Yuin's eyes surveyed his player, taking in his proportions and gauging his usefulness.
Under such scrutiny, the player trembled, wondering if his master had suffered brain damage somehow.
What else could result in this behavior?
Pressure pushed down on the player heavily, causing him to spasm like he was being electrocuted.
"M-Ma-Master?"
As much as Yuin would like to judge him again since he already judged him useless in the first place, he knew not to.
At least, now.
He wasn't a stranger to the quote: Don't Judge a Book by its Cover.
He was a prime example of that.
Because of his good looks and mannerism of interacting with people, they often thought him to be a scholar that excelled in his academics.
Whereas, he was a drop out that could barely even read.
If not for Im Jaebum, his youngest brother, who tutored him from time to time, what would've become of him?
Staring at his player, he could only ask, "how?"
The player's theatrics stopped, realizing what got Yuin staring at him with such intense scrutiny.
"Oh!" he let out.
But in the next second, his expression turned into confusion.
A minute later, it turned into realization, and then a nervous smile.
He almost blurted out a question he felt was absurd and could have hurt his master.
'Can you not read?'
He wanted to ask because all his details should've been written on his profile interface which was accessible to Yuin.
But thinking back to how Yuin had asked him to read his interface sometime ago, he had to piece two and two together himself.
Now, he could only think, 'poor master' and silently scold himself for almost being inconsiderate.
But, having just known each other, he was unaware that Yuin paid no mind to such things. Nor was he sensitive about it.
Taking a proper posture and lowering into a bow, the player introduced himself.
"Hello Master, I'm Korain, a Grand Alchemist."
He's really dramatic, Yuin thought, irritated by his sudden display of chivalry.
"So that's your name. You should've told me from the beginning that you weren't totally useless. I'm Yuin," he replied, putting on the seriousness of the atmosphere.
"Ok master," Korain snapped upright with a sheepish smile.
"Ugh…" Yuin's brow twitched.
Sighing, he questioned.
"What can you do? I mean, what is an alchemist? Is it some kind of magic ability? Was that how you healed me?"
"No, it isn't a magic ability. An alchemist crafts all sorts of things, including potions. In my case, a Grand Alchemist, I can do more at high efficiency and effectiveness." Korain explained.
"As for how I was able to heal you, I pulled out the arrow, after snapping off its head, of course. Then I poured an already made healing potion I had with me onto the wound."
"That's—" Yuin started, only to pause and pique at Korain's suspense to know what his Master thought of him.
"That's—"
"….."
"That's aMAZING!!" He blurted with a fist up.
"Phew!" Korain exhaled.
Getting his Master's approval meant a lot to him.
He would rather not be owned by someone who thought of him as nothing. Plus, he had already taken a liking to Yuin.
After all, since the start of the fight, he'd been nothing but annoying and whiny. Yet Yuin had been patient with him and even protected him.
While other players protected their Masters, he hid behind his own Master and got protected.
He didn't know whether the beings controlling everything happening allowed it or not, but he knew if he had ended up with someone strict or wicked, he'd have long been dumped.
So he wants to do anything to aid Yuin and protect him.
On the other hand, Yuin gazed quietly at his player, observing his joyful expression and big smile just because he called him amazing.
There were a lot of questions he still wanted to ask. Like, 'why does your level start with a minus?'
But he didn't want to ruin his happy moment so he saved it for later.
"Right now, I can help you fight," Korain said with a bit of excitement.
Raising a doubting brow, Yuin asked, "You can?"
"Yes, hopefully. I'm still scared though, but I want to help."
"That would be great 'cause I need it."
"I won't fail you," he blurted confidently and started rummaging through his pouch.
Seconds later, he brought out a handful of various potions with varying sizes, shapes snd colors.
Yuin's eyes widened in surprise and confusion.
"What are those?"
SMIRK!
"Here, take this," he handed Yuin a brown looking liquid. "It's a recovery potion, drink it."
Yuin only scanned the small flask for a brief moment before he downed it without hesitation.
Instantly, the effect kicked in.
He felt his fatigue lightning, his head clearing and his muscles loosening.
It's great, he thought.
"The healing potion I used on you only served to heal the wound because it's a low grade potion. That recovery potion is still low grade but it'll help at least."
Stretching the flask back to him, Yuin asked.
"Why do you only have low grade potions?"
"Sorry, those are what I have with me for now. Crafting takes a bit of time and level plays a big part as well. Not that I can't craft higher grade potions though, it's just limited at the moment."
"That's no problem, we'll level up by killing these orcs."
A bit taken aback by Yuin's confidence, Korain could only match him with a smile.
"Yes!"
"Then this is a reflex potion to sharpen your reflexes. This is a strength buffer. This is a…."
He went on, listing and listing.
"You sure have a lot," Yuin said.
"Aha-ha-ha," he laughed awkwardly.
"You have a very good specialty, but is there a way you can aid in the fight directly?" Yuin asked.
"You have to kill to level up. Or better still, should I beat the orcs nearly to death and drag them over so you can decapitate them with that axe?" He pointed at the dead orc's double axe.
"Even at that, time isn't on our side. The time is ticking and we've barely killed a good amount. So it's a bit…"
"Not to worry, Master," he waved at Yuin's face as if dispelling his worry.
"I might not be able to aid directly with the combat, but I'll make it easier for you. I don't really mind if I don't level up."
No, you have to. My lovely potions.
"Here, I have a paralyzing potion. Uh, more like a paralyzing smoke? It's trapped within a flask but once freed, it spreads. It's odorless so it doesn't work from inhaling it but getting in contact with it," he explained, dangling a spherical flask.
"I'll give you a numbing potion to this poison, so you won't really get affected. You can drink a healing potion once you're done."
"Ah," was all that Yuin could say.
He was amazed that he had such a player. If he'd been like this from the very beginning, he was sure their kill count would've been higher by now.
But there wasn't time to mope about things that could've happened.
"You're really amazing," he gave him a dramatic thumbs up.
"Kekekeke, I have three different kinds. A paralyzing smoke, a knock-out smoke, and a brain fog smoke," he flashed them in Yuin's face.
"This is a game changer. With this, I can already foresee our victory."
"Yes. But first, could you… could you…"
"….."
Yuin knew it was coming.
He could feel it.
Something absurd.
"Could you carry me up on the branch?" Korain blurted with a blank face, numb of every shame.
"…."
"From there, I'll be able to drop the smokes on the orcs."
What could he say?
The demand was reasonable.
The tree wasn't that tall either, so it was easy for Yuin to piggyback Korain.
After making sure he was secured, Yuin jumped down.
"Now we just have to draw the orcs over here and use the smokes on them, then you finish them off without much struggle. They're so focused on tearing down everyone in front of them that they aren't even paying us any attention."
"Leave that to me," Yuin smirked.
He picked up the double axe beside the decapitated orc and dragged it over to its severed head.
With a sly grin, he planted a foot on the head.
Then, grinding his boot against it, he drew in a deep breath—
YO, BUFFOONS!!!