Chapter 68

Chapter 68
## Chapter 68

Tattoo (1)

The communication from Harris reached Harley via the holy temple.

While it was not strictly essential, standard protocols had to be followed to satisfy the scrutiny of outside observers.

Harley offered his sincere blessings for his companion’s upcoming journey, and Harris subsequently departed for the Enamel Continent in the company of the diplomatic delegation from the Elven Kingdom.

Naturally, their departure was not immediate.

Because the confrontation involving the Immortal King had concluded under a cloud of uncertainty, extensive deliberations were still required among the upper echelons of leadership.

Nevertheless, because the Elves comprising the delegation represented the true elite of their realm, they utilized the interim period to systematically conduct fundamental training.

He did not walk that path of mastering the basic tenets of a refined forest dwelling entity—encompassing the arts of spirit summoning, archery, and related disciplines—in isolation.

“Are you truly a companion of Harley?”

Cecily, the young Elf whom Harley had previously rescued within the northern mountain ranges, was training alongside him.

“Indeed. Our acquaintance has not spanned a great length of time, but our compatibility is such that we share a bond akin to family.”

“Is that so? I perceive a strangely familiar aura lingering about Harris.”

Internally, he recoiled slightly at an observation that mirrored the words of a certain young lady.

‘She is echoing the exact sentiments of Diana. Could she have discerned something amiss?’

Given that Rapori offered no warning, it did not appear to be an intrinsic capability reserved for High Elves…

While he was anxiously pondering the matter,

“Ah! It bears a striking resemblance to the essence I detected from the remnant of the World Tree! I recognize it distinctly because I held it close to me throughout the entire day.”

‘That specific remnant was utilized as the primary component to forge this physical vessel, thereby ceasing to exist.’

It appeared that Cecily was experiencing a profound sense of familiarity due to that underlying reality.

“Hmm~ Could that explain why Lord Rapori shows such particular concern…?”

She nodded to herself, seemingly satisfied with her own deduction.

“In any case, let us work well together. Given your connection to Harley, I shall ensure you are properly looked after.”

The petite Elf offered a bright smirk, puffing out her chest as she adopted a prideful posture.

It was evident she desired to assume the role of an experienced senior, having been the sole recipient of the instruction prior to the arrival of a new pupil.

“Haha… Very well, I place myself in your care.”

He could not repress a gentle chuckle at her remarkably innocent behavior.

Following that encounter, the instructional sessions on spirit summoning commenced.

“Spirits exist as lifelong partners who develop alongside their Summoner. A bound spirit matures by absorbing environmental energies and fostering a deep connection through mutual affinity. Furthermore, the covenant itself is…”

Through this structured educational process, he finally comprehended the precise reasons why Harris had previously failed to qualify as a Spirit Summoner.

Even if an individual possessed an appealing presence (affinity) and ample resources (environmental energy), specific and formalized steps were required to solemnize a union (the covenant).

An individual could only initiate such a bond after truly perceiving the entity and demonstrating a readiness to comprehend one another; that exact methodology constituted the art of spirit summoning.

“…What? How are you executing this with such proficiency? Did you not claim this was your initial attempt?”

Cecily questioned him in a highly guarded tone upon witnessing him successfully concentrate and direct the environmental energy at the tips of his fingers.

Her countenance, which had previously been observing him with an expectant air—as though she anticipated offering guidance while conjuring a minor water spirit at her side—had shifted to one of profound skepticism.

He had directed a countless array of forces throughout his existence, and he additionally benefited from the developmental advantages of the alternate realm, accelerated vessel growth, and the unique properties inherent to a “Child of the World Tree”.

This most elementary of exercises was nothing more than a simple formality for someone of his background.

“Oh, your comprehension is exceptionally swift. Maintaining this trajectory will allow you to draw parallel with us in no time.”

The Elf tasked with delivering the lectures expressed delight that his instructional duties had been rendered far simpler, whereas Cecily merely intensified her focus on controlling her water spirit with an intensely competitive gaze.

