Chapter 3: The First Battle.
After confirming the uselessness of my skills in playing with dolls and clay, I vented my frustration and turned to face the problem in front of me.
Even though I had accepted that I had been reincarnated in a different world, I didn't know where I was or what kind of world it was. I didn't even know what time or situation it was at the moment. I was completely clueless about my basic necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter.
So, I was at a loss as to what to do first. It was morning during the center exam in my previous world, but here, even wearing a down jacket felt hot, making me wonder if it was a warm region or season, or both. I took off my jacket and used it as a pillow on the grass while I pondered in my thin sweater.
I started to feel hungry, but I had a rice ball and an extra jelly in my backpack, which should last me a day or so even if I couldn't acquire any food. However, I needed to think beyond that. Since I didn't have any survival skills, it seemed unlikely that I could obtain food on my own.
So, I had to find a town or village where people lived, at any cost. I worried if I could communicate with people in this world and how to handle money, but I couldn't just sit around and wait for death.
My first goal was to find a human settlement. I stood up and wondered which way to take along the small path next to the stream.
Since both paths seemed to have little visibility, I chose the direction downstream by looking at the flow of the river. I had an image that there would be a large town downstream from the mountains, and going downhill would be easier than going uphill. With that in mind, I started walking along the path.
I walked for about an hour. Although I heard faint chirping of birds that I couldn't identify and the rustling sound of small animals like rabbits moving through the trees, I couldn't see them.
Large rocks began to increase on the slope where there should be a stream, but the path continued to be unchanging. The road seemed to become narrower and more like an animal trail. It was somewhat creepy.
When I started to feel down, I felt like I heard something.
From beyond the path, where the visibility opened up unusually far, I could see a figure approaching me, no, something like a large bird, like a horse or an ostrich.
It seems like there are several more following behind it.
Although they are still quite far away, when I focused on them, a feeling like a switch was turned on in my head and the words <Lv.5 Monk> <Chocobo> floated over their figures.
I wonder why I know this kind of information. Could it be the effect of the "Identification (Beginner)" skill?
A "Monk" is definitely a job or class in RPGs.
It's convenient to know the job and level of an opponent who is still so far away that their appearance is unclear. Although my bonus skill was disappointing, this skill seems to be the most skill-like skill.
Chocobo is probably the name of the animal someone is riding. It's like a horse-like bird, I guess.
Riding on Chocobos, the figures that continue in the same way are:
<Lv.4 Mage> <Lv.6 Adventurer> and finally <Lv.5 Warrior>, and several shadows of people on foot jump out, entwined with their figures.
When I focused on the figure-like things, I could see that they were <Lv.3 Orc>, <Lv.4 Orc>, and so on.
The Orc is a clichéd villain in fantasy, like in Lord of the Rings.
There are about ten of them, a little lower in level than horsemen, and four figures appear to be fleeing from the Orc group. It seems like a warrior is holding the rear and desperately preventing them from being pursued.
While it might be appropriate to help people fleeing from monsters, as someone who has just been reincarnated, I don't understand the situation, and as a beginner adventurer with only Level 1, it might be too difficult for me.
If those who are running away are Level 4 or 5, they would be too strong for me to handle.
I am neither a hero nor a gentleman, so I should probably hide first.
My struggle was negated by the sudden appearance of another Orc.
Three or four of them suddenly jumped out from the trees in front of me, as if they were trying to outflank the group. I reflexively thought about running down the slope on the opposite side of the trees to try and escape.
What I caught sight of was:
<Orc LV3> <Orc LV3> <Orc Leader LV6>!
I have no choice but to run!
My desire for them not to notice me seemed to have become a flag, as one of the Orcs twitched its nose and let out a "Guaaa, Guaa" cry in my direction.
As a signal, the separate group of Orcs began exchanging some kind of conversation in their native tongue, seemingly discussing how to deal with the head of the fleeing group. Orcs seem to be quite clever and able to strategize. It's not helpful in the current situation, but rather a problem.
I ran frantically towards the stream, zigzagging between the rocky outcrops.
Even if there were those who were chasing after me, I couldn't afford to lose.
However, suddenly from ahead, a triumphant roar of "Gaaa!" echoed out!
On top of a rock as tall as my height in front of me, an <Orc LV3> climbed up, wielding a weapon that looked like a stone axe.
Both the axe and its mouth were covered in what seemed to be blood.
