109 – New Possibilities – 3

Chabanvesh, whom he had not seen in a long time, wore a serious expression as if he were carrying all the worries of the world by himself.

“You really came, Jun. Kipuz—I told you not to call him…”

“We have already received so much help from Jun. What is there that we cannot show him, Leader?”

Looking at Gi-jun, Chabanvesh spoke in a displeased voice and glared at the bald Orc, Kipuz, but Kipuz merely shrugged, responding shamelessly.

When a message first arrived from [Strongest Orc Five Brothers], Gi-jun had thought without a doubt that it came from Chabanvesh, but it actually had not.

Surprisingly, it was Kipuz who had sent it.

Asking him to help Chabanvesh, who was blocked by a wall.

“I heard you are on the verge of becoming a High Orc, Chabanvesh.”

“I really didn’t want to show such a pathetic side of myself to Jun—sigh.”

Letting out a deep sigh, Chabanvesh scratched his head and nodded heavily.

“That’s right. With the help of my brothers, I managed to reach level 99. Honestly, ever since I stood on the battlefield with Jun, my desire to become stronger grew increasingly intense, so… I pushed myself too hard.”

“Indeed, since that time.”

From the side, Kipuz nodded and added.

“Did we not all think so after seeing that scum, Tolchi? That we would become truly strong and honorable Orc warriors. Since then, we have constantly shut ourselves in dungeons to dedicate ourselves to training. Because of that, we did not even know that Jun had achieved great feats.”

Training.

Gi-jun looked around at those words.

They were currently inside a dungeon, which was none other than the Unique-grade dungeon where Tolchi had set a trap to kill Gi-jun.

Although the danger of the dungeon had decreased significantly after the boss was defeated, the difficulty here was still strictly Unique.

They had been repeatedly undergoing intense training here even while Gi-jun did not know.

“This dungeon… did the Lord grant it to you?”

“Exactly. As a reward for clearing the dungeon with Jun, he allowed our party to monopolize this dungeon. Of course, we do not pay any entry fee either.”

Gi-jun once again thought that the Lord of Turis was very clever.

At the time of executing Tolchi, the five Orc brothers were also there with Gi-jun.

Of course, even if the Orcs wouldn’t talk recklessly, the Lord could not have just left them alone.

Thus, he had granted them the exclusive rights to the dungeon as hush money.

Even without a boss, and even though the reward room had already been looted, the quality of the monsters originating from the perilous dark mana harbored in this dungeon was considerably high.

The experience points and loot obtained from them would not be something to look down on.

“The reward is attractive… but it must have been dangerous.”

“One cannot grow without taking risks. Such is the life of an Orc.”

Suddenly, Chabanvesh struck a pompous pose and delivered a wise saying.

Kipuz sighed at the sight and turned to Gi-jun, saying.

“Since reaching level 99, Leader left the party and has been fighting here alone, saying that only by taking risks will the path to becoming a High Orc open. How dangerous is this, Jun!”

“And you couldn’t bear to watch that, so you sought me out upon hearing the news that I happened to visit Turis…”

“Exactly. Gi-jun, is your species rank not already high? Please firmly tell Leader that this reckless method is wrong!”

“That’s why I’m saying you can’t grow unless you take risks, Kipuz!”

Chabanvesh growled at Kipuz’s words, and Kipuz looked as if he wanted to tear out his non-existent hair, feeling utterly frustrated by Chabanvesh.

No wonder the other Orcs, excluding Chabanvesh, were hunting elsewhere…

Of course, Gi-jun could understand Chabanvesh’s feelings.

In the first round of the tutorial for Earthlings alone, although there were those who reached level 99, was there anyone who succeeded in growing their species rank—namely, rank advancement?

Gi-jun had advanced his rank in a special way rather easily with Biche’s help, but not many people experienced such good fortune.

Rank advancement was just that difficult.

He could guess how frustrated those blocked by the wall of level 99 would be.

‘Wait, I raised my species rank through a very special method, so based on that experience, can I give Chabanvesh any useful advice?’

No, he could not.

Reaching this conclusion, Gi-jun first requested help from Ye-min, and then crossed his arms as if he knew nothing.

“Chabanvesh, I understand how you feel. But throwing yourself into it blindly will only ruin your body. Why don’t we rest together first and eat something?”

“Rest is a luxury for me right now. When I become a High Orc, then…”

“Is that so? Then I guess I should eat these fried foods with the other Orcs.”

“…”

Looking at the luxurious basket of fried food that Gi-jun deliberately pulled out from his inventory, Chabanvesh shut his mouth.

