#51
Harley (2)
‘Yeah, if you think about it, it was strange.’
The Main Church is, in name and appearance, one of the greatest powers on the continent.
Does it make sense that not a single fragment was found in a place like that for hundreds of years?
Of course, unless the Immortal King was a fool, he would have set strict conditions and spread the word to prevent it from falling into the hands of the cult.
Because of that, I missed out on two denominations.
But isn’t that the main denomination?
It didn’t make sense that we hadn’t found anything so far.
“Of course, we don’t provide security all the way from the Radiant Guard. What we block is just a roadblock. “It will be up to higher-ranking people to directly manage it.”
“…okay. “Then is there any need to tell you that fact…?”
“Because there is a blessing of silence. Also, wouldn’t it be possible to defend more actively if we know what we are protecting? You know Lord Randgard, right? Now that the descendants of the Immortal King have appeared, how important it is to protect the last fragment.”
I know.
Hans, the descendant of the immortal king, is wondering how to find the last fragment.
‘But there’s no need to worry anymore.’
Instead, another concern arose.
Heinrich knows very well from personal experience how thorough the security has been from the Holy Land to the Grand Temple over the past few months.
Retrieving the fragments from there, which were kept under tight security in the deepest part of the Great Temple of Roselia… Needless to say, it was close to impossible.
“And the fact that you joined the Radiance Guard in the first place means that you are a trustworthy person. “It seems like the higher-ups view it quite favorably.”
“Hahaha… I guess I’m getting too much attention.”
“Well, seeing the growth, we can’t help but support it. Hmm, now let me tell you where I work. “Please follow me.”
After speaking like that, Lairin got up from where she was sitting and headed toward the door leading outside.
Heinrich hurriedly followed her out of the room.
“It’s a hassle, right? It can’t be helped since they can only speak in designated places…”
The room they were in was a part of the complex ‘procedures’ they had gone through earlier.
It’s probably not an ordinary room either.
“Would you like to say it as a test? Of course, I can’t leave it in writing either.”
“I see. that…… …… !”
I tried to speak as she said, just in case, but not a single word came out of my mouth.
“You can’t reveal it anyway, but from now on, please be careful with your words and actions. Being unnaturally speechless just looks suspicious. It’s best to think of it as a secret that only you know. “A secret that should never be revealed to anyone!”
“…yes! All right. “I’ll just keep it to myself.”
Heinrich nodded heavily with a stern face.
It’s like vowing to take the secrets in your heart with you to the grave.
Yeah, I had no intention of revealing it to anyone else from the beginning anyway.
Because only I need to know this fact.
I have no intention of telling anyone else.
***
[It’s the heart of Roselia’s Grand Shrine… If I had just tried to find it, I wouldn’t have been able to find it even after a lifetime.]
A secret research facility located deep in the forest of monsters.
In a place filled with gloom, an Acrich fell silent.
He is the person the cult is risking their lives to pursue, and the information about the final fragment must never be revealed.
It was Hans, a descendant of the Immortal King.
After finishing Harley’s strengthening research and finally entering free research, he encountered unexpected information and became troubled.
[It’s a pain in the ass. I don’t think there’s anything I can do about this right now, right?]
No matter how strong Hans is now, it would have been impossible to attack right into the heart of the cult.
I couldn’t tell what additional defenses were in place inside.
[Actually, there is no need to do that. This is something that will resolve itself over time. If you wait, the opportunity will come sooner or later. Tsk tsk tsk….]
He wasn’t alone.
Now that we know the location of the last fragment, all we have to do now is wait for the right time and build the foundation.
The research he is currently doing is important in many ways.
[This is also part of the preparation for that time. First, we need to find a way to reliably escape the saint’s pursuit. It’s frustrating because I can’t do my activities properly because I’m
stuck inside the barrier.] The general idea was already in place.
It was still a matter that needed more time, but there was a lot of time left anyway, so there was no need to be too hasty.
Strengthening Harley, which was the immediate priority, was progressing smoothly.
***
In the forest, quite a distance away from Hans’ secret research facility.
Pasasak—
A black leopard fell like a thunderbolt from the dense tree.
The target is a foolish person standing alone.
He didn’t react to the unexpected attack, as if he still hadn’t noticed the leopard’s attack.
