Shield Hero With Barrier Magic

(A few hours before)

(Raphtalia's POV)

My name is Raphtalia and I want to die... I don't have anything left... My parents were gone, my village was gone... Rifana-chan died in my hands... I feel like the whole world is telling me to die... It hurt... I want it to be quick...

After my village was destroyed, I was captured and sold as a slave... I continued having nightmares about my parents' deaths... My first owner was a little nice... He just wanted a servant but he sold me after some time... I don't know why... And after that, a fat man bought me... Apparently, he already bought Rifana-chan by then... The fat man continued to torture me and Rifana-chan for his amus.e.m.e.nt... But I didn't give in to that... Because I was keeping my promise that I would smile at that time...

But I wasn't able to keep that promise for long... Rifana-chan got sick... I tried to save her... I got her cold in the process... But one day, Rifana-chan stopped moving... She died... The fat man just tossed her body like she was nothing... And then, he showed me the state of our village... It couldn't even be called a village anymore... And after seeing that, something inside me snapped... I broke my promise... I cried... And that's when I realized I would never smile again... I don't want to... The man finally sold me... It seemed that time has run out on his torture game...

(Author Note - About Rifana... It's still not clear about when she died... By the looks of her corpse and timeline, she should have died before the summoning as it was mentioned that Raphtalia stayed in slave traders for a few months after she was sold by Idol Rabier but there is a story in Redo of Spear Hero where she lives... It's confusing but I am considering that these events happened before the summoning...)

And after that, I was sold to another owner... That owner was nicer... He gave me medicine and food... But my cold didn't get cured... So, he put me in a cage saying I won't last much longer...

So... I finally wasn't worth anything to anyone... I don't know how much time passed since then... I was just staring through the bars of my cage... Many people came and went since then...

And now I am looking into the eyes of a man with black hair... Something was different about his eyes... It looked like he was looking at me but at the same time, he was looking at someone else...

??? - I am taking her...

I was terrified... Will he do the same thing as the fat man ?? No !! I don't want pain !! Let me die !! Let me die a quick and painless death !!

Slave Trader and a beautiful woman with specs and yellow hair came behind this man...

Slave Trader - I don't think that's a good choice... The half-raccoon has a disease and a mental disorder... I am having a really hard time with her myself... Her previous owner loved his torture, you see... I doubt if she will last much longer...

That's right... Choose someone else... Just let me have peace in my final moments... I shivered... And suddenly, I sensed a lot of anger... I looked at the direction it came from... It was the woman with yellow hair... Her eyes are filled with rage... I got more terrified... I backed away in fear... Who is she... Is she also with this man ?? If they took me in, I will definitely die a painful death... I stopped feeling the woman's anger after a moment... It's more like she tried to contain herself...

??? - I said I am taking her... Just say the price...

Ah... It looks like I won't even have a peaceful death after all... Fine... I have been through a lot of pain... I guess a little more pain would be fine as long as I die...

Slave Trader - Hehehe... If you are that willing to take her, that would help me a lot... And fortunately for you, she is one of the cheapest slaves here... So, how about 30 silvers...

The man didn't say anything... He just took a gold coin and tossed it to the slave trader...

??? - Keep the change...

That's... That's more than thrice my worth... Why would he give that much ?? Until now everyone who bought me tried to buy with money as low as they could bargain... There was never a person who didn't bargain and here this person just gave more than thrice of what he was asked to give for me... Why ?? I am confused... Am I needed ?? Does this person need me ?? I thought I wasn't worth anything to anyone anymore...

I kept looking into the man's eyes... He kept looking into mine... I was dragged out of the cage... But I kept looking at the man... I was brought to my senses with a sudden pain in my c.h.e.s.t...

Raphtalia - Gahhhh! AAHHHH!!

I know this pain... The spell to register as a slave always hurt... I hated it... I know this is going to be the last time I feel the pain of this registration spell... Because I don't have much time left... I fell down and started coughing... I looked up to see my new owner crouching in front of me... He raised his hand... Was he going to beat me ?? I backed away a little with fear...

