Chapter 65
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Orc Warrior
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Charging an Orc settlement head-on is insane.
Especially a large one with watchtowers.
The moment they sense danger, Orc guards blow their horns to rally their comrades.
And if more than 50 Orcs gather?
Players wouldn't be able to handle it and would have no choice but to walk a one-way path to the grave.
*Only for ordinary players, though.*
For Ryu Min, it was a different story.
In fact, them blowing the horn was helpful.
It saved me the trouble of searching for Orcs in every hut.
That was why I’d left the guards alive until the very end.
*Though now they're all corpses.*
Roughly 200 bodies littered the ground.
No matter how many Orcs charged, they couldn't break through the level 30 barrier.
*You can start taking down Orcs easily from level 20. To me, at over level 30, these guys are no different from Goblins.*
In other words, it was a difficult task for the current players, who were in their early teens level-wise.
*That's why the 5th round is so hard. The monsters are high-level, and you're also outnumbered.*
If hundreds of players banded together, what would be so hard about conquering the Orcs...?
*The problem is, that's not going to happen.*
The players who pointed swords at each other in the last round weren't about to join forces now.
Besides, the quest was designed with the knowledge that they wouldn't be able to.
*Whoever designed this is cunning. They know human nature all too well.*
As he was thinking this, Ryu Min spotted someone.
*Someone who was already trying to clear this place?*
As he got closer, Ryu Min couldn't help but be inwardly surprised.
*Jo Yong-ho?*
It was a familiar nickname.
*This guy is the Mercenary King, Jo Yong-ho?*
There was a class called Mercenary.
Characterized by its ability to wield various weapons like a Warrior, it was a common melee class.
*Its skill composition is also very similar to a Warrior's.*
The one key difference was that Mercenaries had a trait that made them stronger by forming contracts with others.
*That's why most Mercenary classes don't go solo and try to party with acquaintances. Or they form a contract with the Mercenary King.*
The Mercenary King.
A unique class that could command Mercenaries through contracts.
Mercenaries who contracted with the Mercenary King received additional effects.
For Mercenaries, there was naturally no reason not to form a contract.
*And the man before me, Jo Yong-ho, is that very unique class, the Mercenary King.*
To think I'd meet the Mercenary King in a place like this.
Ryu Min watched Jo Yong-ho, hiding his surprise.
"Haha... Ah, hello? Sir Black Scythe."
Jo Yong-ho bowed his head deeply as he looked at Ryu Min.
"You know me?"
"Of course. Who doesn't know the number one ranker, Sir Black Scythe?"
Jo Yong-ho said with a smile, cautiously glancing at Ryu Min.
-Wow... To think I'd meet the number one ranker of the entire zone here... H-he'd probably hate it if I suddenly stuck my hand out for a handshake, right?
Reading his thoughts, I could feel his admiration for the strong.
He was indeed smiling at me, showing a favorable attitude.
*He doesn't seem like the type to backstab someone. Then again, that's probably how he was able to obtain the Mercenary King class.*
The qualifications to become the Mercenary King required the mindset of a leader.
One had to know how to lead comrades with a good heart.
*I've never met him before, but he doesn't seem like a bad person.*
I had only known his name; this was the first time I'd come face to face with the Mercenary King.
Since I prioritized solo play, there had never been a reason for our paths to cross.
I never needed the help of Mercenaries, either.
*From what I heard, he survived past the 10th round...*
After that, I don't know if he lived or died.
*No, he must have died. I was the only one who survived to the 20th round.*
He was definitely dead, but I didn't know in which round or how he died.
"Um, all these Orcs here. Did you kill all of them, Sir Black Scythe...?"
Ryu Min gave a slight nod to Jo Yong-ho's question.
"I did."
"Hah... That's incredible. As expected of the number one ranker...!"
"What is it you want to say?"
"Huh? Ah, well..."
Jo Yong-ho hesitated for a moment before bowing his head.
"Thank you. Thanks to you drawing the Orcs' attention, I was able to save my life."
"I didn't even know you were here."
