Chapter 48
To escape the pack of Shadow Wolves, we were retracing our steps.
It was frustrating to turn back after covering so much ground, but our lives came first.
Like Orcs, Shadow Wolves have keen noses.
There was a chance they could track us by my scent left at that spot, so I couldn't let my guard down yet.
"I feel like I have an awful lot of history with Shadow Wolves..."
Mostly in unpleasant ways.
Even at the home improvement store, those guys came toward me for some reason.
I can't help but wonder if running over a Shadow Wolf in the first place caused me to build up their aggro for nothing.
"Let's take a short break for now."
"Woof!"
I sat down on the ground with my back against a vending machine.
So far, neither 'Enemy Search' nor 'Danger Sense' had reacted, so I wanted to believe we were safe.
Since I was thirsty, I took a sports drink out of the Item Box.
Momo looked like it wanted some too, so I poured it into a dish and set it down.
Of course, it was the kind for dogs.
As I quenched my thirst, I took out the meat cleaver I had obtained from the Orc earlier.
"The 'Orc's Cleaver'..."
The name says it all.
The blade is about eighty centimeters long.
It isn't rusty, and the edge looks sharp.
I tried swinging it around a little.
Yeah, this weight won't be a problem.
I might as well use this instead of the kitchen knife from now on.
It's not as though I refuse to use a weapon just because a monster wielded it.
Still, with the Item Box and surprise attacks as my main tactics, it's unlikely I'll ever get into a proper sword fight.
Actually, I'd rather that not happen.
Even so, having a stronger weapon is always better.
I should be able to make up the difference with 'Swordsmanship' and 'Vital Strike.'
Come to think of it, the high school girl in Nishino-kun's group was using a weapon like this, too.
Hers was a hatchet, though.
"I guess I should check my email, just in case..."
When I opened the email screen, just as expected, the number of 'Unread' messages had increased.
...I guess I only need to reply to the last one.
"Hm...?"
As I skimmed them, the newest email contained something that caught my attention.
"You saw a pack of Orcs...?"
The message said that someone had seen a pack of Orcs and urged me to be careful.
It had been received a few minutes ago.
That must have been while I was running from the Shadow Wolves.
...A pack of Orcs.
The first thing that came to mind was those Orcs at the shopping mall.
Reading on, I found the words 'copper-red Orc.'
No doubt about it—that guy.
Could they have moved in search of prey?
What a pain.
And the place where they had been spotted wasn't very far from here.
It was near the area where I'd fought the Hobgoblins yesterday.
When I focused my attention in that direction, I could definitely feel that 'bad feeling.'
It was the same feeling I'd had when I was about to head toward the shopping mall from the convenience store.
Looks like Ichinose's information was accurate.
I should thank her for this.
I sent off a thank-you email.
A reply came in just a few dozen seconds later.
That's way too fast!
I mean, Ichinose-san...
If you have time to reply to me, you should be getting out of there yourself.
"Hmm..."
Actually, this is a problem.
It feels like there are more monsters around here than before.
The two I need to be especially wary of are the Shadow Wolf pack and the Orc pack.
Those two packs have severely limited the routes I can take.
I'll have to take a major detour from my original route.
Well, it can't be helped.
It'll take time, but safety comes first.
...Hm? Wait.
Come to think of it, there was a home improvement store near that area, too, wasn't there?
I wonder if Nishino-kun and the others are all right.
Well, I have a feeling they'll manage to escape.
Now, which route should I take...?
Meanwhile, back at the home improvement store―――.
Nishino was listening as Shibata told him what had happened.
Shibata had returned battered and was showing mild symptoms of panic.
Once his first aid had been completed and he had calmed down, Nishino asked what had happened.
Shibata spoke haltingly.
They had expanded their search area and headed toward the shopping mall.
There, they'd encountered an Orc of unbelievable strength.
Everyone but Shibata had been wiped out.
He told Nishino everything without holding anything back.
"I see..."
After hearing Shibata's story, Nishino looked up at the ceiling and muttered.
"I understand. You did well to make it back, Shibata..."
He laid a hand on Shibata's shoulder in sympathy.
"Nishino-san. I'm the worst. I left my buddies behind and ran away by myself... Damn it! Shit!"
Shibata clenched his fists, looking anguished.
He must have been feeling a helpless frustration with nowhere to go.
Though usually rough around the edges and short-tempered, Shibata's feelings for his companions were genuine.
"Yeah, I know. But if you had died too, we'd still be unaware of this information. What you did was admirable. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
"..."
At those words, Shibata involuntarily looked away.
"Can't accept that? Then let me put it another way. If you feel guilty about what happened to them, think about how to stay alive, even if only a little longer. Otherwise, what did they die for? What did you abandon them for? If you want your actions to have meaning—if you truly want to repay those who died—then keep doing everything you can to survive, even if only a little longer. ...All right?"
"Yeah."
Unable to argue with Nishino's consolation, Shibata could only nod.
He still didn't seem convinced, but there was nothing more Nishino could do but leave it to him.
(...We'll deal with it if he can't get back on his feet.)
Nishino thought, without letting it show on his face.
"So, Nissy, what do we do now?"
Rikka, a gyaru-like high school girl, spoke up once it seemed the conversation had ended.
Nishino gave a wry smile at her carefree tone, which lacked any sense of urgency even now.
"Well... yeah. With a monster that strong around, we'll have to move somewhere else."
"Somewhere else?"
"The school or city hall, maybe. Both are farther away than here, but their facilities should be better equipped. Other evacuees have probably gathered there, too."
"Will they let us in? They probably don't have much room to spare either, do they?"
"We'll negotiate. In any case, let's decide on a route and move out as soon as we're ready."
Nishino spread out a map.
A route that all these people could travel.
And one that was as safe as possible.
He had just begun thinking about what lay ahead while studying the map―――
"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAARRR!!"
A monster's roar rang out.
It was a powerful roar that seemed to shake the entire building.
"Enemy attack! Enemy atttttttttack!"
"It's a monster! A pack of Orcs has appeared!"
Voices came from the entrance.
"...Looks like they got here first."
"...Looks that way."
The two of them readied their weapons and immediately headed for the entrance.