By mid morning, John ran out of 'customers' in need of healing, so he finished up their visit to the slums greeting some of the locals. He made sure to tell everyone who remained in the pza that he might not be back for a week or two, but he would return when he was back in town.

  The people seemed a little disappointed as they had started treating his visits almost like a miniature festival, with people coming out of their homes and socializing with their neighbours, some even pying a bit of music if they had an instrument. Even a few of the merchants that had shops in the area noticed these festivities, and were capitalizing on the congregating people by setting up simple stalls and selling cheap snacks and drinks.

  The Lineage of the White Wolf followed them out of the slums then broke off, heading back to the Adventures Guild to accept their first official A-Ranked mission. John and Bazan shook hands, John apologizing again, and Bazan blowing it off as not a big deal, just next time they met up, the drinks were on him. John ughed at that, agreeing to support his friends drinking habit next time they met.

  The two lovers continued into the main part of Meritoni, stopping at the leatherworker that Nanael frequented on route to the Healers Guild.

  Once inside the shop, a giant Cowman Beastfolk towered over them, a woman nearly a head taller than John greeting them. She was wearing a heavy leather apron, which did little to hide her considerable assets beneath it. He didn't even have time to question why a 'Cow' would be a leatherworker before little John woke up at sight of the attractive giant behind the counter.

  For crying out loud, why am I eyeing almost every woman up like this? Get a hold of yourself man.

  John cringed at his own libido betraying him, not that anyone would know with it hidden under the disco ball armour's armoured skirt. He was almost tempted to cancel their outing so he could have Nanael help him with his problem, but they had things to do that couldn't wait.

  Nanael, unaware of John's minor crisis, took her leather tunic off, handing it to the woman she called Beth, asking for the required adjustments. John kept his focus on his fiancée, which turned out to be a bad idea, as Beth started taking her measurements like a tailor. The tape she was using squeezed Nanaels chest almost sensually, the tight fitting bck shirt leaving little to John's imagination.

  After a few minutes, they left the shop, Beth saying she would have the tunic adjusted in a couple hours. They walked to the Healers Guild then, Nanael holding onto John's arm, her breasts squeezing his limb. As a st ditch effort, he asked about the supplies she wanted to get afterwards, which was moderately successful in curbing his lust.

  Ten minutes ter they arrived at the Healers Guild, the regal looking building seeming less impressive now than the first time he had entered. It was still nice, obviously well made, but the Adventures Guild overshadowed it in many aspects.

  "This is actually my first time entering this building." Nanael said, eyeing the structure almost like it was something to be worried about. Adventures and healers had a poor retionship at times, so John could understand her concern.

  "It is nice, but it's much quieter than the Adventurers guild. Other then when Commander Lumina of the church guided me here the first time, it has been empty except for one receptionist. It does look nice though." He replied, moving them towards the stairs.

  "A Commander in the church guided you here? A woman at that?" She said, sounding almost astounded at the revetion. "There are so few women in the church that having another one as a Commander is incredible. That said, there was a woman in charge of all the churches military for a long time, but she supposedly retired about a year ago."

  "I guess so. She seemed nice anyways, though something was a little off with her. I had no idea you knew so much about the church." He said, pausing at the entryway.

  "It was due to my training under Uncle Galba. I had to learn a fair amount about every country's political and military structure, and the key figures within those systems. You never know when seemingly useless information will become pertinent in our... his line of work." She replied, blushing a little for some reason.

  "I see. Well, I guess as a healer I am technically part of the Church, but I have no clue on how it is structured. Honestly, I only come back here for spell tomes and the dues... I need to figure out what I actually am getting out of paying those sometime, but that won't be today." He said, and went to open the door when she startled him with an odd question.

  "So the Commander was nice? Is she attractive?" She asked, a curious tone to her voice.

  "Umm... Nanael, not to be rude, but why are you asking me that?" He said, raising an eyebrow as he looked down at her. She was looking up at him with her crystal blue eyes, no hint of jealousy on her face. Rather she looked serious.

