"Heavy... Ho~!"

Thud.

Clap, clap, clap. Their hands smacked together as if dusting off the remnants of my presence. "Huff~, good riddance. Don't ever think of coming here again, you blasphemer."

Creak, creak, the sound of the gate's door closing behind me echoed with finality, sealing my fate.

"Hey! Could I at least get some pants?" I shouted in frustration, my voice echoing down the empty exterior.

"...Ha~." I couldn't help but let out a weary sigh.

Thrown out of the Arashi family residence like discarded drunkard, I found myself laying on the ground of the entrance gates to the residence, naked and without a single possession to my name.

The attendants who had escorted me here had shown no care for my well-being, treating me as if I were nothing more than a nuisance to be disposed of.

As I stood there, naked, the absurdity of my situation suddenly hit me.

"Ha...Haha...Hahaha!"

I couldn't help but let out a chuckle at the sheer absurdity of it all.

I must have looked like a complete lunatic, standing there in my birthday suit in broad daylight.

"Hahaha...Ha~, what now?"

Creak, creak

Just as I was contemplating my next move, the gate to the Arashi family residence creaked open.

I turned to see who it was. To my surprise, it was Elora, my loyal maiden, running toward me with a leather bag in her hand.

"Young Master!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with concern.

"Elora!" I replied with relief.

"What were you thinking?!" Her voice trembling with concern.

Her question hung in the air, and I couldn't blame her for her reaction. The events of the day had been nothing short of a dramatic spectacle.

From my sudden appearance before the family, physically transformed by a different training path, to the shocking revelation of my stats and the acquisition of what they considered a 'cursed' skill from an angered deity, every moment had been filled with tension and the unexpected.

As she gazed at me, the first thing she needed to know was the reasoning behind it all.

"Elora... Let it be. Regardless of the reasons, the consequences have already unfolded."

"Young Master... Here." Elora pushed the leather bag she was holding into my bared chest.

"It's from your mother. She asked me to hurry and bring you some clothes and money." Elora explained.

"Mother did?" I responded in surprise, wondering why she would bother after what had transpired.

"... Is she alright?" My concern for my mother growing as I realized the consequences of my actions.

Elora sighed softly, her voice tinged with worry. "After you were thrown out of the residence, your mother begged your fath—the patriarch—to reconsider his decision. But he wouldn't listen and was quite adamant. She even tried to leave the premises, but she was stopped. Young Master, she feels responsible for the entire situation."

"NONSENSE!" I shouted, cutting her off.

In the end, I promised myself that I would make Mother happy this time around. But still, even in this second chance, I've only brought worry to her, just like back then...

I paused for a moment, reflecting on my choices.

But what choice did I have? I had to go through this process, else the same scenario would have unfolded once again.

No! Things are different now. I'm alive and well, standing when I couldn't. I can still change my destiny and that of my mother's.

I looked at Elora with a resolute expression. "Thank you for bringing me the bag, Elora. I appreciate it."

"...Please, tell this to Mother."

In that moment, clarity washed over me, and I knew exactly what I needed to do. I looked at Elora with unwavering determination.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"None of this is your fault, but my own. Wait for me. I will grow strong, so strong that even the family won't be able to handle the consequences of it. So, please... wait for me. All I ask of you is to be patient."

Elora nodded with tears in her eyes.

With a final nod of determination, I turned away from the Arashi family residence, leaving behind my past and setting out on a new path.

***

"Light..." I remarked, feeling the weight of the bag Elora had handed to me.

As I opened the bag, I was greeted by several neatly folded sets of clothes. I quickly changed into one of them, feeling a bit more like myself. Hidden within the layers of fabric, I discovered an assortment of bronze and silver coins. It wasn't a large amount, but it was enough to cover my basic needs for the time being. The most important item, however, was a map, lying neatly folded at the bottom of the bag.

My life had always been confined within the secure, high walls of the Arashi residence. I never had the opportunity, to step outside, especially due to my health condition which always demanded careful attention

The map was comprehensive, covering the immediate and distant regions around the Arashi residence.

https://i.imgur.com/3RxHO9t.jpg [https://i.imgur.com/3RxHO9t.jpg]

In the upper left corner, the map showed the region of the dwarven faction. Their territory was nestled against the rugged face of a towering mountain range, rich with ores and abundant mineral resources. This proximity to the mountains not only provided them with precious metals for their renowned craftsmanship but also offered a natural fortress, securing their place in the world.

