Chapter 193

Chapter 193
## Chapter 193

Settler (4)

Auterica was a realm of imagination overflowing with diverse mystical components, including spellcasting, yet its general societal structure mirrored the historic medieval era of the Western territories.

Esoteric practices such as magic and aura were viewed as highly sophisticated disciplines in this world, making it exceptionally difficult for common folk to acquire knowledge of them.

Gaining entry to such arts was nearly out of reach unless an individual possessed such rare, brilliant aptitude that they were taken on as an apprentice by a master, or chose to hazard their survival in occupations centered around the blade.

Consequently, social order and public safety were quite poor in these conditions.

When one factored in the dangerous entities wandering the wilderness and mountains, alongside the standard predatory beasts, the sheer peril of daily existence became obvious.

Furthermore, with the recent spread of the affliction known as ‘madness’ across the entire landmass, the situation had grown even worse.

Perishing abruptly due to some unforeseen catastrophe was a commonplace occurrence in this reality.

Naturally, a specific misery followed closely behind these frequent fatalities.

This was the harsh reality facing youths who, deprived of their protectors, were forced to fend for themselves to stay alive.

Regrettably, this grim phenomenon was unfolding regularly in every corner of the continent.

Yet, this specific location proved to be a rare exception to that rule.

“Hey! Give that back, it belongs to me!”

“Too slow~ Come and get it if you’re fast enough~!”

“Watch your step, everyone! Don’t fall and get hurt!”

The grounds of Chehai’s orphanage resonated cheerfully with the loud cries of youngsters at play.

Such an atmosphere of lighthearted safety was a rare luxury elsewhere, but within these walls, it represented an ordinary afternoon.

Gathered near a portion of the raised patio looking out over the open area where the youngsters congregated, a group had formed.

“Big sister, you arrived here from the grand city, didn’t you?”

“Wow! Just how massive is it? Are there countless citizens? We celebrated a festival in our home territory not long ago, and the turnout was enormous. Does the city have even more people than that?”

Isea offered a hesitant, slightly flustered grin as she found herself encircled by small girls whose eyes shone with intense curiosity.

Being seemingly the youngest among the newly arrived travelers, the youngsters found her far more approachable than the rest.

However, a different member of their company was drawing the gaze of the local youths in an entirely contrasting fashion…

“Whoa!”

“Look at that—!”

“Phew, hah— I managed to pull it off! I actually did it! Alright, whose turn is it to step up next?”

A proud exultation rang out across the open ground, accompanied by heavy breathing and the animated shouts of the young males.

“…Is that truly Billy? I’m pretty certain it is…”

“Stop hesitating! Hans, you are up next! Don’t tell me you’ve lost your nerve?”

“Boo~ Hans is nothing but a coward!”

“T-that’s not true! I merely lost my train of thought! I am going right now, see?!”

A youngster of roughly ten seasons, answering to Hans, took a sharp breath and began a hesitant march toward a secluded section of the property where the foliage grew thick and dark, clutching a portion of preserved flesh in his grasp.

Advancing with extreme care, as though navigating a zone filled with lethal traps…

“Aaaaah—!”

He let out a panicked yelp and dashed madly back toward his peers, the color completely drained from his features.

It was as if he had come face-to-face with a terrifying entity.

Within that dim, sheltered thicket where the youngster had stood mere moments before, a figure loomed.

“Mm! These youths possess the raw traits of excellent combatants.”

Chomp, chomp—

Harley gave an approving nod, grinding the preserved meat between his teeth.

The very piece of dried nourishment that Hans had dropped in his haste.

The young boys were currently testing their bravery through this self-made challenge.

Even though he was actively minimizing his presence to the best of his ability, the aura of conflict deeply embedded within his physical form still seeped out faintly, presenting an overwhelming pressure for tender minds to endure.

Because of this, he had isolated himself in the shadows, yet the youngsters had chosen to seek him out, transforming his terrifying aura into a game of dare…

“Bwahaha! Confronting your internal dread directly is the swiftest path to gaining true power! Since you have discovered how to master your terror, you shall surely develop into magnificent champions one day! Hahaha!”

Harley roared with amusement at the commendable resolve they displayed.

Naturally, this was purely his own interpretation; to the youngsters waiting outside the tree line, it merely sounded like an eerie, deep rumbling emanating from the dark foliage.

The subsequent youth in the queue adopted a thoroughly miserable expression… though it was best viewed as an essential trial on the road to fortitude.

Furthermore, they were not the only members of the traveling party interacting with the residents of the sanctuary.

Geos, who possessed prior familiarity with the youths here, was engaged in an earnest dialogue with the older teenagers who were approaching an age to seek external employment.

