Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Unexpected Luck (2)
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After parting ways with the elves, Harley strode through the streets of Tarak, drawing everyone's gaze as usual.
'These spirits are awfully convenient, huh?'
Not only did the wind spirit assist with his movement, but the water spirit could even clean his body for him.
He glanced over his freshly scrubbed form.
It was a service he'd received from the elves right before heading to Tarak.
Having experienced it firsthand, his greed for more had only grown.
'That said, my gear's taken a beating. Guess I should get some new stuff soon.'
In the midst of it all, he noticed his damaged equipment.
The sturdy black iron axes were chipped in places and even cracked in spots.
The necklace woven from beast fangs had snapped during battle and was nowhere to be found, while the black panther helmet was little more than rags now.
...Actually, that was everything.
He hadn't been wearing much to begin with.
'It was all just for show anyway. Well, the axes are pretty decent now.'
For Harley, whose "Body Transformation" trait prevented him from wearing properly fitted gear, his current barbarian warrior concept was a perfect match.
His real weapon was his monstrous physique itself.
Striding barefoot through the streets with dignified swagger, he headed toward an ordinary house on the edge of the city center.
Creak—
Harley flung open the door with vigor, as if it were his own home, and stepped inside.
But the homeowner inside didn't flinch, greeting him quite naturally.
It was Hubert, the avatar sent to Tarak after Harley.
"Wahahat—! Having 'Appraisal' means I can check items right away. So handy!"
A green glint flashed in his left eye, and the items he held floated into the air, drifting smoothly into Hubert's grasp.
"Gem Eye: Telekinesis," a new eye transplant that now allowed him to use this power.
This was his first time using it properly.
Thanks to its compatibility with Harley, it could now be activated with his bioenergy, and the telekinesis proved far more useful than expected.
It was practically like gaining ranged attacks now...
'I can even levitate my body with it. Plus, unless you look closely, it just looks like heterochromia.'
As time passed, the Gem Eye, assimilating into his "Body Transformation," appeared as an ordinary green iris at a glance.
A subtle sense of incongruity lingered, of course, but it wasn't a big deal.
'In a world where all races and species mingle, no one would stare down this hulking brute and question his eyes anyway.'
While Harley tested out his telekinesis, Hubert immediately began appraising the items.
⚙ ITEM APPRAISAL ⚙ High Elf's Spirit Bracelet A bracelet crafted by a master artisan, weaving multiple spirit stones from World Tree branches. It assists the wearer's natural forces and spirit summoning while greatly amplifying elemental affinity and resistance. Influenced by the previous owner, the spirit stones are strongly imbued with wind, lightning, and earth properties. ⚙ ITEM APPRAISAL ⚙ Withered World Tree Branch Once part of the World Tree, it has now lost its original function due to excessive energy drain. Seems usable as material for various items. "Hmm... Not great."
He'd already planned to keep the World Tree branch as a souvenir, so that was fine, but even the bracelet lacked a clear use.
Of course, Rapori had given him her most precious possession...
'The performance seems solid, but I don't have an avatar who can use it.'
It would be a spiritist's ultimate treasure, but unfortunately, he had no spiritists among his ranks.
Separate from his greed, he hadn't held much hope of gaining one anyway.
Spiritists were exceedingly rare even among Earth's returners.
Affinity with nature spirits inevitably depended on one's upbringing.
Unless you'd lived in untouched wilderness as one with nature or awakened a related unique skill, it was best not to expect much.
'And my avatars are generated under the same conditions as my main body.'
What affinity could he possibly have, having spent his life in the city, living off instant food?
Amplification was only efficient if you had some base affinity to begin with.
'...Still, you never know?'
What if he had some hidden spirit affinity?
Hubert slipped the bracelet onto his wrist.
Feeling it automatically adjust to fit comfortably, he closed his eyes gently.
"......"
He focused on the bracelet, trying to sense the natural forces.
Images of mountains and seas rose in his calmed mind.
"...!"
How much time passed before Hubert's eyes snapped open?
"Bullshit, I feel nothing."
...Well, first try and all. Maybe something would change if he kept wearing it.
No one else needed it anyway, so Hubert decided to keep it on.
Harley would just wreck it with his fighting style eventually.
And he couldn't exactly give it to Archlich Hans or Vampire Heinz.
'My base level's solid enough now that I won't drop dead easily. Even if Hubert gets ambushed, I can unsummon him before he dies.'
Still, better to keep the braced wrist covered, just in case.
Starting a business would paint a target on his back.
'Come to think of it, that issue's somewhat resolved now.'
Soon, word would spread through the mercenary guild that Harley had ties to the Church of the Main God. For Hubert, planning to start a business under that identity, it was a huge boon.
In this non-modern world, launching a venture required attention to far more than just capital.
To grow properly, he needed martial prowess, connections, and more.
That's why he'd planned to base it in Tarak—Harley's turf—and borrow his name to fend off interference.
'And that guy's connected to the Church? Game over.'
Once officially announced under the Church's name, regardless of the tie's strength, outsiders would hesitate to touch him.
They'd think twice before messing with any business he joined.
While Harley reaped these partnership perks, Hubert had already surveyed the market and selected goods to sell.
