Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Orc Carnage on the Beach
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On a pebble beach thick with the salty tang of seawater and the stench of corpses, dark-shelled crabs and seagulls were feasting on the orcs' bodies.
"What in the world happened here?"
"Why were orcs all the way out here...?"
As everyone circled the more than fifty obvious corpses, unable to hide their shock, Eugene dismounted and walked toward the shoreline.
Eugene examined the bloated bodies.
"Something's off."
Prabow, who had been inspecting the corpses alongside him, nodded at Eugene's words.
"Indeed. It looks like they were fighting someone when monsters appeared."
It was just as Prabow said.
Among the orc corpses scattered across the pebbles, there were wounds from weapons—slices and stabs—but also plenty of bite marks from something.
Not a few bodies had limbs torn off or severed.
The boats presumed to be the ones the orcs arrived on were half-sunk or littered with broken fragments.
"Judging by their condition, they haven't been dead long. At most three or four days?"
"Hmm."
Eugene pondered briefly before turning to the Beowulf warriors.
"Warriors, spread out around here and look for more traces. From the number of boats, not all of them were wiped out."
"Got it!"
The Beowulf warriors responded energetically and dashed off.
"You, check for anything worth salvaging. Don't just look for coin."
"Gotcha."
Mirian whirled away to rummage through the corpses. Ghosts feared the living so much, yet these horribly mangled bodies didn't faze him at all as he dug through them eagerly.
Eugene turned to the knights.
The knights conscripted from western nobles all wore grim expressions, their faces rigid.
"Now do you believe it?"
"...!"
The knights flinched, unable to meet Eugene's gaze.
With eyes to see the situation and any shred of shame, they had no face to show him.
'The Duke of Bartla was telling the truth.'
'Then crossing the snow mountains and coming back... that was real too?'
Even with their grudges and fears toward Eugene, they were all the same at heart.
Knights—dreamers of adventure, seekers of glory and renown.
In their shame, the knights' eyes finally opened.
Before the Baiman orcs' invasion after decades, any who called themselves knights of Brantia would have made the same choice as Duke Bartla.
Eugene wasn't just some cruel glory-hound; he was a true knight who planned and acted amid crisis.
"Don't just stand there—clean up the bodies."
"Yes, sir!"
At Eugene's command, the knights sprang into action. Ashamed of their own failings, they moved briskly, and soon the orc corpses were piled in one spot.
"Master. Nada worth takin'. Barely any coin, these guys were total beggars."
"Figured as much."
The disappointed spirit slipped back into his leather pouch.
"Light 'em up."
Whoosh!
The flesh of orc warriors who had risked their lives crossing the sea burned in the flames.
Just then, the Beowulfs who had gone scouting returned.
"Found traces. A few more bodies in the pine grove southeast."
"Let's go."
The knights remounted and followed Eugene in perfect order. Unlike before, no trace of complaint showed on their faces.
Ten minutes later, Eugene arrived at a small grove thick with pines.
Around the narrow path lay another ten or so orc warrior corpses, most killed by fatal blows to the back or head.
"Look like they died while fleeing."
"Hmm. Strange. Baiman orcs are berserkers who don't know retreat."
Eugene shook his head at Prabow's words.
"That's nonsense."
"Hm?"
"They know fear and run just fine. I've seen it myself."
To be precise, not seen—but done.
Understanding Eugene's meaning, Prabow gave a wry smile and nodded.
"Duke! Look at this!"
At Partek's shout, Eugene moved quickly.
"Oh?"
Eugene's eyes gleamed at the sight of two orc warrior corpses clutching axes.
"These two... looks like they killed each other?"
"Indeed. Same tribe, but something... Hm!?"
A thought flashed through Eugene's mind, widening his eyes slightly.
Warriors from the same tribe who sailed on an expedition—killing each other made no sense.
But Eugene knew one being capable of it.
'No way?'
Eugene quickly checked the other bodies. Lilisein, who had been hovering near him, swiftly followed.
'One clean strike severing the neck. This one's skull crushed by a heavy blow.'
"Impressive skill. Truly sharp swordplay and merciless strikes executed simultaneously."
"Indeed. Mastery at its peak."
Even Lilisein and Prabow were impressed.
The answer was clear.
Few could slaughter sturdy orc warriors so brutally.
But Eugene knew someone who could.
"Any idea where the orcs went?"
"Easier than gnawin' meat off a bone!"
The Beowulfs thumped their chests, and Mirian tilted his head.
"Kie? Won't that give you indigestion?"
"What're you on about? We Beowulfs say meat and gold—you can never have too much."
"Kiet! Such wisdom!? Beowulfs are this profound a race? Kihehehe. I'm impressed, I am."
"Krahaha! We got style, eh?"
"Kehehe! True that!"
As Beowulfs and spirit cackled, Lilisein pulled out a small parchment and scribbled with a quill.
"Likes meat and gold... noted..."
