Chained Down

RedBurningDragon: Perhaps haven't thought that far ahead

I hummed spinning a few copper coins on the table as I sat down with a drink. "This inn has seen it's fair share of parties hasn't it?" I watched as the coin began to slow down as it spun to a stop.

"Oh excuse me" I grunted as a slender woman fell into me. "Sorry about that Dear Hero" she smiled sweetly, excusing herself from my table. She strolled away swaying her hips. Looking back to the table, I saw all the copper coins had disappeared. 'Well at least I don't feel so bad now' I grinned as I held the woman's coin purse. 'Time to go' stashing the coin bag into one of my pouches.

"Hello Sir Hero" a hand grabbed my shoulder. The person attached to it, using my shoulder as a handle to sit next to me. "It's been a while, do you recognise me? I'm Myne".

Looking at the woman up and down, I nodded slightly. "You went with the shield guy" I acknowledged with a sigh.

"Y-yes…" she replied shakily. "I-I… please help me, S-Sir Hero… that evil shield" Myne grasped my thigh, looking up with a sultry yet teary stare.

'What the fuck is she on… why is she acting sad after such a genuinely happy greeting' I tilted my head. "What's wrong… Myne, why do you look so sad?"

"That devil… he tried to… do things to me…" Myne whimpered pressing her body against mine.

"Alright I see what's going on here…" I hummed touching her thigh. 'No reaction for someone assaulted… interesting' I shake my head. "You were assaulted without getting a scratched or messing that long hair of yours, what kind of assault did you even receive?" Losing her almost tear driven face, Myne gained a slight frown. "If you just wanted my attention, you should have just asked".

Myne averted her gaze for a moment before looking up with a noticeable twitch in her lip. "I'm sorry for not being completely honest Sir Hero, that shield tried to make me do… horrible things" she turned to smile at me. "And after seeing you Sir Hero… I couldn't help myself" Myne blinked innocently as she pushed my hand on her thigh, up her skirt.

'I really should say something about her bullshit, her acting is so bad… but then again, she is giving a free sample' I glanced around to see everyone drunk or too busy in groups to even pay any attention. I raised my free hand, motioning to the waitress. "So Myne… how about we try and cheer up after your tragic day… but I have to warn you, I'm not cheap".

"I would quite like that Sir Hero" Myne smiled with glassy eyes. I glanced to the side as the waitress put down some drinks while Myne immediately picked up her glass. "To a good night".

I chuckled a bit picking up my glass. "Cheers".

…

"Framing shield guy for assault? That's ambitious Princess" I sipped my drink.

"I knoth…" Malty slurred knocking over an empty wine glass. "Ith meant toooo… be a sifmle job-ah" she snatched my drink, chugging it down. "Ahh that's *hic* goodth".

"Jeez, you're not as heavy a drinker as you said, huh?" I tutted at her.

Malty glanced at me blankly. "Hey… Hey Chainy… want to haf fun-ah up staurs…" I remained unflinching as best I could as she tugged my sleeve. "Come on… I know you want to~".

"I told you before Malty, I'm not cheap…" Malty grabbed my hand placing a large coin bag in it. "Well I'll be damned… maybe I should change my occupation".

…

"Urgh" I groaned as a bright light hit my face. "The Sun… my archnemesis" I rested my hand over my eyes to stop the Sun's blaze. "That night turned out much better than expected" I blurted out with a quiet laugh. Looking down with a grin, Malty drooled as she slept on my chest. "I just banged a princess… now that can be marked off the bucket list".

"Mmmm" Malty shuffled at the noise.

"Morning Malty" I pepped up jolting her to lift her head.

Malty glanced around the room, her eyes half lidded. "Mmtthgh" she clenched her mouth as she literally bounced to the side of the bed.

"Oh that's nasty" I rolled my eyes away from the red head as she grabbed the bin and began gagging. "There's a heavyweight drinker for you" I shivered slightly as she began to throw up. "I'll give you a minute" I shook my head, grabbing my things.

"How…"Malty gulped heavily. "Why am I..? did we… just… last night" she twisted round so all I could see was her bare back. "We did didn't we?"

"Of course we did, you paid me to do so" I shrugged. "Probably would've done it for free all things considered but who am I to deny money, and you were very insistent that you were paying me".

"Bastard… that was my first time" Malty clutched her stomach, still feeling sick from the wine. "I'll kill you for this… I'll make your life a living hell, you can go and burn with the fucking shield".

"You're welcome to try but I don't think you will" I buckled my belt and strolled over to the bed. "Two Heroes accused of assault in one night… a bit hard to believe" I leaned over the red head. "And let's not forget, you told me every plan you have… shame if someone ruined them or better yet, told your mother". I stood back "all those drunken ramblings of yours, another shame if they got out" Malty glared but I kept my smirk. "Look to be honest, personally I don't care if you target the shield hero, burn a village… whore yourself out. However, if you come after me and attack me or anything I like personally we are going to have a problem". I grabbed the chain blade wrapped around my wrist and pointed it at her. "So tell me. Are. We. Going. To. Have. A. Problem?"