No, it seemed that way, but…
“Kahaat! “No way!”
The moment a leopard falls on your head.
Before he knew it, the human Harley had turned around and was facing the leopard.
With both pointed ears pricked up.
Sensing that the surprise attack had failed, the black leopard quickly stretched out his front paws, but he only showed his teeth and smiled viciously.
Because preparations for battle had already been completed.
Pulp—
In an instant, his right arm swelled enormously, and five blade-like nails protruded from the tips of his fingers.
“Huh!”
“Kuhuhhh—!”
The harmony between humans and beasts that intersect.
The leopard’s front paw swung towards Harley’s head, but he ducked his head to avoid it and deflected the trajectory with his tightly muscled left arm.
It was a martial art included in Heinrich’s “Crusader Combat Art,” which has been used well in many ways.
And with one massively swollen hand, he grabbed the leopard’s exposed neck by the neck.
Quack! Phew—!
“Khehe!”
The five blade-like claws attached to the large hand did not simply pierce the leopard’s neck.
Kagagak—
Fingernails that dig into flesh and scrape the cervical vertebrae as if squeezing.
dump!
Victory or defeat was decided with just one attack or defense.
Unlike the black leopard that fell down with all the flesh on the back of its neck torn off, Harley had not a single scratch on her body.
“Kihya~! “Isn’t it thrilling?”
An opponent who once risked his life to fight is now crushed with a single touch.
Heinz II had a big influence on Harley becoming stronger so quickly.
Because the blood he left behind became Harley’s strong nutritional supplement.
Of course, it was not possible to obtain blood magic or various abilities, which were the source of Heinz’s power, but Heinz’s body, strengthened by “mixed blood evolution,” was by no means ordinary.
“Then let’s get started!”
The muscles on my right arm, which had been swollen, were compressed and the volume decreased, making me slimmer.
And that arm went straight into the black leopard’s heart.
Puuuuuuuuuuuuuch!
A black leopard magic stone held in a hand with sharp nails.
After roughly brushing off the blood on it, he was chewing on a crystal the size of a child’s fist with his sharp teeth like a shark.
Kwasik! Crack—crack!
‘I guess the black panther isn’t very effective anymore?’
“Mutation” is a characteristic that evolves by acquiring various types of genes.
Eating the same species over and over again inevitably led to a decline in efficiency.
The reason for extracting magic stones and eating them was simple.
Because this was the most efficient way to satisfy the conditions for “mutation.”
‘It would be great if I could get a dragon heart.’
Dragon Heart, the ultimate magic stone.
Of course, there was no place for sale or even its location.
He may have it somewhere, but he has no way of knowing that information.
《The entity achieved enlightenment through repeated actions. Acquire the skill “Ghost Eater.”
As I was about to consume all of the black leopard’s magic stones, a familiar notification window appeared before my eyes.
“oh? “It’s a skill that suits me perfectly, right?”
「Greek eating」 was a useful skill that allowed you to eat anything more easily, quickly, and in large quantities.
As a side note, it also had the useful effect of speeding up digestion and helping to supply energy, so it wasn’t a bad thing.
‘…….’
Rather than that, something that really bothered me happened recently…
“Wahahahah—!”
A hearty laugh bursts out without me even realizing it.
It wasn’t particularly funny, but for some reason I couldn’t help but laugh.
‘I think Harley’s personality has become a bit strange since she got Mutant…’
I don’t know if she’s cool or tough…
“Pfft… Pahahaha!”
‘Let’s just put it bluntly, he looks like a psycho.’
Normally, he’s pretty good, but right after a fight or seeing blood, he inevitably changes like this.
Repeated human experiments and the skills gained as a result would have had a significant impact on the avatar’s personality.
So, no matter how much I thought about it, I was self-employed and couldn’t blame others.
‘Hmm… Since it keeps going like this, I think it might be okay in its own way.’
I felt refreshed because I laughed at something.
…Wouldn’t it be okay if it stayed like this?
〈Individual Information〉
-Individual name: Harley
-Common characteristics: 「Mind Herb」, 「Persona」, 「Mysterious Index」
-Individual characteristics: 「Mutation」, 「Body Mutation」, 「Regeneration」, 「Monstrous Eating」
-Special Details: Body through various experiments has adapted to mutations. Each time a new gene is acquired, it evolves to the optimal combination and mutates the body based on that information. Even in extreme environments, it changes into an appropriate form and adapts to its surroundings.
