The heavy snowfall turned the land between tribes into a vast white world... The fruits and magical beasts that were usually everywhere had disappeared. Not to mention later, even now, it was difficult to guarantee food for everyone.
Currently, almost all the orcs have gathered near the furry tribe, each building simple dwellings and looking after each other, barely managing to get through this disaster.
For the theocracy and the Demon King's territory further south, the temperature during this calamity was no different from a normal winter... but for the Orc Kingdom, or the duchies further north, it was even colder than a normal winter.
Moreover, the most deadly thing was not the cold, but the sudden cold that forced the orcs of the Slippery Tribe to hibernate, as well as the heavy snow that was not common in the orc kingdom.
The heavy snow covered many things, including food.
The only thing that can be considered lucky, or that offers some solace amidst the calamity, is that agriculture is not the main industry in the Orc Kingdom, and there is no autumn harvest. So as long as this calamity is overcome, the next normal winter will be easier.
This is different from human kingdoms.
...
“We should go back… three survivors, carry them on your backs.”
"Um."
The search and rescue teams responsible for finding those missing in the heavy snow naturally operate on a rotating basis... The orcs of the furry tribe, whether they are dog or cat orcs, including birds, will all participate and take turns to carry out the rescue.
As for why the people of the Hualiuliu tribe didn't go... it's not good to send them to their deaths.
"The last area of the Slippery Slippery Tribe headquarters has been rescued. Next up are the scattered tribes in the surrounding area... Hush~"
A rabbit-like female orc spoke while sniffling... As a female orc, and a rabbit-like one at that, she unsurprisingly felt unwell in this kind of weather.
Simply put, I've caught a cold.
After all, she was one of those people with relatively scarce mana in her body, so she was only slightly better than someone who knew nothing at all... If she were human, she probably would have frozen to death long ago.
However, she still participated in the rescue team's operations.
Although it's very cold, and although other teams have indeed experienced situations where members didn't make it back, if we're lucky... we can help more teammates who would have died in the snow survive.
This is the meaning of the rescue team's existence; one could even say it's about banding together for warmth and helping each other. This is the very reason for the existence of the orcish kingdom, and it's a deeply ingrained concept between tribes and between orcs.
"Jupiter, how are you feeling?"
Beside the rabbit-orc, an orc with dog ears asked her this question... because the rabbit-orc named Rubite didn't seem to be in a particularly good state from the beginning.
To this, Rubette shook her head decisively. Although she felt unwell, it wasn't to the point where she couldn't hold on any longer. She replied, "I'm not..."
Before she could even utter the word "matter," her legs, already numb from the cold, kicked a small, hidden bump in the snow... a tiny tree trunk, half-hidden in a layer of snow and frozen solid.
"Thump~"
It was very simple. Rubette fell into the snow, leaving a human-shaped crater in the knee-high snow... Of course, compared to a normal "human shape", this snow crater also had the marks of a pair of rabbit ears.
Seeing this, apart from the three rescue team members who carried the unconscious orc up, the other members all looked over. Before the others could come over to help her up, she got up on her own and didn't look too disheveled... The snow on the ground was the drier kind.
It won't get damp or stick to your clothes in a particularly bad way. When your clothes get wet, it's white and soft, just like clumps of cotton. If it were a normal winter day, the children in the tribe would probably love it.
However, under these circumstances, it's really hard to like it.
Are you alright?
"Pah~ It's alright... Let's keep going..."
Rubite gently spat out a mouthful of snow that had melted in her mouth, mixed with the resulting saliva, and looked up at the swirling snowflakes... She wondered when this snow would stop; the name "Calamity" was truly fitting.
Then, in Rubite's view, two black dots flew from the sky toward them.
In this kind of weather, there are actually birds flying around... No! Those aren't birds!
Just as Rubite realized that they were two humanoid creatures, she was about to say something to warn everyone when the two figures arrived in front of the search and rescue team and landed steadily from the sky.
The newcomer is too easy to recognize... Wait, isn't that Inra?!
Before they could even figure out why Yinla, who had just accomplished an unprecedented and unparalleled feat—the [Killing Outsiders]—would come to the Orc Kingdom at this time, Yinla had already proactively explained his purpose—
"I am Inra, Inra Elkaras. I am currently on my way to the far north to investigate this calamity. I heard that this calamity has caused you considerable trouble. I am passing by... to see if the orc kingdom needs any help."
Yinla said this...
...
Do you need help? That's a question you almost never need to ask...
Yes, we desperately need help, whether it's food or shelter, the biting cold or lost loved ones—these are the very problems the orc rescue team wants to voice.
However, to some extent, it's not bad for the Orc Kingdom to owe Yinla a favor here, but rather it's bad for the Orc Kingdom to represent them.
Or perhaps Yinla has ulterior motives... In that case, the best option is to return to the tribe and discuss it before making a decision.
But no matter what, some things can't be taken slowly... Every minute that passes could mean the difference between life and death for a person or a family buried in the snow.
Now that things have come to this, they must accept whatever help they can get.
"Could...could you help us search the nearby snowdrifts to see if any of our people are buried there? Not in this area, but near the Slippery Slippery tribe."
Upon hearing the rabbit-orc's request, Illa and Ernie exchanged a glance...
...
Coincidentally, this was the only thing they planned to do when they came to the Orc Kingdom to help.
"Yayir (the surname of a human woman, referred to by the first three characters), it's up to you."
Ernie said this.
——————————
Veresa: "What agreement did you reach with her? How come I didn't know about it?"
Human woman: "..."
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