Chapter 118

Chapter 118
## Chapter 118

### Harbinger (3)

“Hey! Harley!”

As Harley stepped outside after cleaning himself up at his quarters, a group of people called out his name with great enthusiasm.

It was the trio of warriors from the south: the man with the beard, the massive giant, and the fellow with the scar.

“Wow— I already thought you were incredible before, but you look even more like a monster now.”

“Even those mercenaries from Tarak were completely cowed. Plenty of them were definitely talking trash behind your back earlier.”

“It feels incredible to see the people who mocked the Calcos tattoos left completely speechless.”

They flooded him with praise, declaring that Harley was the pride of the southern lands and the ultimate embodiment of a true warrior…

Listening to their intense compliments made him feel rather self-conscious.

“Hahaha! Appreciate it, fellas! Though I haven’t seen you guys around until just now, where exactly have you been?”

Harley eventually interrupted their stream of praise and smoothly shifted the conversation.

Given that he had spent a significant amount of time up in the Northern Mountains on the rescue operation, it made no sense for them to just be arriving at the Iron Fortress at this point.

“Ah, we were assigned to construct a secondary defensive line behind the fortress. We marched here alongside the lord himself when he came down personally.”

“This place might be a vital bottleneck, but we can’t stop every single one of them. A few always manage to slip past.”

The Iron Fortress, acting as the absolute frontline, pushed outward because of the surrounding geography, meaning it bore the full force of the beast assaults…

Yet there was simply no way a solitary fortress could completely seal off all the creatures pouring out from the massive mountain range.

That was precisely why an enormous gathering of troops was required for this crisis.

The situation was only this manageable because the Tulk Kingdom merely shared a border with the mountains along Aonia County, whereas the Azeria Empire, whose entire central territory flanked the Northern Mountains, was currently mobilizing its full imperial might to handle the threat.

Harley chatted with his old companions for a good while, promised to catch up properly at a later time, and then made his way toward the central district where the command headquarters was situated.

‘I’m feeling pretty fresh right now, so I might as well go see the lord immediately.’

It was always wiser to take care of business the moment it crossed his mind.

Even though they told him he could drop by whenever he had a spare moment, they would undoubtedly prefer it if he showed up without delay.

However, as he drew closer to his destination, he crossed paths with another familiar face.

“It’s been a while, Harley. I caught wind of your incredible display today. Though I suppose that’s only to be expected from someone like you, right?”

It was Ranger Charlton, who had been deployed on the mountain rescue mission alongside him and was currently overseeing security for this sector.

Unlike the independent mercenaries, he belonged to the official military, so this marked their very first interaction since they had gone their separate ways…

They traded greetings and filled each other in on what they had been up to lately.

“Hans is still recovering over at the military hospital. He pushed through his injuries to keep moving, so it looks like his rehabilitation will be a lengthy process.”

Even so, he mentioned that Ranger Hans was expected to make a full recovery without any permanent damage.

‘As the man who took up the name ‘Hans’, it’s only natural that he would push through a setback like this.’

“And Bordo… We held a collective memorial service at the barracks using the personal items we managed to recover. The regiment took a pretty devastating beating while we were away in the peaks.”

He added that they intended to forward the fallen man’s belongings to his family back home once the current chaos subsided.

Bordo wasn’t a particularly close companion of Harley’s, but his death still weighed on him since they had walked the same path together.

Still, all he could do was offer a solemn nod and convey his deep regrets.

“Ah, I shouldn’t keep you standard-bearer. The headquarters is right over that way. Best of luck with your duties.”

Charlton offered a salute, pointed toward a structured compound further in, and departed to resume his patrol.

‘Heh, I’m running into a lot of old faces today. Hopefully that’s the end of them.’

He narrowed his gaze and scanned his surroundings as he neared the building.

In truth, the only acquaintances he could possibly bump into at the Iron Fortress were the fighters who had ventured into the wilderness with him.

And he had already been nodding along and greeting them whenever their paths crossed.

“You’ve arrived ahead of schedule. Allow me to escort you inside.”

Clearly, that assumption had been incredibly premature.

‘Ah, completely slipped my mind about this guy.’

