Chapter 103

Chapter 103
Chapter 103
Mountain Escape (1)

Four days had passed since Harley and his companions ventured into the Northern Mountains.

As another skirmish drew to a close, Harley raised the freshly harvested magic stone to his lips.

Demolish everything, rip them to shreds, butcher them all!

Crunch! Munch, munch—

He methodically ground it between his teeth and gulped it down, tuning out the persistent internal whispers of insanity as he always did.

His consistent consumption of magic stones was finally yielding noticeable advantages.

His internal system was operating at an accelerated rate, and his physical prowess had developed significantly as a direct result.

Adverse reactions, including bloodshot eyes and fiercely throbbing pathways beneath his skin, attempted to warp his appearance…

Yet such complications meant little to Harley, who possessed absolute dominion over his physical form through “Physical Transformation”.

Had he lacked this particular gift, he would undoubtedly be exhibiting the exact same chaotic mutations as the beasts roaming the rugged terrain.

“Curse it all, they aren’t granting us a moment’s peace. How many waves is that now?”

“Hahaha! Pardon the intrusion on your venting, but yet another pack is closing in! The cloaking field seems to be keeping us hidden for now, but if we linger in this spot, we are bound to collide with them shortly.”

“…We are being denied even the briefest window to catch our breath.”

The further they advanced, the greater the density of the beasts became, and the strength of their foes amplified as well, rendering progress an uphill battle.

The companions quickly forced themselves to move once more, using nothing but the purifying artifact to wash away the gore coating their skin.

The Scout hailing from the Iron Fortress, Charlton, did everything in his power to cover their tracks from the rear, though it remained a highly perilous endeavor…

The instant the protective concealment faded, they would find themselves besieged by beasts converging from every path, leaving them with no alternative.

Their most prudent strategy was to vacate the vicinity with the utmost speed to prevent becoming trapped in an unending cycle of combat.

“There appears to be a significant gathering in that direction as well. The gap between us is…”

“…In that case, navigating this path is our best option. Keep up with me and stay alert, everyone.”

They would have failed to penetrate this deeply into the range if not for Harley’s sensory perception and the veteran scout Marcus’s masterful pathfinding.

“Mr. Marcus, is our destination still a long way off? You assured us we were nearly there, yet the sun is already dipping below the horizon.”

Fabiella, the spellcaster, uttered a complaint in an exhausted tone, his complexion drained of color from the unrelenting, grueling trek.

Regardless of his physical conditioning, his nature as a mage meant his physical endurance paled in comparison to the others, and his inner reserves were running dangerously low due to constant casting, making his fatigue entirely justified.

Marcus, who had been guiding them forward in focused silence, retrieved an artifact resembling a pocket watch, analyzed its readings, and then turned back to the exhausted companions with a slightly brighter countenance.

“We have reached the vicinity. The location is just ahead.”

“Phew… At last, we get to meet this valuable individual. Honestly, it is quite something that so many assets were deployed just to retrieve a single craftsman, even if he happens to be a Dwarf.”

Mikel murmured under her breath, keeping her ranged weapon raised as she scanned the periphery.

Just as she pointed out, though the strategic constraints of the operation required a minimal footprint, the caliber of the individuals present was exceptionally high.

Every member ranked among the elite tier within Tarak’s mercenary community.

Furthermore, they had been promised an assortment of supplemental incentives, and even a sworn knight of the domain had been drafted into service.

‘Then again, the reports indicated Robin is of low birth.’

The travelers, having forged a bond while navigating these shared trials, had shared various details during their brief moments around the campfire.

The specifics remained vague, but they had managed to piece together the overarching narrative…

‘He was described as the premier craftsman of the realm, possessing a personal history with the previous master. I suppose holding a rank like that justifies any expense.’

Ultimately, the worth of armaments soared exponentially with each increase in quality.

Viewed in that light, he was an invaluable asset, far eclipsing a mere bounty of coin or a knight of common origin.

A far grander retrieval force would have been deployed had the crisis involving the beasts not taken precedence.

It was precisely that chaotic outbreak that had trapped the Dwarf in the wilderness to begin with.

“We have arrived. This is the coordinates.”

And with those words, they reached the exact spot pointed out by the artifact’s emission.

