106.
The Orcs didn’t wait until the next morning.
The Orcs clung to the walls.
‘It’s time to show them.’
It’s time to end this tiresome war.
It was also an opportunity to firmly imprint my existence on the Western lords and soldiers.
Gooooooo!
Today, I didn’t stay in the command watchtower but started traversing the walls, using the flow of wind and earth.
“Silpilen!”
My voice echoed the loudest on the battlefield.
Silpilen, the most reliable and friendly, appeared in the air.
The appearance of the giant wolf surprised not only the Orcs but even our soldiers.
Silpilen darted down below the walls, creating a large chain.
‘Wind Chain!’
Pshook-! Pshook-!
In an instant, the heads of dozens of Orcs climbing the walls soared into the air.
The flow of wind and earth freed me from the Orcs’ attacks and broadened my vision.
I sent Sylphs [air spirits] to an Orc aiming for a soldier nearby.
Pshook-!
The soldier was startled and turned around at the sight of the Orc collapsing on his body.
I smiled faintly.
“Be careful.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Over there!”
Although we were firmly defending the walls, the Orcs kept climbing up.
I dealt with the Orcs on the walls using lesser spirits like Sylphs, Undines [water spirits], Gnomes [earth spirits], and Salamanders [fire spirits].
The soldiers seemed to feel more and more secure with the presence of the spirits that appeared whenever they were in danger.
And I took a deep breath, checking the mana sphere.
“Ignis!”
Ignis surged with flames.
‘Flame Wind!’
The two high-level spirits flew through the sky, creating a strong wind.
Kwaaaang-! Kwang-! Kwang-!
The Flame Wind swept through the Orcs. I then used an S-class skill.
‘Red Wind Storm!’
The Orcs were helpless. I carefully observed the Orcs while using the skill.
“Gale!”
I called out to Gale loudly. Gale, who flew gracefully, cut off the head of an Orc approaching me.
“Go down and push back the Orcs.”
“It’s dangerous.”
I smiled.
“It’s okay even if it’s dangerous. Sometimes, a commander has to fight in the most dangerous place.”
I didn’t call Gale to hear his answer.
I immediately jumped down from the walls.
Silpilen 멋지게 [coolly/impressively] approached and landed me safely on his back.
“Let’s go!”
I summoned Kleiman to follow me.
Gale was already swinging his sword next to me.
Swish-! Swish-!
Silpilen entered the midst of the Orcs.
I continued to unleash skills, plunging into countless Orcs.
Kleiman shook the ground around me.
Kwaaaang-! Kwang-! Kwang-!
Silpilen bit the necks of the Orcs approaching me.
Even so, he tried not to let me fall off.
Anyone watching would think I was handling Silpilen very well.
Ignis flew beside me, melting the Orcs with the flames themselves.
Kwaaaang-! Kwang-!
The continuous explosions and widespread attacks gradually cornered the Orcs.
Now, there were more Orcs gathering around me than clinging to the walls.
“Undairon!”
Undairon popped out of the air and dropped water like a waterfall into the cracks created by Kleiman.
At the same time, mud fairies blocking the Orcs aimed their spears.
Pshook-! Pshook-! Pshook-!
I greatly increased the number of swamp fairies while concentrating mana on Undairon and Kleiman.
“Waaaa!”
I thought I could hear someone’s exclamation.
Soon, cheers pierced my ears.
“Waaaaaaaaaa!”
As the Orcs clinging to the walls disappeared, the soldiers cheered for me.
Or perhaps they felt awe for me, who was slaughtering them alone in the midst of the Orcs.
Gale was only cutting down the Orcs that approached me, so my performance was bound to stand out.
I once again increased the amount of mana supplied to Silpilen and Ignis.
The mana in the mana sphere was reduced to less than half in an instant, but it didn’t matter.
Because the Orcs killed by my spirits were already countless.
It was time to finish.
Ignis flew over Silpilen. At the same time, Silpilen stirred up the wind, and Ignis amplified the flames even more.
Gooooooo!
The Red Wind Storm began to materialize. I was in the eye of the storm, in the calm center. Soon, the Red Wind Storm gradually increased in size and sucked the gathered Orcs into the center of the fierce wind.
Kwaaaang-! Kwang-! Kwang-!
The Orcs and the surrounding land began to break apart due to the aftermath of the skill. The Orcs sucked into the center disappeared without leaving a trace.
Kwaaaang-! Kwang-! Kwang-!
I focused on one skill until the bottom of the mana sphere was visible.
“R, run away!”
I heard an Orc’s words.
“Meat! It’s meat!”
Even in the midst of that, there was a guy who took the body of a dead comrade to his mouth.
The end of the Orc who chose meat over escape was miserable.
