NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36
An empty lot behind the Mercenary Guild.
Jeven brought a new samurai from the east.
So, I stood face-to-face with the new recruit, who introduced himself as Haguro.
It was a sparring match, but we both held wooden swords.
This won’t even show half of half of his skills, but what can you do?
It’s just a light sparring session, and we have a mission to attend to soon.
“Go ahead.”
I said, and Haguro nodded.
Then.
The way he positioned himself, holding the wooden sword at his waist.
…Iaido?
It didn’t look like my clumsy attempt at it, but a proper stance.
His body was lowered, his foot stretched forward.
And above all.
That explosive energy…
Bang!
Yeah, I knew something was off.
Thunk!
In an instant, I blocked Haguro’s wooden sword as he drew it.
Fast, huh?
An ordinary person wouldn’t have been able to react.
Tak- tadadadak.
And then.
I was impressed by the rapid barrage of strikes that followed.
Isn’t this faster than Jeven?
He doesn’t seem to be using aura.
It’s pure skill that’s giving him this speed.
Moreover.
Tadadadadak-
He’s getting faster.
It seems like the more he chains his attacks, the faster he gets.
This is fun.
Even I would’ve struggled to block without my aura.
Well.
Thud!
On the flip side, with aura, it’s easier to counter.
Using my aura-enhanced physical abilities, I swung my wooden sword hard to forcibly break his flow.
Plus, he’s using a wooden sword instead of his usual katana.
That must be limiting his techniques.
And he doesn’t even have his naginata on his back. That’s a lot of handicaps.
Well, this was just a quick spar to gauge his skills.
I’ll see more when we’re out on the mission.
Tat.
After my swing broke his attack, Haguro lowered his stance and thrust his sword. The flow was smooth.
For a guy who looks to be in his mid-twenties, his technique is so refined.
I almost want to learn from him.
Tak!
After blocking his thrust, I counterattacked.
If he’s going to be this technical, I should respond in kind.
It’s a good thing I haven’t had a chance to use the swordsmanship I learned from the Void Family.
Swish.
I swung my sword in a wrapping motion, deflecting his sword.
Then I aimed for the vital point… no, since it’s a spar, I aimed next to it.
Whoosh-
But Haguro dodged as if he had anticipated it.
He’s really good.
I glanced at Jeven.
Did this guy bring the wrong subordinate?
He should’ve brought someone weaker to maintain the balance in the mercenary group.
Well, he seems loyal, as expected of a samurai.
Tak!
I blocked Haguro’s wooden sword again as he swung it while dodging.
I didn’t expect an attack from such a compromised position.
I kind of want to have a real duel with him.
I wonder what techniques he uses with the spear on his back.
So.
Clang!!!
I struck his sword hard as it came flying again.
Then.
Crack.
It split and broke.
“That’s enough for the spar.”
“Ah.”
At my words, Haguro looked down at his broken sword.
“I lost.”
“It would’ve been better with real weapons.”
His face showed clear disappointment.
He seems to have a competitive streak.
Well, at his age, reaching this level requires some drive.
His skills were impressive, and above all…
“Next time, I hope to see what you’re hiding.”
It was clear he had more up his sleeve.
“…!”
Haguro looked surprised as I turned away.
He’s definitely not an aura user, but…
I guess aura isn’t the only special power out there.
Maybe there’s some Eastern power, like the Chief Wolf I saw before.
Anyway.
After that, I prepared for the mission.
Well, “prepared” is a strong word since it’s the other mercenaries doing the work.
“What’s the mission this time?”
“An assault on an orc settlement.”
“There’s an orc settlement?”
“It seems to have formed recently. Someone must’ve gathered the orcs.”
Jeven handed me the mission details.
“Usually, they’re deep in the mountains, so missions like this don’t come often. But this one’s close.”
I checked the mission details Jeven gave me.
The mission was to raid the orc settlement and retrieve the shaman’s artifact.
