Guardian: Derek Walker 16
Numerous orc hordes crumbled into rust on the blade of the dancing beauty. The sight was akin to gazing at autumn leaves drifting down. Even for orc lives, it felt insultingly ephemeral.
The dual-wielding swordswoman overwhelmed countless orcs single-handedly. The elite orcs who boldly volunteered for the vanguard couldn't even leave proper last words before becoming fertilizer for the earth. It was a clash between beings of different leagues, and thus a battle with a predetermined outcome.
The orcs targeting the village from behind the vanguard fared somewhat better. A few managed to fell the desperately defending Allen Village militia, breach the stockade, and infiltrate inside.
But as if the heavens themselves were enraged, a thunderous roar echoed, the ground flipped over, and the orcs indiscriminately attacking villagers were buried alive.
Dominating the battlefield wasn't just the brown-haired beauty. The spirit summoner girl, about her height, displayed skill no less impressive than the swordswoman. To be precise, it was her contracted spirit unleashing monstrous power.
The romantic orc, Barugo, watched the battle from afar. His tribe hadn't joined this massive fray. Only he approached near Allen Village where the fight raged, observing the fierce combat up close.
An orc alliance of two hundred was a massive force rarely assembled even in orc society. Despite this unprecedented army, Allen Village held firm. At its center were clearly the two beauties.
Far beyond what I imagined.
A shiver ran through him. The two women, having surpassed the innate gap between humans and orcs and widened an even greater divide, appeared utterly beautiful.
Barugo's grip tightened. No matter how much of an oddity he was, he was still an orc. He couldn't resist the hot blood stirred by intense battle.
But challenging them now would surely mean death.
This battle was a defeat for the orcs. Yet orcs would surely muster even more forces to attack Allen Village again. They were simple and brutish. Allen, being an orc himself, knew their ecology well.
They'll keep attacking until their bodies can't recover. This time, about two hundred gathered? Then next time...
Likely double that number of orcs would target Allen Village. If they repelled even that assault, the orcs would have no choice but to fall back a step. Already, over half a dozen tribes had lost all their warriors in this attack.
Exciting.
Barugo turned away. His heart still pounded.
The village had taken some damage but defended once more. With over a hundred orcs felled, they finally retreated. Luna sniped dozens more pursuing the fleeing orcs.
"Victory!"
"Wooooaaah!"
Including Drobin, the villagers cheered their triumph. But the joy didn't last. With numerous wounded, they had to focus on treatment.
"Hargen! You okay!?"
He checked on his best friend Hargen. Hargen's thick shield was crumpled from ferocious attacks, leaving his body a mess. Compared to others, though, he was in decent shape.
"Tally the wounded. And spots needing repairs. Damn, the stockade's badly damaged. Gotta fix it quick."
Treating the injured and repairing damaged facilities and gear involved women, children, and elders alike. Drobin directed the villagers, handling the most urgent tasks first.
"Ah, Lady Luna!"
Luna returned with leisurely steps. Hargen, face lighting up, approached her. Perfect timing to score points. His calculating mind spun rapidly.
"Truly amazing! That beautiful swordplay! It was like watching a dance."
"Hargen oppa! If you're okay, help move the wounded!"
Bianca shrieked from nearby. Luna didn't spare Hargen a glance, heading deeper into the village toward Walker. Hargen crossed his arms, staring at her retreating figure.
Bianca puffed her cheeks and confronted him.
"You like Lady Luna that much?"
"Huh? Of course. How could I not like someone so strong and beautiful?"
"Urgh!"
Bianca's heart raced at his matter-of-fact reply. As he said, Luna was a perfect woman incomparable to a country girl like her. Just observing for a few days confirmed it.
Does Hargen oppa love Lady Luna...?
She wanted to probe what he meant by "like," but Drobin appeared, clapping Hargen's shoulder.
"Help move the wounded?"
