Ch.220Chapter 220. The Four Heavenly Kings: Barbatos

Just being born, sowing seeds, fighting, and dying.

That was the typical life and everything of an orc.

So if you were born an orc, you would spend most of your life searching for a female to bear your seed and raising offspring.

But…

“Hero, look here, it’s a baby orc.”

One day, a group of humans raided the village for extermination.

Amid the corpses of his slaughtered kin scattered throughout the village, one baby orc, huddled in his nest, found himself facing a sword pointed at him.

No matter how young, the situation was easily understood.

Having his neck cut, blood spilling, and finally becoming motionless…

He could sense how terrifying and futile that would be just by witnessing the deaths of his kin.

“Since the order was to exterminate all orcs, we should kill this one too, right?”

“…No, let’s leave it be.”

But the human hero facing the baby ultimately chose to withdraw his sword and leave.

“Leave it alone? Even if it’s a baby, it’s still an orc. Is that okay?”

“No matter how vicious a race, isn’t killing their young dishonorable?”

Honor.

That was the word that became the reason for showing mercy to the baby orc at that time.

“A hero must pursue honor. Directly killing an immature baby leads to a loss of honor… I’m sure you all agree with that?”

“Yes, well… it’ll probably die on its own if we leave it anyway.”

Naturally, an orc who was just a baby didn’t understand what that word meant.

He only vaguely understood that he survived because of something called honor, and that honor had that much value.

“Honor…”

Thus, the baby orc left alone in the decimated village pondered that word by himself.

He maintained his life by eating the corpses of his fallen kin, fleeing from dangers that targeted him.

Sometimes surviving through desperate battles, moving from infancy to boyhood…

“Honor…!”

Each time he succeeded in surviving, he felt that dormant word within him becoming more prominent.

Having survived through honor, he believed that everything he achieved in life was rooted in it.

And this mindset continued even after he joined a new group formed by other orcs and became their representative warrior…

“Tsk, we’ve captured human women. Let’s rape them together and make them bear children.”

But why?

Why did something considered normal by orcs seem objectionable to him?

“Why capture women and rape them?”

“Tsk? Because that’s how we get offspring.”

“What happens when we have offspring?”

“When we have offspring, our tribe’s numbers increase. The group can obtain more and face more dangerous enemies.”

“…Does it matter if you die for that?”

“Tsk? What do you mean?”

“Just fighting and dying to have offspring… Are you satisfied with that?”

“…I don’t understand what you’re saying, tsk. I’m just going to rape the captured women, tsk.”

Being born and aiming only to fulfill the instinct of the species by raping.

Not caring if they die in the process… No, believing that as long as they produce many offspring, death is acceptable.

The orc village was a community full of those living such lives.

Unlike himself, who had barely survived through the mercy born of honor and had persistently struggled alone…

“Tsk! Humans are attacking! Everyone prepare for battle!”

Amid his conflict about his origins, a human group suddenly appeared.

Leading a massive army, they engaged in fierce battle with the tribe, resulting in near annihilation of the village… And the human group chose to retreat to preserve their forces.

A choice completely opposite to the orcs, who would fight to the end if even one remained.

And for that, they even sacrificed themselves to buy time for others to escape.

After the battle ended, he encountered the corpse of a human.

“After showing mercy… This is how it ends.”

There lay the human hero who had shown him mercy years ago.

Having recalled that face endlessly since that day, he could recognize it clearly.

Was the cause of death carelessness, or lack of ability?

Either way, he had ultimately lost his life before him.

Just like his kin who lived and died solely for reproduction, so very futilely…

“…No, not futile.”

Denying that thought, the orc looked down at his corpse and began to unravel the knots within himself.

“I remember him. Unlike my countless fallen kin, I remember him.”

Why did he, who couldn’t even remember the faces of his kin, clearly remember this human before him?

What was the difference between them?

