Ch.36Chapter 36. A Warrior Who Knows Honor

Demon Tribe.

From humanity’s perspective, they are clearly what would be called evil. Though they possess intelligence and physical structures similar to humans, there exist stark differences that set them apart from humans.

The key difference is that they are a race that grows and changes according to their desires.

The stronger their desires become, the more powerful abilities they awaken, and their appearance and innate abilities differ based on the type of desire and the environment they’ve experienced.

“Ha, haha. Think you can handle this?”

“Fighting them bare-handed wouldn’t even be a match.”

Facing these Demon Tribe members who had each grown into their unique forms, the survivors’ faces showed tension incomparable to when they faced mere monsters.

At the front stood a massive beast with the appearance of a pig. Beside it was one with bones protruding from its body, sharpened to deadly points. Further away, a creature with a skeletal frame appeared to have its body inflated by the ominous aura flickering around it.

Each one was so different that it was difficult to gauge their strength by sight alone.

In a situation where they were also overwhelmingly outnumbered, it would be strange not to feel fear and despair.

“…Should we consider ourselves lucky that their leader is an orc?”

Some thought that compared to the other Demon Tribe members, the orc might be safer to deal with since they had faced orcs before.

“No, that orc is the most dangerous one.”

To those under such misconceptions, I clearly stated what I knew.

“The orc is dangerous? No matter how much he seems like their leader, he’s still just an orc, isn’t he?”

“We’ve killed so many orcs already. No matter how strong he is, if we can figure out a strategy…”

“Let me be clear.”

Swish.

The moment I removed the mask from my face and revealed my identity to them.

“To defeat that single orc, even if five Heroes rushed at him together, they should be prepared for total annihilation.”

As my revealed face was recognized by some, their expressions turned to shock greater than when they had faced the Demon Tribe.

Well, despite the misunderstanding, I had gained the nickname “Hero Hunter,” so it’s not easy to dismiss the words of someone like me when I speak of Heroes.

“Five Heroes annihilated… Is that really true?”

“Yes, so I’ll ask just one thing of all of you right now.”

I don’t know how that orc managed to awaken enough power to become an executive in the Demon Lord’s army, but the opportunity to resolve such questions is only given to the strong who have the luxury of time.

What’s important now is to somehow get as many people out of here alive as possible, including myself.

“Don’t move until the other Demon Tribe members act, and no matter what happens… absolutely do not rush at that orc.”

For that purpose, we must absolutely not provoke that orc.

Absolutely not.

“…So you’re saying we should just give up and die?”

“No, just wait for now.”

As I read the note I had pulled from my pocket,

It contained Irie’s prophecies about the future, summarized as concisely as possible on the paper.

[While heading to your destination, you will be attacked by monsters, and during your escape, a cliff will collapse. At that moment, push the bard outside the falling rock area.]

[If you later encounter the Demon Lord’s army, remove your mask to convince the others in your party and request direct negotiation with an executive of the Demon Lord’s army. And…]

…There’s not much information, but since she predicted the cliff collapse, her prophecies must be nearly absolute.

Knowing this, I threw Merilyn out of the carriage I was riding in, and now I’ve removed my mask to convince my companions, not just to watch.

To negotiate directly with a familiar executive, as Irie prophesied.

“Resistance won’t be too late even after I fail in negotiations.”

If I just stood back and watched without stepping forward like this,

It’s obvious that everyone here would be annihilated…

“Yes, you’ve come to duel with me… Hmm?”

The moment I stepped forward boldly in front of the Demon Lord’s army executive to avoid such a future,

I faced him with a stern attitude, not showing the fear that made my heart pound.

“…A face that remains in my memory.”

“Haha, so you remember me.”

“Yes, you’ve been particularly memorable. Despite being nothing more than a non-warrior, strangely, the memory of you has never left my mind…”

-Boom.

The moment the heavy iron mace in his hand touched the ground.

It meant he wouldn’t attack immediately, but the hand gripping the handle was clenched with such force that veins bulged.

“It’s good to see you again. Human who knew to bow his head and acknowledge his own powerlessness.”

On the face confronting me, I could clearly feel the triumphant spirit that had been quietly tempered until now.

“Did you appear here because you believe you can defeat me in single combat?”

