Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Imprint (1)
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The message from Harris reached Halli through the temple.
In truth, it wasn't necessary, but there were procedures to follow for the sake of others' eyes.
Halli gladly celebrated his friend's journey, and Harris set off for the Elnamel Continent alongside the Elven Kingdom's delegation.
Of course, he didn't leave immediately.
The matter with the Immortal King had ended on a rather uneasy note, so there were still discussions to be had among the higher-ups.
But the elves in the delegation were all elites of the Elven Kingdom, so even amid that, the basic training proceeded steadily.
The process of learning spirit magic, archery, and the fundamental graces of a forest fairy wasn't something he undertook alone.
"You're a friend of Lord Halli?"
Cecily, the elven girl Halli had rescued in the northern mountains, was training alongside him.
"That's right. We haven't known each other long, but we clicked so well that we're like family now."
"That explains it. I kept smelling something familiar about you, Mr. Harris."
Her words, overlapping with a familiar child for a moment, made him flinch inwardly.
'She's saying the same thing as Diana. She couldn't have noticed, could she?'
Rapori hadn't said anything either, so it didn't seem to be some high elf ability...
As he tensed up inwardly like that—
"Ah! It's like the scent from the World Tree's branch! I hugged that thing all day, so I know it well."
'That branch became material for this body and vanished.'
It seemed Cecily had felt a sense of familiarity because of that.
"Hmm~ So that's why you've been paying attention to him, Lady Rapori...?"
And with that, she nodded to herself in understanding.
"Anyway, let's get along well. Since you're Lord Halli's friend, I'll take good care of you."
The little elven girl smirked, puffing out her chest proudly.
She'd apparently been training alone and now wanted to act like the senior with a new trainee.
"Haha... Yes, please take care of me."
Her childlike demeanor unwittingly drew a soft smile from him.
And then the spirit magic lecture began.
"Spirits grow alongside their spirit mages as companions. Contracted spirits develop through affinity-based communion and the supply of natural forces. And the contract is..."
Through this systematic education, he could see why Harris hadn't become a spirit mage until now.
Even with an appealing appearance (affinity) and ample wealth (natural forces), marriage (contract) required proper procedures.
One had to properly recognize the partner and prepare to understand each other before anything could begin—that process was spirit magic.
"...What? Why are you so good at this? It's your first time, right?"
Cecily, seeing him gather and manipulate natural forces at his fingertips, asked in a wary tone.
Her face, which had been peeking over with eager anticipation while summoning a small water spirit as if wanting to offer advice, had soured.
Having handled countless energies before, combined with otherworld growth bonuses, avatar growth acceleration, and the effects of Child of the World Tree.
For him, such basics were merely a rite of passage.
"Ho, your aptitude is remarkable. At this rate, we might align your progress with Cecily's soon."
The instructing elf was delighted at the eased workload, but Cecily just glared fiercely and focused harder on handling her water spirit.
She possessed outstanding talent befitting a high elf candidate, but since she wasn't a true high elf yet, she couldn't overwhelm Harris.
And regarding physical pursuits like archery or mountain maneuvers...
"Impressive. As expected of a mercenary. You handle your body well. There's a human scent to your archery form, but that'll correct itself with practice."
The elven instructor nodded in satisfaction.
Drawing from the experiences of his physical predecessors, he earned high marks from the start.
Moreover, with Heinrich's Peerless Bones and Comprehensive Martial Techniques already granting him archery skills, he started far ahead of the others.
"Haaack... Heok..."
After archery training running through the trees, Cecily collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath.
"Uwaa... Th-this isn't for me. I admit defeat. You win!"
...At some point, she had apparently been competing with him in her mind.
And a few days into this training—
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The entity has gained enlightenment through repeated training. Acquired skill Spirit Magic. With various factors aligning, Harris swiftly acquired Spirit Magic.
Crackle— Crackle—
A small cluster of light sparked in the air.
The lowest-grade lightning spirit.
All spirits grow according to their spirit mage's level.
This one was lowest-grade now, but it would evolve continuously through communion as his abilities increased.
"...Your name is Watt."
Crackle— Crrrackle—!
'Volt' felt too common, and 'Ampere' had a bad ring, so 'Watt' it was.
Thus, Harris took his first step as a spirit mage.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Hans was cleaning up criminals on Earth, and Heinz 2nd was solidifying his Earth forces.
Heinrich was hospitalized from injuries, and Harris was training with the elves.
'Somehow, it's two on Earth, two at the main temple, and two in Tar拉克.'
The two avatars in Tar拉克 were busy with business and hunting.
Hubert's pepper could only be supplied via the Otherworld Teleportation Circle once every ten days, and only when there was spare time, making supply unstable.
So they positioned it as a premium product and, using their saved capital, expanded into other fields with Appraisal.
Being able to discern an item's info for a merchant was cheat-level ability.
Having built some trust through prior dealings, business was going smoothly.
And Halli...
"Oh! Halli! You're finally here! Come over quick!"
Turaba, the southern warrior with a bushy beard and face full of hair, enthusiastically welcomed him into the regular tavern.
