Chapter 20- War Drums in the Deep Forest
Morning sunlight poured gently through the dining hall windows of the Silver Moon Inn. The warm glow painted the wooden tables in soft gold, giving the peaceful room an almost dreamlike calm.
A calm that felt strangely out of place.
Kaito, Serena, and Renna sat together at their usual table. In front of them were simple plates of warm bread and rich curry, steam rising in comforting swirls.
But today, no one was relaxed.
Even the inn felt quieter than usual.
Ririna stood behind the counter, arms crossed, watching them with a worried expression she clearly tried to hide.
“You three are heading to the guild after breakfast, right?” she asked.
Kaito nodded. “We got a message. Sounds urgent.”
Renna tore a piece of bread, but her cheerful energy from yesterday was gone. “The town feels different this morning.”
Serena looked toward the window. Outside, fewer merchants were setting up stalls. Guards walked the streets more frequently.
“It’s too quiet,” she whispered.
Ririna sighed softly. “Some adventurers came back late last night. Injured. They said monsters were moving strangely in the forest.”
Silence fell over the table.
Kaito finished his curry and stood.
“Then we should go.”
Serena and Renna nodded immediately.
They didn’t need more explanation.
Something was wrong.
The Guild’s Emergency Request
The Adventurer Guild was far from its usual lively self.
Normally, the hall buzzed with laughter, boasting adventurers, and clattering mugs. Today, the air felt heavy.
Several adventurers sat along the walls with bandages wrapped around arms and heads. Some whispered quietly. Others simply stared at the floor.
Sofia spotted them the moment they entered.
Relief flashed across her face.
“You came quickly.”
Garrick’s deep voice echoed from the staircase.
“Come upstairs. We need to talk.”
Inside the guild master’s office, the atmosphere tightened immediately.
Garrick stood by the window, arms folded.
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He didn’t waste time.
“Last night, multiple reports came in. Orc attacks. Caravans destroyed. Villagers killed.”
Renna’s eyes widened. “How many?”
“Too many.”
Sofia continued quietly.
“Scouts report unusual monster behavior. Wolves fleeing deeper forest. Beasts migrating. Something is pushing them.”
Kaito frowned. “An orc tribe?”
Garrick nodded slowly.
“Possibly more than one.”
Silence filled the room.
Serena spoke softly. “An invasion…”
Garrick met their eyes.
“We want you three to investigate and eliminate the threat if possible. We will discuss reward later. Right now, lives matter more.”
Kaito stepped forward without hesitation.
“We’ll do it.”
Serena smiled gently. “We finish this before leaving to GrainFord City.”
Renna placed her hand over her sword. “I’m ready.”
Sofia bowed her head slightly.
“Please come back safely.”
Into the Silent Forest
The moment they left Stonehaven’s gates, the forest felt wrong.
No birds sang.
No insects chirped.
Only the whisper of wind through the trees.
Serena hugged her staff slightly closer.
“It’s too quiet…”
Kaito nodded. “Stay alert.”
They walked deeper into the forest, senses sharpened.
Then the smell hit them.
Blood.
Kaito stopped suddenly. “There.”
Ahead lay a horrifying sight.
Several D-rank wolves lay scattered across the forest floor. Their bodies were torn apart violently.
Renna whispered, “Orcs did this?”
Kaito crouched beside one corpse. “Not hunting. Slaughter.”
He stored the bodies in his item box.
Renna blinked. “You’re still collecting materials?”
Kaito grinned. “Waste not.”
Serena laughed softly. Even in danger, he was still himself.
Then—
A scream tore through the forest.
All three snapped their heads toward the sound.
Kaito shouted, “Move!”
They sprinted.
The forest opened onto a broken road.
A shattered carriage lay on its side.
Three terrified survivors huddled behind debris.
And nearby—
Four massive orcs devoured a dead horse.
Serena raised her staff instantly.
“Ice Chain!”
The ground exploded with freezing energy. Thick chains of ice burst upward, locking the orcs in place.
The monsters roared in fury.
Kaito stepped forward.
“Crimson Spear.”
Flames gathered into a blazing weapon in his hand. Heat distorted the air.
He threw it.
The spear pierced an orc’s skull and exploded in a burst of fire.
Renna dashed forward like a blazing comet.
“Thousand Inferno Blades!”
Her sword became a storm of flaming slashes. Fire streaked across the battlefield in rapid waves.
Within seconds—
Silence returned.
Four orcs collapsed.
The survivors stared in shock.
One began crying. Another bowed deeply.
“Thank you… thank you…”
Serena smiled warmly. “You’re safe now.”
Not far from the road, they rested.
Kaito pulled out the stew Ririna prepared.
Warm steam rose into the cool forest air.
Renna sighed happily. “Ririna-san really is amazing.”
Serena smiled at Kaito. “So is our cook.”
Kaito scratched his cheek. “It’s just reheating…”
Serena reached forward and gently wiped dirt from his face.
Renna froze mid-bite.
“Oh ho~?”
Both Kaito and Serena instantly blushed.
“Eat your stew!” Serena snapped.
Laughter filled the forest.
For a moment… things felt normal again.
After eating for while Kaito’s expression suddenly changed.
“…Did you hear that?”
A thunderous whistle split the air.
A massive boulder hurtled toward them.
Renna leapt forward.
“Crimson Slash!”
Her sword ignited and cleaved the stone in half midair.
The explosion shook the forest.
Dust filled the air.
Then shapes emerged.
One.
Five.
Ten.
More.
A full squad of heavily armed orcs stepped from the trees.
Armor. Weapons. Formation.
This wasn’t hunting.
This was war.
From deep within the forest…
War drums began to echo.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Serena whispered, “An army…”
Kaito tightened his grip.
“…Battle formation.”
Renna’s body ignited in blazing fire.
Kaito’s aura erupted with flame and earth.
Serena’s hair lifted as wind swirled around her glowing blue eyes and her long blue hair.
She smiled softly.
“It’s been a while… since we fought a real battle.”
The orcs roared.
The forest trembled.
And from deeper within the woods—
The war drums answered.
To be continued…
