Chapter 19: Special Class
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 19: Special Class
As I slowly recalled the quest, I could feel it waiting for me, already completed.
[ Quest Complete. ]
[ Quest - Conquer the Tutorial's Northern Forest! : Conquer the Northern Forest. (1/1) ]
[ Excellent. You have succeeded in defeating the horde in the Northern Forest with a crude strategy! A special class is now available. You won the war but lost the battle! A new special class is now available. You have successfully completed the quest. As a quest reward, you will rank up. Please select your evolution. ]
[ 1. Orc Intermediate Warrior ]
[ 2. Orc Swordsman ]
[ 3. Orc Assassin ]
[ Special 1. Orc Commander ]
[ Special 2. Orc Gladiator ]
Just as I’d thought, two special classes had opened up. It seemed I couldn't evolve into a higher species just yet, as expected. Still, seeing Orc Intermediate Warrior as an option was decent enough.
Choices like this always had to be made with care. I began to think it over slowly. Commander was out, no question. Orc Assassin was out, too. An Orc’s physical abilities were far too ill-suited for assassination.
That left Orc Intermediate Warrior, Orc Swordsman, and Orc Gladiator. In my life as a human, I had chosen Swordsman at this point. There was no special reason for it; I was just more comfortable with a sword. The path of the Swordsman might have been the fastest way to grow stronger.
However.
I felt like I would hit a wall. In the first place, I had no talent for swordsmanship. It was a path I had walked before, and for that very reason, I was reluctant to take it again. I slowly began to think about the special classes.
[ Special 2. Orc Gladiator ]
[ To an Orc Gladiator, fighting is survival. Long ago, in an age when humans enslaved Green Skins, Orc gladiatorial matches were one of the continent's most popular sports. In the colosseum, Orc Gladiators fought not for honor, but for survival. Proficiency with all wielded weapons will increase. ]
‘Not bad.’
Judging by the description alone, it was definitely not bad. In fact, it was quite good. The phrase that caught my attention the most was ‘fighting for survival.’ I also liked that it increased the number of weapons I could use effectively. It might seem like a jack-of-all-trades path, but wasn't I just as mediocre in my past life, even though I only used a sword?
I would have to reach the intermediate level to see its more precise functions, but I had a feeling that the higher-tier classes that would open up from Gladiator would also be appealing. The Commander class didn't particularly interest me, but since I’d read the Gladiator description, I figured I might as well read the other one. I decided to take a look.
[ Special 1. Orc Commander ]
[ To command Green Skins is the highest honor for an Orc. The combat power of Green Skins in a clan led by an Orc Commander will be enhanced. The Commander can grant them buffs and make them understand orders more precisely. Sword proficiency will increase. ]
It was better than I expected, to the point where I wondered why I hadn't read it sooner. Since I had a clan, Commander wasn't a bad choice, but… it was an undeniable fact that as I advanced to higher classes, it would be less effective than Gladiator. The increase in sword proficiency was a shame to pass up, but the Gladiator held far more potential.
I decided not to hesitate. As I pictured the Gladiator in my mind, I began to feel my body twisting.
The physical change wasn't that significant, it seemed. The pain wasn't nearly as intense as when I had evolved from a Goblin to a Hobgoblin, or from a Hobgoblin to an Orc. In an instant, my contorted body settled back into place.
Even as I lay on the ground, I could tell my body had changed. I slowly clenched my fist.
‘I’ve definitely gotten stronger.’
The basic ways to use fundamental weapons—axes, spears, swords, blades—flashed through my mind. From here on, it would depend on my own efforts, but this was still a good choice. A deeper understanding of all weapons meant I could gain an edge in any fight. As I was clenching my fist, Jung Hayeon met my eyes and spoke.
“You’ve evolved.”
“Yeah. It feels good.”
A piece of armor, basic equipment for covering one shoulder, had been added. It seemed they didn't provide a weapon. Wearing armor on my injured shoulder was extremely uncomfortable, so I decided to take it off for now. Jung Hayeon must have thought I looked uncomfortable, because she was already helping me remove it without me having to say a word.
Come to think of it, everyone should have completed the quest. I turned to Jung Hayeon and Mev.
“Right, you two completed the quest as well. Did anything change?”
Mev was the first to answer, her face beaming with pride.
“Yes, Chieftain. I evolved into a Fairy Sprite Archer.”
“Oh…”
“I… I evolved into a Plant Magician.”
It seemed both of them had landed special classes. Not all special classes were stronger or more efficient than normal ones, but for both of them to get one… It was clear they had played a major role in this war, even without them saying so.
“How’s the Fairy Archer?”
At my question, Mev briefly rolled her eyes upward, likely checking the description of her new class.
“It says here that the elite archers of the Fairy race were called Fairy Archers… I’m not sure about now, but it says my magic proficiency will increase. A few spells are coming to mind, and I can feel a little bit of mana. This is good, right?”
“Yes. Well done.”
From the description, it sounded very similar to the human Magic Archer. But since it was called a Fairy Archer, there had to be some difference.
