Chapter 23
Chapter 23: City-State Garoua Maria
「Going to the past doesn’t mean I can change my path . I wonder if it’s really worth it . 」
It was pitch black . Not from the darkness of the room nor from the obscurity of the night . It was from a black mist . All I could see was a shadowy figure wandering around me .
「It’s worthy, Lugis . But, you must be the one to forge a new path . It won’t be easy . You will face hardships along the way . A rough path I must say . A path that will crack your bones . One engulfed with flames . Even so, you’ll have the chance to avoid burning yourself as you venture through the trails of your past . There will be a way to twist your own fate! 」
The shadowy figure continued with his monologue . The voice was somber, but it sounded as if it was not from around here . And yet, it sounded very nostalgic, something from an intrinsic dream .
「In other words, it won’t be easy to change the course of your past . As long as you keep focused, with your feet and mind on the ground, there will always be a chance for you to traverse your path . 」
I could tell that this being was talking to me . But, his mouth was obscured . I wasn’t able to see him clearly . I couldn’t read this shadow’s facial expression . I wondered if he had any emotions like joy or sorrow . Therefore, I could only hear his words . Shapeless and emotionless words that I was only able to grasp from this ghostlike being .
「But, I will carry you . I won’t resent the choices you make . I will gladly accept the consequences of your actions . Therefore, I don’t mind the way you’ll change your past . I will welcome any choice you make . If…it is close to the result I want!」
His words seemed cold and monotonous . Soon, I stopped hearing him speak after a while .
Suddenly, I could hear his voice whispering next to me .
「All right, your new path has reopened . 」
—
The City-State of Garoua Maria . Even if the costumes and traditions were comparable to other neighboring countries, there wasn’t any other state that benefited from having an autonomous freedom like this city .
A robust fortification surrounded the entire metropolis . These impenetrable walls served as a protective shield . It prevented invasions from other nations and allowed them to stay away from the interferences of external conflicts . This city flourished as a center of trade between the East and the West . Because of that, the city was able to establish a firm and independent sovereignty . Under this prominent influence, many other neighboring cities began transitioning to be autonomous just like Garoua Maria . They maintained a close relationship with Garoua Maria and in a short period, they became annexed to the main city-state’s jurisdiction . It was hard to identify these neighboring cities as independent or as a whole organism since they became part of Garoua Maria .
Sponsored Content
History told us that this city-state never fell . Well yes, at least until now .
Once we entered this city, I got out of the carriage immediately since I felt I little dizzy . I could hear someone sighing slightly .
「What happened? Did you hit your head in the carriage? 」
This loud voice came from a barrel’s carrier .
Actually, it was a weird combination of a girl’s voice while taking a huge barrel herself .
This girl was quite petite but, even so, she managed to lift the barrels inside the carriage with her small body . She spoke with me with an energetic voice . This person was our guide in Garoua Maria and a friend of Ms . Ninz . Her name was Largud Ann .
I felt uneasy on my heart when I looked at our guide . She was too young . I was expecting someone more mature . Somehow, I had a weird feeling about this situation . Besides, she was carrying large barrels with her tiny and frail body of hers . How was she carrying those heavy barrels in the first place? Was this type of guide really okay to being with? I felt a mixture of anxiety and ice run through my veins .
However, this person was personally assigned to be our guide by Ms . Ninz . Even though I had doubts about her appearance, I was sure that Ms . Ninz would ask someone who was capable enough . There was no mistake this person might have commendable abilities . Ms . Ninz would never sent me an irresponsible person . I knew that for sure .
「Hey, Lugis…that guide is going to fall . 」
Caria spoke in an unsurprising voice . When I looked again, that guide lost her balance . She was about to fall and get crushed by that huge barrel .
I thought there wasn’t a mistake on hiring this girl as our guide . Yes, I knew that . But, I started to have some doubts .
