Chapter 20: The Warrior's Exam
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 20: The Warrior's Exam
[ Welcome to all who survived the Tutorial. This is the Item Shop. Please purchase any necessary items before entering the continent. ]
[ Verifying the points of the Orc Gladiator, Blood Dagger. ]
[ Incredible. 10,000 points have been awarded to Blood Dagger for his amazing achievements. ]
“Not bad.”
This many points wouldn’t be enough to buy anything truly spectacular, but I could probably pick up a few decent items. I started to look around. It was called an Item Shop, but what I saw before me was just a small store. When I was human, a pretty girl managed this place, but it seemed that wasn't the case for monsters. A single, exceptionally vile-looking goblin was playing with a coin, staring in my direction.
“Hurry up and choose. I’m a busy guy, friend.”
I simply nodded in response. He wouldn't answer even if I spoke. That seemed to be the rule for these "managers" who ran the shop. I turned my attention to the small store.
Inside the building, which looked like it could collapse at any moment, a wide variety of items were on display. Information about the items for sale automatically surfaced in my mind.
[ Weapon Shop ]
[ Cheap Greatsword - 10 Points ]
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[ Fire Bat - 3,000 Points ]
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[ Greatsword Too Large to be a Sword - 9,000 Points ]
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[ Blood-soaked Orc's Axe of Honor - 15,000 Points ]
For some reason, the Greatsword Too Large to be a Sword really appealed to me. A whopping 9,000 points. As I thought about it, the goblin shopkeeper brought the item over to me.
It had a fearsome appearance. This item was truly too large to be called a sword. When I focused on its information, a description immediately appeared.
[ Greatsword Too Large to be a Sword ]
[ A weapon used by the legendary Orc mercenary 'Tsuruga.' It has no special functions other than the fact that its durability does not decrease. ]
So, no special functions. I gave it a swing. My eyes were drawn to it because I kept thinking about my fight with the Queen of the North, wondering what might have happened if my weapon’s reach had been just a little longer. I might have been able to land a solid blow on her. Perhaps because of the adjustments from my Gladiator class, it felt good in my grip. The thought that I could block the Queen of the North’s spear with the flat of this blade, without needing a shield, made me nod instinctively. A human probably wouldn't have been able to handle it. But for now, I’d skip it. It was tempting, but there were likely many other things to see. I glanced over at the scrolls instead of the items, and various pieces of information flooded my mind.
[ Unique Abilities ]
[ HP Increase - 5,000 Points ]
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[ Tracking - 7,000 Points ]
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[ Flame Spear - 12,000 Points ]
The ‘HP Increase’ I had coincidentally awakened in the past was 5,000 points. Not bad, but I had absolutely no intention of buying it. A quick look revealed there were no rare abilities. Everywhere I looked, I only saw similar abilities or ones I’d heard of somewhere before. Unique abilities could be awakened by chance even after entering the continent, so I decided to pass for now. The biggest reason, honestly, was that there was nothing I liked.
Maybe my standards had gotten higher, but there weren't many useful items. The same went for armor. It was decent, but I knew I could get something much better if I saved up another 10,000 points, which was a shame. So, I turned my attention to Species Change.
[ Species Change ]
[ Orc - 10,000 Points ]
[ Low-ranking Demon - 400,000 Points ]
[ Ogre - 500,000 Points ]
The point costs were completely out of my reach, so I decided to just skim past them. I had entered with high hopes, but there wasn't much to gain. All I could do was consider buying a potion just in case.
In the end, I decided to see if there were any special items sold only during the Tutorial.
[ List of Items Obtainable Only Through Tutorial Achievements and the Shop ]
[ Bloodsoaked Dagger - 500 Points ]
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[ Greatsword Too Large to be a Sword - 9,000 Points ]
[ Baobab Turtle's Spice Set - 20,000 Points ]
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[ Species Change - Black Orc - 50,000 Points ]
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[ Unique Ability - Magic Marksman - 900,000 Points ]
There were more eye-catching things than I expected. The most absurd was the Baobab Turtle's Spice Set. I had no idea what a Baobab Turtle was, but to think they were selling that crap for 20,000 points… anyone who came in here and bought that would have to be a world-class moron.
However, it was quite surprising that the Greatsword Too Large to be a Sword was also an item exclusive to this shop.
The description said it had no advantages other than its indestructible durability, but when I thought about it, not losing durability was a massive advantage in itself. I summoned it again and swung it a few more times, convincing myself that an Orc’s strength could definitely handle it. Thanks to my class change to Gladiator, my greatsword proficiency was already boosted. I had to take this with me.
Points could be earned again anyway.
Deciding there was no reason to be frugal, I made up my mind to spend all my points.
[ You have purchased the Greatsword Too Large to be a Sword for 9,000 points. ]
[ You have purchased the Bloodsoaked Dagger for 500 points. ]
[ You have purchased the Tutorial Store's Potion for 500 points. ]
“Thanks for your business, friend.”
For ten years as a human, the only sword I had was a cheap steel sword. It was rusted, the edge was dull, and it couldn't even pierce any armor of decent quality. It’s funny for me to say this, since I never put in the effort, but I can’t tell you how much I wanted a good piece of equipment.
