Paradigm Parasite

Chapter 137: "Duel"

Strange.

The orcs changed their movements.

They started to drop back instead of actively trying to fight.

I tilt my head inwardly and look at Dylan next to me.

He seems to be thinking something similar and gives a small nod.

"This is luring us in, isn't it?"

"You think so?"

"Yeah. The orcs had been all about assaulting, but now they're dropping back, it's safe to assume there's something going on."

It's so suspicious that even a layman like me can see that they've withdrawn so suddenly.

"Do you know what they're after?"

"Yes. We think they're trying to lure us into their city."

"Why would they go there again?"

"They're probably trying to take the fight to the field. It's the only open place in the area, and they want to decide while they still have the numbers."

...Ah, I see.

So you're going to go all out at once, rather than throwing them in at a trickle.

But there's not that much difference in terms of numbers and quality.

There are plant zombies, and before I arrived they would have still had a chance to win, but now that Shrigala, Kongamatou and Jevordan have been added, it will be tough for them to win, don't you think?

Plus...

I look behind me.

Dylan in full cathedral knight's gear and Trust standing like a shadow.

And to make matters worse, the reinforcements prepared by Fatima are supposed to come.

Hmmm. This is going to destroy the orcs, isn't it?

If I were in the opposite position, I'd throw out the country and flee.

I thought about what to do after dropping the orc cities.

I'm going to directly control the ones I can use for the time being, and the rest will be planted and forced to work.

I'm sorry, but I don't believe in loyalty.

We will make sure that no kind of rebellion can ever take place.

Goblins and trolls will be dealt with in the same way, but the problem is the dwarves.

Fatima has asked us to keep them under our control as long as possible... but I don't know what to do about this.

Well, if you look at the armour they make, you can see why they want it.

Many of the equipment recovered from the corpses was of high quality and suitable for both selling and using, so the idea of capturing it and using it as a source of funds was transparent.

I understand the feeling.

You can never have too much money.

Well, let's try to live up to their expectations as much as possible.

The command and operation of the troops is left to Dylan, so basically I don't talk about it.

I wanted to see the performance of the Shrigala and the others, so I asked him to intervene, but now that I've seen that, there's no need for me to interfere anymore.

I don't have anything more to do.

Well, I'll just relax and watch the orcs being overrun.

I've got the Dwarves to deal with, so it's hard not to throw them out.

Well, it's been a few days since the orcs started retreating.

Their capital or something like that came into view.

It has no particular name. It is called the City of Orcs.

...A city, huh?

Although the name is a capital, it is a place where things like houses that seem to have been put together properly with wood stand in a row, and if anything, it would be more appropriate to call it a village.

It is not particularly well maintained, so the rows of houses are messy and the roads are sparse.

However, it is spacious enough for a herd of orcs to wait with their weapons at ready.

The numbers are - as you might expect from a city - large.

We're at a bit of a disadvantage in terms of numbers, even though there are a fair number of us here too.

...although I don't feel like losing.

They seem to be aware of us and are fired up, as if they could charge in at any time.

Some of the leading Orcs are even leaning forward.

On the other side, we advance without slowing down and stop at a position where we can see each other.

I look at Dylan next to me.

Dylan notices my gaze and gives a small nod.

"We want to wait for the reinforcements prepared by Fatima-sama, so we'll buy as much time as possible. If we don't make it in time, I will give up the initiative and open the battle in the form of an interceptor."

...I see.

The standoff continued for a while, and it was only a few minutes later that a change occurred.

The group of orcs split open and an orc in full yellow armour appeared.

He looks like a general.

When its orcs take the lead, they raise their voices.

"I'm the Orc King, Radib!"

That's a big voice.

It's usually amazing to be able to reach a voice so clearly over a distance.

And on top of that, it speaks one language, but is it smarter than it looks to be able to speak human language?

But still, that orc is very bossy.

Does he want to die, coming all the way to the front?

Looking behind me, Trust sighs a small sigh.

Riley lifts the edge of his mouth and lets out an eerie laugh, "Ku, kiki kiki".

Dylan is silent. He seems to be waiting to see what happens.

It doesn't look like he's just going to come forward and do whatever it is he's going to do.

"Let's have a one on one duel with me!"

Yes?

A single combat?

I hear Trust and Riley behind me erupt in small bursts.

Frankly, I agree with you.

What's in it for us, a single combat in this situation? I'm talking about.

Most of our troops are plant zombies.

In other words, they're expendable, and we can't afford to lose them at all.

The other side may be different, but we have no reason to try to end this early with single combat.

I don't see the need to take it at all.

The others agree, or perhaps Trust mutters 'stupid' and snickers.

Riley lets out a chuckle as if he were making fun of them.

His eyes glint with a glare, eloquently stating that he wants to shove it in and kill it because it's already a pain in the ass.

On the other hand, Dylan pretends to be a little troubled.

"What's wrong?"

I couldn't help but ask, curious.

"No, I'm just worried that I can't see that orc's thoughts. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that the orcs are not in a position to make a move. But what are their intentions in challenging us to single combat?"

