Chapter 6

We have returned to the location where the orcs had their base.

The scars of battle remain as they are. There are no plans to move here permanently.

For now, that village is sufficient.

In terms of facilities, they have improved considerably thanks to the vampires, golems, and dryads.

"......The lower world is an amazing place, isn't it? It's quite different from what I had heard."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. While the way it was described was a bit concerning, it was said to be a place unsuitable for human habitation. However, looking at this base, I think it is far superior to the human towns around here."

Elise's statement is not an exaggeration.

While it might not compare to major cities, in rural areas, this orc base is likely more impressive.

This is because, in rural areas, there are no outer walls, so there are many dangers.

It's common for monsters to attack the village at night or for crops in the fields to be ravaged.

"That's true. By the way, orcs lived here, and Lord Crest defeated them."

"While in the village, I heard a brief account. It seems a lot has happened."

Elise's gaze turned toward me.

Her envious look made me feel a bit uncomfortable.

"Well, yeah. Compared to when I was in the upper world, I've grown a lot."

So, trying to intimidate me with force is futile.

That's what my words implied.

Elise's smile only deepened.

"Crest, you are truly amazing. The subhumans in the village also spoke highly of you, saying you are an excellent leader, hehe."

Being praised so openly is still something I'm not used to.

It feels more natural to think that something has possessed Elise.

"Crest?"

"Yeah, no... it's nothing. It seems a monster is approaching, get ready."

I always have my perception magic active, so I can easily detect approaching monsters. Orphe and the others can probably tell by smell.

Elise's eyes widened in surprise at my words.

"Crest, you can tell when monsters are approaching?"

"Yeah, basically."

"......That's amazing. I can only vaguely sense the movement of magic, you know?"

"That's enough, isn't it?"

"No, it's not certain and it's too inconvenient. They seem to be coming, don't they?"

As Elise said, a monster appeared from the thick underbrush.

...The monster is a gorilla-like creature.

However, it has four arms, and its face is very fierce.

"King Kong. It's the new species we're looking for."

"New species... does that mean the monsters are evolving?"

"Um... Lord Crest, how should I explain this?"

While Elise tilted her head, I scratched my cheek.

I was hesitating about how much to explain about the gacha skill, so it took some time to respond,

"Ah!"

It had probably been ignored for a while.

King Kong started drumming angrily.

After the drumming, which was felt as a shock, King Kong lunged at us.

In response, I cast a spell.

It's wind magic.

The raging wind pushed King Kong back.

"......Magic. That's quite a skill."

Elise's soft murmur brushed past my ears.

For now, King Kong is in the way.

King Kong regained its stance and glared at me.

I glared back, trying to intimidate it.

When I glared with a killing intent, King Kong flinched.

It seems to have understood the difference in power between us.

King Kong fled in a panic, and I closed the distance in an instant, swinging my sword.

After cutting it in two, I cast wind magic to scatter the smell of blood around.

This will attract new monsters.

I set up trap magic around the area. I could burn them with fire magic, but if the fire spreads to the trees, it could start a fire.

With water and earth magic, I could stop the fire, but it would be extra effort, so the magic in the trap is basically wind.

The magic creates sharp blades of wind that can take away the feet of the monster that steps on it.

Then, using construction magic, I processed nearby trees to make a chair and a table.

"Let's sit and talk for a while."

"......C, Crest? W, what you just did... all of that was... skills, right?"

Construction magic and magic.

Elise seems surprised by what she saw.

"Yeah. My gacha skill allows me to obtain skills using points gained from defeating monsters."

There's no need to hide it.

Originally, the effects of this skill were already known to everyone when I was in the upper world.