Chapter 14 | The Assassin Receives Military Duty
A few days had passed since the end of the Academy Market. I arrived in the classroom, and then while I was chatting with Naoise, an announcement sounded over the broadcast equipment.
“The following first-year students from Class S are to report to Visitation Room 2. Lugh, Naoise, Epona, Claudia, and Tarte. This is a top priority.”
If they had called Naoise, Dia, Tarte, and me without Epona, this would likely have been about our secret mission. The hero had been called as well, however, so it had to be something unrelated.
“I wonder what it could be. This must be quite the emergency.”
“We’re missing class. I have a bad feeling about this.”
Naoise and I looked at each other with bitter smiles on our faces. I hoped it wouldn’t be anything too bothersome, but that seemed unlikely.
We entered the visitation room to find the instructor in charge of Class S, Professor Dune, and a dignified-looking woman in knight’s clothing waiting for us. Decorations on the woman’s uniform immediately informed us of her skill. Clearly, she held some sort of high position.
Professor Dune motioned for us to sit. Once we did so, he used a pen to mark a point on a map hung on the wall and began to speak.
“Apologies for causing you to miss your lessons. I’ll get straight to the point. You five are being sent into combat. A village about five kilometers west of here is being encroached upon by a horde of around one hundred orcs. Orcs use human women for breeding. If left to their own devices, the orcs will multiply and attack the nearby city of Rutolia. We must avoid that outcome at all costs. We’re going to set up an ambush and wipe them out before they have a chance to do anything to the village.”
Monsters had been appearing in larger numbers lately. These portentous events foretold the return of the Demon King. I’d been expecting something like this to happen sooner or later.
Our professor laid out a sensible and straightforward battle strategy.
The city of Rutolia was the economic center of this region, and it couldn’t be allowed to fall. While Rutolia possessed strong defenses in the form of heavily fortified walls, the hope was that we would stop the orcs before sealing off the city became a necessity.
However, three things were bothering me, and I raised my hand.
“Lugh Tuatha Dé. You may speak,” Professor Dune allowed.
“I have a few questions. There should be a stronghold in front of the village. Does the orcs’ advance on the village mean they managed to break through the stronghold unharmed?”
“No. The orcs didn’t push past the stronghold. It seems they simply appeared beyond its perimeter. Unfortunately, the bastion has its hands full dealing with another group of monsters, so they won’t be able to offer any help.”
“Okay, my second question: No matter how strong we are, we are students. It hasn’t been very long since we enrolled, and we haven’t received much training in military strategy. Could you please share the reason for entrusting us with this duty despite our inexperience?”
I didn’t lack confidence, but I still wanted to know why five first-years had been chosen. We had power to spare, but we weren’t coordinated as a group to move effectively as a unit. Sending us into battle seemed abnormal.
“The honest answer is we’re simply shorthanded. When there are monsters that need exterminating, the duty is first entrusted to the infested domain’s ruler. If they are not able to deal with it, they request help from the Royal Order. Lately, monsters have repeatedly been appearing in large quantities, and the Royal Order has sent out all personnel not needed to defend the capital. When the knights cannot deal with a situation, professors and upper-level students are dispatched from the academy. As you may have already surmised, all available professors and upper-level students are away. You five are the only first-years the faculty feels can handle this responsibility.”
It seems like they think very highly of us.
I’d never seen an orc in person, but I knew it was suicide for anyone other than a mage to take them on. Suppose the knights from the Royal Order and the upperclassmen were already off handling other problems. In that case, I could understand why the academy would want to send novice mages like us over ordinary folk with military training.
“Okay, now for my third question: We are going to be fighting orcs. Considering the worst-case scenario, it’d be best if girls weren’t around. Would it not be best to leave Dia and Tarte behind?”
“You’re exactly right. However, I’ll say this: They’ll be fine if you protect them. The scale of this horde is huge, and we can’t afford to send any fewer than five people. Even considering the risks, we need to make sure we meet the enemy with the proper amount of force.”
I felt an urge to ask Professor Dune if he’d lost his mind.
Orcs were giants that stood around three meters tall, and they had the strength to match their bulk. They also had a unique method of reproduction. Orcs were an all-male species, and they reproduced by impregnating females of other species.
Orcs were incredibly fertile, and they could continue to copulate for more than half a day. Uninterrupted, they would impregnate a female in a single night. The child was born only three days later. It was the offspring that was the most problematic.