Interesting opinion.

Go on.

"The idea is to provoke us by asking for single combat."

"Provocation?"

"Yes. If we ignore the offer and advance our troops, a trap awaits us..."

Ah, so in essence he's inviting us to ignore him and rush in.

I look at Riley and he pulls back his smile and gently turns his face away.

Trust is expressionless. 'You've silently faked it,' he says.

"In addition. We have no proof that the orc is the king. It's possible that he's a substitute."

Hmm. He's wearing a helmet, so it's hard to tell from this distance if it's him or not.

The equipment seems to belong to the king, according to the stolen memories.

Dylan's story is not impossible, but would the king go out of his way to lend his equipment to his subordinates?

"We also think that if we were to accept single combat, they think they can expose the identity of our commanding officer."

Ah. I see, he might be doing it with the intention of checking the face of the guy who took the job and came running out.

This is more likely than a trap.

"Do you know what happened? You've got to be careful, you know!"

Saying so, Radib stirs up the situation. The subtle mispronunciation also irritates me.

The orcs around him start laughing like fools in response.

I heard a grinding noise from Riley behind me, but I ignored it.

"...I get the story. So what are you going to do? You're in command, so don't hold back on me."

"I'm thinking of taking it. Naturally, I'll take it."

"What about command?"

"No problem. If I go, at least it will be clear whether there is a trap or not, and if I fall, I can just leave the command to Riley-dono and let him lay waste to them. In the first place, they must have thought they couldn't win by a straightforward attack, so they used this kind of labyrinthine method. As long as we know whether or not there is a trap, which is the only point of concern, the rest can be taken care of."

Dylan then lowers his helmet visor.

"Well, I'm off then. Mister Riley, after I'm down--"

Riley taps Dylan on the shoulder and nods broadly without letting him finish.

This also paves the way for Dylan to move forward. He is accompanied by two Shrigaras.

Radheeb also responds with a few of his men and walks up to us, away from the army.

I watch from a little distance.

They stop a few metres away from each other.

I can see his face from this distance, but ...... Radib, it's not a dummy, it's the man himself.

Is he the one who wants to die?

"I praises you for no running away!"

Dylan ignores Radib, who is saying something from the top, and looks around him.

"Are you the one who shames my comrade!?"

Dylan looks back and Shrigala shakes his head silently.

By the look on his face, he could see that there was no trap and no ambush.

Eh? These guys challenged us to a duel without any tricks!

"What if it is?"

Dylan, who has finished checking, passes on Radib's question.

"Then, if you lose, spill how you do it!"

"Then what do I get if I win?"

"You will get your whatever you wish for!"

"I see. Let's begin."

Dylan slowly draws his sword.

Radieve responds by taking up an axe in each hand.

The battle began where the orcs and Shrigala had left off.

Radheeb takes the lead.

He throws one of his axes.

He spins around and comes straight at Dylan, but he swings his sword lightly to repel him.

Radheeb sits back without moving.

He intercepts... no, no.

The axe that was played comes back in an unnatural trajectory.

The owner's hand... or rather, is it drawn back to the other axe?

I see him moving the axe in his hand in small increments.

It's an interesting weapon.

Whether it works is another story.

Dylan lightly plays the axe flying from behind him with the back of his hand.

I don't think it would pierce that armour, even if it did.

As he ran, I saw him clutching his black-bladed two-handed sword tightly at his side.

Radib grabbed the axe that came back and Dylan slashed at almost the same time.

Metallic sound. It's a close call, but he seems to have managed to catch it with his axe.

Dylan's attack is fast, by the way.

It's a characteristic of that sword, but has he improved his skill?

His movements are sharper than before.

The opposing Radieve is also reacting well to receive that thing.

"Nun!"

Radeeb pushes back the sword and unleashes a barrage of blows with his two-handed axe.

This one is also fast, though not as fast as Dylan's.

On top of that, he has the numbers of moves.

It is wonderful that he is able to meet Dylan head-on in full gear.

He calls himself a king, and he is more powerful than the other orcs.

Both sides are slightly hitting each other.

This is where the differences in skill and armour begin to show.

Radib's attacks are completely blocked by Dylan's armour, and Dylan's attacks are beginning to chip little scratches into Radib's armour.

Radheeb's physical specs were better, but Dylan's skill was better.

Gradually, Dylan started to push.

Radive is beginning to realise this and his movements are starting to show signs of impatience.

Dylan is a serious guy who could have used magic or a lure instead of playing into his opponent's ring.

The tide completely turned when the number of axe attacks exceeded the number of sword attacks.

It seems that he was in fine armour, but against that sword he was no match for it.

"Gaaaahhhh!"

Radeeve roared, and swung his hands in a full-on rush, but... he was too late.

Dylan calmly flicks his right axe away, and with a return blow, slashes his left arm off at the elbow.

He slashes at Radieve, who grunts as he loses his arm, in an exaggerated manner.

The slash rips through flesh and armour, and the Orc king crumples noisily, spurting blood.