Storm Fortress, a merchant caravan from the Storm Territory was traveling along the trade route leading to the Dark Realm.
It was called a merchant caravan, but its members were almost entirely composed of adventurers or mercenaries. Especially the caravan leader, Eric Henderson, who was even a veteran knight retired from Storm Fortress.
They served the current ruler of the Storm Territory—Princess Louisa. According to the original plan, they would pass through the planar rift beyond the Evernight Domain, enter a transit station called the rift snowplain, and finally reach the Dryad domain to purchase grain.
Eric had expressed his concerns about this route to the official in charge more than once.
The reason he was assigned as the leader of this special caravan was precisely because he had ventured deep into the Dark Realm multiple times on reconnaissance missions in his youth. Naturally, he understood the dangers of this land of eternal night better than most knights who lived under the sun.
Not to mention the complex terrain of the Dark Realm, which was littered with bottomless chasms, underground streams, sudden cliffs, and Death Swamps.
Just the road conditions alone were enough to give any experienced guide a headache. There were no real roads here, only trails trodden by beasts, tunnels dug by grave robbers, or earthen paths worn by adventurers.
Even the sturdiest, thickest-hoofed northern Draft Animals from the kingdom often found it difficult to advance here, let alone carriages laden with Goods.
Moreover, numerous dangerous figures lurked along the way: bandit gangs entrenched in ruins, fugitives who had fled the kingdom, ancient treasures, grave robbers active in tombs and ruins, evil dark creatures, and those wandering Undead beings—they were tireless and feared no pain...
Even more terrifying was that the route planned by the princess actually required crossing the former territory of the Vampires and using a planar rift as a transit point.
Eric felt this was a one-way adventure. On the eve of setting out into the Dark Realm, gazing at the flickering flames in the fireplace, he had even begun consciously writing a letter to his wife:
"My dear Lucy, have you been well alone these days I've been away? The weather is getting colder and colder. When I set off this morning, I saw that a thick layer of ice had formed on the shallow water by the shore of Pigeon Lake."
"The ashes in the fireplace at home need to be cleared. I remember the old thing wasn't very warm last winter either. The chimney might be a bit clogged. Mr. Hopkins—that's the red-nosed old Dwarf who lives on the corner of Oak Street—he's an expert at dealing with fireplace and chimney problems. I have some acquaintance with him; I helped him repair his roof before. You can go find him, mention my name, and he probably won't charge too high a fee."
"The Gold Coins are in the small locked iron box on the bottom layer of the bedroom wardrobe. The key is in the usual place."
"I'm doing well here, no need to worry. The caravan colleagues are all experienced Adventurers and mercenaries, although... sometimes our conversations aren't exactly pleasant."
"You know, most of those guys only have gleaming Gold Coins and mission rewards in their eyes. What they talk about is mostly where the bounties are high and which monster materials are valuable. For words like honor and loyalty, they often respond with laughter or dismissiveness."
"Of course, I have to admit, their professionalism and keen intuition for wilderness survival are admirable. With them around, at least we have a better chance when facing sudden dangers."
"Soon, we will leave Storm Fortress and officially enter the first stop of the border claimed by the Slime Kingdom—the Outpost Ruins camp. May the North Wind God protect us. Wish me luck, Lucy."
"And you also know, that is an unfamiliar land. I must stay alert and won't have time to write letters anymore. By the time you receive this letter, this journey may already be nearing its end."
"Of course, this doesn't mean the brave Henderson fears this land. The knight's dictionary of the Storm Territory has no word for 'retreat.' We will proceed cautiously, complete the mission, and return safely. I promise you."
"Keep warm, take care of yourself, and also those holly bushes in our yard. I hope they can survive this winter. When I return, let's go to the Old Oak Tavern together, have a cup of steaming hot honey ginger wine, and listen to the Bards sing the latest ballads."
The letter was written up to that point. Eric originally planned to entrust adventurers or messengers returning in the direction of the Storm Territory to help send it back. He had even carefully rolled up the letter paper, tied it tightly with a thin string, and stuffed it into his waterproof leather pouch.
However, the twists of fate are often unexpected. When he led the caravan into the Outpost Ruins, everything he saw before his eyes completely overturned his preconceived notions.
The next day, inside the Traveler's Tavern, he spread out a new piece of parchment again. The tip of the quill trembled slightly with excitement as he continued writing a new chapter:
"Lucy, it's unbelievable. You absolutely cannot imagine what I saw here."
"The Outpost Ruins... no, that's not right, I must change the name—Outpost Town, yes, a town! On these ruins once ruled by chaos and death, a vibrant little town has miraculously risen."
