Regroup and roll out.

Some of the inn's interior has been left shattered or scorched. It isn't anything the Mend spell can fix, though with how many adventurers come through every day, it's no surprise the staff is more shaken by the hulking devil who was present than the damage left behind. By how their eyes loom on your presence, perhaps they're more mesmerized by your display of skill and bravery, and the aura you carry.

Your party gathers quickly after. No patron is still present, so you're left with the old man as well as some of the waiting and kitchen staff peaking cautiously through the door behind the counter.

You look to Snow nearby. "Great shot as always," you say. "Thank you."

Her smile shines bright. Though she doesn't speak and merely nods her head, she scoots subtly closer and dips her knees just enough to lower her height to an appropriate head-patting angle. It's obvious what she wants, though she refuses to ask out loud.

With a smirk, you slide your fingers between her ears and pet her tenderly. "You did good, Snow."

Her eyes flutter shut as her smile grows, and her cheeks light up an adorable pink. "Thank you," she whispers back.

Despite everybody's clothes needing a good wash and dry, and a couple particular garments missing, they all appear physically healthy and enthusiastic. They beam with joy after all that transpired the night before. And while you notice that once in awhile, a girl may walk a little funny, the soreness isn't so much pain as it is pleasure, at least to them. You regroup and prepare to head out for a high octane shopping adventure, though before you do, the old man gestures for you to wait with nothing more than a step forward and a nod.

"Galahen Fheargor," he says. The weight of his weapon is hinted by the sound the top end makes when its dropped even a few inches to the floor. His fingers wrap around the shaft with python strength. "I was an adventurer. Not anymore. I'm retired now, but the practice still comes in handy around here. Still, that's a new one."

You offer a hand. "Kyle Warren, and I'm an adventurer too--"

"Hero King, Kyle Warren," Eva boasts proudly on your behalf.

"Or Demon King," Niki adds in a deep, spooky tone.

"King of Love," Amara says sweetly.

The other two girls turn, confused.

"When was that a title?" Eva asks.

"Oh. I just made it up now," she replies.

G shakes your hand. "This land has a sickness," he grumbles under his breath. With the aforementioned girls now bickering between one another, you, Snow, and Xiaoqing might be the only ones listening. "I've mostly noticed it in the past month. You mentioned the Demon King. She called you the same. I have a feeling you know then, exactly what I'm talking about. There is no giant ogre in the mountains leading an army against us. The attack is subtle, like poisonous gas. He sees, he hears, and he infects. I'd rather the army."

That's definitely how he does things. William isn't the big bad villain who razes villages and boasts about his power. He plays games from the shadows. People definitely know of him, but they probably don't know a thing about him. Just that there's a Demon King who lives in a flying fortress, looming overhead like a constant threat who doesn't act, yet people are afraid. Just like with what happened to Monarch, his takeover was silent.

What he wants is to win, like this is still an RPG for him. Not kill everyone, but to obtain whatever his version of victory might be. Or maybe it's fun for him to keep going, playing endless games of chess so that he comes and remains the most successful Demon King who has ever lived, not with an army of darkness, but with strength of mind. I can't help but distrust him though. No, he's not unleashing death upon the world, but he isn't going to share his true plans with me. If all he wants is to improve and aspire for infinitely growing greatness, he might be the only one who benefits. He might just be another Elok Daven.

I'll just have to keep an eye on him like I have been here. He can have his own adventures and play his own game, but if he steps out of line, I might just have to fully embrace that Hero King moniker and eliminate yet another villain.

"Galahen," you say to break the silence, and to grab his attention. Then from your Bag of Holding, you withdraw a silver slab from its trembling entrance. It's unmarked apart from your name written near the top. "I have a finite amount of these, and we've only just met, but I need somebody around these parts who I can trust."

He stares down at the artifact in your hand. "You don't know my intentions."

"There's one thing I do know, and it's that you're not on the side of the Demon King. If you're worried about this sickness as you describe it, take my gift."

Finally, he extends his hand from the grip of his axe and takes hold of the item. After eyeing it over for a lengthy moment, he pulls his attention back up to you. "Some sort of communication device?"

"Good eye. It's called a FONE. Technically other contacts can be added if they have one too, but right now, that's a direct connection to me, and only me. Use it if anything gets out of hand with the Demon King's influence, and I'll be here."

Contact List
Captain Silver
Xiaoqing
Queen Catherine II
Rose
Nyllia Tesgella
Yin
Galahen Fheargor

He grunts, but it isn't a sound of displeasure, though most would probably think so. After stowing the FONE away, his hands return to his weapon and he nods. "You're more than meets the eye. And you keep good company. Noisy, but good."

"Thought you'd be used to the noise around these parts."

"Don't make me explain what I mean."

Oops. I guess what happened last night isn't so common. "We should get moving. Thanks for the room."

"Eat." He turns to the entire inn's staff crammed around the back door. "Have lunch before you go, on me. I'll go talk to the guards I can hear outside and explain the situation so they don't give you trouble."

"Hope it won't be too much of a pain for you."

"Shit happens here sometimes. And I know the captain of the guard. Don't worry about that. She and I go way back."

Eva smiles wide as she reenters the conversation. "Ooh. Is there something between them I wonder~?"

G glances away. Much to your surprise, he blushes. "Eat your lunch," he says before dragging himself back to the bar.

You and the others enjoy a hearty meal of stew, bread, and fruits, and wash it down with fresh water. Eva insists on supplying the latter herself, partly to save the inn the trouble, but mostly to show off and play with her new toy. It fills your bellies. After that, you feel ready to take on a new day. Your stamina is restored, and if anything, you feel stronger. The feeling is mutual between the group as well. They explain they levelled up over night, besides Xiaoqing, who doesn't have a class to begin with. Her growth seems to work differently.

Niki, Amara, and Eva are all 12th level now, while Snow is 11th. Girls like Nyllia and Vivi are still ahead, though it's quite incredible just how far you've all come in the small window you've all been together. Most adventurers don't do nearly as much in even ten times that length of time. You wonder if that somehow, your presence speeds the process up, or it could just be that you and the others end up in situations nobody else ever does.

Noon passes by. Now that you're even farther south than usual, in a flat land a distance from the nearest range of mountains, it's quite warm, though that could also just be the weather today. It isn't summer time temperature, but for autumn, it isn't even chilly today.

You take a deep breath as you bask in the afternoon sunlight. After a nod to G who is still conversing with the guards outside the door, you and your party head off.