The person welcoming him was the knight, Robin, who had participated in the joint mission with him.

Observing him clad in full, gleaming metallic plate armor, which stood in stark contrast to the rugged leather gear he sported during their trek through the peaks, made Harley realize that a knight truly looked the part when fully prepared.

“Sir Knight, looks like you’ve been living well? You’re looking a lot sharper.”

“It’s purely a facade. It’s only because I finally have the luxury of washing up properly here. There’s zero time for actual relaxation given the state of things. Being thrown right back onto guard duty after surviving that nightmare…”

Their dialogue flowed comfortably because they had forged a bond while surviving the elements together.

But since this was hardly an ideal spot for a casual chat, their encounter remained brief.

“I’ve already briefed the lord regarding your unique temperament multiple times, but it really would be wise for you to be mindful of your conduct.”

“Huh? What’s wrong with the way I act?”

Harley blinked with genuine confusion and cocked his head.

Naturally, it was simply that his distinctive look tended to strike people as odd.

“…Just… attempt to show as much deference as possible… please.”

“Ah, don’t even sweat it! When it comes to proper behavior, I’m a total natural! I’ve never once skipped a line in my life!”

Granted, people frequently offered him priority without him even asking, but that was entirely their own choice, so it hardly counted against his record.

“And I absolutely never resort to mindless brutality!”

Back in the early days, there were plenty of townspeople who would click their tongues and mutter insults under their breath whenever Harley walked past.

But since he couldn’t exactly go around breaking the jaws of every single detractor…

The solution he devised was to offer them a warm, overwhelming embrace.

Whenever his highly trained senses picked up on their quiet slander, he would simply offer a wide, toothy grin and lock eyes with them.

He never once reacted with physical aggression.

The results were absolutely spectacular.

Perhaps his pure intentions managed to reach them, because those instances dropped off drastically after a short while.

‘Of course, there were still individuals who tried to start a brawl just because our eyes met, but that really couldn’t be avoided.’

It wasn’t as if a real man like Harley could simply back down from a challenge.

But since he never pulled the first punch, he practically viewed himself as a model of chivalry.

“…Sure. Well, given the massive achievements you’ve secured… and your sheer capability, it should be fine.”

Robin, completely overwhelmed by the absolute certainty in his voice, nodded along and escorted him straight into the meeting chamber.

And within moments, Harley finally stood face-to-face with the man in charge.

“Ah! You must be Harley, please, take a seat.”

Count Tarmin Aonia, the noble ruler overseeing this entire domain.

“I’ve listened to so many glowing accounts about your deeds from both Zaonic and Robin that my ears are practically ringing, but witnessing your presence in the flesh is truly a distinct experience.”

The master of the house, who appeared to be in his late thirties, briefly twitched his eyebrows at Harley’s unconventional choice of clothing, but he quickly masked his reaction and proceeded to heap praise upon him.

“Hahaha! You flatter me! Though it’s hard to deny that my reputation precedes me!”

The ruler’s brow twitched once more at the sound of his booming, boisterous laughter.

Robin, stationed directly behind the count, squeezed his eyes shut in despair, but Harley paid him no mind.

Just putting in the effort to use formal speech was already a massive compromise on his part.

‘Yeah, this is top-tier etiquette by Harley’s standards. I am making an ultimate sacrifice for Robin’s sake!’

Whether the count picked up on Harley’s inner thoughts or not, he deliberately took a sip of his hot beverage before addressing him once more.

“Ahem, in any case. I requested your presence because of the successful mission and the immense value you’ve brought to our forces. I intend to grant you an extra token of my appreciation.”

Yet the specific reward he held out, acting as though he were offering an incredible privilege, didn’t capture Harley’s interest in the slightest.

‘A title of knighthood… well, it makes perfect sense that he’d want to bind me to his service, given Harley’s sheer combat capability… ’

But that wasn’t the kind of thing you could just dangle as a standard payout.

At least not to someone like him, who had demonstrated his worth on countless battlefields.

And Harley, being a fiercely independent and untamed berserker, held incredibly rigid views on these exact situations.

“Ah, I don’t really have any use for that kind of title. How about we swap that out for something else instead?”