"I remember when I came two years ago, this place was still full of dilapidated ruins and building debris, mixed with some criminals and grave robbers who had fled the kingdom... In short, they were all not very pleasant characters to deal with."
"And now, everything has changed. The streets here are clean and tidy, and you can see Slimes and other Magical Creatures passing by everywhere. You definitely won't believe it, these Slimes can actually talk, and they are very polite."
"They drove away those criminals and established a new order on this land. The Adventurers and mercenaries here proudly call themselves citizens of the Slime Kingdom. What's devilish is, they've also become quite enthusiastic, warmly treating us with drinks."
"Ha ha ha, they complained to me that people from the kingdom always have misunderstandings about this land, thinking it's desolate, barbaric, and full of chaos. They wanted me to go back and tell everyone about the changes here."
"They even said half-jokingly and half-seriously that if the Adventurer's Guild of the Storm Territory could send some less dangerous, appropriately rewarded commissions here, that would be even better. They'd be very happy to take on the work."
"I agreed with them. They treated me as a friend and told me the Dark Realm isn't as dangerous as before anymore. There are smooth roads built by those lovely Slimes everywhere."
"I'm starting to feel anticipation for the road ahead. So I plan to record everything I see and hear along this journey like a true adventurer. It will definitely be very interesting."
The pen paused here for a moment, the ink smudging a little, like an end, yet also hinting at a new beginning.
"Today is the thirteenth day since we set out from the Storm Territory. The weather is a bit gloomy, but that hasn't dampened the enthusiasm of everyone in the team. I don't know if you're awake yet. Remember to help me mend that old wool felt coat from last year—the one with the otter fur trim on the collar. Henry mischievously tore a small hole in it. I hope he didn't pull out all the stuffing inside..."
"We fed the horses early, setting off at dawn when the sky was just beginning to lighten. Traveling with us were a few new friends we met last night. They were saying something about His Majesty summoning them and other things I didn't quite understand but sounded impressive. Since we were heading the same way, we traveled together to the rift snowplain."
"We officially entered the heart of the Dark Realm via Skullcrusher's Trail. The sky darkened almost instantly, but the delightful surprise was that there were roads built by Slimes all along the way."
"It's unbelievable how they managed to build the roads so smoothly. The carriage didn't even jolt a bit when passing over them. There were even extravagant things like magic crystal lamps on both sides of the road."
"According to the adventurers traveling with us, to maintain these roads and magic crystal lamps, they've even established Lightharvester Camps along the roadsides, responsible for road maintenance and energy supply. Some camps have even become resting places for weary travelers."
"Because the snow was falling heavily, covering the road and making it difficult to travel, we stopped early today to rest at a seemingly quite lively Lightharvester Camp."
"There were even mercenaries from the Misty Bay Harbor Trade Alliance here. We exchanged food brought from our hometowns and got to eat rock cakes from the south."
"It's a type of hard, dry ration made from some southern Grains mixed with sea Salt and baked. Honestly, it's really very hard. You need to soak it in soup to soften it, but it's indeed filling. And after soaking, you can still taste the savory saltiness of the sea Salt, giving it a unique flavor."
"Unfortunately, the Slime managers here don't drink alcohol and have clearly stated that drinking is prohibited within the camp, reportedly to maintain order and safety. So there's no tavern here. Otherwise, on such a stormy, snowy night, gathered around a warm bonfire, drinking a cup of strong liquor, listening to travelers from different places humming ballads and telling stories in various languages, would probably also be an unforgettable experience."
"I'm starting to blend in with them. Our relationship is improving. The adventurers and mercenaries under my command aren't as wary of me, this 'former Knight Captain,' as before. Lucy, this is good news. After all, a long time ago, I was just an ordinary lad from the Countryside of the Storm Territory, learning tracking and trap-setting from my old hunter father. I'm not some lofty noble lord. I'm not that hard to talk to."
"I dare swear, in a few more days, they'll definitely realize just how talkative their captain is."
...
"Day fourteen, we still got up very early. After a simple breakfast of hot soup and hard bread provided by the camp, we continued heading towards the Evernight Domain..."
"Day sixteen, because the road conditions were surprisingly good, we arrived at the Rubble Plains ahead of schedule and witnessed that supposedly impregnable Gray Stone Wall."
"Of course, 'impregnable' sounds more like a joke from old Sean's mouth, not serious at all. Its owner has already changed from Vampires to Slimes."
"We visited the Vampire's Manor. It has now become a Lightharvester Camp providing rest for travelers. According to the adventurers here, before the Slimes occupied this place, countless treasures of the Vampires were buried underground. And now, perhaps they have become the funds used to build and maintain this trade road beneath our feet."