She also possessed remarkable natural gifts, holding the qualifications necessary to ascend as a High Elf, yet she had not fully attained that status, meaning she lacked the capacity to utterly overshadow Harris.

Furthermore, when the training shifted to physical disciplines, such as marksmanship and navigating rugged wilderness terrain…

“As anticipated of one who operated as a soldier of fortune, your physical coordination is highly advanced. Your archery exhibits certain human tendencies, but those can easily be ironed out with sufficient repetition.”

The Elven tutor expressed approval with a firm nod.

He managed to secure highly favorable assessments from the very inception, relying on the accumulated muscle memory of his historical physical forms.

Furthermore, he had already mastered marksmanship through Heinrich’s “Martial Bones” and “Comprehensive Weapon Mastery”, ensuring he initiated his progress from an entirely different threshold than ordinary practitioners.

“Huff… Huff…”

Once the grueling exercise of sprinting through the canopy with a longbow concluded, Cecily dropped onto the terrain, drawing breath in ragged gasps.

“Ugh… I, I do not believe this environment agrees with me. I concede. The victory is yours!”

…It appeared that, within her own mind, she had been engaged in a fierce rivalry with him for quite some time.

A handful of days into this routine of rigorous instruction,

《The practitioner achieves enlightenment via repetitive discipline. You have unlocked the capability “Spirit Summoning”.》

Aided by a combination of advantageous circumstances, Harris succeeded in rapidly mastering the art of “Spirit Summoning”.

Crackle— Crackle—

A miniature orb of luminescence sparked into existence within the open air.

It was a lightning spirit of the lowest order.

Every spirit advanced in tandem with the progression of their respective Summoner’s capabilities.

Though this entity currently existed at the lowest tier, it would perpetually transform through ongoing interaction as his personal power expanded.

“…Your designation shall be Watt.”

Crackle— Crackle—!

The moniker ‘Volt’ struck him as entirely too unoriginal, and ‘Ampere’ lacked an appealing cadence, leading him to settle upon ‘Watt’.

With that decision, Harris took his inaugural stride on the path of a Spirit Summoner.

—

Hans was occupied with eradicating lawless elements upon the surface of Earth, while Heinz the Second was similarly focused on consolidating his domain of influence there.

Heinrich remained confined to a medical facility due to the trauma he had sustained, and Harris was fully engaged in his training under the tutelage of the Elves.

‘In a manner of speaking, our forces are distributed with two operating on Earth, two stationed within the holy temple, and two positioned inside Tarak.’

The pair of vessels active in Tarak were thoroughly engrossed in their mundane routines, managing commercial enterprises and conducting hunting expeditions.

Because Hubert was restricted to utilizing the planar migration array a solitary time every ten days, and even then only when circumstances permitted, the consistency of the spice trade remained critically low.

Consequently, he categorized that particular commodity as an exclusive luxury offering and broadened his commercial footprint into alternative markets, leveraging the power of “Appraisal” backed by the capital he had successfully amassed.

Possessing the means to deliver absolute clarity to a merchant regarding the true nature of any object was an inherently unfair advantage.

He was navigating his endeavors with immense success, having established a solid foundation of trust through his historical commercial interactions.

Meanwhile, Harley…

“Oh! Harley! You have finally arrived! Come over here at once!”

Turaba, a warrior hailing from the southern territories whose countenance was heavily obscured by dense facial hair and prominent sideburns, offered an enthusiastic welcome as Harley stepped into their accustomed drinking establishment.

Harley, who had recently made his return from a hunting venture beyond the perimeter of the Iron Fortress after seeing Harris off to the holy temple, adopted a look of mild confusion.

“What is the meaning of this? Has some development occurred?”

As the scale of Hubert’s Trading Company expanded, they had taken to retaining independent mercenaries specifically to handle defensive duties, though it remained far more secure to have genuinely reliable companions directly overseeing matters.

