With the powerful roar of the straight-six engine, Yakky dashed through the forest.
I call out to the owl perched on the hood.
"Familiar, kun..."
"It's probably a female."
"Familiar, San. Night, arrived?"
The owl responds with a nod to my question. It looks like we'll arrive by tonight.
"Faye, Orc, know. Kyo, don't know. Why?"
How come that Faye, who usually spends time inside knows about the Orc Village, but Kyo, the one who goes out exploring, doesn't?
I avoid going to the ancient grove because it's too dangerous for one person. You need to be as strong as Caelus-san to go there.
"Faye?"
"Perhaps... she learned it when her relatives visited?"
"Relative."
"It was a while ago when a self-proclaimed relative of hers came to Hyperborea for work and stopped by Hazafungi as well. They were incredibly strong. They quickly cleared out the nearby magical beasts. The magical stones that ward off magical beasts in the city were also upgraded by that person, making them even more powerful than before."
Seems like Faye's got a reliable family member.
Just as I was about to dig deeper into this relative topic, Kyo suddenly stopped the car.
The reason is a chest, strategically positioned in our way, as though to obstruct our progress.
"Another treasure chest..."
Kyo scowled and muttered.
"It shouldn't be here in a place like this... Things have been weird since the other day. Let's just leave it alone. It's better not to mess with stuff we shouldn't."
Kyo said that and swerved the steering wheel to avoid the chest.
"his box looks pretty high-level, but that means it's also pretty tough to open, and the traps can be nasty. For example, I got caught in a teleportation trap—"
*Pupuuu~*.
Yakumo in the passenger seat leaned forward and blew the horn.
"What's wrong? What's happening, Yakumo-san?"
*Pupu. Pupu.* Constant beeping.
Is it the toilet? He hardly ever goes to the bathroom, which is unusual.
I get Yakumo out of the car.
He immediately approached the chest and opened it without hesitation.
"Really?! He just beats it just like that?! Amazing... Ah, no! That's dangerous!"
Kyo hurriedly got out of the car and pulled Yakumo away from the chest.
"Ah, geez! It's a good thing nothing happened. You're doing something recklessly dangerous..."
She dragged Yakumo away, creating distance, and then turned to me.
"Since it's already been opened, Gevaudan-san, please check the contents. It would be a waste not to."
She told me, and I peered into the chest.
On the plush velvet lay something long and triangular.
"What this."
It vaguely resembled a doorstop in shape and size.
When I picked it up, Kyo narrowed her eyes and said, "Is that... a wedge?"
"Wedge is an item used for smashing dungeon walls or digging ores and stuff. It looks like a decent one, I guess. Not really sure, but someone like Faye might know more."
Speaking of the chest, I just remembered that I got a bottle for it before. I showed it to Kyo and asked what she thought.
"That's a magic power recovery potion."
"Oh."
A magic power recovery potion. It doesn't seem like I'll have much use for it. I hand it over to Kyo.
"Is it okay? This is a pretty high-quality one."
"Fine. can't use. Kyo, sorry. be friend."
"..."
Without saying a word, she glanced down and stuffed the dark bottle into her mushroom hat. That hat seems to double as a bag...
"Orc, Elf, Good. Tiriel, catch. why?"
"Well... I've actually seen a group of Orc in Meteor Lake before. They seemed like country folks, not very in sync with the city's common sense. At that rate, it wouldn't be surprising if they still held onto their old beliefs regarding elves."
"Elf, beliefs. what?"
"They believe that impregnating an Elf cures diseases, eating one extends life, and killing one grant power. It doesn't seem to make sense when you think about it logically, though."
Hmm, a case of crazy religious belief nurtured in a secluded community for a long time.
"Originally, the ancestors of the Orc were a subspecies of Elves, and that complex escalated into the conflicts we see today. By the way, Tiriel, what's she like?"
I explained the circumstances of how I met Tiriel in Faymbaum. It was an awful encounter, involving mutual masturbation and getting covered in semen in front of a crowd.
I wasn't entirely sure where she stood, but it appeared she would be traveling with Titania and me as we got involved with Ferris and the rest.
She's an extraordinary beauty with a different charm than Kyo, with over a century old.
"I didn't ask about her appearance, but... well, Elves are known for their beauty, so I assume they're all handsome and beautiful."