Malty whimpered shakily at the blade, pointing between her eyes. "N-no…" she flinched as the blade moved a centimetre closer. "No Sir we won't have a problem".

"There's a good girl" I took the blade away from her face. "Next time, you really should get better acting skills or better yet choose an idiot to be your puppet" I grabbed my shirt as Malty sat still on the bed blankly. "And Malty…" she glanced up as I finished putting the clothes on. "Don't bother calling me a hero anymore… I really aren't one, you know… but you, you can call me master, lord, demon or anything among those lines, just remember to never cross me". I cracked my neck moving to the door. "In fact, I wouldn't advise talking to me again unless you want another night, Second Princess".

…

'Maybe I was a bit harsh… nah what am I thinking, she tried to use me as a puppet' I tapped my chin. 'So am I the bad guy for reversing her plan and using her'. I glanced at a couple of carriages holding a dozen armed guards. 'Must be the Princess's plan to ruin… I swear his name started with a N… oh well'.

"Does it really matter?" I paused. Turning my head, a short posh looking man simply grinned in my direction. "Does anything really matter?"

"You talking to me little man?" I looked him up and down. 'He looks rich so he probably doesn't want to mug me… maybe some noble wanting to deepen his pockets by being associated with a Hero'.

"Perhaps… will it matter to you if I am?" he moved his head gaining a glint in his glasses. "Depends on your opinion" the man turned away from me. "And your willingness to follow me Chain Hero".

I frowned "what reason do I have to follow you?" The man kept his grin as he stepped into the shadows of the alley way.

"And yet you are following me" he chuckled as I took a step in the alley. "Oh don't look at me so harshly, I'm getting you out of an audience with the king and other heroes… I doubt you'd be the type of person that would want to go". He cranked his head back with a smile "after all, you already know everything that is about to go down".

"Oh?" I grabbed the man's shoulder. "And who are you then? Conspirer, spy… a clown" I questioned his attire but he grinned wider. "You better be joking".

"Well I do have an attraction to show you… you might enjoy it since you're all alone Hero". I glanced around the deserted area as I was guided through several streets.

'There's not even a single bit of natural light here, it's almost like a busy city except big buildings don't have many windows' I hung my head in defeat. "You weren't joking were you?" I raised my head slowly at the sight of the large circus tent.

"Partially, while the idea of being a clown sounds fun, my work is a bit darker per say" the man stopped outside the entrance and turned to me. "Here we are… pleasantries are in order, are they not dear customer? I am Beloukas and I am in charge of this part of the establishment".

"And what is this establishment if it's not a circus then what is it?" Waiting for an answer, I crossed my arms impatiently.

"Yes the circus design was to give an approachable appearance to the place" Beloukas pushed the entrance open, allowing me to walk right in. "You see… many people can be intimidated by the cages or maybe it's the mechanise itself? Either way it was bad for business, so the exterior was changed".

Gulping, I stopped in place. Glancing around, the scratching of metal hit my ear drum as hands and claws gripped the bars of their cages. Growling and hissing echoed throughout the tent as I took a few steps further in. deeper into the tent however, light whimpers squeaked through the banging of cages. "Lovely… slaves" I stared curiously while some tried clawing at me through bars, some tried to hide in the furthest corner then there was the dead looking ones that didn't seem to notice anything happening.

"Hehe sorry about the ruckus, they get awfully hyper around this time since they have been given their food" Beloukas smacked a cage with his cane. After the clang faded, an eerie silence was visibly present.

"So you think that I am the type of guy that buys a slave, huh?" I crossed my arms.

"Given your circumstances Chain Hero, it may suit you to have a slave to fight by your side" he grinned. "After all, you don't seem to trust anyone but a slave cannot go against any orders given to them. Each slave is given a crest that will rob them of life should they try betray their master and punish them should they disobey".

"So you have slaves that can fight?" I glanced at a couple of hardened looking slaves covered in fur. "And don't call me a Hero, the attention of being a Hero has already been annoying… just call me Tadao or whatever".

"Yes of course we have slaves that can fight but also for labour, nightly activities or practically anything per say" Beloukas motioned his cane for me to follow. "In fact, just over here there is a fine fighter slave".

"These slaves, they are not human. Half humans? And humanlike animals?" I questioned as I followed the man.

"Ah, those half humans you are referring to are Demi-Humans, while those humanlike animals are Ajin or Juijin" he motioned his cane to respective slaves as he walked along. "Although, a lot of humans may only recognise the Ajin and Jujin as beasts or monsters due to their lack of similarities".

