As Karim opened his eyes, he sensed that something about him had changed.
“Have I evolved again?”
No, that wasn’t it. It was just growth.
There were no physical changes, like increased strength or a sturdier body, but he felt something within him had ripened.
“I took down a troll by myself.”
A warrior who single-handedly defeated a troll. It was not a simple accomplishment.
It meant he had become a proud orc warrior, someone who could stand tall without shame in front of anyone. Moreover, he had proven himself to be a powerful warrior, arguably the best in the tribe.
Not just the Blue Axe Tribe, but dozens of other orc tribes scattered within the Kaizen Great Forest.
Yes, he had proven it. The troll’s head in his hands was the evidence.
However, the growth he achieved within himself didn’t seem to be solely because he had defeated the troll.
“Once again, I received my lord’s assistance.”
Yes, the lord. His lord had once again propelled his growth.
New knowledge and unfamiliar experiences appeared in his mind.
“I feel like I could do it like my father.”
Karik, his father and the chief of the tribe, who always treated the tribe members like his own family and managed them with care. Karim felt that he could do the same in leading the tribe.
No, it wasn’t just a thought. It was a conviction. Despite never having stood above someone in his short life, Karim was confident that he could achieve it.
“Indeed, my lord is remarkable.”
If his lord hadn’t been there, could he have proven himself as a warrior by confidently decapitating the troll?
No, it would have been impossible.
Though he wanted to proudly show off the troll’s head to his fellow orcs, he held back.
Karim raised the troll’s head high and spoke to the sky.
“My lord, this is for you. Please accept it.”
The troll’s head was truly a symbol of honor and glory. If he offered this precious trophy to his lord, his lord would probably be satisfied.
And then, a response came from Taehyung.
“No, it’s okay. Don’t give it to me.”
“No, you don’t need to decline. I want to dedicate this glory to you.”
“Don’t give it to me. Keep it. I don’t need that, you can have all that glory.”
Thud!
A loud sound echoed.
It was the sound of Karim’s heart pounding.
Did his lord just say, ‘You can have all that glory’?
“My lord, do you really think of me that way?”
“Huh?”
“I didn’t know you thought so highly of me!”
Karim suddenly burst into tears, as if he had been deeply moved. Tears begin streaming down his face.
“Thank you for considering my honor and glory! I, Karim, will truly work hard!”
Could any orc, no matter how mighty, concede this glory to someone else?
To willingly give up this glory and take care of the subordinate’s honor!
His lord must be an angel, without a doubt. Otherwise, it didn’t make sense.
Karim didn’t hear Taehyung’s repeated refusals moments ago. He was filled with emotion, and his ears were blocked.
“What are you talking about? Don’t give me that head, it’s disgusting.”
Taehyung’s words didn’t reach Karim. He was still overwhelmed with emotion.
“Why do you like that so much anyway?”
Watching Karim being fond of strange things, Taehyung shook his head.
“I don’t know. Well, good things are good.”
At that moment, a message appeared to Taehyung.
[Your summon, Karim, swears eternal loyalty to you!]
[Now, Karim will unquestionably follow your orders. He will believe even if you tell him to grind beans with red beans!]
“Huh?”
Suddenly?
“Is this how it goes?”
Taehyung muttered in confusion.
Now, Karim had a new goal.
It was to build influence.
He hadn’t explicitly stated it, but the desire to build influence had been dormant in Karim’s heart from a young age.
He was born as the son of the Chief tribe and grew up watching his father, Karik, the chief.
The tribe expected him to become an excellent warrior and, eventually, a great tribe chief who would lead the Blue Axe Tribe after his father.
That was the flame of the desire to become a ruler that had never extinguished in Karim’s heart, despite failing to meet the tribe’s expectations and being abandoned without fulfilling the role of an orc.
But now, things were different.
He had been reborn through his lord’s grace.
He became a High Orc, grew stronger, defeated increasingly powerful monsters one by one, and ultimately even beheaded a troll on his own.
Karim was now a mature warrior, a proud orc who could openly declare his name anywhere.
A while ago, he recalled the conversation he had with his lord.
“Karim, is there nothing you want to do?”
“Yeah. Something you want to do, not something I order you to do. You must have had dreams too.”
“Following my orders is good, but if there’s something you want to do, do it.”
Those words resonated deep within Karim.
“What I want to do…”
After that, Karim began seriously contemplating his dreams.
“I want to meet my tribe members again. I want to be acknowledged. And I want to lead.”
Even though they had abandoned him, Karim had not abandoned them.
He still loved his family and his fellow orcs.
