Chapter 130

I noticed it just as the walls of the settlement came into view. There was something like excitement in the air. Daniela and I looked at each other for a moment before we started to run back in a hurry. The Adventurers were talking loudly and running around with weapons in hand.

“Maybe…we were too late.”

“Let us hurry.”

I nodded towards Daniela and went to look for Virgil. I would grab a random person and ask where he was.

“Hey, is Virgil here?”

“He’d be right by the hole we discovered!”

“You found a hole then. Were there any orcs?”

“Aye, lots of them! It would be a great help if you went. We’re counting on you!”

“Alright. I’ll go immediately!”

So they had found it after all. But it seemed like they hadn’t reached Mordred yet, so there was still time. And so Daniela and I headed for the hole after receiving directions. It was within the largest wooden building in the settlement. Under it, anyway.

We entered through the open door and went down the steps to the underground floor. The walls were all made of dirt here. Everything from this point on appeared to be the work of the hole moles. Hanging lanterns were attached to the ceiling. We continued to walk as covetous thoughts concerning the lanterns went through my head, until finally, a wooden door appeared in front of us.

And just as I was about to touch it, it loudly burst open from the other side.

“We have been waiting for you.”

“Angelica. You scared the hell out of me.”

“Hehehe. Consider it a punishment for being late.”

She had clearly been waiting with Presence Detection activated. Ahh, that scared me. I turned around, feeling a little ashamed of my self. Daniela was looking at me with an exasperated expression.

“Well, I was aware of it. That Angelica was waiting on the other side, that is.”

“You could have told me then?”

“You would have known if you were careful and always using Presence Detection.”

Daniela said with a mischievous laugh. It was true, I had deactivated it… I guess I would have to be more careful in the future. Especially since I wanted to raise my proficiency.

“Now, there is no time for idle talk! There are many orcs hiding beyond this tunnel. Virgil has been saying that you may be able to do something about it, Asagi.”

“Well, I’ll do what I can…but I’ll have to see what it’s like first.”

There should be even more orcs there…well, Angelica was in a hurry so it would be best to rush to the scene as soon as possible.

The path continued for a while after the door, and then another door appeared. I used Presence Detection just in case, and saw that there were several people on the other side. And so I opened the door slowly. Inside, Virgil, Ness, Gardo and the rest of the valley team were standing with grim expressions.

“…Hm? Ah, Asagi. You’re late. Where were you?”

Virgil turned around as he noticed us.

“Uh, we were searching in the wrong direction…Ahaha.”

“You’re a strange one sometimes…”

He said in exasperation. But Arthur was to be kept a secret. And so he could be as exasperated as he wanted.

“So, the rest of you brilliant folks found the orcs then?”

I said sarcastically, as I was still a little annoyed. Gardo chuckled and answered my question.

“Well, it seemed obvious to check the largest building.”

“We were looking for a tunnel leading to the valley, so we checked the basement…”

Lauria continued. Olive and Oregano nodded.

I looked at the hole. The floor here was made of wood. And in the center was a rectangular hole with a staircase made of planks of wood leading down. There was also dirt on top of it. It looked like footprints, probably because orcs had traveled down here.

“Did anyone go down there?”

Daniela looked at everyone and asked. Virgil said, ‘We all did,’ in a weak voice.

“There is a wide empty space that was likely a base if you go down there. Of course, going down there would mean certain death.”

“They are waiting down there with arrows. It’s too dangerous to get any closer…”

Gardo muttered with folded arms. I see. There would be a rain of arrows as soon as they caught sight of you.

Hmm… It was frightening to think that this was a strategy taken by an orc who wasn’t even an abnormally evolved being.

“Asagi. Surely you can break through their defenses somehow?”

“Uhhh…if there was enough space to run, maybe. Daniela, could you make a path with earth magic?”

“Definitely.”

Master Daniela replied confidently. So reliable.

“Alright, let’s do this. I will run at them at a high speed and break through their wall. I’ll do what I can with magic after that, I just need the rest of you to take out the archers.”

