Ch.110Chapter 110: Anomaly.

The expedition’s departure was grand.

The residents had no doubt that this expedition would easily defeat the orcs and restore stability to the region.

Valt’s group was also assigned to the mage unit, moving in the rear.

Most mages typically had frail constitutions, so all of them were provided with horses.

Because mages were valuable resources.

However, Valt was moving on foot since he couldn’t ride a horse due to his enormous size.

The weight of Geruntu was different from that of ordinary continental people. There were certainly some continental people with builds similar to Geruntu, but their actual body weight was completely different.

Should one say their muscle density was entirely different? In any case, none of the continent’s ordinary horses could carry Valt.

“Are you okay, Valt? What will you do without a horse?”

Lisa asked Valt with a regretful tone, but Valt didn’t mind much.

“It’s common. No horse except a Black Warhorse can carry a Geruntu. Besides, walking is good for practicing magic.”

Many mages around heard Valt’s words, but no one said anything to him.

That was because Valt was a 5th circle powerhouse even in common magic.

“Heh heh heh, look at those people.”

When Valt spoke like that, some mages began walking like him.

“Just sitting in a room staring at books doesn’t produce results. Moving the body like this helps the mind work better too. Haven’t you heard that a healthy mind dwells in a healthy body?”

“Oh!? We have a similar saying. If you don’t know where to start, begin by walking.”

“That’s a good saying.”

Valt’s group moved along with the expedition, chatting like this.

Occasionally, mages would approach Valt with magical theories, but Valt would only stare at them silently.

“Ah, please don’t be like that…”

“I think he means you should train your body first?”

In truth, it was because Valt didn’t know much about magical theory.

Of course, he had read many books in the library during his time at the academy, but there was no way he could explain theories to mages who had devoted years or decades solely to theory with just that level of knowledge.

So Valt didn’t even bother answering to avoid such troublesome situations.

Instead, when Liris pointed out errors in the magical theories that she overheard, people began to gather around her.

This was because Liris, being a mage herself, didn’t dislike such theoretical discussions.

Valt found many interesting points while listening from the side.

‘Hmm, I could use that theory.’

Those were the kinds of thoughts he had.

After walking for a full day, they arrived at their destination.

This was where they would intercept the orcs.

The location was perfect—a narrow passage like a gorge where orcs would emerge, while the waiting expedition could widely surround the orcs’ exit point. There couldn’t be a better interception terrain.

According to plan, they would easily capture the orcs here.

“Whew~ This terrain is so advantageous! That gorge can only fit about 30 people in a single line, right?”

“Hahaha, they say this is all part of the strategy from the Kingdom of Oscar. We just need to intercept the orcs as they come out like sausages!”

People’s expressions were bright, and no one doubted that they would stop the orcs here.

However, only Valt’s group seemed a bit worried.

“Strange, isn’t this too easy?”

Lisa was the first to question it.

“Indeed, things are going too smoothly.”

At Valt’s words, Arias and Liris added their thoughts.

“Maybe they’re focusing too much on the main force? It seems like they’re not paying attention to this side at all.”

“We must not let our guard down. We have memories of being thoroughly defeated by thinking that way.”

Having already experienced the Dark Society, Liris’s vigilance was at its peak, and Arias and Lisa, who hadn’t directly encountered the Dark Society, began to think in different directions.

But none of them had decision-making authority.

They could only prepare for whatever the Dark Society might be planning.

Before the battle began, tents were set up for rest. Even though they were orcs, they were an army of 30,000.

It wouldn’t make sense to enter battle without rest.

According to scouts, the orcs were about a day’s distance away, so there would be plenty of time to rest.

Valt’s group also began to rest according to the expedition’s control.

***

The next day.

Buuuuuu-

The sound of horn trumpets commonly used by orcs could be heard from afar.

It seemed the orc vanguard had discovered the human expedition and was preparing for battle.

“They’re really coming this way without any issues?”

“We still shouldn’t let our guard down until the end. They must have some trick up their sleeve.”

The commander-in-chief of the Kingdom of Oscar was also telling everyone not to let their guard down, maintain vigilance, and prepare for battle, but his relief was somewhat visible.

By this point, the human expedition could win regardless of what the orcs might do.

“Hmm… what is it… what have they prepared?”

As the battle drew closer, Valt’s sharp intuition felt that something wasn’t right about the current situation.

Then he reached one conclusion.

“Could the orcs be using artifacts?”

Everyone was stunned by Valt’s sudden question.

“W-what? Artifacts?”

“Damn, they wouldn’t sacrifice 30,000 orc troops like this. Something’s off.”

