Chapter 92
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Orc Lord Hargone (3)
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No sooner had the scrawny, feeble-looking intruder vanished than Hargone erupted in rage.
And at the same time, he admitted that in his current state, he had no way to stand against that bastard.
'I should have found Barbata and Bortan first.'
If even Barbata had been there, she could have used her sorcery to block the intruder's approach or restrict his movements.
But there was no point in regretting it now.
Instead, he headed for the cave where Dakuda was sealed.
If he released the seal on Dakuda as well, a significant portion of his former power would return.
With a little strain, he could even tear that bastard apart with his own hands.
By the time he reached the cave entrance.
Hargone halted in his tracks.
It was the instinct of a hero who had once devoured the continent.
"Go."
The moment he sent one orc ahead into the cave.
지이이이잉―
콰아아아아아아앙――!!
The ground exploded from some unknown force.
"......"
The cave entrance had completely collapsed.
Krraaaaaah――!
"Nice set of lungs on you."
Jun muttered as he descended from the rocky mountain.
The magic circle he'd prepared with mana stones had activated.
Unfortunately, judging by that roar, the Orc Lord hadn't gone down.
'Wasn't expecting much anyway.'
It wasn't the kind of opponent one could kill with [Earth Burst] in the first place.
Still, with the cave entrance collapsed, he'd bought himself a decent amount of time.
"Heh."
He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of those orcs—who hadn't even eaten—sweating and digging at the entrance after climbing the mountain.
"I've managed to stall them this far......"
But this would be the last time he could buy time like this.
Once they got their hands on that medium sealed in the cave, he'd have to avoid facing them head-on like before.
The moment they reclaimed two mediums, the bastard's physical abilities would surge dramatically.
'Things are going decently on my end...... hope the others are doing alright.'
By now, the group should have reached the Ranger's seal site.
'Orc Ranger Bortan. Not an easy foe.'
Was the choice he'd made the right one?
'It was the best option I could think of at the time.'
Introduce a variable—himself—to the enemy, while denying the Orc Lord any variables on this side.
It was the safest choice, but the problem was that his allies already had their own variable.
'Leon.'
Whether that perverted pioneer captain would make the right call.
That was the only wildcard.
'Please don't screw this up.'
He hadn't wanted to end up in this situation if possible, but there was no helping it.
All he could do was trust the comrades he'd left behind.
Three prisoners lay motionless on the cold ground.
The handiwork of Orc Ranger Bortan.
It had happened in the blink of an eye.
There were twenty-five elite orc warriors in total.
Half the forces the previous orc sorcerer had commanded, but each one rode massive wolves like tigers.
Orc riders.
The moment the wolf Bortan rode let out a howl, javelins flew, striking down the three prisoners.
The battle started at a disadvantage.
Fortunately, no further casualties followed.
The prisoners, led by Joseph, showed no easy openings.
Aiden and Maya were calmly countering the orc riders' fierce assaults alongside Schneider.
But the standout was Eleanor, equivalent to an advanced priest.
[Hymnal of Light]
[Block of Light]
Holy light bolstered their allies' strength and erected barriers that blocked the orc riders' javelins.
Neutralizing their ranged attacks was a major gain.
Once their javelins were blocked a few times, the orcs drew massive spears and charged.
"Can't block that!"
Eleanor shouted, compressing her spherical barrier to shield the prisoners holding the front line.
Kwa-gagagak―!
They successfully blocked the orc riders' charge, but the orcs were cunning.
They split half their forces in two, fanning out like wings to both flanks.
"They're coming!"
Schneider yelled as Aiden and Maya took the right flank.
Naturally, Schneider handled the left, channeling mana into his gauntleted fist and slamming the ground.
―――!!
The earth shook as if an earthquake had struck.
Five orc riders tumbled when their wolves lost balance.
Meanwhile, a gap opened on Aiden and Maya's side.
It was impossible for two people to hold off five highly mobile orc riders.
They took down two, but the remaining three broke through the formation.
[Pierce of Light]
Eleanor's summoned spear of light struck one of the three.
It was one of the rare offensive holy spells of the Ariclotos Church.
"Filthy vermin."
Two orc riders charged straight at him, targeting his position.
Leon drew his sword with eyes full of disgust.
The rapier in his hand gleamed brightly.
Light reflected off the sunlight flashed by, and the two wolves charging unscathed suddenly rolled on the ground with holes in their heads.
The two orc riders atop them hit the dirt and sprang up, thrusting their spears at Leon.
Pang―!
With unbelievable elasticity for such a slender rapier, he deflected one spear, twisted to dodge the other, and pierced one orc's forehead.
As he pulled back to distance himself and finish the last one.
A scream-like cry erupted from behind.
"Get down!!"
It was Eleanor, protected in the rear by Schneider.
Only then did Leon sense the chilling killing intent prickling his skin.
From afar.
One orc rider outside Eleanor's barrier was poised to throw a javelin.
One of the Five Generals: Bortan.
Thud―!
The javelin tore through the air toward Leon's heart.
A small-statured young man with black hair appeared before him right after.
It was a day before Jun departed.
"Why not just kill him?"
A chilling voice rang out.
Luke immediately knew who it belonged to.
His squad leader, Joseph.
'Kill? Who?'
He reflexively looked toward the voice and saw the mage Jun, chewing on honey-glazed jerky with gusto.
