As soon as the small, frail-looking intruder vanished, Hargon exploded in fury.
At the same time, he admitted that in his current state, he had no means of standing against the man.
I should have found Barbata and Bortan first.
If only Barbata had been around, he could have used witchcraft to block the man’s approach or restrict his movements.
But it was too late for regrets now.
Instead, he headed for the cave where Takuda was sealed.
If he could unseal Takuda, more of his former power would return.
And if he pushed himself a little, he might be able to rip that man apart with his own hands.
By the time he reached the front of the cave—
Hargon came to a halt.
It was the instinct of a hero who had once swallowed up the continent.
“Go.”
The moment he sent a single orc into the cave—
Ziiiiiiing—
Boooom――!!
The ground erupted from some unknown force.
“……”
What lay before him was the completely collapsed entrance of the cave.
***
– Kraaaaaaaaaaaaghhhh—!
“Quite the lungs he’s got.”
Jun, who had somehow made his way down from the rocky mountain, muttered to himself.
The magic circle crafted from magic stones had activated.
Unfortunately, judging from that voice, it didn’t seem like the Orc Lord had been caught in it.
Not that I was expecting much.
He hadn’t been someone who could be killed with [Earth Burst] in the first place.
Still, since the cave entrance had collapsed, it should at least buy some time.
“Heh.”
The thought of orcs, who had climbed up the mountain without even getting a proper meal sweating and digging at the entrance of the cave made him laugh without meaning to.
“I’ve managed to buy time up to this point, somehow…”
But this would be the last time he could stall them like this.
If they acquired the medium sealed within that cave, then from that point on, he would have to avoid facing them head-on.
Once they retrieved both mediums, the orc’s physical abilities would receive a massive boost.
Things are going fairly well on this end… I wonder if it’s going just as smoothly over there.
By now, his comrades should be arriving at the location where the ranger was sealed.
Orc Ranger Bortan. He wouldn’t be easy to deal with.
Was the choice he made really the right one?
At least for now, it seemed like the best possible decision.
Creating a variable in the enemy’s plan by inserting himself and, in turn, preventing the Orc Lord from creating any variables on this side.
It was the most stable choice. But the issue was, there was already a variable among their own ranks.
Leon.
That perverted expedition leader….would he make the right call or not?
That was the only unpredictable factor.
Please, just pull through.
He hadn’t wanted to create a situation like this if he could help it, but there was no other way.
He could only place his faith in the comrades he had left behind.
***
Three prisoners lay motionless on the cold floor, having collapsed without a single twitch.
It was the handiwork of the Orc Ranger, Bortan.
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
Twenty-five elite orc warriors.
Half the number of troops that the previous orc shaman had under his command. But every single one of them was mounted on wolves as large as tigers.
Orc Riders.
The moment the wolf Bortan rode let out a howl, spears came flying, and three prisoners were struck down in an instant.
The battle had started off at a disadvantage.
Fortunately, there were no casualties after that.
Led by Joseph, the assembled prisoners didn’t show any obvious openings.
Aiden and Maya too responded calmly to the fierce charge of the Orc Riders alongside Schneider.
But above all, the performance of Eleanor, who was equivalent to a high-ranking priest, stood out the most.
[Force of Light]
[Block of Light]
The holy light had strengthened their allies and cast a protective shield that blocked the Orc Riders’ thrown spears.
Just holding off their ranged attacks had been a significant gain.
Once their spears were stopped a few times, the orcs drew massive lances and attempted a charge.
“We can’t block those too!”
Shouting that, Eleanor compressed her spherical barrier and positioned herself in front of the prisoners holding the front line.
Crashhhh—!
They managed to stop the Orc Riders’ charge, but the enemy was cunning.
They split half their forces again, spreading out to both sides like unfolding wings.
“They’re coming this way!”
Schneider shouted, and Aiden and Maya stepped up to take the right flank.
Naturally left with the left side, Schneider gathered magical energy into his gauntlet-clad fist and slammed it into the ground.
―――!!
The earth shook as if an earthquake had struck the area.
Five Orc Riders tumbled to the ground as their wolves lost balance.
