Infiltrating the Village

“…Really?”

Isabella couldn’t accept it at first. But when I nodded, her eyes lit up slightly. Then she looked around nervously again.

“If it’s for my sake, you don’t need to do this. I’ve realized how selfish I was…”

“We’re doing this because it’s necessary for us. So don’t worry too much.”

She seemed unconvinced. Well, it was understandable that she’d be suspicious after we had scolded her just moments ago and then suddenly changed our minds.

“Isabella. Can you handle the goblins in the watchtower by sniping them?”

I didn’t try to persuade or explain further. I had already announced the decision anyway. For now, attacking as quickly as possible was the priority.

“Yes. I think I can do it if we get a little closer.”

“Then after Isabella deals with the goblins in the watchtower, let’s secretly approach the tribe. Our goal is the Orc Tribal Chief. Remember that rescuing the adventurers is secondary.”

Inis and Isabella nodded heavily. Before leaving, we ate jerky and drank water.

“Let’s go.”

After satisfying our hunger and thirst, we headed toward the tribe. Isabella took the lead.

“Wait a moment.”

After closing the distance somewhat, she stopped in place. She picked up her bow and nocked an arrow.

Creeeak—

The bowstring was drawn tight. Isabella glared fiercely at her target. The bowstring pressed firmly against her nose and lips. Her right hand positioned under her chin.

A perfect stance.

She breathed carefully. Each time, her shoulders rose and fell slightly. The moment she took a sharp breath, red magic flowed through her arm and into the arrow.

Whizz—!

When she released the string, the arrow cut through the air. She then fired several more shots in succession. A rapid fire flowing like water.

“Did they hit?”

Since I couldn’t see with my eyesight, I asked Inis. She frowned slightly and then shrugged.

“I don’t know either. We should ask Isabella.”

With those words, both of our gazes naturally turned to Isabella. She made a V-sign with her fingers and answered.

“All hits!”

“Then let’s move quickly.”

We ran toward the tribe.

If there had been goblins in the watchtower, we would have been discovered long ago. However, thanks to Isabella dealing with all of them, the possibility of being detected was extremely low. Orcs didn’t patrol the perimeter anyway.

‘The watchtower is probably just for show.’

Since they dominated the layer from the beginning, why would they need to be cautious? We intended to exploit that complacency.

“Phew.”

Fortunately, we reached the wall without being caught. We crouched low under the wall. Through the gaps between the wooden logs, we could see the orc village.

Looking at the hastily erected tents, I contemplated how we should move.

“Let’s approach slowly while assassinating.”

At my words, both of them nodded. We slowly moved around the wall. As we approached the entrance, another watchtower came into view.

“Keruk. Keruruk.”

“Keruruk?”

We could hear two of them conversing from above. Without my command, Isabella stood up.

Whizz—!

An arrow lodged in a goblin guard’s head. Before it could make a sound, the second one also died instantly.

We passed through the entrance. After sticking close to the back of a tent, we quickly checked inside. Confirming it was empty, we entered.

“Phew.”

After catching our breath briefly here, I peeked slightly outside the tent. I immediately hid when I saw an orc passing by.

Thump thump-

Did it see me? Or not? Cold sweat ran down my back. We waited in the tent, holding our breath, but the orc didn’t come in.

I let out a sigh of relief and peeked out again. This time, no orc was visible. I immediately went outside and moved to the next tent.

From tent to tent. We continued crossing, slowly approaching the center.

“Kurururaak.”

The closer we got to where the tribal chief was, the more orcs and goblins there were. The sound of conversations around us naturally made us tense.

As orcs passed in front of a tent, we immediately went outside and moved to the next house.

“Keruk?”

A goblin that had been picking herbs made eye contact with us. We both froze in surprise for a moment.

Swish—!

Inis kicked off the ground and cut off its neck with her sword. The severed head fell with a splash into a cauldron.

“Wow.”

I really thought we were going to be discovered. That was scary. I gave Inis a thumbs-up. She smiled broadly.