With the battle about to begin, Valt was able to meet the commander-in-chief directly thanks to Grace’s influence.

“Artifacts, you say? But you don’t know what kind of artifacts they might use, correct?”

The commander-in-chief’s courtesy toward the foreign prince was impeccable.

Valt, speaking from his position as a prince, didn’t particularly use honorifics.

“That’s right. Those we call the Dark Society seem to use various artifacts.”

The commander-in-chief nodded at Valt’s words and continued.

“I understand your concerns, Your Highness. However, changing our formation now could cause greater confusion.”

It was still an army of 15,000. If troops were pulled back now with battle imminent, some would be confused, and if the orcs didn’t use artifacts, they would miss a great opportunity to easily defeat them.

Therefore, the commander-in-chief couldn’t withdraw the entire army.

“I understand. That’s only natural. I just ask for caution.”

“Understood. Prince Valt, I will keep a close eye on the situation.”

As the commander-in-chief said, there honestly didn’t seem to be much they could do right now. But there’s a big difference between warning about potential trouble and not saying anything, which is why Valt went out of his way to speak with the commander-in-chief.

They could only hope the enemy wouldn’t try anything strange.

And then the orc forces arrived before their eyes.

Thump-thump-thump-thump-

The footsteps of 30,000 orcs shaking the earth.

Since orcs are much larger and heavier than ordinary humans, even a force of just 30,000 makes the ground tremble.

“Orcs!”

“Everyone, prepare for battle!!”

Though not a trained military force, the adventurers and mercenaries were no less than regular troops in raising tension and preparing for battle.

At that moment, the commander’s voice, amplified by magic, echoed across the battlefield.

[Mage unit! Prepare to attack!]

Woooong-

The sight of 50 mages preparing their magic was incomparably magnificent.

The various mana glowing in all colors created an atmosphere of mystery.

Since allies were naturally lined up in front of the mage unit, Valt’s group had no choice but to use projectile-focused magic.

It would have been better to use magic like Tornado, but they decided to wait and see for now.

However, even Valt’s simple projectile magic was extraordinary.

“Valt… are you going to throw that?”

Lisa looked at whatever Valt was holding with an incredulous face.

“Yes, why? Want to cast an enhancement spell on it?”

With nothing else to do, Lisa began casting an enhancement spell on the huge boulder Valt was holding.

“O-okay, give it here. I should do something. Want a strengthening type?”

“No, not strengthening, but firepower enhancement, please.”

“Firepower enhancement?”

Valt grinned and pointed at the boulder.

“This is a bomb.”

“W-what?”

Despite appearances, Valt is a 5th circle mage. He used the surrounding earth to create a large boulder with elemental spirits and added bomb magic inside it.

Like modern bombs.

Even looking at hand grenades, most of their lethality comes not from the explosion itself but from the metal fragments that tear through the air.

The same goes for claymore mines. Countless flying steel balls turn humans into rags.

Valt created powerful explosion magic set to detonate upon impact and surrounded it with stone and metal.

It took quite some time, but it was Valt’s unique magic with definite physical power.

“Hahaha, I call it the Valt Bomb.”

Other mages preparing their magic nearby looked strangely at Valt’s eccentricity.

They wondered how he planned to throw such a heavy boulder.

But that was the thinking of mages who didn’t know much about the Geruntu race.

“Chweek!! KWAAAARRRRRR!!”

“Chweek!! Chweek!! KRWARARARA!!”

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-

The orcs emerged from the gorge with intense snorting sounds, their numbers so vast that the end couldn’t be seen.

At their tremendous running speed, they would soon exit the gorge if given time.

[Mage unit! Begin attack!! Next!! Archer unit prepare!!]

Since magic typically has a longer range, it’s common for archers to shoot after the mages.

“Fire Buster!”

“Wind Cutter!”

“Fireball!”

“Wind Strike!”

Fire and wind magic, most preferred during war.

Fire has strong destructive power, and wind makes that fire even bigger.

But one anomalous metal lump stood out conspicuously among the fire and wind magic.

“Here goes!! Valt Cannon Bomb!!”

He called it that because it looked like a shell, though it was a bit too large to be called a cannon bomb.

Thinking he should come up with a more suitable name later, Valt used this as a temporary name.

Naturally, Lisa, Arias, and Liris wondered what it was.

Valt’s muscles bulged as he threw the massive shell-like object.

“Hnnnngh!! HEAVE-HO!!”

WHOOSH!!

That day, the mages in the mage unit came to respect Valt, who had shown them a new horizon of magic.