Joseph continued.
"I know level 6 power is formidable. But if his stubbornness keeps the prisoners from regaining their strength, we can't stop the orc army."
Luke quickly grasped the topic from Joseph's words.
The captain of the Undeveloped Pioneer Corps.
"He knows that too. In our current state, we can barely handle berserk orcs, let alone elite warriors. The prisoners need to unleash their full power to minimize casualties."
"Mm. You're right."
Currently, the prisoners couldn't access their true strength.
The Word of Command sealed their mana use.
That was why Luke couldn't wield his aura either.
It was the main reason the prisoners struggled against the orcs.
"The pioneer captain hates prisoners because of his past—losing his father. Even if it kills him, he won't release their bindings."
"Probably. He's obsessively fixated."
"We can't sacrifice our remaining forces just to protect one level 6 user. And it's not like he can use his full power anyway. Trying to catch both birds will leave us with none."
Joseph persuaded calmly, but Jun shook his head.
"Are you dense? I thought you were smart. Gained a bit of fame and now humanity swells up in you?"
"Back in the day."
His gray eyes tinged blue fixed on the once-soldier.
But he wasn't seeing Joseph—he was seeing someone from further back.
"Something similar happened. There were these rude twins who suddenly came at me with swords and arrows."
"......"
"But I didn't kill them. Hell, I saved every member of their adventure party too. Got my chest pierced in the process—nearly died, anyway."
"And?"
"Someone asked why I was so desperate to save those bastards. So I told them."
Because I want to live.
"What's that mean?"
"If abandoning Leon gave us even a 1% better chance of survival, I'd agree with you."
"......"
"But if Leon dies, we're all dead. That's why I'm saving him."
Jun's eyes were colored by something as he spoke.
Madness, probably.
A calm madness, different from Leon's.
What was that madness aimed at?
"Humanity? Ha, bullshit. I'd raze a city without hesitation if it meant survival. I want to live that badly. But isn't convincing one person easier than blowing up a city? That's why I'm trying to persuade that stubborn pioneer captain who can't read the situation. What do you think?"
"......"
The strange fervor in those eyes affected Joseph too.
"......Whatever. Betting on the side with a chance to win makes a good commander. I agree."
"Good. Let's end this here. Lots to do."
The two moved on after that conversation.
Left alone, Luke sank into thought.
That mage was still making the optimal choice from his position.
Would a day come when he made the optimal choice too?
It would. It had to.
Then, could he trust that choice without hesitation, like the mage?
'If the chance comes.'
He wouldn't let the same mistake make everyone miserable again.
The sensation of warm liquid splashing his face was never pleasant.
Fallen to the ground, Leon barely registered the person shielding him as he flicked away his rapier with just his wrist strength.
The flying rapier pierced the head of an orc rider about to swing a glaive from the front.
"You......"
Only then did he look down. A black-haired, small-statured youth lay there, covered in blood.
"Luke――!!!"
At the same time, a scream-like voice echoed from afar.
The Jinrang tribe twins with black hair and golden eyes.
Lucy, was it?
She looked desperate to rush over, but Joseph grabbed her ankle.
"If we break now, you won't have time to heal your brother! Hold your position!!"
"Huaaaaaah!!!"
Lucy, always rational, screamed like a madwoman.
Without Joseph's shout, their hard-held formation would have crumbled.
"Why me......"
If he'd died to the orc general's javelin, everyone here could have lived.
The Word of Command would vanish with his death.
Luke replied in a dying voice.
"Ha, ha....... I, wanted...... to, live......"
"What......?"
"The, mage...... said...... If you, die...... we, all die......"
"......"
Was that the conversation they'd had?
That's why he threw himself in harm's way?
Risking his own life to save others?
-Don't trust prisoners.
-But trust humans after watching them.
The mage's voice swirled in his mind.
Hot liquid stained his uniform.
His gaze turned forward.
Eleanor's barrier was cracking, orc riders swarming in unison.
If they fought recklessly, they could kill some.
But doing so would surely lead to.
Defeat in the coming battle with the Orc Lord.
He wasn't the only one who saw that future.
"Block them!"
Joseph, who had been earning the prisoners' trust by capturing them one by one, desperately held off the orc riders.
Schneider soloed a returning rider.
―They fought death from all sides.
―Even the prisoners trusted each other, guarding backs.
Only one thing.
He alone didn't trust them, leading them all to death.
Like this youth dying before his eyes, everyone would perish.
If that happened.
Who created that outcome?
Who drove everyone here to death?
Who bore that unbearable sin?
"......Me."
Leon stared at the bracelet on his arm.
A metal band like the prisoners' collars.
He tore it off.
"To all pioneer corps members...... Release their power!"
After releasing the second medium, Dakuda.
While marching to a nearby hunting ground for supplies, Hargone dropped to his knees.
"......My lord!"
"Are you alright......!"
Banmal and Dakuda rushed to his side.
But Hargone, forgetting even them, muttered.
"......Bortan is dead."
Like Barbata's death—no, more intensely—he felt his soul chip away.
He'd gained two mediums and lost two in return.
"......"
Kuooooooooh――!!!
The Orc Lord's rage-filled roar echoed through the night sky.
One medium remained.
The orcs finished hunting and resumed their march.
Being a Mage in the Hero Party 93