#2 How to Handle Holy Knights (Noa - Underwear Bondage) (4)

Just like Orc General Barosy, this arrogant-looking holy knight who showed up this time was also a hero unit. Checking her status window, she was [Lv.2]. That said, as Mea mentioned, she was top-tier even among level 2s.

"And... it seems she has some special blessing too...."

Mea trailed off uncertainly, as if she couldn't say for sure. On top of that, Barosy was level 2 as well, but as a newly appointed orc general, he was barely at the entry level of it. The gap was huge—even with base bonuses, it looked like he couldn't beat her. I could see with my own eyes that he was being pushed back.

In the meantime, the other orcs were getting taken out one by one by the remaining squad members. Thanks to their basic size advantage, the orcs weren't getting completely steamrolled, but it was still impressive and bizarre to see these female soldiers holding their own against those hulking brutes. How could those slender arms and bodies keep up without getting overwhelmed? It wasn't just because orc muscles were all show or something like that.

"It's the goddess's blessing, my king. It seems there's a skilled priestess among them."

Was that priestess the cool-looking woman who'd been showering the area with beams of blessing light from earlier? The base debuff that had worked fine against the orcs wasn't functioning properly now. Probably thanks to that goddess blessing or whatever.

But even in that situation, Lete seemed confident in her own power.

"My king, raise Lete's level. Lete gets special bonuses inside this base territory. Even now, I can match them... and if you bump me up one more level, I can handle them all easily."

"Yeah, that makes sense. Lete, you beat Barosy pretty handily even as you are."

There was the variable of the base debuff not landing properly on the enemy, but bumping Lete up just one level would definitely let her win without issue. That much was clear.

"Alright, I'll level you up."

I manipulated the status window and poured resource magic into Lete. The number that had always been [Lv.1] quickly jumped to [Lv.2].

Lete was about to charge right in, but I blocked her path. She wasn't fully prepped yet.

"Lete, I'm giving you all the remaining resource magic."

"Oh."

"...?! M-My king—Gaon?!"

Lete's reaction was straightforward, while Mea whipped around in surprise. In the meantime, I'd already finished the manipulation. Now the remaining magic was—'0'.

I'd scraped every last drop.

"Remember what you said before?"

"...Uh...?"

"...You shouldn't forget...."

-Give me all the magic power.

-I'll smash them all to bits. Ppusyung ppasyung.

Before the orcs arrived and we set our strategy, that's what Lete had said. I didn't think it was just a joke. Probably.

True to her word, I'd given her everything left. It wasn't much after using it all up on other stuff, but still.

"—So, do your best."

"Of course, my king."

Rarely, Lete flashed a smile before heading straight into the fray without hesitation.

* * *

Ching!Kang—!Kwachik—Hwaruruk—!

"Oooohhh!!"

"Aaaahhh!!"

Scorching heat filled the air as weapons clashed, sparks flying. No, not just sparks—the holy knight's holy sword aura shattered on impact, scattering in a dazzling spray. It was a fantastical sight, but the aftermath left by that light was brutal and merciless.

Holy Knight Noa Florence and Orc General Barosy. Their duel raged on, along with the skirmishes between the squad members and the remaining orcs. Neither side was gaining a decisive edge yet. The Holy Light Kingdom's scouting party was outnumbered, but their teamwork and seamless support turned the chaotic melee to their advantage.

"Hold the line, everyone! Focus on defense over offense! Tie up the orcs so they can't interfere with Lady Holy Knight! Buy time!"

In the midst of it, Vice Officer Reisi was commanding the squad and steering the battle. Noa, as a holy knight, lacked command experience, and Reisi had received direct orders from her to handle it this way.

Noa was locked in combat with that exceptionally strong orc. He stood out clearly from the rest. If he broke free, their unit wouldn't last a second. So Reisi's job was simple: lead the subordinates effectively so Noa wouldn't have to worry about her back, and endure the chaos.

No matter how you sliced it, Holy Knight Noa had the edge over the orc general. If they just stalled a bit longer, Noa would take him down and come to help.

Reisi admired Noa's character and dignity immensely. She knew the woman had the skills to back it up. They'd only met recently, but Reisi trusted her fully. Plus, with Saintess Lemon's request to ensure Noa got back safely at all costs... but honestly, Noa was proving more than reliable enough on her own.

'......?'

But then, something felt off. Their battle was going too smoothly.

The scouting party consisted of battle-hardened veterans. They'd been handpicked with care at Saintess Lemon's request. Even so...

