\Several days passed and Iwa and I didn’t meet again. I strolled around the streets every night but I didn’t saw her even once. Well, this empire is very big after all. Finding someone is not gonna be easy. I wonder if something happened to her.

“Maybe I should head back to the Inn now,” I whispered to myself while sitting on the stone where I saw Iwa for the second time. “I think I really need to get used on sleeping with Ciana or I’ll develop insomnia.”

I then jumped to the ground as the sun starts to rise. After reaching the Inn and waking up Ciana and Ruby, we decided to head towards a [weapon shop]. It is because Ciana said yesterday that I need a weapon in case that I can’t use her. Also, an ordinary weapon is much cheaper than an armor so she said that we should buy it first. Those are ordinary weapons made from different [loots] that you can collect from monsters, plants, etc. Some who can’t form a [partnership] with a [beast weapon] use these instead. When we entered the [weapon shop], different weapons welcomed us.

“I wonder what weapon I should buy,” I whispered to myself.

I’m already using a short-range [weapon] so should I try buying a weapon with a longer reach?

We then explored around and saw different kinds of weapons: swords, daggers, axes, staffs, lances, whips, bows, trident and others.

“Ciana, what do you think is a good weapon for me?” I asked.

She then made a thinking pose and replied, “Maybe you should try a short sword.”

“Why a short sword?”

“Well, that’s the type of weapon you formerly use even before you met me, right? Because you will only use it for emergencies, the more you are familiar with your weapon the better. Not to mention it has a slightly longer reach than my [weapon form] sickle so I think it will also be useful in some situations.”

“I see.”

“I wonder what kind of [slave weapon] should I buy?” a guy suddenly said in a loud voice. He is wearing a very expensive looking dress and lots of jewelleries.

Buy?

“Welcome, Sir. Are you going to buy a [slave weapon] again?” the owner said with a big smile after rushing to his side.

“Who knows? If you show me something nice, I will think about it,” the guy said in a boasting way.

“Then, let’s immediately head to the 2nd floor,” he said and the both of them ascended the stone stairs.

“Ciana…” I said and looked at her, asking her if I heard that right.

“Let’s go there and see for ourselves,” she replied with a serious expression.

We then followed the two and got surprised from what we saw. There are lots of [Hunds] there, sitting on the ground: mostly girls, elderly and kids. They have shackles attached on their feet like they are slaves, being sold here. All of them have scared and exhausted expressions.

“How about this [weapon] that we recently received?” the owner said and went before a [Hund] girl that is just a few age older than me. She has a ponytail hairstyle and is wearing rugged clothes. I think that girl is around mid-twenties.

“Ho~. She is quite a good [weapon] visually,” the buyer said and looked at the girl indecently. The girl got scared and tried to escape but because she has a shackle on her neck, all she can do is to shake in fear.

“She is a [slave weapon] that uses [lightning magic]. You can’t find a [weapon] like this in any shops, you know~” the owner said with a smile.

“Hmmm~. A [slave weapon] specializing in [speed] is not bad, I guess. Okay, let me see if she’ll be good in a battle.”

“Here,” the owner said and handed a small stone to the buyer. The buyer then gave the girl a smile and said, “Fear me.”

After grabbing the stone hardly, the collar that the girl wears sparked and she got electrocuted.

“Ghhhhaaaa!!!” the girl screamed.

“That’s right! No matter what you do, you can’t defy me with this stone. If you don’t want to feel pain, fear me and obey all of my commands! Understand?” the buyer continued while laughing in a really evil manner.

“Ghhhhaaaaa!!!” the girl continued to shout in pain.

“No answer? Then, let’s see what will happen if I gripped it harder. I wonder if the pain will be doubled~,” he said with a very amused smile.

“I…ghhhh….under…stand….ghhhaaa!!!”

The owner of the shop then whispered something to the buyer.

“Okay. [Saeko],” the buyer whispered and the girl transformed into a yellow light. She then became a katana on the buyer’s right hand.

“Oh~. This is quite a magnificent katana,” the buyer commented after unsheathing it. He then swung around the sword and stopped with a smile.

“Good~. Okay, I’ll be taking this,” the guy said with a smile.

“Thanks for the business,” the owner happily responded.

After losing my control, I immediately ran towards the buyer and clenched my fist. Just before I managed to punch him, Ciana appeared in front of me.

