Chapter 140 – Papillon (2)
Crockta sat on the bed. The steel bars were so tightly packed together that it was difficult for Crockta to bend them enough for his body to pass through. If so, he needed to try another place. He looked at the walls. The rough surface looked hard, but it might be deceptive. Maybe this wall consisted of easily broken rocks, just like in the movies.
"Let’s see…"
Crockta touched his chin. His escape strategy was simple. In the moment before they executed him, or the moment they came into the prison to do something to him, he would defeat them with his skills.
Crockta didn't feel like the situation was very urgent as he didn't think he would be killed. But he was bored staying still. If he was imprisoned, he was tempted to try all methods of escape before eventually gaining his freedom.
“I don't have anything good."
There was only the bed in the prison. This didn't seem to be a long-term detention center as there was not even a toilet. Crockta got up and looked at the legs of the bed. He could use those. Crockta broke one of the four legs of the bed.
Crunch!
The orc's large hand grasped it and twisted, breaking the wooden leg. A sharp piece of wood emerged from the broken off section. Crockta used it to scratch at the wall.
Kikikikik.
Kkikikik.
"……"
There was no change. The finish on the walls was poor but it was still concrete. His physical means were gone. The resources in the environment couldn't help him. Therefore, he needed to use human-assisted psychological escape.
Crockta approached the steel bars and looked outside. The people had gone away, but they left one guard here. Crockta called out, “Hey.”
There was no answer. Crockta spoke again, “Hey…"
This time, he spoke in a powerless and weary voice. He staged a little bit of fear.
“Is there nobody…"
There was the feeling of someone jumping in the distance. The guard seemed to struggle for a moment before walking to the prison where Crockta was. Crockta sat down on the bed.
“What is going on?”
A star on his forehead. Shabby attire. Weak atmosphere. It was an ordinary user with a low position in the Heaven and Earth Clan. His back was straight since he was nervous about confronting the famous orc warrior, Crockta. Crockta was slumped over in a pathetic manner, in order to meet his expectations.
"Excuse me..really…I'll be executed…?"
Moist eyes! Who would've ever thought that he was the brutal orc warrior Crockta, the one who killed the great chieftain in the north and wiped out any opponents! The man's face softened as he felt compassion for Crockta.
"That's right."
“I still have a lot of work left to do…there is also the situation with my gold and treasures…" Crockta muttered to himself.
His words caught the guard's interest. The thought of gold and treasure always shook people's hearts.
"Ahh…I…" Crockta made a distressed sound, making it seem like he was troubled. His method acting made the guard look at him like he was pathetic.
"…Hoo." Crockta's expression stiffened before getting up from the bed.
A fearsome pressure suddenly surrounded Crockta, causing the guard to step back. There weren't many people who could endure Crockta's killing intent. The guard felt his legs trembling. The moment that he was about to leave due to the sudden change,
Crockta called out, "People die anyway. There is no regret about the path I walked. However, it is shameful that I can't pass on the orc's secret sword of justice!"
They were the eyes of a man ready to die. Crockta looked at the guard. He stared blankly at Crockta. Crockta said in a loud voice, “I will soon die by the hands of your leader. I have taken many lives so it isn't unjust."
The image of a dignified person in front of death was always impressive.
“You are the last person I will meet! Although you aren't an orc, I would like to teach you the orc's secret technique."
“……!”
The man's eyes widened. Anyone who read martial arts novels would know what this was. A once in a lifetime chance!
Furthermore, the orc he was facing wasn't just any orc. Anyone familiar with Elder Lord would know about the Righteous Orc Crockta, crushed of users and the one who killed the great chieftain before the giant quest could start. Wouldn't it be strange if such an NPC was executed without an event?
The guard began to interpret the situation according to his own desires. That's right. This was a type of special event or quest. The orc wanted to pass on everything before he was killed. It was natural for an artificial intelligence to be programmed to pass on their legacy before death.
What would be the legacy of a great warrior in the world of Elder Lord?
Today, an opportunity came to him.
"I…”
"Only!” Crockta struck the player. By setting conditions, it would let the guard know that this wasn't easy. Humans coveted what was difficult. It might be difficult, but it was the right type of hardship that one could endure.
“You must make an oath to pass on this secret technique to another orc. This is a one-man martial art. You can never break this."
The guard was already blinded by greedy so this type of condition didn't matter. Rather, it just added fuel to his desires.
