Chapter 33: Meeting with the elites!!

"Life."

"What does it entail?"

"Why do we love it more than anything?"

These questions weighed heavily on my mind as I observed the cheering warriors, bravely suppressing the pain of losing someone they loved and held dear. I wasn't accustomed to seeing someone shed tears for me or find joy in my well-being.

It was a new sensation that washed over me as I gazed at the warriors before me. Their ability to exhibit happiness while concealing the pain in their hearts stemmed from their sense of duty in protecting their town and saving the lives of thousands of people residing within it.

As for me, I didn't have such a grand mission in mind when I joined this battle. My purpose was simple: to kill, and I achieved that goal.

I killed every monster that came towards me without a care for anyone else. The sight of blood excited me. While others fought to protect, I fought because it thrilled me.

This might be the main difference between me and others. They had families and homes within the town where they could find happiness without worry.

As for me, I was alone and could go anywhere I pleased. I didn't have anyone tying me to this town. I ended up here because it was the farthest I could go with my mortal body when I arrived. I might have ended up in another part of the world if my body had been powerful enough to deal with the monsters infesting the areas, blocking me from entering those territories.

After dealing with the dead bodies, everyone who had participated in the war entered the town. Almost everyone was going towards the guild to collect rewards while those requiring immediate medical services were taken to the 'Alchemist guild' that dealt with such cases.

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At the Guild Hall…

It was already evening by the time we were able to return to the town after dealing with the aftermath of the battle. There were still several people collecting the bodies and monster cores from the monsters that had been slain during the stampede. It was lively if I had to say.

And, I was seated with two others in one of the VIP rooms in the entire building.

They were the strongest warriors who contributed the most in today's war. One commanded the flow of the battle, providing valuable information and orders to those participating in the fight.

Another single-handedly exterminated several powerful monsters with a smile etched on his face. His confident demeanor and smile bringing hope to several warriors who fought alongside him on the battlefield.

The last person was me, a powerful warrior with extreme blood thirst. Unlike the smiles of the guild master and the lord of this town, my smile evoked feelings of despair in others just by looking at me.

I had already changed into new clothes that covered my entire body, with a new mask concealing my face completely. My long coat was gone, shredded into several pieces, along with the rune inscribed on it. So, I changed into some casual attire and wore a mask to conceal my face. My wounds were also bandaged, making me able to attend this meeting with the most powerful warriors in the town.

"Thank you very much, warrior," the Lord of this town expressed his gratitude as he looked at me.

I nodded in acknowledgment before indulging in the food laid out before me. The food here surpassed that provided in the guild. Although it didn't compare to what I could cook myself, I was content.

I might have looked like some illiterate bastard in front of these two nobles, but who cares when you have enough strength to back yourself?

" Are you new to the town??" I looked at the 'guild leader' who was looking at me with curiosity. 

" You could say that."

"No wonder we haven't heard of someone as strong as you residing in our town," remarked the Lord, his eyes bright with the realization as if he had uncovered a profound truth about the world.

"Are you planning to stay here for a while, or will you be setting out once the matter related to the monster stampede has been handled?" The lord asked, attempting to appear nonchalant about the question, but the brightness in his eyes betrayed his curiosity and interest in recruiting me.

It was easy for me to understand his mindset, as I had seen the same look in the eyes of authorities when they took away one of the awakeners who had awakened on the same day I was deemed as a worthless creature. That awakener had even manifested a trait that boosted their mana capacity, a testament to their talent in magic. Although it seemed lackluster compared to the traits I possessed, having a large amount of mana gave them an edge in battles because they could fight for prolonged periods if necessary. 

The expression on the Lord's face mirrored the ones I had seen before, with one significant difference — he regarded me as someone worthy of respect. In contrast, those people viewed the newly awakened warrior as a mere tool, a pawn on their chessboard to be thrown away when necessary.

"I will be staying here for some time before embarking on other adventures," I responded, intrigued by his expression. If it aligned with my interests, I was open to working with him.

However, if I found the offer unsuitable...

"I would politely decline."

And if they attempted to coerce me into their service...

"I'm not afraid to kill."

I wasn't like some tender green grass sheltered in a greenhouse, fearful of the act. I was akin to a regal tiger, instilling panic and fear in the forest I had once called home before arriving here.

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Two hours later…..

I left the hall feeling satisfied with the proposition they had presented to me. It was perhaps the easiest conversation I had ever had with anyone to date.

Both the Guild Master and the Lord of the town were easygoing individuals who didn't fuss over my mannerisms, and I was also content with the terms and conditions they proposed. I was to become an honorary protector of the town and an elite member of the guild. The town offered me a peaceful mansion within the heart of the town to reside in, and the guild would grant me fifty contribution points every month for my use. It was more than I could earn right now.

As for my responsibilities, I was to assist the guild in raiding dungeons once a month and help the town deal with wild monsters occasionally.

Both of these were the tasks I was already planning to do, so it wasn't difficult for me to readily accept the proposition. If I could get more for doing the job I was already planning on doing, it was better than just selling the items to the guild.

I was even provided with a new ring engraved with 'E,' indicating my rank as an adventurer. Its storage capacity was much larger than the one that was on the stomach of the 'Dire Wolf King' I had killed.

When asked about the old ring, I simply told them the truth.

They prepared the new ring for me without asking any questions, recording my mana imprint for the second time without anyone knowing that I was one of the awakeners who had recently registered with the guild.

My old registered identity as an adventurer was gone, much like the fingers that had been devoured by the Dire wolf.

I had registered myself as 'Aditi' previously. It was something I came up on the spot because I didn't want to provide my real information to the guild which could be later used to track me down if I was hunted by powerful people.

I registered myself as 'Grey' this time, ready to face anything that came my way.

While my strength didn't make me invincible, it was sufficient to allow me to escape from powerful adversaries if necessary.

I knew I wouldn't die easily; if they couldn't finish me off in one shot, I would survive. So, I was fine with registering as Grey instead of using another alias like last time.It only required me to wait patiently until I was powerful enough to handle my enemies, considering my eternal lifespan unless I was taken down in a single shot.