Chapter 90

Summary of the previous chapter ------------------------------------------------------

We took a few days off from hunting to focus on training.

When we went to the guild, there was a request to exterminate an orc nest.

Tommy informed me that the short knives were completed, so I went to pick them up.

After leaving Ganz's shop, we hurried to the forest and made our way deeper in.

There, the short knives—should I call them wakizashi?—immediately proved useful.

Usually, Toya uses his sword to clear the underbrush, but its edge is poor, so it only breaks branches. However, the wakizashi cuts through cleanly, making path-clearing much faster.

"Your edge is impressive."

"Yes, it's great that they can handle rough use."

If we only consider clearing the underbrush, we could use a magic bag and buy a machete or a scythe, but it's a hassle to take them in and out, so it's convenient to just use the wakizashi.

"Soon, we'll be in the orcs' territory... Our target is around 10 orcs, right?"

"Yes. If we find a smaller group, we can hunt them normally."

"Would a group of 20 or more be... unlikely?"

"Considering they hunt for food, it's probably unlikely. The nest we scouted before didn't have 100 orcs, right?"

"That's right. I think there were about 50 in the area I scouted."

Even accounting for orcs that weren't in the nest at the time, there probably weren't 100. If 50 orcs were wandering outside, they would have shown up in my scouting.

"How many orcs are there in total? We know there are multiple orc leaders, but are there any orc captains?"

It's too convenient to assume the orc leader we encountered is the only higher-level orc in the nest.

"Would it be too simple to think one orc leader for every 30 orcs, and one orc captain for every 30 orc leaders?"

"By that calculation... the orc king would be at the top of 810,000 orcs?"

Yuki quickly calculated and interjected with a doubt.

"That's a bit much, isn't it?"

"In terms of the world's population, that would be enough to destroy a country, right?"

Even if the people in this world have high physical abilities, ordinary people can't kill orcs. Even the guards at the gate might find it challenging.

Considering that, 810,000 orcs is unrealistic. The country would be destroyed before they reached that number.

"What if there's one higher-level orc for every 10 lower-level orcs?"

"Then it would be 30,000 orcs, which is still realistic?"

It's still a level that could destroy a country, but...

"Assuming that, there would be 2 or 3 more orc leaders, and no orc captain."

"Let's assume that for now. We also have my scouting. If it looks dangerous, we can retreat."

Against strong enemies, we can retreat before engaging. The usefulness of the "Scouting" skill in ensuring safety is unparalleled. Our actions are possible because of this skill.

With our plan confirmed, we walked around the orc nest, searching for orc groups. After about half a circle, my scouting detected a group of 8 orcs. There was no sign of an orc leader, so they were easy prey.

"What do we do?"

Considering the worst-case scenario, we want to fight closer to the road. If we need to retreat, our options are limited in this position. We can only run left or right, as the deeper forest and the direction of the orc nest are out of the question.

"8 orcs should be fine, right? Naoh and Yuki can take out 4, and the battle will be over quickly. Plus, we have the magic bag."

The large magic bag, to be precise.

Honestly, the dissection is more dangerous than the battle.

We spread blood and are weaponless and greasy-handed during dissection, which can hinder our ability to fight if we need to grab a weapon quickly. It also takes longer than the battle itself.

We don't neglect scouting, so the risk of a surprise attack is low, but leaving our prey to escape is frustrating.

"What about the roles?"

"Yuki and Naoh, attack the 4 orcs in the back. Try to kill them in one hit if possible. I'll take the one in front. Natsumi and Toya, take the 3 in front."

After confirming everyone nodded at Haruka's instructions, we approached the orcs.

Recently, we've been more careful about our approach, trying to come from downwind. Orcs can detect us from a distance if we're not careful, probably because of their good sense of smell.

Only Naoh and Yuki have the "Stealth" skill, but everyone has become quieter compared to before, and the forest is full of sounds, so we're not too worried.

After a while, the orcs reacted as soon as they came into view.

We need to improve to achieve a complete surprise attack.

"They're coming!"

As the orcs approached, we moved to our optimal positions.

