The soldiers dispatched from the Sodador territory entered the valley north of the abandoned quarry as the sun reached its peak.
[Clop. Clop. Neigh!]
"Whoa... whoa. Easy."
One of the riders sweated profusely in his saddle. His horse reared up on its hind legs and backed away.
"What's wrong with this horse...?"
Sir Melverton raised his head. Right ahead, where the forest opened up, was their destination. But something felt off.
"...The wind isn't blowing, but I can smell something."
A soldier wrinkled his nose. The sound of hooves behind him also slowly faded.
[Sniff. Sniff.]
"It's a smell the packhorses hate. Blood... rotting blood."
Melverton shook his head.
"Tie up the horses. We'll approach on foot. Everyone, prepare your bows."
The soldiers exchanged glances and moved swiftly. With bows in hand and swords unsheathed, they cautiously made their way through the forest.
And a little while later.
"...What... is that?"
A ruined campsite. Corpses were strewn everywhere. The guts of a torn packhorse were stretched out like weeds, and blood had already mixed with the soil, turning into a dark red mire.
In the very center was a large figure collapsed with a broken neck.
"...An Orc?"
Melverton stared at the body of the monster, which was lying with a hatchet handle in its hand.
"...Why is a thing like this here?"
"My Lord, over there—!"
A soldier pointed behind a bush. There was a pile of bones. Gnaw marks and bloodstains were scattered all over the place.
A soldier covered his mouth. The smell mixed with the stench of blood made his face go pale, as if he was about to vomit.
"...They were eaten."
"What?"
"The hunters... they were all eaten by these things..."
Just then, a single leaf fluttered in a gust of wind.
[GRRRR—]
Riding that wind, a strange sound of breathing came from the other side of the forest.
Melverton slowly turned his head.
In the shadows of the forest, dozens of pairs of yellow eyes stared silently back at them.
[HISSS...]
"What is that, Orcs? There can't possibly be a whole..."
"Wait, don't shoot! Don't provoke them—"
[NEIGH!!]
It was already too late. The slave traders' scout's horse, startled by the smell of the Orcs carried on the wind, cried out. The Orcs' yellow eyes all turned toward the scouts.
[ROOOOOAR!!]
Whoosh!
The Orcs poured out of the forest towards the scouts. The sight of them charging with massive clubs and axes was that of a beastly horde.
"Maintain formation! Spearmen to the front!"
Melverton shouted from his horse.
"Archers, fire from the rear and fall back!"
[SWOOSH!]
Arrows flew and struck the shoulders and legs of a few Orcs. But they didn't stop, even as they bled.
"Don't fire! Aim for the head, the head!!"
But it was too late. The first row of soldiers was swept away by the Orc's charge.
[STAB!]
A soldier's spear shaft pierced an Orc's chest.
[CRACK!]
But with the continuous charge, the spear shaft broke, still lodged in the Orc's body, and the arm that held it flew through the air, splattering blood.
[THUMP!]
"Gahhh!!"
The second and third rows of soldiers began to collapse in an instant. The Orcs rampaged like beasts drunk on blood.
[CRACK! THUMP! CRASH!]
One soldier was split in half by an axe, and another's head, still in its helmet, was crushed and sent rolling.
"R-Run!"
"No! Maintain formation— Guhh!!"
Melverton gritted his teeth. He drew his sword from his horse and shouted.
"Archers! All of you, draw your swords and join the front line! Knights to the front! Now's our chance!!"
He leaped directly from the saddle.
[THUD!]
After landing with bent knees, he pushed off the ground and charged straight into the horde of Orcs.
[GRRRRR—!]
The first Orc growled and raised a hatchet.
[CLANG!]
Melverton twisted his sword, deflecting the axe's trajectory. A chilling wind of steel grazed his hair.
In that opening—his blade flashed.
[CHINK!]
The sensation of piercing the Orc's head. The friction of the skull being broken was transmitted up his wrist.
Behind him, a second Orc roared and charged.
"GRRRRRRRR!!"
Melverton took a deep breath. And quickly, he rolled to the side—
[SLASH!!]
—and drove his sword deep into its waist. Blood spurted out, and the Orc stumbled and swayed.
He stood up and approached the staggering Orc.
[CHOP!]
Covered in blood, Melverton surveyed the battlefield.
Just a few minutes.
Out of forty soldiers, only a dozen survived. One rider was killed before he could even untie his horse.
But the surviving squad leader and Melverton held the line, preparing for a final stand against the remaining Orcs.
"Reform formation! Spearmen to the front! The knights will lead the charge!"
The Orcs that lunged past Melverton's sword were impaled on the long spears, and those that got past the spears were beheaded.
[SLURP. SLURP. SLURP.]
As the battle subsided, Melverton looked around. The last remaining Orc had its head buried in a soldier's corpse, gobbling it up frantically.
[THUMP!]
It paid no mind until Melverton's sword pierced its neck from behind, and it fell to the ground.
[CRASH!]
