My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 70

§ 70 – Departure (2)

At Amelia’s words, Cian calmly looked around.

A desolate landscape.

It certainly didn’t resemble a bustling commercial hub.

But it was just a route.

Considering they were still on the outskirts of the West, it was understandable.

“Normally, merchant caravans should be passing by constantly, but there isn’t a single one in sight.”

“Even though we’re still far from the heart of the West?”

This was practically the outermost region.

They had barely entered the West, making it debatable to even call it that.

“Yes. At the very least, we should be encountering merchant caravans leaving the West… but there really isn’t a single one,” Amelia muttered, a hint of unease in her voice.

Amelia was a daughter of the Brahe family.

And Brahe was a prominent merchant guild that once dominated the West.

Although their influence had waned, it was safe to say that no one knew the West as intimately as Amelia.

For Amelia to express such concern, the situation in the West must be genuinely serious.

“Hmm…”

Cian paused, lost in thought.

It seemed Konrad’s worries weren’t unfounded.

As he pondered the situation, Amelia asked with a worried voice from beside him.

“But will Ruben be alright?”

“Why Ruben?”

Instead of answering directly, Amelia glanced back.

The long line of wagons belonging to the Ruben Brahe Merchant Guild.

And Ruben’s soldiers escorting those wagons.

“This time, you and so many of the soldiers came along.”

It seemed she was concerned about Ruben’s safety, given the number of personnel conscripted for this journey.

Of course, Cian had considered this as well.

Even so, Cian wasn’t overly worried.

First of all.

“The dwarf soldiers are still there.”

He hadn’t taken all of Ruben’s soldiers, leaving a contingent behind.

Moreover, those dwarf soldiers were all capable of using Aura [a form of life energy cultivation].

Usually, Aura cultivation methods were tailored for humans.

In fact, Aura cultivation itself was a training method developed by humans.

But the A-grade Aura cultivation method he had acquired with real money in Mobile Lord [presumably a game or app] didn’t discriminate based on race.

Thanks to that, the dwarves could also learn Aura.

The dwarves’ innate strength combined with the power of Aura.

The resulting brute force was so immense that it was hard to distinguish them from ogres.

So much so that they broke so many of the weapons they made that the smithy’s fire never went out.

Constantly pushing Jerry to research and create better equipment…

It wouldn’t be surprising if they created A-grade quality equipment soon.

So there was no problem with defending the territory itself.

More than anything else.

“Rea is there.”

Rea, Ruben’s guardian spirit, was present.

As expected, Amelia nodded.

“Well, there’s nothing to worry about with Rea. She even chased away an ogre recently.”

“Huh? An ogre came to the territory?”

This was the first time he was hearing about this.

An ogre came.

Ogres were monsters considered apex predators in the monster food chain.

Their massive size and ferocious strength could only be dealt with by Expert-level knights.

That was the level of a regular ogre.

Moreover, ogres living in the Forest of Darkness were terrifying monsters that could only be confronted by those approaching the Master level.

This was practically a natural disaster.

Such an ogre came to Ruben?

“It came when you were away, but I actually found out much later. As soon as the ogre appeared, Rea chased it away. It took about 4 seconds… or so I heard?”

At that moment.

“It was exactly 4 seconds. I watched from the side.”

Another voice came from behind.

Looking there, it was Duras, a soldier of the territory.

“And it wasn’t that she chased it away, but that the ogre ran away. I don’t think ogres are called top predators for resisting Rea’s mental power.”

It seemed like the roles were reversed, but…

“Ogres are definitely ogres, I guess.”

“I guess I was worrying unnecessarily.”

Cian and Amelia nodded.

Well, anyway.

“It’s true that people aren’t very visible.”

“I know there’s a fairly large village near here… Ah, I see it there.”

Amelia pointed straight ahead.

Looking there.

There was a fairly large village as Amelia had said.

And.

“Huh?”

“Eh…?”

Cian and Amelia tilted their heads in unison.

That was because the scene of the village they were witnessing was far from normal.

Burning houses and shattered debris.

What used to be a village was visible in Cian’s sight.