"I know. I know you didn't do it intentionally. But help is help, isn't it?"
Reading his thoughts, Jo Yong-ho was genuinely expressing his gratitude.
"Alright. If you're done, take your comrades and get out of here quickly. I've killed all the Orcs in the settlement, so don't worry."
"Is that so? But how did you know I had comrades with me...?"
Ryu Min gestured with his eyes toward the space behind Jo Yong-ho.
Jo Yong-ho turned around and his expression quickly turned to surprise.
It was because his companions, who had been hiding in a thatched-roof hut, were standing there blankly.
"You guys! Why did you come out? I told you to wait!"
"We were worried you'd leave without us, boss. Hehe."
"What a joke! Where would I go without you?"
Ryu Min observed Jo Yong-ho and his companions closely.
*I see. It's a contractual relationship.*
I could tell after reading their inner thoughts.
The four companions were all Mercenaries under contract with Jo Yong-ho, the Mercenary King.
*So they've been partying together this whole time and came into the settlement to hunt more Orcs.*
Having figured out why they entered the settlement, Ryu Min delved deeper into their thoughts.
It turned out the Mercenaries had followed Jo Yong-ho because they were worried about him.
*They genuinely follow Jo Yong-ho as their leader.*
He's already gathered trustworthy people.
Truly befitting the title of Mercenary King.
Just then, the Mercenaries approached and finally grasped the situation.
"Whoa... what happened here?"
"Why are there so many dead Orcs?"
"Don't tell me you were hiding your true strength all this time, boss...?"
"Were you holding back, boss?"
"You guys! You're joking at a time like this?"
Jo Yong-ho shouted, then glanced over at Ryu Min.
Only then did the Mercenaries notice Ryu Min, their eyes widening in shock.
"Gasp! Black Scythe?"
"What brings Sir Black Scythe here...?"
"What do you think? Just here for a light hunt."
The Mercenaries gave an awkward laugh at Ryu Min's brusque reply.
"Haha, I-I see."
"Y-you 'lightly' took down 200 of them."
The Mercenaries didn't hold any ill will toward Black Scythe either.
They were just nervous to be in the presence of the strongest of the strong.
"By the way, we saw you in the bonus game. You finished it in an instant, didn't you? Haha..."
"Stop with the small talk. If you're done here, leave."
Ryu Min spoke coldly on purpose.
*Now that all the Orcs are dead, the mid-boss should appear soon.*
He said it out of consideration, as they could be in danger if they got caught up in it.
"Ah, understood. We'll see you again next time, Sir Black Scythe."
"It was an honor to meet you."
Jo Yong-ho's party bowed deeply before turning their backs.
Thinking there was no more danger, they started walking away leisurely, chatting amongst themselves.
Just as Ryu Min was about to tell them to scram, one of the Mercenaries grabbed Jo Yong-ho's shoulder.
"Boss."
"What is it?"
"Don't you hear something?"
"Hear what?"
"Just listen carefully."
At his companion's words, Jo Yong-ho focused his hearing.
*Thud— Thud— Thud— Thud—*
He could hear a faint sound of the ground shaking.
"What is that sound?"
The answer came from Ryu Min's lips.
"The mid-boss. Get back."
"Huh? A mid-boss?"
The question arose, but Jo Yong-ho couldn't ask any further.
A six-meter-tall giant was thudding toward them from the distance.
"Th-that's!?"
"An Orc?"
It definitely had the appearance of an Orc.
The differences were that it was several times taller and its muscles were incredibly pumped.
And.
"Whoa..."
"What kind of weapon is that..."
It was holding a three-meter-long greatsword, easily taller than a person, in each hand.
While everyone stood agape at its imposing presence, Ryu Min wasn't surprised to see it.
*So you've finally shown up, Orc Warrior.*
In fact, he had been waiting for it to appear.
Because he had to kill it to obtain the Stone of Balance, a sub-quest item.
*It's not just this one, either. I can get the other stones by defeating the bosses of each settlement.*
In short, he had to defeat four bosses to complete the sub-quest.