"Do you promise?"
"I do!"
"Then I will say my name. I am Crockta, your mentor."
The guard started to paint an image of becoming a ranker, then driving a gorgeous supercar bought with the profits. Celebrities would want to meet him and everyone would look surprised at his name. He would become a top-notch player in this world, even better than Rommel, master of the Heaven and Earth Clan. He would have splendid parties in a nice house and hang around beautiful women. A sweet life that no one could ignore!
Now it was time to start a new life as 'Ranker Lee Jungmin.' He shouted, "Crockta! My name is Lee Jungmin!"
"A nice name. Bow to me and tell the heavens that I will be your master."
"Yes!"
Crockta looked at Lee Jungmin bowing. It was a ritual common in martial arts novels so he didn't suspect anything. Greed always clouded people's eyes.
Lee Jungmin bowed nine times before breathing out roughly. "Heok, heok. It is done, Master."
"Okay. Come up to me and bow. I will give you a blessing."
"Yes!"
Now, the man had no doubts at all. The future of the Heaven and Earth Clan was dark if this was a guard.
Lee Jungmin bowed his head. “Please take care of me, Master!"
“Okay. Come closer."
“T-This is as close as possible…"
If Lee Jungmin moved any further, his head would hit the iron bars. Crockta nodded.
"It is enough."
He moved up close to the bars, stretched out a hand, and grabbed the guard's neck.
"…Cough!"
Lee Jungmin struggled as he was raised in the air. Crockta laughed cruelly, "Stupid person! It is so easy to fool you! You have a walnut in your head, not a brain!"
“Y-You, l-lie….! Keok…!"
"You are the one who was deceived. Anyway, life is a stage for liars so you should always stay calm and keep an eye on the truth. Stupid guy!"
Lee Jungmin's consciousness gradually faded away. “T-Treating me like this…you will regret…"
"Hoh?" Crockta twisted Lee Jungmin's neck more brutally. "How will I regret it?"
“Keok…keok…hoo…hal…"
Lee Jungmin completely collapsed. Crockta grabbed the bunch of keys hanging from his waist and threw the body roughly on the ground. The body started turning into white particles. The dead were silent.
“Huhu, regret it elsewhere."
Crockta admired his acting skills as he placed the key in the lock of the door. The door was opened. He escaped.
“Kuhahaha, kuhahahat! Who else can trap me?" He grinned as he looked at the last particles of Lee Jungmin. “Not Lee Jungmin."
Lee Jungmin's poor heart. He had been overwhelmed by all the dreams pushed in front of him. However, such hope also drove people to move towards the future. Crockta had used method acting to escape from this terrible prison. If he hadn't tried to escape like this, he would've spent a few depressing hours trapped. It would've definitely been a horrible time.
Crockta opened his arms and closed his eyes. He enjoyed the freedom with his whole body as he muttered a line from a movie he loved.
“Hope is a good thing. The most precious thing. And good things will never disappear."
He recalled Lee Jungmin's final warning that he would regret this. Crockta laughed as he headed outside the prison. Then his feet twisted in a strange way and his nose struck the ground.
"Keook!"
Blood flowed down from his nose. He got up from the floor while pressing a hand against his pained nose. Crockta grabbed it and whined.
"It is strange." There weren't many instances where he lost his balance.
It happened when Crockta, who had been moving for a while, was walking through the outer passage of the prison.
"Kuak!”
A torch hanging on a wall suddenly fell and hit his foot. The fire was scattered. Crockta held one foot and jumped while putting out the fire, as his face twisted from the pain.
"What is this…?"
Crockta couldn't see because he had shut his eyes in pain and slammed his head into the wall.
"Kuak!”
He fell down. Why were all these ridiculous things happening? A coincidence? Crockta, who was caught in a strange situation, closed his eyes and decided to breathe. He held down the pain and muttered an apology to Lee Jungmin.
"S-Sorry…"
Crockta slowly raised his body. As he continued walking, he saw a table with some items on it. His beloved Ogre Slayer was seen. Crockta placed it in the sheath on his back. Edgar had done something wrong, so Crockta didn't feel ashamed at all, except for the poor guard who was killed by him.
"Good."
Crockta started running along the corridor. Now there was nothing to stop him. Edgar pretended to be cool and rational, but it was time to squeeze the whiner out of him.
