Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: To the Roselia Cathedral (3)
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Outerica was a typical fantasy world where countless races lived together.
However, it differed from the common perception on Earth in one key way: it wasn't a backdrop dominated by Westerners.
Rather, it was a vibrant world where people of various races and mixed bloodlines coexisted, with only regional differences in majority populations.
And that meant, in this world, East Asians from Earth weren't particularly special.
Just like the woman standing before Harley right now.
'But even accounting for how East Asians tend to look younger than other races... this woman seems way too youthful.'
He tilted his head, gazing down at the petite girl who didn't even reach his chest.
She was a little over 150 cm tall, wearing a blue robe styled like a dress.
Her black hair, reaching down to her chest, was tied with a hairband and draped over one shoulder, while her obsidian-black eyes stared up at him calmly, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
...But even so, her fair skin and delicately refined features didn't look like they belonged to someone in their late twenties, no matter how you sliced it.
'Honestly, even being generous, she'd pass for a high schooler. Heck, I could believe middle school. Wait, is she maybe a mixed-blood of some other race?'
That would certainly explain it.
If she had even a drop of long-lived race blood like elves, it would make perfect sense.
If not that, then perhaps...
As Harley scratched the back of his head—or rather, the beast hide on his nape—with his thick, rippling arm...
"Pardon the rudeness on our first meeting, but are you perhaps a mixed-blood of another race?"
The question slipped from her lips first.
As if she'd been thinking the exact same thing while facing him.
He had no idea what about his unmistakably burly human self screamed "mixed-blood" to her, but it was impressive insight befitting a grand magus.
"Hmm? Ah! Yeah, I'm a Dragonkin, so you could call me a dragon mixed-blood. Not sure how many generations back the blood comes from, though! Haha!"
"Dragonkin... I see. My apologies. I'm Isea Pristine, a grand magus from the Azerion Empire."
She introduced herself calmly, extending her small, slender hand for a shake.
Harley stared at it for a moment before grasping it gently with his ring and pinky fingers folded, shaking it slowly up and down.
It was an extremely cautious motion, lest he accidentally crush her hand bones.
"Hahaha! Just call me Harley. I'm staying in the Tulk Kingdom right now, but my heart's always that of a southern warrior!"
"...Pardon? Ah, yes."
Isea responded with an awkward smile, seemingly overwhelmed by his boisterous self-introduction.
"By the way, are you a mixed-blood too, miss?"
"Ah, I..."
And so, in front of a corridor in the cathedral,
a petite girl just over 150 cm tall crossed paths by chance with a giant of a man nearing 2.3 meters.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hoo..."
Isea flopped onto her bed in her quarters after parting with Harley, running a hand over her face.
Her sudden trip all the way to the Roselia Cathedral went without saying: it was due to an invitation from the Church.
The Special Mobile Strike Team for Countering the Immortal King.
Simply put, the "suicide squad" or "hero party"—a position as dangerous as it was glorious.
Their home nations would hail them as great heroes, their lives chronicled in history books and immortalized in bards' songs.
'Though those who survived to the end all met early graves, so none truly enjoyed that glory for long.'
However, since their mission involved directly confronting the Immortal King—something beyond ordinary means—the minimum requirement for volunteers was masters or grand magi at the pinnacle of their arts.
Naturally, the hero party should have been the continent's ultimate elite force, assembled from its strongest...
But the world wasn't that simple.
'For starters, 'continent's strongest' is incredibly vague.'
This wasn't a game world with numerical stats for everyone.
To compare, they had no choice but to rely on realms beyond certain thresholds, public reputation, and past achievements...
Even experts at similar levels saw outcomes shift based on matchups and experience in real combat.
There were no tournaments to crown the continent's strongest, and precisely ranking them by analyzing abilities was impossible from the start.
Moreover, Auterica hadn't seen human wars in ages, thanks to the previous Immortal King crisis and monsters everywhere.
Unless someone like the hero Heinrich had universally acknowledged uniqueness—which sadly, no current known powerhouse did—they had no choice but to solicit qualified candidates, interview and vet them for suitability...
But there was another problem.
There were far, far too few applicants.
Historical peril played a role, but more practically, they couldn't just step up.
'Joining the suicide squad means being away from Riley for a long time, and I can't afford that right now.'
And among those declining to join for such reasons—
—was Viscountess Isea Pristine, grand magus of the Azerion Empire.
The strong inevitably rose to high positions, and those bore equally heavy responsibilities.
How many would abandon family, city, nation—whose fates hung in uncertainty—for the greater good?
If they stepped away and truly lost something precious, who bore the blame?
Especially if it was a crisis they could have prevented?
And there was no guarantee "enemies"—undying hordes or political rivals—wouldn't exploit their absence.
'Crown Prince Simon's made things messy. Can't outright refuse the Church's invitation. A short absence should be fine, though...'
