Ch.182Chapter 182: Orc King (13).

# Chapter 182: Orc King (13)

“……”

As the black dust left behind by the Death Knight’s dissolution completely scattered in the wind, and the ominous magical energy that had weighed down the battlefield vanished as if washed away, a heavy silence hung over the place.

The noise of the fierce battle had ceased as if it had never existed, and the survivors could only stare blankly at the scene before them and at each other while catching their ragged breaths.

“…Kuh…”

“Hic…”

The first sound to be heard was not a victory cheer, but someone’s low sobbing.

It was a sound mixed with complex emotions—relief at having survived, sorrow for lost comrades, and the feeling of escaping from extreme terror.

Knights who had been possessed by the evil magic but were now freed either collapsed with confused expressions or agonized as they realized what they had done.

“…Is it… really over…?”

Delfon Haines murmured with a still trembling voice.

As if responding to his words, sighs of relief and cheers began to erupt from all around.

“We won…! We did it!”

“The Death Knight… we actually defeated it!”

“WAAAAAAAAAH!!!!”

The cheers, faint at first, gradually grew louder until they finally became a massive wave of tens of thousands of voices covering the Grasein Plains.

Knights embraced each other and wailed, while mages shot colorful blessing spells into the sky.

They had finally achieved victory in their long, arduous battle against the nightmare.

“Huff, huff…”

In the midst of the victory cheers, Valt exhaled roughly as he deactivated his Golden Blood Magic Gauntlet.

The aftermath of the “Five Elements Fusion Fist” was greater than he had expected.

An extreme fatigue washed over him, as if every ounce of energy had been wrung from his body.

But his golden eyes were shining more brilliantly than ever before.

“Valt!”

Lilis ran to him with a pale face and threw herself into his arms.

Her small body was trembling slightly.

“Are you okay? You’re okay, right? Hic… I was so worried… really…!”

Valt smiled and awkwardly patted her back.

“…I’m fine. It’s all over now.”

In his hand, ‘Gawel’ had returned and rested with a solid weight.

Now the artifact moved completely according to his will.

“Kwahahahaha! As expected of my brother! Wow, you’ve become a complete monster!”

Luktan approached with his characteristically boisterous laugh and slapped Valt hard on the back.

Valt staggered momentarily, but Luktan paid no mind and gripped his shoulder firmly.

“What was that last thing? Huh? Man, even I, your older brother, almost felt weak in the knees! That was so satisfying to watch!”

“…It was nothing special, brother.”

“This guy! Such modesty!”

Just as Luktan was about to ruffle Valt’s hair, Grace approached and grabbed his arm.

“That’s enough. Prince Valt appears quite exhausted.”

“Oh, my fiancée! Ah, I got too excited. Sorry, little brother. Anyway, you were truly amazing!”

Luktan expressed genuine admiration as he gave a thumbs up.

At that moment, King Jerdin approached them with a complicated expression.

His armor was dented in various places and stained with blood, but his eyes once again held the dignity befitting a Grand Master and the ruler of the East.

He silently gazed at Valt for a moment.

It was a deep look, different from his previous wariness or competitiveness—more like someone looking at an incomprehensible being.

“…Princes of Gerungtu.”

Jerdin finally spoke.

His voice was low and calm.

And now he addressed the Gerungtu with proper formality, no longer looking down on them.

“Thanks to your courage and sacrifice… the East has been saved. This debt… I shall not forget.”

His words were sincere.

He recognized that his stubbornness and dismissive attitude toward the Orcs had escalated the situation.

Without them, this war would surely have been lost.

They had blocked the Orc King’s long-range spear attacks, thwarted the surprise raft crossing operation, and in the end, figured out the secret of the Death Knight’s regeneration and managed to destroy it.

These were tremendous achievements that even Jerdin had to acknowledge.

Valt’s accomplishments were so impressive that they made Jerdin’s ambition to kill the Orc King and claim the highest honor in the war seem shameful.

Nevertheless, Valt responded calmly.

“It wasn’t us who saved the East, but all the soldiers who fought and gave their lives here, Commander.”

Jerdin looked surprised at Valt’s response for a moment, but then nodded.

“Yes… that’s right.”

After taking a moment to catch his breath, he regained his dignity as Commander-in-Chief and called out to those around him.

“All units, listen! We have won! But the war is not over yet! Regroup immediately!”

Following his orders, the battlefield order that had been momentarily forgotten in the victory celebration began to be restored.

Commanders gathered the surviving soldiers, while mages and field medics busily moved to treat the wounded.

“Welton! Report on the current situation!”

Welton, who had been in the rear units but had shrewdly positioned himself nearby the moment the Death Knight fell, reported as if prepared.

“Yes, Commander! The outer units have successfully pushed the Orc forces beyond the 500-meter boundary, and with the Death Knight’s demise, the enemy Orc army’s command structure has completely collapsed, causing them to retreat in disorder! Our vanguard units are preparing to pursue—”

“Halt the pursuit.”

Jerdin said firmly.

“Regrouping and treating the wounded take priority over pursuit now. Hasty pursuit could lead us into enemy traps or desperate last stands. All units are to maintain their current positions, strengthen defensive postures, and focus on treating the wounded and recovering the fallen! Send out reconnaissance teams to monitor enemy movements only!”

“Yes, sir! We will comply!”

The commanders moved in unison at Jerdin’s swift and practical judgment.

Valt quietly observed Jerdin’s commands.

His judgment was rational.