Having sent Harris to the main temple and returned from a long hunt beyond the Steel Fortress, Halli looked puzzled.
"What's up? Why the fuss? What happened while I was gone?"
With Hubert Merchant Company growing, they hired separate guards, but trusted ones handling it personally was naturally safer.
Halli had been able to hunt carefree this time thanks to the veteran trio of mercenaries...
'Nothing happened to Hubert, though?'
As he sauntered over with his usual intimidating gait and sat, Luwang—the next bulkiest muscle pig—handed him a glass with a grin.
"Turaba found something that'll knock your socks off this time."
"Yeah, definitely something Halli would like."
Dao, with the knife scar by his eye, nodded while sipping his drink.
"Oh? Sounds promising now! Don't keep me waiting—spill it! If it's good info, drinks are on me tonight! Hahaha!"
Halli gulped down his drink without high expectations.
His friends were great, but they often made a big deal out of nothing.
"Gotta loosen my belt for this!"
"Thanks to Turaba, we can drink till we drop today!"
"You guys, quit the hype and just tell me already!"
Only after scolding the trio again did he hear the info—and it was genuinely intriguing.
"A southern shaman's here in Tar拉克! Remember that tattoo shaman I mentioned last time?"
The various imprints every southern warrior supposedly had.
An essential element for fakes to become real.
"That's... great news! Alright! Let's drink till we burst and talk!"
Soon, they piled barrels beside them and somehow conversed clearly amid the heavy drinking.
"Ahem, I've had business on Tar拉克's west side lately..."
"He's been hitting on a fabric shop girl around there."
The pig interrupted the beard's words with a chuckle, making him grimace and chug more booze.
His romance venture seemed rocky.
"Guh~ Anyway! I cut through an alley as a shortcut and bumped right into her!"
Dark under the lamp, indeed—who knew a southern shaman was so close?
"From the looks, she's scraping by healing the poor. No idea on her skill level."
"If that's all a shaman does with spells, she's probably no big deal."
"Who knows? People's situations vary. And shamans can probably handle warrior imprints, right?"
Opinions diverged briefly, but meeting her once seemed worthwhile.
And the next day.
Halli headed to the shaman's place with bearded Turaba.
"Hmm, I've stayed in Tar拉克 quite a while lately, but this area's new to me."
"Mercs like us rarely come here. No special shops or anything."
Not quite a slum, but shabby overall—a district for city laborers.
"Mercs here for what? And that getup..."
"Shh! Ignore 'em."
"Let's move."
As imposing Halli and rugged-beard-merc-Turaba walked side by side, locals subtly gave way.
Even gang-looking youths averted eyes and vanished quickly.
"...Halli, that outfit—you're really sticking with it...?"
"Huh? What's wrong with this awesome look! Doesn't it scream true warrior spirit?"
"...Do what you want."
Used to it, Halli ignored them completely, but Turaba still seemed a bit embarrassed.
"So where's this shaman? Feels like we've gone pretty far."
"Almost there. Just past this alley..."
And the first sight around the corner was extremely welcoming to Halli.
"Ah~ Old hag can't get a clue."
"Exactly, just raise the treatment fee a bit and it's solved."
"We treat you nice, so you don't grasp the situation?"
Thugs menacing a tattooed frail old woman by her collar.
Trouble brewing.
"Oh ho~?"
Halli's lips curled into a feral grin.
Perfect timing, coming to the shaman with complaints.
A chance to show off his might, too.
He strode toward them.
"Huh? Uh... hey?"
"Y-yo! Hold up a sec..."
Spotting him, the thugs froze.
Quick-witted Turaba had already blocked their escape.
But disappointingly for Halli, no need for violence—the matter ended in a flash.
Unable to flee, he draped arms around their shoulders one by one, locking eyes with his overwhelming presence, and they all nearly pissed themselves.
'Overkill using Savagery on small-time extortionists?'
Too weak even for mercenaries, they couldn't withstand his monster aura up close.
"Got your faces memorized? Big bros got business with granny—behave."
Turaba gently admonished them, shoving his tattooed face close.
His brotherly shoulder pats looked natural.
Thus, the situation cleared instantly as thugs fled, quieting the scene.
Amid it, the old woman—previously grabbed—sat calmly on a chair by her house, eyeing them.
"Heh heh heh... What brings southern barbarians here?"
"Barbarian? Folks these days get stoned for that by southerners, granny."
"You two look the perfect barbarians—what nonsense? Same as the ones I saw in my youth. Heh heh..."
"Ugh, this one's... Sigh. Anyway, why would warriors seek a shaman? For imprints, duh."
Turaba sighed, skipping rebuttal to the point.
No defending that outfit.
"Hmm, one seems seasoned. The other's peak southern warrior garb, but no imprints on his body. As you know, imprints aren't for ju—Hm?"
Continuing, she closed and opened her eyes slowly, scanning them with gleaming gaze.
Then, locking on Halli, her calm face shifted to puzzlement, then dismay.
"What? This monster?"