But to my surprise, he started patting me... His hand was big and warm... I didn't understand... I was never treated like this by any of my previous owners...

??? - Name... Tell me your name...

Raphtalia - Ra... Raphtalia...

I said it involuntarily... He smiled and kept patting at me... I don't understand... Why is he being kind ?? He stopped patting and put his hand in front of me...

??? - Let's go, Raphtalia...

Does he want me to take it ?? What was this ?? I was never treated this way... Why does this person show this much kindness... I wish I had met him a little before... But now I am on the verge of death... I don't know if I am lucky or unlucky... But at least, I could die while being treated with kindness...

I took the hand of my new Master... I kept staring at him all the time... He took me out of the tent and waited there... I think it's for that beautiful woman... After a while, the woman came out of the tent... She started patting me as soon as she came... Her hand was a little bit smaller than the Master's... But it also felt warm... She smiled at me...

??? - Nice to meet you, Raphtalia... I am Eclair Iwatani...

Raphtalia - Eclair... Iwatani ??

So, that's her name... That's right... Name... I want to know the name of my new owner... I looked at him...

Master - Hiro... Hiro Iwatani...

Raphtalia - Hiro... Iwatani...

I see... So, this is the name of the kind person I am going to live my last days with... I am glad to know his name... And then I found something strange... I looked back and forth at Master and the woman...

Raphtalia - Iwantani... Iwantani ??

Eclair - I am his wife...

Oh... I see... So, they are a couple... Master's wife put her hand in front of me just like Master did... I took it and we started walking... Master and his wife remind me of my parents... They kept matching my pace... Now I really wish they took me a little bit before... But I think I could smile again before my death once again...

They took me to what looked like a weapon shop... Why a weapon shop ?? Are they going to make me fight ??

Master - Hey, Uncle Erhard... I need some clothes for her...

The one who Master called Erhard seems to be the shop owner... He is a middle-aged man with a shaved head...

Erhard - So, that's your new slave huh... I think I have some clothes that can fit her...

Master's wife - She needs to take a bath first...

Master - Yeah, that's right... Who will make her bath ?? You or me ??

Master's wife - Obviously, it's going to be me... Let's go, Raphtalia...

Saying that Master's wife took me upstairs to bath... How much time has it been since I last took a bath ??

Master's wife - Haa... How many days has it been since your last bath ??

She said while rubbing my back... What is this ?? I am supposed to be a slave... Why am I being bathed ?? After she washed me, she said...

Master's wife - Look at how pretty you are... Argh... I want to kill that bastard who tortured you as fast as I can...

What ?? She wants to kill the fat man ?? For me ?? Why ??

After bathing, Master's wife made me put on clothes... We went downstairs... Master and weapon shop owner is waiting there...

Master/Master's wife - I know right...

Cute ?? Are they talking about me ?? What is wrong with these people ?? I am a demi-human and I am considered disgusting by humans...

*Cough* *Cough*

Master - Here... drink this... It's medicine I made for your cold...

Master said while giving me a potion... Medicine ?? Will this cure me ?? I doubt it would... One of my previous owners tried... I gulped a bit of medicine... I immediately spit it out...

Raphtalia - Gah! It's bitter !!

Master - Unfortunately, Good medicine tastes bitter... I have a lot of bottles and I won't stop until you drink a whole bottle... Drink it, Raphtalia... You will feel better...

Hearing it, I gulped all of it in one go... Master was right... I really did feel better... My coughing stopped... Is this going to cure me ?? Am I going to live ??

*Growl* *Growl*

Erhard - Hahaha... I guess she is hungry...

Master - Just wait a little bit, Raphtalia... I am going to make some food...

Master is going to make food for me ?? Why ?? I can't understand... Why are they treating me so kindly ?? Why ?? I want to ask but for some reason, the words won't come out... I think it's because I am afraid... I am afraid that the real reason might be something that I don't like... So, I thought it would be good if I didn't ask it...

Master came back with food that smelled and looked delicious...

Master - Here, eat up...

Raphtalia - Can I ??