Is it right for his kin to act according to their nature, raping women and risking their lives for it?

Can the human who showed mercy to his target beyond his mission, and remained on the battlefield to buy time for his group to retreat, be considered foolish?

What was the reason for risking his life despite such foolishness? Was it for honor, the same reason he had spared his life… Did he choose to save others rather than himself for that honor?

“Someone other than oneself…”

Leaving someone other than oneself in this world.

That could be considered a commonality between reproduction and honor.

But the orc contemplating this was beginning to vaguely realize.

That reproduction, which merely increases numbers, may leave something behind, but it doesn’t leave “oneself” behind.

Whereas one who fought for honor, even after death, is thoroughly imprinted in the minds of those they saved and those they gave their lives to protect.

“All living things eventually die. And death is frightening.”

And honor sometimes has the value to defy even the fear of death.

Because it can leave a clearer mark of one’s existence in this world than merely leaving one’s seed behind.

“Yet if one remains in this world…”

If one takes a different path from kin who chose reproduction…

If one wants to walk the same path as the hero who pursued honor, which still remains in his heart, what would be needed?

“Hehe, surviving such an intense battle. You’re quite remarkable for an orc.”

What appeared before him as he searched for this was a mysterious woman who suddenly appeared above the tragedy.

He could immediately tell she was neither human nor orc.

“…What are you?”

“I’m a demon who’s interested in you. Our Demon Lord’s army has been recruiting excellent races from various dimensions.”

Demon Tribe.

A race that had infiltrated this world at some point, occupying land and plundering others.

His own kind had often clashed with them, but the female demon before him showed no such hostility.

Rather, what was drawn on her face, though it might be deception, could also be perceived as affection…

“What do you say? Will you join us?”

When faced with the red liquid in the cup she offered, he felt his inner desire stirring alongside caution.

Though she might have ulterior motives, he believed that joining the Demon Lord’s army would give him the opportunity to achieve what he sought.

“Then take this cup. Drink the blood of demons… and seize the opportunity to transform your desire into power.”

Thus, an orc transcended his inherent limitations and began walking a path that no orc should ever tread.

Feeling his pursued desire becoming clearer.

Hoping that a stage to realize that desire would someday unfold before him.

****

“Hellcry, do you realize… what you’ve just done?”

But until now…

Among the battlefields he had faced since joining the Demon Lord’s army, was there truly a place where he could pursue honor?

“I disposed of trash who harassed human women.”

In the human territory invaded with the Demon Lord’s army.

Hellcry, who had executed his subordinate for violating captured people gathered there, glared at the one rebuking him as he pulled out the hammer from his hand.

The female demon who had once offered him demon blood.

Though she too had risen to the position of Four Heavenly Kings like himself, what was drawn on her face was intense hostility.

“Trash? That’s too harsh~ For demons, it’s natural for the victor to claim everything… Isn’t it too much to prevent subordinates from doing as they please with the prey we’ve captured?”

“That’s right! Who are you to dictate what we do?!”

“An orc being so arrogant! Just because you got lucky and became one of the Four Heavenly Kings, you think you can do whatever you want?!”

The demons, led by another of the Four Heavenly Kings, poured out criticism toward Hellcry.

Normally they would have silently obeyed Hellcry’s words, but that was only because they submitted to his power, not because they agreed with him.

And now the Demon Lord had moved to human territory, and the Demon Lord’s army had decided to invade human territory on a large scale.

Even the Four Heavenly Kings moved in pairs, making it entirely possible for one to check the other.

“…They are weaklings who can’t even resist.”

Despite the pressure from the other Four Heavenly Kings, Hellcry stood firm in his opinion, determined to protect the human prisoners.

“Even if left alone, they won’t change the tide of this war… Why waste time tormenting them during wartime?”

To him, enemies on the battlefield were trials to overcome, but prisoners were beings that should never be mistreated.

Because honor is conveyed not only to allies but also to enemies.