Silence fell, and only the smell of blood lingered in the quarry.
"If the Orcs hadn't focused on eating instead of fighting, we would have been wiped out... I'll have to report this to the Lord. What terrible luck..."
Melverton frowned, pushing the Orc's corpse with his foot and wiping his blood-stained sword with a rag.
"Hah..."
His collar was torn, and there were clear tooth marks on his shield. He looked haggard and spoke with a furious tone.
"These fools... what were they thinking, running into a horde of Orcs?"
Around them were pools of blood splattered on top of piles of corpses. Some of the soldiers were half-eaten, and the horses had their guts torn out.
"..."
Melverton lifted his toes to avoid stepping on the guts of a dead horse.
"This... was bad timing."
He couldn't blame anyone. The hunters were already dead, and a report had to be made.
"The Orcs were just hungry... and they were drawn in by the smell of the horses' blood."
[CLANG!]
He slammed his sword sheath into the ground.
"We'll clean this up. 'Slave hunters clashed with Orcs upon returning.' Nothing more, nothing less."
The surviving soldiers nodded quietly.
He turned his horse, taking one last look at the cave entrance.
"Leave the bodies and withdraw to the territory."
At that moment, the sun had completely disappeared behind the mountain ridge.
Deep darkness settled over the Guryeo tribe's village, and a bonfire blazed in the center of the square.
Sparks flew, and a murmur spread among the villagers who had gathered around it.
"Isn't this a big problem?"
"They wouldn't follow us all the way here, would they?"
"Will they be able to return safely..."
As the firelight flickered on the faces of the people, no one dared to speak.
[TAP. TAP. TAP...]
Slow footsteps were heard from the darkness. A shadow walked up, panting.
"They're here...! They're here!!"
At someone's shout, everyone's heads turned at once.
People in dust-covered clothes with dried blood on them.
Young-ho and Young-beom, Pungpyo and U-am.
Do-yoon and two other Guryeo men were following them with difficulty.
"Do-yoon is alive too!"
"Ohh...!"
Someone ran out first, and soon the villagers cheered and rushed to the square.
"You're back!"
"You came back alive..."
Young-ho scratched his head awkwardly and said.
"Hey. Didn't I tell you not to worry."
Young-beom stretched his back, looking tired, and said.
"Hah... I'm so hungry I could die."
People laughed, and someone quickly brought out water and dry bread.
A little while later, Min-chan, Dam-bi, and Tae-geon arrived.
The square erupted in cheers once more.
"Min-chan! Tae-geon!"
"It's Dam-bi!"
The group just gave a silent nod. Kim Gab-su and Park Sang-cheol walked out into the square.
Park Sang-cheol checked on the injured Do-yoon and nodded.
"You look surprisingly fine."
"Fine? Look at my eye, look at my mouth! I'm a complete mess!"
As Do-yoon chattered, Park Sang-cheol patted his head.
"If you're still this loud, you're fine."
Tae-geon stepped forward to report to the director.
"All hostages have been rescued. All slave traders have been killed. The scene was disguised as an Orc raid."
As Tae-geon gave his report without a single stumble, the old man reflexively asked.
"Orcs?"
Dam-bi nodded briefly.
"The remaining traces... will look like they were Orc prey."
Min-chan continued.
"Dam-bi's help was invaluable. But... we were just lucky this time."
Kim Gab-su crossed his arms and slowly nodded.
"Right. If they weren't Orcs, more of them might have tracked us down by following the traces of the bodies."
A moment of silence passed, and Sang-cheol said in a low voice.
"Everyone has returned. Before it gets any later... we have to decide on the village's relocation."
Kim Gab-su sighed and then nodded.
"Okay. The returning members can rest well until tomorrow—we'll have a meeting at noon."
---
[The next day, noon. The Guryeo tribe's village square.]
The group sat around a makeshift wooden table.
Gab-su was the first to speak.
"Alright, everyone's here. Starting today, we have to think about the survival and... relocation of this village."
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and continued.
"First, we'll decide everyone's roles."
He turned his gaze to Park Sang-cheol. And with a sorry smile, he said.
"Sang-cheol, you're quick on your feet... and you handled all the gym's finances. You and the Elder can take charge of the relocation preparations."
Sang-cheol sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Seriously? You pawned off the gym's finances, and now you're dragging me into this village's business like a ghost?"
Gab-su just smiled, resting his chin on his clasped hands.
A silence fell, and Sang-cheol finally raised his hands in defeat.
"Fine, I get it. I'll do what the Director says."
Laughter spread among the people.
"Good. Next is scouting for a new location."
Just then, Do-yoon raised his hand.
"Since ancient times, civilizations have developed around rivers. If we secure a waterway, we solve the drinking water problem and can also set up a defensive line. Since the plains are dangerous right now... I think it's best to scout along the valleys."
Min-chan drew a straight line on the ground with a branch and said.