His whole body was reduced to ashes by the Red Wind.
Kwaaaang-!
The skill that caused the last explosion gradually subsided.
“Hoo!”
As the surrounding dust settled and the moonlight shone brightly, I took a series of deep breaths.
“Hoo-oo-oo-oo!”
No Orcs remained around.
I turned my gaze towards the walls.
“Silpilen.”
When I called Silpilen in a small voice, Silpilen flew into the air.
As I flew over the walls, the soldiers cheered and waved their weapons high.
* * *
Baron Hamilton chased after Ren.
“It doesn’t seem like he was hit by magic.”
Baron Hamilton carefully examined the surroundings at his subordinate’s words.
Ren had left with two subordinates to check the infiltration route, but the Orc shamans’ counterattack immediately followed.
‘It didn’t seem like the Orc shamans knew our location exactly. As soon as Ren entered the infiltration route, he was attacked by magic. It’s likely a trap.’
Hamilton organized his thoughts and spoke to his subordinates.
“Could it be that the Orc shamans have set up traps on the infiltration route?”
One of the subordinates replied.
“But the black smoke came out from the Orc main camp. If it was a trap, shouldn’t it have exploded on the infiltration route that Ren was checking?”
“There are many kinds of magic. The trap may have been set up on the infiltration route, and the activation may have been done inside the main camp when the enemy is caught.”
Hamilton was lost in thought.
‘There isn’t much time.’
The subordinates’ opinions were divided, and the scheduled infiltration time had already passed.
“Ren will come back on his own. Shouldn’t we start the mission?”
The subordinates were not worried about Ren.
Hamilton smiled faintly.
‘Yeah, he’s not the kind of guy who would be easily killed by an Orc shaman’s magic.’
Hamilton nodded.
“Move out.”
Although three people, including Ren, were missing, they could still carry out the mission with the current subordinates.
The variable was that the Orc shamans had already set up traps on the infiltration route.
Hamilton gave more weight to the fact that the Orc shamans had set up traps in advance than the opinion that they had discovered Ren and used magic.
“Change the infiltration route.”
The subordinates nodded.
Since Hamilton had already made a decision, there were no further suggestions.
“Prepare for the possibility of many traps and move more carefully. Don’t attempt to assassinate the Orc King unless there is a perfect opportunity.”
“But…….”
Hamilton cut off his subordinate’s words.
“Ren and I have parted ways. Ren probably chose a route and infiltrated with us. Since the forces are divided, focus only on scouting the most important enemy main camp.”
Hamilton spoke quickly.
“If we meet Ren inside the Orc main camp, we will attempt to assassinate the Orc King depending on the situation at that time.”
The subordinates nodded.
Hamilton started moving quickly, and the Orc main camp became even closer.
Hamilton and his subordinates’ bodies hid in the shadows of the moonlight.
팟-!
Even the sound of footsteps disappeared.
“The King will go out himself tomorrow, right?”
“Is it okay for the King to go out himself? Do you know how many he killed to that one human?”
“The King will wipe out all the humans tomorrow.”
“I want to go inside the castle quickly and eat some human meat.”
The sound of Orc warriors talking to each other became closer.
Hamilton and his subordinates went deeper into the shadows.
Anyone who saw it would not have believed their own eyes.
Because seven sturdy men suddenly disappeared as they entered the shadows.
Even the Orc warriors, whose senses were much more developed than humans, did not notice Hamilton and his subordinates infiltrating at all.
Hamilton moved secretly and gave instructions to his subordinates.
Now that they had successfully infiltrated the Orc main camp, all that remained was to split up and scout the entire main camp.
If they split up one by one, the probability of being caught increased, and the risk also increased, but there was also the advantage of being able to scout quickly.
Hamilton headed for the barracks, which was presumed to be where the Orc King was staying.
It was the largest barracks, and it was crowded with Orc warriors around it.
‘I’ve killed quite a few Orcs, but there are still many.’
He gave up on counting the number of Orc warriors from the beginning.
Not only were there countless of them, but it was important to grasp the exact number of the most threatening Orc shamans.
‘Orc King, huh…….’
Hamilton carefully examined the surroundings.
Hamilton’s body, moving from shadow to shadow, was like a fluid animal.
The most important thing he focused on while learning the assassination art was the technique called Shadow Concealment.
The technique of moving from shadow to shadow was a stealth technique that completely killed the body’s presence and hid one’s body in the shadows.
He and his subordinates were all masters of Shadow Concealment.
It was the best technique for infiltrating enemy territory, and it was the most practiced because it was a secret technique that could even deceive the senses of a Sword Master.
Hamilton, who had approached right next to the Orc King’s barracks, held his breath in the shadows.
