Chapter 3 Makers Mistake (2)

As Ian approached the wall, two orcs in chain armor stood tall like stone statues. Their blades flashed in the sun.

They discovered Ian and laughed. They were laughing, but due to their tusks and their heinous appearance, their faces seemed evil.

Hey, are you alive?

Im alive. I came here to become a fellow warrior.

They burst out laughing. It was a unique tone caused by their stomachs shaking. Ian gulped at their overwhelming momentum. He had once been a soldier, but he couldnt help but shrink back at the two monstrous orcs side by side.

One of the orcs held out a fist.

?

Ian looked at the rough hand blankly before realizing it was a greeting. Ian also made a fist and bumped it against each other. The orc guard smiled and said,

Anyway, you have arrived at Orcrox and I wish you good luck. Today there is a funeral where we will remember an honorable warrior. Kulkul. Stay alive.

They shouted to open the door. The walls were high enough to cover the sun, and the giant door that was the size of the building started to slowly open. The door opened with a thunderous sound and Ian was able to see the inside of Orcrox Fortress.

Ohh

Ian thought of orcs as savage monsters, since their appearance alone was heinous. But that wasnt it. The scale of the buildings were different. There were tall buildings around the giant tree in the center, with bridges in the sky connecting each one. Above his head, orcs were busy going to and fro.

It felt like the city of elves in a fantasy world! There werent just warriors with weapons or shamans with staffs, but various orcs, such as merchants, in order to form a civilization.

It was a magnificent landscape that was more realistic than reality. The orc fortress filled Ians view.

This is really a game

Hey, youre alive. Are you new?

Passing orcs smiled at the stunned newcomer and held out their fists. Ian bumped them with his fists.

Whether he was alive or not, it didnt take long for him to realize that it was the orcs greeting. All of them asked each other if they were alive, meaning this was a place where life and death occurred often enough for it to become a greeting.

Ian didnt know what to do after entering Orcrox Fortress, so he checked the interface for beginners tips.

[If you selected an orc, can you really endure it?]

[If you are a beginner, look for Instructor Lenox at Orcrox Fortress.]

Lenox?

It was at that moment.

Uh, a user? Wah, a real user?

There was a loud and gruff voice, but the tone was light. Ian turned his head and saw a shabby looking orc.

This is the first time Ive seen another beginner orc. Its nice to meet you!

He tried to shake hands before grunting and putting out his fist like the other orcs. Ian smiled and bumped his fist.

Are you alive?

Im alive. Haha, by the way, did you just start playing? Whats your name? Im called Grom. I got it from a character in an old classic game.

Yes. Im Ian.

Ian nodded. Ian then discovered something on the other persons forehead. A white star was shimmering in the middle of his forehead.

That?

What?

Grom followed Ians gaze to his forehead.

Ah, this. You dont know? The white star allows you to identity the users. Ian has one on your forehead as well. Thats how I knew that you were a user. NPCs cant see it, only we can. This is really the first time Ive seen it.

Is that so?

There are even some who hide it to pretend to be NPCs. You must have really started without investigating anything.

This is the first time Im playing a game.

I see. Be careful, this is a big deal. Elder Lord is a really hard game so you should look at the tips.

He nodded and smiled.

Of course, you didnt see it, which is why you picked an orc.

Huh?

Its nothing. Are you going to see Lenox?

That is what the tip said.

Lets go together. I was about to start heading there now.

Ian followed Grom.

Ian was immersed in the sight of the city. Orcrox Fortress was filled with all types of things. There was a market and smithy. It was a realistic scene that couldnt be thought of as a game as merchants shouted about their goods, adventurers gathered to fight monsters and orcs drank alcohol.

Ian started to think differently of Elder Lord. The game system seemed to have a personality and story for each character. A civilization and culture was created for the orcs. It was a wonderful game.

As Ian immersed himself in the world of Elder Lord, Grom laughed.

Isnt it amazing?

Yes. I cant believe this is a game. How

He couldnt believe that what he was seeing, hearing and feeling now was a game.

Oh, there is a funeral.

Funeral?

Orcs are mourning the death of a great warrior. He was a great NPC who sacrificed himself to protect his allies.

Suddenly, the faint sound of a horn could be heard.

At that moment. The entire Orcrox Fortress became quiet.

Ah?

All the orcs were silent. Even the merchants shouting at the market and the drunkards became silent. The horn rang out slowly in the midst of this quiet. All the orcs looked at the center of Orcrox Fortress.

There appeared to be an altar made of bricks with an orc body lying on top of firewood. The orcs started humming in bold tones. It was a thick, subdued tone, like the humming of the Tibetan monks. The entire Orcrox Fortress was filled with the beat of the funeral procession.

