episode_0021

Just before dawn, when the darkness still lingered, making their normally unseen greenish skin glow brightly under the fire they had lit to cook meat.

Though it was something they shouldn’t be doing, the other orcs were all asleep, and the window in the succubus’s room was on the opposite side from where they were, allowing them to pull off this trick.

“Grrr.”

One of the orcs let out a burp as if his stomach was full. Looking at the countless unknown bones neatly laid out by his feet, one could roughly gauge how much he had eaten.

“You ate a ton. I only had a little!”

“If you wanted more, you should have caught some. Instead, you drank a lot of alcohol.”

“I brought the alcohol, though.”

“Then I brought this guy,” the orc retorted.

The orc who first brought up the logic seemed to reconsider. After all, he had prepared the alcohol while the other had agreed to prepare the meat.

Although he said he had only eaten a little, his stomach wasn’t in bad shape. It really wasn’t that bad.

“Well, next time, let’s try to get some spices…”

Swoosh.

A faint sound of wind cutting through was heard. However, the orc, heavily intoxicated by alcohol, scratched his ear and looked at the bottle, continuing the conversation.

“…Yeah. The meat tastes better when you just eat the blood-drained part, right… huh?”

Mid-sentence, the orc realized something subtly quiet and turned his head. Normally, a simple “just eat it” response should have come, but it was oddly silent.

“Huh?”

And there was a reason for the silence.

An arrow was deeply lodged in the orc’s right eye. When? By whom? Questions raced through his mind quickly.

But what filled not just his thoughts but also his left field of vision was something else.

Whoosh!

The orc with an arrow in his left eye slumped down and collapsed. At the same time, the bottle he was holding teetered on the edge of falling to the ground.

Whizz. Thud!

In the dark forest, a noose appeared and caught the bottle just before it hit the ground.

“Wow, you’ve got skills like that?”

“I learned various things from a thief about five or six years ago in exchange for providing him food.”

Serena admired Malcolm’s skill but wondered if it was shady. However, she decided not to tackle the usefulness of the skill right now.

“And the scroll Kubil gave me is effective too.”

It was a scroll containing both scent masking and soundproofing spells, right? Clearly, the recently deceased orc newcomers had no idea we had been lurking around for quite some time.

“Yes, although it’s low-level, he provided enough quantity for everyone to use. Kubil must have overextended himself.”

“Like an investment?”

“Yes, beyond the Peaks of Paghys, relations between the Empire and our side were tense, but recently there have been movements to resume trade. Originally, maritime trade was active due to the mountains, but four months ago, part of the range was slightly eroded by an earthquake. Only some locals like us, Lord Yung, and the top echelons of both countries know this fact.”

“And if that part is smoothed out, a viable trade route will be established? And Pagyst Village will be the midpoint of the trade route?”

“That’s right.”

Finally, Serena understood why the succubus used Naid to cause trouble in this village. Realizing how crucial this was, I quietly looked at Malcolm.

“Then if we signal according to the plan, I’ll bestow blessings upon everyone. Malcolm, you’re at the forefront, right?”

“It goes without saying.”

Malcolm shrugged and reached for his sword. It was a sign of his confidence.

“Then I’ll cast protective shields on both of you. Leave healing and support attacks to me.”

We cautiously approached the alternating door, and Jerry and a lone ranger inspected it.

“No traps.”

“No traces of magic.”

After Jerry and the ranger’s okay sign, Malcolm nodded and reached for the door.

But suddenly a question arose. A succubus, right? Specializes in entrancing people, right? Can there be… no traitors?

Ping!

As Malcolm opened the door, a clear sound, like metal pins bouncing, emanated from inside the door.

—Warning! Mechanical trap detected! Activate accident acceleration using 50 DP for countermeasures!

With the warning on the status bar, my world slowed down. The faces of a startled Malcolm and a jubilant ranger crossed paths at the sound, followed by a blinding light seemingly exploding from inside the door.

There was only one thing to do here.

“Holy Shield!”

—Maximum range & output. 150 DP consumed! Manifestation successful.

In response to my wish, a pure white shield-like barrier appeared between Malcolm and the explosion.

Kwaaaaang!

A tremendous explosion shook the ground and the entire watchtower, nearly shattering the Holy Shield, but Malcolm, Jerry, and the soldiers emerged with no major injuries.

“Cough, cough!”

However, due to the recoil, I coughed incessantly. Though satisfying, it wasn’t important now.

“Malcolm! That ranger kid!!!”

I called out to Malcolm, pointing at the ranger, as Malcolm’s straight punch landed on the ranger’s jaw.

Thud!

The ranger’s body slammed into the ground.

“Is he a demon soldier?”

“No, likely under an illusion. Even if he were a demon soldier, unless he’s a fanatic, his life would be precious. Thank you, Serena. But damn it all.”