Orc Hellcry.

Despite being born an orc that lives solely for reproduction, he is an anomalous being fixated on the abstract concept of honor.

The principles I saw in him at that time were no different from those claimed by so-called warriors.

He respects his opponents, punishes those who show no respect, and grants mercy to those he defeats by ending their lives swiftly rather than subjecting them to humiliation and pain.

By going through such processes, he satisfies his thirst for combat, which is why he chose to join the Demon Lord’s army where he could traverse the most battlefields.

“…Of course not.”

And as he said, I am a being who knows my limits very well.

No matter how desperately I fight, I know better than anyone that I cannot satisfy the desire he seeks.

A mythril ego weapon?

I might be able to inflict some scratches with it, but it’s obvious my body would be pulverized by the iron mace that would come flying afterward, so how could I easily defy him?

“Then why did you boldly step forward to represent your group?”

“For the same reason as before.”

Quietly.

Lowering the shaft of the spear in my hand to the ground, I bowed my head before him and said:

“Please, would you grant us a chance to escape from this place alive?”

“…Are you sincere?”

“I am completely sincere.”

A battle with no chance of victory even if everyone charged together while the group remained intact.

Having sensed this, I had no choice but to beg for our lives.

“Anyway, if I were to fight you right now, victory would be impossible.”

As soon as I honestly spoke those words, a ‘crack!’ sound echoed.

Though I couldn’t see well with my head bowed, it was probably the sound of him grinding his teeth as he looked down at me.

“Yes, bending one’s pride and boldly kneeling before the strong can also be called courage.”

His voice, deeper than before, proved that he was not simply regarding me with admiration as he had then.

“But human. Surely you don’t fail to understand that this changes depending on the situation?”

Of course.

At that time, I was merely a porter without weapons, carrying only luggage.

Killing a non-combatant who doesn’t flee but boldly begs for his life would be considered dishonorable by one who knows honor.

“The fact that you came to this place with weapons and armor means that, unlike before, you’ve come to join your army.”

In contrast, now I am not a porter but an adventurer, hired as a mercenary for a mission to reinforce an outpost.

My existence, clearly stepping onto this land as a combatant, would be seen by him as a warrior who has taken on the duty to fight on the battlefield.

“Do you think it is honorable to abandon the responsibility that comes with your role and beg for your life while merely acknowledging the difference in strength?”

“No.”

“If a duel is not established, I can simply find honor in defeating more soldiers. Do you think I have an obligation to acknowledge and accept a battlefield opponent’s plea for life?”

“I do not think so.”

But don’t waver.

The moment I waver even slightly, cracks will form in the “dignity” he acknowledged when he spared my life.

Whatever I say afterward, to guide the outcome written on the note, I must never let my attitude falter.

“Knowing this, why do you still beg me for your life?”

The result of not faltering in that attitude.

I sensed it the moment the one looking down at me asked my intention without swinging his mace, despite feeling displeasure.

“…Orc who knows honor.”

Yes, this is the decisive moment.

With my head still bowed to the ground as sweat dripped down, I boldly stated my thoughts in the face of his killing intent.

“You may have appeared before us seeking an honorable duel and posed your question, but ironically, the humans here are still weaklings who haven’t even attained the strength to be called warriors. They haven’t even accumulated enough experience to awaken to the value of honor as you have.”

Those present here are not qualified to satisfy his desire.

By boldly declaring that weakness, I instead teach him that there is value in such weaklings that he should take note of.

“You worship honor and live for it… but surely you weren’t always someone who knew honor from the beginning?”

Flinch.

The moment a slight tremor appeared in his shadow on the ground.

Realizing I had hit the mark, a confident smile began to form on my lips.

“The grace period to understand honor… the guarantee of survival until awakening to that value must have been what allowed the current you to be created. Am I wrong?”

“…And what if that’s true?”

“If you truly pursue honor, please give us who have not yet qualified a chance. Spare us who are certain to die here, and give us the opportunity to grow until we can one day fight the battle you yearn for.”

Only then did I gradually raise my head.

The face I encountered afterward showed signs of being somewhat more appeased than when he first became angry.

Respect for me, a mere weakling.

The expectation for the future rather than the present was gradually blooming in his eyes as he etched my image into them.

