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Chapter 77 – Orcheim (2)

Once he heard about Caburak's return, Caburak's father and the Orcheim chief Gorit came running. He was a sturdy orc carrying a huge battle axe.

Caburak was still laughing while surrounded by pink flower petals.

The eyes of the two orcs met. It was a welcome reunion after a long time. There were all sorts of emotions in Caburak and Gorit's eyes.

"Father!"

Gorit was also thrilled. The son he hadn't seen for a long time had returned!

Crockta and Tiyo, who accompanied Caburak for a while, felt warm in their hearts as they watched the reunion. They quietly slipped back. Caburak and Gorit walked towards each other like they were going to hug passionately.

The petals created by Caburak's magic streamed through the air. And…

Peeok!

"Huuk!"

Gorit grabbed Caburak's collar and launched him into the air.

"F-Father?"

“This guy disappeared without a word and now you are back?" It was a serious punch. “And what about the Constellation Staff?"

“I-It was destroyed, Father…"

"You…!”

Gorit tried to hit his son again, but the orcs around him stopped it. It wasn't easy to stop the big Gorit, so many orcs had to hold onto him tightly. Gorit kept yelling wildly.

“Villagers! Listen to me! This son of mine suddenly disappeared with the treasure of my house, only to reappear and say that it is broken! Villagers, isn't this nonsense..!"

“If you hit him anymore then he might die.”

Caburak muttered, “My life has been saved three times…” 

"I've lost my patience a long time ago! Now I will kill you!"

“Uhuh!"

Crockta and Tiyo watched the disturbance from the corner.

"Cough."

“It must hurt dot…"

They were the guests but they didn't receive any attention because of Caburak. No, if it was known that they were Caburak's guests, Gorit might be furious at them as well.

Crockta asked the dark elf Yanura standing next to him. "What happened?"

“I don’t know. Gorit had a son that was a brilliant shaman…then I heard that he disappeared one day with the artifact of his house."

One of the orc warriors in the village found them and sought their understanding. “It looks like you are friends of Caburak so I'm sorry. It is because Gorit is hot-tempered. It might be dangerous now, but he will welcome you later."

“Thank you.”

“My name is Marak. It is a pleasure."

"Crockta. Stay alive," greeted Crockta.

"Hoh. I didn't know I would hear that from an outsider. Stay alive!"

He smiled and replied. Crockta's eyes widened. There weren't many orcs who knew this greeting in the north, and the orc warrior even extended his fist towards Crockta. Crockta bumped it with a sincere heart.

Marak laughed again. “It looks like you're not an orc of the Great Clan!"

In the end, Caburak used this as an opportunity to escape from Gorit. He opened his mouth, “Now, now. Crockta isn't from the Great Clan. Rather, he defeated people from the Great Clan and saved me. It was a big deal!"

The orcs' eyes opened. “Hoh, the warriors from the Great Clan."

“It wasn't just one but multiple warriors!"

"You must be a great warrior."

Gorit discovered Crockta, Tiyo, and Yanura.

Gorit swallowed down his anger and approached Caburak. Caburak looked into his eyes. Caburak flinched as Gorit reached out, but Gorit just placed a hand on his head. Caburak looked like a little kid.

Caburak spoke with narrowed eyes. “These are my guests.”

Crockta greeted politely, “We came here after receiving Caburak's invitation. I am the orc warrior Crockta. Stay alive."

"Hoh."

Gorit looked Crockta up and down. “Are your parents from Orcheim?"

"No."

“I've never seen anyone outside of Orcheim say this greeting. Are you really not from here?"

Crockta laughed bitterly.

Then Caburak said, "Listen to my story! I traveled a long way…but…that…"

Caburak's voice gradually trailed off at Gorit's stare. He avoided eye contact. Gorit kept staring at Caburak and nodded.

“I understand but you'll have to explain it properly. We are being rude to the guests. Follow me."

They said farewell to Yanura who was continuing her mission, then Crockta and Tiyo were guided to Gorit's house. As the chief, Gorit's house was a large log cabin. It was built up so that there was a second floor. Crockta and Tiyo were taken to a guest room.

They felt the accumulated fatigue as they set down their belongings. Crockta sat on the floor with Ogre Slayer, a weapon he always carried with him. He leaned back against the wall and a sound came out.

"Ohu…"

"……"

From then on, Tiyo stayed quiet. He was thinking about something with a sullen expression.

It seemed like he was still shocked by Yanura's words. Tiyo was proud of gnomes. He firmly believed that gnomes were the wisest and most rational species. The magic engineering developed by the gnomes could be called the essence of civilization.

“Are you okay?"

