The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

“Are you finally leaving, chwik?”

“Thank you for everything during your stay, chwik. We wish you good fortune, brother, chwik.”

In front of the large makeshift stone and sand walls of Dekend Tribe, newly appointed Chieftain Ch’Onggo and Elder Buruba were seeing someone off.

On a black wolf that stood 1.5 times taller than the others, sat the Orc Great Warrior Nakadu—actually Raul in disguise. It had been a month since Raul had been with them.

The size of the tribe had grown exponentially since his arrival. As the war with the Empire started, small tribes began to converge, and naturally, Dekend Tribe, where Raul was active, became the nucleus.

They were the only ones having consistent victories against the Empire. Survivors from decimated tribes joined them, and entire tribes, feeling their survival threatened, pledged themselves to Dekend.

The tribe’s numbers swelled from three thousand to ten thousand, to thirty thousand, and now they had reached a hundred thousand. The tribe was now large enough to be considered a mid-sized tribe and could be called the center of the northern Orc tribes.

Furthermore, during the month-long battles with the Empire, Chieftain Ch’Onggo had incredibly reached the status of a Great Warrior (master level).

This was due in part to Raul’s personal guidance and care, but also Ch’Onggo’s inherent talent.

‘Though there are still many areas where he lacks, he’s more than capable of leading the tribe.’

With the tribe’s growing reputation, many other ‘warriors who follow the wind’ joined, as well as talented leaders from other tribes. As a result, Dekend Tribe could no longer be easily threatened by the typical Imperial forces.

Additionally, a recent Great Chief meeting among the Orcs had declared war on the Empire, and their vanguard would arrive in the north in a few days. Thus, orc Nakadu’s role here was complete.

“Brother, where will you head now, chwik?”

Ch’Onggo asked, his face showing clear regret. His voice, unusually soft, revealed how much he had hoped Raul would stay.

“I’m sorry to leave during these tough times, chwik. But I have a place I must go, chwik.”

“Where is that, chwik? I can send people to assist you, chwik.”

But Raul shook his head.

“I appreciate the offer, but I must decline, chwik. I’m heading further north, chwik. I need to see with my own eyes what the human ‘Empire’ truly is and what threat it poses to our kin, chwik. So our journey together ends here, chwik.”

Ch’Onggo and Elder Buruba’s eyes widened at Raul’s words. To scout the powerful human Empire alone was akin to risking his life. Yet, they couldn’t stop Nakadu.

“Then, may the winds guide you and the ancestors protect you, chwik. If you ever need us, just send word, chwik.”

“Thank you, brother. Until we meet again, chwik.”

With that, Raul, riding Gale, turned north and dashed away, leaving the Dekend Tribe behind.

*

As Raul ventured further into the north, the landscape changed. The temperature dropped, and the terrain became harsher. He sensed the presence of the Empire’s larger fortifications ahead.

‘I’ll need to be more cautious now.’

Raul’s mission was simple: gather intelligence on the Empire and understand the true extent of the threat they posed. He knew the stakes were high, but the information he would gather could change the course of the war.

‘Let’s see what secrets the Empire is hiding.’

The empire’s stronghold loomed as Raul approached silently, ready to uncover the mysteries that awaited him. Warriors who follow the wind risked their lives for such noble causes, embodying the essence of true warriors.

“Brother, may the ancestral spirits guide your path, chwik. We will never forget the kindness you have shown us, chwik.”

“We will ensure your honor is remembered and passed down through the generations, chwik.”

Raul felt a pang of emotion as he gazed at the two Orks, who were even shedding tears.

‘It seems our time together has bonded us over the past month.’

Despite their fierce and rugged appearance, the Orcs were a pure and upright race. Even though they might soon become enemies, Raul wished them safety in his heart.

‘Perhaps, after the war ends, we’ll meet again….’

Even if war broke out between humans and the Orcs, it was impossible to slaughter all ten million of them. A time would inevitably come when fighting ceased, and coexistence became the focus.

“I will be leaving now, chwik.”

Thus, Nakadu, who would go down in Dekend Village’s legends, departed.

Buuuuu.

The sound of Orc horns echoing across the plains mourned his departure.

*

“Welcome back, Master.”

If there is a farewell, there is also a reunion. Unlike his departure, Raul returned instantly via a magic circle, greeted warmly by his subordinates.

There was no awkwardness since he had remained in contact with the guild through communication channels while impersonating an Orc.

“How is the current situation?”

Heading straight to the situation room, Raul asked, prompting Kane to begin his report immediately.

“The defensive line along the southeastern forest boundary is solidly established. Fortunately, thanks to the cooperation of the players, the plains remain undisclosed.”

First Knight Order and Purple Association’s influence in the Monster Forest was undeniably significant. The Forbidden Zone’s internal monster levels were no ordinary challenge.

Few chose to ignore First Knight Order, which had firmly secured pivotal points within the forest. Furthermore, countless dungeons, gates, and hunting grounds were already within their secured territory without needing to venture deeper.

Prominent allied guilds were already focused on developing the areas they secured, lessening the need for new pioneering sites. Thus, forming the defensive line progressed smoothly, including involvement from players, ruban Kingdom soldiers, and private troops from noble houses.

“And the preparations for ‘Operation Tidal Wave’ are progressing well. We’ve confirmed pioneering points through the Purple Association, and troops from Marquis Ashton’s household have been deployed to the front lines. It seems Lord Lawrence will also be joining the campaign.”

“Really? If Lawrence is involved, we can count on him. Let’s discuss the details inside.”

The group arrived at the entrance to the meeting room. Inside, many senior members were already gathered.

“All right, let’s officially begin the discussion on Operation Tidal Wave.”

The grand operation, which would determine the dominance over the western Forbidden Zone’s Monster Forest and Plains, was now in full swing.

*

Meanwhile, situations in other parts of the Forbidden Zone were far from smooth.

First, the southern Demonic Seas had completely lost its maritime routes. Deaths caused by the Sirens’ “Songs of Enchantment” persisted unabated.

These weren’t mere curses or magical attacks but rather mental assaults with special mechanisms, making them hard to defend against.

Sailors tearfully relinquished their positions to female players, who then faced another hurdle.

Crack! Crunch!

“No! Stop them from getting closer!”

“Mages, what are you doing? Keep casting reinforcement spells on the hull! Do you not understand that if it gets breached, we’re all done for?”

Those who survived the Siren attacks encountered Merfolk—Mermen and Mermaids. As an aquatic race, repelling their attacks from below the ships wasn’t easy.

Some tried to engage them underwater, but combating Merfolk in their own territory was no simple affair. Although they weren’t individually overpowering, the ocean environment was a treacherous battleground.

High-ranking players had to be dedicated to protecting their vessels, making even maintaining a ship a formidable task.

Moreover, among the Merfolk, there were powerful leaders; encountering a Merman Great Warrior could spell doom even for the elite. Consequently, the initially secured small pioneer sites (islands) became isolated, left to fend for themselves.

Only those with established portal magic circles managed to survive, but being marooned meant limited hunting grounds and insufficient income, causing many guilds to abandon their sites.

The situation in the northern Ice Mountains wasn’t much different. The pioneering site in the Ice Mountains wasn’t on the surface but underground.

An ancient underground city accessed through cave systems—that was the Ice Mountains’ pioneering site. After Raul first secured the pioneering site, players celebrated:

“Good heavens! The cave walls are filled with ores!”

“Grab your pickaxes! We can earn money and gain merit points at the same time; this is incredible!”

At first, players flocked to the underground mining town because they could level up and make money just by mining instead of fighting high-level monsters in the Forbidden Zone.

Guilds rushed to secure and pioneer the underground mines, as the commissions from mining players alone were highly profitable. But those prosperous days didn’t last.

With the excitement, deeper explorations of the underground led to unexpected dangers. Golems and ancient guardians, some even piloted by mysterious entities, began defending the mines fiercely.

Further complications arose as the underground structure itself posed hazards, and only those prepared for extensive reaches could sustain their operations.

Thus, the seemingly easy profits from mining dwindled. Only the best-equipped and strategically minded guilds could maintain their hold on the valuable, but perilous, underground cities.

Raul and his inner circle understood that while the Southern and Northern fronts struggled, the Western Forbidden Zone offered a critical, albeit fiercely contested, opportunity.

Their strategic depth in Operation Tidal Wave was designed to leverage the strengths of First Knight Order and its allies to secure a decisive victory in the Monster Forest and Plains.

“Now then.”

Raul began as they settled into their seats, “Let’s delve into the specifics of Operation Tidal Wave. Time is of the essence.”

Kane and the other senior members nodded, each ready to discuss their roles and contingencies in this pivotal campaign.