  "I am thinking for the future is all. If things happen as Brod and Galba expect, having a tie to someone higher up in the church might be a good thing." She stated.

  John turned to her then, and leaned over, resting his forehead on hers, locking his gaze to hers. "Nanael, I know what you are thinking, but stop please. I agreed to the party, and to see how things go there. No need to start trying to get me to hook up with a crazy padin as well okay?

  Yes, she is one of the most beautiful women I have ever met, but right now my eyes are only for you, because you are the most beautiful woman in my life, both body and mind. Please, let us get married first before you start adding even more people to my potential... harem... please?"

  Her blushed deepened even more, the sight of her rosy cheeks cshing with her white skin and blue hair making her the most alluring partner he could ever ask for. He didn't wait for a reply and kissed her then, her lips tasting of strawberries for some reason.

  He loves me! He really, truly loves me doesn't he?! She thought.

  They held the kiss for a moment before breaking apart, though they didn't break eye contact. Nanael was stunned for a moment, her ears shooting straight up, a giant smile on her face. She thought she was the luckiest woman on the pnet at that time.

  That all changed in a moment.

  "GET AWAY FROM HERE WITH YOUR FILTY BEAST! WE DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR DEGENERACY HERE!" A female voice shouted from a crowd of people down in the street. The group of townsfolk, all humans, had seen him kiss her, and the woman decided to speak up.

  "YOU DON'T BELONG HERE! GO BACK TO THE SLUMS!" A man shouted.

  Nanael's ears wilted to the sides, her smile falling off her face, her eyes drifting to the ground.

  John held her close, fuming at their tender moment being ruined. He turned towards the crowd and was about to speak up when a rock struck his head, cutting his temple and caused ringing in his ears. Another one caught Nanael in the back, a soft hiss of pain escaping her lips.

  He saw red. He shifted his body to protect Nanael, then addressed the crowd, catching another rock in the breastpte.

  "Alright you bitches, Fuck you and your racism. Firebolt!" He shouted, raising his arm, flinging the spell at the half a dozen or so people that started flinging projectiles at them. The magic, once hard to summon, responded instantly to his call, the fist size ball of fire shooting directly at the middle aged woman who struck his face.

  He didn't wait to see the results of his attack, changing his target to the man, another ball of energy shot out of his hand like a bullet. He drew his sword then, observing the chaos he created below.

  The woman was screaming, her dress on fire, running away from the scene. The man had started to run when the first spell formed, and it caught him in the ass. He was rolling around on the ground trying to put out the fmes. The remaining racists were stunned, their two ringleaders taken out by the instant violence John dispyed.

  "ANYONE ELSE WANT TO ATTACK US?" He bellowed, raising his sword to a mid-guard position, ready to spill blood to protect his fiancée. The was nothing he wouldn't do to protect his family. Nothing.

  The remaining townsfolk disappeared, dragging the man along with them. The woman had disappeared into the crowd, and John had no idea if she survived the fire or not. Not that he cared, she attacked them first. He sheathed his sword then and turned back to Nanael, the Rabbitman looking at him with a confused look on her face.

  "What?" He asked her, confused at her confusion.

  "It is my job to protect you you know." She said, a small smile returning to her lips. "That was... John-Sama, thank you very much for defending me."

  "You are going to be my wife soon my love. A man cannot call themself a man if they won't stand up for their wife." He said, embracing her again. "Just because you could probably beat them up with your pinky finger doesn't mean I can't defend you. Besides, I am the one wearing armour right now."

  "I love you." She said into his chest. No one, either beastfolk or human, had stood up for her like that before. If it was even possible, she was falling even more in love with John then.

  "I love you too. Now, lets get inside. I want to get that tome and disappear before the guards show up." He replied, looking around to see if any guards were already on their way. He was under no illusion that those trouble makers would go away without trying to cause more problems for him.