It wasn't as easy as it sounded.
As you could see, the bosses were on a completely different level from ordinary Orcs.
*This is why I've been taking my time. No matter how many players gather, they won't be strong enough to take down the boss.*
This was the reason Ryu Min had died four times in the 5th round.
The time he had poured into fighting the boss to get the Rune of Balance had translated into deaths.
*Of course, it wasn't wasted time. If I hadn't obtained the Rune of Balance, I wouldn't have become this strong.*
The Rune of Balance was just that powerful, so completing the sub-quest was a must.
*I can easily beat an Orc Warrior even without Min Ju-ri's buffs.*
While Ryu Min watched it with the eyes of a predator.
"Chwiiit! Chwiiik!"
The Orc Warrior was enraged at the sight of its kin's corpses strewn across the ground.
"B-Boss, that thing is angry, right?"
"I-I think so?"
*Whoosh— Whoosh— Whoosh— Whoosh—!*
It swung the ridiculously large swords freely, as if to threaten them.
One in each hand.
"Chwiik! Chwiik!"
The Orc Warrior's gleaming eyes darted around.
It seemed to be searching for the prey that had slaughtered its kind.
A moment later, its gaze fixed on one spot.
"Chwik! Chwik!"
The Orc Warrior's first target was Jo Yong-ho.
*Thud-thud-thud—*
The Orc Warrior charged.
Its strides were so large that it reached Jo Yong-ho in just a few steps.
"Hah!"
Before the startled Jo Yong-ho could even react.
*Whoooosh—!*
The greatsword sliced through the air, crashing down on his head.
*KRAAAASH—!*
An impact strong enough to kick up a cloud of dust shook the ground.
"Bossss!"
His companions screamed in terror, but fortunately, their fears did not come to pass.
At the very instant the greatsword was about to hit, Ryu Min had pushed Jo Yong-ho aside with the end of his polearm.
"What are you doing, spacing out?"
"Gasp, th-thank you, Sir Black Scythe."
Jo Yong-ho let out a sigh of relief.
If Black Scythe hadn't pushed him, he would have undoubtedly been turned into a bloody pulp.
"Stay back. If you don't want to die."
At Ryu Min's words, Jo Yong-ho scurried back.
Seeing the humans switch places, the Orc Warrior's lips curled into a smirk.
It was a look of contempt.
But that was only for a moment.
*Stab—!*
When the scythe stabbed into its instep, the Orc Warrior's face twisted into a demonic grimace.
"Chwiiiiiiik! Chwiiit!"
Feeling both pain and rage, it brought its sword down on Ryu Min.
*Whoooosh! KRAAAASH!*
*Whooosh! KRAAAASH!*
The sound of the wind being sliced and the resulting impact were immense, but that was all.
Every single attack missed.
He had dodged them all by a hair's breadth.
As proof, Ryu Min didn't have a single scratch on him.
It was fast, but not too fast to dodge.
"What's the point of high damage? I just have to dodge it."
"Chwiiiiiik!"
"Enough with the oinking."
*Thwack—* Ryu Min jumped and swung his scythe in a crescent arc.
With a gruesome *shlick—*, a stream of green blood burst from its throat.
Seeing the Orc Warrior lower its head into a perfect position to be cut, Ryu Min raised his scythe.
*Stab—! Stab—!*
The Orc Warrior shrieked each time he stabbed its neck.
Its neck was too thick to be severed in one go, so he struck it several times.
"Chwiiiiii!"
*Whoosh— Whoosh—!*
The beast swung its greatswords wildly in a last-ditch effort.
But Ryu Min, already in its blind spot, put more force into his scythe for the finishing blow.
*Shllrrrk—! Thud!*
The Orc Warrior's head was finally severed and fell to the ground.
Its body, which had been flailing its arms, stopped moving like a toy with its batteries removed.
"H-he got it?"
"That monstrous thing...?"
Jo Yong-ho and his party stared at Ryu Min with wide eyes, but he himself was looking elsewhere.
A series of messages regarding his rewards had appeared.