episode_0019

Transcendence.

What is transcendence?

Transcendents are those who surpass any standard and imprint their solitary existence upon the world.

Therefore, transcendents can mock and damage the world, even becoming the world themselves.

In accordance with such grandiose meaning, transcendents are usually only matched by other transcendents.

Just as ants cannot defeat a Sword Master even if they charge in by the tens of thousands, so it is with transcendents.

While this definition is widely known, experiencing it firsthand is not common.

Where would one ever witness two transcendents facing off and engaging in combat simultaneously?

Unless you were among those who witnessed the Southern Duke’s battle that slew the Orc chieftain twenty years ago, you wouldn’t know.

Regardless, those who experienced the war from twenty years ago, soldiers trembling at the prospect of battling the orcs for the first time, and those who participated in the mythical battles of the past all shared the same thought.

“This is a fight we cannot partake in.”

Such was the magnificence before their eyes.

When the woman with silver hair wields her sword, everything in its path is cut down.

The sky, magic, even the orcs trying to detect and move.

However, at the tip of that sword, when met with the chieftain’s axe, not only does the sword get blocked, but the aftermath alone claims the lives around.

-!!!

-!!!

Human strikes

Orc defenses and counterattacks

Human bloodshed

Orc evasions

Human pushes, stabs

Humans and orc transcendents pour out their skills limitlessly.

The moment when the clash of sword and axe is silent.

A repetition of primal swordplay and spear thrusts without hesitation.

Spilling blood, cutting, stabbing, breaking, pushing aside.

A deadly dance until the opponent’s life is extinguished.

That, indeed, was the essence of martial prowess.

Liness saw no need to conceal her smile.

The enemy? A vile breed causing significant harm in the south? Relations with dark sorcerers?

Such matters were inconsequential.

At the moment of the clash between sword and axe.

A trembling dance where each other’s fate and lives are decided in an instant.

Liness wanted to continue savoring this moment.

Honestly, her life had been quite dull.

When was the last time she truly tasted the thrill of battle?

Certainly, it was when she vanquished the trio of sea dragons that appeared at the Southern Port.

But even then, she couldn’t handle three opponents at once.

Yet look at her now.

Not only blocking the sword but deflecting it, facing the orc champion swinging an axe as if to tear her throat!

Understanding the feeling her mother had when she single-handedly defeated the chieftain back then.

If she talked about it, she spoke as if dreaming of something!

If this was the reason, then she understood.

Parrying the chieftain’s axe, spinning to deeply wound his arm, Liness laughed.

Thank you, Mother! For creating such an opportunity!!

Rushing back towards the chieftain wielding the axe furiously, Liness thought to herself.

I will definitely repay this gratitude later.

…

While Liness was engaged in a fierce battle against the chieftain, Bi Han and the reconnaissance team arrived near their destination.

Stopping at a distance where the village’s location could be vaguely seen with the naked eye, they climbed up into the trees.

“It looks precarious.”

“That’s right.”

“Leona, can you still use what you used earlier?”

“Yes, miss.”

Upon Elise’s inquiry, Leona summoned a spirit to widen their field of view.

Observing this, I thought to myself.

‘How on earth can they see from here?’

If Leona asked the spirit to enhance their vision, maybe, but claiming to see something precarious with the naked eye over there?

Once again, showing appreciation towards Bi Han, I took something out of my pocket.

“What’s that…?”

“An artifact.”

I briefly replied to Leiana’s question.

Truth be told, I’m not sure how to approach her.

Should I speak formally, or should I use informal language like I did with Elise?

Actually, what I just said was quite rude… I’ll have to think about it later.

I focused my gaze on the artifact [Pirate’s Spyglass] I pulled out of my pocket.

It was significantly inferior to the scouting artifacts used in the game , but among the items I could acquire now, it was the best.

Honestly, what surprised me when I obtained this during preparation was that the value of mediocre artifacts was much higher than I had anticipated.

In the game, artifacts sold at a cheap price in the general store were being resold for three to five times their original cost.

I was dumbfounded by this and decided to give up buying and instead acquired it through a hidden quest.

It wasn’t because I lacked money. If I had the time, I could have earned as much money as I wanted, but it was the lack of time that hindered me.

Anyway, the effects of the [Pirate’s Spyglass] were simple:

Sight +25

In addition to the basic increase in sight,

Treasure discovery probability +15%

It also had pirate-like characteristics:

Friendly with Dark Mages +10

Hostile towards all enemies of Dark Mages -10

These were somewhat mediocre traits. Becoming friendly with Dark Mages didn’t offer many benefits.

Just by having this with me, the faces of the reconnaissance members who saw me became somewhat uncomfortable.

If I didn’t have my birthmark, they might have questioned what it was.

Today, another victory for Solar’s gift.

Thank you, Solar!

