episode_0018

Receiving Leonaen’s fearful gaze and the admiration, confusion, and other mixed looks from the others, I was able to obtain information from the orc.

Rolling his eyes occasionally as if he had forgotten, he helped me retrieve my memories in the warm water like a mother’s bosom, and I quickly regained my memory.

Sometimes there were children who rolled their eyes arrogantly claiming they had surrendered, but leading them into the warm water like a mother’s embrace would quickly make them spill their true feelings.

Just like that, when Ekstrazoi, who wanted to give us information sincerely, poured out his heart warmly as I looked on, Leonaen scowled at Sung-ho, but I paid no mind.

Is she a fervent follower of Solra or what?

I obtained all the information and swiftly sent Ekstrazoi off, saying he wanted to rest now.

Having carried that name for far too long, it was time to let him go.

Anyway, we shed tears looking at the information we had acquired.

“A village inside the jungle… and it’s of union tribe rank? Shaman above level 40 as the chieftain…”

Each piece of information seemed unbelievable, causing Leonaen to naturally adopt a negative tone.

“But it’s the truth.”

With a blunt tone, Bi-han spoke, leaving Leonaen no choice but to nod her head.

After enduring such torture, where would he find the strength to lie?

Orcs, in the first place, are not good at lying.

And why is this human suddenly so serious again?

Leonaen couldn’t figure out what kind of person this man, supposedly the lady’s fiancé, really was.

Is he developing a split personality due to being tortured by a dark magician…?

But that’s not important. Leonaen pushed aside those thoughts and said, “So there’s a chieftain in the jungle. It’s fortunate that the chieftain hasn’t left for the wall yet.”

Although we didn’t know why the chieftain was still here, it was a stroke of luck.

A hero of a race that strengthens orcs with monstrous power and presence alone.

The fact that the chieftain was here meant less burden on those at the wall.

Faces brightened at that statement.

However, everyone’s expressions froze at what followed.

“What nonsense is this? The chieftain has already led the main force to Dulliero. I didn’t send Lady Linus ahead for nothing.”

Everyone looked at Bi-han with trembling eyes.

Bi-han was too serious and calm to be lying.

He had displayed his abilities sufficiently to dismiss any notion of misunderstanding.

When everyone hesitated to speak sparingly, Leiana raised her hand and asked, “So, um… about the chieftain this orc mentioned?”

Bi-han tilted his head as if to say, “Do you really not know?” Everyone anticipated what would come out of his mouth.

But they hoped for something different.

It had been shocking enough that the chieftain appeared after 20 years.

They wished Bi-han would say something else.

But Bi-han did not fulfill their hopes.

“The chieftain is two.”

“…”

Everyone stiffened at his words.

I, on the other hand, thought, ‘Is that so?’ Why would I have gone through all the trouble to persuade Geomsung to come here?

If he doesn’t come, it’s Dulliero, and we’ll all die.

Facing the stiffened individuals, I met the orc’s large hand with a loud clap.

-Clap!

“Snap out of it, everyone. Nothing changes in this situation.”

I told those who had barely regained their composure with my applause.

“If there are two chieftains, are we going to sit down and wait for death?”

“What’s that…!”

“You’re speaking too…”

Elise and Leiana reacted strongly to my words.

The rest either understood why I said what I did or remained silent.

“Why are you all letting your guard down like this? Start moving. Whether there are two chieftains or one, we do what we have to do.”

“What we have to do…”

“Information, we gather as much information as possible. What kind of orc is the second chieftain, what orcs are under his command, and what synergy will the first orc chieftain fighting at the Great Wall create.”

Gathering all that information and more,

“We seek the south from the orcs.”

That’s what we need to do now.

If you understand, let’s move.

Confirming those who snapped to attention at my words, I leaped to one side.

And those who had regained their senses followed behind me.

“Well said.”

Leona, who was waving her banner towards me.

“You speak well, don’t you?”

The experienced mercenary Ment.

“A worthy employer, indeed.”

The elven archer Rain.

“I owe you a debt. Thanks to you, I’ve come to my senses.”

Leiana, the youngest of Noisden.

“…Thank you for saying that.”

Our kind-hearted Alice.

And

“Your words touched my heart! Ahhlak…”

“Ahhlak.”

“..Hmm?”

“Give me a lift.”