The sole reason Harley had been capable of venturing out to hunt without anxiety on this occasion was the presence of the trio of seasoned mercenaries…

‘Surely no misfortune has befallen Hubert?’

As he approached with his characteristically commanding stride and took a seat, Luwang, a heavily built individual who ranked as the largest presence in the room save for Harley himself, slid a vessel toward him with a wide grin.

“Turaba has uncovered an extraordinary piece of intelligence.”

“It is precisely the sort of matter that will capture Harley’s interest.”

Dao, who bore a distinct mark across his eye, contributed to the conversation while taking a measured draw from his beverage.

“Oh? You possess my complete attention! Desist with the suspense and reveal it! Should the information prove genuinely valuable, the entire tab for this evening shall be on me! Hahaha!”

Harley drained his beverage in a single motion, keeping his expectations modest.

These individuals were excellent companions, yet they frequently displayed a habit of amplifying minor matters into grand spectacles.

“I shall need to adjust my attire to accommodate the consumption tonight!”

“By virtue of Turaba’s discovery, we shall indulge until we can no longer remain upright!”

“Come now, companions, cease this pointless delay and state the matter clearly!”

Only after delivering a secondary admonishment to the group did he finally receive the disclosure, which proved to be genuinely alluring.

“A practitioner of the mystic arts from the southern lands is present within Tarak! We deliberated on this previously, did we not? Regarding the mystics who possess the capability to bestow body markings.”

The diverse array of markings that adorned the skin of southern combatants.

It represented an absolute necessity for an imitation to transform into an authentic article.

“That… is remarkably welcome news! Very well! Let us indulge to our satisfaction and deliberate further!”

They arranged containers of spirits beside their position and consumed them with reckless abandon, somehow preserving the thread of their dialogue amidst the revelry.

“Ahem, I have been frequenting the western sectors of Tarak of late…”

“This individual is currently attempting to court a maiden employed at the textile establishment in that quarter.”

The robust mercenary chuckled, cutting off the bearded warrior, who scowled before draining another measure of his drink.

It appeared his romantic pursuits were meeting with considerable resistance.

“Ugh~ Regardless! I was navigating through a specific thoroughfare to utilize a shorter path when I chanced upon him!”

It was a testament to the reality that the ideal concealment is frequently found in the most conspicuous locations; to think a southern mystic resided in such close proximity.

“He appeared to be scraping by a meager existence by administering remedies for minor sicknesses to the destitute population. I cannot verify the extent of his proficiencies.”

“If his mystical talents are confined to such basic endeavors, is he not essentially incompetent?”

“Who can say for certain? Every soul harbors their own hidden burdens. Furthermore, if he truly stems from that lineage, he must surely retain the knowledge to apply a Combatant’s Marking, correct?”

Disagreement flared briefly among them, yet the consensus remained that an initial meeting would not be unwise.

On the following day,

Harley proceeded toward the coordinates of the mystic’s residence, accompanied by the heavily bearded Turaba.

“Hmm, I considered myself well-acquainted with Tarak by this juncture, yet I believe this marks my inaugural visit to this quarter.”

“Soldiers of fortune of our caliber rarely frequent these streets. There are no specialized enterprises catering to our needs here.”

While the neighborhood did not sink to the level of a destitute slum, it bore a generally weathered appearance, functioning primarily as a residential zone for the city’s manual labor force.

“What business brings sellswords to this quarter? And that manner of dress…”

“Shh! Direct your gaze elsewhere and ignore them.”

“Let us simply accelerate our pace.”

As Harley, maintaining his characteristically imposing mien, walked shoulder to shoulder with the bearded warrior—who epitomized the look of a hardened mercenary—the local populace instinctively began to circumvent their path.

Even the local youths who bore the appearance of street enforcers pointedly averted their eyes and quickly retreated from view.

