Unaware of the sudden alliance and the evil scheme that the two girls decided to do behind his back to keep unwanted individuals from approaching him, Aron was looking at a particular set of armor.

The armor was made from metal with a silver color, and animal fur was attached to its edges. It also had impressive engravings, primarily featuring a wolf on the chest piece.

"Good day to you, sir. I can see that you have keen eyes," a voice said from behind.

Aron turned his face and saw a middle-aged man with brown hair and black eyes wearing stylish and comfortable clothes. Aron sensed something inside his chest boiling, and he immediately closed his eyes, trying to calm himself.

'...This keeps happening to me every time a human gets close to me.'

Aron opened his eyes and faced the man, who was clearly the owner of the store.

"Yes, I like this armor. I can see that it was made with care," he paused, then sighed. "...too bad the armor won't fit me."

Aron could still wear the gauntlets and boots; however, the problem lay with the chest piece. For some reason, the back and front pieces were welded together, which Aron thought was a dumb idea. I mean The armor looked good as a one-piece, but it would look even better if he could wear it.

The owner scanned Aron from top to bottom, and upon seeing his figure, the owner nodded in agreement.

"Yes, that's too bad. The armor would look good on you..."

"...Anyway, can I draw your attention to some alternatives?"

The owner suggested it, and Aron agreed. He took him to the back, where he kept most of his merchandise, and then he started presenting different armors to Aron.

Aron saw many different shapes and colors, including full-plate armors with flashy colors. Aron's face turned ugly, and he even narrowed his eyes at all of those bright colors..

"Hey, man! Are you joking or what? I'll look stupid while wearing that, not to mention I'll be an easy target, even if I were on top of a mountain," Aron was brutally honest. He didn't like these sets of armors.

The owner looked at Aron in shock and surprise.

"Really? I didn't know that. Most young adventurers wear things like this. They are in high demand; that's why I bought many sets," the owner said.

He was by no means a warrior; he was a merchant. If anything was in demand, he would buy it and then resell it for profit. So, he had no idea what could and could not work in battles.

'Yup! Dumb and soon-dead adventurers.'

Aron sighed, realizing that the owner had misunderstood his preferences. He didn't blame the man, as he himself was not well-versed in the merchant business. However, he knew that he had to find armor that suited his needs and style if he wanted to finish what he started.

"I appreciate your efforts, but these armors just don't match my taste," Aron explained. "I prefer something more practical and less flashy. Do you have any armor that prioritizes functionality and protection?"

The owner scratched his head, contemplating Aron's words. "Well, I do have a few armors that might fit your description. They may not be as visually striking, but they are sturdy and offer excellent defense. Let me show you."

The owner led Aron to another section of the store, where he showcased armors that were more practical in design. They were made of durable materials, with reinforced plates and a focus on providing maximum protection without compromising mobility.

Aron's eyes lit up as he examined the armor. He could see the craftsmanship and attention to detail in their construction. Soon, Aron's eyes landed on a set of dark steel armor with intricate engravings along the edges. Aron's interest immediately sparked when he saw the armor.

"Let me try this-" He was about to ask the owner if he could try the armor before buying it and to see if he would fit under it. However, he heard a familiar voice yelling outside the store.

"STOP! Don't touch me."

"Hmm?..."

The owner glanced at the entrance of the store for a second, then, out of nowhere, he suddenly felt a tremendous pressure descending upon him. He fell to the ground, unable to breathe.

…

10 minutes ago.

When Aron was checking the different armors, Pethra and Kasumi stood outside the store with their backs against the wall.

"Ahh…I'm bored; why is My Master taking so much time?" Kasumi complained.

"Stop acting like a spoiled brat, and cut the 'My' thing, Aron is not yours," Pethra emphasized on the 'My' as she gazed at Kasumi with piercing eyes.

Kasumi's eyebrow twitched. "Says the one who is trying to monopolize him for herself, you even slept in his arms."

"..." Veins popped on Pethra's face. "Are you looking for a fight, you dumb fox?"

