Timeline: 10 years before Rimuru
1st year - Harry Potter and Sirius Black arrived in this world at the second month of the year. Kagurazaka Yuuki followed four months later and Sakaguchi Hinata two months after. Sirius Black enjoys Oni Village Hospitality. Harry survives and thrives in the forest until finding Dwargon to sell his wares for money to travel to Ingrassia to sign up as an Adventurer and both undergo training. One year in the guild, and one year under Hakurou respectively.
Sirius graduates technique training in a few months, then subjected to intense peak muscular and physical conditioning for swordsmanship while he teaches Potions to repay the Oni for taking him in.
During his first few weeks, Yuuki exploited his gained skills to survive until meeting Shizu who taught him how the world works, upon finding out he is Japanese like herself. Then they stumbled onto Hinata who was surrounded by a pack of monsters, fighting on her own with a schoolbag and needed rescuing. The two teenagers then began learning under Shizu together. Language, Culture, and combat and magic training. Hinata graduated in two months regarding combat and magic due to her skill and left the group to wander the world until Ruberios appealed to her, while Yuuki remained with Shizu for longer.
2nd year - Harry graduates from Adventurer Training at exactly one year, before stationing himself in Dwargon for his safety should his status as Otherworlder comes out. He then asked for certain information that enabled him to find Sirius who is in fact, alive. But due to his idea of repaying those who did him good, its a long wait...
The Healer from Ruberios
Harry had to deal with the long wait game.
As soon as he got wind where Sirius was, he had to make an additional request to Kaijin.
'Oni-Style Swords made of Magisteel?' Kaijin's eyes popped out.
'Yes. One for my godfather, one for the Chief and Son, and ten more.' said Harry. Kaijin's jaws dropped at the expensive order Harry may as well built and furnished a castle with the money he just spent!
'Geez boy, are you gonna bankrupt yourself?! Remember, a full magisteel sword is 19000!'
'That's what my special A-Rank monster carapaces are for! I can pay all that off!' Harry grinned.
'Incorrigible kid! Well at least you can actually pay me in full, not by cut-offs...it's gonna take a while, I'm warning you now as that's thirteen more swords!' Kaijin sighed as he gave Harry his Boring Staff. 'At least this one's done.'
'Thanks, mate! I gotta go get your paycheck now!' and Harry ran off, making Kaijin shake his head.
'Really, otherworlders...only they're insane enough for this request, when natives would choke up their organs for making a financially colossal order like this...' Kaijin sighed. 'Total weirdoes, but hey, I make money from said weirdoes...'
Harry had gone utterly busy.
From all his Hunting work in a bid to make money to buy himself a weapon before he starts his career, Harry was Level 1 thanks to his rare-grade cloth armor in the form of monster leathers in his first few days in this world, before transitioning into Gehenna Moth for his mage job class with strategically-placed armor made out of monster carapace on his torso, and vambraces on his forearms that also protects the dorsals of his hands when he came here to buy proper gear.
To be fair, the dwarves really know their fashion. His robes were in tastefully-fashionable shades of light and dark yellow. His shirt is a stylish maroon with armor to match. His trousers are pitch-black with a nice brown belt simply there for Low Potion Utility but he never did use his belt for that...just to look good! Then his armored boots. As he requested, it also gives full movement freedom without getting in his way in combat and he's enjoying it now.
He finally had knowledge and strength he needed-in regards to magic and being an Adventurer, but not yet the full culture of this world as he did his best to hide that he was not from here. He took that warning from Elf Lady very seriously and he values his freedom, thank you!
He amassed a lot of strong monsters classified a B and A. Easy for him for his magic. He dismantles the kills, separating the useful parts and the garbage, and leaves it around for scavengers to eat. If not, it'll rot and be plant fertilizer over time, win-win!
Well, he'll have to work hard in getting stronger now...
Training at the Mage Course was more about...well, he can understand magic, but it was more on running around and shooting each other during training. Like, a Battle Royale Firearms Training using Stone Shot just to give them training experience in a controlled element. He didn't do just staff training after all.
But considering his...experiences, he was easily the best trainee. But his body is weak for an Adventurer that he signed up for Pugilist Body Training to gain muscles and a fully-fit body before locking his Immortality in again. If he lets go, he ages normally again. So he still remains in his teens even if he is 'slightly' older.
