Chapter 41 : Chapter 41

Chapter 41. The Black Mage (1)

While I was away, Seol Yoon spent her time meaningfully. In this quiet domain, she immersed herself in the sword and achieved a level of personal growth. Seol Yoon’s genius was exceptional; even just by swinging her blade, she could seek enlightenment.

Moreover, before I had left, she had received teachings from an Immortal.

Thanks to that, Seol Yoon had become an even more remarkable swordswoman than before.

That was why she instantly recognized that the grotesque lumps of flesh appearing before her were not easy foes. Though their movements seemed clumsy, their bodies were as hard as if clad in full armor.

Soulless beings, devoid of reason—terrifying in their unnaturalness. Seol Yoon knew well how dangerous such creatures could be.

And yet—

“……?”

For some reason, the sight of Arhan stepping forward felt entirely different from before. Yes, his appearance had changed—but that wasn’t what mattered.

The decisive change lay in the way he stood before those monstrous enemies—his figure warped, distorted—just as it had the first time they fought in the 「Arena」.

Like that moment when the small boy radiated murderous intent and was reborn as the Assassin of the Free City.

‘You really are special.’

Seol Yoon lowered the sword she had been gripping and simply watched Arhan.

At that moment, his figure transformed dramatically.

His pale white skin turned green, his frame expanded with swelling muscles, and his once-beautiful face contorted into something fierce and savage. The dwarven-forged steel sword in his hand grew larger, transforming into an immense slab of metal.

The boy Seol Yoon once knew was gone. In his place stood an orc—Savage and valiant.

A warrior whose blood boiled for battle, one who would never flee, no matter the odds.

***

From the very moment I faced the giant golems head-on, my heart began to race wildly.

A burning sensation spread through my entire body.

There was no fear—only the urge to fight.

It wasn’t a human heart that beat within me anymore—it was the heart of a warrior.

The golems in front of me shimmered and shifted, their forms changing into towering stone giants—monstrous beings even more threatening than before.

It wasn’t an illusion. It was a memory—one carried by the still-undigested 「Wild Instinct」 within me.

The memory of Beric, the Orc Great Warrior—the one who had never turned from battle.

『Another Monster Wave swept across the plains.』

His memories began to overlap with my reality.

『The beasts that had once taken my father returned—to trample everything I held dear.』

『Half the great plain teemed with monsters.』

『The blinding sunlight illuminated every grotesque face.』

Thud!

The tremor beneath my feet—was it from the giants or the golems the black Mage had created? The vividness of the memory blurred the line between past and present.

『Monsters whose very names evoked dread filled the horizon.』

『But I could not retreat.』

『Since becoming a Great Warrior, I had things I needed to protect.』

.

.

.

『A kind-hearted wife who believed in a fool like me.』

『A son barely able to walk, and a daughter still feeding at her mother’s breast.』

『My family, my friends, my neighbors who laughed with me over mugs of orc beer.』

But there was no hesitation.

『Time had passed, and I too had become an adult who could no longer run away.』

『Just as my father once did.』

I knew exactly what I had to do.

『I charged straight into the horde.』

『At its front stood the giants.』

As my sword commanded.

As my 「Wild Instinct」 whispered.

“Waaaargh—!”

A roar erupted from my chest—deep, thunderous, beastly. So fierce that I could hardly believe it came from me. At that moment, I was an orc—a born warrior who never fled from combat.

My blood burned. I glared at the advancing enemies and charged forward.

The vision of Beric’s memories vanished, replaced by the clear, vivid reality before me—The golems. The black Mage’s puppets.

Extending the 「Path」, I reached out to them. Through the web of paths, their movements slowed—laid bare before my eyes.

I would not step back.

“Huff—”

I drew in a deep breath. As I devoured more of the 「Wild Instinct」, strength surged through my body. My heart thundered, forming another Path within. It narrowed, hardened—until it became a line.

In that instant, the power of steel coursed through me.

「You’ve realized it yourself, young descendant.」

The understanding born from the orcs’ Coming-of-Age ceremony. The Line of the Karavan family wasn’t meant to be some secret ultimate technique—it had to flow naturally, like breathing. To extend beyond humanity, to forge a body of steel—that was the true purpose of the Karavan Line.

I had glimpsed that truth in the orcs’ ritual. Now, with a stronger body, I could finally wield it instinctively.

“Hoo—”

The steadier my breath, the harder my body felt.

It was as though I had become a sword myself—an unbreakable blade.

I sprinted forward like I was cutting through the great plains themselves. In an instant, I reached the nearest golem. Its massive arm swung down to crush me.

The 「Path」 extended. I could clearly see the density of its muscles, the hardness of its skin.

Seol Yoon had been right—these things were like heavily armored knights, dumb but terrifyingly durable.

Once, I would have struggled against them. But not anymore.

“Hup!”

Because now, I was no less hard than they were.

“Waaaargh!”

I tightened my grip on my sword and swung in a vast arc. It felt less like wielding a sword and more like a hammer. The blow, carrying all my strength, tore through the enemy’s body—ripping flesh, shattering bone. Thick, dark blood burst forth.