“…I think I understand a bit why you remained in my memory.”

My ability may have influenced such recognition, but whatever the case, if he has developed a mind to give me a chance, that’s enough.

Soon, looking down at me with eyes cleared of anger, he spoke in a solemn voice.

“Human Hyoseong Woo.”

Carrying my name in his mouth, which he had never forgotten since our first meeting.

“Can you prove that what you just said is not merely excuses muttered to survive?”

Showing reverence even to me, a mere weakling, by addressing me with honorifics.

“…I ask for a chance to prove that.”

I am truly grateful to him for showing such mercy.

Keeping that in mind, I finally gripped my spear tightly and pointed its tip toward the Demon Tribe members behind him.

Recalling the final words written on the note Irie left me.

[Through the subsequent negotiations, try to guide it so that you fight one of his subordinates, not the executive himself. After that, just do your best to fight.]

[Remember, no matter who your opponent is, it’s important not to doubt that you will be defeated.]

“Give me a chance to face one of your subordinates. I will prove that my words are not mere bluster.”

Whatever happens, if I don’t give up, I can survive.

If I’m fighting a subordinate rather than an executive of the Demon Lord’s army, the chance of victory isn’t zero.

“If you prove those words by betting your life, I promise to spare you and those behind you from this place. But if you lose…”

“I’m prepared for that much.”

If I lose, that’s the end.

If someone else challenges to a duel afterward, he would accept, but if that fails too, what awaits is merciless slaughter.

“Things are going surprisingly well?”

“…Can he really do this?”

“Let’s wait and see. We’d all die anyway if we fought.”

Fortunately, they too seemed to find hope in the conversation I led, as the adventurers decided to wait and see without falling into panic.

Though the responsibility for everyone’s lives here, including my own, weighed heavily on my shoulders, I was already prepared since I was the only one who could lead to such a result in this situation.

Yes, it would be good if things went smoothly like this…

“GRAAAAH! Don’t make me laugh!”

The Demon Tribe members behind Hellcry, unable to accept the current outcome, broke the silence and began causing a commotion.

“What are you deciding on your own!”

“I’ve been quietly listening because you’re the captain, but what is all this nonsense!?”

“We came here to play with those bugs, not to accommodate your obsession!”

“What we want is slaughter with blood and flesh flying! Do you think we’ll accept watching you squabble with just one of them!?”

…Of course, beings born from desire and growing according to desire.

If they’ve joined the army, they must be full of hostility to the point of making fighting itself their purpose, so how could they possibly accept an honorable duel?

“…You lot, even after seeing this one’s courage, you intend to desecrate the honorable duel that will take place here?”

“Forget about honor and all that! Who do you think came here for such pointless things? I came here just to kill as many bug-like humans as possible!”

Soon, one of the Demon Tribe members who couldn’t accept this appeared boldly in front of Hellcry and said:

“I’ve been unhappy since an orc who isn’t even a Demon Tribe member became captain! If you’re going to act so selfishly, I’ll just quit the Demon Lord’s ar—”

“HONOR!!!!!!”

-CRASH!

Hellcry smashed his iron mace into the head of the one who was boldly arguing, shouting with all his might.

As the body was embedded into the ground, crushed by the pressure, the atmosphere immediately tensed not only among the humans but also on the Demon Lord’s army’s side.

“GYAAH, he finally did it! That stupid orc killed his own subordinate!”

And one skeletal Demon Tribe member began to panic at the sight.

“Even if he’s a subordinate, killing your own for such a trivial matter is clearly betrayal! Stupid orc! I always thought you weren’t qualified to be an execu—”

“HONOOOOOR!!!!!!!!”

-CRASH!!

Hellcry swung his mace again to silence that irritating mouth.

Afterward, as he raised his blood-soaked weapon, his eyes began to glare fiercely.

“The hierarchy in the Demon Lord’s army is determined solely by strength… If you find my decision disagreeable, prove it with your power.”

As chunks of flesh ground by overwhelming force dripped from the iron mace,

Soon, in the scene where the heated atmosphere had subsided, he planted his mace into the ground and said in a quiet voice:

“If anyone wishes to interfere with the honorable duel that will begin here, step forward. I will personally settle the hierarchy right here…”

“……”