“Hmm…”

A temporary quiet descended upon the group.

The companions carefully tested the terrain beneath them, maintaining a vigilant watch on their surroundings.

“…There is no visible cavern or shelter, so where could he possibly be lurking? We must locate the entryway…”

Right at that instant,

Rustle, rustle—

The soil surrounding the base of a nearby tree began to vibrate, and suddenly…

Pop!

“Ah! You have made it already! Your arrival is swifter than my calculations suggested.”

The earth parted, and a heavily bearded visage emerged from the opening.

—

“I ventured out to these parts for geological surveying, and then this madness erupted! I have traversed these peaks countless times, but on this occasion, breaking out unassisted was an impossibility!”

The companions, stepping down into the cavity behind the Dwarf, were thoroughly astonished by the comfortable subterranean dwelling they stepped into.

‘The reports stated he had only been cut off for roughly seven days.’

The generous proportions of the chamber, which offered ample room for the entire party, were smoothly finished, and several ventilation passages had been bored through the roof where tree structures intertwined.

Furthermore, there were sleeping platforms shaped from clay, a crafting table, and an array of miscellaneous gear stacked along one wall.

“Ah, this setup? I lacked entertainment while passing the time, so I occupied myself by crafting various amenities! It is certainly fortunate that I opted to clear out more space beforehand! Hahaha—!”

The Dwarf, Zaonic Steelstone, roared with amusement upon witnessing their bewildered expressions.

The chamber was already insulated by an advanced defensive barrier utilizing the artifacts he had brought along, eliminating any anxiety regarding the outer beasts detecting their voices.

‘These must command a premium price, given that they successfully obscured my own perception.’

Even Harley, who was fully aware that the target was sheltered nearby, had only detected a minor anomaly in the environment and could not immediately pinpoint the precise spot.

He might have uncovered it given sufficient leisure, but the mindless beasts, completely oblivious, would simply overlook the area entirely.

“Setting that aside, are you unhurt? I did not anticipate a guest of your proportions arriving, so I neglected to widen the approach tunnel.”

“Hmm— My hide is far too resilient to suffer injuries from mere friction against earthen barriers. Rest easy! Hahaha—!”

Zaonic offered his concerns while looking up at Harley, though navigating the compressed space was truly an inconsequential matter for the giant.

If anything, the restrictive channel had suffered significant structural damage from being forcibly widened by his massive frame.

“Ah! Bordo, Hans. You both survived!”

At that juncture, the Scout Charlton, who had remained quiet while trailing the group, showed a look of relief and strode toward the clay sleeping platforms.

Naturally, Zaonic had not ventured into the mountain range unescorted.

Two companion Scouts from the Iron Fortress shared this subterranean refuge with him.

“Ah! Senior Charlton, you have arrived!”

“Senior…”

However, one of the pair was clearly in poor condition…

In contrast to his companion who eagerly greeted Charlton, the scout swathed in linen bindings could only manage a strained effort to lift himself from the bedding.

“Tsk— He sustained a wound to his shoulder while being the first to react and counter when the sudden disturbance manifested.”

The Dwarf Zaonic filled in the blanks, rubbing the back of his neck as the newcomers observed the injured trackers.

“His life is not in jeopardy because we promptly administered his personal curative draft and bound the injury. He should make a full recovery without permanent impairment after a few months of inactivity.”

Yet that prognosis depended entirely on this remaining a secure sanctuary.

Such a luxury was non-existent within these Northern Mountains, the absolute core of the beast uprising.

A physical limitation that impeded rapid travel under these parameters posed a critical hazard to his survival.

“Hans! How fares your body? Are you capable of locomotion?”

“Yes, my lower limbs are entirely untouched. I am fully capable of traversing the peaks. Do not fret on my account.”

The Scout Hans offered a firm nod with a resolute gaze, as if giving his word that he would not become a liability to the group.

Meanwhile, Harley… folded his arms and sank into deep contemplation with a solemn air.

‘Hans… ’

Granted, he recognized that it was a remarkably pervasive moniker.

He had crossed paths with it on multiple occasions throughout his journey across Auterica.

His gaze rested upon ‘Extremely Ordinary Soldier 1’, Hans, who remained seated upon the bedding.

