[Entry Level: 15]
[Elite Dungeon (4-player party recommended)]
[Orc King's Cave]
The 'Orc King's Cave', the first elite dungeon that users starting Astria Online encounter. Users learn the basics of party play here, divide roles, and master the basics of named battles.
"Hmm."
I looked at the large cave opening in the cliff at the edge of the Orc Forest and briefly reminisced.
This is where Seulbi and Rain's new adventure began. I started to really feel the joy of Astria Online.
And I experienced my first death.
Well, since I have faint memories of my past life, strictly speaking, it wasn't my first death, was it?
They say people only die once, but how many times have I died? If we count deaths experienced in the game at 100% synchronization rate, I've died quite a lot.
Come to think of it, my life seems quite cheap. By this world's standards, a thousand years ago, if I hadn't met my companions, a half-baked hero like me would have died young. I only had one life back then.
My old body has become useless.
If Chris finds out I'm thinking like this, she'll be sad, but it's become a body that can't be used in fights, at least.
But I got a new body in this world I've found again. It was inconvenient to have to learn from scratch while adapting to the 'system' in a different way from the power I had built up in my previous body.
Still, I've adapted to this body and reached my current level where I can face demons. I think I've grown a lot mentally too.
As I am now, I can guide the young heroes who have come to protect this world.
While I was lost in thought, looking back on the past.
Murmur murmur.
Many newbies and a few high-level users started gathering in front of the 'Orc King's Cave'.
Scurry!
I was startled and hid behind a rock.
It's not because I'm a coward, or because I'm afraid of newbies. It's because they keep clinging to me and it's annoying.
"Already?"
It hasn't even been half a day since the server opened, and they've already reached level 15?
Of course, the environment is very different from when I was leveling up in the past. Growth-aiding doping and food items are available at cheap prices, and there are beginner support benefits. Everyone should be able to clear this newbie section in about a day.
I shook my head as I glanced at the newbies who were excited about their first elite dungeon.
Even so, it seems like it took 2-3 days to reach the first elite dungeon when the server first opened.
"Haah, back in my day..."
While I was thinking like that, hiding behind the rock for a while, the newbies started forming parties in small groups.
"We have a Fighter, Elementalist, and Yin-Yang Master! Looking for a Ranger or Warrior! Mage is okay too!"
"Swordsman looking for party!"
I chuckled as I watched those newbie groups with many minors mixed in.
"It would be easier to advertise through local messages."
Well, in the beginner days, we used to look for parties like that in front of dungeons too.
I opened the chat interface and turned on local messages.
[Quick bus for beginners! 5 gold per run! Will help with 1:1 farming!]
[Running newbie education party. We have an experienced bus driver who reached max level 50 and cleared raid dungeons before the expansion pack.]
The first thing that caught my eye were the bus advertisement messages from veteran users.
So this is what Pookkikkik, the mage from Scada's raid party, meant by running bus services for newbies.
Anyway, the 'Tree of the Abyss' is a weekly dungeon, and most level 50 users are probably progressing quests in the expansion pack area. It's a period when bus business isn't doing well. They probably think they're helping raise newbies while earning some pocket money.
I saw high-level users entering the dungeon with newbies, as if conducting a field trip.
'Orc King's Cave'.
This is a low-level elite dungeon that people quickly pass through anyway. Since weapons are abundant in the auction house, you just need to farm accessories quickly and move on.
Despite most of the newbies who joined today being young students, they seemed to have brought some bus fare. They appear to be trying to quickly skip the low-level section and farm in high-level dungeons.
Of course, while many newbies were using buses, there were also newbies who wanted to challenge their first elite dungeon party play with users of the same level.
I wiped under my nose for no reason and nodded with an expression that said "well done".
"It's when it's most fun."
I logged out briefly for a quick meal and then logged back in.
The safety filter was still floating in front of my eyes.
"I wonder when they'll normalize it."
It feels like I can't do anything until this disappears.
While I was just watching the newbies in front of the Orc King's Cave for no reason, what caught my eye was.
"Eek."
A girl clutching her chest and gasping for breath in a corner.
A short stature, slightly smaller than me. Light brown short hair. The girl's large green eyes were slightly tinged with surprise and fear.
It's the cute swordsman girl who bravely fought against the Orc Warrior.
