Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Precursors (3)
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“Hey—! Harley!”
When Harley came out of his lodging after washing up, a group of people came rushing over, calling his name excitedly.
It was the southern warrior trio: Beardy, Big Guy, and Scarface.
“Whoa— I thought you were amazing before, but seeing you today, you look even more like a monster!”
“Even the mercenaries from Tarlak were all scared because of that. There must’ve been more than a few talking smack behind your back.”
“Thanks to you, those who used to sneer at the Mark of Kalkos couldn’t say a word. It was so damn satisfying.”
Harley truly is the pride of the south, a model for all true warriors, and so on.
Harley felt a bit embarrassed just listening to the trio shower him with praise right after their greetings.
“Hahaha! Thanks, friends! But you guys weren’t here just a little while ago. Where’ve you been all this time?”
In the end, Harley cut them off and deftly changed the subject.
Considering how long he’d been stuck in the northern mountains for the rescue mission, it didn’t make sense that they were only now arriving at the Steel Fortress.
“Oh, we were deployed to build a defensive line behind the fortress. We came here with the lord when he arrived personally.”
“This place is a key stronghold, but we can’t block every single one without fail. Some are bound to slip through.”
Due to the terrain, the Steel Fortress at the very front stuck out prominently, drawing the brunt of the monster attacks.
But there was no way one fortress could block everything pouring out of those vast mountains.
That’s why so many troops were needed for this crisis.
And since the Tulk Kingdom only bordered the mountains at the Aonia Earldom, things were still manageable here. The Azerion Empire, whose central territories abutted the entire span of the northern mountains, was throwing its full national might into the response.
Harley chatted away with his old comrades for a good while before promising to meet up again later and heading toward the central command area.
I’m not tired at all right now, so I might as well go straight to see the lord.
It was best to handle things as soon as they came to mind.
They’d told him to come whenever it was convenient, and they’d probably appreciate it that way.
But just as he was nearing his destination, he ran into another familiar face.
“Long time no see, Mr. Harley. I heard you put on quite a show today. Then again, that’s to be expected from you.”
It was Ranger Charlton, who’d been dispatched on the rescue mission with him and was now in charge of security around here.
Unlike the other mercenaries, Charlton was military, so this was their first meeting since parting ways.
They exchanged light greetings and caught up on recent events.
“Hans is still hospitalized in the army medical ward receiving treatment. Even with potions, he pushed himself too hard with such severe injuries, so recovery’s taking quite a while.”
Still, Ranger Hans seemed likely to return without any major aftereffects.
As the successor to the name ‘Hans,’ overcoming that much is only natural.
“And Bordo... We held a group memorial service for him with the belongings he brought. The unit took heavy losses while we were in the mountains.”
Once things settled down, they planned to send his effects back to his hometown.
Bordo hadn’t been close to Harley, but since he’d died on a journey they’d shared, it weighed on him a bit.
But all Harley could do was nod solemnly and offer his condolences.
“Oh, I’ve kept a busy man too long. Command’s that way. Good luck with your future exploits.”
Charlton pointed to the inner building, saluted, and left to patrol the area.
Hmm, seems like I’m running into a lot of people I haven’t seen in ages today. Hope there’s no more.
He narrowed his eyes, scanned the surroundings, and approached the building.
But the only acquaintances he could have in the Steel Fortress were the mercenaries who’d gone deep into the mountains with him.
And he’d already exchanged greetings whenever he bumped into them.
“You’re early. I’ll show you in.”
But that judgment had been a bit premature.
Ah, forgot about this guy.
The one greeting him was the knight Robin, who’d shared the commission with him.
Seeing him fully armed in sleek metal gear instead of the leather armor from their mountain trek really drove home that he was a knight.
“Sir Knight, looks like you’ve been well? You seem even more radiant than before.”
“Illusion. We can at least wash up properly here, so that’s probably it. With the situation being what it is, there’s no time for real rest. Thrown right back into duty after all that hardship...”
Having bonded through shared trials, their conversation lacked formality.
But this wasn’t the place for casual chit-chat, so it didn’t last long.
“I’ve spoken to the lord about your personality several times, but try to mind your manners a bit more.”
“Huh? Something wrong with my manners?”
Harley blinked innocently and tilted his head.
Of course, his unique appearance just made it look eerie.
“...Just, be as polite as possible...”
“Don’t worry! Manners are my middle name! I’ve never cut in line once!”
Though he often ended up receiving offers to go ahead, that was their voluntary courtesy, so it didn’t count.
“And I never resort to violence carelessly!”
Early on, plenty of people in town had clicked their tongues and gossiped whenever Harley passed by.
But he couldn’t go around punching every single one.
