Chapter 17
Chapter 17
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Savage Village Assault (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[Acquire the Jewel of the Earth][Quest]
To investigate the cause of the changes in Kton’s sewers, High Mage Steroian has asked you to retrieve the Jewel of the Earth. This jewel can occasionally be found on monsters infused with the power of the earth.
-Limit Time: None
-Success Conditions: Jewel of the Earth 0/1
-Rewards: Moderate EXP, 3 silver
“Got it.”
They’d told him to bring back as many as he could while giving him next to no hints, but it didn’t matter. He already knew which monster dropped the ‘Jewel of the Earth.’
Rokan accepted the quest and immediately left the Mage Guild.
“Time to cast the bait first.”
But he didn’t head straight to the hunting ground he knew. There was something he had to do beforehand.
“Open trading board.”
At his command, a window like a monitor screen appeared in front of him.
Not many people knew yet, but The Lord allowed internet access within the game.
It was limited to the official homepage’s boards, but that was more than enough. In fact, that’s exactly why players used the homepage boards instead of external communities.
Most information circulated through those boards now, and it would only intensify going forward.
“Let’s see. Can’t let my identity slip...”
Rokan opened the trading board and posted about selling access to the Moonlit Cemetery. Naturally, he didn’t reveal the dungeon’s name or location.
He only briefly mentioned that it was a secret dungeon accessible only through special means, along with the level of monsters inside and their numbers.
That alone might sound like a scam, so he attached a few screenshots. They showed info on a full set of Skeleton Warrior gear. It wasn’t a set item, but each piece had ‘Skeleton Warrior’s’ in the name—sharp players would catch on.
“Now, who’s gonna bite.”
The price was a blind auction. He’d sell to the highest bidder among those who messaged him. It was a post dripping with scam vibes, but the fools would bite anyway. Word was, plenty of players were already scraping together in-game cash through real-money trading.
“Alright, off I go.”
With that, Rokan casually posted the inflammatory listing and walked off with a light heart. The auction was set to run until tomorrow anyway. In the meantime, he’d clear Steroian’s quest.
“Earth-attribute monster, huh... gotta be that one.”
The quest’s ‘power of the earth’ boiled down to earth-attribute monsters, plain and simple.
To players who didn’t even grasp monster attributes yet, it’d sound like grasping at clouds. But Rokan knew the truth from his past life memories.
‘There was a time when stealing other people’s hunting strategies or figuring out specific monster counters through ‘Memory of the Earth’ was all the rage.’
‘Memory of the Earth’ replayed events in an area like CCTV footage and was a basic skill for the ‘Tracker’ class.
That’s how Rokan already knew exactly which monster dropped the Jewel of the Earth.
* * *
“...Drill Hand. What a half-assed name.”
Rokan headed straight to the city outskirts. He visited those who farmed for a living without the protection of the city walls.
“Any troubles lately?”
“Of course there are. Our crops keep getting stolen despite all our hard work.”
His target was the Drill Hand. A mole-like beast with drill-shaped hands that burrowed tunnels to steal crops.
‘Bingo.’
Using simple keywords, Rokan pinpointed its location, took a quest from the farmer, and moved to the spawn area.
It didn’t give much EXP or items even when killed, but the real issue was how rare earth-attribute monsters were.
Forget strength—running into them was the hard part. And even then, they didn’t drop the Jewel of the Earth 100% of the time.
So Rokan went for quantity over quality.
“There it is.”
The field was already half-ravaged, with only half the crops left. Rokan readied himself to take the beast down.
Setting traps from the shop would be easiest, but he had no intention of wasting time. If it didn’t spring them just right, it was all for nothing. Time was too precious to sit around waiting.
Rustle rustle!
Moments later, the crops in the distance rustled and sank into the earth. The beast had arrived.
Now was his chance. Right after it stole the crops and poked its head out of the hole. Rokan timed it perfectly and bellowed.
“GRRAAAAAH!”
The beast, caught defenseless by War Cry, froze stiff with its head poking out.
From there, it was simple. Smash its skull or yank it out and finish it off.
“Oh?”
Poke poke poke!
Not just that one—the others hiding in holes or moving around were affected too. They poked their heads above ground with unfocused eyes.
Thud thud thud!
Rokan smashed their heads like he was whacking moles, full of glee.
[Jewel of the Earth][Magic]
A gem infused with the power of the earth. It holds no value as a jewel but serves as a special material for magic.
After smashing four or five heads, he got what he wanted.
The Jewel of the Earth.
‘Luck build for real?’
Rokan grinned as he pocketed the drop with middling drop rate in mere moments, then turned back.
The Drill Hand extermination quest rewarded based on kills anyway, so no penalty for abandoning it.