What is she surprised about?
What the girl was holding in her hand wasn't the 'Orc King's Weapon' that's cheaply available in the auction house now, but the 'Orc Warrior's Sword' obtained from defeating the field boss.
She should have earned some gold from killing mobs, is she the type to save money?
As I quietly observed the girl from behind the rock, she shook her head vigorously once and bit her lip tightly. Determination returned to her green eyes that had been fearful.
And then, she walked steadily towards the entrance of the Orc King's Cave instance dungeon.
But, alone?
"W-Wait a minute!"
I quickly came out from behind the rock and grabbed the collar of the girl who was about to enter the dungeon.
"Eek!?"
Flail flail.
I felt the movement of the girl who was startled. She flailed about trying to escape from my hand.
"I-It's okay! I'm not a bad person!"
I scratched my face while trying to calm the surprised girl.
No, more than that, why was she trying to enter the elite dungeon alone?
"Education party?"
"Yes. Hehe, originally high-level users educate newbies like this."
The girl tilted her head.
My eyes kept drawing arcs as I looked at the girl, and a smile wouldn't leave my lips.
Her voice is so cute!
Her bright green eyes are pretty, and her round face that still has baby fat is cute.
How can her gestures be so adorable?
Tap tap.
Tap tap.
I was walking through the first area of the elite dungeon, 'Orc King's Cave', with that girl.
Since we formed a party, I could now see the girl's nickname.
[Level 15 Swordsman 'Nagi']
"Your nickname is Nagi, huh."
"Yes. And you're... Drizzle?"
Nagi answered softly while reading my nickname that appeared on the party interface.
"You can call me Rain."
"Rain unnie."
Nagi chirped, calling me unnie in her cute voice.
"Hnngh!"
I clutched my chest.
Unnie, she said.
This word has too much destructive power when heard from a child smaller than me.
Chris unnie, you've been the only one enjoying good words all this time.
"By the way, were you trying to clear the elite dungeon alone?"
"Is it not okay to play this game alone...?"
"That's not it, but this is an elite dungeon. It said 4-player party at the dungeon entrance, didn't it?"
"It's just a recommendation, isn't it?"
I gaped.
Nagi was right.
Elite dungeons are not '4-player party dungeons'. They are '4-player party recommended dungeons'.
Certainly, there's a way to clear it alone at the appropriate level.
This child had a similar way of thinking to me.
"T-Then. Have you been playing alone until now?"
Nod nod.
Is this how Chris felt when she looked at me?
Even though I had done it all myself, I couldn't help but be surprised at the bold newbie's challenge.
Even if I'm considered an irregular, Nagi is probably a regular user. It certainly won't be easy.
Can she clear this dungeon alone?
At first, I was just going to explain the patterns a bit, then kill everything quickly and feed her accessories to graduate her.
"Alright."
The plan has changed.
I decided to support the girl's challenge.
"I'll just guide you from behind. Want to try it alone?"
Nagi's face brightened.
"Yes!"
[1st Named]
[Level 16 Orc Fighter]
[HP 9,209 / 10,500 (88%)]
Boom!
"Kyaa!"
Roll roll.
"Oh no, Nagi! What did I tell you to do when the counterattack comes!"
"D-Damage cut!"
Nagi, who had rolled once after taking a punch to the abdomen, quickly got up. Since her level is low, her HP would have fluctuated greatly.
Nagi was quickly getting used to the 'Orc Fighter's' patterns. As expected of the swordsman newbie I had my eye on, her adaptation speed is considerable.
But Nagi's reaction to taking a punch to the abdomen was a bit strange.
What appeared on Nagi's face was an expression tinged with pain.
For a minor user, even with a high synchronization rate, it would be at most in the late 10% range.
She shouldn't be in pain to this extent.
Of course, if it's 100% like me, it doesn't end with just pain. You'd lose consciousness and be kicked out of the game immediately. It's strange that I can endure the pain of 100% synchronization rate. Still, Nagi's synchronization rate seemed quite high.
"Ugh!"
Nagi raised her sword again and glared at the Orc Fighter rushing towards her. Her eyes were tinged with fear.
Clang!
I quickly jumped in to block the Orc Fighter's gauntlet and retreated from the battle area while holding Nagi in my arms.