Chapter 5

Orion made his way out of the dense forest, he couldn't help but think about how difficult the battle against the Hell Soldiers and Hell Warriors had been. He knew that he needed to find some companions to aid him in his next mission. As he walked, he reached into his inventory and pulled out the Mercenary Selection Summon Marble, weighing it in his hand.

He knew that he could summon a grade 'A' mercenary using the marble, but he also knew that it was too early in the game to waste such a valuable resource. Instead, he decided to try his luck with the slave merchant that he had heard about in the game.

He remembered that the merchant, Jang Gil San, sold grade 'D' mercenaries for 5,000 gold each. He made his way toward Hanyang city, where he hoped to find more information about the slave merchant's whereabouts.

As he entered the bustling city, he was greeted by the sights and sounds of a vibrant marketplace. The smell of cooking food wafted through the air, and merchants called out their wares to potential customers. Orion made his way through the crowds, keeping an eye out for anyone who might know something about the slave merchant.

After asking around for a while, he finally found someone who pointed him in the direction of the slave merchant's location in Pyongyang city. With renewed determination, he set off towards the next city, his mind racing with thoughts of the potential mercenaries he might find.

As he traveled, he encountered more and more hostile monsters, making the journey more challenging. He had to use all of his skills and weapons to fend off the creatures and keep moving toward his destination.

Finally, he arrived in Pyongyang city, a sprawling metropolis filled with people from all walks of life. where he hoped to find Jang Gil San, the slave merchant. He asked around and eventually came across a shady-looking alleyway where a group of rough-looking men stood guard.

"Excuse me, is this where I can find Jang Gil San?" Orion asked tentatively.

The men eyed him suspiciously, but eventually, one of them stepped forward.

"Who's asking?" the man grunted.

"My name is Orion, and I'm looking to buy a grade 'D' mercenary," Orion replied.

The man looked him up and down, sizing him up.

"Alright, follow me," he said, leading Orion down a narrow alleyway.

They emerged into a dimly lit room filled with cages. Inside each cage was a haggard-looking person, their eyes filled with despair. Orion couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt at the sight.

"Jang Gil San will be with you shortly," the man said before leaving.

Orion waited nervously, feeling uncomfortable in the presence of the slaves. Finally, Jang Gil San arrived, a short, wiry man with a quick smile.

"Greetings, my friend! What brings you to my humble establishment?" he said cheerfully.

"I'm looking to buy a grade 'D' mercenary," Orion said, getting straight to the point.

"Ah, I see. Well, you've come to the right place. I have several fine specimens available for purchase," Jang Gil San said, gesturing to the cages.

Orion couldn't help but feel disgusted by the whole situation, but he knew that he needed a mercenary to aid him in battle.

"How much for a grade 'D' mercenary?" he asked.

"Five thousand gold coins, my friend. That's the standard rate," Jang Gil San replied.

Orion handed over the coins, feeling a pang of regret as he did so. Jang Gil San opened a cage and handed him a contract.

"Here you are, my friend. This is the contract for your new mercenary. Good luck in your battles!" Jang Gil San said before shooing him out of the room.

Orion was glad that he made it to Jang Gil San's shop in Pyongyang city, where he found Okuni the Shaman and Gyebaek the Swordsman. He hired them both for 10,000 gold, which was a steal considering their skills.

As he walked back to the doctor's hut with his new mercenaries, he explained the situation to them. Okuni nodded, taking in the information and absorbing it. She was a devout follower of the gods, and she was willing to do whatever it took to fulfill their will. Gyebaek, on the other hand, seemed more stoic and focused on the task at hand. He gripped his sword and shield tighter, ready to face whatever came their way.

With his new mercenaries by his side, Okuni the Shaman and Gyebaek the Swordsman, Orion made his way back to the doctor's hut. His journey was fraught with danger, as he encountered more monsters on his way back. But with his new companions, he was able to take them down with relative ease.

When they arrived at the doctor's hut, Orion introduced his new comrades to the doctor. The doctor looked impressed, and he nodded in approval.

"I see you've brought some skilled fighters with you," the doctor said. "They will be helpful in your journey."

Orion handed over the Polluted Armor Shards that he had collected. 

 "You did it? We may have a chance, after all. Now, let's see..." 

 Doctor Hwang congratulated him on his achievement but expressed concern about the Hell Soldiers. 

 "...Oh, this isn't good."

 "These Hell Soldiers are... They're travelers who died there long ago and come back to life as mindless monsters. How could this happen in so beautiful a place as the [Forest of Spirits]?"

Orion was troubled by the doctor's words, but he knew that he had to press on. He asked the doctor if there was anything else he could do to help, and the doctor responded that there might be a chance now that Orion had collected the Polluted Armor Shards. He didn't elaborate further, but Orion sensed that there was more to the story than the doctor was letting on.

As the doctor prepared Orion's reward, Orion took a moment to reflect on his journey so far. He had come to the Forest of Spirits with a simple mission, but it had turned into something much more complicated. He had encountered danger at every turn, but he had also made new friends and allies along the way.

Orion's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the doctor's voice. He had finished preparing Orion's reward, which included 180 experience, 15,000 gold, and one Spirit Weapon Box. Hwang handed him small vials filled with a shimmering liquid.

"What are you those, Doctor?" asked Orion curiously.

"I call it the Forest Healing Potion," Hwang said, beaming with pride. "With the spirit powder and polluted armor shards as specimens, I was able to create a vaccine that should stop the spread of the curse in the Forest of Spirits temporarily."

 Orion inspected the potion carefully, admiring the way the liquid seemed to dance and swirl inside the vial. "This looks like some powerful stuff," Orion remarked. "How does it work?"

"The potion temporarily halts the curse that has affected the forest," explained Doctor Hwang. "It won't solve the problem entirely, but it's better than nothing. The curse has been causing the forest to be overrun by Hell Soldiers. If we can stop the curse, then we can at least give the forest a chance to recover."

Orion nodded thoughtfully, tucking the vial safely into his backpack. "I'll do my best to deliver it to Jinni as soon as possible," he promised. "But do you think this potion will work?"

Hwang nodded confidently. "I've tested it myself on a few of the forest creatures, and the results were very promising," he said. "Of course, I can't say for sure if it will work on the curse that's affecting the entire forest. But even if it just provides temporary relief, it will be worth it. I believe that this potion will help my niece restore peace to the Forest of Spirits."

Orion grinned. "Well, let's hope it does the trick," he said. "I'll make my way to Jinni as soon as I can. Thanks for this, Doc."