#70
Engraving (3)
It had been two days since the two giants visited.
Slurp—
“Hoo…”
The old woman sipped her warm tea and leaned back against the chair’s backrest.
It felt nostalgic to meet the southern warriors again and prepare for the engraving.
In truth, there was some doubt whether one of them was really from the south, but she didn’t need to worry about such things.
Everyone had their own circumstances, after all.
Just as she did.
‘Maraki…’
It had been more than ten years since she left the south and settled here with her only son.
Her promising warrior son was making a name for himself as a mercenary, smoothly finding his place in the city.
But one day, ten years ago.
Her son, who headed to the Northern Mountain Range as usual, never returned…
She had been living here alone ever since.
‘I just thought I’d quietly live and die here.’
Though she couldn’t leave Tarak due to lingering regrets, she had lived enough now, and her will to live was fading.
Plus, living in a remote residential area of the city meant she hadn’t bumped into anyone in ages…
“Granny! We’re back!”
“Haha! Old lady, here’s some meat to replenish your spirit! Let’s eat heartily and gain some strength!”
A loud noise came from outside.
The old woman chuckled and stood up, heading for the door.
It was an unexpected but not unwelcome encounter with the young warriors.
…because it reminded her of the son she could no longer see.
“Meat, my foot. My teeth are weak, I can barely chew.”
She grumbled, but a small smile lingered on her lips.
*
After a hearty meat party, preparations for the engraving began.
She had tried to get the softest meat possible, considering the old woman’s dental health, but she ended up eating more than expected.
‘They say southern folk are mostly carnivorous gluttons…’
No matter how old she got, her southern blood didn’t seem to go anywhere.
“Slurp— It’s been a while since I had meat, and I feel a bit energized. The texture is soft; it must be quite a premium cut. Hehe…”
“Hahaha! I specially took extra care to pick it out, just for you.”
“Don’t worry, kid. Seeing your effort, I’ll make sure to take care of it.”
Various bizarre items were prepared, including needles made from monster bones and a mysterious liquid mixed with ogre blood.
“Lie down over there… It’s better for that hairy guy to stay outside, so he doesn’t interfere with my concentration. If someone comes for treatment, tell them to come back after half a day.”
“Don’t worry, Granny. I’ll send them back nicely.”
The old man nodded confidently as he headed outside.
“Ugh… I wonder if I’m just scaring away the locals for no reason.”
The old woman clicked her tongue lightly, shaking her head as she turned her gaze towards Harley, sprawled out on the workbench.
“Wow. This guy is huge. It’s not going to be an easy job.”
Engravings had to be inscribed in the designated positions and proportions.
The bigger the person, the larger the surface area, which meant more materials and more troubled mages.
Of course, the effectiveness of the engraving was stronger as well, so warriors preferred to bulk up.
“I tell you, it’s my first time engraving a great warrior without a regular warrior. Tsk tsk…”
The two engravings were to be inscribed in the same location.
Starting from the heart and extending to the neck, the ‘Warrior’s Engraving’ shaped like blazing flames would be intricately drawn over, forming the ‘Great Warrior’s Engraving.’
“Well then, let’s get started; bite on this.”
“Huh? No need, old lady. Just get on with it!”
Heh heh… This will hurt quite a bit, you know? How about biting down now to avoid regret later?”
“Haha! That’s unnecessary worry. For a true warrior, pain is nothing!”
Pain was of no concern to him, so he cheerfully rejected the wooden block the old woman offered.
With that said, she didn’t bother to insist further and immediately began the engraving procedure.
Hoo…
With a small sigh, the engraving on the old woman’s face began to softly glow.
It was the ‘Mage’s Engraving’ she had engraved while apprenticing under her master.
The bone needle in her hand was dipped deep into the dark red liquid before pulling back.
Then it was plunged right into Harley’s heart…
“Huh?”
The needle rested on his chest muscles, not piercing in at all.
“This guy’s skin is so tough that the needle won’t go in!”
“Huh?”
It was an unexpected obstacle.
His monster-like body was now impervious to attacks with less than a certain amount of energy…
As he was flustered, the old woman clicked her tongue and rolled up her sleeves.
“Alright! Just lie still; I’ll take care of this. Ugh… Had it not been for the meat, I might have lost all my strength!”
And the old woman’s engraving began to shine even more brightly as a hazy aura coated the bone needle.
Several hours passed.
The procedure continued quietly without any unusual incidents.
*
《The individual has achieved the conditions and gained enlightenment. You have acquired the skill 「Kalkos Combat Engraving」.》
At the moment the last pinprick pricked below his jaw, vitality surged through his body.
And Harley quickly understood what was happening.
Some of the latent biotic energy within his muscles and bones was getting absorbed into the completed engraving, activating all of his physical abilities at once.
‘This is amazing! It’s way more efficient than using the 「Biotic Aura」 to enhance myself.’
Not to mention, if he added an aura to the engraving…
Having had that thought, the impatient Harley jumped right into action.
The dazzling flame design of the ‘Great Warrior’s Engraving’ on his chest gradually turned red, beginning to flicker as if it were truly igniting.