***
"What is this dot?" Tiyo asked.
They were watching Maillard.
Mailliard's specialty was the 'Coin Fountain' in the main square. There was a saying that throwing a coin in here would cause a wish to come true, so the fountain sparkled with the shine of the coins thrown in by citizens and visitors. The gold coins were gathered and used to help the people at the temple.
There was a signpost in front of the Coin Fountain.
[This tradition was made by Orc Warrior Crockta. He captured three wicked people disturbing Maillard and said to them, 'This isn't just a fountain, but a means to help the poor.' The three disciples went out and comforted citizens in the daily lives, helped those in trouble…(Omitted)]
“…This Crockta isn't our Crockta right dot?"
"Aish, surely not. Our Crockta isn't as nice as this Crockta."
“I agree, kyahahat! I am better dot!"
“That’s right. It is just the same name. Hihit."
They turned away after throwing a gold coin each. Then Tiyo asked Anor. “So that Crockta isn't our Crockta either, right dot?"
"……"
A newsletter was being scattered all over the square. Citizens passing by just glanced at it.
These were the contents:
[The Heaven and Earth Clan's execution of Crockta! We have captured Crockta. He will be executed in the plains outside Maillard. This is for all people who go against the Heaven and Earth Clan. Once the sun rises to its highest point, he will be executed.]
Anor was confused.
"I don't think so? This Crockta is weaker than our Crockta. This Crockta got caught, hahaha. He wouldn't be able to come back alive from Calmahart."
"Kyahahat, that's right. Our Crockta is someone who killed the great chieftain, so how can he be caught dot? It isn't like he would be taken out while drinking. Kahahat! This Crockta is pathetic dot!"
"Crockta must be a common name."
"I think so as well dot."
Tiyo and Anor moved while laughing.
Praise the Orc:
Current schedule: There will now be 14 chapters a week, meaning two chapters every day.
Chapter 141 – When I was down (1)
Crockta cocked his head as he walked down the street.
"Execute me? Kulkulkul."
What cute people. They had accidentally captured him, and yet they were confident that they could execute him? Their actions were too hasty.
"Edgar. Do you only have this much?"
Crockta remembered drinking with Edgar, the one who imprisoned him. Edgar might've forgotten it, but Crockta remembered the stories that were shared. He was a decent man. Crockta appreciated the fact that he noticed Crockta's identity and quickly imprisoned him, as well as Edgar's cold and rational behavior in front of his men.
Edgar did what he had to do. Their positions were different. As the leader of a group, he was a man who knew exactly what he had to do. Kill the symbol of the enemy. The more that morale fell, the less the enemies would be able to fight back.
However, the opponent was Crockta. Edgar was too impatient.
“You said that a leader should be a castle," Crockta muttered.
Edgar had drunkenly told Crockta,
‘I'm the leader. The leader, a castle. Who would want a castle who shakes when the wind blows? I must be an unshakable castle. Cool and hard. Sometimes it is hard, but it is part of being a man. Brother!"
Who was Crockta to judge a man acting like a solid castle?
“Well, put in front of a bit person like me, he will just get hurt."
Crockta nodded. It was unfortunate. Crockta had decided on war on the Heaven and Earth clan. Therefore, if they wanted to execute him, Crockta would come to them directly.
"Hey." Crockta approached a user on the street. He had hidden himself as soon as Crockta appeared and kept looking at Crockta. He was one of the clan members who had been standing next to Edgar.
“……!”
He thought that he had hidden himself well, but Crockta easily found him. Crockta grinned in a relaxed manner. The other person turned pale.
“Did you think you would stop me with steel bars?"
"How…?"
“Tell this to Edgar. I never run away." Crockta touched the handle of Ogre Slayer. "You guys have nominated the place so let's play properly. If you win, it will be a wonderful execution like you planned."
“……!”
“If you are scared then you can back out. The Heaven and Earth clan is only this much. Kulkul."
The user stared blankly at the laughing Crockta. They were eyes filled with faith.
"Hey, Orc. You have no clue about the Heaven and Earth Clan. Okay, then I'll see you later. Let's see how your smug face becomes distorted."
“Hoh. That seems good." Crockta also laughed and then raised a fist as he hitthe user's forehead.
"Aack!" It was very painful because his knuckles were solid. The user grabbed his forehead with a yelp. "What?"
