Orc kept staring at the blue screen floating before his eyes.
Status Window
Name: Morgath
Race: Half-Orc / Half-Human
Age: 17
Level: 10
Awakening: Second Awakening
HP: 1,280 / 1,280
Stamina: 950 / 950
Stats
Strength: 42
Endurance: 39
Durability: 41
Agility: 31
Dexterity: 29
Vitality: 38
Willpower: 45
Wisdom: 28
Perception: 33
Intelligence: 24
Luck: 16
Charisma: 18
Resistances
Physical Resistance: Medium
Pain Resistance: Medium
Mental Resistance: Medium
Fear Resistance: High
Poison Resistance: Low
Skills
Killer Move — Lv.1
Lonely Sword Ruler — Lv.1
Craftsmanship — Lv.3
Survival Instinct — Lv.3
Basic Combat Mastery — Lv.3
Morgath exhaled slowly.
"…Not bad," he muttered.
"For someone they wanted dead since birth."
He closed the window with a thought and started walking deeper between the trees.
Morgath quietly reflected as he moved.
"I guess being half human and half orc gave me bonuses across most of my stats.
Compared to humans, orcs naturally possess far superior physical abilities."
"But humans excel in mentality—mana control, intelligence, adaptability.
Humans could use mana freely."
"Orcs, on the other hand, were different. They relied on spiritual energy instead—and even that was limited to shamans."
"So in the end… I really am an anomaly," Morgath thought.
Suddenly, his body tensed.
He stopped.
…He had heard something.
Morgath turned to his right. After moving about fifteen meters through the trees, his eyes caught sight of a group—seven mounted, armored soldiers escorting a wagon.
Three rode on the left.
Three on the right.
An old man, dressed in worn and faded clothes, guided the wagon itself. Whatever lay inside was completely covered.
At the very front rode a warrior with a yellow plume attached to his helmet—clearly the leader.
Morgath watched them silently.
"Humans have started passing through this territory more often," he noted.
But then his gaze lingered on the wagon.
"What should I do…"
"I could knock them out quickly—but I can't be sure about the one in front."
He exhaled.
"Well. Whatever happens, happens."
Morgath shifted into a combat-ready stance.
"Killer Move—activate."
"Ten minutes of boost. One-hour cooldown.
I have to end this fast."
He burst forward.
In an instant, his fist slammed into the first soldier with full force.
The man was sent flying, crashing into the ground unconscious before he even understood what happened.
Before the two nearest soldiers could react, Morgath grabbed one of them and hurled him hard into the earth.
"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!" someone shouted.
The front warrior instantly drew his sword.
"Too late," Morgath muttered.
He flicked his wrist.
Small stones shot through the air—each striking the faces of three soldiers in rapid succession. The stones shattered on impact, releasing a foul-smelling substance.
One by one, they collapsed unconscious.
Only two remained—the leader and one last soldier.
The remaining soldier charged.
Morgath parried the strike cleanly, then slammed the blunt side of his sword into the man's head.
The soldier fell.
Now only the leader stood.
He attacked immediately.
Morgath barely blocked the blow, sliding back several steps from the force.
"Hahaha… not bad," Morgath said, grinning.
No reply.
"You don't like talking?" Morgath asked.
Still no response.
The warrior launched a relentless series of strikes.
Morgath struggled to deflect them.
Damn… he's stronger than those six idiots combined. I could use Lonely Sword Ruler—but it's too late. All his allies are down. If even one of them were conscious, it might work… but not now.
Then Morgath's eyes shifted.
The old man—the wagon driver—was trembling in terror.
An idea formed.
Morgath struck hard, forcing the leader to stagger back—then he leapt.
In a blink, Morgath stood behind the old man, his blade pressed to the man's throat.
The leader froze mid-step.
"Take another step," Morgath said calmly,
"and this old man dies."
"If the life of an innocent human—one whose grandchildren are waiting for him at home—means nothing to you… then feel free to move."
Silence.
The warrior stopped.
Got you, Morgath thought.
"Now," he said, "slowly drop your weapon."