"...Grrr… Bring it on, washboard." Kasumi flashed a sly smile while looking at a specific part of Pethra's body.

Pethra gasped. "What did you call me?" And when she noticed where Kasumi was looking, Pethra got even more irritated.

Soon, they began staring at each other with piercing eyes. It would take only one word or a sudden move from one of them, and the next one would pounce on the other.

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""...Humpf!"" Or not.

They crossed their arms and turned to the other side.

"Do you trust him?" Kasumi suddenly asked.

"With my life," Pethra answered immediately and with confidence

Kasumi was surprised by her immediate answer.

Pethra added, "Strange, yes? And do you know what is more strange? I have known him for like two-three days, and we even started as enemies," she chuckled on the last part.

Kasumi's eyes widened as she found it hard to believe. "That's… Emm?... Quick development, I think."

Pethra laughed a little. "I'm telling you he placed some kind of spell on me or something." Despite her words, Kasumi could see clearly in her tone that Pethra didn't believe that.

"...I mean, it's weird; I never trusted someone to the point of telling them anything about me, but a few hours with Aron, and I blurted out my deep secrets to him like it was nothing, and I didn't even care."

Kasumi was silent for a moment, thinking about what Pethra said.

"I understand what you mean," Kasumi replied. "There's something about Master that makes you want to trust him and open up to him. It's as if he carries a certain aura that draws people in."

Pethra nodded in agreement. "Exactly. But I can understand where that came from."

"What do you mean?" Kasumi asked curiously.

"What?... Can't you see that he's always honest and never lies? So many people have lied to me in the past; they all have the same face and eyes when they lie, but Aron is different. I'll go further to say that he doesn't know how to lie, and he doesn't know how to hide his emotions."

Kasumi nodded. "I noticed that too, but that's not bad for us."

Pethra's eyes softened when she remembered her time in the cave with Aron and how he accepted her despite knowing that she was a hybrid and not even caring what the other half was.

"He accepted me, Kasumi. He was kind to me. I won't forget the look on his face when he saw the blood on me. He cares, Kasumi. He cares about me."

Kasumi's expression softened as well. "We truly found someone special, haven't we? Someone who sees us, accepts us, and brings out the best in us."

Pethra flashed a beautiful, loving smile. "Yes, we have."

Kasumi nodded in determination. "Then I must do anything to pass his tests and make him accept me as his Shadow."

"Good luck. Make sure to pass. I'll need your help to protect him from the 'Bugs'," Pethra wished her luck, and by 'Bugs', she meant other women who may approach Aron in the future.

Kasumi agreed, and they shook hands. When Kasumi stood in front of Pethra and shook her hand, someone accidentally bumped into her and fell to the ground. Kasumi thought that this was her fault, so she turned around to apologize. "I'm sorr-"

"WHAT! Look What have you done, woman!" a man shouted.

"Excuse me?" Kasumi glanced at the man who had risen from the ground. He was a fat, short man with gray hair and very expensive-looking clothing. He was dusting off his suit, his face red with anger.

"I said, look what you've done!" the man repeated, pointing an accusing finger at Kasumi. "You've ruined my outfit! Do you have any idea how much this suit costs?"

Kasumi's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting such an intense reaction. The man continued, "I demand compensation for my damaged suit."

Kasumi's expression turned into a mix of confusion and irritation. "Compensation? But it was clearly an accident, not to mention you're the one who bumped into me, not the other way around."

The man sneered and crossed his arms. "I'll be the judge of that." Then the man scanned Kasumi from top to bottom with a lustful eye, and then he focused on her neck, and soon his eyes widened when he saw something.

"Will you look at that, a former slave or maybe…" He licked his lips. "a runaway slave."

'I was right; she's a nice catch, and whether she's a former slave or not, this will make it easy for me,' the man thought as he gazed at Kasumi's figure.

This man had been watching Kasumi and Pethra for the past few minutes from a dark alley, and when he saw that the girls were alone with no guardian or escort, he quickly understood that these girls were not of higher standards like noble daughters or maids.