“Body mutation” was a great ability to change the body with various combinations of genes.
The only drawback is that calories are consumed rapidly every time you use it.
But thanks to you, I was able to do something like this.
Pop-duk-duk-duk-!
The muscles of the entire body expand and the skeleton becomes thicker.
My shoulders broadened and my vision became even higher.
After a while like that.
Harley had suddenly grown into a large, muscular man over 2 meters tall.
“After all, it is advantageous to have a large physique in a fight. “You should at least be this big!”
He took off his tight-fitting top and burst into laughter again.
‘I’ve experimented with adjusting it in many ways, but in order to fully use Harley’s abilities, it’s better to increase your physique.’
Monsters, including magical beasts, transform the mana contained in their bodies into their strong vitality, demonstrating destructive power beyond physical limits.
A power that cannot be used by the human body.
And although Harley still maintained a human appearance on the outside, the bones and muscles that made up the inside were no different from those of a demonic beast.
Their bodies, specialized only for slaughter, boasted performance far superior to that of humans.
Growling—
In return, the efficiency of energy consumption was abysmal, but now it can be easily dealt with through “monstrous eating.”
‘Oh, but with the aftereffects of ‘physical transformation’ happening at the same time, I’m extremely hungry.’
Drooling—
saliva was already dripping from Harley’s mouth.
His gaze was fixed on the black leopard already lying on the ground.
‘…I guess it’ll be okay since there are some “freaks” too, right?’
Because I can now digest anything without getting sick.
Isn’t there some food here that can satisfy your hunger?
Bubuk—!
Harley ripped off one of the black leopard’s front legs, roughly peeled the skin, brought it to his mouth, and ate it hungrily.
The raw meat of a monster being torn apart by its sharpened teeth.
Blood dripping.
Harley’s mouth and chest were already covered in blood.
‘…No matter how I look at it, it still seems crazy.’
I tried to avoid interfering with the individuality of each avatar, but Haliman seemed to require special care.
If you continue to pay attention to your words and actions, you will become more tired in many ways, but there is no way you can create normal human relationships with your current tendencies.
I’m not a barbarian, what is this….
‘Huh? savage?’
The Outerica dimension where various races and races live together.
Of course, barbarians existed here too.
And it has become a fairly large force.
In the barren barbaric land located in the southern part of the continent, a tribal alliance of barbarians was established.
‘Barbarian… barbarian warrior… I think it’ll be okay?’
A large body and tattoos all over the place.
Letting out a tough laugh, he smashes the enemy’s bones with a large ax and quenches his thirst with the blood of his prey.
“oh! Good?!”
Harley, who was pursing her mouth, roared with excitement again.
So, I tried to calmly eat the meat and gathered my thoughts again.
‘Actually, I heard that it’s not to this extent these days because culture has spread to barbarians… Well, there are idiots everywhere.’
Harley, a wild and wild barbaric warrior.
For some reason, it felt good.
The gamer’s spirit, which had cooled off since his school days, was excited again.
‘First, I need to make a helmet out of the beast’s head leather, get a bone necklace and other accessories, and a large axe.’
It was a coordination full of prejudice and selfishness.
A stereotypical fashion that today’s cultured Southerners would be embarrassed by.
If they see it, they will make an uproar for creating prejudice against all southern barbarians for no reason.
Of course, I had no intention of understanding their feelings.
‘I’m glad Heinrich learned axe skills. I guess I can use the ax in front of others and use “Body Transformation” when I’m alone.’
Isn’t it okay for me to just be happy?
“Haha! Exciting! So let’s keep moving?!”
After throwing away the front leg bone that he had eaten, Harley’s leg muscles expanded and he jumped out of his seat and ran across the forest.
The eyes became as sharp as those of a wild beast, and the nose and ears twitched constantly, searching for information around them.
Before moving to another area, the first thing to do was to acquire as much of the genes of the monsters that existed here.
So for about a month.
It was a time when Harley, with the help of the undead, was ready to hunt down all kinds of monsters in the vicinity, acquire genetic information, and head to another place.
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