Chapter 69

Chapter 69
## Chapter 69

The Marking (2)

“Hey, Whiskers. Is this creature truly a human being?”

The elderly lady, her eyes blinking rapidly, jabbed a finger in Harley’s direction and questioned the bearded warrior.

“Granny, have you lost your wits? Calling someone that to their face! Harley may have endured extreme hardships, but he is absolutely a genuine human!”

The bearded man barked back defensively, practically spitting in excitement, even though the query hadn’t been thrown at him.

Within the fourth segment, third scene of the chaotic chronicle known as ‘Harley’s Great Adventure’, there was an episode where the protagonist fell into the clutches of the wicked dark mage ‘Hans’, enduring horrific experiments before managing to break free.

His companion was likely feeling protective over him due to that history.

‘The guy is surprisingly considerate, despite looking so rough.’

Harley, who had inwardly twitched at the implication of being a ‘monster’, locked his massive, brawny arms across his chest and nodded in quiet approval.

“Hmm… So you are insisting he is a proper human?”

She scrutinized him once more, completely indifferent to the bearded man’s loud protests.

“Well, I have encountered countless combatants throughout my lifespan, but this is a completely unique case.”

“Old lady! Just tell us what is wrong! The suspense is killing me!”

Unable to remain passive any longer, Harley finally spoke up as the elderly woman continued to mutters in disbelief.

“Nothing is wrong. In fact, it is exceptionally wonderful. Hehe…”

“Oh?”

“Ugh… The chill out here is biting. Let us continue this inside. My old bones are aching from standing.”

Massaging her lower back, she rose from her seating arrangement and guided the pair into her dwelling.

“Come to think of it, I have not properly expressed my gratitude. I appreciate you stepping in when I was in a tight spot. Allow me to brew some tea, so please make yourselves comfortable.”

They stepped into the residence, which was packed to the brim with all manner of miscellaneous clutter, and took their seats. The elderly lady soon returned with a hot brew made from simmering unrecognizable vegetation.

“Drink this down. It will do you good. A body requires proper care in its later years. Consider this a token of appreciation for your assistance earlier.”

Without hesitation, Harley grabbed the container and emptied it in a single swallow.

The boiling liquid failed to cause even the slightest discomfort to his incredibly resilient physique.

“Hahaha! That certainly tastes like medicine! Now, finish explaining what you meant!”

“Tsk… You youths are always in such a rush.”

Taking a measured, deliberate sip from her own cup, the old woman began her explanation.

“You are aware that individuals lacking the proper constitution face devastating physical repercussions when receiving a tattoo, correct?”

“That is common knowledge!”

“Generally speaking, these markings drain an immense amount of physical vitality. Mana… or rather, the aura that combatants utilize plays a significant role, but raw life force is the crucial factor.”

And she possessed the rare gift to perceive the vital energy coursing through a living form.

“I was stunned because I have never encountered such an astronomical reservoir of life force before. I have crossed paths with a handful of Great Warriors, but his reserves dwarf theirs entirely.”

“Harley possesses that much vitality? To be sure, his physical capabilities are mind-boggling even without tapping into aura…”

“He behaves more like a mythical beast than a mortal. That is precisely why I questioned your companion earlier about whether he was truly human.”

The staggering life force typically found inside a monstrous creature, yielding physical traits that completely surpassed normal human boundaries.

All of that power was packed tightly inside Harley’s frame, making her reaction entirely logical.

“Because these markings deliberately unlock and utilize the vital essence flowing through the physical vessel, the more abundant that reserve is, the more potent the tattoos you can receive.”

Since a warrior’s life force would be under constant drain from the moment the ink took hold, the vibrant, burning energy of a highly conditioned body was mandatory.

“But given his current state, he isn’t limited to a standard Warrior’s Tattoo; he could easily bear a Great Warrior’s Tattoo.”

“Oh! Is there an even grander tier above that?”

“Hehe… A legendary mark known as the ‘King of War’s Tattoo’ exists, but no individual has successfully claimed it for several centuries.”

“Oh, King of War…”

Harley’s gaze gleamed with interest at a title that resonated so perfectly with his tastes.

“Naturally, such a craft is beyond my skill. Furthermore, manifesting it demands the collaborative power of multiple spiritualists working under the direction of a Great Shaman.”

“Well, that is quite disappointing, but there is no helping it. For now, just grant me the Great Warrior’s Tattoo. I deserve at least that much prestige! Hahaha—!”

“Even that poses a minor complication.”

“Why should it!”

Paying no mind to Harley’s vocal objections, the old woman took another leisurely drink of her tea, testing his patience.

“To begin with, I lack the necessary components. As you are well aware, an immense amount of time has passed since a combatant from the southern regions traveled to this place, so I have no inventory prepared.”

