Chapter 11: Dulv, the Red-Bearded

Thunk!

The beginning always starts with a potion.

[★★ Bomb Slingshot]

[★ Folding Knife]

Thunk! Thunk!

‘Oh!

That was pretty good.

Gobori jumped up excitedly at the sight of the pitch-black knife and slingshot.

“User! That’s my item! Please give it to me! Please, please!”

Gobori shouted, staring into the air.

That guy…

‘Could this be a gift from the heavens just because I cursed a little earlier?’

I dragged it off the screen and handed it to Gobori.

Gobori happily accepted the slingshot.

“Yahoo! Finally, my exclusive item! I can shine as the main DPS! I’ll do my part!”

“Seriously. Does getting that make you any better? Ha, when will my item drop?”

“Hey! You already got a necklace! Where’s your greed coming from?”

“What? A Necklace of Protection? Hey! That’s just an accessory! What good is reducing 10% damage taken? I still get hurt! I still die in one hit!”

“User! Did you hear that? He says he doesn’t need the necklace! Please take it back!”

“I-I never said that! It’s mine! Try taking it away!”

Gobori’s words made Rose flinch.

I smirked and flipped the next card.

[★ Sand Boots]

This time, yellow boots appeared.

“Wow! These will be useful in the dungeon after next! After the forest dungeon, there’s the desert dungeon! Keep them, please, keep them!”

Gobori explained excitedly.

‘The dungeon after next is a desert?’

Then these should come in handy.

Thanks to Gobori, I felt like I was seeing into the future.

[★ Sand Boots]

[Defense 3%. Movement speed is not reduced in sand terrain.]

I checked the boots’ stats.

‘Does this mean you won’t sink into the sand?’

The soles are wide, so they look a bit difficult for general use.

Better keep them until we reach the desert.

I flipped the remaining cards one by one.

Bang!

A loud boom sounded.

“Oh!”

“Hero!”

Rose and Gobori cheered.

This was the fifth hero I summoned.

[★★ Dwarf Shock Trooper]

On the stage appeared a short dwarf, reaching only up to my waist.

For a moment, I wondered if this was the dwarf I met earlier, but, ‘Nope.’

It wasn’t.

The name was different too.

Well, I guess it’s unlikely I’d run into the dwarf I parted with just a few hours ago.

Trying to soothe my disappointment, I flipped the last card.

[★★ Red Ogre Mask]

The last card dropped a red protective gear that could cover the lower face.

The dwarf stared into the distant void.

Like other heroes, he checked the user’s location, “Hmm.”

Realizing no one was around, he glanced around and exhaled.

Then he slumped down in the corner of the stage.

In the silent atmosphere, Rose and Gobori whispered to each other.

“Hey, aren’t you going to say hi this time? Go talk to him!”

“Huh? I’m still kind of shaken… You go say hi!”

“What? Hey! A lady like me acting all uncouth? Look at those arms! Covered in dark tattoos. He looks fierce! Scary!”

Rose and Gobori muttered quietly.

Normally, Gobori would have gone up to greet him, but maybe because of the recent commotion, Gobori couldn’t.

Instead, I stepped forward and extended my hand.

If he’s a comrade we have to work with, first impressions matter.

“Hello?”

“Hmm?”

“We don’t know about other parties, but we ask names here. My name is Sid. If you don’t mind, may I ask yours? If it’s uncomfortable, you don’t have to say. Please feel free.”

I extended my hand and asked.

The dwarf blinked at me.

Then took my hand and nodded.

“I’m Dulv, the Red-Bearded. Just call me Dulv.”

“Mr. Dulv, pleased to meet you. Welcome.”

“Likewise.”

The red-bearded dwarf replied.

The newly arrived dwarf was Dulv.

He was more amicable than I had feared.

Seeing this, Rose flew over and perched on my shoulder.

“Hi! I’m Rose! That ugly goblin is Gobori. Like he just said, we prefer to keep things straightforward. The user’s a newbie, so they don’t treat us roughly. Think of Valhalla as paradise! Utopia Shelter! Nice to meet you!”

“Sid, Miss Rose, and Mr. Gobori, I will remember your names. Thank you for your consideration.”

