Episode 80 – The Great Extermination

As if it were about to rain, gray clouds thinly covered the morning. After last night’s attack, the extermination guidelines had changed.

Did they think that dividing the troops here would lead to being defeated individually? Or did they think that a small number couldn’t cope with the enemy’s attack? The traps and ambushes were canceled.

With 320 armed soldiers, it seemed they thought that even if the 40 barbarians were strong, they couldn’t easily win against a number that was eight times greater.

The extermination squad leader, sending quick-moving mercenaries ahead as scouts, slowly entered the forest.

The unit’s movement speed was very slow, as they walked cautiously, almost obsessively so.

With about 10 minutes left to the barbarians’ base, the extermination squad found a suitable open space and reorganized their formation.

The scouts, sent ahead, reported the current situation of the eerily quiet base.

The extermination squad leader seemed lost in thought at the scout’s words that it was as if no one was there.

After pondering for a moment, the extermination squad leader seemed to think they should at least go nearby, and issued instructions to the soldiers and mercenaries.

The extermination squad leader seemed to think that forming ranks and advancing in the dense forest was close to impossible, and planned to send the mercenaries, divided into teams, ahead.

The regular soldiers also formed teams with their respective unit members, reorganized their formation, and slowly began walking towards the base.

Standing behind Garin and Ian, who were holding shields, I slung my completely drawn greatsword over my shoulder and walked slowly.

The forest was eerily quiet; not even the sound of common insects could be heard.

As if the forest itself harbored hostility, the extermination squad advanced, not knowing what might be beyond the ominously swaying leaves.

While walking slowly, the view suddenly opened up.

A wooden fence located in the middle of a large open space-that was the barbarians’ base that the scout had mentioned.

It was quiet.

Too quiet.

The wide-open wooden gate seemed to be tempting us.

The mercenaries who came out into the open space couldn’t easily think of entering, as it looked too much like a trap.

,That… looks too much like a trap,?

,I think so too. Hmm… Are they ignoring us? Even a siege would be difficult.,

Garin frowned, as if his pride was hurt by Grace’s words.

While they were hesitating and unable to enter rashly, the regular soldiers came out.

The extermination squad leader also frowned at the wide-open wooden gate.

After pondering for a moment, the extermination squad leader sent a scout to check around the wooden fence.

And the result was nothing; there was nothing unusual around the surrounding forest or the wooden fence.

Thinking that someone had to be sent, the extermination squad leader began to worry.

And he started looking at Grace.

,Ah… that look, that incredibly annoying look…,

Grace avoided the extermination squad leader’s eyes and pretended not to notice.

Of course, the extermination squad leader called Grace over.

,I have a mission for you.,

,Hmm~ You want me to go in there alone? That’s a bit… My life is important too, heehee.,

,Don’t worry, it’s just a matter of looking around to see if you sense any presence and then coming right out. More than anything, isn’t that outfit of yours a magic armor?,

,That’s true, but……,

,Just take a look around. Of course, I’ll give you a generous reward as well.,

,A reward……..,

Come to think of it, I’m short on money.

I did receive 1 gold as a hush fee, but I lost all the money I had collected while being captured by the goblins, so thinking about it again made my mouth bitter.

,There are cases where you just talk and don’t give it…,

,A noble keeps their promises. You know that too, don’t you?,

,Ah~ I got kicked out,,

The extermination squad leader, gracefully stroking his mustache at Grace’s smiling appearance, said.

,Then I will pay you immediately.,

And then he took off his ring and handed it to Grace.

,Here, take it, Holstaurus-yang. The value of this ring should be enough compensation.,

,Ooh… you’re giving me this much?,

,This matter is worth it. It would be fine to just end it by shooting fire arrows and burning everything, but I can’t just be afraid of ambushes and burn even the last remaining traces. I have no intention of taking such a risk. Now go and do what you must do.,

,Hehehe, yes.,

Grace, looking at the sparkling ring and grinning, first approached her party members and said.

,Honey, I’ll go take a look around.,

,……. Are you sure you’ll be okay?,

,Of course, I’ll be fine~ You know, this magic armor is sturdy, and more than anything, I can walk out perfectly fine as long as I don’t die, right? And think about it, would they attack when only one person goes in? There are plenty of mercenaries outside, right?,

,……. Hmm….. Haa, okay. And…. I’m sorry, Grace. If I were stronger…,

,Oh, my dear, you’re doing that again. Don’t blame yourself again, just train hard and become stronger than me~ Hehehe, I’ll be back, honey. Mwah♥,,

Grace comforted Ian, kissed him on the cheek, and then said to Garin and Vindal.

,I’ll be back.,

,Be careful, hahaha!,

,…….. Be.. be careful…,

Grace smiled, watching Garin’s lively appearance and Vindal’s still shy appearance, and drew her greatsword, slinging it over her shoulder.

,Hehehe, don’t worry! I’m strong, you know?,

And with confident steps, she walked towards the barbarians’ village.

* * *

A rare style, like the Mongolian gers I had seen on the internet in my past life, tents were scattered irregularly throughout the village.

The village scenery was very quiet, and the sound of insects crying occasionally echoed peacefully in the quiet village.

I loosely gripped the handle, ready to swing my greatsword or block something at any time, and walked slowly.

Grace, slightly lifting the tent flap of a ger with the tip of her greatsword to check, confirmed that no one was inside and entered.

Inside the desolate tent… It had been a long time since they had left, and there were no particular items to be seen.

After taking a quick look, Grace headed straight for the wooden building located in the center of the village.

Entering the fairly large building, Grace could tell that this was where the barbarians mainly gathered.

A long and huge table, and a rather ornate chair placed at the end of the table, Grace looked around here and there boldly but carefully, and came to one conclusion.

There are no barbarians here.

