The Saint Devil

Chapter 16

"This is the only hotel where I could find rooms for the time being. I am sorry for the inconvenience!" says the guard that just guarded us to a hotel somewhere in the centre of the capital city of Swanford.

"It's alright! Thank you for your dedication!" I say confirming to him that there is no problem with the hotel he found us. To be honest this looks like a luxury hotel so I couldn't ask for more anyways. Sometimes I wonder how so many people know about Kein. I have to ask him about his past someday.

"I don't deserve such nice words! The lady's room is one door away. Also, your audition was already arranged for tomorrow at noon. I should leave now. I wish you a beautiful evening!"

"Likewise," says Kein leading the guard towards the exit of the hotel.

The guard left the hotel heading once again towards his job at the main gate. This kingdom might be the poorest, but just by walking through it for a few minutes, we can see that the people there are way nicer than the ones in the colonies. Also, they were treated better than the ones from Wanborne.

"Now... It's already pretty late and we walked an entire day towards here so I think it's time you guys get some rest," says Kein coming back after leading the guard out of the hotel.

"Yes, and you will as well!"

"Yes, yes, sorry."

With Anastasia already in her room, probably being sound asleep, we get in our beds as well, resting after a whole day of walking and thinking about the audience that had to take place tomorrow.

The following morning, a knock at our door wakes us up. It was Anastasia coming to see if we woke up already. Looking around a bit we aren't able to see mister Kein anywhere.

"Where did mister Kein leave so early in the morning?" I ask numbly after waking up.

"He was talking about some food last night..." answers Taiyo while stretching after just waking up.

I and Taiyo, as well as Anastasia, go downstairs and see Kein with a bag of ingredients just entering the hotel.

"Where are you going?" he asks while stepping inside.

"We were looking for you!" shouts Taiyo. He might say that he wasn't, but both I and Anastasia realized that Taiyo is a bit worried about Kein when he disappears. This started ever since the Qliphoth incident after Taiyo saw Kein wounded all over after that fight.

"I told you that I am going to buy something and cook in the hotel's kitchen. You should pay attention sometimes."

"Oh... So that's what you were talking about last night. I just remember that you said something about food," says Taiyo while scratching his head.

We then move from the reception to the kitchen where I and Taiyo stand down at a table while Anastasia helps mister Kein with the cooking.

Afterwards, Kein comes and serves us the food, and then sits on a chair at the table.

"This is incredible!" says Taiyo still munching from the food Kein cooked.

I could only compliment Kein's food as well,

"Yep! Kein is an incredible chef!"

"It ain't much... Just some things I learned in the army, also Anastasia helped me a lot."

"Make sure you eat a lot! We made many servings!" she says with a smile on her face. She felt so happy knowing that we liked the food she and Kein prepared.

The four of us eat and laugh at the table in our remaining free time, waiting for the hour we had to leave for the castle, for the audience with the king.

"Are you kids ready? A carriage came out of nowhere to take us."

"Sometimes Kein surprises me... He just had to tell them his name and now this happens!" says Taiyo being astonished by the beautiful carriage that waited outside for us.

"We don't really know too much about him..." I say while scratching my head.

The carriage being dragged by two horses was moving as fast as the wind, or this is how it looked like for us since we got used to travelling by feet. We didn't even realize how fast we got in front of the modest-looking castle. It wasn't small, but certainly not as big as the one in Wanborne.

"It looks nice, but it's three times smaller than the one in Wanborne..." says Taiyo like he read my mind or something.

"This will change if we do the quest we are going to take."

Getting inside, the royal guards greeted and lead us towards the throne hall, where the king was waiting. As usual, Anastasia was holding on to my sleeve, walking behind me. Arriving in front of the king, we kneeled, waiting for his word.

"Raise your heads, I don't need any formalities from the "Guardian Angel" himself. Please tell me the reason for your sudden visit."

Kein steps up and says loudly to the king,

"As you might know, I am not part of Wanborne's army anymore. I am not even living in the kingdom anymore, neither do those kids behind me."

"I see..."

"The reason for our sudden visit is... "The Hydra quest"!"

After Kein's declaration, every guard in the hall started looking around, being surprised by those words. Even the king widely opened his eyes after hearing Kein.

"I will let this kid behind me talk since he is the real leader of this small group..." says Kein pointing at me.

Everywhere in the hall, voices could be heard questioning the fact that I am the leader: "Leader of the "Guardian Angel"? That young boy?"

"I understand. Come forth boy, I am listening." says the king inviting me to step forth.

"Do your best kid... We've talked it out last night," whispers Kein while retreating in line with the others.

I breathe in and say loudly, looking up at the king,

"The Double Chosen", "The Failed Experiment of the Greedy King", "The Saint Devil", "The Lost Prince of Wanborne"! Those are the titles that were given to me back then, while I was still in the Kingdom of Wanborne! I am Akushi, and I come with a request for you, king of Swanford!"

"I see... So you are the abandoned kid that disappeared a long time ago. I shall listen to your request..."

From now on, I took a deep breath and started talking about my goal and resolve. Becoming a king figure, "a real king".

"I understand..." says the king while getting up from his throne, following up with:

"If you do the quest, I will give you lands, status equal to a king, and financial support to achieve this noble goal of yours!"

Kein steps forward and looks straight up at the king, accepting the quest that nobody could pass in over a thousand years. The king then asked us when we wanted to leave, and without even thinking, the four of us quickly say:

"We are ready!"