Chapter 10: Remembering the Past

Leaving the town of Lumia and arriving here wasn't easy, it was a daunting task, filled with numerous obstacles and challenges.

The first obstacle was exiting the town itself. Several guards, each of them Transcendent-ranked, exuded an aura of bloodlust as they stood at the entrance of the town. The way they stared at people entering and exiting, checking their bodies and carts, even destroying carts if they found anything suspicious, made it clear they were formidable and ruthless. 

These guards were the best and strongest warriors under the control of the Lord of Lumia, making it extremely challenging for anyone to leave the town unnoticed or unscathed.

For normal people, it would have been a challenge, but for someone like me who had been forced to live elusively for about 10 years, running like a rat, it wasn't actually difficult.

I knew about ten such tracks that led me outside the town without ever letting anyone know about my disappearance after terrorizing the common people for about ten years.

The challenge I faced while exiting the town was the choice of tracks I could use. 

In the end, I chose the track that led me to the outskirts of Lumia, which no one wanted to visit for one reason, it was infested by low-ranked monsters 'Stinking Slime'. 

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These slimes seeped through the barks of rotten trees, leaving a stinking slimy ground in their wake, their foul odor permeating the air like a noxious cloud.

They were a nuisance to most, their sluggish movements and repulsive appearance deterring anyone from venturing too close. However, to me, they served as a valuable cover and distraction.

The normal people in the town would be hesitant to venture into such a territory infested with Stinking Slimes. While the guards didn't have any job killing these monsters as they worked as a natural barricade preventing the wild monsters from entering the town.

Their aversion to these creatures worked to my advantage, allowing me to move more freely and evade detection as I navigated through the slimy ground.

Despite the discomfort of trudging through the slimy terrain, I welcomed the presence of the Stinking Slimes. Their repugnant odor masked my scent and drew the attention of the wild monsters away from my escape route.

It was a calculated gamble but one that ultimately paid off as I was successfully able to exit the town without getting detected.

During my stay in the lair belonging to the Stinking Slimes, which lasted about 15 days, I meticulously collected the Slimy goo left by these monsters as I moved through their territory.

The goo, while repulsive to most, held a unique value for me. I made sure to gather the stenchiest slimy goo during my stay, knowing that its foul odor would be of great help to me in the journey ahead.

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The next challenge I faced was the 'Forest of Gloom,' home to another low-level monster, kobolds. These monsters were highly territorial I entered the forest with great determination.

These creatures were humanoid, with dog-like heads, tails, sharp canines, and talons on their claws. What drew me to this forest was the kobolds' strong sense of smell.

Knowing that kobolds relied heavily on their sense of smell, I used the slimy goo I had collected from the territory of the Stinking Slimes as a perfect deterrent.

I smeared the slime on my body, masking my human scent and emitting a repugnant smell that was intolerable to these monsters. This strategy made my journey through the Forest of Gloom much smoother and less perilous than leaving the city itself.

It took me about a month to journey through this forest. I was forced to eat the raw meat of the kobolds I had killed as starting the fire would have been an open invitation for these monsters.

Even consuming raw meat was precarious, as I had to constantly be vigilant of my surroundings. The scent of fresh blood and flesh could attract a pack of hungry kobolds, turning a meal into a life-threatening situation.

I was always in a state of vigilance during the whole journey. 

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Only after exiting the forest and reaching the outskirts of a town did I take a deep breath.

This town was totally different from the town of Lumia I had escaped from. The main inhabitants of this town were Dwarves.

The town inhabited by Dwarves was a sight to behold, it was a blend of natural beauty and Dwarven craftsmanship. 

The buildings were made of sturdy stone, with intricate carvings adorning them. Each structure was a work of art, showcasing the Dwarves' attention to detail and love for fine craftsmanship.

The streets were lined with shops and workshops, where Dwarves worked tirelessly on their trades, whether it be forging weapons and armor, crafting jewelry, or brewing the finest booze in the region. It was the best booze I had ever tasted in my life. The boose found in the town I am living in isn't worth anything in front of the dwarven booze I was provided at the tavern there.

