#118 Omen (3)
“Yo—! Harley!”
When Harley washed up at his lodging and came outside, there were people approaching him, calling his name excitedly.
It was the trio of southern warriors: Beard, Big Guy, and Scar.
“Wow— I thought you were incredible before, but seeing you today, it feels like you’ve become even more of a monster.”
“Those mercenary bastards from Tarak were all scared stiff because of that, weren’t they? There must’ve been more than a few who’d been badmouthing you behind your back.”
“Thanks to you, it felt so damn satisfying seeing the guys who looked down on Kalkos’s Mark unable to say a word.”
As expected, Harley was the pride of the south, the model of a true warrior, and so on...
As soon as they finished greeting him, the trio surrounded him and showered him with praise, to the point that he began to feel strangely embarrassed.
“Hahaha! Thanks, my friends! But I don’t think you were here until recently. Where have you been all this time?”
In the end, Harley cut them off and subtly changed the subject.
Considering he had spent quite some time in the northern mountains for the rescue mission, it made no sense that they had only just arrived at the Steel Citadel now.
“Ah, during that time we were mobilized to establish a defensive line behind the citadel. This time, when the lord came here in person, we followed along with him.”
“Even if this place is a key point, there’s no way it can stop every last one of them. Some are bound to slip through.”
Due to the terrain, the Steel Citadel, located at the foremost front line, jutted out and was taking the monsters’ attacks head-on, but...
There was no way a single castle could block every creature pouring in from that vast mountain range.
There was a reason this situation required so many troops.
Even then, the Tulk Kingdom was only at this level because the only part of its territory bordering the mountain range was the County of Aonia. The Azerion Empire, whose entire central region bordered the northern mountains, was currently responding with the full strength of the nation.
After chatting to his heart’s content with his comrades whom he had met again after so long, Harley promised to meet them later and headed toward the central area where the command was located. ‘I’m not particularly tired right now, so I can just go see the lord right away.’ It was best to finish things as soon as they came to mind.
Even if he had been told to come whenever it was convenient, wouldn’t the other side probably prefer that too?
But when he had almost reached his destination, he once again ran into someone familiar.
“It has been a while, Mr. Harley. I heard your performance today was remarkable as well. Well, if it is you, Mr. Harley, I suppose that is only natural.”
It was Ranger Charlton, who had been dispatched with him on the rescue mission and was now in charge of security around this area.
Unlike the other mercenaries, he belonged to the army, so this was the first time they had met since parting ways...
They exchanged light greetings and caught up on what had happened.
“Hans is still hospitalized in the military infirmary and receiving treatment. They say that although there were potions, his injuries were severe, and since he pushed himself to move around, it will take quite a long time for him to recover.”
Still, they said Ranger Hans would likely be able to return without any major aftereffects. As one who bore the name “Hans,” it was only natural that he overcome at least that much.
“And Bordeaux... The unit held a joint funeral with the belongings we brought back. While we were in the mountains, it seems the unit also suffered considerable losses.”
And later, once the situation calmed down to some extent, they planned to send his belongings to his hometown.
Bordeaux had not had much of a connection with Harley, but since he had died on a journey they had shared, it was true that it weighed on his mind.
However, all he could do was nod heavily and offer his condolences.
“Ah, I have been holding up a busy man for no reason. You can reach command by going that way. Then, I look forward to your continued achievements.”
Charlton pointed to the building inside, saluted him, and disappeared, saying he would look around the area. ‘Hm, for some reason, I seem to be meeting a lot of people I haven’t seen in a while today. Surely there won’t be another one, right?’ Narrowing his eyes, he looked around and approached the building.
But when it came to acquaintances he could meet at the Steel Citadel, who else was there besides the mercenaries who had gone into the mountains with him?
And he had already been exchanging greetings with them whenever they ran into one another.
“You came early. I’ll guide you inside.”
But that judgment had been far too hasty. ‘Ah, I forgot about this gentleman.’ The one who greeted him was Robin, the knight who had carried out the request with him.
Seeing him fully armed in neat metal equipment rather than the leather armor he had worn when they entered the mountains, Harley thought that he really was a knight after all.
“Sir Knight, looks like you’ve been doing well, huh? You seem to be glowing since I last saw you.”
“You’re mistaken. Still, since I can wash properly here, perhaps it only looks that way. Given the situation, there isn’t even time to rest comfortably. After going through all that hardship, I was put on duty immediately...”
Because they had grown close through shared hardship, their conversation had no stiffness to it.
However, since this was not a place where they could comfortably catch up, that sort of conversation did not last long.
“I did speak to the lord several times about your personality, but even so, I would appreciate it if you paid a little more attention to things like your attitude.”
“Hm? Is there something wrong with my attitude?”
Harley blinked shamelessly and tilted his head.
Of course, because of his distinctive appearance, it only looked bizarre.
“...Please, be as polite as possible.”
“Ah, don’t worry about that! When it comes to manners, isn’t that me? I’ve never cut in line even once in my life!”
Of course, people very often yielded their place to him unintentionally, but that was their voluntary consideration, so it had nothing to do with him.
“And I don’t use violence carelessly either!”
In the early days, there had been quite a few people in the city who clicked their tongues and badmouthed Harley whenever he passed by.
But it was not as if he could go and beat up every single one of them.
So the method he put forward was to embrace them warmly.
Whenever Harley’s excellent five senses detected backbiting, he would simply meet their eyes and give them a gentle smile, showing off his healthy teeth.
