Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Nagi
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[Entry Level: 15]
[Elite Dungeon (4-Player Party Recommended)]
[Cave of the Orc King]
The first elite dungeon that new players of Astria Online encounter is the ‘Cave of the Orc King.’ Here, users learn the basics of party play, divide roles, and grasp the fundamentals of fighting named monsters.
“Hmm.”
I gazed at the massive cave carved into the cliff at the edge of the Orc Forest, lost for a moment in reminiscence.
This was where Iseulbi and Rain’s new adventure began. Where they started to truly feel the joy of Astria Online.
And where I experienced my first death.
Well, since I have faint memories of my past life, was it strictly my *first* death?
They say a person only dies once, but how many times have I died? If you count deaths experienced in-game at 100% synchronization, I’ve died quite a lot.
It strikes me again just how cheap my life seems to be. A thousand years ago, by this world’s standards, if I hadn't met my comrades, a half-baked hero like me would have died an early death. Back then, I only had one life.
My old body had become useless.
My big sister Chris would be sad if she knew I thought this way, but that body became unusable, at least in a fight.
However, in this world I found again, I was given a new body. It was inconvenient having to learn everything from scratch, adapting to the ‘system’ in a way that was different from the strength I had built in my original body.
Still, I adapted to this body and reached a level where I could now stand against the demons. I think I’ve grown a lot mentally, too.
As I am now, I can lead the young heroes who have come to protect this world.
While I was lost in thought, looking back on the past…
A murmur spread through the crowd.
A large group of newbies and a few high-level players began to gather in front of the ‘Cave of the Orc King.’
*Whoosh!*
Startled, I hid behind a rock.
It wasn't because I was timid or scared of the newbies. It was because they’d keep clinging to me, which was annoying.
“Already?”
Not even half a day had passed since the server opened, and they’ve already reached level 15?
Of course, the environment is much different from when I was leveling up. Buffs, food items that aid growth, and other things are available for cheap, and there’s also support for new players. Most would probably clear this newbie stage in about a day.
I glanced at the newbies, who were brimming with anticipation for their first elite dungeon, and shook my head.
Even so, I think it took two or three days to reach the first elite dungeon when the server first opened.
“Sigh, back in my day…”
As I was hiding behind the rock, thinking such thoughts, the newbies began to form parties in small groups.
“We have a Fighter, Spirit Master, and Yin-Yang Master! Looking for a Ranger or Warrior! Mages are okay too!”
“Swordsman LFP!”
I watched the group of newbies, which included many minors, and chuckled.
“It’d be easier if they used zone chat to advertise.”
Then again, I used to look for parties in front of dungeons like that when I was a beginner, too.
I opened the chat interface and turned on zone chat.
[Speed carries for beginners! 5 gold per run! I’ll help you farm 1-on-1!]
[Running a newbie training party. Max level 50 before the expansion, experienced raid dungeon carrier available.]
The first things that caught my eye were the carry advertisements from veteran players.
So this is what Puukilkil, the mage from Skada's Attack Squad, meant by the business of carrying newbies.
The ‘Tree of the Abyss’ is a weekly dungeon anyway, and most level 50 players are probably in the expansion zones working on quests. It’s a slow time for the carrying business. They’re probably thinking they’re helping newbies grow while earning a little pocket money.
I could see high-level players leading newbies into the dungeon, like teachers conducting a field trip.
The ‘Cave of the Orc King.’
It was a low-level elite dungeon that players passed through quickly anyway. Weapons were flooding the auction house, so all they needed to do was farm accessories and move on.
Most of the newbies who joined today were young students, but they seemed to have enough money for a small carry fee. It looked like they wanted to quickly skip the low-level phase and start farming in high-level dungeons.
Of course, while many newbies used carries, there were also those who wanted to challenge their first elite dungeon party play with players of their own level.
I rubbed under my nose for no reason and nodded my head with a proud expression.
“This is when it’s the most fun.”
I logged out for a quick meal and then logged back in.
The safety filter was still floating before my eyes.
“I wonder when they’ll normalize it.”
It felt like I couldn't do anything until this disappeared.
As I was just watching the newbies in front of the Cave of the Orc King, something caught my eye.
“Eek.”
A girl was clutching her chest, catching her breath in a corner.
She was a little shorter than me, with a petite frame. She had light brown, bobbed hair. The girl’s large, green eyes were slightly wide with surprise and fear.
