Chapter 18 /// Orc Forest /// Part 1

Even though the culprit died, Shion got 6 Million P for successfully achieved the objective.

Being given high praises by the Guild Master of The Life Guild and Sablan, he will be given special treatment the next day.

When he arrived at the room with Haku, there’s a sword and 2 Kg of meat on the table.

“It’s the Dark Sword you want, Altsaber, and 2 Kg of wild boar meat”

Sablan told them with a huge smile, and it widens more when he sees Shion and Haku looks enticed by it. In addition, the reward is not only that, but there’s one card that they are not familiar with is placed.

The card will be explained by the head of the branch.

“This is a gift given only to special members. It is only given to those who have been rendered special person. It’s only been a day since you registered but, I will take responsibility for giving you this card”

Its that big of a problem the robbery incident is for the Life Guild.

There are two main benefits for Special Card Holders. One thing is that something called the Back Menu are added to the point exchange. It means that you can exchange rare magic tools and curiosities.

And another thing, if you want to enter a town where there is a Life Guild, there is no need to pay the entry tax. This is because the Guild will take care of it.

“Ooh, I’ve gotten great things”

“Precious monster materials such as unicorn horns are also on the Back Menu. Also, I think that there is also a special request from the guild. Can you help me with it?”

“You can call me anytime!”

“Please continue to have a good relationship with us”

In addition to the exchanged items and cards, Shion and Haku leave the guild with meat……and vegetables.

‘Whoo, we got a good haul’

“The town has become more peaceful too, and we get to save some more Points!”

‘Let’s exchange it! Meat… Meat… huehehehe’

Shion thinks about how to cook boar meat while blowing out to Haku who is too happy to utter words correctly.

I heard that it is good just to roast it, but there is also another way to fry, and I felt like I wanted to ask a first-class chef anyway.

“If I recall correctly, his name is Mr.Evadon. It seems that the owner of the restaurant will cook for you if you give the ingredients and money. This meat is so precious, should I ask him?”

‘Absolutely~’

So Shion went to the restaurant, but it was closed because it’s a day off. There is no doubt that the sign says that today is a day off.

Haku who can’t just give up knocks on the door, and a clerk comes out, surprised. It’s because there’s a huge Familiar outside the store.

‘Excuse me, is Mr.Evadon here?’

“Th…The manager is not here”

‘Is today is his holiday?’

“N…no, not like that. He hasn’t came back since yesterday. He said he wants to collect ingredients in Orc Forest”

“Is it usual for him to not to come back for a while?”

When Shion asked, the clerk shook his head with an uneasy look. The Orc Forest is not far from the town, and yesterday we collected some ingredients there too. The clerk also said that it was strange for him to take this long.

“I was wondering if I could ask an adventurer to search for him”

‘There’s someone fit for that! Hey, Shion!’

“Oh, if you’re okay with us, we can search for him. We have something for him to cook after all”

“Yes, please! Please find the manager!”

“Leave it to us!”

After hearing about the situation from the clerk, Shion and Haku hurried to the Orc Forest. In contrast to the Dark Forest where he met Haku, there are many orcs as the name suggests.

However, other monsters and animals are also on a wide variety, it is a place where there are quite a lot of people come and go because it is blessed with many ingredients.

“This place is so big～”

‘This is going to be troublesome. Give me that’

“Here it is”

He takes out the clothes he has borrowed from the clerk, and Haku sniffs it and remembers the smell. Haku moves through the forest while sharpening his sense of smell.

‘Hmm, it seems it’s this way’

“Hmm, he went that deep? The mushroom he was looking for were growing around the entrance”

He didn’t have any unpleasant feeling. Haku stops as we moves forward while watching and searching the surrounding scenery. Shion already knew the reason. There’s a big thick tree, and he feels a presence hiding behind it. It must be a monster that made him nervous.

“I’ll do it”

It’s a great time to try Altsaber, so he approached the tree and deliberately turned his back in front of it.

“BUHOOOOO”

Saw this as a chance, the pig-faced human-bodied orc attacks him. His body is more than two meters high, and he swings his club high.

Shion, without looking back, caught the club falling over his head with the back of his sword.

“……?”

Orcs are said to have a fairly high intellect among monsters. But the sword didn’t move in the slightest, even though he hit it with all his might.

But, he can’t afford to think about it. As soon as Shion pushed the club back, his hand were cut down from the elbow.

“Hmm, I can cut easily with this. And it can withstand an impact from orc, this is a good weapon”

Nodding with satisfaction, Shion went to end this. Just as a snake is eating at its prey, he jumps and aiming to cut the orc’s neck with speed and precision.

‘WAIT’

“Wha—”

Zion stopped his sword just before it touches the orc’s neck. He looks at his partner, asking him with his eyes what’s with the unexpected stop.

‘I can smell Mr.Edvan’s slight scent from that orc’

“What?”

Shion steps back, put his sword in its sheath, and let go of the orc.

The orc understood and immediately ran away dragging his body.

“If we follow him, will he guide us to where Mr.Edvan at?”

‘But, we need to follow him as quiet as possible”

“Then, I’ll follow him first. And you will follow us using his scent. Can you do it?”

‘Sure can do~~. That pig’s scent is so strong’

The forest is well shaded, so Shion uses [ Dark Swimming ] to quickly move from shade to shade, eventually entering the shadow of the runaway orc.

Even though the enemy is already far behind, he’s still running for 5 minutes. Cross the creek, cross the bad scaffolding with the roots and stones of the tree, and finally go to the open place where the grass peeled off.

There are trees around it, but they are not in the central square, and instead a large number of orcs gathered in it.

Shion is a little surprised at the sight. Orcs often flock, it’s not uncommon. The problem is that there are 4… no 5 people near them.

Then he moved to the shade of a tree where he could hide from the shadow of the escaped orcs. Because it is a technique close to warp, no one will notice it.

“Well… what kind of situation is this??”

He decided to watch their movements first.