“Asagi, that is a very careless plan.”

Hey, I’m not a military strategist. We were just going to have to be okay with this quickly thought of plan. There was no time.

“Well, it’ll be alright. I’m pretty sure their ranks will crumble when I break through. Yeah, that’ll do it.”

“I am not so sure…”

“He does not sound confident at all!”

Angelica and Ness were very worried. But did we have a choice?

“Anyway, Virgil is the leader. Virgil, what should we do?”

“…Yes. If Asagi thinks he can do it, then we should try it. There is no other way.”

“If that’s what Virgil says, then we will do it…well failure here just means that Asagi will turn into a porcupine. And I don’t mind that.”

“Hey, Gardo, that’s a little harsh. I could almost cry.”

“Aye, you should cry! Cry!”

Gardo insisted and everyone laughed. These horrible people. Damn it…well then, I’ll have to show them something they’ve never seen before.

“Good. Then Daniela will create a runway for Asagi. It would be helpful if you could also create a room for the Adventurers to wait in. As it will be difficult for us to all sweep into the hole at once.”

“I can do it if I have potions.”

“Ahh, potions…”

I still had potions on my belt. The ones I got from Daniela.

“Here, use these ones.”

“Use? I am the one who bought them!”

“Hey, don’t hit-, not the ass!”

□ □ □ □

Now, preparations were complete. Daniela used earth magic to create a room, and there were now twenty-six Adventurers standing within it. We had originally been thirty. Four of the surface team had died…three of them were strong in my memory. The scene of their impaled bodies under the tree was still fresh in my mind. It renewed my resolve to succeed with the current plan.

This room wasn’t the only thing that Daniela had made. She also made me a runway. It went at a downward angle and extended for 200 meters. It was clean and very even, which made it easy to run on. It went straight towards the room where the orcs were waiting, but it was also out of their sight. However, I could see the light from their magic lanterns. Had the runway been level, then there was a chance that they would be able to shoot at me as I ran. Thankfully, I didn’t have to worry about that. I would be able to reach them without slowing down.

“Alright, I’m ready. Thank you, Daniela.”

“Hmm…everything is good.”

Daniela seemed a little tired as she drained two potions and then rested against a wall. When I called to her she stood up and waited next to Virgil.

“Just as we discussed. Asagi will charge in, and then we will follow.”

“It is very simple. After all, we only have to run.”

“Aye, it’s Asagi who has the difficult part.”

“Indeed. I will probably have to run away if he fails!”

Gardo, Ness, and Angelica joked to lighten the mood. Even if I did succeed, there would be many orcs left to fight. It was important to ensure that we weren’t all too nervous. Though, they weren’t being the most flattering towards me.

“This will be our final battle! Our victory!”

“AYE!”

The Adventurers replied. While I kept silent, and I was quite pumped as well. This was my time.

“Asagi, we’re counting on you.”

“Yeah. I’m off then.”

I raised my fist towards Virgil and he raised his own to meet mine.

Then I unsheathed the Glampanzer at my waist along with the Ashikirimaru on my belt. With the swords in hand, I stood on the runway and activated Legs of the Forest Wolf.

Silver and green wind envelopes my legs. Magic flows from my body and enters my equipment. The wind dragon armor has a blessing of the wind and a minor AGI boost enchantment. Legs of the Forest Wolf raises it even further. I was a whirlwind of silver and green. My agility was high. This would be my maximum speed.

My hands grip the swords tightly as I move into a crouching stance. Though the hand that is touching the ground is in a fist. Hahh. I sigh and glare at the downward path ahead of me. As I lean forward, my hood falls over my face. But I don’t pull it back as I continue to look ahead.

“Operation commence!”

At the sound of Virgil’s voice, I flew forward as if being fired. It was a good start. I was at top speed in just three strides as I rushed down the slope. My surroundings sped passed me as I moved as if falling. But it was only for a moment. I thrust both swords in front of me and crossed them as I ended my run in about three seconds. And then I was off of the runway and into the room full of orcs.