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- apter 9 The God Slayer and Orc (4)
- The most inconvenient thing after coming to this world was, the lack of internet.
- Internet. The symbol of modern civilisation. The treasury of knowledge. The string of electricity that can connect to anywhere.
- You can find any and everything on it.
- What you want to know, what you don’t know, things you find weird etc.
- And, everyone is connected through it.
- For example—someone you want to meet, someone you want to contact with, someone with whom you want to talk and even with people you don’t know anything about.
- That’s why, I really want the internet here.
- Why looking at the clear blue sky, I thought of this.
- Currently, Souichi-kun should be going to a school somewhere, he should have free time as well.
- Couldn’t I call him and have him kill these Orcs for a bit?
- After all, it’s the duty of the Brave to kill monsters, right?
- “Renji-san, how does this hole look?”(fran)
- While breathing heavily, Miss Francesca asked me so while I was thinking of stupid things.
- Her expression was filled with confidence and a wide smile.
- Her hair stuck to her forehead with sweat and her bright smile felt way too dazzling.
- …….though what she’s saying is very weird.
- Should a girl of this age be talking about ‘holes’ like this in such a loud voice? Though I am the type who likes it.
- But I think I’ll be killed if her parents knew of this. While I thought of such things inside my head, I moved my gaze towards the pitfall created by Miss Francesca.
- “Not bad, I guess?”(renji)
- “Alright!”(fran)
- Width- 80cm, depth- around 2.5m. It’s a well made hole in which I’d completely fit.
- It’s a size out of which an Orc would definitely be unable to get out.
- Miss Francesca held her both hands and seemed to be filled with happiness.
- She must be really happy because I think she might be crying a little.
- Well, after being made to create over 50 holes, anyone would cry I guess.
- “Then, let’s fill up the holes next.”(renji)
- “……..”
- “If you dig then you also have to bury them back. If you leave so many holes beside the highway, I think you’ll be scolded you know?”
- “…….even though Renji-san was the one who made me do this.”
- “It’s fine. I’ll also help.”
- As I gave a wry smile as she seemed to be a bit angry, I picked up the shovel I had borrowed from the villagers.
- Seeing me like that, Miss Francesca breathed a sigh.
- [Ah…….It was the same when Aya created these holes for the first time as well right?]
- Yeah. It’s a nostalgic memory.
- After that, as a result of the training, a specialised hole creating magician had been born.
- That really was a pitiful incident, really. It’s a part of the sad past of the [Grand Magus]. Even now it’s the same though.
- While thinking about such things of the past, I lowered my shovel into the mountain of dirt beside Miss Francesca.
- And threw it inside the nearby hole.
- “But, Renji-san can’t really use magic right?”(fran)
- “huh?”
- While I was filling up the hole, Miss Francesca said in a surprised voice.
- By the way, she’s filling up holes back with magic.
- Yeah, magic really is convenient.
- “Why are you so informed about magic?”(fran)
- “I’m not really that informed. Probably.”
- “No such thing. At least, I think only Renji-san has thought of a magic to create such pitfalls.”
- Really?
- Well probably, I think someone somewhere is still using them, those pitfalls.
- “I’m told that often. That I have a weird way of thinking.”(renji)
- My way of thinking about magic is similar to elfs and pixies…….spirit magic of the demi-humans or so I’m told.
- Humans are the ones who specialise in direct attack magic.
- In contrast, the demi-humans use surprise attacks, restraints, status afflicting—–basically indirect magic.
- Humans and demi-humans have begun to have a better exchange in culture in recent years since they found a common enemy in the Demon God.
- Before that, though not to the extent of fighting, they simply tried to keep out of each other’s way.
- Humans who cut apart, burned down and expanded their territory while destroying nature.
- Demi-humans, who thanked the earth and lived together with the nature.
- They couldn’t get along so easily.
- In that sense, we might have to thank the Demon God.
- Well, they have such a relation. They aren’t close enough that they’ll teach other their systems of using magic.
- Until and unless one was special like us, there would be no way to get such information.
