Chapter 58

Chapter 58
## Chapter 58

Unexpected Luck (2)

Following his departure from the Elves, Harley paraded through the thoroughfares of Tarak in his characteristic fashion, drawing the gaze of everyone he passed.

‘Spirits truly make things simple.’

A wind spirit could accelerate his travel, and a water spirit could cleanse his skin.

He inspected his spotless form.

The Elves had provided this cleansing utility right before his arrival in Tarak.

Encountering the benefit firsthand made him crave the capability even more.

‘My gear is in rough shape, though. I must replace these pieces shortly.’

He took stock of his battered armaments.

His heavy axes of dark steel were severely notched, with fractures creeping along the edges.

The necklace formed from predatory fangs had vanished when the cord snapped mid-combat, and his black panther headpiece was shredded beyond repair.

…In truth, that comprised his entire arsenal.

He rarely carried much equipment to begin with.

‘They were mostly decorative anyway. Though the axes prove their worth.’

Harley’s current presentation as a tribal berserker suited him perfectly, particularly given his “Physical Transformation” trait, which made standard armor impossible to fit.

His ultimate weapon remained his own terrifying physique.

Barefoot and projecting absolute confidence, he strode through the avenues until he arrived at an unassuming residence situated in a quiet sector of the settlement.

Clank—

He threw the entrance open with the familiarity of an owner.

The occupant within displayed zero astonishment, offering a casual welcome.

This was Hubert, the alternate persona who had materialized in Tarak following Harley’s arrival.

“Wahaha—! Utilizing “Appraisal” to evaluate loot instantaneously is incredibly satisfying!”

A vibrant emerald glow flashed within his left socket, causing the objects he held to lift into the air and drift smoothly into Hubert’s waiting grasp.

This was “Gem Eye: Telekinesis”, an ability unlocked after integrating a replacement eye.

He was finally putting it to practical use.

The telekinetic force, fueled seamlessly by his vital energy due to its synchronization with Harley, surpassed his initial expectations.

It effectively granted him a ranged offensive option…

‘Furthermore, I can hover above the ground. If someone doesn’t scrutinize me, it simply resembles heterochromia.’

The crystalline eye was progressively merging with “Physical Transformation”, rendering it nearly identical to a standard green eye upon a cursory glance.

A minor sense of unnaturalness persisted, but it was trivial.

‘This realm is populated by a vast assortment of diverse ancestries. Nobody is going to challenge an imposing colossus while staring into his eyes.’

As Harley continued experimenting with his kinetic manipulation, Hubert turned his attention to analyzing the items.

-An accessory forged by a master artisan who intertwined diverse spiritual gems with limbs harvested from the World Tree. It fortifies the user’s inherent vitality and elemental evocations while massively bolstering elemental resonance and defense. The embedded stones have developed heightened affinities for wind, lightning, and earth elements under the sway of its prior owner.

-A remnant of the World Tree that has been drained of its primary essence due to forced extraction. It retains utility as a base component for various crafting applications.

“Hmm… this presents a dilemma.”

He intended to retain the limb of the World Tree as a memento, but the accessory lacked an immediate recipient.

Rapori had undoubtedly offered the most precious object in his possession…

‘The base attributes are exceptional. Yet I lack a persona capable of exploiting them.’

An elemental summoner would view this as a supreme prize, but he did not control such an avatar.

Despite his interest, the prospects of developing into a Spirit Summoner were slim.

Even among the individuals who returned to Earth, those capable of summoning spirits were exceedingly scarce.

Harmonizing with nature spirits depended heavily on an individual’s formative environment.

Barring an upbringing separated from modern advancements and surrounded by the wild, or the awakening of a specific innate talent, it was foolish to count on it.

‘Besides, my alternate forms are generated using the parameters of my primary self.’

What level of environmental harmony could be expected from someone who spent their entire existence inside an urban jungle, consuming mass-produced meals?

An ‘Amplification’ effect required an existing foundation to multiply.

‘…Still, what if there is a chance?’

Could he possess an unawakened affinity for the elements?

Hubert slipped the band onto his wrist on a whim.

He shut his eyelids tight as the item constricted automatically to secure a snug fit.

“…”

Concentrating entirely on the accessory, he attempted to perceive the ambient energies of the world.