“Huh? You’re back already?”
Steroian looked stunned when Rokan returned with the Jewel of the Earth just tens of minutes after taking the quest.
“Well, good. This should help me uncover a bit of their nature. Anyway, could you do me one more favor?”
“Name it.”
“I handled it this time by preparing ahead, but who knows when they’ll unleash their poison again. I want to prepare antidotes tailored to the upgraded curse, but I’m short on research materials. Could you fetch them for me? As you know, I’m pressed for time tracking them down.”
“Sure. What do you need?”
“Blood from an Orc Warrior and a Savage. I suspect their vitality holds some answers.”
[Pulsing Vitality][Quest]
To prepare for a potentially stronger curse spreading at any moment, High Mage Steroian has asked you to gather research materials. The pulsing vitality in the blood of an Orc Warrior and a Savage might advance his studies.
-Limit Time: None
-Success Conditions: Orc Warrior’s Blood 0/1, Savage’s Blood 0/1
-Rewards: Moderate EXP, 10 silver, Title ‘Steroian’s Assistant’
This quest had some difficulty. The targets were Orc Warriors and Savages, after all.
No way they’d donate blood willingly, so he’d have to hunt them. That’s where Rokan hit a snag.
The effect of his Honored Orc Warrior title. His reputation in the Orc Camp had reached [Trust], locking him out of gaining EXP from killing orcs.
‘No EXP gain is all... I’ll manage somehow. Ngh.’
Worst case, he’d tank the reputation hit or lose the title. Fighting was inevitable. Progressing the main scenario quickly outweighed any orc alliances.
“Got it.”
Rokan accepted the quest and headed to the general store first. He bought a few ‘empty vials’—originally alchemy consumables—to hold the Orc Warrior’s blood, then set off.
“Hey, check that guy out.”
“He’s challenging the Orc Camp head-on? Wild.”
“Wild? Nah, just posturing. Guys like that die all the time showing off.”
With the Honored Orc Warrior title, there was no need to hunt beasts or sneak through holes. He didn’t want the attention, but wasting time was worse. Rokan strode right up to the Orc Camp’s main gate.
And shouted, like he owned the place.
“Open the gate!”
“Chit. Gate, opening. Wait.”
A signal came from inside. The gatekeeper orcs confirmed it was him and flung open the Orc Camp gate.
Usually, it’d swing wide for battle, but not this time.
It cracked just enough for Rokan to slip in, then shut.
“Huh? What was that?”
“Wasn’t that a player just now?”
“Yeah... did he say some kind of code?”
Chaos erupted outside, naturally. A way to enter the Orc Camp like it was your home would skyrocket leveling speed.
Holes were limited, and tons of players wanted in.
Factor in cutting in line or getting caught, and this was a golden opportunity.
“Hold up. Lemme try.”
One greedy player couldn’t resist and dashed out. He planted himself at the Orc Camp entrance and yelled just like Rokan.
“Open the gate!”
Screeeeech!
And moments later, the gate really opened.
Thud thud thud!
But the result was worlds apart. First, a volley of arrows from orc archers turned him into a porcupine. Then charging orcs trampled his corpse.
“...”
“...Let’s just do our thing.”
No one else dared try after that gruesome sight.
“You’re here, Rokan.”
“Honor, chit, known human.”
“What brings you, friend?”
Meanwhile, Rokan marched right in and reached the Orc Warriors’ rest area. An Orc Champion had respawned, lights flickering in the distant barracks, but he didn’t check. Didn’t want another fight breaking out.
He was levels higher now and could probably win for sure, but now wasn’t the time.
“I’ve got a favor to ask. Can you help?”
“Favor, granted. Speak.”
Rokan opted for diplomacy over combat first. Breaking trust now would force him to rework his plans again.
So he honestly asked for a ‘bit of blood,’ and the orcs’ expressions shifted.
“A warrior’s blood cannot be given lightly.”
“Right. Warriors, chit, bleed only, on battlefield, grr.”
They turned serious and refused coldly.
‘Failure, huh.’
Bleeding without battle tarnished a warrior’s honor.
‘Thought they’d give a little willingly, but no dice.’
Time for Plan B.
“Fine then. Wanna spar?”
Rokan’s face twisted into a demon’s grin.
[Acquired Orc Warrior’s Blood.]
Moments later, Rokan forcibly got his blood. He’d used a spar as an excuse to beat one Orc Warrior to a pulp, then pretended to treat him while filling a vial.
Of course, he bandaged him up after to restore health. He still needed them.
Thanks to that, Orc Camp reputation stayed at [Trust], title intact.
‘Alright, might as well execute that plan now.’
Next up: Savages. Rokan decided to enact the plan he’d only sketched out until now.