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"Brother Jason, I want to become stronger so I can protect everyone, including you!"
"Protect me? That's quite an ambition, but are you truly ready for it?"
Under Jason's intense gaze, Raphtalia nodded vigorously. "Yes!"
"Great. Then, as a capable fighter, you must remember the three iron rules. The first rule: no matter if the enemy is an old man, a child, or anyone else, do not show mercy—kill without hesitation!"
Jason took Raphtalia's small hand as they walked towards the city. He didn't intend to turn such a cute girl into a heartless warrior, but if danger came to her, he wanted her to be prepared.
"Old man? Child?"
Raphtalia looked up at him, her big eyes filled with confusion. She couldn't comprehend how such innocent figures could pose a threat and was taken aback by the cruelty of the first rule.
"You have to understand that some enemies are insidious. They may use magic or transform themselves to manipulate your compassion. They'll take advantage and stab you in the back when you least expect it," Jason explained slowly.
"Okay... I understand. What's the second rule?"
Imagining the scenario he described, Raphtalia trembled slightly but she no longer questioned the harsh truths he outlined.
"The second rule: the words of your commander are absolute. They are orders that must not be disobeyed."
"You mean... that's you?"
"Exactly!"
"Oh! What about the third rule?"
"You must absolutely trust your commander. Everything I say and do is correct. If you don't believe it, refer back to the second rule. Got it?"
Jason had no intention of grooming Raphtalia into a ruthless fighter; he merely sought to temper her overflowing sympathy so she could follow his lead without hesitation or complication.
"I understand! Does this mean I can be a good fighter now?" Raphtalia asked, her innocence shining through.
"Silly girl, it's not that easy to become an excellent fighter. You need proper equipment first, and then you'll have to train tirelessly."
Jason gently ruffled her hair, a soft grin on his face.
...
When they entered the weapon shop, the owner greeted them with a broad smile. "Brother Shield Hero! You're back!"
"Yeah, I'm here to check on your stock. What equipment do you have that would be suitable for her?"
Jason gently nudged Raphtalia, who had been hiding timidly behind him, forward.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Even though Raphtalia had grown more comfortable around Jason, seeing the shop owner for the first time still rattled her nerves, leading her to cough awkwardly.
"Raphtalia, don't be afraid. Don't let his fierce look fool you; he's one of the good guys in this world," Jason reassured her.
"Brother... if you're going to compliment me, at least leave out the 'fierce,' would you? Do I really look that intimidating?"
The shop owner scratched his head with a hint of helplessness.
"Boss, when was the last time you looked in the mirror? You've got the kind of face that could scare a child to tears in the middle of the night."
"Well, that's the idea; it's dark out and—"
"If it were daylight, kids would run away screaming from you!"
"That's nonsense!"
As Jason and the owner bantered back and forth, Raphtalia couldn't help but laugh. "Brother Jason, you and the shop owner seem really close."
Noticing that Raphtalia had stopped coughing, the shop owner smiled warmly. Leaning on the counter, he asked, "Speaking of which, little brother… where did you find this little girl?"
"Find her? I didn't pick her up. She's my long-lost sister. Can't you tell?"
Jason shrugged casually.
"Do you think I'm blind or something? You're the Shield Hero summoned from another world, and she's a demihuman! There's no way she could be your sister!"
The owner's voice rose in disbelief.
"I know what you mean, so why ask? Are you looking to pick up a loli for yourself?"
Jason shot a disdainful glance at the owner, clearly unimpressed by the idea.
"My thoughts aren't that perverted! But letting such a young girl fight… little brother, you've got to rethink your priorities."
They both shared a laugh, while Raphtalia felt a warmth spread through her heart. Despite the harsh lessons she was undergoing, she found comfort in the camaraderie around her.
The boss let out a deep sigh, looking at Raphtalia with a hint of sympathy.
"Uncle Boss, you misunderstood me! I want to be a good fighter, so please let Brother Jason train me!"
Raphtalia's young voice was filled with resolve as she spoke up.
"I see… such an amazing little girl. Wait a minute… why am I the uncle and he's the brother?"
The boss nodded, relief washing over him as he suddenly realized the discrepancy.
"Then there's no need for me to ask—it's obvious that you're over 20 years older than me. Of course, you're uncle. Now, don't waste time; hurry up and get some equipment out."
With Jason's urging, the boss fetched five daggers from behind the counter.
