Chapter 12

Chapter 12

[Other-Race Support]

▸ Race Development (Orcs): 50P

― Overall improvement of the Orc race’s abilities

― Increased combat power, intelligence, and adaptability

▸ Race Blessing (Orcs): 30P

― Strengthens the Orc race for 24 hours

▸ Induce Race Awakening: 80P

― Increases the probability of Awakened individuals appearing among other races

‘...’

My breath stopped.

‘Wait. Induce Race Awakening?’

I read it again. There was no mistake.

‘Orcs can become Awakened too?’

My heart pounded. My mind raced.

One human Awakened had held out against five orcs. Just one person. So what would happen if an orc became Awakened?

Orcs already had physical abilities far superior to humans. And if Awakening was added on top of that?

‘...That’s insane.’

Goosebumps rose across my skin.

And that wasn’t all.

Humanity had ‘Civilization Development,’ which raised their stage by transmitting technologies.

And the orcs had ‘Race Development,’ which raised the capabilities of the entire race all at once.

‘I can raise both of them.’

Humanity through civilization. Orcs through their race. I could maximize each side’s strengths.

‘This works? Seriously?’

If this were a game, it was practically like playing with cheats or mods. And furthermore...

‘Could it work with other races too?’

Elves. Dwarves. Lizardmen. What if I could bring them into the tribe too? Would a new category unlock each time?

‘...Overpowered. Completely overpowered.’

A smile formed on my face without me realizing it.

I looked back at the orcs. They were still prostrated so deeply that their foreheads nearly touched the ground.

“Raise your heads.”

The orc in front slowly raised its head.

Tears had gathered in its eyes. Droplets clung to its black pupils and ran down its cheeks.

‘Orcs cry too.’

It was the first time I had learned that. It was a scene you could never see in the game. Back then, they had simply been monsters that had to be killed.

“We’re the same tribe now.”

The orc nodded, without wiping away its tears.

[Notification]

10 minutes remain in the duration of Descent.

Time was already almost up.

“I’ll come again tomorrow.”

I said it to the Awakened, then looked at the orcs too.

“Rest well until then.”

My body began to glow. My heart was calling me back.

I looked around the cave one last time. 100 Primitive Humans. 9 orcs. Huts. Pottery. Bows. A temple. My statue. Rising smoke.

‘First dungeon cleared. First diplomacy succeeded.’

I closed my eyes.

‘Not a bad day.’

Light poured down.

When I opened my eyes again, a familiar sight came into view.

I lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Cracked ceiling. Yellowed wallpaper. The smell of mold. My familiar studio apartment.

But I felt different. Something hot was swirling inside my chest.

‘Shop.’

A window appeared before my eyes.

[Planetary Ruler System]

Point Shop

Current Points: 102P

━━ Other-Race Support ━━

▸ Race Development (Orcs): 50P

▸ Race Blessing (Orcs): 30P

▸ Induce Race Awakening: 80P

My gaze stopped on ‘Induce Race Awakening.’ 80 points. If I used it, only 22 points would remain.

‘Invest in the orcs?’

Honestly, I hesitated.

They had only just joined. Building trust would take time. What if they betrayed us? What if an Awakened orc attacked the tribe? What if they stabbed us in the back using the power I had given them?

I pressed a finger to my forehead. My thoughts were tangled.

But.

I remembered the look in the orcs’ eyes earlier. When I had personally knelt down and treated their wounds. The ones who had even shed tears. Had that been an act? No. That had been sincere.

And above all, Awakened individuals instinctively obey the Ruler. The human Awakened had done so. An orc Awakened should be the same.

‘It’s worth the gamble.’

I decided.

[Induce Race Awakening]

80P will be consumed.

Target Race: Orc

[Investment Complete]

The probability of Awakened individuals appearing among the Orc race has increased.

▸ Previous Probability: 0.05%

▸ Increase: +15%

▸ Current Probability: 15.05%

Remaining Points: 22P

‘...What?’

I rubbed my eyes without realizing it. But nothing changed.

Fifteen percent.

‘Is this right?’

Humanity’s base Awakening probability had been 0.1 percent. A number where maybe one in a thousand would become Awakened. But with a single investment of 80 points, the orcs had reached 15 percent.

A 150-fold difference.

With nine orcs and a 15 percent probability, statistically at least one could Awaken. If I was lucky, even two might.

‘Does that... make sense?’

At that point, the orcs’ true advantage might not be their reproductive ability or Race Development at all, but their rate of producing Awakened. It was ridiculously overpowered.

‘This crosses the line.’

What could I do with this? With a single ‘Awakened unit,’ I might be able to do something similar to a Hunter guild in the real world...

I tried to continue the thought, but fatigue soon overwhelmed me. Dungeon. Boss battle. Descent. Diplomacy. Treatment. Investment. Too much had happened in a single day.

