Orc Raid on Romanie Territory
Armeyna Territory might have been rural, but Romanie Territory was your typical mid-sized backwater—not too big, not too small. Places like this usually evoked images of serene landscapes and leisurely days. But not here. The territory's people found life downright grueling.
It was all because of the lord's rapacious taxes, siphoned off like blood from a stone. The kingdom had laws capping excessive taxation, of course. But laws always had loopholes. The lord exploited them relentlessly, leaving the people destitute and resentment toward him festering like an open wound.
Anyway, it was in this very Romanie Territory that—
"My lord! We must evacuate the people immediately!"
A woman was screaming at the top of her lungs to the lord. Manila, the artisan and mana artifact researcher, was showing him the device she'd built herself. It was glowing an ominous red, as if ready to explode at any moment.
"My 'mana hole' detector won't stop reacting!"
In some worlds, they called them Gates. This world hadn't settled on an official name yet—most just referred to them as "holes." But names hardly mattered. What did was the monsters pouring out of them.
"If monsters emerge, the whole territory will suffer catastrophic damage!"
Despite her impassioned plea, the lord just picked at his ear and snorted derisively.
"Still on about that? It would've happened already if it was real."
"My lord, please! We don't know when they'll come out! They could be even stronger than last time!"
"If that gadget of yours is legit, sure."
He shrugged dismissively.
"An unproven machine like that, and you want me to evacuate everyone based on it alone? Do you have any idea how much that would cost?"
"I slaved over this night after night—for years. It's far superior to the mana detectors in the Mage Tower."
"Even if it is, it's untested junk. Even those hotshot Mage Tower wizards couldn't figure out what these holes are. And you think yours can detect them?"
"A hole is just a massive mana reaction at its core. I've analyzed it meticulously and—"
"I don't have time for your toys. Honestly, why is everyone making such a fuss? Some two-bit merchant was losing his mind over a few goblins the other day."
The lord eyed Manila with clear annoyance. He'd been irritated from the start. Monsters? Soldiers could handle them. They'd wiped out the last goblin pack easily enough. Sure, quite a few villagers had gotten hurt or killed in the process. And yeah, there was that "minor" issue of goblins nesting outside the territory. But the soldiers or knights would sort it out eventually. No need for him to worry his pretty little head.
Being lord meant collecting taxes and living easy. Let the underlings handle the sweat and blood.
"My lord!"
BAM!
Manila slammed both hands on the desk. The impact was so forceful her ample breasts jiggled dramatically.
"This is serious! I stake my honor on it—please, just listen once!"
Her desperate plea backfired, touching the lord's sore spot. How dare some woman speak to him like this? Back in his youth, she'd never have dreamed of it. She should be grateful just for an audience, yet here she was, getting uppity.
"I gave you a pass because you're a skilled artisan, and now you think this is your living room? Get out with that nonsense!"
"Urgh! This concerns hundreds of lives at least—maybe thousands! Please, just trust me this once...!"
"You get cocky because I indulge you! I don't trust your clunky contraption—it's not even stable!"
"That's why it's a problem! If my prototype is picking it up this strongly, the damage could dwarf last time!"
"Hmph! It'll just be more goblins at worst. A few dead peasants, and done."
"Wh-what did you just...?"
The lord had a duty to protect his people. Lives hung in the balance. To dismiss it as "a few dead peasants"? Unthinkable from any territory lord's mouth.
"You think I've got time for this? I've got women waiting for me."
"Wh-when monsters could appear any second, you're going to meet women?!"
Flabbergasted, Manila gaped as the lord waved her off dismissively.
"I'm a busy man. Unless...?"
His gaze raked over her body lewdly. Arrogant as hell, but her well-developed breasts and hips—honed by her artisan work into a healthy, voluptuous allure—stirred any man's lust.
"You could stand in for them. Might even make me listen."
"A-are you insane?! You want me to sell my body...?"
"Ha! All that talk, and this is where you draw the line? Hundreds dying, you said. Block it with one night? Bargain."
Manila's eyes shook wildly. Shame flushed her face crimson, tears welling up. She'd known he was trash, but this?
But... if I sacrifice myself, I can save them.
She was certain: monsters would come again. If her body could save all those lives, wasn't it worth it?
The only issue was her heart. A lifelong researcher, she'd never even held a man's hand. To give her first time to this old, ugly lord in some sleazy deal...?
"F-fine... I agree."
Yet she nodded. She couldn't abandon countless lives. She'd seen the goblin massacre from the last hole. If she could stop it, she had to try.
"You'll keep your promise, right?"
"Oh, oh! Of course!"
The lord's eyes gleamed with greed. He'd thrown it out in anger, never expecting her to bite.
Lifelong shut-in researcher, huh? More naive than she looks.
That lithe body—he'd lusted after it forever. Skilled artisan or not, he'd held back. But now? The whole pumpkin on the vine.