Just then, a warrior Orc was entering the Orc King’s barracks.
Hamilton bit his lip tightly.
He hid in the shadow of the Orc inside the barracks.
“Your Majesty, most of the warriors who went to battle today are dead.”
Hamilton could see the Orc King’s face up close.
The Orc King, who was lying down as if he was tired, got up.
A bonfire was flickering in the center, and the Orc King put firewood in it and said.
“Most of them?”
“Yes. They were all killed by the guy who uses spirits.”
The Orc King nodded as if he had worked hard.
“Okay. Get out.”
“Yes!”
As the Orc left, the Orc King said quietly.
“Human?”
Hamilton’s body stiffened at the Orc King’s voice.
* * *
Hamilton was lost in thought.
Was he caught?
How can he be so calm?
He left the weapon, which was bigger than an average strong man, in the corner of the barracks as if he had no interest in it.
“Come forward.”
Hamilton did not answer even at the Orc King’s words.
The Orc King’s words continued.
“I won’t ask twice. There are more people besides you to deliver the message. There are more guys wandering around without knowing how scary it is. Should I say seven? Should I say ten?”
As the Orc King accurately counted the number of subordinates, Hamilton finally revealed himself.
He went to the Orc King and took his place. Hamilton knew very well that he could not be the Orc King’s opponent unless it was an assassination.
Karion was negligent at the time, trusting in the geographical advantage called the Wailing Fortress and the incredibly high walls.
On the other hand, the Orc King was different. He was not negligent and had already noticed their infiltration. Shadow Concealment could not deceive the Orc King’s senses.
“Stronger than the soldiers, but far behind those two.”
Hamilton immediately realized who the two people the Orc King was talking about were.
‘He’s talking about His Highness and Sir Gale.’
The Orc King looked at Hamilton and continued.
“My master died to the human who uses spirits, and the undead guys who protected the master died to the strongest knight among you.”
Hamilton opened his mouth for the first time.
“What do you want?”
“Deliver the message.”
Hamilton decided to accept the Orc King’s proposal.
That method was the way to save himself and his subordinates rather than dying in this place.
The secret technique that had already been broken was no longer a secret technique.
The Orc King was an existence that could not be killed with assassination techniques and could not be deceived with stealth.
Frankly, the reality of sitting here and talking to the Orc King was unbelievable.
“I will go out near the walls with the shamans when the sun rises tomorrow. I hope those two humans will face me and the shamans.”
Hamilton shook his head.
“That’s not a problem I can decide.”
“Maybe that knight will accept the fight with me. You just have to deliver the message.”
Hamilton answered with a light sigh.
“There is no human who trusts Orcs.”
“I am the ruler of the Orcs of the Dark Forest and an Orc who has gained enlightenment by serving the master.”
Hamilton knew very well that the Orc King was different from other Orcs, but he could not believe his words as they were.
“If I’m not there, the Orcs will either scatter or become a disorganized mob and charge at the walls. If that happens, your chances of winning will be higher, and it won’t be a bad deal.”
Hamilton closed his mouth.
The Orc King continued as if he was complaining.
“I recklessly increased the number of warriors for the sake of the master, but the lack of food became poison.”
Hamilton nodded slightly.
“That’s why I’m proposing it. Without me, the power of the Orc warriors will be halved.”
Hamilton asked.
“The power of the warriors?”
“I am a special Orc. I am an Orc born with the power of the master, and the aura I emit is much more powerful than the magic of the Orc shamans. The warriors’ blood boils, and their strength surges.”
The Orc King smiled deeply.
“You don’t want to drag out the war for a long time either. If I and the Orc shamans die, the warriors will lose their center and return to the Dark Forest. The forest was never human territory anyway, so if humans don’t chase them, the war will end as it is.”
Hamilton agreed with the Orc King’s words.
There may be opinions from within to annihilate the Orcs on this occasion, but it was not effective.
Even if they annihilated the Orcs, other Orcs would breed in the Dark Forest.
The monsters of the Dark Forest came out of the forest and advanced to the west when the time came.
That was something they always experienced while living in the west, so it was nothing new to call it a war.
It was a war because there were not always such a large number of Orcs swarming and attacking like now.
And Arun, the Crown Prince and commander, killed the seed of evil that was the cause, and now only the Orc King and the Orc shamans remained.
“I say again, I cannot make a decision. But I will deliver the message.”
“Take the humans and go back. When the sun rises tomorrow, I will be standing near the walls with the Orc shamans. I will only wait until the sun is in the center of the sky. If there is no answer by then…….”
The Orc King’s voice became eerie.
“I will continue the war.”
The Orc King concluded as Hamilton rose.
“Orcs never get tired.”