*slap*

Because of that sudden slap in the face, I realized what I was about to do.

“Hey, he got slapped by that girl,” a buyer around whispered to the boy next to him.

“Is that a lovers’ quarrel?” the girl next to him followed.

“Raiki, please…control yourself. If you did something like that…you will be imprisoned. No matter how you look at it, that guy is a noble,” Ciana whispered with a frustrated face.

“Cia…na...”

I then clenched my fists and bit my lip.

I can’t do anything. I am really…powerless.

After getting out of the [weapon shop], we then walked around without a proper destination. After a while, I found a bench in the pavement so I decided to sit down.

*ruuu~* Ruby moaned with worried look.

I then looked at Ruby and gave him a forced smile.

“No need to worry about me, Ruby,” I responded to him.

“Raiki…” Ciana whispered and sat down next to me.

Afterwards, I sighed, still remembering what I witnessed earlier.

“I didn’t know…that they are now selling [slave weapons] there. I thought that they are just selling ordinary weapons,” Ciana whispered as she watched the people walking about.

“Ciana…what are the requirements for a [weapon] to become a [wielder]’s [partner]?” I asked with a sad expression while looking at the blue sky.

“Do you still remember our first battle together?” Ciana asked with a serious look.

“Yeah. At the entrance test, right?”

“What did you do to make me transform into a sickle?”

“I just...focused on thinking about you. Everything I know from the Ciana I know back then,” I said after looking at her.

She then smiled and replied, “That’s right. The [wielder] and the [weapon] should have a similar state of mind before the [wielder] can use the [weapon]. In that case, you thinking about me is what triggered me to transform. Similarly, back then, all I’m thinking is you, all things I know about you,” she asked with a sudden smile.

“Then, what’s up with that scene earlier?”

Suddenly, Ciana got serious and said, “But here’s also another way.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“That is the [weapon] must fear the [wielder] more than anyone. If that happens, the [wielder] can use that [weapon] anytime that person wants even if the [weapon] is against it.”

“That’s…cruel…” I muttered, shocked.

“If you think about it, the concept of [Fear] to control a [weapon] is flawed. Any [wielder] can use a certain [weapon] if that [weapon] became more scared to that person compared to the [weapon]’s current [wielder].”

“Then, that stone…”

“That’s right. If someone had a stone that can torture you anytime, I’m sure that you’ll be scared to that person the most.”

So Iwa is suffering to that concept to. She also has a similar collar like that girl earlier so I’m sure of it.

I then stood up and asked, “Ciana, is it true that [Trust] is stronger than [Fear]?”

That’s what the owner of the [clothing shop] said to me. If that’s true…then…

Ciana then stood up and gave me a smile.

“Yes. So if a [weapon] learned to [trust] a certain [wielder], no other [wielder] can use him or her anymore by using [fear].”

I then made a determined expression and looked at the vast dark sky.

“I want to change this world,” I said with a serious face.

“The [Royal Family] is the one who implements the rules so you have to become one of the top six in the [Deity Tournament] if you want them to listen to you,” Ciana explained. “But I just have a feeling that if it’s you, you can someday do it.”

“Yeah. I will make it a reality,” I said with a serious smile.

After that, we decided to head towards [Crimson Forest] to [loot hunt] again. While we’re walking, I saw a familiar face from far away.

“Iwa?” I reacted with a slight surprised face.

*ruu?*

“Iwa?” Ciana repeated and looked at the direction where I am looking.

There, a very scared girl is standing alone in the middle of the dangerous [Crimson Forest]. She clearly doesn’t have a weapon in hand.

“What the heck is she doing there?” I asked to myself and hurried towards Iwa. Because of my sudden sprint, Ruby flew up from my shoulder and looked at Ciana.

“Wait, Raiki!” Ciana said and the both of them followed me.

*roar*

“!”

“It’s a [Cerberia]!” Ciana reacted after seeing the three-headed monster that looks exactly like a ferocious dog but with three heads. It has a height of 5 feet and has a red fur.

“Darn! [Ciana]!” I called.

“Leave it to me!” Ciana responded with a serious face.

Ciana then became a sickle and I immediately dashed towards Iwa.

The [Cerberia] then lifted its claw and scratched Iwa.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" Iwa screamed out of pain.

The strength of its attack is enough to send her flying and hit a tree trunk heavily.

“Why you!” I shouted furiously.

