Kuriya forest.

The sea of trees blocked the sunlight, making the forest looked dark.

Branch could be found everywhere.

Uneven ground increased the difficulties.

The party, which was known as Blue Ocean, and also Keiman walked slowly.

Sharpening their senses while looking around carefully.

The information from adventurer guild said that the orcs were sighted about thirty minutes from the forest entrance.

A lumberjack who cut the trees in this forest saw the group three days ago.

He immediately run with all his might then went toward the adventurer guild.

All matter related to monster was informed to adventurer guild not the kingdom because the existence of adventurers who was specialized in subjugating monsters.

After that, the adventurer guild would make the quest that the adventurer could take.

It's been 30 minutes since Blue Ocean entered the forest but there was still no presence of orc.

Although there were monster such as slime and also a few animal.

Then Alfred, the party leader, noticed something strange.

"Is it just me or there is no sound of bugs or birds anymore?"

"You're right."

All of them looked around.

They didn't know what happened.

"Should we continue or..."

"No, we will continue."

Alfred looked determined.

"This is our only chance and it's just orcs. Why should we feel afraid?"

It seemed like something happened to Blue Ocean.

But they still decided to continue.

Keiman just followed them.

As a supporter, he needed to follow the party wherever they go.

There were also time that supporter was sacrificed to let the party escape.

Even though their luggage was left behind, it was still better than being wiped out.

Kept walking for a while, the party suddenly stopped.

"...I think that we are surrounded."

The thief that was at the front said that.

Thieves had sharp senses, so they got a guide job.

When the thief said that, Alfred and the others face froze.

Only Keiman who looked like usual.

"... How many?"

Alfred was the one who said that.

As expected of a party leader, he was quick to grasp the situation.

"About twenty."

"The distance?"

"Ten meters from us."

They were surrounded by twenty monsters.

If it was slime, then Blue Ocean could deal with them.

But-

"What monster is it?"

"It's big... if I'm not wrong, it's orcs."

"Orcs..."

It was orc.

Monsters that were not dangerous if alone.

Right, if alone.

This time, there were 20 orcs.

It was way different from the information of the adventurer guild.

Blue Ocean could somehow defeat 8 orcs but there were 20 orcs this time.

It was more than two times that Blue Ocean could handle.

Not only that.

There was a possibility that the number of orcs were higher than that.

"Which way is with the least monster?"

It the situation was like this, the common thing to do was to escape immediately.

"That way... But if we head that way..."

The thief was pointing deeper to the forest.

If they were unlucky, maybe they would encounter another group of orcs.

"Prepare yourself. I will take the front. Jira, you cover us from the back."

"Roger that."

Jira was the man with great sword on his back.

With Keiman, the thief, the mage, and the priest at the center, they charged forward.

Alfred readied his shield in front of his body and held his sword.

Jira also took his great sword and held it high.

The priest chanted a protective spell.

After preparing themselves, Blue Ocean and Keiman run deeper to the forest.

Not long after, they saw the orc.

Only 1 orc was sighted.

Alfred held his shield high then run faster.

Bashing the orc with his skill Shiel Bash.

The orc flew backward until it hit a big tree.

The thief quickly approached the orc who was laying on the ground, throwing her dagger right at its eye.

Gwaaaa!

The orc roared from pain as it held its eye with both hands

Not missing the chance, the thief then stabbed the orc in the neck from behind using the skill Back Stab.

After killing the orc, the group continued to run.

They continued to run until the thief said that there were no presences anymore.

But now, they were deep in the forest.

They then sat on the ground while breathing heavily.

After resting for a while, Alfred stood up.

"We need to move again. There is a possibility that the orcs will catch up with us."

Thankfully this forest wasn't that big, only thirty km from one end to the other.

They needed to quickly escape from this forest and informed the adventurer guild.

But fate didn't let them go-

Guuuooo!

"Wha-!"

More than 6 orcs appeared at the same time.

"Hina! Why didn't you tell us?!"

"The, they suddenly appeared!

Hina was the name of the female thief.

She looked confused as the orcs literally appeared out of thin air.

"There is an orc shaman!"

Orc shaman was a higher ranking than a normal orc.

A rank C adventurer was needed to subjugate it.

But the adventurer guild usually send a rank B adventurer party to subjugate an orc shaman.

That was because orc shaman could control other orcs.

The most it could control was 30, but even a rank B adventurer party could be annihilated from such horde.

What more Blue Ocean was only rank D and the party members wasn't that great either.

They were only your run-of-the-mill adventurer.

Without even letting the Blue Ocean to react, the orcs started moving.

The foremost one charged to Alfred then swung its club.

Alfred could only barely raised his shield to block the attack.

His hand felt numb and he took a step back.

But the orc continued to attack.

Swinging from right and left.

Even though the orc looked like it was just swinging its club randomly, the force behind it was heavy.

Alfred took a step back each time the orc attacked.

But Alfred didn't just let himself to be hit, he struck back at the orc with Shield Bash.

The disadvantage of Shield Bash was that the user needed to concentrate their mana to their shield.

That process took a few moment so someone couldn't use it while being attacked.

However, after being attacked by the orc, Alfred ran backward using the force of the strike for a few meters.

The orc ran to him, but that moment was enough for him to activate Shield Bash.

Even after using Shield Bash, Alfred didn't feel relieved.

He run to his companions who were struggling against five orcs.