Dulv nodded lightly.

He seemed quite wary…

I smiled awkwardly and continued.

“Um… Our user tends to listen to our stories. If you want to go out on a mission, just say it. I think they’ll listen. Right, Gobori?”

I looked at Gobori and asked.

If it’s because of the frustration of being ignored in battle, I could help.

It’s a pain only ‘2-star’ heroes who have been overlooked would understand.

“Huh? Ah, yes! Just now, he even understood my teasing! If our friend wants to go on a sortie, I’ll rest! User, try using this dwarf! Solid, and fights well! Haha!”

Gobori chimed in, laughing.

I appreciated the goodwill, but I’m not a warrior.

Nor do I enjoy fighting.

“Nyan… I just need time. Thank you for your kindness.”

But Dulv’s tone was heavy.

It was sad to see what made Dulv like this.

“Got it. If you change your mind, let us know. One of us can step back.”

“Thank you. You are good heroes.”

“Not at all.”

I replied shortly and moved on.

Rose looked at Dulv and lowered her voice.

“His self-esteem’s really taken a hit. There are many like him. Just like those arrogant elves earlier.”

“He’ll get better if he sticks with us. Let’s treat him well.”

“Hmph. I should take better care of him. I’m the leader of this party, after all.”

“Pfft. Is that what they call tsundere?”

“Ts-tsundere? What nonsense!”

Rose’s face turned red at my words.

Clatter!

Back at my seat, I took off the Odongnamu Shield.

Gobori got the slingshot, so he wouldn’t need the Heater Shield.

“Gobori, want the shield? You have the slingshot now.”

“Oh, of course! Here you go!”

Clack!

I took the shield Gobori was holding.

I could use the knife as a secondary weapon.

I handed the Red Ogre Mask to Gobori.

Then Rose, who hadn’t gotten anything, sulked.

“What? I don’t get anything? Give me something too! I want gear!”

“You play with this guy. Here.”

Instead, I handed her Junior on my shoulder.

“Kyuik!”

“Eek! It’s heavy! Why give me this? It’s too big! Eek!”

Rose groaned as she took Junior.

She dropped down with a thud, then fluttered back up, flapping around.

“That sword looks good.”

At that moment, Dulv, sitting in the corner, asked.

He was pointing at my sword, the Uruk Slayer.

I held up the sword and smiled lightly.

“Ah, it’s a 4-star item. Not bad, right?”

“It is. But it’s pretty worn out. Looks like it needs repairs… Users here don’t seem to take care of their gear. I wonder why they treat equipment so roughly. It’s a shame.”

Dulv looked down and said.

On the ground lay a broken scimitar, a shattered tomahawk, a staff smashed to trash, and a broken Paulownia Shield just discarded.

True.

I haven’t taken good care of them.

I’ll have to fix them later.

I nodded at Dulv.

“They’re always in combat. I’ll get repairs done eventually.”

“Such a pity. Your value, your treatment, even your potential unrecognized, just scattered around. Like… my own situation. Truly unfortunate.”

Dulv muttered while looking at the gear.

Rose and Gobori didn’t say a word.

[Deployable Region]

[Lv. 22: Green Village of the Evergreen Forest]

Back to the battlefield.

Thunk!

We returned to the village we had just left.

***

As I wondered what to do next, “Here we are! I’ll introduce you to our village!”

Dolores, who had been sitting on the ground, stood up.

“Ah! You startled me!”

“Mom!”

“Eek!”

Thanks to that, Rose, Gobori, and I flinched.

I expected someone waiting somewhere, but not right in front of us.

“Why are you so late? I thought you’d be back soon. We waited for 20 minutes.”

Dolores led the way, annoyed.

‘Did she wait the whole time after we left?’

Being an NPC seemed to be quite a tough job.

“The user had some things to do. We waited as well.”

I replied vaguely.

“Hah… Users are just like that. Fine then.”

Dolores snapped coldly and moved on.

“Oh, welcome! We heard about it! You saved Dolores? Thank you so much! How can we ever repay you?”

As we reached the center, an elderly man greeted us.

‘He said he’d heard the story?’

‘Dolores had just come in with us though?’

Well, users don’t care much about details.