Visions of grand peaks and vast oceans drifted across his serene consciousness.

“…!”

Moments later, Hubert’s eyelids snapped open.

“As expected, absolutely nothing.”

…It was merely an initial attempt, so perhaps prolonged usage would yield a different outcome.

Since no alternative recipient existed, Hubert decided to keep it on.

If Harley wore it, the item would likely shatter given his brutal approach to combat.

It was equally unsuited for Arch-Lich Hans or Vampire Heinz.

‘Regardless, my baseline strength has progressed to a point where sudden demise is unlikely. If Hubert faces an ambush, I can simply demanifest him before the fatal blow.’

To remain prudent, he would need to conceal the accessory beneath his sleeve.

Exposing it while establishing a commercial enterprise would make him a prime target for bandits.

‘Reflecting on it, that specific complication has been largely mitigated.’

Harley’s newly forged alliance with the Holy Church would rapidly circulate via the mercenary guild, providing an immense advantage to Hubert, who intended to open a shop using that reputation.

Launching a business in this realm involved hurdles absent from contemporary Earth.

Wealth alone was insufficient; raw power and influential allies were mandatory for sustained expansion.

This drove his choice to base operations in Tarak—Harley’s primary domain—enabling him to leverage that fearsome reputation to deter competitors.

‘And now he has backing from the Church? The matter is settled.’

The moment the religious authorities validated the relationship, regardless of its scope, Harley would transform into an untouchable figure.

Rivals would reconsider before attempting to disrupt an enterprise connected to him.

While Harley excelled at securing political leverage, Hubert had finalized his inventory selection after exploring the local markets.

‘Commencing operations with pepper seems ideal.’

The southern sectors of Auterica served as the primary source for pepper cultivation.

Tarak occupied the far northwestern territory, maximizing the profit margins generated by transport costs.

‘The regional economy revolves around beast hunting, yet mercantile traffic is dense, ensuring demand provided the quality holds. Furthermore, numerous outposts of prestigious magic factions operate nearby, representing a wealthy consumer base.’

His blueprints for the enterprise were fully organized.

“Ugh~! Fatigue is setting in!”

As Harley collapsed onto the mattress, Hubert gathered his acquired arcane implements alongside the World Tree limb.

The time had arrived to return to his original world.

—

“Hmm… it functions adequately as a token of the journey.”

I placed the fragment of the World Tree inside a container holding a withered houseplant tucked in a dark corner of my apartment.

After emptying a container of water over it, a wave of clarity washed over me, though it was likely a psychological effect.

‘That concludes that phase. Heinz can coordinate the transport of merchandise through the Blood Alliance. The enchanted tools can be liquidated through their networks as well.’

Having subjugated an influential organization, it was only logical to maximize their utility.

‘The progression of Heterosis proceeds without issue, and the Brokoslack Clan requires additional surveillance.’

Utilizing the reconnaissance reports Heinz delivered periodically, he had mapped the general hierarchy of the vampires residing within the Talia Kingdom.

By employing “Concealment” in tandem with “Invisibility” alongside “Insight” for intelligence collection, he unlocked a critical detail…

The faction operated out of a grand residence belonging to a prominent aristocrat.

‘That nobleman likely represents the Clan Lord.’

He lacked the luxury of time required to extract deeper intelligence.

Heinz remained focused primarily on cementing the structural foundation of Heterosis.

Subjugating the rival clan would have to wait until that task concluded.

“Ahem… let us see…”

It was time to review his accumulated Karma following the resolution of such a massive crisis.

‘My reserve sat slightly above 300,000 points before my active intervention in Auterica began.’

Significant developments had unfolded since then.

Heinrich achieved the rank of holy knight and began ascending the hierarchy of the Church.

Harley reached completion inside the hidden workshop of Hans, heightened his capabilities by eradicating monsters, and entered the mercenary ranks as a wild warrior.

‘Those events were relatively standard.’

That period focused on personal advancement, meaning its broader geopolitical ripples were minimal.

Consequently, the vast majority of the currency generated from this endeavor stemmed from his intervention in liberating Cecily, the prospective High Elf.

『Karma Shop』

『Unique Skill Upgrade (800,000)』

『Status Progression – Expand Details』

『Available Karma – 668,189』

‘The payout feels restrictive. Is it due to Cecily remaining a mere candidate?’