"Of course. Lots injured, huh."
"Big trouble. Arrows are almost gone too. Village is making more, but not sure if it'll suffice."
"Those orc bastards. After losing so many, maybe they'll give up now?"
Hargen spoke hopefully. Considering the annual orc raids, it was about time they quit.
"They skipped last year. If their numbers built up that much... this might not be the end. Could be even more next time."
"Damn. What the hell are the territory troops doing?"
"Right?"
The two cursed the territory army while carrying wounded. Still, casualties were far lighter than expected—all thanks to those two beauties.
"We held them off."
"Good work."
Luna gave Walker a curt report. A smile tugged at Rita's lips as she waited politely beside him. She asked cautiously,
"Were there many hurt?"
"Not that many."
Rita sighed in relief at Luna's reply.
"The villagers must be exhausted with cleanup."
Walker slowly rose to check on the hardworking villagers. His arms were wrapped in bandages, but his legs were fine. In truth, his arms were too. Rita stuck close beside him.
The village outskirts bustled with people repairing broken structures—mostly middle-aged who hadn't fought. Some clutched mangled corpses, weeping. Rita, following Walker, halted at one such scene.
"Oh no! Ralph..."
Recognizing an acquaintance, Rita paused before the wailing middle-aged woman hugging the body, offering silent prayer.
The atmosphere was chaotic overall, but victory's joy lingered on faces. Allen Village had survived another orc invasion. That alone earned them revelry.
"Hm? What's that."
Beyond the stockade, something caught Walker's eye. Soldiers with a mounted knight at the fore. A militia atop the wall spotted them and shouted loudly.
"Reinforcements! The reinforcements are here!"
At "reinforcements," all but those mourning turned toward the stockade. The Tarsion Barony flag—emblazoned with bloom tree and lake—fluttered from the knight's hand. Confirming arrival, villagers erupted in cheers.
"Reinforcements are here! We did it! Holding out like this!"
A militia guarding the gate flung it open. A youth barely out of his teens saluted crisply to the territory officer on white horseback.
"Welcome to Allen Village!"
"Tarsion Territory Army Company Commander Palax. By the lord's order, I've rushed here to save a village tormented by monsters. Clear the path!"
Villagers parted. Leading with mounted knight and rider, about eighty troops entered Allen Village.
All bowed heads. Walker judged avoiding eye contact with that officer wise. Spot on.
"Let's go."
As Walker turned, Rita followed back home.
Palax sought the village chief. Procedural necessity.
But the "chief" was a green kid not yet thirty. Chiefs were usually over forty. Naturally, Palax couldn't buy this wet-behind-the-ears youth as chief.
"I heard the chief is a commoner named Gibbs. Who are you?"
"Youth Squad Leader Drobin Cross. Acting chief since the chief passed in an unfortunate accident."
He called Gibbs's death an unfortunate accident. It was unfortunate, if not quite accidental.
"Hm. I see."
Villagers dying to orcs wasn't special. A chief dying was surprising but not suspicious. Palax had seen several handling corpses en route.
"Anyway, I've brought five knights and seventy-nine regular soldiers by the lord's command. Your letter mentioned unusually high orc activity?"
"Yes. Two battles already."
Drobin detailed the situation as requested. Inevitably mentioning Walker and Luna. Interest flickered on Palax's face at the explanation.
"Oh ho. Is that true?"
"Yes. Not a word of lie."
Drobin sensed ominous undertones in Palax's tone but affirmed. Staying in the village would reveal it anyway. Palax grinned.
"Prepare lodging for soldiers and knights. No delays."
"Already done. I'll guide you."
Drobin rose. Greed shadowed Palax's face thickly, but Drobin missed it.
Palax's troops were shown to outskirts cabins—ten clustered, ample for them. Ordering rest, Palax summoned Drobin.
"I want to meet that swordswoman you mentioned. Show me."
"Pardon? Ah, yes."