Translator: Cinder Translations
...
Calem sat atop his horse, his brows furrowed.
In front of him, dozens of orc corpses lay scattered across the ground.
It was a scene of gruesome devastation, with the air still thick with the smell of blood. Swarms of flies, seemingly out of nowhere, were feasting on the bodies.
The once-strong and agile orc soldiers were now motionless, tightly gripping their weapons, their twisted faces still displaying pain and fury. For those whose eyes had not yet closed, their final moments of hatred and defiance lingered in their expressions.
"It seems they encountered a brutal ambush," one of Calem's companions, Langfero, whispered to Boyle, noting the silence from the orc commander, which felt ominous.
"Gather their bodies!" Calem issued his first command of the day.
"Yes, my lord!"
His subordinates dismounted and began collecting the bodies, carefully arranging them on a flat piece of grass.
"Urge's squad had exactly thirty men, none of whom surrendered. They all died in battle," one of the orc soldiers reported.
"What about the enemy?"
"From the footprints, it appears there were about fifty to sixty people, no doubt humans. The battle traces suggest Urge's men were first tripped by a rope, and then a barrage of crossbow bolts struck from the roadside, causing significant casualties. Finally, humans suddenly emerged from the forest and launched a surprise attack. Every orc fought to the last breath. They were heroes!"
Listening patiently, Calem walked toward the bodies.
He silently whispered, "Rest in peace, warriors of the plains. May you soon join the embrace of the spirit of the grasslands."
His subordinates lit a fire, burning the bodies to ash.
Life on the plains was harsh, and the orc funeral rites were simple—just a burning of the remains.
"They have proven their courage. So, what should we do next?" Calem's eyes widened, his voice booming with authority as the flames cast a red hue over his face.
The orcs, fired up by their leader's energy, shouted in unison.
"Vengeance for them!"
"Kill the humans!"
"Capture them and destroy them!"
Hearing the uproar, Langfero and Boyle exchanged wary glances.
"Was it the right decision to let these guys into the human world?" Langfero thought, though there was little they could do now—they were already here.
"Since the ambush happened here, the royal army must be following this road toward the Blackstone Pass, so they likely left a rear guard."
Boyle voiced his conclusion.
Calem's eyes gleamed with a cruel light, and he clenched his right hand tightly, his knuckles cracking.
"I'll follow this road and catch up with them! I'll use their blood to honor my fallen comrades!"
A tremendous howl echoed from the orc commander, and as the sound spread, the ground seemed to tremble, as if triggered by some hidden switch.
The thunderous roar grew louder, like a wave rushing toward them.
Langfero turned around, spotting a massive group of cavalry on the horizon. The orcs were tall and strong, mounted on similarly sturdy horses.
Each of them looked resolute, their faces hardened as if they were ready to unleash destruction with a single command.
The orc cavalry swept through the forest, their hooves trampling the path, even crushing the grass along the way.
The massive tide of orcs continued its march westward.
---
At Sunset Valley, the royal army was temporarily stationed as they withdrew westward.
A hurried figure appeared at the entrance to the command tent.
"I am Duke Osman Alambre, here to see Her Highness, Princess Catherine!"
"Please enter, Duke. Her Highness has been expecting you."
The guard lifted the flap, allowing the Duke to enter.
Inside, Princess Catherine was studying a map.
"Your Highness!"
"Duke, it's been a long time!" Catherine turned around and looked at the elderly nobleman, his hair graying but still meticulously grooming his mustache. She couldn't help but feel a tinge of nostalgia.
The Alambre family was the most powerful noble house on the Blackstone Pass.
The Duke spoke excitedly, "Yes, the last time I saw you was in Crystal Glare..."
But Catherine's tone changed abruptly. "But now is not the time for reminiscence."
"Is it the orcs you mentioned in your letter?"
"Yes."
The Duke cursed angrily. "Damn the Bradley family! I've suspected them for a long time. How shameless to ally with the orcs!"
"How many orcs are coming to the Blackstone Pass?"
Catherine sighed. "From all signs, there are at least fifteen thousand coming for us, and the Bradley family's forces are aiding them."
The Duke grew worried.
Catherine reassured him, "I've already sent Leicester's team on a different route to create a false trail, making it seem like we've retreated that way. If it works, it should delay them for a few days."
But Catherine's face darkened as she recalled her unease—Leicester and his team still hadn't returned.
"Duke Alambre, we need a victory to crush the orcs' arrogance. How many men can you mobilize?"
"I can raise twenty thousand from my own lands, though the situation in other territories will depend on the specifics."
"Twenty thousand? That's good enough," Catherine said, relieved, though she knew many of them would be farmers armed with pitchforks.
The Duke continued, "I've already sent out word. Soon, the other lords from the Blackstone Pass will gather their forces, and we'll have a great army to strike back at the orcs."
"Good..."
Just as Catherine was about to speak further, the flap of the tent was lifted, and Ophina entered.
"Leicester has returned!"
"That's great!"
Catherine's anxious heart finally relaxed.
"And there's more good news!"
Ophina smiled and handed over a piece of paper.
"A telegram?"
Catherine quickly grabbed it, her heart racing in anticipation.
The contents were brief, but enough to make her heart leap.
"Paul will send an army to support us!"
The princess exclaimed in delight.
"Paul? Do you mean Earl Grayman?"
The Duke immediately guessed who she meant, having met the Lord of Alden Town when the king announced the royal engagement.
(End of the Chapter)
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