The Seeker Of The Flames

Adin had traveled a lot of distance on horseback. The West Kingdom's paths between the capital and the nearby towns were advanced enough to let the travelers have a safe and easy trip. The road network in the Kingdom connected all of the towns in the best way possible.

However, riders had to stop in the way and let their horse rest. Although Adin didn't want to waste that much time on a simple, worthless adventure, he had to improve his reputation in the human world to get to those flames easier. He had decided to make a good relationship with as many people as he could to have their help in finding the flames.

His real adventure was searching for the flames, but he had to first carry out these little missions. Adin knew the importance of little parts of the puzzle and understood that a puzzle would only become perfect when all of these little parts get to join together.

A small town started to enter the sight, located straight in the roadway. Adin began galloping his horse toward the town.

When he reached there, he kept cantering on the horse until reaching the town square. He then reined in the horse and dismounted, holding its leash while bringing it to a stable. He had to pay 5 bronze coins per hour to the one in charge of the stable for the horse to stay. Adin paid the amount and went for a stay at the town's main caravansary.

Compared to a normal town in the West Kingdom, this one could meet the requirements for an average life. Most of its residents had a normal life and could earn a living. The structures had a fair amount of quality materials put into building them. Many travelers and adventurers would pass across the town every day and spend a good amount of money on their short stay and other stuff. Therefore, they had no financial problems.

There was no problem related to the bandits either. The West Kingdom's security guaranteed a safe life for all of its citizens and not just for the people of the capital and important cities.

Adin opened the wooden door to the town's caravansary, finding a lot of adventurers and people in the hall. It was quite similar to a guildhall but far smaller in size.

The required cost for a stay in one of the inn's rooms would be 20 bronze coins per hour. Checking his bag, Adin found out that only 48 bronze coins were left for him.

"Damn! Money is too boring! I thought I should at least have 100 bronze coins, but why it's come to be so less... Where did I spend it? For real, keeping track of your money is so boring... Anyways, I have no choice but to spend 40 coins apparently..."

Adin offered 40 bronze coins for 2 hours of stay, moving upstairs to his room afterward. He immediately lied down on the bed, opening his arms and staring at the roof.

"I can stay here while the horse gets a rest for two hours. That should be enough to get to Thunder Plateau. Too boring..." Adin sighed in tiredness, closing his eyes. "Come on... where are you, flames? Where are you hiding? Just show me a quick sign, only a little bit of hint can do it. How am I supposed to find you?"

He was really impatient; Adin would always like to end everything as soon as possible. He hated to spend a lot of time on solving issues. The short time he had spent on finding the Oracle would look so long in his view. He also thought the time he had spent on destroying the magical gate was quite long.

"Really... it would take years if I keep going like this. Damn it... no matter how much I think about it... the only way is this. Why isn't there any other way that's less boring!? Really, why ther—"

Adin suddenly stopped talking with himself, opening his eyes and gazing in surprise. He stood up and left the bed, watching outside through the window.

"What's this Magical Pressure I can feel? There shouldn't be anyone with such an immense power around here in this town."

He left his room, running downstairs. Adin quit the caravansary and started walking toward the source of that Magical Pressure he had felt.

The source of the Magical Pressure kept getting closer to him as he could sense the force intensifying gradually. Meanwhile, the sound of trots and canters of a horse could be heard, getting closer to him.

Adin turned his looks to the main square of the town. A horseman was approaching him, the source of that Magical Pressure.

The man on horseback looked to be in his forties, possessing short pure-black hair and dark eyes, wearing a long black robe fastened by two lines of golden buttons from neck to top of the crotch. He stopped his horse before Adin and began staring at him.

"Hey you!" the horseman called, keeping his serious stares focused on Adin.

The atmosphere became so quiet, conveying an uncomfortable feeling to anyone who would be around.

—Who the hell is this guy? Why is he staring at me like that? It's too boring! Damn, it's making me too uneasy! And why does he have such immense magic?! Ah oh... don't tell me... he knows I'm the Demon King?!!

Looking upset and anxious, Adin prepared himself for what this man intended to reveal.

"You..."

The horseman didn't stop staring at Adin even for a moment. Adin tried not to look concerned and hide his anxiety, but he couldn't stop sweating profusely after being called by those stares.

—What? Go ahead and say what you want!! Come on, come on, just say it. Don't make me more uncomfortable than this. Just say it, don't be boring... Come on! Come on! If you know I'm the Demon King, just say it and destroy this heavy air right now!

"Y-you..."

—Calm down Adin, calm down Adin! You can take care of him if he knows about you. Yes yes, I should be able to manage...

"YOU..." the man shouted aloud, glaring at Adin.

Sweating in uneasiness and shallowing his spittle as a trace of being nervous, Adin stared back at the horseman before him.

They exchanged serious, fierce glares for about half of a minute.

"WHERE'S THE TOILET?"

"...Eh?" Adin's fake glares changed to real gazes, pointing at the latrine in the town. "I-t's... there..."

"Thanks, young man! I'm saved!" he thanked, dismounted from his horse, and started waving his right hand while rushing toward the latrine location. "God's Blessing on You!"