Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Commander of the Adventurers
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Serial Kill.
A skill that increased attack power, movement speed, and evasion rate by 100% upon killing ten or more enemies within a short period.
Because it was an overpowered skill with demanding prerequisites, he normally avoided using it in front of others.
It wasn't a skill a low-level player should have, so he thought it might draw unwanted attention to his class.
However.
‘It shouldn’t matter now.’
Lee Shin's level had risen very quickly.
It was still not enough to compare with the rankers, but he had reached a point where he could be called a high-tier player.
Of course, even considering that, <Serial Kill> was still a skill with immense damage potential, but…
“Chwiik!”
“!”
[You evade!]
[You evade!]
*Slice!*
“Kreeegh!?”
[You have defeated an enemy!]
[You have defeated an enemy!]
[You have defeated an enemy!]
“Whoa, what the hell.”
“His movements are insane.”
It wasn't enough to make them fuss, wondering, ‘Could he have a legendary class!?’
If anything, they were more focused on Lee Shin's physical prowess.
Lee Shin's ability to dodge enemy attacks from all directions at point-blank range and counterattack was more than enough to capture the other players' attention.
“Who is that guy?”
“Is he a ranker?”
The players murmured amongst themselves.
Someone even suspected he was a ranker, but that was quickly refuted.
“Idiot, why would a ranker come here? They don't get any experience from killing orcs.”
“Oh, right.”
“But why is he so strong?”
“…That's a good point. Maybe his control is just that good?”
His control was certainly a factor, but it wasn't everything.
It was because Lee Shin's stats, skills, and equipment were all extremely focused on attack power and speed.
In reality, with his light armor and the Double-Edged Sword buff, Lee Shin's defense was pathetic.
It might even have been comparable to a priest's.
It just wasn't obvious because he was dodging every attack with his physical skill; if he were ever focus-fired, he wouldn't survive.
‘…’
In other words, a precarious tightrope walk!
In a situation where one slip meant the end, the orcs charged at Lee Shin with even more furious expressions.
“Chwiik! Stop him!”
“Shamans and archers, attack him too!”
[The orcs are extremely wary of you.]
[The orcs are focusing their attacks on you!]
Attacks poured in from all directions.
Even ranged attacks, fired by shamans and archers, were flying in from afar.
A situation where an ordinary player would have lost their composure!
But Lee Shin's incredible focus didn't allow for a single mistake.
Lee Shin's calm and wide field of vision, on the contrary, created an opportunity.
‘They're closing in from behind.’
After quickly surveying his surroundings, he judged it would be difficult to retreat and instead broke through forward.
Of course, there were many orcs in front of him as well, and they immediately moved to block his path, but…
“Chwiik! Die…!”
[You use half of your mana.]
*Whish!*
“…?”
A small, sharp sound of wind.
Immediately after, the orc's head vanished.
Lee Shin's sword, which had been on his left, was now visible in the upper right.
This was the effect of Secret Sword.
<Salseong's Second Secret Sword Art>
A Salseong's sword must be swift.
Use half of your current mana to deliver the fastest possible strike.
• Attacks made with this skill have their critical damage increased by 30% and ignore 50% of the target's defense.
• If an enemy is defeated with this skill, all mana used is refunded and the skill's cooldown is reset.
• Damage of all attacks using a sword is increased by 5% (Passive effect).
‘So this is the kind of skill it is.’
It was the first time he'd used the skill in a real battle.
Lee Shin nodded in satisfaction at the clean feel of it, which exceeded his expectations.
As befitting the description of the "fastest skill," Secret Sword was concise and quick, without even a preparatory motion.
The dead orc didn't even seem to realize what had hit it.
Above all.
[You have defeated an enemy.]
[Your mana is restored.]
[The skill's cooldown is reset.]
Mana refund and cooldown reset upon a kill.
The condition that the enemy must be finished off with this skill made it tricky to use, but not in a situation like this.
His attack power was already massively inflated from various buffs and stacked effects.
If he aimed well for the enemy's weak spot, it was a perfect opportunity for a one-shot kill.
*Slice!*
“Chwiik…?”
[You have defeated an enemy.]
[Your mana is restored.]
[The skill's cooldown is reset.]
Just like that.
Struck by Secret Sword on a weak point revealed by <Weakness Detection>, the orc died instantly.
The orcs standing blankly beside and behind it soon met the same fate.
*Whish!*
*Whish-whish-whish-whish-whish!!*
Lee Shin, cutting down orcs while cycling his skills at an insane speed!
As if that alone wasn't enough to make him hard to stop.
[You have defeated an enemy!]
[…A scene of slaughter!]
[The area is filled with vengeful spirits.]
[The vengeful spirits gather, imbuing your sword with a dense aura of death!]
Now, with the killing intent effect imbued in his sword, he could unleash even more lethal attacks.
This simultaneously stimulated the competitiveness of the other players, who were thirsty for contribution points, and chipped away at the orcs' will to fight.
“Chwiik…”
* * *
The subjugation ended shortly after.
With Lee Shin at the forefront and the players disrupting the orcs' formation, the soldiers moved in and quickly finished them off.
*Stab!*
[You have defeated an enemy.]
The last one fell.
A message appeared before Lee Shin's eyes.
*Ding.*
[You have annihilated the orc settlement that threatened Duke Martinez's domain.]
[You have achieved a massacre!]
[Your Killing Intent stat increases.]
[Your Fame increases greatly.]
[You have gained experience.]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Calculating contribution points.]
[Calculating...]
[...]
[Calculation complete.]
[You have killed a total of 97 orcs.]
