Issei just left the castle after he was accused of something he didn't do even tho he had evidence no one believed him.
He was really pissed off. Firstly they summon him to an unknown world by force then falsely accuse falsely and kick him out saying that they won't fund him anymore and they want him to protect them??
What kind of bullshit is that? If he wanted to he could've killed all of them there and then, but chose not to.
Right now he was walking through the town everyone stared at him with eyes that were filled with disgust, women with kids backed away as far as they could. Everyone looked at him grossed out or even scared as to what he would do to them?
Issei looked at the ground as he walked but suddenly someone called out to him.
"Hey shield bro!" Shouted a man from aside.
As he looked who called he saw the same shop owner who sold the equipment.
They both walked into the alleyway where no people could see them
"Tell me now why shouldn't I beat the crap out of ya? I heard what you did to the girl who you were with yesterday" Said the Agil as he pinned Issei to a wall with his left arm while his right arm was ready to punch.
"So you are against me too Huh?" Said Issei with a cold stare.
"If you even try you are dead meat" Said Issei as he looked straight into the man's eyes.
Agil looked at issei for a couple of seconds and released from the pin.
"I changed my mind" Said Agil.
"Good choice" Replied Issei as he turned around to leave.
"Hold on!" Issei got stopped by Agil.
Issei just turned his head slightly to look at the man.
If you need anything, come to my shop I'll help ya out" Said Agil
Balloon monster spawn.
"Ready Ddraig?" Asked Issei.
"I'm with ya brother" Replied Ddraig.
Issei summoned his sacred gear with a loud 'BOOST' and charged forwards to the monsters.
Right now he was in the same spot where he came yesterday at night.
Even tho Issei is immensely strong already he thought that it was a good idea to level up and upgrade his shield. It should be really helpful to have immense power and defence at the same time.
He used the boosted gear's sharp claws to rip the monsters apart.
He would've used his swords but when he took them out of his pocket dimension he got electrocuted and dropped the swords and immediately a screen poped up saying that he can only use weapons dedicated for the hero in issei's case he can only use shields so having boosted gear is kind of a great cheat.
He popped those monster-like Balloons easily with the boosted gear and gained experience points pretty fast and leveled up to level five in two hours.
"It's not bad for starters but what if I recruit some party members?" Said Issei out loud.
Out of nowhere a monster ball bit Issei's arm. Issei didn't even flinch as he looked at the monster chewing his arm.
A screen popped up for Issei. It said that as a shield hero he has a strong defence and it's harder to damage him, if the monsters are too weak he won't feel a thing.
"Pretty useful actually more than I thought and combined with my dragons defence it will be hard for my enemies to even scratch me" Said Issei.
"I agree brother, this improvement is really fantastic. Now you not only have immense power but you have immense defence. I believe that someday you may reach the dragon god class" Said Ddraig.
"You really think so? that's great, can't wait for that day to come" Said Issei as he deactivated his boosted gear and collected the monster remains. He let the shield absorb some through it's green gem and took the rest so he could sell. He saw where people buy monster remains and use them as materials.
He saw some coats or balls for kids to play with made out of the monster he was hunting right now. He collected quite some material for sale.
"Brother I forgot to tell you something" Said Ddraig.
"Yeah? what is it?" Asked Issei.
"This shield has placed a seal on your dragon form aswell as most of your powers so you are at least an ultimate class in power so you can't use your true form, for now at least, but if you equip boosted gear it removes some time of your power, if you equip balance breaker it releases even more of your power but if you equip juggernaut drive then you'll regain half of your true power" Informed Ddraig.
"So in other words I have to achieve my true form and powers back?" Asked Issei.
"Yes that's what I'm saying, and the juggernaut drive is still active but...." Said Ddraig.
"But?" Asked Issei.
"The shield that you have altered boosted gear and somehow removed the curse of the juggernaut drive and it has a complete form unlike your previous and it doesn't consume your sanity nor life force it got a strong defence and some kind of shields that you will be able to use only in juggernaut drive but it might take a huge toll on your body" Explained Ddraig.
"That's actually really good.... complete juggernaut drive....but I won't be able to use it once you leave the gear again right?" Asked Issei.
"Not really... the juggernaut drive unseals some of my powers, so when I'm out of the gear I think the juggernaut drive will release partially of your true form" Explained Ddraig.
"So it's weaker than my true form but stronger than balance breaker now that it's complete. It will be useful I believe" Said Issei.
"Time to sell these and buy some food and find a place to stay" Said Issei popped the monster and left.
Issei arrived at the village again and went straight to the man he saw earlier that is buying these materials.