The reward was substantial.
“Is the orc shaman’s artifact that valuable?”
“Yes, and it’s probably brimming with energy from the Lunaria Grassland.”
“Hmm.”
Well, that’s convenient.
I needed something from an orc shaman myself.
“I’ll take the staff.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
Garrett needed an orc shaman’s staff for sword materials.
I’ll just take that.
“Let’s go then.”
And so, we set off quickly to handle the mission.
I don’t plan to take too long.
Being away for days would raise eyebrows, and I have White Pup to think about.
He’s still young, so he’d get anxious if I’m gone too long.
But the good thing is…
“Aren’t you preparing?”
“Don’t know how.”
“You’re taking this mission lightly.”
“You’re the same.”
With this new recruit here, the combat part should be easier.
Is that why Jeven brought him?
In this line of work, skill is everything.
His personality seems fine too, not the type to cause trouble.
So.
We climbed the Kaine Mountain Range again.
As before, we passed through the crowded entrance.
“This way.”
Jeven unfolded a map and pointed.
“What’s that map?”
“From the Magic Tower. They tracked the settlement’s location with magic.”
“Ah.”
Well, magic would make it quick.
Lorentz once scanned the entire sewer system in an instant.
“We’ll set up a base camp and head out.”
“Sure.”
Thanks to the Magic Tower mages, we didn’t have to search as much as before.
After setting up a light base camp, we headed toward the orc settlement before nightfall.
“Footprints start here.”
“Probably their activity range.”
As we got closer to the settlement, we found numerous orc footprints.
It seems they built the settlement and started scavenging resources greedily.
“Battle traces here.”
While moving, one mercenary pointed out.
“Battle?”
Looking around, there were bloodstains everywhere, indicating a fierce fight.
“Looks like it was intense.”
There were leather scraps and broken weapon fragments, but no bodies or remains. The orcs must’ve won and taken everything.
“The battle seems recent.”
“Looks like it.”
The blood wasn’t fully dried, and the traces were fresh.
There’s a good chance the captives are still alive.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes, they must’ve been taken to the settlement.”
Since we’re heading to the settlement anyway, we followed the trail of captives.
“Do they usually take captives like this?”
“Yes, mostly for food preservation or shamanic rituals.”
“Arrogant.”
When I met them in the Coliseum, I was too busy fighting to notice.
But building a settlement and kidnapping people? They must have some intelligence.
As we followed the trail, the footprints increased, and a familiar stench filled the air.
“Orc scent.”
“I know.”
It’s all too familiar.
Goblins, kobolds, and orcs are infamous for their pungent smell.
“Let’s check the size first.”
We came to scout, but if it’s manageable, we might just wipe them out.
Our forces include a dozen silver-ranked mercenaries, Jeven, me, and the new recruit.
“There it is.”
Following the trail, we saw smoke rising through the trees.
Getting closer, we saw a wide clearing between rocky hills and crudely built wooden houses.
“The settlement is quite large. Dozens, at least.”
It was bigger than I expected.
I thought it’d be a small village, but it’s much larger.
Well, they’d need that size to have a shaman.
“There might be higher-ranking orcs besides the shaman.”
“Like orc warriors?”
“Yes, in cases like this, the chief is usually a higher species.”
Hmm.
With a settlement this size, it’d be smarter to regroup and come back later.
“Ah, ah! Help me!”
“These bastards, ah!”
But hearing the screams from inside, time seems short.
“Everyone, stay sharp and follow me.”
“Huh?”
“I mean, don’t overdo it.”
Saying that, I drew the sword at my waist.
Originally, I planned to regroup and let the mercenaries handle the fight while I watched.
But this time, I’ll step in.
I’m still fired up from sparring with that new recruit.
So.
“I’m going ahead.”
“Hey…!”
With my sword drawn, I slid down the rocky hill.
Arrogant orcs.
You think you can kidnap people for shamanic rituals?
It’s time to teach them some discipline.