"Using this as the center, to the left will be Tae-geon, Young-ho, Do-yoon, and Pungpyo. To the right, it'll be me, Young-beom, Dam-bi, and U-am. We'll move diagonally, sweeping the mountain's peak and the lower areas at the same time. It might take some time, but if we follow a canyon or a valley, the probability of securing a water source or a hiding spot is the highest."
Tae-geon, who had been thinking for a moment, spoke up.
"...What's the signal for the group that arrives first?"
Dam-bi stepped forward quietly. She carefully took a small bell and a palm-sized talisman from her waist.
"I'll give you this talisman and bell. The group that finds a waterway first just has to ring the bell—"
She gave a slight smile and gently shook the bell. A clear, subtle sound brushed past their ears, and soon another bell attached to her waist also chimed.
"This bell will ring too. I connected them myself... so they'll react even if we're far apart."
At her explanation, Tae-geon gave a short nod.
Young-ho, who was listening nearby, tilted his head and asked.
"Then... where do we use this talisman?"
Dam-bi looked at the talisman without a word, took a moment to compose herself, and said.
"If... one of the groups ever gets into danger—this talisman... will burn up. It's... a kind of warning signal."
At her words, everyone's eyes went to Dam-bi's hands. The talisman, with its scribbled red letters, seemed to have a strange aura.
Young-ho's face hardened as he said.
"So if the talisman burns, then..."
"That's right. It means you're not safe. In that case, we need to form a rescue team immediately."
When she finished speaking, a strange silence fell over the square.
Young-beom took the talisman without a word, looked at it, and muttered.
"...It feels... convenient, but also a little unsettling..."
"Water is important, but life comes first. If you're in danger... you must return immediately, no matter what."
Min-chan's voice remained unshaken. There was no emotion mixed in his words. They sounded like a principle that must be followed for survival.
"The team assignments are done. Everyone, finish your preparations... and we'll leave tomorrow morning."
Gab-su said, looking around.
The next morning.
Those in charge of packing were busy moving back and forth in the village, tying up the bundles needed for the relocation and taking down the tents.
In a corner of the square, the two scouting teams, ready to depart, were gathered.
Min-chan stood with his arms crossed, staring at the eastern sky, and quietly spoke.
"We'll leave now. The days are short... and we don't have much time."
He turned his head and looked around. Young-ho was playfully tapping Pungpyo, who was checking his bow, and U-am was checking his small luggage with an axe on his back.
"Are you... going on guerrilla warfare?"
Tae-geon asked, tightening his shoelaces, looking at Young-beom's face. Young-beom had caked his face with ash, as if he were going to war.
"Oh, Hyung-nim, this shows a man's resolve. Doesn't it look cool?"
Just as Tae-geon shook his head in disbelief and sighed, Dam-bi and Do-yoon came running, out of breath, with their bags.
"I got everything. Hemostatic herbs, painkillers, and a map—perfect."
As each team took their bags, Dam-bi raised her hand and said.
"Wait a moment. Let's test the signal bells and attach the talismans. Everyone, please gather here for a bit."
She carefully took out a small bell and a bundle of talismans from her waist. The people gathered one by one in front of her.
"First, one person from Tae-geon oppa's team, please."
"Me, noona!"
Do-yoon quickly raised his hand and stepped forward.
Dam-bi tied a thin red string around his wrist and attached a bell to the end.
[Jingle... Jingle.]
When she gently shook the bell, the bell on Min-chan's side faintly reacted. A short but clear, crisp sound brushed past their ears.
"This is for signaling. If you find a valley or a waterway, please shake the bell. Since they're connected... they'll ring even if we're far apart."
Young-beom, who was watching, frowned and grumbled at Do-yoon.
"If that punk wears a bell, won't he just shake it all day long, thinking it's fun?"
At his words, Min-chan frowned and said to Tae-geon in a low voice.
"Hyung, please keep an eye on Do-yoon..."
Dam-bi stifled a laugh and took out the talismans again.
"And these are... warning talismans in case of unforeseen danger."
She took a small breath and rubbed the edge of a talisman with her fingertip. Then she carefully attached them to everyone's backs and said.
"If one of the teams gets into danger, this talisman will burn. That could be the last signal... so I hope they don't have to work."
When she finished, a strange silence hung in the air. No one made a joke, and everyone lowered their eyes for a moment.
Soon, Min-chan spoke quietly.
"Right side team, move out."
Tae-geon led the way, followed by Young-ho, Do-yoon, and Pungpyo.
As he watched them slowly disappear below the mountain ridge—the bell rang once.
[Jingle...]
Min-chan let out a small laugh. He could see Do-yoon, shoulders hunched, being lectured by Tae-geon.
"We'll start too."
He took the lead, followed quietly by Young-beom, Dam-bi, and U-am.
Dam-bi adjusted her bag strap and looked at Min-chan's profile.
"...We've really changed a lot in such a short time."
At her words, Min-chan turned his head slightly. After a brief silence, he spoke calmly.
"To survive... we'll change even more."
And so, the four of them quietly walked into the forest, hoping the talismans would not burn.