Chapter 38: Side Story 3: Logan and the Others in a Furious Rush
A group charging across the grasslands like a raging torrent.
A merchant who happened to witness this group moving at ultra-high speed while kicking up clouds of sand and dust later recounted:
"I was seriously freaked out by how fast they were!"
『You lot! These are direct orders from the Boss! Don’t you dare slip up!』
『『『Ooooh!』』』
Until now, instructions from their boss, Yabe, had always been phrased as polite requests.
"Could you go investigate north of the spring?"
"There’s a festival in Kaso Village, so could you hunt plenty of game for us?"
Their usually very gentle boss always gave orders in the form of requests. They had even told him it was fine to use them more strictly, like limbs of his own body, but—
"You are not just my precious subordinates, but also my comrades."
He would say with a warm smile.
But this time, the order was crystal clear.
"I entrust you with command over the entire Wolf Fang Clan and all of Hiyoko’s units. From this moment on, rush to Kaso Village and exterminate every single monster approaching it without exception."
"Go! You must protect Kaso Village at all costs!"
A surge of excitement that made their bodies tremble. A personal decree from the boss they respected and loved. If they didn’t get fired up by this, they weren’t real men.
『Captain! We can’t keep up with Lord Logan’s speed!』
Logan and the Wolf Fang Clan had set off toward Kaso Village at incredible speed. Perhaps too fired up, they were moving faster than even Hiyoko’s flight speed, causing Hiyoko’s group to fall behind.
『Tch... Lord Logan is really pumped up after receiving the Boss’s decree...』
Hiyoko Captain spoke while flying at full speed.
『Split into two groups! Send half to link up with the separate unit already heading to Kaso Village! The other half, follow me!』
『Yes sir!』
『Once you link up with the separate unit, send a messenger to Kaso Village! Find me and report the distance!』
『Roger!』
With that, half of the Hiyoko split off and flew away.
『That said... considering Lord Logan and the others’ motivation... I’m a little worried whether there’ll even be anything left for us to do when we arrive...』
Hiyoko Captain was anxious for a completely different reason.
And that anxiety would prove to be well-founded.
『C-Captain!』
『What? What’s wrong?』
『Right before the Boss departed, he left a message!』
『What!? What did he say!?』
A Hiyoko who had somehow caught up from behind delivered shocking news.
Logan had received the decree and dashed off immediately, so they had hurriedly taken off to catch up. They never expected the Boss to have left a message with the rear unit...
『Yes sir! He said that orcs are relatively likely to have delicious meat, so if possible, please try to kill them while leaving their bodies intact.』
『Wha—!? What did you say!?』
Hiyoko Captain was visibly flustered.
Leave their bodies intact, if possible...
With Lord Logan and his group as motivated as they currently were, charging into the enemy...
『This is bad! We have to catch up no matter what! Once the battle starts, the enemies might get completely obliterated without a trace!』
Logan’s combat ability went without saying, but there were also the current Four Heavenly Kings—four Wolf Fangs. Their fighting strength was on another level. Wind Fang, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, and Garbo. Among them, Wind Fang, Thunder Fang, and Ice Fang possessed skills that allowed them to manipulate natural phenomena as their names suggested. Combined with their magic, they had the power to annihilate large groups of enemies. Garbo gave more of an impression of raw power, but if the other three fought at full strength, they could even change the terrain. There was almost no chance that any orc would remain in its original shape.
『If we don’t catch up and the orcs get wiped out, we won’t be able to face the Boss! We’re catching up no matter what!』
『Hah!』
The Hiyoko increased their speed even further, chasing after Logan’s group.
...
Zan!
Logan and the others took up position a short distance away from Kaso Village.
Though calling it a formation might be generous—they were simply lined up in a single row with Logan at the center.
The enemy was not yet visible.
『You guys, are you ready?』
『『『Of course, Leader!』』』
The Wolf Fangs lined up in a row answered in unison.
『The Boss said he would take on four times as many enemies as us by himself. We will annihilate the enemies coming here as fast as possible and return to support the Boss!』
『『『『Hah!』』』』
Then the goblins appeared.
"Gyagyagya!"
"Gyagyaa!"
『Hmph. I have no idea what they’re saying.』
『Truly pitiful creatures—monsters with no intelligence.』
『It can’t be helped. They are different from us. Since they have no intelligence, we don’t need to feel any guilt about exterminating them.』
Three of the Four Heavenly Kings, who had been personally granted names by Yabe, stepped forward as if mocking the goblins.
『I’ll leave the vanguard to you. Don’t let your guard down.』
『『『Hah! Leave it to us!』』』
The three burst forward!
『Haa~ Their motivation is on another level, those three.』
『They received their names directly from the Boss, after all. They probably feel they have to show results worthy of that.』
『Looks like I won’t get a turn.』
Garbo smiled wryly, and Logan nodded in agreement.
『That’s fine, but don’t let your guard down. If any monster manages to slip through this formation, you must take it down. Well, I doubt any such creature will appear.』
『Understood.』
Even while Logan and Garbo were talking, the Wolf Fangs, led by the three, charged forward.
『My name is Wind Fang! To live up to the name granted to me by the Boss, I shall take the lead in this battle! First, receive this! Winds that envelop my body, slash them apart! !』
Wind Fang’s body became clad in wind. As he raced forward at high speed, he generated vacuum blades that sliced through the enemy.
『Fuhahaha! Then I cannot afford to fall behind! My name is Thunder Fang! Behold my power! Power of heat haze dwelling in the atmosphere! Descend now and shatter the enemy before us! !』
A wide area in front of Thunder Fang was showered with lightning, burning the enemy to ash.
『Hmph! Then allow me to show my power as well. My name is Ice Fang! Know that standing before me is the same as stepping into your own grave! Children of subzero temperatures gathering in the air, dance in the blizzard! !』
A powerful cold air was released in front of Ice Fang, freezing the monsters solid before shattering them.
From behind them, the rest of the Wolf Fangs charged in. They swung their claws and fangs freely, slaughtering the enemy.
In truth, goblins and orcs were ranked one or two levels lower than Wolf Fangs as monsters. However, goblins and orcs had an overwhelmingly larger number. Normally, fighting them would have been considered reckless due to the difference in numbers, but the Wolf Fangs who had become Yabe’s subordinates had evolved dramatically. Led by Logan, who had been strengthened by the slime cells granted to him, the entire clan had gained overwhelming power. It was a state of enhancement where Logan’s power seemed to flow into the entire tribe.
『Lord Logan! We’ll handle disruption!』
The Hiyoko from the separate unit, who had been pursuing the enemy, flew between the foes, causing chaos.
『Keep watch so none escape the group alone.』
『Roger!』
The goblins and orcs could no longer maintain any formation and were scattered helplessly. They were cut, burned, frozen, and shattered.
In the blink of an eye, Logan and the others had annihilated the goblin and orc army.
It was only then that Hiyoko Captain and his group finally arrived.
『Lord Logan!』
『Oh, Hiyoko Captain. Good work. We’ve already wiped out the enemy.』
『Damn it... We were too late.』
『Did something happen?』
『Right before we set out, the Boss left a message with the Hiyoko in the rear...』
『What!? What did he say!?』
『He said that orcs are relatively likely to have delicious meat, so if possible, please try to kill them while leaving their bodies intact.』
『What did you say!?』
Logan stood up and surveyed the scene before him.
『This is... too late... isn’t it?』
Logan hung his head.
Hiyoko Captain, despite flying at full speed, drooped his wings in dejection at having failed to make it in time.
