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The air in the room turned icy in an instant, and everyone in the squad 8 barracks fell silent after Ian spoke. Ian’s words had caused quite a stir. The squad members stared at him as if they were going to eat him alive. 

He met their gaze head on.

Try it if you can.

He wanted their respect, and he knew the surest way to lose it was to back down. He couldn’t let them intimidate him if he wanted to be able to show off his skills.

If he wanted to be strong, he had to embody it.

That’s the only way I’ll survive. If I cower after making that little speech, they’ll tear me to shreds.

Ian stared at the squad 8 members, standing frigid in front of him.

"Pfft.”

The giant, who had called Ian a runt, broke the silence. He had stifled his laugh, but he soon burst out laughing, unable to hold it back any longer.

“Puhaha!”

When the giant guffawed, the mood of the squad softened and lightened in an instant.

"Woah... What did that punk just say? Hahaha."

"He’s an amusing one. Section Commander Hamilton! Have you ever had a recruit like him?”

"No. It’s astounding in more ways than one… Were we not that intimidating?" The giant responded, shaking his head.

Ian remained tense as he watched the squad members talk amongst themselves. They looked at him with interest, but they didn’t seem particularly impressed.

"Hey you, recruit."

"Yes."

"Your name?"

"It's Ian." He answered Hamilton at once.

Hamilton grinned and stroked his chin as Ian responded, looking him straight in the eyes.

"Good, Ian. Do you know where we are?"

"I heard this is the Devil Platoon."

"Yes, the Devil Platoon. We’re the devils."

Ian’s fingers flinched at his response. It was because when Hamilton spoke, the mana around him pulsated. Whether it was intentional or not, Hamilton was a powerful man who could use mana.

Ian felt his heart beating strangely. The fact that the section commander was a skilled mana user meant that the standard here was pretty high. He didn’t know if it applied for others, but this was good for Ian.

Since the stronger the monsters are, the more EXP I’ll gain.

It meant he could level up quicker if he gained more EXP.

Hamilton continued talking, so Ian stopped his line of thought to focus on what he said.

"Devils don’t easily entrust anyone to cover their backs. I don't know where a runt like you strolled in from, but don't even dream about participating in the hunt until we acknowledge you."

"…What do you mean by hunt?"

“Exactly that, hunting monsters. It's also our main job. That’s why we call ourselves hunters, not soldiers. 

"Then, how do I prove myself?”

He had to show off his skills to gain recognition, but it seemed like they were preventing him from doing so.

Ian knew that the Devil Platoon were skilled and prideful, but he couldn’t help but to tilt his head by their approach.

"Collect ten of the Orcs’ left ears, by any means necessary. I’ll give you a week. If you can’t do it within the time frame, you're going to perish in the wave¹ next week since no one will acknowledge you as one of our own."

“…….”

Ian clammed up when Hamilton said that.

Collect ten Orcs’ left ears within a week.

Ian didn’t think it would be too difficult for him to complete the task. He knew he would be able to find Orcs if he were to venture a little further into the Demonic Forest. However, he knew that handling an Orc alone would be a very demanding task for the other recruits.

For any other recruit, it was likely an impossible mission.

Well, it is what it is. Let’s do it.

Ian thought.

Ian did not know what methods the other recruits would be able to use in their own hunt for the Orc ears, but he had certainly raised the stakes with his challenging words.

He took a breath and nodded.

"Ten Orc left ears… Understood, I’ll give it a go.” Ian answered.

A window popped up in front of him.

[Become the Devil!]

The Devil Platoon’s Squad 8 members have not yet acknowledged you as one of their own. You must collect 10 Orc ears to be accepted by them.

Your words have piqued their interest in you.

Do your best to hunt Orcs and collect their left ears.

Your deadline is one week. However, if you complete it before the time limit is up, your reward will be maximized.

-Quest Completion Reward: Accepted by the Devil Platoon Squad 8 Members

***

“Hmm…”

Ian moved carefully as he scoped the dense verdant forest. He knew a monster might appear anywhere, so he had to stay focused.

Ian kept walking, keeping a keen eye on his surroundings.

He thought about the Devil Platoon. He couldn’t tell for certain on the first day, but the unit was a pretty good match for him. Unlike other units, they rarely trained as a group as it was pointless to do so when they spent each day hunting. Additionally, for those who engaged in combat on a daily basis, training as one large unit was dangerous. That type of training was only beneficial in preparing for a war.

During his days as a hunter, Ian had prioritized combat. Combat was important in this place as well because he had to hunt as many monsters as possible to level up quickly.

