"Buy some dried fruits~ They're sweet and delicious, perfect for a journey!"
"The carriage to the capital is departing soon! Hurry, only a few seats are left!"
"Ah, this is too expensive. Could you give me a little discount?"
Heinz was walking through the heart of the city.
Having handed over control of the barrier set up in the Forest of Monsters to Hans, he had come out to attend to other matters.
Even if all the materials acquired at the Abyssal Conclave and those collected by Halli were used, there would be no problem in procuring more ingredients later.
Hans couldn't recklessly go outside, but he had numerous undead at his disposal to serve as his arms and legs.
'As long as the fragment of the Immortal King isn't directly exposed, it should be fine. No matter how powerful the saint's abilities are, it's unreasonable to monitor the entire continent and identify every undead.'
While the fragment's characteristics were too distinct to easily conceal, a simple dark magic concealment was sufficient for his undead minions.
Heinz had stopped by this place because he suddenly remembered someone.
The city of Lapella in the Kingdom of Talia, located in the western part of the continent.
It was the city where he had parted ways with the siblings he met in Ajantu.
'It's been roughly seven months since we parted. Time flows differently here, so it's already been that long.'
Three days on Earth equated to a month here.
Of course, the avatar, Heinrich, had been staying in Outerica for continuous training, so I had felt the passage of time.
The problem was that he was so immersed in the daily repetitive training within the order.
'Sure enough, there are vampires here too, albeit not as rampant as in Ajantu, but still present in a more cautious manner.'
He could sense the vampires scattered throughout the city with his transcendent empathy and 'Insight.'
However, Heinz walked confidently, not minding them.
Now, there was no one who could see through his 'Concealment.'
Unless it was the holy blood.
"Kyahaha~"
"Lapi! It's dangerous to run like that!"
While he was observing his surroundings and walking.
Near a grocery store where the siblings had taken refuge, a small girl suddenly darted out from around a corner.
"...Huh?"
Heinz, who had already noticed her approach, naturally dodged, but the surprised child tripped and stumbled.
"Eeee?"
"Lapi!"
As she fell, a situation that could lead to a serious injury.
But before the child could hit the ground.
Tap
Heinz naturally caught her and gently set her down.
"...Hmm?"
The movement was so natural that even the child just blinked in surprise, as if nothing had happened.
"Lapi! I told you to be careful because it's dangerous!"
A boy, who had hurriedly run after her, scolded the girl and anxiously checked if she was hurt.
Relieved that there was no injury, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Ah! Thank you! Thanks to you, Lapi didn't get hurt. Come on, Lapi. You should say thank you too."
"...Ahem."
Prompted by the boy, a child who seemed about four years old shyly looked around and bowed her head.
Then she hid behind the boy, peeking out with just her eyes.
"I'm sorry. She is a bit shy. Thank you again."
The boy expressed his gratitude again, bowing his waist in a polite gesture.
'It was a relief to see that you've been doing well.'
"It's fine, Aron. Seems like nothing much has happened in the meantime."
"...Eh, you know me...?"
"......"
Just when I was about to feel disappointed that he might have forgotten me, I realized that my face had changed from before.
Due to the 'Mixed Blood Evolution', Heinz's skeletal structure had changed, he had grown into a Noble blood, and crucially, I had altered my face to remove any association with my original body.
"Hmm... It's Heinz. My face has changed a bit due to various reasons since I was here last."
I should have reverted my face before coming.
It was too late now, so I had no choice but to say that.
"...Is it really you, sir?"
"Yes."
"......"
It must be hard to believe.
While I was pondering what to do next...
Suddenly
"Uncle!"
Aron rushed into my arms, his voice choked with emotion.
'He trusts me more quickly than I thought.'
Heinz gently patted Aron's back.
After a brief reunion, Aron, holding his cousin Lapi's hand from his uncle's grocery store, led the way.
"You'll be surprised when you see uncle! We've been waiting for you so long, and it's funny to think I couldn't recognize you at first!"
"La-la-la~"
Aron chattered excitedly, swinging Lapi's hand back and forth.
It seemed they had become quite close since I was last here, taking care of the child's upbringing.
Arriving at the grocery store.
Diana was already looking in this direction, organizing items at the counter.
"Big sis! I brought someone..."
"Uncle!"
Thump Whoosh!
Before Aron could finish, Diana rushed into Heinz's arms.
Her face buried in his chest, she looked just like her brother, overwhelmed with emotion.
"...But how did you recognize him right away, sis?"
Apart from the fact that Diana recognized him immediately.
As soon as there was a hint of someone coming out of the store, Heinz quickly pulled up his hood.
"Diana! What's the matter... Huh?"
"Good day, Mr. Bolt. It's been a while. I am Heinz."
Heinz greeted Bolt naturally as he came out, surprised, and calmed Diana down.
He then moved with the children, asking her the question that had been on his mind.
"Um... It doesn't smell like blood like before. But I could still smell that it's you... Oh, I don't know how to explain it. I just knew."
It was shocking to Heinz that Diana could recognize him so quickly.
It meant she had seen through his 'Concealment'.
'The fact that it doesn't smell like blood means I've successfully hidden the vampire trait. I did focus on concealing that part.'
Yet the fact that she somewhat saw through the 'Concealment' of an even more evolved Heinz implied a remarkable ability.
If nurtured well, she could become an exceptional talent.
"We're doing fine. I go to the tutorial school with Aron in the morning to learn reading and arithmetic, and in the afternoon, I help out in the shop. They say I don't have to, but I want to help too."
It seemed that every two to three days, they had some free time at the tutorial school to read books or engage in similar activities. Fortunately, the siblings' uncle seemed to be keeping his promise well.