In the noble society, touching a girl that belongs to another noble would lead to serious problems and could even be considered a crime by some.

But when he saw that Kasumi and Pethra were wearing simple clothes and with no escort, he gathered his courage and decided to do this little act of accidentally bumping into them and ask for compensation. And when he saw the marks on Kasumi's neck from wearing the slave collar for a long time, the man thought of better compensation.

Kasumi narrowed her eyes. She didn't like how this man was looking at her.

'And there is that 'look' I always get from men... Sigh… Truly, Master is different,' she smiled internally when she remembered the way Aron looked at her. His eyes were nothing like other men's. He didn't look at her lustfully or with desire, and she liked that about him.

As the man licked his lips, a sinister grin formed on his face. Kasumi's instincts kicked in, and she immediately felt a sense of danger emanating from him.

"I know a very good compensation,... You have to become my slave," The man clapped his hands, and instantly, out of nowhere, a man appeared beside him

The man was huge. He was much taller than Aron and had bigger muscles, too. He wore brown leather armor, and an axe was hanging on his belt.

"Meet Boldar; he's a half-giant, and he's my servant," the man said. "Boldar, be a good dog and capture this woman. I want her as my slave."

The giant bowed to his master. "Of course, Lord William."

Kasumi's eyes widened in disbelief at the man's audacity. She took a step back, her body tensing as she assessed the situation.

She glanced around and saw many people avoiding this situation like a plague, and no one was interested in helping or interfering. Pethra stood beside her, her expression a mix of concern and anger, as she silently began channeling her magic.

Boldar, the half-giant servant, pulled out from one of the small bags that were hanging on his belt a slave collar, and then he gazed at Kasumi.

Kasumi's heart raced when she saw the collar, and memories of her capture flooded into her mind. She remembered how weak and scared she was that day.

A shadow without a Master cannot survive alone. She needs a Master so that she can use her powers, or she'll remain weak forever. And that weakness has invaded her body now. She took a step back when the half-giant stepped forward.

"STOP! Don't touch me!" she shouted as she raised her arms defensively.

The man named Lord William smirked. "Quiet, you lowly girl. My outfit is worth more than you. Just shut up and obey your nobles." He motioned to Boldar. "Go on, Boldar, bring her to me, and don't worry girl, I'll take care of you."

Pethra, who was standing next to Kasumi, gazed at the man dangerously. However, she remained silent as she focused on her magic. She placed the same trap that Aron used against the trolls, but on a smaller scale.

As Boldar took a step forward, Kasumi instinctively placed her hand on her waist, looking for a weapon, but there were none.

She froze when she saw Boldar leaping toward her with a speed that didn't match his huge body.

Pethra watched carefully, ready to activate her trap the moment Boldar stepped on it. However, the unexpected happened as the half-giant servant suddenly disappeared and reappeared on the left side.

"Do you think a foolish trick will work on me, mage?" He said it with a deep voice while glancing at Pethra. His accent was clearly not from around these parts.

'Tsk, he noticed,' Pethra said, clicking her tongue internally.

Then Boldar, with the same speed, disappeared in the air and reappeared feet away from Kasumi. He stretched his hand, wanting to grab Kasumi by the neck.

Kasumi closed her eyes with only one thing on her mind.

'Help me, Master!' She asked Aron for help. She believed that Aron would not allow this fate to happen to her again, being a slave again. She had faith in him, and Pethra's words and how he treated her made Kasumi trust Aron with her life.

And Aron didn't let her down.

Because in just a split second, a giant black Greatsword came flying from the store, shattering the glass and cutting Boldar's arm completely and with ease.

"..Eh?" Everyone was confused and stunned. They didn't know what happened. However, the heavy pressure that suddenly fell on everyone in the street cleared their confusion.

"Who DARES! To touch MY treasures?" A deep demonic voice was heard as a man with flaming crimson eyes emerged from behind the shattering glass.