Gonna Be a Demon King!-Chapter 49: Exploring the City

Xaren's consciousness stirred abruptly.

His eyes flickered open, blinking away the haze of sleep as he stared at the wooden ceiling above. A few seconds passed before awareness settled in and he remembered where he was and why he was here.

He exhaled, finally sitting up.

The soft light of the morning sun slipped through the gaps in the thick curtain, casting faint golden lines across the room's interior. He rubbed his face, then swung his legs over the edge of the bed, pushing himself to his feet.

The room's small washroom was attached to the side, and he stepped in without a word. The cold water against his face did its job, pulling the last remnants of drowsiness from his mind.

He let out a quiet sigh, then reached into the magic pouch strapped to his waist, retrieving a small timepiece.

A little past eight. Right on time.

In his past life, Xaren had trained himself to sleep lightly—light enough to wake at the faintest disturbance unless he was completely exhausted.

His biological clock, honed over years of conditioning, ensured he could rouse himself at the hour he intended, with only the smallest margin for error.

Conditioning his new demon body had taken some time, but in the end, he had succeeded. The siren waking them up at dawn every day during their Wing Training had contributed greatly.

Stepping back into the main room, he found Ilya already awake. He wasn't surprised by this.

She was a light sleeper too. Rather, she had no choice but to be. The months she had spent as an unranked demon had conditioned her the same way—always ready to be called into battle at any moment.

The sounds of him moving to the washroom and running water were enough to rouse her from slumber.

"It's around eight," he informed her. "I was planning for us to head downstairs for breakfast."

Ilya nodded, moving to rinse the sleep from her eyes with some water before joining him. Together, they made their way downstairs.

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The ground floor was much livelier than before.

Where the hall had been quiet when they arrived, it was now bustling with activity. People filled the tables, some in light armour, some in thick cloaks, some looking like ordinary civilians.

Soldiers, mercenaries, travellers—they were all gathered here, sharing meals and conversation over steaming plates of food.

Zlego wasn't a completely self-sufficient city, so it needed imports from other parts of the Cinder Region. Mercenaries also came here since it was a frontline city, hoping to get some work in.

While Xaren thought about this little trivia, he and Ilya approached the counter. Noticing them, the innkeeper looked up and spoke.

"Ha! I was thinking you'd sleep till noon or something."

Xaren let out a short laugh. "Didn't want to miss breakfast."

A few people near the counter turned at the exchange, their brows rising slightly as they noticed the two unfamiliar children. A couple of mercenaries in the hall cast them lingering glances, sizing them up.

Ilya ignored their stares and hopped onto the counter, while Xaren met their eyes, raising a single brow.

His expression asked the question: What are you looking at?

Then, just for effect, he released the faintest pulse of magic power—a subtle pressure that crept into the air like an unseen force.

The mercenaries flinched at the sudden weight pressing down on them, and with that, Xaren turned back to the counter and took a seat.

The innkeeper, having noticed the exchange, let out a chuckle.

"Ho? You use magic, kid?"

Xaren wasn't surprised that he'd recognized it. He could already sense the faint aura of magic radiating from the man himself.

Despite being an innkeeper, the guy was at least level 90 or so. Considering the kind of district they were in, that only made sense.

Someone running an establishment here needed enough strength to avoid being extorted by gangs or ruffians—the kind they had seen the night before.

"Yeah," Xaren replied easily. "Had to pick up a little magic to protect myself, you know?"

"Hah. Smart thinking."

The innkeeper nodded in approval, leaning against the counter as he continued.

"Then for your little job search, why not try heading to the Central District? Might find a noble willing to hire you. Or, if you've got enough talent, you could assist a mage at the Magic Tower."

Xaren hummed in thought, responding after some moments.

"We'll check out the Central District eventually. But first, we want to see what this district has to offer."

The innkeeper nodded with a shrug. "Fair enough."

As they spoke, a worker emerged from the kitchen behind the counter, balancing trays stacked with plates of food.

The innkeeper swiped two from the pile and set them down in front of Xaren and Ilya, along with two glasses of water.

The two of them murmured their thanks before digging into the meal.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

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The meal was nothing special—not bad, but not particularly good either.