When the monster entered my attack range, I immediately slashed it, putting all of my strength in the hit.

“[Heaven Strike]!” I yelled and with just one slash, the monster fainted.

“What the… A [critical hit]?” a man hiding nearby reacted.

“R-R…Raiki?” Iwa reacted with a shocked face.

I then went before her with a very worried face and asked, “Iwa, are you alright?”

After hearing that, she forced a smile and rubbed her wounded stomach.

“I’m fine so…don’t worry. This is just a light wound,” Iwa muttered weakly.

“Of course that is not a light wound! You’re bleeding! This is a very heavy wound!” I shouted in an extremely worried look.

*ruu!*

Ruby then jumped on top of Iwa’s head and started healing her.

“Thanks, Ruby,” I said with a smile of relief.

*ruu!*

“What did you just do, damn brat!” a voice suddenly asked in an angry tone behind me. When I turned around, I immediately saw a tall man wearing a flashy red armor. Behind him is a tanned [Katzen] girl with similar maid outfit as Iwa.

“What’s…the meaning of this? Why…did you let your [weapon]…be wounded by a monster?” I asked without knowing the expression I’m currently making.

“Fool! She is the [bait] in this [monster hunt]. Her job is to lure this [Cerberia] so I can find an opening to attack and finish it in one hit but…you stole my prey! You’re gonna pay for this!” Iwa’s [wielder] furiously complained.

“Bait…you say?” I shouted and prepared to slash him on the face.

“[Janet],” he whispered and a sword blocked my attack.

*spark*

“You’ve still got a long way to go if you want to point a sword on the great me!” he shouted and gave me an intimidating glare.

“[Teleport]!” I shouted.

“!”

In just a split second, I am now behind him and already in a swinging position.

“[Light Sla--]”

“Naïve! [Flame Dance]!” he said and just after I’ve cut him in half, his silhouette became fire and vanished into thin air .

“What the--” I reacted with widened eyes.

“Surprise?” he asked after appearing behind me and swung his sword to me. I managed to turn around and block his attack just in time using my sickle.

*spark*

“You’ve got one interesting [weapon] there, kid,” he said with a smile while looking at my sickle. “Is that a [weapon] that uses [lightning magic]?”

“You’re the worst! How can you treat Iwa like that?” I asked with an extremely pissed expression.

“Don’t tell me…you’re angry just because of this tactic?” he questioned me, somewhat confused.

*spark*

“Tactic? You’re calling that act a tactic? That’s not how a sane [wielder] handle his [weapon]!” I shouted, pissed.

“Are you perhaps Iwa’s friend? I didn’t even know that she has one,” he asked with a ridiculing smile.

“So what if I am?”

“A useless [weapon] as a friend? Are you kidding me? You’re befriending something that useless? All it can do is to turn into a lousy shield! I just got fooled to buy her because that fraud dealer said that she has the [rare ability] [Clay Morph]!”

“You don’t deserve a [weapon] like Iwa, you scum!” I screamed angrily.

*spark*

“Are you saying that you want her?” he asked, grinning.

“Yeah! I’m going to take her from you even if I have to use force!”

He then laughed very loudly and replied, “What an idiot! Taking me as an opponent and even trying to get a useless [weapon] as a price is the dumbest thing someone would do. Fine! [Flame Burst]!”

Suddenly, his sword exploded and sent me flying towards Iwa.

“Raiki? Hey! Are you okay?” Iwa asked with an extremely worried face after I landed on her lap in a lying position.

“I’ll take you on, kid. Let’s meet at the [Wielder Dome] tomorrow at exactly 1 in the afternoon. It will be a [four on four] battle. Got it?”

“I’ll…beat you…for sure so…don’t you dare…run away…” I whispered weakly.

“Let’s go, Iwa,” he said and started to walk away from me.

Darn. I can’t move. My vision is starting to get blurry.

Iwa then looked at me like she wants to say something.

“Iwa!” her [wielder] suddenly called.

After hearing that guy’s sudden shout, her shoulder twitched and looked at me with a very scared expression.

“Are you disobeying my order?” he followed with intimidating eyes.

“That’s...” Iwa replied, confused on what to do. She then looked at me once again.

“Iwa…I…promise that…I’ll get you…so…so…wait for me,” I muttered using the last remaining strength that I have.

After saying those words, I lost consciousness.