Gonna Be a Demon King!-Chapter 47: Zlego Magic City

Where the barrier met the ground, thin cracks lined its surface—small, almost insignificant at first glance. But to Xaren, they were the perfect cover for any damage they caused while getting inside.

At this weak point, where the barrier's structure wasn't as strong and the magical wall was thinner, both he and Ilya drew their blades.

Infusing them with magic power, they carefully pressed the tips into the shimmering surface of the barrier. The weakened section gave way with little resistance, allowing them to carve through it with slow, precise strokes.

Together, they cut out a small arch-shaped section.

Once the cut was complete, they reached forward and carefully pulled out the detached section of the barrier, lifting it away as if removing glass from a window. The shimmering layer of energy was now a separate piece in their hands, detached from the rest of the structure.

Without wasting time, they slipped through the opening.

Once inside, they placed the cut-out section back into its original position. Almost immediately, the residual magic power in the barrier wall and the cut portion began to meld together, seamlessly fusing back into one. Within seconds, the cut had vanished completely.

Both Xaren and Ilya widened their eyes at the sight. They hadn't expected the barrier to regenerate itself so smoothly despite its weakened structure.

Still, they shook off their surprise and began moving in the narrow gap between the barrier wall and the stone city walls.

Not far from where they had entered, they found what they were looking for—the real entrance into the city.

A crack in the city wall.

They crouched low, crawling through the narrow opening. Fortunately, their small frames allowed them to squeeze through with ease. The passage was tight, but they made it to the other side of the 3-metre-thick wall without difficulty.

Before emerging from the opening, Xaren spread his magic power outward, scanning for any nearby presence. However, he detected none.

Satisfied, he turned his attention to the large object blocking the crack from view—a massive cuboid trash container, shut tight and filled with waste.

With his superhuman strength, it was nothing but a minor obstacle.

With a small push, the heavy metal container groaned as it slid aside. Just enough for them to slip through and emerge behind some buildings on the outskirts of the city.

Once on the other side, they quickly pulled it back into place, ensuring the crack remained hidden.

Without a word, the two dashed into the narrow and dimly lit alleyways nearby, distancing themselves from their entry point as quickly as possible.

Once they'd moved a few blocks away, Xaren pulled out the map strapped to his belt and spoke.

"First, we need to figure out what district we're in."

Zlego was divided into fifteen districts, split into equal halves like a pie. The roughly circular city had a central district at its core, surrounded by the other fourteen.

Their goal was to reach the central district, but heading straight there wasn't an option—security would naturally be tighter at night.

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Instead, they needed to assess their surroundings and determine the best way forward.

Despite the late hour, the city wasn't completely asleep. Some businesses remained open, catering to nocturnal customers.

The faint glow of lanterns and signs illuminated certain streets, and laughter, clinking glasses, and muffled music drifted through the alleys.

The moment Xaren spotted these establishments, he immediately realized what kind of district they had landed in.

Ilya, too, glanced around, her curiosity piqued. Groups of people stood outside these nighttime businesses, drinking and talking loudly.

Some employees loitered nearby, dressed in revealing outfits that left little to the imagination. A few patrons—dressed in fine, expensive clothing—paraded down the streets, each with someone clinging to their arm.

Ilya blinked in confusion at the scene. She didn't quite understand the purpose of these interactions or why some of the people were dressed so scantily. But she didn't dwell on it for long.

Their mission took priority, and they needed to find a place to lay low before making their next move.

As they manoeuvred through the alleyways, they spotted a few patrolling figures—bouncers who had stepped outside for a smoke. Keeping their movements quiet, they adjusted their route to avoid these bouncers.

Xaren read the map, but as expected, it wasn't detailed enough to provide a clear path through the maze of nondescript alleyways. They had to rely on themselves, carefully navigating their way toward the main streets.

'We need to at least find an inn or some lodging where we can stay.'

As they moved through the alleys like spectres, slipping through the maze of buildings with ease, Xaren compared the signs on earlier buildings to the names on the map, piecing together their exact location.

