Chapter 92

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

Back at the inn for a reflection meeting. The conclusion was that the special training had largely paid off.

However, to increase their destructive power, Haruka would also learn fire magic.

They took a break from hunting and started training again.

It took Haruka three days to be able to use 'Fire Arrow.'

It's unclear whether this is fast or slow, but once she could use it, her control of magic power was on par with ours. She quickly succeeded in launching two arrows simultaneously.

The power was also satisfactory, so she should be able to easily take down an orc.

"Then, are we finally heading to exterminate the orc nest?"

"Yes. I think we can manage with our current strength. The concern is that there are at least two orc leaders, and possibly more."

So far, they had taken down about 80 orcs. If one leader appears for every 30 orcs, Natsumi's calculation was likely correct.

"Last time, Natsumi held them off, right? This time, I'll help, and while we do that, the rest of the orcs will be exterminated... If there are three, Naoto, do your best!"

"Me!? ...Is there no other way?"

Haruka is out of the question. Even Yuki, who has changed her weapon, would find it difficult.

If that's the case, it's obvious that I'm the only one left... but when it comes to dealing with those huge orc leaders, I'm a bit worried.

"If there are three, we should avoid combat. We'll rely on Naoto's detection, but it's risky."

"Right. Relying on Naoto is too risky. The best option is to avoid starting a fight. If we're interrupted during combat, we should consider retreating."

"Naoto would be flattened by one hit from an orc leader, right?"

...Yeah, I think so too, but it's a bit frustrating, isn't it?

It feels like I'm being called unreliable.

I'm not a kid who would stubbornly insist on fighting just to prove myself.

"Then, let's go with that plan. Naoto, are you okay with it?"

"Yeah. I don't intend to do anything reckless."

I nodded and we headed for the forest.

We followed the same route as before, spiraling inward toward the orc nest.

We approached in half the distance of my detection range, getting closer with each lap, but the orcs didn't show up.

After about three laps, just before the orc nest came into my detection range, we stopped and, as before, Natsumi and I went out to scout. This time, we approached until the entire orc nest was within my detection range and investigated.

"...There are 20 in total, with 2 orc leaders."

"Quite a reduction. Let's head back."

Once we confirmed the situation, we returned to Haruka and the others without being detected by the orcs.

"How was it?"

When I told Toya the results, he nodded happily.

"Then, we should be able to take them down without any problems, right?"

"Yeah. As long as we don't get careless, it should be fine."

After a brief discussion, we solidified our plan.

Fortunately for us, the nest was large enough, and the orcs were scattered throughout, not clustered in one spot.

Considering this, our plan was to approach from downwind and launch a surprise attack with magic.

We would use long-range attacks to take down as many orcs as possible, and if they got too close, Toya or Natsumi would handle them.

If the orc leaders appeared, we would follow the initial plan: two of us would hold them off while guiding them to a slightly distant location, and the rest of the orcs would be taken down by me, Yuki, and Haruka.

"Let's go, then."

Toya led the way.

Following my guidance, we soon saw the orc nest.

It was the first time we were seeing it directly, and it looked like a shabby village.

In the cleared forest, there were structures with only pillars and roofs, no walls, and the roofs were just branches with leaves laid on top.

The orcs, who only had handmade clubs, seemed to have some intelligence, but they didn't use stone tools, only driving stakes into the ground and tying them with vines.

Under such roofs, a few orcs were lying down.

The three of us confirmed our roles with hand signals and launched 'Fire Arrows' simultaneously.

The orcs' heads exploded, and their screams echoed. The orcs who screamed were those who weren't our targets; the targeted orcs died without a sound.

We pursued the confused orcs, taking down four more.

By this point, we had emerged from the forest and entered the orc nest, with Toya and Natsumi clearing the surrounding huts and securing our line of sight.

...Honestly, we're pretty much just a bunch of bad bandits. If the orcs weren't monsters that attack humans without provocation, it would hurt my conscience.

Hearing the commotion, the remaining 10 orcs, including 2 orc leaders, came running.

The distance was sufficient, and six more orcs fell to our magic.

One more shot—just barely!

"Left!"

I declared and launched a 'Fire Arrow' at the orc on the left.

At almost the same time, Haruka said, "Right!" and launched a 'Fire Arrow,' while Yuki's 'Fire Arrow' headed for the orc leader on the right.