She was the cute swordsman girl who had fought so valiantly against the Orc Warrior.
What was she so startled about?
In her hand was not one of the ‘Orc King’s Weapons’ that were currently cheap on the auction house, but an ‘Orc Warrior’s Sword’ obtained from killing a field boss.
She must have earned some gold from killing mobs, so maybe she was the type to save money?
As I watched her from behind the rock, the girl shook her head vigorously and bit her lip. Determination returned to her once-frightened green eyes.
Then, she trotted toward the entrance of the instanced dungeon, the Cave of the Orc King.
But… alone?
“H-hey, wait!”
I quickly emerged from behind the rock and grabbed the collar of the girl who was about to enter the dungeon.
“Eek!?”
*Wriggle, wriggle.*
I could feel the startled girl’s movements. She squirmed, trying to break free from my grasp.
“I-it’s okay! I’m not a bad person!”
I scratched my face as I tried to calm the frightened girl.
More importantly, why was she trying to enter an elite dungeon by herself?
“A training party?”
“Yeah. Hehe, it’s normal for high-level players to help train newbies like this.”
The girl tilted her head.
My eyes kept curving into crescents as I looked at her, and a smile wouldn't leave my lips.
Her voice is so cute!
Her bright, green eyes are pretty, and her round face, still with its baby fat, is adorable.
Even her movements are so dainty.
*Trot, trot.*
*Trot, trot.*
I was walking with the girl through the first section of the elite dungeon, the ‘Cave of the Orc King.’
Since we had formed a party, I could now see the girl’s nickname.
[Level 15 Swordsman ‘Nagi’]
“So your name is Nagi.”
“Yes. And you are… Drizzle…?”
Nagi replied softly, reading my nickname displayed on the party interface.
“You can just call me Rain.”
“Big sis Rain.”
Nagi chirped in her cute voice, calling me her big sister.
“Hngh!”
I clutched my chest.
She called me ‘big sis.’
Hearing that from someone smaller than me… it hits different.
Chris, you’ve been hogging all the good stuff.
“By the way, were you trying to clear this elite dungeon by yourself?”
“Is it… not okay to play this game alone?”
“It’s not that, but this is an elite dungeon. It said ‘4-player party’ at the entrance, didn’t it?”
“It just said it was recommended.”
My jaw dropped.
Nagi was right.
An elite dungeon wasn’t a ‘4-player party dungeon.’ It was a ‘4-player party *recommended* dungeon.’
There was definitely a way to clear it solo, even at the appropriate level.
This girl, she had a similar way of thinking to me.
“Th-then. Have you been doing this alone until now?”
*Nod, nod.*
Is this what Chris felt when she looked at me?
Even though I had done the same things, I couldn't help but be surprised by this plucky newbie’s challenge.
I might be an anomaly, but this girl named Nagi was probably a normal player. It would be anything but easy.
Could she clear this dungeon on her own?
At first, I was just going to teach her the patterns, kill everything for her, and get her the accessories so she could graduate from this place quickly.
“Alright.”
The plan changed.
I decided to cheer on the girl’s challenge.
“I’ll just guide you from behind. Want to try it on your own?”
Nagi’s face brightened.
“Yes!”
[First Boss]
[Level 16 Orc Fighter]
[HP 9,209 / 10,500 (88%)]
*CRASH!*
“Kyaa!”
*Thump.*
“Oh no, Nagi! What did I tell you to do when it counters!”
“S-stop DPS!”
Nagi, who had taken a fist to the stomach and rolled across the ground, quickly got back up. Being a low level, her HP must have dropped significantly.
She was learning the ‘Orc Fighter’s’ patterns quickly. As expected of the swordsman newbie I had my eye on; her adaptation speed was considerable.
But Nagi’s reaction after being punched in the stomach was a little strange.
The expression on her face was one of pain.
For a minor, the highest their synchronization rate could be was in the high teens.
It shouldn't have hurt that much.
Of course, for someone like me at 100%, it would be more than just painful. I would have lost consciousness and been kicked out of the game instantly. I was the strange one for being able to withstand the pain of 100% synchronization. Still, Nagi’s sync rate seemed to be quite high.
“Hut!”
Nagi raised her sword again, glaring at the Orc Fighter charging toward her. Fear crept into her eyes.
*CLANG!*
I quickly dashed in, blocked the Orc Fighter’s gauntlet, and pulled Nagi into my arms, retreating from the combat area.