They tend to skip minor things.

“I’m the elder of Green Village of the Evergreen Forest. Our village has made a living making potions for generations. I have nothing else to offer but potions. I hope they will be good rewards for you heroes! Please accept them!”

The elder pretended to hand something over.

“Oh, you don’t have to…”

“Don’t worry, brother. There’s no choice in cutscenes anyway!”

Gobori hit my waist and laughed.

[★ Obtained 30 Healing Potions!]

Potions were replenished.

‘Why so many potions?’

I had given up even counting.

“Come on! You’ve come this far, you need to rest! Here’s the inn! I’ll guide you!”

“Thank you for saving us! Rest well!”

The elder and Dolores spoke.

But Gobori and Rose were indifferent.

They showed no excitement about resting.

“Why? Isn’t this a resting place?”

I asked, looking at the two.

Gobori shrugged and replied, “Come on, where’s the resting dungeon? If you rest, it’s not a dungeon. It’s a square!”

“Right. That was just a cutscene. The dungeon starts now. Ha… why don’t they let us skip it? It’s so boring.”

“Maybe they have to watch everything to feel satisfied. Let them enjoy it.”

“Could they be AFK? Many users let battles run and do other things.”

“What can we do? It’s up to the user. We have to obey.”

Rose and Gobori talked.

‘Skip?’

‘Does that mean skipping this scene?’

I did see a ‘SKIP’ prompt on the screen.

Still, I didn’t want to skip.

I needed to watch everything to gather information.

Crash!

“Gah!”

“Attack!”

A boom echoed suddenly.

The elder flinched and looked up.

“Damn! Orcs! Orcs are at the village outskirts! Heroes! Sorry to trouble you, but please help us! We need assistance!”

The elder shouted desperately.

I couldn’t see anything here.

‘How did they know it was at the village outskirts and that orcs had invaded?’

“Please help us! Save the village!”

Dolores pleaded, looking into the air.

Well…

Better just accept it.

I nodded roughly and answered, “Got it. Leave it to me.”

[Main Story Triggered!: Orcs of the Evergreen Forest]

A new message appeared.

A golden indicator followed.

Like with the sewer earlier, it seemed to guide the way.

“Orcs, right? Those pig-headed muscle monsters. Right?”

I asked as we walked following the marker.

A short distance away, I saw a burning building.

Dolores and the elder did not follow.

“Pig-headed? I guess, depending on your point of view.”

Rose tilted her head and answered.

“Pfft. Wrong. What you’re asking isn’t that. Sure, some worlds have orcs like that. But orcs in Valhalla are different.”

Gobori gave a different answer.

I tilted my head and asked him to elaborate.

“Just watch. Oh, look! Orcs right there! That’s them! Over there!”

Gobori pointed far ahead, shouting.

“Gurr! Marsh! Golka!”

There, monsters wielding axes were attacking the village.

‘Oh?’

But they looked different from the orcs I knew.

The orcs I knew were pig-headed with hunched backs.

Those orcs had green skin and well-built muscles.

The only pig-like parts were…

Pointed ears and a snub nose?

Sorry Gobori, but it was hard to tell who was monster and who was hero.

“Gurr? Neck! Marsh!”

“Marsh! Kaa!”

“Kaa!”

The orcs shouted as they spotted me.

Then four orcs charged.

They kept distance and charged, seeming to have a strategy.

Wait! Gobori’s 10-second knowledge! Green-skinned orcs originated from the world ‘Ohemmer.’

Here, “Orcs…”

In Valhalla, these orcs are common.

Later, they even appear as allied races.

“That’s a spoiler, idiot! Quiet!”

Snap!

Rose smacked Gobori’s head and snapped at him.

“Ah right! Spoiler! Keep it secret from the boss! Hehe!”

Gobori laughed awkwardly and smiled.

‘Spoiler?’

Well, the fight itself wouldn’t change.

An orc charged at me, shield raised.

The lead orc swung a heavy club, Clang!

Shield and club collided.

‘Oh!’

A strange smile formed.

The heavy force spread to my arm.

I thought I’d have a satisfying fight with these guys.

I deflected the club and focused on the battle.

“Gobori! Rose! Focus! Here we go!”