Rallying Cry Against the Orc Horde
I hesitated for a moment, but shook my head vigorously.
"Nah, forget it. I'll go myself, so you write up the report."
"Sir? But it would be better if you, the one who discovered it firsthand—"
"You saw everything from the side. Just emphasize that once those goblins got fed to the monsters, there's no way to recover them. We don't want eyes turning that way and causing headaches."
I'd review the report before submitting it anyway, but doing work twice wasn't ideal, so I pointed out the key parts.
"No matter how I think about it, I should be the one to go."
"You've gotta experience orcs once too. There might be differences from goblins."
Orcs weren't impossible to capture alive like goblins, which could be netted like fish, but it wasn't that simple either.
Which meant the only place to observe them right now was the site itself.
Even if they ran, we'd have to go eventually.
"If you put it that way, under stood, sir. I'll have the report ready by the time you return."
Lieutenant Aisa Lintun, respecting my decision.
But it didn't take long for me to regret it.
Orc horde size: Approximately 100!
No leader detected!
BOOM! KABOOM!
The moment I arrived in Sector 21, the explosions of magic bullets rang out.
Unlike last time, every cannon was in play.
"This looks like bad news."
"They're swarming."
"Should we be glad there's no leader?"
The platoon leaders muttered one by one as they peered at the approaching orcs through their telescopes.
I had my own personal telescope now, taking in the same sight.
Bigger than I thought.
Not quite giants, but about 1.5 times the height of an average adult man, with bodies twice as bulky.
"Major, did you bring your shield?"
I nodded at Sergeant Major Edric's question.
"Got it. I'll fight alongside you, so let's hold the line."
"Just having you fight with us will be a huge boost for the company."
It sounded like flattery, but it was fact.
In military life, nothing matters more than whether the officers work alongside you or not.
Even tough jobs feel okay if the officers join in, but if they're just yapping and backseat driving from the rear?
That's when you really want to bury someone.
Makes me mad just thinking about it.
Faces of certain officers who deserved a curse popped into my head, twisting my expression.
"The company's so elite now we could call every man a veteran. We can hold them."
Like Sergeant Major Edric said, I didn't doubt we could stop 100 orcs.
But the problem was casualties.
Even one death, and it's a net loss.
All 197 men who came here had to return intact.
"Tell your platoons: safety first. If anyone gets hurt, heads will roll."
"Haha! Got it. I'll pass it on loud and clear."
"You know this, but these monsters aren't the ones we knew. Unpredictable variables could pop up anytime."
Not sure if the analogy fit, but even the best driver crashes into a wall after a few drinks.
Monsters weren't normal now, so who knew what they'd do.
"Prioritize company safety and adapt to surprises. Report anything serious immediately."
"Understood."
"Haha, you're a full-on monster hunter already."
The platoon leaders nodded approvingly at my orders.
My all-nighter studying monster hunting had paid off.
"Still a long way to go. Let's head down."
With business done, I descended the watchtower with the platoon leaders.
"Major, ropes are all set."
Turning at the soldier's report, I saw the long ropes stretched across the orc approach path.
Hard to believe this works.
Obvious, but it was a primitive tactic: yank the ropes from both sides as the orcs charged to trip them.
"You give the signal, Sergeant Major."
"Got it."
Handing the job to the experienced Sergeant Major Edric, I scanned the company prepping for battle.
Everyone's pretty tense.
Plenty of veterans, but not all.
And no amount of experience stops tension at the sight of an orc horde.
Should do something.
A backflip? No, that'd ruin the commander's dignity.
Damn, have to do that again?
The nightmare black history from training camp.
Regrettably proven effective.
"Hoo."
Needing resolve, I took a deep breath, straightened my back, and bellowed.
"ATTENTION!!!"
Voice from the gut, as loud as possible.
Nearly 200 pairs of eyes snapped to me.
"We're about to dive into a life-or-death fight. To be honest, your major is scared shitless right now. Way uglier than in the books."
