Limitless Summoner: Rise of the Soul God-Chapter 94: Valdren

The next few days were uneventful. Ethan and Lia traveled south towards Valdren, the nearest city. The forests and roads they crossed were quiet, almost too quiet. Since their encounter with the corrupted creatures near the mines, Ethan had kept his senses sharp, half-expecting more of them to appear. But for now, nothing.

He used the time to refine his control over his mana, experimenting with new ways to optimize his summoning efficiency and practicing mana bolt again. Lia continued tending to his minions, ensuring that any injuries were healed quickly, and occasionally pestering him about his eating habits—not that he paid much attention.

The only real encounters they had were with the occasional merchant caravan or wandering mercenaries, but Ethan made sure to avoid unnecessary interactions and kept a low profile.

By the fourth night, as they camped under the stars near the outskirts of a dense woodland, Lia poked at the fire, her expression thoughtful. "We should be getting close to the city soon, Master" she mused. "Do you think we’ll find anything useful there?"

Ethan smirked, stretching his arms. "If nothing else, we’ll find trouble."

Lia laughed at the joke, her face reddening when Ethan caught her smiling at him. She quickly looked away, focusing back on the fire as if it suddenly held the most interesting sight in the world.

Ethan noticed but decided not to comment, simply leaning back against a fallen log, gazing at the star-speckled sky above. In just a few days, his life had changed so much now that his past life felt like a fleeting dream he had a long time ago. He let out a sigh and then stood back up. "Shall we?"

Lia nodded and put off the fire. The two of them continued walking and just before daybreak they reached the outskirts of the city. Ethan immediately became nervous. This city was definitely bigger.

Towering stone walls loomed over them, patrolled by guards in heavy armor, their spears glinting under the pale morning light. The city gates stood tall, flanked by long lines of merchants, travelers, and mercenaries waiting to be inspected before entry.

Ethan pulled his hood lower over his face, his instincts already on high alert. A city this size meant more people, more rules, and more watchful eyes. He had spent the last few days enjoying the freedom of the wilderness, but now, they were stepping into a place where their every move could be scrutinized.

The only good thing was there was no bounty on his head this time around.

Lia cast a glance at the line of people ahead. "Do we have a plan, Master?" she asked quietly.

Ethan exhaled slowly. "Yeah. Keep it simple. We’re just another pair of mercenaries looking for work."

Lia nodded, adjusting her cloak. "And if they ask for papers, Master?"

"Then we play dumb," Ethan murmured. "Plenty of wandering fighters don’t carry proper documentation. Worst case, we bribe our way in."

They moved toward the back of the line, blending in among the other travelers. The air was thick with the scent of packed bodies, and sweat. Ethan kept his eyes forward, listening in on the conversations around him.

A grizzled trader was arguing with a guard about tax rates. A group of sellswords ahead were laughing loudly, boasting about a recent bounty. A nervous-looking couple clutched hands, whispering anxiously about whether they had all the right papers.

Ethan and Lia kept their heads down, waiting for their turn. As the line moved slowly forward, he scanned the guards, gauging their behavior.

Some were lax, barely looking at travelers before waving them through. Others were more thorough, demanding papers, checking bags, and sometimes pulling people aside for questioning.

Just as their luck would have it they got the more thorough guards and in the end, they had to pay a fee for the missing documents. But Ethan did not care too much about it. Money could always be earned. At least now they were inside.

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Ethan pulled his hood lower, blending into the crowd as he took in his surroundings. The city was far bigger than any place they had passed through before. Tall stone buildings lined the streets, and in the distance, he could see the spires of what looked like a grand cathedral or palace.

Lia walked close beside him, her eyes wide with curiosity. "It’s a lot bigger than our city," she murmured.

Ethan smirked. "Bigger means more opportunities and more information. Luckily we can find another beast nest nearby."

Lia gave a helpless smile. Her master was a battle junkie. By now she had come to accept that fact. While most people sought the comforts of civilization when entering a city, Ethan was already thinking about where to find the next fight, the next hunt. It was just how he was.

"We should find an inn first, Master," Lia suggested with a teasing smile. Ethan nodded, scanning the streets for a suitable place. "Agreed. We’ll need a base to work from, at least for a few days."

Navigating through the crowd, they moved deeper into the city, past rows of shops and busy merchants peddling their goods.

Eventually, they came across a modest-looking inn tucked between a blacksmith’s shop and a general store. The sign above the entrance read The Wandering Stag. It wasn’t extravagant, but it also didn’t seem like the kind of place that would attract too much attention.

"This should do," Ethan murmured.

Lia pushed the door open, and they stepped inside. The main hall was warmly lit, with a handful of travelers sitting around wooden tables, nursing drinks or speaking in hushed tones. A portly innkeeper stood behind the counter, wiping down a mug.

Ethan approached the counter, placing a few silver coins on the wooden surface. "We need a room. Something quiet."

The innkeeper eyed him briefly before nodding. "Two beds?"

"One," Ethan said without hesitation.

Lia immediately blushed and looked down.

The innkeeper shrugged. "Suit yourself. Second floor, third door on the left. Meals are extra."

Ethan took the key and led Lia upstairs. Their room was small but clean, with a single bed, a wooden chest, and a small window overlooking the street. Ethan dropped his bag in the corner before turning to Lia.

"Sorry Lia, we will get a better room when we have more coins."

"No, Master." Lia blurted out and then silently nodded her head.

Ethan arched a brow at her sudden outburst, but she quickly turned away, pretending to inspect the modest furnishings of the room. He smiled slightly, shaking his head before settling onto the edge of the bed.

"We won’t be here long," he said. "Just enough time to gather information and prepare for whatever comes next."

Lia nodded, still avoiding his gaze. "Yes, Master."

The two of them then went to bed together as usual. The bed was small, but they had gotten used to this arrangement by now.

It wasn’t the first time they’d had to share a bed during their travels, and Ethan knew it wouldn’t be the last. It didn’t bother him—he was used to uncomfortable conditions—but Lia always seemed a little more flustered at first before settling in.

She was cute when she behaved like this. Ethan smiled at her again before summoning Shadow to keep an eye on things and quickly fell asleep.