Chapter 16

“So that’s how it works... Human blood, the time, and the number of orcs. All three conditions had to be met to summon the monster.”

Woojin spoke quietly as he watched the Red-Eyed Orc appear before him.

'What people saw before was an apparition of the orc. That’s why everyone reported different conditions.'

An apparition appeared when some of the three conditions were fulfilled. But once all three were met, it revealed its true form.

'This is the citadel’s real secret.'

[“I will never go back...”]

And now it was the enemy they had to hunt.

“Haha! To think human blood was one of the conditions. Should we thank those fellows? They were kind enough to leave the hatchet behind!”

“I think you’re thanking them for slightly the wrong thing... But yes, I suppose we do owe it to the Genesis Corps.”

Woojin chuckled at her words.

“What do we do now?”

“What else? When there’s a monster, hunting it is the natural thing to do.”

THUD!

She took a step forward. At that moment, a fierce presence radiated from her entire body.

BOOM!

Her squat body bounced several meters into the air like a ball, and her hammer descended toward the ancient orc’s head.

“Into Mha’s embrace!”

With that ominous prayer declaring her intent to kill it in one blow, she smashed her hammer down on the crown of its head.

KABOOM!

Wow. Those [Genesis Corps] guys... They’d been hit by that hammer?

The explosive crash made Woojin flinch involuntarily.

[“GRAAAAH!”]

The orc’s scream came from within the black smoke.

'Did it work?'

No. It wasn’t a scream, but a roar.

“Dodge!”

As Kahira shouted, the orc swung its axe with all its might.

“Ugh!”

Kahira blocked the axe, only to be sent flying. She flailed to regain her balance, but unfortunately, it would take a while for her short legs to reach the ground.

TAP-TAP!

Woojin filled the opening. Holding his sword parallel to the ground, he thrust at the orc’s flank with all his strength.

“...!”

Was this really orc skin?

His sword could cut down the citadel’s orcs in a single blow, yet it had barely torn the ancient orc’s skin.

'This is a hunting ground for level-25 players.'

And yet his attack had been stopped?

Then again, even Kahira’s attack had failed, and her level was higher than his...

WHOOSH!

He ducked, narrowly avoiding the orc’s axe.

CRASH!

The blast of air from the axe swept away the pavilion’s wreckage in a single stroke.

'A direct hit... would be dangerous.'

Was this a hidden monster created with no regard for level design?

Woojin tightened his grip on his sword.

No, that made no sense. This was a game.

'Right. This is a game...'

BOOM!

Woojin accelerated.

'Of course there’s a way to beat it.'

[“GRAAAAH!”]

CRUNCH!

As the orc turned to pursue Woojin, who had used [Sprint] to slip behind it, Kahira’s hammer slammed into it.

BANG! BANG! BOOM!

She hammered away as though driving in a nail.

“What in the world is this body made of...!”

Despite her all-out attack, the orc turned its head as though it had taken no damage at all and seized her by the throat.

“... Ghk!”

In an instant, it lifted her off the ground.

'Stay calm. Monsters with immunity Traits, like physical immunity or magic immunity, aren’t anything unusual.'

Woojin gritted his teeth as he thought.

'There has to be a way to beat it.'

It was no different. When he had run his business in the real world, countless competitors had threatened him. But he had beaten them all.

How?

Whenever he faced adversity, he had kept just one thing in mind. What he needed to find a solution... was a thorough analysis of his enemy, not a headlong charge.

'The ancient orc. They said you could only see its apparition if the conditions weren’t met.'

It had gained a physical body because they had fulfilled all three conditions.

[“I will never go back...”]

'That’s what it said when it was summoned.'

Never go back?

At that moment, Woojin’s eyes lit up.

'It isn’t a real living creature. It’s some kind of summoned being. So going back means...'

There was only one answer.

Disappearing again.

“... Found it.”

Its weakness.

Woojin skirted the orc holding Kahira and ran toward the ruined pavilion.

“Hey! What happens if I break this?”

Standing before the pavilion’s bloodstained pillar, he shouted at the orc.

[“... Grr?”]

It turned its head.

For the first time, its behavior changed. Instead of doing nothing but attacking, it was trying to protect something.

And...

That response turned Woojin’s suspicion into certainty.

[“... Stop!”]

“Ghk?!”

The orc flung Kahira aside and lunged to stop Woojin, who stood before the broken pillar.

“Of course I’ll stop. If I break this, you’ll turn into an apparition, won’t you?”

[“...?!”]

“You fell for it. A pig’s head is still a pig’s head, after all.”

