64. Jo Yong-ho
On the way to Min Juri.
"Chweek! Chweek!"
A group of orcs appeared like bandits trying to collect a toll.
But only briefly.
Slash-!
Heads flew up and bodies collapsed in order.
[You have killed orcs!]
[Experience +0.41%]
[Gold +40]
[Current kill count: 303/100]
[All stats increased by 100% due to Rune of Slaughter effect.]
[Attack speed increased by 25% due to Skull Bone Necklace effect.]
Ryumin, who lightly dispatched three orcs like killing passing bugs, furrowed his brow looking at the experience.
'It feels so stingy without the experience buff.'
Ryumin's current level was 31.
Though he killed 303, he only went up 1 level.
'Probably because my level is too high.'
Of course, it was little experience for Ryumin, but not for other players.
'Most will probably hit level 20 just by completing the 300 orc quest.'
Ryumin's goal was level 40.
'There's plenty of time to level up even after helping Min Juri. No need to worry.'
Min Juri's growth benefits Ryumin too.
He didn't think of helping her as a loss.
Moreover, she's a classmate.
'I just feel sorry I couldn't look after her in previous regressions.'
This time will be different.
He'll act together with her from Round 5.
Ryumin rummaged through his inventory.
Though experience didn't increase much, he earned quite a lot of gold.
'Including existing gold, I've already gathered 14,000 gold.'
At this rate, he could gather over 100,000 gold just this round.
He could learn all the common skills in the shop.
'Good. Now I just need to go where Min Juri is and casually induce a meeting, but...'
There's something to do before that.
Killing the mid-boss of this round, the Orc Warrior.
'Since it's on the way, I should take care of it first.'
Ryumin quickened his pace.
* * *
"Kill 300 orcs?"
When the main quest was first revealed.
The group thought it wouldn't be too difficult.
The time limit was longer than expected.
"300 in 10 hours means just 30 per hour, right?"
Honestly, it felt like a sweet deal.
The image of orcs wasn't that strong either.
But facing orcs directly shattered their confidence.
"Huff, huk. Hyung. Are you okay?"
"Whew, damn. I really almost died."
They were members of the Young Mountaineers' Group who had partied together since Round 1.
They came through to Round 5 supporting each other, but never dreamed such a difficulty awaited.
"Phew, how are these orcs so strong?"
"Yeah. They look just like walking pigs..."
"We shouldn't underestimate them."
Even without saying it, no one was underestimating them anymore.
They opened their eyes to reality as soon as they clashed with orcs.
It's impossible to proceed solo.
"Mangi. How many have we killed so far?"
"About 50, hyung."
"50 in an hour. Not good..."
Some might say it's a decent hunting speed, but there were five in the party.
Divided among five, it's only an average of 10 per person.
"At this rate, we won't even reach 300 in 10 hours, let alone avoid elimination..."
"Elimination isn't the right term? You can try again if eliminated. If we fail this time, it's straight to oblivion."
"Sigh..."
Deep sighs flowed from all five mouths.
At this rate, they were headed for oblivion.
They needed a plan.
"Guys. We need to attack a larger village."
"Hyung, isn't that too dangerous?"
"Right. We're barely handling three, how can we go to a bigger village?"
"I think it's better to safely hunt by choosing small villages like now."
At the group's opposition, the eldest [Jo Yong-ho] just nodded.
"Yeah, you're right. I won't argue since you're not wrong. I won't force you either. But know this one thing."
A heavy voice flowed from Jo Yong-ho's mouth.
"There's no future on a sinking ship."
"..."
"At this rate, we'll all die without reaching 300. It's hard, but we have no choice but to take risks."
"Hyung, but with our skills it's hard to kill more..."
"No, our skills are enough. We're just taking too many breaks. If we push a bit harder, we can kill more orcs."
It wasn't wrong.
Kill 3 orcs, rest 5 minutes. Kill 5 orcs, rest another 5 minutes.
The truth was, rest time was longer than hunting time.
"We need to kill at least 150 per hour. We don't need to face large numbers at once. Just kill 3-5 at three times the speed we've been doing."
"Hmm..."
