Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Northern Mountain Range (1)
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The Hubert Merchant Company, based in Tarac of the Tulk Kingdom, was thriving day by day.
Harley had risen to fame in Tarac's mercenary circles, and leveraging the influence of the church behind him had minimized interference from rival factions in the early stages of the business. That had played a major role.
'Once we grew to a certain size, though, even that boost started wearing off.'
As the company's scale expanded, the covert disruptions pouring in were steadily increasing.
There were still no overt provocations, but the subtle threats had now reached a level that could no longer be ignored.
'Still, we've secured countermeasures this time, so things should improve going forward.'
Recently, they had formed a close alliance with Thalia's Brocoslak Clan, allowing a large number of vampires to infiltrate Tarac.
Unlike Thalia, which the clan dominated outright, they had to move with constant caution here, sticking to the shadows. But the enhanced clan vampires blended in seamlessly with the merchant company's assistance, without any issues.
'Plus, the ones dispatched to Tarac this time are individuals evolved from "Purified Blood Crystals" with a focus on stealth.'
They had deliberately steered their evolution toward concealment, making them a unit specialized in infiltration and covert operations.
But even as everything seemed to be progressing smoothly in Tarac, a sudden change swept in.
A massive one, at that.
'...I knew chaos was coming, so we stockpiled food, oil, weapons, and such in advance. But this is beyond what I anticipated.'
In the merchant company's office, Hubert frowned as he reviewed the urgently delivered documents.
To a merchant, information was life itself.
He had invested heavily in a swift intelligence network, which allowed him to obtain such critical intel promptly... but.
"At this scale, there's probably nowhere left that hasn't heard."
If even a single merchant like him knew, others would already be mobilizing.
And as Hubert predicted, it was unfolding in real time.
"Move, move!"
"Double-check we didn't miss any supplies!"
Clang! Clank!
Thud thud thud—!
In an atmosphere far more chaotic than usual, the army of Aonia Earldom—where Tarac was located—began marching north en masse.
Soldiers departing from other cities and even the central lord's castle were also hurrying toward the territory's northernmost outpost, the Steel Fortress.
With such a large-scale mobilization, word inevitably spread to the residents in the cities.
Talk exploded in mercenary guilds, taverns, and anywhere people gathered.
"Hey, you hear the news? They're recruiting mercenaries on a huge scale at the Steel Fortress. The army's already on the move."
"Yeah, I heard. Monsters from the Northern Mountain Range are showing signs of heading south."
"Undead sightings have already made things tense lately. Who knows what'll really happen."
"Nah, coincidence. How many times have those Northern Mountain Range monsters gone berserk?"
To minimize panic, not all details had been released yet. Most people, unaware of the Abyss's involvement, dismissed it as a temporary disturbance.
Of course, some who pieced together various intel sensed this was no ordinary affair.
"This... reminds me of what that Bijar party mentioned last time."
"What? Got some info?"
"Ran into a party that just came back from the mountains. They said they suddenly ran into mutants and half the group got badly hurt."
"Mutants? Isn't that common when hunting monsters?"
"Not regular ones. They said they charged like rabid dogs... completely berserk."
But even they lacked precise information.
Besides, with the army mobilized, they figured no real catastrophe would occur.
Drawn by the earldom's lavish rewards, people began heading one by one to the Steel Fortress in the north.
"Hey, Harley! You heard, right? What're you thinking? Wanna go check it out?"
The Southern Warrior Trio, who partied with Harley, felt the same pull.
As the Hubert Merchant Company expanded, hiring more talent, they had gained some financial breathing room.
They had taken on tedious guard duty out of loyalty to their friend, but these southern transplants originally preferred active gigs like monster hunting.
"Hmm, Northern Mountain Range, huh..."
In the noisy tavern filled with chatter, Harley fiddled with his mug as he sorted his thoughts.
He had never personally encountered monsters influenced by "madness."
The Abyss had opened right when he was wrapping up a hunt and heading back to Tarac from the Steel Fortress.
Monsters affected by it only appeared much later, which was natural.
But combining the intel from Hubert with what Heinz 2nd had uncovered by mobilizing the clan...
This was no minor incident.
'That's why Thalia Kingdom is also assembling forces at the western Beast Forest.'
Hans, Heinz 2nd, and Harley had all roamed the forest freely, so it was hard for them to appreciate its dangers, but it was originally a forbidden zone no one entered lightly.
If madness-infected beasts with boosted aggression and vitality poured out from there, the kingdom would suffer significant losses.