If he could, Karim would willingly embrace those who had abandoned him.
Therefore, Karim decided.
“I will become the Orc Ruler.”
Beyond the chief of the Blue Axe Tribe, his goal was to unite the scattered tribes across the entire Kaizen Great Forest.
Karim engraved that goal in his heart.
No, it was more than that. A path beyond what he had seen in history, the ancient glory of a distant past. Something he had once considered impossible.
He would make it happen.
Beyond the vast Kaizen Great Forest, he would gather and unify all orcs across the continent.
The path of a Great Ruler.
If he could achieve that grand dream, he thought he might finally be of some help to his Lord.
But before that, there was something he wanted to do.
A formidable predator even stronger than the mighty trolls, the greatest enemy of the Kaizen Great Forest Orc Tribes.
Ogre.
If he could single-handedly defeat that monster, stronger than any troll, several of the tribe’s top warriors sticking together wouldn’t deny his existence.
“I can do it.”
Karim tightly gripped the axe handle and stepped forward confidently.
*
[Your summoned Karim has made a significant decision.]
[This resolution will be reflected in Karim’s future growth.]
“Huh?”
Taehyung raised an eyebrow.
“What’s he talking about now?”
A significant decision? Out of the blue?
He seemed calm on the surface. Even though Taehyung didn’t know, it seemed like Karim had made some big determination.
Karim was walking through the forest. He had mentioned wanting to defeat an ogre. Taehyung wished him luck when he expressed his desire.
Though a bit uneasy knowing that ogres were much more powerful than trolls… Karim seemed up to the challenge.
“This is an interesting to watch.”
It was an unexpected pass-time. Like playing a simple game?
Just issue a command, and Karim would execute it. Even without watching, messages about Karim’s actions were sent through the system. Like push notifications in a mobile game.
Yet, it wasn’t exactly like a simple game;, the difference was he could share Karim’s senses.
Experiencing everything as if Taehyung were doing it himself—feeling the rough texture of the axe handle, the chilling sensation when cutting through an enemy with the axe, the feeling when an enemy’s attack narrowly missed—every sensation was real.
The best part was feeling the vivid sense of the unmoving left arm.
There might be no hope now, but he liked how his left arm returned functional. Taehyung really wished for that.
Unknowingly, he was getting more and more immersed in Karim’s adventure.
With a solid stance, watching Karim stride confidently towards the ogre’s territory made Taehyung oddly proud. He felt like bragging.
Maybe this was what parental pride felt like.
“That’s my kid!”
He felt like parading around saying that.
‘Oh, this won’t do. I guess it’s been a while since I wrote something in the HunterNet.’
He turned on HunterNet. He had always frequented the general discussion board and was now somewhat recognized on some of the other board. Posting a message might get some reactions.
[Hey, guys, I’ve awakened for real.
-So, this time, I summoned a high orc, and he’s an orc, right? But this guy is too solid. He takes down dozens of goblins alone, defeats trolls, and…]
He deleted and rewrote it, then deleted and rewrote it again.
Taehyung’s keyboard couldn’t stop.
*
As soon as he entered the ogre’s territory, he felt a sense of unease.
His whole body tingled, and his ears buzzed. Karim knew this was the presence of the ogre.
According to the elders, the ogre in this territory was different from those in other places.
It was stronger and more ferocious. The Samana Kurpha referred to the ogre inhabiting Kaizen Great Forest as “corrupted ogres,” emphasizing that they were different.
[Do not enter the territory of corrupted ogres. If you must, go with a prepared group. Otherwise, you may lose your worthless life.]
Karim understood why Kurpha had said that.
His senses were sending danger signals. Run away. This place was not safe.
Karim closed his eyes, raised his head, and spoke boldly.
“I, High Orc Karim of the Blue Axe Tribe, am not afraid.”
His lord was always watching over him. Therefore, he could do it.
“My lord was always here to support me. So, I can do this.”
He thought that maybe his lord was busy with other matters. He cautiously guessed that it might not be something trivial. Or maybe, he was eating.
Eating was truly an extraordinary activity. Perhaps it wasn’t food bestowed by the orc god. Such incredible food might make someone lose focus.
“My lord, even if you are not watching, I can do it.”
Because the lord always supported him.
Karim nodded his head vigorously, as if making a pledge, and strode forward.
And then, he met it.
A gigantic, monstrous creature the size of a single floor house.
The enemy of the forest, the ogre.
To that being what everyone feared, Karim boldly shouted, extending his axe in front of him.
“I, Karim, son of the Blue Axe Tribe, a High Orc, have come to take your head!”
