CH 9.5

And here it is, the real, final, last piece of content from volume 1. Now we start volume two for real!

It had been eleven days since Judith’s encounter with Bash.

On that particular morning, the Knight had been ordered to patrol the streets along with her men.

The highway incident case had been closed, but she had been instructed to keep an eye on the premises, just in case they had missed any stragglers from the cave bandits.

The same people that had just “solved” the case had been given a useless, boring task.

In other words, it was a punishment.

Houston was rational above all else. He needed to punish them for violating his orders, but he also thought house arrest was a big waste of time and resources.

Two days of house arrest, and a single day of useless, menial work.

“I won’t be admonishing you any further in this aspect. The true punishment is hard work every single day from now on.”

That was what Houston was trying to say with his actions.

Judith and her men knew this, which is why they solemnly accepted their mission, and headed to the highway.

Everyone thought the mission would end without a hitch.

Alas, it was not to be. Almost as soon as Judith and the others arrived at their destination, an Orc crawled out from between the trees.

A regular looking green Orc. I wielded a battle axe in its right hand and carried a thick stick on its back.

If this came down to a fight, it would probably fight with a weapon in each hand.

“An Orc… Hey, you there, what are you doing here?”

Before she had met Bash, she would have detained him without a word. Now, had it been any other day, perhaps she would even have let Orcs pass her by without batting an eye.

Unfortunately for the green fellow, she and her men were on the job. They had to guard the forest, and everyone that came out of it was suspicious.

After all, she was still a Knight of Krassel, and had responsibilities to live up to.

“I am Judith, a Knight of Krassel, and I am currently guarding this path. Identify yourself!”

“Hrm?! That voice…that name…a female knight…”

On closer examination, this particular Orc was thick and muscular, but unlike Bash, there was only hunger and lewdness in his eyes – not the sheer intimidating aura put out by the Hero.

The Orc flashed a vulgar smile.

The kind of grin that screamed “I am going to beat you into a pulp and rape you until you’re unconscious”.

“…Are you a stray Orc?”

“Heh, what else would I be?!”

“Just asking. I just want to ask you why you guys don’t follow the Orc King’s edict and leave your country.”

“Ha, it’s obvious! I left ‘cause I can’t stand being with those losers. The Orcs are done. Finished. Our pride is gone, and everyone is living with their heads down like cattle! You Humans…I heard you call us pigs… I can’t even be mad, ‘cause you’re right!”

For more,

But even among Orcs, there were exceptions, thought Judith before walking off.