“…Harley, regarding that specific attire, is it your firm intention to persist with…”

“What fault could you possibly find with this magnificent garb! Do you not sense the raw energy of a authentic combatant radiating from it?”

“…Very well, proceed as you deem fit.”

Naturally, he remained entirely indifferent to the reactions, given how frequently such scenarios unfolded, though his bearded companion still manifested a degree of self-consciousness.

“So, where resides this mystic? It feels as though we have covered a significant distance.”

“Our destination is imminent. We merely need to clear the terminus of this passage…”

Upon exiting the narrow corridor, the immediate vista that greeted them was one that Harley found immensely gratifying.

“Ah~ this elderly matron simply refuses to comprehend.”

“I am informing you, your complications will dissolve entirely if you merely increase the compensation for the remedies.”

“It appears she fails to grasp her circumstances because our approach has been entirely too lenient.”

A group of street enforcers was actively intimidating a diminutive elderly woman whose face was completely adorned with intricate markings, hoisting her roughly by the fabric of her vestments.

The situation carried the distinct scent of an impending altercation.

“Oh~?”

The edges of Harley’s mouth contorted into a menacing, wide smile.

He had ventured to this location to solicit a service from the mystic, yet could a more flawless scenario have presented itself?

It simultaneously offered an ideal stage to demonstrate his overwhelming capability.

He advanced toward the gathering with deliberate strides.

“Huh? Uh… uh?”

“Hey, hey! Hold your ground for a moment…”

The enforcers instantly ceased their harassment upon perceiving his approach.

The perceptive bearded warrior had already maneuvered to obstruct their potential avenues of retreat.

Regrettably for Harley’s desires, however, the application of physical violence proved entirely redundant, as the confrontation concluded in a mere flash.

The moment he draped his massive arms over their shoulders, utilizing his imposing musculature to lock them in place while staring directly into their eyes, the thugs lost control of their bladders out of sheer terror.

‘Could the deployment of “Wildness” be considered excessive against simple extorters of minor currency?’

These were individuals who lacked the fortitude and prowess to even function as basic mercenaries.

It was an absolute impossibility for them to endure his terrifying aura at such an intimate distance.

“I have committed your visages to memory. This senior companion possesses matters to discuss with this matriarch, so ensure your future conduct remains beyond reproach.”

The bearded warrior, his own face adorned with markings, offered a soft-spoken warning.

He appeared remarkably practiced in the role, giving their shoulders a deceptive pat of familiarity.

With the matter concluded swiftly, the agitators fled the scene in haste, leaving the immediate area in absolute silence.

Throughout the entire sequence, the elderly woman, who had just been released from their grasp, reseated herself upon a chair positioned outside her dwelling, observing the pair with an entirely unbothered countenance.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk… What motives bring southern primitives to this distant region?”

“Come now, refrain from utilizing such terms, matriarch; an individual could easily face a pelting of stones from southerners for such language in this era.”

“Irrespective of how I evaluate him, he represents the absolute manifestation of a primitive. He is identical to the specimens I witnessed throughout my youth. Hehe…”

“Ugh, that fellow is… *Sigh*. In any case, for what reason would a combatant seek out a mystic? The objective is naturally to acquire a marking.”

The bearded warrior, briefly tempted to argue, merely offered a sigh and directly introduced the core purpose of their visit.

He found himself entirely unable to offer a defense for Harley’s choice of clothing.

“Hmm, one among you appears to be a battle-tested combatant. The alternative individual is arrayed in the fashion of a traditional southern warrior, yet his flesh is completely devoid of a single marking. As is common knowledge, such distinctions are not granted to just anyone… Huh?”

The elderly matriarch, who had been articulating her thoughts while periodically closing and opening her eyes, scrutinized the pair with an unusual intensity.

The exact instant her vision centered upon Harley, her previously unshakeable expression shifted into a look of profound bewilderment following a brief moment of internal interrogation.

“What manner of aberration is this creature?”