Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Sudden Raid
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How much time had passed?
Han Yu-ra had just finished her personal mission of hunting down 100 hobgoblins and earned a hefty pile of points. She was catching her breath when an urgent message popped up on her tablet.
[Hyuk-jin: Sis! Big trouble! The base is under attack by orcs right now!] "What?"
Orcs attacking without even invading our territory? Why the hell would they do that?
The question flashed through her mind, but this wasn't the time to ponder it.
[Hyuk-jin: If you're seeing this, please hurry back here!] "Damn it!"
At Hyuk-jin's follow-up messages, Han Yu-ra rushed back to the base in a panic.
'Of all the timing— an attack the moment I step away!'
As she drew closer to the cave that served as their base, the summoners' screams and sobs grew sharper and clearer.
By the time she reached the entrance, the place was a total bloodbath. Massive orcs were toying with the fleeing members like playthings, hurling them around and laughing.
"You fucking bastards!"
Han Yu-ra bellowed in fury as she nocked an arrow and drew her bowstring taut.
Thwip—!
The arrow she loosed slammed straight into one orc's eye.
"Kreeeek!"
At Han Yu-ra's sudden appearance, the orcs faltered in confusion for a moment before signaling each other and bolting into the forest.
"Damn cowards. Where the hell did you even come from?"
Han Yu-ra didn't give chase. Tending to the wounded came first.
"Is everyone okay?!"
Fortunately, against all odds...
No one had died.
The problem was that most of them were banged up with injuries big and small.
Broken arms, torn legs, cracked skulls oozing blood...
"Haa..."
Han Yu-ra bought a few low-grade stamina potions from the shop. They wouldn't fix major wounds, but minor ones should heal clean.
It stung to burn through points she'd grinded for in hunts so quickly, but she kept a straight face.
"Sis, I'm sorry... We're just too weak..."
Hyuk-jin shuffled over, voice cracking with tears.
Han Yu-ra let out a small sigh at the sight.
She should've known better than to leave.
Regret hit her late, as always.
'But... are you guys really helpless without me? And this time, Mr. Joo-hyuk even hooked you up with gear.'
Her head throbbed at the thought of coaxing these wounded fools back out for more hunts.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ That day onward...
Nightmare days repeated at Han Yu-ra's base.
When Han Yu-ra was there, the forest stayed eerily quiet. Not an orc or even a goblin in sight. But the second she wandered off for hunts or scouting, the bastards sensed it like ghosts and hit the base.
"Orcs! Orcs are here!"
Han Yu-ra sprinted toward the screams like a madwoman.
But by the time she arrived, the orcs had vanished without a trace.
All that remained were the groans of the injured and the sobs of the terrified.
"Goddamn it...!"
These raids hit every few hours at worst, minutes at best. Even Han Yu-ra, who rarely cursed, was letting profanities fly.
Finally, she set a trap.
Ambush near the base and hit them the moment they showed.
But the orcs mocked her plan, artfully dodging her hiding spots to strike anyway.
'No way. Are they... tracking my position?'
It sounded insane, but nothing else explained their moves.
Han Yu-ra switched to the direct approach.
She camped their predicted path ahead of time. And finally, she faced their vanguard.
"You pieces of shit! Today, I'm ripping every one of your heads off!"
She drew her bow with seething rage. But when she gave chase, the orcs scattered in all directions without fighting, like they'd rehearsed it.
"Stop right there!"
Han Yu-ra targeted one decked out in jewelry, clearly higher-ranked than the grunts, but the bastard bolted toward the plains, stubbornly luring her farther from base.
She loosed arrows several times en route, but bad luck struck— gusts of wind kept veering them off course.
Her Tracking Shot skill alone pierced the gales to hit, but it lacked the punch to drop a distant foe.
Plus, with the orc's sprinter speed—like some ex-track star— Han Yu-ra's stamina tanked first. She had to abandon pursuit and limp back midway.
But waiting for her exhausted return was far worse news.
The base was utterly trashed.
Blood soaked the cave surroundings, and among the wounded lay Hyuk-jin, the kid who'd always been sweet on her.
The sight nearly snapped her sanity.
She'd almost lost someone precious again.
'No! Not now... Can't let emotions take over. Stay calm, assess the situation.'
Regaining her composure, Han Yu-ra pieced together the chain of events. And reached a cold certainty.
'This... isn't random at all! They sent that bait squad to lure me out on purpose.'
No monster had the brains for tactics like that.
Someone had orchestrated this to screw her over.
'But who? Mr. Joo-hyuk took out the named orc, Krull. I was there. So who's commanding these orcs?'
Han Yu-ra clenched her fists. Nails dug into her palms, drawing blood, but the rage drowned out the pain.
And with it came crushing helplessness— nothing she could do in this mess.
'...Should I message Mr. Joo-hyuk? If I beg for help... maybe he'll fix this.'
But she hesitated to hit send. She didn't want to be the ungrateful type who grabs a lifeline then demands your wallet.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ — Krallta Staff officer, you're amazing. First human I've seen torment their own kind like this. More vicious than me, even. The second-in-command orc warrior Krallta bowed to Im Ji-hye, genuinely impressed.
"Krallta, that's a compliment, right?"
— Krallta Yep! In orc world, the strongest and meanest rule! That's why we follow the chief no matter his bullshit! P.S., don't tell the chief I said that! "Got it. Stick with me, and I'll put in a good word with Mr. Joo-hyuk— er, the chief— about you."
— Krallta No need. Krallta wants to live long and thin without the chief's favoritism. Krallta's witty retort drew a soft chuckle from Im Ji-hye.
He looked like a roughneck thug with a bodybuilder's bulk, but the more she saw him, the cuter he seemed.
"Haa, I wanna see Mr. Joo-hyuk already."
She'd thought a day apart would be fine, but alone without him, the whole world felt dull.
Just then, her wind spirit finished its mission and spotted summoners lurking outside the village. It signaled Im Ji-hye.
"Hmm? These guys have no fear. Kill 'em and they keep crawling back. Do they not learn?"
Im Ji-hye shared vision with a low-grade earth spirit and barked orders at Krallta.
"Krallta. Move Squad 1 to the 5 o'clock position. Summoners are stuck in the mud traps. Squad 2, hold at 9 o'clock and cut off their escape when they bolt!"
Krallta relayed her commands to the orc messengers.
They mounted wyverns tamed by Kim Joo-hyuk and soared into the sky with perfect discipline.
Less than a minute later, four-man orc melee teams— piped directions and attack orders— ambushed the trapped summoners.
"Kraaak! O-orcs!"
"Shit, more over here!"
"Hang on! Casting magic... Wind Cutter... Gah!"
An orc crossbow squad waiting nearby slammed steel bolts into the summoners' bodies.
'That takes care of the priority target.'
Im Ji-hye calmly assessed the battlefield, directing individual orcs via spirits when needed, steadily wiping out the summoners.
'That's the 100th one.'
Satisfied with her tally, Im Ji-hye thought of Kim Joo-hyuk.
'Master will be thrilled to hear I've cleaned up these summoners. He'll praise me for sure. Pat my head, say I did good. And that night...'
Imagining his big hands on her breasts made her womb quiver lightly. She rubbed her thighs together and let out a heated breath.
"Haaa...♥"
Before she knew it, she'd become the perfect bitch, soaked in Kim Joo-hyuk's influence— ready to commit any atrocity for his praise and pleasure.