Just as Gi-jun gestured to Kipuz and was about to really leave with it, a growling sound came from Chabanvesh’s stomach as if on cue.

Having shamelessly done something like a cartoon character, Chabanvesh blushed and lowered his head.

“I am sorry, I want to eat too.”

“You are honest after all.”

Gi-jun also called the Orcs who were hunting in other areas and ate the fried food and gimbap together.

While they were frantically devouring Gi-jun’s lunch box, fortunately, a reply arrived from Ye-min.

[Ye-min (Leta): Is a party member about to advance their rank? Our case was a bit special, so it might not be very helpful.]

[Ye-min (Leta): First of all, both Shin and I advanced to ranks related to the unique skills we originally possessed. Realization? Training related to the skill?]

[Ye-min (Leta): Ah, and I think titles also had an influence.]

[Me: I get the skills, but titles? That’s also special. What is your species name?]

[Ye-min (Leta): Shin is a ‘Borderlander’.]

[Ye-min (Leta): Mine is a secret.]

Although he was also very interested in Eun-shin’s species name, Gi-jun did not miss the moment that gave him a legitimate excuse to hide his own species name, ‘Light Human’.

[Me: Then I won’t tell you either.]

[Ye-min (Leta): Ah, Oppa, you’re mean!]

Having finished exchanging messages for now, Gi-jun groaned, “Mmm.”

‘This is less helpful than I thought.’

“What is wrong, Jun? To wear such a serious expression when the fried food is this delicious.”

“What, this is fried food? If this is fried food, then what on earth were the lumps of flour we have been eating all this time?”

“Could it be that eating delicious food raises your species rank? Leader, how about it? Do you feel like you are going to advance?”

“Hmm, I am not sure yet, so I will eat everything here for now.”

“Freeze!”

The Orcs were devouring the fried food and gimbap while chatting noisily.

Watching Chabanvesh aggressively stuff his face with fried food, Gi-jun was wondering how on earth he could help him advance, when—

[Partner (Leta): Gi-jun, where are you right now? Someone from the royal family is looking for you.]

Conveniently, a message arrived from the fairy who could help him.

* * *

“Knock, knock! The fastest fairy merchant in the world is here!”

Seeing Viv, who had flown over in an instant upon receiving Gi-jun’s call, the Orcs were surprised once again.

“To employ a fairy merchant…!”

“We Orcs were told that we will definitely get ripped off if we get involved with fairy merchants, so we never talk to them…!”

The Orcs were so astonished by Viv’s presence that they clung to the wall, hugging each other and trembling.

When Gi-jun stared at Viv, she showed a sheepish smile.

“Well… Orcs are indeed easy targets to deceive. But not me! I’m not like that!”

“Do not trust her so easily, Jun! Do you not know the proverb that fairy merchants have no human hearts? For them to conduct an honest transaction is as unrealistic as them falling in love!”

Did even Kipuz, who had seemingly inherited the philosophy of Scholar Jeong Yak-yong, speak incorrectly sometimes?

Gi-jun shook his head and spoke.

“Viv signed an exclusive contract with me. Which means she will never deceive me. So everyone, rest assured and listen to her. It might help Chabanvesh with his rank advancement.”

“Ugh, conversing with a fairy merchant is absolutely out of the question, but if it is for rank advancement…”

At the mention of rank advancement, Chabanvesh stepped forward with a philosophical expression like Socrates accepting the cup of hemlock.

At that sight, Viv wondered if she should really give them advice, but she soon noticed Gi-jun’s gaze and cleared her throat.

“Information regarding species rank growth and advancement is certainly precious. There are so many species that have flowed into Leta, and rank advancement is not something easily achieved in the first place. But fortunately, Orcs are a fairly major species among them. In particular, the conditions for advancing to a standard High Orc without variations are quite widely known.”

“Without variations?”

“It’s the same case as a human advancing to a High Human, Jun.”

Viv explained kindly to Gi-jun, who had cut in to ask.

“It is the limit of rank advancement that can be reached solely through the species’ innate potential without any other conditions. In that sense, it is extremely surprising for a human to advance to a Unique-grade High Human. Because it means that humans, whose baseline stats are miserably low to begin with, harbor the potential to grow to the Unique grade.”

“Oh, so does that mean humans will generally grow up to the Unique grade?”

“Of course not. It just means that the maximum potential in a state without variation is a High Human. The vast majority of humans in Leta are struggling in Common or Uncommon ranks, let alone Unique.”

Presenting the cold reality once again, Viv clapped her hands to change the mood and spoke.