‘First, I’ll get some sleep...’

My consciousness cut out in an instant.

____________

The next morning.

On the subway heading toward the Seoul Awakened Center, I stood in a corner pretending to look out the window. What I was actually watching was something else.

‘Observe.’

A translucent screen appeared before my eyes. Another world overlapped with the subway scenery. The planet inside my heart.

I could see the forest. Primitive Humans and orcs were moving together.

Three humans were hiding behind a tree. Bows drawn. A short distance away, two orcs were crouched down. They exchanged glances.

A deer was grazing.

Completely unaware.

Whoosh!

An arrow flew. It struck the deer in the side. But it wasn’t killed instantly. The deer immediately bolted.

At that moment, the orcs burst out. They ran on all fours like beasts. They caught up with the deer in an instant. A club came crashing down.

―Thud!

The humans approached. Together with the orcs, they lifted the deer. They headed toward the cave. The Awakened led the group at the front.

‘They only joined yesterday, and they’re already working together that well?’

I couldn’t help but admire them. The humans drove the prey, and the orcs finished it off. Their division of roles was natural. It was a hunting method that made use of each side’s strengths.

‘What would an orc Awakened look like?’

I suddenly grew curious.

The human Awakened had gained spearmanship. In other words, a kind of technique, something characteristic of humanity.

Orcs would probably be different. Their physical abilities were already far superior to humans in the first place. Super strength? Regeneration? Or perhaps a berserker-type ability like Berserk?

I couldn’t imagine it. There were no ‘orc Awakened’ in reality or in the game. I would have to see one myself to know.

“The next stop is Awakened Center Station.”

At the announcement, I closed the screen. When the doors opened, I slipped through the crowd.

_______________

Inside the center. I walked toward the reception desk.

“I’d like to enter a dungeon.”

The receptionist looked up. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties. Neat suit, gentle features. She checked the monitor, and her eyes widened slightly.

“Lee Junhyeok... you were involved in a dungeon mutation accident yesterday, weren’t you?”

It seemed there was a record of the Goblin Chief being strengthened into a High Chief.

“Yes.”

“Are you all right? You weren’t injured?”

She looked genuinely worried.

“I’m fine.”

“Really?”

The receptionist tilted her head.

“People who experience a mutation accident usually rest for a while. Some of them don’t even come back to dungeons at all because of the trauma...”

“I’m fine.”

I paused briefly, then added.

“Actually, I want to enter a stronger dungeon.”

The receptionist blinked. She stared at me for a moment, then started typing again.

“You have impressive nerves. In that case, I’ll place you in an E-rank dungeon. You defeated an E-rank boss yesterday, so you should be fine.”

E-rank. The same rank as yesterday’s High Chief.

Of course, there was no way they would really allow me entry just because I had survived yesterday.

It was probably thanks to the guide giving a favorable report.

“For reference, starting from D-rank, you need a license. You have to pass the advancement exam administered by the Association.”

“An exam?”

“Yes. There’s a written test and a practical test. Starting from D-rank, the danger level rises sharply, so they don’t let just anyone enter.”

I nodded. D-rank. I committed it to memory.

“If you’re interested, would you like me to give you the exam schedule?”

“Yes, please.”

The receptionist handed me a sheet of paper. It listed the exam schedule and required items.

“Your application for E-rank dungeon matching is complete. Please wait in the waiting room.”

I folded the paper, put it in my pocket, and headed toward the waiting room.

‘D-rank license.’

I thought I should get it as soon as possible. If I wanted to become stronger, I had to enter stronger dungeons. I had to kill stronger monsters.

I needed points. For Primitive Humanity. For the orcs. And for myself.

Several Hunters waiting for their turns were visible around the waiting room. They were all different, but they shared one thing in common. There was tension in their eyes.

It wasn’t as though I wasn’t nervous either. But it was less than yesterday. I had already defeated an E-rank boss.

I looked at the monitor. My name was listed as ‘Matching.’

I waited. Leaning back against the sofa, I closed my eyes. In my head, I replayed yesterday’s battle. The High Chief’s movements. The location of its weak point. The moment I fooled it with the feint.

I opened my eyes. Checked the monitor.

[Matching Complete]

E-rank Dungeon: Corrupted Temple

Party Composition: 4 Members

Entry Portal: Gate 7

‘Corrupted Temple.’

It was a dungeon where golems appeared. It was fairly well known among the public too. They were tough and slow, but their blows were heavy. Their weak point was the core embedded in their chest.

‘Seems manageable.’

I stood up and headed toward Gate 7.

When I arrived, I saw a portal swirling with blue light. The same appearance as yesterday. But it felt different. Yesterday, there had been vague fear. Today, anticipation came first.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward. Light wrapped around my body.

There Is Primitive Humanity Inside My Body

Author |

Webjung

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