Master - Of course, for whom do you think I made this for ?? Hey Eclair !! Stop eating her food !!

Master's wife is already eating the food...

Master's wife - Teehee... I am sorry, I love your cooking...

Master - *Sigh* I will make it for you some other time... Stop stealing a kid's food !!

Master's wife - I am not stealing !! I just took a bite !!

Erhard - *Sigh* This crazy couple...

I giggled... Both of them looked at me and smiled...

Master - You finally smiled...

Smile ?? I am smiling again... Why do they look so content seeing me smile...

Master - Eat up...

I ate the food he made... It's delicious... It's the best food I have ever eaten in my life...

Master - Is it good ??

Raphtalia - Yes !!

Master - I am glad...

I am smiling... I am happy !! They are really kind people... I finished my food...

Erhard - So, what are you going to do now, kiddo...

Master - Change of plans... Raphtalia needs some rest... We are going public tomorrow...

What plan are they talking about ?? The weapons shop owner smiled at Master...

Erhard - You are growing, kiddo... Three of you can stay here for today... I will be staying at my friend's house...

Master grinned at him...

Master - That friend doesn't happen to be Aunt Elaria, is it ??

Immediately the weapon shop owner paled... Sweat drops formed across his face...

Erhard - Hahaha... Of course not... What made you think that ??

The weapons shop owner barged out of there after saying that...

Master's wife - He's fallen...

Master - Yeah... Let's go to the bedroom...

They took me upstairs to the bedroom... Master pointed to the bed...

Master - Alright Raphtalia, get on the bed and get some sleep... We aren't doing anything today...

Raphtalia - Why ??

Master - Huh ??

I couldn't contain it anymore... They are being too kind... I want to know... Until now, I am afraid if I wouldn't like the reason... But if the reason is really something I didn't like, I would hear it now rather than this happiness being taken away at once...

Raphtalia - Why are you being kind ??

He made me sit on the bed and he sat beside me and Master's wife sat on my opposite side...

Master - Alright, Raphtalia... This may sound a bit weird but I want to adopt you... as my daughter... Even though you will technically be a slave, I want to treat you like you are my daughter...

Raphtalia - Huh ?? Me ?? Your daughter ??

I don't understand... Why me ?? He is a human and I am a demi-human...

Raphtalia - But why me ??

He smiled...

Master - Let's just say you remind me of someone...

Who is it ??

Raphtalia - But... I am a demi-human... And I am considered filthy...

Master - Don't you dare call yourself that again... Be proud of being a demi-human... And to be honest, those animal ears and tail make you look cuter... Aah... So fluffy...

He said while stroking my tail...

Master - So, are you okay with the adoption ?? I really want you to be my daughter... I promise I will make you happy...

Tears started running down my face... I can be happy again... I am needed again...

Raphtalia - Thank you !! Thank you !!

Master put my head on his c.h.e.s.t and kept patting me... It took a while for me to stop crying...

Master - So, Raphtalia, could you call me Daddy or Father or Dad ??

Daddy ?? I tried to but for some reason, I couldn't... The image of my parents flashed through my mind...

Raphtalia - I am sorry...

Don't be angry... Please don't be angry... And he isn't angry... Master just smiled...

Master - Don't worry... Let's take it at our own pace...

He said and pat my head...

Master's wife - Listen well, Raphtalia... You can also call me Mother or Mommy or Mom...

Master - Hey !! Don't get ahead of yourself, Eclair... She should call me Daddy first !!

Master's wife - Let's have a competition then... Who will Raphtalia call as her parent first ??

Master - Alright, I am going to win no matter what... Just you see...

I giggled... These people can make me easily do it if they used the slave seal... But they didn't... I don't know when I became such a lucky person... I am blessed...

Both my masters looked at me and smiled with me...

Master - Alright, go to sleep... Raphtalia... Eclair... Could you sing a lullaby for her...

Master's wife - Alright...

And she started singing a lullaby... This lullaby... It's the one that my mother used to sing for me... I smiled... I am blessed... I am really blessed... I drifted off to sleep while thinking that...