stroke her hair.

The next morning Issei came back to the same medicine shop where he sold herbs.

"So which is better to sell herbs or medicine?" Asked Issei.

"Lately because of the waves the medicine has been flying off the shelves so I would pay more for your medicine than herbs and I'll buy this for five silver" Said the man.

"Alright, are there any tools you have that you don't use?" Asked Issei.

After buying some tools and selling the medicine Issei left the store and found Raphtalia watching kids playing with a ball.

"Want a ball like that?" Asked Issei from behind.

N-no sir not at all!" Replied Raphtalia but Issei noticed her tail wiggling so he just chuckled and got her a ball.

"You can play but only after the job is done" Said Issei as he handed her a ball.

"Yes I understand!" Said Raphtalia excited.

Later that day they found a place to sleep.

"Oh the Shield hero came" Said a man.

"Yes I will rent a room and my companion screams at night" Said Issei talking about her nightmares.

The guy's expression turned into grossed out one as he stared at Issei.

Issei then summoned his boosted gear and stared at the man with cold eyes

"You will give us a room right?" Asked Issei with a cold voice. The man paled.

"Y-yea right away! I'll prepare a room at once!" Said the man as he ran to prepare a room.

'Dam this reputation of me violating someone is worse than my previous reputation in school as a pervert' Thought Issei irritated.

'I must agree brother' Said Ddraig through mental link.

The next day they walked around the village Issei gave her a proper haircut got lunch made more medicine to sell. Right now he and Raphtalia are fighting the monsters.

She got pretty good with that dagger. Issei sometimes attacked himself with the boosted gear but Raphtalia did the most work because he wanted her to level up faster and to gain more combat experience so he mostly just shielded.

As they stopped to take a break a rabbit came out of the bushes.

"An enemy?" Asked Issei as he saw a red triangle above the rabbit.

Suddenly it started to sprint towards Raphtalia so Issei stepped in but didn't block it with the shield rather his arm and the rabbit bit and didn't release him.

"Raphtalia kill it now!" Shouted Issei but she backed away a bit in fear not because she's afraid of the rabbit but she's afraid of killing this is different from the balloons and Issei knew he had to do this.

"Kill it now! you have to!" Shouted Issei. Then the slave crest activated and she screamed in pain.

Issei didn't like seeing her like that but he had to make her brave and strong.

"Do it Raphtalia now!" Shouted Issei. Raphtalia's eyes sharpened and she gritted her teeth as the crest deactivated she rushed towards Issei and she stabbed the rabbit killing it immediately. But instead of popping or something like Issei expected it covered both of them in rabbit's blood.

Raphtalia stood there covered in blood frozen. That's the first time she killed a living being.

"Good job Raphtalia and don't you ever hesitate or you will be dead or I might die because of it and you will be all alone" Said Issei as he patted her.

"I understand I will do my job just don't ever leave me alone" Said Raphtalia.

"Deal" Replied Issei with a smile.

Later after they cleaned themselves up they returned back to the village to buy Raphtalia a new weapon as Issei got enough money for something better by selling monster remains and medicine.

"So what can you get her for this much?" Asked Issei as he placed a pouch of coins on the counter.

"So we are getting a real weapon upgrade for missy here" Said Agil as he went to the swords.

"Here an iron short sword I think it will suit her perfectly" Said Agil.

"Alright we'll take it" Said Issei.

"By the way do you know a village where we could travel with the equipment we have right now?" Asked Issei.

"There's a village near here called Lute" Said Agil.

Half a day has passed and Issei and Raphtalia reached the village of Lute.

They came and sold their medicine there for some silver and asked for a spot where they could earn some money.

They got information that near the town there is a cave where they could find some fine materials but the catch was that after the first wave a lot of monsters reside there now.

They reached the caves entrance and near there was a small house there Issei found some rope which he fed to the shield and unlocked rope-shield and a skill.

"Rope-shield? Well that's pretty boring" Said Issei.

"Alright then let's test out this new skill. Airstrike shield!" Shouted Issei and a green shield in the size of two meters appeared in front of Issei.

"Well that's what I'm talking about" Said Issei with a smirk.

"Well let's go into the cave then" Said Issei as Raphtalia followed him behind holding a pickaxe.

"If things go south then we will have to run" Said Issei.

With a nod from Raphtalia they continued to walk.

They reached the spot where a bunch of minerals were.

"Well it looks like the place, give me the pickaxe" Said Issei and took the pickaxe. He mined off a chunk of some crystal.

"This might be worth coming here after all" Said Issei.

"Huh footprints?" Asked Raphtalia herself. Issei heard what she said but when he turned around he saw Raphtalia in a terrified state.

"Raphtalia what is it?" Asked Issei. Raphtalia started to scream as she saw a two headed monster similar to the three headed one that killed her parents. The monster started to sprint towards her but Issei grabbed her first and jumped off the cliff into the water but Issei used rope-shield to get out.

"Think you can make it?" Asked Issei.

"Dog- dog monster killed all the villagers even my parents" Said Raphtalia.

"During the first wave Huh?" Asked Issei.

'That's why she cries every night' Thought Issei Suddenly the monster jumped down straight to them.

"Listen Raphtalia you will have to kill it. We will become stronger and we will be able to fend off the catastrophe waves and prevent the same thing that happened to you" Said Issei as he prepared to defend. Raphtalia could only stare in disbelief wide eyed.

The monster sprinted towards them Issei did the same and blocked its head with a shield while another head bit Issei's shoulder and blood spewed out.

'Guess my level is too low' Thought Issei.

"Raphtalia do it now!" Shouted Issei but she was still frozen in place so the crest activated she screamed in pain but still didn't move.

'I thought I could make her stronger like this.....guess I'll have to use boosted gear" Thought Issei a bit disappointed.

"Forget it just run to safety while I'll hold this thing off" Said Issei as the crest deactivated. Raphtalia looked at issei

"What? that means it will happen just like with my parents!" Said Raphtalia suddenly she got flashbacks of her parents and how they left and times with Issei that she enjoyed and him leaving her alone.

"No please don't leave me" Said Raphtalia.

Suddenly she gathered the courage and grabbed her sword she sprinted towards Issei and the monster and leaped into the air with a slash. The monster backed away while Raphtalia got knocked out of the way the monster then charged at her but Issei stopped it.

"Airstrike shield!" Shouted Issei.

"Now Raphtalia do it kill the monster!" Shouted Issei. With a battle cry she stabbed the monster through its heart and it fell on the floor dead.

"Nice job Raphtalia" Said Issei proudly with a huge smile as he saw her level up a couple of levels because the monster was four times higher level than her. Raphtalia then sprinted towards Issei.

"Issei please promise me you won't die promise you won't leave me alone!" Shouted Raphtalia as she hugged him.

"I promise but let me go even with shield powers it still hurts as hell" Said Issei.

"We will get out once I feed this monster to my shield" Said Issei.

"Alright" Replied Raphtalia.

"C'mon get up" Said Issei.

"A little longer" Said Raphtalia. Issei just sighted as he hugged her back with one arm.

[To be continued]