The group fell into deep thought at Jo Yong-ho's argument.
But they didn't really have a choice.
"Okay. We'll follow your opinion, hyung."
"There's nothing good about staying on a sinking ship."
"Thanks for going along."
Jo Yong-ho grinned and stood up.
"We've rested enough, shall we start in earnest?"
"When we passed by earlier, that village over there looked big. Should we go there?"
"Yeah, let's go there."
The five mountaineering club members moved with weapons slung over their shoulders.
They didn't neglect watching all directions while moving.
It can't hurt to prepare for unexpected situations.
"Oh, I see it there. It's that village we saw before."
The group who spotted the orc village slowed their steps.
They carefully observed the village's state from afar.
"The palisade is high so I can't see the inside well."
"We should get a bit closer?"
"Then let's get closer."
The group carefully approached.
Jo Yong-ho in the lead suddenly stopped.
"Wait, there seems to be an outpost at the entrance? Let's go around the side."
The group immediately changed direction to the side.
Given the large scale, they didn't do anything stupid like trying to break through the main gate.
"Look there. There's a gap between the palisades."
It was a gap big enough for one person to pass through.
They looked inside through the gap.
At least twenty thatched houses were lined up inside the village.
It was definitely larger in scale than places they'd attacked so far.
"I don't see any walking around."
"So they're all inside the houses?"
"At that size, there must be about five in each house?"
"Hmm, more than I thought..."
"We'll have to sneak into each house and ambush them?"
For now, this method of secretly entering and raiding each house was better than drawing aggro at the main gate.
"Alright. Since we decided to raid, shall we go in?"
"Yeah. We should be able to handle five easily if we use the element of surprise."
The group who made their decision squeezed through the gap.
After safely infiltrating, they decided to attack the nearest thatched house first.
"This house? Enter when I signal."
Jo Yong-ho who spoke quietly gave a finger signal and then raided the thatched house.
Creak-!
When he opened the door, ten resting orcs looked with flashing eyes.
"Uh, uh?"
"T-ten?"
They were flustered by the unexpectedly large number, but only briefly.
"Chweeeek!"
"Chweek, chweek!"
The orcs surprised by the sudden visit stood up grabbing the axes at their waists.
Before that.
"Left side first!"
Stab stab stab-!
The five launched a surprise attack first and killed one orc.
But nine orcs still remained.
"Chweeeeeek!"
"Chwek! Chweeee!"
The orcs enraged by their comrade's death swung their axes excitedly.
It wasn't difficult to dodge given their slow attack speed.
But it's different when there are many.
Crack-!
"Kuaaak!"
"Mangi!"
Jo Yong-ho's eyes blazed as an axe embedded in his close brother's shoulder.
"That one got Mangi!"
"You pig bastards! Die!"
The rest of the group stepped up to take revenge and managed to cut off the orc's windpipe.
But eight orcs still remained.
It wasn't a number that one wounded and four already tired could handle.
"Hyung! This won't work! Let's retreat!"
"I was just thinking the same!"
The group gradually backed away while exchanging blows with the orcs.
If they could quickly escape through the palisade gap they entered, they could shake off the large-bodied orcs.
But there are variables everywhere.
Things didn't go according to plan.
Orcs who came hearing the commotion were blocking their escape route.
"H-how many are there."
"Looks like at least ten..."
The number of orcs to face doubled.
'Five people have to face eighteen orcs?'
There was no need to think about it.
It was absolutely impossible.
Escaping was the best option now.
If they could escape, that is.
Cold sweat beaded on the group's foreheads.
There was nowhere to run, and the numbers crushed even the will to run.
"It's over... It's all over."
"Ah... To end so futilely..."
The group lowered their weapons as if giving up.
Except for Jo Yong-ho.
"Raise your weapons."
"Hyung..."
"It's over now."
"It was fun being together until now."
Unlike Jo Yong-ho, the rest of the members lost their will to fight.
They knew death was right in front of them.
The standoff with the orcs continued for a while.
"Guys. Why do you think these bastards aren't killing us?"
"Huh?"
"I don't know?"
"Look at the orcs' expressions if you want to know."
"Expressions...?"
