Chapter 396: Chapter 396

Tarak, a bustling metropolis, its streets filled with people.

Three figures, two women and a man, strolled leisurely through the city center, their movements a stark contrast to the hurried pace of the surrounding crowd.

“…As expected. I’ve heard that vampires are quite influential in the west, and now I’m seeing it firsthand.”

Lydia, the High Elf, muttered, glancing at a nearby alley.

Several mercenaries, who had been harassing a street vendor just moments ago, were being dragged into the alley and… disciplined.

They would probably have to pay a hefty fine and… blood before being released.

She turned away from the alley and took a bite of her butter-roasted corn, a local delicacy she seemed to enjoy.

Her green hair, connected to a wind spirit, swayed gently beneath her hood.

“It’s probably because of their proximity to the Kingdom of Talia, which is ruled by vampires. The Kingdom Alliance has received a lot of support from them. And Tarak, where Hubert’s Trading Company is headquartered, has the most active trade with the vampires.”

She was holding a skewer of grilled meat in one hand and a bottle of… something… in the other.

The two women, their eyes and mouths moving in unison, were enjoying the local cuisine while gathering information about the city.

“…Isea, is that black drink really that good? I didn’t like it.”

“It’s the best. I regret not buying more last time. Ah, it’s a relatively new product, isn’t it…?”

Isea, her face serious, looked down at the drink in her hand.

It was cola, a special menu item available at ‘Dancing with Orcs’, a restaurant owned and operated by Hubert’s Trading Company, a local delicacy in Tarak.

‘I’ve heard that Hubert’s Trading Company handles Earth products… but this is… impressive. What kind of unique skill does he have, to be able to distribute goods on this scale?’

She couldn’t help but be impressed, thinking about the unknown Awakened individual who was probably responsible for this.

Of course, these products weren't widely available yet.

The supply was limited, there were restrictions on the purchase quantity per person, and the prices were… astronomical.

A single small bottle of cola cost as much as a full-course meal at a high-end restaurant.

But such… trivial matters were irrelevant to Isea Pristine, the great Archmage of the Hero’s Party, a Countess of the Azerion Empire, and a close confidante of Crown Princess Riley.

No, considering that she could enjoy Earth’s delicacies in this distant world, it was practically a bargain.

‘Ah— This is the life. I haven’t had cola in ages.’

Isea sighed contentedly, a happy smile appearing on her face, and smacked her lips.

It had been nine years since she arrived in Auterica.

Next year would mark her tenth anniversary.

And the cola, a quintessential Earth product, was like a… refreshing elixir, revitalizing her after all these years.

‘I should buy a lot and stock up… but there’s a daily purchase limit. I’d like to meet the supplier sometime.’

Someone with this kind of ability would be a high-ranking member of Hubert’s Trading Company, the largest trading company on the continent.

And their identity would be a closely guarded secret, so it wouldn’t be easy to meet them.

Perhaps Hubert himself was an Earthling Awakened.

‘Well, I’m sure there will be an opportunity.’

She could always reveal her identity and request a meeting… but as a member of the hero party, currently on a secret mission to investigate the city, she couldn’t just… socialize with local dignitaries.

And then, as she was savoring her cola, taking small sips to make it last longer, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

“…Heinrich-nim, didn’t you say that Hubert’s Trading Company has a close relationship with the Main God Church?”

Heinrich, who had been walking a few steps behind them, shrugged.

He was wearing a full suit of ordinary armor, from head to toe, to conceal his… radiant appearance.

“Yes, we’ve been cooperating. And Harley is also a co-owner.”

“…He’s more capable than I thought. How many titles does he even have?”

A member of the Hero’s Party, the Fighting King of the Kalcos Tribal Federation, the Mercenary King of the mercenary world, and a co-owner of Hubert’s Trading Company, the largest trading company on the continent…

Isea and Lydia were both impressed by the… unexpected versatility of the man they had initially dismissed as a gluttonous, laughter-obsessed madman.

“Anyway, we can’t afford to trust anyone completely right now. You never know what people are thinking.”

She trusted Harley, but she wasn't sure about Hubert’s Trading Company.

And his partnership with Harley had been a long time ago.

He had been busy traveling the world with the Hero’s Party. She couldn’t be sure if his former business partner hadn’t… changed.

“I think it’s most logical to suspect the vampires. After all, they were considered monsters just a few years ago.”

“Hmm, that’s true. Before Heinz, the Vampire King, appeared, their bloodlust was… uncontrollable. And the lycanthropes, who were treated similarly, recently attacked our Elven Kingdom and were annihilated.”

They moved to a nearby alley and began their discussion, a subtle barrier concealing their presence and preventing their conversation from being overheard.

“Ah! Of course, I know Heinrich-nim was instrumental in accepting them… but even if the Vampire King has united them and brought them into the light, there’s no such thing as perfect control. There might still be… rogue vampires lurking in the shadows…”

“I’m also suspicious of Hubert’s Trading Company. Their influence in this city is… overwhelming. If something happens, they’re the most likely culprits.”

The vampires and Hubert’s Trading Company were the main topics of their discussion.

It was just a preliminary brainstorming session, as their investigation had just begun… but Heinrich couldn’t help but feel a bit… awkward.

He was Heinrich, the Saint of the Main God Church, Heinz the Second, the Vampire King, and also Hubert, the head of the trading company.

‘…Well, I was planning to take a vacation anyway. I’ll just play along. I can always… plant some cursed Demon World artifacts later.’