That barrel was several times bigger than her tiny frame . She was not obliged to take that entire heavy luggage by herself . Maybe it was just an act of stubbornness . I didn’t know if Largud Ann was a merchant with that much pride, or if there was another reason to act irresponsible like that . To be honest, it was getting a bit annoying, so I had no choice but to intervene .
「Thank…Thanks…Okay then . I shall take you to the Guild just as requested . Leave it to me . This is my field of work . Don’t worry!」
Largud Ann showed me a smile . And yet, that didn’t convince me much .
Sponsored Content
「Just a moment ago, you were in trouble with that field of yours . Are you sure, there won’t be any problem?」
Caria spoke the harsh truth to the guide while I stood silent .
This woman was truly unforgiving as always . She lacked the compassion to interact with other people . Sometimes, being silent was the best way to deal with others . Particularly in this case . Her cold persona could be overwhelming sometimes . And her question showed how dubious she was of our guide’s abilities . Largud Ann’s face became pale when she heard Caria’s words .
Right now, this was not of my concern . What I really wanted to do was to make sure Caria settled down in Garoua Maria, before I could escape from her . Caria was a difficult person to deal with . Leaving her alone was not the best approach right now . She was excessively sensitive and possessive . That was my miscalculation . Therefore, I needed to have the proper time to make sure she would be fine and settled in .
In addition, I could not let her be on Gharast any longer . It would be too risky . These were troubling times . The main trading center between the East and the West was peaceful, for now . This was the best place for her to be .
「What’s wrong, Lugis?…We have to proceed right now, or…Don’t tell me that cargo is too heavy for you as well?」
I was engrossed on my thoughts . On that moment, I wrinkled my eyebrows when I heard Caria’s sarcastic voice from behind . Ah, this woman was far from being good at harmonizing with other people . Her hobby probably consisted of mocking a person’s weaknesses . It was pretty evident . Her strangely gratifying face proved that her deeds were quite devilish .
「From now on, there will be a new life starting from zero . There won’t be any familiar people, tavern or inn on the city-state . Even the Guild . I don’t know what awaits us there . 」
—
Summing up, the Guild is a trading business, where merchants, crafts-men and adventurers gather . There are several types of Guilds in each country .
It started as a small organization that focused on information exchange, price bargains and monopoly arrangements . Before long, the organization grew in size and prestige . The Guild incorporated the power of influential people . Nowadays, the adventurers who join the Guild will have a chance of being under the patronage of great aristocrats or other similar powers .
In reality, this was all a façade for the sake of monopolizing the currency . In the Guild’s shady business, an adventurer’s life would represent money itself . However, the Guild’s true purpose was not only to make profit from adventurers . They also fared a private army in order to keep a show of power and prevent interference from other organizations . Of course, there were some variances among other countries, but the real core of the organization was not that different . The influx of merchants between the East and the West made these organizations thrive in money and power .
If one adventurer travelled to another country before joining a local Guild, then that adventurer won’t be able to join it afterwards . Adventurers who were not members of the Guild would be considered wanderers without proper identification . This could be troublesome if they went to another country without taking the right measures . They could be seized by the local government and be sent to prison . Therefore, joining the Guild was a necessity for new adventurers . The Guild could take the name of great aristocrats in exchange for a large amount of money in order to give protection and proper identification for the adventurer .
In other words, we didn’t have any sort of back up to live on the city-state . We had no choice but to join a local Guild . Even if I managed to get us a citizenship card, we could be regarded as suspicious individuals because we didn’t have any affiliation with the city organizations .
Sponsored Content
「Garganti Chamber of the Guild Commerce…Hey, hey . Are we really going to belong to this type of place?」
I asked Largud Ann in a surprising voice, as she stood right in front of this Guild entrance with a tiny smile . Without realizing, my throat became dry and my voice trembled as if it were having small spams . I didn’t foresee this .