He ate well, worked hard, and 'tiny Potter', smallest even among 5th year boys to his chagrin, is now a tall kid, taller than his peers now. He has a lanky, but muscular toned build as he was more for speed than power anyway. Speed saves his life more often than not.
Speed in running. Dodging. Reacting. Formation of Spells. And shooting.
But it seems he'll have to train how to wield a sword, too. He did order what's basically a treasure for himself after all...he would have to create his own style. His own sword isn't even done yet.
2 months per slender 100% Magisteel Swords...a total of 14 swords. 2 years and 4 months' wait. By then, it'll be his fourth year here but he supposed he can bring extra souvenirs later, once Sirius' sword is done.
For now, he'll have to go practical. The Onis wants practical things, right...?
Harry made another order in another shop, after selling his monster carapaces he obtained in Eastern Jura where Aggressors are stronger. They are all A-Rank Monsters. Difficult as hell to beat. But it was worth it as the levels they give are huge in turn. An A-Rank alone, makes him go up two levels...that he damn worked hard to kill as many as he can as it takes more and more monsters to increase his levels. Two to three, three to seven and so on. The risk to his life increases, but so does his body and magicule stats. His...superhuman base abilities are increasing. Due to how many...announcements he's got in his mind, he was Level 20 after killing a hundred A-Ranks with his magic.
He did not stop there. He kept going and going, until his two months to gain his Magisteel Sword is up, having gotten it from Kaijin. By then, he's pretty sure he has a large amount of monster meat on his person as well as carapaces and bones. By this much, he would bankrupt the entire Blacksmith Community of Dwargon. He was Level 26 then.
He then poured all he had in magicules into his sword to increase its level. A 100% magisteel sword is already a Unique-Grade Weapon as it is. But he can make it go higher until it becomes Legend-Grade in the near future, and then spent a week in an inn to recover some of his energy.
A to upper B-Rank Monsters make Unique-Grade Equipment for sale in Dwargon. Lower B-Rank at a certain level up to C, makes Rare-Grade Equipment. D and E makes Special-Grade and that's without the Enchantments. Prices go higher if it were!
1 set of Unique-Grade Blacksmithing Equipment and Tools Complete Set.
'Geez boy, to whom are you making this for?!' the baffled blacksmith Elroy scratched his head. 'Just remember, this can't make Unique Grade Equipment OK? We dwarves use specially-treated equipment to create high-class goods. Unique-Grade Blacksmith Tools can only forge Rare-Grade Goods out of monster carapaces and bones. It can't make 40% and above magisteel weapons and armor nor can it handle the high-class stuff you bring to the city.'
'For a village, as gratitude for saving someone important to me.' said Harry. 'It's not like this village has access to Magisteel anyway, when they're not even near a mountain in the first place, and Western Jura Forest close to human nations have weak aggressors, so yes, they can make Rare-Grade out of that. I hunt my wares in Eastern Jura where the precious commodities are, but just as hair-raising to get. I danced with death many times.' Elroy choked at his words.
Eastern Jura Forest is extremely dangerous. Only the stronger races can live there while the western half of Jura has the weaker tribes and monsters. And this certainly explains Harry's penchant for bringing high-class goods?!
'Aiii...just be careful OK lad? You're already makin' waves in our Blacksmith Community for bringin' us priceless materials and easy-availability got the military raising eyebrows and a scramble began for these high-level goods it may as well be Auction everyday, but don't worry, as long as you're a good supplier bringing us good business, everything's good.' said Elroy.
'Well, I'm not a threat or enemy as long as nobody's out to kill me for some dumb reason. Let sleeping dogs lie and all.'
'Very true. A lot of youngsters die for poking what they shouldn't as Adventurers.' Elroy shook his head. 'Yer one, right?'
'Yes, Intermediate-Rank as of last week after 100 missions completed...I'm operating in this city's branch of Mutual-Aid Association. But I have yet to join a Party to make progress due to what the heck I'm doing as a Hunter.' Harry chuckled. 'I'll be working in a party soon just so my license won't expire, so material supply will ahem, dry up for a bit. I'm still scouting what party I should join since I go for character. I'd rather be with people who I can get along with and are not deadweights.'
Elroy thought partying is usually a pain due to that very reason. 1 out of 10, are good and by what he means good, is a well-cohesive party and even then, that's rare.
'That's like trying out clothes, kid. Try and try till you find one that fits.'
The Association, Dwargon Branch...
'...these are the only parties?' Harry asked the Receptionist. She was a Dwarf Lady and like any dwarf, she was stocky but toned.
