#236
In Tarak (1)
Tarak, the northern metropolis of the Tulk Kingdom, where many avatars have gathered.
Beyond the Steel Citadel further north are the Northern Mountains, where you can obtain rare monster bodies, minerals, herbs, and other resources.
To the southeast, there was a trade route connecting to the Azerion Empire, which ruled the central part of the continent.
To the southwest, there is a high-quality iron ore mine that is the pride of the County of Ionia, and it is also a place where many excellent craftsmen are located.
‘That’s why I chose this place as the starting point of Hubert’s Company.’
A blessed location, a city with a developed mercenary and weapons industry, and an excellent location for trade.
Hubert Trading Company had grown into one of the largest trading companies in the area.
‘Of course, this is not an achievement made solely through fair competition.’
It was only natural that a company that had only been around for a few years could not have grown this quickly through normal means.
“Hmm.”
Hubert looked down from the roof of the company headquarters and observed the people busily going about their business.
The beginning was the enormous initial capital that could be secured with Hans’ support.
Talent recruitment and aggressive M&A through it quickly put his company on track, and the growing status of co-CEO Harley served as an external shield.
‘It was also important to establish friendly relations with the Counts, the lords of this land, and to show off his friendship with the religious order through Heinrich.’
It cannot be overlooked that the vampires under Heinz II also had an advantageous position in the underground struggle.
In the process, there were also instances where those who had been scheming behind the scenes were thoroughly punished and made an example of.
‘In addition, we have the finest spices and rare items brought from the Earth, as well as high-quality products that are managed with “emotion” and supplied.’
In addition, the groundbreaking investments and business moves made while grasping the information on the Immortal King’s attacks in real time have been successful every time.
The influence of the Tulk Kingdom Merchant Union, which had been keeping him in check at all costs, was suddenly reduced by the coincidental intervention of the Immortal Army.
A road to success that continues day after day as if heaven is helping you.
In the Tarak Book of the Book of Changes, Hubert was even called ‘the man loved by the god of wealth’.
It was not surprising that he became the leader of a large merchant group in the northern part of the Tulk Kingdom and one with considerable influence in other countries as well.
And it is the same at this very moment.
However, Hubert’s heyday was still ongoing.
“Ah! Sir, you are here!”
As he was blankly watching people, he heard a familiar woman’s voice in his ear.
Hubert slowly turned his head and looked at the girl approaching the railing of the rooftop where he was.
“Diana.”
The girl who looked small and skinny when we first met because she didn’t eat well is nowhere to be found, and now she exudes a healthy beauty that makes her look more mature than her actual age.
Diana, who had parachuted into the company and had enjoyed recognition from everyone, had risen through the ranks, and was now working as his personal secretary.
“There is something that needs to be settled by today! It is a proposal by the owner of the company to expand the restaurant ‘Dance with Oak’ to another branch, but this is···”
She came up next to him and continued her briefing skillfully, holding a folder in one hand like a competent career woman.
He had a very professional feel to him, and it seemed like he would look great with glasses.
‘You said you studied hard before coming here… No, this isn’t at a level where you can say you studied. Is it effort added to talent?’
At first, I had entrusted her with the task just to utilize her extraordinary sense of smell, but she was excelling in this field more than I had expected.
Her struggles are probably a significant part of Hubert’s recent success.
‘It was a bit disappointing that Hubert’s own growth seemed to have stopped, but if the power expansion is going smoothly like this, it’s not so bad. In fact, as long as it’s helpful in some way, that’s fine.’
Hubert, the avatar whose goal is to become a giant who can command the continent’s upper realm.
He was the next Avatar created after Harley, but his individual development, rather than his power, was not very satisfactory.
I didn’t expect much from the combat aspect from the beginning, but I thought that by now I would have gained at least a few merchant-related skills like ‘Bargaining’ or ‘Speech’…
‘I never thought that even though the company grew this big, not a single one would appear.’
Well, when I thought about it, I think I can understand the reason.
Skill is the ability itself.
And the skills of a merchant tend to be centered around personal insight and judgment, as well as interactions with others, rather than special abilities.