"The long sword won't fit her height, and blunt weapons would be too heavy. A dagger is the most suitable option," he explained. "The quality levels up from low to high, and the prices increase accordingly."
The boss's professionalism was commendable; he could quickly assess which weapon would suit Raphtalia best.
"Raphtalia, pick whichever one feels good. Don't worry about the cost."
Jason waved his hand dismissively, knowing that he had the means to support her.
"That's right! Your Brother Jason is rich, so don't hold back," the boss chimed in, playing along.
Raphtalia considered the options in front of her, testing each dagger with a few swift motions. Finally, she chose a dagger of medium quality. "Brother Jason, I think this one feels the most comfortable."
"Great choice! How much is it? Also, do you have any other equipment? The clothes she has on are too torn," Jason inquired, glancing at the tattered fabric draped over Raphtalia.
"We have equipment, but given that demihumans grow as they level up, it won't be long before she outgrows anything you buy now," the boss replied thoughtfully, stroking his beard. "With your strength, brother, she'll level up quickly, so it might not be cost-effective to invest in sturdy equipment just yet. But I do have some ordinary clothes; she can wear those in the meantime."
"Sounds good. Let's take those clothes for now," Jason agreed.
Soon after, the boss brought over some garments.
Under Jason's watchful eye, Raphtalia stepped into the dressing room to try them on. Although the clothes weren't extravagant, they fit her well.
"Not bad. How much do I owe you in total?" Jason asked, smiling at the shy Raphtalia, who looked quite adorable in her new attire.
"The dagger is 10 silver coins. The clothes? Consider them a gift for the little girl," the boss replied quickly.
"Here you go!"
Jason tossed 10 silver coins onto the counter before leading Raphtalia out of the shop.
"Brother Jason, what are we doing next?"
"First, we form a team, and then we'll go leveling!"
Jason quickly navigated the interface to find the team formation function and formed a party with Raphtalia.
Once the team was established, Jason was able to view Raphtalia's character properties.
She was indeed level 1, and her attributes were alarmingly low, reflecting her recent hardships. She had negative buffs from malnutrition and panic attacks, clear indicators of the trauma she had endured as a slave.
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Jason led Raphtalia back to the grassland outside the city. Although the Mushroom Monsters in the forest were stronger, he decided it was best for her to start with fewer challenges. He wanted her to get accustomed to the experience of killing monsters so that she wouldn't be overwhelmed with fear.
After a leisurely stroll through the grasslands, a Balloon Monster suddenly appeared, bouncing out from the grass. However, the moment it spotted Jason, it turned tail and tried to escape. It appeared that even a simple-minded creature like the Balloon Monster had learned to fear him after witnessing his prowess.
But with its speed, running away was a futile move against Jason. Within a few strides, he caught up to the Balloon Monster and grabbed it in his hand.
"Alright, use the dagger you have to pierce this thing," Jason instructed, holding the struggling Balloon Monster out toward Raphtalia.
The Balloon Monster squirmed in a fit of desperation, its ferocious demeanor making it seem almost pitiful in that moment. Raphtalia grasped the dagger, her hands trembling slightly.
It was one thing to speak bravely but another to actually commit to the act.
"Why hesitate? You're determined to become stronger and become a fighter who protects everyone, right? Can't you manage this?"
Jason's voice cut through her doubt, urging her on.
"I want to become stronger, and I can do it! I want to protect you and everyone else, Brother Jason!" Raphtalia murmured, determination slowly building within her. Summoning her courage, she took a deep breath and stepped forward. With all her might, she plunged the dagger into the Balloon Monster.
Boom!
The Balloon Monster exploded into fragments, akin to a burst balloon.
At that moment, Jason saw "EXP1" flash in his field of vision. It seemed that just like in most online games, if teammates killed monsters, they too would receive experience points.
However, he noticed something peculiar: the individual experience remained unchanged despite fighting as a team.
"It must be because the Balloon Monster offers so little experience; 'EXP1' is likely the cap," he reasoned but didn't dwell on it. He reached out to pat Raphtalia on the head. "Good job!"
"Um."
With Jason's encouragement, Raphtalia's confidence began to blossom. As the saying goes, once there is a first time, a second follows.
Now that she had experienced victory, she was more emboldened. With Jason's guidance, she began to take down more Balloon Monsters. As the hours passed, she even managed to defeat a Red Balloon Monster, which indicated her progress.
