After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 237

Chapter 237: The Candy’s Effect?

We had already caused quite a commotion on the way here, so naturally, the enemies in the hall were fully prepared, forming their defensive formation. Around 30 orc “meat shields” stood ready. Unlike the club-wielding orcs we had faced earlier, these were properly equipped with shields and waited for us without recklessly charging in. It was clear that they were being led by an individual with strong command abilities.

Of course, the adventurers noticed this too. After a brief discussion, the branch leader issued her orders:

“Frontliners, break through the meat shields on the left wing! Mages, provide support!”

About ten warriors stepped forward, wielding their preferred weapons. Three had shields, three carried axes, and the rest were armed with swords. Naturally, all of them were women.

“We’d appreciate it if ‘Madam’ could hold the right wing!”

“Of course, leave it to me!”

“Thank you. Is everyone ready? Charge!”

Receiving Gretel’s confident response, the branch leader gave the command. Shield warriors dashed ahead to take the brunt of the enemy’s attack. Just then—

“@＊＆＆＃￥＊＊～!”

An incomprehensible language echoed. The source was small orcs positioned near the outer walls behind the shield orcs. Each held crude, misshapen staves seemingly carved from tree roots.

“Dammit, orc mages!”

Even in this Germanic-sounding world, the term for magic users wasn’t “Magier” or “Magierin,” but “mages.” Not that it mattered now. The orc mages cast what seemed to be a basic sleep spell, and four warriors suddenly collapsed to their knees. Once down, the orcs wasted no time in swarming them, neutralizing the women without killing them. This restraint made their intent clear—they aimed to capture, not kill, for reproduction.

“Damn it, fall back! Archers, target the magic users!”

Even before the command was given, the archers were already drawing their bows. However, their arrows veered off course before hitting the targets, embedding themselves uselessly in the hall’s walls.

“Damn it! They’re using wind magic too. What can we do…?”

“Stay calm!”

Seeing the branch leader’s growing panic, Gretel shouted, snapping her out of it.

“Place the frontliners under my command. Everyone else, focus on taking out the magic users one by one. Understood?”

“My apologies for losing my composure. Your instructions are clear.”

“Good. Let’s go! Three of you, on either side of me! Tseli, make sure no one circles around from the rear!”

“Roger!”
“Understood!”
“You’ve got it!”
“Madam, leave your back to me!”

Before the responses were even finished, my dependable childhood friend leaped into the center of the shield orcs. Her mithril axe swung in a wide arc, shattering the shields of two orcs and splitting their torsos apart with a spray of bl00d.

“Now, Andrea! Maximum firepower!”

“Burn them all to ash!”

The next moment, the left half of the outer wall was engulfed in a curtain of flames. The lower-tier orc mages had little resistance to such high-intensity magic and were mercilessly consumed by the fire.

Meanwhile, the right side faced a relentless barrage of arrows from skilled archers. Even with wind magic interference, knowing about it allowed the mages to dispel it, steadily reducing the orc mages’ numbers. Focused on avoiding arrows, the orc mages failed to notice a thief silently sneaking up behind them, slitting their throats with a dagger.

“We’ve taken out their magic users. Madam, it’s your turn!”

“Leave it to me! Hah!”

Each swing of Gretel’s mithril axe, glowing with platinum-colored aura, sent orc heads and limbs flying. While she could use her light-enhanced axe to unleash a powerful technique that could wipe out enemies in front of her, it risked harming the captured frontliners. For now, she resorted to methodically cutting them down, reducing the shield orcs to less than half—around ten or so remained.

“It’s about time,” murmured Michaela.

Before I could ask what she meant, the remaining orcs lost their will to fight and turned tail, fleeing into the dark tunnels that branched out from the hall.

“Orcs don’t have the resolve to fight to the death,” Michaela explained. I could only nod in agreement.

“The MVP of this battle is Nicole,” Gretel said upon her return, making an odd statement. Nicole had spent the entire time cowering in the back, trying not to get involved—or so it seemed.

“Hehe. You noticed, Madam. As expected!”

“What’s this about?”

“Don’t you get it, Lutz? It’s about the candy.”

“Yes! I only had time to add basic resistance to sleep and poison effects, but it was enough for this enemy. If everyone had taken it, things would’ve gone even smoother…”

Ah, now I get it. The candy she distributed before the battle had those effects. While she couldn’t make ultra-rare potions like Clara, Nicole was still an A-class alchemist with metal magic. She had the ability to whip up enchanted candies on the spot. The four who collapsed at the start must have skipped taking it, whether due to disdain or disliking the taste.

“I’ll be sure to give them a stern talking-to,” the branch leader said with a frown.

The four frontliners who had been rescued visibly flinched. Well, some punishment was definitely in order.