My Alter Ego's Path to Greatness

Chapter 293

〈 Same time, different place (4) 〉

Harley, who created a warm atmosphere with a sincere and kind smile and a gentle pat, nodded happily.

‘As expected, it’s a good thing you came. Anyway, this nobleman also behaves quite well.’

It was no coincidence that he came here now.

Even though Harley traveled around the southern part of the country, where there was little contact with the outside world, his eyes and ears were already spread all over the continent.

Of course, I was also checking the mercenary guild’s situation periodically.

‘It just so happens that the southern part of the country has also been sorted out to some extent.’

Thanks to this, Harley was able to schedule his visit in a timely manner, and naturally the guild was able to avoid the storm that would have caused great confusion in many ways.

What is this if not a win-win!

‘It’s good for both sides. cancer.’

Not only did they avoid an unfortunate incident that would have resulted in destruction and bloodshed, but they also saved themselves from unnecessary hassle.

It was the completion of a happy ending that seemed like a painting.

‘Of course, you may need to keep checking in the future as they may try to do something behind your back.’

It is best to prevent anything in advance rather than trying to deal with it after it happens.

It would be a good idea to use this opportunity to impress upon them a clear advantage.

“Pahahahaha—! After all, on a day like this, you have to eat meat! I’ll shoot today, so let’s all go eat together! “Where is the best meat restaurant here?”

In response, Harley exclaimed coolly, like a manager proposing a company dinner for social gatherings.

Isn’t eating together the best way to strengthen human relationships?

“Hehehe.”

“Uhm, that’s...”

“I still have training today...”

“...I’m on a diet.”

But, as expected, the response to it was not very good.

Except for Patrick, the high-ranking members of the guild all secretly averted their gaze with an expression of burden.

Just like employees who want to leave work early.

Anyone could see that it was an expression of rejection, but Harley, who did not pay attention to what others thought, slowly crossed her arms and frowned.

“Huh? “Are you sure you don’t like meat?”

As if he was feeling uncomfortable, the muscles in his arms wriggled roughly as if they were a separate creature.

It’s like there’s no way someone like that exists in the world.

Even if it were, it was as if he couldn’t tolerate it.

“...Is that possible? I was thinking of a place in Dracal that had the best meat. “I just remembered a place with good quality and quantity, so I’ll guide you.”

“Hehehe, I also feel sorry for leaving out my subordinates. “You could just catch a few pigs and send them to them.”

“If you don’t like pork, you’re not a warrior. Eating well is also part of training...”

“Hohoho! “For a healthy diet, you need to eat meat occasionally.”

Thanks to the great performance of Harley, the mood maker, the surrounding air became cheerful again.

He nodded in satisfaction and then took the lead and confidently walked out of the guild building.

And immediately, the high-ranking members of the guild began to move aesthetically, watching among themselves, following Patrick, who was clinging to him and groveling all the time.

It may seem that the continent’s top powerhouses gave in so easily that they only met face to face, but there was a good reason why they had no choice but to react that way.

‘...First, bow down as much as possible. But there’s still a chance. The first mercenary king who reached the state of transcendence also died in the final fight against the immortal king. If the author does that too...’

‘This is wrong. Claven has already been completely eaten. Should I change routes?’

‘What the fuck is that? Are you human? Did you say Yongin? I feel like I’ve encountered some kind of very large monster!’

‘Tch, I came here for no reason. I should have just sent the kids downstairs. ... But it’s to the point where they even made dragons extinct in addition to being such dragons. ‘What kind of monster is the Immortal King?’

Harley was so used to it that he wasn’t even conscious of it, but he had been steadily absorbing the madness that had spread in the world since he took the “Seed of Madness” from the revolutionary.

It is the essence of unholy power that rose from the abyss, like the “Heart of the Immortal”, the source of the Immortal King Hans.

No matter how much insanity was lower than death, it was still a power that living things could not handle carelessly.

It was not unusual for strong people with a developed sense of energy to overreact.

“friend! You say you can guide me to a good place? “Let’s take the lead!”

“Ah—yes. “Please come this way.”

To put it simply, it meant that, as befitting those who had survived for a long time in the harsh world of mercenaries and reached the top, their survival instinct was stronger than their desire to win or their pride.

“Oh! Come to think of it, I forgot I was bringing money! How do I do this?...”

“...I will treat you today. “It is a great honor to meet Harley, the hero who represents mercenaries.”

“Oh oh! This guy has a great attitude! Let’s stay close in the future! Hahaha!”

“Ha ha ha ha....”

The object of comparison, which had now become a standard, was so overwhelming that even that felt inadequate.

Especially since I once thought of him as a rival.

‘Could I really become a high elf?’

A sigh escapes me without my knowledge.

When Shapiron was curled up alone, trembling in despair...

Suddenly,

someone else’s hand gently landed on the top of her head.

She raised her head in surprise and blinked several times when she saw Harris secretly looking away.

I certainly didn’t expect him, who spends most of his time lethargic and not approaching others first, to show such behavior.

However, what makes the current situation more difficult is Harris, the person in question.

‘...What should I say in times like this?’

I came forward with a light heart because I felt sorry for being depressed by comparing myself to myself, who was a non-standard case, but I had no idea what to do next, as I had lived a life that was far from comforting others.

No matter how much you think about it, wouldn’t it be just a deception for him to offer encouragement in this situation?

‘I heard that women don’t like it when their hair is touched.’

Let’s just stay silent for a while like that.

After recalling the knowledge he had picked up somewhere else, he realized his mistake and hastily removed his hand from her head.

Hands raised awkwardly, eyes wandering around with nowhere to go, and even an awkward smile on the lips as if trying to avoid the situation.

It was not the image of an absolute being that could not be approached no matter where and how one looked, but was simply a young man himself who was awkward in interpersonal relationships.

“Foot!”

Shapiron, who was squatting down and quietly looking up at his clumsy appearance, burst into laughter without realizing it.

‘...Something felt stupid.’

Somehow, I felt like it was useless to keep wandering around like this.

This didn’t solve my concerns, but it also made me feel lighter somehow.

She wriggled and put down the basket she was holding in her arms and looked at Harris again.

“...I brought some snacks. Would you like some?”

“...Good.”

In fact, she was also poor at interpersonal relationships.

***

A mountainous area with no people around.

Crispy—

an alien noise came from somewhere there.

The origin was a thin crack that appeared in empty space.

It expanded its area little by little with a small plosive sound and then—.

Absolutely!

Soon, part of it broke off, creating a small hole in the air.

And from there, the crack began to rapidly grow in size.

Suddenly,

the crack that had been expanding for a while stopped for a moment and then stopped moving completely.

Ugh—

soon, the area gradually decreased again due to some kind of external force.

The space began to be restored in an instant, as if bugs were being fixed in real time.

The thin lines that spread like incontinence disappeared, and the thick lines that had become blurred soon also disappeared.

Now all that’s left is a coin-sized hole in the center.

Even that was slowly shrinking in size as it was being filled in from all directions.

In that situation—.

“...It’s a pity. Maybe it wasn’t enough.”

Someone’s voice came from beyond that space.

A man’s voice that seems blurry yet clear and strong yet weak at the same time.

“But...”

It finally came from beyond the hole, which had shrunk to the size of a needle’s eye.

“This is the last time.”

With only one word left, the crack completely disappeared, immersed in silence.

The mountain became quiet as if nothing had happened from the beginning.

—The calm before the storm was coming to an end.