Chapter 116
Chapter 116
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Omen (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"No, I said I need detailed information! What the hell am I supposed to do with just a map? I've been playing nice and following every order so far, so do I look like a total pushover to you? One of these days, I'm going to set things straight..."
Knock knock—
The blond man, Andrew Weaver, who had been venting nonstop, abruptly clamped his mouth shut at the sudden knock.
"Ahem. Come in."
With his permission, the door opened quietly.
A maid entered without a sound and began setting tea and snacks on the table.
Just before she finished and stepped out, Andrew casually addressed her as if it were no big deal.
"By the way, is Lady Siana in the mansion right now?"
"No. The lady hasn't returned yet."
"I see. Never mind. You're dismissed."
"Yes."
He glanced at the maid as she bowed politely and left, then popped a snack into his mouth and sank deep into his chair.
Once his irritation had cooled a bit, a resigned sigh escaped him.
'Tch. Guess I have no choice but to give it a shot.'
What could he do? When the higher-ups said jump, he jumped.
The order he'd received was to investigate the massive mana clash in the northwestern mountains using "Trajectory Observation."
'My ability isn't some convenient thing that lets me peek anywhere I want!'
Not only was the area uninhabited, but he had no detailed intel—just a single marked spot on the map.
There was some reference material on natural vegetation, climate, and monster habitats, but such broad info didn't help pinpoint anything.
The best method was to visually confirm the target or location firsthand; the next best was memorizing as much detailed written info as possible...
'They couldn't even give me photos, so at least a site sketch before assigning the job.'
And if the culprit was suspected to be the Immortal King, his ability couldn't even glimpse someone of that caliber due to the vast gap in level.
'Of course, they probably factored that in when assigning it to me.'
All he could do was make a show of effort.
This ability was why he enjoyed such待遇 and comfortable growth.
Andrew sank deeper into the armchair and activated his unique skill, Trajectory Observation.
Unable to check the scene directly, he scanned the outer edges with the most data and slowly pushed inward.
'Huh? Amid all this chaos, someone's heading into the mountains?'
He spotted Harley's party heading north on a similar commission.
But as he followed their "gaze" deeper, it soon grew foggy, like shrouded in mist.
'...Knew it. Observation without info has its limits.'
Unless his level rose further, this was the cap for his current ability.
He tried several more times, but as expected, he failed to pinpoint the mana clash site.
'Ugh, wasted effort for nothing. They're not messing with me for no reason... Huh?'
Just as Andrew was about to end Trajectory Observation,
His vision caught the group that had entered the mountains now returning.
Nothing odd there...
'What? Why are they so blurry?'
Unlike their clear inbound trip, their return was indistinct.
Not as invisible as the Immortal King, but worse than the True Blood vampire he could indirectly glimpse.
No matter which member he focused on, the presence of "that someone" nearby created noise, blocking a clear view.
'Something's changed. Need to dig deeper.'
Investigating them, Andrew learned they'd taken the lord's commission to rescue isolated dwarves from the mountains.
'Something up with that dwarf? Or a cover for a hidden agenda?'
Either way, something was off.
He'd failed his original goal but uncovered suspicious circumstances, so he grinned and stood with glee.
At least he had something to report upward.
"Nice! That's enough for today. I can pick it up later."
With no more hang-ups, he strode confidently out of the mansion, boarded the prepared carriage, and headed to the entertainment district.
Fun at home was fine, but who lives cooped up forever?
'As long as I do the job right, they don't meddle. Can't beat that workplace.'
Plus ample funding meant top satisfaction.
If only they skipped unreasonable tasks like this...
As Andrew Weaver rode leisurely in the carriage,
Swoosh—
Something trailed him silently, without presence.
Formless, bearing no obsession or desire—just a hazy ego.
It simply watched him quietly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...Fast work."
Heinz, visiting Heterosis's office, scrolled the mouse wheel and clicked his tongue in admiration.
It was just the first draft covering basics, but for something prepped in under a day, it was impressively organized.
"It was a direct order from the Lord after ages, so we pushed the clan hard—even roped in our blood allies for total effort!"
