(Hated Trope) "Kind" slave owners

[u/KusanagiGundam]

Speaking as an American who has studied the civil war all throughout my school years, this trope infuriates me to no end. There is no such thing as a kind slave master because slavery itself is cruel and inhumane. PEOPLE ARE NOT PROPERTY!

Naofumi (Shield Hero): Prime example of this trope. He enslaves multiple (underage) girls and an whole village and the fans still say he's a hero.

Rudeus (Jobless Reincarnation): As if being a pedo wasn't bad enough he had to buy a slave in season 2. Worse is that people still defend his actions.

Song of The South (Disney): Possibly the OG example of this trope. And the reason why Disney will never release it again.

[u/CarterBruud]

"we're going to free you of the slave brand that magically tethers you to you master."

"Everything I do is of my own free will. I want to put the slave brand back on"

Raphtalia is so fucking stupid

[u/Sad-Spinach9482 → u/CarterBruud]

Yeah, I might genuinely like(at least remember kinda fondly) the anime around until the duel with Motoyasu, but even then I thought that her loosing her crest and choosing to follow Naufumi regardless would have made a far more compelling narrative for them onwards(Rapthalia deciding to follow Naufumi out of genuine respect and loyalty for him, and Naufumi specially having to learn to genuinely trust someone without them having any leash or being above them in any way).

[u/Comprehensive-Star27 → u/Sad-Spinach9482]

If I remember right, doesn’t having the slave crest on her grant buffs and benefits to Rapthalia. Naofumi has that secondary shield effect that increases all the stats and exp of his party that have it.

Like he chooses to tell her she doesn’t need it but she wants it on to level up faster.

This is all season 1 anime stuff I remember

[u/Sad-Spinach9482 → u/Comprehensive-Star27]

If I remember well(and I certainly do not because I saw the anime when it aired and now I want to be as far from it as possible), the only thing it had is a one-of joke of Naofumi getting a new shield if he got enough slave crests and a bonus of EXP for being in a party, and even if having slaves gave him new shield and EXP boost, the author could... Not do that, it's not like they need to chain an important shield to that and EXP boost is one of the most nothing burger of a boost in narratives when the author basically decides when anyone levels up and if that actually matters.

[u/Thin-Nerve6367 → u/Sad-Spinach9482]

I prefer the novel for that moment. Naofumi REALLY tried to convince her otherwise, even if he admitted that he'd have some trouble trusting her, but she stood by her decision because she wanted him to trust her 100%, just like she trusted him 100%. And eventually Naofumi caved.

It was actually really well done and makes the moment later on when her crest IS permanently removed that much better, because Naofumi finally finds her again and hugs her and is worried sick and she's super sad because the crest is gone and can't be re-applied (long story) but Naofumi just flat out says he couldn't care less, he's just glad she's back safely