The same morning in the town of Artar. Only, maybe going forward it would feel different. Artar's helping angel, Louis, would be leaving for Aetheria Academy in the capital. The townspeople gathered in droves to send him off. The adventurers, farmers, and hunters, they had left their work since before sunrise.
"Is there anything left behind?" asked someone to Louis among the crowd of townspeople in front of the town gate.
"No. I've brought everything." Louis replied.
An old grandmother walked closer with heavy steps. "Be careful on the journey, child. Take care of yourself, and if you fail, come back anytime you want. Consider this town your home and us your family." Said the old woman.
"Alright, Grandma. You take good care of yourself too until I return later."
"Take this." The woman table keeper of the Adventurer's Guild gave Louis a deep purple crescent moon-shaped pendant. "This is a lucky charm. The color matches your appearance very well."
Louis accepted it with a feeling that was hard to describe. He who came suddenly, then gave a little help, received such an extraordinary repayment. "I will guard this pendant like my own life." He immediately put on his pendant right then, then smiled happily.
"When you get there later, meet my son Sam. He's a third-year student at the academy." Said the male adventurer who liked to brag about his son at the Guild headquarters.
"Didn't I already say I don't want to trouble him?"
"It's fine. When I told him, he was happy and hoped you could come as soon as possible and meet him right away. Maybe he sees you as a little brother. He has indeed begged for a younger sibling before." The man explained in a slightly awkward tone.
"Thank... you." Louis bowed deeply, then raised his gaze again with a smiling face after crying. "Thank you for accepting me. I owe you all a lot."
"Then repay us with your success." All the townspeople smiled warmly at him.
Louis felt awkward. Their smiles were too much for him. "Would you all still be like this if I were a vile demon? Would you at that time see me as Louis, not a monster?" he asked, making them all freeze in shock.
A burly man approached and roughly ruffled Louis's head until he moved in rhythm with his hand. "What kind of question is that? How could someone who looks like an angel like you be a demon? You're stupid at making jokes, apparently."
"Ah, you found out. You should've just played along so this moment would be memorable and dramatic." Louis was annoyed.
"But, child. If by chance you really were a demon, maybe at first we would feel afraid and avoid you. If that time comes, don't give up on convincing us that you're not dangerous and are still the same Louis." Said an old man with his warm smile.
"You all... thank you." Louis replied.
"Hurry, child. We have to reach the town before sunset later, or we'll be attacked by magic beasts in the demon forest." Said the adventurer who was giving Louis a ride to the capital Luminaria.
"Ah, sorry." Louis turned, bowing as a farewell to the people of Artar. "I'm leaving now. Take good care of yourselves until I return later."
"Good luck."
Louis took a breath then exhaled slowly. His feet began to step, passing through the gate of Artar town that had accepted him to stay for quite a long time. A small child without a guardian wandering the border region of demons and humans, accepted very well by the townspeople. Hopefully he could come back here again.
"I'm going. Take good care of yourselves, remember that!" Louis shouted from the horse carriage that was moving while waving his hand.
"Good luck!"
Louis waved his hand even harder. Then, when their shadows began to disappear as the horse carriage moved on, Louis sat calmly inside while watching every scenery he saw. Forest stretched along the road, then shacks for firewood belonging to the townspeople. Apparently he really was leaving this place.
"I understand your feelings, kid. I was like that too the first time I left this town." Said the adventurer who was leaning against the horse cart in front of Louis.
Louis shifted to look at the young adventurer. "What business do you have in the capital, brother?" he asked.
"Our business?" The young man struck a thinking pose. "Usually we'll stop by the central Adventurer's Guild in the capital to exchange rare materials."
"Rare materials?" Louis didn't understand.
The young man rummaged through his sling bag, taking out a sparkling stone that was deep purple. "This is a magic stone from fragments of the seven Archdemons' power."
"Archdemons?"
"You don't know?" Cut in the female adventurer next to the young adventurer earlier. "They are high-ranking demons defeated by the seven heroes of light. They say, the mana sparks from their war created rare magic materials. Like this magic stone." She snatched the magic stone from her friend.
"Then, what about dungeons and demon beasts? Where do they come from?" asked Louis.
"Dungeons were created from the massive wave of the seven Archdemons' appearance. Meanwhile demon beasts have existed since the era of war between gods." Explained the young adventurer.
The massive mana outburst during Leviathan's birth that day apparently not only brought forth the seven Archdemons, but also brought forth dungeons that now became the main source of income for adventurers. Demon beasts that had valuable body parts and materials in dungeons were highly sought after. It seemed Leviathan had unintentionally done a great good deed.
"Then, do you all know if the seven Archdemons have a King?"