Maybe the frank admission worked—small laughs rippled, easing the tension visibly.
"Fought tooth and nail at Rimir Castle just yesterday, and here we are again. Sucks."
I poured sincerity again, gauging the mood.
Loosened up nicely.
Time to tighten.
"But! Your major stakes his life today too. For my precious mom and dad back home, the woman who'll be my wife someday—God knows who—and for His Imperial Majesty!"
Emperor's a must-have, like rice with every meal.
"Even more numerous, disgusting foes lurk out there. So we'll stomp these orcs flat and move on! Right?!"
"YES, SIR!!!"
The company roared back like they'd been waiting.
Eerily like the battalion during marches at training camp.
"Alright! Charge! I'll treat you all to a feast on my dime when we get back—so don't be idiots and get hurt, wasting a chance to bleed a noble dry! Got it?!"
"YES, SIR!!! CHARGE!!!"
"No one misses out on raiding the major's wallet—survive!"
Morale skyrocketed.
Hated to admit it, but it worked like a charm.
"As expected of the hero of Rimir Castle. Masterful command."
"This old dog's learned something."
The platoon leaders heaped praise on my performance.
Embarrassment maxed out; hard to meet their eyes.
"Nah. Ahem, get ready."
Orcs now close enough to see without scopes.
Company, including me, took positions fast.
Hoo, let's do this. Block or dodge—that's all there is to defense.
Unlike before, shield strapped to my left arm.
Safety first in monster hunts; shields essential.
"Ropes ready!"
Orcs nearly upon us, Sergeant Major Edric signaled.
Thud! Thud! Thud! THUD!
Feels like the ground's shaking.
Red-skinned orcs' footsteps hit heavier than anything.
"Grurrruk! Grruk!"
Distance down to 50 paces.
As orcs raised weapons for battle—
"Pull!"
Dozens yanked the long ropes taut like tug-of-war.
"Gu... Grruk?!"
Thwack! Smack! SPLAT!
Sudden obstacle mid-charge.
Orcs tripped naturally.
"Now! Attack!!!"
Sensing my cue, I charged without hesitation.
"Follow the major!"
"Thin their numbers now! Hurry!!!"
Soldiers surged behind.
Fast as they were, my blade struck orc flesh first.
Stab! Spurt!
"GRRRUUUUK!!!!!"
Sword plunged into the lead tripped orc's back; blood sprayed as it howled.
But orcs were orcs.
A goblin would've been crippled or dead; orc vitality endured.
"Grruk!!!"
From prone, it swung its club with right hand in ambush.
Damn! It tanked that?
Timing unforeseen.
Dodging too late.
WHAM!
Had to raise shield; orc club smashed it.
"Ngh."
Blocking disperses force, doesn't negate it.
"What strength."
Numbing pain screamed the orc's absurd power.
Shieldless? At least a fracture.
On battlefield, fracture equals death sentence.
"Careful. Showboating and dying first? Ultimate shame."
Anyway, defense held; time for payback.
"Die."
Stab!
Instant kill: head or neck.
Neck took blade easier.
"Grruk...."
Fatal for man or monster; first orc's breath stopped.
"Haa."
First orc kill.
Trapped and prone, but not easy as expected.
"Problem... starts now."
Looking up: orcs glaring at us, not far off.
Front orcs' sacrifice revealed trap; rest stood straight.
Magic bullets took about twenty, just nabbed seven... still way too many.
Breath caught.
"Ready?"
Monster hunts minimum two-man teams; my partner, Sergeant Major Edric, asked curtly.
"Yeah, let's do this."
"No problem. Target the closest up front first."
I noted the orc he pointed at.
"We strike first?"
"Used to be, but now they come to us if we hold here. Just endure in formation."
Couldn't stay put like goblin hunts, but formations existed.
First rule of extermination: don't get isolated.
Positioned per Sergeant Major Edric.
Seconds passed.
Chaos cleared; orcs charged again.