Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Harley (3)
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The newly summonable avatar was named Hubert.
It had taken endless agonizing and inner conflict to settle on that name.
Sticking to the "Ha" sound like before had started feeling too restrictive for naming, so this time he decided to shatter the mold entirely and broaden his horizons with an "H"...
...or so went the utterly pointless deliberations that no one would ever appreciate.
What truly mattered, though, was the skill Hubert had acquired.
Hubert's initial skill was Appraisal.
It was an incredibly useful ability that let him view an object's information.
'Feels almost like I'm really playing a game.'
However, since his proficiency with the skill was still low, he couldn't access truly precise details yet.
All he could see at this stage was a rough overview of the item.
'Of course, I just got the ability, so there's plenty of room to grow.'
The first mission for Hubert, the future magnate, was to prepare supplies for Harley while he brawled it out in the Magical Beast Forest.
He toured cities he could reach, using Appraisal to select weapons worthy of Harley, and even commissioned a leatherworker to process the magical beast's head.
⚔ APPRAISAL COMPLETE ⚔ Black Iron Double-Bladed Two-Handed Axe
A two-handed axe forged by a skilled craftsman who hammered heavy, sturdy black iron alloy. Exceptionally durable and not prone to breaking, but so heavy that only those with immense strength can wield it.
⚔ APPRAISAL COMPLETE ⚔ Black Panther Head Helm
A helm crafted by an ordinary artisan from the head of a magical black panther. Focused primarily on shaping, so don't expect defensive properties beyond the material itself.
Beyond those, Hubert poured immense effort into preparing for Harley's full-scale debut.
With a heavy dose of personal taste infused throughout.
And the fruits of that labor...
Now stood right here.
In the heart of Tarack, northern Aonia County in the Kingdom of Tulk, located in the western reaches of the continent.
The crowds buzzed with murmurs.
"What in the world is that?"
"A southern barbarian? What's he doing all the way out west?"
"Mommy—what's that thing?"
"Shh, don't look! Let's hurry home."
The passersby's gazes locked onto Harley.
The same kind of stares he'd gotten from the gate guards.
'Phew, gotta admit, this body's pretty damn impressive.'
The adoring looks poured onto Harley.
His appearance had a magnetic pull that drew every eye around him.
A hulking frame over two meters tall, with fierce, beast-like eyes.
The black panther's head flipped over his own, its connected pelt draping like a cape over his shoulders and back.
A necklace of beast fangs dangled around his neck, while his bare upper body rippled with intimidating muscles.
Mysterious patterns drawn in red dye across his face and body, and the hilts of a massive axe protruding sharply over both shoulders from his back.
His only armor: scraps of leather reinforced with iron plates, placed strategically over vital spots.
A savage warrior straight out of legends, the kind you don't see in these modern times.
"Heh heh heh."
He chuckled lowly, threw his shoulders back, and strode forward with bold confidence.
Those overwhelmed by his magnificent muscles hurriedly averted their eyes and cleared his path.
Truth be told, there was a perfectly valid reason for the flashy getup beyond mere taste.
His goal was to become a hero capable of influencing the entire continent.
And fame weighed just as heavily as personal prowess in forging a hero.
A powerhouse known only to a select few, versus one known to all.
No need to explain which was closer to true heroism.
For an aspiring hero like Harley, leaving an unforgettable impression was crucial.
'Yeah, exactly. Not just personal preference.'
With that self-justification complete, the boisterous barbarian warrior Harley basked in the surrounding attention as he crossed the main avenue toward the Mercenary Guild.
BAM—!
The guild doors flew open with a resounding crash, as if they might shatter.
All eyes in the entrance snapped toward him in an instant.
'Meant to give it a light push... forgot about Harley's strength.'
A twinge of embarrassment inwardly, but a real man like Harley brushed off such trifles.
He strode boldly across the lobby to the counter.
"What the...?"
"A barbarian?"
Perhaps due to the city's thriving mercenary trade, the guild's interior felt clean and surprisingly sophisticated.
Counters set up like those in a bank, with lines of people waiting patiently in front.
Tough as he was, Harley knew manners—he quietly took his place at the end of the shortest line.
With some time to kill, he figured he'd fiddle around a bit, and it'd pass in no time.
"Huff... huff."
His unconsciously rough breaths escaped, causing the man ahead to flinch.
"Ahem... y'know, I just remembered something urgent..."
The guy muttered excuses and cautiously slipped out of the guild.
Somehow stealing glances at Harley the whole way.
"Ah, haven't eaten—gotta grab food first, come back later."
"Man, what was I thinking? Totally spaced on that appointment."
One by one, those ahead of him made excuses and left, shrinking the line until it was his turn.
'Tsk tsk tsk. Folks these days are so absent-minded.'
He shook his head lightly at the lamentable state of things.
But if they had urgent business, what could he do?
While waiting, Harley finished his barbell squats—using the two axe hafts crossed together—then rose from his spot.
'Two axes mean I can balance the weight perfectly with blades on both ends. Plus, the long handles make 'em ideal for a two-hander.'
Not that this weight worked up even a drop of sweat, of course.
He neatly stowed the axes on his back and approached the counter.
"Uh... what brings you here...?"
The clerk asked tentatively, faced with the two-meter wall of muscle.
"Ha ha ha! To head to the Steel Citadel and hunt, naturally! Ain't this the city for it?"
His booming laughter rang out.
That was precisely why Harley had come to Tarack.
To hunt the diverse monsters emerging from the mountains above the Steel Citadel, acquire more genetic data, and grow even stronger.