Still, just like with my class, I would probably have to reach the intermediate level to see a more precise description or gauge its efficiency.
“What about the Plant Magician?”
“I’m not sure if it’s that different from before. I didn’t get an Intermediate Magician option, just the Plant Magician… all by itself. I didn’t have a choice.”
“Ah…”
Her proficiency was probably lacking. She had completed the quest and opened the path, but the fact that she couldn't advance to the intermediate level meant she didn't meet the qualifications yet. Even so, Plant Magician wasn't bad. Jung Hayeon's race was plant-based, so the power of her magic would likely be enhanced, and raising her proficiency would be much easier than for a normal magician.
“That sounds good.”
“Ye… Yes!”
I hadn't heard from them directly, but the other clan members must have grown quite a bit stronger as well. I was especially curious about the loyal Five Goblin Siblings, but I would see them once I recovered, so I decided not to rush things. My body still felt a little tired. I slowly closed my eyes, and the remaining time trickled away.
[ Exactly 30 minutes remain in the Tutorial. The objective for the next 30 minutes is survival. ]
The Tutorial was finally coming to an end. I had certainly come close to death, but Orcs have excellent regenerative abilities. Or maybe, I thought, the old goblin shaman treating me was just that skilled.
“Hmph… You’ve got a sturdy body. It’s almost completely healed already.”
“Krrrk… My chest still aches…”
“Any other Green Skin would have died for sure. You were lucky.”
I remembered that the old shaman treating me had also formed a clan after the battle ended. The ‘Darkmoon Clan.’ I thought he would be weeded out after failing to contribute in the first battle, but it seemed his true worth was revealed after he evolved into a shaman. After completing the quest, he had advanced all the way to Intermediate Shaman and was apparently quite respected by the Green Skins who revered shamanism.
I had a feeling that if it weren't for that old goblin shaman, ‘Darkmoon,’ my recovery would have taken much longer.
“My thanks, old man.”
“Hmph…”
“By the way, do you know what happens when the Tutorial ends? I heard the voice of God this morning. I was told the other clans and Green Skins heard it too.”
“How should I know? I’m not sure exactly, but I have a feeling the environment surrounding us is about to change. Darkmoon, you’re a shaman, aren’t you? Don’t you know what will happen? Krrrk.”
“Tsk. Just because I’m a shaman doesn’t mean I know everything. Perhaps I’ll find out later. That’s all for today’s treatment. I’ll be on my way.”
And with that, the old Darkmoon shaman left.
Usually, after the Tutorial ends, you are immediately transported to the continent after a ‘settlement.’ The settlement is a kind of item shop where your performance in the Tutorial is evaluated and you can acquire useful things to take with you to the continent. After moving to the continent, anyone can open an item shop, which is why these points are quite important.
In the case of humans, you could even buy money with points, but I was curious to see how it would work for Green Skins, who had no concept of currency. For the record, the first time around, I couldn't buy anything after the Tutorial ended. I was just grateful to have survived.
From what I’d heard from others, the shop that appears after the Tutorial has much more useful items than the regular item shops on the continent. Of course, you can find more effective items in dungeons, but there’s a huge difference between being dropped onto the continent with nothing and entering with at least some basic equipment.
I know the fate of those dropped onto the continent with nothing better than anyone. I experienced it alongside Choi Seulgi.
In the case of humans, after the Tutorial ends, they are unconditionally sent to receive ‘education.’
Thinking about it now, it was called education, but it was really just a process for scouting useful personnel. I couldn't predict how things would go for monsters, but given their tendency not to meddle with other clans, I felt there wouldn't be any such education. No, there was a high probability there wouldn't be.
It would either be absorption into a larger clan or the formation of an alliance. Of course, the ‘seniors’ who were already on the continent would certainly be strong.
But since Green Skins fundamentally revere honor, there shouldn't be any pointless trouble. Lost in these idle thoughts, I stepped outside.
“Kkireuk! Kkireuk! Kkireuk!!”
“Krrrrrrk…”
It had been a while since I’d seen the members of the Blood Dagger Clan. Seeing that the ratio of Hobgoblins was higher than Goblins, I could feel that our overall strength had increased.
“It’s the Chieftain! It’s Blood Dagger!”
“It’s the honorless Blood Dagger!”
“The Chieftain has been resurrected!”
As soon as I appeared, the clan members roared and welcomed me. At the front were Jung Hayeon, Mev, and the loyal Five Goblin Siblings. A quick glance confirmed my expectations: the first and second siblings had chosen to become Orcs, while the female siblings seemed intent on sticking with being Goblins. Their changed equipment suggested they had advanced to classes that suited their individual characteristics, like Swordsman or Hammer Warrior.
The sight of these cute little ones, who had become even cuter after their class changes, beating their chests at me was truly adorable. In response to the goblins cheering for me, I simply beat my own chest with my hand.
“Victory! For victory alone! For Blood Dagger!”
“For the dishonorable Blood Dagger Clan!”
[ The Tutorial period has ended. You will be moved to the shop for settlement and then immediately transported to the continent. ]
Listening to their cheers, I took my second step onto the continent.