It is different from acquiring related skills by training in martial arts or magic that are related to supernatural abilities from the beginning.
‘If you have a skill called “Haggling” that allows you to lower the price, that’s not a merchant’s ability, it’s probably no different from mental magic.’
Of course, he just hadn’t realized it yet, and maybe there really were skills for those who chose the path of a merchant, but now all such assumptions were meaningless.
Because now, rather than working on the front lines, he was the captain who decided the course of a large ship called Hubert & Co.
‘But it’s not like there were no results at all.’
Just a little while ago, Hubert finally gained a new skill, although it wasn’t a merchant-only skill.
To be exact, the skill of “Emotion” that had been used all along had evolved into a new skill by combining with “Wisdom”, which was added through status enhancement, as it surpassed a certain level of proficiency.
“I spoke with my uncle, the food manager of ‘Dance with Orcs’ this time… no, with Mr. Bolt. I think we can adjust the delivery price more efficiently….”
And the skill that evolved in this way, “Analysis,” is an improved version of “Emotion,” making possible things that were previously impossible.
He looked at Diana, who was chattering excitedly, and immediately used “Analysis” on her.
– A member of Hubert Trading Company. Despite his young age, he shows great talent in business. He knows his shortcomings and constantly learns and works hard to grow further. He is excited by the thought that he can be of help to the person who saved him. He had a bacon sandwich for lunch today.
-Key Traits: Uncanny sense of smell, blind loyalty, devoted love for family, genius talent, extraordinary mental ability, mediocre physical ability, hopeless misfortune.
-Confidence: 98%
The biggest difference.
Unlike “emotions” that were only available to objects, the evolved “analysis” could be used on people as well.
‘It seems that the level of detail in the information provided varies depending on how well you know the target, but this is good enough.’
The reason he had just climbed up to the rooftop and looked down at the people passing by was to confirm it for himself.
The only information I could confirm at the time was things like, ‘He’s anxious because he can’t meet the delivery deadline’ or ‘He’s lying to cover up the fact that he’s cheating’, and there were only two or three main characteristics that could be seen.
‘In addition, the trustworthiness of an unfamiliar person is not even indicated, and even among employees of our company, it rarely exceeds 60 percent.’
Looking at it that way, I realized once again that Diana’s 98% trustworthiness figure is really ridiculously high.
The item ‘Blind Loyalty’ included in her main trait probably means that too.
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‘But everything else aside… It’s a hopeless unhappiness.’
Hubert looked at Diana, who was still telling her story with a bright expression, and quietly stroked his chin.
Of course, it was an expression that was quite understandable, considering her past.
I heard that even before Aaron was kidnapped, she was constantly in dangerous situations, barely able to avoid them with her sense of smell and desperate efforts.
Perhaps, if she had not met herself that day, she would have ended up losing her younger brother and living an unhappy life alone.
‘But it doesn’t seem so unfortunate now, so why is it still a major trait? …Hmm? Wait.’
Then suddenly, the story of how her family came to Tarak came to mind.
The incident where their family was in trouble due to the conspiracy of none other than the greedy education instructor who taught Diana.
What would have happened if Heinz II had not visited then?
The kind uncle and his wife who had welcomed the poor siblings with open arms not only lost their store and a place to live, but there was also a high possibility that something bad would have happened to their only daughter Raphi, who had not received proper treatment.
If things really went that way, would the Bolt family not resent Diana when they found out the whole story? And would Diana be able to forgive herself?
‘···If I had been just a little bit later, that harmonious family would have been completely ruined.’
As expected, the variable was himself.
To be exact, it could be said that it was the intervention of an awakened being from another dimension that shook up the established flow of the world called ‘misfortune’.
“···Then, please pay!”
At that moment, she had just finished explaining and took out the file and pen she was holding and shouted energetically.
Hubert looked at that bright smile for a moment, then slowly nodded his head in acceptance.
For him, sharing his thoughts was as natural as breathing, so even while he was lost in thought, he didn’t miss a single word she said.