'That's why we sent elites like the True Bloods, Frigia and Obor.'
Operating separately from Thalia's soldiers, they would delve into the forest for guerrilla tactics to cull the dangerous beasts.
'But the Northern Mountain Range is said to be even worse than the Beast Forest.'
The vast Northern Mountain Range spanned the entire northern continent.
The section connected to Tulk Kingdom was just a fringe, yet despite countless mercenaries venturing in, monster numbers kept growing. It was that perilous.
'No nation with access to multiple reports would be blind to what's coming.'
Aonia Earldom's army was already en route, and soon reinforcements from neighboring territories would arrive.
This wouldn't end easily.
'The phase where we could limit info to high ranks is over. Civilian rumors will spread from this.'
About the Immortal King's resurrection and the Abyss's opening.
Much chaos lay ahead.
Many places might shake, but it was necessary.
And.
The Immortal King's infamy spreading far and wide was precisely what he desired.
'He's been aiming for that from the start.'
But what Harley needed to consider now was a separate issue.
How to respond amid the impending turmoil...
After a moment's deliberation, he suddenly widened his eyes and shot to his feet.
"Yeah, let's go! Can't miss out on a bash like that! Uhahaha!"
"Ooh! That's our Harley!"
"Time to blow off some steam after ages!"
Truth be told, no real deliberation was needed.
When in doubt, charge in—that was Harley's style!
Besides, if the Steel Fortress truly fell, even the foundations Hubert had painstakingly built in Thalia could crumble.
Better to step up and steer things himself.
'If it gets too dicey, just release the summon.'
With his now monstrously tough body, was danger even possible for Harley?
Thus, he strode out of the tavern with majestic swagger, crossing the main street.
Already a Tarac celebrity familiar to locals, the reactions around him were much the same as always.
Averting eyes and quietly slipping away.
'Well, can't be helped.'
Harley glanced down at himself.
His bare muscular torso, beast-head helm, fang ornaments—all unchanged. But one stark difference gleamed.
His brandings.
Ornate flame motifs radiating from his heart across his chest and up under his jaw.
Storm and lightning patterns from forehead, across his right eye, to cheek.
Beast on his right arm, crossed axes on the left.
Each branding was an abstract, artistic embodiment of its element—beautiful in isolation.
But fused with Harley's savage bulk, they only amplified his intimidating aura.
His exploits had fueled his notoriety too.
He never bullied the weak, but challengers were crushed mercilessly.
'Had to, or it'd get too annoying.'
Fame brought such side effects.
In this barbaric mercenary world, reputation equaled power.
Thus, fresh mercenaries flooding into Tarac inevitably tested him.
Sieges, challenges, even ambushes despite his build.
Harley's solution: pulverize challengers thoroughly.
Make onlookers too awed to even bare teeth.
Thus, in Tarac at least, he became a figure everyone knew yet none dared touch.
Ting-a-ling— ting-a-ling—
Entering the mercenary guild with the Southern Warrior Trio, the usual scene greeted them.
Sleek, refined interior; clusters of mercenaries chattering away.
Their talk centered entirely on the Northern Mountain Range.
The unprecedented recruitment scale had everyone's attention.
'Some sense the danger, but overall, positive vibes. Well, it hasn't hit yet.'
Some crisis-averse folk fled south entirely, but the earldom's huge rewards lured many participants.
"Hey, Harley. Our turn."
After a short wait, it was finally their queue.
As the group signed up one by one.
"U-um, Mr. Harley?"
The young male clerk at the counter looked up cautiously.
"Perfect timing. There's a named request specifically for you today. We were about to contact you personally, but since you're here..."
"Hm? Named request?"
Harley had taken plenty as a mercenary, but named requests—where clients picked the merc—paid premium over standard postings.
Guilds just bridged; details negotiated directly between client and merc.
Often for sensitive or high-difficulty jobs.
"Hmm... Was headed to the Steel Fortress, so not really interested. Decline it!"
With destination set, why eye other gigs now?
Sorry, bad timing.
"W-wait... I don't think you can decline this one. The one who assigned it..."
Harley frowned at the unexpected pushback.
Rules didn't force jobs like this.
"What're you saying? No time—spit it out straight, pal!"
"Y-yes, sir! The... direct assigner is someone else, but the registered client is...!"
The stiff clerk paused, glanced around, then leaned in to whisper.
"Lady Tarmin Aonia..."
A name even he hadn't anticipated.
"In other words, the lord of this territory."