“What is going on over here?”

Stopping upon hearing the voice, Mia turned around. Standing in the street behind the group stood a young teen with black hair giving the group a questioning look with his arms crossed. She wasn’t the only one that paused, the rest of the group had stopped what they were doing and had turned their attention to him. Trinity started to speak, annoyed at the young boy who was interrupting them, but was cut off by another, older sounding voice yelling from behind him.

“Sir! Please do not stray from the tour!”

Hearing the shouting from behind the boy, Mia tilted her head to the side to get a better view, only to see a man dressed in a white robe, his head full of greying hair. He ran up to the teen’s side, crouching down with his hands on his knees as he caught his breath “Y-you mustn’t disturb other p-people…” he said between gasps.

‘Someone from the church?’ Mia thought, recognizing the all too familiar robes at this point, noting the lack of any adorning ‘then who is?’ her attention then focused on the young man, he wasn’t dressed in any robes, just a white shirt and leather pants.

“Ah, a priest from the church, what do we owe this pleasure.” Trinity said, while her annoyance was still there her attitude had taken a more careful approach. “…and this boy would be?”

The priest stood up, Mia now noticing the necklace dangling on his neck, he took a deep breath and spoke “My apologies.” He then glanced to his sides, raising his hand in the air and giving it a swift wave, causing the gawkers on the side of the street to quickly go on their way “My honored guest got away from me miss… OH! If it isn’t Trinity!” He did a swift bow “I once again apologize; I did not mean to disrupt any business you may have had here.”

“Even this old guys is apologizing… just what i-“ The teen, who was mumbling to himself, was grabbed and forced into a bow by the older man.

“Express your apologies, Hiiro.” The old man grumbled, holding the boy’s head down.

Mia’s ear twitched “Hero?” she blurted out, causing everyone around her to tense up, particularly Trinity who momentarily lost herself at the sudden information.

“Ah, no.” The teen separated from the old man, taking a few steps away from him “It’s Hiiro, that is just my name.” he said, laughing nervously.

The tension relaxed a bit “ah, I see…” Trinity sighed in relief.

“Not yet at least!” The old man spoke up “He was just summoned a few days ago, it has not been made official yet as our gracious church has taken him in.”

“...Yeah, but not yet.” Hiiro sighed.

The tension returned, Mia herself was left confused, wasn’t John the hero? Who was this guy?

“W-well this is certainly a… surprise.” Trinity choked out “My, are you sure you should be going around announcing that?”

“You just went and sa- oomph!?” Conroy, who had been silent up to this point, spoke out but was quickly silenced via a swift and subtle punch to the gut from trinity.

“He wasn’t supposed to, no.”

The priest stepped in front of Hiiro “Details details! It would be revealed in time, but this is an excellent opportunity, and a show of good faith for rudely interrupting the mistress.” The man spoke, getting a weird look on his face.

“It is certainly worthy info, if this does not become a problem.” Trinity spoke “you there, Hiiro was it? What was the reason for this?” She turned her full attention to him, now ignoring the older man.

“Right well, what is going on here?” Hiiro stepped in front of the man, getting creeped out by his expression and stepping further away from him “From the looks of it…” He glanced at Mia, who stared back blankly at him, his gaze fell on her collar “…Transporting slaves? Is that even legal?”

Conroy stepped forward “Surely you jest! Slavery is perfectly legal and is for the benefit of the beastmen!” he shouted.

Hiiro narrowed his eyes “For the benefit?”

“As he says.” Trinity shrugged her shoulders “Priest have you stopped teaching your hero candidates the history of this land?”

“Of course not.” The priest said, snapping his finger at Hiiro “He has only been here for a few days, history lessons have not even begun to touch on half of the great teachings of Gaia yet.” He nodded.

“Yeaaaaah… Gaia…” Hiiro said with an exhausted sigh, glancing at Mia again “So, how exactly is slavery for their benefit?” He crossed his arms.

Conroy Stepped forward again, insulted this conversation was even taking place “The slaves from the beastmen territory were under the tyrannical rule of the demon king! Driven mad by his influence. The slave collar is the only thing stopping them from going berserk, becoming nothing more than mindless, savage, beasts.”

‘Again… what demon king?’ Mia inwardly sighed; she was getting a serious case of DeJa’Vu.

“Riiight.” Hiiro thought for a few moments, not removing his gaze from Mia “…That true?”

“Of course it is true! Gaia herself wills it this way!” The priest spoke up, followed by Conroy.

“As he said, but the slave will only speak the truth anyways, Trinity if you would.” He gestured to Trinity who rolled her eyes.

“This is quite the circus, but if we have to show the new Hiiro the truth.” She then pointed to Mia “Well, answer him! This is an order! Tell him the truth of what happened.”

“I was kidnapped from my home, my village burned and raided by the church, I don’t know what a Demon king even is.”

“See! Nothing but the…what?” Trinity paused, Conroy’s jaw dropped, the few onlookers started whispering to themselves, while the assistants who were at the carriage’s side froze, one taking a step back.

Hiiro smiled “knew something was fishy.”

The priest, who had just finished processing what happened ran to Hiiro “She lies! Surely she still is under the Demon kings influence!” he then turned his attention to Conroy “You! What is the meaning of this!?”

“Read it in books in your world?” Mia smirked, getting excited from the commotion, she wasn’t planning on cashing that little mistake in now, but boy did it feel good.

Hiiro was taken aback “how do you…” he then smiled softly “Whatever, that only confirms it.”

“I don’t know! She should have- oh.”

“Don’t ‘oh’ me! Do you now know what this will do to my reputation!”

“Reputation?! How can you care about that at a time like this!”

“The hero…tainted by these lies! Gaia will show the truth.”

Mia smiled at the chaos she had caused, fully expecting she’d have to reload after this. She turned towards Hiiro “Was fun, to say that.”

Hiiro raised an eyebrow, both of them ignoring the panicked trio and the confused onlookers by now “It’s not over yet.” he smirked “Let’s get out of here.”

Mia tilted her head to the side, was this guy nuts? How did he expect to get out of the city? Looking behind him, there was already guards running over from the main street.

“Don’t believe me? Well just watch.” Hiiro chuckled “I am a hero candidate, after all. Just glad I found out about this before they brainwashed me with all that Gaia talk.” He then took a deep breath “Ok let’s do this.” He reached his hand into the sky, clenched his fist like he was catching something invisible and then brought it down to his face.

“Hidden skill! [Breakthrough]!”