“..Hmm?”

“Don’t pretend you didn’t hear.”

“..Alright..”

Following the exchange with Ekstrachwa, Ahhlak.

With one mind, we ran towards the village we obtained from the orcs.

“The ride feels good.”

“Not riding Ahhlak…”

“Noisy.”

If you’re going to complain, you should have done better earlier.

Avoiding Ahhlak’s pitiful gaze, everyone ran through the forest for two hours.

“Is that it…?”

“I can’t see anything…”

We discovered the orc city.

…

Orcs are strong.

Their bodies are naturally massive and contain immense strength.

Although their intelligence is low and technological advancement is lacking, they overwhelm with sheer numbers and ferocity.

Whether of the same or different races, orcs born from numerous females start fighting within a month of birth.

They hunt for food on their own, learn skills instinctively, and together kill formidable enemies.

Formidable strength, overwhelming numbers, and a unique fighting spirit.

All these combined, other races often say this about orcs:

Orcs are not strong individually, but orcs are strong.

When united, orcs were formidable.

If even tribal orc units were like that, what about orcs gathered at the racial level?

They were truly a calamity.

Like the rare appearance of a locust swarm, a green wave covering everything in sight was massive.

Many nations were swept away by the green wave, and many races remembered that time with anger.

What if there was a chieftain who could unite these orcs?

Self-proclaimed, the champion of the race.

A being akin to a treasure bestowed by the race’s deity was powerful.

Not only in their own might and intellect but also in the power to unlock the race’s potential just by appearing!

That’s why when an orc chieftain appeared, a decision had to be made quickly.

As time passed, orcs became smarter and larger, and as wars continued, surviving orcs grew stronger.

Therefore, when the time for a chieftain to appear approached, neighboring countries gathered their strength to subdue the orcs.

Forty years ago, they suffered great losses due to not uniting their strength properly, so it would be even more so now.

However, no one knew.

Twenty years earlier than usual, the chieftain emerged, and shortly after the information arrived, waves began pounding the Great Wall, and unexpected events occurred in places seeking help.

How could things fit together so perfectly!

Despite cursing the southern Great Wall defender Duriel Hujak at all these events, he did not give up.

They had to endure.

As time passed, the orcs would grow stronger, but those who could deal with the orcs would come over time.

Truly ironic.

And the overseer who barely defended against the orc vanguard saw it.

The greedy gaze felt even at the far horizon.

Enhancing his mana and strengthening it again and again, at the edge of the horizon, a towering orc with an axe on his shoulder gazed back at him.

He realized.

The chieftain had arrived.

Already

How?

All those doubts were washed away by the greedy gaze that kept pouring onto him.

A gaze that seemed to savor his presence.

A gaze different from forty years ago when he didn’t even bother to look at himself.

From ‘a vulture not even considering pecking at an axe’ to ‘prey that seems tasty,’ the gaze had changed.

Chills ran down his spine at that gaze, and he sighed.

Why had such a being reappeared after just twenty years?

Hujak resented the orc’s arrogance, a being who could easily trample over those like Muwi, who had tasted shame and honed themselves.

But instead of despairing, he firmly grasped the shield of his family lineage.

The strongest one here right now was none other than himself.

Though not the mightiest, he would probably be the one able to withstand that monster the longest.

If the orc, still eyeing him with relish, were to raise the axe, it would be himself that Hujak would have to face.

Hujak recalled the people who had shaped his life.

His beloved wife, well-raised son and daughter, the daughter sent to the wilderness under the guise of scouting.

The deities and knights who followed him, the landmines who respected his flawed self.

In order to protect everything, as he readied himself to lift the shield for the last time, a clear voice filled with strength reached Hujak’s ears.

“Wow… We almost had a big problem there, huh?”

Innocent yet powerful, the voice was filled with vigor.

As a woman muttered to herself about needing to truly repay that guy, she turned her head and approached Hujak.

After feeling a mix of confusion, doubt, conviction, joy upon seeing the woman, Hujak spoke.

“Gumseong…?”

To which Gumseong (劍星) Linnes Noisden smiled and replied.

“Yes, it’s me.”

And then, holding the sword vertically, Gumseong slowly lowered it and said.

“And I will be the one to face that guy.”

Linnes style basics:

Top cut

With those words, the sky split open.