Chapter 23: Temptation ~Temptation of Blood~

It was supposed to be a picnic mission, something you could do while humming a tune.

Orcs, which are monsters with human bodies, pig-like heads, and greenish coloring as if their entire bodies were covered in moss mold.

They are social creatures who understand human language and act in groups, but they are followers of violence with a low level of civilization.

Their main weapons were primitive stone axes and clubs, and Ricardo, who unofficially held the title of hero, could easily defeat them whether there were ten or twenty of them.

But now he was on the brink of death.

Orcs are usually about the same height as an adult male or slightly taller, but the individual in front of him was about three metres tall. In his right hand he held a huge axe. It was a mutant orc.

Ricardo is breathing hard. His legs are shaking and his hand is not strong enough to hold his sword. If he was not careful, he would lose consciousness. Every time he blocked an axe, he was blown away, slammed into a tree or the ground, and the damage accumulated.

Run, you can't win. That's what the warrior's instincts scream.

However, the escape route was blocked by subordinate orcs. It was easy enough to cut them down, but turning one's back on the orc leader, even for a moment, was fatal.

What to do, what to do. No matter how many times I think about it, the answer always comes back to the same place. I have no choice but to use the mystical katana I carry at my waist as a backup.

Frankly, I don't know what would happen if I pulled this out. I have never used it in a real battle.

If I don't do anything like this, I will be killed, that much is certain. Then there is no choice but to bet on a death game with an unknown payout.

Ricardo threw down the sword he was holding. His hands were shaking and he was not sure he could sheath it properly.

"Buhihihiin. What's the matter, are you surrendering already?"

The Orc Leader exhaled warmly and mocked Ricardo. The surrounding orcs also burst into laughter.

Ricardo ignored the unpleasant laughter, pulled out his sword, and took a straight stance.

The area was filled with a sweet scent. A bloody woman is behind me, whispering something in my ear. If he complied, he would be killed. Ricardo shook off the temptation of death and stared at the orc leader.

"Buhii, that's a beautiful sword. I'll kill you and take it for myself!"

The Orc Leader wielded a gigantic axe with a greasy grin.

Will nothing happen? Just as I thought that, the orc leader slammed the blade of his axe into his own neck.

"On, on, buhihihihinhiin"

It was not a sound of anguish. It was an expression of ecstasy, as if he was enjoying sexual pleasure while blood was spraying like a fountain from his carotid artery. Was he under the illusion that the gushing blood was a torrent of sex?

It was an axe that had not been sharpened properly, and the blade stopped about a third of the way into the neck. The orc leader moved the axe in a grinding motion, hoping to find greater pleasure.

It wasn't amputated, but it was enough to bleed to death.

The bloodless body of the orc leader shook limply and fell forward in a cloud of dust.

"Hieeee!"

The orcs that had surrounded him fell into a state of panic. Most of them ran away. Some slumped to the ground. Some stood and became incontinent.

No one dares to stand up to the fearsome sword wielder.

“What the hell is this ......!?”

I don't understand, I don't understand.

Ricardo put his sword back into its scabbard with a trembling hand while gritting his back teeth. The sweet, cold air had dissipated, but the chill running down his back would not go away.

Count Maximilian Zander welcomed Ricardo, who had just completed his monster subjugation mission, in a good mood with his aides.

It was a place of honour. But there was no triumphant joy on the hero's face.

"Please pay for it."

Ricardo said with a dark and sombre expression on his face, the aides began to make a fuss.

It would be too rude, someone said. I didn't care who said it. Even if only one person spoke, everyone would have felt the same.

"If it's about that sword..."

Ricardo said, and the Count thought for a moment.

"Very well. Gerhard and Jocel stay behind, and everyone else should leave."

He said.

"But, Your Excellency,.."

"What's the matter? I've already given my orders."

When the aide tried to bite back, the count silenced him with a glare.

This was also a strange story. Wasn't the Count always a timid man, taking a step back and being careful with his entourage?

I thought he would either accept the advice of his aides and leave him here, or ask him to leave and apologise. Today, for some reason, he has an attitude full of confidence.

When I calmed down and looked around, there was another oddity. The Count did not let his squire carry his sword, but kept it on his side table. He must be very fond of it. Even from a distance, I could see that it was a very luxurious arrangement.

