Everyone Else is a Regressor - Chapter 48

◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (48)

Chapter 10. My Miseries (3)

“A secret mission…?”

As Tolchi cautiously brought up the topic after appearing discreetly, Charbanbesh’s eyes sparkled with interest.

Other orcs also showed excitement, but Tolchi raised his finger to his lips, silencing everyone.

“It’s a secret mission. We can only take those we trust.”

“Is it because of Jun?”

“Partly, but it’s a task too difficult for just the two of us. The lord has judged that you, having formed a good relationship with Jun and having achieved great feats in the recent battle, are trustworthy.”

“Ohhhh…!”

“Recognized by Tolchi and the lord, it’s an honor!”

The orcs tried to contain their excitement as Tolchi smiled.

“While it’s partly due to being of the same race, I can’t show favoritism as a knight. Please keep this matter confidential.”

“If Tolchi trusts us, we will return that trust.”

“We’re always ready.”

With the orcs’ agreement, Tolchi turned to KiJun.

“I trust you’ll join us…”

“Umm…”

Pretending to ponder—though he was actually considering it—KiJun eventually made up his mind.

“I’ll join you.”

He nodded gravely, and Tolchi stood up with a satisfied smile.

“Then we’ll meet outside at dawn. Make sure no one notices; we don’t want to cause unnecessary worry.”

“Understood. We’ll prepare discreetly.”

Tolchi nodded and disappeared quietly.

KiJun and the orcs continued to chatter and laugh, pretending Tolchi had never been there, but suddenly Charbanbesh muttered sadly.

“Jun is… really smart.”

“Not really. He was just warned by someone.”

After Lucy ensured no one else was listening, she allowed Charbanbesh to continue.

“I actually wished Jun wasn’t so smart. I wanted Tolchi to remain the glory of our orcs. But that was just my delusion and greed…”

“Don’t be disappointed, leader.”

The bald Orc, pouring more drink into Charbanbesh’s cup, comforted him.

“Leader, you can be that shining orc. No, you definitely will be.”

“Kiphus…!”

KiJun learned the bald orc’s name for the first time but couldn’t shake off the strong image of Mr. Jeong Yak-yong in his mind.

Even in the words he spoke to Charbanbesh, wisdom seemed to drip.

“But Kiphus already shines. The reflection of his head sparkles in the light.”

“Pffft!”

KiJun accidentally burst into laughter at another orc’s sudden joke.

He quickly tried to compose himself, but it was too late; all the orcs were looking at him.

Then Kiphus joyously raised his cup high.

“I made Jun laugh! The man who made the hero laugh!”

“Amazing, Kiphus!”

“Truly a magnificent orc!”

“Shining orc!”

As all the orcs raised their cups, KiJun also lifted his, subtly joining their cheerful mood.

Indeed, an orc enlightened by Mr. Jeong Yak-yong’s teachings, KiJun admired Kiphus anew.

“I’ll pay for this round.”

“Ohhhh! Jun is a great warrior indeed!”

“Jun knows loyalty and honor among comrades!”

Of course, he didn’t forget to atone for laughing at them, using his bribe.

At dawn, the group discreetly left the city as planned by Tolchi.

Despite their stealth, it was difficult for six large figures to move unnoticed.

Had they escaped one by one under the cover of darkness, it might have been different, but moving together made it inevitable.

And crucially.

“Oh, Mage!”

“Shh.”

They had to reveal themselves to the guard at the gate.

“Leaving at this hour… Truly, you are admirable for heading out with your comrades to mop up the remnants. I respect you.”

“Hmm. We’ll be back.”

With the guard’s quiet well-wishes, they left the city and began ascending the hill, where Charbanbesh murmured.

“Did he plan this? If so…”

“Probably.”

“He… seems to have left without anyone noticing.”

“Having gone this far, he wouldn’t leave a trace behind.”

Realizing the implications, Charbanbesh fell silent, and Kiphus spoke up.

“We’re orcs. We don’t speak of what we’re told to keep silent. But I wonder why Jun chose this method.”

“It’s because I acted in front of him.”

KiJun spoke calmly.

“From the moment I began to suspect him, I made extra effort to appear loyal. It was a mix of hoping he would change his heart and leading him to underestimate me.”

For example, after defeating the boss, he downplayed his own role, praising Tolchi, and readily offered the Estoc to him.

Having shown such behavior, it was unlikely he would go around talking about Tolchi’s affairs. Even if word got out, with five potential culprits, it would be hard to pin anything on Tolchi.

“That’s right, Jun is wise.”

“He’s coming.”

At Lucy’s signal, KiJun spoke briefly, and the orcs promptly fell silent.

Soon, they were able to join Tolchi, who was cloaked in a way that made him unrecognizable.

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“The dungeon.”

As expected, KiJun nodded solemnly in response.

“A Unique grade dungeon?”

“Exactly. There might still be remnants there, possibly information about the Overflow. It’s urgent and dangerous.”

If it were truly important and risky, the lord and his knights might have planned a thorough and safe expedition.

Perhaps the lord was indeed planning such a mission.

