A Really Unpleasant Situation is About to Happen?
Bang!
“Guhk!”
Yoo Seong-joo was flung back out the way he'd charged in, slamming into the kindergarten's front gate pillar. Part of the stone wall at the entrance crumbled.
“Kyaaak!”
“Waaah! Wah!”
The kindergarten teachers' screams and the children's wails filled the narrow playground. It was a noise level that made his head spin.
Wait, is my skull ringing from the head impact? Ugh! Dizzy.
The orcs turned their attention to the children.
Realizing the danger, Yoo Seong-joo staggered to his feet before his vision could steady and shouted.
“You squished pig-headed bastards! Over here, come on!”
Of course, they couldn't understand him, but the orcs seemed to grasp his insults anyway.
The displeased orcs' gazes shifted. Standing before them was the feathered orc that had just sent Yoo Seong-joo flying.
Having drawn the orcs' attention, Yoo Seong-joo yelled to the people.
“Get the kids inside and take cover! Hurry!”
The kindergarten teachers, despite the chaos, pushed the children toward the building. Some kids with buckling legs were scooped up under the arms and carried.
The orcs didn't pursue. To them, it was like rats fleeing into a hole anyway. From the perspective of born hunters like orcs, it looked like the prey was locking itself in a cage.
Yoo Seong-joo knew this too, but there was no choice. Scattering in all directions would just provoke the orcs further, leading to unpredictable casualties. Better to huddle them in one place and hold out until reinforcements arrived.
I've bought some time at least... but whether hunter support comes in time is the key.
He readjusted his grip on his shield, extending his sword blade over the top to threaten the approaching orcs.
The feathered orc stretched its arms out to the sides, and the other orcs halted. Slinging its axe over its shoulder, the feathered orc approached Yoo Seong-joo and suddenly swung down.
Crunch!
The sound of the shield crumpling above his head rang out. Overwhelmed by the orc's inhuman strength, Yoo Seong-joo dropped to one knee. In his unbalanced stance, he launched a counterattack, swinging his sword from below the shield, out of the orc's sight.
The blade aimed for the orc's ankle, intending to halve its mobility and power. But the orc simply lifted its foot to dodge effortlessly.
Or cs aren't supposed to be just dumb axe-swingers?
Astounded by the creature's unnatural movements—unlike any orc he'd fought before—Yoo Seong-joo hurled himself sideways. The axe crashed into where he'd been. It hammered the ground like a blacksmith's mallet, pursuing him relentlessly. He rolled frantically, losing count of the spins, before finally escaping the attack range.
The feathered orc didn't chase further and laughed into the air. It was unmistakably mocking him.
“Damn it! An orc this strong is cheating, right?”
The feathered orc glanced back at its subordinates and signaled. The orcs lost interest in Yoo Seong-joo and turned away. He'd shown he could handle them alone with confidence.
As the orcs moved to enter the building, Yoo Seong-joo's heart raced.
Roaring, he charged with his shield forward. The orc sidestepped like a matador, dodging the attack. Then the axe targeted his waist.
Yoo Seong-joo poured strength into his legs. He belatedly activated his charge skill, meant for offense. Acceleration surged through his body, shoving the background behind him. The axe sliced empty air.
Leaping straight into the midst of the orcs in one breath, Yoo Seong-joo slammed his sword flat against his shield and invoked the skill.
“Howling Invasion!”
Kiiiiing!
The tanker's dedicated skill activated, provoking the monsters' ferocity and pulling their aggro.
All orcs within range whipped their heads toward Yoo Seong-joo.
“Where do you think you're going?! Play with me some more!”
Yoo Seong-joo gritted his teeth, steeling himself. But a familiar high-pitched voice shattered the tension.
“Kyaaak!”
Kim Soo-jeong had tumbled head over heels through the front gate.
“I wasn't asking to play with you, sis.”
“What nonsense? Ah, it hurts.”
Kim Soo-jeong rubbed her numb arms alternately as she backed away. Seeing the orcs following her in, Yoo Seong-joo exploded.
“Why'd you bring more orcs?!”
“Those aren't orcs! They're like ogre cousins or something! Just brute strength freaks...”
Kim Soo-jeong joined Yoo Seong-joo, back-to-back. They were surrounded on all sides. Yet the two remained calm.