- [Renji, you’re the weirdest and the most eccentric of all, after all.]
- For some reason, my partner said that with a happy tone.
- While sustaining a wound on my not-so-delicate heart, I sighed.
- “Ah, sorry…….”(fran)
- “Maybe she thought something about it, she ended up apologising like it was normal.
- That hurts in its own way so please stop.
- After that as well, while talking about useless things, we filled back the holes.
- About my journeys till now, what I was doing before I became an adventurer, why I became an adventurer etc.
- Why is everything about me? Do young noble ladies find pleasure in adventurous tales?
- Surprisingly, she didn’t talk about the Orcs even once, probably because she was scared.
- Tomorrow, we’ll be fighting.
- Let’s stop here and rest and face them tomorrow in our perfect conditions.
- I didn’t say it out loud but Miss Francesca should have also realized it by now. Even while walking and laughing, her expression was slightly stiff.
- “It’ll be fine.”(renji)
- After filling back all the holes, I flicked the medal Ermenhilde with my thumb.
- As the setting sun reflected on it and made it shine, I caught my rotating partner with my hand.
- “It’s Heads.”(renji)
- As I opened my hand, just as I had declared, it was Heads.
- “It’ll go well. We’ll complete the request safely.”(renji)
- As I declared that, her stiffened expression seemed to have loosened a bit.
- Well, I had seen which side I was catching before I actually caught it though.
- My kinetic vision is strong enough to be able to do something like that. The Cheat ability isn’t just for show.
- [As usual, Renji is good with his words, eh?”]
- I returned that fed up voice with a wry smile. Ermenhilde, adults are such dirty beings.
- I have tricks and secrets but this is perfect to calm someone.
- As I shouldered the now used shovel and smiled, she smiled back.
- As long as I can see such smiles, I don’t mind being sneaky.
- .
- .
- .
- The next morning, while it was still dim outside, we had come to the entrance of the forest before the sun began to rise.
- To live one has to sleep and eat.
- Even Orcs sleep at night and become hungry as well.
- So we’ll be attack while they’re sleeping or eating. We didn’t attack at night because there was a chance to get lost inside the forest.
- I am used to walking inside the forest but if it’s a surprise attack, I can’t use light either. So the chance of getting lost was very high.
- With Miss Francesca along, all the more so.
- “Will it really be fine?”(fran)
- “Well, if Miss Francesca can walk properly, we’ll be fine.”
- “……mouu.”
- Tunic and green trousers along with an overcoat and an iron knife on my waist.
- Also, I had a 2 small pouches filled with potion.
- There’s no real chance of using the potion. They are meant to be used after the battle.
- They aren’t immediately effective like the potions in video games so they can’t really be used during battle.
- In my pocket was my trusted partner. I’m with my usual equipments. The preparations are perfect.
- While Miss Francesca was fastening her leather breastplate with her fingers, I confirmed my equipment as well.
- “Are you fine with just that equipment?”(fran)
- “Orcs attacks are strong enough that it’ll be over with a single hit. Even with heavy armour, I’ll get crushed inside.”
- Rather than that, it’s better to simply avoid.
- Miss Francesca can simply make them powerless with pitfalls while staying out of their range.
- After inspecting our equipment, we continued into the forest.
- I know the place. As long as they haven’t changed their place of dwelling after that, that is.
- .
- .
- .
- “Renji-san is amazing.”(fran)
- How long have we walked inside the forest?
- You really lose the sense of time while you’re walking inside a forest.
- Miss Francesca was walking behind me with just enough distance that she doesn’t get left behind.
- After walking through almost 80% of our distance, Miss Francesca talked to me.
- We both had been silent after entering the forest so I was a bit surprised.
- Maybe due to the atmosphere, even Ermenhilde had been silent for some reason.
- Well, I wouldn’t be able to reply if Miss Francesca was beside me so it would have ended as a one-sided bantering though.
- ..……that would have been torture in itself.
- At times we’ll create pitfalls and traps and mark them.
- Just in case they might come useful if we ended up running.
