Chapter 175: Toward the Path of Flames

A figure emerged from behind the blazing building, an orc with a torch. When the orc spotted Lutz and the others, it pointed and started laughing like a maniac.

“Hehehe! That’s right, that’s right, look at that stupid face! Nothing in life should go smoothly, and I won’t allow it!”

As if for extra measure, the orc tossed the torch into the building, and the arsonist orc turned to run.

A silver meteor flashed from Josel’s hand. It was a dagger that pierced through the orc’s calf and the back of its knee, causing it to collapse.

“Ouch! Damn it, it hurts!”

The orc, with tears in its eyes, rolled around, while Samurai Mask ran toward the burning building. His face twisted in fear, but he charged into the burning house without hesitation.

“Why would you do that?”

Josel questioned, even as he admired Samurai Mask’s courage. Lutz understood but couldn’t say it; this was Samurai Mask’s way of atonement, his way of confronting his past.

“…Alright, let’s think about what to do when Samurai Mask returns. Lutz, find some water.”

“Water? Why?”

Lutz looked up at the burning building. It was a crude structure, and they called it a shack only because of its shoddy construction. The dwelling for the three-meter-tall orc was rather large. It was as if the second-floor ceiling had been torn off.

Pouring a little water wouldn’t help put out the fire. Josel seemed to have guessed that question and explained first.

“To douse Samurai Mask.”

“Oh, I see.”

Lutz nodded, finally realizing the purpose. Samurai Mask might come out of the flames with his clothes and hair on fire, or at least he might be burned. Samurai Mask needed water to prevent further injury.

It goes without saying that water should be prepared, but it is difficult to make the best decisions at disaster sites.

“Orcs have been living here; they must have hoarded some drinking water.”

“Understood. I’ll look for water containers. What about you, Josel?”

“I’ll bind that one.”

Josel pointed his chin toward an orc trying to crawl away, teeth bared. That orc knew a lot about the ritual involving sacrifices, and there were many things Lutz wanted to ask.

With their tasks clear, Lutz and Josel rushed off in different directions.

The orcs who had run away had formed a group. They ran in a tight bunch. While it might have been wiser to scatter, no one was keen on parting ways now.

The thirty orcs, including the leader, were now reduced to only ten, less than half. There was one more survivor, but he took another action while saying something incomprehensible, like telling them the reality. I don’t know what he plans to do, but I don’t think he has a bright future ahead of him.

“Hey, do you know of a way out? You’re not running blindly, are you?”

A comrade running alongside him asked. The orc who claimed to be the wise one chuckled with a smirk.

“How do you think they came this far? They probably used a carriage or something, and we’ll steal it to escape!”

The others nodded appreciatively. The reaction lifted the spirits of the self-proclaimed wise orc.

The path, cleared by cutting down trees, was easy to follow even at night, illuminated by the moonlight alone. They hadn’t lost yet; there was still a glimmer of hope. Their steps were light, and they forgot about their fatigue. However, the wise orc’s pace suddenly slowed.

After taking a few steps, he staggered forward and fell flat on his face. His neck had been cut deeply with a knife, and his face showed an expression of ecstasy.

Orcs had strong regenerative abilities, and minor wounds would heal quickly, but damaging the carotid artery was serious. Bleeding out was much faster than wounds closing.

The comrade running alongside him looked at the bloodied knife with a lustful gaze. It wasn’t a betrayal; he just wanted to share in the pleasure. It was an act of friendship and kindness.

He grasped the knife with the bloodstain and, while surrendering to the pleasure of spurting fluids, proceeded to cut his own throat. He fell in a similar manner to his comrade, but with a smile on his face, he saw the image of the demon holding a fallen sword. The path to the carriage had already been sealed off.

There was another one. A woman with long, black hair who only appeared at the moment of death. She stood there naked, showcasing her perfect figure and moved her snake-like red tongue. The red stripes visible all over her body were streams of flowing blood.

As he looked at her, he couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by sexual desire, and he wanted more and more pleasure. However, he was bleeding too much, and his consciousness as an orc was fading away.

Facing a naked beauty, enveloped in a sweet scent, drowning in extraordinary pleasure as he died. Whether this could be called happiness was something only known at the moment of death.

The remaining comrades began committing suicide one after another, collapsing. The orcs who had attacked the town were completely wiped out.

Inside the burning shack, Samurai Mask was in a hurry. The fire was spreading much faster than expected due to the dry leaves and wooden structure.

…Where is the fire prevention system? Why don’t they have any fire prevention measures?

At times like this, he was infuriated by the orcs’ sloppiness.

Amidst the crackling sounds of the flames, he thought he heard a little girl’s cry. It might have been a hallucination, and he didn’t want to go any further into the unknown.

“Hey, should I care about that?”

He shouted to motivate himself and pressed on along the path of flames.

In the next room, he found a wooden cage. Inside it was a five-year-old girl. Seeing such a young child locked up, Samurai Mask felt anger boiling up at the thought that the orcs might have intended to use her as a sacrifice.

“It’s hot! Help! Let me out!”

The little girl screamed, cried, and coughed. Samurai Mask drew his sword and slammed it against the cage. He couldn’t cut it in half, but he made a few deep cuts. After repeating this two or three times, the blade was bent out of shape.

…I’m sorry, Lutz-sama.

Samurai Mask apologized in his heart. He had bent the borrowed katana, but he believed it was the right way to use it.

He managed to cut the cage, and parts of it became brittle due to the heat.

“Uooh!”

When Samurai Mask forcefully slammed into the cage, it shattered, creating a space large enough for one person to pass through. Samurai Mask, having fallen over in his enthusiasm, managed to recover by executing a somersault, making a dynamic entrance.

Not a failure, let’s just say it like that.

“Let’s go, I’ve come to rescue you!”

“Who are you, mister?”

A masked man suddenly appeared in the flames. To say he had come to help was one thing, but he looked more like a suspicious figure. The girl showed signs of fear.

“I’m a hero, your daddy asked me to come!”

“Daddy!?”

The girl’s face brightened instantly. Samurai Mask removed his cloak, placed it over the girl, and carried her.

The way back was filled with even more flames than when they arrived, and there were places they couldn’t advance through. He hurriedly and carefully searched for a way forward.

His feet and arms were covered in burns, and his pant was still on fire at the hems.

“Don’t worry; we’re getting closer to the exit.”

“Okay!”

He spoke to the girl and to himself.

The smoke stung his eyes, and his vision was blurry, but he kept moving forward.

Eventually, he could see the entrance.

“Over here, quickly!”

Someone’s voice reached them. Was it Lutz or Josel? To Samurai Mask, who could barely open his eyes halfway, the guiding voice was greatly appreciated.

Summon the last of his strength and dash through. That’s what he decided. But when he summoned his strength and tried to push forward, a burning pillar collapsed in front of him. The worst position, the worst timing.

…God, is this a punishment for me? He thought. He understood that he can’t have a proper death, but isn’t it a bit much to involve this child? That’s absolutely not acceptable.

Samurai Mask acted instinctively and threw the girl he was carrying toward the entrance. The next moment, his head was struck by a violent impact. His consciousness was dragged into darkness.

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