First I looked out of the aisle.

"Ahhh!"

"Don't run away, hold on!"

Misha and Karlsson were busy with the Orc. It would have been over by now if they could have killed him, but they couldn't because of my instructions.

I won't have to worry about it for a while.

I quickly removed Jencia's equipment from her unconscious body: a two-tiered leather top, a boot with a blade that stuck out when I took it off, a bracer from which a hidden weapon popped out when the groove was pressed, and so on. After inspecting each item, it became clear that they were designed to kill humans, not monsters. I stuffed everything into my backpack at random and couldn't help but smile.

I can just give some of them to Misha. Thanks to this, we will save some money.

Jencia's equipment was quite decent. The pearl among them was a long sword that radiated high cost, starting from the hilt.

No wait... Isn't it a numbered item?

I pulled him out of my backpack and examined him more closely. The sword glowed with a green light. If I'm not mistaken, it was No 5991 - Snake Fang. It had no effect, but gave a large bonus to penetrating attacks and doubled the poison damage dealt by the sword.

I need expertise to be sure. But it seems that I have found something valuable.

The Snake Fang was the main item. Maybe it's not a graduation item, but if you're progressing along a toxic development branch, then it will definitely be useful until the middle and end of the mid-game. Of course, regardless of the quantity, it was very expensive.

If this is really a Snake Fang, then before selling it, I will ask Misha to use it.

With this thought in mind, I stood up. Now that the robbery was over, it was time to talk. I had a few questions, but first I had to create a suitable environment for the conversation.

*Blow!*

I struck with a mace. The target was Jencia's ankle. I didn't hesitate because I had already removed all the equipment from her body that could be used to get money.

"Grgh!"

The moment her thin, white ankle was crushed, Jencia lifted her upper body like someone who has been electrocuted. I pressed my leg against the top of her chest to secure it.

"N-no!"

*Blow!*

Then I did the same with the other ankle. Since I had already figured out one wrist, there was only the second one left. When I changed my position, my eyes met Jencia's. Obviously, she had done something similar before, because she seemed to know what I was trying to do.

"S-stop... You are welcome... I'll do whatever you want...

Really?

"Then don't move. Let's end the conversation.

I raised my mace above my head.

"Don't!" I won't resist! So let's get by with words...!

*Blow!*

"Ah!" Jencia shouted again, and the right setting for the conversation was finally created. The limbs were shattered, and all equipment was removed. So rest assured...

Oh, I think not everything was filmed.

"Use [Weapon Change]."

It was at the rookie level, but this bitch still had a change of gear. However, at my request, Gencia stopped moaning in pain and just stared at me with blank eyes.

"How are you...

What do you think? What other skill can change all of someone's equipment at once?

Instead of answering, I raised my mace. Jancia's complexion became even whiter. She must have known that the only thing left to smash was her little head.

"I, I'll do it!"

Soon, new equipment, ordinary, with a total value of about 500,000 stones, was imposed on Gencia's body. I also took it off and put it in my backpack.

Now it was time to move on to the main topic of conversation.

"I have a question for you.

"L-Any!"

First, I checked what essence Gencia possessed. She had a total of four essences: [Weapon Change] of the Iron Knight, [Beast Step] of Diniktis, [Revenge] of the Holy Assassin...

And [Toxin Release], huh?

I feared it might be a suicide bomber, but her last essence was a Hobgoblin essence that Misha had as well. To sum up, she had absorbed two rank 6 essences, one rank 5, and one rank 7. It was a pretty solid development. It's a pity that all she did was loot.

No, come to think of it, she had rightly found her inclination.

As an explorer facing monsters, Gencia was only a rank 6. However, in PvP battles, she had to be above rank 5.

"Hmph, is that all?" If you had just asked, I would have answered...

I've just begun.

I went straight to the next question.

"Why did you attack us?"

"Information about me has spread throughout the Explorers Guild. That's why I wanted everyone to be silent...

"So you were going to kill the one who entered the Chasm.

Jencia squeezed her eyes shut and nodded. At this moment, she could have just asked me to kill her, but she never said those words. However, this would not change anything.

"Then why did you open the Chasm?" It seems that you don't have room for another essence. If you hadn't come here from the beginning, there would have been no reason to keep others a secret.

"For the heart of the snowfield. I've heard that this item can only be obtained here.

Oh, that was because of that.

"Besides, I wasn't even worried about the gagging part. I thought that everyone would be rank 8 researchers at best...

As I listened to the last thread unraveling, Gencia suddenly closed her mouth and widened her eyes as if she understood something important.

"Did you know I discovered the Chasm...?"

... It was my mistake.

"What are you talking about?" I replied casually and picked at one ear, but Jencia was not deceived.

After a long silence, she understood the answer.

"It can't be... Are you a player too?

Looking into those eyes, I thought there was no point in denying it now... But it was also not worth confirming.

"A player?" Are you an evil spirit?

When I asked, she stared blankly into space. Then, wincing as if coming to her senses, she put her face on my leg. I calmly looked down.

"Mister, please don't kill me.

Hope.

"I want to go home." I can't die in a place like this. You can't imagine... what I had to do to survive in this fucking world. You are welcome...

Hysterics.

"Oh, I didn't apologize, did I?" I'm sorry. I was wrong. I thought you were an NPC. I would never have done this if I had known. We're real people, right? Wouldn't that be murder?

Despair.