Just as he was wondering what was going on.

Right then.

“Kyahhhhhhh!!!”

A scream that sounded like it was being torn apart erupted from the village.

#

Kepler Village, located on the outskirts of the Western Empire.

“S, save me! Save me!!”

“Kyahhhhhhh!!”

People were desperately running away as if being hunted.

Burning houses and broken debris.

People ran frantically through them.

And the monster hordes chasing after those people.

1m in size, along with bulky muscles.

A monster with a hideous pig’s face.

“Squeal!”

“Squeal squeal!”

It was none other than orcs.

The orcs, excited by the screams of the people, roughly exhaled.

Soon, they swung their weapons wildly.

They began to indiscriminately smash the surrounding objects.

Kwaaaaaang!

The village began to collapse from the indiscriminate strikes.

“R, run away!”

“Kyahhhhhhh!!!”

At the sight, people couldn’t even think straight and began to flee in terror.

“Help me! A child is trapped here! Please help me!”

“Uwaaaaaaah!”

Voices asking for help erupted from everywhere.

But they were drowned out by the screams and disappeared.

It was truly a scene of utter chaos.

“Squeeeeeal!!”

“Squeal! Squeal!!”

The orcs seemed very pleased with this situation.

They continued to exhale roughly.

Along with that, the more excited groups began to rampage in all directions.

Kwaang! Kwaaaang!

The orcs were sweeping through the village.

“No… no…”

Chico watched those orcs and fell into despair.

His hands trembled.

In order to survive, he had to run away from those terrible orcs quickly.

“Ah… ah…”

Thud.

But Chico’s legs gave out and he collapsed on the spot.

A sense of helplessness that he couldn’t do anything bound his whole body.

“Chico! What are you doing!”

Soon, a rough hand grabbed and pulled Chico.

But Chico couldn’t bring himself to run away following that hand.

“What about the injured! What about the injured!”

That was because Chico was the self-governing leader of this place, Kepler Village.

Right behind Chico, there were as many as dozens of injured people who couldn’t move right away.

If he ran away like this, they would surely die.

“What does that matter! There’s nothing you can do anyway!”

“Even so, I can’t just run away! If we wait a little longer, the regular soldiers will…!”

“You idiot!! The soldiers aren’t coming! Don’t you understand yet? The nobles have abandoned us!”

“B, but…!”

“Damn it! I clearly said it!”

The hand that was holding Chico fell away.

And the owner of that hand eventually took a step back and ran away.

At the sight, Chico was filled with deep hesitation.

He knew.

The orc hordes that were ravaging the village.

The regular soldiers who would protect the village from those orc hordes would not come.

So he had to run away in order to live.

That was a wise decision.

But… why couldn’t he bring himself to leave?

Chico gritted his teeth.

Then, he threw open the door of the house where the injured were gathered.

There were those who fought with the orcs.

But mainly, it was the elderly, the weak, and young children.

They were huddled together, trembling.

Chico shouted at them.

“Everyone, it must be hard, but you have to move! I’ll help you, so hurry!”

Chico supported them and moved them outside one by one.

But…

Running away with the injured was impossible from the start.

“Squeal? Squeeeeeal!”

An orc who found the injured exhaled roughly.

At that, many orc hordes around showed interest.

Soon, the orc hordes approached with a menacing grin.

“No!”

Chico grabbed his weapon and ran towards the approaching orc hordes.

But.

Crack!

Chico couldn’t even put up a fight.

Orcs were not easy monsters.

They were monsters that even trained regular soldiers had to face with formations.

There was no way that Chico, a mere self-governing leader of the village, could face them.

“Cough!”

With terrible pain, Chico’s body flew into the air.

“Squeeeeeeeal!”

At the sight of Chico, the orc hordes exhaled with anger, joy, and various emotions.

Thud!

Chico’s body crashed roughly.

“No… no…!”

Deep despair fell on Chico’s face.

He had to struggle to survive.

But there was nothing Chico could do.

All Chico could do was to put his hands together and pray earnestly to God.

But how futile that prayer was.

