Chapter 3: Timeline

After learning that I was not a son of a noble. My clothes were sold to the Baron and was also sold as slave.

For 20 Years I was a slave. I was already 30 Years old then. I then became a hunter to earn a living. When I was a slave, I was either at the mercy of the people I was serving, cleaning, being beaten until near death, doing random almost impossible task and sometimes almost being harassed. Although I wanted to escape, I can't. I wanted to kill the people who did this things to me but I couldn't. I was weak and had no power to retaliate. Everytime I tried to go against my 'master', I was almost beaten to death. I had various 'masters' for those 20 years. How I wish I could kill them with my own two hands. The only reason I'm free now because the bastard who I was currently serving was assasinated. Not just him but all his family. The guard weren't spared either but the normal servants like the maids, chef, and the slaves were left unharmed including me.

I took this once in a lifetime chance and escaped! I immediately escaped this place, this town since almost everyone in this place know I was a slave.

The only mistake I made was not being prepared enough. I was planning to go to the next town and start a new life there but I realized I have no money, no weapon to defend myself, no extra clothes and no food. The only thing I can do is to walk and hope that nothing strong finds me.

Although I'm already a grown man, as a slave, you eat what is given to you and sometimes when there is nothing given to you. "My body is not that healthy but I can still kill one or two if it comes down to it"

I travelled for two whole weeks to reach the next town on foot. On a carriage it would have took 4 days. Two weeks is already fast enough for someone who is on foot and not that strong. Thankfully I mostly encountered lone goblins. I could still hide from them but if I had encountered a wolf with their high sense of smell, I would immediately be found and served as their meal.

Sigh. Those were the times... i don't want to remember. The hunger and pain as I travelled was unforgettable. Rabbits in this world are agile and with this weak old body. It's only common sense I couldn't hunt them and let's not talk about creatures bigger than the rabbits. My body is thin. Its obvious for anyone that I didn't get well fed growing up. I look older than I am because of all the stress my body and mind went through while growing up without proper food to eat. Those Bastards! It's lucky I kept myself dirty enough when I was young or else I would even be raped at such a young age. I saw it happened to one of the slaves I was with when I was 11 years old. He would always be gone when night comes and when he returned his lower body was bloody. After 4 days of that happening, he never came back. I knew what why though. He told me. He said he was gonna kill them. He had these eyes that no sane person would have. He was on the verge of insanity. He wanted to kill them. Kill those bastards. I'm sure he didn't succeed because the night after that he never returned but those bastards were still alive.

While travelling, my only food for those two weeks was berries and water from lakes and even left overs from the rain. I did everything to survive. When I reached the town. I was greeted with 2 soldiers. I was so happy that I reached this town. How stupid of me to think that I could easily be let it. I have no identification of any sorts and when they saw the slave collar on my neck, they tried to capture me! but I ran! Ran with all my might!

'No I can't get captured. I don't want that life anymore! I don't want to be a slave anymore!'

I kept running and hid in the forest. I only relaxed when they returned. I knew it would be all over if I was captured as a slave. I need to do something!

Based from my memories as a slave of a merchant. They typically travel to other towns. If that's true then I might have a chance of getting new clothes. I have no choice I need to act like a bandit and steal. Even if.. even if I need to kill... I've never killed anyone before. Should I?...This is no time to hesitate.

So I waited near the road where merchants rarely go. It's too dangerous to target the main road used. Although this forest is more dangerous because monsters are more frequent here but this road is also a shortcut if you want to get to the next town faster. It's either the people who might caught me in the main road and live a life of a slave again or die here because of the monsters lurking like me waiting for a chance to benefit from those who passed the forest road. I'd rather die than get caught again. The life of a slave Is definitely worse than dying.

It's getting dark. When the night comes, the forest will be cold. I have no food to eat or a shelter to sleep in. I need someone to pass here preferably a merchant with no guards. Someone who needs to hurry. Although this road is more isolated, there should be people passing here. There should be.

*Gallop* *Gallop*

'A horse? Finally! and it looks like they're in a hurry.It seems like they're being chased?...

WOLVES! It's wolves! should I stay here or should I go? ...No I must stay.

It looks like the alpha of the wolves blocked their path. The wolves attacked the horses. One of them even ran away. The people inside... They're getting killed by the wolves!

'There's a child! ... NO! Its already too late. A wolf got here. Don't go there. Stay here. You're weak. You can't save them. You can't even save yourself. You need to survive. I NEED TO SURVIVE.'

I kept convincing myself. This world truly changes people. I learned to close my eyes and ignore the screaming of pain and agony of the people in the carriage. I even heard woman and children screaming. The wolves were too many. With their alpha there, the wolves were more ferocious and powerful.

After an hour of slaughtering, It took half an hour for the wolves to eat and another half to bring back the left over meat. I don't know if the wolves on earth also do this kind of thing but the wolves in this world are smart. They even scouted the surroundings before they go. I was almost found out. Thankfully I hid in some plants with a strong smell.

I waited for another hour. As expected, other monsters came because they were attracted to the smell. I learned this while listening to the soldier being reprimanded by one of my masters. I waited for 2 more hours and no monster came. The smell was also minimized unlike before. At this time the night was already deep. The only light that could possibly let me find some items was the moonlight shining from above. I'm glad this world has two moons.

'Enough of waiting. It's time.'

I went over where dead bodies was strewn all over. I ignored then trying not to look at them and vomit because of the smell. I've smelled some disgusting things while working as a slave but there's something about the smell of dead bodies that wasn't right with me.

There were coins! Food that was contained so that it wouldn't smell and clothes??...Were they trading merchants?

This is troublesome. I never thought I could have this many things. First of all let's eat something and wear some other clothes. It's time to remove this slave collar and enter town the town!