Naofumi looked at the man, before grunting and turning around.

"I hear you have trouble finding companions? Well, I have a deal that'll help you get excellent companions." The stranger spoke up. You looked at him suspiciously.

"If you're here to pretend to be Sir Naofumi's partner, then get in line." You told him. He shook his head.

"Partner? No, I cannot offer something so noble." Came the reply. This seems to have caught the Shield Hero's attention, as well as yours.

"What do you mean?" Naofumi asked. The stranger stepped closer to Naofumi.

"Does it catch your attention?" He asked.

"Stay away." Was the response. The man looked Naofumi up and down, slowly.

"I like your look, you're just as they say." He remarked. Naofumi looked to him, as you placed a hand on the handle of the Beast Cutter.

"You know who I am?" Naofumi asked.

"That's right, Shield Hero. If you want to remove your doubts, come with me." Finishing the sentence with a bow, the stranger motioned towards a side street. Naofumi turned to face him, motioning you to follow.

You were all led down some streets until you came across what seemed to be a massive circus tent.

"This way." The man directed, taking you both inside.

Everywhere you looked, there was something in a cage. There were mostly massive beasts, untouched by your blood. From wolves to chimeras, the animals all growled at the sight of you, and/or the Trader.

"Are these perhaps.... slaves?" You asked, looking at the cages.

"Yes they indeed are! You have a sharp eye." The slave trader complimented. You sighed as Naofumi started speaking again.

"Why do you think I want a slave? I already have Y/n here, who's going through the same situation I am." Naofumi pointed out. The trader chuckled at the question.

"Because, like you believe your friend to be, slaves are loyal. They don't lie and betray their master." Naofumi raised a brow as you put a hand to your chin.

"They have a powerful curse that slowly and painfully snatches away their life if they try to disobey their masters." The slave trader grinned as he looked up to Naofumi.

"What do you think?" He asked. Naofumi narrowed his eyes.

"What are your thoughts, Y/n?" He asked.

"If you get a slave, it'll likely ruin your image even more. People like Myne will try and twist it into a tale of an abusive hero." You stated. Naofumi slowly nodded.

"You're right...." you smiled as you continued.

"But if I were to buy a slave to help us fight, and you happened to be able to give orders, it'd just be you giving orders to your party." You pointed out. The slave trader grinned widely as Naofumi's glare slightly lessened, as he gave you a smirk.

"Bravo! What an excellent compromise!" The trader cheered, looking at you.

"So, what'll it be?" He asked. You looked at Naofumi, who nodded. You looked around at the slaves in cages.

"Show me what you have." You told him.

"I know already. You're going to make excellent customers." The trader started showing you around, guiding you to cages.

"There're not many humans." You pointed out.

"They are. Technically, at least." The trader specified.

"Explain it as if I just arrived here in this world." You ordered.

"Very well. The Ajin have many a similarity to humans, but have traits that deteriorate them. Their body and mind, however, are quite similar." You walked past cages as the explanation continued.

"Juin and Ajin have a... wilder look than animals. They're more used for clandestine fights." You strikes your chin, walking.

"So, they're all categories of the same race." You pointed out.

"Exactly. Ajin, however, have trouble living among humans, thanks to their animal appearance. As such, they are treated like slaves." You didn't respond as you heard light coughing from a covered cage. Walking over, you grabbed the blanket and threw it back, revealing a child.

On their knees, it was a little girl, wearing tattered clothes and sporting Racoon ears and a tail. You looked at her, studying her form. If she grew a bit, she could fit into some of your armor quite well, cutting back clothing costs. You couldn't imagine her with one of your trick weapons, though.

"This one here is my recommendation." The trader called out. You walked over, as the trader uncovered the cage. Immediately, a humanoid wolf rushed forward, grabbing the bars as it drooled.

"It is level 75." The trader remarked proudly.

Naofumi's only level 4. This is almost 20 times that.

You looked at your level, which still only showed flickering runes. You were probably leagues above anything in this world. Hell, you've been using unupgraded equipment this entire time.

I would have no trouble concerning control, but my problem is cost...

"How much?" You asked.

"Well, it is very capable in battle. How does 15 gold pieces sound?"

As I thought. There's no way I can afford this slave as well as basic needs.

"So, your plan was to show me your best, knowing I won't be able to afford it?" You asked.

"Indeed, you're sure to become one of my best patrons, so I need you to develop a keen eye, you see?" You didn't answer.

"Well, now that you've seen my best, what kind of slave would you like?" The trader asked.

"Something cheap and obedient." You answered. It also needed to take orders from Naofumi.

"So... a demihuman?" Came the suggestion.

"They aren't suited for combat or labor." The trader remarked.

"If I need help fighting, they'll be trained."

"That's an amusing response." The trader remarked.

You arrived at the cage you were looking at earlier, with the raccoon girl.

"These are the cheapest slaves I have. From the left-"

"Raise your head." You interrupted, talking to the girl. She burst out into a coughing fit as you watched. It soon faded, and she looked up at you with a dull stare.

"That half-Racoon is diseased and has a mental disorder. I'm having a real hard time with her myself." As you looked at her, something clicked in her head, and she flinched, holding her hands together as she cowered.