'Pepper seems like the best starter.'
In Outerica, the continent's top pepper producer was the southeast.
Tarak, in the northwest, meant the biggest price markup from transport.
'Monster industry dominates, but with all the merchants and transients, good goods sell fine. Plenty of high-end buyers from the mage tower branches too.'
The plan was set.
"Urgh~! I'm beat!"
As Harley crawled into the bed inside, Hubert gathered the newly bought magic tools and World Tree branch.
Time to head back to Earth.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hmm... Not bad as a souvenir."
I stuck the World Tree branch into a pot with a wilted houseplant gathering dust in the corner.
After pouring in a cup of water, it already felt refreshingly different—or maybe just my imagination.
'Anyway, that's settled. For trade goods, have the Blood Alliance prep via Heinz. Magic tool sales through them too.'
I'd swallowed up a decent faction; might as well use them for this.
'Heterosis is growing smoothly. Brocoslak Clan needs more observation for now.'
Through Heinz's intermittent scouting, I'd gotten a rough read on Talia's vampires.
Using "Concealment" and "Invisibility" to hide, "Insight" to gather intel...
Shockingly, they were using an entire high noble's estate as their base.
'That noble might even be the clan lord.'
Not enough time for full details yet.
Heinz's top priority was stabilizing Heterosis first.
Full clan takeover would come later.
"Ahem... Alright then..."
Having gone through a major event, it was time to settle karma.
'Before diving deep into Outerica activities, I think I had just over 300,000 karma points.'
Major events since:
Heinrich was ordained a Holy Knight and began Church activities.
Harley was completed in Hans's secret lab, grew hunting beasts, and became a barbarian mercenary.
'Nothing too special up to there.'
Mostly personal growth periods, hard to call world-shaking.
So most of this karma came from rescuing Cecilia, the high elf candidate...
🛒 KARMA SHOP 🛒 Unique Skill Enhancement (800,000) Status Enhancement –View Details– Owned Karma: 668,189 'Kinda underwhelming. Because Cecilia's still just a candidate?'
It involved the Elven Kingdom, High Elf Rapori, the Church's Saintess, and other elites—felt stingy for that.
'No, karma isn't all tallied upfront.'
As I'd seen before, it fluctuated upward as his influences rippled through the world.
Meaning Cecilia becoming a true high elf and achieving something big would boost his karma later.
Probably the same for the others involved.
'Doesn't matter now. I've got an event lined up soon that’ll skyrocket my karma anyway.'
Couldn't upgrade the unique skill yet, but no rush.
Even now, the fateful moment drew ever closer.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "My apologies for the rude request, Lady Rapori."
"No need. I understand the gravity of this matter fully. And compared to the Church's aid, this is nothing."
The Saintess apologized profusely.
To proceed, Rapori had no choice but to accept the Church's "Blessing of Silence."
As a high elf and Elven Kingdom executive, it was practically a diplomatic discourtesy, yet he accepted without hesitation.
He felt the debt to the Church was that immense.
Step step—
They now traversed a labyrinthine passage toward the Church's innermost sanctum.
The Saintess, Archbishop Latios, High Elf Rapori.
And the Heresy Inquisitor General, plus Heinrich—five in total.
'Never thought I'd actually get to come in here.'
As a newly ordained Holy Knight, he shouldn't have been allowed.
Even with near-bishop-level holy power, the minimum to approach the Immortal King's Fragment was archbishop rank.
Latios had voiced concerns again, but Heinrich's recent feats silenced major opposition.
Hadn't the archbishop himself marveled at the Main God's guidance back then?
Of course, even the Saintess couldn't just bring him willy-nilly.
"...This way."
Leading the group was a figure in black hood and priestly robes.
The Heresy Inquisitor General, this area's ultimate authority.
Without his permission, no one entered—not even the Saintess.
Yet even this strict disciplinarian yielded to her words...
'It seems the Main God intends Sir Heinrich as the Immortal King's nemesis.'
The Saintess's words carried immense weight.
'Man, it's really hidden tight.'
The underground passages he'd known about were mere entryways.
Maze-like corridors, secret doors opening only under specific conditions, holy law traps and barriers everywhere.
One could only wonder how such a vast, convoluted space stayed concealed.
'...Holy law barriers. At a level I can't even fathom...'
Having acquired "Outerica Holy Arts," he was no novice, but this was beyond him.
No breaching walls or digging tunnels without the proper path.
And at the heart of it all, the final "Fragment of the Immortal King" lay sealed.
'Yeah, the only way in would've been dismantling the Church bit by bit to map the paths. Impossible, obviously.'
The passages seemed endless.
Midway, specific gates enabled short-range teleports to proceed.
After such obsessive security, they reached the end.
"This place..."
The group silently followed the Inquisitor General as he disabled the final seals and entered the chamber.
'Impressive.'
The pristine white room was etched floor-to-ceiling with golden prayers to suppress black magic.
Even on the door they'd entered through.
And at the center:
Atop an altar piled as an offering to the gods.
Bound by thin silver chains linking five surrounding pillars.
That was there.
'The final Fragment of the Immortal King...'
It lay right before Heinrich's eyes.