Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: 5. You've Got the Wrong Person
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The escort mission for the merchant caravan was proceeding more leisurely than expected.
Sung-hoon, who had been tackling relatively dangerous missions up until now, was actually struggling to adjust to this peaceful atmosphere. He'd been fighting monsters day in and day out, gathering information without a single day of rest, but now that he was practically forced to take a break, his body itched with restlessness. He desperately wanted to clash with some monsters, but on the first day, not even a wild beast showed up. On the second day, a pack of goblins appeared, but they were wiped out by the archers and mages before anyone even stepped out of the wagons.
"Is it always this easy?"
"Escort missions are on the easier side, relatively speaking. That said, crises hit about once every set distance, and I hear this one has two in total."
Sung-hoon nodded at Ellie's explanation and fell deep into thought. He wanted to train his skills, but with so many eyes watching, he could only organize them in his head.
Swordsmanship, martial arts, magic, traps, poison techniques, archery. These are the combat skills I can currently apply in battle. Out of them, the ones viable in actual fights are swordsmanship, martial arts, magic, and archery. I need to maximize my strength with these.
He couldn't dream of mixing all four. The best he could pair was swordsmanship with magic. Even then, he couldn't commit to a magic swordsman style. Magic swordsmen gained a job skill called Serene Mind, which allowed spellcasting even mid-combat with weapons. Without it, Sung-hoon was limited to the lowest-tier spells that activated with incantations alone in life-or-death battles. That was why he'd only learned beginner magic in the first place.
Without access to mage-exclusive skills like Spell Omission, High-Speed Chant, or Memorize, swordsmanship is all I've got. Just how good is my swordsmanship?
He didn't think he was mediocre.
To build basic combat prowess without relying solely on skills, he'd learned only passive skills except for one active skill for emergencies. Still, he had no idea how he stacked up against other rankers. Deep down, he wanted to spar with Mirinae.
As three days passed with him stewing inwardly, that opportunity finally arrived.
"Everyone, get ready. A horde of orcs is coming to attack."
"Oh? Should I start chanting in advance?"
"That would be great. They'll come charging from all sides, so please give it your all. Mirinae, can you handle the front of the caravan? Sung-hoon, the right flank?"
"Mind if we team up?"
She's so obvious. This woman's got motives.
It was a clear sign of Mirinae's determination to gauge his skills no matter what. But her suggestion was shot down by Chae-rin's logic.
"This incoming attack isn't just one or two strong ones—it's sheer numbers. If you're confident you two can perfectly hold off that massive horde charging down this wide road, fine. Otherwise, it's better to spread out equally and have the rankers positioned apart to handle emergencies."
"Tch."
"She's right. Unless you're that famous Demon Sword Mirinae, it's impossible. Right?"
Mirinae had no choice but to shut her mouth as Sung-hoon grinned slyly. Like him, she was hiding her identity. Her main weapons were dual swords, but right now, she had only one sheathed at her waist for show. Mirinae was a rare name, but not unique enough for people to assume she was that Demon Sword Mirinae.
"Of course. Heh heh. You're not really the Demon Sword Mirinae, are you?"
At Chae-rin's words, Mirinae quietly gave up her push.
"You've got the wrong person."
"Battle stations!"
At Chae-rin's command, all the wagons halted and clustered toward the center. Players emerged as planned, drawing weapons, while the merchants and workers ducked inside.
"Kreeek!"
"Grrr..."
The orcs' eyes were bloodshot like they'd overdosed on bad drugs, drool spilling from their mouths. The Fermion extract the Pelbram caravan carried was a valuable magic reagent, but it had the side effect of enraging certain monsters. That was why they were berserking like this.
"First strike wins! Mages, unleash!"
The mages, who had prepped spells knowing the attack was coming, bombarded from all directions. Archers climbed onto the wagons, shattering the vanguard with power shots.
"Lightning!"
"Ice Fog!"
"Fire Ball!"
"Power Shot!"
Lightning bolts halted their advance briefly, ice fog slowed them, fireballs hammered with max destruction, and arrows flew at the stumbling wounded.
"Sung-hoon oppa, you know archery too?"
Ellie stared in surprise as Sung-hoon, who hadn't used the archers' national skill Power Shot, had somehow drawn a bow and nailed orcs with arrows.
"Just dabbling. Good for suppression."
His Low Archery wasn't pinpoint accurate, but against clustered foes like this, it worked fine.
"Warriors, charge! Be careful not to get hit, fall back if it's too risky! Ranged dealers, handle any that break the line!"
"Waaaaah!"
"Kill 'em all!"
As people rushed forward, orcs raised weapons and charged.
"Kyaaah!"
"Strong bastards..."
Clang!
Sung-hoon winced briefly at the glaive's weight through his arms but handled the orcs with crisp movements. Berserk-like, their stats were boosted, but patterns simplified—easy prey for someone with solid fundamentals like him.
Meanwhile, the warriors beside him fighting orcs couldn't help clicking their tongues at him. Even without skills, he was downing orcs faster than they were with skills. They realized he wasn't ordinary.
"Wind Spear!"
Boom!
Two wind spears pierced orcs in an instant.
The right flank where Sung-hoon was ended fastest. Fewer orcs came this way, and Ellie relentlessly thinned them with magic.
"I'll leave the rest to you."
"Thanks!"
Handing off the few remaining orcs to the warriors, Sung-hoon hurried forward. He was determined to see Mirinae fight.
And he witnessed true swordsmanship.
"Kreeeek!"
An orc roared, swinging its axe at Mirinae. A powerful blow that would strain even Sung-hoon. Without hesitation, she met it with her sword.
Common sense said it should clash with a deafening clang. But astonishingly, no sound came.
Shing~.
Instead, a clear, crisp sound like drawing a blade—and the orc's fully powered axe veered wildly off-target, cleaving its comrade instead. As it struggled to yank the axe free, light shimmered near its neck, and a line of blood sprayed.
Starting with that orc, Mirinae's sword felled those around her one by one.
Fluidly, crisply, swiftly, sharply, lethally—in ways Sung-hoon couldn't describe, she cut them down.
"Kreek?"
One orc, long after she passed, split at the waist and tumbled.
Mirinae's swordsmanship was fundamentally different from others'. Sung-hoon realized that. Most swordplay just blocked, dodged, countered, or reacted to the moment. Hers was different.
One effort yielded two—no, five, ten times the power. She dodged while exploiting gaps, restricting movement, unbalancing—not just parrying.
Only someone like Sung-hoon, honing his own skills, could see it. Other warriors would call it amazing and move on, but he knew she outclassed them like sun to fireflies.
Is Self-Advancing Step even comparable?
He pondered seriously, but it fell short. Self-Advancing Step was inferior in level and only momentary.
Not even in the same league.
Splat!
Mirinae beheaded the last resisting orc and shook blood from her blade. Seeing her left hand move unconsciously, Sung-hoon recalled one more forgotten fact.
Dual swords. Mirinae uses dual swords.