Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Became the Last of the Giant Clan
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Screeeech----!!!
A long, resounding pig-like squeal echoed through the air.
The orcs locked in battle with the Association hunters all froze and turned their heads.
Screeee-ch!
As another wail reverberated, the orcs' faces hardened.
And then, slowly...
They began to backpedal, retreating from their lines.
"...?"
Question marks floated over the faces of the Association hunters facing them.
Just moments ago, these orcs had been radiating thick killing intent, swinging their axes with wild abandon. Now their momentum had abruptly crumbled.
Still, the hunters didn't let their guard down and kept engaging.
This retreat could be a ploy, after all.
But as time passed, the bewilderment only deepened.
"...What the hell?"
These were orcs that never backed down even in the face of death.
And among them, the elite red-patterned orcs—known for their superior status—were now genuinely fleeing, abandoning strategy and tactics alike.
Unable to comprehend the phenomenon, everyone furrowed their brows just as the orcs launched into a full retreat.
Screech!
Screeeech!!
The air shook with the pounding of their feet.
Some turned tail and bolted outright.
Lee Hyun-wook, the headquarters chief, muttered in disbelief.
Orcs... scared? Why?
Even he, a veteran of countless battlefronts, couldn't make sense of the scene.
But he quickly shook off the thought, his eyes gleaming.
"Charge! Don't let a single one escape!"
Whatever the reason for the orcs' odd behavior, this was an opportunity.
The perfect chance to wipe out the raiding orc scouts.
And the seasoned commander wasn't about to let it slip.
"Waaaaah--!!"
"Let's go!"
"Don't let any slip away! Crush them all!!!"
With his command, the Association hunters surged forward.
As orc screams filled the sky, Kang Hyuk clicked his tongue.
He knew the reason for their pathetic flight.
They've sensed my presence.
In Earth time, fifteen days had passed. Here, it had been seventy-five.
In that span, Kang Hyuk had crossed through the gate and slain countless orcs in this world.
And perhaps because of that...
A few days ago, the red-patterned orcs he'd encountered had stopped showing their usual ferocity and started fleeing instead.
Killed too many of them. They've started seeing me as an apex predator. Rare, but it happens...
And now.
The red-patterned orc shaman sprinting into view was screeching nonstop, clearly alerting others to his existence.
"Waaaaah---!!!"
"I don't know what's going on, but victory's right there! Kill those bastards!"
The Association hunters, sensing triumph, pressed the orcs harder.
They didn't know why the orcs were running, but their first victory in this otherworld dangled right before them.
Kang Hyuk's eyes sharpened amid the chaos.
If I let them escape like this, they might regroup and raid again. Fine for the retreating grunts, but I need to take out the leader shaman.
With that thought, he rummaged through his subspatial backpack.
And pulled out a massive iron spear.
It dwarfed the towering dead trees around them.
Kang Na-eun, mid-swing against a fleeing orc, gaped in shock.
"T-Team Leader? What's that...?"
As she started to move toward him...
The air ripped apart with a deafening crack, and the spear shot from Kang Hyuk's hand.
"...!!!"
Kang Na-eun's jaw dropped at the sound. Nearby hunters whipped their heads around in alarm.
Boom-boom-boom-KABOOM!!!
The spear pulverized everything in its path.
The colossal trees of this alien ecosystem shredded like paper.
Screeech!!
The orc shaman sensed the threat and hastily chanted a spell, but it was too late.
Thud!
Something burst, and its head exploded off its shoulders.
The orcs beside it froze with mouths agape, collapsing in place.
Kang Hyuk seized the opening, grasping another spear.
Thud!
Another thunderous shot—and six spears streaked through the air, granting equitable deaths to the shaman's escorts.
Silence descended at once.
"...?"
In that hush, every hunter on site stared at Kang Hyuk in stunned awe.
"W-What the hell was that?"
"He made a hole like that... with spears?"
"D-rank hunter? How does a D-rank punch a hole like...?"
Lee Hyun-wook approached, questioning him.
"What... exactly did you just do, Team Leader Kang?"
Kang Hyuk confirmed the kills as he replied.
"There was an orc shaman using black magic in the woods. Looked like the leader of this scout party. Couldn't let it get away, so I took it out quick."
Lee Hyun-wook fell silent at the curt explanation.
His gaze shifted to the massive crater gouged into the earth ahead.
"...You handle spears too?"
"Handle? Nah, just picked 'em up and chucked 'em right."
Lee Hyun-wook let out a hollow chuckle.
Just chucked them... and nailed it? That's underselling it big time.
As Association HQ chief, he'd encountered countless hunters and their abilities.
He had vast data on the 'firepower' hunters of each rank could muster.
And the most reliable benchmarks were physical-type ability users.