"A King? Pfft!" The female adventurer laughed. "Don't dream of impossible things. It's been a hundred years since the war between the seven lights and the Archdemons happened, and during that time there have also been no signs of the Demon King's appearance."
"What about the prohibition on entering the underworld? If the Demon King doesn't exist and the seven Archdemons have been defeated by the heroes, couldn't that place become a high-level dungeon that stores many top-class materials?" asked Louis, this time with high curiosity.
"About that..."
"The palace only informed that there are terrifying monsters down there. Only the hero of light is said to be able to fight them." The carriage driver answered.
"I see..." Louis nodded in understanding.
"U-um... may I know why you cover your eyes with black cloth like that? Are you blind?" asked the female adventurer after her curiosity could no longer be held back.
Louis touched his eyes that were covered with cloth. "I have special eyes, that's what the orphanage mother told me and asked me to cover them with a blindfold."
"Ah, sorry. You must have had a hard time all this time. But, you're amazing for being able to live alone with your condition like that without a guardian." The female adventurer pitied him.
"It's fine. I've read many survival books before. Thanks to that, there's nothing to worry about."
"Hey, hey. Stop your conversation. We've arrived on time before sunset. Thank my horse." Said the adventurer driving the horse.
Louis followed the others down, then walked toward the horse and stroked it gently while saying, "Thank you for taking me well." The horse looked happy with Louis's stroking.
"Let's find an inn first." Invited the leader of the adventurer party that Louis was riding with.
"Alright." Louis stepped along with the others to find an inn for the night.
...
Louis stretched on his bed. He stood, opened the wooden window, letting the sunlight in and breathing in the refreshing morning air in the town neighboring Artar. The atmosphere wasn't much different. Only, almost no townspeople worked as Lord adventurers. They were more dominant in receiving adventurers from other towns who stopped to rest.
"There are so many things I need to see apparently." Louis muttered while looking at the town from the balcony of his room.
Tok
Tok
"Are you awake?" It seemed to be the voice of the leader of the adventurer group Louis was riding with.
Louis walked to the door and opened it. "What is it? Are we about to depart for the capital again?" he asked.
"Right. But before that, there's something we need to buy."
"Buy?" Louis tilted his head because he didn't know.
"Supplies for the capital, and clothes for you to enter the academy later. Don't tell me you plan to enter the academy with your dirty clothes and robe."
Louis looked at his own appearance from top to bottom. That's right, this was already worn out. "Ah, it seems I do need new clothes and a robe." He said.
"Come with us around the town then. You can look at clothes at the shops we'll stop by later."
Louis stepped out, standing in front of his room door after closing it. "Let's go. I also want to see this place up close."
"Alright, let's go."
Louis followed the adventurer party leader to meet the others, then began walking around the town to even the smallest corners. Fruit, fish, vegetable, and meat vendors were spread in every direction. Small shops also looked busy at the start of this year.
Louis along with the female adventurer entered one of the shops to buy a piece of clothing and a new robe for the academy's first-year student day. It would be a shame to buy many clothes when the academy provides official uniforms. This time it's just for formality so he won't be looked down on by other kids at the academy.
"How is it? Do you like the clothes?" The female adventurer asked in the middle of walking toward the meeting place with the others.
"I will wear whatever is chosen." Louis replied.
"What if it doesn't suit your taste?"
"I will still wear it."
"You're so stubborn." The woman chuckled softly.
"Hey, are you all done?" The young adventurer approached with the party leader. "Supplies for the capital are ready. We can leave at noon later when the sun is hot to avoid demon monster attacks."
Louis looked at the sky. "It seems there's still one more hour before departure."
The party leader followed Louis looking at the sky. "It seems so."
"How about we leave now? We don't know what might hinder us later. Don't let it cause Louis to be late for the selection exam and welcome ceremony." Suggested the female adventurer.
"It would indeed be better that way, captain."
"You all go up first. I want to pay for the inn and our food last night." The party leader paid quickly and returned. He climbed onto the remaining goods while counting them so none were left behind.
"All done, captain." Said the young adventurer who counted the goods at the back.
The party leader climbed onto the driver's seat, "Alright. Let's head to Aetheria!" He shouted.
"Hiyaa!"
Ctas!
The horse carriage began moving again toward the academy in the capital faster than before. They would arrive before the academy announced the exam. Don't compare them to the noble carriages in the capital that moved slowly.
"It seems the leader wants to deliver you to the afterlife, not Aetheria Academy." Said the young adventurer who was now resigned as his body was thrown back and forth due to the carriage's shaking.
"Hha, it seems so indeed." Louis was just as resigned as the young adventurer.