Even tho he still has the money he got from the king he decided to get more because he knows that it will run out sooner or later and without anyone funding him he has to work for money.
"How much for these?" Asked a man as he put the same material as issei's.
"One copper for two pieces" Said the merchant.
"Alright then it's a deal" Said the seller as he took seven copper and left. Next inline was Issei. He came up and put the same material on the table.
"How much for these?" Asked Issei. The man looked at issei and saw that he had a shield.
"by the looks of it I can tell there's twenty pieces so how does five copper sounds?" Replied the man with a smirk.
"What? but the guy that was in front of me got seven copper while I'm giving you way more of this material" Said Issei a bit irritated. Issei grabbed the man by the colar and his boosted gear appeared and his sharp claws grazed the man's cheek and a tiny amount of blood showed up on the man's cheek.
The man looked terrified as he looked into issei's cold eyes that showed no regret nor hesitation.
Issei asked again with a colder voice.
"Well? Still seven copper I'm just trying to get a fair deal here?" Asked Issei
"N-no " Said the merchant as he gave Issei his money.
"By the way spread the news that if any other merchant decides to play with me, will get even worse treatment than you" Warned Issei with a cold glare.
"I-I understand" Replied the merchant as Issei left.
After Issei left he spotted some kind of shop where a bunch of herbs and medicine were sold so he thought he should visit it some day soon.
And hour later
Issei was leaving yet another place where he wanted to stay because they didn't want Issei staying as they heard of his 'crimes' So he decided to go to the wilderness and sleep outside.
In the morning He woke up and decided to explore the forest nearby. As he was walking he found the same plant as he saw in the medicine shop yesterday.
"Wait aren't these?" Asked Issei out loud as he picked one leaf and let the shield absorb it.
As the shield absorbed the leaf he unlocked a new version of the shield.
"Wow new shields so that means after mastering the abilities I get to keep them even after I upgrade to another one?" Said Issei.
"Hmm. let's test it out. Leaf shield!" Said Issei and his shield transformed into that of a leaf looking shield.
"Wow so it's really like a video game" Said Issei. He then picked the same plant with the leaf shield equipped and a screen popped up.
"So it even improves the plants quality? Awesome" Said Issei. The rest of the day Issei was picking these plants and improving their quality. He thought maybe he could sell this to that shop keeper he saw earlier.
It was getting dark and Issei had a full bag of these plants. He returned to the village and found the same shop.
"Wow this is really good stuff where did you find these?" Asked the man.
"Outside the castle in the forest didn't you know?" Asked Issei.
"I did know but I never saw any of this such high quality" Answered the man as he put down the plant and gave Issei a bunch of copper and one silver coins. Issei took the money and left.
He found a place where he can eat. He hasn't eaten any food since yesterday.
"Since yesterday I can't taste any flavour" Said Issei.
"I miss everyone so much I wonder how they are doing" Said Issei thinking Bout Valiana and others.
"Hope that Dragon faction will hold out for a while without me, I bet that Tannin will keep everything going" Said Issei.
Suddenly someone put a hand on issei's shoulder.
"Oh shield hero we came to join your party" Said one guy behind Issei.
"Yeah thank your lucky stars" Said another. immediately a flashback of Myne betraying Issei popped up in his head.
"Alright but how about we discuss the terms up front" Said Issei.
"Haha sure thing" Replied the man.
"Your payment will be based entirely on your performance you know what that means?" Said Issei.
"Nope not a clue ahahaha" Laughed the three guys.
"It means it depends on the loot we get on our quest and since I'm the leader I'll be keeping at least forty percent I'll split the rest to you guys myself, if you do nothing of value you can expect nothing as a payment" Explained Issei.
"The hell! that means if we get a wild drop you will be able to keep everything to yourself!" Shouted one of them.
"I promise to pay you if you do your job" Said Issei.
They left. It was dark outside already they were walking down the street.
"So buy us some equipment boss man" Said one of the guys.
"Buy your own equipment I have nothing to gain by doing that for you" Said Issei as he continued to walk.
"Forget the party crap and just hand over your money" Said the man as the other two nodded.
"You see if you would've said that in the beginning you could've saved us a bunch of time" Said Issei as he reached for something into his back pocket.
"Yeah right who would've known it would be so easy" Said the guy as he reached out his hand to Issei.
Issei summoned his boosted gear and immediately knocked the lights out of one of them, then the other one took out a knife and swung it at Issei but Issei used a shield to block it and somehow the thug got blown away from the impact straight at the third one.
The two of them were on the ground and looked at Issei with fear in their eyes.
"S-shit!" Shouted the man as he was about to run away.