I looked at the greatsword, now completely mine, and smiled with satisfaction. The feeling was probably similar to getting a rare item in a game, but since this was a weapon I would use myself, the joy was even greater. The wide, black surface of the blade. It wasn't bigger than an Orc's body, but it was larger than a Hobgoblin's. It seemed that buying an item also came with a leather belt to equip it. I strapped the dagger to my right hip and slung the greatsword onto my back, and I really looked like a renowned Summoned.
The very image I had admired during my human days. A smile crept onto my lips unconsciously.
It was quite heavy, so it would take some time to get used to, but that was no problem.
I could never say I was talented.
To be honest, I was terrible. That was why I chose the Gladiator class, which raises proficiency with all weapons. If a sword doesn't work, I'll use a dagger. If a dagger doesn't work, I'll use an axe. If an axe doesn't work, a mace. If a mace doesn't work, a greatsword. I have to fight using many weapons.
That’s the only way I have a chance against powerhouses beyond the norm. That was the conclusion I reached after my defeat to the Queen of the North.
As I gripped my new weapons, a voice rang out.
[ The shop will close in 10 minutes. The shop will close in 10 minutes. You will be transported to the continent in 10 minutes. ]
And so, I took my first step onto the continent.
*
I felt my body being transported somewhere, and in an instant, the scenery changed. What came into view was a vast jungle. We were in a place that looked as if someone had cleared it with great, artificial precision. As a human, I had been brought to the middle of a city for an orientation, so I expected it would be the same for monsters, but it seemed my prediction was wrong.
“The Blood Dagger Clan is back together! Kkirik! Kkirik!”
“Kkirik! Kkirik!”
Mev, Jung Hayeon, the other goblins, and all the other members of the Blood Dagger Clan, including myself, had all been summoned to the same spot. Seeing that everyone's equipment had changed slightly, it looked like they had all bought something from the shop. Even the less intelligent ones had managed to acquire new items, which suggested some unknown force was helping them understand the concept of trading with points.
“A new sword!”
“I bought a new bow, too. Kkirik kkirik!”
Jung Hayeon was holding a staff I hadn't seen before, and Mev had a new bow slung over her back. They probably hadn't received as many points as I had, but it seemed they got a decent amount, which I thought was good. Among them, I was naturally the one who stood out. With a massive greatsword on my back, it was only natural that all eyes were on me.
The playful goblins crowded around me, busy admiring the weapon.
“Our Chieftain is different, as expected. That’s a huge sword.”
“The best weapon! The best!”
The commotion wasn't just happening here. From Goff's direction, I could hear the continuous sound of goblins running wild.
“The weapon of Goff, Chieftain of the Goff Clan, is much more amazing. Kkirik. Kkirik!”
I subtly turned my head toward the sound and saw Goff with two axes strapped to his back. A choice that suited him very well. Seeing that he hadn't chosen any other gear, it looked like he had gone all-in on those axes with whatever points he received.
I was curious about their functions, but I looked away. Right now, figuring out our current situation was the priority. After telling Mev to gather the clan members and calm them down, I approached Goff and the other clan chieftains.
“Good timing… Blood Dagger. Do you happen to know what this place is?”
If I knew, I wouldn't have come over.
“I don’t, Goff. But it’s clear we’ve been brought to a completely different place from before.”
We should have been transported from a snow-covered field, yet here we were in a dense jungle. There was ‘food,’ but it was a very ambiguous place to establish a settlement.
Just as we were deep in discussion about our next course of action, it happened.
“Warriors! It is the Warrior’s Exam! Green Skins who have returned alive!”
A thunderous voice began to echo from somewhere.
‘Fuck…’
When I was human, we received an ‘orientation’ on how to survive. It was the same for monsters. If this was an orientation, then so be it. The problem was that this orientation was based entirely on the Green Skin way of thinking, with no consideration for us.
“Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle! Blood Dagger Clan! All hands, prepare for battle!”
“It’s a battle! The Chieftain of the vile Blood Dagger Clan has declared battle!”
“Victory! For victory alone! For Blood Dagger! Kkirik!”
The other chieftains also began to hastily gather their clan members. The drum-beating goblins, who always seemed to appear, began to pound furiously on their drums made of human skin.
“Dung…! Dung…! Dung…!”
“Krrrrrrk!”
Just as the atmosphere was reaching a fever pitch with everyone preparing for battle, the voice came again. It was coming from quite a distance. They were definitely watching us.
“Survive! Honorable warriors! Survive! This is an honorable exam.”
‘Fucking bastard… what honor?’
Of course, I hadn't expected to be welcomed with open arms like when I was human, but this felt like too much of a joke.
The reason was that countless beasts were now charging toward us. To humans, they were also monsters. Long-Fanged Tigers, Iron-Jaw Leopards, Steel-Armed Bears—all creatures classified as monsters, just like Green Skins.
It seemed they lived in this jungle. I didn't know how they had been sent our way, but defeating them was probably the ‘exam.’
I gripped my sword tightly and shouted.
“Mev!”
“Yes!”
At my cry, Mev began to draw her bowstring. Behind her, countless goblins drew their own.
“Fire!!”
“Shwiiiiik!”
The beasts that were hit by arrows staggered for a moment but didn't slow down. Of course, some fell, but they were a small minority.
“Let’s go! Green Skins!”
I raised my greatsword and charged toward them.