In this era of awakeners, physical enhancements were the most common abilities by far.
Yet that gold-standard data had just shattered before his eyes.
That iron spear... or should I call it a ballista bolt? Made a hole like that...?
It looked like a siege cannon had fired point-blank.
Even if magic had done it, it'd be astonishing. But pure physical might alone? Unbelievable, even seeing it.
And Team Leader Kang wasn't even a spear specialist.
Doubt crept in, but considering his ability, it made sense.
An ability held by only thirty-six people worldwide.
...S-grade talent. Is this what they mean by a miracle reborn?
A blessing beyond common sense.
That explained the scene.
Lee Hyun-wook's lips curved upward.
Almost made the mistake of my life, trying to bench him for this expedition.
As his mind raced with thoughts of this newfound hope amid the shaky campaign...
Kang Hyuk felt the stares from the Association hunters and pondered.
Kang Na-eun, Lee Ye-sol, Park Seo-jun, Lee Hwan-seung. Those four met my expectations. The rest... not so much.
The recent clash with the red-patterned orcs.
For monsters of this world's level, it barely qualified as a skirmish.
Yet the Association hunters hadn't gained any clear edge.
A-rank hunters, no less. Even with Commander Lee Hyun-wook's support.
The gap between Association and guilds is stark. At this rate... traveling in a herd like this is a liability.
Manuals dictate small groups against hordes, hordes against small groups.
But with basics ignored...
No need for this mob mentality.
Watch a bit longer. If no improvement, form my own team.
As he plotted next moves from battle intel...
"...?"
Lee Ye-sol, watching his back, bit her lip.
He saved me...
She tried to approach but her steps faltered.
Her curse hindered emotional expression.
Stuck at a distance, just staring—until a roar echoed.
Rooooaaar!!!!
The king of greenskins.
An ogre's bellow.
Lee Hyun-wook snapped alert, shouting.
"Move, everyone! You don't wanna tangle with that monster next, right?"
The Association hunters mobilized once more.
Thus ended their first victorious battle, as dusk fell.
Screech!!
One orc crested the mountains, entering a massive palace.
Screeech!!
Conqueror's (?) Palace.
The Warlord's domain.
Scree, screech!
The orc exhaled deeply, surveying its torn flesh.
Screeeech!!!
Wounds from black eagles encountered en route.
Trivial compared to the comrades slain by them.
Ignoring the pain, it pressed toward the palace.
A sticky darkness enveloped it.
The stench of blood filled the air.
Scree, screech!
Even a fearless orc shuddered at the eerie aura.
But retreat was impossible now. It forged ahead.
Screeech!
'Knight orcs'—twice the size of regulars—blocked the path.
Screech...?
Their massive fangs, symbols of might, rivaled the orc's head. Kneeling hastily to plead...
Chwiik! (Warriors! I have a report!)
Screech? (A report? What kind?)
Screeech! (I have words for the king himself!)
The knight orcs bellowed and lunged.
Chwiik! (You're not worthy to meet him!)
The red-patterned orc floundered amid the fury.
As the knight orcs hoisted it like a child to drag it away...
...!!!
A sudden surge of fighting spirit.
The knight orcs halted, turning their heads.
Scree, screech? (The king?)
They whispered urgently in their tongue, then released the orc by the nape.
Screeech! (Go. The king summons you!)
The red-patterned orc's eyes bulged.
Glancing warily at the knights, it rose and proceeded.
Palace walls lined with hides caught its eye.
...Screech!
Ogre.
Black eagle.
Troll heads.
Trophies from local apex predators.
The red-patterned orc trembled.
Traces of overwhelming power everywhere affirmed the king's 'majesty'.
Thus, it was certain:
Its king, who toyed with such predators, could surely behead the 'human' raiding their territory.
Bang!
A colossal iron gate swung open on its own.
But the orc didn't enter. It dropped to the floor, bellowing.
Screeech! (My king!)
The being on the grand dais turned its head.
Chewing the limbs of a recently captured human.
Screech! (I have urgent words, my king!)
The Warlord hurled the human's picked-clean corpse aside.
And slowly opened its mouth.
Screech. (Speak.)
At the permission, the orc's eyes flashed.
Screeech! (Vile humans below!)
Explosive grief and rage surged!
Screeee-ch! (Fearless invaders covet our lands and mercilessly slaughter our kin!)
Sensing the turmoil, the Warlord smirked.
Screech. (No. That's not what I asked.)
Its foot nudged an artifact from Jeju Seogwipo Harbang Guild at its feet.
Crushing it, it advanced.
Screech. (What I want to know is...)
As the Warlord drew near, the orc quaked in terror.
The hunter-devouring Warlord muttered in Korean.
"...if that prey is strong."