Volume 3 - CH 15

The next day. For starters we migrated the demi-humans in the southern village up north. With this we’ll be temporarily abandoning the base we’ve been using up until now, but I’ve decided there’s a greater need to reinforce this base more for the time being.

After this I’ll just give the demi-humans some directives to follow and leave the village management to them. Buildings, weapons, fields, meals. Those are the primary areas of work. Supposing we didn’t have to worry about external conflict, we’d be able to live our live just focusing on these, but… we still have to worry about the possibility of facing off against the ogre tribe. That’s unacceptable by itself.

I made my way east of the village. This is where we made the training grounds. Well, although I say we made it it’s just a clear space without any buildings or the like. There we had goblins, werewolves, and slimes gathered. In the center of them all stood Orphe. He was instructing everyone on swordplay and having them practice. I was leaving strengthening our war potential to Orphe.

As I got closer the demi-humans stopped swinging their swords and bowed deeply. I made my way closer to Orphe so I wouldn’t get in their way.

“How is it Orphe?” I called to Orphe, and after he finished wiping his sweat off with a towel he was holding he gave me a smile.

“Everyone is certainly stronger than before. Especially the slimes, they’re quite interesting.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah. They can change their shape to some degree. For example-” Orphe looked towards a nearby werewolf.

He nodded his head to a nearby slime and they joined hands. The next moment, the slime changed shape and wrapped around the werewolf’s clothes. The slime fully assimilated with the clothes. It made the clothes a little bit bloated, but you’d never think a slime was there just by looking at it.

“They can combine with other tribes like this and are able to fight together. Also, the slimes are able to stop slashing attacks to some extent.”

Orphe pointed his sword towards them, to which the slime responded ‘go for it’ in a relaxed tone. With the slime’s confirmation, he brought his sword down striking the werewolf’s clothes, which perfectly stopped his blade.

“They can stop attacks like this. It’s like they’re an armour of slime.”

“…I see. This certainly is interesting.”

“Yeah just like that. They can attack a bit as well. Hey, show us an attack.” As Orphe called out to it, a water ball shot out from the slime. It was only ‘a bit’ as Orphe said, but it was certainly convenient. This way even those who can’t use magic can probably attack at mid range. Having both of them combine like that should give them an edge against their opponents.

After that I checked everyone’s status’. I checked Orphe out as well of course, and his status had gone up quite a bit from last time. Orphe’s stats were getting very close to 400. However, going against the ogre tribe with this much would still be difficult.

“I’ll leave training everyone to you from now on as well.” I said to Orphe.

“Got it. …But before that, can I ask you something?”

“What’s up?”

“Could you join me for some training as well?” Laughed Orphe drawing his sword. Good grief. This guy really likes to fight.

That being said I myself would like to move my body around a bit. I plan to go investigate the lake with Sufi after this. I might find some new monsters in the area south of here after all.

Couldn’t hurt to warm up a bit beforehand. I drew my sword as well, and we both moved to face each other with a bit of distance between us.

“Give the signal for us to start.” Called Orphe to a nearby goblin. The goblin raised his fist right away.

“Start!” With the goblin’s cry, Orphe kicked off the ground running. The sword Orphe was holding was a tad wider than my own blade. Thanks to his fine stature, it was the perfect sword for him.

He rushed for me with that sword. I ducked to dodge his attack, then immediately twisted my body and swung my sword upwards. However, Orphe was able to take my attack as well.

A quick response. His movements themselves had gotten swifter. I continued to exchange dozens of blows with him.

At that moment, one of my attacks sent Orphe’s sword flying. I took a moment to collect my slightly disturbed breathing. “Shall we stop here?”

“Yeah, lets. I thought I might be able to win this time, but your attacks are just too strong.”

“I should be saying the same thing.” I was swinging enough to make my hands go numb. However, Orphe still able to swing his hands just as many times and shake off the numbness. He picked up his sword and as he was putting it in its sheath moved to stand next to me.

“Thanks. For now I need to become at least as strong as you.”

“I don’t plan on losing either.”

“Yeah, I get it.” Laughed Orphe before turning to look at the village. “The village is changing quite a bit. With your skill as well Crest, it should be pretty easy.”

“…The village huh.” Orphe was staring into the distance. There’s a chance that he might have his own thoughts about my actions. “Sorry. You’re watching the village you loved be completely destroyed.”

“Nah, that doesn’t particularly matter. We don’t really have the pure hearts you’d need to make a fuss over our buildings.” I tried to apologize, but Orphe quickly shook his head. Then he turned his head to survey the whole village. Finally, a somber expression covered his face.

“What’s wrong, Orphe?”

“No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking that if I had just been a bit better there could have been more werewolves filling the scenery.”

Perhaps the werewolves who died in the last battle were filling his eyes. Around half of the northern werewolves died in that battle.

There might have been more lives that could have been saved. I was thinking the same thing. Orphe didn’t need to shoulder that responsibility alone. With that feeling in mind I patted him on the shoulder.

“Become stronger so that we don’t lose any of the companions we have here in the scenery right now.”

“Yeah, got it. Then as your sword Crest, I will become strong enough to cut down your enemies.” He gave me a straight smile. I need to get stronger myself for the one’s I have trusting me. It would be a pretty embarrassing story if I couldn’t do anything against the ogre tribe after all this.

“Well then, Orphe. I’ll be heading off to check out the lake, so I leave the village to you.”

“Got it. Be careful out there.”

“Yeah.”

After separating from Orphe, I made my way to the east side of the village where Sufi should be waiting. There she was. She stood there checking over the state of her fluid body several times by moving around.

A bag I’d made was in her hand. I wonder what’s inside?

“Sufi, did I make you wait?”

“No, don’t worry about that Crest. Shall we head out then?” Saying so she embraced my arm. A slime’s whole body was soft. However, they were about the same temperature as human skin.

“D, don’t stick to me so much.”

“Livia isn’t looking so it’s fine.” No, I still get the feeling that she’s watching from somewhere! I tried to push her off of me, but Sufi’s body itself was a fluid. The hand I pushed her with simply sunk inside of her body. “Iya-n, how bold.”

“…My word. I still need to carry monster corpses. Goblins, werewolves, and slimes who have free hands, follow me.” I said, gathering people around as I just gave up on dealing with her. What exactly am I going to tell Livia later?