It was wiser to preserve their strength and prepare for the next phase than to engage in reckless pursuit intoxicated by victory.

Luktan looked slightly dissatisfied but soon shrugged and acquiesced.

“Tch, it would’ve been more fun to chase after those fleeing bastards. Well, can’t be helped if it’s the commander’s orders.”

As Valt watched Jerdin’s leadership, he suddenly recalled the Orc King’s desperate cry before becoming the Death Knight.

‘King Jerdin is concerned about it too.’

Though they could have pursued and annihilated the Orcs even at the cost of casualties, Jerdin chose not to.

A king who sold his soul to a demon for the survival of his race.

And hundreds of thousands of Orcs who willingly became sacrifices.

Even amid the joy of victory, the tragedy of war and the complex stories hidden beneath weighed heavily on his heart.

The battle cries had subsided, but countless wounds and sorrows still remained on the plains.

Valt looked down at ‘Gawel’ in his hand. This ancient artifact surely held many stories of its own.

Now the Death Knight was gone.

But thanks to the Orc King’s sacrifice and Jerdin’s decision, the remaining Orcs would be able to continue their lives somewhere on this continent.

The Orc King’s decision to sell his soul to a demon had not been in vain after all.

Just then, a familiar voice reached Valt’s ears.

“Valt!! Valt!! Hey, move aside! I’m friends with that muscle-bound Gerungtu over there!! Valt!!”

An urgent cry echoed across the quiet battlefield.

It was none other than Lisa, trying to approach Valt but being blocked by Jerdin’s royal guards, with Arias standing beside her, not knowing what to do.

‘Pfft…’

Valt almost burst out laughing.

‘She could just use Amrit to talk to me, why is she shouting at the top of her lungs….’

The knights naturally blocked the two girls who suddenly appeared and caused a commotion.

“Halt! This is a restricted area for authorized personnel only!”

“What? How can there be a restricted area in this wide-open plain?! I told you we’re friends! Hey, you barbarian! Valt! I’m your friend! Valt! Can’t you see me?!”

Lisa jumped up and down, waving her hands toward Valt.

Arias tugged at Lisa’s clothes beside her, her face flushed with embarrassment.

“Lisa, please calm down…! Everyone’s staring…!”

“What do you mean calm down! Valt is right there! Oh! Valt’s brother is there too? Huh? Senior Grace is also there! Everyone’s safe!”

Lisa’s uninhibited shouting drew attention from all around.

Valt called out loudly to the knights blocking them.

“Let them through, they are indeed my companions.”

At Valt’s words, the knights reluctantly made way, and Lisa shot forward like a bullet toward Valt!

“Valt!!!”

Wham!

“Ugh!”

Lisa tightly wrapped her arms around Valt’s waist.

Normally, this would have had no impact on Valt, but now, having expended all his strength, the impact felt quite substantial.

Though it was still only about as forceful as being hit by a pebble.

“You!! Do you know how worried I was? Huh? I could barely contact you! Suddenly I felt this strange energy and you were right in the middle of it! I thought my heart was going to drop! Do you know how hard it was to get here? Why are those stoic knight uncles blocking the way?! Do I look suspicious? Me, this cute and harmless?!”

Lisa fired off her complaints like a machine gun without even taking a breath.

Arias stood behind her, rubbing her forehead and shaking her head.

Luktan, watching the scene with interest, chuckled and patted Valt’s shoulder.

“Kahahaha! Brother, your popularity is through the roof! Hey, ladies, glad to see you’re safe too!”

They had become quite friendly since they had worked together to block the Orc King’s spear attacks from the sky.

“Valt’s brother! Are you okay!? Wow! That’s amazing! Did you help defeat the Orc King?”

“Kuhehehehe, that’s right! Well, my little brother did most of the work though.”

Grace, standing beside Luktan, watched the scene with her usual expressionless face, but when Luktan got too close to Lisa, she poked his side with her spear shaft.

“That’s enough.”

“Ack! Ouch! Grace, my love! This is just innocent interest in my brother’s friend…”

“Be quiet.”

Valt watched their banter-like situation for a moment, then detached Lisa who was still clinging to him and said:

“Stop making a scene. I’m glad you’re both safe too.”

“Hmph! I was worried about you!”

Lisa pouted, but her eyes were full of relief.

Then Arias approached Valt.

“Valt….”

In Arias’s gem-clear eyes that captured Valt’s image, all the suppressed emotions burst forth like a collapsing dam.

As if water spirits were trapped in her pupils,

Her tears flowed quietly but ceaselessly down her small face.

Valt raised his massive hand and gently stroked Arias’s head.

“Why, Una. We won. We should be celebrating our victory.”

A careful touch.

His rough but warm palm, with carefully controlled strength, slowly caressed Arias’s soft hair.

Feeling that warm touch, Arias tried hard to swallow her tears.

Holding back her trembling shoulders, she nodded.

“Yes… hic…. You won, Valt. You did well. You really did well, Valt… sob, hic….”

Her voice finally broke.

Arias exhaled a shaky breath and sobbed.

Valt quietly looked at her for a moment, then smiled gently.

“Not me. ‘We’ won.”

A brief answer.

But it contained his faith in and gratitude toward his companions who had endured everything together.

At the edge of the horizon, the brilliant red sunset that had illuminated the battlefield was slowly fading.

The last rays of light that had colored the battlefield were seeping into the darkness.

And so,

The long battle on the Grasein Plains was finally coming to an end.