Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Job Missions
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"Please handle the sick orcs."
"Sick orcs."
"Yeah?"
The voice came from right beside him, and Sung-hoon spotted a familiar face. It was the ponytail girl who had severed an arm back at the Job Change Temple. She was taking on the Sick Orc Hunt mission.
If it had been anyone else picking up this mission, he wouldn't have worried much. But she was strong. And though it was just a hypothesis, she might have even acquired a job like he had.
"Then hurry up with the sick orcs."
"Yes. Understood."
Woooong!
With a flash of light, she vanished in an instant. At the same time, a sudden uneasy feeling crawled up his back.
"Sara! I need the Sick Orc Hunt mission too!"
"Pardon? Yes, sir!"
Sick Orc Hunt
Grade: E
Take care of the orcs wandering the forest. They are currently afflicted with some disease and unable to exert their full strength.
Achievement Conditions
1. Orc Hunter: Hunt 3 orcs (0/3)
2. Hunter: Hunt 10 orcs (0/10)
3. Slayer: Hunt 30 orcs (0/30)
Base Reward: 3,000 guild, Turk's Amulet (1)
Slayer Difficulty First Clear Bonus: 15,000 guild, Bonus Stat Points +2
"Damn, damn, damn!"
Sung-hoon irritably dismissed his spear and quickly scanned his surroundings before crouching low and starting to move.
The dual-wielding woman wasn't just here for the guild points. With her skill level, she was surely aiming for the bonus stat points. That meant no time to waste. No matter how strong she was, she was alone. Even if they were sick, she couldn't take down thirty orcs that quickly.
He hadn't gone far before he spotted an orc.
It stood about 2 meters tall, massive and sturdy-looking, but true to its "sick orc" title, it didn't appear normal. Red spots dotted its skin here and there, and it couldn't walk straight, making it seem like something he could face head-on.
For now, he climbed the mountain stealthily ahead of the orcs' path, found a suitable trail, and pulled food from his inventory. As usual, he sprinkled poison potion on top and hid behind a broad tree.
'Sick and poisoned—they'll be even more debilitated. Two to start.'
Squeeze.
Gripping his sword tightly, he didn't have to wait long before orcs approached.
"Krrk?!"
"Food!"
'Yeah, eat up. Once they do, hit 'em with Shock right away and go from there. With my magic power at 8 now, maybe I can even use Shock twice?'
Sung-hoon, gripping his sword eagerly and ready to charge, froze at the next voice he heard.
"Something's off."
"What is?"
"Krrk! We're in the middle of the mountain. Why's there food here?"
"Now that you mention it..."
'Orcs are supposed to fall for traps like idiots!'
In fantasy novels and games, orcs were the ultimate disposable fodder—the punchbag for protagonists, collapsing like dominoes, dumber than rabbits. So when these brainless brutes started reasoning unnecessarily, Sung-hoon nearly dropped his sword in disbelief.
"Looks like there's an intruder."
"I think so too. Traveling in pairs feels unsafe."
"We should increase numbers. Four at a time..."
Zap!
"Kwek?!"
Talk of reinforcements was enough to spring Sung-hoon into action. He couldn't guarantee victory even one-on-one. If four of them teamed up, the outcome was obvious. Shock, now at C proficiency, hit the orc with a brighter flash than before, striking true.
The sudden sting made one orc stumble back and fall.
"Chiiik! Human!"
"It's a human!"
Sung-hoon's diagonal slash flew toward the orc. And once again, he was shocked.
Clang!
His sword was blocked by the orc's machete. Honestly, Sung-hoon had underestimated orcs. From fantasy novel tropes, they were neighborhood punching bags. With "sick" prefixed, he figured he could handle two easily. But even blocking his full-force strike head-on, the orc merely staggered slightly.
"You stay put! I'll handle him alone!"
"Krrk!"
Fortunately, the orc recognized Sung-hoon's weakness and insisted on one-on-one. He was grateful a hundred times over for the consideration, but struggling against even one sick orc, Sung-hoon was too busy swinging his sword to respond.
It was overconfidence.
Whether he realized it or not, he'd been taking The Mission's world too lightly. Constant progress had planted that notion subconsciously. But Sung-hoon was still a beginner.
The foes he'd faced so far were rats, wolves, wild dogs—animals, and weakened ones at that, poisoned and sickly. This was his first humanoid opponent.
"Kuh!"
"Human! Weak! Weak!"
'I was too complacent!'
He was barely holding on thanks to Low Swordsmanship assisting him. Each weapon clash let him angle his blade slightly to deflect the impact. But this wouldn't last—victory or defeat was sealed.
If the watching orc joined in, he'd die pathetically.
"Chiiik?!"
He fired Shock again, but this time there was no stun. Instead, it enraged the orc further, rampaging wildly. In combat excitement, a basic spell like Shock had no effect.
Absolute life-or-death crisis!
'Think! What skills can I use now? Figure it out or die!'
Few skills were combat-applicable, and Low Swordsmanship was the strongest so far. Lowest Martial Arts wouldn't last a breath before that machete cleaved him.
Only one slim hope remained.
「Self-Advancing Step」.
Of his active skills, only two: Shock, proven useless. Gamble on the unknown or flee?
"Chiiit, taking too long. I'll help finish him!"
"Damn! Self-Advancing Step!"
Hoping it was better than Shock, he shouted the name. An image flashed in his mind. Despite the dire straits, focusing on the orc, his body moved on its own.
Thud!
The orc's machete whistled past his face. He'd planned to dodge back, but instead stepped forward into the blade's path.
Sung-hoon was stunned by Self-Advancing Step; the orc by the sudden intrusion.
The machete's wind grazed his face, but opportunity struck—he was inside the orc's guard.
Neither could swing freely, but Sung-hoon recovered first, twisting for another step.
"Grrruuuk!"
"Stop!"
The watching orc shouted in alarm, but Sung-hoon was faster. Shoulder-checking the fallen orc, he stabbed its throat without hesitation, twisting the blade. Blood frothed as the orc twitched and stilled.
"Gult-nim! Chiiiiiik!"
Perfect momentum.
Staggering to his feet, he activated Self-Advancing Step again. Another miracle: To the orc, Sung-hoon looked ready to collapse, arms trembling from blocking Gult-nim's strikes. No way he could withstand a hit.
Timing his swing with Sung-hoon's approach, the orc was certain. But the stone axe whistled through empty air.
"W-Wait!"
"Hraaaah!"
Full-power miss shattered balance. Sung-hoon thrust with all his might.
"Kweeeeeek!"
"Die, you pig bastard!"
The orc stared incredulously at the sword in its chest as Sung-hoon roared, then plunged his dagger into its throat. He collapsed to the ground.
"Thought I was dead for real. Whew."
Without Self-Advancing Step, he'd have thrown away his first life pathetically. He wanted to rest, but unsure when more orcs might come, he grabbed the orc's weapon for inventory.
Wearing only leather straps, nothing else worth taking. Once he thought he'd put distance, he slumped to catch his breath. No direct wounds, luckily. Chewing jerky to recover stamina, he reflected on the fight.
"Underestimated them too much."
Analyzing, several issues stood out.
Animals might eat roadside scraps blindly, but orcs, low-intelligence or not, could think. Not total idiots—they wouldn't just gobble street food.