He didn’t feel stifled by being in the army.

They’re almost like a guild.

Obviously, if one were to nitpick, they were very different from a guild, but the ambience was certainly similar to one.

Thanks to this, Ian believed he could adapt fast.

Of course, I'll have to acquire the Orc ears first.

Ian heard a rustle and focused on the present, cautiously pulling his sword.

Although it was just the standard sword provided to the soldiers, it was balanced and useful with a freshly sharpened blade. 

Ian put his full focus on where the sound came from and waited for the monster to emerge.

“Chwak.”

“Chwik.”

A group of lightly armed Orcs that looked like they’d been hunting prey appeared in front of him.

There’s four of them…

One Orc would not be a problem, but even for Ian, four was a bit too much to handle alone. 

I should start by killing one, but…

If there were only three of them left, he could somehow use the trees to fight them, but he didn’t stand a chance if they attacked from all four directions.

Ian held his breath and tensed up, waiting for the right moment. Then, Ian felt his muscles become enveloped with mana to help him move more efficiently.

"Chwak. Smells like a human."

"I smell it, too. Chwik.”

The Orcs got closer to Ian, talking amongst themselves as they swept the area. They had been walking side by side, but they broke formation and spread out to search for Ian.

Now...

Ian pulled up and swung his sword simultaneously.

His sword swiftly sliced the nearest Orc’s neck. Although he couldn't cut it entirely through, the Orc collapsed feebly, unable to get back up. 

Only if it became undead, would it still be able to attack Ian with a half-slit neck.

"Chwak! It’s a human!" The next nearest Orc shouted.

One Orc was down. The remaining three stared at Ian, widening their eyes with astonishment. Not missing a beat, Ian moved in to stab the nearby Orc while they stood bewildered.

The monster managed to parry his blow with the wooden club it was holding, but it couldn't block Ian's feet as he kicked its stubby leg. The Orc lost its balance and stumbled, and Ian rammed his sword through its open mouth.

Though powerful, Orcs were dense and slow-witted, and Ian used this to his advantage to ambush and kill the first two.

The remaining two Orcs, however, would not be as easy.

Thump!

“Urgh.”

Ian was trying to pull his sword from the Orc’s mouth when a sudden blow to his back made him stagger.

Huff…

The monster’s strength was so great that the blow was intensely painful and left Ian feeling dizzy momentarily.

He puffed out a hot breath and quickly stepped back.

Unable to retrieve his sword, Ian was forced to fight with his bare hands.

If I’d tried to stand my ground there, I’d have been hit again… I don’t know what would have happened then.

Ian glared at the Orcs.

A two against one fight was not ideal, so Ian decided to utilize the Orcs’ ignorance against them.

"Hey, listen." Ian spoke, trying to stall.

"Chwak! Die, human!"

The Orcs had no desire to listen to him talk and charged him.

"Damn it!"

Ian yelled, taking a dive for it. He rolled on the ground past the two Orcs, aiming his body at the sword handle protruding from the Orc’s body behind them. Ian quickly reached out, pulling the sword from the Orc’s body as he got to his feet.

He swung his sword as he bent down, sending blood gushing out from the leg of the hatchet-wielding Orc.

“It hurts! Chwik!”

“Of course, it does, I slashed you.”

Ian murmured. The Orc could not walk properly with its leg injured, so Ian looked over to the other Orc waving its club. 

It had a murderous glare.

Ian stepped back, evading its club.

It tried to surprise him with a pincer attack, but Ian easily took the Orc down.

Only a brief moment after lunging at Ian with its club, the Orc collapsed, dripping with green blood.

Only the injured Orc remained.

Ian stabbed it through its heart where it lay.

Ian felt its muscles contract as the sword penetrated its chest, and he felt the Orc’s heart burst at his fingertips.

“Phew…”

Seeing the four Orcs crumpled on the ground, Ian sighed and leaned against a nearby tree.

Dealing with four Orcs had left him feeling exhausted.

He rested for a while, feeling his energy returning. But it wasn’t just his body recovering. He could feel the mana escaping from the Orcs’ corpses and passing into his own.  

It was a strange sensation. It felt like his whole body was being fully revitalized.

Ian momentarily shuddered at the odd pleasure he felt.

When the mana had all absorbed and spread to his entire body, he no longer felt that pleasure.

“Haa…”

Ian wistfully sighed as he bent down and began to cut off each of the Orcs’ ears.

As he was finishing, he sensed a presence from afar.

The sound of rustling grew louder.

And then…

“Kyaaa!”

A shriek rang out.

Footnotes

¹ Wave or horde of enemies.