At Jo Yong-ho's sudden words, the group examined the orcs' expressions.
The corners of their mouths were twitching as if something was funny.
"These bastards are laughing at us."
"..."
"They think it's funny that we're trembling like scared mice. Plus we lowered our weapons as if we have no will to fight."
"..."
"Doesn't it piss you off? Being laughed at by mere orcs? Becoming a laughingstock like monkeys in a zoo?"
Was that stimulating?
"Don't give up until the end. Pick up your weapons and kill at least one. That way we won't be ashamed even in death."
The group members each felt something stirring in their chests.
"Understood, hyung."
"Sorry for showing a shameful side."
"I'll be with you to the end, hyung."
The group members who said this raised their weapons again.
Along with that, the orcs' expressions full of sneers crumpled miserably.
"Chweek!"
"Chweek!"
No trace of laughter could be found on the orcs' faces anymore.
They were just angry, as if disliking the mice trying to resist.
"When I signal, we go. Gang up on one at a time. Got it?"
"Yes!"
"Yes, hyung."
"Then let's go?"
Just as Jo Yong-ho was about to give the surprise attack signal.
Pwooo-
A sudden horn sound was heard.
The group didn't know, but it was a signal blown when there was an emergency at the outpost.
"Chweek! Chweek!"
"Chweek! Chwek!"
Ten orcs hurriedly ran towards where the sound came from.
More than half left, leaving only eight orcs.
"Wh-what's going on?"
"Why did the orcs suddenly..."
Though they didn't know the situation, their survival chances increased from earlier.
If they could just face eight orcs, they might be able to survive.
"Guys. Let's do this."
"Yes! Hyung!"
The group members who steeled their resolve rushed at the orcs in a surprise attack.
Stab stab-!
One distracted orc died stabbed by weapons.
"Chweeeeek!"
"Die!"
Soon a fierce battle between orcs and humans unfolded.
Clang- Clang-!
The sound of blades clashing.
Slash- Slash-!
Stab- Stab-!
Eerie sounds of flesh being cut and stabbed echoed between orcs and humans.
After a fierce battle where a moment's carelessness determined life and death.
"Huff. Huff."
Five humans stood with faces drunk on victory.
"W-we..."
"To win against eight..."
The joy of accomplishment was greater than the joy of survival.
"Hyung! We did it! No, you did it!"
"This is all thanks to you, hyung. If it weren't for you, we would have given up long ago and all been wiped out."
Though the group lavished praise, Jo Yong-ho shook his head.
"Don't say that. We were able to do it because you steeled your resolve and fought for your lives. If not, I would have died here helplessly too."
"Haha, oh hyung."
The laughter with the group was brief.
Jo Yong-ho examined his injured brother with a serious face.
"Anyway Mangi. How's your injury?"
"Kuk... I-I can bear it. I'm fine."
Though he said he was fine, his shoulder was soaked in blood.
An injury that looked serious at a glance.
"You rest for now. Don't move at all. Got it?"
"Yes..."
"You guys hide your bodies here for now. I'll scout if there's a way out and come back."
"Isn't it dangerous?"
"Don't worry about me and just wait quietly."
Jo Yong-ho had the group wait in a thatched house and moved while observing the surroundings.
'It's dangerous here. I need to secure an escape route to leave the village.'
He moved carefully in case orcs popped out, but the village was quite quiet.
Strangely, not a single orc was visible.
It was quiet to the point of being safe.
'Why is it so quiet? Where did all those orcs disappear to?'
They ran off somewhere after hearing the horn sound, and now not even their noses were visible.
Just then, a pungent smell suddenly stimulated Jo Yong-ho's nostrils.
'Sniff sniff, what's this smell?'
As he walked with a frown, he discovered something in the distance.
'What's that?'
Jo Yong-ho approached and unconsciously let out an "Oh?" before quickly covering his mouth.
'Wh-what in the world...'
An unbelievable sight unfolded before his eyes.
About 200 orc corpses covered the village.
'Wh-who did such an incredible thing...'
That's when one person entered his field of vision.
One person standing alone amidst the corpses.
Above his head was written the nickname Black Scythe.
********************************************
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