“Feels like it's been ages since I really had to move.”
Kim Soo-jeong shook out her left arm. Mana flowed into the gauntlet, and metal began spreading broadly from the wrist.
It soon covered her forearm, transforming into a slender hexagonal small shield upon completion.
“Not grabbing the dealer and going dual tank?”
“No choice but to hold out anyway. We can't take them just the two of us.”
“Hope Iron Will shows up quick.”
“Pray we don't die first.”
“If worst comes to worst, we bail.”
Kim Soo-jeong couldn't respond.
Could they abandon the kindergarten kids?
It might be a survival call, but the guilt would haunt them for years.
Hunters faced such decisions more than once or twice, but regret always followed.
“That's... the absolute last resort.”
“Incoming. Stay sharp, sis.”
Just as the orcs lunged, a sudden roar echoed.
Vroooom~! Bang!
Before they could identify the noise, a crash sent one orc tumbling across the ground.
“Motorcycle... watch out!”
An orc nearby swung its axe at the man who had suddenly appeared and rammed it with his bike.
The man leaped aside to dodge. But the motorcycle crumpled into scrap in one hit.
His landing spot was bad, though—right in the middle of the orcs. A nearby one attacked.
Too close to evade in time.
The man thrust out his forearm to block the axe blade. It dug into flesh with a dull thud, blood spraying. His body toughness was impressive; the arm didn't sever. But the crack of breaking bone echoed.
Without screaming, the man clenched his teeth and thrust his sword straight ahead. The orc tried to pull its axe free, but the man tensed his forearm, jamming it and staggering the beast. The sword pierced its shoulder. It aimed for the throat next, but the orc dropped the axe and crouched to dodge.
It was aggressive trading flesh for bone.
Even as he yanked the axe from his dangling arm, the man calmly scanned around and nodded.
“Looks like the kids are safe. Good thing I wasn't late.”
Kim Soo-jeong and Yoo Seong-joo stared at him in disbelief. Then they witnessed the man's limp arm moving normally again.
“Healing... factor?”
“Behind you!”
Yoo Seong-joo shouted urgently. The man reacted faster than the warning.
The axe embedded where he'd stood. The feathered orc's kick followed. Instead of dodging, the man lunged forward, grabbing the incoming foot at the last second.
The orc's body tilted. Seizing the moment, the man wrapped both legs around its opposite supporting foot and pressed the ankle. The orc crumpled to its knees.
The orc smashed its left fist at the man's face. He twisted his head to barely dodge, then sprang up. He jumped, kneeing the orc's head at perfect height.
The temple impact shook the orc's head; it flailed wildly. The man evaded and swung his sword down at its head.
But the strike didn't land. Another orc charged in, blocking his sword. A beat later, yet another orc piled on.
The man parried the axe with his sword and leaped back dramatically to Kim Soo-jeong's position.
“As expected, not ordinary orcs.”
Individual strength, coordination, proficient weapon and body use—it felt like fighting seasoned hunters, not orcs.
With the encirclement broken and sides clearly divided, Kim Soo-jeong cautiously asked as a lull set in.
“What the hell are those orcs?”
“Evolved orcs.”
“You seem to know a lot about orcs here, so Iron Will Guild?”
“Iron Will, yes, but I don't know much about these. How ones like that ended up in Pocheon hasn't been figured out yet.”
“Nothing figured out? Then how...”
“Talk later. Orcs are moving. I'll take the front line; support from the flanks.”
The man issued simple orders. A formation banking on his healing factor.
The unfamiliar pair looked like freelancers. Their gear suggested ranks too embarrassing to verify. Holding out this long was impressive. If needed, he'd have to throw himself in to minimize damage.
Not sure how much I can cover them, but gotta brace myself.
But contrary to his resolve, the orcs' movement defied expectations.
They suddenly bolted out of the kindergarten toward Cheongsung Mountain.
“Uh, is it over?”
The man started to pursue but hesitated.
Words from the guild's expedition leader, who'd smacked him recently, echoed.
“Think before you move. Fix that habit, or you'll be a sandbag forever.”
Orcs are hunters by nature. Evolved ones at that. Could be a trap. Chasing alone, I'd be the prey in the mountains. Better wait for support.
The man sheathed his sword and stayed vigilant.
