Arduous Month

1 month later.

" Hey."

" Hey?"

" Hey!"

"....I've never been there myself since it's so far..."

" Hey!"

" Oh, I see! So do you know if there is anything I need to watch out for when I reach there?" A figure with a red ponytail spoke to a large man wearing an apron.

" Well, I heard that just a short distance away from the city is-"

" Hey!"

"..." The man stopped.

" Ah, please don't mind him. He is not right in his mind, you see..." Levi flashed a complicated smile.

" O-Oh, I see. Right, so, a short distance away from the city is a group of...No? What was it called?" The man held his chin in thought.

" A sect?" Levi asked.

" Ah, yeah! A sect! Why couldn't I remember that word?" The man mumbled.

" Haha, well, I guess to regular people, the word sect doesn't hold much meaning!" Levi chuckled.

" Ah, no, no, no! We all know how powerful martial sects are..." The man waved while hurriedly explaining.

" I meant that since on regular days, common people don't really have a use for the word, it could be easier to forget! I didn't mean to make you sweat so much, boss." Levi scratched his head, a complicated smile on his face.

" Ah, so that was it..." The man sighed secretly.

" Anyway boss, if you remember anything else, please let me know!" Levi said.

" Oh, sure! Take care of yourself!" The man leaned against his doorframe, a large grin on his face.

" Thank you for your concern! I have to go take care of my friend. He hit his head recently, but I just couldn't abandon him." Levi said with a complicated smile.

" Huh? Who hit their head?" Adam asked.

" Hais! Don't cause the man any more trouble, let's go! It's time for your meal." Levi pulled Adam along by his arm.

" Haha, what a caring kid. If only..." The man shook his head with a large grin, before going back into his restaurant.

...

In an alley.

" What's the big idea, ah?" Levi squeezed Adam's face.

" Haa? Whadda you mean?" Adam asked.

" I'b your friend 'ight? I hid my head so you 'abe do dake care ob me!" He said.

" You little!" Levi squished around his face.

' This guy is smarter than he lets on, although I still think something is wrong with his head.' Levi thought with irritation.

'...I can't do anything to him at this point. Right now, I should always assume someone is watching my every move, therefore, killing this fool could blow my cover. But...' His thoughts paused.

'...Having him around me will 100% make me blow my cover!' Veins bulged on Levi's neck.

'...Sigh.' He mentally sighed.

"..." He let go of Adam's face, then turned and left the alley.

" Ah, it's the red-haired boy. Did you find about what you wanted to know?" A woman wearing a blue apron over a white dress and a frilly, white mop hat asked.

' The maid?' Levi thought.

" Yes, I have! Thank you for your help!" Levi waved with a smile.

" Hey, what about my meal?" Adam asked.

" Shut up, you." Levi quick-wittedly replied.

" Hmm? Oi, you found what you were lookin' for, boy?" An old man sat in front of a wooden building.

Wood shavings surrounded him, along with a curved piece of wood.

He took the pipe from his mouth before asking.

' The old craftsman.' Levi thought.

" Yes! I've been asking around, so I have learned about most of the things I wanted to know!" Levi said.

" Sorry for bothering you the other day." He said apologetically.

"...Don't worry about it." The old man said as he went back to shaving the piece of wood, the bowl of his pipe glowing as he pulled air through it.

While walking through the town, even more people stopped to speak to Levi.

Adam also continued to nag him until he walked stiffly from anger.

Due to the environment, Levi found himself calming faster than usual.

The white, tiled street, which although it went up the side of a hill, reflected the sunlight.

Along with the blooming, white flowers on the few trees growing along the roadsides were refreshing.

While he consciously calmed himself for the sake of his current identity, the soothing environment made it that much easier.

But...

...

In a small restaurant.

" Mmm! Here is the best!" A boy sat in a large chair, his legs dangling as he shoveled food into his mouth.

" Hey! Chew your food properly, Kylo!" His mother scolded.

