DMS Chapter 210

Flinx found it amusing that he had to stay close to the road to avoid getting lost and accidentally traveling in circles.

He knew he should at least be aware of the direction he was heading, so he retrieved a compass from his fourth tab space and checked it. The needle confirmed that the road was still leading east.

He decided to check the compass every few hours just to make sure he remained on the correct path.

One advantage of staying on the road was that monsters tended to avoid it. Not that he feared them, but he didn't want his peaceful journey interrupted by rampaging creatures. He was still enjoying his solitary travels and had no desire to spoil them with the horrifying sights of goblins, gnolls, or kobolds.

For the past few days, his journey had been completely solitary. He hadn't encountered a single traveler, and he found himself feeling as though he were the only person in a beautiful world.

He knew many people would find such solitude unsettling, but he wasn't one of them. A large part of the reason he didn't feel truly alone was that, if he ever desired company, he could simply teleport to Ilioven.

Over the past several days, his routine had settled into a comfortable rhythm. He woke up early after a restful night's sleep before enjoying a hearty breakfast purchased from his System Shopping Site.

He appreciated that his previous dungeon expeditions, undertaken to reach the level required to return to Earth, had earned him enough mana stones that he no longer had to worry about running out of money. He could purchase whatever food he wanted without concern. Unlike before, he no longer had to cook simply to conserve his funds.

After breakfast, he would dismiss his magical log cabin and continue his leisurely journey wherever the road led.

Flinx knew some people would think he was wasting precious time and should instead devote himself to growing stronger so he could one day take revenge on the Torbal Slavers. However, he needed this journey to heal.

He refused to let revenge consume his life. More than vengeance, he wanted to live normally again and rebuild the ability to form healthy relationships with others.

He understood that this journey alone would never fully heal his emotional wounds. For that, he would eventually need professional help. Unfortunately, that plan would have to wait until he found a permanent way to travel between Earth and this world without losing his transmigration system.

Flinx had also decided not to stop for lunch. Since he ate such a large breakfast each morning, he had enough energy to continue walking until sunset, when he would finally have dinner.

Another reason for this decision was that he genuinely enjoyed walking. The cool autumn air was refreshing, and even when it rained, his spells allowed him to continue without getting wet.

He loved breathing in the crisp autumn air because it felt as though the land had been washed clean by the divines, leaving everything smelling fresh. Normally, he associated that scent with spring, but the autumn rain gave him the same comforting feeling.

He also enjoyed seeing the forest teeming with life. Every creature, large or small, was preparing for winter by busily gathering food to survive the coming months of cold.

When the sun began to set, Flinx would choose a suitable location to summon Galder's Tower in the form of a log cabin. He would then take a hot shower, prepare a lavish dinner, and spend the evening reading until sleep overtook him.

He had already finished four books in the Saga of Recluce series and continued to enjoy them immensely. He found L. E. Modesitt Jr.'s magic system unique and fascinating. While he wouldn't want to use such a system himself, he found it highly entertaining to read about.

Flinx had also stopped listening to music through earphones. Instead, he carried a portable speaker slung over his shoulder like a small purse. Since he was alone, he doubted anyone would mind him filling the forest with music. Besides, his playlists consisted entirely of soothing pieces, such as the Lord of the Rings soundtrack and the Skyrim soundtrack. He had also purchased several music albums from his System Shopping Site, though his personal favorites were inspirational ballads and love songs.

He wasn't worried about disturbing anyone because Pip was still scouting the surrounding area and would immediately warn him if anyone approached. If that happened, he would simply turn off the speaker.

The main reason he preferred using a speaker was that he also enjoyed listening to the sounds of the living forest. The songs of birds, rustling leaves, and distant animal calls blended beautifully with the gentle music, creating an atmosphere he found especially relaxing.

After several more days of walking, he came across a sign announcing that the town of Riverside lay ahead.

Flinx smiled at the town's rather ordinary name and assumed it had simply been built beside a river.

Two days later, he smelled the river before he finally saw it. The river was impressively wide, and since no one was nearby, curiosity got the better of him. He cast the Fly spell and rose into the sky to see where it led.

From above, he discovered that the river emptied into an enormous lake. It was so vast that it could easily be mistaken for a sea.

He also spotted the town, which was indeed built along the river and close to the massive lake. That made him wonder why it wasn't called Lakeside Town instead.

Like every other town and village he had visited, Riverside Town was surrounded by towering defensive walls.

Flinx sighed to himself, thinking that at least the kingdoms of this world only had to defend themselves against monsters instead of giants like the Titans from Attack on Titan.

He descended back to the road and resumed his leisurely pace. Judging from what he had seen from the air, he would reach the town gates within a few hours.

By late afternoon, he finally arrived at the gates of Riverside Town.

"Halt! Who are you?" a gate guard called through a small window.

"My name is Flinx. I'm a Diamond-rank wizard adventurer from Ilioven," Flinx replied.

He had decided to stop posing as a healer and simply present himself as a wizard. Being known as a healer had become exhausting, and he didn't want to spend most of his time treating patients. Although he was glad he had been able to help so many people in the previous village, he wasn't a saint and had no intention of making that his way of life.

Flinx heard hurried footsteps behind the gate. A few minutes later, a small side door opened, and a man who clearly held authority stepped outside.

"Good afternoon, Sir Flinx. My name is Robert, and I'm the guard captain currently on duty. What brings you to Riverside Town? Are you planning to explore our dungeon?" the captain asked.

"Oh? Your town has a dungeon?"

"Yes. It's a Gold-rank dungeon with seventy floors. The only reason Riverside has remained a town instead of becoming a city is that we only have a single dungeon. Even so, we occasionally receive visits from high-ranking adventurers."

"I might take a look at it, but that's not the reason I'm here. I'm simply traveling from place to place because I find journeying through the wilderness during autumn incredibly peaceful. It helps calm my mind. By the way, how much is the entrance fee for your beautiful town?"

Flinx paid a few silver coins to enter Riverside Town. His Diamond-rank adventurer token was sufficient proof of his identity, and he encountered no difficulties gaining admittance.