‘…This simply will not suffice.’

And he found himself utterly certain once more.

The identity of the Immortal King, destined to be etched into the annals of time, could never belong to a Hans!

He had already encountered upwards of ten individuals bearing that name, spanning a village youth, an elder, a woodworker, a metalworker, and a tiller of soil.

Setting aside the mythical Immortal King Hans, who represented the absolute pinnacle of that name, the damaged Scout Hans before him was the most capable version he had seen.

‘It wouldn’t be a terrible fate for him to rise as the preeminent Hans among his peers, but the title simply lacks grandeur.’

While Harley remained trapped in intense thought while evaluating the trackers, Zaonic, perhaps misinterpreting the intensity of his stare, clapped him on the shoulder with a high-reaching arm.

“Well now, Hans retains his mobility, and he is a proven asset among our elite Scouts. And with such formidable champions arriving to reinforce us, our success is guaranteed, is it not? Hahaha—!”

“Hmm? Ah! Indubitably. If he answers to the name Hans, he ought to possess the fortitude to weather at least this degree of adversity! Hahaha—!”

“Hahaha… Wait, what?”

“Hahaha—!”

Following a brief, somewhat disjointed exchange of banter and merriment, the companions reached a consensus to recuperate in this haven for a single day before departing the next morning, and each began settling in for the night.

Because this was an underground bunker insulated by multiple high-tier defensive arrays, their arrangement differed from standard wilderness camps, requiring only a solitary sentinel to maintain watch.

‘Even with an active barrier, unforeseen variables can manifest, making a lookout absolutely vital.’

Even so, this setup was vastly superior to their previous routine of rotating three shifts with two individuals per watch, which had exempted only the spellcaster Fabiella, meaning no one offered any objections.

In this manner, the undisturbed night slipped away.

And the morning designated for their grand breakout arrived.

—

Within the splendid estate of a ducal household located in the Talia Kingdom.

Heinz the Second was systematically reviewing intelligence dispatches arriving from diverse territories, monitoring the shifting dynamics of the continent.

He had successfully integrated a fresh conduit for gathering intelligence by securing the allegiance of the Banshee Queen Olivia, yet this acquisition had by no means diminished his administrative burden.

To begin with, low-tier spectral undead, lacking advanced cognitive faculties, were restricted to executing basic directives and proved incapable of retrieving sophisticated intelligence.

Olivia’s capacity to synthesize the isolated data points collected by her phantom underlings into high-level strategic intelligence was certainly commendable, but constraints remained.

Her network was unmatched when it came to capturing immediate updates from active fronts, the repositioning of regiments, or the maneuvers of factions operating from the dark, but relying on the network of the Brokoslack Clan remained far more efficient regarding imperial governance and political environments.

‘Ultimately, each faction possesses distinct strengths and vulnerabilities. My function is to aggregate the collective intelligence and formulate conclusions.’

Verifying facts across multiple independent channels to confirm the validity of information was standard practice.

As he was categorizing the freshly delivered data,

“Heinz.”

The voice of Mulo Brokoslack accompanied a firm rap against the wood.

“Enter. State your business.”

Heinz diverted his attention from the paperwork and shifted his gaze upward, whereupon Mulo, stepping into the study, offered a low bow of deference before speaking.

“We have just received confirmation that the wild beasts have commenced open hostilities.”

“Hmm… Then the situation is finally unfolding as anticipated.”

Mulo held the responsibility of governing the vampires distributed throughout the various territories via blood sorcery, and he likewise managed the transmission of critical intelligence from their locations.

On this occasion, the update appeared to originate from the agents stationed near the beast-infested woodlands.

“Two True Bloods were assigned to that sector, so the danger should remain manageable. Instruct them to avoid overextending themselves and merely provide enough support to ensure the conventional forces blocking the perimeter do not sustain crippling losses.”

“Understood, my lord. However, the disturbance is not confined solely to that region…”

“Hmm?”

Mulo proceeded in an unruffled tone, ignoring Heinz’s inquisitive look.

“The reports indicate that the beasts dwelling within the northern mountains have likewise initiated a full-scale migration toward the south.”

The curtain was rising on the long-awaited era of upheaval.