Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Orc Expedition (1)
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The God of Blacksmiths.
Daeng knew the stories of that long-vanished deity.
A being who crafted artifacts so magnificent that even legends dared not approach them.
The most shocking part was this.
‘Blacksmiths are weak.’
This was an immutable truth.
But the God of Blacksmiths from the handed-down tales was different.
It was said he cleaved through foes with weapons of his own making, as strong as any combat class.
*Fwoosh—*
Daeng watched the Damascus dagger in his hand vanish after a set time.
And, according to the oracle he knew, Daeng had to guide this stranger before him toward that final path.
“Young man, would you not walk the path of a blacksmith, one different and more special than the rest?”
***
Hyun-soo was surprised by Daeng's words.
‘A path different from other blacksmiths?’
The path of a special blacksmith.
In truth, Hyun-soo had already noticed that he was far more special than ordinary blacksmiths.
Even during his recent crafting session, a notification had popped up, stating he was forging differently from the established Damascus method.
‘Am I becoming a legendary class, too?’
The world's number one ranked blacksmith, Smith, came to mind. He, too, was a legendary class—the Twilight Blacksmith.
“Join the Prime Kingdom's orc expedition. If you participate and accumulate enough of a contribution to earn my acknowledgment, I will allow you to enter that path.”
*Ting!*
[Class Advancement Quest: Join the Orc Expedition has been generated.]
[Class Advancement Quest: Join the Orc Expedition.]
Grade: SS
Requirement: One who has received Daeng's offer.
Reward: Class advancement to Successor of ???.
Failure Penalty: Cannot advance to Successor of ???.
Description: You must participate in the orc expedition and achieve results worthy of acknowledgment from Daeng, the master of the Blacksmith's Tower of Swords. Quest complete upon achieving a contribution of 70% or higher.
‘SS-grade?’
Hyun-soo couldn't help but be shocked.
Hyun-soo had heard of S-grade quests and knew they were anything but easy.
Yet the grade for this orc expedition quest was a staggering SS.
‘In the year since Ares opened, 99% of players have never even received one of these, right?’
Then, Daeng spoke.
“This is a humble gift from me. I never imagined you'd actually split the Stone of Talent.”
He handed Hyun-soo a rather shiny hammer.
[You have acquired Daeng's Hammer of Replication.]
(Daeng's Hammer of Replication)
Grade: Epic
Durability: 3,000/3,000
Attack Power: 109
Requirement: Level 25-70.
Special Abilities:
·15% increased chance of producing a higher-grade artifact.
·5% increase in Dexterity.
·Passive Skill: Consumable Replication.
·Active Skill: Crafting Haste.
Description: A hammer used long ago by Daeng, the master of the Blacksmith's Tower of Swords.
Daeng's Hammer of Replication looked quite good.
Crafting Haste, in particular, literally reduced production time by 20% upon activation.
Additionally, the skill 'Consumable Replication' was unusual.
‘When crafting a consumable, there is a 20% chance to acquire an additional identical item.’
It seemed like a very useful skill.
The only downside was that he couldn't equip the artifact yet.
“The expedition's mission will likely not be as easy as you think.”
Hyun-soo nodded.
“I will do my best.”
He left the tower to join the expedition.
***
“I told him to scratch the Stone of Talent, and he split it in half?”
CEO Lee Se-jin, visiting the Special Player Management Team, marveled as he watched player Hyun-soo leave the tower.
“He's a player who accomplishes truly unconventional things. I wonder if he can pull off another unconventional feat this time.”
Now, player Hyun-soo only needed to complete this final subjugation quest to ascend to a God Class.
“It won't be easy.”
Lee Ji-hee said.
For some reason, CEO Lee Se-jin grew curious about how well his employees were trained.
“Do you know why it won't be easy?”
“Of course.”
The Orc Expedition.
This orc expedition accepts players from level 1 to 10.
It serves as a 'tutorial expedition' for players who have just left the beginner zone, and only one player undertakes it at a time.
