Chapter 21 - Three Servings of Vengeance

Chapter 21 - Three Servings of Vengeance

An orc, the one who had crushed the instructor beneath its bulk, loitered right in front of me.

The creature had its back turned to the orc dummy concealing a weapon.

If I wanted that weapon, the orc had to die first.

"Kinjo, we need those swords. Scan the area," I ordered.

"There are two more on the right, but they're a bit far," Kinjo replied.

"Bell! Two abandoned dummies to the right. Rip them apart and check!"

"What? Why should I? I'm here to fight too!" Bell protested.

"There are swords hidden inside. Bell, you have your own target, don't you?"

"What? How do you even know—"

"Go! If you're that eager to fight, then—" I thrust my hand forward, palm open.

"What's this about?"

"Your dog tags. I'll make sure your name is included in my kill tally."

Bell smirked, her lips stretching wide as she handed over her tags.

"I'm counting on you, Mago. I'll grab those swords in no time."

She clenched her teeth and dashed away.

The special-armored orc loomed ahead, a chipped dual-handed axe slung casually over its shoulder.

It glared down at Kinjo and me with disdain.

I discarded my training sword haphazardly and ripped off my own dog tags, wrapping them around my right hand so the engraved metal plate rested atop my fist. Bell's tags went around my left.

"Fire," I commanded.

Kinjo promptly set the orc's axe ablaze with a flicker of magic.

"The moment my punch lands, light these too," I said, raising both fists.

"Got it… I see where you're going with this," Kinjo replied, nodding slightly.

I walked slowly toward the orc, who raised its now-flaming axe high and bellowed a challenge. Its display of bravado seemed intended to mock Kinjo's magic, as if dismissing it as worthless.

The more it underestimated us, the better.

"Go ahead… enjoy it while you can," I muttered.

I charged first.

The orc shifted its weight behind its axe and swung down the moment I entered its range.

With a swift sidestep, I dodged right, the axe embedding itself into the ground.

The orc's stance dropped as it followed through.

I immediately swung my left fist.

As it neared the orc's mottled face, I shouted, "Kinjo!"

Flames erupted from Bell's dog tags just as my fist connected with the orc's cheekbone, leaving a charred mark on its green skin.

The name engraved on the dog tags burned into the orc's flesh like a brand:

[Imperial Army, 1st Training Ground, Class 66]

[Trainee No. 10]

[Bell Red]

"Feels like tenderizing pork," I quipped.

The orc staggered briefly but quickly regained its balance, straightening its posture.

Without missing a beat, it charged at me, lowering its shoulder to ram me.

I sidestepped to my left, rolling to safety, but the orc adjusted its grip on the axe, shortening its range.

"Mago! It's coming faster!" Kinjo warned.

The orc sacrificed reach for speed, swinging its weapon with relentless fury.

I retreated step by step, searching for an opening.

"Mago!"

My back hit a tree.

"It pushed me this far… intentionally," I realized.

The orc sneered, swinging its axe horizontally at my waist.

Timing it perfectly, I leapt high into the air, pulling both legs up mid-jump.

Planting my foot firmly against the thick tree trunk, I launched myself forward.

My knee slammed into the creature's face.

"Grooooar...!"

The crunch of its nose shattering was unmistakable.

Without stopping, I extended both arms, grabbing the creature's braided, rope-like hair.

Naturally, my hands slid behind its neck.

Wrapping my legs tightly around its neck, I fixed myself in place.

Then, I brought its face downward with a vicious strike.

Left hand, right hand.

Alternating blows rained down relentlessly.

The burning dog tag around my fists left branded marks on the creature's skin.

I continued pummeling while assessing its condition.

Now.

The creature reversed its grip on the axe, its blade pointing upward.

It intended to swing it backward over its shoulder, aiming for the back of my neck.

I held my left hand ready, waiting for the axe blade to close in.

When it lunged at my leg, I seized the axe handle.

"First time grappling with a human, huh?"

With one hand, I held firm.

The creature thrashed wildly, trying to shake me off.

Just as planned.

I unwrapped my legs and let myself fall.

At the same time, I redirected the axe blade toward its neck.

The axe, meant to cleave my legs, drove mercilessly into its owner's throat.

Before its head could fully separate from its body, the creature crumpled lifelessly.

As the fight concluded, Kinjo approached.

"You're tougher than you look..."

I grasped the orc's axe with both hands and split the nearby orc dummy like firewood.

Sand spilled out, revealing a hidden sword.

It was sheathed, with a simple appearance.

Blowing away the sand clinging to the hilt, I examined it.

Sword in my left hand.

Axe in my right.

"Mago, what are you doing?"

I adjusted my stance and focused on balance.

Left hand.

The sword felt more natural to wield.

"I was considering the axe, but the sword suits me better."

I discarded the two-handed axe.

"Of course! Why didn't I think of that? No need to search for every sword; we can just use the enemy's weapons..."

Kinjo picked up the axe I had discarded but couldn't lift it.

"Or maybe not."

He let it drop again.

"Mago! Kinjo!"

Just then, Bell came running, swords in both hands.

"I found them. But why were there swords inside the dummies?"

Bell handed one of the swords to Kinjo as she spoke.

