Chapter 144: Outside the Tower 4
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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A wolf, posture low, furiously dashes down the hill.
The beast, charging with the moon at its back, and atop it, an orc rider, swinging a lengthy axe spear, seeking to snatch my life away.
The orc's weapon, precisely targeting my neck, and the gaping maw of the wolf, with its densely packed sharp teeth, aim for my thigh.
A sharp strike possible because it was a wolf, not a horse.
Following the charge of the seemingly leader-like massive figure, theres also a pack of wolf riders.
"Right. They are from the tower."
They charged in a line and without even a scream, turned to stones.
Even while riding wolves, orcs are still orcs it seems.
In front of me, despite the leader and his companions dying one after another, they continue charging just like any orc warrior would.
The viewers laugh above my head through the floating camera at this.
I looked down at the bodies turned to stone.
-He's like some kind of eraser?
-These guys just die in one shot?
-It's like throwing cotton candy into hot water
-Its refreshing how easily they get wiped
-Since a stone comes out instead of a corpse, they came from the tower, right?
Not just the orc riders, but the wolves they were riding also turned to mana stone.
Seeing that, I recall the request we received through James Sullivan not long ago.
We received a divine revelation there but there were no signs of orcs whatsoever.
And now, orcs have suddenly appeared to the west of the Kingdom.
Clearly, there must be a smart commander or strategist.
Someone who knows that to avoid annihilation by the Knights, they must head towards the barren west instead of staying in the abundant forest.
And that bastard not only smuggled orc riders out of the tower without adventurers knowing, but they also avoided the eyes of the knights in the forest.
"Roland? Were they wolves?"
"What, youve already dealt with them?"
Returning to the camp, my companions who held their weapons greeted me.
Nonchalant horses gaze at me, seemingly unafraid.
The coachman looked at me as if I were a savior, though he was still scared stiff.
Though meeting a pack of wolves on a path where no beasts usually roam is terrifying, this coachman in particular seems especially scared.
"Anyway, the orcs have all been dealt with."
"Not wolves, but orcs?"
"Yeah, orcs riding wolves attacked. And this is their stone. It seems like it's probably those orcs that went into Obernu Forest from the 20th floor."
"...Why are they here?"
Katie, who still hasn't completely emerged from Kaiden's shadow, fluctuating between informal and formal speech, poses a question.
Of course, I don't know the answer to that.
Han Se-ah might know through the quest window.
"Oh, a linked quest? Is this part of the main scenario, or just a new event? Is it because we didnt find orcs in the forest back then?
[It was not bandits who blocked the western road of the kingdom, but orc riders.]
[Orcs and wolves that turn into mana stones upon death, just like the monsters in the tower]
[Could these be the ones from the Obernu forest that kidnapped the female knight...?]
-There are too many things to keep track
-Maybe it continues like this if you make a wrong choice in a side quest.
-So it was because they didn't find them back then?
-Story is solid so far, a lot of dead aliens
Viewers throw out their assumptions one by one upon the first appearance of a linked quest, following main scenario quests, side quests, and character quests.
While Han Se-ah reads the quest window and talks to the viewers, I also share my thoughts with my party.
"Remember the request from the Knights Division? The task to find traces of orcs in Obernu Forest."
"Oh, could those guys be...?"
"Yeah, it seems like they escaped and came this way."
"But isnt the forest surrounded by soldiers and knights?"
"There must be a shaman or something. And theyre blocking outsiders from entering the forest, not watching for things coming out from inside it."
How they managed it as Irene questioned, we dont know.
But they escaped.
Whether they were lucky or the soldiers were lax, they successfully fled and settled on the western road of the kingdom.
Dozens of orc riders, each with greater mobility than horses and carriages, and perhaps individually stronger than intermediate adventurers despite not being able to use magic.
Since Lily Depp stayed behind to rest, their party, missing its vanguard, couldnt handle dozens of orc riders on flat ground.
Her party, however, is made up of high-ranking adventurers.
Maybe they are recovering in another territory after sustaining heavy injuries.
"What are you saying, Roland? These creatures came out of the tower, went to the blessed forest, and then came all the way here?"
"Yes, Lily. You might not know, but we received a request from the Knights Division after the last incident on the 20th floor. We heard that orcs, like the Full Moon Wolves, had come out of the tower and settled in Obernu Forest."
"Oh, damn-"
Her forehead furrowed heavily at my explanation.