“Players who receive the orc expedition tutorial quest are also asked to raise their contribution by a certain percentage. And once they meet that percentage, they complete the tutorial quest and receive a reward.”
As Se-jin nodded, employee Lee Ji-hee continued.
“Normal players only need to raise their contribution by 10% to complete the quest and successfully finish the tutorial. However, player Hyun-soo is required to achieve a 70% contribution.”
Ji-hee let out a dry laugh. The truth was, she couldn't fathom it.
“Sir, is it even possible to achieve over 70%?”
Ji-hee thought carefully about the orc expedition.
First, the player and soldiers advance to hunt orcs.
The soldiers help the player, who is often overwhelmed by their first expedition.
As the expedition reaches its climax, the party is forced to retreat.
This is because an Orc Warrior appears, leading reinforcements.
With the appearance of the Orc Warrior, the expedition retreats, and the event concludes.
In Ji-hee's opinion, no matter how skilled player Hyun-soo was, achieving a 70% contribution seemed impossible.
“Is there really no way? A way to raise his contribution.”
At Lee Se-jin's question, Ji-hee thought deeply.
But her expression showed she still couldn't find an answer.
To that, Team Leader Kim Tae-seok offered a hint.
“Why do they retreat?”
“Because a level 50 Orc Warrior appears with reinforce—”
Suddenly, Ji-hee's eyes widened.
She shot up from her seat and stared at the monitor in shock.
Player Hyun-soo was already at the expedition recruitment office, submitting his application.
“You don't mean a level 1 player is supposed to hunt a level 50 Orc Warrior, do you?”
Lee Se-jin nodded.
Ji-hee was horrified.
Yet, she began to think that such an unconventional and difficult trial might be a matter of course.
After all, not just anyone could become the first God Class.
***
Orc Expedition Recruitment Office.
After submitting his application, Hyun-soo joined the expedition's procession just before it departed.
“Let's move out!”
Hyun-soo could see the expedition leader, Hans, at the very front.
[Expedition Leader Hans Lv. 48]
Not long after they set out, an NPC approached Hyun-soo.
His name was Ben. He was an ordinary soldier, level 13.
“Lad, do you know where we're headed?”
At the soldier Ben's words, Hyun-soo tilted his head.
‘Ah, now that I think about it, no one explained why we're on this expedition.’
It seemed the tutorial expedition was designed so that an NPC would provide information as they headed toward the subjugation area.
“We're on our way to subdue a horde of orcs causing trouble outside the Prime Kingdom. Those orc bastards are extremely vicious and strong, and there are a great many of them.”
He knew the average level of the orcs was 10.
“But don't you worry. No matter how many of them there are, we're much stronger.”
Ben, who looked to be in his thirties, added with a sly grin.
“Oh, and when we reach a certain point, an Orc Warrior will come to protect his underlings. A very cunning bastard, he is. No one's ever pierced the armor he wears.”
“Never pierced it?”
Hyun-soo looked puzzled.
“That's right. The fiend's armor is made of some excellent material; it can't be cut or pierced. When he shows up with reinforcements, he uses that armor to slaughter our allies. So, when the time is right, we have to run.”
Hyun-soo nodded.
Just then.
[The orc subjugation will now begin.]
[Please join the expedition with the soldiers.]
Along with the notification, a shout rang out.
“Orcs! Everyone, prepare to attack!”
It was the cry of Expedition Leader Hans, mounted on his horse.
*Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud—*
The sound of heavy footsteps approached.
With a familiar expression, Ben spoke even in the urgent situation.
“What class did you choose?”
“Ah, I haven't chosen one yet. I'm an aspiring blacksmith.”
“...An aspiring blacksmith?”
At those words, Ben showed a somewhat puzzled expression.
This tutorial expedition usually accepted strangers who had already completed their class advancement.
‘Then I'll have to be more careful. He hasn't even advanced his class yet, so he must be weak.’
Ben knew very well the difference between someone who had advanced their class and someone who hadn't.
Those who hadn't advanced were generally about 30% weaker.
