69. Steal
It was a party of five men.
"Oh? Look there."
"Isn't that Black Scythe?"
The men who spotted Ryumin stopped in their tracks, flustered.
It felt like suddenly encountering a lion on the prairie.
'W-why am I scared? He's not a monster, he's on our side.'
'Surely he wouldn't attack fellow humans? Unless he's crazy.'
'He even has a woman with him?'
The men cleared their throats and lowered their guard.
They felt a bit more at ease seeing Min Juri next to Ryumin.
"Um, hello...?"
"..."
One man awkwardly greeted him, but Ryumin didn't respond.
He just frowned as if looking at annoying flies.
"What do you want?"
"Uh... We came to hunt orcs, but didn't know there were already people here."
The man's gaze shifted to the side as he spoke.
'H-how many are there?'
'They killed that many just the two of them?'
They were surprised by the mountain of orc corpses, but soon nodded in understanding.
After all, it was none other than Black Scythe.
But there were parts they didn't understand.
'Wait, were there that many orcs in this small village? Something's strange.'
'Who's that woman? His companion?'
'Black Scythe having a companion? That doesn't make sense. Unless he's just playing with her.'
'She looks pretty good with a nice face and chest. Hehe.'
'Didn't know Black Scythe had such perverted tastes. Keke.'
Though they couldn't say it out loud, they could think whatever they wanted about anyone.
They could even criticize the president in their thoughts.
But they chose the wrong target.
They happened to be badmouthing someone with the Rune of Inner Thoughts.
Naturally, Ryumin's eyebrows curved.
"Don't bother me and get lost."
"Huh?"
"I said get lost if you have no business here."
Not only the sudden dismissal, but the informal speech also offended them.
"When did we become close enough for informal speech?"
"That's right. Isn't it rude to use informal speech to strangers?"
It was something that would make people think they were crazy.
Those not even level 13 daring to talk back to a level 32.
Ryumin was equally dumbfounded.
"How do you think I'd feel when some annoying flies come to bother me while I'm in the middle of hunting? I'd want to kill them, right? That's how I feel right now."
"..."
"Don't bother me and get lost. Unless you don't value your lives."
"G-guys. L-let's go."
"W-we're sorry for intruding."
"Sorry for disturbing you."
The men bowed in apology and quickly retreated.
Ryumin didn't take his eyes off them until they disappeared from view.
He was reading their thoughts.
'Those bastards. They plan to hide and watch me.'
He heard them wondering how Black Scythe hunts.
And that they decided to retreat for now but hide and observe.
'Go ahead and watch. I just need to achieve my goal.'
But he couldn't keep killing only orc summons forever.
'I want to keep milking this by luring summons, but others will keep coming at this rate.'
If he postpones it trying to save it, some undeserving person might take the boss.
He can't stay here forever since he needs to kill other bosses too.
It's about time to kill the boss and claim the reward.
'But first, level Min Juri to 20.'
Ryumin looked at Min Juri and spoke after taking his eyes off the men.
"The nuisances are gone, so let's resume hunting."
"Why did you do that?"
A question mark appeared on Ryumin's face at the sudden question.
"Do what?"
"Why did you deliberately speak coldly to chase them away?"
'You're actually a kind person.'
Min Juri swallowed the last words and waited for an answer.
Ryumin was a bit flustered after reading her thoughts, but didn't show it and said:
"If I don't do that, it's obvious they'll keep bothering us. I need to at least say I'll kill them so they won't come near again."
'They're probably hiding somewhere watching as I read in their thoughts earlier.'
It doesn't matter if they watch.
Flies buzzing around won't stop him from hunting.
Ryumin gestured towards the door with his head while looking at Min Juri.
"Let's start now. Don't mind those guys."
* * *
The men chased away by Black Scythe stopped walking.
"We should be out of sight here, right?"
"What are you planning?"
"I'm curious. How that bastard Black Scythe hunts."
