Chapter 52

Chapter 52
Chapter 52
Harley (3)

I decided to call the fresh avatar I could call forth ‘Hubert’.

I went through a lot of mental torment and hesitation before choosing that specific designation.

If I kept picking names that began with the letters ‘Ha’, my choices would soon run thin, so my goal was to shatter that pattern and broaden my options within the ‘H’ category…

…That was the completely pointless train of thought behind it, something absolutely nobody would give a damn about.

In reality, the truly critical aspect was the trait he possessed.

The primary capability Hubert started with was “Appraisal”.

This was an incredibly useful talent that permitted him to perceive the detailed properties of various objects.

‘This genuinely makes me feel like I am navigating a video game.’

However, likely due to his familiarity with the skill still being quite shallow, the data he retrieved wasn’t completely precise just yet.

The degree of analysis he could currently achieve was restricted to the basic background information of whatever object he inspected.

‘Then again, he only just unlocked the skill, meaning there is an immense amount of room for advancement.’

Hubert, who would operate as a merchant down the line, was given the responsibility of assembling the gear Harley would require while the warrior stayed occupied fighting throughout the beast-infested woodland.

He journeyed through multiple settlements, selecting armaments that Harley could utilize by leveraging his “Appraisal” skill, and commissioned a leatherworker to treat the severed head of a beast.

-A grand two-handed weapon forged by an expert artisan who hammered together a dense and resilient black steel blend. Highly enduring and resilient against snapping, though it possesses immense weight and proves challenging to wield without massive physical might.

-A headpiece crafted by a commonplace tradesman who treated the cranium of a predatory Black Panther beast. Because the primary objective was simply sculpting its appearance, one should not anticipate protection exceeding the base traits of the hide itself.

Hubert poured a massive amount of dedication into preparing for Harley’s official debut.

He made sure to heavily incorporate his own stylistic choices into the equipment.

And the consequence of that endeavor…

Was standing in this exact spot at this very moment.

Right in the center of Tarak, located in the northern territory of Aonia County within the Tulk Kingdom, situated on the western side of the landmass.

Buzz, buzz—

“Goodness, look at that person.”

“Is that a wanderer from the southern wastes? What brings a barbarian all the way out here to the west?”

“Mama— what is that thing?”

“Hush, avert your eyes! Let us get back inside immediately.”

The focus of every passerby locked onto Harley.

It mirrored the exact reception he had encountered from the sentries when he breached the town archway.

‘Heh, this physical form is remarkably magnificent.’

The marveling stares fixed upon Harley’s frame.

His physical presentation possessed an inherent quality that demanded recognition.

A colossus standing well over two meters tall, possessing savage, predatory eyes.

The pelt attached to the black panther skull he donned draped across his upper torso and trailed down his spine like a cloak.

A necklace composed of wild fangs hung across his collarbones, and massive, powerful muscles shifted beneath his exposed torso.

Bizarre markings painted across his visage and flesh with crimson pigment, paired with a couple of massive wooden shafts for his axes lifting past his shoulders, secured to his rear.

Furthermore, his sole defensive gear consisted of leather scraps reinforced with metal plates, positioned over a handful of critical spots.

A tribal combatant, the sort of figure normally confined to ancient tales, was standing right before them.

“Hehehe.”

He let out a low chuckle, squared his frame, and stepped forward with absolute certainty.

Those who felt intimidated by Harley’s striking physical form quickly cast their eyes downward and parted to give him space.

Truthfully, there was a practical justification for his dramatic presentation, entirely separate from his personal aesthetic choices.

His ultimate objective was to transform into a legendary figure capable of swaying the entire continent.

Renown played an immense part in achieving legendary status, sitting right alongside raw capability.

A powerful individual recognized by a mere handful, versus a powerful individual recognized by the masses.

It went without saying that the latter description aligned much closer with a true legend.

Leaving a powerful, unforgettable impact on people’s memories was a vital consideration for Harley as an aspiring champion.

‘Indeed, precisely. This is absolutely not for my own vanity.’

Harley, the robust tribal combatant, having successfully rationalized his choices, soaked in the scrutiny of the surrounding crowd as he moved past the central avenue, making his way toward the mercenary headquarters.

Slam—!

The entrance to the headquarters swung open violently, sounding as though it might split from its hinges.

Every pair of eyes inside locked onto the doorway in a split second.

‘I merely intended to give it a gentle nudge, but I failed to account for Harley’s immense raw physical power.’

He experienced a flash of self-consciousness, but a rugged individual like Harley wasn’t swayed by such insignificant blunders.

He strode boldly through the main hall and made his way toward the reception desks.

“What do we have here?”

“A tribal warrior?”

Likely because the soldier-for-hire trade thrived within this particular settlement, the interior layout of the headquarters appeared tidy and quite organized.