" Ok!" The boy licked his lips happily.

Donk!

" Ahh!" A man slammed down a wooden mug.

" Hahah, the booze here is great, right!? Right?! Don't forget out bet!" Another one chided.

" Ah?! Don't get too cocky now! Who said I liked it?!"

" Are you being serious? Who are you trying to fool with that satisfied face? Gyahahah!" The man slapped the table.

In front of Levi sat a plate of rice, braised meat, and some vegetables. Along with a cup of juice.

' You know, while simple is best, you should have put a bit more work into your backstory.' The demon saint said.

' I already said it wasn't necessary. No one on this continent should know me, so unless I break character, nothing will happen.' Levi lifted a spoonful of gravy drenched rice to his face.

' Are you saying that you won't break character?' The demon saint asked.

' Yes.' Levi silently chewed.

' No matter what?' The demon saint asked.

' Why are you so persistent? You have been watching my growth from the beginning.' Levi's brows furrowed in dissatisfaction.

' Open your eyes.' The demon saint said.

" Hmm?" Levi looked up.

Clank!

" Whoa, there." Using the tips of his fingers, Levi carefully slammed his glass of juice back onto the table, causing the cutlery to chatter.

" And what might you be doing, hmm?" Levi smiled as a vein bulged on his cheek.

" I-I could ask the same of you. Release the juice." Adam said with difficulty as he continued to grip the glass.

" Well, considering I bought you food AND something to drink, I think that you might have gotten the wrong idea?" Levi firmly pressed down on the glass with a smile.

" W-Well, I know that my good friend who didn't abandon me even after I hit my head will be kind enough to allow me one more cup of juice..." Adam's grip tightened.

"..." More veins bulged on Levi's face.

" O-On second thought, I don't need the juice after all..." Adam released the glass.

' Hmm?' Levi continued to watch cautiously.

" That meat looks really good, after all!" Adam's arm blurred.

Deng!

Cutlery chattered as Levi drove a fork through the wooden table.

Adam's arm hung in place.

Levi held one hand above the other as he glared up at Adam.

" Try it. I DARE you." A dark murderous aura leaked from his body.

"..." Adam silently retracted his arm.

" That's what I thought." Levi grinned darkly, showcasing jagged teeth and bloodshot eyes.

" Dear customer, your malevolent aura is scaring the other guests. If you are finished, please leave." A waiter calmly pointed to the door.

" Wha-!" Levi looked up to the waiter in shock, then towards the plate of food of which he had eaten only a few bites.

' Hahaha! You should let me listen in more often!' The demon saint laughed loudly.

"..." Levi kept silent.

...

In the inn.

" Haaa! So full!" Adam patted his stomach, a satisfied smile on his face.

Levi's body stiffened as his veins bulged.

" Hmm? You good? Why'd you stop? Haa, guess it's time to sleep." Adam yawned before walking towards the small bed.

A firm grip stopped Adam's movements.

In an instant, he found himself outside the door.

Creak!

The door squeaked as it closed slowly.

" Hey! Wai-What are you doing?! You can't shut me out of my room!" Adam held onto the door, pulling it back open.

" What is your room?! Let go of my door! Get lost!" Levi's arm appeared through the opening, pushing Adam's head.

" Nnngggn!" Adam pulled will all of his strength.

" Enough...OF THIS SHIT!" Levi kicked the door.

Boom!

Adam crashed into the back of the hall as Levi swiftly shut and locked the door.

" Sigh, fucking hell..." Levi sighed while panting.

' Controlling my strength is not easy. Mistakingly killing him would have been bad.' He thought.

" At least with this, he will at most only break a few bones. But the real achievement...i finally got rid of that fool." Levi looked as if the life was sucked out of him.

" I don't have the energy to cultivate. After a month of having to deal with that fool...I'll just sleep." Levi said.

" Ugh! My head is sore from having my hair like this." While flat on his stomach, Levi undid the hair tie.

