10. Search Request Orcs
Orcs. In this world, they're a dime a dozen right alongside goblins. Of course, their physical prowess and intelligence put them leagues ahead of those pests—worlds apart, really. Goblins are just brainless idiots good for nothing but sly little tricks, but orcs? They've got the smarts of borderline intellectual disability on average. And every now and then, you hear about a clever one that's human-level or even genius-tier.
And their bodies... Unlike goblins, who are half the size of an average man, orcs match the build of a burly, well-trained adult male. Comparing the two is almost insulting to the orcs. Still, they're just the usual fodder for adventurer quests—common as dirt. That changes when their numbers swell like this.
Dozens of orcs visible all around us. Bella and I pressed our backs together, tension coiling tight. I could handle it, but her not noticing until now? How the hell did we get surrounded like this? By this many orcs, no less.
"Far as I remember, orcs live in groups but not swarms like this... Did I learn wrong? Hey, Ian. Heard anything about orcs changing their habits lately?"
"You think?"
"...Yeah, fair. What would an iron-badge scrub like you know anyway?"
"Ha, just you wait till we get back."
"Wait? Pray you make it back in one piece first."
Like Bella said, orcs are pack animals, sure—but greedy as hell. They stick to small family units, not hordes of dozens like this.
"Shit, how'd we get boxed in without noticing? Have I been slacking too hard lately?"
"Kinda. You've been pounding booze every other day."
"Hey, back in my merc days, it was worse. Almost daily."
"Oh yeah? Drunkard."
"What the hell? Why keep calling me drunkard like it's my name?"
"'Cause it fits you."
"...Like 'booze whale' or something?"
"Whale my ass. More like a damn anchovy."
"Anchovy? What's that?"
"You know, that thing."
"Ugh, sounds like an insult."
Figures from a Mountain Kingdom girl—she wouldn't know her seafood. I ignored Bella scratching her head and slowly drew a bolt magazine from my pouch, slotting it into the crossbow.
"Hey, but there's too many. Think we can take 'em?"
"Dunno. Only one way to find out. You gonna be okay? I can probably bust through one side and run... but you can't keep up."
"Carry me if you bolt. Don't leave me."
"Tch... Stick close then."
"Duh. Where else would I be but by your side?"
"God, your mouth... Fine, stay glued to big sis here."
Bella gripped her greatsword tight. The orcs just stared, encircling us. Then the one who'd chucked the first spear—now hefting a massive two-handed axe, clearly the boss—let out a bellow.
"GRRAAAAH...!! Raise your bows!"
"...Fuck, orcs that talk."
Bella muttered low. No time for chit-chat, though. Orcs raised bows one by one. Arrows nocked, ready to fly.
Right—magic tool in my pocket... I yanked it out, grabbed Bella's arm.
"Bella!"
"What the—?!"
"What else? Buff time."
I seized her chin, kissed her deep, and hurled the tool to the ground. It shattered with a ripple, birthing a translucent green barrier around us—a dome about 1.5 meters wide.
One-use item. Smash the orb, get a shield against incoming projectiles. Cost: three gold coins. Pricey for disposable, and kinda meh—blocks arrows and such from afar, but not close swings or charges.
Thought I'd never need it... but here we are. Damn my collection habit.
"Pfft... You asshole. Buff now? If I get tagged mid-fight, you handling that?!"
"That's why I'm doing it. Better me tanking than you hurt. And if you're worried, just dodge more."
"Show-off. Doesn't make you cool."
"Whatever. See this? Blocks projectiles. I just need to handle anyone who gets close."
The boss barked an order as arrows whistled in mid-convo.
"Fire...!"
They pinged off the barrier, ricocheting harmlessly. Bella smirked, lips twisting.
"Huh. Actually works."
The boss spotted the deflection, roared.
"Magic! It's magic! Hold arrows—don't loose! Wait for it to drop!"
Real orc? Judgment and command like that? Nothing like the dumb brutes I knew. I shoved Bella out of the barrier.
"So go nuts, no worries about me. I'll cover from here."
"Tch... Fine."
She hefted her greatsword, muttering low.
"Yell if it's bad. I'll fly in."
"Oh yeah? What are you, a bird?"
"...Figure of speech, dick. Always gotta one-up me."
She charged. I quickly reloaded the crossbow, sighting orcs nocking arrows.
"One down."
Peering through the scope, fierce wind from below. Like in my favorite flick: "Wind isn't calculated. It's overcome."
Bought the crossbow a week ago. Practiced till my fingers bled. Sucked every coin Cheong-ah brought in as househusband—ate, shot bolts like a maniac. Skipped sleep when I could, but not enough to piss her off. Thousands of shots fired.
I wanted to help in combat, not just buffs. Wind was brisk. Tilted the crossbow into it.
"Like so."
Twang—the bolt rode the gust. A beat later—
-KWEIIIK!-
An archer orc screamed, bolt in its brow, blood spraying as it crumpled.
"That's Korean Peninsula spoon genes for ya, fuckers."
§ As Ian downed the lower orc and reloaded for another shot, Bella leaped upward with her usual thunderous shout.
"URRAAAH...!"
Crimson mana coiled around her raised greatsword—a ferocious aura that pulverized branches en route, smashing toward the clustered archers.
BOOM!
Explosion rocked the air. Several orcs hit direct vaporized into gore-rain; the ground cratered like a dug pit.
The boss sensed it instantly. That woman was leagues beyond anything they'd faced. He bellowed.
"KRUK...! Scatter! Get away from her! Far ones, loose arrows! Close ones, switch weapons and charge!"
Orcs near Bella dispersed in perfect order. Arrows flew; axe-wielders rushed her.
Bella's gut screamed: Take the commander first.
Arrows? Useless on her, thanks to the buff. She ignored them, bull-rushing the boss.
Thwip-thwip-thwip!
Arrows slammed her back—buff deflected them. Ian felt the brutal jolts but gritted through, sniping archers to thin their ranks.
Orcs swarmed Bella en route: axe to the head, slashes at arms, legs, back, waist. She hesitated a split-second—dodge?—then shook it off. Buff wouldn't break.
Sorry, Ian... Hang in there!
"Those pussy attacks are useless..!"
Thud! Wham!
Strikes hammered her, bouncing harmlessly. Each hit twisted Ian inside the barrier, but he clenched teeth, endured.
"...Bella, damn it. Dodge what you can."
She closed on the boss in a flash, sweeping her dragged greatsword upward.
"HAAAH...!"
Scarlet mana vortex swirled along the blade. Boss didn't flinch, swinging his massive axe to parry.
"No chance!"
CLANG!
Deafening metal screech. He blocked solidly—not for nothing the horde's leader.
"Nice try, but too bad, human bitch! I am—"
CRUNCH!
Bella's greatsword shattered the axe's thick blade, cleaved through—bisecting the weapon, then pulping the boss's skull in one fluid strike.
The headless corpse toppled. Bella spat on it.
"Fuck off. Orc trash."