It didn't take long for Raphtalia to reach LV2.
Seeing that she was making great strides, Jason decided it was time to move towards the forest. After all, if even the Red Balloon Monster was only giving out "EXP1," their leveling speed was too slow.
Thus began their fray with the Mushroom Monsters once again.
While it started off a bit cumbersome—Jason would engage the monsters and guide Raphtalia to stab them—the efficiency wasn't as rapid as it had been when he fought alone. With every fight, he had to ensure that Raphtalia was in the right position to strike. However, as they continued battling, Raphtalia grew more skilled and gradually learned to tackle 2 or 3 Mushroom Monsters on her own without requiring Jason's immediate assistance.
Over time, it became clear that Raphtalia was adapting well and had the potential to be a strong fighter.
As day transitioned into night, they set up camp. Jason had reached LV7 and was on the cusp of leveling up again, while Raphtalia had just hit LV5. Her lower level allowed her to progress more quickly.
"Brother Jason, I killed 31 Mushroom Monsters all by myself today!"
Sitting in front of the campfire as she ate dinner, there was an undeniable glimmer of pride in Raphtalia's eyes.
While 31 might not sound like an impressive number to some, for her, it was a significant achievement. It had taken her just over an hour to take them down independently.
"Mmm, Raphtalia is amazing!"
Jason stuffed a meatball into his mouth. These were convenient food items he had bought in the city, simply requiring roasting over the fire to be ready.
"Thank you, Brother Jason! By the way… how many Mushroom Monsters did you kill?"
Raphtalia's anticipation was evident as she smiled brightly.
"I'm not sure; I lost track," Jason replied after contemplating, realizing he genuinely couldn't keep count.
"Show me!"
Raphtalia pouted playfully, looking quite cute.
"Alright, alright. I guess I can't refuse you. Ugh..."
With a resigned sigh, Jason activated the storage shield on his wrist and poured out a mountain of materials gathered from the Mushroom Monsters, high enough to tower over Raphtalia.
"Woah! That's so many! One… two… three… I can't even count!"
Raphtalia stared, her excitement dulled slightly by the sheer impossibility of counting them all, quickly brightening again. "Brother Jason is incredible, but I will catch up!"
"I'll be waiting for you! Don't let me down!" Jason laughed.
"Of course!"
As if believing that eating more could make her stronger, Raphtalia attacked her dinner with determination. After finishing her meal, exhaustion overtook her. Perhaps it was the fatigue from the day's events, but she quickly lay down on the sleeping bag that Jason had prepared for her and fell into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, Jason remained awake, taking the opportunity to examine his current attributes.
[Jason]: Human.
[LV]: Level 6 → Level 7
[HP]: 1510 → 1520
[SP]: 365 → 370
[Strength]: 70 → 70 (Ordinary person 5)
[Agility]: 63 → 64 (+3)
[Defense]: 133 → 136 (+5)
[Spirit]: 40 → 41 (+1)
[Lucky]: XX
Jason noted that without the bonus from the Garp template, his attribute increases were indeed slow.
Next, he opened the weapon manual in his weapon bar, which detailed the skills he had learned so far and listed the types of shields that had been liberated.
[Small Shield]: Ability released, defense increased by 3.[Small Orange Shield]: Ability not released; equipment bonus effect: defense power 2.[Small Yellow Shield]: Ability not released; equipment bonus effect: defense power 2.[Leaf Small Shield]: Ability not released; equipment bonus effect: collection skill 1.[Mushroom Shield]: Ability not released; equipment bonus effect: plant identification 1.[Blue Mushroom Shield]: Ability not released; equipment bonus effect: simple blending prescription 1.[Green Mushroom Shield]: Ability not released; equipment bonus effect: trainee blending.
These represented the shield skills he had obtained after absorbing the materials dropped by the Balloon Monsters and Mushroom Monsters.
However, one entry caught Jason's eye more than the others—it was the special shield skill he had earned through experiential combat.
[Storage Shield] LV1: Ability not released; equipment bonus effect: Stores 10 cubic items.[Shield of Resistance]: Ability not released; equipment bonus effect: Resistance 5.[Shield of Will] LV7: Ability not released; equipment bonus effect: Increases all resistances by 57%.
Jason recalled that before, the [Shield of Will] had only been at level 1, with all resistances increased by just 50%.
"It's actually upgraded!" Jason said to himself, a feeling of excitement brewing within him.
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