This was because upon advancement, they received stat and skill bonuses. A swordsman, for example, would learn Sword Mastery, increasing their damage by nearly 30%.
He also knew about blacksmiths.
Even though he was only an aspirant, blacksmiths were inherently weak.
It couldn't be helped.
They were the ones who made weapons, and we were the ones who fought with them.
Ben turned, thinking he needed to look after him more carefully.
“Alright, now we should...”
Just then.
Ben was taken aback.
A handaxe thrown by an orc was flying straight for the spot between his eyes.
“Huk...!”
The handaxe was right in front of his face.
Ben felt a dizzying fear.
That axe would strike his brow, and he would meet his end...
*Twaaang—*
In that moment, a clear, sharp sound rang out.
Ben was baffled.
“...!?”
Because the player named Hyun-soo had swiftly drawn his sword and knocked the handaxe away.
And then.
“Finally, I get to test them out.”
“...Test what?”
“The things I've made.”
Ben was bewildered, while Hyun-soo gripped his Gwangmyeong tightly.
‘This is the first time I'm properly using an artifact I've made.’
Hyun-soo spotted an orc charging toward him from the front.
Ben, quickly coming to his senses, said.
“There's no way you can kill that thing at your level. Let our soldiers help...”
*Fwip—*
Hyun-soo dashed forward, his sword moving with fluid grace.
*Sshhhk—*
His sword grazed past the orc's neck.
*Thud—*
In a single strike.
[You have hunted an orc.]
[You have gained 86 EXP.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have achieved 3% contribution.]
Seeing the orc's head fall in a single blow, Ben was utterly stunned.
Moreover, his graceful movements and swift sword.
‘That's...’
The stance of someone trained in swordsmanship.
Ben stared blankly at the man named Hyun-soo charging toward the orcs.
‘W-what in the world am I supposed to teach him...?’
And as he ran, Hyun-soo felt his mood lift with his first level-up.
Hyun-soo had spent over 80 days in the beginner zone.
He checked the absurd stats he had accumulated during that time.
‘Status Window.’
(Hyun-soo)
Level: 1
Class: None
Strength: 38, Agility: 39, Stamina: 37, Wisdom: 22, Intelligence: 22, Dexterity: 583.
He was confident he could exert the power of someone at least close to level 30.
‘Gwangmyeong, this is really good, isn't it?’
The effects of Gwangmyeong, now properly tested, were incredible.
This time, he quickly swapped from Gwangmyeong to the Water Buffalo Horn Bow.
He saw an enraged orc spot him and charge from directly ahead.
“Chwiiiiiik!”
Of course, Hyun-soo knew nothing about archery.
But when he first crafted this bow, Hyun-soo had made it so even beginners could use it easily.
The option attached as a result.
[The effect of the Marksman's Horn Bow is applied.]
[Accuracy increases by 60%.]
*Jwaaaaak—*
Drawing the bowstring with all his might, Hyun-soo aimed at the orc rushing toward him.
***
Expedition Leader Hans watched the orc subjugation proceed as smoothly as ever.
‘That damn Orc Warrior.’
Just thinking of that bastard who appeared during every expedition to cause trouble made him grind his teeth.
The fiend's armor, in particular, was so tough that even he, who was on a similar level, couldn't pierce it.
He would probably appear soon. As always.
Just then.
“Hm?”
Hans's face crumpled horribly.
From his vantage point on his horse, surveying the battlefield, he had spotted a stranger standing at the front, drawing a bowstring.
“That crazy...!”
Even if he was a stranger, if he had joined this expedition, he was one of his men.
And the soldiers had a duty to ensure that stranger completed the expedition safely.
Had they let that clueless stranger fight an orc one-on-one?
“Rescue that stranger at once!”
Hans's voice grew urgent.
That fearless fool of a stranger.
But he felt it was already too late.
In that moment.
*Twang—*
The bowstring was released, and the arrow struck the orc's abdomen.
But then.
*Fwoooosh—*
The orc, an arrow in its abdomen, was sent flying about four meters. It then collapsed to the ground and scattered into gray ash.
“...!”