- “What’s so amazing?”(renji)
- As I covered the pitfall with grass, I asked back.
- “Even though we’re facing 12 Orcs, you’re still calm as always.”(fran)
- Am I?
- Normally, I would talk more, fool around and enjoy seeing Miss Francesca pant as she is unable to get used to walking in the forest.
- When I thought that way, maybe I am also a bit tensed.
- We killed the Demon God. We even fought against the demons and the Demon Lord.
- But still, I was scared.
- Humans die easily. Because I know that. And I am also a human.
- Even if we’re called God Slaying Heroes, we’re still humans.
- “I’m scared. My hands are shivering.”(fran)
- “I see.”
- Me too, I couldn’t say that.
- After all, I’m the senior here, I’m the elder one here, I’m the man.
- It’s always like this.
- My comrades were all younger than me. There was only one woman that was in the same age group as me.
- That’s why I couldn’t complain, even when I was scared I wasn’t discouraged, even when wounded I didn’t cry.
- I had no choice but to be so.
- I was the older one, the man, because I was the adult.
- …….I have such a duty I think. Really.
- In forests, in dark places, it’s bad to be too silent. I’ll end up thinking only in the bad direction.
- Standing up, we began walking again.
- “It’ll be fine. You won’t die.”(renji)
- I simply said just that.
- There’s no meaning behind it.
- You will die when your time comes and a person who can live through anything will definitely live through it.
- That’s why, there’s no meaning behind my words.
- But the silence was painful so I said that, that’s all.
- “Yes.”(fran)
- But, if simply words can make one calm down then I’ll say that as many times you want.
- I think that way. I’m not strong enough to show that with my attitude or abilities.
- My cheat, [Power of God Slaying], is really weak. I can only use it in limited conditions.
- That’s why, I’m different from those 12, I’m the weakest.
- [What is it?]
- Unconsciously, I was stroking Ermenhilde inside my pocket.
- There’s no meaning to it. Only—–it was to divert my anxiety.
- [Even though, you’re actually a coward.]
- Don’t say things like that.
- I’m the man here, the adult here. Even if I want to cry, even if I’m scared, even if I’m shivering, I can’t act weak in front of her.
- That’s what my role is.
- [Renji won’t die. I’m here after all.]
- Ah, is that so.
- I smiled wryly and once again stroked the medal inside my pocket.
- In that time, we reached our destination.
- Hiding inside the bushes, I examined the surroundings.
- The settlement of Orcs.
- Their numbers are…..14
- “It grew again.”(renji)
- “…….are they sleeping?”(fran)
- In front of our view, in a place without trees, Orcs were sleeping.
- Some used tree stumps as pillows, some used their weapons as pillows, some used each other as pillows.
- Are you a gathering of drunkards? Seeing that human or rather, old man like behaviour, I felt that Miss Francesca’s tension seemed to have lessened a bit.
- “Even monsters sleep.”(renji)
- “So it seems.”
- “They didn’t teach you this at school?”
- “……uu.”
- It seems they don’t teach this.
- I had told her this before but she must have been in doubt even then. After talking a bit more, her tension lessened a bit more.
- She’s a student of magic academy after all, they must be teaching only magic.
- Rather than fighting monsters, they give a more scholarly image.
- “The first stage of the plan seems to be a success.”
- “Yes.”
- If the Orcs were to wake up now, it’ll completely become a head-on battle instead of a surprise attack.
- But now, we should be able to turn at least half of them powerless.
- Calming a bit, I searched for the problematic black Orc.
- But, it wasn’t here.
- I tried changing locations but I still didn’t find it. Is it not with this group?
- It’s a new species, maybe it was removed from the group……..no way.
- That one was definitely the leader of this group. It must be in a different place.
- I could search for it but we don’t know when these ones would wake up.
- The sun would also reach high enough soon. There’s not much time left before the Orcs wake up.
- “Let’s take care of the small fries first.”
- “Orcs are small fry?……I understand.”
- I could only think of Orcs like that but, as expected, for the people of this world, even the lowest level of monsters are a big threat. For even a magician.
