Chapter 178
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: 〈 178화 〉오크와 함께 춤을
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Dancing with Orcs
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After listening to Winia's rundown, Orcs were crow-like creatures living in tribal societies. They loved shiny things—just like crows.
Hearing it described that way, they almost sounded like cute monsters. But they also went for flashy stuff, decking themselves out in vividly colored feathers and all sorts of reflective objects.
Their brains might be slow, but their strength was immense, so Orc tribes always followed the strongest one around. And the stronger the Orc, the flashier the ornaments they wore to show off.
"That's why raiding an Orc village turns up a fuckton of valuable loot."
Above all, their intelligence meant they often killed people and stripped their gear for their own use. Naturally, that led to them acquiring treasures now and then, which they either hoarded in their settlements or used as decorations.
Orcs were starting to look more and more appealing as monsters.
"Whoa. That's some real knowledge, Winia. Thanks."
Kobson, who'd been listening intently, expressed his admiration with a nod of thanks. There was nothing quite as valuable as info straight from a veteran adventurer. He let out a gravelly laugh.
"So, villages have strong Orcs too, huh?"
"If you're the benchmark for 'strong,' sis, then probably not."
They were chatting idly like that while climbing a hill to scout the area when it happened. Kobson, who'd gone up first, peered over the edge, froze, and quickly dropped low.
Found something?
I bent at the waist and crept over to him.
"Barbarian. Jackpot. Take a look down there."
"...Holy fuck, it's a jackpot."
The hillside dropped off like a cliff below us. Down there, Orcs were huddled around a campfire, roasting something over the flames.
Five Orcs in total.
Just like Winia described, one wearing a hat adorned with feathers sat on a rock. Three others, draped in ragged sacks, were plopped on the ground, while the smallest-looking one in the group was butchering the corpse of some beast-type monster.
"See that? The bastards are scarfing down grub."
"I can see that. But... those fuckers are holding swords, right? Human-made ones."
"Looks like it."
The feathered-hat Orc and two others—three in total—were gripping iron swords that looked forged by a human blacksmith. Probably stripped off some poor bastard they'd killed... We headed back down the hill for now.
"Winia, Claudy. Five Orcs down below. One's got a hat with feathers on it. Weapons look like swords they stole off dead people."
"Then the hat-wearing fucker's the chief. Below us? Let's circle around."
To get down there, we'd have to loop back around. Smoke was starting to rise now, so we used it as a landmark to find our way.
"Katt. The chief's mine."
Claudi said it as she drew her scimitar. She clearly wanted to take down the strongest Orc with her own hands. Fine, we'd leave the chief to Claudy and handle the rest ourselves.
"If sis takes the chief, that leaves four. I'll roast two, so the rest fall to blackie and blackie's buddy? Blackie can handle it, but what about the buddy?"
"That... shouldn't be a problem."
Kobson said confidently.
My plan wasn't to pick them off one by one—instead, we'd use the element of surprise to let me and Kobson quick-kill one fast, then gang up on another.
I couldn't underestimate him.
Kobson was my friend and comrade-in-arms, just about the only adventurer in this shit world I could trust with my back. I knew from his duel with Bulverza. Sure, an Orc would overpower him in raw strength, but fights weren't won on strength alone.
Recalling how he'd crushed those cultists in the sewers was proof enough.
—Rustle.
We ducked behind some trees.
Ahead, the Orcs were chirping away happily as they tore into their meat. The roasting smell carried all the way here... Soon they'd be burning their very lives away, yet they looked so carefree.
Hell always came at the peak of joy, after all.
That blissful comfort would shatter in an instant, plunging them into gut-wrenching terror and horror as if they'd been hurled into boiling shit. Killing happy Orcs was tantamount to forcing that upon them.
"Didn't you say they have a good sense of smell? We won't get sniffed out?"
"If the meat smell's got them that dazed, we should be fine for now."
Even as we scouted practically right under their noses, the Orcs just kept chowing down happily. Looking closer, the dead monster was a pretty rare one: a [Tentacle Hog].
It was a beast-type monster that looked kinda like a wild boar, but with a mouth split into four tentacle-like prongs—that alone was nightmare fuel. And six fucking eyes? Gross as hell.
"What now? Charge in?"
Claudi's eyes gleamed as she crouched to spring.
Her gaze was feral, like a vampire itching for blood.
"Wait, sis. I'll open with the first strike."
Winia stepped forward.
"Listen up. I'll roast one first. Then sis hits the hat guy. Blackie and buddy mark any that rush this way till I finish my next chant."
Winia glanced around at us after issuing orders.
No objections. We nodded silently in agreement.
"Good. Here we go."
Winia began chanting. Ominous flames gathered at her staff's tip. Fire Bolt—short cast time.
I tensed my muscles, readying myself. Tension built naturally. This was my first time facing real-deal Orcs like this.
But my experience with Bulverza fueled my confidence and courage. Orcs were flesh and bone in the end. Stab 'em deep, and they die. No escaping that. With first strike on our side, victory was ours.
—Fwoosh!
"Sis!"
The fireball launched, and Winia yelled sharply at Claudy. —Dash! Claudy bolted like a wolf, scimitar raised high.
—Boom!
The fireball engulfed the Orcs mid-feast.