As Karim opened his eyes, he sensed that something about him had changed.
“Have I evolved again?”
No, that wasn’t it. It was just growth.
There were no physical changes, like increased strength or a sturdier body, but he felt something within him had ripened.
“I took down a troll by myself.”
A warrior who single-handedly defeated a troll. It was not a simple accomplishment.
It meant he had become a proud orc warrior, someone who could stand tall without shame in front of anyone. Moreover, he had proven himself to be a powerful warrior, arguably the best in the tribe.
Not just the Blue Axe Tribe, but dozens of other orc tribes scattered within the Kaizen Great Forest.
Yes, he had proven it. The troll’s head in his hands was the evidence.
However, the growth he achieved within himself didn’t seem to be solely because he had defeated the troll.
“Once again, I received my lord’s assistance.”
Yes, the lord. His lord had once again propelled his growth.
New knowledge and unfamiliar experiences appeared in his mind.
“I feel like I could do it like my father.”
Karik, his father and the chief of the tribe, who always treated the tribe members like his own family and managed them with care. Karim felt that he could do the same in leading the tribe.
No, it wasn’t just a thought. It was a conviction. Despite never having stood above someone in his short life, Karim was confident that he could achieve it.
“Indeed, my lord is remarkable.”
If his lord hadn’t been there, could he have proven himself as a warrior by confidently decapitating the troll?
No, it would have been impossible.
Though he wanted to proudly show off the troll’s head to his fellow orcs, he held back.
Karim raised the troll’s head high and spoke to the sky.
“My lord, this is for you. Please accept it.”
The troll’s head was truly a symbol of honor and glory. If he offered this precious trophy to his lord, his lord would probably be satisfied.
And then, a response came from Taehyung.
“No, it’s okay. Don’t give it to me.”
“No, you don’t need to decline. I want to dedicate this glory to you.”
“Don’t give it to me. Keep it. I don’t need that, you can have all that glory.”
Thud!
A loud sound echoed.
It was the sound of Karim’s heart pounding.
Did his lord just say, ‘You can have all that glory’?
“My lord, do you really think of me that way?”
“Huh?”
“I didn’t know you thought so highly of me!”
Karim suddenly burst into tears, as if he had been deeply moved. Tears begin streaming down his face.
“Thank you for considering my honor and glory! I, Karim, will truly work hard!”
Could any orc, no matter how mighty, concede this glory to someone else?
To willingly give up this glory and take care of the subordinate’s honor!
His lord must be an angel, without a doubt. Otherwise, it didn’t make sense.
Karim didn’t hear Taehyung’s repeated refusals moments ago. He was filled with emotion, and his ears were blocked.
“What are you talking about? Don’t give me that head, it’s disgusting.”
Taehyung’s words didn’t reach Karim. He was still overwhelmed with emotion.
“Why do you like that so much anyway?”
Watching Karim being fond of strange things, Taehyung shook his head.
“I don’t know. Well, good things are good.”
At that moment, a message appeared to Taehyung.
[Your summon, Karim, swears eternal loyalty to you!]
[Now, Karim will unquestionably follow your orders. He will believe even if you tell him to grind beans with red beans!]
“Huh?”
Suddenly?
“Is this how it goes?”
Taehyung muttered in confusion.
Now, Karim had a new goal.
It was to build influence.
He hadn’t explicitly stated it, but the desire to build influence had been dormant in Karim’s heart from a young age.
He was born as the son of the Chief tribe and grew up watching his father, Karik, the chief.
The tribe expected him to become an excellent warrior and, eventually, a great tribe chief who would lead the Blue Axe Tribe after his father.
That was the flame of the desire to become a ruler that had never extinguished in Karim’s heart, despite failing to meet the tribe’s expectations and being abandoned without fulfilling the role of an orc.
But now, things were different.
He had been reborn through his lord’s grace.
He became a High Orc, grew stronger, defeated increasingly powerful monsters one by one, and ultimately even beheaded a troll on his own.
Karim was now a mature warrior, a proud orc who could openly declare his name anywhere.
A while ago, he recalled the conversation he had with his lord.
“Karim, is there nothing you want to do?”
“Yeah. Something you want to do, not something I order you to do. You must have had dreams too.”
“Following my orders is good, but if there’s something you want to do, do it.”
Those words resonated deep within Karim.
“What I want to do…”
After that, Karim began seriously contemplating his dreams.
“I want to meet my tribe members again. I want to be acknowledged. And I want to lead.”
Even though they had abandoned him, Karim had not abandoned them.
He still loved his family and his fellow orcs.