It had been a few days since their arrival in Tarak.

Heinrich, having enjoyed the local cuisine and regained his energy, had been investigating the city with Isea and Lydia, each of them exploring different areas.

Of course, they weren’t the only ones involved in this mission, which had been initiated by the Saintess.

The Main God Church’s Inquisitors, who had secretly arrived in Tarak, were also operating in the shadows.

But their investigation was progressing slowly, hampered by the sheer number of vampires in the city.

They couldn't just… attack them anymore, so their usual methods were ineffective, causing confusion and delays.

And they didn’t even know what they were looking for, an ‘unknown threat’…

The Inquisitors had always considered vampires their enemies.

‘…Should I just… end this? I feel bad for them, wasting their time and effort.’

It was evening, and Heinrich, having found a secluded spot, was lost in thought.

If the Saintess had sensed it, it had to be something dangerous… but he didn't want to waste a valuable artifact on this.

‘Well, it doesn’t have to be permanent. I can just… imbue it with Hella’s magic power and make it last for a few days…’

-“Saint-nim! I found it!”

…Lydia’s voice, urgent and slightly panicked, echoed in his ears.

-“It’s the vampires! And Hubert’s Trading Company…!”

The communication was cut short before she could finish.

‘Vampires? And Hubert’s Trading Company?’

Heinz the Second and Hubert, in different locations, also frowned.

“Mula Brokoslak, investigate the situation in Tarak and report back immediately.”

“Security teams, maximum alert! Assemble at headquarters! Contact all branches in Tarak and confirm their status!”

But their momentary confusion quickly vanished as they took action.

And they weren’t the only ones.

「Grand Blessing: Wings of Radiance」.

A pair of massive wings of light, radiating a brilliant, holy aura, unfurled from Heinrich’s back, tearing through the plain armor he was wearing.

With a single flap of his wings, he soared into the sky.

High above the city, his golden eyes, gleaming with a sharp, predatory light, scanned the streets below.

It wasn’t Hubert’s Trading Company’s headquarters.

He was receiving real-time updates from Hubert, who was there.

His enhanced senses, amplified by his divine power, analyzed the city, its every detail, its every aspect, categorized and organized within his mind.

‘…A vampire, and Hubert’s Trading Company.’

His thoughts raced, his mind a chaotic mess.

He hadn’t expected the vampires to be the problem.

And in Tarak, of all places!

It was a… humiliating oversight.

‘I’ll think about that later. I have to resolve this first.’

His thoughts accelerated, time slowing down around him… but he couldn’t afford to waste even a single moment.

Lydia Granwood was the second strongest High Elf in the Elven Kingdom, a potential transcendent.

The fact that her communication had been forcibly cut off wasn’t a good sign.

‘Just a little more…’

…he had a skill for situations .

「Monarch’s Authority」, a perk that allowed him to monitor his subordinates’ status.

Lydia wasn't technically his subordinate, but a comrade… but he had plenty of other subordinates in Tarak.

-Hubert’s Trading Company – Tarak Headquarters

He quickly scanned their status, his mind connected to his other avatars.

And he finally found it.

└Status: Danger (Critical Condition)

Status messages, clearly indicating that they were in danger.

And their location was also… significant.

└Location: Tulc Kingdom, County of Aonia, Tarak ??? ?? [View Detailed Coordinates]

Question marks, indicating an overlapping location, a hidden dimension.

His wings of radiance flared brightly.

And then, like a meteor piercing through the darkness, he descended.

He didn’t have the exact coordinates, but he knew where to go.

└Name: Miropa (Sponsored by Hubert’s Trading Company)

└Name: Aaron (Sponsored by Hubert’s Trading Company)

└Name: Lafi (Sponsored by Hubert’s Trading Company)

…the names of those involved were… familiar.

And one of them was someone he saw every day.

└Name: Diana (Hubert’s Secretary)

A girl who had arguably been born with the worst luck in Auterica.

A human who had finally found hope after a lifetime of misfortune.

Heinrich, his face grim, his holy sword drawn, a massive blade of light extending from its tip, descended upon one of Hubert’s Trading Company’s employee housing complexes.

He used 「Spatial Slash」, cutting through everything in his path.

From the sky to the ground,

…everything in his path was severed.

The air, the sound, the light…

…and the flimsy barrier that separated this small, hidden dimension from the outside world.

The small world crumbled,

…and the ordinary, everyday scene outside was instantly transformed.

An elderly woman with tattoos, lying on the ground, coughing up blood, a small girl, unconscious in her arms, a boy, his face pale and tear-streaked, and a group of citizens huddled together, their bodies trembling.

Lydia, who had been confronting someone, cried out, her voice filled with relief.

She hadn't expected him to arrive so quickly.

Heinrich, landing on the ground, slowly stood up.

His wings of radiance unfurled, their light enveloping the injured, their aura soothing and healing.

The Knight of Light, his gaze sharp and unwavering, looked at the one responsible for this chaos.

A young boy, barely a teenager, his face contorted in a grimace of frustration, standing before the unconscious girl.

He had seen that face before.

Not in person, but in a wanted poster.

“Found you. Temiran McCleary.”

“Tsk! What the hell?! This is getting ridiculous! Now a Saint appears?!”

The young vampire, Temiran McCleary, grumbled, his words surprisingly… crude for his age.

He was the son of Kayla McCleary, the former Vice President of the Zepia Republic, who had disappeared over twenty years ago.

And the second apostle of the god imprisoned in the abyss.