“Do you have any complaints?"
"……"
“Don’t be cocky."
The chance was good, but the user was annoying, so Crockta had used violence. This was Elder Lord, a world where the fist was similar to the law. The user shook because he didn't dare go against Crockta.
"You, I'll see you later!"
He snapped at Crockta and ran away. Crockta gazed after him and laughed.
***
The plains outside Maillard. There was a group of humans. The lead warrior was Edgar. As he waved the flag of the Heaven and Earth Clan, the users following him shouted. It was a sign of fear to anyone playing Elder Lord. This flag had flown on devastated battlefields. The name 'Heaven and Earth', the strongest clan in Elder Lord.
"No matter how skilled or powerful Crockta is, he can't deal with all of us." Someone next to Edgar said. Edgar nodded. His expression was still cool and sober.
“The hastily collected mercenaries can disturb our rhythm." Not all of them were the Heaven and Earth members, as he gathered people to participate in the battle using money.
“Nevertheless, there is still a lot of room."
"Yes."
“Deal with Crockta. And…"
He looked around. He didn't feel anyone approaching.
"These rehabilitation people who will come."
They announced that they would publicly execute Crockta. It was to stimulate the Rehabilitation Brothers. The Rehabilitation Brothers, whose power started in Maillard, weren't large in number. However, they stuck together and obstructed the Heaven and Earth Clan. The mission of the Heaven and Earth branch in Mallard was to mainly keep them in check.
This time, if possible, he would put an end to them as well as Crockta. For the sake of today, Edgar had harshly trained his clan members and helped them level up. The Heaven and Earth's leadership trusted him and appointed him in charge of Maillard, so he would do what was necessary to get results.
"He isn't coming."
"It seems like it."
Time passed by Crockta didn't show. The sun was slowly moving above their head. The clan members started murmuring.
“Everyone, don't be shaken.” Edgar calmed everyone.
“Is he imitating Miyamoto Musashi?"
“…Crockta doesn't know Musashi, but he is a warrior who has gone through many battles. He might instinctively be aiming for a similar effect."
Japan’s swordsman Miyamoto Musashi deliberately arrived late for his duel with Sasaki Kojiro, messing with Kojiro's composure. This allowed Musashi to gain a psychological advantage in the ensuing duel. It was uncertain if this story was true, but based on the situation with Crockta, it seemed to be effective.
Some members were nervous and others were too excited.
"Will he really come?"
"……"
Edgar was silent. He had a point. Edgar might be deceived by the title of Righteous Orc, the honorable warrior. If he lured them here and went elsewhere…
Edgar looked up at the sky again and saw that the sun was started to descend. The appointed time had already passed. His back started tingling. Right now, he had gathered all of the clan members. In other words, there was a minimum number of people at their facilities in Maillard.
The number was too small to fight against Crockta. It would be a big loss if those facilities were destroyed. Crockta had escaped from the prison by luring Lee Jungmin. He wasn't merely a strong warrior. He was a fighter who didn't hesitate to use sneaky plots.
He was known as a righteous orc, but inside he was more cunning.
Edgar snapped at his members. "Leave…"
However, he couldn't say anything else. There was a group coming from far away.
Ching. Ching. Ching.
It was the sound of steel armor. Edgar sighed.
“They have come."
They were waving a flag with the letters 'Rehabilitation' on it! There was no one in Maillard who didn't know the 'Rehabilitation' flag. The members of Rehabilitation Brothers.
“It is a joke when I look at it."
Unlike the Heaven and Earth's uniform, the Rehabilitation Brothers members were all dressed freely. The Heaven and Earth gazed at them fiercely, and the Rehabilitation Brothers responded with bloody gazes.
“All this tension.”
The members of the Rehabilitation Brothers stood before them. Since they were non-clan users, their equipment and combat power was less than the Heaven and Earth Clan. But they were armed with a strong will and never retreated in the face of the Heaven and Earth Clan.
The one who led the Maillard branch of the Rehabilitation Brothers was the hunter class 'Robina', who was rumored to be a national representative in archery. She came forward and spoke to Edgar.
“Is it hard to see my face?" Robina grinned.
Edgar didn't smile.
“Where is Crockta? I heard there was an orc wandering around and that he is called Crockta. You do have him right?" She looked around. “Where is he?"
"Not here."
“What are you talking about?”
“He escaped.”