There were transaction stations resembling those found in a financial institution, with patrons forming queues before them.

Harley, who possessed a rough exterior but lacked no manners, stood calmly in place at the rear of the briefest line.

The duration of the wait would slip by swiftly if he occupied his mind with something else in the meantime.

“Exhale, exhale.”

The patron positioned directly in front of him winced at the sound of his heavy, rumbling breaths.

“Ahem… Now that I think about it, a critical matter just came up…”

The man then muttered some excuse and warily exited the building.

It was as though he felt deeply threatened by Harley’s presence for some underlying reason.

“Ah, my stomach is empty since I missed lunch, I ought to grab a bite to eat before returning.”

“My memory is failing me. I completely overlooked a meeting I scheduled.”

The individuals ahead of him dispersed one after another, causing the queue to diminish rapidly until his turn was right at hand.

‘Tsk, tsk, tsk, folk seem to lose track of things so easily these days.’

He clicked his tongue and shook his head at the pitiful state of affairs.

Yet, what remedy was there if they truly had pressing engagements to look after?

Harley rose from his deep squatting posture, which he had been performing using his two heavy axe handles as a makeshift barbell while awaiting his turn, stretching out his limbs.

‘With a pair of axes, it works out beautifully to use the heavy blades as counterweights on either end. And the hafts provide plenty of length since they are designed for two-handed use.’

Naturally, a burden of this magnitude failed to even cause a bead of sweat to form on him.

He slicked the weapons back onto his shoulders and advanced toward the reception desk.

“Greetings, how may I assist…”

The female clerk inquired hesitantly as the massive, muscle-bound giant towering over two meters came to a halt right in front of her.

“Bwahaha! Naturally, I am here to seek glory in the mountains above the Iron Fortress! Is this not the premier city for such pursuits?”

A booming laugh echoed through the space.

This was the exact motivation behind Harley’s journey to Tarak.

To hunt down the diverse array of beasts that infested the highlands beyond the Iron Fortress, harvest additional genetic data, and push his strength to even greater heights.

In truth, his understanding regarding the tribal coalitions and the native barbarians of the south remained sparse, making a direct journey to those lands rather perilous.

It was far more tactical to assume a persona in an environment where no actual natives could question it.

‘Once my strength increases and my name spreads, the rest will fall into place.’

The remaining avatars were entirely occupied with their own duties, meaning they could no longer offer Harley any backing, but he had already established a solid foundation, allowing him to operate independently going forward.

Furthermore, it was wiser to follow established avenues to build a grand reputation, which is why he arrived in Tarak first to secure an official contract as a hired warrior before entering the peaks.

There were a pair of trajectories Harley kept in mind.

He could either transform into a major power capable of swaying the southern tribal coalition by establishing a grand legacy under a barbarian persona, or he could rise to the position of mercenary king by forging an unmatched status within the soldier-for-hire community.

‘I am capable of achieving both.’

In reality, that remained the ultimate objective.

“Bwahaha—!”

Though he was merely a novice contract fighter at this particular moment…

And in this manner, Harley the tribal combatant registered as a mercenary and set out toward the northern mountain ranges.

—

Heinrich stood his post once more, calmly keeping watch within the grand walls of the Roselia Cathedral.

Just as he anticipated, his current assignment remained entirely undisturbed.

‘They keep insisting we must prepare for unexpected crises, but what are the odds of an incident occurring inside the heart of this holy sanctuary?’

The likelihood was bound to be practically non-existent.

As he let his mind drift along those lines while shifting his surplus cognitive focus toward his other avatars,

“Hmm?”

He picked up on signs of frantic movement emerging from further down the corridor he was tasked with securing.

His post was currently positioned at the gateway leading directly into the residential quarters of the high-ranking priesthood.

It appeared some sort of development was unfolding within the hierarchy of the Church.

His interest was piqued, yet he reasoned that the details would eventually reach him if it concerned his duties, prompting him to dismiss the thought, right until…

“Ah! Greetings, Sir Heinrich! We are blessed with wonderful weather today!”

The Saintess emerged from the inner depths of the corridor.

As it happened to turn out, a torrential downpour was raging outside.

“The earthworms venture out from the soil whenever the rain falls. They possess such a charming quality!”

He found himself entirely unable to comprehend her perspective, yet he was obligated to show deference to her unique preferences.

“Indeed… those elongated, glistening, twisting creatures… they are exceptionally charming. Quite so.”

“I was certain that Sir Heinrich would see the appeal! You comprehend precisely what makes earthworms so delightful. It is simply precious how those tiny organisms twist about!”

“Haha… Moving on, is there some event unfolding within the sanctuary? You appear rather animated…”

He swiftly shifted the topic of discussion before the interaction could veer into completely unmanageable territory.