Bubble bubble-

Inis put the rest of the goblin’s body into the boiling cauldron. She covered it with a lid and burned away the bloodstains on the ground along with the weeds.

“Let’s move.”

After destroying the evidence, we left the tent and moved again.

“Keruk?”

We quickly moved to the next house, but we could hear the goblin’s cries getting closer. Perhaps they had seen us crossing, as they were cautiously approaching.

“Keruk! Keruruk!”

“Kerukkeruk. Keruk. Keruruk”

I didn’t know what they were saying, but judging by how they called for comrades, they were certainly suspicious.

“Keruk—”

—Thud!

As they lifted the cloth and entered, Inis, who had been waiting nearby, thrust her sword. Her longsword simultaneously penetrated the skulls of two goblins.

Crash!

Isabella’s arrow dealt with another one. Inis immediately walked through the open tent. I could see a goblin behind her looking at us with wide eyes.

“Keruk!”

The moment it tried to turn around, she reached out her arm. She grabbed it by the collar and drove her sword upward through its chin.

Thud—!

“Gurk. Guruk…”

After the sound of blood gurgling a few times, the body collapsed. We checked if there were any others, but none were visible.

“Phew.”

I took off the bag from my back. I took out a water pouch and drank a little. Was it because I was so tense? My throat was burning like crazy.

Gulp gulp-

Inis and Isabella also hydrated. After chewing on jerky and putting it in our mouths, we started moving again.

I wasn’t sure how long it would take to reach where the tribal chief was. However, it shouldn’t be too far. Probably.

I peeked outside the tent. After checking the surroundings and confirming there was no problem, we moved to another location.

“Kyaaaaaaah—!”

While repeating this process, screams began to be heard from not far away.

Isabella turned to look at us with a pale face. It was probably because she knew it was the cries of adventurers. The orcs must have started breeding.

It was unfortunate for them, but good news for us. Their screams were nothing short of a signpost.

We had been moving in a zigzag pattern, but now we had a clear direction. If we went toward where the adventurers were, we would surely find something.

“Move.”

I said that and went outside. Using the adventurers’ screams as a compass, we moved. Before long, we were able to reach a particularly large tent.

“Kuhehehek!”

“No! I said no! Stop!!!”

When I slightly lifted the cloth, I could see the backs of orcs and glimpses of their genitals. Beyond them were female adventurers. Several women’s corpses were also visible around.

Swish—!

At my gesture, red light erupted from Inis’s body. Her longsword, after she kicked off the ground, severed an orc’s neck.

Crash—!

Isabella also rapid-fired red arrows. Orcs, starting from those furthest away, fell to the ground one after another.

I quietly watched as they performed. I had no intention of using magic power in a place like this.

It took less than 10 seconds to deal with the seven orcs in the tent. This massacre was possible because they were excited.

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

“Someone remove this! This! Please-!!!!”

Female adventurers pinned under orc corpses screamed wildly. Inis and Isabella helped them.

“…Thank you.”

The female adventurers were in a miserable state. Some had crushed faces. Some had lost arms or legs. I thought it was amazing they were still alive in such a state.

“Are all the female adventurers here?”

I asked an adventurer who was relatively okay. I couldn’t bring myself to speak to the others because they were all crying or in shock.

We had certainly rescued all the adventurers in the tent. But there was still no indication that the quest had been completed. This meant there must be more adventurers elsewhere.

“…A goblin with a staff took the most intact person.”

“A goblin with a staff?”

It must be a goblin shaman.

“Which direction did they go?”

“That way.”

She pointed in one direction. Immediately after, screams erupted. The adventurer’s body trembled.

“I understand. Thank you for letting me know.”

I bowed my head and stood up. I took out some jerky and water pouches from my bag and put them down.

“Stay here.”

If they went out seeking revenge and died, the quest might fail. I had to hope the adventurers would stay put.

“…Thank you.”

Some adventurers bowed their heads. I turned my body and headed in the direction of the screams.

It’s finally time to meet the Orc Tribal Chief.