For such reasons, volunteers were virtually nonexistent—
Everyone knew it was necessary, but no one wanted to be the one to step up... leaving a game of chicken as the current reality.
With baseline requirements already sky-high and few qualifying anyway, the Church had no choice but to start with recommendations and invite powerhouses for talks.
Isea, first recommended by the crown prince, was naturally included.
'Worst case, I have a backup plan, so my life isn't at risk, but leaving Riley's side long-term defeats the purpose. Why else am I still hanging around here!'
Though she'd made no plans to change her mind, she'd come to the cathedral in person to show maximum sincerity to the Church.
In this continental crisis, with the Saint herself volunteering to sacrifice, sending just a refusal note for personal reasons risked earning enmity, right?
'Even if the Church is moderate, you never know with people. For the throne, I must avoid clashing with them at all costs. ...That dog Simon.'
Isea ground her teeth quietly as the crown prince's shameless face resurfaced.
Her usual cool composure cracked, irritation bubbling within.
Of course, if she successfully subjugated the Immortal King and survived as a hero, the situation would flip—but that wouldn't happen quickly.
And in that time... Fifth Princess Riley's odds of not just losing the power struggle but suffering an "unfortunate accident" were sky-high.
'Simon's exactly the type to pull that. ...Speaking of, that guy earlier—Harley, was it?'
Isea shook off grim thoughts with a frown, redirecting her mind to the giant man she'd met in the corridor.
"At first, I thought a monster had invaded the cathedral."
It wasn't just his size.
Though her specialty was elemental magic, with the fifth princess's full backing, she possessed broad knowledge across fields.
And through that knowledge and her special talent, the Harley she perceived was—
'That left eye too— that's no aura a natural lifeform should have. ...Unless it's a chimera or predator beast.'
It felt like a colossal monster compressed into human form, with immense vitality permeating every cell.
Undoubtedly, it was the mutated mana—vital force—source of monsters' power.
He even carried an alien dissonance unfit for ordinary beings.
Like a machine assembled from mismatched parts, his inconsistent energies bound by some unknown force.
And most tellingly, the 'madness' latent in his body and the faint traces of insidious black magic residue.
That was something she couldn't overlook, even as a precaution.
'He could be a lackey sent by Immortal King Hans.'
So she'd approached him first, just in case.
To glean any info through conversation.
"Dragonkin, though... I'm not too sure. They're so rare, there's hardly any records."
If the unease she felt stemmed from Dragonkin traits, she had little to say.
Plus, the mana reactions lingering around him from their handshake lent credence to his dragon blood claim.
'Still, better safe. I have a meeting with the Saint soon; I'll casually mention it then.'
In the end, she decided to pass judgment to the Church.
Hopefully earning some points in the process.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the basement of the Bright Ducal House in Talia Kingdom,
Heinz silently watched the woman yawning leisurely before him.
"So, no regrets about your decision?"
"Yaaawn— What a silly question. Even if I've lived long, who'd choose death over life...?"
Her words, spoken with a drowsy gaze, carried dual meanings.
That her lifespan was nearly spent anyway, and...
'Sharp as ever.'
...that she wouldn't let him devour her before natural death.
Having witnessed Heinz consume Viscount Yuphershy and ascend to Sacred Blood right beside him, her conclusion wasn't unfounded.
...And honestly, he had intended to.
"Hehehe— Truth be told, the blood evolution itself fascinates me beyond words. To experience firsthand that change I couldn't comprehend despite seeing it multiple times— what could be more enticing!"
Bricky's quiet voice rose with solitary excitement.
Her half-lidded eyes widened gradually, sparkling by the end.
"Of course, I'm curious about the future of vampires you'll forge ahead. Watching that unfold will be a delight. Far grander than anything I imagined, no?"
"Indeed, another Holy Blood-grade vampire would greatly aid future endeavors. So don't just spectate—contribute to that future yourself."
Heinz replied curtly, slowly approaching her.
Who was she to stand back with arms folded?
That was his privilege as the superior!
'Not that I'd really let her slack off. But I won't tolerate subordinates lounging while I toil.'
And as he circled behind her, sinking fangs into her nape, she offered no resistance, simply waiting.
For the Purified Blood Essence to evolve the vampiric factors in her blood.
For the new transformation coming to her!
"Hnnngh— Ahh! So this is it!"
Finally, the true change began.
Boiling blood, pores emitting heat, twisting bones and muscles.
Each cell transcending limits, her waning vitality slowly rearing its head once more.
One root of the ancient 'Prime Bloodline' passed down eons ago—Brocoslak, the progenitor of Auterica's vampires—
was defiled... no, advanced further by Heinz the Second, the otherworld mongrel, vanishing from the continent's long history in evolved form.
Of course, at the same moment,
the Auterica Vampire Clan Alliance, 'Hybrid,' gained yet another full Holy Blood.