"I just thought of you as I was passing by, and it's good to see you're doing well."
"Hehe, it's all thanks to you, uncle. Have you been well?"
Diana didn't comment much about the change in my appearance. Knowing that I was a vampire, such changes probably didn't concern her much.
"Hmm... Yes, not bad."
I had achieved various things and had a clear goal in mind.
After spending a day treating the three children, including Lapi, to some treats and giving some financial support to Bolt, their uncle, it was time for another departure.
"Take care, uncle!"
"Come visit us again!"
"Bye-bye~"
This time, the children waved goodbye bravely, without tears.
'Now, let's go check on the situation.'
Leaving the city, Heinz moved towards his original destination. Although he was busy cultivating Heterosis on Earth, the time difference between the worlds allowed him some respite. Gathering information intermittently wouldn't take too much time.
His reason for all this effort: Heinrich, while training to become a Paladin at the grand temple, had made many acquaintances. Among them were several who had participated in the expedition against the Immortal King, and through them, he could learn in detail about the events of the expedition.
Conflicts with a group of dark magicians, clashes with vampires and high-ranking individuals seemingly under their influence.
Adding this information to his own experiences when he first arrived in Talaria and encountered a female Noble-blood vampire near the capital...
'The Brokolak Clan's influence reaches deep into the Kingdom of Talaria.'
A force deeply involved in politics, influential enough to manipulate a country from behind the scenes. The vampire group, the Brokolak Clan, was the origin of the power held by Heinz II.
'A very useful card. Couldn't ask for more.'
That's why he had come here again in person. To gather information before fully engaging with them, especially in Talaria, the capital of the Kingdom of Talaria, where the Brokolak Clan's stronghold was likely located.
***
"Oh? That suits you well!"
"Haha, do you think so? But it's amazing. This armor fits my body perfectly."
"Our craftsmen at the grand temple are said to be the best on the continent. Adjusting existing armor to fit perfectly is nothing to them."
Heinrich was wearing the Paladin armor he received shortly after his appointment. The armor, with a mix of white and silver, gleamed smoothly. Inside, prayers related to defense and resistance were densely engraved.
"But what about your weapon? Usually, by the time someone becomes a Paladin, they know what weapon suits them best, but you were appointed so quickly, you might not know yet."
"Yes, for now, I use a sword and shield as basics and am also learning to use other weapons."
Heinrich's main technique, 'Holy Warrior Combat Skills,' was a practical martial art designed for chaotic battlefields. It started with bare-handed techniques and included comprehensive weapon skills, enabling him to pick up and use any weapon.
Once he found the weapon that suited him best, he would start learning advanced techniques related to it. However, Heinrich's rapid growth meant he hadn't yet decided on a primary weapon.
At the Rosellia Grand Temple, with many retired senior Paladins, there was an environment conducive to learning all kinds of weapon skills from them as martial arts instructors.
If he wished, he could receive training in any weapon at any time.
"Or you could join a Paladin Order that specializes in the weapon you prefer, training and learning from the seniors there. If you're lucky, you might even get guidance from the Order's commander. Have you decided where to join? How about my Silverwing Paladin Order?" suggested a senior Paladin who had returned from the Immortal King subjugation mission in the Kingdom of Talaria.
Heinz, however, didnt feel inclined to formally join a Paladin Order, as that would limit his freedom. Rather than joining an Order, I wish to roam the continent, helping those in need and spreading the teachings of the Divine."
"Hmm, so you want to become a freelance Paladin?" The senior Paladin nodded, understanding Heinz's desire but also warning him of the dangers and challenges he would face, especially from heretics.
Despite the challenges, Heinz was determined to follow his path, even though it was not an easy one, especially for a newly appointed Paladin like him.
"Back to the matter of weapons, then. You need to decide on a primary weapon to learn advanced techniques. For now, you'll be temporarily attached to various Paladin Orders for training, so take your time to think about it."
As advised, Heinz was temporarily assigned to different Orders at the Rosellia Grand Temple, each with its unique duties from hunting dark magicians and demonic followers to guarding specific areas or people.
He first joined the Sky Shield Order, responsible for the outer defense of the Rosellia Grand Temple, where the importance of their duty was constantly emphasized. Fortunately, during his stay, there were no incidents.
Next, he joined the Sunwolf Order, tasked with guarding the holy lands. Again, his time there was uneventful, which was normal for the heart of the powerful Divine Order.
Months into his training and assignments, Heinz also became adept at using the 'Blessing: Leap,' a gift he received during his initiation ceremony. This ability allowed him to teleport a certain distance within a day, either in one go or in increments, though with a cooldown in between uses.
As his training progressed, Heinz began to reconsider his approach to choosing a primary weapon. With his 'Boneless' ability and rapid growth, he realized he didn't need to limit himself to just one weapon.
Thus, he decided to learn to use various weapons, focusing initially on the sword and shield, the most commonly used. With his 'Rapid Healing' ability, he could reduce sleep and leisure to make time for more training.
He learned swordsmanship with the Sky Shield Order and spear techniques with the Sunwolf Order. His rapid learning amazed his instructors and fellow Paladins.
In the following months, Heinz trained tirelessly in various weapon techniques, eventually earning the skill 'Comprehensive Weaponry.' This skill, coupled with his understanding of 'Holy Warrior Combat Skills,' increased his proficiency with any weapon he wielded.
He realized that this versatile skill would grow with him, becoming even more potent as he became stronger. This skill would also benefit his other avatars in the future.
For now, Heinz was the only avatar using weapons, but this knowledge and skill gained from the best training environment would prove invaluable when other avatars needed it.