Chico knew better than anyone.

Endless monster legions.

Nobles of the West who were busy taking care of their own safety.

Those who would help them would not come.

Such miracles do not happen.

“Please… please…!”

Even so, Chico put his hands together and prayed earnestly.

And as expected.

“Squeeeeeeeeeal!!”

God did not answer his prayer.

A huge shadow cast over his vision and covered Chico.

His whole body trembled at the terrible pain he would soon feel.

Chico squeezed his eyes shut at the fear of approaching death.

A darkening vision.

But.

“……?”

Something… was strange.

He didn’t feel any pain…

By now, his whole body should have been crushed by the orcs and writhing in pain.

But no matter how long he waited, nothing happened, let alone pain.

Could it be that he died before he could even feel the pain?

But Chico quickly shook his head.

Kuuuuung!

A dull roar was heard in front of Chico’s tightly closed vision.

Chico slowly opened his eyes.

And what was seen in Chico’s vision.

It was none other than an orc that had been neatly cut in half.

And a blond man blocking Chico’s path.

“Wh, what’s going on…?”

Chico couldn’t understand the situation in front of him.

Chico looked at the blond man blocking his path.

He seemed to be on the cusp of transitioning from youth to adulthood.

Also, his clothes suggested he was a nobleman.

In a word, a person he had never seen before.

“Wh, who…?”

Right then.

“Squeeeeeeeal!”

“Squeal!”

The orc hordes, who witnessed the sudden death of their kin, roughly exhaled.

That roar-like sound made those who heard it terrified.

Soon, the orc hordes rushed in.

“R, run away!!”

Chico shouted.

He didn’t know who the man in front of him was.

But he couldn’t handle it.

The orcs rushing in now were as many as dozens.

Even now, there were dozens of them.

If you add up the orcs who attacked Kepler Village now, it would be over 1,000 at least.

So he had to run away now.

But…

The man didn’t run away.

Rather, he raised his sword and aimed it at the rushing orcs.

Woooooong…!

The atmosphere trembled.

A darkness darker than pitch-black swirled from the man’s sword.

“Squeeeeeeeal!!”

Murderous intent erupted from the rushing orc hordes.

And.

Swish─.

A chilling cutting sound was heard.

Along with that, the orc who rushed in first fell.

Following that, the second and third orcs collapsed.

“Squeeeeeeeal!!”

A hideous roar-like roar erupted.

The surrounding orcs rushed at the man.

But the man was no longer there.

Swish─.

Somewhere, a pitch-black sword darker than darkness passed by.

Wherever it passed by, one or more orcs fell without fail.

It didn’t take much time for dozens of orcs to be sprawled on the floor.

“N, no way…!”

Chico’s eyes widened.

“Are you okay? Can you move?”

Soon, the blond man asked Chico.

In his view, the man was sheathing his pitch-black sword.

Chico said in a trembling voice.

“Th, thanks to you, I’m fine. Thank you so much. But who are you…?”

“Me? Cian. The lord of Ruben.”

Cian…? Ruben…?

Chico kept repeating the two names.

But no matter how much he thought about it, nothing came to mind.

In a word, a name he was hearing for the first time.

However, the name Cian seemed familiar, but he couldn’t remember it.

“I’m glad you can move.”

Soon, Cian nodded.

And he pointed to the back of Chico with his finger and said.

“Then go over there until the orcs are taken care of.”

“Yes? Yes? What are you talking about…?”

Chico couldn’t understand Cian’s words.

The orcs who attacked Kepler Village now numbered nearly 1,000.

It was amazing that Cian had slaughtered dozens of orcs.

But 1,000 orcs were on a different scale.

But he was going to take care of those orcs?

Chico couldn’t understand Cian’s words at all.

But that was only for a moment.

“……!!!!!!”

Chico was soon able to understand Cian’s words.

A slowly turned vision.

The scenery that was visible to Chico’s eyes.

“Three are going that way.”

“Okay!”

It was a scene of a series of soldiers slaughtering orcs.

“Kkuiiiiiik!”

“Be quiet, you guys.”

