Chapter XXX - Swordsaint (part 2)

It's already sundown when we exited, and it made me wonder just how long it took for us down there. And by the time we arrived outside, we were welcomed by a lot of people who were already gathering at the red orc's camp. 

Adventurers. They have swarmed the place. It seems like their arrival here isn't for no reason.

Right after we exited the dungeon, a woman with blonde golden hair. I felt a similarity between her hair and the queen's, and I can tell that this is one of those custom magic-colored hairs. Similar to what me and Hod has, a very unnatural hair color.

She must've realized that we are adventurers as well... or because she knows Hod. The golden haired adventurer lady seemed to be walking straight to Hod, and Hod stepped forward to greet her.

"Hod?"

"Hey there, Fran. Glad to see you here."

They both shook hands, and I realized right away that they are quite close. 

So, the golden haired lady is called Fran. Must be an acquaintance... or closer?

"Is everything... okay? I heard a report that there were over three hundred red orcs in the area, and that a dungeon break happened."

"A dungeon break did happen, Fran. This right here is the dungeon after all."

Hod said while pointing at the entrance to the cave behind us, and the adventurer lady's eyes landed on me and Valey who is behind Hod.

"We noticed. We sent a team down there. Did you get to see them?"

"No, we didn't. That's why I wondered why the path outside was so clear. Monsterless."

"Hmm. Anyone injured? You look like a mess, pal."

The lady studied me on Valey's back, but then turned her yellow eyes back to Hod. She noticed that Hod is quite messy-looking from top to bottom, and the guy even lost one of his shoes.

"Aha~... We're fine. We have a healer with us."

Hod said while turning to me on Valey's back, and the lady understood. She landed her curious gaze towards me and Valey again, but something tells me she is studying me specifically.

The blonde lady looked at me sharply. Her yellow eyes are firm and clear. A sword with a pale white handle was sheathed on her hips, and her armour was shiny. 

From the way she talked with Hod, she must be a high ranked adventurer. Perhaps the leader of this entire platoon that came with her.

"So... Did you guys clear it?"

"Pretty much."

"That's... Good, then. I won't have to go down there now."

"That would be a waste of energy for a Yellow ranked, am I right?"

"Please, I'm only a Yellow for a week."

This young lady is Yellow ranked? I don't recall ever hearing a Yellow ranked test last week. She doesn't look quite old as well... perhaps my age? Our age? I noticed everyone here is of similar ages, but oh well. 

Hod doesn't really look much in the beginning as well, and he's apparently a Blue ranked adventurer with capabilities fitting of a Yellow ranked. 

Hod turned to me and Valey who was grinning behind him, and then he turned his gaze back to Fran. He definitely noticed our eyes just now.

"Well, as you can see... we are quite tired here. So..."

"Yes, yes! Of course! We made the orc camp our resting site, so please rest as much as you like.

Thank you for making my job easier. I never thought that there'd be a dungeon break here, and it should've been my duty to clear it. So, thank you."

The golden haired lady said to us, and I was quite surprised hearing such words.

Is she... even aware what kind of dungeon this is?

"You're welcome. Now, if you'll excuse us."

Hod said as he walked past the golden haired lady, and Valey followed behind him with me on her back. As we walked past her, my eyes became locked onto her eyes for only a very short moment.

Aura... is something that is released unintentionally, no matter what. From what I've read, being able to hide aura is the ability of a highly skilled individual, and only someone with an experience of tens of years can really do such a feat.

I cannot... feel her aura at all. What makes it worse was the fact that she looks my age.

She is strong. She is definitely very strong. Yellow ranked adventurer, huh? Something tells me that Hod can't even be compared to her.

She also definitely noticed me gauging her just now. Her eyes followed us as we made our way to the camps, and I can feel her sharp glare melting my back.

The big shots... I finally met them. The Adventurer's Office is very big and packed at most times, so it's very rare for me to even catch a glimpse of high ranking adventurers.

And being able to see them so closely like this made me realize that this world is still very large.

After that, the three of us arrived at the orc's camping area. Hod talked with the adventurers standing by at the camp so we can use one of the temporarily set up tents so we can rest. Fran also arrived behind us to give her approval, and we were allowed entry right away. 

Beforelong, we finally made it inside the tent. Valey helped put me down on the sleeping bed under the small tent guarded by the adventurers. Then, she sat down right next to me while Hod stays outside.

"Hod. May I talk to you?"

From the side, Fran came by, and Hod immediately understood that it must be important.

The two then began walking away from the tent, and they stopped at an empty area not far from the tent by the camp.

I couldn't use too much energy, but I can still focus my ears. I can still hear the conversation clearly using my super hearings.

Yeah... I can hear like this.

"Wake me up if we're heading back home, okay?" 

I said to Valey, and she quickly understood that I needed rest.

"Okies~... I also want to rest."

Valey said as she curled her body, and she placed her head on her arms. I closed my eyes to sharpen my hearing, and I was able to pick up their voices again.

"How did it go, down there?"

Fran asked Hod after the two moved away from the tent. They are standing a bit further from everyone else, so no one can listen to what they are saying.

"Well, the first moments I entered the dungeon, I fell into a trap and slid down a small hole. I left the girls alone, and I had to fight my way through over thirty red orcs."

"Huh...? No wonder you look so messy. But, that's thirty red orcs. You guys killed over three hundred in this area."

Fran pointed at the battlefield right behind her. Most of the red orc's corpses were already removed, but it still has the lingering smell of blood, even from over here.

"Oh. Uhm..."

"What is it?"

"I can't tell this to anyone. I absolutely can't. But, maybe I can trust you to keep this a secret?"

"Yes. Tell me. I swear with my life to keep this a secret."

No. Hod. Don't tell her...

She better be someone responsible. I don't want my secret to leak out.

"All the red orcs, in this area, were all slain by the girls. All I did was kill a single high orc on the surface."

"T-The girls?? All by themselves? That's... hard to believe. To kill over three hundred red orcs--"

"Two hundred, by the way."

"... No, our report said there were three hundred."

"R-Really? The girls said there are two hundred."

"Did they count properly? The one who counted and reported to me is the world's best hunter, you know."

"Oh. Rath. If that's the case, then he might be right."

Hod suddenly dropped a name, and I recognized it well. Rath? That stalker is the world's best hunter? Do we have such a low bar or was that guy always that good?

"He is around here, searching the area. By the way, I have a more pressing question to you, Hod."

Hod can feel that this is a serious question. And from her tone, I can feel it too.

"What rank of dungeon is this?"

She asked, and I can tell Hod does not wish to tell the truth, here.

"Most likely, a Blue or lower Yellow."

"Are you serious? What are the monsters?"

"Tons of red orcs. A few high orcs."

"And the boss?"

Hod has promised me not to tell anyone we just fought the God of Orcs. Maybe they can look up the rank by using a test on the dead body, but it won't be accurate. What Hod will say from this will be used to determine the rank of the monster.

"Most likely, a higher Yellow."

... that's...

Oh my fucking god, this guy can't lie properly. However, the lady seemed to be buying it.

"That makes sense. A single high orc is already a lower Yellow to begin with, so the boss has to be stronger. 

How was it? If it's you, I'm sure you could kill it. You are already as strong as a White after all."

"Hah!? You're overestimating me. And to tell you the truth... I didn't really do... anything..."

... Hod. You promised.