Meanwhile, Heinrich had stationed himself squarely in the center of the toddlers like an unmoving monument, projecting a gentle warmth and placing a comforting hand on each of their heads.

And lastly, Hesperon…

“Here you are, please enjoy these.”

“My goodness! You have my thanks!”

He accepted a platter of refreshments from a female figure who walked over to him during a lull in his individual instruction with Chehai.

She was a mature woman possessing a healthy, sun-darkened complexion and a gaze full of kindness.

She was the spouse of Chehai, the matriarch overseeing this sanctuary, and a maternal figure to every youth residing within it.

‘She truly is a remarkable individual.’

To be sure, financial strain was not a pressing concern because Chehai had accumulated substantial wealth during his years as a soldier of fortune, and Geos contributed resources as well, but managing the daily needs of such a vast number of youths was a monumental task.

Yet, she had dedicated herself to this labor for two decades without offering a single word of resentment, frequently taking the lead in their care…

Her demeanor left him with the distinct impression that Chehai had been exceptionally fortunate in finding a partner.

“Ahem, let us take a temporary recess then. I intend to check on the youngsters, so take this opportunity to rest.”

“Ah, certainly! I shall do so.”

Seizing the moment of leisure, Chehai rose from his position and departed the quarters, steering his steps toward the gathering of youths outside.

The remaining companions had pledged to manage the external activities while he dedicated his time to tutoring Hesperon, but…

It appeared he felt a lingering sense of anxiety regarding leaving the entire situation in the hands of others.

“Hmm, unique skill.”

Left solitary within the chamber, Hesperon took a drink from his cup while reflecting on the notification from the system that had materialized moments earlier.

‘Reflecting on it, a significant period has passed since my “Avatar” capability advanced without the expenditure of Karma. It is undeniable that I have neglected to contemplate its deeper nature recently, merely relying blindly on the mechanics already available to me.’

Two distinct paths existed for elevating a unique skill.

Progressive advancement achieved through profound introspection and continuous application, or immediate transformation utilizing the repository of the Karma Shop.

He had oriented himself almost exclusively toward the second option due to his immense accumulation of Karma points, but it appeared he had satisfied the necessary parameters for self-improvement by achieving a profound comprehension of his innate trait during this specific experience.

‘If I recall correctly, the previous occasion where my capability advanced sufficiently to trigger an official system notification was… immediately following the finalization of Harley’s physical restructuring?’

Though minor refinements had occurred since that event—such as enhanced operational capability and greater fluidity when dividing his cognitive focus among his vessels—that instance stood as the sole occurrence where the progression was significant enough for the system to validate it.

‘That transpired quite some time ago, dating back to when I manifested Hubert and set him on the path of commerce.’

An ordinary awakened individual would naturally strive to comprehend and mature their capabilities through personal effort to conserve even a single unit of currency, but he had grown complacent due to his vast wealth of Karma.

He had simply chosen the path of purchasing enhancements directly from the marketplace, bypassing the need for personal reflection.

‘Still, leaving the assets at my disposal completely unutilized is also an error. I suppose I must exercise greater mindfulness moving forward. I shall endeavor to be a diligent member of the elite.’

What was done was done, and the realization itself was a positive outcome.

The insights Chehai imparted were not revolutionary principles, but he expertly highlighted subtle nuances that Hesperon would have completely overlooked on his own.

The instruction did not center on the sensations of channeling elemental magic or sacred energy, but rather on the distinct essence that resided within an individual to catalyze the activation of a capability.

The core of his guidance was to perceive that essence with greater clarity and comprehend the fundamental operation of the trait, allowing it to be deployed with superior economy and only when absolutely necessary.

Given that their respective capabilities differed fundamentally, the lesson functioned more as general guidance rather than a precise manual, yet it proved potent enough to alter his entire perspective.

‘This alone is a massive benefit. The threshold required to purchase the next progression for my unique skill was an astronomical 1.2 million units.’

Granted, the outcome of this natural growth might not perfectly mirror the potency of a direct Karma upgrade, but simply expanding his maximum count of vessels represented a substantial advantage.

In truth, his current number of vessels was already perfectly adequate…

‘The greater the abundance, the better— I will inevitably find a purpose for them.’

He gave a firm nod, lightly rubbing his jawline.

Furthermore, Chehai’s instruction extended well beyond mere guidance regarding unique skills.

The veteran appeared to operate under the assumption that Hesperon’s “Avatar Cloud” belonged to the category of spatial manipulation capabilities, mirroring his own power, which prompted him to explain the intricacies of the specialized martial method he had devised through the use of “Phase Distortion”.

He proved to be an exceptionally open-handed instructor, withholding none of his hard-earned wisdom.

