Ch.125Red Comet (2)

In this world where I’ve been reincarnated, Orcs are close to the hostile barbarians with green skin as depicted in popular media from my previous life.

Despite being genetically closest to humans among all races, they are born as natural warrior race with an average height exceeding 1.8 meters, protruding teeth, and dark green skin covering their rugged muscles.

Even without any training, they can easily develop muscular bodies with just sufficient nutrition, and they possess the somewhat unique characteristic of being able to handle magical power or awaken aura more easily than humans.

While their physical superiority is one reason why Orcs are considered a warrior race, the main reason actually lies in their mental realm.

Orcs are innately aggressive and enjoy slaughter and combat, with this belligerence exceeding normal levels—it’s almost as if they have a “combat drive” alongside their hunger, sexual desire, and need for sleep.

Therefore, for them, combat… or more cheaply put, fighting, is an act of fulfilling a desire, so Orcs are ultimately destined to never escape from fighting no matter how peacefully they try to live…

That’s why many Orcs make combat their livelihood in various ways, and it’s not difficult to find Orcs who have drifted into human territories and make a living as thieves or mercenaries.

The place that could be called the original homeland of Orcs is the “Great Plains,” one of the few gateways connecting the eastern and western continents.

However, when “El-Temur,” the ruler of the Great Plains, died several years ago, the Orcs disintegrated, and the most representative phenomenon this caused was the emergence of Orc mercenaries.

Despite being genetically quite distant from humans, some of these Orcs who had been living apart began to work as mercenaries, knowing they were useful military assets.

Orcs who enjoyed fighting but disliked dying joined this trend, and naturally, the “civilization” of Orcs progressed quite rapidly.

As a result, unlike before when human and Orc territories were strictly divided by the Great Plains, now a significant number of Orcs even live as citizens in places like the Holy Empire…

In this situation, while some Orcs live normally (by Orc standards), the proportion engaged in violent crimes has also reached a considerable level.

Orc horse… wolf bandits. Bandits who ride giant wolf beasts called Wargs instead of horses are one of the most representative problems that have emerged in this process.

Originally nomadic, Orcs were skilled in horseback archery utilizing their excellent riding skills and overwhelming physique… they were men specially suited to being mounted bandits.

“R-Red Meteor!”

Particularly, judging by Lord Malakai Falten’s reaction, that intermediate Orc wearing red armor and mounted on a Warg seems to be quite famous.

“…Red Meteor? What does that mean?”

As I deliberately ignore the sense of discomfort I feel somewhere while watching them, Lord Malakai Falten opens his mouth and begins to explain about that named (presumably) Orc.

“That Orc wearing red armor is a famous Orc warrior! He’s known for roaming within the Holy Empire and challenging strong opponents!”

“Despite being an aggressive Orc, he doesn’t engage in plundering?”

“That’s right. His name is Drub Bajilit! He got the name ‘Red Meteor’ from his armor’s color and his fast speed!”

“I see…”

Even at first glance, he clearly has a different purpose than ordinary Orcs obsessed with slaughter and plunder—if I had to describe him, he would be closer to a well-disciplined martial artist or fighter.

Therefore, it wasn’t difficult to guess that the Orc’s belligerence had flowed in a relatively friendly direction. By now, as he approached within close range, I could clearly see his appearance.

With the racial characteristics of an Orc and the enhancement of aura, he had achieved an enormous body of 2 meters—incredible by this era’s standards—with broad shoulders and a warrior-specialized physique, all covered in red armor.

This red full plate armor, seemingly customized to fit his size and build, was painted with alchemical substances, and he had various equipment attached throughout—one of the notable elements.

At his waist was a battle axe that could be wielded with one hand, and on his back were two swords and a hand cannon.

On his forearms, he wore a foldable rectangular tower shield, painted red like his armor.

Moreover, the wolf beast Warg he rode was a wolf-type magical beast larger than a spectacled bear with special visual abilities, and his Warg was even larger than normal specimens and partially covered in red armor.

…The horns growing from the crown of his helmet were just a bonus.

Anyway, this Orc who at first glance resembled a certain red lori… someone from my previous life, approached me and, instead of picking a fight, maintained a respectful attitude as he looked straight at me and spoke.

“I apologize for interrupting your busy journey, but I must intrude for a moment.”

“…What is it? As you said, I’m busy, so could you step aside?”

“I’m sorry, but I cannot. I have come here because I want to fight you, a strong warrior.”

‘As I expected…’

When I heard his words, I wasn’t surprised by what this battle-loving warrior was about to say, but nevertheless, hearing those lines that seemed straight out of chivalric literature, I thought to myself…

“Why are you challenging me to a fight?”

Suddenly, a question that arose in my mind and wouldn’t fade away was directed at the Orc… ‘Red Meteor’ Drub Bajilit.

And his answer was completely different from what I had expected.

“You and I. Two warriors confident in their abilities have now met by chance. Then… what reason is there not to fight?”

That unique way of thinking, as if it were natural. The peculiar logical leap suggesting that when two strong warriors gather in one place, it would be stranger not to fight.

The fact that he challenged me simply because I was strong is something I can hardly understand, let alone accept… but deep down, as a warrior myself, I can’t say I don’t sympathize at all.

Fighting and struggle are what warriors should fundamentally aspire to. Add to that the calm fighting spirit he displays, claiming to train himself through combat—so pure it’s almost austere.

He is undeniably a man who lacks nothing in being a model warrior, but whether to accept his duel challenge or not is a completely separate matter.

Therefore, he doesn’t seem to be a completely unreasonable blockhead. Just as I was about to politely refuse and continue on my way, a very good idea suddenly occurred to me.

‘Wait, what if I do this…?’

A one-on-one duel would certainly be quite troublesome, but nevertheless, an idea that could make the trouble of the duel worthwhile.

“Drub Bajilit. I currently have business to attend to. Under normal circumstances, I would have no reason to waste time here.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, indeed. To be frank, this has no meaning to me right now… but I have a proposal. How about the loser of this duel pledges allegiance to the winner?”

In other words, I was trying to recruit an unaffiliated intermediate-level warrior into my ranks through this opportunity.

“…Oh?”

In reality, his reaction wasn’t bad at all. Or rather, should I say it was good?

“Very well. Does that mean you will fight?”

“Yes. If you accept, gladly.”

In this strange atmosphere where subtle psychological warfare was exchanged between us, he and I began preparing for battle, not caring at all about the gazes around us.

After dismounting from our mounts which could become variables, we also separated and put down our luggage.

With this, and after gesturing for our companions to step back, the basic preparations were essentially complete.

-…Shing.

-Hissss…!

I drew my giant Basilisk bone zweihander and took a stance, while he held a folding shield and a heated (red) axe in each hand.

By implicit rules, all means except close combat weapons were sealed. Although we weren’t aiming to kill each other, we both looked at each other with killing intent and grinned.

In the silence, the sound of acidic liquid dripping and the axe blade heating up gradually distorted the quietness.

And just before fighting in this duel for allegiance, just before clashing, I realized one thing.

‘…Ah. I want to fight.’

That was the realization that despite my plausible excuses, deep down I actually wanted to fight with the strong Orc warrior before me.