Tenkomori: The Homecoming Club Conquers Another World

Chapter 93.1 - The Second Year at the Academy - Ordeal (1)

From the orcs, I obtained not only proof of subjugation but also one magic stone.

At the nest, I found a few gold coins, some silver coins, and a necklace embedded with a small red gem.

Since this world has magic stones, the value of gems is somewhat low. Nevertheless, it's a decent find and should fetch a good price for the gold coins.

They also make for good crafting materials.

I had considered burying any human remains I might find, but I couldn't locate any human bones.

Instead, I stumbled upon something else.

"They look the same, but…"

I squatted down and examined multiple sets of footprints etched into the ground.

Among the orcs I defeated, some were young and had similar body shapes.

I had assumed they were females, but a different group might have been out hunting.

However, I couldn't be certain after observing for a while.

My [Tracking] skill was at Rank 4.

While it was sufficient for a scout, it was inferior to Ose and Pidosios.

Could they have made the distinction?

Recalling Ose's parting words, I silently apologized in my mind.

There were too many things to do right now.

In any case, if there was a suspicion, I had to investigate.

I slung my mace over both shoulders and continued walking through the forest.

Soon, after tracking the new footprints, my doubts turned into certainties.

I found multiple sets of footprints that included what seemed like a female individual judging by the condition of the crushed grass and broken branches.

It hadn't been long since they passed.

I searched for any signs of their return, but there was nothing to be found in the vicinity.

It seemed there was indeed a different orc hunting party.

Typically, hunting was the role of the males, and orcs rarely encountered females and children outside their settlements.

Since these orcs hadn't settled down yet, the females were also sent out to hunt.

The footprints meandered irregularly but abruptly veered east as if they had found their prey.

Continuing my pursuit, [Presence Detection] detected multiple presences. There were over ten of them.

However, these weren't orcs.

In fact, these clear-cut presences were.

I had a bad feeling about this, in various ways.

I had an impulse to return home, but I pressed on.

My premonition proved true, and I found myself in the middle of the forest facing an unfamiliar group named Eternal Harvest.

What's going on here…?

The group was led by three knights, and there were several squires and armed attendants. S

Strangely, there were even maids among them.

Their protectee was an arrogant-looking young girl.

Oh, my head is starting to ache.

Can I go back home? Please?

Such wishes were in vain as one of the knights noticed me. He issued a curt warning, and all their eyes focused on me.

"Aniki!"

Zereett and Varden rejoiced but didn't jump at me like usual.

They stood facing the knights.

Behind them were Corpus and Ishmira.

It looked like a formation for battle, but Ismira's condition was clearly strange. She had a troubled expression.

"What's going on?"

"It was sudden. Orcs appeared out of nowhere…"

In a low voice, Ishmira responded.

It was as troublesome as I had anticipated.

Someone was trying to steal my quarry.

There must have been a skirmish between the other orc hunting party and the knights.

The other orc hunting party had been annihilated by the knights, leaving the female orc barely alive. Their motives were unclear.

Perhaps they were kept alive because they were unusual. I couldn't fathom the thoughts of the upper classes.

In any case, the female orc had escaped or was intentionally let go. However, beyond me was Eternal Harvest.

The fact that the female orc had no fatal wounds… that must have been Ishmira's [Magic Bolt].

The group scanned the forest, checking if I was alone.

Thanks to that, they halted the situation temporarily, but Zerett and Varden still held a clear enmity. It was a hostility different from mock combat. This was bad.

According to adventurers' customs, if you let your quarry escape, you lose the rights to it.

Although there was room for negotiation due to the female orc's extensive injuries, the current issue was something else. Knights were not subject to these rules.

But it was strange.

Even if I had caused this situation, Ishmira should have been able to handle it skillfully and address it before it escalated.

Subtly, I moved my gaze and discreetly used [Appraisal] on the group.

If they didn't have [Mental Resistance 5], they would have shown shock on their faces.

This guy of all people.

Name: Klaus Schmell

Race: Human

Level: 38

HP: 204/204

MP: 187/187

Str: 16

Int: 13

Dex: 15

End: 17

Agi: 14 (Acceleration: 16, Reaction: 19)

Charm: 15

[Skills]

Sword Flash (One-handed Sword: 10, Two-Handed Sword: 8)

Strong Strike, Rock Cut, Double Strike, Rigid Strike, Blazing Slash, Holy Strike, Starry Sky Strike, Rotation Strike, Flash Strike, Battle Line, Shield Strong Strike, Fortress of the Beast, Swift Formation, Throwing: Dagger

Acceleration Enhancement 2, Reaction Enhancement 4, Slashing Resistance 3, Striking Resistance 4, Pain Resistance 4, Mental Resistance 6, Presence Detection 2, Crisis Sensing 5

Dagger 2, Spear 4, Shield 8, Taijutsu 3, Horsemanship 5, Throwing 3, Holy Magic 3

[Magic]

-Novice-

Light Healing

Antidote

-Intermediate-

Healing

Sacred Cape

[Titles]

None