‘Anyway, “Analysis” is a pretty useful ability. I’d say it’s the best for dealing with subordinates.’
This made it easier to select loyal and capable subordinates.
And if we continue to develop this, we will eventually learn more about Diana’s sense of smell and misfortune.
Until then, it seemed best to keep her by his side so she wouldn’t get caught up in unnecessary misfortune.
“Then I will do it as it is, Your Majesty!”
“Um, yeah.”
The first person he met after coming to this world, this girl who listened well and worked hard, was also a child who had a lot of meaning to him.
***
The only workshop in the central district of Tarak, where land prices are high.
Unlike the other workshops located in the industrial district, this one was a private workshop prepared solely for ‘Zaonic Steelstone’ by the lord’s order.
Clang—! Clang—!
Of course, the facilities and equipment scattered here and there were all top-notch, and none of the prepared materials were of poor quality.
Moreover, that Zaonic was none other than the dwarf, a race known as the artisan race.
“Oh really, I’m surprised every time I see it. What kind of monster is this….”
However, the owner of the workshop was now looking somewhere with his hands down and letting out a hollow laugh.
Because of the ridiculous growth shown by a guy who I had to teach from the basics until recently.
‘I knew all along that he was a genius.’
Should we say that teaching one is like awakening ten?
His talent goes without saying, as he received the blessing of the hearth not long after holding a hammer.
Aren’t they even using up the branches of the World Tree, which are said to be hard to obtain, like common firewood?
In addition, his stamina was so good that there were countless instances where he would fall down first while trying to keep up with his pace.
‘Hey, I was that energetic when I was young.’
Zaonic shook his head as he recalled his idealized past.
Even if you compare it to a more beautified standard, I think that was a bit too much.
‘Not to mention the will.’
Once he started working, he eliminated all distracting thoughts and moved with only the goal of completing the work, and his movements were so mechanical that he looked like a golem rather than a living being.
Of course, it was quite common among craftsmen to abstain from food and drink and focus solely on their work, but Howard’s appearance was extremely unusual even by the standards of the familiar Zaonic.
‘He was already showing such monstrous growth···.’
But, as of a few days ago, it has finally gone beyond what I can understand.
The second hammer blow following the first blow is like the twentieth hammer blow, and the third hammer blow is like a dozen more corrections and further developments.
As if I were living alone in a time tens of times longer.
Yes, it would be more correct to call it evolution rather than growth.
After several days of such incomprehensible phenomena, at some point Zaonic stopped teaching him and reduced his interference to just watching from behind and occasionally giving advice.
Finally, Howard has reached the stage of a trainee who must be taught, and is now a proper craftsman whose path is respected.
Although Zaonic was still far superior in terms of skill, at this stage, the differences in methods between the two were not ‘wrong’ but merely ‘different’, so guidance was of little significance.
“Hoo—!”
And then another round of work is done.
Howard finally snapped out of his immersion and wiped the sweat off his body with a towel, sighing deeply.
In front of him, a single arm of armor still hot with heat lingered, its smooth curves reflecting the flickering firelight from the brazier, emitting an eerie metallic glow.
“Isn’t it time you told me what you were making? The internal structure looks complicated for an ordinary armor. Oh my, where on earth did you learn such strange designs?”
As his work seemed to be finished, Zaonic, who had been watching quietly from behind, grumbled quietly.
It was obvious that he was frustrated because he had not received a clear answer even after asking several times.
“Oh my! Is this it?”
Howard smiled happily as he stroked the smooth part, oblivious to the lingering heat.
I was half-doubting it for a while, but I was able to confirm its possibility after completing at least one arm.
‘I didn’t say anything because I thought it might not work out.’
Of course, it is still just a simple prototype, and even after completion, it will need to undergo frequent upgrades before it can be used in actual combat.
If only I could complete it, such hardships would not be a big deal.
That’s understandable, this is—.
“Iron… ahem.”
The culmination of his romantic dreams that he had vowed to create from the moment he decided to become a craftsman.
“It’s a full-body suit for all-purpose combat.”
That’s exactly what it was.
