Talman kindly explained.

Orc champions were on par with human knights. Orcs or not, they could wield mana—they were the ones who'd swallowed a mana stone taken from a magic beast they'd hunted in their coming-of-age rite.

Orcs lived by sheer numbers; thousands usually went into the rite, and only a handful ever earned that honor.

Kuracha kuarararara!

Even their roar was different from ordinary orcs'.

Up close, I could see that the orc warriors riding bear-sized dogs carried axes, greatswords, spears and the like.

Their long, roughly braided hair streamed in the wind like ropes.

Kugugung kugungkung.

The ground shook.

Up close, their presence was no joke.

The level gap was way too big.

The bastards even wore thick, rough iron armor.

The orc champions riding those powerful dogs had the full set—armor, helmets, everything.

"They can't actually break through the gate, can they?"

"...They probably will. Unless the gate has a reinforcing protection spell on it..."

Captain Talman! Whose side are you on?!

Everywhere I looked, it was a field of orcs.

Even at a rough count, there were more than a thousand.

They had dozens of ladders too, as if they meant to lay siege.

"Anyone who can hold a weapon, up on the wall!!!!"

The mercenaries pulled the able-bodied men out from among the refugees.

"Give us weapons!"

The refugees looked like they'd collapse any minute from hunger.

Dozens of the men among them were handed spears and shields.

Their wives, children and parents trembled.

The orcs were terrifying, but losing their families was more terrifying still.

"From today on, I've decided to respect you, Your Lordship."

Only as of today?

"Not since the drinking?"

"Back then... I was grateful."

So Talman could crack jokes too.

From the way he grinned as he said it, he'd grown attached.

"Then once we've dealt with the orcs, come work for me."

"Are you offering me a knighthood?"

"Sure, what the hell. Be a knight."

"I will serve you with loyalty, my lord!"

— Mana points acquired.

This guy wasn't kidding, apparently.

Recruitment complete.

All of a sudden I…