Due to prejudice against demi-humans, the dwarves are neutral to humans due to the fact that dwarves supply arms and potions to the world. Offend the dwarves, you're screwed, basically. Thus there's a guild here too.
The Mutual-Aid Association thus has only human and dwarven members.
Among Intermediate Ranks, there's 20 parties. All of whom have less than ten mission successes.
'But still, for parties formed longer than a year, why less than ten missions?' Harry was baffled. In the records of parties, their feats are too low!
'Well, all of them are doing side-jobs to get by.' said the receptionist. 'As a party, they all get Subjugation Requests. The problem is reward-splitting as per the rules, and Equipment. They need to increase their levels to learn new techniques from the Association, you know? Mages need new spells but lack the magicules in both equipment and level. Other classes needed to learn new Arts thus earn the money to apply for lessons.'
'Ahhh...'
Rare-Grade Equipment costs three digits in gold coins depending on the type. Good luck with that. The easier way is purchasing the cheapest rare-grade protection equipment you can find in leveling up. Just possessing one helps! But alas, everyone here immediately thinks of weapons.
Morons.
'Well, nobody's questing for now for those reasons.' said the Receptionist. 'So the ones working full-time now, are Novices.'
'Heee...then, can I form a party with Novices who are recent graduates?' Harry asked her.
'That's also possible but you understand the risks, don't you?'
'I do.' said Harry. 'I'll do the Recruiting, but I will not put up a Recruitment Poster to avoid dealing with questionable personalities. I'll approach people myself.'
'Very well. Party Members are only up to 6 at the highest. What is your Party Name for Registration's Sake?'
'Well...if it's a Party Name...' Harry thought for a bit. 'The Hikers. Since our livelihood is in the woods after all.'
Possessing profiles of recent promoteds, Harry practically tracked these people and read minds. He's already a Mage, so no need for that spot. He's looking for other job classes.
Heavy Fighter, Pugilist, Rogue, Mage, and Healer.
Healers were high in demand, but they have to be totally religious. Because Healing Magic is a part of Holy Magic, Holy Magic relies on faith and belief in God. And the God of the current human religion is Luminous. The local faith is Luminism.
According to his Archmage Skill wherein sure, he has knowledge of magic and potions known to the world from it's Genesis as well as history behind it to present day and it self-updates, and a large pool of magical energy befitting the Archmage status - the Demon Lord and Vampire Princess Luminous Valentine created this religion and the progenitor of Holy Magic at a time when it was chaos due to every 500 years' attack of Angels on the Human World. Her Vampire Race was also in danger of extinction and it does NOT help the Storm Dragon Veldora went on a power incontinence rampage on the Vampire Capital. To save her race, she created the Republic of Ruberios and 'did a lot of things'. Including creating a religion for the desperate humans at the time of crazy.
The Vampires live underground and for all Luminous had done, evolving into a Demon Lord after killing 10000 angels, she has the solid gold loyalty of her people while creating Ruberios as 'ideal paradise for humans'. Yup, she created a perfect world alright that her human citizens are happy and content with nothing to gripe about. Ruberios is financially, economically and agriculturally very stable, plus everyone has the right to get education and training! Job salaries in that country makes people very happy! The Justice System is by-the-book and fair! Happy Orphanages as Knights roam the countries picking up Orphans! The whole pizzaz!
Well, that paradise comes with a catch. Vampires would sneak out at night to feed on the humans living above while asleep, and heal them of anemia afterwards. And troublesome people are NOT welcome in that country.
Thus the Healer Class trains only in Ruberios in the Association Branch there, before letting them loose onto the world and they tend to wear white clothes, trimmed with blue and gold and dressed conservatively. They are armed with Spiritrons, not magicules so no magic will work on them unless they allowed it to...but can easily dispel if need be. Their training is intense, to say the least, to preserve Ruberios' secrets of Holy Magic. If the Dwarves monopolized arms and potions, Ruberios monopolized Holy Magic.
It was their answer to lack of Potions.
Well, Harry knows healing and holy magic but he cannot openly display such skills...and the resident Healer Eustace was noted to be picky with his party members too as he didn't want to deal with 'uncouth, violent people into vices Luminism would not approve of'. Thus for literal party people, he is a killjoy and mood breaker too. That just to have a Healer in a team, the fun in life that was not approved by Luminism pretty much...well...