"Oh, I was curious too. Where he got so many orcs from."
"So what are we going to do? Hide and watch secretly?"
"We won't be caught if we watch from far away, so don't worry. Die if you're scared."
"Wh-who's scared! Let's go right now."
The five men left the palisade and approached the direction where Black Scythe was.
"I see them there."
They could see the thatched house and Black Scythe hunting in front of it through the palisade.
They decided to get closer using the palisade as cover.
"We shouldn't be visible from this distance."
"Okay. Let's watch from here how that bastard brings orcs."
Black Scythe was cutting down orcs outside the thatched house.
Limbs fell off and bodies thudded to the ground.
After just doing that, Black Scythe turned his back.
As if his role was over.
"What's this?"
"Why isn't he finishing them off?"
That's when the woman beside him stabbed with her sword as if she had been waiting.
She pierced the necks of the orcs that couldn't resist and took the experience.
"No way... Is that...?"
"Is he carrying her?"
"Why? What's he lacking?"
It was incomprehensible that the 1st ranked player was wasting time carrying some woman.
"How well did that bitch please him to get carried like this?"
"Damn, look how easily she's hunting."
"I'm so jealous..."
The men's minds twisted as they watched.
While some struggle to kill one orc, others just need to stab to get experience.
Of course they would feel bitter.
"But isn't something strange?"
"What?"
"Look at that woman."
Orcs chased after the woman every time she entered and left the thatched house.
It wasn't just once or twice.
Orcs came out every time she went back and forth.
"She's continuously luring out orcs. I've seen at least 30 now."
"Something's weird. Are there that many orcs inside?"
The two were endlessly repeating luring out orcs and hunting.
"If all the corpses piled up came from that thatched house..."
"That means there were at least 300 inside."
"That doesn't make sense."
"Then the conclusion is..."
A common thought arose in the men's minds.
"That thatched house is an orc respawn point?"
"Seems like it. It doesn't make sense otherwise."
Since this world was made like a game, it wasn't strange for respawn points to exist.
Rather, it was a natural way of thinking.
"I vaguely thought there might be respawn points, but to think they really exist..."
"Wow... Then those bastards have been milking this spot all this time?"
"Now I see, he told us to get lost because he wanted to monopolize the respawn point."
It was an infuriating and detestable thing.
They wanted to get revenge on those two somehow.
But there wasn't much they could do against Black Scythe.
They could only watch.
"How about we wait until they leave? Then we can quickly take over the spot."
"That sounds good. We want to forcibly take it, but we don't have the power..."
The men had no choice but to wait.
Not knowing this would be the worst mistake of their lives.
* * *
"Black Scythe-nim! I reached level 20!"
Min Juri who was stabbing orcs shouted joyfully.
It was an achievement made in 15 minutes.
Ryumin spoke in a flat tone.
"Congratulations."
Many changes occurred for Min Juri who reached level 20.
Her grade increased to Regular, and the Combine function was unlocked.
"I learned a new skill too. Bless's effect increased from 50% to 60%!"
"Can you cast it on me now?"
"Just a moment!"
Light generated from Min Juri's hand went towards Ryumin.
[All stats increased by 60% due to the Bless skill effect.]
[Duration: 02:59:59]
"That was the enhanced Bless, and this is the new buff I learned."
This time green light arose and seeped into Ryumin's head.
[Attack speed and movement speed increased by 60% due to the Swift skill effect.]
[Duration: 00:29:59]
Swift is a buff that increases attack speed and movement speed.
Though it only lasted 30 minutes, its effect was not insignificant.
'It's equivalent to increasing Agility by 40 in terms of stats.'
Of course it's not as good as Bless, but it's better than nothing.
Moreover, it would be a big help for Ryumin's time attack record.
"Swift, not a bad buff."
"Right? The duration is short but don't worry. I'll cast it on you every 30 minutes without fail."