She had survived by prescribing remedies for petty sicknesses, meaning her current stock was limited strictly to basic treatments.

“I can track down those items in an instant…”

“Ahem! The sacred arts of shamanism cannot be hurried!”

Gathering every single element with meticulous precision, dedicating the proper time, and achieving a serene mental state were all vital components of the ritual.

“Furthermore, fifty percent of the payment must be delivered beforehand. As you can observe, my means are meager, leaving me unable to finance the ingredients myself.”

Funds were of no concern to him, given the small fortune he had amassed from harvesting valuable monster remnants and the flourishing state of Hubert’s commercial enterprises.

“Is it possible to receive multiple markings simultaneously? I would prefer to complete the process all at once if I can!”

“Tsk… Always rushing ahead.”

Clicking her tongue in disapproval, the elderly woman paused to contemplate the request before offering a reply.

“Currently, I am entirely unequipped, so a full day will be required simply to collect the alternative ingredients and make ready. Return here the day after tomorrow.”

“Just inform me of what is required, and I shall gather them swiftly…”

“Ahem! The sacred arts of shamanism cannot be hurried!”

Gathering every single element with meticulous precision, dedicating the proper time, and achieving a serene mental state were all vital components of the ritual.

“Additionally, your physical form demands a full week to adjust after a single marking is applied. I also require that interval to replenish my own vital energies. Do you imagine the process of binding tattoos is an effortless task?”

With their arrangements fully concluded, Harley and his bearded companion stood up and departed from the dwelling, promising to return to the elderly woman’s doorstep in two days’ time.

As they made their way back along the narrow pathway,

“Ugh~! Now then, shall we tie up those loose ends from earlier?”

The bearded man offered a bewildered expression at his companion’s words as the giant stretched his limbs comfortably.

“Eh? Harley, did we leave some piece of business unattended before heading over here?”

“Hahaha! What are you saying, comrade? We have an ongoing matter that remains unresolved.”

It appeared his comrade possessed a rather short memory.

Harley offered a helpful clarification regarding their impending task.

“We must eliminate those troublemakers.”

“Huh?”

The bearded warrior’s face went entirely blank once more.

It seemed he required a far more explicit breakdown of the situation.

“Based on everything I know, ruffians of that caliber invariably return to stir up greater complications down the road if they are left unchecked! We must neutralize them preemptively!”

Naturally, the foundation of that knowledge stemmed from the popular entertainment of Earth, which was saturated with predictable narrative tropes.

“Is… is that truly how it works? From what I have known, delivering a severe fright like that ensures they learn their boundary and never dare cross our path again.”

“Ahem, have you spent your entire life sheltered from reality, comrade?”

The bearded man’s perspective struck him as incredibly naive, particularly to a modern individual who had been raised on a steady diet of intense, gritty media.

Granted, he too had initially assumed that a single warning would suffice.

Their adversaries were merely a low-level gang of street thugs, whereas they themselves were renowned combatants backed by a towering powerhouse, and they had even unleashed their “Wildness” to strike sheer terror into the crooks’ hearts.

Under normal circumstances, they would likely keep their distance, just as the bearded man predicted.

However, the spiritualist had proven to be far more capable than anticipated.

Given that the initial marking session was scheduled two days from now, followed by a mandatory one-week recovery period for every subsequent addition, there was no telling how long the entire process would drag out…

‘That provides more than enough time for their terror to dissipate.’

Consequently, a more permanent solution was required.

“Oh… That is precisely the foresight of a resilient combatant who has braved countless perils. I stand corrected, Harley. But how exactly do we intend to track them down?”

The criminals had scattered long ago and were entirely out of sight, and they possessed no knowledge regarding the location of their headquarters.

“Hehehe— They undoubtedly reside somewhere within this sector, so won’t their associates start appearing if we simply begin shaking down everyone connected to them one by one?”

“Brilliant! But what if they harbor deep resentment and attempt to retaliate later?”

“That simply means we did not crush them thoroughly enough the first time! This entire endeavor is meant to ensure that never happens! We must grind them down completely!”

“Remarkable… Truly outstanding! I have never encountered a warrior quite as calculating as you, Harley. You possess both immense might and sharp intellect!”

“It is merely the wisdom that comes with experience. You can achieve this level of foresight as well, Turaba. Wahahaha!”

The pair melted away into the shadowed corridor, carrying on their amicable discussion.

Yet, the subject matter of their dialogue carried an underlying threat.

Following a series of agonized shrieks that reverberated through the alleyways until darkness fully claimed the sky…

They managed to journey back to their lodgings with light hearts, having flawlessly executed their objective.