Trapped in the Muddy Torrent
We had no choice but to fight, even without Amelia's forces. Orcs are the type to charge in if you sit still, thinking you're scared, so it was better to head out and meet them before they raided our base. Plus, our troops had just been reinforced, so we had some leeway. We headed toward the plains where the orcs were spotted.
"(Huh? What's wrong with those guys?!)"
"How strange. The orcs are... acting odd."
Did those bastards skip meals or something? When we arrived, the green-muscled pigs looked off somehow. Their eyes were weary, shoulders slumped. The big flags they carried wobbled like they couldn't support the weight, and they were even dragging their weapons along the ground.
"Maybe they didn't sleep? They look exhausted."
"Orcs normally only need about four hours of sleep... They're not the type to suffer from lack of rest to begin with."
"...Pfft."
Ludia stuck her tongue out at Amelia's explanation, clearly still nursing a grudge. Should I cheer her up more? But what if she heats up again? Gulp. Gulp...
As I pondered what to do with Ludia, she pulled a vial from her bosom and downed the liquid inside. She grimaced with a groan. Ugh... must taste awful.
"(Hey? What're you drinking, bitch?!)"
"Painkiller."
"(Is that tasty?! You had some last time too!)"
"W-Well... using Holy Power hurts my body."
She whispered cautiously, glancing around to make sure no one heard. She didn't say why, but it had to be the brand. What else would make her body ache from using Holy Power?
...After the battle, I should do something Ludia would like.
"(Bitches! Let's rampage to our hearts' content today!! I'll specially pamper the one who does best!! Krahaha!!!)"
Let's do this. After the fight, I'll make sure to give Ludia whatever she wants!
I'd only meant to psych myself up with a simple "Let's go," but the ring's insane creativity boomed through all three of their heads today as well.
""??!!""
The effect was powerful. Just not the way I intended.
Mari clenched her eyes shut with a grunt. Amelia flushed red and averted her gaze. And then—squeeze.
"Ugh... why'd you have to say that now..."
"....."
At this point, it was par for the course. Still, with so many eyes around, her effort to hide our clasped hands by overlapping our bodies was kinda cute.
Bwooooo—!
Suddenly, the battle horn blared.
"The fight's starting. Master Huu, please protect these two!"
Nod.
Still, today looked easy. Compared to that zombie horde or the skeleton swarm that overwhelmed us with numbers last time.
...Or so I thought.
The battle unfolded as expected. Something had clearly happened to them—the orcs hit our paladins' shield wall weakly, and their swinging axes looked heavy.
Rooooaaar—!!!!!
The orc chieftain bellowed in frustration. Defeat was imminent. The paladins had already pushed deep into the orc lines amid clouds of dust, and nearly half the orcs were dead or scattered. A few struggled valiantly to protect their honor, but they were just shredded by Holy Power-infused blades.
Bwooooooo—!
Finally, the orcs' horn blared. The retreat signal.
Hearing it, the orcs dropped their weapons without hesitation and fled.
"The orcs are running!!"
"Pursue them!! Leave any alive, and they'll come back!!!"
Their reputation as a battle race crumbled like a sandcastle. The demoralized brutes thundered away on heavy feet. At that, the cavalry behind the shield wall spurred their horses forward.
"Everyone! Break formation and chase them down!"
Waaaah—!!!
The paladin captain's voice ignited their morale. Total victory was in sight. Who'd have thought they'd resolve the orc crisis plaguing them with their own hands! The unarmed fleeing orcs were now just oversized game. And the knight who claimed the most kills would earn great merit, obviously.
The knights pushed their Holy Power to the limit, chasing and chasing.
"Divine judgment...!!"
Kaboom!!!!
Ludia and I panted as we threw ourselves into the orc hunt. Especially Ludia, fresh off her painkiller—her performance was stellar, venting her pent-up frustration with boom! boom! bursts of Holy Power, making her presence felt.
"Hah... hah... Master Huu!"
"(Yellow bitch! What is it?!)"
After running and fighting for so long, with Ludia's breath ragged, Amelia shouted.
She'd been binding orcs mid-battle with chains of light, but at some point fell behind and now reappeared.
"Something's wrong! The ground's soggy!"
"Hah... haa... Must be rain! Or dew!"
"No, Ludia! This is...!"
"......"
I sensed unease in Amelia's expression. I looked around. Where were we? Had we chased too far? The tide had turned, and the orcs fled in one direction.
Squish—.
