Ren's longsword rippled like moonlight on water as he swung at his target with all of his might.
The orc could do little to react as the blade came flickering down, slicing it from collarbone to chest. It screamed out a bloodied cry of anguish before keeling over and dying. Ren had initially been surrounded by a number of these beasts, but now a graveyard of fresh corpses lay around him, and his armour was soaked with enough blood to fill a tub.
The sixth orc came at him with reckless abandon, wielding a handaxe. It was painfully obvious that this group were inept at swordplay and the likes.
Yelling as it came, Ren heard it before it even closed the distance. He pulled out his sword, Dawnbreaker, from the body of the fifth orc and spun a swift pirouette, running his blade sidelong the attacking orc's gut during the movement, sending it stumbling past him with its intestines spilling from the great wound in its stomach.
The seventh orc, however, might've gotten him. It lurked quietly in the shadows of the fort. Unlike the others that screamed stupidly when attacking, this one remained silent, perhaps biding its time. When Ren was close enough with his back turned, it launched its attack. If he needed to, Ren could've cut it down in blinding speed before it could even scream. But he didn't need to.
“[Magic Missile]!” Three swift dart-like beams cut through the air and struck the orc. “Could you watch your back, you arrogant fool?!” Lian yelled at him.
“Why should I when I have you there to cover for me?” His child-like smile was almost insolent, borderline audacious.
“I ought to let them do you in next time,” said the sorceress with a scowl. “Maybe then you’ll learn a valuable lesson on awareness.”
Ren had shame enough to laugh. Lian was always quick to scold him and censure his actions which she often deemed “too reckless.”
“Excuse me! Your cleric needs help over here, you know!”
Nana was embroiled in a fight against one of the orcs. The creature brought its mace down on her, but she stepped to the side and the heavy metal swooshed through air. Nana then retaliated with an attack of her own by slamming her quarterstaff into the orc’s back.
The orc spun back around with a fierce growl. It charged at Nana once more, but this time aid came in the form of Daichi, the party’s shield.
He slammed into the foe like a battering ram and sent it crashing into a nearby wall. The impact must’ve shattered the orc’s ribs because blood came spewing out of its mouth in a sudden gush. With a single sure stroke, Daichi sent his mace flying into the orc's head and caved its skull in. The attack made a horrific crunching sound that made Nana wince.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
“Are you okay, Nanako-chan?” Ren asked.
Nana frowned angrily. “No thanks to you! Do you have any idea what will happen if I die?! This party will lose its only healer and be doomed! Doomed! I demand to be more protected! Stop running off on your own!”
“If it comes to that,” began Mika, the huntress, “then we have ample potions. Don’t worry, I'm guarding them with my life.” She tapped the bag of potions strapped to her waist.
Nana was aghast. “I am more valuable than potions!” she flared, flailing her arms in the air and stomping her feet.
Ren watched his party members with a smile. Noticing this, Lian asked him, “Is something the matter, Ren?”
“No… I was just thinking that we've been a party for a long time now, huh?”
“Almost a year and a half now, I believe."
Ren nodded. “And I remembered when we first met, then remembered that the other trainees must be done with their traineeship now.”
“Oh, that's right. It's been a month. Why, is there someone among them who's caught your eye? Don't tell me…” Lian's face turned. “Is it one of the girls? Have you been eyeballing them?”
“Huh?”
“Ren, you pervert…” Nana commented with a look of utter disgust on her face.
Ren shook his arms. “No, no, it's nothing like that, I swear! I was just wondering how they were doing! The first quest is always difficult, you know?”
“Your first quest ended with your entire party killed, yes?”
Ren nodded gravely. “That’s right. We walked right into a goblin trap and got wiped out.”
“It’s obvious, isn't it?” said Nana. “The useless don’t survive long.”
“Weren't you half-naked being chased by goblins when we found you?”
“You promised not to bring that up again!"
“Well, that is true,” said Lian. “Right from the get-go it's make or break. Those who aren't cut out to be scouts are rooted out severely.”
“Exactly. It's sink or swim, but you were barely even taught how to stay afloat. It will be interesting to see who among them learn how to.”
Lian studied her friend's face. “Dare I say that you seem interested in this batch in particular, Ren?”
“Interested, huh…?” Ren thought about it. “Well, the ones who got attacked by the gnolls are interesting. They were defending themselves quite well even before we got there.”
“Oh, right. They showed promise. Not a lot of people would be willing to put themselves in danger like that. I heard one of them has even got their licence now.”
“What, already? That's kind of crazy, isn't it?”
“They must have insane potential,” said Daichi.
Ren smiled. But, for whatever reason, Lian could not read that expression. “Potential, huh…?” he murmured softly, mostly to himself. “Well, I'm looking forward to seeing how far they go.”