First of all, the gate was a bit different than what we usual see . I belonged to a small Guild in a province of the Gharast Kingdom . It was rather humble if I recall correctly . It had an old wooden board that served as a signboard . But, this Guild was quite different . I could see a luxury signboard on top . The entrance was a bit overwhelming and I could tell that it was probably cleaned daily .
The size of this Guild was quite grand to be honest . It was really true that Garoua Maria was a thriving city . Perhaps, this organization was one of the leading Guilds of this city . Well, at least, its outer appearance proved that imposing status . I felt I was out of place for standing in front of this place . My legs started to quiver .
「Yes . The Garganti Chamber of the Guild Commerce is a branch of the main headquarters . It divided the power between two branches in Garoua Maria . But, is this place not good enough for you heroes?」
「…Heroes, you say? What do you mean? It’s the first time someone called me that . 」
When I asked that question, my eyes rolled in a startling way . Largud Ann looked the other side . I didn’t understand why she spoke such statement about us .
Heroes . A brave hero, a savior . Ah, I remembered some bad things . There was no way I could associate that name with something good . I never proclaimed that name for myself . And I didn’t have any intentions to do so . It was quite strange how a simple name could make me have mixed feelings .
Largud Ann looked straight ahead then . She rubbed her neck and changed the direction of her eyes .
「I heard from Ms . Ninz that you, Lugis, renounced your position to rescue the prisoner Caria . You did something heroic but with repercussions . That’s why you had to leave the country . 」
I see . But, I wondered why Ms . Ninz used that particular name . Next to Largud Ann, was standing Caria, who looked at me with scornful eyes . However, she held back her twisting tongue . Why doesn’t she disappear from my sight once and for all?
Indeed, as an adventurer, I aspired to be a hero myself . That was a long time ago . But, I wanted to be another kind hero . Not the one I had bad memories of . Heroes were people who were loved by fate . Heroes received the favor of God . With time, I realized that being a hero wouldn’t suit me . That title suited that hateful man much more . Sometimes, I would feel very lonely by remembering these memories .
Largud Ann carried a huge barrel and headed straight to the entrance of the Guild . She looked unbalanced as always .
*bell sound*
Largud Ann opened the door of the Guild and we could hear a sounding bell before entering inside . The bell of the Guild had a very somber sound .
Once we entered inside, I had a shiver run through my body . I never been like this before . My eyelids were fully open . My whole body was accelerated . My heart beat fast and my breath was heavy . There were a man and woman inside . I locked eyes with them as we walked through . That gave me chills . I was behaving quite irrationally . This was getting ridiculous .
The woman was a girl who shook her unusually long black hair . She had a foreign appearance . There was also a blonde-haired man standing next to her . He seemed to have a gentle expression .
Ah, that’s right . I didn’t exaggerate back there .
…Soon, all of my anxiety came true all at once . I was not feeling too well .
At first, I thought I was wrong . I truly thought that . But, there was no mistake . I didn’t forget for one bit . But, it shocked me . I wasn’t expecting it here . My eyes were frozen and my throat was dry . My body didn’t move an inch as if I was petrified .
「…Hey, what’s up with you . Is my hair color that strange to you? 」
The girl with the long black hair pointed her finger on my direction . She was bothered with my fixedly frozen eyes . Her wrinkled eyebrows showed that she was in a bad mood .
I was not mistaken about the identity of this girl . She was a member of the Hero Party on the rescue journey . The Sorceress . My enemy . Filaret la Volgograd .
「Miss Filaret . You mustn’t talk with strangers like that . 」
Beside her, was standing a man who spoke to her with a humble voice . This man . Yes, this person was that man .
The man who messed up with my fate . An unmistakable old enemy . The man who was the source of my envy . My heart was controlled by a demon called hatred . He stepped on my pride when he took the glory of our party’s achievements . He even received the blessing from God . All bad things happened to me because of him .
Yes, that’s right . This man will be called a hero in the future . The man of salvation . The one who was bestowed to save the world, Helot Stanley .