She narrowed her eyes, but once Edgar's expression didn't change, she burst out laughing.
"Hahahahat, I knew it. How would you be able to catch Crockta?"
"……"
"How dull." She shrugged. “Then and now, you are always disappointing me."
Edgar’s face twitched. He closed his eyes so that his face wouldn't twist. He settled his emotions and thought about a cool lake to sink his head into. An unshakable and serene water surface with no ripples. His emotions faded.
"Robina. They don't have Crockta so can't we fight? Just looking at the traitor's face makes my stomach hurt," said the man standing next to Robina.
At that moment, the Heaven and Earth members simultaneously raised their weapons.
“Shut up. If you talk to Edgar like that, we will kill you without mercy."
“I'll kill him right away and stop his stomach from hurting."
“Edgar, let's kill them."
Edgar opened his eyes.
Robina's face was clear. At one time, they were together. Edgar was once a member of Rehabilitation Brothers.
He said, “I wanted to get rid of you along with Crockta anyway."
"Is that so?"
“This is the last offer. Take everything you own and leave Maillard."
It was a proposal that couldn't be accepted.
Edgar's Heaven and Earth members were ready to fight as their blades shone under the sun.
"Do you really have to do this?" Robina said while stepping back. Her fingers moved to her quiver. Her strong point was her continuous fire. An arrow would leave the bow as soon as there was the slightest movement.
"I never thought you were a man like this. Ah, there is a lot of disappointment." She said with a smile
“Disappointment…" Edgar repeated her words and then began to laugh. However, his lungs and diaphragm were cramping and he didn't know if it was really laughter. He just smiled as emotions clashed inside him.
“Yes, how can we understand others?"
Edgar pulled out his sword. The momentum of the clan members was pushing at his back. It was the feeling of being uplifted. But he couldn't get too excited. The fact that there were trustworthy allies calmed him down.
He looked at the Rehabilitation Brothers. At one time, he was with them. Now they were Edgar's enemies. He turned towards Robina in the front. She was still beautiful.
“Heaven and Earth!"
At one time, they had been lovers. She was a special existence to him. Once he fell into hell, he was so caught up in his own problems that he couldn't look around and she left him. After losing the special figure in his life, he felt like he had lost the whole world.
But now it was different. He was more special than her. He would climb to the top. He would climb until she could no longer be seen. So he didn't feel regret anymore. He was just a little sad.
“War!"
In the future, his exciting adventure would continue to unfold and she couldn't accompany him.
***
"Hah, so those two were dating each other dot?"
“It isn't obvious based on their conversation, but he confessed all sorts of things to me while drunk. Kulkulkul! Things like 'I love her more than life.' Aigoo."
“It sounds like a play. Their relationship, that is."
Crockta was chewing on fried corn with Tiyo and Anor.
“Who will win?”
“I guess the Heaven and Earth Clan."
“Rehabilitation dot! The rehabilitation group will win! Look at the strong eyes of that girl dot! It is like frost covering the sea dot!"
They hid behind a rock and watched the battle between the Heaven and Earth Clan and the Rehabilitation Brothers. The two groups failed to notice as the fierce fight began. In its own way, it was a battle between two clans in Elder Lord. But it seemed dull compared to the great battles they fought in the north.
“I don't like the small number of people dot."
The scale was much smaller than the desperate battle between the dark elves and orcs of the Great Clan.
“Don’t say that. War isn't a game." Anor started arguing with Tiyo.
"I-I'm just saying dot."
“Just saying what? Tsk tsk."
"……"
As Edgar pursued Robina, she retreated while firing arrows. As the two lovers transformed into enemies aiming weapons at each other, the hands eating the fried corn became busier.
“But Crockta, shouldn't you help? Aren't the Rehabilitation Brothers Crockta's allies while the Heaven and Earth Clan are your enemies?"
The Rehabilitation Brothers had shown up to rescue Crocktam but now Crockta was just watching. Anor's eyes narrowed.
“I don’t know.”
Edgar stumbled as Robina's arrow pierced his shoulder. Crockta focused even more. He chewed on the fried corn as his eyes sharpened. In a fight like this, it was best to watch them struggle first. Besides, users would survive even after dying.
"I'll just watch first."
“Good attitude dot!”
"Phew."
Praise the Orc:
Current schedule: There will now be 14 chapters a week, meaning two chapters every day.