- “Probably, the black Orc would barge in between.”
- “Black?”
- “Yes, black.”
- I couldn’t think of any other name for it after all.
- Other than its black skin, it looked completely similar to a normal Orc.
- “I’ll be the one to face that one. Miss Francesca, you shouldn’t do something unreasonable and simply take care of the normal Orcs from a distance.”(renji)
- “Black…….is it because of that Orc that so many of them have gathered here?”
- “Well, who knows? I’m not a scholar either so I’m not sure.”
- Those intelligent guys can think of reasons behind why these Orcs gathered.
- I’ll do what I can do the best.
- Killing them.
- I took out the iron knife from my waist.
- I glanced at its rusty edge and gave a sigh.
- [If turns dangerous, use me.]
- “I know—–“
- I took a deep breath.
- Whether I’m tensed or excited, my heart is beating faster.
- But, there was no sweat on the palms that were holding the knife.
- Miss Francesca also drew her 70cm long short sword.
- The tip of the sword was trembling.
- “It’ll be fine.”(renji)
- I say that once more.
- “You will not die.”(renji)
- .
- .
- .
- .
- The surprise attack was a success.
- 8 of the Orcs fell in the pitfalls, and their surprised shouts woke up the rest of them.
- But even then, they were in chaos and were unable to take proper actions.
- Searching for their weapons, they panicked as they looked at their fallen comrades.
- Jumping out of the bushes, I closed in towards the nearest Orc.
- While surprised, it was able to swing its punch towards the sudden intruder but even faster than that, the iron knife cut at its underarm.
- “Tch.”
- [Too blunt.]
- Seriously.
- I did expect this but I could only click my tongue when the blade couldn’t cut through.
- But, the ORc that busy looking at me, fell inside the pitfall created by Miss Francesca.
- A dull could have not reacted when a pitfall suddenly appeared underneath it.
- 5 remaining.
- Without minding their fallen comrades, two Orcs came towards me with their weapons.
- “funn”
- Moving to the area between those 2 Orcs, I kicked the knee of one of the Orcs.
- Orcs had small legs. That’s because it would be impossible to carry their overlarge body with normal human like legs.
- This made them unable to make tight turns and lessened their reflexes.
- Though it looked like I was trapped between two Orcs, they didn’t even face towards me right now.
- I kicked once again. With more strength this time.
- This time, with a dull sound, the Orc’s knee bent to an impossible direction and broke.
- It’s thanks to my enhanced leg strength given by the cheat. If I were to kick seriously, I could blow away even a giant.
- With that leg strength, the Orc’s one knee was snapped.
- Unable to understand what had happened, the Orc stopped moving.
- Finally, the other Orc turned towards me and raised its weapon.
- “Renji-san!”
- I ignored Miss Francesca’s voice.
- Avoiding the incoming blow with a paper-thin distance, the other fallen Orc’s head was crushed instead by that blow.
- If it’s impossible with my iron knife then all I have to do is use a different stronger attack.
- The dull Orcs were good for that.
- 4 remaining. Also, the Orc that had attacked me just now fell down due to the gravity.
- Right underneath me, the pig raised its hands high trying to crawl out of the hole.
- It’s fingers reached the tip of the hole but it simply didn’t have the arm strength in it to carry itself out of there.
- “3 remaining.”
- Those 3 were running towards me from the other side.
- I stepped back due to their intensity and ran while dodging the nearby pitfall.
- I’m not trying to escape though.
- “Pitfall!!”(renji)
- A pitfall was created in front of my path. Jumping over it, I heard groans from behind me.
- As I looked back, Orcs that had been chasing after me were reduced to 2.
- We can do this. A slight sense of hope was born in my chest.
- But, the 2 Orcs who judged Miss Francesca to be more of a threat than me began running in my opposite direction.
- I quickly stopped and began to chase after the Orcs that were ignoring me.
- Since they were slow, I quickly caught up and kicked their back with my full strength.
- And just like that, another one fell into a pitfall.
- [What a ridiculous fighting style…….only one of them has actually died, you know?]