To the upper right corner was the domain of the elf faction, an expanse of lush forests and rich herb gardens. Their lands were hidden behind the veil of the 'Lost Forest', a vast and seemingly endless woodland that trapped travelers in its deceptive calm, making it impossible for the unguided to reach the elven homelands. It was a natural barrier that protected the secrets and sanctity of the elfin race.

The beastmen faction's territory, as depicted in the bottom right corner of the map, was a blend of sparse forests and expansive sandy areas. It was a land where greenery was limited but life thrived, especially around the oceans that punctuated the otherwise arid landscape. The forests that did exist were not dense but open woodlands, which allowed for ample sunlight and a different ecosystem to flourish compared to the thick forests of the elven lands.

Lastly, the bottom left corner held the human faction, an area characterized by its bustling cities and sprawling trade routes, reflecting the humans' adaptability and their penchant for commerce and connection.

The roads on the map were clearly drawn, showing how they moved across the land and met at different places. All these roads came together to form one main path that was easy to see. This path went straight to 'The Tower'.

The Tower's origins were shrouded in mystery, its colossal form standing as an enigma at the crossroads of the four great regions.

No records existed of its construction, and none could say why it came to be, but it was an ageless monument, its history lost.

Long before the Tower emerged, the world was engulfed in chaos, with each faction waging relentless war upon the others, coveting the rich resources and territories that their neighbors held.

They were driven by the belief that total control over the world was within grasp, a romanticized notion that fueled endless conflict.

However, the appearance of the Tower at the center of the world, brought an abrupt halt to the bloodshed.

As the factions independently explored the Tower's depths, they discovered that it contained power beyond their wildest imaginations, a force potent enough to upset the delicate balance of power that had defined their coexistence.

Realizing the Tower's potential to bestow immense power was too great for any one faction to possess.

Thus, a peace pact was forged, one that would last until someone could conquer the Tower's final floor and unveil its ultimate secret.

As years turned into decades, and decades into centuries, the Tower remained unconquered.

Many ventured into its depths: mighty adventurers, ambitious leaders, and powerful warriors alike.

Yet, the Tower claimed them all. Its floors were filled with monstrous creatures, deadly traps, and labyrinthine puzzles. But amidst these dangers, there lay treasures of untold value and powers that one could only dream of.

Thus, the Tower became the center of the world in more than just a geographical sense.

I stood there, gazing at the image of the Tower on the map. I knew, deep in my bones, that my path was leading me there.

"In the end, the only way for me to gain the strength and power to fight my destiny was to delve into the depths of the Tower. "

It was the proving ground for all who sought to rise above their born station, a place where one could either find greatness or meet their doom.

As I continued to stare at the Tower's image, a thought struck me. The Arashi family, was one born and risen from prominence because of that very Tower.

The founder, according to the tales told through the generations, had ventured deeper into the Tower, reaching a depth that many had considered unreachable.

It was there, that he encountered the deity that the family now worships.

The stories said he fought a battle of such epic proportions that the very walls of the Tower itself shook. And when the dust settled, he emerged victorious, gaining the rare and powerful 'Pyromancer' class.

Every Arashi since then, including myself, inherited this class, the flame of the dragon burning within our very souls.

I couldn't help but wonder, "Was this so-called blessing actually a gift from the dragon, a reward for my ancestor's strength and valor? Or was it a curse, a spiteful brand from a deity angered at being defeated?"

This legacy had always been a source of pride for the Arashi, a symbol of our might and our divine right to rule. But now, I pondered the true nature of this inheritance.

But I understood all to well that the Arashi were not unique intheir encounter with a deity within the Tower.

Many clans and estates boasted similar tales of ascension through the Tower's trials.

It was said that the amount of divine beings within the Tower's walls was as vast as the stars in the night sky, each deity offering power unfathomable to those who earned their favor.

Unique classes, legendary items, skills of immense potency—such were the numerous rewards for those brave or fortunate enough to meet with these divine beings.

Some families built their entire lineage around such blessings, their names synonymous with the powers they had been granted.

I couldn't help but wonder about the countless adventurers who had been lured by these tales, each seeking their own form of greatness within the Tower's only to end up dying.

I gazed upon the path that would lead me to the Tower. In a moment of introspection, I mused silently,

"Was I any different from the rest?"