"Alright it's getting boring" Said Issei as he snapped his fingers and right at that moment shadow chains wrapped around the group.
"W-w-what is this?!" Panicked the group.
"Nothing special just one of my skills" Replied Issei as he unleashed enough of his aura to knock them out.
"Haaah why does everything have to be so troublesome" Said Issei out loud.
"Looks you need some help" Said someone from behind.
Issei looked behind and saw someone in the shadows.
Issei turned around to leave but the man spoke.
"I have just the thing you need" Said the man.
"If you offer me party members I'll pass" Said Issei.
"Oh no I'm not doing that I shall show you a greater service that is far far more convenient" Said the man as he stepped out of the shadows into the moonlight.
And Issei spotted a short, creepy-looking little man who wears a traditional circus ringmaster's tuxedo, glasses with a small chain attached, white alchemist gloves, long top hat, and a red bow tie with a small diamond brooch in its center. He has a small, old-fashioned handlebar mustache and wears a somewhat sinister, omnipresent grin on his face.
"And what would that be?" Asked Issei.
"Interested are we?" Chuckled the man.
"Leave me alone" Said Issei irritated.
"That look in your eyes it's like the rumors said" Said the man.
"Rumors? so you know who I am?" Asked Issei.
"Oh yes brave Shield hero sir if you are interested in my offer then please follow me and let's discuss it further " Said the man as he bowed slightly.
Issei turned around and started to follow the man.
They walked for about five minutes until they reached a large circus looking tent.
As they entered it Issei decided to speak.
"So what are you offering me?" Asked Issei.
"Haha can't you tell just by looking? they are slaves my boy" Said the little man.
"What? no way" Said Issei.
"Yes way I run a slave trading business!" Said the man as a bunch of red eyes opened in the cages.
"But what makes you think that I will get one?" Asked Issei
"Maybe the fact that they cannot betray nor disobey their masters" Said the slave trader with a knowing smirk.
Issei's eyes widened a little.
"We keep the slaves in line by placing the effects of a curse, if they misbehave it can take their very lives" Said the slave trader.
"So what do you say?" Asked the little man.
"Hmm alright show me what you got" Said Issei.
Originally he wanted to refuse the moment the realised he was about to get a slave because he was against these kind of things but at least they will listen to Issei and won't betray him.
As they walked through the cages a lot of the slaves were growling or banging the cages.
"Some of them don't look even human" Said Issei.
"Oh but they are human technically" Said the man.
"Tell me more I don't know much about this world" Said Issei as they continued to walk.
"Alright creatures that look human but aren't are called demi-humas they usually used for manual labour, beast-man that look more like animals than humans usually used as bodyguards" Explained The slave trader
"I see, and they are all in the same category?" Asked Issei.
"Yes people in this country see them all as monsters so it's hard for them to live here as such they are treated as slaves" Explained the slave trader as they stopped in front of a cage.
Suddenly Issei heard a coughing sound coming from one of the cages so he went to investigate, as he reached the source of the coughing he removed the cloth from the cage and saw a little girl who looked sick and hungry her eyes held nothing nor life nor hope as she herself barely held to life, she had long, unmanaged hair and a dirty cloth gown. She had fluffy dog-like ears and an averagely sized bushy tail chained to the cage at the ground.
"Sir come here for a high person such as yourself I recommend someone like this" Said the slave trader as he removed the cloth from another cage.
Issei reluctantly went over to see what he was talking about and saw a beast-man as it roared grabbing the cage.
"He is level seventy five" Said the slave trader.
"How much for it?" Asked Issei.
"Well he is powerful and high level and fairly rare, so how does fifteen gold pecies sound?" Asked the slave trader.
"Showing me the most expensive slave knowing full well that I'm completely broke?" Said Issei.
"Indeed you will become my best customer" Said the slave trader.
"So let me ask a question what are you looking for?" Asked the man.
"I'm looking for someone that's cheap and obedient to work with" Said Issei.
"So in other words a demi-human if I understand right. These aren't much suited for combat" Said the slave trader.
"Doesn't matter if they can't battle I'll train them" Said Issei.
"Hahaha that's an amusing response when you don't believe in people" Said the man. They reached the same cage that Issei was before.
"Raise your head" Said Issei to the little girl.
"She's weak and sick like a dog I'm having a hard time with her myself" Said the slave trader. The little girl noticed both of them and covered in fear.
"You see her previous owner loved torture so I believe she doesn't have long in this world I suggest something el-" Said the slave trader but Issei cut him off.
"I've decided I'll take this one" Said Issei as the girls eyes widened.
[To be continued]