Their guards were down because they were heading home, from the central to the western region, not towards a remote area of the kingdom.
Then suddenly, dozens of orc riders pop out.
Setting aside the fact that all the carefully accumulated mana stones are gone, the complete disappearance of teammates who have been together for several years means a significant regression for Lily Depp as an adventurer.
There are also hardly any adventurers using long spears.
Even looking at our party, rather than cooperative attacks, wasnt it more like I grab monsters and push them towards the party?
Or we go into a melee, trusting our sturdy shields, and fight individually.
I understand how she feels, as our party too, is an unusual one.
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Raei Translations
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"No more attacks, it seems."
Maybe since we killed dozens, they have no more combatants and are just hiding out quietly."
The coachman, with a nod, confidently steers the carriage and we finally arrive at a small territory.
For Lily Depp and her party, this was a necessary stop for resupply.
Unlike Han Se-ah, they didnt have an inventory.
The easygoing Lily Depp, the warm Irene, and the witty Han Se-ah made for a nice stream.
The women, excluding Irene, quickly became informal, whispering and talking together.
Even the noble lady, Katie, seems to have melted into the group, which was a bit of a relief.
She's been teased so much as the 'northern brat,' even though she's the 'Sword Princess.'
Watching her is probably like watching a child who's been left out.
However, considering she ran away from home, she seems to be adapting well.
"First, lets find lodgings and listen for rumors at the inn."
"True, if passing traders were attacked by orcs, there's bound to be talk about it here."
Im going to visit the temple once. I need to check if there were any issues with the brothers and sisters who were traveling for their pilgrimage."
Without me having to say anything, she smoothly proceeds with the quest.
She, who was teased as a light technician and a super pack mule, seemed quite conscious of it, trying to act as dignified as possible as the party leader.
Then again, as a gamer, her pride in that regard might be quite real.
"So, since it's getting late, lets get a room first. Roland in a single room, and we can split into twos and threes."
Saying so, Han Se-ah naturally sticks close to Grace.
Han Se-ah and Grace, Irene with Katie and Lily Depp.
It seemed like an arrangement with an ulterior motive at a glance.
...Does her competitiveness extend to lust as well?
A vulgar rumor about the libido of exercising women swiftly passed through my mind, but I dared not utter it aloud.
After all, the stream is still on, and no explicit things were said.
The viewers seemed oblivious, only buzzing about pajama and sleepwear outfits.
"That sounds good. Rooms that can accommodate all five of us are mostly crappy and cheap. We should spend to get proper rest."
"Know of any good inns?"
"Theres a place I frequently visited after reaching intermediate level. They charge a bit high since they aim for customers related to the upper echelons, but its spacious, pleasant, and even has some magical tools."
No one seemed to notice Han Se-ahs sly scheme as Lily Depp naturally took the lead, guiding us to a lodging she knew.
The city was significantly smaller than the adventurers' city, but fitting for a crossroads heading west, it was bustling with traders.
Streets packed with heavily filled carts and merchants burdened with bundles.
The faces of the people coming and going on the street held no dark emotions like fear.
It seems the Wolf Riders hadnt started their activities in earnest yet.
Whether Lily Depps group happened to be the first victims by chance, or if there was another reason, they had to hunt and kill the orcs either way.
"Here we are. The sign's a bit worn, but the inside is clean. The peculiar thing about the owner is, despite having all sorts of magic tools, they havent changed the sign.
The stew smells good. It'd be nice to have tomorrow's breakfast here.
As beauties that catch the eye wherever they go poured in, the employee, unable to even greet them, became flustered and stiff.
Han Se-ah confidently walked over to the counter attendant, whose mouth had opened slightly, and ordered rooms.
She, without any intention of hiding her wealth, pulled out a pouch of gold coins from thin air and paid for all available rooms - for three, two, and single occupancy.
Seeing the employee, who had stopped mid-calculation to bow his head as if slamming it, a soft laughter escaped her.
Perhaps due to a bit of superstition about mages.
Itll probably be quite comfortable staying at the inn.
"This is the place. Lets grab a room, drop our stuff, and then explore the city.
Yes, Lily unni*.
Ha-ha, unni. Thats hard to hear amongst us rough adventurers.
Han Se-ah, smiling brightly towards a smirking Lily, naturally wrapped an arm around Grace's and followed the women up to the second floor.
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Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om