"During the evening bonfire gathering, adventurers sat around, chattering and telling us more interesting news. They excitedly mentioned that within the rift snowplain, the Slime Kingdom had built a magnificent city called Winterhold, which sounds a lot like a city you'd find in the Northern Territory. It must be very cold there."
"At the same time, they also told me about what happened in the south. The Slime Kingdom had some conflicts with its neighbors. They led dragon beast cavalry and captured the fortress of the Misty Bay Harbor Trade Alliance."
"This news shocked both me and my team members. Dragon beast cavalry? That's a legendary type of troop."
"Fortunately, the misunderstanding has been resolved. The Merchant Alliance agreed to the conditions for adventurers to enter Misty Bay Harbor. These adventurers all plan to report to the Adventurer's Guild in Winterhold..."
(The handwriting here shows corrections)
"Oh, I'm sorry, Lucy. As I wrote, it turned into my monologue and a running account of travel experiences. I forgot you're not very interested in these things."
"But my Lucy, it's winter now. We are still trudging arduously along the road shrouded in eternal night and covered in ice and snow. We really can't see the flowers you like here, nor can we find the blueberry jam or maple syrup you often mention."
"Ha ha ha, I wonder if you'd like to try those rock cakes. I still have a big bag here, all given by those enthusiastic mercenaries. This stuff also seems decent when roasted. The sea Salt flavor is very fragrant. It seems I've unlocked another new recipe."
Day eighteen.
"Day nineteen, we submitted the passage permit signed by Princess and the certificate issued by the Slime Kingdom's outpost. After undergoing a simple inspection and registration, and resting for a night in the fortress, we finally obtained permission to enter the fissure."
"We went in."
"That feeling is hard to describe in words. After a brief moment of weightlessness and ringing in the ears, in the blink of an eye, we left the Dark Realm and stepped into the snowplain."
"It's very cold here, much colder than winter in the Storm Territory. But the Slimes are very warm. They have some kind of stone in their bellies that generates heat. They earn copper coins by helping people stay warm, then use them to buy delicious food."
"I heard it's something called Sweetdew Tree Sap produced in the Dryad domain. I've tasted it; it's very sweet. When we reach the destination, perhaps I can also buy some to bring back to you."
"And you absolutely cannot imagine what I discovered here. Yes, it's many flowers. I saw Froststar Flowers and Winterkiss Roses blooming in shop windows... and many more flowers I can't name. The local Slimes told me these flowers were all planted by a Giant Dragon lord of the Slime Kingdom. That lord seems to have great enthusiasm for gardening."
"It's a pity this place is too far from the Storm Territory. Even if I brought them back, during the long journey home, they would have long frozen or withered."
"However, a Frost Slime noticed my regret. It hopped over and helped me freeze the most beautiful Froststar Flower, encasing it in crystal-clear ice crystals. Perhaps by the time I return, you can still appreciate its beauty."
"That afternoon—it should be afternoon, right? Having been in the Dark Realm for too long, I haven't seen sunlight for ages. The specific time I saw from the huge clock tower in Winterhold. At the enthusiastic suggestion of those adventurers, we went to visit the Adventurer's Guild."
"Astonishing. It's much livelier here than imagined, crowded with adventurers from all over—humans, Dwarves, Elves... The commission board was surrounded by people. Many adventurers were queuing in front of the task handover counter. You definitely won't believe it if I say it, but I actually saw Slime adventurers here."
"They actually master techniques that only warriors would know. It's said the most powerful adventurer team here, its captain is a veteran discharged from the Magical Creature Legion—a Metal Slime. Pretty amazing, right?"
"This team actually managed to assemble a human warrior, a Stone Descendant Assassin, an Elf mage, and a Slime warrior. This is definitely the strangest adventurer team I've ever seen."
"They broke through the barriers of race and form, purely relying on trust, ability, and shared goals to come together. This is perhaps a miracle that only the Slime Kingdom could foster."
(The handwriting pauses again, carrying an apologetic tone)
"...Forgot again that you're not interested in these things. Then I'll stop writing here. Continuing forward will be the Dryad domain. If I don't find a chance to send this letter soon, I'm afraid it will really turn into a thick, heavy travel diary."
"When you see this letter (I hope it can traverse the long journey and possible accidents, arriving safely in your hands), I should already be on my way back after completing the transaction. Please don't miss me too much."
"Take care of your health, stay happy. Don't forget about the fireplace with Mr. Hopkins."
"Forever yours, Eric Henderson."