"Please... Say something. Deuce! Say something! You asshole...

Disappointment.

Various other emotions swept through Jencia's face as I watched.

*Tump*

Surprisingly, my heart was calm. I did not feel a drop of sympathy, much less sadness. Dungeon & Stone didn't have a PC* because it wasn't an online game. Instead, it was possible to kill NPCs. I also enjoyed playing as a looter this way.

PC (eng. PK (Player killer) is a term in computer multiplayer games that allow, but do not encourage, the killing of other players.

But...

Did you kill them because they're NPCs?

It was not an easy game. Although I wanted to believe it, there was so much evidence that I couldn't help but believe it. She probably knew it just as well.

So I answered briefly.

"You are an evil spirit.

An evil spirit is a creature that does not belong to this world, but is forced to integrate its body, mind, and soul into it in order to survive.

Yes, what difference does it make if it was a player or an NPC?

It didn't change anything.

This woman, whatever she was called, was nothing more than a looter, and a dangerous one at that, who knew that I was a gambler.

"You bastard!"

So I picked up my mace. As befits a person who has fully adapted to this world, and thinking that she would do the same if the situation were the opposite, I gripped the mace tighter.

*swings*

Gencia no longer begged for life. She just looked at me with evil eyes, as if she did not want to forget my face, to curse me, even when she was dying.

*Inhale, exhale...*

Each time she exhaled sharply, her round chest quickly rose and fell. I didn't have to put my ear to her to understand how fast her heart was beating. I realized one thing. It seemed that only anger remained in her, but in fact there was something else in her: fear.

Soon Jencia closed her eyes. She let go of her hatred and finally found peace. What could she see behind those closed eyes?

"M-Mom...

I lowered my mace before I heard the rest.

*Blow!*

Flesh and blood spattered. Blood poured from her nose and mouth every time her body convulsed. Of course, this did not last long. Soon her body stopped moving completely. I let go of my breath and turned.

[Achievement]

[Prerequisite: Kill First Player]

[Reward: Spirit +1.]

This is the first time I've killed a player. However, I tried to erase my feelings about it and took a step forward.

*Top*

Whether it was easy or difficult, whether I was delighted or feared by her flesh and blood, whether I was cynical about myself in wanting to bring her back to the place she saw behind her closed eyes, or if not, whether I felt miserable to see me gradually degrading in the body of this savage, these emotions did not matter.

*Top*

It had to be done. From the day I awoke in this world of savages, I decided to follow this path.

***

"Why are you taking so long?" I thought something had happened to you!

Leaving Jencia's body, I went out into the open, where Misha began to scold me.

Hmm, I still finished everything as quickly as possible... Only about 3 minutes passed.

"S-Help us!"

When Misha looked away from the battle at me, Carlson was helplessly pushed back by the Orc. However, I maintained the position of a spectator.

"Misha, you can kill him now.

"Oh, is that possible?"

— Yes. If possible, try to use your newly acquired abilities.

"Huh?" I've never done this before...

"That's why I'm telling you to do this.

The Mafia was gone, and the Ice Orc was a good opponent.

"Phew!" I can't hold him back any longer...

While Carlson blocked another axe blow with his crumpled shield, Mike closed her eyes and activated her skill.

[Misha Karlshtein used [Amplify]].

A faint white light could be seen above her hand. This was the active skill of the rank 7 monster Vitola. Normally, Misha would use [Toxin Release] as a basic combo, but...

[Misha Karlstein used [Cold Condensation]].

Blue particles, as if separated from the air, penetrated into Mike's body.

[Cold Sensitivity Score has increased significantly].

She must have sensed that something was wrong, because Mike opened her eyes.

*Whoosh!*

With a furious swing of her sword, she sliced off the wrist of the Orc who was attacking Carlson.

*Colic!*

It was not enough to cut through the bone right away. The Orc's arm was partially hanging from his hand, still holding the axe. However, the part I focused on was something else.

"Ch-check!"

The wound in the wrist area was cut by a sharp blade, but no blood flowed from it. This was because the wound was frozen and covered in red frost.

Is it [frostbite]?

The cold attribute stopped the bleeding. This seemed like a disadvantage, but it also blocked the regeneration effect, so it was quite useful depending on the type of enemy. In addition, its advantage was to limit the enemy's reaction.

"Chvi, chviik!"

Of course, the Ice Orc possessed a high Cold Resistance, and only its wrist was frozen. With an ordinary monster, everything would be different: they would freeze to the elbows. A monster with negative Cold Resistance could even gain the status of [Freeze].

Misha hasn't finished the setup yet. So, in that case,

"Misha, try to aim at the neck this time.

"Hm? Ok!

Misha's sword pierced Orc's neck. After all, the Orcs had high Bone Strength ratings. It must have been difficult to cut through it at once. However, when the area around his neck began to freeze, the Orc stopped moving and began to tremble in place. It seemed that the cold had even reached his brain.

*Crunch!*

Now that I've checked everything I need, I've crushed the Orc's head with my mace. At the same time, the entire cavity shook, and ice powder began to pour down from the ceiling. The roar we heard earlier vibrated.

"Gwaaa

"Wh-what the hell?!"

What do you think? This is the beginning of Chapter 4.

[Tyrant Tarunbas awoke from his long sleep and regained all his strength].

Now that I've experienced even an unplanned PC, it's time to finish off the boss and get away.