Adventurer’s Guild #4

 

“Don’t be surprised. This is our conclusion.”

Yurka spoke in a dry, emotionless voice.

The other two orc shamans also silently pressed down the beast’s scalp.

Since no one’s facial expressions were visible, it was impossible to know what they were thinking.

‘This is embarrassing.’

At that moment, my first thought was, ‘Have I been betrayed?’

Are these three orcs plotting to kill me and steal my money and magic stones?

But then I thought about it again and realized that couldn’t be true.

‘If that was the case, there was no need to make me stronger until now.’

If you’re going to commit robbery, there’s no need to wait until now.

If only you had killed me when I was much weaker.

‘It seems like you’re serious.’

The final ordeal.

I guess you’re talking about the final test that the elite warriors of the Orc tribe must pass.

The young orc learns the martial arts and hunting skills, learns the history of his ancestors, and becomes a warrior.

And in the final stage, he must compete against his teacher.

Of course, with a real sword that has been set up.

The result is obvious.

No matter how much experience and skill a master has, his body is old and rusty from the weight of time.

There’s no way you can beat a young orc who’s still at full strength.

In the first place, the master had no intention of killing a young man with a bright future in order to save his own life, which was not long left.

In the end, the master falls to the hands of his disciple and departs for the Hall of Glorious Warriors.

‘It may seem cruel at first glance, but it’s actually a reasonable custom from the orcs’ perspective.’

This test has several advantages.

Young orcs can gain valuable practical experience by taking down seasoned warriors with their own hands.

You also inherit some of the strength your old master has built up, and you become stronger not only through experience but also in reality.

Even the master wishes to die by the hands of his disciple.

Orcs revere the life of a warrior who dies honorably on the battlefield.

Old masters do not want to become sick and die a miserable death, lying in bed.

Because I believe that I can only enter the Hall of Warriors if I face the final moments as a warrior.

So, if you look at the results, it’s a win-win for both sides.

‘But why to me⋯.’

I was curious.

Why did they choose me, a human girl?

Three orcs, too.

“Did he fail to save his disciple? Or perhaps he doesn’t have much time left to live and doesn’t have time to return home.”

As for me now, I don’t know why.

However, it is not particularly important.

The three orc shamans have chosen me as their final opponent, and I must live up to their expectations.

“Okay. Let’s go.”

We moved out of the tent.

Ironically, the weather was really nice.

In Orc terms, it’s a perfect day to die.

I stretched my legs and relaxed my body.

“I understand what you’re thinking, gentlemen. Whatever the outcome, don’t blame me.”

The orcs nodded silently.

Although they are now old and frail, they too were once hot-blooded young orcs.

Rather than engaging in painful arguments, they are accustomed to a way of life where they achieve what they want through sheer force.

They will be ready to accept whatever treatment the winner gives them.

“Ancestors, please watch over our fight.”

Yurka scattered the magic stones I had entrusted to her in a round ring shape.

Hwaruk.

Then, as Yurka snapped her fingers, the magic stones turned into blue flames.

A stage for a duel where flames flicker.

The winner in this ring inherits some of the strength of the one who defeated him.

If you win, you are guaranteed a massive power-up.

However, if you lose, you will have to pay the price with your life.

“Girl.”

Yurka raised her axe.

“Please, don’t hold back on your strength and bring it all out. We are too old to have the luxury of mercy. Don’t expect me to perform acrobatics like stopping a sword just before your neck.”

“of course.”

Woodduck.

I twisted my stiff neck from side to side.

A three-on-one battle. It won’t be easy.

“Okay, let’s begin.”

At the same time, Yurka stretched her arm holding the axe back as far as it could go.

Boohoo.

A spinning axe came flying at me.

It is so threatening that it is hard to believe that the power comes from such an old body.

‘If it were me in the past, I would have been hit without even knowing what was happening.’

But now I am no longer a weak girl.

He summoned the power of the holy reliquary to strengthen his body and also learned the imperial battle techniques.

‘It’s visible.’

The trajectory of the axe, which was difficult to avoid, came into clear view.

I just tilted my head slightly to avoid the axe.

Shagak.

A few strands of severed hair fluttered in the air, and Yurka’s thick lips curved into a faint smile.

“Hahaha. You’re quite the talent! Why don’t you try taking on these guys sometime?”

As the bear-headed sorcerer clapped his hands, the dirt and stones on the ground clumped together to form the shape of a wolf.

—Kyarrung.

Orc spirit magic.

Two wolves, each as big as a tiger, charged toward me.

Crunch.

The ground caved in as the claws swung, scattering light.

I barely managed to jump into the air to avoid it, and another wolf jumped up after me.

‘He looks like a wolf, but he’s completely devious.’

A fighting power that is completely different from that of a wild wolf.

Even a simple sword wouldn’t be able to pierce leather.

Well then, how about this?

I stretched out my palm and radiated magical power with all my might.

“Telekinesis”.

Kwajik!

The wolf that was trying to bite my ankle in mid-air was instantly crushed by gravity and fell to the ground.

—Krrrr⋯.

The wolf struggled, foaming from his mouth.

However, it is impossible to escape from the magical power that weighs down my entire body with my own strength.

“Have fun!”

The sorcerer wearing a deer head skin who had been watching my fight laughed heartily.

The deer-headed sorcerer took a strange statue from his bosom and brandished it.

The air stirred, and colorful totems emerged from the hazy mist.

That’s a bit dangerous.

‘This is the worst combination.’

Yurka, a skilled axe warrior.