That's right. If Kyo is like a Daisy that you'd want to keep in your room all the time, Tiriel would be like a Calanthe you'd put in a vase.
When I said that, she thought about it "Daisy....."
"Daisy is a weed, isn't it? I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult..."
"I, like, Daisy, cute."
"Then, I guess it's a compliment!"
Her expression remained subtle, but her voice was cheerful. Complimenting a girl by comparing her to a flower is a classic move.
"Tiriel. New pot(Virgin)."
"New pot?....New.....A virgin?... Why do you keep using these strange words? That means she has never been in a relationship with a man, right? Is she young?"
Kyo responded with a tone suggesting that there was something wrong.
"I, will, claim. penetrate, absolutely."
"Heh, I see. Her defense must be so formidable that even Gevaudan-san can't get past her. Is it possible that she's secretly very strong? I guess not."
She just gave a nod in response to my roundabout declaration that I would be her first.
Thinking about it, Lydia mentioned something about Tiriel being special. I don't think aliens care about virginity or stuff like that, right? In fact, they don't care about those sorts of things at all. Maybe it's a tradition from when women were given as gifts.
As the day gradually turned into evening, we cut the car's engine when we spotted a place that seemed likely to be the Orc settlement. There were guards at the entrance.
A primitive atmosphere filled the place, with a defensive wall made from various bones and bonfire using animal skulls. The owl was staring intently at the depths of the village from the hood, looking concerned.
After talking it over with Kyo, we both agreed that trying to free Tiriel by saying, "because she's a friend." wouldn't work. So, there was only one option left.
"Violence, solution, everything."
"Why do you always have to go to such extremes...!"
Kyo let out a small yelp to my sudden declaration of conquest.
"Hyperborean Orc are famous for their violent and ruthless nature... You don't even know how many of them are in there...!"
Her concern was valid, but we can't afford any delay. Tiriel was determined to remain a virgin, It would be a pity for her to lose it like this, and I don't want that either. I want to make Tiriel my new pot.
"I go. Alone. Kyo, wait here."
"Don't do anything reckless, okay?"
I left the owl and the two of them in the car.
Quietly and confidently, I walked straight towards the gate.
A large number of crows were gathered in the sky. They added to the savage atmosphere of the village.
As I approached the gate, the Orc guards, noticing the unusual behavior of the crows, turned their attention to me.
"Evening."
The gentlemanly raid always began with a greeting.
"Elf, girl, here?"
The orc guards stood prepared with weapons in hand, a mix of surprise and caution in their eyes as they faced an unexpected encounter with a butcher appearing out of nowhere.
"Elf...?"
"You know that Elf lad?"
"Un."
As I nodded, the Orc hesitated for a moment. After a while, one of the guards ran back into the village at full speed.
"Elf, help."
"Help? Hmm, I see."
Gehehehe... he chuckled with a vulgar, vile laugh.
"Then you're a little late."
"The festival is over, man."
I don't know what the festival means. But if it's really over, then there's no point in rushing.
There was some time left.
Getting impatient, I began to consider whether it was time to break through the guards and enter, but dozens of Orc members returned, loitering around.
"Chief said to allow it in."
"Hey, you... Butcher...? Anyway, come with me. The chief is calling you."
I was allowed to enter quite easily.
I had no clue why they let the butcher inside. Maybe the orcs here were pretty confident about their fighting skills. Kyo had mentioned that this place was kind of on the edge of a dangerous spot in Hyperborea. While the individual orcs don't seem particularly formidable, they must have strength when they fight together as a group.
The size of the village was much larger than Hazafungi. I estimated that there could be around a hundred orcs living here.
As the Butcher was led away, curious onlookers of all ages gathered around. In this way, I was taken to the center of the village.
In the square, countless Orc corpses were scattered around. All of them were Orc. It seemed that their festival was quite brutal. I would have liked to join it.
"――"
At the back of the square, a large Orc was sitting, and next to him was a large cage that resembled a birdcage.
I made eye contact with the figure inside.
Then, the bars of the cage shook noisily.
"Gevaudan!?"
"Tiriel."
Her whole body was somehow shiny, but there was no mistaking it. It's Tiriel. She's dressed just like I last saw her.
Though she seemed shocked as she saw me waving, after a while, she let out a dry sigh and then sobbed uncontrollably, shedding a faint smile amidst a whirlwind of various emotions. It was an expression I rarely seen on her, she had clearly been very anxious.