[Haha… Thanks a lot~]

Solar’s voice, laughing cutely like tinkling bells, seemed to echo in my ears.

Ignoring that, I focused the spyglass on the city.

“Hmm…”

Oh no.

It was larger than I had thought.

The scale was indeed significant, perhaps due to the effect of submerging the orc harassers in water, just as that guy had said.

A large village where three orc tribes seemed to have merged.

Elite orcs wielding spears instead of axes or glaives guarding the entrance, along with blacksmiths, cooks, stable managers, and other strictly divided orc roles.

Larger wolves with at least two heads bigger than orcs and superior orcs with faintly glowing tattoos.

I swallowed nervously as I estimated seeing hundreds to thousands of troops.

Glancing briefly at Leona storing information in her crystal orb nearby, I looked around more to find something more important.

After all, I hadn’t come here for no reason.

It was to deal with the dark mages converging here, the first evil to be born, and the chieftain.

I rotated the spyglass around until it stopped at one side.

“….”

Tents of different sizes from the others.

Around these tents, small figures wearing flipped hoods and shamans were circling around.

Every time they moved and murmured something, a palpably sinister energy emerged and seemed to be drawn into the tent.

A twisted aura even visible from afar.

Feeling nauseated by the sensation that didn’t align with the world’s norms, I removed the spyglass.

There it is.

The place that aligned with all my intentions.

As if confirming my thoughts, the tenants inside me revealed themselves confidently.

[“The aura of exorcism is growling at the nauseating energy. ‘Let’s tear it apart immediately!’”]

[“The deepest and widest arrogance smiles quietly. ‘So, are you the first?’”]

Shaken by the approval stamps of the tenants inside me, I handed the spyglass to those looking at me puzzledly, sweating coldly.

“Check out the B-61, A-14 area.”

“Ugh..”

“What is that..?”

“…This is serious. Even the tribal elders wouldn’t have seen such a thing.”

“….”

“What on earth..”

One by one, they looked at the places I mentioned.

“This is a serious issue.”

After confirming with Leona, we all put our heads together and exchanged opinions.

We need to infiltrate.

We have to go in head-on.

The forces are beyond imagination.

Various discussions ensued, but there was no immediate suggestion to flee.

Were the reconnaissance team members really all martyrs, except for Ellis, who completed the information relay in the past?

Watching them with satisfaction, I finally spoke up.

“For now, listen to my plan.”

Alright, how about trying this once?

…

Everyone was initially taken aback by my plan, but eventually, one by one, they agreed.

Alice resisted until the very end, but well.

Alice was too weak to break my stubbornness.

If you have any complaints, clear the foreign news as a dagger rogue and then come!

You call yourself a Tier 1 tanker?

Ah, in the world of hardcore gamers, the excuse of being a Tier 1 tanker doesn’t fly.

To ease the tension, I arrived at my destination after indulging in irrelevant thoughts as usual, raising what I held in my right hand and shouted.

“[Chwi-ick-!!!!!!!!]”

Thanks to the mount (Ah-hlak), it was a battle cry used comfortably to conserve energy.

Seeing me like that, the two elite orcs guarding the door furrowed their brows and thrust their spears forward.

“[Chwik! What a voice!]”

“[Chwi-ick-! Such a beautiful voice!]”

They did not yield.

As expected.

I knew this would happen.

I approached the orcs waving their spears and greeted them.

-Thud!

Now, there’s no newbie who doesn’t know the orcish greeting, right?

I greeted brightly like a powerful morning warlord.

“[Chwik! How have you been!]”

“[Chwik.. Stronger than I thought for a female!]”

“[Chwik! Could produce good offspring!]”

Wait, is this a state of praise..?

-Thud!

After delivering another blow with my glaive to an orc who might be giving orcish praise or offensive remarks, I confidently headed towards the door.

Is this a free pass?

-Clang!

Seems like I got complacent.

Two elite orcs crossed their spears, blocking my path.

…Spangga?

One of the elite orcs asked me why I was alone.

“[Chwik, but why are you alone?]”

“[Chwik That’s right. I usually go with ten people. You’re alone.]”

I hesitated briefly at the sharp words of the two orcs.

Ignoring what Leona was saying through the earpiece communication bead, I pondered.

The best response in such situations.

“[Chwik I’m late for pooping!]”

Orcish bluff.

When stuck, speak without thinking.

Leona sounded shocked in my ear, asking what I was doing.

“[Chwik! Is that so! It could happen!]”

“[Chwik! That’s right! I’ve done that a few times too!]”

The elite orcs empathized with my words and lowered their spears.

Ah, I knew they would.

Ignoring an orc who couldn’t say such things to a female, I left behind the orc scratching his head and entered the orc city.

-Why… does that work…?

Though I could hear Leona’s disappointed voice through the communication bead, I paid it no mind.

Simply gazing at the peaceful orc village, I chuckled fiercely.

‘Let’s get started.’