The orcs were scared, but they realized they were being attacked by only a few mages. After realizing this, they remembered a long battle they had with humans once. If they lost, they would lose in an instant. However, only two of them were killed by magic so far, which meant that the humans' attack had failed.
Their anger overcame their fear. Their sharp noses twitched, trying to find the humans. A young delicious smelling human could be smelt from outside the temple’s garden. The orcs ran at once. Suddenly a person with a sword carried on his back appeared. Next to him was a fire salamander. Without hesitation the orcs continued to charge forward. The salamander would be a strong foe, but with only the two, it would be no problem. The human warrior wasn’t even a going to be a problem. It is said that one orc can match five human warriors. And that is for skilled warriors. A child like this would be disposed of with one swing of the club.
Saito whispered to the salamander next to him.
“I’ll attack them from the right. Stop any of those monsters from reaching Kirche.”
Fire flickered from the tip of the mouth of the fiery lizard, and it nodded with a “kyuru kyuru.” The large pigs formed groups to attack. They were trying to intimidate them. Saito’s hand was shaking. I’m sorry for being well dressed. What the hell is that. Scary.
The orc was wearing a necklace. After a better glance, it could be seen that it was a necklace made from a straw rope and human skulls. My world’s rules really don’t exist in this world. The beast’s horrible stench could be smelt.
With a shaking left hand, he grabbed Derflinger. The runes on the back of his hand shone. The anger and the vigor bursting inside his body made his body hot. He started tapping a rhythm with his index finger on the grip of the sword, allowing him to compose himself. He calculated the timing of his leap.
Tap, tap, tap… The rhythm of his pulse.
Saito opened his eyes, and gazed at the orcs who were roaring towards him.
An orc swung its club at the child. It was a hit… It should have been that is. But its club only hit the ground. It tried raising its head to see its surroundings, but its vision slipped down. Its neck wouldn’t move. Its hands reached desperately for its head only to find that it was missing.
Saito had jumped faster than the orc’s swing, and had cleaved off its head. How was that! The decapitated orc tumbled to the ground. Saito leapt at a nearby orc. In an instant, he cut down the stunned orc. With the force of his sword he finished it off. To the left, the fiery lizard was battling an orc, scattering fire everywhere. Flame overpowered the orc and sent a blaze of inferno to its head.
Losing three allies already, they surrounded Saito cautiously. With his sword ready, Saito stared at the orcs with a cold gaze. It was as if a dragon was glaring them at. Their instincts told them that he was dangerous. It told them that they couldn’t win against him. The orcs looked at each other.
But, it was a human. They couldn’t possibly lose. It must have been a mistake just then. Ignoring their instinct, experience and common sense, they roared and went in for an all out attack.
And so, they lost their lives. With the help of magic, Saito and Flame decimated them within two minutes.
Tabitha’s dragon landed on the ground. If the wind dragon had been hurt, it would mean that they would have to walk home, so they decided he wasn’t allowed in the battle. Coming down from the tree, Kirche gave Guiche a shove.
“Ouch! What are you doing?”
“It’s your fault that we got in such a mess!”
The plan was to lure them into a pit that Verdandi had dug and light the oil that was prepared in that pit. All the orcs would then burn to their deaths.
“As if they would just all fall into a pit like that. The first to make a move wins. I only put that into practice.” Grumbled Guiche.
“Your mole dug it right? Have some faith!”
“Well we’re all ok, so it’s fine,” said Saito
Siesta, who was hiding and shaking, rushed over to Saito and hugged him, overcome with emotion.
“That was incredible! Killing those violent orcs in a matter of no time! You’re incredible Saito!”
Siesta then timidly glanced at the corpses of the orcs.
“With these around I guess you can’t really go calmly pick mushrooms in the forest.”
Saito wiped off the blood and fat stuck on Derflinger with a leaf. His hands were still shaking. Haven’t gotten used to battle yet I guess, he thought. Even though they were monsters, they were living things. Things like battles are easily said but they are really living things killing each other. Even if you win, it’s not a good feeling. Although I have powers of the familiar Gandálfr, my body is still made of flesh and blood. If I had slipped and received a blow from one of those clubs… it might be me lying there now.
Noticing Saito’s hands were shaking, Siesta firmly grasped them. Are you ok? Her eyes seemed to ask. Saito forced a smile and nodded.
“You were incredible… but I guess such dangerous things are bad…” whispered Siesta.
Meanwhile, despite the battle, Kirche acted as if nothing had happened. Looking at the map, she said, “Um, within the temple there’s an altar… and beneath that altar there’s a hidden chest.”
“And within that chest…”
Guiche gulped.
“Lies the gold and silver and legendary treasure ‘Brisingamen[1]’ that the priest hid when he abandoned the temple, apparently.”
Kirche brushed her hair triumphantly.
“What’s a Brisingamen?” asked Guiche.
Kirche read the notes on the map.
“Umm, it seems like it’s a necklace made of gold. It’s made from ‘blazing gold’! Wow, even the name makes me excited. When you wear it you will be protected from any disaster and…”
That night… they crowded around a bonfire in the garden of the temple. Everyone had a weary face. Guiche said bitterly, “So the so called treasure was that?”
Guiche pointed at a color faded accessory and a few dirty copper coins. Underneath the altar, there was a chest. However, it was full of junk that they didn’t even consider taking back home.
“This is made of brass. These cheap necklaces and ear rings, these aren’t that ‘Brisingamen’ right?”
Kirche didn’t reply. She just filed her nails with a bored look. Tabitha was reading a book as usual. Saito was lying down, gazing at the moon.
“Hey Kirche, that’s the seventh one already! We followed those maps with such effort and yet all we get are a few copper coins! The treasures aren’t even close to what the notes of the maps say! Those maps are all hoaxes!”
“Shut up. I said it before, there -might- be a real map within that bundle.”
“It’s too mean! Monsters and beasts dwell in ruins and caves after all! Only getting this in return for defeating monsters is far from enough!”
Guiche held the artificial rose in his mouth and lay down on a spread out blanket.
“Well yeah. If you could get treasure by just simply killing monsters, then no one would be poor.”
A gloomy atmosphere drifted amongst them. But Siesta’s cheerful voice drove it away.
“Everyone, dinner's ready!”
Siesta started dividing the stew for everyone from the pot on the bonfire. It smelled good.
“This is good! Wow, it’s really good. What kind of meat did you use?” Guiche asked while stuffing his mouth full.
Everyone else tasted it and started to say how delicious it was. Siesta smiled and said, “Orc’s meat.”