"Here, help"
"Jeboooodaaan...!!!!"
Tears welled up, but a glimmer of hope shone through. She clenched her teeth and made a small victory pose as if celebrating like a woman who had won the lottery. With that kind of excitement, she might even say OK to my confession. I love you. Please have sex with me.
"Gevaudan, huh? Who's this?"
A large Orc asked. It was the Orc lying beside Tiriel, with an air of authority. He was undoubtedly the chief.
"Me, Elf, friend."
I pointed back and forth between Tiriel and myself, and the chief snorted at that.
"Unusual to name Elf as a friend, you're quite a strange meat. I hear you ask for the girl."
"Return her."
"Kukuku... Very well."
The chief got up.
"You can have her if you like."
"?"
This unexpected turn of events left me surprised. The Orc is straightforward, it seems. What was the point of the information we had received?
With that, I confidently took a step toward Tiriel.
One step, two steps, three steps. Under the watchful eyes of the Orc, I walked toward the center of the square.
As Tiriel noticed my approach, she looked around, wanting to say something but finding it difficult due to her surroundings.
"Gevaudan, be careful. These people..."
"But..."
The chief held out his hand.
"The sole authority over this Elf girl lies with the survivor!"
Ouch!!
I turned around to see a spear thrust into my back.
This was followed by a rush from all sides, stabbing me multiple times.
"If you make it through as a participant, you can do whatever you want with this Elf girl! Even impregnate her! Gwaaahahahahahah!"
The rules should be explained first. This was practically an ambush.
"Liar."
I said, and laughter filled the surroundings, ridiculing me.
A lie.
A blow from behind.
――A betrayal.
My heart raced, and a strange ringing sound grew louder from the distance. It was as if my limbs weren't mine anymore. Blood seeped around me, and my head throbbed. I'm surprised at how quickly I'm running out of patience.
Blood pumping through my veins, adrenaline surged to my fingertips.
I felt the last of my patience, the burning resentment sat in my throat.
These bastards... They're asking for it...!
K I L L T H E M A L L ! !
My entire body seethed with the intense Butcher's ferocity. The sensation I hadn't experienced in a long time engulfed my consciousness like a tsunami.
With the powerful roar of the straight-six engine, Yakky dashed through the forest.
I call out to the owl perched on the hood.
"Familiar, kun..."
"It's probably a female."
"Familiar, San. Night, arrived?"
The owl responds with a nod to my question. It looks like we'll arrive by tonight.
"Faye, Orc, know. Kyo, don't know. Why?"
How come that Faye, who usually spends time inside knows about the Orc Village, but Kyo, the one who goes out exploring, doesn't?
I avoid going to the ancient grove because it's too dangerous for one person. You need to be as strong as Caelus-san to go there.
"Faye?"
"Perhaps... she learned it when her relatives visited?"
"Relative."
"It was a while ago when a self-proclaimed relative of hers came to Hyperborea for work and stopped by Hazafungi as well. They were incredibly strong. They quickly cleared out the nearby magical beasts. The magical stones that ward off magical beasts in the city were also upgraded by that person, making them even more powerful than before."
Seems like Faye's got a reliable family member.
Just as I was about to dig deeper into this relative topic, Kyo suddenly stopped the car.
The reason is a chest, strategically positioned in our way, as though to obstruct our progress.
"Another treasure chest..."
Kyo scowled and muttered.
"It shouldn't be here in a place like this... Things have been weird since the other day. Let's just leave it alone. It's better not to mess with stuff we shouldn't."
Kyo said that and swerved the steering wheel to avoid the chest.
"his box looks pretty high-level, but that means it's also pretty tough to open, and the traps can be nasty. For example, I got caught in a teleportation trap—"
*Pupuuu~*.
Yakumo in the passenger seat leaned forward and blew the horn.
"What's wrong? What's happening, Yakumo-san?"
*Pupu. Pupu.* Constant beeping.
Is it the toilet? He hardly ever goes to the bathroom, which is unusual.
I get Yakumo out of the car.
He immediately approached the chest and opened it without hesitation.
"Really?! He just beats it just like that?! Amazing... Ah, no! That's dangerous!"
Kyo hurriedly got out of the car and pulled Yakumo away from the chest.
"Ah, geez! It's a good thing nothing happened. You're doing something recklessly dangerous..."
She dragged Yakumo away, creating distance, and then turned to me.