Who cared about evacuation when he could grope those ripe tits and ass to his heart's content?
Shhrrk.
Tears brimming, Manila slowly stripped. Blouse first, then her tight pants pooling at her feet. Now in just her underwear, she revealed herself.
Firm thighs flowed into artistically curved hips and ass. Her bra-clad breasts looked even larger up close, exuding healthy, ripe sexiness. The lord's cock swelled in his pants.
Can't just look at this.
The lord stood. How could he resist that juicy flesh? He approached to grab her tits and suck to his fill—
-BEEEEEP!
The device on the desk screamed piercingly. Scowling at the interruption, the lord turned—and saw it.
A Gate ripping open in midair.
"Oh, shit... "
Space warped, birthing a mana-forged hole. Armed orcs stepped out slowly: hulking, muscled brutes clutching crude weapons.
"GRRROOOOAR!"
The lead orc bellowed. Dozens of these giants, armed and ready—it was a calamity. The Gate snapped shut fast. The real problem: orcs already swarming the territory's heart.
-Kyaa! KyaAAAH!
-Monster! Run!
-Uwaaah, save me! Call the soldiers!
Orcs charged, hunting people. Axes cleaved, blood spraying. Resisting men tumbled lifelessly, adults smashed into walls or skulls bursting. Corpses' heads crunched under orc feet. Some women were already pinned, legs forced apart.
"Th-this can't be...! A real Gate...!"
The lord blanched white. A Gate was bad enough—but this orc horde?! Last time was just goblins. Even with garrisoned soldiers, safety wasn't guaranteed. Worst case, the territory's foundations could crumble.
If he rallied troops and took charge, maybe salvageable. But...
"R-run! Gotta run!"
His mind blanked to self-preservation. Unlike the office, his mansion had a basement stocked with food and wealth. Hunker down till it blew over—he'd be safe.
Bolting for the door—
"W-wait! You're running now?! Sound the alarm, warn everyone, rally the soldiers...!"
"Shut up! Figure it out yourself!"
Manila blocked him desperately. If command broke down, casualties would skyrocket!
"At least order the knights! That's how people escape fast!"
"Like I care!"
"Ack!"
He kicked the nuisance aside and stormed out. He mounted his private carriage—empty. Driver and guards had stolen horses and fled at the first sign of orcs!
"Goddamn it!"
Cursing, he whipped the remaining horse. Just reach the mansion—
THWUNK!
"Gaaahhh!"
An axe buried in the horse's flank. It collapsed, hurling the lord to roll painfully across the ground.
"Aaaah! My leg! My leeeeg...!"
Bone pierced flesh. Bad landing angle—no roll to soften it. Screaming in agony, thrashing—
The axe-throwing orc thudded closer.
"Hiiik! Stay back! Stay baaack! Where are the soldiers?! Protect me nooow...!"
The orc reclaimed its axe. The lord crawled pathetically on broken legs.
As if that'd outrun it. The orc raised its axe impassively.
"N-no! Mercy! Hey, what do you want? Women? Want women? Take 'em! Virgins, married—whole territory's yours, just spare...!"
CRUNCH!
Axe cleaved the lord's skull, shattering it beyond repair. Blood and brains oozed from the split.
Hic, hiik!
Manila, who'd chased after, clamped hands over her mouth, stifling sobs. An orc that pulped a grown man effortlessly. Caught, she'd end like him—or worse. As a woman, she'd be toyed with brutally before death. Maybe kept as a plaything indefinitely.
The hellscape around her confirmed it.
-It hurts! Stop! Pleeease...!
-Help! Moommyyy!
-Run! Nowhere safe anymore!
-N-no, please...! H-hand! I'll use my mouth, just...!
Mmph... huff...!
Not imagination—imminent reality. She fought back tears. One glance from a prowling orc, and it was over.
Then she spotted a girl running. Orc locked on, axe raised.
"Hey! Stop!"
Reflexive shout. Orc whipped toward her, ugly eyes meeting hers.
"Ah...!"
Manila realized her mistake with a gasp. Orc switched targets. A skinny girl offered no meat or fun—this curvy artisan was prime.
Even by orc standards, her tits and hips were top-tier. Licking its chops, it lumbered closer.
Gotta run...!
Dodge somehow. But how? She couldn't outpace it. Flee clumsily, and an axe to the legs. Her terrified limbs shook too hard anyway.
Stand still? Safe? No. Fight? Laughable. Unarmed, she'd never scratch it.
"U-urgh...!"
Every path led to gruesome death. Up close, the orc loomed gigantic.
It reached for her hair—
SLASH!
Thick orc neck severed clean. Head flew; body thumped down.
"Wha...?"
A man flicked blood from his sword casually, squinting.
"Tch. Should've bought a better blade. Skimped and got cheap crap."
Her savior: a strikingly handsome man who drew an involuntary gasp of admiration.