Volume 1 Chapter 19 The Orc Invasion
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
When Lifia and I were hunting goblins in the forest, suddenly, a roar echoed through the trees.
The sound came from far away, but it was clearly not just a goblin’s cry.
It was low, fierce, and unusually loud.
We had been told that only goblins were in this area, but this roar was something else entirely.
”Lifia, did you hear that?”
”Y-yes! I don’t know exactly where, but it’s coming from over there, deep in the forest.”
Lifia pointed towards the depths of the woods.
This was the place that Tifi, the guild receptionist, had warned us about over and over.
She said dangerous monsters beyond goblins lurked deep in the forest, so we should never go near.
But there’s no way that sound could reach us from that far away.
That means a monster more dangerous than a goblin is definitely coming our way.
”We need to hurry back!”
”Yes!”
Feeling the tension in the air, Lifia and I quickly turned to go back.
We could use my ‘Love Hotel’ skill to hide, but if we were trapped nearby with a deadly monster on the loose, we might not be able to move safely.
I held back my urge to run and moved carefully through the forest.
The ground was not paved, of course.
Exposed tree roots twisted everywhere, and thick, fallen leaves covered the ground like a blanket.
If I ran carelessly, I might trip and fall.
Also, the forest was dim, making it hard to see.
I tried to make as little noise as possible while hiding among the shadows of the trees.
After walking in the forest for a while, Lifia suddenly spoke up.
”Master, a group of monsters is coming up behind us. They are probably goblins, and they are running fast. If we stay here, they will catch us!”
They are following us?
No, they must be running away from the owner of that roar earlier.
Looking at how frantically they were charging toward us, there was definitely something they feared behind them.
”There’s no choice, we have to hide.”
I activated my ‘Love Hotel’ skill.
A red door appeared from the ground.
I pull Lifia’s hand and quickly slip inside the door.
When I close the door from the inside, the door outside disappears without a trace.
Now, no one can come in.
”Perfect timing, let’s take a break.”
”Yes, that sounds good.”
I pour a sports drink into a glass and start up the external information on the menu.
Sitting down on the sofa next to Lifia, I watch the forest scene displayed on the screen.
After a while, a goblin jumps out from the bushes.
It looks scared, glancing around before running away.
But that’s not all.
One after another, more goblins start to jump out.
Their numbers keep increasing, and soon a whole group rushes away in a panic.
They’re all in a state of terror.
Normally, they wouldn’t move like this all at once.
Something is chasing them.
An entity that instills fear in the goblins is getting close in this forest.
As the goblins run away, silence returns to the forest.
But it’s just a false calm.
An uneasy feeling hangs in the air, as if the whole forest is holding its breath.
Even the beasts, birds, and insects seem to be hiding in fear.
The goblins were clearly running from something.
That means whatever it is, it’s coming closer.
The worry that it might appear here after the goblins makes me hesitate to go outside.
Sitting tense on the sofa, I focus on the screen showing the outside.
After a while, it finally appears on the screen.
”…!”
I gasp without realizing it.
It’s a huge man with green skin and a twisted, pig-like face.
He grips a club that looks like a log in one hand.
Is that an orc?
The orc walks heavy-footed and slowly passes by.
But after going a little further, he stops, feeling something, and turns back slowly.
He stops and starts looking around curiously.
A bad feeling creeps in.
The orc leans closer to the ground and starts sniffing around.
I feel a chill run down my spine.
That was exactly where the door to the Love Hotel was.
A suffocating worry washed over me.
”Master.”
Lifia grasped my clothes, looking anxious.
Her hands trembled slightly.
”It’s okay. No one can come into this room. So, it’s safe.”
I meant to reassure Lifia, but I ended up trying to convince myself too.
I pulled her close, hoping to calm both her and myself.
I couldn’t take my eyes away from the moving orc shown on the screen.
The orc looked around, tilting its head.
After a while, it must have given up and slowly walked deeper into the forest.
I let out a sigh of relief and relaxed my tense body.
It seemed best to wait here for a while to buy some time.
After about an hour waiting inside the Love Hotel, I peeked outside again.
”How is it?”
”There’s nothing around right now.”
We carefully started walking.
But suddenly, Lifia shouted.
”Master!”
Without waiting for her next words, I activated the Love Hotel.
We jumped in together and closed the door.
Checking the outside, the orc suddenly burst out from the quiet trees of the forest.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply