Orc!

She returned to the reception counter, now clad in a striking red midi gown. The fabric clung to her thin waist and medium bust, the fitted bodice accentuating her slender figure. The vivid material, smooth and slightly shimmering, draped gracefully down to just below her knees. The gown's simplicity and impeccable fit made it enchanting.

Reich's eyes widened as he saw her because of how good the dress looked on her and said, "You look beautiful." 

"Thanks, Conrad," she replied warmly, her smile lighting up her face. 

The shop owner, quietly observing the scene, couldn't resist adding his thoughts. "You look lovely in this dress, miss," he said, his voice tinged with admiration.

Reich turned his attention to the shopkeeper. "So, how much for this dress?" he asked, his tone businesslike yet casual.

"5,000 ele, sir," the shopkeeper replied, politely.

Reich's thoughts momentarily drifted as he processed the price. 'That's surprisingly cheap... then again, I'm just that rich from exploiting everyone,' he mused, a fleeting smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Without hesitation, he reached into his pocket and handed over an emerald card, sleek and sophisticated, resembling a debit card in shape and design. "There you go," he said, sliding it toward the shopkeeper. "And take an extra hundred for your advice."

The shopkeeper's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected generosity. He bowed deeply, his voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you for your kindness, sir."

Reich nodded, dismissing the gesture with a casual wave before turning to her. "Let's head back. It's getting dark," he said, glancing toward the windows.

She nodded, her tone gentle yet playful as she responded, "As your wish, Conrad."

The two stepped out of the shop, their figures silhouetted against the glowing backdrop of the fading daylight.

After a while, they arrived at the castle. At the gate, a knight clad in full armor stepped forward, his stern gaze fixed on the approaching pair.

"Who dares to trespass?" the knight demanded.

Reich remained unperturbed. With a casual motion, he lowered his mask. The knight's demeanor changed instantly. His rigid stance softened, and without hesitation, he and the nearby guards dropped to one knee.

"Please forgive me, Master," the knight said, his tone filled with reverence.

"It's fine," Reich said, his voice calm as he lightly patted the knight's shoulder.

As they reached the main entrance of the castle, Reich turned to Sulvia. "Thanks for accompanying me," he said, his tone uncharacteristically warm.

Sulvia shook her head gently, her gaze filled with gratitude. "There is no need to say that, Master. It was my pleasure. And because of your kindness, I had a day off… with a reward," she added, bowing deeply.

Reich gave her a faint smile before stepping through the large oak doors of the castle.

---

Once inside his chamber, Reich shut the heavy wooden doors behind him. He quickly stripped out of his exhausting attire and slipped into his more familiar, comfortable clothes.

With a sigh, he sank into a nearby chair. "I hope I made some progress," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

"Man, that sure was exhausting for no reason. I didn't even train today," he added.

But his restlessness refused to subside. Rising from the chair, he stretched and glanced out the window. "Let's go and train before I hit the bed. I also need to test the skill I learned from the system," he said to himself, his tone determined.

He strapped his sword securely to his waist, its hilt gleaming faintly in the dim light, and made his way to the window. Without hesitation, he leapt through it, the cool night air rushing past him as he landed gracefully below.

"I would've surely died from that height if this were Earth," he mused, chuckling softly at the thought. With ease, he vaulted over the castle walls, his movements fluid and precise and headed straight towards the jungle.

------

"Here we are at Darkwood Forest, the best quiet place for me to train. No one will hear what I do here... except maybe the animals," Reich muttered to himself, his voice steady as his eyes scanned the towering trees around him. The dense tress above filtered the moonlight, casting shadows on the forest floor.

Darkwood Forest was located ten kilometers behind the castle and was renowned as the safest forest in the entire kingdom. Its reputation stemmed from the precious herbs that grew there—rare and coveted by alchemists and healers alike.

Records described it as a forest free of monsters or dungeons. Its proximity to the main city ensured regular patrols, leaving no room for bandits or threats to take root. This made Darkwood a favored trade route for merchants and travelers. The only danger was the occasional wild animal, but even they could be easily scared off with weapons or loud noises.

Reich dropped his coat and hung it on a low-hanging branch, unsheathing his sword. The blade of the sword gleamed faintly under the moonlight.

"Let's start," he said, his tone firm.

Taking his stance, Reich gripped the sword tightly and concentrated. A faint yellow hue enveloped the blade—a manifestation of sword aura. For someone with his stats, wielding sword aura was second nature, a basic skill expected of someone at his level.

He began his routine, swinging the sword in calculated arcs, each movement fluid and precise. He imagined himself locked in combat with an imaginary opponent, his mind conjuring scenarios of attacks and counterattacks. Moving back and forth, he ducked and dodged, transitioning seamlessly between offensive strikes and defensive maneuvers.

Reich's heightened senses allowed him to fight with his eyes closed, relying on his awareness of his surroundings to guide his movements. Each swing of the sword was accompanied by the faint hum of his aura cutting through the still air.

For the next hour, he fought tirelessly against his imaginary opponent. Sweat poured down his body, drenching his clothes and matting his hair to his forehead. His muscles burned, but he didn't stop until his energy was nearly spent.

"Huff... haah..." Panting heavily, Reich finally sheathed his sword and leaned back against a nearby tree stump to rest. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath.

"I didn't think just swinging the sword while using my aura would be this exhausting," he muttered, wiping his forehead. "I wish I had something like a training dummy. Fighting my imagination feels... weird. And no matter how hard I try, I can't perfectly picture someone else's swordplay style in my mind."

As he sat there lost in thought, a sudden noise broke the stillness of the forest.

*Thud!* *Growl!*

The low, guttural growl of an animal in pain reached his ears, followed by the unmistakable sound of something heavy crashing to the ground.

"What's that?" Reich shot to his feet, his body tense as he instinctively grabbed his sword. His sharp senses had already identified the sound. "That was definitely a lion... growling in pain. And that thud... something knocked it down."

Curiosity and unease gnawed at him. He couldn't ignore it. Whatever was happening was out of the ordinary, even for Darkwood Forest.

Without wasting a moment, Reich sprinted toward the source of the noise. His movements were swift and precise as he weaved through the trees, leaping from branch to branch like a shadow in the night.

When he reached the clearing where the commotion had originated, the sight before him stopped him in his tracks, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"What... what's this doing here?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

In the centre of the clearing stood a massive orc, easily several feet tall. Its grotesque figure loomed over a pack of lions and lionesses, their lifeless bodies scattered around like discarded toys. The orc's bloodied hands ripped through the carcasses, tearing flesh with savage hunger. The beast growled as it feasted, its jagged teeth glinting in the moonlight.

Reich's grip on his sword tightened. "An orc... in Darkwood Forest? That's impossible! There aren't supposed to be any monsters here!"

******

Finally something new! Let's go! Action!

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