And…
“Woah—!”
A soft haze rose from his entire body.
As he clenched his fist, a brutal cracking sound erupted.
‘At this level, I could take down an ogre barehanded without even using 「Physical Transformation」!’
Filled with glee, Harley quickly turned his attention back to the old woman.
She had collapsed on the spot, panting heavily the moment the procedure finished.
“…You tough one. I never thought you’d let out a sound of pain. Did your pain get numbed?”
“Old lady, are you okay?”
“I just used up too much energy; I’m tired. It’s been over ten years since I did an engraving procedure, so pushing myself suddenly was too much.”
Seeing her pale face, drenched in sweat, made Harley feel uneasy.
She must have worked really hard to break through his solid body despite her age.
‘If she’s already like this with many engravings left to do, we might be in trouble…’
He was convinced that he could not leave her like that.
She needed proper meals, health supplements, and regular exercises to boost her stamina.
“Old lady…”
“I need to rest now, so get lost. I might just kick the bucket like this.”
The old woman staggered to her bed and collapsed.
He definitely needed to find a chance to bring this up later.
He placed the remaining coins on the workbench and stepped outside, spotting the old man dozing off in a chair outside.
“Yo— Turaba!”
“Uh… Huh? Harley? Are you done?”
The old man rubbed his eyes and stood up, looking at him wide-eyed.
“Oh, oh—! That’s the Great Warrior’s Engraving!”
“Hahaha!”
The southern warrior stared in awe at Harley, his eyes sparkling with admiration.
Unlike the mundane flame designs the warriors had, this flamboyant and vibrant flame seemed to spring forth from his chest and extend up to his neck, clearly visible on his bare torso.
‘Ah! I get it now!’
And Harley realized why previous generations of southern warriors insisted on showing off like this.
‘It wasn’t just about muscles; they wanted to flaunt their engravings too!’
The results were compounded from regional, ecological, and cultural factors, but those didn’t matter to Harley anymore.
Strutting out with his shoulders thrown back, he felt the gazes around him carrying a greater sense of envy than before.
“Turaba, with the engraving’s effect being this good, why are only the southern warriors using them? The technical security doesn’t seem that stringent.”
If a mage with the skill could leave the south at will, it meant they could steal the technique anytime they wanted.
Yet he’d never seen people from other regions using engravings.
“Well, it’s because of the side effects. There are various strict conditions. Most notably, it continuously drains vitality.”
Vitality was being drained from the moment it was inscribed.
Sure, the enhancement effects were great, but it varied widely based on each person’s capacity.
“Southern folk are born with robust vitality. It’s a method that suits us well.”
People from other regions tended to focus on intensively honing their aura to strengthen their bodies when needed.
That meant southern warriors were generally a bit weaker at managing their auras…
“I see. Well, now that I’m a legitimate southern Great Warrior, it doesn’t really matter to me! Hahaha!”
“Right! My friend is a Great Warrior! Hehe!”
“Hahaha!”
“Heh heh!”
The laughter of the two men echoed through the alley.
Of course, no one was protesting against their cheerful demeanor.
*
“Ah! Sir Heinrich! Is it alright for you to be up already?”
“Ahaha, as long as it’s just a light walk, it’s fine. Truth be told, I could have gotten up earlier, but the healing priest was so strict.”
“Still… Wouldn’t it be better to be cautious until you’re completely healed?”
The saint said with concern, happily chatting with Heinrich.
His condition had improved significantly, and he was now allowed to venture outside the treatment room.
Today was an important day, so it was quite a fortunate timing.
“Today is the day the Elven Kingdom’s delegation departs. Considering the connections made, I should at least see them off, shouldn’t I?”
After many twists and turns, the elf delegation was finally returning home.
Heinrich had formed many bonds with their leader, Laforey, and it would be good to show his face one last time.
Once they parted this way, it would be hard to meet again.
‘After all, it’s rare for a High Elf to personally lead a delegation.’
These were individuals who led entire races, so aside from extraordinary occasions like this, they wouldn’t be leaving the World Tree.
As they conversed in front of the gate, the elf delegation entered, escorted by a priest.
Along with Laforey and the delegation were two more individuals.
The High Elf candidate Cecily and… Harris, an elf introduced by Harley.
“Sir Heinrich. I heard you were quite injured. Are you really okay to be out?”
“Ah, I’m completely fine, Laforey.”
Goodbyes were exchanged between the church and the delegates.
Since they had spent quite some time together, many friendships had formed, and things took a while, but soon the moment for true farewell arrived.
Uooong—
“Well then, we’ll take our leave now. We won’t forget the kindness shown by the church during our stay.”
“I hope both sides can maintain a good relationship moving forward. Well then, farewell…”
With the parting words from Saint Liesta and Laforey, the elf delegation vanished into the blue whirlpool of the gate.
Now, they would journey to the eastern edge of the continent for several days before finding a means to cross into the Enamel Continent.
With Harris by their side.
The excitement was palpable as they neared the New World.