Realizing the fight was truly over from his actions, Kim Soo-jeong collapsed where she stood. Her mental stamina was more drained than her physical.
Yoo Seong-joo plopped down beside her too.
Could orcs be that strong?
The feathered one especially made his teeth chatter just thinking about it. And it hadn't even gone all out—played with him like a toy.
That guy almost had it. At least B- rank? Skill-wise, no slouch compared to prestige guild hunters. Iron Will isn't some joke C-grade guild.
No more threats in sight, the man turned back and thanked the two hunters.
“Lucky you held off the orcs. The kids nearly got hurt bad. Ah, late intro—Baek Seong-bin of Iron Will Guild.”
“Kim Soo-jeong.”
“Yoo Seong-joo.”
“Freelancers?”
“Y-yes.”
“There'll probably be a debrief. Mind explaining the situation to our guild?”
“Ah, sure. Fine by us. We'll cooperate on mob hunts.”
“Thanks.”
“Can we meet Guild Master Joo Se-ah too?”
Kim Soo-jeong asked with sparkling eyes.
Joo Se-ah was every female hunter's idol. Expecting to meet her was natural.
“Dunno. Guild master's at HQ, I think. Might meet the leader, though.”
Kim Soo-jeong slumped in disappointment, but Yoo Seong-joo secretly clenched his fist.
The leader's Iron Will's real power player. Play it right, maybe snag some raid development scraps?
* * *
“Quick judgment for orcs. Saw more hunters arriving and figured even more would join. Just my guess, though.”
Kang Moo-hyuk stared piercingly at the Pocheon map on the screen while listening to Lee Jin-joo's report.
Where are they hiding?
Late-arriving hunters had scoured Cheongsung Mountain, but no orcs found.
Like at the farm, traces had vanished. Despite no time to erase them while fleeing.
The only conclusion: the orcs had a unique skill or item for wiping traces.
Evolution was far advanced.
“Multiple, yet not one caught? Even B-rank. How was Baek Seong-bin's performance in direct test?”
“Combat sense, bold use of healing factor, tactical movement—all excellent. But like this case, impulsive in monster threats to people. Even accounting for that, not lacking enough to let orcs slip away pathetically.”
“Yet failed hunt means orcs higher grade than expected.”
“Tougher in groups. That level suggests a large tribe somewhere.”
The goblin tribe suddenly came to mind.
A massive tribe tightly knit under the rare goblin queen.
Threatening then, but not impossible to exterminate.
But that queen's summoning was dangerous. Even Guild Master braced for death.
He'd kept it from other guildmates, but Kang Moo-hyuk never forgot the queen.
Hence his deep concern over this unprecedented orc mega-tribe evolution.
“Orc tribe search is with Guild Master.”
“Ah? That's why she stayed in North Pocheon. Wondered why she didn't come herself, even for new recruit op eval.”
“She's working hard; we need results too. Recheck Cheongsung terrain, increase search forces. No CCTV hits yet, so definitely hiding nearby.”
Kang Moo-hyuk turned back to the map.
Somehow feels like it won't be easy.
* * *
Joo Se-ah patrolled the North Pocheon area alone, per Kang Moo-hyuk's request.
Rapidly evolving tribe monster. Tricky situation, but... goblin queen trauma? Leader's over-worried.
She hadn't forgotten the queen either—stressed even more than him. Still had nightmares of what it summoned.
Yet she believed it wouldn't repeat this time.
“Orcs have nothing to do with summoning. Even evolved, magic-inept monsters.”
Shaking off the gloom with needless mutter, Joo Se-ah resumed search but found no orc traces.
Weird. Orc tribe should leave signs everywhere. Not even orc shit.
Daily-patrolled south roads and surroundings: nothing, obviously. Western areas, sporadically checked due to manpower: zilch.
Southwest mostly flat except low hills—no hiding for tribe-scale monsters.
Left: rugged east and northeast mountains, but narrow range—no room for mega-tribe.
“Maybe not in North Pocheon at all?”
She flinched at her own words, hand to mouth.
North beyond North Pocheon's border came to mind.
Cheorwon County.
Abandoned early gate era chaos land.
Even monsters avoided it due to minefields blocking North Korean monster descent.
“If they're there...”
If an orc tribe survived there long-term.
“A really unpleasant situation is about to happen?”
Joo Se-ah felt a bad premonition.