If he could, Karim would willingly embrace those who had abandoned him.
Therefore, Karim decided.
“I will become the Orc Ruler.”
Beyond the chief of the Blue Axe Tribe, his goal was to unite the scattered tribes across the entire Kaizen Great Forest.
Karim engraved that goal in his heart.
No, it was more than that. A path beyond what he had seen in history, the ancient glory of a distant past. Something he had once considered impossible.
He would make it happen.
Beyond the vast Kaizen Great Forest, he would gather and unify all orcs across the continent.
The path of a Great Ruler.
If he could achieve that grand dream, he thought he might finally be of some help to his Lord.
But before that, there was something he wanted to do.
A formidable predator even stronger than the mighty trolls, the greatest enemy of the Kaizen Great Forest Orc Tribes.
Ogre.
If he could single-handedly defeat that monster, stronger than any troll, several of the tribe’s top warriors sticking together wouldn’t deny his existence.
“I can do it.”
Karim tightly gripped the axe handle and stepped forward confidently.
*
[Your summoned Karim has made a significant decision.]
[This resolution will be reflected in Karim’s future growth.]
“Huh?”
Taehyung raised an eyebrow.
“What’s he talking about now?”
A significant decision? Out of the blue?
He seemed calm on the surface. Even though Taehyung didn’t know, it seemed like Karim had made some big determination.
Karim was walking through the forest. He had mentioned wanting to defeat an ogre. Taehyung wished him luck when he expressed his desire.
Though a bit uneasy knowing that ogres were much more powerful than trolls… Karim seemed up to the challenge.
“This is an interesting to watch.”
It was an unexpected pass-time. Like playing a simple game?
Just issue a command, and Karim would execute it. Even without watching, messages about Karim’s actions were sent through the system. Like push notifications in a mobile game.
Yet, it wasn’t exactly like a simple game;, the difference was he could share Karim’s senses.
Experiencing everything as if Taehyung were doing it himself—feeling the rough texture of the axe handle, the chilling sensation when cutting through an enemy with the axe, the feeling when an enemy’s attack narrowly missed—every sensation was real.
The best part was feeling the vivid sense of the unmoving left arm.
There might be no hope now, but he liked how his left arm returned functional. Taehyung really wished for that.
Unknowingly, he was getting more and more immersed in Karim’s adventure.
With a solid stance, watching Karim stride confidently towards the ogre’s territory made Taehyung oddly proud. He felt like bragging.
Maybe this was what parental pride felt like.
“That’s my kid!”
He felt like parading around saying that.
‘Oh, this won’t do. I guess it’s been a while since I wrote something in the HunterNet.’
He turned on HunterNet. He had always frequented the general discussion board and was now somewhat recognized on some of the other board. Posting a message might get some reactions.
[Hey, guys, I’ve awakened for real.
-So, this time, I summoned a high orc, and he’s an orc, right? But this guy is too solid. He takes down dozens of goblins alone, defeats trolls, and…]
He deleted and rewrote it, then deleted and rewrote it again.
Taehyung’s keyboard couldn’t stop.
*
As soon as he entered the ogre’s territory, he felt a sense of unease.
His whole body tingled, and his ears buzzed. Karim knew this was the presence of the ogre.
According to the elders, the ogre in this territory was different from those in other places.
It was stronger and more ferocious. The Samana Kurpha referred to the ogre inhabiting Kaizen Great Forest as “corrupted ogres,” emphasizing that they were different.
[Do not enter the territory of corrupted ogres. If you must, go with a prepared group. Otherwise, you may lose your worthless life.]
Karim understood why Kurpha had said that.
His senses were sending danger signals. Run away. This place was not safe.
Karim closed his eyes, raised his head, and spoke boldly.
“I, High Orc Karim of the Blue Axe Tribe, am not afraid.”
His lord was always watching over him. Therefore, he could do it.
“My lord was always here to support me. So, I can do this.”
He thought that maybe his lord was busy with other matters. He cautiously guessed that it might not be something trivial. Or maybe, he was eating.
Eating was truly an extraordinary activity. Perhaps it wasn’t food bestowed by the orc god. Such incredible food might make someone lose focus.
“My lord, even if you are not watching, I can do it.”
Because the lord always supported him.
Karim nodded his head vigorously, as if making a pledge, and strode forward.
And then, he met it.
A gigantic, monstrous creature the size of a single floor house.
The enemy of the forest, the ogre.
To that being what everyone feared, Karim boldly shouted, extending his axe in front of him.
“I, Karim, son of the Blue Axe Tribe, a High Orc, have come to take your head!”