But for Harry, its fine with him. He doesn't smoke, drink or do drugs anyway. He also doesn't gamble. Womanizing? Bitch, please. He had no time for women and even then, his experiences were terrible-Parvati and Cho on dates, non-existent romance or sexual time with anyone else, he was sure he was the only virgin in his year among the boys...he wasn't sure about Ron. Fred and George? Definitely getting around till their explosive departure from Hogwarts.
So he approached Eustace.
He has shoulder-length platinum blonde hair...but his hairstyle is something Vampires would find 'in fashion'. Well, a Vampire Princess created his country after all...he has gray eyes and a well-chiseled jawline. He was also well-built.
'Hello.' said Harry. 'I'm Harry, the current leader of The Hikers...since I just built the party and it's only me right now.' said Harry. Eustace was bracing himself already. 'Our party has two goals. To that end, we would be living in the forest most of the time. Living among nature if you will. Because the two goals we have is to reach Advanced Ranking and to accomplish that, we would need money to purchase Rare-Grade equipment in order to Level-Up. To get promoted to Advanced, we need both 100 missions completed and be at least, Level 60 as bare minimum by the Guild.'
'Simple, but achievable in a couple years. Its the most realistic party goal I heard so far.' Eustace mused as he thought about Harry's words. 'I'm not opposed to camping, it simply means we are distanced from the temptations and vices of man.' he said. How old is this guy and how the hell do they raise kids in Ruberios? 'But not everyone is amenable to camping in the woods all day.'
'Yes...to be a party, minimum of at least three members, highest is six.' Harry mused. 'And as mission rewards is by the silver split among our party, it really will take time to earn but as long as we live in the forest, we can cut back on buying food at least. Plenty of water in the woods, too. Healthy living while putting up with the heavy atmosphere of the forest...courtesy of our local imprisoned dragon.' Eustace made a face.
'Right...its usually a challenge just to move in there.' said Eustace. 'Considering I put a round wall of spiritrons on my person just to move normally and protect myself from magicule toxicity...not only that, when the human body reaches its threshold, I purify companions for safety.'
'Well, we'll just think of it as weight training.' Harry smiled. 'And tolerance is pretty high though.'
'...how high?'
'I can stay in there for six months max at my current self.'
Eustace was understandably shocked. His was pretty...extreme. He forced himself to calm down and put a barrier around their table.
'What the...humans with no level can't last two weeks in Jura Forest! Novice Ranks have deadlines for a reason! For our lives!' he sputtered out. 'A-and you can stay there...for half a year?!'
'Yes.'
Eustace then looked serious.
'...we have lessons about Otherworlders in Ruberios.' he said. 'I don't know how the Association educates Adventurers but we had lessons about Otherworlders. They are the only humans with a high magicule amount and endurance depending on how many Skills they gained from World Travel.'
Harry knew this was coming.
'I see...indeed, I am.' Harry confirmed it for the older male. 'But considering how humans of this world treat my kind and well-meaning friends warned me a year ago, well, don't wonder why I stationed myself in Dwargon after training in Ingrassia. It's safest for my kind here. Dwargon does not exploitingly employ Otherworlders.'
'I see...understandable. The other countries are appalling with how they treat people.' Eustace sighed in disappointment. 'It can't be that hard to be good to others...'
'If status, money and women are on the line?' and Harry left that hanging and the older man winced.
'If its not too personal...what are your Unique Skills? Its usually why Otherworlders have high Magicule Tolerance.'
'Well, I have two. But I can't talk about both.' Harry said with a strained smile. 'Because if they are known, I'm in deep danger with all countries. Many will hunt me down to exploit me. I heard of Cursed Slave Collars, even.'
'Fair. But two Unique Skills is sufficient to last that long in Jura I suppose...that and as a Mage-Class, having so much Magicules must be a boon when you're not even Level 1 yet. You don't have Rare-Grade gear on your person.'
Harry wondered what rock did this guy live under if he cannot discern normal silk from monster silk...his entire outfit, including his boots are silk and hide of high-class aggressors! Or did his stylist did too good a job with his 'boring' request?
'And that explains our goals.' Harry grinned. 'So you joining?'
'Yes. At least the...Hikers wasn't like my previous party...' Eustace sported a really strained smile now. 'They were...trying to test my Faith.'
'Well, sometimes its easy to just leave than deal with that. And are they idiots? Your strength is based on your Faith and they're trying to break it?'
'That's what I thought which is why I quit my last party.'