That’s why Tolchi acted quickly to ensure his own goals.

“We should hurry. Someone might enter the dungeon unknowingly and face danger.”

“Understood.”

KiJun ran beside Tolchi, with the orcs following tensely behind.

After some time, they discovered a small cave in the middle of the wasteland, the entrance to a Unique grade dungeon. Normally guarded by soldiers, it was currently unattended due to the casualties from the Overflow.

Before entering, Tolchi paused and half-bowed his head.

“Let’s have a moment of silence for the soldiers who fulfilled their duties to the end.”

“Agreed.”

As KiJun lifted his head from the silent tribute, he pondered the irony of it all.

Can sympathy for the weak coexist with hatred for the strong?

Is it wickedness or some kind of duty?

―He’s just a disgusting murderer.

With Lucy’s blunt summary, KiJun couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

Simultaneously, his title, Discoverer of the Hidden Dungeon, activated, providing him with rough information about the dungeon they were about to enter.

Reaffirming the overpowered nature of his title, KiJun urged Tolchi.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes. Avenging those soldiers is also our duty.”

KiJun, along with five orc warriors and Tolchi, entered the dungeon.

―Entering the dungeon, [Discoverer of the Hidden Dungeon (L)] title effect activates. All statuses and skill effects increase by 20%.

The beginning of the dungeon was still lit, but after about 10 minutes, it plunged into darkness, illuminated only by a faint glow emanating from KiJun, who called himself a Flame Human.

KiJun and the orcs, including Tolchi, possessed the ability to see through darkness, especially KiJun, who felt even more comfortable in the dark due to his Flame Eyes.

“Are there any living monsters?”

“There are.”

Responding to an orc’s murmur, Tolchi confirmed their presence, explaining that un-cleared dungeons always produce monsters, and some might have fled here after the Overflow.

“We must stay alert.”

“Brave orc warriors, you shall not die today.”

Tolchi roared, instilling confidence in the orcs.

The journey through the dim dungeon continued without encountering any formidable enemies, and the orcs dispatched the few that appeared.

“Good experience. Though in the future, we should be able to enter such dungeons alone.”

“Definitely.”

Eventually, Tolchi suggested a rest, bringing out a large thermos and cups from his inventory, serving steaming stew to everyone.

KiJun, recalling his initial thought of Tolchi being an NPC, laughed inwardly at his naivety.

―Contractor, there’s a potent sleeping agent in this stew. If consumed without precautions, even a Rare grade species couldn’t withstand it.

Informed by Lucy’s signal, KiJun asked.

‘Is there an antidote?’

―Of course. Especially with the title you’ve earned.

KiJun had obtained a Unique-grade title, [Spirit Guardian], from his contract with Ur, enhancing healing spells by 20%.

Trusting Lucy’s assurance, KiJun ate the stew, complimenting its taste.

“Tasty. It’s made by the lord’s chef, after all.”

The orcs, echoing the sentiment, fell asleep one by one after finishing their stew.

KiJun observed this, unfazed by the sleeping agent thanks to his Unbreakable Internal Clock.

“Tolchi, why did you do this?”

“To test if you’re a true hero!”

Tolchi, forgoing any pretext, lunged at KiJun with a blood-red greatsword, aiming to knock him into a trap.

―Crash, crackle!

Hit by the force, KiJun was thrown against the dungeon wall, triggering an explosion of cold, trapping him in ice.

Realizing Tolchi must have set this trap earlier, KiJun thought, ‘So he was busy right after the Overflow.’

‘Right, I’ve made my decision.’

Caught off-guard by Tolchi’s unexpected speed, KiJun found himself entrapped.

“Flame Humans, powerful but vulnerable to extreme cold. Their magic slows almost to a halt, and their spirit beasts can’t manifest.”

“You knew…”

“I pretended not to. For this moment.”

Tolchi, with a cold gaze, pointed his sword at KiJun.

“If you’re a real hero, you’ll survive. But if not, if you’ve greedily stolen my achievements and accepted the lord’s horn, you’ll die here.”

“The horn? If I give it to you, will you let me live?”

“I’ll grant you an honorable death. But if you don’t give it…”

Tolchi’s gaze shifted to the shadows, revealing a vampire-like creature.

“You’ll become a ghoul, forever tormented, neither alive nor dead.”

“You…?”

“Don’t make a mistake. I contacted them after the Overflow. They agreed to cooperate in exchange for you.”

―Kyahaha!

The vampire laughed wickedly, clearly inferior to the one KiJun had faced before.

“It’s so amusing! The top two contributors fighting each other! What a delight!”

“Ignore the vampire, Tolchi. It’s just making things easier for me.”

Tolchi turned his weapon towards the orcs.

“You’ll all die here. No one leaves.”

“Secondly,” KiJun continued, breaking free from the ice and grabbing the vampire before it could flee.

“I can’t be held down by this.”

―Kyaaaak! Save me―

The vampire disintegrated under the holy fire in KiJun’s hand.

―Secret Quest Objective Achieved!

A system message appeared, mockingly floating above them all.