The Saint Devil

Chapter 10

The music from a random bar in a small city is up conferring a cheerful atmosphere, while the tired adventurers are toasting for another successful mission. At every table, can be seen, someone drinking and laughing. Between those tables, one hooded man is heading towards the billboard.

The hooded figure takes one paper from the billboard sign, his smirking from beneath the hood.

"This quest might be nice. I should show it to them."

Somewhere near the bar, from a place close enough that the music can be heard pretty clear, are two fugitives honing their fencing skills.

"Here I come, Akushi!" shouts Taiyo while charging at me with his wooden sword.

I can see a small opening through his moves, giving me a chance to counter-attack after effortlessly dodging Taiyo's sword. Pointing the tip of my sword towards Taiyo's neck, I smile and ask him,

"Do you accept your defeat? And please don't tell me to kill you... Again!"

"I surrender, but I will beat you for sure! Next time will be different!"

"Yeah sure."

"It looks like you've finished your training," says Kein after just arriving at the training place. Until now, he was busy searching for work for us to do.

I run towards him and ask him hoping for some good news,

"Mister Kein! Did you find any work for us?"

"Of course I did, it was easier for me than it was when Taiyo was searching for them."

"What does that mean?!" asks Taiyo, being offended by the harsh truth Kein has spoken.

"I went to the Adventurer's Tavern and got a quest that was shown there. Wh have to help a hunter team catching some magical beasts in the forest near this colony."

"Are you going to ignore me!?" shouts Taiyo while looking at Kein explaining his methods.

"I've already talked it with the hunters, we'll be leaving tomorrow at 6 AM."

Quickly forgetting about his previous questions, Taiyo shouts,

"6 AM?!"

Looking at him I quickly say my explanation for this early point in the day,

"That would be the best hour to start hunting."

After entrusting Fyodor and Shouko with the bar, Kein Shimada started travelling with us, helping us achieve our dream.

"With every coin we get, we are getting closer to our goal..."

"Hmm? Now that I think of it... I've been travelling with you for around one week, and you still didn't tell me what your goal is."

"It's a small goal, or maybe better to say, a dream of mine. I-"

Not being able to finish my sentence, I get interrupted by Taiyo that joyfully says,

"He wants to become a "king" figure and save poor kids!"

The result of this interruption was another quick elbow hit received by Taiyo,

"Let me finish!"

"You said that you want to become a king when we met, after our training if I remember correctly."

"Well, I got abandoned by my father when I was young... He was the king of Wanborne but for me, he was nothing of a king. That's why I want to become a true king!"

"Talking about the fact that you are the son of the king... I knew that all along."

". . . What?"

"Well, yes, let's say that I have some old history with that guy as well. I might tell you about it someday."

"You can't just let us with the suspense!" says Taiyo with an annoyed look on his face.

"So how do you intend to become a king? You are not the inheritor anymore, being abandoned and not having the recognition as the king's child."

"That's why I need money. The Colonies are free, so I will build my kingdom somewhere!"

"It won't work." quickly replies Kein with a hand under his chin.

"Huh?"

"What would the Five Kingdoms say if someone came from nowhere and took land from The Colonies to build a kingdom. Another big power would disturb the balance and potentially start another war. That would be the second problem."

"Second!?" shouts Taiyo

"The first one would be that working like this won't ever get the money for building an entire kingdom... Neither will get you the influence to make the colonists join you."

Hearing those harsh truths, I look down with a saddened expression. Thinking about those reasons, they do seem pretty logical.

"But..." adds Kein to his last argument

"Huh?"

"There might be a way to save those that you want to and make a place that you can rule over. But you can't do that alone."

"He is not alone though! I will help him!" says Taiyo being more excited than ever.

"Of course, so will I." also adds Kein

Raising my head and looking at the two people smiling at me I say,

"You guys are... the best! Let's do that! What do we need to do, mister Kein?"

"First get some rest until tomorrow, we can talk after finishing the quest."

Agreeing to Kein's words, both I and Taiyo confirm,

"Yes sir!"