Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Royal Road Hero Tale (23)
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I figured if we ran into any monsters, they'd at least be intelligent ones...
But orcs?! Talk about the dumbest monsters around!
Simple-minded, brute strength only, charging straight at whatever's in front of them—no detours.
Call 'em rugged manly types if you're being kind, or brainless idiots if you're not. And a bunch of those were holed up inside the barrier.
-Kweeek!
-Kweek! Kweeek!
What the hell? Did they just curse at us?
The two orcs that popped out when the barrier dropped freaked out at the sight of us, letting out those awful squeals before snapping to and turning hostile.
Orcs, huh... Not like me a few months back—I could take these chumps solo now.
I kicked off the ground lightly and charged right at them.
Weak point on the neck? Yeah, these looked just like the orcs from back home—no big differences.
Reliving those dungeon orc slaughters, I blocked an axe with my shield and stabbed one's throat with my sword.
-Kweeee...
-Kweek... Kwek.
"Incredible! I had no idea you were this strong!"
"Ahaha! My oppa's pretty tough, you know!"
Brutus let out a big whoop after I dropped the two orcs in seconds, and Sophia beamed with pride in my place.
Seeing me get the praise must've made her happy. She's so damn cute.
I ruffled Sophia's hair and asked Brutus,
"Then we'll keep checking inside like this, so could you call the guards for us, Brutus?"
"Ah, got it! I'll bring 'em right away!"
Safest bet would've been waiting for guard backup before going in together, but that lacked punch.
To really impress Louise again, we needed to show we could handle this ourselves. Orcs weren't even a challenge anyway.
"But bro, you sure we're good? Just the three of us?"
"Not three. We've got the Goddess. Don't trust me—trust the Goddess who trusts you!"
"...Got it! Yeah!"
Siwoo still looked uneasy, but dropping the Goddess cheat key fired him up quick as ever.
Goddess... it's all for the greater good, so forgive me!
After that, we kept pushing deeper into the forest, picking off orcs along the way.
Orcs started sparse but got more frequent and numerous the farther in we went. Hadn't found their base yet, so the hidden space must've been bigger than expected.
"Ughhh, will this ever end?!"
"Sopi, Siwoo. Let's take a quick break."
Thought it'd wrap up fast, but at this rate, the guards might beat us to solving it.
What the hell made this place so huge...!
Panting and grumpy already, Sophia was wheezing hard. Siwoo hid it better, but his stiff face screamed exhaustion too.
Same for me, obviously. At least we were racking up XP or I'd have quit ages ago.
-Crack.
"Huh? What was that."
Heading for shade to rest, I stepped on something.
Sigh, so beat I couldn't even watch my feet anymore?
Time to rest for real.
"Rabbit doll?"
Lifted my foot—wooden rabbit doll underneath. Crudely carved, like handmade by someone personal. Being inside the barrier meant...
Either it was always in Asellen Forest, or someone trapped here dropped it.
Prefer the first, but my gut said second.
Damn orc bastards.
"...Bro! C-Could I see that for a sec?"
"Here."
Siwoo eyed the doll, face going ghost-white like he'd seen a specter, and asked for it.
Why so spooky all of a sudden? Something only he could see on it again?
Creeped out, I handed it over quick and headed to Sophia in the shade.
"Sopi, what do you make of that doll?"
"Hmm... No idea? Just a doll. Not even cute."
Really? So Siwoo knew something special...
Wasn't his first time in Marta, right? Eh, whatever. If it's important, he'll spill.
Too wiped to think straight.
-Poof poof!
"Oppa, tired? Ta-da! Lie down here!"
"Sopi... you're the best."
"Hehe. Whoa, wait! Not face-down!"
Sophia really was a saintess!
Our saintess sacrificed her lap for my weary head—a knee pillow.
Couldn't bury my face between her thighs like I'd hoped, but this low-angle view of her chest? Not bad at all.
Plus head pats full of saintess love! Aaah... the soft, soothing touch melted my fatigue away.
-Shoooo...
Ah, not just a feeling—it was real.
Correction: Her heal wiped the fatigue and revitalized my body.
Forgot heals did that too.
"Feels so good..."
Forgetting everything, just sweet-talking with Sophia alone—paradise, right?
Cool shade, fresh breeze, adorable Sopi, and...
A scowling Siwoo?
"Whoa, startled me."
Right, not alone.
Knee pillow power had me zoning out.
But why the grim face on him?
Ignoring us glued together, Siwoo stared holes into that rabbit doll I'd given him.
Hmm... whatever it was, thanks for the no-awkwardness zone. Enjoyed guilt-free.
Thanks, Siwoo.
Paradise break over—heaven to hellish search again.
Couldn't even get five minutes; probably another fifty of grinding. Damn.
My plan though. Grit teeth and push through.
"Bro. Could you hold onto this for a bit?"
"Hold it?"
"Yeah. Put it in Aria Goddess's space for now? Just till this is over."
What? As we prepped to move, Siwoo approached looking downcast.
Handed back the doll he'd been glued to, asking me to inventory it.
That precious, huh? This thing?
"Sure. No clue what it is, but hand it over. I'll keep it safe."
"Thanks, bro..."
Plenty of slots free. Easy favor.
Took the doll, stowed it—he bowed deep with thanks.
Damn, must be super important. Now I'm feeling the pressure.
Asked what made it so special, but he gave a bitter smile and brushed it off like it was normal.
Wanna smack him...
Hero, so I let it slide.
"Alright, let's head out again."
No other orcs this time.
But we found their group at last.
Noise from deeper in got louder, so we crouched and scouted—orc base down the hill.
"Haa... makes me wanna curse."
Wondered why no sightings—they were all gathered, throwing a damn festival.
And right in the middle? Humans.
"Oppa... that's horrible..."
"Sopi, look away. Don't force it."
Center of attention, more like. They were roasting and eating human flesh.
Nonstop screams and moans from the opposite tent too.
Fuck, this world's way too brutal!
"You fucking bastards..."
Dungeon orcs were instinct-driven killers, not rapists or cannibals.
These showed exactly why they're called monsters. Sickeningly so.
"Bro... I can't forgive them. No way."
"Same here, man."
Not some noble spirit like Siwoo's.
Not for the Goddess's will either.
Just... fucking pisses me off.
Can't leave 'em be for my own sake.
"M-Me too!"
"You sure?"
"This is the power the Goddess gave me for times like this!"
Not a saintess for nothing. She's the real deal—pure heart.
Yeah, not just for me—for Sopi too, gotta smash orcs and save those people.
Can't let her get sad. No way.
"Alright, Siwoo. You charge first, draw eyes killing as many as you can. Sopi and I'll rescue the women in the tent. You good solo?"
"More than."
"Sopi. While I clear tent orcs, get the women out and hide. Then I'll back Siwoo."
"Got it! I can do it!"
Whew, shitty emotions boiled my blood, but it ain't all bad.
Head hot, heart cool—or something.
Fuel this rage and slaughter every orc bastard.
"Good! Let's go!"
Ah, was it the other way around?