“Alright, what should I do now?”
Amidst the encroaching horde of greenskins closing in from all sides, I gripped my sword with a low stance and surveyed the scene.
The stench of urine wafted from Hene, and I grimaced at the sight of the green-skinned monsters.
Though this was my first time seeing them in person, I remembered their lore from the original story.
Greenskins were a race born from mana corruption, resembling the orcs commonly seen in fantasy settings.
Their skin was as tough as iron, often used as material for armor.
“Even if they’re dumb, they’re notoriously tough. I’ve already used a lot of mana getting here, so I need to finish this quickly…”
“Chwik. Chwik.”
“Huh?”
“Chwik. Chwik-chwik!”
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Just then, one of the greenskins in the distance snorted and charged at Hene.
The green-skinned monster stomped noisily as it ran, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground.
As if signaling the others, the entire greenskin horde surged toward us.
Hene and the coachman screamed in terror at the horrifying sight.
“Kyaaaah!”
“Uwaaah! Save me!”
“Tsk.”
Perhaps the smell Hene was giving off was particularly stimulating.
The greenskins drooled as they eyed their prey.
Strangely, none of them charged at me.
Even these dim-witted creatures seemed to instinctively recognize who was a threat.
I called out to Hene, “Hey, cast Holy Field. If you just stand there like an idiot, you’re dead.”
“Ah, y-yes. O, oh Lord, protect me with your holy light…”
“Chwiik!”
Thwack!
While Hene trembled and stammered through her prayer, one of the greenskins swung its fist and smashed the coachman’s head.
Well, that’s unfortunate.
Not that I particularly sympathized with him, but it wasn’t a pleasant sight.
Another greenskin immediately closed in on Henne.
“Chwiik!”
“Th-those who seek to harm me, block them…”
Hene, clearly terrified, stumbled over her words, her prayer faltering.
Seriously, what’s the point of this?
She’s a double agent I need to keep alive.
If she dies here, it’ll be a problem.
‘Guess I’ll have to save her for now.’
I clicked my tongue lightly and dashed toward Hene.
Raising my sword high, I slashed downward in a swift motion.
Swish!
“Kuuuuh!”
The black blade danced through the air, and the arm of the greenskin swinging its fist was severed.
Oh, this is no joke.
I expected the sword Duncal forged with all his might to be exceptional, but I didn’t expect it to cut through a greenskin’s arm with almost no resistance.
The strength and sharpness were beyond expectations.
I swung the sword diagonally next, and the greenskin’s tough torso split open effortlessly, gushing blood.
Splat!
‘This cutting power is incredible. No wonder it’s Duncal’s masterpiece.’
[How unusual. The master is actually giving praise.]
‘Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just like anyone else—I give praise where it’s due.’
[Hmm. Is that so?]
‘What’s with that tone?’
[Oh, nothing. It’s just that while your usual cold, cutting remarks are nice, this kind of praise is refreshing too.]
Cheonryeo’s voice sounded unusually cheerful.
Huh, I didn’t expect that. I thought she was just some unhinged masochist, but it seems she appreciates normal praise too.
[Ah, but could you grip the hilt a bit tighter? It feels like you’re squeezing my butt, and it’s getting me all worked up.]
‘…’
Sigh.
Of course.
Just when I thought she was being normal.
I exhaled and scanned my surroundings.
The other greenskins hesitated, wary of me.
“Th-thank you for saving me.”
“Save the gratitude and focus. Cast Holy Field now.”
“Y-yes! Right away!”
Hene replied in a trembling voice.
Soon after, a desperate prayer echoed.
Whoosh!
As divine power spread in a circular wave, a golden hemisphere of holy light formed around Hene.
I stood outside the golden barrier, eyeing the greenskins surrounding us.
“Stay here. I’ll deal with them.”
“W-wait a second.”
“What is it?”
“You’re going to take on that many greenskins alone?”
“That’s right. Just focus on maintaining the Holy Field. If you die on me, I won’t forgive you.”
“Ah…”
I pushed her forehead lightly with my index finger, and Hene let out a strange, monosyllabic sound.
Her expression turned slightly sticky, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it.
I turned my back and strode toward the greenskins.
“Chwik. Chwik.”
“Really, I can’t understand a word they’re saying. Can’t any of you speak human?”
“Chwik! Chwik. Chwiik!”
“Seems like you’re not planning to back down. Then you’ll just have to die.”
I lowered my sword to a low stance and circulated mana rapidly through my body.
The heightened sensation of my enhanced physique surged as I charged at the greenskin horde.
Whoosh!
“Kuuuh!”
As I closed in on the lead greenskin, it swung its massive fist at me.
A fist larger than a grown man’s head.
I twisted my body to dodge the blow and slashed horizontally with my sword.
Swish!
Splat!
Even without an aura, my blade cleaved through two greenskins, spilling their entrails.
The stench of their filthy blood assaulted my nose.
Despite their comrades’ deaths, the greenskins showed no hesitation and immediately charged at me.
