Chapter 16.2: Elves In Trouble

As they arrived onto the scene, they were greeted with a hellish sight.

A vast number of zombies bearing down on a sparse few Elves.

The latter had grouped up into a formation and were mounting a valiant defense, but it was apparent that they were injured and quickly tiring.

Several had already fallen to the ground, the others forming a living barrier around them to protect them.

Others and already breathed their last, and a few more were quickly becoming insect feed.

It was clear that it was only a matter of time before they were wiped out.

“Damn it… we’ve gotten so far… just to…”

“Hah! I can’t believe it! We, the 31st Independent Squadron! We made it through hell itself only to fuck up and die in a place like this!”

“Ah… I didn’t even get a chance to get married…”

From their words, some of the survivors had resigned themselves to their inevitable demise.

There were no fresh recruits among them – they had gone on ahead.

Only the veterans were left behind to close up the rear.

However, whether they had a hundred, or even a thousand battles under their belts, no regular mortal being could perpetually defend against an infinitely regenerating zombie assault.

One by one, they succumbed to fatigue and accumulated injuries.

“Take this, you brainless, rotten, fuck, “Flare Bla-!”… Shit, I’m out of magic… Ah, I’d never thought I’d die in peacetime. I guess I got soft and left my guard down.”

“First, we save the men during the war, and they leave us behind to get married. Now we save the recruits, and they also get to live on while we don’t get shit! Fuck!”

“Ah… I didn’t even get a chance to get married…”

Only a handful of Elves were even standing at this point.

They kept on fighting valiantly, but they had no way out and no more energy to spare.

Eventually, one by one, they fell and were set upon by hundreds of hungry, vile…

“Sacred Edge!”

Out of the blue, a blade of bright light swept away the approaching undead.

It was a single warrior.

Another zombie fell with every slash of his keen sword while the flames from his shield burned them into ashes.

No, he wasn’t alone.

A bit further back, another warrior was wreaking havoc.

With each swing of his massive blade, several zombies literally found themselves reduced to nothingness.

“…?”

The dumbfounded Elves saw a flying, shining object erratically zipping around above them from the corner of their eyes.

It flew down right above the fallen Elves and spun around in the air while scattering sparkling dust.

They had no idea what it was, but it still quite an interesting sight.

But due to how strangely creepy its movements were, they didn’t know if it was a good or bad thing.

Not like they had any strength to react either way.

With this kind of backdrop, two fierce warriors burst onto the stage.

One after the other, the zombies fell.

It was as if they were casually mowing the grass on their front lawn.

Their blades just kept moving and moving, as if they didn’t know the meaning of fatigue.

This kept going until all the nearby zombies were wiped out.

“Fu….”

Once he had confirmed the coast was clear, Breeze turned towards the Elves.

While running his fingers through his hair, he spoke out.

“Are you alright, ladies?”

The Elves, taken aback by the tides suddenly turning in their favor, nodded.

At first, they hadn’t known what to think about these newcomers, but they were nonetheless glad that they had been saved.

However, the Big-Sword-Orc-Light-Blade-Human duo had them completely dumbfounded, and they were at a loss for words.

Following alongside Breeze, Bash also approached the Elves.

Until he noticed something at the edge of his field of view – a person, lying on the ground grimacing while trying to speak.

“Hrk…!”

A lone Elf slumped against a tree.

Her eyes were closed, and her breath was thin.

Bash had seen her before.

“Oi… hey. Hey! Are you okay?”

The Hero didn’t know her name.

But he remembered her.

How could he possibly forget?

If it weren’t for her, Bash would have never made it to the Great Eagle’s Nest.

“Ah…ah… this voice. You’re Sir Orc, from the other day?”

“Yes! Relax, you’re not hurt. Your wounds are fine.”

“No…I…I can’t see anymore. It’s all black… Ah…thank you for…”

“No, that’s because your eyes are closed! You’re absolutely fine!”

Bash was correct. Her wounds had already begun to heal, and she was in no danger at all.

Faerie Dust could quickly heal nearly any injuries.

Perhaps she had been struck by a Wraith, and her thoughts were in disarray.

While effective against nearly all body ailments, Faerie Dust was not all-powerful against mind damage.

Not like the Faeries needed it to be. Their whole species’ default mental state was akin to delirium anyways.

“Sir Orc… please… tell her… tell Lady Sonia in the main force… to the South… tell her that there was no Lich here. It was a fake… with this many zombies… it was a trap…even she… might be in danger…. please…”

Sonia was in danger.

As soon as Bash heard those words, his heart tightened.

Sonia.

That was the name of the beautiful Elf he was gunning for.

She was in trouble.

With this motivation pushing him forwards, the Hero had no choice but to stand up.

“…I got it. Thanks for the information.”

Bash stood tall.

He looked over to Breeze.

The Human warrior had overheard the conversation and understood what the Orc intended to do.

“Go. I’ll take care of things here. I’ll bring your stuff back safely too.”

Breeze held an Elf in his arms as he said this.

Bash could hear her whisper to him, “Please…take me home…”, as he looked over her with a face full of glee.

The Hero could have sworn he even saw some drool dripping out of the corner of his lips.

“……………………”

The Orc was insanely envious.

Perhaps if he had approached another Elf on the spot, instead of being distracted, he could be in Breeze’s shoes right now.

But the Hero had made up his mind.

On that night he met Sonia, he had committed himself, following Zell’s advice, to ask her, and only her to marry him.

Even while he decimated zombie after zombie, she occupied every inch his thoughts.

“Thanks. I’ll count on you.”

Leaving behind those words, Bash ran off towards the depths of the forest.

Breeze watched as his back shrank into the thick foliage.

He too, was a warrior that had survived the war.

He understood the sense of purpose that would drive a man to throw himself into battle.

There was no way he could bring himself to even attempt to convince Bash to stay.

“Man… real Heroes are different from us, huh…”

Besides that, Breeze was now aware.

Why was an Orc out here, traveling to Siwanasi?

Why was he hunting Orc Zombies within the forest without rest for a while now?

The actual reason behind the Orc Hero’s presence.

“Ah… I really wanted to…see my darling’s face…one last time…”

“Oh, Captain Azalea, it’s you. Seriously, get up. Your wounds are already healed.”

“…Huh?”

When Azalea finally recovered from her confusion and opened her eyes, Bash was already long gone.