  "You will be fine. You are a healer after all." She said, and he ughed a little bit. He knew healers had an interesting position in this country, seemingly above the w at times. He didn't completely understand why that was a thing, but he would take whatever advantages he could get.

  They entered the guild then, the traffic on the street returning to normal.

  Inside the Healers guild, Miss Kururu was asleep behind the desk, much like she was the first time he came in, the scuffle outside apparently not enough to wake her up. Other than her, they were alone in the room.

  "You were right. It is dead here." Nanael said, looking around the richly adorned room.

  "Told ya. Now, lets wake up sleeping beauty over there." John replied and walked over to the counter, Nanael on his arm again.

  Kururu was snoring lightly, leaned over the counter, her head resting on one hand. Her breasts were pushed up by the counter, exposing so much of her cleavage they were threatening to spill out of those stripper clothes she wore as an uniform. John resisted the urge to poke her cheeks a few times, and just spoke instead.

  "Miss Kururu, wake up please. Miss Kururu? MISS KURURU! WAKE UP!" He said, increasing his volume steadily.

  The woman snorted, then sat up, her dress settling back from slutty to only being quite revealing. "Huh? Who is... oh it is you... John was it?" She said, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

  "Yes, that is me. Slow day?" He asked, keeping his eyes on hers.

  "Yeah. Was a te night, and I seemed to have nodded off...what can I do for you?" She said, adjusting her clothing.

  "I just wanted to update my card and pick up a tome." He replied, handing her his card.

  "Sure. Just give me a moment." She said. She gnced at Nanael and nodded, then got up and went to the back room.

  After a few moments she burst out of the room, holding his card to the side of her head. "WHOA! John what happened to you?!?"

  "What do you mean? Do you mean the fight outside?" He asked. He stopped bleeding already and didn't bother healing the scratch.

  "What? What fight? No, never mind that!" She said, then grabbed his shoulders, shaking him a bit. "What kind of crazy training- No where have you been living and how!?!"

  He grabbed her arms and detached her hands from his shoulders before her shaking hurt his back. "I took a position at the adventures guild why?"

  "You what?!? I need details here!" She replied, an anxious look on her face.

  John filled her in on everything that happened over the st month or so. Actually, with his world hopping he wasn't sure of exactly how much time he has spent here at this point*.

  "You are getting married!?! You just got here." She said when he finished up.

  "Yeah. This is my fiancée, Nanael." He replied and introduced the pair.

  "I thought you might be her." Kururu replied, then focused back on John before crifying that statement. "Well I raised you to Rank E, but at the rate you are going, you will be A Rank in a year, which is insane. I will let you know though that healing for free is looked down upon in the church. I won't say anything as I agree with you helping the less fortunate, but the clinics in town might if they catch wind of it."

  "Why would they care? It isn't like the poor have the ability to pay for healing normally. And I am improving my Holy Magic and Mana Control skills exponentially faster healing them compared to just my normal clients at the Adventurers Guild." John asked, already suspecting he knew the answer.

  She leaned forward, speaking quietly to both of them. "Listen, I don't have proof yet, but I suspect several clinics in town of intentionally over charging some of their poorer clients, putting them in so much debt that they have no choice but to sell themselves willingly into svery. Your healing people for free is taking from their pool of potential sves. I suspect the guild master is in on it, hence why I was out so te, trying to find proof of his collusion."

  "Why are you trusting us with this?" He asked. This sounded like something cndestine, something she should be keeping close to the chest.

  "Because of her." She said, nodding to Nanael. "You are marrying a beastfolk, who are the main supply of sves to these corrupt healers. I doubt you would rat me out if you respected her and her people only half as much as I expect you do. With what I have uncovered, I am now finding myself in over my head. So please John, Nanael, can you help me?"

  * - Neither do I... I had it in some notes I seemed to have lost in the move. I probably should go through the timeline again. =)

  Juia_Darkcrest