Red Orc Krasia

I didn’t bother asking why Helena hugged me.

She sometimes hugged me for no reason in reality, too.

It’s the same old Helena. There was nothing strange about it.

“Hayat!”

With a short shout, I swung my sword. After awakening to Aether, the I who was chased by dire wolves was long gone.

A faint Aether wrapped around the sharply honed dark blade, tearing through the thick fur.

Kkaeng!

The attack power should have been sufficient. But my Aether level wasn’t high enough.

The faint Aether couldn’t penetrate the wolf’s defense.

The wolf reacted to the widely swung attack and launched a counterattack.

I flinched and stepped back, then it charged again, slashing with its front paws.

But I’m not worried. I wasn’t alone now.

Seueuk-

Arthur, who had been watching for an opportunity beside me, rushed forward and swung his sword.

A white cloak spread out behind the woman with the brilliant blonde hair, blocking my path.

Chaeng!

The moment Arthur blocked the wolf’s attack, I leaped forward and swung my sword again.

The attack landed successfully. The deep slash left a deep wound below the wolf’s neck.

Eureureureu…

The deeply wounded wolf tried to retreat, but there was no way I’d let it.

After my attack, Arthur, who had been watching for an opportunity, pushed forward with me, plunging his sword into the wolf’s body.

Kwajik-!

The sword that pierced upwards from under the head, and the sword that pierced downwards from above, tore off the wolf’s head.

Because the reality setting was set to the highest level, the grotesque appearance was vividly visible, but it was already a familiar sight.

“Hoo…”

When was the last time I was so tense hunting a single wolf?

I smiled as I watched Arthur, who was also exhaling a long breath.

Our teamwork is good. Or rather, in this case, it would be more accurate to say that Arthur is adapting well to me.

He’s good at catching and exploiting gaps in attacks. He’s got a knack for prioritizing the protection of his party members.

I’m impressed. He’s more skilled than Dogric, our raid’s main tank.

It’s our first time working together, but it runs smoothly, like gears turning.

It’s as if he’s reading my mind, coming in at just the right time. There are no obstructive movements.

It’s short and concise, yet sharp when needed.

“Next!”

As I continue hunting, my fondness for Arthur grows.

It’s pure greed. Being in the position of a guild leader and raid leader, the desire for skilled users is a natural feeling.

Chwaaak!

With a long swing, I cut through the lower abdomen of a large wolf.

Arthur, who had been struggling with the wolf’s strength, then pushed his sword out forcefully, shaking off the wolf’s body.

The wolf’s posture collapses. I didn’t miss the opportunity.

My Aether level had just recovered. I immediately took a stance and used the [Dash] skill.

The Aether that had just been recovered was instantly depleted as I charged towards the wolf at high speed.

As the black energy soaring above my body spread in all directions, my sword was already piercing the wolf’s neck.

Kwajik!

A clean hunt. There were no inconveniences. It was quick and comfortable.

I pulled the sword out of the wolf’s body and slung it over my shoulder.

Red blood dripped down, but I didn’t care.

I turned around in that state.

To check on our fire mage, Helena.

Helena, who had an uncomfortable expression on her face, was glaring at Arthur and me with a scary look.

I could fully understand her feelings. She must be angry. She had every right to be.

Helena is a skilled mage. A mage with amazing skills that can summon giant meteors and even stop time.

But that mage had all her skills sealed. If she casts a single Fireball, she won’t be able to participate in combat for a long time.

How frustrating must it be? How boring must it be?

I nodded at Helena.

Don’t worry, Helena.

I’ll be with you.

I couldn’t leave Helena alone. If I abandoned the mage users early on and proceeded with the quest, the difference in progress would definitely widen considerably.

Perhaps, there might be a shortage of mages when we challenge the first raid.

“Hunting is super easy, huh?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. So this is the swordsmanship that Yeon-ah was going to show me?”

I shrugged at Arthur’s compliment. It had been a considerable amount of time since I absorbed the swordsmanship of the VRS pros at the arena tournament.

I’ve fought countless battles since then. The long time and experience have naturally changed that strange and awkward swordsmanship.

I eliminated unnecessary movements and modified all movements to be easily used by my small body.

And most importantly, I added style.

Deron is a virtual world. The powerful stats that enhance the character made movements possible that are impossible in reality.

That’s how my swordsmanship came to disregard reality.

“It’s cool, right?”

“It’s super cool. Cool enough that I want to learn it.”

Arthur looked down at me with shining eyes, as if that wasn’t a lie.