“Kuuuuh!”
“Hmm.”
Five or six greenskins attacked me simultaneously.
They didn’t use clubs—their fists were as powerful as any swordsman’s strike.
‘No need to take those hits.’
I lightly stepped into the air, evading their attacks as they surrounded me.
[Activating Authority.]
[As an omniscient being, I tread the skies.]
“Chwik?”
The greenskins made confused noises as I suddenly ascended into the air.
The green-skinned monsters stared up at me with dumbfounded expressions.
I continued to rise until their forms grew small below me.
Whoosh!
“Ah, now I can breathe.”
By the time the greenskins were mere specks below, I took a deep breath of the cool night air.
Here, there was no stench of Hene’s urine or the greenskins’ foul blood.
Only the crisp air, the summer stars, and the moonlight.
As I savored the clean air, noise erupted from Henne’s direction.
Thud! Thud!
“Kuuuuh!”
“Kyaaah! Save me, Your Grace!”
I glanced over and saw a dozen greenskins pounding on the Holy Field, demanding Hene open it.
…What a troublesome woman.
She looks like some shady character with her squinting eyes, but she’s really…
I descended rapidly, stepping on the air as if running down an invisible staircase, and landed near Hene.
Tap.
“Chwik? Chwiik!”
One of the greenskins noticed my presence.
As soon as one made a sound, the others turned to face me.
I started by decapitating the greenskins hammering at the Holy Field.
Swish!
Splat!
I dashed forward, my sword slicing through four green heads in one motion.
Fountains of blood erupted from the severed necks, raining down in a crimson shower.
Why is their blood red when their skin is green?
I pushed the thought aside and continued slashing and thrusting.
“Kuuuuh!”
Slash!
Splat!
As I danced with my sword, one greenskin swung its massive fist at me.
I met it head-on, cleaving the fist in half and slicing through the arm bone with the black blade.
While I relentlessly swung my sword, I felt Hene’s gaze on me but ignored it.
Splat!
Thud!
Splat!
As I swung my sword under the moonlight, something caught my attention.
Normally, a sword’s blade would reflect the moonlight, but the black blade seemed to absorb it, as if the moonlight was seeping into the sword.
‘Beautiful.’
I found myself entranced by the scene I was creating.
The moonlight faintly illuminating the dark forest, and me, wielding the sword that absorbed it.
In this moment, I wasn’t slaughtering greenskins—I was harmonizing with the moonlight.
And as I realized this, I felt a serene aura flowing through the black blade.
‘Moonlight Aura.’
The aura Behirit had naturally acquired during his youth, training under the northern moon every night.
A power he had abandoned after his hatred for the empire consumed him.
And now, I had awakened it myself.
A faint smile crept onto my lips.
Whoosh!
“!”
Crash!
But in that instant, a powerful strike aimed precisely at me was deflected by my aura.
Hene, her chest heaving, shouted in alarm.
“An Elder Greenskin!”
“Seems like their leader has shown up.”
“Are you alright? Should I heal you?”
“Not necessary.”
I waved off Hene, who seemed to have forgotten I was her enemy, and faced the massive presence before me.
Its green skin had a reddish tint, covered in large, tattoo-like spots.
This Elder Greenskin was twice the size of a normal one.
‘This guy’s as strong as Richard.’
Given that the original story was reaching its midpoint, it made sense.
The number of greenskins in the forest, and even the appearance of a rare Elder Greenskin—something unusual was happening in the empire’s borderlands.
“Kuuuuh!”
Whoosh!
The Elder Greenskin roared and swung its fist at me.
Quite the lungs on this one.
But as I stepped back to dodge, a mana-infused projectile shot from its fist.
Bang!
“What the—”
The mana projectile flew toward me at incredible speed.
This guy can use mana too?
Seriously, he’s no ordinary foe.
I quickly sidestepped the attack, but the Elder Greenskin kept firing.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The relentless barrage of mana attacks forced me to keep moving.
It was surprising to be in such a fierce battle with a non-human, non-magical creature, but I couldn’t afford to drag this out.
The Holy Field was starting to crack under the pressure from the other greenskins.
Crack.
“Your Grace!”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll save you in a second.”
I half-heartedly replied to Henne and focused on drawing out my aura.
The Elder Greenskin bared its fangs and roared.
“Kuuuuh!”
“Shut up.”
I retorted, enveloping my body in aura.
The Elder Greenskin closed the distance in an instant, its muscles tensing as it prepared a devastating punch.
——-!!!
A sonic boom erupted from its fist.
Damn, if that hits me in the head, I’m dead.
But instead of dodging, I continued to channel my aura.
“!?”
The Elder Greenskin hesitated for a split second, confused by my lack of movement.
Clever for a greenskin, but it was too late.
Bang!
The attack landed where I had been standing—or rather, where I appeared to be standing.
The mana dispersed into the air, and as the Elder Greenskin stared at the afterimage created by the moonlight, I struck from behind.
I swung my aura-infused blade at its thick neck.