The moment she was convinced, Grace immediately moved out of the village.

And she approached the extermination squad leader, who was stroking his mustache, and said.

,There’s nothing there?,

,Nothing there?,

,Yes, it seems they’ve taken everything, including the orcs and anything useful.,

After explaining the internal structure of the village and the situation inside the large wooden building located in the center, the extermination squad leader began to seriously consider it.

,Good, you did well. Then go back and wait for instructions.,

The extermination squad leader, after giving instructions to Grace, soon began talking with his adjutants. The extermination squad leader occupied the inside of the village and sent scouts to the area.

Looking over the outside, which was already darkly covered in darkness, the mercenaries went to sleep with the expectation that they might be able to return like this.

And those mercenaries’ expectations were shattered in an instant.

,———!!,

The sudden commotion was enough to wake Grace and her party members, who were sleeping in the ger.

When Grace suddenly woke up at someone’s shout, the other mercenaries also heard the sound and hurriedly got up to grab their weapons.

,Kkyaaaaaaa!!!!,

And as if your thoughts were correct, a desperate scream was heard.

,Ian! Garin! Vindal! Stick together!,

At Grace’s shout, the four of us, along with the other mercenaries who had come to their senses, rushed outside.

The village was on fire.

,Kkyaaaa!,

,Enemy attack! It’s an enemy attack!!!,

The orcs, whose physical specs were twice as different as humans, were easily defeating the confused mercenaries and soldiers individually.

,Damn it, I knew it!,

At that moment, the nameless mercenaries next to me shouted and were hit by something flying through the surging flames as they tried to run away over the barrier, and they collapsed.

Seeing that, Grace realized that they were surrounded.

Orcs were coming out in groups from the burning wooden buildings, and a rain of arrows was waiting for those who were running away outside.

,We’re screwed.,

Grace, thinking that we had already lost, said to Ian, Garin, and Vindal.

,Everyone! Let’s break through the main gate! I’ll block the arrows from the front, so just run at full speed! Got it?,

Everyone nodded at my instructions and checked their equipment.

,Now… ready… ready…,

And at the moment when I found a place where the encirclement was even slightly thinner in the chaotic encampment itself, I shouted.

,Let’s go!,

At the same time as Grace’s shout, the party members ran towards the main gate.

The moment they escaped the burning village and came outside, arrows flew at a tremendous speed from beyond the forest.

Grace, using her arm to deflect the arrows that were rapidly approaching her eyes, felt her arm lightly pierced along with a ,crunch!, sound.

,Keueuk!!,

Grace, widening her eyes and biting her lips, endured the pain in her arm and did not slow down, casting healing on her dangling arm.

And the second arrow, tearing through the air like a banshee’s wail, was blocked again by her healed left arm.

At the moment, Grace sprinted with a fierce smile on her face at the commotion felt beyond the forest.

Grace, grateful for the fact that she could even see the bewildered expression on the face of the orc holding a bow that was small compared to his size, smiled brightly and shouted.

,Die!!!,

With a ,kuuung!!, sound of stomping, Grace delivered a body check to the orc as it was.

The orc was startled to see Grace’s fierce smile coming towards his eyes in the blink of an eye, and hurriedly tried to avoid it, but unfortunately for the orc, it was already too late.

Kwajijik….!! The orc coughed up a lump of blood rising up his throat, hearing something crumbling from his body.

The orc, who was hit by Grace’s body check, bounced off the ground several times like sujebi, then crashed into a tree and slumped down.

,Hurry!,

Grace moved deep into the forest with the remaining three people who had belatedly chased after her.

Rain begins to fall, as if to soothe the miserable screams and the world that is dyed red and burning.

* * *

Swaaaaaa….!

The drizzling rain had already started to fall like a torrential downpour.

Orcs stood sadly through the curtain-like pouring rain.

A particularly large orc, looking at the orc bleeding from his mouth while leaning against a tree, knelt on one knee and carefully closed his cold, astonished eyes.

,……… Chieftain, shall we pursue?,

,………….,

The orc standing behind him looked at the fallen orc with sad eyes and said.

The chieftain just stroked the fallen orc silently and said softly.

,No, we will not pursue. No traces will remain in this rain.,

And he silently looked at the two clear lines engraved on his son’s stomach before turning around.

,Hooo… Hooo…. Hooo…,

Rough breathing is heard.

Of course, Grace wasn’t tired at all, but she thought that the other three would collapse and they wouldn’t be able to escape properly.

We need a place to rest. The rain, which was pouring like a downpour, had stopped, but it was still far from morning, and the cold air after the rain was rapidly taking away the body temperature of the remaining three people, who were soaked in rainwater.

Grace, carefully looking around here and there, was able to find a cave.

,Everyone, let’s rest here.,

At Grace’s words, the remaining three people nodded frantically and entered the cave together.

Inside the fairly large cave, they took off their armor, which was soaked in rainwater.

Grace also wanted to take off her soaked clothes, but she couldn’t take them off because she wanted to pretend to be a virtuous woman in front of Ian.

Grace and her party members, who came outside, quickly gathered branches that could be used as firewood, used magic to dry the branches, and then lit a fire.

And they began to dry their trembling bodies and clothes that were soaked in moisture.

Grace also realized that the eyes of the three people were focused on her at the moment when she approached the fire to dry her soaked body.

Tilting her head and looking down, she reflexively covered her chest at the sight of her upper body, soaked in rainwater, sticking tightly and faintly revealing her pink nipples.

,Lewd….,

The three people who saw Grace, who had slightly reddened face and was covering only her nipples with both hands, thought at the same time.

Ian smiled at the different appearance of his embarrassed wife, and Garin and Vindal hugged their knees to hide their stiffly erect penises.

The night deepened with different thoughts centered on the crackling bonfire.