The reward felt somewhat modest given the involvement of the Elven Kingdom, a figure as prominent as Rapori, and the upper echelon of the Holy Church, including the Saintess herself.

‘No, patience. Immediate rewards do not tell the whole story.’

Past instances demonstrated that Karma fluctuated dynamically as the ripples of his choices reshaped the world.

This implied that whenever Cecily officially achieved her status as a High Elf and enacted grand shifts, his balance would experience secondary surges.

The same principle applied to the other major figures involved in the rescue.

‘It changes nothing currently. I have already set an event into motion that will cause my points to skyrocket shortly.’

Missing the threshold to upgrade his innate trait immediately was a minor setback, but impatience was unwarranted.

Even now, the critical moment drew closer.

—

“Please accept my regrets for this restrictive demand, Lord Rapori.”

“Think nothing of it. I recognize the gravity of the circumstances. This pale in comparison to the benevolence your organization has extended to our people.”

The Saintess offered repeated expressions of regret.

Rapori consented to receive the Church’s ‘Blessing of Silence’ to allow the proceedings to advance.

Imposing such terms on a figure belonging to the leadership of the Elven Kingdom constituted a severe breach of protocol, yet he acquiesced without protest.

His sense of obligation toward the holy institution ran deep.

Thump, thump—

The group advanced down a subterranean corridor, penetrating deeper into the sanctum of the Church.

The party consisted of the Saintess, Archbishop Latiaus, and the elven dignitary Rapori.

They were accompanied by the Heresy Inquisitor General and Heinrich, bringing the headcount to five.

‘I am surprised they granted me access.’

By all rights, a newly initiated holy knight should have been barred from this location.

Despite possessing sacred energy rivaling a bishop, entering the proximity of the Immortal King’s Fragment strictly mandated the rank of Archbishop or higher.

Archbishop Latiaus had raised a formal objection initially, yet he relented, likely due to the profound merit Heinrich had displayed during the prior crisis.

The prelate had loudly declared that the hand of the Divine was directing the young knight.

Naturally, even the authority of the Saintess could not bring him into the chamber without following proper channels.

“…Proceed through here.”

The individual guiding them was shrouded in a midnight-dark cowl and traditional vestments.

It was the Heresy Inquisitor General himself, the warden of this subterranean vault.

This zone fell outside the direct jurisdiction of the Saintess, meaning entry was impossible without his explicit endorsement.

Yet, despite his uncompromising adherence to protocol, he yielded to her insistence…

‘It appears the Divine intends for Sir Heinrich to serve as the counter to the Immortal King.’

The pronouncements of the Saintess carried immense theological weight.

‘The defensive measures here are astonishing.’

The subterranean passage known to the general guard was merely the outer threshold.

What followed was an intricate labyrinth of corridors, concealed portals governed by specific keys, and an array of holy wards and defensive arrays.

The journey extended so deep that it defied comprehension how such a massive complex remained hidden beneath the city.

‘…A barrier of divine energy. Constructed at a tier far beyond my comprehension… ’

His acquisition of “Auterica Holy Magic” granted him a fundamental understanding of these spells, yet this display far exceeded his mastery.

The chamber was isolated so completely that attempting to tunnel through the surrounding earth or breach the walls would fail; the designated corridor was the sole path.

The final ‘Immortal King’s Fragment’ lay entombed at the heart of this fortress.

‘Infiltration would require dismantling the entire Holy Church to locate the sequence of paths. An impossible feat.’

The corridor appeared endless.

At various intervals, they were forced to trigger specific transport circles to cross short distances before resuming their march.

Finally, after navigating the paranoid security grid, they reached their destination.

“We have arrived…”

The companions stepped quietly behind the Heresy Inquisitor General as he deactivated the final defensive ward and crossed the threshold.

‘Incredible.’

Bright gold scripts designed to suppress malevolent sorcery covered every square inch of the pristine white chamber.

The inscriptions ran even across the inner face of the portal they had just passed through.

There, resting at the geometric center,

An elevated dais stood, designed as if to present a grand tribute to the heavens.

Resting upon it was an object bound tightly by slender silver strands, which linked out to five monoliths anchoring the perimeter.

‘The concluding piece of the Immortal King’s Fragment… ’

It rested directly within Heinrich’s line of sight.