I Became a Swordsmanship Genius in the Game

Chapter 103. The Benefactor

The surrounding High Orcs were maintaining an unusually quiet silence.

From far away, he could feel the clamor of the High Orcs who were belatedly rushing over.

But even they fell silent when they joined the group surrounding Hyunwoo.

A silence amidst the commotion.

In that strange scene, Hyunwoo felt bewildered.

‘…What is this.’

Hyunwoo looked them over slowly.

In their crossed gazes, he felt a wave of complex emotions.

All of them were the ones who had witnessed Hyunwoo and Argas's bloody battle.

They knew well that Hyunwoo had saved all of them through an indomitable struggle.

The awe in their eyes soon began to change into respect.

And.

One of the High Orcs shone his red eyes.

Fwoong—

The glowing red eyes and the tattoo on his body that responded to them lit up.

The light spread in an instant.

Not only the High Orc who had started it, but everyone with a tattoo began to emit light.

A method of spreading light not to use power, but just to emit it.

Hwaaaaa—

A short while later.

A red light and the various colors of the tattoos spread around Hyunwoo.

A warrior walked out from among them.

“…Conrad?”

With serious eyes and firmly closed lips, he knelt on one knee in front of Hyunwoo and bowed his head deeply.

Thump—

Behind him, the other High Orcs followed his action.

Not only the warriors, but also the women, the elderly, and the children all knelt before Hyunwoo and bowed their heads.

A wave of light numbering in the dozens, hundreds.

Thump—

Thump—

Thump—

Their act was the highest expression of respect in the High Orc race.

That act contained gratitude and respect for the human hero who had saved their lives.

The air, thick with gratitude and respect, was vibrating with the power of the ‘tattoos’.

Hyunwoo looked at them and,

'……This is awkward.'

scratched the back of his head.

It was true that he had saved them, but it was something he had done to save himself.

He didn't think it was something to be thanked for to this extent.

He had experienced the cheers of the crowd in the Arena, but it wasn't this close.

Moreover, the emotions he felt from the High Orcs were incomparably thicker than those of the Arena crowd.

While he was at a loss as to how to react, Conrad raised his head and opened his mouth.

“Brother.

Your fighting spirit and sacrifice will be remembered in the history of the High Orc tribe.

If it weren't for you, brother, we would not be standing here today.”

Hyunwoo cleared his throat once and opened his mouth.

“…It wasn’t that big of a deal, so please get up now.”

“If that is what you wish, brother.”

Conrad straightened his knee and got up from his spot.

He called him brother, but the way he was acting towards him was as if he were treating Gracia.

The other High Orcs also followed him and got up from their spots.

…The red light had subsided, but their sparkling eyes that looked at him were quite burdensome.

Hyunwoo ignored their gazes and asked what he had been curious about.

“Where are the others?

Where are they now?”

“You mean Grogue and Lucas?

Grogue is… over there.”

Conrad, who had turned around, pointed to Van, who was mixed in among the High Orcs.

He didn't know why that guy was mixed in over there again.

As Hyunwoo shook his head, Conrad opened his mouth.

“Lucas seemed to have gone to see the shaman earlier.”

“Lucas did?”

“Yes.

If you need a guide……”

“No, I can go alone.

Can you just get rid of them?”

He didn't have the confidence to squeeze through the densely packed High Orcs.

“I understand.

Everyone, step back—!”

Conrad turned around, raised his voice, and walked among the other High Orcs, waving his hand.

“There will be a chance to talk with our brother again soon, so don’t be too disappointed and go back to what you were doing!”

…A chance to talk again soon?

Conrad spoke some incomprehensible words and dispersed the High Orcs.

The High Orcs scattered bustlingly, glancing at him.

Hyunwoo naturally mixed in among them and headed towards Gracia’s tent.

Ah, but before that.

Hyunwoo approached Van, who was standing blankly to one side.

“Why are you here?”

“I am also a High Orc.”

“……”

He had asked why he was mixed in among them, but….

Anyway, he was right.

Hyunwoo was at a loss for words at Van’s irrefutable answer.

“Stop doing useless things and get ready to leave.”

“Are we leaving right away?”

“Not right away, but it's necessary to be ready to leave at a moment's notice, right?”

“Yes.

Oh, great hero of the High Orcs.

I shall follow your words.”

Van replied in a playful tone, but there was sincerity in it.

Hyunwoo chuckled, shook his head, and passed him.

* * *

Hyunwoo came face to face with Lucas in front of Gracia’s tent.

Flap—

When Hyunwoo arrived in front of the tent, the entrance opened, and Lucas came out from inside.

‘Lucas went to see Gracia first…’

Usually, Lucas seemed to find Gracia awkward.

As Hyunwoo approached Lucas, he, who had belatedly noticed Hyunwoo, opened his mouth.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.

But… what are you doing here?

You seemed to find the shaman difficult.”

“……When did I ever say I found him difficult?”

He replied with a calm complexion, but his trembling gaze and slightly raised voice proved that Hyunwoo’s words had hit the mark.

“Never mind then.”

“……”

“So why are you here?”

“Just……”

“Just?”

“I came because I had something to ask.”

“Just had something to ask, you say…”

As Hyunwoo looked at Lucas, he slightly averted his gaze.

Something that the prideful him would directly ask the Gracia he found awkward….

‘It’s probably related to the Stigma.’

Lucas had shown interest in the High Orc’s ‘tattoos’ during training.

The power that could be associated with it was the vampire’s ‘Stigma’.