As Malcolm spoke, a massive explosion occurred. Even if orcs are dull, this should be enough to repel enemy attacks…

Ssslaaash!

Crunch!

At that moment, just as Malcolm blocked my path and a metallic sound rang out, a spear deflected off Malcolm’s sword and embedded itself in the ground beside me. It took me a beat too long to realize the situation. Damn it, I would have been dead if not for Malcolm.

“Thank you.”

“It’s just paying off a debt. But covering everyone’s share might be tough. And blessings! It seems they knew we were coming!”

As the smoke cleared, armored orcs emerged from the haze. About 30 in number. Despite being outnumbered, we had priests and mages on our side.

“Bless!”

—Group Bless. Status effect: Charm (latent) lifted 8 times. 300 DP consumed. Manifestation successful.

‘As expected, there were more.’

I frowned as half of the guards fell under the charm, but the spell was already broken.

A pure white light descended upon the soldiers. Even as an outsider, I could sense a change in their demeanor without needing to ask.

“Shieldbearers, forward. And… prepare to throw.”

Following Malcolm’s command, seven soldiers with large shields and long spears took the lead, while three soldiers behind them pulled out glass orbs filled with oil.

‘But is the shield formation like a phalanx stance?’

Though the upper part was empty, with walls on either side and most of the orc armaments lacking bows, mostly armed with melee weapons.

“Kraaaaah!”

As the lead orc charged forward with a battle cry, the remaining orcs surged forward.

“Jerry, cast Fireball three seconds after throwing.”

“Casting complete.”

The orcs rapidly closed the distance, running as if to say shields and spears couldn’t stop them, exuding an aura that their hefty stature and weapons could easily crush a person.

“Now! In the center of them!”

At Malcolm’s signal, the soldiers hurled the glass orbs they held.

And when the glass orbs landed above the orcs, they burst with a crack, spraying oil.

“Jerry, now!”

Following Malcolm’s command, Jerry’s Fireball descended upon the oil-soaked orcs.

Simple tactics are most effective against opponents without a plan, and the magician is the epitome of that.

Kwaaang!

The combination of exploding fireballs and pigs seasoned with oil could make for a delicious barbecue. However, something was amiss.

“Malcolm, they’re riding on them, charge!”

The orcs charged without concern for their losses.

“Damn it! The succubus has cast madness on them! Everyone, prepare for impact!”

Kwaang!

The straight spear shattered, and the shock reverberated through the metal shield. The orcs at the front were impaled by the spear and met their demise.

However, the remaining orcs used their fallen comrades as stepping stones to attack the soldiers.

Chyak!

Yet, the orc at the forefront had his throat cleanly sliced along with the arm wielding the weapon by Malcolm.

Wow, it was somewhat grotesque, but more so awe-inspiring. Not just flesh, but even the bones were neatly severed.

—Mana Measurement Result: Intermediate Sword Expert. The aura in the sword serves as evidence.

As stated in the status window, a bluish aura emanated from Malcolm’s sword.

“Wind Cutter!”

Meanwhile, Jerry was casting spells, slicing through the orcs’ necks. Magic and auras were indeed formidable.

And I have something equally potent.

“Holy Shield! Holy Arrow! Heal!”

I protected Malcolm, who was cutting down orcs, and Jerry, one of the key figures, while my magic, combined with arrows, inflicted wounds on the injured soldiers.

“Charge! We must finish this quickly before the succubus escapes!”

With Malcolm’s command, the soldiers beheaded the orcs and advanced.

Clang!

At that moment, something flew across the sky from the watchtower, accompanied by the sound of shattering glass.

“It’s the succubus!”

One soldier shouted, and before the soldier finished speaking, Malcolm threw a grappling hook. Whether due to reaching the level of an expert or the influence of a blessing, the hook swiftly flew towards the succubus, who was still flying low.

And finally.

“Kkaak!”

The succubus got caught by the grappling hook on her foot. Not content with just watching, the orcs swung their weapons towards Malcolm.

Thud!

Most attacks were blocked by the holy shield, but it couldn’t last forever. The root of the problem needed to be addressed.

‘Status window, is capture possible?’

—Request received. Capture alive? Or eliminate?

‘For now, alive. I have some questions to ask.’

—Request acknowledged. Error correction in progress.

I loaded a Holy Arrow, awaiting the status window’s instructions.

—Target locked. Aim for the succubus’s right wing.

Pew!

The Holy Arrow soared, piercing through the succubus’s wing joint. With one wing lost, the succubus floundered and crashed.

Perhaps due to the succubus’s fall, the orcs’ movements became erratic. Some were writhing in agony from the flames clinging to their bodies.

“Well done, Serena! The succubus’s madness has ended! Push forward!”

Led by Malcolm, the patrol unit decimated the orcs at the watchtower. Confirming the orcs’ defeat, I turned towards the succubus.