"I'm not sure. Kinjo figured it out, though."

Now all three of us had sharp weapons.

"Mago, what's the plan now? I want to go after the leader—that one with the necklace."

"The leader?"

Kinjo asked, and Bell nodded.

"The one with the gaudy necklace. Like pearls on a pig."

"Wait, Bell. As much as I want to slay monsters, protecting our comrades comes first."

Kinjo waved his hand to emphasize his point.

"The ones who went down below?"

"Yeah. They're probably being chased by orcs and goblins. They don't have weapons like us. It's dangerous."

"I have to go after that guy...!"

Bell shouted, her frustration evident.

A scream followed from a distance.

It was unmistakably one of our comrades' voices.

"I need to go..."

Bell muttered, her expression twisting.

"I can't just ignore it... Oscar might be nearby too..."

A choice had to be made.

Should we go hunt the monsters?

Or protect our comrades first?

I wanted to do both, but a reckless move would only end in failure.

If I hadn't already made preparations...

That's exactly what I'd be doing.

"Kinjo, Bell. Our comrades will be fine. Let's go after the leader."

"Fine? The instructors are unarmed too!"

Kinjo shot back immediately.

"El is still at the training grounds. She's probably on her way here now. Especially to find Bell."

"El?"

Bell tilted her head in confusion.

"Yeah, El. Elizabeth Red."

"El... Sis? Why is she here?"

***

"An earthquake?"

El pressed herself flat against the ground, putting her ear to it.

She held her breath, listening intently.

"No, it's something else… something strange."

Sensing an ominous feeling, she sprang to her feet.

El moved to the armory and began to open the door.

Just as a gap big enough for a fist appeared, the chain lock clamped down.

"Is there anyone outside?"

Someone knocked from the inside.

"There's someone here, inside!"

Despite pounding on the door several times, no response came.

"Looks like no one's there…"

Realizing no one was around, her expression shifted—not to dismay but to relief.

After focusing her thoughts, she kicked the armory door.

The door crumpled like paper and flew far away.

Dust and a loud crash followed as she dashed at full speed.

She ran toward the rear mountain, the one her sister had climbed.

But then…

"Ah…"

She changed course and entered a nearby building.

When she emerged again, she was armed with her cherished sword strapped to her side.

***

"We don't have weapons! And there's no one to help us! It's humiliating, but we have no choice but to retreat!"

Amon raised his wooden sword high, his voice commanding.

"Don't rush into anything!"

He continued speaking while backing away, guiding his team in retreat.

He watched his comrades follow him down the slope.

"Amon! We're going to get caught!"

One of them whimpered, nearly in tears.

"Move faster…! We know this terrain better than anyone!"

True to his words, Amon adeptly avoided the steepest parts of the slope.

"Trust me! And trust yourselves! You've climbed and descended this place countless times before!"

All the while, he kept his eyes on his comrades, never looking away.

Sweat stung his eyes, and he wiped it away with the back of his hand.

"Fall back! I'll take responsibility…."

But he couldn't finish the sentence.

He understood how heavy the burden of leadership could be.

He had watched his father, the head of a prestigious family, bear that weight—only to ultimately crumble under it.

'I'm the strongest in the attack team. I have to succeed. I'm carrying the family name, meant to move nations. If I can't even lead my comrades….'

Yet doubt gnawed at him.

Could they all survive against such overwhelming numbers?

Could they make it through without proper weapons?

Negative thoughts swirled in his mind.

He tried to push them away.

And then, a memory surfaced.

"Amon, sorry, but I'll need you to handle this."

It was what Mago had told him the night before.

"You're the only one who can fill my place tomorrow."

Amon clenched his eyes shut and tightened his trembling grip on the wooden sword.

"I'll take responsibility! Keep following me!"

At that moment, Amon's back bumped into something solid.

"Move."

El spoke curtly, her tone sharp.

She roughly wiped blood off her blade.

"Bell?"

"It's El. Where's Bell?"

"Who are you…?"

"I asked where she is."

"If you don't tell me who you are, I can't just—"

"I'm Bell's sister. Now shut up and answer!"

"Bell is… she's likely farther up. The guards went up the mountain about an hour earlier, so…"

"She's probably making her way down, right?"

"Bell is with Kinjo and Mago. The three of them together… they'd kill as many as they could before they'd ever retreat."

El grit her teeth, then ignored Amon entirely, starting up the hill.

Her crimson hair streamed behind her.

"You can't go up there! I don't know who you are, but—"

"I came from the armory."

"What…?"

'Wait, if that's true, does that mean… the armory's open right now?'

***

"They're following orders."

Kinjo muttered quietly.

He pointed toward a group of orcs stationed ahead.

"The command likely comes from the Demon King. What's the purpose? Are they ordered to destroy the training ground? Or did they spot humans gathering here while flying and decide to descend and kill them?"

"Shut up. Who cares why they're moving? All we need to do is kill every single one we see."

"Bell's right, Kinjo. Let's think about that later. Bell, you go after the leader."

"Exactly what I wanted."

Bell readied herself to sprint.

"Bell, take this before you go."

Kinjo tossed her a canteen.

It was filled with the liquor that would awaken her powers.