In the middle of the bustle of the city, through crowds of people engaging in trade in the market. An odd duo could be found, one was in a cage and the other was repeatedly beating on it with a club as if clockwork every midday. Nonetheless, this has turned into a routine, people would come when the banging on the cage and yelling would start and leave when it ended, some would even anxiously wait before the time just to see what would unfold.

To the people of Thene, this has served as a certain past time to relieve their stress, a time to rest. Living in the desert, just being able to wake up was a miracle. The oasis provided them water and the city provided them security. The people here understand how hard it is to live in the desert, all around them sand, beasts and bandits. Fortunately or not for the duo though, they would never come to realize their accidental popularity.

In the cage Tio was restlessly walking about, seeming to be in deep thought while holding his chin, though Tio could probably never do that because of his hereditary idiocy as well as acquired idiocy...

But suddenly he came to a stop seemingly having thought of something. Truly. A miracle.

"Slater-san~" (Tio)

"What is it now brat?" (Slater)

Tio called out to Slater who was sitting on his chair his hands gripping the hems of the bald man's shirt.

"Shouldn't you be gathering more slaves?" (Tio)

"I shou- eh? What? Aren't you in that cage already?" (Slater)

"What nonsense are you spouting being one yourself you twat!" (Slater)

"I was just thinking, maybe if there were more of us I wouldn't be so lonely!" (Tio)

'Fufufufu... I will also steal their food and make them my underlings!' (Tio)

Tio's eyes glint in suspiciousness

"......" (Slater)

Slater was really dumb founded, he hasn't met someone like this in all his life as a slaver. Though his life of a slaver wasn't really that long to begin with.

"I really... Should've just left your ass there" (Slater)

"Ahhh... I still remember that delicious steak!" (Tio)

Tio was in a trance, closing his eyes, mouth agape, drool coming out of it. That steak was just too delicious for the likes of him that ever since their fateful meeting that day he hasn't stopped thinking about it.

"Say! Slater-san, will you pleaaaseee give me one already!" (Tio)

"Shut up already brat!" (Slater)

Clank

Slater hits the cage with his mace.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Uuuuu..." (Tio)

Tio once again fell into thought, this time with an even more serious look on his face, so serious infact that Slater who noticed it was startled.

"O-oi..." (Slater)

"Slater-san" (Tio)

"Y-yes?" (Slater)

Tio talked with such coldness that he was a gain startled, the growing bloodlust seeping through Tio's eyes.

'Scary... This kid is scary...' (Slater)

"Let's make a deal!" (Tio)

'If I can't get him to get more slaves then i'll just have to go for a more direct approach, fufufufufufu.' (Tio)

But with Tio's sudden energetic proposal everything seemed to have just been a lie. Dismissing everything that he noticed Slater propped up his hand on his chin, possibly trying to look smarter that he actually is.

"What is it now?" (Slater)

Slater says while giving out a long sigh.

Usually when Tio makes proposals like these it would be something outrageous, like promising to suddenly start up a brothel business where in return Slater would have to feed Tio medium-rare steaks on the hour. Of course, how Tio would manage a brothel was undoubtly questionable given his young age and experience. But still, sometimes his ideas would be bright.

"I've noticed now that Slater-san seems to be single" (Tio)

"W-what gave you that idea?" (Slater)

"Well aside from sitting on that chair, gawking at women who pass by then suspiciously going to the public bath energetic and coming back bereft of any energy, I haven't seen you talking to a girl yet" (Tio)

Slater's face pales with Tio's unexpected observational skills.

"Well... T-that!" (Slater)

"Truly living up to the name of master ba-" (Tio)

Tio was cut off by Slaters piercing glare.

"H-hahaha..." (Tio)

'T-that was close'

"Slater-san wouldn't have to go to the public bath anymore after gawking at women!" (Tio)

With a red face up to his ears, Slater tries to deny everything but before he could Tio buts in.

"Yes, yes, it's the mark of youth" (Tio)

"That's why let this Tio help you out" (Tio)

"Eh? You will?" (Slater)

Still flustered Slater stared at Tio eyes wide open only to see Tio smirk as if planning something dubious and suspicious.

"Of course, since this is a deal, you should give me something in return" (Tio)

"..." (Slater)

'He probably wants steak doesn't he' (Slater)

After a long silence Slater finally lets out a sigh.

"Fine then, what do you wa-?" (Slater)

"Steak!" (Tio)

'......' (Slater)

-

-

"Okay Slater-san, you can do this!" (Tio)

dududududududu

As if a boxer in the corner of a ring Tio was doing massages while pepping up Slater.

"It's not that hard, you just have to go up to a woman, say hi and then ask her name!" (Tio)

"Is it really that easy? If that were so I wouldn't be single like I am now" (Slater)

"Yes it is!" (Tio)

"A-are you sure?" (Slater)

Doubt starts to creep up on him and beas of sweat starts to form on Slater's forehead.

"Just do what I told you to do!" (Tio)

"Y-yes..." (Slater)

"Say it louder!" (Tio)

"Y-YES!" (Slater)

"Okay, now go Slater-san! Go!" (Tio)

Slater-san gathers his courage, stands up and starts walking towards the crowd his bald head glistening in the light. Tio in the cage sheds some tears as if a mother sending her child out of their home into the word for the first time while holding a napkin.

"S-slater-san!" (Tio)

'My steak~' (Tio)

Walking through the crowd Slater notices a woman by some merchant stalls, immediately upon taking notice he strides towards her and stands as straight as he could when he finally arrived behind her.

"...H-hi" (Slater)

Noticing someone talking to her from behind she immediately turns around only to be blinded by Slater's apparent lack of hair.

"Ah!" (Woman)

The woman gasps having her sight blinded by light radiating from his forehead and bald head due to Slater sweating.

Immediately stricken with fear Slater bows towards the woman thinking he has done wrong promptly knocking his head on hers which has so far tactically blinded the woman. Somehow resulting in her stepping backwards and tripping on her dress then falling into a pile pottery knocking her unconcious.

"Ah." (Tio)

Tio's head was totally blank, not that it was uncommon, though some part of him was impressed on how he literally made a woman fall for him, one could say that the woman fell because of him in all honesty.

-

-

The following day Tio wasn't given any meals at all...