Under the sacrifice of that brave Cerysian, a group of human captives scattered and fled into the jungle. Fortunately, whether they were sailors who had spent years upon the open seas or experienced rangers from the Rogue Camp, all of them could navigate the forest even under the shroud of night.
One by one, they managed to gather at the predetermined location without a single soul missing—except for one unlucky camp guard who had taken an arrow to the knee. He now sat deep within the cave beside Terry Roosevelt, both of them taking shelter from the rain.
After a full day of running and fighting for their lives, hunger gnawed at everyone's stomachs. Yet no one dared to light a fire, fearing that the orcs might spot the smoke. Luckily, there was a clear stream flowing near the cave, providing enough fresh water to keep them from collapsing.
Then, suddenly, a sound rustled from the depths of the forest. The wary survivors tensed instantly, gripping their weapons tightly, eyes darting toward the direction of the noise with alarm.
"Relax, friends," came a steady voice. From the shadows of the forest emerged Sir Gonz Alagon, followed closely by his white wolf, which was carrying a weakened Aldric on its back. "I'm not an enemy."
"It's the Cerysian—he's alive!" one of the sharp-eyed sailors shouted, recognizing Aldric's face under the moonlight.
"I knew it! He's too stubborn to die!" Ted couldn't help but punch his palm in excitement.
Captain Rockfell exhaled in relief. "By the Sea God, the brave always find a way to survive!"
The people who had escaped thanks to Aldric's courage all lowered their weapons. Relief washed over their faces, and admiration filled their eyes. Each of them expressed their joy in their own way.
Even Terry, limping heavily, came out of the cave with the help of the guard who had been shot in the knee. "You did it! You actually did it! I've never met anyone like you—there's nothing you can't accomplish!"
Aldric waved at them, a faint smile on his lips. Seeing them safe made him feel that all his efforts had been worthwhile. Their vivid reactions, their emotions, their humanity—it was all so real that for a moment, he couldn't tell whether he was still in a game or back in the real world. "Don't worry," he said lightly, "I'm far from dead."
"I said we'd leave in an hour. Why are you all still here?" Aldric asked after the brief celebration died down, his voice regaining its edge. "If the orcs reached this place before I did, what then? Why didn't you move as planned?"
"Uh…" Ted glanced awkwardly at the captain. Captain Rockfell looked around at the silent crowd and finally sighed. "When we regrouped at dusk, Ted's men climbed a tree to scout the surroundings. They spotted black smoke rising from the direction of Rogue Camp. Later that night, the firelight was bright enough to stain half the sky red. We figured the Rogue Camp might no longer be safe."
"That's right," Ted added with a reddened face. "So, we decided to stay here until morning. In case… well, in case you were still alive. We thought you might come looking for us, and we needed to warn you that the Rogue Camp was likely overrun. Our new plan is to head directly north instead—to Port Anthony, the largest human city in the northern regions."
"I knew you wouldn't die!" Terry burst out emotionally, ignoring the uneasy silence in the cave. His young eyes shone with admiration. "The way you cut down those orcs—it was cleaner than First Mate Mike downing a bottle of rum!"
Terry's praise made everyone else look down in embarrassment. Ted's face turned red, and though he opened his mouth to speak, all that came out was a sigh.
Captain Rockfell clenched the hem of his coat with shame. "You see, brave Cerysian… we lost our nerve. In that chaos, we truly thought there was no way you could have survived."
"It's all in the past, Captain," Aldric said with a faint grin. "Honestly, even I didn't expect to walk away alive." As a player, life and death were just part of the job. What mattered was completing the mission. "If not for this man—Sir Gonz, my mentor now—I doubt I'd be standing here."
Following Aldric's gaze, both Captain Rockfell and Ted bowed deeply to the Witcher. "Sir, thank you for saving our hero. Otherwise, we'd carry that guilt for the rest of our lives."
The Witcher, who had been sitting silently at the mouth of the cave with his long sword—the White Wolf's Claw—resting across his back, slowly stroked the white wolf beside him. Under the pale moonlight, he nodded slightly. "Witcher. Gonz."
It was clear that Aldric's teacher had little interest in small talk with ordinary folk. Still, the moment he spoke, Captain Rockfell's expression visibly stiffened—the title "Witcher" carried more weight than most men could comprehend.
"When dawn breaks, we move," Gonz said abruptly. "Danger is closing in." He leaned toward the white wolf, whispering a few words. The beast rose silently and slipped into the shadows of the forest. Then, the Witcher leaned back against the stone wall and closed his eyes to rest.
After that awkward moment, the captain and the others lost the mood to continue talking. The day's exhaustion weighed heavily on them. Aside from the few who kept watch, everyone else soon drifted into sleep. The cave grew quiet, save for the soft patter of rain outside—a gentle rhythm marking the first night of Aldric's journey as a Witcher.
With the peace of the night, Aldric finally opened his system interface, and a series of notifications flashed before his eyes.
[New Background Class: Witcher]
In the ancient age of darkness, sorcerers created Witchers to stand against the monsters and evils that plagued the land. A Witcher is not merely a profession but a transformed being—a hybrid of man and mutation. Once chosen by fate and subjected to the grueling Trials, their bodies cease to be human. They become faster, stronger, immune to most toxins and diseases, and their senses heighten to supernatural levels—able to track the faintest scent, the slightest sound, or the tiniest trace.
From childhood, they endure brutal training, risking death at every stage. Across their centuries-long lives, few ever find joy or peace. Their mysterious ways and pragmatic ruthlessness have birthed countless conflicting legends. In recent centuries, Witchers have grown scarce, and rumors abound that their kind is on the verge of extinction.
Level-up Attribute Bonus: Each level grants skill points equal to Intelligence × 2 + 4 × Class Level.
Experience Penalty Applied: You will now gain experience at a rate of 1.8× reduction.
Battle Summary:
You ruthlessly cut down every enemy who dared to block your path.
You slew Steeltooh, the orc chieftain, and Glarak, the half-orc archer, annihilating the entire vanguard camp.
Total Experience Gained: 3,960
Battle Rating: [Heroic]
In your next battle, you will gain an additional 20% combat experience.
The surviving orcs will remember your cruelty. The rescued humans will remember your valor.
Tales of how you slaughtered an orc encampment on your very first day in the Southern Colonies will spread far and wide.
You have enough experience to level up your class.
(End of Chapter)