All his military achievements and everything he would accomplish would be conveyed to them even after the war ended, giving meaning to his existence in this world.

“That honor talk again…!”

But demons are a race of plunderers who can sacrifice everything except themselves for momentary pleasure.

Abstract concepts like honor hold no value for them.

Naturally, it’s expected that they would be dissatisfied with the current situation.

“I never liked an orc occupying the position of Four Heavenly Kings in the first place! Let’s just…”

-KWANG!!

The body of the demon expressing discontent was crushed by a wave of force.

As the bloody remains scattered in all directions, the faces of the demons who read their future from it turned pale.

Except for one. The other Four Heavenly King who had risen to an equal position with Hellcry.

“…I will execute all those who act dishonorably before me.”

Facing such hostile gaze, Barbatos, the other Four Heavenly King, began stroking the hair that had grown on her hands to calm her trembling body.

“Even if it’s the benefactor who directly gave you blood?”

“Benefactor? Don’t talk nonsense, spider woman. You gave me blood because you had your own purpose, didn’t you?”

“Ahahahahahahaha!”

Finally, a burst of maniacal laughter.

Along with it, she spread the legs that had grown on her back and began licking her drooling mouth.

“Yes~ Just as you said~ I’ve been waiting for you to grow from the beginning. I was born with the ability to consume the power of those who have drunk my blood~”

Harvester Barbatos.

True to her name, a demon who aims not to kill her prey immediately but to tame them slowly for consumption.

For her, this situation where Hellcry was in conflict with her was seen as highly desirable.

The prey she had intended to eat someday had not only grown to an equal position with her, but had also chosen to antagonize other demons without her needing to incite them.

“And seeing what you’re doing, it seems it’s time to harvest.”

The demonic power imbued in the numerous legs growing on her body begins to sharpen like a scythe.

A weapon sufficient in itself to carve out the flesh of its target.

But what’s more concerning is that all the demons here are siding with her.

“It might be difficult for me alone, but the demons here are thoroughly disgusted with your pathetic actions. Moreover, since the Demon Lord has started moving, many would want to catch his eye…”

A situation where not only is there another Four Heavenly King of equal standing, but they also have numerical superiority.

From such an advantageous position, their only goal was to dispose of the one before them and seize his vacant position.

“What do you say? If you surrender now, I can send you off without pain.”

Despite this, she made a merciful offer out of a slight hope.

In response, Hellcry pointed his hammer at her.

“…I was wrong. To think I could pursue honor among you lot.”

At first, he thought it would be good if there were just fierce battlefields. He believed that fighting there would strongly imprint his existence on both enemies and allies.

But what the Demon Lord’s army actually pursued was not battle but one-sided plunder and massacre, and even if he tried to suppress that habit with force, they were eager to point a knife at his back at any opportunity.

Yes, they were beings that hindered his struggle for the honor he sought.

“I will execute all foolish beings who don’t know honor here today!”

“Pfft~ Consistent to the end~ Well, that’s what makes hunting you worthwhile~”

Facing this foolish orc burning with such determination, Barbatos spread her legs and unleashed her mockery without restraint.

“If you want to leave your name behind so badly, I’ll gladly live up to your expectations.”

“Of course, all you’ll leave behind is blood and flesh, and even that will end up in my mouth. Ahahahaha~!”

Her laughter showed not even a hint of the possibility of her defeat.

No matter that he had consumed demon blood, his origin was still that of a foolish orc, and she was confident that he couldn’t defeat her with her army behind her.

*****

…However.

“I-impossible! How could a mere orc…!!”

“FOR HONORRRRRR!!!”

-KWANG!!!

With a battle cry, Barbatos’s head was crushed.

Even her body was overwhelmed by tremendous force and burst, but there was no one present who could stop this act.

The demons who had rushed in seeking only numerical advantage and position advancement had long been turned to mush and scattered across the ruined city.