kscans

Chapter 213 - The Kingdom's Battlefield.

The scene changes to the Kingdom.

A battlefield not far from the Royal Capital.

Amidst the fierce fighting, a single Orc King appeared. Facing it were Bardos and Leona of `Wind Guard`, as well as Captain Glad. However, Glad was unable to get close, blocked by a swarm of other monsters.

…But the pair charged forward like wild boars and engaged the Orc King.

Leona’s hands trembled slightly. "...To think we’d be fighting this again. ...It brings back memories of a year ago."

It was no wonder. During her time with `Beautiful Sword`, they had managed to wound it but couldn’t defeat it. If Shinsuke and Bardos hadn’t shown up then, she would have certainly died. …Though she had grown stronger since then, she didn’t know if she could stand against it.

As fear took hold, Bardos spoke without looking back. "...If you can’t handle it, fall back. You’ll only get in the way. …Besides, don’t let him be alone."

Harsh words for a wife. It wouldn’t have been surprising if she’d snapped back. But instead, Leona felt ashamed of herself.

…Danger was part of being an adventurer. Of course, death wasn’t the goal; success meant coming back alive. But the probability of dying was high. It was an ironclad rule for adventurers that everyone had made their peace with death.

…From that perspective, Bardos’s words felt like a last will.

Leona scoffed. "...Hmph, what are you talking about? Our child doesn’t even know his father’s face. …I’ll be in trouble if you don’t live until he’s an adult."

She took her place at Bardos’s side. …The shield and spear in her hands showed no trace of hesitation.

Bardos smirked. "...Right. Then we’d better both survive."

Deep down, Bardos was happy. …That she would fight alongside him. With the one you love by your side, there’s nothing to fear.

The Orc King, as if it had been waiting for them, brought its iron club down.

…The speed and power were undeniable. A single blow would crush a human without a trace.

…However, Leona thrust her shield forward. She met the Orc King’s blow from directly above, deflecting it at the perfect moment. …The Orc King was left wide open.

Bardos emerged from behind Leona and swung his great axe into its left side with all his might. The axe blade cut into its stomach, but only by a few centimeters. It was bleeding, but it wasn't a fatal wound.

…The Orc King saw Bardos and countered with its left fist. Bardos tried to pull his axe free, but the Orc King tensed its abdominal muscles, trapping it.

Just as he was considering letting go, an `Earth Spear` pierced the Orc King’s fist. The sharp pain caused its stomach muscles to relax, and the great axe came loose.

Bardos grunted. "...Saved my ass. Thanks."

To his words of thanks, Leona replied, "...Of course. But for an Orc King to be this strong… …what is going on?"

She was puzzled.

…No matter how high-level it was, it had used its stomach muscles to trap a weapon. A human couldn't do that. Even if it were acting on instinct, it would have been simpler to just hold it down with its hands. But it had chosen a method that didn't slow its own attack.

…Just like a year ago, the Orc King’s evolution was beyond human comprehension.

Bardos said, "...No point overthinking it. …We just gotta kill it. That’s all there is to it."

It was a simplistic, yet ultimate, answer.

Leona chuckled. "...Heh. You’re right. Your way of putting things is a real lifesaver."

She smiled and raised her shield.

…Having pulled out the `Earth Spear`, the Orc King was once again glaring at the two of them. It let out a fierce roar and brought its club down.

This time, both of them dodged. …Because they had sensed something strange about this Orc King.

The wound Leona had inflicted with the `Earth Spear` was still bleeding. Orc Kings had a healing factor, but it was known to be slow. …The one from a year ago had an abnormally fast healing rate, but this one didn’t. …In other words, it had tactics, but its abilities were normal.

…The two of them locked eyes and nodded. They sensed an opportunity to win.

Leona and Bardos moved to flank the Orc King from the left and right. The Orc King hesitated, unsure which to attack, but decided the woman with the shield was more troublesome and swung its club sideways.

…Leona blocked it with her shield. The force was so great that she was pushed back. She finally managed to stop, but she had no strength to counter, only to endure. …However, that was precisely Leona’s aim. To pin its attention on her.

In that time, Bardos was pouring magic into the wind magic stone on his great axe.

Bardos grinned. "...This is a move I based on one of Shinsuke’s manga. …It packs a real punch."

…Wind began to swirl, converging on his great axe. He had test-run it in the forests near the city of Alum, but this was the first time he was using it in a real battle.

…The Orc King sensed something from behind and turned. There, a sphere of wind about two meters in diameter had gathered on the great axe.

Realizing it had chosen the wrong target, the Orc King tried to turn its club on Bardos, but—

"...Wind Chains!"

Three chains of wind shot out from Leona’s spear.

They wrapped around the Orc King’s left leg, stopping it in its tracks. …Caught by surprise, the Orc King couldn’t understand why it couldn’t move.

Bardos shouted, "...Thanks! You’re the best woman in the world!!"

Shouting, Bardos leaped from an overhead stance.

The moment he was high enough to look down on the Orc King,

"...Hellwind Destruction!!!"

He brought the great axe down.

…The Orc King tried to defend with its club, but the moment the axe touched it, the club disintegrated, and the blow struck the Orc King’s head directly. From there, blades of wind shredded it to pieces, down to its feet.

By the time Bardos landed on the ground, not a trace of the Orc King remained.

Leona smiled in relief. "...You did it, Bardos."

Victory, in any form, is a pleasant feeling.

However, Bardos said, "...It’s not over yet. …Here they come."

He looked toward two more Orc Kings and a giant lizard that had appeared in the distance.

They were about two kilometers away. He thought they would approach quickly, but only the two Orc Kings came forward; the giant lizard, a Salamander, did not.

Bardos asked, "...? What’s up? Isn’t that lizard coming?"

Leona speculated, "...Perhaps it is observing? …To see if we are worthy opponents."

Bardos made a sour face. "...So it’s sizing us up? What a high-and-mighty lizard-sama."

He said sarcastically.

So it thinks there’s no point in fighting us after we’ve only defeated one? What an arrogant attitude.

Leona said, "...But two Orc Kings is bad news. To be honest, they’re not so weak that we can each take one on our own."

That was the reality of the situation.

…Bardos knew it too. As much of a battle junkie as he was, he wasn’t crazy enough to take on two high-level monsters. But if they didn’t fight, they would be killed.

Just as he was thinking that,

"...Then we shall take on one of them."

He turned to see Glad and his knights appear.

Leona asked, "...Captain Glad. …Is this alright? What about the smoke signal?"

Glad replied, "...No problem. I have left it to someone else. Besides, as long as the main target is out of range, we must make it approach us at all costs."

The knights shared his resolve.

Bardos said, "...That’s a big help. Alright then, we’ll leave one to you."

He readied his great axe.

…The fact that he could still fight after using such a powerful spell showed that Bardos still had stamina and magic to spare. But it was just a bluff. Bardos himself didn’t have that much magic.

…He could probably use that last spell one more time. He wanted to save it for the Salamander, but he couldn’t be picky.

…In this battle, personal feelings were nothing but a hindrance.

And so, the second round of battle in the Kingdom began.