“The next ones are three red orcs.”
I say to everyone while looking at the reactions on Map.
I step in front and hold up my shield, and when we turn the corner, the red orcs are in the dead end of this passage. About ten meters away from us.
They see us, and release magic, two Fire Arrows and one Fireball. Surface and point attacks.
I knew from the distance that they would attack with magic, so I calmly cast Aura Shield and block their attacks.
They explode when they clash into the shield, disturbing my vision. And then a red orc breaks through the smoke to attack.
It’s holding a large thick axe. I think you could call it a blunt weapon at this point… It raises it above its head, and swings down fast.
Still, I stay cool, brace, and block it with my shield.
My vision was blocked, but Presence Detection still told me it was coming.
The only thing I wasn’t expecting was its power. It’s stronger than a general. And when you consider the time it took to cross the distance needed to attack me, it’s faster too.
Was it the combination of speed and strength that made that attack so strong?
I think about it that far, before swinging with the mithril sword in my right hand.
It cuts and flings back a red orc that appears from the side, but the attack isn’t over yet. After all, there are three red orcs.
The last one closes the distance, and charges at me with its spear. But it never reaches me, because the moment I feel the wind, the blood of the spear-wielding red orc sprays.
Its body is left with marks of two slashes, and I see Rurika behind it.
But it isn’t just her who’s moving. Others like Sera and Argo are also attacking.
I also move to counterattack, but they’re tough. And hot. I’m sweating just being near them.
I feel like the temperature is going up as the battle intensifies.
Still, fifteen minutes after it began, all the red orcs are down.
“Was it like this the last time we came?
“…A-ah, I think so. I completely forgot. But I don’t remember it being this hot…”
Says a sweaty Argo.
“Sora, I will cool you off.”
Says Chris while casting ice magic around us, and I cast cleaning magic on Argo and the others.
The sweat is gone, and the damp clothes are dry.
Now we just need to drink some water.
“I feel like I get why people don’t come here.”
Says Rurika while drinking water like it’s delicious.
It’s hard to counter the unique characteristics of the red orcs and black orcs.
We have more magic users than most parties, but I imagine those other parties have to be ready to spend a lot when they come here to hunt.
“Come to think of it, we did run out of money last time.”
Says Argo while thinking back. No, you should’ve remembered that sooner.
I say that to myself, but Rurika comes out and says it.
Argo responds with a dry laugh.
“Master master. Let’s keep hunting.”
And Hikari is in her own world like always.
“You’re full of energy.”
I’m not tired either, but her eyes are shining.
“I wanna hunt all of them fast and take them apart somewhere.”
“And have their meat.”
Hikari nods.
“We could do it in the dungeon. There aren’t that many people around anyway, so I’m sure we won’t be a bother. Sora, you can make tools to drain their blood, right?”
Asks Argo, and Hikari turns to me with expectant eyes. It’s hard to say no when she looks at me like that.
But in order to make her wish come true, we need to take them apart somewhere. And if we do it here, that saves us the trouble of looking for a proper place
And we need tools to hang them.
The dungeon floor should soak in the blood, but maybe I should make containers to retrieve it. Blood can be used with the Alchemist and Creation skills.
“Let’s drain some of them when we camp.”
Hikari happily nods.
We end the day with seven red orcs and thirteen black orcs down.
We’re draining the blood of three of each. I’m sure if someone saw them hanging, it would become a topic of discussion later.
It should be obvious that draining blood stinks of blood, so Chris and I take turns blowing the smell away with wind magic.
The smell could attract monsters, but there aren’t any around.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Sora, let’s take them apart while we’re at it.”
Says Rick as we finish having breakfast.
Hikari’s eyes shine.
“That’s all right. And Sora can use materials from those orcs to make equipment against fire and darkness even in a place like this, right?”
Asks Chris, agreeing with Rick.
Yes, I could use those materials to make equipment with Alchemy and Creation. I’ve talked about it with them before.
“That settles it then. Let’s hang up the others while we take the drained ones apart while we’re at it.”
Because we spend time doing this, we only end up taking down three red orcs this day.
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Thanks for the treat.