BOOM!

At that instant, Woojin shot toward it like a bullet.

▶ Using Acceleration.

CRUNCH!

Woojin wrapped both legs around the orc’s neck.

“Haaah!”

He drove his sword downward with all his strength.

[“GRAAAGH!”]

At last, it screamed rather than roared.

As his sword sank deep into its eye, the orc arched its back in apparent agony and collapsed to the ground.

“Once the sword’s inside...”

CRACK... CRACKLE...

As he applied force, the sword embedded in the orc’s eye began to move sideways.

“There’s no reason I can’t cut it.”

ZZT! BZZZT!

Electricity coursed along the sword, and the orc’s body shuddered as though being electrocuted.

SLASH!

Woojin’s sword split the orc’s head.

Inside its tough skin was nothing but black smoke, not blood.

THUD.

Like a deflating balloon, the orc’s body vanished, leaving only its outer skin behind.

[You have defeated the ancient orc.]

[Congratulations.]

[Your level has increased.]

▶ 20 → 22

▶ Ancient Orc Hide x 5

▶ 40 silver

[There are exclusive rewards.]

[Only one party member may possess each reward.]

▶ Interstice Stone

▶ Ancient Mana Stone

“Hmm. What’s this?”

A black stone and a bluish stone lay atop the ancient orc’s hide.

The moment Woojin reached toward them, Kahira cried out urgently.

“Stop!”

She pulled off her robe and threw it over the stones.

WHOOOOSH!

The robe disappeared into the black stone as though sucked up by a vacuum cleaner.

“...!”

Even Woojin couldn’t help being startled by the sight.

“An Interstice Stone sucks in anything. Even living things.”

Kahira took a box made of thin metal bars from her pocket.

“You’ve heard that I’m searching for rifts, haven’t you? They say an Interstice Stone contains the power to connect one gap to another.”

CLICK!

CLATTER!

The box unfolded, and its lid opened.

“Rumor has it you can even travel to other dimensions... But who knows? I’ve never been myself.”

'Other dimensions?'

Woojin gazed at the stone.

'I have...'

But after returning, he had once again been unable to log out.

It occurred to him that he might be able to use it to return to the other world, but he couldn’t readily reach for it. He still had no idea how to return to the game from there, either.

He couldn’t take such a dangerous gamble.

“There are also stories that monsters and dungeons came into being through Interstice Stones. Now I can finally do some proper research into new monsters and dungeons. All thanks to you.”

RATTLE! RATTLE!

When she lowered the box over the stone, it moved this way and that as though alive.

CLICK!

Once confined inside, the mana stone rattled around with frightening violence, as though trying to escape.

“This item is called the Earth Spirit’s Grasp. You can’t handle an Interstice Stone without it... May I take this one?”

She wasn’t wrong. Even if she simply gave it to him, he currently had no means of handling it.

She had probably spoken first because she knew that.

“In return, you can have all the remaining loot.”

She handed Woojin the remaining blue stone.

Name: Ancient Mana Stone

Grade: C

Description: A special mana stone that forms only in monsters over 100 years old. Its effects vary according to the type of mana stone.

▶ Produces a special effect based on class.

▶ Has a restorative effect.

▶ Multiplies Magical Power by 1.2 when used.

“What do you think? Mana stones aren’t easy to obtain even on the central continent. Put it on the marketplace, and mages will come scrambling for it. Not a bad reward for the Dark Forest, I’d say...”

But Woojin chuckled at Kahira’s words.

“I’m not sure. Hearing that actually makes it seem less valuable.”

“What?”

“If it isn’t easy to obtain, that still means you can obtain it. But you can’t get an Interstice Stone even on the central continent. Isn’t that why you came all this way?”

“And? Surely you’re not saying you want something you can’t even handle?”

A chill ran through the air as her demeanor changed. Her eyes held the same look they had when she swung her hammer mercilessly at those in her way.

“You don’t need to glare at me like that. I do pick my battles.”

Woojin gave a wry smile, soothing her.

“But I do have one request.”

“A request?”

“I’d like you to share whatever you learn about the Interstice Stone with me.”

Kahira tilted her head at him.

“That’s unexpected. I thought adventurers were only interested in conquering the tower.”

Instead, she nodded as though pleased with his proposal.

“That’s a request I welcome. Very well. I have a proposal of my own. Could you bring an interesting story when you visit the Church? Anything will do.”

DING!

[You have discovered a quest.]

A notification announced a side quest.

[Quest Name: A Contract with Kahira]

▶ Grade: C

▶ Gather new information about rifts before traveling to the central continent.