This area was a patchwork of paths—some narrow enough for only a single person to squeeze through, others wider, and some completely blocked by stacks of crates or abandoned carts.

The buildings lining these alleys served different purposes; some were shuttered businesses, others were homes. A few had their windows open, casting warm light into the alleyways.

Xaren and Ilya carefully avoided such routes, steering clear of any path that might expose them.

With their demon eyes, the darkness was as clear as daylight, making it effortless to stick to the shadows.

Some alleys had balconies that jutted out overhead, creating natural pockets of shadow where they could pause and listen. Others had makeshift wooden bridges between buildings—routes that would have been useful if they didn't creak under the weight of even a gentle breeze.

Suddenly, they heard voices.

They had reached a T-junction where the alley met a broader pathway. Ahead of them, just beyond the intersection, was the main street.

That was where they wanted to go. But voices drifted in from both the left and right, cutting off their path.

Without hesitation, they leapt backwards and scanned for cover.

Ilya spotted a stack of wooden boxes sitting against the wall—haphazard, unstable, but perfect for concealment. The moment she caught sight of them, she dragged Xaren's arm and pulled him behind the cover.

They crouched low, making themselves small as the voices grew clearer.

From the right, a group of uniformed figures marched forward, their armour clinking softly as they walked—night patrol guards.

From the left, a group of men ambled lazily toward the intersection. Their clothes were rough, their posture slouched. Ruffians.

The two groups met at the junction, pausing just a few steps from where Xaren and Ilya hid.

"Oi," one of the guards said, crossing his arms. "You lot better not be causing trouble tonight."

The apparent leader of the ruffians scoffed in response. "Come on, cut us some slack. It's just minor stuff."

The guards didn't look impressed. "Minor or not, don't push it. We won't be so lenient if things get out of hand."

Despite their threatening tone, the ruffians chuckled, unconcerned. One of them waved a dismissive hand.

"Yeah, yeah. We're just heading to the house to have ourselves a good time."

The guards said nothing more, simply nodding before moving toward the left. Their pace was brisk, as if eager to put distance between themselves and the ruffians.

Meanwhile, the ruffians took their time, dragging their feet as they strolled to the right.

Silence settled over the alley again as Xaren and Ilya waited, listening.

The guards turned a corner and disappeared. The ruffians continued their slow march.

Then, just as Xaren and Ilya were about to move, one of the ruffians suddenly stopped.

"You guys go on ahead," he muttered to his group. "I got something to handle."

His companions barely acknowledged him, waving him off as they kept walking. The man, however, turned back and headed straight toward the junction.

Xaren and Ilya instinctively moved back toward their cover, but something was off.

The man reached the intersection, but instead of retracing his steps, he turned—heading into their alley.

"I sensed something around here," he muttered, eyes narrowing.

His irises glowed faintly as his gaze swept the darkness, clearly the effect of a skill, most likely a detection ability.

Xaren and Ilya realized they'd been spotted, and in that moment, Ilya's demeanour changed.

Faster than Xaren could even give a signal or something, Ilya moved.

A gust of wind brushed past him, and before the ruffian could open his mouth to speak, Ilya's knee slammed into his lower jaw. The impact snapped his mouth shut with brutal force—his own teeth cutting into his tongue.

Before his brain could fully process the pain, Ilya grabbed his shoulders and vaulted over him. In one smooth motion, she landed on his back, hooking her legs around his torso.

Her hands snapped up, one gripping his jaw, the other pressing against the top of his head.

A sharp CRACK resounded in the alley, and the ruffian's body went limp instantly.

Ilya leapt off him as he collapsed, but before his body could hit the ground, Xaren raised a hand. A pulse of gravity magic caught the corpse mid-fall, halting the noise of impact.

Without a word, he pulled open his magic pouch and tossed the corpse inside the enchanted bag. That took up half its capacity and increased its weight, so Xaren had to use gravity magic to lighten it a bit so it didn't affect his movement speed.

He tied the pouch back to his waist and dashed forward soundlessly, disappearing from the area before the other ruffians could even notice something was amiss.