Orc children inherited the best traits of their mothers’ species. An orc attack not only increased their numbers, but those born of human mothers would possess higher intelligence. If those intelligent orcs took command of the horde, their threat level would increase exponentially.
If things went south for us…
“If Tarte and Dia end up impregnated, they will give birth to terrifyingly strong monsters,” I said.
“Don’t make me repeat myself. We are aware of the risks. I’m telling you not to let that happen.”
Because orcs received their mothers’ most valuable qualities, an orc born from a powerful mage would be both smart and mighty in battle.
…The last thing I wanted to do was take Dia and Tarte to a location brimming with creatures that were filled with lust for human women.
“Thank you very much for worrying about me, my lord. But I will be fine. I won’t let them beat me,” Tarte assured.
“That’s right. You’ve trained us well, Lugh, and you’ll be there to protect us if something goes wrong. This is going to be a tough job, and I want to help you,” Dia insisted.
I can’t bring myself to think that optimistically.
Our enemy was powerful. Orcs had immense strength and endless stamina. There was a decent chance something could go wrong.
“No matter what you may have to say, the order is absolute. You all are nobles of this country. You should give your all to serve it… I will be accompanying you for support, and this lady from the Royal Order will be traveling with us as well,” Professor Dune explained.
“Apologies for the delay in introducing myself. I am Rachel Barton. I was a member of this academy’s very first class. I will protect you all, so you do not need to worry.”
Rachel Barton. She was one of the first graduates of this academy and probably graduated with top honors.
We five took turns giving our names to her.
“I’ve heard that multiple once-a-decade talents have entered the academy this year. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you,” Rachel said with a smile.
“We will work hard to live up to your expectations,” I responded, deciding to concede to Professor Dune’s orders. No matter what excuses I made, the decision had been set.
“With Lugh and me on the job, we’ll be just fine. What’s more, the hero is coming, too. It doesn’t matter how many orcs there are; we’ll win,” Naoise declared. I couldn’t hide my discomfort with such an overconfident statement.
While I didn’t say anything about it out loud, there was something even more concerning than our opponents—Epona. I’d fought her many times since our first sparring session. If she went berserk, I don’t think anyone would escape unharmed except myself.
If Epona could lose it during a mock battle, then the risk of an outburst during a real fight with actual monsters seemed even higher. Not even I was sure what’d happen if Epona went on a rampage.
Epona turned to me and said, “I’ll do my best. You’ve really helped me get more confident, Lugh!”
That’s exactly why I’m scared. I’ll have to watch out for Epona as much as the orcs.
“That is all. Departure is in three hours. Prepare yourselves, then gather at the Royal Order’s carriage in the main square. This is a military operation, so you must wear a uniform. That is all; you’re dismissed.” Professor Dune turned his back to us as if to convey he had nothing left to disclose.
Never had I guessed I’d be assigned duty so early in my tenure at the academy.
We walked into the hallway and then headed to our rooms to prepare. Dia and Tarte remained with me. Naoise had an ambitious smile on his face as he walked away.
Facing Dia and Tarte, I cautioned, “There are three promises you need to make me, or you may not survive. I couldn’t say any of this in front of the professor or the knight.”
Seeing how serious I was, they both nodded with firm expressions.
“First, stay close to me. Don’t pursue any enemies too far away and stay by my side. Understand? Anything could happen once we engage our opponents. A blow from an orc will knock you unconscious regardless of how much you’ve strengthened yourself with mana. They instinctively prioritize overpowering females and taking them away. If any one of them succeeds in grabbing a girl, the other orcs will form a wall to protect them. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen. As long as you two are by my side, I will cover your blind spots.”
“O-okay. I promise to stay close to you,” Tarte agreed.
“Yeah, I’ll be careful, too. I don’t like being separated from you anyway,” Dia added.
“Second, prioritize my orders. When the professor’s orders run counter to mine, follow my orders without hesitation,” I instructed.
“That goes without saying. I am your retainer.”
Such an attitude made Tarte unsuitable as a knight of the academy, but it was a perfect answer for my servant.
“I don’t have anything cool to say like Tarte, but I also plan to do as you say,” Dia replied.
“Lastly, we need to watch out for Epona. She’s a far greater danger than the orcs. Don’t let your guard down…or you will die.”
As long as they keep those three promises, they’ll be fine.
Using brand new students like us was a clear demonstration of how shorthanded the school was.
I wondered if the academy had constructed this situation to test the hero’s abilities. It hardly mattered now. All that was left was to give it my all. Anything less risked death.
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