▶ Rewards vary according to the value of the information gathered.

▶ Providing information will greatly increase affinity with the Church of Mha.

'A quest...'

He had to go there anyway. Getting a reward as well was more than he could ask for.

“Agreed.”

Woojin took Kahira’s hand.

“Good. It’s hardly a token of our contract, but take this. It’s common enough, yet quite useful.”

She took a small pendant from inside her clothes.

Name: Pilgrim’s Cross

Grade: C

Description: A sacred object of the Church of Mha. Though considered sacred, it can be mass-produced and is given to all members of the Church.

▶ Has a purification effect.

▶ Allows the use of ‘Remove Curse’ once per day.

▶ Effects increase upon joining the Church.

“You’re giving it to me?”

“Of course.”

“Then I have no reason to refuse.”

“Heh heh. Good. Now, for my partner and all the hard work ahead of him...”

Kahira picked up the orc hide from the ground and slung it over her shoulder.

“I’ll make you the finest armor.”

* * *

“... This is incredible.”

It was no empty compliment.

Name: Magic-Infused Ancient Leather Armor

Grade: C

Description: Armor made from the hides of a Goblin Lord and an ancient orc. Work by an advanced blacksmith has enhanced its effects beyond those of ordinary crafted items.

▶ Defense +150

▶ Raises the wearer’s magic resistance by one rank.

▶ Trait: Valor - Protects the wearer from fear.

▶ Trait: Golden Rule - Grants more currency when hunting.

▶ Skill: Spirit Channeling - Borrows the ancient orc’s power to increase Attack Power.

“Unfortunately, leather isn’t really my specialty. I preserved as many secondary effects as I could, but the defense is low, so the grade isn’t very good.”

Unlike the astonished Woojin, Kahira shrugged, apparently dissatisfied with her work.

“This isn’t about the grade. It has two Traits as secondary effects, and a skill on top of that.”

“The materials were good.”

“No matter how good the materials were, no one but you could have done this.”

“I’m glad you like it. Now I can leave with an easy mind.”

Kahira held out her hand.

“Let me ask you one more thing. Have you ever... heard of Sarbandin?”

Woojin asked just before they parted.

“Sarbandin?”

“Yes. I’m told it’s a kind of ancient divine beast.”

“Hmm. Can’t say I have.”

He had secretly hoped she would know, since she was a pilgrim of the Church, but unfortunately, she tilted her head as though hearing the name for the first time.

“I see.”

“The druids would probably know best about divine beasts. Once you reach the central continent, I’ll put you in touch with them.”

“Thank you.”

Woojin took her hand, concluding their farewells.

“Be careful. Those fellows... I doubt they’ll back down easily.”

“Yes. But from the looks of things, the ten great clans are making their move too. I don’t think there’ll be a problem.”

The first thing Woojin had done upon returning to the city was check the community forums. Fortunately, there was no mention of the ancient orc, only a flood of posts about the [Genesis Corps].

“Really? That’s a relief, but... The more people get involved, the more complicated things can become.”

Just before stepping through the inn’s door, Kahira turned back as though something had occurred to her.

“Oh, or why not recruit a mercenary yourself? Wouldn’t that be better than being alone?”

“A mercenary?”

“Yes. Of course, the mercenaries here are low-level, so they won’t be much help immediately... But unlike those on the central continent, the mercenaries recruited here can grow.”

Woojin looked at her.

“The central continent’s mercenaries have already finished growing, so they can’t become stronger after you recruit them... But with a little luck, the mercenaries here can grow to quite a high level.”

With that, she left the inn.

“A mercenary...”

Woojin repeated her words.

It wasn’t a bad idea. He would have to pay them, but in exchange, he wouldn’t have to share experience with a mercenary even in a party. Not interfering with his [Solitude] Trait was a considerable advantage.

One problem was that the mercenaries he could recruit were only around level 20 at best.

'The bigger problem is that even if they can grow, there’s no way to know their cap.'

What if he recruited a level-20 mercenary whose growth capped at level 30?

'That would be no different from throwing money away.'

It was a fatal drawback of mercenaries, and the reason they weren’t popular with players.

Woojin looked at the Mercenary Association building on one side of the square.

BANG!

It happened just then.

He saw someone fling the door open and storm into the association.

“Get out here, whoever’s in charge!”

Fuming, the man roughly dragged the person behind him by the scruff of the neck and shouted.

“Take this piece of trash back right now! The contract’s off!”

Then he hurled the mercenary contract he was holding onto the floor.

'... What’s going on?'