[Your party has killed a total of 227 orcs.]
[Your party has achieved the number one rank in contribution points!]
‘Hmm.’
Lee Shin, 97 kills.
The other ten party members, 130 kills.
130 wasn't a small number, but considering the difference in manpower, it was a huge gap.
The second-ranked party had 212 kills, so it was safe to say that Lee Shin had single-handedly carried his party to first place.
“…”
Thanks to this, Lee Shin was reminded of his original plan.
Receiving the same reward just for being in the same party, despite such a huge difference in contribution?
It felt like he was getting the short end of the stick.
‘…I must kill them.’
Lee Shin, denying the very foundation of party play!
…But the party members, unaware of Lee Shin's inner thoughts, were busy being overjoyed.
Although the results could change depending on the next subjugation, for now, they were in first place.
“Gasp! We're number one!?”
“…Whoa, crazy. I've never seen a single-digit rank before.”
“M-me neither. This isn't a bug, is it?”
Dazed and delighted, they soon approached Lee Shin.
Everyone who had witnessed the previous battle knew the reason for this unbelievable ranking.
“Hey, Arthur!”
“What was that? Weren't you around the same level as us?!”
“This doesn't make sense.”
The party members exclaimed.
Lee Shin gave a vague answer.
“I'm pretty sure we are.”
“Come on, but does it make sense for you to be that strong?”
“We've done this subjugation quest more than once or twice.”
“You'd have to be a really high level to stomp them like that.”
“…It's not that, it's because of a skill. It has a specific activation condition. I just got a bit lucky this time.”
“Huh? Ah…”
Although he was being vague, it wasn't exactly a lie.
If it had been a situation where it was difficult to maximize the synergy between Serial Kill and the Second Secret Sword, Lee Shin really wouldn't have been able to perform so well.
The party members nodded, accepting Lee Shin's explanation.
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Well, anyway, thanks to you, we got to be number one. Thank you.”
“Haha, it was nothing.”
The atmosphere warmed up!
Just then, taking advantage of the relaxed mood, someone suddenly made a proposal to Lee Shin.
“How about we stick together from now on?”
“Pardon?”
“You said this is your first time in this region, right? There's a lot to do here besides the subjugation quest. We can show you around if we stick together.”
In short, it meant, 'We'll show you the ropes, so please carry us from now on!'
Although Lee Shin had humbly claimed he was just lucky, they had all seen for themselves that his raw control was exceptional.
That alone was enough skill to carry an ordinary party.
‘Hmm.’
Lee Shin paused, considering.
It wasn't an absurd proposal, but it wasn't particularly appealing either.
He hadn't come to the Martinez territory specifically to level up, after all.
More importantly, he was planning to kill them after this was over.
“I'm sorry, but…”
He was about to decline, but before Lee Shin could finish his sentence, criticism rained down from all sides on the player who had spoken.
“Hey, you idiot! Shut up!”
“What? Why?”
“What do you mean, why?! He'll decide for himself!”
“Yeah! Don't pressure him!”
“…?”
His title had suddenly been elevated to the respectful 'he'!
It wasn't just the title; their attitude toward Lee Shin had changed significantly.
It had become polite to an almost burdensome degree.
But their inner desires seemed the same, as they looked at Lee Shin with expressions that subtly pleaded, 'Please, stay with us!'
“…”
“…”
…Their gazes were intense!
Just then, a soldier from the territory's subjugation force saved Lee Shin.
“Sir Walter calls for you.”
Walter was the name of the subjugation force's captain.
It seemed he had been summoned because his performance had stood out.
Lee Shin went to find Walter immediately.
“You called for me?”
“So you're that adventurer!”
Walter replied in a booming voice.
Just as Lee Shin had expected, he had been called over to be praised.
“What's your name?”
“It's Arthur.”
“Arthur? That was an impressive display just now. I'll remember it.”
“Thank you.”
A knight remembering the name of a mere adventurer!
At this, the players who had been pretending not to listen in nearby were startled and began to whisper.
“What? What did he say?”
“He said he'll remember him?”
“What? Really?! Was that NPC always the type to say things like that?”
“…I don't know. When I went up to him, all he said was not to block the way.”
“Me too.”
This showed just how outstanding Lee Shin's performance had been.
And that wasn't all.
[Your Fame is very high.]
[You possess the title, <One Acknowledged by a Master>.]
[You possess the skill, <Dignity of a Legend>.]
[Dignity of a Legend is subtly revealed.]
[Walter feels a strong affinity for you!]
[A special quest has been generated!]
“…!?”
Lee Shin's Fame stat was surprisingly high.
The Fame he had steadily accumulated through the effects of Righteous Murder and from killing other evil-aligned individuals was markedly higher than that of ordinary players.
It was just that his Infamy stat usually made it seem like a drop in the ocean, so it wasn't noticeable.
“I can't assign the same role to you as the other adventurers after such an outstanding performance.”
“Pardon?”
“From now on, you will command the adventurers.”
[Special Quest - Command the Subjugation Force]
Courage that does not fear the enemy, and outstanding skill that prevents that courage from becoming recklessness.
The subjugation force's captain, Walter, has taken a liking to you after seeing your performance, which stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Command the adventurers and proceed with the subjugation quest!
If your command is effective, Walter will continue to place great importance on you in the future.
However, if your command is poor, Walter will be greatly disappointed in you and will revoke your position as commander.
• Quest Objective: Personally command the subjugation force adventurers to victory.
• Quest Reward: Walter's Trust.
“Uh…”
“I'm counting on you!”
“…Th-thank you!”