Just before Natsumi and Toya were in range, Naoh and I fired "Fire Arrows" in sync, and the two of them attacked the confused orcs.

Natsumi's spear was a one-hit kill, piercing the orc's head from under the jaw.

Toya shattered the orc's knee with his sword and then struck the head of the collapsing orc.

One orc fell to three of Haruka's arrows, and the last one was quickly finished off by Natsumi and Toya.

"Phew..."

I exhaled, seeing the result. The battle was almost instantaneous.

We killed the orcs before they could even resist, and Naoh and I didn't even need to use our weapons.

"This number is easy."

"True. The 'Strength Enhancement' skill has increased our power."

"By the way, you shattered the knee."

It made a terrible sound. The sound of the skull breaking right after was also unsettling.

"Last time, we couldn't break it even with attacks."

"Hmm? Didn't you break it when we first met?"

"That was with a 'Charge' shield bash. A normal sword swing didn't work."

The fact that we can now break it with raw strength is a sign of progress.

"Considering dissection, it's a bit tricky. Natsumi's method is the cleanest."

"Ugh... Don't say that, Haruka. I can't reach it without breaking it."

The orc's head, about 3 meters high, is too tall for Toya to reach with a normal sword.

He used to jump and attack directly, but he stopped after being blocked. Being in the air makes you vulnerable.

"Can't you aim from below like Natsumi? It's not as sharp as a spear, but it can still pierce, right?"

"No, Natsumi always succeeds, but hitting that spot through the gaps in the arm is incredibly difficult."

"I can't do it either."

I've tried, but it's almost impossible to aim while facing the orc. Even with a surprise attack, I doubt I could do it.

"Really? Impressive, Natsumi."

"I'm flattered."

Natsumi smiled, embarrassed. However, the content of the praise is rather unsettling.

"Hey, let's quickly dispose of the orcs."

"Right."

We used the large magic bag we made. The three women opened it, and Naoh and I carried the orcs inside. The "Strength Enhancement" skill made it easy to carry these large orcs.

"Still, it's strange to see..."

Yuki and Natsumi were referring to the orcs being absorbed into the magic bag.

The bag, made with special stitching, spreads into an oval about 2 meters in diameter but is only about 20 centimeters deep. The sight of a 3-meter-tall orc being smoothly absorbed is quite mysterious.

We've seen magic bags hold a lot of items before, but the difference between a single item fitting and a large item being absorbed is significant.

"It's fine, it's convenient."

"Typical Toya, simple-minded."

"Magic is mysterious in general. I think it's best to accept it as 'that's how it is.' — Alright, that's the last one!"

After throwing in the eighth orc, we folded the magic bag, which shrank to the size of a shopping bag. Inside, there were about 2.5 tons of orc corpses... Yeah, let's not think about it.

"What do we do? Should we leave the forest and dissect, or keep fighting?"

"Since it was so quick, how about we circle around and fight if we find more, and return if we don't?"

"True. We haven't used our weapons yet."

"Haruka, using that weapon is for dangerous situations, right? It's better not to use it."

"But practice is necessary... Next time, if we have a spare moment, let's leave 3 orcs for the rear group to fight."

"Agreed! I want to test my skills!"

I have no reason to object, so I nod.

If we find a suitable enemy, that is.

"Let's go, then."

In the end, we encountered a group of 10 orcs on our way back.

Toya and Natsumi quickly dispatched the smaller group with magic, and the remaining 3 orcs were each handled by our rear group, with Toya and Natsumi ready to support.

I dispatched mine relatively easily, but Yuki, using her new weapon, struggled a bit but managed to kill her orc alone.

Haruka, being almost new to close combat, took longer and was watched by everyone, but she eventually killed the orc without help.

Unfortunately, the orc's hide was damaged, but it was a gain to see that Haruka could cut through the hide with the wakizashi.

We stored these orcs in the large magic bag and moved outside the forest to dissect them.

In total, 18 orcs. The amount of meat is enormous, but so is the waste.

We usually leave the remains in the forest, but this location is too visible from the road.

Therefore, we used Yuki's earth magic to clean up thoroughly and returned to town.