Just as Athen was about to turn around and embark on his journey to the capital city, a sudden voice interrupted him.

Looking down at the security center of the town, Athen spotted a familiar figure talking to one of the security members.

With a piece of paper in his hand, the bartender that Athen knew so well was talking to a figure who had a sword wrapped around his waist.

Seeing the security guard take his paper, the bartender immediately began speaking.

"Please, we need to make this town a better place... for the future generations."

Raising his hand to his face, the bartender pretended to wipe away tears before continuing.

"That kid, Athen...he's a terrible influence on the kids in our town, and he constantly commits crimes, knowing he can get away with them."

"Just last night, that kid deliberately smashed one of my precious glasses. Then...he looked straight at me and smiled as if he was happy because of my suffering."

"I speak for all business owners in the city when I say...he needs to go!"

"..."

Athen, standing atop the roof, was silent upon hearing the pure shamelessness of the bartender.

"He owns bars...what the hell is he talking about making this town a better place? HALF THE CRIMES HERE ARE CAUSED BY DRUNK PEOPLE!"

The security guard, clearly not buying the bartender's hypocrisy, sighed before accepting the paper and saying.

"I'll make sure he pays for the glass he broke."

The bartender, clearly not happy at the punishment, angrily demanded.

"HE NEEDED TO BE IN A CELL! HE CAN'T KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH T-"

"Alright, that's enough."

Ignoring the fuming bartender, the security guard reentered the center with the drawing of Athen in hand.

Clearly not happy, the bartender walked off while muttering.

"If they can't stop that child...I'll take matters into my own hands."

Keeping the bartender's words in mind, Athen descended from the rooftop before rushing towards the town's gate.

Arriving at the road that led out of the town, Athen wiped off his sweat before finding a place under the shade to rest.

Walking from this town to the capital would be pure insanity and take over a week.

Stolen story; please report.

So, Athen needed another mean of transportation.

And it just so happened that there were some visitors who were going to the capital city as well.

The adult with the suit and briefcase, who had the diamond before Athen's robbery, was clearly not a student, so he had to be a teacher at the academy.

Thus, he would also need to get to the academy within two days to start teaching on time.

Or...he could be some random person who, like Athen, stole the diamond from a student who was accepted.

But considering the man's luxurious attire and well-groomed face, Athen doubted that he was a robber.

Leaning against the wall, Athen kept a close eye on the road, making sure the visitors didn't pass by without him.

The gates of the town were closed in the early morning hours by security as they didn't want anyone entering or exiting the town without their supervision.

Since the gate was still closed, the visitors couldn't have left yet, and considering the distance between the capital city and this distant town, they would have to leave soon.

Hearing a sound, Athen slipped into the shadows before glancing at the closed gate.

Three security guards, each equipped with a key, headed to the gate while talking amongst themselves.

"I'm telling you...this place is a shitcan compared to the capital city. My brother went last week, and he described the most amazing things to me."

"Man, this place is a shitcan compared to anything in the world. Get over it, alright?"

"Yeah, at least we can find jobs and get money here. And man... if you thought criminals were dangerous here, just imagine them with that fairytail shit they call 'magic.' "

Finishing their conversation, one of the guards took his key out and began unlocking the gate while the others walked to the right and left side.

As the gate was unlocked, the other guards pulled back the right and left side toward them, opening the gate wide.

*CLACK-CLACK! CRUNCH! RATTLE-RATTLE! THUD!*

Thankfully, Athen didn't have to wait long as he immediately heard a carriage approaching the now-open gates.

Glancing at the window of the carriage, a sudden jolt went through Athen's chest as he spotted the two men with suits and briefcases inside.

While the security guards investigated and checked the carriage, Athen took a deep breath.

The cooldown of his time-stopping ability had always been at least two days.

When he had used the ability for the first time, the cooldown had actually been over a week, and since then, it had been constantly decreasing as he used it more and more.

However, the time he could use the ability remained constant ten seconds.

Before this, his main use of the ability had simply been to search for any money.

In his incorporeal form, Athen could search an entire pile of trash within two seconds as he could just start from the bottom or float upwards.

Normally, he would have to closely examine the pieces of trash to make sure he wasn't missing anything, but as a spirit, every small detail was visible to him.

Though it was only ten seconds, Athen saved hours of time by flying through trash piles to determine if they had anything worthwhile.

"Alright, you're good."

As the security guards gave their approval and walked away from the carriage, allowing it to pass, Athen covered his ears, shutting out all distractions.

He needed his ability to activate despite it being less than 24 hours since his last use.

Leaving the town without identification was impossible, so Athen couldn't just walk through the gates.

And every exit of the town was closely guarded, so escaping in this broad daylight was impossible.

Shaking his head, Athen began focusing on the sound of his heartbeat.

"BA-dum... BA-dum..."

"BA-dum... BA-dum..."

His body, perhaps realizing that Athen was attempting to activate the ability, immediately started shaking.

As a surge of pain enveloped his body and his heart tightened, Athen covered his mouth, not letting his inward screams of pain out.

Biting his tongue to distract himself from the pain, Athen muttered.

"Please body not now...I've been through much worse."

Gripping the diamond in his pocket, Athen endured the pain, still focusing on the sound of his heartbeat.

"BA-dum... BA-dum..."

Closing his eyes, Athen focused on his stomach, which was burning up as blood rapidly coursed through his veins.