CH 46

“Owww~!”

Fran couldn’t stand it and exhaled loudly.

Dun!　

Lou!

You said it would be easy training, but it’s so hard!

But Fran was well aware.

Lou had been worried about her earlier.

So…

Fran encouraged herself to try a little harder to respond to Lou’s sentiments.

Fran closed her eyes and breathed in through her nose as best she could.

It was only in the forest…

The air you breathe was refreshing and felt a whole lot better than the royal capital.

1, 2, 3…120 heartbeats!?　

…Do I have to hold out until that beat?

That’s right!

Half of it for now, let’s go!

…………57, 58, 59, 60!

From here, exhale slowly, very slowly.

Fran exhaled slowly, so slowly you could hardly see it.

All the noise disappeared from around her, and a relaxing time passed.

“Lou!”　

When Fran finished exhaling, she called out to him.

It didn’t seem to work, so she folded her hands in front of her chest, making an X and smiling bitterly.

From the looks of it, it would take a long time before any results could be seen.

“It’s not optimistic, right?”

But Fran didn’t feel sad.

If she insisted on this training…

She had a feeling that one day she would definitely be able to meet Sylph, the Wind Spirit.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ 

Lou and Fran walked further into the forest.

Fran stared ahead, and then frowned while muttering. 

“Looks like there’s an enemy…ahead.”

“Yeah, and this time he’s stronger than a goblin.”

Lou also seemed to have sensed the presence of the enemy.

There was still no sign of it, though.

However, if it was an ordinary enemy, Fran’s Scouting Magic was enough to detect it.

“They look like orcs. Looks like they’re in packs of a dozen or so.”

After discovering the identity of their enemy, Lou asked Fran to fight with him.

“Now we’ll attack together as a clan combination. I’ll be the shield tank. I’ll lure them out, and then we’ll use magic to stop them.”

“H-Huh?! L-Lou! You’re fighting in the vanguard, by any chance?”

Fran was surprised to hear Lou, saying, “I’ll step out there and fight.”

“Yeah, as a warrior, I’ve been trained by my grandfather in swordplay, bodywork, and of course, clan coordination.”

“But…there are more than ten orcs in ――― Are you sure?”

“Sure thing. I got this!　Fran, watch my movements and theirs, and assess the situation. Don’t forget to signal when you’re going to shoot your fire magic to avoid crossfire.”

“Roger that! But I…I’m not sure if we’ll be in sync perfectly.”

Lou tapped Fran on the shoulder when she looked at him anxiously. 

“It’s gonna be okay, Fran. You have to be confident.”

Upon seeing Lou’s smile, Fran’s anxiety instantly vanished…

With a small nod, Lou whispered quietly.

“When you cast a spell, you must call my name.”

After giving Fran his instructions, Lou set off.

With a worried Fran looking on…

Lou made his way towards the orcs, hiding himself well behind trees and rocks.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ 

What were Orcs?.

They were ugly and filthy in appearance.

They were slightly smaller than humans and had very robust builds.

They were always driven by instinct, by the desire to destroy.

They were vile and despicable, and would never get along with other races.

Orcs defile human women, devour human flesh, and sometimes even cannibalize them, as their instincts dictate.

The Orcs were relaxing in a clearing in front of the forest.

There were about a dozen of them, as Fran had detected with her magic.

Lou approached stealthily and noiselessly, using his Covert Magic to hide his presence and to escape their notice.

Do you remember the powerful and mysterious physical technique that Lou used on Zeimon when he first arrived at the Count of Dumer’s Mansion?

Lou was about to use that unique technique.

His targets were those that got separated from the herd first.

Lou crept up noiselessly from behind one and plunged a sharp finger prick into a vital spot on the neck.

Then the targeted orc died and collapsed without a sound.

Lou killed three more in the same manner.

There were nine of them left.

This was enough for a first strike.

Lou’s remaining task was to kill a few more and then lure the Orcs to where Fran was waiting.

Lou walked up behind two Orcs that seemed to be chatting enthusiastically about something.

Unlike humans, the Orcs’ words sounded like jarring growls…

Lou pulled out the Damascus Sword he had just acquired and stepped right behind one orc, chopping off its head in one fell swoop.

The sound of blood gushing out from the cut surface of the severed head echoed like a voice.

The other orc was stunned for a moment.

However, the moment he realized that his friend who had been talking to him died in a blink, his anger shot up, and he roared.

When he spotted his enemy, Lou, he pounced at him, swinging his rusty axe.

But Lou, of course, easily dodged the attack and chopped his head off in the same manner.

By this time, the rest of the orcs were pointing at Lou with their mouths and roaring with murderous intent.

Lou lightly deflected two more attackers with his fists and legs, and then ran toward Fran.

The remaining seven Orcs followed in his wake.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ 

Fran was a little nervous about training together as a clan for the first time in a long time.

She had trained as a clan in combat when she was at the Magical Girls Academy.

However, this kind of combat training was usually not tackled in earnest, except by students who were aiming to become Female Mage Knights or combat wizards, aka, people like Cindy in the past and Giselle, Michelle, and Olga now.

Fran went to the Valentine’s University of Magic, and like her mother, she had her heart set on academic studies.

So, she had only a few experiences like this.

Also, her experience of being attacked by those deformed creatures had made Fran timid.

However, it was Lou’s words of encouragement that resonated in Fran’s mind.

He told her that everything would be alright, to have confidence!

Lou’s words gently penetrated Fran’s anxious and nervous mind.

Thank you!

Lou, I will do my best!

Fran replied emphatically to Lou’s voice that echoed in her mind. She began to formulate a magic formula inwardly in preparation for the coming battle.

Just then…

Orc growls echoed in the direction where Lou disappeared.

Ah!

Here they come!

Is Lou safe?

But no worries!　

There’s no way he’d be beaten by orcs like that.

Let me focus, instead…

Beyond Fran’s sight…

Lou suddenly leaped out of the forest.

A number of orcs were chasing after him.

Lou waved his hand and began to fight with his sword on the spot.

As per their agreement, he could hold them back until Fran finished chanting her magic formula.

“Lou! Give way!”

Fran raised her hand and shouted Lou’s name, then started chanting the magic formula.

Lou looked back at Fran again and smiled.

Then he quickly moved away from the Orcs.

“Fire Blast!”

As soon as Fran finished her chanting, another volley of divine Fire Blast struck the orcs without mercy.

T/N:  The orc image I have in mind is those in the Lord of the Rings. They’re quite huge. Or was it only because of their armors????