Xaren and Ilya finished eating within minutes before heading back to their rooms to freshen up and change.

Since they had claimed to be looking for work, staying in all day wasn't an option. Besides, it served as the perfect excuse—especially for Ilya—to do some sightseeing.

Xaren stood in front of the small washroom mirror, adjusting the silver earrings clipped onto his ears.

They were simple in design, but their function—altering his skin colour—was far more valuable than their plain appearance suggested. Tilting his head slightly, he pressed his fingers against the earrings, ensuring they were secure.

Satisfied, he lowered his hands and took a moment to glance at his reflection.

He wore a black, fitted shirt tucked neatly into well-worn trousers, fastened with a simple belt. His leather shoes were scuffed just enough to look lived-in, but not too battered.

With this appearance, he looked no different from any other young man trying to make a living in the city. His height did mark him as barely a teen, but he wasn't the only kid around. He wouldn't stand out.

Stepping out of the washroom, he found Ilya already waiting by the door.

Her outfit mirrored the style of the locals—an earth-toned bodice over a long-sleeved blouse, paired with a muted skirt that brushed just above her ankles. The colours were subdued, matching her white hair and black eyes without drawing too much attention.

She tilted her head slightly, as if silently asking if he was ready.

He nodded. "Let's go."

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The moment they stepped out of the inn, the city's energy enveloped them.

The streets were alive with motion—carriages rattled by, wheels clattering against stone as they wove between pedestrians.

Merchants called out from their stalls, advertising fresh produce, fabrics, trinkets, and all manner of goods. The scent of baked bread and roasted meat mingled with the crisp morning air, carried by the breeze.

People bustled about, some dressed in finely tailored coats, others in simple work attire. A group of children darted past, laughing as they chased each other through the crowd.

Near a street corner, a man haggled fiercely with a vendor over the price of a satchel, his voice rising over the surrounding chatter.

Xaren and Ilya easily stepped into the flow of the city, moving as if they belonged.

Ilya's gaze flitted from one sight to the next, taking in everything around her with quiet curiosity.

She stopped by a street vendor selling skewered meat glazed in a caramelized sauce, her nose twitching at the rich aroma.

Without hesitation, she bought one, making a valiant attempt to haggle just as Xaren had done with the innkeeper earlier. Though the vendor only shaved off a few coins, she still looked pleased with herself as she took a bite.

Xaren trailed behind her, watching as she darted toward another stall, this time selling crisp, fried pastries dusted with sugar. She bought one of those too, handing him a piece without waiting for a response.

They moved from one street to another, weaving through crowds and taking in the city's sights.

Shops lined the roads, some with wide-open doors displaying racks of fabric or shelves stacked with trinkets and books. Others were quieter, their goods hidden behind glass displays or thick wooden counters.

They wandered into a tailor's shop at one point, where Ilya ran her fingers over bolts of fabric, muttering about how different they felt from the materials she was used to.

These were ordinary textiles, completely devoid of magic power, which felt strange to her after being so accustomed to the enchanted fabrics common in the demon army.

On a side note, while the clothes they wore appeared unremarkable, they still carried minor defensive enchantments.

While Ilya was busy being fascinated by the fabrics in one corner of the shop, Xaren casually browsed a section of coats, though he had no intention of buying one.

After some time, they found themselves outside a café with an open-air seating area. The scent of fresh bread and brewed tea filled the air, and after a brief exchange, they decided to take a short break.

While sitting at the corner table, Xaren glanced at the street and spotted some 'Job Vacancy' signs, thinking that he might as well check some of them out when they were done with the day's business.

From there, they continued their exploration, stopping to admire a fountain in the centre of a plaza.

Water arched into the air before splashing down into the stone basin, glistening under the daylight. Children played near its edge while merchants and travellers passed by without a second glance.

At one point, they wandered into an area filled with workshops, where craftsmen worked in outdoor sections shaded by wooden awnings.

Blacksmiths hammered glowing metal, sparks flying with every strike. Carpenters carved patterns into wooden panels, while a glassblower shaped molten glass carefully, the finished pieces cooling on a nearby table.

Ilya turned to ask Xaren if they should check out the blacksmith's shop to see if they had good weapons, but before she could speak, he was already stepping into a nearby grocery store.