He never responded violently.
The effect was astonishing.
Perhaps his sincerity had gotten through, because such incidents sharply decreased afterward. ‘Of course, there were more people who picked fights instead because our eyes met, but in those cases, it can’t be helped.’ Avoiding a fight someone had started was not something a manly man like Harley would do.
But since he had never swung first, at this point, he could be called the very incarnation of etiquette.
“...Fine. You have achievements to your name, so it should be all right. ...And you have the ability too.”
Overwhelmed by that confident claim, Robin nodded and guided him to the reception room.
And before long, Harley was finally able to meet him.
“Oh! So you are Harley. Come over here and have a seat.”
Count Tarmin Aonia, the ruler of this region.
“I heard enough praise of you from Zaonic and Robin to make my ears ache, but indeed, seeing you in person is quite different.”
The lord, who had now entered his late thirties, briefly twitched his eyebrows at Harley’s distinctive attire, but soon gave no sign of it and began praising his achievements.
“Hah! I hardly know what to do with myself! Though, truth be told, I only moved because I was paid. Wahaha—!”
At the sight of him bursting into hearty laughter, the lord’s brow twitched once again.
Robin, standing behind the lord, squeezed his eyes shut, but Harley paid it no mind.
After all, merely using polite speech had been enough effort on his part. ‘Ah, this is Harley-style etiquette. Even then, I yielded as much as I could for Robin’s sake!’ Whether he knew Harley’s thoughts or not, the lord slowly took a sip of tea and opened his mouth again.
“Ahem, in any case. With the request and your great performance this time as well, I called you because I wanted to at least see your face in person. I also wanted to give you some additional reward.”
And the reward he hinted at, as though he were being generous, was not very appealing. ‘A knighthood, huh. Of course, considering Harley’s martial strength, it’s only natural they’d try to recruit him, but...’ Wasn’t that not really something to offer as though it were a reward out of benevolence?
At least, not to him, who had already proven himself again and again.
And Harley, the free and rugged berserker of the wild, had an extremely firm nature when it came to such matters.
“Ah, I’m not too keen on that. Rather than that, how about giving me something tangible?”
“Ta... tangible?”
“You know. I think it’d be great if I had a big, sturdy two-handed axe. The one I’m using now is just too flimsy!”
“......”
As he spoke, the level of his speech slipped down a little, but the lord, wearing a reluctant expression, did not seem to have the leisure to point that out.
Robin, standing behind him, merely stared up at the ceiling with a look of resignation.
“You... you bastard! How dare you refuse His Lordship’s proposal! And with such insolence!”
However, the lord’s other knights did not seem inclined to let it pass.
The knights, who had been frowning and glaring at him from the moment he entered the reception room, revealed their hostility and moved their hands to the hilts of their weapons.
Of course, Harley merely stared at them with a sullen expression. ‘Has it been over a year and a half since I came to Auterica?’ Having gained more than enough experience by now, there was no way he would not understand how things worked here.
It was common sense that one should not act recklessly before the ruling class known as nobles, but...
“That is enough. Everyone, stand down.”
“B-but, Your Lordship...!”
“Did I not tell you to stand down!”
At the lord’s shout, the knights lowered their heads with grim expressions and stepped back. ‘In troubled times like these, strength is everything. And Harley has proven that in abundance.’ Moreover, he was currently a powerful individual who would be of great help in blocking the monsters overflowing from the northern mountains.
A single refusal was nothing more than a very minor issue.
Originally, if one wanted to obtain good talent, repeated, earnest courting was the bare minimum to consider.
Just like the lord, who was now forcing a smile.
“Very well. You said an axe, did you? I’ll have one custom-made for you through Zaonic. You should be satisfied with it.”
“Wahaha! Thank you, Your Lordship. As expected of someone who rules a large territory, you are truly generous!”
“That’s right. I am not stingy when it comes to bestowing things upon those beneath me. Hahaha!”
Yes, who did he think he was, trying to get him for nothing?
One had to show some favor, shower him with gifts, and pour out attention and affection several times over to obtain talent. ‘Of course, even then, there’s no guarantee you’ll definitely get him.’ Was there anything perfect in this world? That was just how things were.
And so, Harley was receiving lavish treatment in the northwest while spreading his influence and reputation.
***
“Lord, all investigations have been completed. We have also finished cross-verifying the information handed over by the Oath of Reversal.”
“Is that so? Is there anything wrong with the information?”
“No! At present, we have confirmed that two True Bloods have also moved positions to defend the Forest of Monsters from the Madness Incident. The True Bloods remaining in the capital, Talaria, number two at most—the former Lord and the current Lord of Brokoslak.”
“Hm... For that to be the judgment of the ever-cautious Mullo, it is too bold. Is it the new Lord’s will?”
The one listening to his subordinate’s report briefly stroked around his mouth, then let out a faint laugh.
In truth, that did not matter either way. ‘I was confident we could win even in a head-on clash, and now two True Bloods have even vacated their positions... This is going to become far too easy.’ The gap in strength was overwhelming.
He did not know the level of the current Lord who had swallowed Brokoslak, but it was certain that he was not a Sacred Blood.
“Well, fine. Still, it would be best to handle the matter thoroughly. Summon the other True Bloods and prepare the combat troops.”
The man with white hair and white eyes, Visk Yufersh, murmured in a low voice as he looked at the subordinate bowing before him.
“...We are going to Talaria.”
The Yufersh Clan, the strongest vampire group on the continent in both name and reality, began to move.