These orcs were formidable warriors too. Their size and presence alone screamed it. And the orcs had the numbers advantage.

So why were her comrades holding the upper hand without major injuries?

'...Something's off.'

Before she could pinpoint the unease, another shift hit the battlefield.

"That's far enough, you human bitches. Filthy goddess-stinking mongrels."

"......?!"

A sudden wave of pressure. And an even more terrifying aura of ruin.

The source was the long-eared demon girl approaching slowly from the direction of that Ruin King. Black mist like ink swirled around her as she sauntered forward, step by deliberate step.

Slow as it was, the vicious killing intent felt like a savage beast breathing down their necks.

Kwang!

"Kuhuk...!? Chwik—!"

Noa reacted first. She landed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a solid hit on the orc general she was facing, then exploited his stumble to break away and charge the demon girl. The holy sword aura wrapped around her blade glowed brighter than ever—the mark of an all-out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠strike.

No time to watch ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her back. That resolve shone through as she swung the radiant ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sword.

Shrik—Thud!

A massive tentacle erupted from the shadows at her feet, slamming her into the air.

"Lady Holy Knight Noa!!"

Reisi screamed her name. A split-second distraction in battle was fatal. Orcs lunged at the opening, grabbing her arms and pinning her down.

If she hadn't snapped back and channeled all her magic to resist, she'd have been immobilized completely.

Meanwhile, Noa—sent flying by the tentacle—now dangled in midair, her limbs bound by tentacles sprouting from nowhere. She hadn't lost consciousness; magic surged from her as she struggled fiercely, but it was futile.

The demon girl didn't stop. With a flick of her hand while gripping Noa, thud! thud—!

-Ah...!

-Kuhk...?!

"Everyone...!! Watch the shadows, the shad—kuk...?!"

Now tentacles burst from the squad members' shadows, subduing them too. Reisi fought to the end, but even a holy knight couldn't overcome them—there was no countering it.

Soon, the orcs grabbed her again, and this time she couldn't resist. She was pinned helplessly.

The intruders in the peaceful forest—the scouting party including Holy Knight Noa—were captured alive and unharmed, bound securely.

* * *

...................

.............

......

One holy knight and nine scouting squad members. All women.

That was the haul from this battle. Five orcs had died in total. Two from the initial scout, three more in the main fight.

The rest had varying injuries, but orcs apparently healed fast with good food and rest.

'...Didn't expect this level of loss.'

I'd asked the orcs—and Lete—to capture the scouts without serious injury if possible. A major wound or death could trigger penalties in negotiations later.

And as a kind-hearted, gentle guy, I didn't want any humans dying on me. Especially since I'd set my sights on becoming this game's Salvation King.

Sure, the holy knight seemed to mistake me for some Ruin King, but that was a clear misunderstanding.

No way I'd kill them. Unless they were men, of course—those I'd wipe out.

Anyway, I'd told them to capture without harm, but I didn't expect them to toss their weapons and go in bare-handed. Partly my fault for poor command—the orcs weren't the brightest.

Next time, prep some binding tools just in case.

"So, Lady Holy Knight. Head cooled off yet? Care to chat like civilized people?"

"Kuh...! Ruin King...! You filthy pervert...!!"

In one of the hotel's spacious suite rooms, the brown-haired holy knight knelt on the carpet, bound tight with ropes. While disarming her, we'd stripped her clothes too, leaving her in just her underwear.

She glared at me furiously. Noa, right? She'd taken some brutal hits from Lete earlier, but she already seemed recovered. Goddess blessing at work again?

"You're the shameless one—drawing steel first without even hearing me out."

"Don't make me laugh! Talk with some shady freak commanding demonic orcs? As if!"

"...Orcs are demonic?"

Mea answered.

"It's true they fall easily to evil influences, my king. Due to the nature of the god they serve."

Come to think of it, orcs got folded into the Ruin army by the tribe later on. Used as cannon fodder or numbers-fillers before getting trashed like garbage.

"However, they serve you, my king, under your rule. They won't succumb to evil."

Mea added. I wasn't sure of the details, but it seemed the Steel Fang orcs wouldn't betray me.

Noa still shot me dirty looks despite hearing it. She wouldn't buy enemy words so easily, no matter what.

Figured talking was pointless. Time to use the Persuasion skill quick. Clear up the misunderstanding, turn her docile like the orcs—sweet and smiling in no time.