Chapter 18 - Sorry, But Living in Bainwood Isn’t That Easy (1)
Chapter 18 - Sorry, But Living in Bainwood Isn’t That Easy (1)
The Saintess clutched the final gift the Heavenly Demon had left for her—though in truth, it was more of a convenient afterthought to ensure the Radain Church could no longer track him—and finally steeled her resolve.
She couldn’t just sit here wallowing in regret.
[Act. For even failure after action is more valuable than the regret of inaction.]
Reciting Verse 19, Chapter 10 of the Juten Scriptures, the Saintess steadied her heart.
Half-running toward her chambers, Auriel and Emily exchanged brief words.
“When are we leaving?”
“Tonight. We execute the plan immediately.”
“Got it. I’ll scout the guard rotations.”
“What about supplies?”
“Ahaha. Come to think of it, this is your first time traveling long-distance without the Radain Church’s support, isn’t it? Just pack a few changes of clothes and… your scriptures? Whatever you need for prayers. We’ll procure the rest on the road.”
Emily studied the Saintess’s face intently.
“Nervous? You always switch to formal speech when you’re tense.”
“Haha… I can’t deny that.”
But the fluttering in the Saintess’s chest wasn’t just from nerves.
For the first time, she was leaving the nest of the Radain Church.
Following her savior, and for the sake of someone precious to her…
“…I will find you. No matter what, Heavenly Demon.”
To apologize for misunderstanding him. To thank him for protecting her and the Radain Holy Nation. And… though she didn’t yet realize it herself, to convey the budding affection in her heart.
By morning, the Radain Church was thrown into chaos by yet another unprecedented event: the “Saintess’s Elopement.”
All that remained in her chambers was a single letter.
Its pages were densely filled with the same praises for the Heavenly Demon she’d stubbornly repeated during every interrogation, and it concluded with:
—Therefore, to convey my sincerity to the Heavenly Demon, I must temporarily take my leave. I swear I will return with him.
****
Clatter-clatter.
The rickety carriage rolled along the well-paved road toward Bainwood.
Having departed from a city nearly 100 kilometers north of Bainwood, its journey was finally nearing its end.
“Look there. Bainwood’s finally coming into view.”
The middle-aged merchant pointed past the open front of the driver’s seat toward the horizon, calling out to the carriage’s sole other passenger—a young man.
The youth’s gaze swept over Bainwood’s characteristically low walls and the clusters of orange-roofed buildings beyond.
“—It’s a nice city.”
His reply perfectly encapsulated what Bainwood represented.
Located in the southern territories of the vast Arkesia Empire in eastern Takhma Continent, Bainwood was slightly too small to be called a major city yet too bustling to be considered minor.
What made Bainwood truly desirable, however, was its temperate climate—neither too hot nor too cold, with minimal seasonal variation.
Its proximity to the southern coastline had made it a favored vacation spot for the empire’s nobility, many of whom maintained summer villas in the area.
Soon, the carriage passed through Bainwood’s gates and entered the city proper.
As they disembarked, the two travelers shook hands in farewell.
“Thanks for keeping me company, Theodor. The trip would’ve been dull without you.”
“I’m the one who benefited from your stories, Mr. Keltin. They broadened my horizons.”
“You mentioned settling here in Bainwood, didn’t you? I hope it works out for you.”
‘…Hope it works out?’
The phrase nagged at the young man, but he chose not to press further.
“I plan to stay about half a year. Let’s meet again if fate allows!”
After seeing the merchant off, the youth named Theodor stood in the middle of the road, a large pack slung over his shoulder.
The streets brimmed with vitality—pedestrians in light clothing strolled with bright expressions, and shops lined the avenues.
It was the polar opposite of the cold, gloomy Radain Holy Nation.
“—So this is the city where my new life begins.”
The former Heavenly Demon—now a youth named Theodor who’d traveled far in search of roots—murmured to himself, lost in thought.
It had been an incredibly long journey.