His solution? Embrace them warmly.
Whenever his keen senses picked up the gossip, he’d simply meet their eyes and flash a gentle smile, baring his teeth.
Never a violent response.
The effect was remarkable.
Whether his sincerity got through or not, such incidents dropped off sharply afterward.
Of course, more idiots picked fights when our eyes met, but that’s unavoidable.
A real man like Harley wouldn’t dodge a challenge.
But he never struck first, so he was practically the epitome of etiquette.
“...Right. With your achievements and skill, it should be fine.”
Overwhelmed by his brazen claim, Robin nodded and led him to the reception room.
And before long, Harley finally met him.
“Ah! You must be Harley. Come, sit here.”
Earl Tarmine Aonia, the ruler of these parts.
“I’ve heard nothing but praise from Jaonik and Robin—enough to make my ears ring—but seeing you in person is something else.”
The lord, in his late thirties, twitched his brow briefly at Harley’s distinctive outfit but soon composed himself and lavished him with compliments.
“Hahat! I don’t know where to put myself! I was just doing my job for pay. Uhahaha!”
His booming laugh made the lord’s brow twitch again.
Robin, standing behind, winced with eyes shut tight, but Harley paid it no mind.
Using honorifics was effort enough for him.
Ah, this is Harley-style courtesy. I even held back for Robin’s sake!
Unaware or uncaring of Harley’s thoughts, the lord sipped his tea slowly before speaking again.
“Ahem, anyway. Given the commission and your great work this time, I wanted to meet you face-to-face. Thought I’d offer some extra reward.”
But the “generous” reward he casually proposed left much to be desired.
Knight title? Sure, with Harley’s prowess, recruiting him makes sense...
But handing it out like charity? Not for someone who’d proven himself time and again.
And the free-spirited, wild berserker Harley was uncompromising on such matters.
“Eh, that doesn’t appeal to me. How about just handing over some goods instead?”
“G... goods? Tangible items?”
“Yeah, you know. A big, sturdy two-handed axe would be perfect. The one I’ve got now is kinda flimsy!”
“......”
His speech had slipped a bit mid-sentence, but the sour-faced lord seemed in no mood to nitpick.
Robin, behind him, just stared at the ceiling in resignation.
“You... you dare refuse the lord’s offer! And what insolence is this!”
But the lord’s other knights weren’t letting it slide.
They’d been frowning and glaring since he entered, and now they bared hostility, hands drifting to their weapon hilts.
Harley merely gave them a dull look.
It’s been over a year and a half since I came to Outerica.
With his tenure, he knew the local customs well.
One shouldn’t act rashly before the nobility... but.
“Enough. All of you, withdraw.”
“B-but, my lord...!”
“I said withdraw!”
At the lord’s sharp command, the knights bowed grimly and retreated.
In these chaotic times, strength is everything. And Harley has proven it in spades.
Besides, he was a powerhouse vital to holding back the monster flood from the northern mountains.
A single refusal was trivial.
Securing talent required at least three visits and earnest pleas, after all.
“Fine, an axe it is. I’ll have Jaonik craft a custom one. You’ll be satisfied.”
Just like the lord, now forcing a smile.
“Uhahaha! Thank you, my lord! As expected of one who rules a great domain—such magnanimity!”
“Indeed, I’m never stingy with those beneath me. Hahaha!”
Right, who did they think they were fooling?
You had to offer conveniences, shower gifts, pour on attention and affection over multiple overtures to win talent.
Of course, even then, no guarantees.
Nothing in the world was perfect.
And so, Harley basked in lavish treatment in the northwest, his influence and fame spreading far.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “My lord, the investigation is complete. We’ve cross-verified the intel handed over by the Oath of Reverse Heaven.”
“Good. Any discrepancies?”
“None, my lord! We’ve confirmed that two True Bloods have shifted positions to defend the Forest of Magical Beasts amid the madness outbreak. At most, only two remain in the capital Talaria: Brocoslak’s former lord and the current one.”
“Hmm... For that cautious Mulo, that’s awfully bold. The new lord’s doing?”
The listener toyed with his lip for a moment, then let out a smirk.
Truth be told, it didn’t matter either way.
Even head-on, I’m confident of victory. And with two True Bloods away... This might be too easy.
The power gap was overwhelming.
He didn’t know the current Brocoslak lord’s level exactly, but it wasn’t Sacred Blood.
“Well, fine. Better to be thorough. Summon the other True Bloods and prepare the combat units.”
The white-haired man with pale eyes—Viscount Ufershy—gazed down at his kneeling subordinate and murmured lowly.
“...We’re heading to Talaria.”
The continent’s undisputed strongest vampire group, the Ufershy Clan, began to move.