episode_0017

Though they had agreed to depart, an immediate departure was not possible.

Scouring this vast jungle without clear information was simply a waste of time.

Those who had entertained the thought found themselves bound, looking down at the orc subdued and lying on the ground.

Originally intending to extract information from someone smarter-looking than this orc, they excluded Vihan because he wasn’t an orc.

Unexpectedly, a ranger proficient in Orcish stepped forward.

“[Orc, I have something to ask you.]”

“[Chwiik, go ahead.]”

“[I expected you wouldn’t give in easily. But… just a moment, what is it?]”

Ranger Leona pulled out the red vials she had brought just in case and looked up.

Why is he being so cooperative?!

Leona recalled how the orcs had reacted when she tried to ask them questions before, “Chwiik, just kill him!” “Chwiik! Human fool! Orc! Does not surrender!” Their reactions were quite different from the current orc’s demeanor, making Leona even consider unlikely scenarios.

Could this one also not be an orc like Vihan?

Has this one transformed into an artifact like Vihan?

Unconsciously, Leona turned her head towards Vihan and asked with her eyes, and Vihan responded,

‘Not… him?’

In her eyes, that guy seemed like an orc.

Although his dignified appearance was somewhat intriguing.

As Leona began to feel self-doubt about the techniques she had learned to gather information from the orcs until now, the orc spoke up.

“[Chwiik, but there is a condition!]”

“As expected!”

Just submitting won’t make you an orc!

“? Did you figure something out?”

“Truly remarkable, Captain.”

“You already figured it out?”

Raising her hand, Leona realized that what she had been learning all along wasn’t foolish after all.

Seeing her enthusiasm, her subordinates were astonished.

She must have figured something out, judging by how pleased she looks!

There’s a saying in the forest to listen to the words of a ranger.

The trust in Leona, who consistently demonstrated her skills as a ranger, was remarkable.

With those glances, Leona cleared her throat and asked the orc,

“[What is the condition? If it’s unreasonable, I can’t agree.]”

“[Chwiik! I don’t know difficult words! I have only one condition!]”

Leona’s words made the orc solemnly set his face, sniffling.

Leona felt a slight tension.

How will he show his intentions with such a demeanor?

It would be better if he didn’t state overly harsh conditions, but if torture was involved, they might get the information, albeit taking longer.

From Leona’s perspective, saving time was crucial, so agreeing to most conditions would be wise.

In Leona’s thoughts, the orc stated his condition.

“[Chwiik! If I’m going to die anyway!]”

If he’s going to die?

Does he want to die like a warrior in the end?

Orcs believe that dying as a warrior elevates them to the halls of the honored dead.

Leona pondered who would be suitable as his opponent if that were the case.

Then the orc continued.

“[I want to spend quality time with that female!]”

“[Wha…what?]”

Leona was about to say she understood but managed to stop herself.

Sweating profusely, she looked in the direction the orc gestured with his chin.

Surely not.

Among the females here, there were only three.

Rain, the spirit archer hired by Vihan.

Elyse, the youngest of the Dulliere family and a knight.

Leiana, the youngest of the Noisden family and a priestess.

And the ‘female’ the orc pointed to with his chin was

“….me?”

Still maintaining the appearance of an orc due to the artifact’s duration, it was Vihan von Adelheid.

Leona and Vihan were the only ones who understood the orc’s words.

Others expressed confusion, not understanding what they were talking about.

Leona, displaying disbelief on her face, desperately shouted while looking at Vihan-Orc’s face contorting more and more like a demon.

“Ahhlak! Lady Leiana! Please intervene!”

“Huh? Who are you talking about?”

“Who?”

Their questions rendered Leona’s response unnecessary.

Brandishing a sword of unknown origin, Beohan leaped forward and shouted, “That damn orc since earlier!!!!”

” “Suddenly?!” ”

Lying down, Ekstlach expressed a desire to spend quality time with a female before dying.

Enraged by those words, Beohan—an orc—went wild.

Although she knew she shouldn’t, Leona felt like she would have been angry at those words herself.

Ahlak and Leiana were tearing Beohan apart, who was seething with anger.

It was spring.

…

It took me a while to regain control of my emotions.

Even if I were besieged by cafe puritans, cabbage puritans, or idiots picking fights with me, I had never been this angry.

Orcs were a formidable race indeed.

They were even better at manipulating human emotions than dark sorcerers.

Could that be why dark sorcerers are associated with orcs?

Lost in pointless thoughts, I locked eyes with Elise, who looked puzzled.

And then it dawned on me.

Was that why Elise cried earlier?

After all, her fiancé was a bigger and more brutal orc than that one. It was understandable.

Just by not retaliating and ending it with tears, Elise’s character shone through.

I sincerely apologized to Elise.

“..I’m truly sorry.”