Their happy mealtime morphed in a flash into a hellish gateway that hurled their best buddies into the abyss.
—Chiiieeeeek!!!!!
One of the seated Orcs rolled on the ground, engulfed in flames.
The rest snatched up their weapons and leaped to their feet. —Clang! That's when Claudy clashed with the chief Orc. —Chiiik! The two warriors crossed blades.
"Kobson!"
"Got it!"
I advanced with Kobson. The remaining three Orcs hesitated—join their chief or block us?
Then—
"—Chiiieeeeeeeeek!!!!!!"
The chief bellowed massively, sending Claudy flying back.
That.
That fucking bastard dared lay a hand on Claudy—!!!!
"Kiiiiieeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!"
My mind went white-hot. I roared louder than the chief and charged! "B-Barbariaaan!" A startled Kobson chased after me. I glimpsed Claudy landing lightly and lunging back at the chief.
She okay?
Whatever—had to keep the other Orcs from joining the chief! As if sensing my resolve, the fired-up Orcs barreled toward me.
—Chiiik!!!
—Chiiieek!
—Chiiik!
"You fucking shits!!"
These Orcs charging wildly with weapons seemed no smarter than any other monster despite their intelligence. Frenzied shrieks, spittle flying from clenched fangs, jiggling bellies, kicking up dust... The front one first!
—Clang!
My strike landed faster. My reach was longer too. I channeled every ounce of swordsmanship I'd honed, slashing down swift and true.
"Chiiik!"
But it was blocked.
Not some technical parry—just raised his sword. But his superior muscle power shattered my cut.
"...Fuck!"
I gripped the rebounding hilt tight and recovered. Couldn't win on strength, huh? Two more rushed from the sides. No way to handle both at once, so I swept my sword horizontal to create space.
Kobson arrived behind me and took position at my side.
"Barbarian! I'll back you up!"
"Come at me—you fucking shits!!!"
Kobson thrust his sword. I blocked the closing one. —Fwoosh! A fireball from behind slammed into the farthest Orc's head.
—Chiiieeeeek!!!
Face ablaze, the Orc turned full Ghost Rider, charging across the ground. —Chiiieeeeek!! It was like watching Thomas the Tank Engine's pals in a berserk freight-train rampage—surreal as fuck.
He vanished from sight.
Crazy bastard.
"Kobson! You take the small fucker!"
"On it!"
The small Orc was Kobson's size. Similar build meant similar power. I trusted his experience and skill, leaving the runt to him.
"Woooaaahhh!!!"
Kobson bellowed and charged the small Orc. His form wasn't perfect, but fierce slashes poured down on the runt.
—Chiiieek...!
My opponent was an Orc my height. Or maybe I was a tad bigger. That sparked something inside me. No way I'd lose to this dwarfed shit!
"You're mine!"
—Dash!
As the Orc raised his sword, I slipped inside his guard and thrust. —Chiiik! The startled Orc twisted wildly to bat my blade away. If he did, he might block it. But!
"Dumbass!"
Sword skill-wise, Orcs were dumb monsters, while I was a master of honed long-sword arts! No sloppy stance like that could deflect my thrust, no matter the power!
Believing that, I drove force into my stab.
—Screee!
—Thud!
"You blocked th—?!"
My blade, aimed for the neck, merely grazed his shoulder. Blood sprayed from the gash. It connected, but not as intended. The Orc had clumsily deflected it.
His overwhelming strength covered the skill gap!
"Chiiieeeeeek!!!!"
Seeing his own blood hyped him up. He ditched defense for a savage swing. Against a human, I'd counter—but enraged monsters ignored their own bodies!
"Fuck—shit!"
I strained a bit to swing and parry his slash. —Clang!
"Guh?!" My hands buzzed. Strength gap bigger than expected! Nearly lost balance, but that'd mean death, so I stomped forward forcibly... This might fucking kill me!
"You bitch!"
I twisted my blade up and thrust straight. His power lagged, but my technique was superior. Time to pepper him with skillful combos nonstop. "Chiiik!" Clang! His grunt and metal clash intertwined.
"Die!"
He was weaker than Bulverza.
"Take!"
Skill, speed, sense—all inferior. But raw power outdid Bulverza. Keeping that in mind, my swing dropped like a guillotine on his shoulder.
Would it land solid?!
"You motherless fuck!"
"Chiiieeeeek!"
—Spark! Sparks flew. Metal met metal. Blocked. But! What we exchanged wasn't power.
It was technique!
"Raaaaaaaah!!!!"
I twisted the blade upward. I'd swung expecting the block. So of course I had a follow-up. The whipping blade-tip slashed the Orc.
—Chiiik!
Too shallow again.
Blood sprayed, but no fatal cut. Sliced his cheek and jaw. Snagged on his protruding fangs—couldn't reach the throat. Figures. Those for this?
Suddenly he kicked off the ground, slamming his shoulder into me.
"Gahk!"
The chest-hit from that living missile sent me tumbling.
Fuck, this is bad...
"Winiiaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Blackie, you dumb fuck!"
—Fwoosh!
A fireball streaked in then, drawing the Orc's eye. Battle-tensed to the max, he dodged nimbly. Nice! I'd nearly bit it and whooped in relief.
Still, it bought me time to get up.
"You fucking shit, trying to kill me!!!"
Rabid fury rattled my brain.
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