Had it been a matter forbidden for his ears, the dialogue would have concluded right then, which wouldn’t have been a terrible outco…

“Ah! A decision was reached to align our efforts with an external faction.”

It turned out this was a matter he was permitted to discover.

Despite the Saintess appearing somewhat flighty, she still held her sacred title for a reason, meaning she would exercise discretion regarding what information should be shared or withheld.

…Presumably?

“A decree was made to bring in High Elves originating from the Elven Kingdom on the Enamel Continent. Their skills should prove highly beneficial in tracking down the lineage of the Immortal King.”

The Enamel Continent comprised a minor landmass, measuring a mere quarter of the total area of the Ion Continent where they currently resided.

The vast majority of its population consisted of non-human heritages.

One could essentially view the entirety of the Enamel Continent as a unified non-human coalition.

“If we are speaking of High Elves, my understanding is that they hold immense status within the Elven Kingdom… Are you implying they are journeying across the great ocean simply to assist our cause?”

The situation struck him as increasingly perplexing, given that the Enamel Continent had entirely avoided subjugation by the Immortal King, and the Elven folk dedicated themselves to the World Tree—a fringe belief system that scarcely maintained a presence within Auterica.

“Naturally, they seek a specific concession from our side as well, which is how the joint endeavor was successfully negotiated. The Elven Kingdom harbors a distaste for mankind, yet they maintain an amicable alliance with our Main God Church!”

The reality of the Elves devoting themselves to the World Tree did not signify a rejection of the Creator.

Validating and honoring the presence of the Main God while electing a specific entity for personal devotion were two entirely separate concepts.

Because the Main God Church did not suppress external faiths, the two factions maintained mutual respect and engaged in regular diplomatic relations.

“Given that this arrangement was concluded only recently, is it truly appropriate for an individual of my standing to be informed?”

“The matter will be made public to everyone shortly regardless. We must begin arrangements to greet the diplomats from the Elven Kingdom.”

Providentially, it appeared the Saintess had shared the news only after weighing the circumstances.

“Besides, it is perfectly fine for Sir Heinrich to possess this knowledge! A full year has not even concluded since your initiation ritual, yet you already command a reservoir of divine energy comparable to a bishop! It is entirely possible you could attain the rank of a Saint down the road!”

…Had she truly exercised sound oversight before uttering those words?

In his encounters up to this point, the young lady had shown an unusual level of favor toward Heinrich.

She consistently displayed warmth toward individuals possessing immense divine capacity, but even taking that into account, the contrast in how she regarded him compared to the rest of the guard was immense.

‘In truth, this state of affairs plays to my benefit. No critic can find fault if the information came directly from the lips of the Saintess.’

Even so, a lingering concern remained that this gullible young woman might someday be manipulated by a malicious schemer and inadvertently leak critical secrets.

‘I must ensure she is shielded so such an event never transpires.’

He could not abide the thought of anyone taking unfair advantage of their gentle Saintess!

“Ah! My rest period has concluded! I completely neglected the hour while conversing with Sir Heinrich. I must depart to tend to the earthworms now! Keep up the excellent work~!”

With that parting phrase, the Saintess vanished as swiftly as a gust of wind following her abrupt farewell.

“…Hmm, employing such an extraordinary gift merely to keep tabs on earthworms.”

He had crossed paths with the Saintess during a prior downpour.

He had ended up thoroughly soaked despite carrying a parasol, whereas the Saintess remained entirely untouched by moisture while crouching low in a garden plot, tracking the movements of invertebrates.

As though deflected by an invisible dome, the falling water droplets simply failed to penetrate within a set perimeter around her form.

‘Furthermore, she was actively channeling divine energy directly into the soil creatures, mending their hurts and granting them benedictions.’

Invertebrates receiving the divine favor of the Saintess.

He recalled how utterly bewildered he had felt upon witnessing that sight for the very first time.

It represented an absolute extravagance that even the most devout laymen struggled to obtain.

Dwelling further on her eccentricities yielded no benefit.

He let out a quiet breath and redirected his concentration.

‘Regardless, High Elves hailing from the Elven Kingdom… ‘

There was no telling what sort of unpredictable element their arrival might introduce into the situation.

He possessed zero background data concerning their capabilities.

‘There is no way they could uncover my true nature, correct?’

He had managed to avoid exposing himself to the scrutiny of the Saintess, yet the outcome became entirely uncertain once High Elves—whose precise talents remained a mystery—entered the equation.

‘…Should I focus on fortifying the concealment seals?’

It appeared necessary to dedicate greater energy toward the task, weaving in esoteric incantations derived from alternative realms.

—

Then, a mere handful of days afterward,

Right as roughly half of Heinrich’s scheduled rotation within the Radiance Guardian Holy Knight Order remained to be served,

The diplomatic party representing the Elven Kingdom stepped through the grand archway of the cathedral.