Crack!

It was literally a slaughtering scene!!

Moreover, that wasn’t all.

In another corner of his vision, orc hordes and other soldiers were clashing.

The overwhelming number of orcs.

It was clear that they would be overwhelmed by that number.

But.

Crack.

Seoseok!

Swish!

They were being swept away.

The orc hordes were being swept away!!

Orcs were not weak monsters.

Even regular soldiers who had received military training could not easily guarantee a 1:1 fight.

Only knights who used Aura could subdue them with ease.

But the clothes of the soldiers in front of him were literally ‘soldiers.’

They were soldiers, not knights.

But… but what was going on now…?

“Huh? Is this even an orc?”

“Really? It’s not an orc, it’s just a violent pig? It wasn’t like this in Ruben?”

Kkuiiiiiiiik!!

“What is it? Why are they so weak?”

“Lord! These guys are too weak!”

The soldiers shouted at Cian.

Cian trudged over and examined the orc corpses that the soldiers had dealt with.

The corpses were almost crushed.

Cian frowned.

“I told you guys not to use Aura! They’re not demons, so they get crushed like this! We have to sell them all, so control your strength!”

Then Cian left the spot.

A dazed mind.

“……”

Chico really wondered what was going on.

#

Gerl Territory, located in the center of the Western Empire.

A barracks located inside.

“Commander Alex! Orc hordes have invaded Kepler Village!”

“What?”

Alex’s eyes widened at the report of the knight who came into the barracks.

Alex, the commander of the 7th Knight Order of the Royal Knights.

Alex was a top-notch Expert knight.

And the reason why Alex was in the Western Empire was simple.

It was none other than the monster legions that were rampant in the West.

He had been dispatched with the 7th Knight Order by order of the Crown Prince to stop them.

“People haven’t evacuated yet…! Hurry and dispatch troops!”

“Th, that is….”

The knight hesitated and opened his mouth.

“All the knights are currently out to stop other places….”

Alex gritted his teeth.

The endless monster legions.

It wasn’t a big problem for the Royal Knights to stop them.

The Royal Knights were all Experts.

But the problem was that there were too many monsters.

As a result, there was a severe shortage of manpower.

How could it be that monsters were constantly rampant?

“What about the nobles of the West?”

“They all say they are working hard to defend their territories….”

“Damn it!”

Bang!

Alex slammed the table hard.

At first, the nobles were cooperative.

But was it because of the endless monster legions and the continued losses?

They slowly began to back down.

Now, they were not dispatching troops under the pretext of defending their territories.

“Those nobles are only taking care of their own safety…!”

Alex gnashed his teeth.

“What about His Highness [referring to the Crown Prince]?”

“He said he is quickly preparing an alternative… but there is no other news yet.”

Alex clenched his fist.

“Leave the minimum number of people in the barracks and follow me. We’re going to Kepler Village right now!”

Kepler Village was a small to medium-sized village located in the outer region.

Even if they left now, it would be too late.

But they could still save some people.

Alex grabbed his weapons.

Right then.

“Commander! Commander Alex!!!”

Another knight’s urgent cry was heard from outside the barracks.

Along with that, Alex’s expression darkened rapidly.

Where else did monsters attack people this time?

“Yes, what’s wrong….”

Alex said in a voice that had become gloomy without him realizing it.

But.

“The orc hordes that attacked Kepler Village have been annihilated!!!”

The words he heard were strange.

“Wh, wh, what?!”

Annihilated?

Who? The villagers?

Alex repeated the words he had just heard several times.

But no matter how many times he repeated it, it was that the orc hordes, not the villagers, had been annihilated.

“O, orc hordes have been annihilated?”

“Yes!!”

“Who… who did such a thing!”

Could it be that the nobles of the West had stepped in?

“That is….”

The knight paused for a moment and said.

“It’s the soldiers of a territory called Ruben.”

“Huh?”

Alex tilted his head several times.

It was to recall the name Ruben from his memory.

But no matter how much he thought about it.

No matter how many times he repeated it.

“Ru…ben?”

It was a territory he had never heard of before.