Ricardo wondered what had happened while he was out of the castle.

The entourage left the room, grumbling and complaining. Some of them glared at Ricardo and Gerhard with hatred.

The timid lord no longer dances well, the count has gained a little confidence, and it is probably a matter of life and death in the power struggle within the castle.

Gerhard looked at them with a pouty face, but Ricardo still had no idea about what was going on.

"Now, let's hear the report."

The Count sat back in his chair and said.

The world of longing is one step closer, and he no longer looks like a child pestering for a fairy tale.

"Yes, actually..."

Ricardo talked about the orc subjugation.

Things like the appearance of a surprisingly gigantic mutant, the act of drawing the mysterious sword as a gamble, and the sudden suicide of an orc with an ecstatic expression on his face.

"...That's all for the report."

The audience hall fell silent with the sheer magnitude of the event.

Before long, Gerhard

"That's why..."

He said as if to spit it out.

The old craftsman's sharp gaze was on Ricardo, as if he were speaking to the orcs or to the neighbours who had not accurately reported on the monsters.

Is it me, why is it me. I had no idea why he was angry.

“No matter how it happened, that sword saved your life. Then you should thank it first before saying it is eerie or frightening.”

It was as if he was treating the sword as a person. I wondered if the old man was crazy, but the count nodded his head in agreement.

I shift my gaze to the high-ranking knight Jocel as if asking for help, but he is expressionless and does not seem to have any particular objection.

"Um, this is a sword....., it's a tool, okay?"

"Is the thing that a craftsman puts his soul into, and a warrior entrusts his life to, just a tool?"

Gerhard's eyes were cold as he snorted.

Everyone is crazy, mad. Or am I crazy? Ricardo was on the verge of identity collapse.

The Count, who had been listening silently until now, said as if he had come up with something.

"It's bad that it doesn't have a name on it. If you call it that sword, a mysterious sword, you won't be attached to it."

"I see. That's a good point."

“Gerhardt, write a letter of introduction to the swordsmith. Let’s combine that with 10 gold coins as a reward for this time.”

Gerhardt and Jocel bowed, and Ricardo followed suit. The conversation progressed regardless of his own intentions, but there was no longer an atmosphere in which he could interject.

"By the way, didn't the villagers notice that the orcs were mutants?"

Gerhard shook his head when Jocel asked a question.

"Even if you didn't know the word mutant, you should have known that it was huge. Otherwise, they wouldn't have rushed to get help."

"If so, why didn't they tell us about it? If I had known that it was a non-standard monster, I would have sent reinforcements accordingly and wouldn't have put the hero in danger."

Ricardo was also concerned about this. Although he had managed to get out of the way this time, he would have been killed if he had done anything wrong. It would have been terrible to end it with the words, "I'm sorry, I was so careless".

"It's common for the client to not give an accurate report. They may have thought that if they said it was a powerful monster, we might not send a subjugation team."

Gerhard said as if he were spitting out something bitter. I wonder if this is a real experience. He is an old man with many mysteries.

"So you're saying that if they get us to come anyway, lie or not, then they can reel us in?"

"That's the way it is. Except the first person will die."

Ricardo's heart was not at peace as he was about to be the first victim of this sacrifice.

"Ricardo, the weak people are the object of your protection, but don't think that they are always good."

"... I'll take it to heart."

Ricardo nodded gravely at Gerhard's words.

The Count looked around before summarising.

"This misunderstanding is a sign of a lack of trust between the people and myself, and I will not question it this time. Jocel, go to the village and tell them that. And..."

The Count's eyes glowed coldly. It was truly the face of a cold-hearted lord.

"I won't forgive them next time."

"I'll be sure to let them know!"

Thus ended the audience ceremony. As Ricardo was about to leave the room, he heard Gerhard's voice.

"Go to the swordsmith's house, and if there's only one man there, go back another day. That's a must!"

"Isn't that man a swordsmith...?"

"Do it when the female merchant is with him. Otherwise..."

Gerhard's expression doesn't have the same coldness as before. He seems genuinely concerned.

"The name of the sword may be changed to something like Hero Blade."

Today is full of incomprehensible things.

Gerhard's advice doesn't make any sense either.

However, it was Ricardo who decided to obediently follow last advice to the letter.

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