The warrior hesitated.
Morgath pressed the blade harder against the old man's neck.
"I said drop it. Or did you think I was joking?"
The sword fell to the ground.
"That's better," Morgath nodded.
"Now take off that helmet. Slowly."
The warrior raised a hand and lifted the helmet.
Before it even came fully off, long, smooth golden hair spilled free.
When the helmet finally fell—
It was a girl.
Blue eyes.
Fair skin.
Cheeks slightly full—not too soft, not too sharp—faintly flushed.
Morgath's eyes widened.
"Oho…" he said with a crooked grin.
"Now this is a surprise. You're quite the beauty."
The girl remained silent, her expression burning with restrained anger.
"Hey, hey," Morgath chuckled.
"Staying quiet like that isn't very friendly."
Then—thud.
He struck the old man, knocking him unconscious.
The girl reached for her sword—
Morgath's blade snapped back to her throat instantly.
"Tch. Tch. Tch," he clicked his tongue.
"Careful now. Making dangerous moves like that could damage such a lovely neck."
"Now then," Morgath said calmly, his blade still resting against her throat,
"start answering my questions properly, and I'll let you all live."
He tilted his head slightly.
"First—why are you traveling this route?
You know this road cuts straight through the Monster Forest. It's dangerous."
"Yet you still chose it."
His eyes narrowed.
"That means you're transporting something valuable. Am I wrong?"
The girl remained silent.
"Oi. Oi," Morgath said, his voice sharpening.
"I'm talking to you. Answer."
After a brief pause, she finally spoke.
"Our family has fallen into hardship," she said.
"And internal conflict has begun within the kingdom."
Her voice was steady—brave, yet strangely pleasant.
"The faction my family supports is losing power. Because of that, I was sent on behalf of my house to seek aid from noble families in a neighboring kingdom."
She took a breath.
"This forest was the shortest route."
Morgath stared at her for a moment.
"…How ridiculous," he said flatly.
"Your family has fallen so low that they'd send a girl like you on a mission this dangerous?"
He looked her over openly.
"With looks like yours, wouldn't it be easier to snare a few influential lords instead of swinging a sword?"
Her expression twisted with anger.
"I am not weak," she snapped.
"I'm a knight. I can fight."
"Oi, oi," Morgath replied lazily.
"Don't raise your voice at me."
He smirked faintly.
"I can see you at least know how to hold a sword. But that doesn't mean you'll walk out of this forest alive."
"So turn back."
"I can't," she said immediately.
"If I fail to bring reinforcements, my family will fall—and our honor will be trampled into the dirt."
Morgath grabbed her by the collar, pulling her closer.
"Listen to me," he said coldly.
"Are you really planning to die over something as stupid as 'honor'?"
"Use your head."
She stared back at him for a moment, then spoke quietly.
"Aren't you an orc?"
"Orcs are monster who would give everything for honor and pride."
"You should understand that."
For a split second—
Silence.
Then Morgath's expression twisted with fury.
"You loud-mouthed, half-witted idiot," he snarled.
"Listen carefully."
"If I ever hear you call orcs 'monsters' again, I'll rip your tongue out."
"Orcs are not monsters."
"They harmed no one. They lived quietly within their own lands."
"But humans like you—monsters wearing human skin—label them beasts while calling yourselves superior."
His grip tightened.
"And I am neither orc nor human."
"If it weren't for your cursed kind, I wouldn't have been born like this."
He exhaled sharply.
"…Even if I were human," he muttered,
"I'd still say the same."
He released her.
"Tch. Arguing with you is pointless."
"So—you're taking what's in that wagon to a neighboring kingdom. And since you haven't gone far into the forest yet…"
He gestured vaguely.
"…you can still turn back."
"I already told you," she said, her face reddening, eyes glistening.
"I can't return in shame with these, after coming this far."
"Who said you'd be returning with what's in that wagon?" Morgath replied.
Her eyes widened.
"Wha—"
Tap.
Morgath struck her cleanly.
She collapsed unconscious before she could finish the sentence.