Just as she said, the ground sank underfoot like mud.
Flop, flop.
"....??"
Fish? Several river fish flopped on the muddy ground.
They weren't there during the fight. Why were they on land? Someone fishing dropped them? Or they fell from the sky?
Or...
"(....Bitch!!!!! Run—!!!!!!!!!)"
"Huh?"
Fuck, we got played!!!
I grabbed Ludia's wrist and bolted backward. Amelia raced after us. She'd come this far to warn us.
...Please. Please be wrong!
This couldn't be...
Kabooooom—!!!!!!!!!!!!
"M-Master Huu!!!! Water behind us!!!!!!!"
"(Ruuun—!!!!!)"
"Ludia! Don't look back—keep running!!!"
Ludia didn't need to say it. Amelia didn't need to yell. The massive roar of water exploding behind us told the tale.
Rooooosh—!!!
A water spell. The muddy flats surged with turbid floodwater at ferocious speed. Several paladins and fleeing orcs were already swept away. The area filled with water roars and screams.
The orcs had dammed the river and lured us in.
"(Damn...!)"
Why? Why couldn't I sense this?! Because blades won't cut water?!
We ran with all we had, but it was futile. The instant the raging torrent reached our backs,
"(Bitch!!! Take the deepest breath you can!!!!)"
"Kyaaaah—!!!!"
"Hnggg...!"
"I'll bind us all with chains!!"
Whoosh—!
Before the massive flood swallowed us, I yanked Ludia into my arms. Bumping around in the torrent could be fatal, so protecting her was the right call.
Slam—!!!
Gurgle...
Nature's fury crashed into my body. A heavy thud sent my whole frame hurtling. Like getting hit by a dump truck? My vision spun, disorienting me instantly.
"(Bitch!!!! Stay alert!!!)"
"Mmph... mmph! Ngh...!"
I wanted to fight the current, but it was too fierce. Most of my kicks just got swept away. But I couldn't give up. We'd die like this!
I had to swim up, no matter what.
"Mmph... mmph.."
"(Hold on, bitch! Hold your breath as long as you can!)"
Ludia clung tight in my arms, burying her face in my chest to stem her leaking breath. Meanwhile, I kicked wildly and clawed the water.
Please. Please let my body rise. Breath was running out—had to reach the surface!
"...!"
Luckily, my body obeyed. Even in the torrent, I kicked against gravity, rising steadily. Just like this. Get Ludia and Amelia to the surface...
...Amelia!
"(Yellow bitch!!! You alive?!)"
No response in the murky water, even through the ring. Just murk and darkness.
"(Damn! Bitch!! Surface first!!)"
"Bblub..."
Finding her now was impossible. Save the living first!
I kicked harder, Ludia in my arms. For what felt like ages.
... Thud..!
"Mmph!!!!!!! Nghhh!!"
"??!!!"
Something thudded into Ludia's back amid the current and vanished. She groaned from the impact. Bubbles erupted around her face, and her state worsened. Her arms flailed loose.
Oxygen!
The hit made her exhale everything. No holding her breath now. What to do?! This was dangerous! Had to get air into Ludia somehow...
...Ah!
"(Bitch!! Open your mouth when I say!!!)"
"Nghhh..."
Whoosh.
My zombie body still held air. I'd forgotten and taken a deep breath before the flood hit, unused.
No time for permission—I sealed my lips to hers and blew in my breath. Lips tight against lips. Mouth open. With all my strength. Everything I had into her.
"(Don't pass out, bitch!!! Surface soon!!!)"
Whoosh.. whoosh..
Strength drained from her body. It went limp, like it'd drift away. But my breaths went in, and she reacted. Hope remained. Up we go... just a bit more...
"Pha—!!!!"
Sunlight at last. We'd surfaced successfully.
"Grroooaaar—!!! (Ludia—!!!!!)"
But Ludia hung limp, eyes closed. Panicking, I slapped and shook her cheeks—no response.
"(Ludia!!!!! Wake up!!!)"
"Grroooaaar—!!!!!!!"
Neither zombie growl nor ring voice roused her. I pressed my ear to her chest.
Thump. Thump. Thump...
Faint heartbeat. Some hope! Had to get to land and revive her...
"....Grroh?? (Blood smell??)"
A fishy scent mixed with the muddy water at my nose. The unnatural warmth in my arms holding her.
No way.
"(Lu-Ludia!!! Wake up!!!)"
Blood flowed from her back.