DMS Chapter 211

Riverside was enormous. Flinx would have considered it a city rather than a town. Like every other settlement he had visited, the grain fields lay within the outer walls.

A second, shorter wall separated the fields from the town proper. The guards at the outer gate had informed him that he only needed to present the papers they had given him to pass through the inner gate without any difficulty.

Flinx continued his leisurely walk while observing the people working in the fields. Every farmer he saw looked tired from the day's labor, yet they also appeared content with their lives. There was no trace of hopelessness in their expressions. They simply looked like honest people working to provide for their families.

Some of the farmers chatted with one another as they worked, smiling from time to time. Between the fields, children ran and played freely, making it obvious that the townspeople felt safe behind Riverside's towering walls.

Flinx had no idea what the farmers were working on. It was already autumn, and he wasn't familiar with the seasonal farming cycle of this world.

A quick search using the browser in the first tab of his System Panel—essentially the internet browser created from the former dungeon miner slaves on Earth—informed him that grain fields were typically prepared for winter crops during autumn. Based on what he observed, that seemed to be exactly what the farmers were doing.

He also noticed that everyone, especially the children, wore thick clothing. The air was cold, but the absence of rain allowed the children to enjoy playing outside. He imagined that whenever it rained, their parents kept them indoors to avoid illnesses brought on by the chilly autumn weather.

There were children everywhere, and their laughter filled the air. Some played games like tag or hide-and-seek, while others used their imaginations, pretending to be adventurers battling fearsome monsters.

Eventually, a few of the children noticed Flinx and immediately ran toward him.

At first, he expected them to ask for sweets or treats. Instead, they bombarded him with questions.

"Mister, are you an adventurer?" one child asked.

"Of course he is! Can't you see the adventurer card on his chest?" another replied.

"Why is his card white? The strongest adventurer I know is Old Tom, and his card is silver," another child exclaimed.

"Old Tom is only Silver-rank! Above Silver is Gold, and above Gold is Diamond. My brother told me Diamond cards look white, but they sparkle! Just like that man's card!" a boy shouted excitedly.

The moment the other children heard him, every pair of eyes widened as they stared at Flinx with amazement.

"That's right," Flinx said with a smile. "I'm a Diamond-rank wizard adventurer."

"You're a wizard? Can you show us some magic?" one boy asked while practically bouncing with excitement.

Every child looked at him with eager anticipation, treating him as though he were a traveling entertainer.

Since Flinx had enjoyed watching them play, he decided it was only fair to entertain them in return.

He cast Minor Illusion.

A tiny sapling suddenly sprouted from the ground before rapidly growing into a majestic tree. Moments later, it dissolved into thousands of colorful birds that scattered into the sky.

The children erupted into cheers and applause. Some laughed in delight, while others immediately begged him to perform another spell.

For a brief moment, Flinx felt like Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, entertaining the young hobbits with fireworks after being introduced as a disturber of the peace.

The commotion attracted the attention of several nearby farmers.

At first, the adults looked wary. After all, Flinx was still a stranger surrounded by children. However, once they noticed the Diamond-rank adventurer's badge on his chest, their concern visibly faded.

Flinx couldn't help but be impressed by the respect commanded by Gold-rank adventurers and above. His badge alone had already spared him several awkward situations that might otherwise have arisen.

The farmers simply nodded politely before returning to their work after seeing that Flinx didn't seem bothered by the children's endless questions.

Eventually, Flinx told them that he needed to continue to the town proper before it grew too late.

The children looked disappointed, but they happily followed him as he continued walking toward the inner wall.

They seemed delighted that Flinx patiently answered every question they asked, most of which centered on his life as an adventurer.

He told them stories about exploring dungeons and described many of the monsters he had encountered. At the same time, he repeatedly emphasized that, while dungeon delving was highly profitable, it was also one of the most dangerous professions in the world.

He could practically see the children's eyes sparkle with excitement as dreams of becoming powerful adventurers took root in their hearts.

Flinx merely shrugged inwardly.

Judging from the games they had been playing earlier, the children had already admired the adventurers who regularly visited Riverside. Since the town possessed a Gold-rank dungeon, there was every chance that many of them would eventually become adventurers themselves.

The children chatted nonstop as they walked beside him, but Flinx didn't mind in the slightest. They had probably decided he was patient enough to answer every question they could think of.

Most of them were innocent.

They asked what kinds of monsters he had fought, what the strongest dungeon monster he had ever defeated was, and whether he had ever been afraid.

Flinx told them about the monsters he had encountered in the Dungeon of Mara, including the powerful bosses that guarded its deepest floor.

They believed every word he said. The Diamond-rank badge on his chest was proof enough that he wasn't exaggerating.

What impressed them most was that he had explored dungeons alone.

Flinx firmly warned them not to imitate him.

"If you truly want to become adventurers and live long lives," he said, "always delve into dungeons with trusted companions. Having someone watching your back is still the safest way to survive."

He smiled before adding, "Besides, adventures are much more enjoyable when you have friends beside you. Great accomplishments mean more when there are people there to witness them."

Flinx had a feeling that his last sentence was what truly convinced them not to idolize solo adventuring.

Eventually, they reached the gate in the inner wall.

The children all waved goodbye before running back toward the fields to continue playing.

Flinx watched them go, knowing that they could only enjoy such carefree days because they were still young.

In a few years, many of them would likely be helping their families with work instead of spending their afternoons playing games, just as the older children he had seen were already doing.

Even so, their cheerful laughter continued to echo across the fields, sounding like music to Flinx's ears.

Once they had disappeared into the distance, he approached the gate and presented the papers the outer guards had given him.

The guard at the inner gate examined them for only a few seconds before nodding and allowing him to enter.

Stepping through the gate, Flinx found himself genuinely impressed by Riverside's size and prosperity.

He wondered why it was still classified as a town instead of a city. In his opinion, it was already large enough to deserve the title.

The streets were paved with cobblestones, and municipal workers swept them clean, keeping the town remarkably tidy. The familiar scent of livestock and fresh produce still lingered in the air, but it wasn't overwhelming. Instead, it simply reminded Flinx that Riverside's citizens took pride in keeping their town clean and well-maintained.