Oh, right. While we’re on the topic, I had better ask what conditions need to be cleared in order to evolve.

“Momma, what do I need to do in order to evolve? It shouldn't be a simple strength requirement if I'm already at the level of a War Orc.”

“Hmph!” Momma snorted, and she looks unusually excited. “You ask the right person, baby. I know the most about the Four Aspects of Sapient Beings!”

“Four Aspects…?” Wawa, her eyes are shining.

“The Four Aspects is the Mind, Body, Heart, and Soul. The Mind is you, baby; your memories and your self. No matter the form, a person is what exists in the mind.”

Eh? Momma’s language is becoming clearer as I hear it…

“The Body is how you have shaped yourself. Skills are born as your body learns to perform certain tasks.”

Maybe it’s because this is a topic that she has a deep understanding of, that understanding is being transmitted along with the words…

“The Heart is what you desire. It is easily influenced by the situation and difficult to control. However, the Spirits have a particular bond with and fondness for the Heart. When you desire something, if there is a magic that suits that purpose which you can use, they will offer it to you.”

“The Soul tethers the other three aspects together. Changes in your Mind and Heart will affect your Soul, and your Soul can only exist in a suitable Body. Evolution occurs in monsters when the soul and body no longer match. You will naturally evolve when your soul is no longer the soul of an Orc.”

It's somehow very deep. “So specifically, how does an Orc evolve into a War Orc?”

“The Orcs in the Expansionist tribes are constantly in a near war state against the Fomors. When war is more important to them than food or homemaking, they become War Orcs.”

Whoa! Then, me being an Orc right now… means that my soul is comfortable with an Orc’s lifestyle?

“Do you know about any other Orc Evolutions, momma?”

“There is the Wild Orcs, they evolve to a more primitive lifestyle. Then there is the High Orcs, which evolve closer to civilization. There is also Ogres which desire bloodshed.”

Her language is slipping again. Too bad.

“Are there any peaceful evolutions?”

“We telling lazy children that Orcs who only eat all day evolve into Bovines, but I never seeing it happen.”

Hmm… well, I guess, if I ever do evolve, it will be into something that suits me. I guess I'll just stop worrying about it for now. The Four Aspects… interesting. Why was I born as an Orc in this world and not a Human? I had wondered about it before, but could it be that I already was so unsatisfied that my soul wasn't Human anymore? But my Mind is certainly still Human…

Momma has taught me very few things since I was born into this world, but I think this is one of the most important things I've learned.

“Thanks, momma. I'm going to go back to supervise the guests. Also, while you're practicing, would you mind keeping a record of any skills and combinations you discover?”

I created a few tablets and a stylus and handed them over.

“Sure, baby. You have fun. And if you decide to find a mate, make sure he strong, got it?”

“I'm not going to, though.”

For now, I went back to the underground. Things are still lively down there, for now.

Wah! It’s a headlock!

Yep. I'm having fun.

***

I can't believe I made such a beginner’s mistake. Armin chided himself for the hundredth time that week, then dipped his cloth once more in a bucket of dishwater.

The quest I officially took was to subjugate an Orc. I forgot that and came back without any proof.

He used the wet cloth to wipe down a beer-stained table.

The price for failing a request is way too fucking high.

The three-star Adventurer, Armin, was currently working a part time job to secure living expenses until a good request came in to the guild. His savings had been nearly wiped out thanks to his own oversight.

Ah… it’s tough. Really reminds you that people make mistakes no matter how much experience they have. I wonder if it was worth it?

The sandy-haired man finished cleaning up the Adventurer Guild-Sponsored Inn and headed back to the room he rented at the Guild. On his way, he glanced at the request board.

Still no three star quests.

Armin went to his room to sleep before work tomorrow.

The next day, he went in at noon to cover for one of the bartenders.

“Oi, this beer is sour! What kind of shit did you serve me?”

“Hah?!” Armin glared at the drunkard. “You ordered ale, not beer. Shut the hell up and drink.”

“Hahaha, this job suits you, Armin!”

“Huh?” Armin made a gangster-like face and turned to look at whoever was mocking him. There, he saw Nostel and Rudan, two of the Humans he’d brought back from the Orc village a week ago.

“So it’s you guys. What are you doing here?”

“Drinking!” Nostel grinned. “Rudan just turned Eighteen, so I'm going to show him how to have a good time!”

“I… I'm going to try ale!” The kid tried to sound confident, but it was clear he’d never tried alcohol before coming of age.

“Ale’s too strong for a new drinker. Have a beer instead,” Armin told him.

“I… I want an ale! I can drink it strong!”

Armin poured the kid a beer and slammed it onto the counter. He glared, “You’re getting a beer. Get it, brat?”

“Ah… y-yes…”

Nostel laughed. “I'm here to make him happy tonight, so I'm gonna take it easy. Got any fruit wine left?”

“Yep. Here you go.”

Armin watched the brats having a good time and wished he was on the other side of the counter.

Jeez. How long can it take for a three star request to appear in this city?

Just as he was thinking that, he passed by the request board. After looking it over for a moment, a particular quest caught his eye. He tore it off the board before he even read the contents.

Yes! Finally! Gods, I waited ten days… Now let’s see… War Monkey extermination?