Having learned a lesson the hard way, Elise turned her head and replied softly, “I understand..so.”

How kind she was..

This man was worried because Elise was too kind.

I felt the need to protect this kind soul from being taken advantage of.

Making another resolution, I composed myself and stood in front of the orc.

“[Hey Ekstlach.]”

“[Snort! You’re here! Have you accepted my conditions?]”

“[I cannot accept those conditions. Any other conditions?]”

“[Snort! None! I’m going to die anyway! I must leave my seed with a female! That is my duty!]”

Haha.

So he wants to impregnate me.

I’ve learned that if something is too absurd, it doesn’t even make me angry.

As I chuckled, I saw Ranger Raina turn pale, looking around.

Elise, Leiana, Leona, Rain, Ment, Ahlak.

Yes, Ahlak.

Recalling the stats of the mercenary Ahlak in the game, I calculated the difference between his stats back then and now.

With a talent index clearly at A-, if we take the average monthly growth rate and subtract x12x4… Strength is B?

A pretty decent indicator, I nodded approvingly.

With a B rating, I could easily overpower an orc warrior with strength alone.

While calculating stats, another thought crossed my mind—the status attached to it, with Strength F, darkened my mood, but I gathered my spirits and addressed Ahlak.

“Ahlak.”

“Hmm! What’s up!”

Confronting the employer I hired with overwhelmingly good conditions, I blocked his path and asked.

He couldn’t meet my gaze properly.

If this were a game, it would be contract termination level.

But for now, I’ll let it slide due to the urgency.

He probably knows that if I tell the Mercenary Guild, “Ahlak is a complete mess,” it would mean big trouble for him.

Hoping he won’t make the same mistake this time, I asked Ahlak, “Can you hold that orc even if he struggles?”

Was what I wanted easier than I thought? Ahlak smiled broadly and replied, “Ahlak! It’s totally possible!”

“Is that so?”

Then catch him.

When Ahlak firmly grabbed the orc, I pulled out a large pot and filled it with water from my spatial pocket.

Preparations were enough at this point.

“Sir…what are you planning to do?”

“Hmm?”

Surprisingly, this guy didn’t know.

A ranger who doesn’t know this?

Even though he taught me this in the game as a ranger…

Thinking, ‘Is this guy a newbie,’ I held the orc’s head and said as I submerged it in water, “Water holds the answer.”

“..Excuse me?”

“Really clueless, aren’t you?

I had no choice but to explain.

Seemingly noticing my intention, the ranger pulled out a notebook from somewhere and I nodded satisfactorily, providing an explanation.

Newbies who are eager to learn don’t mind it!

…

Leonine was in shock.

An orc wanting to impregnate the lady’s fiancé?

Not only was that a huge shock, but what truly shocked him was the scene unfolding before his eyes now.

“[Gurgle, gurgle! I-I’ll tell you everything!]”

Dipping his head into the water until he couldn’t breathe, then being pulled back up several times.

The orc, now willing to keep his mouth shut forever if it wasn’t what he desired, was no more.

Tears or water streaming down, pleading to spill everything, the orc.

Leonine nodded in admiration at this point.

Is this what they mean by ‘water knows the answer’?

It was completely different from the torture methods taught by seniors.

Torture that continually stimulates survival instincts by restricting breathing without causing unnecessary harm.

By depriving oxygen, preventing the luxury of thought, and exploiting that gap, this torture was truly remarkable.

Where did he learn such torture? Leonine marveled.

“[I won’t tell you anything. Don’t even try! I won’t talk, got it?]”

Bihan submerged the orc’s head in the water again.

And pulled it out before the orc died.

“[Gurgle, gurgle.. P-please!]”

“[Don’t do it! He’s a superior orc! What about me? Pregnant? Dive back in!]”

-Splash

The orc dived back in.

As Leonine raised her hand to inquire for information, she hesitated and lowered it.

Bihan’s eyes were burning too intensely to ask.

Leonine was not an oblivious ranger.

Not being oblivious meant she hadn’t died long ago, but particularly astute Leonine just bowed her head and pondered inwardly.

‘Since the orc could lie, he must have dipped his head again. By making the opponent desperate, solidifying the master-slave relationship…’

“[Gurgle…]”

“[Oh, now you can’t speak! You’ll talk better when you come out again!]”

“[Gurgle.. I-I’m speaking well even now.. Please..]”

“[If you go back in once more, you’ll talk even better!]”

-Splash

‘Solidifying the master-slave relationship… To obtain information perfectly…’

-Splash

Damn it, I don’t know.

Ignoring the shivering orc and Bihan cursing in orcish, Leonine looked up at the sky.

Miss… Shouldn’t we break off the engagement..?

No matter how you look at it, Bihan didn’t seem to have a good character.”