A bear-headed sorcerer who summons spirits.

And, a deer-headed shaman who wields a shaman totem.

They are all equally difficult.

Moreover, since the three of them cleverly cover each other’s gaps, there is no room to dig in.

‘I can’t afford to delay this for too long.’

We need to decide the outcome quickly.

Indeed, the orcs were not speaking empty words.

They are fighting with all their might.

If anything happens, I’m prepared to kill you.

‘Is that the target we should aim for first?’

A tall totem opened its mouth and spat out a bolt of lightning.

A spark appeared at the point where the small totem was looking.

Totem of Lightning and Totem of Flame.

If I leave the deer-headed shaman who handles the totem alone, I might be attacked at any moment.

Pot—

I kicked the ground and rushed towards the deer-headed sorcerer.

“How clever. Are you targeting me first?”

“But, girl, it won’t be as easy as you think. Sometimes the path that seems easy is the most difficult.”

As the deer-headed sorcerer stepped back, shielding himself with both arms, Yurka, wielding an axe, blocked his path.

On one side, the bear-headed sorcerer begins to control the wolves again.

A formation where when one person is attacked, the other two immediately surround them.

Indeed, it is a difficult situation to break through.

‘But I have this.’

I didn’t rush in without thinking. I planned this situation from the beginning.

The three sorcerers are not scattered, but gathered in one place.

Now is the time to use the pure white brilliance most efficiently.

I held up the bracelet and turned it on at full brightness.

Dismissal—

“Rain, light? Ugh-”

“Ugh, ahead⋯.”

The orc shamans, momentarily blinded, hesitated.

You can deal with swords and arrows, but you can’t block light.

rustle—

I took advantage of this gap and cut down the statue of the deer-headed shaman with my frost sword.

As the medium through which the magic was being performed disappeared, the menacing totems in the fog also crumbled.

“It’s pretty good, but it’s still too much for me— ugh.”

puck.

The deer-headed sorcerer, who was taking out another statue from his bosom, collapsed before finishing his words.

It makes no difference whether they are human or orc.

One punch to the forehead and it’s over.

First, I knocked one down.

Okay, next.

wedge—

While he was keeping the bear-headed sorcerer at bay with his ice-bladed dagger, he approached Yurka.

“Click click, you’re very talented.”

Yurka laughed, spinning her axe around.

“Are you alright? Can you block this axe with your slender arms?”

“I guess I’ll just have to try.”

“Oh, come on, show me.”

Yurka took a deep breath.

As his muscles swell for a moment, he crosses his hands and cuts the axe in an X shape.

‘It’s your turn this time, Garden’s Meteor.’

Kagang!

Sparks flew as the two axe blades and the mace clashed.

Yurka and I exchanged weapons for a moment, our strength evenly matched.

“Ugh⋯.”

Yurka let out a sigh.

He still had not lost his courage, but he could not overcome the weakness of his old age.

Yurka’s arms began to tremble slowly.

“Hot!”

He pushed forward with force and spirit.

Yurka was pushed back, and the two axes flew into the air.

Yurka, who had lost her weapon, nodded.

“That’s great.”

There is only one opponent left.

The bear-headed sorcerer, who had struck down the frost dagger, sent two wolves charging in from both sides with a wide spread.

“It’s not over yet! This body still remains!”

You can’t subdue two wolves at the same time.

As I slammed one wolf into the ground with my telekinesis, the other leaped and charged at me.

‘That’s what we did earlier. That won’t work.’

That orc is by no means a novice who relies on shallow numbers.

As if reading my thoughts, the bear-headed sorcerer shouted loudly.

“Come on, show me your skills! If you hesitate, you’ll be turned to dust and die!”

The next moment, the wolf’s body swelled greatly.

Several rays of light emitted from the wolf’s body, which had become round like a balloon that had been inflated with air.

As expected, there was a secret plan.

“Spirit Explosion”.

If you get caught up in that self-destruction, it’ll be hard to recover even a single bone.

‘You have no intention of lenient treatment, sir.’

It’s not a power that can be blocked by armor.

It’s already too late to avoid it.

If you touch even a hair, it will explode immediately, and if you leave it alone, it will explode anyway.

Is this the end?

Of course not.

Our gazes met under the bear’s head.

I focused my will on the tattoo on my finger.

The little bird flapped its wings as if it were alive, and a strong gust of wind swirled around my body.

—Kyaaruk!

The wolf, who was on the verge of exploding, was swept away by the wind and lost its shape.

“Wind of Protection” that nullifies magic.

The wolf crumbled like a sand castle before a strong wind.

“The tattoo of the demon!”

The bear-headed sorcerer was amazed.

“So there was a way. Yurka, did you carve it for me?”

“Don’t scold me. I’m a human girl, but I’m more than qualified.”

“Who cares what anyone says? That girl is already a worthy warrior.”

The bear-headed sorcerer dropped his hands down.

It seemed like he had no intention of fighting anymore.

I also picked up the mace.

“Girl.”

Yurka looked straight at me.

“The fight isn’t over yet. It hasn’t been concluded.”

The orc shamans took off the animal skins they were wearing.

A wrinkled face worn down by the passage of time.

Hair that has turned gray.

Their eyes were as unwavering as a rock that had stood in the same place for a long time.

“I believe you know what I mean.”

“mister.”

“You’ve proven yourself strong enough to overwhelm all three of us simultaneously. You surpass us in both strength and wisdom. Any further fighting would be pointless.”

Yurka smiled with satisfaction.

“Take the heads of these three old men and move on to the next level.”