"Thanks for the words at least."
"It's not just words. I really mean it."
'I know. You're grateful to me.'
Though Ryumin knew Min Juri's feelings better than anyone thanks to the Rune of Inner Thoughts, he couldn't show it due to Black Scythe's concept.
"Then let's stop carrying and kill the Orc Shaman."
"Isn't hunting orcs like this more profitable?"
"We need to go kill other bosses too. We can't stay here forever."
"Is there anything I can help with?"
"Stay out of the way so you don't get in the way."
"Yes! Don't worry."
Though it was words that could be offensive, Min Juri wasn't discouraged.
Rather, she felt good that he was looking out for her.
Just before Ryumin entered to deal with the Orc Shaman.
He inconspicuously looked at the palisade in the 2 o'clock direction.
'Clumsy guys.'
Those 5 men he told to get lost earlier were watching.
Not knowing they were already detected by Presence Detection.
They were also within range of the Rune of Inner Thoughts, so he glanced and read their thoughts.
'They were really chewing out me and Min Juri...'
He's not mentally weak enough to be shaken by curses and criticism.
But their attitude of looking down on and disrespecting others was unpleasant and detestable.
'They have such thoughts even about me with an overwhelming level difference?'
He unconsciously sighed.
They must not know the terror of Black Scythe's existence yet.
'I need to work harder and build my reputation. So they don't even dare think of cursing me.'
For that, Ryumin spontaneously prepared something.
It was a plan to tease those guys.
'In a way, it's also a personality test.'
Ryumin grinned and opened the thatched house door to enter.
Soon after.
Crash-!
Ryumin burst out as the thatched house door shattered.
Min Juri who was staying far away to avoid interfering opened her eyes wide.
Because orcs were chasing after Ryumin like a string of sausages.
'Why is Black Scythe-nim running away?'
Why would he who massacred hundreds of orcs? What was he afraid of?
The question was answered shortly after.
Because an Orc Shaman wearing a strange wooden mask followed, leaning on a staff.
"Chweeeek, chwek! Chweheeee-!"
When the Orc Shaman shouted something, 10 more orcs were summoned.
Min Juri was far away so she wouldn't be harmed, but the problem was Black Scythe.
'B-Black Scythe-nim... is surrounded by orcs!'
As many as 20 orcs surrounded Black Scythe.
'Wh-what should I do? Should I help?'
Min Juri's panic didn't last long.
Because there was no sign of dismay on Black Scythe's face.
'Right, there's no way Black Scythe-nim would lose.'
The Black Scythe she knew was not someone who would fall to 20 orcs.
Didn't she cast buffs on him too?
'He has enough running speed to escape easily, but he deliberately let himself be caught.'
Thinking he must have some plan, Min Juri decided to observe the situation for now.
"Chweeeeeek! Chweek!"
The orcs surrounding Black Scythe attacked all at once following the shaman's order.
Clang- Clang-!
Deflecting axes with his scythe, twisting his shoulders to dodge, lowering his head to avoid flying axes.
Black Scythe moved non-stop in the narrow space.
He seemed to have no time to catch his breath from the attacks of 20 orcs.
'To block and dodge all that... What amazing skill.'
Min Juri inwardly admired, but only briefly.
'Huh? Those people...'
She was surprised to see people suddenly approaching behind the Orc Shaman.
It was none other than those men they encountered earlier.
'What are those people doing? Don't tell me they're trying to kill the Orc Shaman while Black Scythe-nim is drawing attention?'
It was certain seeing them carefully approach from behind holding weapons.
'No. The shaman is Black Scythe-nim's!'
Whether he knew this or not, Black Scythe was busy dealing with the orcs.
'At this rate, the Orc Shaman will be stolen by the wrong people!'
Just as she took a step thinking she should intervene to stop them.
Whoosh-
A black curtain fell.
********************************************
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-Corruption in the dungeon
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