"..." He fell asleep immediately.

...

Night.

Click!

The lock of the door opened with a click.

' Hmm?' Levi's ears twitched as his eyes opened.

" Humph, I made it in..." A muffled voice echoed.

Creak!

The wooden floors creaked with a step.

" hehe-huh?" Confusion replaced laughter.

"..." Levi's eyes seemed to be glowing as he stood silently.

A black blade pressed against the neck of the figure.

" Who are you?" Levi asked.

" Huh? It's me! You know, me!" Adam said immediately.

" ?" Levi kept silent

He put more strength into his arm.

" Ow Ow ow! It's me! Adam! What are you doing!" Adam shouted.

'?!' Levi's thoughts were uprooted.

" How the hell did you get back in here?!" Levi Shouted while putting away the sword.

" Hmm? How? Well, I just had the innkeeper unlock it for me!" Adam said.

"..." Levi was rendered speechless.

" It was a hassle, now I'm sleepier than ever. Haaa!" He yawned.

" Ha, I was really scared just then, too! What kind of sword was that? Can I see it? Maybe tomorrow?" Adam walked towards the bed.

"..."

"..."

Levi grabbed the back of Adam's robe.

" Nope." He said as he pulled.

Adam stumbled backward before falling onto his backside.

" Ow! Siii!" He hissed from the pain.

" If you are going to continue being a pain in my ass, then do it from a safe distance." Levi said.

" I'm quite sleepy right now, don't-Haaa-Have the energy to deal with you."

" Meaning, I might not be able to control myself if you come within a certain distance of this bed...Understand?" Levi cast Adam a sidelong glance.

" Sir, yes sir!" A chill went up Adam's spine.

" Good, then sleep. If not, be quiet." Levi fell onto the bed.

He gripped the hilt of the treasure sword at his waist before falling into darkness.

...

Morning.

"..." Levi sat silently, enveloped in a blue water-like qi.

" kgnnnn!" Adam lay on the ground, his limbs all in different directions.

" Ahh! Ahhh!"

" Kgnnnn!!" Adam snored.

" Ahhh! S-So deep!" Voices from the neighboring room sounded.

"..." Levi opened his eyes as the qi seeped back into his body.

He walked to the wall before tapping it lightly.

" I'm sorry, but could you be a bit quieter?" He said.

" Eh?! H-How embarrassing!" A female voice sounded.

" Hehe, sorry about the noise bro!" A man shouted.

" Don't worry about it!" Levo said with a smile.

...

" Ahhh! Ahhhhhhh!!"

Clap! Clap! Clap!

" I-If you- Ahh!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

" You're...Being too rough! I'm! Slamming into the wall!" A voice filled with pleasure rang out.

" You like that, huh?!" The man shouted.

"..." Levi looked over at the wall, before looking down.

Qi spiraled as patterns were formed and stacked.

Crack!

' Failed...' Levi thought silently.

The process was repeated two more times.

Step! Step!

Levi walked toward the wall.

" Ahhh! Ahh! I-I'm going to!" The woman moaned.

" You're going to what?!" A slapping sound rang out as the man shouted.

" No! If you do that, I'm going to!!" The woman shouted.

" I'm going to c-" She was interrupted as a deafening screeching sound suddenly erupted.

" Ahhhh!" She screamed, but this time out of shock.

The sounds of people tumbling and bringing multiple things with them rang out.

" I'm so sorry! My hand slipped and I!" Levi shouted apologetically.

' You demon! To interrupt one of man's sacred duties! How petty!' The demon saint scolded.

" I am a petty person." Levi said deadpan.

"..." Adam sat up, drool still on his mouth as he stared blankly at Levi.

" Talking to himself...Which of us hit his head, again? Is that an interchangeable role?" He mumbled to himself.

" Ah, what does it matter? I'm still sleepy." He yawned.

He was asleep before his back touched the floor.