Meanwhile, a gap had opened on Aiden and Maya’s side.
It was impossible for just the two of them to hold off five fast-moving Orc Riders.
They managed to take down two of them, but the remaining three broke through the formation.
[Pierce of Light]
A spear of light summoned by Eleanor struck one of the three.
It was one of the few offensive holy spells of the Ariklotus Church.
“Filthy bug.”
Two Orc Riders, in line with their path, were charging directly at her.
Leon drew his sword. His eyes were filled with disgust.
The thin blade in his hand gleamed with a burst of light.
The sunlight reflected off it in a flash, and the two wolves who were running at full speed were suddenly rolling across the ground with holes in their heads.
The two Orc Riders who had been mounted on them rolled across the ground and kicked off the dirt, thrusting their spears at Leon.
Bang—!
With a flexibility that made it hard to believe it was just a thin rapier, he deflected one spear and twisted his body to dodge the other, driving a hole through the forehead of one of them.
Just as he tried to gain some distance and finish off the last remaining one—
A scream-like shout rang out from behind.
“Get down!!”
It was Eleanor, who had been under the protection of Schneider at the rear.
Only then did Leon sense the killing intent tingling across his entire body.
From far away.
An Orc Rider, outside the range of Eleanor’s protective barrier, had taken a javelin-throwing stance.
It was Bortan, one of the five generals.
Crash—!
The javelin, tearing through the air, flew straight toward Leon’s heart.
It was just then that a young man with a small frame and black hair appeared before him.
***
It was one day before Jun left.
“What about just killing him?”
A chilling voice rang out.
Luke immediately recognized the owner of that voice.
It was Joseph, his squad leader.
Kill? Who?
As he instinctively turned toward the direction the voice had come from, he saw the mage Jun chewing on jerky glazed with honey.
Joseph continued.
“I know he’s strong for a Level 6. But if his stubbornness keeps the prisoners from regaining their strength, we won’t be able to stop the orc army.”
At Joseph’s words, Luke quickly realized what—or rather, who—they were talking about.
The leader of the unexplored lands unit.
“You know as well as I do. In our current state, we can barely handle a berserk orc, let alone an elite orc warrior. The prisoners need to show their true strength to reduce the damage.”
“Hmm. You’re not wrong.”
At the moment, the prisoners weren’t able to use their full power.
Due to the power of the binding spell, they were unable to use magical power.
That was also why Luke couldn’t use his aura.
That was the main reason why the prisoners were currently struggling against the orcs.
“The unit leader harbors a deep hatred for the prisoners because of his past. He lost his father. Even if it means his own death, he won’t lift their oppression.”
“He probably won’t. He’s that fanatically obsessed.”
“We can’t afford to give up the rest of our strength just to protect one Level 6 fighter. And it’s not like we can even make full use of that Level 6’s power. We’ll end up losing both trying to catch both.”
Joseph tried to reason calmly, but Jun shook his head.
“Are you not getting the point? I thought you were supposed to be the smart one. Has your humanity spiked just because you earned a bit of fame from all directions?”
“Back in the day…”
Gray eyes tinged with blue gazed at the man who had once been a soldier.
But he wasn’t looking at Joseph. He was staring at someone further in the past.
“There was something similar once. A pair of rude twins suddenly came at me with swords and arrows.”
“……”
“But I didn’t kill them. In fact, I ended up saving every last member of the adventuring party they belonged to. Took an arrow straight through the chest in the process…. honestly, I nearly died.”
“And?”
“Someone asked me back then. Why was I so desperate to save people like them? And I told them…”
“…….”
“Because I wanted to live.”
“What do you mean?”
“If there had even been a one percent chance that abandoning Leon would let us survive, I would’ve agreed with you.”
“…….”
“But if Leon dies, we have no chance of surviving. That’s why I’m saving him.”
As Jun spoke, his eyes were filled with something.
It was madness.
A calm madness, slightly different from Leon’s.
And just where was that madness directed?
Where was that madness directed?