—

“Damn it! Where did they come from? We fortified the walls thoroughly!”

Boom!

The golems that had infiltrated began demolishing buildings and walls indiscriminately.

“It’s the Dwarves! Raise your shields!”

Swish, thud!

Bang!

The Dwarves’ thrown tomahawks and their non-stop barrage of magic guns and cannons were more than enough to incapacitate the players.

“Roar!”

And with golems constantly emerging from the ground, redeploying formations was nearly impossible.

“No! We invested so much here!”

Guilds, shedding tears of blood, had no choice but to abandon their territories to the Dwarven engineers. The situation in the Eastern Elemental Jungle was even grimmer.

“Trouble! The forces we diverted were ambushed…!”

“Elemental monster rushes occurred without taking a pioneering quest?”

“Half our forces were wiped out by elemental traps before even engaging the Elven units!”

The Elemental Jungle was a hellscape. The entrance was merely a prelude; elemental monsters respawned endlessly, devouring every player that ventured in.

Even reconnaissance rankers couldn’t outmatch the Elves in the forest. Like ghosts, they moved in harmony with the trees, seamlessly erasing their presence.

Elven scouts were always one step ahead of the players. The result was catastrophic. Specializing in ambushes and ranged attacks, the Elves’ combat skills were exemplary.

The international guild alliance, confident in their ability to defeat the Elves, found themselves retreating in defeat without having fought a proper battle.

Contrary to popular belief, the Elves were extremely aggressive. Thinking they could retreat to the second barrier was a mistake.

“What’s happening here?”

“The barricades are moving on their own!”

“The magic circle of the Town Tree has stopped!”

Pioneer sites, painstakingly secured, no longer favored the players. As if remembering their old masters, the barricades opened gaps, allowing elemental monsters to flood in.

Continuous arrow sniping from hundreds of meters away chilled the players to the bone. And when the Elven warriors and druids finally appeared, they massacred the players.

Though few in number, each Elf was as strong as a high-ranking player. Led by high Elves, each of them surpassed master level, transcendent in their abilities.

No matter how numerous or skilled the player guilds were, they couldn’t handle the Elven transcendents. The outcome was horrific.

Zero survivors.

None of the guild members tasked with protecting the pioneer sites managed to escape alive. They couldn’t outrun the Elven rangers in the forest, and the high Elf mages used barriers to block any attempts at teleportation.

A month had passed.

It took just one month for most of the hard-won pioneer sites to fall into Elf hands. The major guild alliance lost everything they had invested in these sites, often losing their lives multiple times in the process, effectively erasing their foothold in the Forbidden Zone.

However, not all pioneer sites in the Elemental Jungle were lost.

“Keep the shield gaps closed! Knights, intercept the arrows!”

“Mages, continuously check the magic circles and prevent the Elves from forming barriers!”

“Armored Cavalry, prepare for the charge! Now, charge!”

The frontier pioneer sites that Raul had strategically positioned in the Forbidden Zone’s outskirts managed to withstand the Elven assaults. Fortresses fortified by Raul, who was already familiar with the Elves’ attack patterns.

Reinforced with the regular knight orders and elite mages from Marquis Hamart of the Kingdom of Markas. Along with support troops from the First Knight Order and Purple Guild.

These strongholds were thoroughly prepared for defense, preventing the Elves from breaching the walls and resulting in significant setbacks to the Elven forces. But the success was limited to just these frontier sites.

The Elemental Jungle was no longer human territory. The Elves had unparalleled synergy with the jungle, commanding elemental monsters and triggering elemental traps at will.

Reconquering pioneer sites deep within the jungle, infested with ambushing Elves, was a daunting task. Player activity was thus confined to the entry points of the Jungle, near the pioneer sites secured by the First and allied guilds.

Periodic raids by Elven guerilla units further compounded the issue.

“We can’t just lose everything and give up! Find a way!”

“This is the end if we don’t discover a breakthrough! Isn’t there anything we can do?”

The major guilds, pushed back to the frontier pioneer sites, were at a loss. Then, it happened—suddenly, the Elven offensives ceased, and sightings of Elves in the Forbidden Zone dwindled.

“What? Is it another trap?”

“Send out scouts. We have no other choice!”

Finally, the news arrived:

War had broken out between the Cranen Empire and the Elves!

Once again, the major guilds stood at a crossroads.

(To be continued)