The marketplace was a bustling hub of activity, filled with stalls selling a wide array of goods. Dwarven-made weapons, armor, and tools were highly sought after for their quality and durability. Merchants bartered with customers, their voices echoing through the lively market square.

Taverns and inns dotted the town, offering a warm respite for travelers and locals alike. The smell of hearty stews, roasted meats, and freshly baked bread wafted from the taverns, tempting hungry patrons to indulge in a hearty meal and a mug of ale.

The town's defenses were impressive, with sturdy walls and gates guarded by vigilant Dwarven warriors. They took pride in protecting their home and ensuring the safety of its residents. These all things were learned by me during my stay in the town as....

On the day I arrived here, I didn't bother or have the energy to deal with all these things; the first thing I did was sell the hides of the Kobolds I had skinned at one of the blacksmiths and then searched for the cheapest inn to spend the night in.

The room I stayed in at the cheapest inn in the Dwarven town was considerably smaller than the one I use today, but at that time, it was the safest place for me.

The room was basic, with minimal furniture—a hard bed being the only piece in the whole space. However, that simple bed provided me with the warmth and tranquility that I hadn't felt for more than a month during my journey from Lumia to the Dwarven town.

After spending about one week in the Dwarven town, I managed to sell all the hides I had brought with me. The time spent in the town allowed me to gradually relax my mind and body, enjoying the warmth and tranquility that the town offered. It was a much-needed respite after the challenges I had faced during my journey from Lumia.

Feeling rejuvenated, I once again prepared myself for the road ahead, ready to embark on another journey to the next town. My destination lay far away from Lumia, the town where I had been brought up, but didn't have any good memories of.

I wanted to journey to the farthest place I could.

"And that I did."

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I journeyed for about six months after leaving that town before finally settling here, with a new name, and new hope. I had tried to renew myself, trying to forget everything I had gone through.

I was now trying to live a better life, just as the couple wanted. So, the first thing I did was change my name. I changed it from 'Fransis De Luminus,' which was the name I had been given by the orphanage, to 'Grey', reflecting my life till that time.

It was my first step towards living the life I had promised the old couple. And now after all these years, listening to the name 'Lumia', I felt a chill down my spine as it brought with it the life I wanted to forget at all costs.

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It has been almost two years after I had settled in this town, working as a laborer for raid parties, earning some money. It was monotonous but I was Ok with this lifestyle for now.

Now back to the conversation that has been taking place at the dining table I am seated on.

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"The town with the Dungeon break was 'Luminus,' I believe," the scarred adventurer remarked, his expression slightly puzzled.

"Hmm... I thought it was 'Lumia,'" another adventurer chimed in from beneath their hooded mask, correcting him.

"Ah, right! It was Lumia," the scarred adventurer blushed slightly as his memory cleared.

"The situation seems concerning based on the guild's message. They've added several missions for monster subjugation in the forest around that town recently," a mage with a wand spoke up.

"Should we accept the mission?" the question turned everyone's attention to the scarred adventurer.

"No, let's hold off for now. We'll wait a week for more information. If there are no updates by then, we'll take on the mission," he decided, earning nods of agreement from the rest of the party.

"Sounds like a plan," the mage nodded in agreement. "We don't want to rush into a potentially dangerous situation without knowing all the details."

The hooded adventurer adjusted their mask slightly before speaking again. "I'll keep an eye on any new information that comes in. If there are any developments, I'll let everyone know."

"Good idea," the scarred adventurer acknowledged with a nod. "In the meantime, we should focus on stocking up on supplies and making sure our equipment is in top condition."

The conversation shifted to preparations for their journey, with each member of the party discussing their roles and responsibilities. They agreed to reconvene in a week's time to reassess the situation and make a final decision about accepting the monster subjugation mission near Lumia.

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And I listened to everything they were talking about with my face flushed with excitement. I was waiting for the destruction of the whole town along with the brutal death of the lord of that freaking town. I literally was praying for the destruction of that town.

"Wasn't I crazy??"