Chapter 13 (1/2)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 – The wriggling forest

My eyes scan through the strategy guide in Wiki to search for the boss near Malcott’s forest. It seems that the nearest boss monster located near the capital Malcott is to the north of it.

Come to think of it, Liam had said before that the Orcs reside in the forest north of Meldor. Even so, I thought for sure that there would be an Orc King or Orc-type commanders, but it seems like it isn’t so. Orcs were not the only monsters in the forest.

Perhaps Liam did not know the vicinity well yet.

Considering the boss’s level and my own, it’s an appropriate opponent for me, but it’s still probably stronger than me. Even so, this particular boss’s level is lower than the other bosses. It might be strange not to know that fact.

Well then, should I hurry up and start logging in now?

The kingdom’s army was organized, and it was the fourth day that they had started marching.

There were no foolish bandits or monsters that came to challenge the two-thousand strong army, and they progressed smoothly till they reached the forest where the orcs resided directly. They were able to survey the areas of the forest without any issues.

The advancing army was taking a short break to heal their weariness.

If they were to think of it realistically, it was not really a miracle to move at such a swift speed.

First, the army was trained well. Secondly, when the order to subjugate the orcs was issued, the emergency structure that the kingdom had made it a matter of time to set up the emergency army quickly. Finally, the wizards’ support magic aided in the advancing army’s speed behind the scenes.

Also, one could say it was fortunate there were around 200 adventurers despite the hasty recruitment in the Adventurer Guild. Some of the even had subjugated orcs before, and at least held the sense they were facing dangerous orcs, unlike the ones they had encountered before.

These mercenaries who had real battle experience would be useful in this fight.

However, they had never moved with a large army before. Rafael divided them into two and distributed accordingly in the kingdom’s army in order to lead them properly.

Even though all the matters were supposedly settled, Rafael was pondering deeply on his suspicions.

Just what exactly happened to these orcs that needed to be suppressed?

Why had they become so strong that they were able to launch such a strong a.s.sault to the village and destroyed it?

The army had done their due diligence in regards to the monsters’ activity in recent years. It was true that there were monsters had become stronger, but they were either an increase of individual’s skill levels or monsters moving in groups with an increase in numbers, although limited.

So why and how did this happen?

Rafael considered the possibility of a commander amongst the orcs. The orcs were a race that followed their instincts, and was it not impossible for a powerful person they could not defeat who made them submit?

If this were true, defeating that leader would mean that the enemy army’s control would be lost, and their winning chance would probably become higher.

Still, just how strong was that enemy commander was to control a thousand orcs?

[Commander, what are you thinking about?]

His adjutant asked, and Rafael stopped his thoughts and responded to him.

[No, nothing. I feel a little off because our progress has been excessively smooth.]

[Indeed. It is true that our progress has gone a little too well, but it’s probably better to have that instead of problems.]

Rafael gave a smile of acknowledgment.

His

adjutant had been with him for seven long years.

Because of their differences in status, there would be some hesitation to speak informally. Thus, when it was only the two of them together, Rafael would have an affable disposition and they could speak freely.

[Come to think of it, there’s a new type of potion that came from the Academy, but is it usable?]

In order to change the subject, Rafael turned the topic to the new medicine from the Royal Magic Research Inst.i.tute, otherwise known as the Academy.

[Yes, it’s a product called Elixir, and it has been judged to be quite effective. At any rate, it appears that one can receive both effects of an HP and Mana potion from drinking it. The supporting magicians and a few others have tried it, and it seemed like it reached an Intermediate Mana and Health Potions’ potency.]

[I see, a combination effect, huh. It’s a pity and quite frustrating that we cannot procure a satisfactory amount to ensure our troop’s safety because of the lack of time.]

Medicine that could recover mana and heal injuries was highly practical. It was particularly important for the knights who served as vanguards. Mana was not limited by wizards or spellcasters, and every human and demi-races’ citizen were capable of using mana. Wizards and spellcasters could convert mana and make various miracles, but there were techniques to improve physical strength or strengthen tools by using Mana as well.

Because of that reason, Mana Potions were indispensable. The vanguard knights who were easily susceptible to injuries meant that the Elixir was of great importance because it had the effects of HP and Mana potions at the same time.

The knights did not understand what exactly the people in the Academy were usually doing and why there was a need for them to even exist, but the current evaluation was higher as the voices of praise were going up.

Rafael was astonished at the improvement of the kingdom’s potion-making but was also proud that he belonged to his nation.

This topic filled Rafael and his adjutant’s conversation, until the noise from the hooves of a horse running towards them echoed in their ears.

[Commander, I think the scouts have returned—]

It seemed like the scouts who went out earlier had returned.

[Is that so? But it’s a little fast. I wonder if they found something? In any case, we should listen to the report.]

Rafael and his adjutant turned around to face the rider and receive the report.

[Welcome back. You have returned quickly.]

[Yes, commander! That’s because we found something strange.]

[Strange?]

Rafael responded without thinking before he could reprimand the young knight who went out scouting and returned with an unclear report instead of getting to the point.

[We could not find any presence of the orcs, and besides the rustling of leaves in the forest, it was quiet and seemed uninhabited.]

[What?]

The forest was indeed big, but was there any possibility of not finding an orc when there were a thousand of them? Perhaps they saw the army’s presence and hid because of that?

(….. Maybe they have set up an ambush.)

Their opponents could be seen as a proper army. It was a high possibility that they had set up ambushes, not to mention his own army were in the enemies’ territory and any fights would be to their advantage.

It was a feeling of dread, even with the superior numbers he had now.

The possibilities for an ambush were many because of the many obstacles in the forest, while the movement of his soldiers was limited. If it was possible, he wanted to deploy the cavalry and lure the enemies out to a spot outside the forest where they could fight an open battle.

(Should I burn the forest and lure them out?)

There was the possibility of bringing out monsters other than orcs, especially when there was no real need to force out the enemies.

The most significant trouble they could face was a dragon or something similar. There were existences of High Dragons which were human-friendly. He had not heard of any such powerful creatures living in this forest, but he could not deny the possibility of such a dragon living deep in the woods where people did not reach.

If the army set off a fire, it would be an apparent act of hostility, and the dragon would bare their fangs at them.

There was once a kingdom who accidentally attacked a dragon’s nest and had their capital city burned and destroyed by it. They could handle a dragon with low intelligence if it appeared, but defeat would be inevitable if orcs were put into the mix.