"Since it's already been opened, Gevaudan-san, please check the contents. It would be a waste not to."
She told me, and I peered into the chest.
On the plush velvet lay something long and triangular.
"What this."
It vaguely resembled a doorstop in shape and size.
When I picked it up, Kyo narrowed her eyes and said, "Is that... a wedge?"
"Wedge is an item used for smashing dungeon walls or digging ores and stuff. It looks like a decent one, I guess. Not really sure, but someone like Faye might know more."
Speaking of the chest, I just remembered that I got a bottle for it before. I showed it to Kyo and asked what she thought.
"That's a magic power recovery potion."
"Oh."
A magic power recovery potion. It doesn't seem like I'll have much use for it. I hand it over to Kyo.
"Is it okay? This is a pretty high-quality one."
"Fine. can't use. Kyo, sorry. be friend."
"..."
Without saying a word, she glanced down and stuffed the dark bottle into her mushroom hat. That hat seems to double as a bag...
"Orc, Elf, Good. Tiriel, catch. why?"
"Well... I've actually seen a group of Orc in Meteor Lake before. They seemed like country folks, not very in sync with the city's common sense. At that rate, it wouldn't be surprising if they still held onto their old beliefs regarding elves."
"Elf, beliefs. what?"
"They believe that impregnating an Elf cures diseases, eating one extends life, and killing one grant power. It doesn't seem to make sense when you think about it logically, though."
Hmm, a case of crazy religious belief nurtured in a secluded community for a long time.
"Originally, the ancestors of the Orc were a subspecies of Elves, and that complex escalated into the conflicts we see today. By the way, Tiriel, what's she like?"
I explained the circumstances of how I met Tiriel in Faymbaum. It was an awful encounter, involving mutual masturbation and getting covered in semen in front of a crowd.
I wasn't entirely sure where she stood, but it appeared she would be traveling with Titania and me as we got involved with Ferris and the rest.
She's an extraordinary beauty with a different charm than Kyo, with over a century old.
"I didn't ask about her appearance, but... well, Elves are known for their beauty, so I assume they're all handsome and beautiful."
That's right. If Kyo is like a Daisy that you'd want to keep in your room all the time, Tiriel would be like a Calanthe you'd put in a vase.
When I said that, she thought about it "Daisy....."
"Daisy is a weed, isn't it? I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult..."
"I, like, Daisy, cute."
"Then, I guess it's a compliment!"
Her expression remained subtle, but her voice was cheerful. Complimenting a girl by comparing her to a flower is a classic move.
"Tiriel. New pot(Virgin)."
"New pot?....New.....A virgin?... Why do you keep using these strange words? That means she has never been in a relationship with a man, right? Is she young?"
Kyo responded with a tone suggesting that there was something wrong.
"I, will, claim. penetrate, absolutely."
"Heh, I see. Her defense must be so formidable that even Gevaudan-san can't get past her. Is it possible that she's secretly very strong? I guess not."
She just gave a nod in response to my roundabout declaration that I would be her first.
Thinking about it, Lydia mentioned something about Tiriel being special. I don't think aliens care about virginity or stuff like that, right? In fact, they don't care about those sorts of things at all. Maybe it's a tradition from when women were given as gifts.
As the day gradually turned into evening, we cut the car's engine when we spotted a place that seemed likely to be the Orc settlement. There were guards at the entrance.
A primitive atmosphere filled the place, with a defensive wall made from various bones and bonfire using animal skulls. The owl was staring intently at the depths of the village from the hood, looking concerned.
After talking it over with Kyo, we both agreed that trying to free Tiriel by saying, "because she's a friend." wouldn't work. So, there was only one option left.
"Violence, solution, everything."
"Why do you always have to go to such extremes...!"
Kyo let out a small yelp to my sudden declaration of conquest.
"Hyperborean Orc are famous for their violent and ruthless nature... You don't even know how many of them are in there...!"
Her concern was valid, but we can't afford any delay. Tiriel was determined to remain a virgin, It would be a pity for her to lose it like this, and I don't want that either. I want to make Tiriel my new pot.
"I go. Alone. Kyo, wait here."
"Don't do anything reckless, okay?"
I left the owl and the two of them in the car.
Quietly and confidently, I walked straight towards the gate.
A large number of crows were gathered in the sky. They added to the savage atmosphere of the village.