Jin Solan shrugged proudly at his praise, beaming.
She'd paused her hobby streams to rush this, so his reaction satisfied her.
Heinz skimmed the content lightly.
From metal properties in theory to hammer grips in practice.
With photos and videos attached, mastering this would make it the perfect blacksmith primer for rapid growth.
'Of course, truly grasping it won't be easy.'
Even simplified basics weren't simple for laymen to follow.
Self-study from theory alone, sans teacher? Even tougher.
Full assimilation would take considerable time...
But dwarf Howard wasn't ordinary.
What Heinz saw as mere info lists analyzed instantly in Howard's mind.
Metal traits, fire control, additive properties, process principles...
Theory etched into instinct; he intuitively mimicked video motions.
'Want to experiment ASAP.'
Howard's hands itched with new knowledge.
Even for him, knowledge alone had limits; he needed hands-on trials to internalize it bodily.
'Can't use the teleport circle again today—cooldown. Hubert can prep the workshop till then.'
For Hubert now leading a major merchant guild in Tarak, a custom forge for Howard was trivial.
As Heinz organized his thoughts,
"Oh, right—one more thing to report to the Lord!"
Jin Solan, grinning brightly before him, suddenly sobered as something clicked.
"We've been tracking that group you mentioned, the Bancheon Society... Caught signs of some factions contacting them."
Time lag with Earth made it seem longer, but they'd halted Korean ops just over a month ago.
Yet they were testing waters again.
"No full moves yet—just light contact. We're monitoring closely for now."
"Hm... Good work. Keep observing without direct involvement."
"Got it!"
Bancheon Society.
No way he'd forgotten them.
Building his forces was all for exterminating them.
'Honestly, Hans alone could handle most, but...'
Their scale exceeded individual power; they hid too well to find easily.
Hans's aura risked wrong enemies if he acted rashly...
'No need to rush. Play it safe—gather more intel, then crush them thoroughly.'
Time favored him.
In his ~10 months of growth...
Earth had passed just one month.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Pardon? Could you repeat that?"
In Talia Kingdom's capital, Talaria.
At the Bright Duke's mansion—top noble house—a tussle unfolded at the main gate.
A black-haired woman had boldly tried entering and been stopped by guards.
"I'm here for Mulo."
"This is Duke Bright's residence. Are you sure you have the right place...?"
The gate guard cautiously queried, sweating.
Normally he'd bark and chase her off, but her inexplicable aura cowed him unwittingly.
"...D-Did you have an appointment?"
"Hmm... No? I just came."
The guard floundered to resolve it, but she merely tilted her head blankly.
"This is tricky... Don't want to cause a fuss."
She muttered cryptically.
"...I'll relay inside. Who should I say?"
"Me? Tell him 'Briki'—he'll know."
He punted the decision inward.
If insignificant, a scolding from the butler and his rep dips; if bigwig, heads roll literally.
And it was the right call.
Her name relayed, the butler himself emerged to confirm.
"Hmm, this child too. What in the world happened."
Her first words upon facing the pale-faced butler from the mansion.
"Please, come inside. This way."
The butler courteously guided her inward.
Of course, to a secure area barred to normal guests, rife with barriers and safeguards.
As 'Briki' walked the hall, she eyed her Pureblood vampire guide.
She'd sensed the corrupted blood from him too, multiple times en route.
'Odd. Roots unchanged, yet inexplicable evolutions everywhere.'
She'd already nabbed a Lesser Blood midway, sniffed and tasted its blood, checked thoroughly...
But couldn't trace the changes' origin.
'Even the subject barely understands.'
An evolution surpassing originals in myriad ways, from factors even she couldn't grasp.
Thus her personal visit.
The Lord would know the cause better.
Knock knock—
"Lord Mulo, I've brought her."
Finally, in the mansion's heart, they met.
The clan's former Lord, Mulo Brocoslak,
"Long time no see, Mulo."
"Welcome, Lady Brocoslak."
And the clan progenitor, Sacred Blood Brocoslak.
She had arrived in person at last.