"Alright… does that mean humans are exempt from being slaves?" I wondered. "Is it, if it's not human then it's a resource".

Beloukas stopped with a grin "my, my, aren't you asking the important questions, Sir Tadao". He chuckled "normally in this country, it is not a normal occurrence however, in certain instances where a human has committed a peculiar crime or activity, a human can be sold as a slave". He banged his cane on a cage as a humanoid bear bashed the bars trying to swipe anyone with it's claws. "This is the slave I recommend for you… usually I would charge 20 gold but I'll sell him for 15 gold just for you".

"Usually I give my price range before I get offered something" he chuckled at my comment. "Is something funny?"

"I can just tell by your eyes that you are going to be a valuable customer" Beloukas posed a bit overdramatically.

"Yeah, yeah…" I looked around. 'With the money I got from the slutty princess, I have just under 1000 silver coins and 136 copper coins… probably equals to about 10 gold coins'. I clicked my tongue "Hey, show me the battle slaves costing about 300 silver".

"Oh ho? Of course, just here" Beloukas removed the coverings of a handful of cages. "These ones here are near your price, from the left the costs are 320, 275, 305, 250 and 360".

'the one costing 250 looks dead on the inside… worthless, 360… too expensive for my first slave'. I pointed to the left one "is she human?"

"No that's an Ogre, they appear similar to humans up until late teens where they grow more beastlike" I pointed down the line. "A Lizardman, they have defensive scales. And a Dark Elf one of the more rarer races".

'I feel like the Ogre would turn into an expensive upkeep if they get as big as I imagine' I glanced between the Lizardman and Elf. 'Question is do I need a close range fighter now? The Lizardman would be the best choice for that role but not much else' humming I turned to the man. "I'll take the Elf"

"Of course" Beloukas rubbed his hands greedily. "I'll just need some of your blood for the seal" the man rushed over to a table to get a small bowl with some ink. Running over with the bowl, Beloukas raised the bowl in my direction. Sighing, I took out my chain blade and sliced my palm, allowing drops of blood to leak into the ink.

"305 Silver right?" I counted the coins into a small bag before tossing it on the table.

"Yes, I'll just be a moment" Beloukas grabbed the Elf from her cage.

I peered at the ritual but looked at other slaves in their cages. 'Pitiful' I rolled my eyes as the slaves in this row were dulled out of their minds. "Hmm" I flinched in shock as a small hand grabbed my ankle. Glaring at the owner of the hand, the slave bounced back in the corner of their cage. "Scared of me are ya?" I tilted my head. "Hey circus man, I'll give you 100 silver for this one".

"Eh..?" Beloukas blinked confused. "Well that one is priced 115 silver… but as a first time buyer, I suppose I could offer you a discount" he grinned.

I ignored the man in favour of a small box appearing in front of me. 'So there are party settings, so we can share Exp and I can see their stats' I shook it off as I waited for a moment more.

"There we are" I peeked over as Beloukas stood behind my two new slaves. "Thank you for your business Sir Tadao… I hope you enjoy your new Elf and Kitsune" he bowed. "I can tell we are going to become good business partners".

I simply nodded to the man. "Follow me" I told the slaves. The elf seemingly followed no problem but I noticed the Kitsune's seal sparked before she followed me. 'So that seal does work, anyway I got to give those two a weapon so they can actually work'.

…

"I never realised you were the type of man to get slaves, Tadao" Lizzie hummed.

"Do you have a problem with that?" I folded my arms staring at the Tailor.

"Normally… well I just don't like the idea of slaves" she sighed. "But you seem good at heart at least so as long as you don't treat these girls badly, I'll be fine with it".

"Master… we're ready" the Elf stated as she walked out of the changing room with the Kitsune hiding behind her.

"Thanks for allowing them to clean up as well, Liz" I acknowledged.

The Dark Elf stood half a head taller than the Kitsune, with ash colour skin. Her long white hair had been tied into a bun then hung down like a pony tail, now allowing her pointed ears to be clearly seen. Her bright amber eyes glanced at the Kitsune behind her to motion the other girl to step away from her.

The Kitsune on the other hand had a cream almost peach coloured skin while she kept her long black hair untied down her back with a pair of fox ears on top of her head. she kept her dark jade eyes from making contact with anyone while her fluffy white tail stuck itself down like a scared puppy.

"I don't really have anything their size for adventuring but knowing you as the Chain Hero, they will grow quickly and get them both something proper to wear". Lizzie smirked "However, I have made some modifications to the tunics similar to yours to fit them like a dress". She nodded to herself "It would be better when they grow into teenagers that we give them a proper outfit.

"That's fine but why are you treating it like they will grow up soon, they're only about 9 or 10" I questioned but Lizzie shook her head.

"You'll find out soon enough" she winked childishly. "But I think you might want to know their names first". I nodded turning my head back to the two slaves.