As a result, only one orc leader was unscathed. The other had its left shoulder torn, and none of the orcs reached us.

As planned, Toya faced the orc leader on the left, and Natsumi took the one on the right. Haruka switched to her bow to conserve magic power and provide cover.

The plan was to concentrate our forces on the weaker one, but—

"It's fine! Naoto, go to Toya's side!"

Natsumi shouted and circled around to the orc's left, thrusting her spear.

The orc leader couldn't keep up with her quick movements. More than that, a spear was already embedded in its skull near the ear. The effects of [Swiftfoot] and [Strength Enhancement] were incredible.

Seeing the orc leader's body go limp, I launched a more powerful 'Fire Arrow' at the orc leader Toya was facing.

The orc leader, provoked by Toya, had its back turned, making it an easy target. Thanks to its last movement, only the top half of its head was gone, but the result was the same.

"Ugh!"

Toya quickly dodged the orc leader's body as it fell.

"Phew... All done."

I sighed, and Haruka nodded happily.

"This time, everything went smoothly."

"Yeah, but... our battles are kind of like a special forces operation, aren't they? There's no waste, and everything works out well."

"That's because we plan everything in advance."

In our case, we discuss in advance who will attack when the enemy is in a certain range, and what our priority targets are, to avoid overlapping targets.

We also decide on the types of signals, the number of seconds before an attack, and practice timing. Plus, we can act in sync without much communication.

"Plus, if we shout unnecessarily, we might miss important information."

We avoid shouting unnecessary things, including spell names. This is our policy.

That way, what we do say is heard clearly.

When I shouted "Left," it was a declaration that I would attack the orc on the left.

It was already decided that I, Haruka, and Yuki would attack the orcs first, but with two orcs left, the positioning was: orc leader, two orcs, orc leader from left to right.

If the two orcs were taken down, one of us could attack the orc leader, but it was unclear who would do it, so I declared it. Haruka quickly followed, allowing Yuki to smoothly target the orc leader.

Incidentally, shouting can also help focus, so it's okay in close combat, but Natsumi rarely shouts, and Toya only does it occasionally.

Toya has the [Roar] skill, which could be used more, but it's unpopular with the girls, so he rarely uses it. It's not that it would scare us, but it's just loud... I feel a bit bad about it.

As a result, our battles are quiet, except for the monsters' screams, which are few because their heads are blown off.

"Then, let's start the cleanup—! Enemy approaching! 10 orcs, 1 orc leader!"

"Out hunting!? How many!?"

"A few dozen seconds!"

We didn't need to shout, but the orcs were quite loud. The noise must have reached the orcs outside, who were approaching quickly.

"From which direction?"

"Behind!"

The orcs were coming from the direction we entered the nest, heading straight for us.

"I'll intercept them! Natsumi, Toya, hold off the orc leader! We'll take down the rest!"

"Understood!"

We had used a lot of magic, but this level of use wasn't a problem for our magic power.

We readied our weapons and waited in ambush.

The first to charge out was the orc leader. With the dead orcs behind him, he roared and charged at us.

We spread out a bit, firing magic at the orcs behind him, and Toya and Natsumi split left and right to dodge the orc leader's attack.

We each fired one more shot. I faced the remaining orc, attacking its legs and then targeting a vital point to take it down.

By the time I turned around, the orc leader, attacked by Yuki and Haruka from behind, was already down.

"Is this the end this time?"

Saying this with a slightly worried look, Yuki, I shook my head.

"Maybe... We've taken down 4 orc leaders and over 100 orcs. If the ratio is one leader for every 30 orcs, there should be a few more left..."

"Surely it's not that precise, right? We only know that 'a higher-level species appears when there are more than 30 orcs.'"

"True. I'll keep a close watch, so don't worry about that."

"Even in the previous situation, you didn't slack off."

"Naoto, staying alert even after a victory, that's impressive!"

"Ah... hehehe."

Unexpected praise made me chuckle. Constantly keeping watch has become a habit, and it has also helped me level up to 3.

Honestly, without this, I would have been constantly on edge in the forest, and it would have been mentally draining.

"What about the orc cleanup? Should we do it here?"

"Yeah, it's probably best to clear out the nest as well. Let's do it here."

We don't know if leaving the orc nest intact would make it easier for a new one to form, but in past guild-organized orc extermination operations, these huts were burned after the mission, so we decided to follow that practice.