Hyunwoo guessed the conversation between Lucas and Gracia, but he didn’t say anything.

If it was about the Stigma, there would be plenty of opportunities to talk about it later.

Hyunwoo nodded and passed Lucas.

Since he had come this far, it seemed better to see Gracia’s face once before leaving.

In fact, he still felt his stomach churn from time to time, but this much was bearable.

As Hyunwoo approached Gracia’s tent.

Flap—

The tent opened, and Gracia came out from inside.

“You are awake?

You must still be unwell… you should rest more.”

“Thanks to you, I’m all better.

I’m fine now.”

“Is that so?

Then……”

He who twisted his lips passed by his side.

It was not his usual crooked smile that seemed to be mocking, but a genuine smile with both corners of his lips raised subtly.

“Follow me.

A festival has been prepared.”

“…What?”

The tribe was full of commotion.

It seemed that the ‘chance to talk with him again soon’ that Conrad had mentioned was the ‘festival’.

Gracia didn't even look back and just walked slowly away.

‘Well… there’s no rush.’

There was still plenty of time.

He was also curious about what a High Orc’s ‘festival’ would be like.

Hyunwoo followed behind Gracia.

A High Orc’s ‘festival’ was held.

It was a festival to express gratitude to Hyunwoo, the benefactor of the clan.

Thump—

Thump—

A low drumbeat like a heartbeat echoed in the cave, announcing the start of the ‘festival’.

Fwoosh—!

A huge bonfire blazed in the center of the tribe.

Around it, tables were set up in a line, forming a circle.

There were no chairs.

It seemed to be a way to freely walk around and taste the various foods and drinks placed on the tables.

The High Orcs who attended the festival moved restlessly.

Chwaaak—!

There was one who drank alcohol by pouring a whole pot over his head, and,

Thump—!

Thump—!

Thump—!

there were also warriors who sang songs of battle and danced next to the one who was beating the drum.

“%$%@##—!!!”

To Hyunwoo, the warriors’ songs sounded like the squeal of a pig being slaughtered, but it was clear that they were enjoying themselves.

Also, the High Orcs’ attire was different.

The High Orcs were a race that prepared for battle even in their daily lives.

Those who always wore uncomfortable armor of dark leather and iron as if they were clothes were now dressed in colorful, ordinary clothes.

It was just ordinary casual wear, but compared to their previous armor, it was as splendid as a party dress.

Hyunwoo was looking over the entire festival from a short distance away.

A festival where one could freely walk around.

But Hyunwoo’s seat was fixed in one place.

‘I feel a bit like I’m being made fun of.’

A special place prepared for the ‘benefactor’.

In the center of the festival, a separate iron table was prepared for Hyunwoo.

The High Orcs, who had decided on an order among themselves, took turns visiting him.

“Thank you for saving us.”

“……”

Hyunwoo, who had bowed in return, scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

Thud—

The High Orc who had expressed his gratitude put a gift into the pot prepared next to him.

…Well, as for the gifts, most of them were things he had no idea what to do with, like ‘leftover meat’ or ‘a perfectly oval stone’.

But seeing them look so reluctant as they put the items in the pot, it seemed they had prepared items that they cherished in their own way.

‘…The thought is what counts in a gift, what else is there.’

If he rummaged through it well, there might be something useful.

Anyway, their grateful hearts were well conveyed.

In the meantime, Van also approached him.

As he had said, he was also a ‘High Orc’.

He was just getting bored sitting around, so it was good timing.

“Hey, High Orc.

Bow your head to the benefactor of the tribe.”

“Of course.”

Van lowered his large frame and knelt on one knee.

Then he placed his large hand on his chest and bowed his head deeply again.

This posture was the greatest sign of respect and gratitude among the High Orcs.

“Hyunwoo.

If it weren't for you, our tribe would not have seen this day.” The rıghtful source is novel★fire.net

“……”

“This festival is for you.

I cannot represent the tribe, but as one warrior of the clan, I express my sincere gratitude.”

Van, with a serious expression, bowed his head deeply once more.

…He’s making the person who was joking feel awkward.

“Why are you being so serious?

There’s plenty of food.

We’ll be living on the streets again once we leave the tribe, so eat a lot now.”

“I was planning to.”

As Van turned around, Hyunwoo opened his mouth.

“I didn’t do it alone.”

“…What?”

“If I were alone, it would have been impossible to make Argas retreat.”

The man’s madness was a nature that grew the more blood it saw.

If Van, Lucas, and Conrad hadn't blocked him at first, there would have been casualties, and if that had happened, Hyunwoo wouldn't have even thought of trying to stop him.

“…I couldn’t even stop a single step of his.”

“But no one died.

That’s what’s important.”

Hyunwoo patted Van’s shoulder.

“Don’t think too complicatedly.

It wasn’t something I did alone, but something everyone did together.

So, there’s no need to praise me as a benefactor or anything.”

“Is that so… I understand.”

Van nodded his head, his expression changing.

It seemed his complicated thoughts had been somewhat resolved.

“Then, you’re getting a big reception for doing nothing special.”

“……”

No, it seemed they had been resolved a little too much.

Van crossed his arms and looked at Hyunwoo.

Well, this was better than him being awkward around him.

“Hey— Grogue!

If you’re done, come out now.”

The High Orc behind Van frowned.

…There were many more High Orcs lined up behind him.

The task of expressing gratitude to the benefactor was still far from over.

Though in Hyunwoo’s case, it wasn’t a very welcome task.