- “If I can fight safely then it doesn’t matter.”
- Last one—-just as my eyes caught towards the remaining one, the black Orc entered my view.
- Since water was dripping from its body, it was probably bathing till now.
- It really does live leisurely. But, it also proved that it really was intelligent. An Orc that bathes is too weird after all.
- Maybe it returned in panic, its breath was ragged.
- “Miss Francesca!”
- “Yes!”
- A pitfall appeared underneath it.
- But it dodged it by jumping back a second earlier.
- ——It’s not just intelligent but also quick, eh?
- And, the remaining normal Orc headed towards Miss Francesca without hesitation.
- “Run! Calm down and—-“(renji)
- [Dodge, Renji!!]
- While I was trying to speak to Miss Francesca, I was startled.
- Above the black Orc, a lump of rock was floating.
- I know what that is.
- “An Orc is using magic!?!”(renji)
- As I hurriedly jumped, a rock the size of a human fell down on the place I was standing earlier.
- The ground burst and dirt flew up. I was surprised by its strength but I quickly fixed my posture and avoided falling into a pitfall.
- This is the first time I’m seeing an Orc using magic.
- No matter how intelligent it is, does it even possess magical energy? There’s a limit to how unfair it can be.
- As my head was in chaos, I lost sight of the black orc.
- [Any injuries?]
- “None.”
- I briefly answered and gripped the iron knife in my right hand.
- While crouching, I looked at the surroundings. Hole, hole, hole. The black orc is……..
- “Renji-san, are you alright!?(fran)
- “I’m fine! Rather than that——–“
- What about you? Before I could ask that, the black Orc aimed for Miss Francesca this time.
- This time the atmosphere distorted. And the figure of the black Orc swayed like a heat haze.
- “It’s not just rocks?!”
- I began to run. At the same time, a hole was created below the black Orc.
- This time it fell in the hole……it was too shallow. It stopped after falling to its knee level.
- But, it seems this was able to stop the activation of its magic.
- A good way of using it. That girl might have the talent to be a pitfall expert magician.
- While thinking such stupid things, I moved to a position where Miss Francesca was protected by my back and then, I started running towards the Black Orc.
- The black Orc gave out a cry.
- Pointing towards it stomach, I positioned my knife. If I can’t slash it then I’ll just pierce through it.
- I’ll end this Orc right here. A magic using Orc is definitely a danger.
- Letting my guard down thinking it was a normal Orc, just how much damages would—–
- “Kyaaaaa!?!”
- “!?”
- Stopping due to the sudden scream, I turned towards Miss Francesca.
- There, my fellow traveller had been captured by an Orc.
- Focusing on the black Orc, I had forgotten about the remaining Orc, I finally realized that.
- And—-
- “Aah, I should have known.”(renji)
- The Black orc stretched its arm towards me. Behind me was Miss Francesca restrained by the Orc. I won’t be able to avoid the magic being fired this time.
- In front of its arm, a fireball appeared. Dark black, a flame I had seen before.
- As my line of sight matched with the Orcs, I felt like it was grinning.
- I stopped my legs and faced the black orc and put strength into the arm gripping the iron knife.
- Take on the flame? That’s impossible. The tunic I’m wearing won’t defend me against that falme.
- If I dodge, Miss Francesca will die——-
- [Good grief.]
- Unusually, Ermenhilde gave a slight impatient voice.
- But that voice, made me feel calmer.
- The black flame became larger, as large as a human and it was still growing.
- Let alone me and Miss Francesca, it would even swallow up the other Orc as well.
- Well obviously. That’s the kind of flame that is.
- I know. Just how many comrades and enemies that flame has swallowed.
- “Ermenhilde, lend me your strength.”
- [—–Roger that.]
- My, Yamada Renji’s, cheat is very weak. It can only be used in certain specific conditions.
- That’s why, unlike the other 12, I was the weakest.
- But, in those certain situations.
- In a situation where those certain conditions have been fulfilled.
- I’m also, definitely one of the [God Slayers].
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