At the bottom of the altar, the orcs presiding over the funeral started to slowly beat the drums. The sound of the horns and the drumming and humming of the orcs mixed together. The warriors body caught on fire, the flames consuming the body of the dead orc warrior. The orcs held a ceremony in remembrance of their own.

Ah

Ian was shocked.

A ceremony to honor their comrades.

He was reminded of a soldier on the battlefield. Cornell had become a star in the sky due to rebel bullets, and his colleagues had sent him away with bright smiles instead of sad tears. The song chosen wasnt a tranquil song, but an army song. Nobody cried that day, but their hearts and minds were overflowing with hot and sad emotions.

The memory of that day was revived.

The humming of the orcs was grand and noble. Ian couldnt take his eyes off the burning orc warrior. The mournful cry of the horns wandered throughout Orcrox Fortress.

Ian didnt know the name of the orc, since he was just a character in the game. However, it is clear to Ian that he was a great and respected man.

Ah, noisy.

Ians mind snapped back at Groms words. Grom was grumbling beside him.

A funeral should proceed quickly and quietly. Ahyu. Right?

Ian looked at him blankly.

Did this person really feel no emotions when seeing this scene? In a world that seemed more real than reality, could he throw away the solemn ceremony of the orcs just because it was a game?

Ian turned his gaze once again to the burning body of the orc warrior.

[Assimilation: 50%]

[Assimilation: 51%]

[Assimilation: 52%]

Ian didnt know about the changes in his status window.

***

-Hello! I am a helper to help you live a comfortable Elder Lord life, Yoojung!

-I am Jaehan!

-Today we will talk about assimilation rate. Jaehan-ssi, what is your current assimilation rate?

-When my condition is good, it is over 50%. On average, it is 40%.

-That is amazing. I am usually 30%. An average user is between 30~40%, so Jaehan-ssi is capable.

-Hahaha. Still, I dont want to get hurt when fighting, so I often end up limiting it. At 50%, I feel dizzy like I am actually hit by a knife.

-In fact, I usually play at a limit of 20% due to that.

-Oh, that is worse.

-Hihihi. Anyway, what is the assimilation rate of the viewers? The survey results say that the average is between 30~40%. In the case of high rankers, especially those who are role-playing, it may be up to 70%.

-Amazing, dont they seem to be properly immersed?

Tremble tremble.

-In particular, the most popular roleplayer, user Kim Dalkwang of the militia, has released his latest status window. His assimilation rate is a huge 73%.

-Whoa! Is that how he became a ranker?

-The game publishers didnt disclose how the assimilation rate affects performance, but it certainly has an effect. It is common sense that rankers have a higher rate of assimilation, since the assimilation rate determines the rankers abilities. Their skills, attacks and movements are superior in every way. Doesnt this narrow down the difference between NPCs and users?

-Ah, scary NPCs! I dont like NPCs!

-Haha. Is that so? That is why users are attempting to create a village! I interviewed Elaine, an elf user who designed Shangri-la, the village of users

A restaurant staff member changed the television channel.

Eh, the world is going crazy for games

Jung Yiyu, who was immersed in the contents, recovered. Her friends who she was eating together with also turned their heads away.

What is your assimilation rate?

Im around 20~30%?

Ive gone over 40% but Im usually around 30%.

Jung Yiyu laughed, I am 10%!

Hey, what is this?

Do you only play with the right side of your brain while the left side is sleeping?

Its a game. The thought of it being a game keeps me from being immersed Well, I did level up.

You died to a rabbit.

What? How did a rabbit kill you? Is that possible? Do rabbits even attack?

Yiyu sighed.

I dont know. I tried to attack it, but the rabbit bit my legs. I was constantly bitten by the rabbit and died from severe bleeding.

Amazing.

Crazy

Jung Yiyu laughed.

But dont worry. Now my troubles are over, since my brother has started playing the game.

Ah, that brother?

Yes. Oppa will become a high ranker quickly and take care of me. I will catch up to all of you.

A friend who was listening interrupted her, Why will he become a high ranker?

My brother is a soldier.

Soldier?

Will a soldier be more familiar with something like Elder Lord?

There are plenty of army men.

He was in a real battlefield, not a normal soldier. Do you know the foreign troops? He shot people in the Middle East and Africa.

Really? Then he has killed people?

Everyones gaze turned to Yiyu, who shrugged.

I dont know, he doesnt talk about it

Amazing. A friend of my brothers is a martial arts player and adapted immediately. Isnt he a ranker now?

Hey, Jung Yiyu. Dont pretend not to know me later.

Yiyu shrugged at her friends.

So be good to me.

However, Yiyu didnt know one important thing about Ian, whom she was putting all of her expectations in.

He chose the orc that was called the game makers mistake.