“What is important right now is the High Orc, right? Let me tell you the conditions for rank advancement. First, Strength and Endurance must reach 50 at the Rare grade. Have you achieved that?”

“Of course.”

“Mana must exceed Uncommon. Even for Orcs with strong physical abilities, they cannot reach a high stage if they do not train their mana.”

“Fortunately, I barely passed.”

“Heavens! Our Mana is Common!”

“We are in trouble, we must train our mana starting now!”

Unlike Chabanvesh, who felt relieved, the other Orcs were in an uproar.

Only Kipuz was looking at his comrades with a look of disdain.

He had thought so before, but out of the five Orcs, Kipuz indeed seemed to show the most promise after Chabanvesh.

“Next… this is the most important part, Charm must be at least Uncommon.”

“Mmm?!”

At that, Chabanvesh was surprised for the first time.

However, Gi-jun thought it was actually a reasonable condition, because Charm was the stat that most intuitively influenced others.

Especially for the Orc race, which often flocked together and valued a chain of command, it was natural for Charm to be included in the conditions for rank advancement.

“Oh dear, is your Charm Common? Then you must diligently carry out quests from now on. If you help many NPCs, you will be able to raise your Charm rank somehow.”

“Ah, no. I was just surprised because it was unexpected. My Charm is Uncommon 37.”

That it was unexpected was exactly what Gi-jun wanted to say.

Could it be that Charm had little to do with appearance, or was Chabanvesh actually attractive by Orc standards?

Since his Charm had reached the Legendary grade, Gi-jun had been secretly satisfied with his own face, but now that he learned Chabanvesh’s Charm was quite high, he began to doubt his own Charm!

“Unbelievable! We are lacking in Charm too! What on earth are we supposed to do about this!”

“There are many paths of rank advancement for Orcs other than the High Orc, so you don’t need to worry so much just yet. Still, it looks like Chabanvesh will be able to become a High Orc.”

At Viv’s words as she nodded after finishing the stat check, Chabanvesh let out a grand sigh.

The other Orcs looked at him with envious expressions, and as expected, the High Orc race seemed to hold a great significance to Orcs that transcended stats or grades.

Noticing Gi-jun’s thoughts, Viv chuckled and whispered in a voice only he could hear.

“Actually, it’s better to walk the royal road rather than some unorthodox path. The problem is that it’s difficult. For humans, High Human is known to be the rarest and strongest species. I thought so too until I met Gi-jun.”

At those words, Gi-jun recalled Ji-hye, who had newly become his party member.

She had not only mastered the Mana Circuit due to the spellbook obtained in the tutorial, but also walked the path of a High Human, as she had said…

However, the Earthlings who obtained it in the first round had only obtained a Mana Circuit of a much lower grade than Ji-hye’s, and had not even advanced to Uncommon.

Thinking about it now, was that not the most distinct proof of Ji-hye’s talent?

“Please tell me, fairy merchant. What must I do to become a High Orc?”

“Naturally, for an Orc to grow, they must engage in battle.”

Viv spoke nonchalantly.

“But you cannot achieve it alone. You must produce results in a fierce battle fought while leading subordinates. The path of a High Orc is the path of a ruler, after all. Do you understand?”

“Was… that so…!”

Chabanvesh groaned and collapsed at Viv’s words.

“I thought I had to overcome my limits all by myself, but to think that it was actually the path directly opposite to a High Orc.”

“Come to think of it, wasn’t that trash Orc, Tolchi, also a knight leading soldiers?”

“So that was foreshadowing.”

“That scum Orc, Tolchi, hid that fact until the very end.”

While the Orcs listening from the side whispered and unfairly dissed the already deceased Tolchi once again, Chabanvesh, having gained realization, stopped his futile actions and rejoined the party.

Now the remaining problem was what kind of battle their party, now whole again, had to fight in order for Chabanvesh to grow…

Before they could discuss that, Viv grabbed Gi-jun.

“Jun, you’re not going to join them in that as well, are you? As I told you via Letok earlier, someone from the royal family is looking for you.”

“Viv, you finally succeeded in getting one foot in the royal court… So, who is this contact?”

“Hold on a second, let me contact them first…”

Viv, who was operating a Letaphone that had been downsized for fairy use, soon looked back at Gi-jun with wide eyes.

“They say they are coming this way?”

“What? Why?”

“They said it’s a good opportunity…”

“…I mean, what is?”

Only twenty minutes after that.

A Draconian with golden scales came to find them.

Along with Knight Smith, armed in full plate armor… or rather, Crown Prince Lectus of the Gratia Kingdom.