Besides, he didn't know much about the southern tribal federations or barbarian tribes yet, so heading straight there would be dicey.
Impersonation worked best without locals around to spot the fakes.
'Get strong first, build fame, and the paths will open up on their own.'
His other avatars were all tied up now and couldn't assist further, but things were already on track—he could handle it solo from here.
And for fame, following official channels was best, so he'd come to Tarack first to register as a mercenary and take a mountain quest.
Harley had two paths in mind.
Either make a name as a barbarian and become a powerhouse shaking the southern tribal federation...
Or build renown as a warrior in the mercenary world and claim the title of Mercenary King.
'Why not both?'
That was the real goal, actually.
"Pa ha ha ha—!"
For now, he was just a fresh-faced rookie mercenary...
Thus, the barbarian warrior Harley registered and set off for the northern mountains.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Heinrich was, as usual, leisurely standing guard inside the Roselia Cathedral.
As expected, his previous shift had been utter peace from start to finish.
'They say we must prepare for any emergency, but what's the odds of something happening inside the cathedral itself?'
Practically zero, converging on nothingness.
As he idly redirected his excess mental energy to his other avatars...
"Hm?"
He sensed a commotion from deeper in the passage he was guarding.
This was the corridor leading to the high priests' quarters.
Something must have gone down in the church.
Curious as he was, if it was meant for his ears, he'd hear about it eventually—he tried to shrug it off.
That's when...
"Ah! Sir Heinrich, hello! Nice weather today, huh?"
The Saintess appeared from the inner passage.
To add insult to injury, it was pouring steadily outside right now.
"Rain brings out the earthworms, you know. They're so adorable, wriggling around!"
He simply couldn't fathom this girl's sensibilities, but personal tastes deserved respect.
"Y-Yes... Those long, shiny, squirming things... incredibly cute, yeah."
"Knew you'd get it, Sir Heinrich! You really understand earthworms' charm. How lovable is it when those tiny lives wiggle about?"
"Ha ha ha... So, what's going on with the church? Everyone seems all excited..."
He hurriedly changed the subject before the conversation veered into unbearable territory.
If it was something he wasn't supposed to hear, it'd end there—and that wasn't so bad...
"Oh! We've finalized a collaboration with another faction."
Apparently, it was something he could know.
No matter how scatterbrained the Saintess seemed, she was still a Saintess—she'd guard what needed guarding.
...Right?
"A High Elf is being dispatched from the Elven Kingdom on Enamel Continent. Might even help track the Immortal King's descendants."
Enamel Continent was a small landmass, only a quarter the size of their current Ion Continent.
Populated mostly by non-humans, excluding humans.
The entire continent could practically be called a异種族 alliance.
"High Elves are quite high-ranking in the Elven Kingdom, from what I know... You're saying they're crossing the sea to aid us?"
Enamel had never once been invaded by the Immortal King, and elves were among the rare few in Outerica who worshipped the World Tree—a minority faith outside the church.
"Of course, they have their own demands from us, which made the joint operation possible. The Elven Kingdom dislikes humans overall, but they've always been on friendly terms with our Church of the Main God!"
Worshipping the World Tree didn't mean denying the Main God.
Acknowledging and respecting His existence was separate from choosing one's object of worship.
The church didn't reject other faiths either, so they respected each other and held periodic exchanges.
"But this seems like a very recent decision. Is it really okay for me to hear this?"
"It's getting announced soon anyway. We need to prepare to receive the Elven Kingdom's delegation."
Good to know she'd vetted it properly before sharing.
"Besides, someone like you, Sir Heinrich? Totally fine! Baptized less than a year ago, and you're already nearing bishop-level holy power! Who knows—you might even reach saint-class someday!"
...She'd really weighed it out properly, right?
From his experiences, the Saintess had always been unusually friendly toward Heinrich.
She did favor those strong in holy power, but even accounting for that, her demeanor differed sharply from how she treated others.
'Not a bad thing for me, though. No one'll question info straight from the Saintess herself.'
Still, he couldn't help worrying that this innocent girl might get duped by some scheming villain and spill vital secrets.
'I'll just have to stay close and watch over her to prevent that.'
No way he'd tolerate anyone exploiting his sweet Saintess!
"Ahh! Break time's over! Lost track chatting with you, Sir Heinrich. Gotta go see those earthworms! Take care~!"
With that one-sided farewell, the Saintess vanished like the wind once more.
"...Using such gifts to observe earthworms."
He'd run into her on a rainy day once before.
He'd been soaked despite an umbrella, yet there she was, crouched dry as a bone in the flower beds, studying earthworms.
As if some invisible barrier repelled the rain from her vicinity.
'And she was showering them with holy power—healing and blessing the earthworms.'
Blessed earthworms, of all things.
He'd been utterly flabbergasted at the sight.
A luxury even devout believers rarely enjoyed.
No sense dwelling on her further.
He let out a light sigh and shifted his thoughts.
'A High Elf from the Elven Kingdom, though...'
He had no idea what variable they might introduce.
No accessible info on them, after all.
'Surely they won't see through me?'
He'd evaded the Saintess's scrutiny so far, but with an unknown High Elf joining in, who knew?
'...Maybe reinforce the barriers a bit more.'
He'd need to weave in more interdimensional spells and put in some real work.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And just a few days later.
With half of Heinrich's remaining shifts in the Radiant Guardians Holy Knight Order still ahead...
The Elven Kingdom's delegation arrived through the cathedral's gate.