“Humanity? Ha, don’t make me laugh. If it meant survival, I wouldn’t hesitate to wipe out an entire city. That’s how badly I wanted to live. But persuading one person is easier than destroying a whole city, isn’t it? That’s why I was trying to talk sense into that stubborn expedition leader who couldn’t even grasp the situation… What did you think?”
“……”
The strange heat flickering in those eyes soon began to affect Joseph as well.
“…Whatever the case, if we’re going to die, a good commander would bet on the side with the best odds. I’ll agree with you.”
“Good. Then let’s end the conversation here. There’s work to do.”
With that, the two of them moved on.
Left alone, Luke sank quietly into thought.
That mage was still making the best choices from his position.
Would the day come when he too would have to make the best choice?
It would. Without a doubt.
And when that time came, would he be able to trust that choice without hesitation just like that mage?
If the opportunity came.
He would make sure the same mistake didn’t bring misery to everyone again.
***
The feeling of warm liquid splashing across his face was anything but pleasant.
Leon who was collapsed on the ground didn’t even have the time to notice the person who had fallen on top of him. Instead, he flung the rapier he was holding with just the strength of his wrist.
The flying rapier struck true, piercing the head of the orc rider who had been swinging his glaive straight at them.
“You’re…”
Only then did he glance downward. And there lay a young man, small in stature, with black hair, collapsed in a bloody heap.
“Luuuke――!!!”
At the same time, a voice like a scream echoed from the distance.
It came from the Jinlang sibling with black hair and golden eyes.
Her name was… Lucy, wasn’t it?
She looked like she wanted to rush over immediately, but Joseph grabbed her by the ankle.
“If the line breaks now, you won’t even have time to save your brother! Hold your ground!!”
“Hraaaaaaaah!!!”
Lucy, who had always prioritized rational judgment, screamed like someone who had lost her mind.
Had it not been for Joseph’s shout, the formation they had worked so hard to maintain would have collapsed.
“Why did you… save me…”
If he had died from the orc general’s throwing spear, everyone here might have survived.
Because with his death, the power of the binding spell would vanish as well.
Then, Luke answered with a voice that was barely hanging on to life.
“B-Because… I… wanted… to live…”
“What…?”
“The mage… told me… if you… die… e-everyone… dies…”
“……”
So that conversation had taken place.
Was that why he had thrown himself forward to save him?
Even knowing he might die, he had tried to save others?
Do not trust the prisoner.
But trust humans… as you get to know them.
The mage’s voice spun chaotically through his mind.
Hot liquid soaked into his uniform.
His gaze turned to the front.
Eleanor’s barrier was breaking down, and the orc riders were charging in all at once.
If they braced themselves for casualties, they could kill them.
But if they did that—
They would surely lose the next battle, against the Orc Lord.
That future wasn’t his alone to foresee.
“Hold the line!”
Joseph, who had been tirelessly rounding up prisoners and gaining their trust, now stood desperately against the orc riders.
Schneider too faced an orc rider circling in from the side, all on his own.
—On all sides, they were standing against death.
—Even those prisoners were fighting back, trusting one another, guarding each other’s backs.
Only one person.
Only he hadn’t trusted them, and in doing so, had led them all toward death.
Just like this young man dying before his eyes, they would all die.
If it came to that—
Who was it that had brought about that outcome?
Who had driven everyone here to their deaths?
Who would carry the weight of a sin too heavy to bear?
“…It’s me.”
Leon looked at the bracelet on his arm.
It was a metal band, shaped similarly to the iron collars worn by the prisoners.
Then, Leon tore the metal band off.
“I order all members of the unexplored lands unit… Release your power!”
***
After sealing and unleashing the second medium, Takuda.
While marching toward a nearby hunting ground to procure food, Hargon fell to his knees.
“…My lord!”
“Are you all right…?!”
Vandal and Takuda immediately rushed to his side.
But Hargon, as if forgetting their very presence, muttered to himself.
“…Vortan is dead.”
Just like when Barbata had died…..no, he felt his soul being scraped away even more intensely.
He had gained two mediums, only to lose two in turn.
“……”
– Kuoooooooooooooo――!!!
The Orc Lord’s roar, filled with fury, echoed through the night sky.
Only one medium remained.
The orcs, having finished their hunt, began their march.
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