Naturally, this specific method had been structured to operate entirely through the medium of weapon-aura, making it highly impractical for an active spellcaster like Hesperon to replicate directly.

Nevertheless, the foundational concepts could certainly be transposed to alternative disciplines.

‘To think he formulated such an advanced conceptual framework completely through his own efforts… ‘

This reality underscored the absolute dedication he had directed toward mastering his unique capability after the demise of the system architecture.

The endeavor to replicate those lost functions through sheer martial technique introduced numerous constraints, causing the fluid adaptability he once enjoyed to become rigidified within the boundaries of a structured ‘style’… yet such limitations were unavoidable under the circumstances.

‘Could these foundational concepts be merged with Harley’s “Bio-Aura”?’

The energy known as “Bio-Aura”, harvested by refining the vital essence of monstrous creatures, merely shared a superficial resemblance to standard weapon-aura while operating on a fundamentally distinct energetic framework, yet…

It remained an avenue worth investigating, given that it represented the closest comparable force in his arsenal.

‘I have been granted access to the techniques employed by our companions, so even if mastering the entirety of it proves impossible at present, I can always consult Geos at a later date.’

While Chehai had laid down the theoretical foundations, Geos had inherited those principles and polished the methodology through countless life-and-death engagements, meaning his practical mastery would be exceptional.

As Hesperon remained immersed in his reflections, weighing the benefits he had secured against the prospects of future growth, the entrance to the room shifted.

“You have worked diligently, Heron.”

“Ah, Master.”

Isea stepped into the chamber, closing the door behind her.

Predictably, she appeared to have gathered her own share of insights, evidenced by the subtle curve of her lips.

Her cognitive faculties and perception as an Archmage operated on a plane far beyond the comprehension of ordinary individuals.

It was trivial for her to monitor the discourse taking place within this chamber and analyze it internally while simultaneously maintaining a lighthearted interaction with the youngsters out in the open courtyard.

“As I expected, there is no substitute for raw longevity and practice. I believed I was managing adequately by coordinating our efforts with Riley, but I clearly have a tremendous distance left to travel.”

Hesperon directed his gaze elsewhere at her humble admission.

He had been entirely occupied with capitalizing on the immediate advantages of their arrangements, failing to dedicate any serious thought to the grander picture.

“…That aside, Master? When do you intend to make the truth known to…”

“Ahem, harrumph!”

Isea offered a sharp cough, cutting off his line of inquiry.

Just as she had demonstrated the ability to observe them, other individuals possessed the capacity to easily intercept the dialogue within this room if they chose to listen closely.

Furthermore, deploying barrier spells indiscriminately within the private residence of a host to establish a zone of privacy was highly inappropriate.

‘Honestly, the window for disclosure is long overdue.’

Hesperon deliberately averted his eyes, muttering discontentedly to himself.

The moment had arrived for her to acknowledge her status as an otherworldly traveler to the rest of the fellowship, yet she persisted in maintaining her silence before the group.

In point of fact, he had subtly interrogated her on the matter previously…

And the justification she provided was entirely absurd.

‘What does she mean by claiming the opportune moment passed her by?’

The situation would be entirely different had she raised the topic immediately upon Hesperon’s arrival, but given the massive duration that had since elapsed, she felt a sense of social awkwardness regarding a belated confession.

She maintained that the secret persisted purely due to continuous procrastination, though she insisted she had no intention of withholding the truth indefinitely and would speak of it when a natural opening presented itself.

‘…Naturally, that is merely a superficial excuse. She is simply rationalizing her hesitation.’

In the end, she had guarded this truth from everyone save for Princess Riley across the entire span of her eight-year residence in this realm.

It was entirely expected for her to experience an instinctual reluctance when it came to sharing such a profound secret with individuals she had only recently aligned with.

‘To put it plainly, she requires additional time to steel her resolve.’

Hesperon stood as a unique case solely because Riley had served as an intermediary, and he had taken the initiative to state his origins first.

‘Yet the reality is that every single person in this fellowship save for Geos is already fully aware.’

Indeed, the situation was far more profound than simple awareness.

Her minor concealment was entirely trivial compared to the monumental confidences the rest of the group harbored.

When measured against the staggering reality that every companion with the exception of Geos originated from another world entirely!

Observing her fretting over the matter in isolation was rather amusing, causing Hesperon to simply offer a silent smirk without uttering a word.

He found entertainment in watching the internal conflicts of his youthful superior.

Thus, while Hesperon and the legendary fellowship remained stationed at the birthplace of Geos, accumulating diverse benefits under the tutelage of Chehai, the displaced individual from Earth, the calendar marched forward.

Fewer than seven days remained before the commencement of the second Continental Summit.