"Her previous owner loved his torture, you see." You frowned at the sight.

Poor creature. Had you been able to call to me, I would've answered.

"I doubt she'll last much longer." The trader remarked. Disease wasn't a problem for you. Old blood may turn people of your choice into beasts, but it also acted as a cure-all. Any disease fell short when faced by your blood.

"I'll take her." You chose. Upon hearing your words, the girl's eyes widened, and her breath hastened. She was scared of you.

Thick red blood dripped from your finger as you pierced it with a knife. It gave off a faint sweet scent as it fell into a small dish of black liquid.

"Now, let us begin." The trader grabbed the dish and a paintbrush. Walking to the girl, he forced her hands down, revealing a purple crest on her chest. Using the brush, he stirred the liquid, before painting a black circle inside of the crest. In reaction, it glowed, before sparking up, and glowing as the girl grit her teeth, trying not to cry. So doing this hurt.

"Hey..." you were about to protest before the trader interrupted.

"Worry not. The pain will dissipate soon. The slave crest makes it impossible for her to disobey you." The trader explained. You watched as in the corner of your vision, a new green bar appeared, as well as some text. You skimmed over it, getting the gist of it.

Party settings.... Naofumi needs to hear about this. You walked over to the girl, handing the trader 31 silvers to cover the cost of her. 30 for the slave, 1 for the commission.

"What is your name?" You asked the slave. She looked up at you, before falling over, coughing. You sighed.

"Your name." She continued coughing as you squatted, down to her height.

"Tell me your name." You spoke sternly.

"R-Raphtalia..." was the answer. You nodded, grabbing her shoulder.

"Come on, Raphtalia." She couldn't resist as you slightly lifted her up, almost dragging her away.

"I look forward to your next visit." The trader called out as you left, Raphtalia in hand.

Naofumi stepped forward as you walked out of the tent, holding Raphtalia.

"A child?" He asked, raising a brow.

"A demihuman child. Got her for a discount because she's sick. You any good with medicine?" You asked. You'd only use your blood if worse came to worst. Naofumi sighed, shrugging.

"I'll see what I can do."

The night passed, and you brought Raphtalia to the weapons shop, the bell ringing as you entered.

"Well well, welcome back." The shopkeeper greeted you. You waved as you looked among the weapons this guy had, settling on a knife. You placed it on the counter.

"How much?" You asked.

"5 silver coins." You paid the shopkeeper, before pulling a small set of clothes at Raphtalia. She barely caught them, looking at them.

"Head into the back and get dressed. Can't have you walking around in that." You instructed. Raphtalia stumbled into a side room. You had given her a spare set of hunter clothes, dyed red and shrunk down to the appropriate size.

"So, who's she?" The shopkeeper asked.

"That is Raphtalia, a slave I bought last night." You told him.

"A slave, huh? Well, better you than the kid, I guess." You nodded at the response.

"My reasoning exactly." As you waited, the doorbell rang again as Naofumi entered the shop.

"She changing?" He asked. You nodded, spinning the knife in your hands.

"Hey Sir Naofumi, do you know how to add me into your party?" You asked. Naofumi looked at you, visibly confused.

"Party? You mean...." he grew frustrated at the news as you nodded.

"That bitch decided to withhold more information than we thought." You explained as Naofumi went through various screens on his little UI thing as Raphtalia emerged, wearing the clothes you gave her. Despite being shrunk down, they were still a tad large.

"Took you long enough." You told her. She looked down.

"I-I'm sorry..." she muttered. You shook your head.

"No use now. Come here." You kneeled down as she approached you. Taking her hand, Raphtalia flinched as you placed the knife handle in it, closing her fist around it.

"Sir?" You asked. Naofumi nodded, taking a beastly balloon from under his cloak. Raphtalia's eyes widened at the sight, her legs trembling.

"Take that knife, and stab the beast. Pop it." You ordered. Raphtalia's breathing hastened.

"A monster... I don't think I...." she stepped back, as your eyes darkened.

"Raphtalia, this is an order." You spoke sternly. As you feared, the crest on her chest began to glow, as she grunted in pain. Eventually, she ran forward, stabbing at the beast. It seemed to get caught in its white teeth.

"Harder! Put your back into it!" You encouraged her. Finally, she drew the knife back again and stabbed the beast in between the eyes, popping it as it's blood splattered across her face. It took a moment for her to register it, before she yelled out in shock, falling to the floor.

"Blood....blood....blood!" She almost began crying as you pulled a handkerchief from one of many pockets on your garb. Raphtalia tried to struggle as you wiped her face off, cleaning up the blood. A small window appeared in front of you.

The window closed again as you looked at Naofumi, as a your vision shifted a bit. Things in this weird UI you had began to shift as a third health bar was added. Naofumi was added.

"There. Got it to work." He remarked, looking at you.

"You treat her pretty well, Y/n." He remarked. You looked at the shivering Raphtalia, as you grabbed her hand, startling her.

"I am sympathetic by nature, Sir Naofumi. If a being is suffering, and calls to me, I will answer." You responded. When Naofumi didn't respond to that, you bent down, picking up Raphtalia's bloody knife.