I even felt a hint of respect in those eyes.

“Hoo, huhu…”

It’s a compliment from a pretty woman. No one would ever feel bad about that.

I’m awesome after all. The swordsmanship I created must be outstanding enough to elicit admiration from a beautiful woman across the sea.

It’s not excessive self-consciousness. There were very few people in the Korean server who could withstand my sword in a 1v1.

“Yeon-ah. Arthur. We need to move to the next quest location.”

“Ah. Okay!”

I nodded at Helena’s urging and stuck my sword behind my back.

The huge greatsword instantly shrunk and fit perfectly to my body.

“The weapon shrinks too…”

“Yeah. It’s Deron’s system. It gets bigger to its original size when you hold it.”

“It gets bigger when you touch it…”

Arthur nodded and muttered in a small voice.

Our party walked through the forest, following the main quest’s guide marker.

I unfolded the map and recalled my vague memories.

From what I remember, a Red Orc Empire outpost was built around here.

It’s not a wrong memory. The quest’s guide marker was definitely heading towards the Red Orc area.

“This is…”

Arthur and Helena both seemed to remember this area as well.

After walking for a while, we were finally able to reach our destination.

“What is this…”

I looked around and opened my mouth blankly.

The large Red Orc outpost that had been built is gone.

Replacing it was a peaceful-looking village.

“Red Orc Village?”

Yeah. It’s a Red Orc Village.

As Arthur said, the NPCs living in this village were all orcs with red skin.

The guys who appeared as hostile forces reappeared as friendly NPCs.

Not as relentless conquerors, but as ordinary village NPCs.

The orcs who writhed their grotesquely large muscles and swung their swords were gone.

They were working in the fields with farming tools like large plows in their hands.

Not swords, spears, or axes. The orcs, who had changed from hostile red names to green names, were strolling through the village with peaceful faces.

I was secretly waiting for the reappearance of the orcs, but it was a bit anticlimactic.

Arthur also had his hand on the hilt of his sword, as if he was preparing for battle.

But no battle took place.

The three of us entered the Orc Village with slightly bewildered expressions.

The guard orcs standing as if guarding the front of the village also had gentle faces.

“Could it be that the Orc Reincarnation is being unlocked?”

Arthur muttered as he looked around the village.

I nodded. It certainly wasn’t an impossible possibility.

There was no mention in the announcements that Orc Reincarnation would be added, but it might be added in the next update.

Orcs… It seemed like a good race for warrior-type jobs.

Orcs basically had higher strength stats than monsters of the same level.

If users were to reincarnate as orcs, there was a high possibility that strength stats would be additionally increased.

Maybe they’d even get a berserk skill as a racial skill.

“Yeon-ah… Do you want to become an orc, by any chance?”

I was lost in thought by myself, and Helena, who had approached me, asked with a sad expression.

If I had started Deron in this world not long ago, I would have reincarnated as an orc without hesitation.

But it’s different now.

Hiding such a pretty and cute appearance inside a muscular orc was a national loss.

No one could argue with this fact. It was definitely not excessive self-consciousness.

I liked myself as I am now.

“No. I like myself as I am now.”

“That’s a relief…”

Of course, the problem was that my arms and legs were a bit short, but that would be naturally resolved by using the customization reset item that would be added later.

[Lost Fighting Spirit]

Visit the village chief of the Red Orc Village 0/1

The main quest’s guide marker was pointing to one side of the village.

It’s a house that’s slightly larger than the other houses. The architectural style of the building was not much different from that of humans, but the overall size was made to fit the large size of the orcs.

“Looks like the village chief is there.”

I led the two people and took the lead. I didn’t particularly intend to, but being in a position to lead many people, I naturally came to take the lead in all situations.

Knock knock-

“Are you there?”

After knocking on the village chief’s house, a red orc opened the door and revealed himself not long after.

[Red Orc Village Chief]

[Krasia]

“Ho… Human friends, I see.”

Krasia. It’s a name I remember. How could I forget it?

The name of the raid boss monster that first appeared in the game Deron was Krasia.

Where did the huge muscles go? Where’s the ferocious face that roared while wielding a greatsword?

The warrior who scattered red energy was not here.

Krasia. He was just an old orc dressed in neat clothes.

“What brings you here?”

It’s a shocking encounter. I was more surprised than when I encountered the Red Orcs as friendly NPCs.

[Lost Fighting Spirit]

Fulfill Krasia’s request and learn how to use Aether. 0/1

The main quest has been updated.