This can't be real... To be in a life-threatening situation from the very first event after being reincarnated, it's impossible.
If this were a game, the balance would be too off. I'm unarmed, and I've never even fought to the death in real life.
The orc jumped towards me from on top of the rock.
The stone axe was raised. Its movement seemed to be in slow motion.
"Uwaaaah!"
Reflexively, I felt a ball-like sensation in my hand, which was supposed to throw something like a stone or a baseball when I was in my elementary school baseball team.
Desperately, I threw it with all my might at the orc's face.
It was only about 50cm away, close enough to smell its foul breath. The orc's face seemed to contort in surprise for a moment before a dull sound rang out and the clay ball hit it right in the forehead.
The orc's neck bounced up in a strange direction, and its body, which had fallen on my shoulder, was avoided by twisting my body.
There was a thud as the orc's body fell on a stone corner, contorting and twitching until it stopped moving. I felt like collapsing on the spot.
But then, at that moment, another roar came from a little further away.
Three orcs glared at me with fierce expressions and charged at me!
If this were a game, it would be an impossible challenge to be attacked by a group of significantly stronger enemies in the first event without anyone to help. What were the developers thinking?
Once again, I ran through the gaps between the rocks as if climbing up a slope, regretting that I didn't pick up the orc's stone axe from earlier. Was there any way to fight back? I had to think!
Soon, I could see a rock about shoulder height as I approached a small path. The ground beneath my feet had become more like a grassy area, and I had to be careful not to stumble. As an out-of-shape ronin, I was out of breath and feeling sorry for myself.
I turned around when I reached the end of the path, with the determination to face whatever came my way.
The large guy leading the charge was an orc leader at level 6. He had probably taken his metal longsword from a human and was now approaching me with both hands on the hilt, closing the gap between us in a flash. I quickly summoned a chunk of clay about the size of a pipe, and the orc leader tripped over it with his momentum, diving right in front of me. His sword grazed my side and landed on the ground beside me.
Though my heart was pounding, I didn't have time to panic. The orc leader tried to get up by placing his hands on the ground, and I reflexively pulled the sword and swung it horizontally like a baseball player.
Blood spattered everywhere.
I didn't have the technique to decapitate an orc with a single swing, but the sword remained embedded in the half-severed neck of the orc.
The other two orcs caught up to us. I managed to pull out my sword and desperately ran to the backside of the rock about shoulder height.
The two orcs split up and circled around me, positioning themselves on either side of the rock. One held a stone axe, and the other held a club, both of them with fierce expressions on their faces as they glared at me.
"Rina"
I called out softly.
<Look here.>
A calm voice rose behind the orcs, and two of them turned around in surprise.
At that moment, I swung my sword with all my might at the orc holding the closer battle axe.
"Giiii!"
As a scream rose up, the sword sliced through the level 3 orc's robes.
The other orc froze in place. I could somehow sense a change in the orc's expression.
Fear appeared on its face.
The orc holding the club hesitated, backing away with its club still raised, before turning around and fleeing into the forest.
As the realization of killing a human-like creature for the first time hit me, I felt my hand tremble with nausea. Despite this, I could not let go of the sword, and I stood frozen at the edge of the path.
On the rock next to me, an expressionless doll lay where I had placed it as instructed. While it was nice that I had managed to execute the lines like a child actor, it was nothing but luck that this idea had been successful.
At that moment, the sound of swords clashing, the sound of hooves, and the cries of many people grew closer.
The group of humans and the group of orcs from earlier were approaching.
The human group was in a state of disarray. It was probably because some of the members had been injured and were dragging their legs.
The level 5 warrior guarding the rear was using his body as a shield to fend off the orc horde. He had probably defeated a few of them, but there were still seven or eight remaining.
Both sides noticed me and momentarily slowed down in surprise.
Two orc corpses lay at my feet, and a man holding a bloody long sword stood before them.
The orc horde's flanking strategy had failed.
It was now or never.
"Uoooooh!"
I thrust my sword upward and let out a loud, imposing roar.
The human and orc groups focused their attention on me, and the <Orc Leader LV8>, who was wielding a large two-handed sword at the head of the orc horde, looked around and let out a short bark.
"Guaooo, Gaa!"
The orcs let out a low growl as they disappeared into the forest. For them, that was probably the original route rather than the path we were on.
The human group stared in disbelief for a while.
As soon as the orcs disappeared completely into the woods, I collapsed where I stood.
I could feel my heart pounding rapidly.