“Something… else?”

“You know, a massive, heavy-duty two-handed axe would hit the spot. The tool I’m swinging right now feels a bit too flimsy for my liking!”

“…”

His level of formality dropped slightly as he made the demand, but the count, wearing a highly conflicted expression, didn’t seem to have the mental bandwidth to call him out on it.

Robin, standing behind his master, merely stared up at the ceiling beams with a look of utter defeat.

“Y-you insolent wretch! How dare you turn down a direct offer from the lord himself! Such utter disrespect!”

However, the other knights in the count’s service were clearly unwilling to let the slight slide.

They had been scowling and glaring daggers at him ever since he stepped foot into the reception room, and now they were openly displaying their malice, their hands dropping directly to the hilts of their blades.

Naturally, Harley merely stared back at them with a completely unimpressed expression.

‘It’s already been more than a year and a half since I arrived in Auterica.’

He wasn’t ignorant of the societal structure here, having gathered plenty of practical experience during his stay.

It was basic knowledge that one shouldn’t behave disruptively in the presence of the nobility, who ruled over the land, but…

“That is enough. Everyone, stand down at once.”

“B-but, My Lord…!”

“Did I not command you to step back?!”

The warriors reluctantly lowered their heads and backed away into the shadows at the count’s sharp reprimand.

‘In times of absolute chaos, strength is the only currency that matters. And Harley has demonstrated his power beyond any shadow of a doubt.’

Furthermore, he was an incredibly potent asset who played a vital role in holding back the tides of beasts spilling out from the Northern Mountains.

Declining an offer once was an entirely minor grievance.

If you truly desired to secure a legendary talent, you had to be willing to swallow your pride, make multiple personal visits, and overwhelm them with endless gifts and favor.

‘Of course, even if you go that far, there is never a 100% guarantee that they will join you.’

Nothing in this world ever worked out flawlessly.

“Very well, you requested an axe? I shall commission Zaonic to forge a custom weapon tailored specifically for you. I am confident it will meet your standards.”

Much like the lord himself, who was currently forcing a tight smile onto his face.

“Hahaha! Much obliged, Count. As expected of a man commanding such a massive territory, your scale is truly grand!”

“Naturally, I have never been one to withhold proper compensation from those who serve my causes. Hahaha!”

Indeed, he wasn’t receiving this weapon out of pure charity.

The lord would have to provide various accommodations, pour resources upon him, and show an immense amount of personal care and attention if he ever hoped to bind such a powerhouse to his banner.

‘Of course, even if you go that far, there is never a 100% guarantee that they will join you.’

Nothing in this world ever worked out flawlessly.

And in this manner, Harley continued to expand his renown and authority across the northwestern territories, enjoying highly privileged treatment wherever he went.

—

“My Lord, the entire investigation has been concluded. We have successfully verified the data obtained from the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance as well.”

“Is that so? Were there any discrepancies found within their reports?”

“None at all! We have fully validated that two True Bloods have relocated to oversee the defenses of the monster forest as a direct consequence of the recent frenzy event. At this moment, there are at most two True Bloods remaining within Talaria—specifically, the previous and the newly appointed Lords of Brokoslack.”

“Hmm… That strikes me as incredibly reckless for Mulo, who is typically celebrated for his extreme wariness. Could this be the choice of the new ruler?”

The individual listening to the scout’s summary rubbed his jawline and let out a soft chuckle.

In reality, the underlying motives didn’t change a thing.

‘I have absolute certainty that we would emerge victorious even in a blunt, frontal assault, and with two True Bloods completely out of the picture… this will be effortless.’

The disparity in sheer military capability was night and day.

He lacked precise details on the capabilities of the current master who had inherited Brokoslack, but the individual was unquestionably below the status of a Sacred Blood.

“Still, it pays to leave nothing to chance. Assemble the remaining True Bloods and mobilize the vanguard strike force.”

Visque Ufersh, a figure defined by his snow-white hair and pale, colorless eyes, spoke in a quiet murmur as he looked down at the subordinate kneeling low before him.

“…Our destination is Talaria.”

The Ufersh Clan, widely recognized as the most formidable faction of vampires across the entire continent, began their march.