Walking to Naofumi, you tapped the blade against his shield, which absorbed the blood. With that done, you looked at Raphtalia.

"Now listen, Raphtalia." You spoke to your slave as she began to tear up from her minor trauma, looking at you.

"You will help me and Sir Naofumi fight the waves of calamity. In return, Sir Naofumi will protect you, and I will raise you and train you." You told her. Her eyes widened as you drew a cane from nowhere, leaning on it as you continued.

"I've already paid for you using what little money I put together. Until you can pay that back, do not die. That is an order." Raphtalia nodded as you gave her the knife back, whispering in her ear.

"If you are in a situation where you fear you might die, call my name. I will help you out of it." Raphtalia nodded as you drew back, putting your cane away.

"We're leaving now." You spoke, nodding to Naofumi. Raphtalia jogged forward, sheathing her knife as she timidly walked beside you.

Small beasts leapt at you left and right. You made no effort to attack them as Raphtalia ran about, popping them. Every time she did, she winced from the blood, looking away as she did her best to kill another. This went on for a while as Naofumi got to gathering items to upgrade his shield.

Soon, a bunch of items were gathered as you created a campfire by vigorously rubbing a log with fire paper when nobody looked. It quickly built up as Naofumi prepared some fish to cook. As it grew crisp from the flames, you walked behind a tree, emerging with a cape made from crow feathers. Naofumi rolled his eyes at this as you placed it over a startled, shivering Raphtalia, who attempted to warm herself over the fire. You sat by the fire as Naofumi work on some items he gathered.

"Um.... sir?" You looked up at Raphtalia, who looked at you with nervous curiosity.

"Where... where does your stuff come from?" She asked. You smiled, as you reached behind your back, drawing out a long katana.

"Like this?" You asked. Raphtalia nodded, looking at the weapon.

"It's a secret. I'll tell you when the time is right." You told her. She slowly nodded in acknowledgment as a small vial landed on her lap, scaring her.

"Drink that. It should help with your cold." Naofumi told her. She looked at it, then at you. You nodded.

"Do what he says. Make sure you have some fish as well." You told her. Raphtalia nodded, uncorking the bottle as she took a glug. She gagged, visibly shaking as it leaked from her mouth. You sighed in disappointment, walking over.

"Don't waste it. Drink it all." You ordered. Raphtalia barely managed to swallow the stuff, coughing.

"It's bitter..." she choked out. You patted her back as she coughed, drinking some more medicine.

A few empty bottles lay on the ground beside a fish skeleton, picked clean. You smiled as Raphtalia slept in your crow feather cape, seemingly filled up from the fish.

"Y/n, did you want a kid?" Naofumi asked you, noting your look. Your smile quickly disappeared as you tilted your hat down.

"More of an apprentice, but I see where you're coming from." You answered. You noticed Raphtalia stirring in her sleep, as a voice echoed in your head.

Oh Great One.... you frowned at the voice. It was the doll, calling you from the dream. Did you need to hide to answer, or give Naofumi an excuse?

Pff, no. You were a Great One, a god. You simply had both consciousness working at once.

In the dream, you lifted your monstrous head, viewing the doll as she gave you a bow.

"Oh Great One, there is concerning news." She spoke. You looked around the field. You could feel it. Another conscious was present in the dream. How, you didn't know.

You stood up, shaking your mane of tentacles as you walked to the entrance to the field of flowers. The doll followed you, heading to her usual post, beneath the workshop as you looked at the pathway.

There, on the stone path, was the flickering form of none other than your slave, Raphtalia.

"Do you know this mortal, oh Great One?" The doll asked. You nodded.

"She is a companion of mine in the waking realm. Seems the blood I used to make a contract has entered her mind." You spoke to the doll. Walking over, you used a tentacle to turn over the shivering child. She was slowly beginning to panic in her sleep, as if she was having a nightmare. Her eyes slightly opened, and locked onto your face, before completely disappearing.

In the waking realm, Raphtalia shot up, crying.

"Mama! Papa!" She shouted as you rushed over to her.

"N-No! Save me!" She shouted out as you hugged her towards your body.

"It's okay Raphtalia! You don't need to cry! I'm here!" You shouted out, as Naofumi watched, alert.

"Mom... dad..." she cried. You rubbed her back, feeling her shake.

"It's alright... everything's alright...." as you hugged her, memories seemed to flood into your head.

You had first arrived in Yharnam searching for the being known as Paleblood. You never remembered why, but you arrived at a clinic, and got a transfusion of unknown blood. Then, you began the hunt. Over the course of it, you found many people suffering. An orphan child, a sick old man you eventually had to kill, what became of Iosefka, the people you sent to refuge with the Oedon Chapel. So many people didn't want your help, and actively shunned you. Yet no matter what, you always tried to help them. Only four listened.

Even as a Great One, you hated to see an innocent soul such as hers suffer. You needed to learn more about her past, so that you could help her.

Raphtalia slowly calmed down, crying into your shoulder, eventually falling back into a deep sleep. You slightly lessened your grip on her, before shifting against a tree, holding her as Naofumi got back to his own work.