As I approached the gate, the Orc guards, noticing the unusual behavior of the crows, turned their attention to me.
"Evening."
The gentlemanly raid always began with a greeting.
"Elf, girl, here?"
The orc guards stood prepared with weapons in hand, a mix of surprise and caution in their eyes as they faced an unexpected encounter with a butcher appearing out of nowhere.
"Elf...?"
"You know that Elf lad?"
"Un."
As I nodded, the Orc hesitated for a moment. After a while, one of the guards ran back into the village at full speed.
"Elf, help."
"Help? Hmm, I see."
Gehehehe... he chuckled with a vulgar, vile laugh.
"Then you're a little late."
"The festival is over, man."
I don't know what the festival means. But if it's really over, then there's no point in rushing.
There was some time left.
Getting impatient, I began to consider whether it was time to break through the guards and enter, but dozens of Orc members returned, loitering around.
"Chief said to allow it in."
"Hey, you... Butcher...? Anyway, come with me. The chief is calling you."
I was allowed to enter quite easily.
I had no clue why they let the butcher inside. Maybe the orcs here were pretty confident about their fighting skills. Kyo had mentioned that this place was kind of on the edge of a dangerous spot in Hyperborea. While the individual orcs don't seem particularly formidable, they must have strength when they fight together as a group.
The size of the village was much larger than Hazafungi. I estimated that there could be around a hundred orcs living here.
As the Butcher was led away, curious onlookers of all ages gathered around. In this way, I was taken to the center of the village.
In the square, countless Orc corpses were scattered around. All of them were Orc. It seemed that their festival was quite brutal. I would have liked to join it.
"――"
At the back of the square, a large Orc was sitting, and next to him was a large cage that resembled a birdcage.
I made eye contact with the figure inside.
Then, the bars of the cage shook noisily.
"Gevaudan!?"
"Tiriel."
Her whole body was somehow shiny, but there was no mistaking it. It's Tiriel. She's dressed just like I last saw her.
Though she seemed shocked as she saw me waving, after a while, she let out a dry sigh and then sobbed uncontrollably, shedding a faint smile amidst a whirlwind of various emotions. It was an expression I rarely seen on her, she had clearly been very anxious.
"Here, help"
"Jeboooodaaan...!!!!"
Tears welled up, but a glimmer of hope shone through. She clenched her teeth and made a small victory pose as if celebrating like a woman who had won the lottery. With that kind of excitement, she might even say OK to my confession. I love you. Please have sex with me.
"Gevaudan, huh? Who's this?"
A large Orc asked. It was the Orc lying beside Tiriel, with an air of authority. He was undoubtedly the chief.
"Me, Elf, friend."
I pointed back and forth between Tiriel and myself, and the chief snorted at that.
"Unusual to name Elf as a friend, you're quite a strange meat. I hear you ask for the girl."
"Return her."
"Kukuku... Very well."
The chief got up.
"You can have her if you like."
"?"
This unexpected turn of events left me surprised. The Orc is straightforward, it seems. What was the point of the information we had received?
With that, I confidently took a step toward Tiriel.
One step, two steps, three steps. Under the watchful eyes of the Orc, I walked toward the center of the square.
As Tiriel noticed my approach, she looked around, wanting to say something but finding it difficult due to her surroundings.
"Gevaudan, be careful. These people..."
"But..."
The chief held out his hand.
"The sole authority over this Elf girl lies with the survivor!"
Ouch!!
I turned around to see a spear thrust into my back.
This was followed by a rush from all sides, stabbing me multiple times.
"If you make it through as a participant, you can do whatever you want with this Elf girl! Even impregnate her! Gwaaahahahahahah!"
The rules should be explained first. This was practically an ambush.
"Liar."
I said, and laughter filled the surroundings, ridiculing me.
A lie.
A blow from behind.
――A betrayal.
My heart raced, and a strange ringing sound grew louder from the distance. It was as if my limbs weren't mine anymore. Blood seeped around me, and my head throbbed. I'm surprised at how quickly I'm running out of patience.
Blood pumping through my veins, adrenaline surged to my fingertips.
I felt the last of my patience, the burning resentment sat in my throat.
These bastards... They're asking for it...!
K I L L T H E M A L L ! !
My entire body seethed with the intense Butcher's ferocity. The sensation I hadn't experienced in a long time engulfed my consciousness like a tsunami.