The golem’s arm was severed completely. Without pause, I kept swinging—wildly, recklessly, again and again. Limbs flew, torsos split, bones cracked, and innards spilled—monstrous entrails that reeked of decay.

I stepped forward, pivoted, and spun.

My blade cleaved the golem’s head clean off. It flew high into the air before slamming into the ground. That made one down.

I hadn’t allowed a single defense. Nor did I defend myself. Only relentless offense—crushing the enemy’s guard with sheer force. There was no refined swordsmanship here—only brutality.

But it was exhilarating and powerful—thoroughly orcish.

「Yes. None can stand in the way of the Path of Steel.」

As one golem fell, the remaining two charged fearlessly.

Their vacant eyes betrayed no emotion—they were puppets, following orders.

But my sword would not falter before such things.

I raised it high and brought it down with full force.

The strike carved deep into one golem’s chest, spraying filthy blood.

Without stopping, I spun, carrying the momentum, and sliced upward through the second.

The blade pierced its hardened hide, ripping it open. Still, I didn’t stop.

My motions were great, reckless, continuous—Like an artist painting an endless mural with a single brushstroke, my sword danced without pause.

This was the swordsmanship of 「Wild Instinct」—an unending rhythm of ferocity.

Gripping the hilt with both hands, I swung in vast arcs, pouring in all my strength.

「Wild Instinct」 would not cease—so long as my stamina endured.

Compared to the blades I’d devoured so far, it was crude and primitive.

No grace, no subtlety.

In a duel of finesse, even a single misstep would be fatal. But this was a purely orcish sword.

Beric, the Orc Great Warrior, did not fight for technique. He fought to protect his kin, his loved ones, his home. That was why 「Wild Instinct」 carried no refined art—only raw conviction.

A clumsy, inefficient sword meant only for slaying monsters. But that was what made it beautiful.

A blade with no defense, yet filled with Beric’s life—his will to never flee, to face any foe, to win no matter the odds.

“Hup!”

The two remaining golems were torn apart. Their tough bodies scattered under my endless strikes. Then one lunged from my blind spot—but I already sensed it.

It was within my 「Path」.

‘And besides, for me, the weakness of 「Wild Instinct」 isn’t a problem at all.’

I shifted my grip mid-swing, holding the sword one-handed. Then, from a backward-leaning stance, I flicked my wrist and thrust.

The blade pierced through the golem’s eye, impaling its brain and ending its life.

Right after, I kicked off its chest and leapt back. Without even looking, I drew 「Fang」 from my thigh and drove it into the skull of the final golem.

The dagger pierced through, extinguishing its life.

‘If a sword is unstable, then I’ll only use it when it counts.’

「Wild Instinct」 wasn’t the only blade I possessed. I could always call upon 「Needle」, 「Fang」, or 「Twilight」. To digest a sword meant that its essence was already part of me.

I looked at the three motionless golems and wiped the blood off my body. With a flick, I shook the blood from my sword and sheathed it.

That was when I noticed a small girl sitting dazed in the distance.

“Wh–What the… How can someone like that exist in a place like this…?”

The girl looked utterly bewildered.

I ignored her muttering and simply gave Seol Yoon a glance.

She immediately understood my intent.

“H-How did you take down those golems with just a sword—Agh!”

The girl stumbled backward in terror, tripping over her own feet.

She fell, staring at Seol Yoon as if she were a monster, eyes wide with fear.

“P-Please, don’t kill me! Please!”

As Seol Yoon approached, the girl’s cries grew more frantic—until it seemed she might faint.

It almost made me feel guilty.

‘Come on, no need to cry that much.’

Seol Yoon gestured at her. Without a word, the girl scrambled over like a frightened animal about to be sold at market.

“Stop crying.”

The instant Seol Yoon’s cold voice fell, the girl’s tears stopped as if cut by a blade.

Expressionless, Seol Yoon’s presence alone froze her.

I scratched my head, looking at the now-quiet girl.

“I have a question.”

“H-Hic… wh-what is it?”

“The Mage who ordered you to dig here—where is your master?”

Her pupils shook violently.

Her lips trembled. Clearly, her master—the black Mage—was terrifying.

I sighed. I had already slain three of his golems—he must have sensed it.

I didn’t want to give him time to prepare.

But I also couldn’t let him go. If some black Mage kept spreading his foul magic near my lands, I’d have nothing but trouble. Best to end it now, completely. But if the girl wouldn’t cooperate, this could get messy.

I frowned.

“Still not talking?”

In such cases, the orcish way worked best.

Violence wasn’t always the answer—but sometimes, it solved problems quickly.

I smiled, slowly drawing my sword.

And then—“I-I’ll talk! I’ll talk!”

Before I even fully unsheathed it, the girl screamed.

…Well, that was faster than expected.

I smiled faintly as her face turned pale. Seeing that, she cried out again.

“I-I’ll lead you there! I’ll show you the way! P-Please, just follow me!”

So cooperative. I almost felt proud. Maybe I should’ve gone harder from the start.

Liam chuckled in approval.

「Excellent. That is the Karavan way.」

Earning my master’s praise only made it more satisfying.

“……”

…I chose to ignore Seol Yoon’s exasperated, weary look.