Let’s see… I left the Radain Holy Nation about a year and a half ago.
The trials I’d faced in that time to reach this point…
After escaping the Holy Nation, I’d had two immediate priorities: conceal my identity and choose a destination.
The first was manageable.
Early on, I’d fashioned a lifelike mask from monster hide, and later acquired an artifact that allowed me to alter my appearance at will.
Thus, I was no longer Baek Ui-cheon, the Heavenly Demon.
Now I bore the most common features in this world—brown hair, green eyes.
A decently built frame around 180 cm tall, with an unremarkable face that, upon closer inspection, wasn’t half bad.
Seventeen? No, it’s been a year and a half, so eighteen now.
In any case, I was now Theodor, an ordinary eighteen-year-old embarking on a new life.
With my new identity secured, the next step was selecting a home.
I wanted an ordinary life.
Thus, my settlement criteria were strict:
No religious states, monster-infested frontiers, or warring territories. Somewhere peaceful, ideally.
A temperate climate year-round would be perfect.
And not too underdeveloped—having tasted modern comforts, I had standards.
Spreading a hard-won continent map across a tavern table, I’d methodically eliminated regions that failed my criteria, occasionally taking drunken patrons’ unsolicited advice.
The sole remaining candidate: Bainwood.
Not borderland, so no war concerns.
Not that anyone would dare invade Arkesia Empire’s territory anyway.
Adjacent to the southern coastline, boasting excellent scenery—enough to attract nobility.
An ideal climate—not too humid, not too hot, with minimal temperature swings.
A commercial hub with robust infrastructure…
While opinions varied on where was best to live, every drunkard unanimously agreed: “Bainwood? That’s a fine choice.”
Destination decided, all that remained was getting there.
Easier said than done—traveling from the Radain Holy Nation at the continent’s northern tip to southern Bainwood meant crossing the entire landmass.
The year and a half of adventures that followed could fill volumes.
Dozens of monster encounters, traversing active battlefields, surviving bandit ambushes…
—Hey! Seen the bounty? The Radain Holy Nation posted a huge reward for some black-haired guy!
—Weird. First time those zealots officially put out a bounty, isn’t it?
Mid-journey, I learned the Radain Church had finally issued a bounty for the “Heavenly Demon.”
As “Theodor,” I had nothing to fear, but I developed a habit of frequently checking my artifact’s functionality.
My winter departure from the harsh northern lands concluded a season and a half later, welcoming summer at the continent’s southern tip.
“Whew—”
I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with Bainwood’s warm sea breeze.
This is Bainwood alright. Even the air’s different.
Now, for the first step to becoming its citizen.
Settling in any populated area requires approval from local authorities or their administrative bodies.
Unless you prefer squatting in some remote forest hut.
Fortunately, the Arkesia Empire maintained a sophisticated system where “those deemed fit to be upstanding residents” could obtain residence rights by visiting local offices.
For Bainwood, multiple qualifications existed, but the only feasible option for someone like me was becoming an adventurer.
Just register at the Adventurers’ Guild Bainwood branch and complete a few quests—simple.
No need to prove identity or origins—just demonstrate basic competence and cooperation through quests.
As a drifter, I’d frequently registered temporarily at guilds during travels when funds ran low.
“Nothing to it. Shall we?”
Heart swelling with anticipation, I took my first step toward a new life.
“Do you have a recommendation letter? At minimum, from a baron or higher. Or documentation proving residence approval in Bainwood.”
My ballooning hopes deflated like a punctured bladder at the receptionist’s words.
“…Come again?”
“Exactly as stated. To register as an adventurer at our Bainwood branch, you need one of two things.”
The red-haired beauty maintained a cheerful smile, but her tone brooked no argument.
“Wait—I’m trying to register as an adventurer to get residence approval, and you’re asking for proof of residence?”
“…”
She studied me silently before responding, smile intact.
“My apologies… but living in Bainwood isn’t that easy?”