The knights eyed the three races with pity, until Prabow couldn't stand it.
"Princess, why record that... Sigh."
Prabow shook his head with a sigh, locking eyes with Eugene.
"......"
A shared emotion, unspoken.
This time, the shame belonged to both, not just Eugene.
* * *
Born hunters, the Beowulf warriors quickly picked up the orcs' trail, and Eugene and the knights rode with them in the lead.
Night fell, bathed in blue moonlight, but they pressed on without rest, downing mana crystals and lighting torches for the pursuit.
After some time, the Beowulfs scouting a kilometer ahead returned with a report.
"Fight breakin' out up front. Tons of metal clashing."
"Orc scent leads right there—they're definitely fighting. Oh, and some other smell too. Familiar, like I've caught it before."
Eugene addressed the wolf-heads tilting quizzically.
"Figured. Someone you know well."
"Huh?"
"You'll see. Everyone, battle ready."
At Eugene's low command, the chill night air warmed with the heat from knights and warriors.
Then, Princess Lilisein approached Eugene.
"Duke."
"What is it?"
Wary of more nonsense, Eugene replied curtly.
Unlike usual, Princess Lilisein responded calmly.
"The knights are fine with mana crystals, but the horses aren't. At this rate, they'll tire soon after combat starts."
"Hmm."
True enough.
But stopping for rest now was out of the question.
As if reading his mind, Princess Lilisein spoke.
"I am pureblood of the Elrand royal line. I can restore beasts."
"Oh?"
Genuinely surprised, Eugene watched as Princess Lilisein exuded confidence.
"Give me five minutes."
She reined in and returned to the knights.
Weaving among the baffled knights, she placed a hand on each horse's head and whispered something.
Then, the impossible happened.
Horses exhausted for hours suddenly snorted with vigor.
"Ooh! What in the...?"
"Holy power?"
"No, different from a priest's blessing."
Some knights who had seen high priests bless people or animals were astonished.
"Kie? Master, that's mana. She's infusing mana into the horses."
Mirian, for once sounding like a proper spirit, made a fuss.
Eugene was equally stunned.
He had pegged her as just a sword-swinging pervert, not someone wielding such mystic arts.
"Impressive. But can't Master Prabow do that?"
"Ahem. Even among purebloods, Lilisein is special. As I said, true purebloods like her are born only one or two per generation."
"So rarer than sword masters?"
"...Yes."
Eugene turned at Prabow's somewhat glum reply.
Princess Lilisein, basking in the knights' awe as she restored the warhorses, returned with an impassive face.
"Mission complete. They won't tire for five minutes at full gallop."
"Impressive. Thanks, Princess."
"Too kind. I did it solely to stand by Duke's side. If of any use, I am content."
Staring at Eugene with fervent eyes, Princess Lilisein saluted from her saddle.
Her gaze still burdensome, but this time Eugene was truly grateful and nodded.
"Very well. You have my permission to stay by my side."
Meaning, of course, fight together in this battle.
"An honor! I shall guard Duke with body and soul!"
Naturally, meaning she saw glory in fighting alongside and would give her all.
'Oh no...'
But Prabow, watching, looked devastated.
Beneath the serene moonlight, handsome man and beautiful woman vowing to stand together—a poetic, romantic scene straight from a tale.
No shame, promising futures before all these people!
'Heavens! So it's come to this? Then perhaps send another princess to the king?'
"Let's go!"
At Eugene's shout, the revitalized warhorses surged forward faster than before.
Fwoooosh...
At the fore with Princess Lilisein, Eugene unleashed his presence.
His presence under moonlight rippled like bloody waves ahead.
'Inc, incredible!'
Princess Lilisein, who had heard tales of high vampires from lore, shuddered in awe despite herself.
A power utterly unlike the mana wielded by elven purebloods.
Elves and vampires were natural opposites, eternal foes.
Yet the red aura of the undead pinnacle slicing the dark pulsed like living vitality—dizzying, beautiful.
Her body tingled from the pressure of the cape spread like bat wings and the presence flowing along the spear in his hand.
'Perfect! To stand with such greatness! Ahh!'
Caught between guilt from her secret depravity and soaring thrill, she panted excitedly—until she spotted the fierce melee ahead.
A knight wielding sword and mace, laughing maniacally amid hulking orc warriors.
She shouted.
"You! Mine!"
Her pureblood elven mana erupted skyward. In that instant, azure light enveloped her and her horse, surging past Silion.
"No! That's my vassal...!"
Ziiing!
Ignoring Eugene's startled cry, intense light gathered on the elven princess knight's longsword.
The mystery unique to pureblood elves: mana made manifest—aura.
"Hey, Master! Huh? What's this now?"
Galpredic, who had sensed Eugene's presence and turned gladly, frowned.
"Hauuuuugh!"
A knight-lady with madness in her green eyes charged, longsword aloft, emitting perverse moans.
(To be continued in the next chapter)