Volume 2 - CH 38

[TLN: Orphe POV]

I closed my eyes and put my breathing in order. …The air of the forest had changed. It happened an hour after Crest departed.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one to notice that something was wrong. The other goblins and werewolves who seemed to notice gathered in the centre of the village.

“The forest seems rather quiet.” Livia said looking out there. …The small sigh she gave was likely due to Crest’s absence. The goblins and werewolves watching Livia also let out sighs.

They were probably captivated by her. Her appearance was certainly something in another league to all the monsters. But Livia was Crest’s girl. Since they slept together every day that had to be the case.

I gave an oppressive glare to the ones staring at her. At the moment I could tell something was approaching the village. It was… the smell of a slime? I lifted my head up as I sniffed the air.

Looks like the other werewolves noticed too. Livia tilted her head. “Is something wrong?”

“There’s a slime coming this way. Something might have happened.”

“…” Livia put her hand on her chin in thought. Then immediately turned to the goblins and werewolves and called out. “Alright everyone, please prepare to set out immediately. Let’s go over there, Orphe.”

Those without weapons moved immediately in accordance with Livia’s instructions.

I was confused. Why are we preparing to head out? I asked her once we separated from everyone else. “What did you mean by that earlier?”

“The slimes have never come to our village before. Didn’t we make an alliance with them this afternoon? I wasn’t able to be there, however. Of course, I understand that someone had to stay behind here.” Her face puffed out in irritation. …Doesn’t she care about that more than you thought Crest? I’ll secretly tell him about it later.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“That means this is an emergency. A slime is coming here even though they’ve never come before. Doesn’t that make this a big deal?”

“…You’re a genius.”

“That’s not the case. Lord Crest would have noticed far sooner.” …They can think a lot faster than me. As I walked getting down on myself, I saw the slime. The slime seemed to be a bit surprised to see our village. Their expression relaxed once they noticed me.

“Th, thank goodness! P, please! Could you come with me quickly!?”

“Did something happen!?” I couldn’t see any obvious wounds on the slime. The did appear to be exhausted, however.

“Th, the northern werewolves attacked!” I glanced at Livia the moment I heard that.

“We understand. Orphe, please get ready to set our immediately.”

“I got it! I’ll go direct everyone! I’ll leave it to you to treat that slime, Livia!”

“Yes.” Livia nodded her head before pulling a potion from the pouch on her hip. I gave that a side glance before hurrying to the village centre.

〇

We finished preparing to set out right away. I ordered one of the werewolves to go out and look for Crest. I gave a look at the goblins and werewolves standing in a line before raising my voice, “The slime village we are allied to is under attack! We’re setting out to aid them immediately.”

“““UOOOOH!””” Shouted the goblins and werewolves all together. …As expected, Crest told everyone about it before hand. Everyone was fired up. …I could tell how much everyone admired Crest just by looking at this. Good thing I followed him. I thought that once more.

I left the village with everyone and headed west towards the slime village. Of course, moving with this number of people took a bit longer than usual, but… we made it within sight of the battlefield.

Slimes and werewolves were jumbled together in a battle. The smell of blood mixed into the surroundings.

“Everyone, let’s go!”

“““UOOH!””” I raised my sword above my head and faced the werewolves. The werewolves immediately broke into a run and I followed behind them.

“What!?”

“These are…! Aren’t these the banished werewolves!?”

“Wh, what’s with their swords!? They’re so sharp!!” Confused voices rose up from within the other werewolves. I also charged in with my sword and slashed at a nearby werewolf.

“Guh! You’re that little brother!” I knocked away the shouting werewolf’s sword and sliced through his chest. I turned from the collapsing werewolf towards the next werewolf.

“You’re still alive huh! …Prepare yourself!” As the werewolf came at me I sliced at him. At that moment, the werewolves pulled magic stones from their chest pockets.

“Here it comes! Brace yourselves!” I announced. The moment the werewolf put the magic stone in its mouth, its eyes turned sharp. …Are they not going to rampage?

The werewolf had reason in his eyes. The corners of his mouth curved upwards, and then he was in front of me in an instant. …As expected, he was fast. But I stopped him with my sword.

“What…!?”

“Don’t think you can beat me at that level!” …I slashed as if cutting through my fury and regret over being unable to do anything back then. Past the fallen werewolf, I could see the slime queen and other slimes facing off against the figure of a werewolf king.

Rage burst forth from within me. With my feelings overflowing as if they were boiling, I kicked off the ground and leapt towards them. I swung my sword before he stopped it with his own.

The power in our blades barely pushed each other back before splitting away from each other. I immediately repositioned my sword and glared at the werewolf king.

“It’s been quite some time, little brother of mine.” Said my brother giving a bow. Then he fixed his grip on his sword. His eyes glared at me sharply.

“…It has been a while. But this is where we part.”

“Are you really able to pull that off?”

“Even if it costs me my life, I will defeat you!” I shouted before kicking off the ground. I killed the distance between my brother and I, then swung my sword. However, he blocked it with his sword.

“…You’re fast. Looks like you’ve done some training.”

“Yeah, of course I have. Living in regret every day from being exiled made me stronger…!”

I raised my sword overhead. He staggered and lifted up his sword; the next instant my body was blown away. Wind. A powerful gust pushed back my body.

After being forced back several times, I looked at my brother. “…I thought you didn’t have a magic-type skill.”

“I acquired it. Along with a name.” After saying this, he took out a magic stone and put it in his mouth. His magic power surged instantly. His eyes went sharp, and his eyes looked to me filled with killing intent. “My name is Veld. You can remember that fact from the afterlife.”

A name? The next instant my brother’s figure disappeared. Something struck my shoulder. I looked that way in surprise to see my brother there.

A punch from his fist knocked me down.

“Guh!” I staggered back up and looked towards him, then saw the slime queen point her hand. A liquid arrow shot out towards my brother, who pointed his hand towards her and blasted it away with wind magic.

“Haa!” Livia slashed at him from behind. He stopped it with the sword in his hand.

…Are we, losing? Even though I’ve worked so hard up till now to defeat him! The situation reversed without me noticing. The other werewolves ate magic stones, powering their bodies. Due to this, they were overwhelming us. …Shit.

“Farewell, my brother.” My brother raised his sword and repelled my body. Then he swung down his sword and… then Livia got it the way.

“Gu…!”

“I see you want to die first.” The corner of my brother’s mouth raised into a grin, as he knocked Livia’s sword to the side, and grabbed her neck.

“Uguh!?”

“…Really though, what a good woman. Not many girls out there as pretty as you. Want to become mine?” As my brother was chuckling, his brow suddenly furrowed.

“Gaah!?”

“W, what’s with this… human!?”

“Also that goblin, they’re fast!?” Goblia punched away the nearby werewolves. Additionally, a scream rang out from another location.

“Do not falter! This fight isn’t over yet! Stand, and raise your swords! Follow me!” It was Crest.

[TLN: Do let me know if you spot typo’s or anything. I did a lot of this chapter in a rather tired state so I probably phrased some things really weirdly here and there.]