“I'm fine dot…" There was no strength in his voice.

“You don't know the situation, so don't become too frustrated yet."

“I don't need to hear the situation… gnomes should absolutely never hold hands with those selling slaves dot…"

Crockta laughed, “So it seems like both you and I will need to hunt our own species."

“That’s right dot…"

“You should sound more assertive when saying this."

Tiyo smiled as he got up. "Thank you Crockta. But please don’t worry. I was only thinking for a moment dot."

"About what?"

“How to slay those guys!"

Crockta nodded. Problems of the heart could only be solved by oneself. Tiyo would soon return to the Tiyo that Crockta knew.

“I'm going dot! Ohhhhhhh!"

It seemed like he had already returned.

Then the door opened and Gorit appeared. He stared down at Crockta and Tiyo. The duo became nervous due to his fierce eyes.

"Let's go."

He spoke curtly, “Go where?"

“Where?" Gorit cried out in a large voice. “Isn't a bath necessary for men to know each other? To the hot springs!"

***

The fatigue was resolved after soaking in the hot water.

“Ohhhh, good dot…"

“The best," muttered the duo.

Gorit was sitting on the other side. The strength of his body was further emphasized by the hot spring. Despite his age, his chest muscles were bulging. Gorit scanned Crockta with a similar expression. His body was muscular and covered with tattoos. The flesh tempered from wielding his greatsword was magnificent.

“Hrmm.”

Crockta moved his gaze towards Caburak. He was a small orc. If it wasn't for his skin color, it wouldn't be strange for Caburak to be mistaken as a human. Caburak dropped his eyes at the gaze that seemed to rebuke his lack of a muscular body.

“It has been a long time since I've come to the hot spring to relieve fatigue dot! Thank you Gorit! Men need to bathe together!"

The most surprising one was Tiyo. He had the face of a cute gnome but his muscles were like Bruce Lee. It felt like the face of a bird being placed on a tiger.

“Huhut!"

A six pack appeared on Tiyo's stomach! Crockta and Gorit had body fat as well as muscles, so they didn't have such clear abs. Tiyo stretched out and posed in front of everyone. The gnome showing off his muscles in front of orcs!

"Cough!"

Gorit opened his mouth, “That gnome friend over there is good."

“The guards of Quantes don't neglect their training! Ohhh!"

"Quantes?"

It was an unfamiliar name. Caburak explained, “Father, they came from the south."

“The south, do you mean the wilderness?"

“Even below that."

Surprise appeared on Gorit's face. There was only one place beyond the wilderness. And nobody had come from that place in a long time.

"Perhaps?"

“That south."

"Hah…" Gorit looked at Crockta again. Unlike his previous erratic behavour, it seemed like he was pondering something. “Somehow it seems correct. You said that you were alive."

Crockta nodded. "Yes."

“Do all the orcs in the south say this?"

"Of course."

“Then you must remember the saying."

Crockta understood what he was saying. Crockta opened his mouth and they both spoke at the same time,

"Bul'tar!"

"Bul'tar!"

The voices of the two people combined. Gorit got up. Crockta also got up. At the same time, the two bumped fists.

"Nice to meet you, Warrior Crockta!"

“Likewise, Gorit!"

Crockta finally met a real orc in the north.

Gorit asked Crockta about the south. Crockta replied carefully and sincerely. Gorit nodded at the story of the orcs on the continent. He especially formed a fist after hearing about Crockta's mentor, Lenox.

“The orc's soul still lives on in such a wonderful place."

“I think so as well."

“The north has forgotten all of this…hah…I am ashamed."

In the north, the only place that still followed the orc's traditions was Orcheim. Now even Orcheim was being threatened by the Great Clan. The orc who had become the great chieftain was really mad for war. He wanted to make the entire north the territory of the orcs.

"The events in the north will also affect the south."

“What do you mean?”

"Once the southern wall is opened, that crazy chieftain won't leave the continent alone.”

Crockta realized something.

The north would become completely opened in 10 years. The remnants of the creatures were still in the forest, but any army could go against them. Then the continent and the north would go to war.

“Maybe the great chieftain is already thinking about it. The Great Clan has recently been heating up their war preparations."

Gorit hit the surface of the hot spring. Ripples spread out.

"You mean…"

“The time that the Great Clan started to hunt slaves and invade other tribes on a massive scale was around the time you opened the north."

"……!"

“There are many shamans in the Great Clan. It isn't unusual for them to read this happening in the sky." Gorit said with a firm expression, “The great chieftain wants to unify the north and then invade the continent."

"……!"

"Something strange…"

The butterfly effect.

Crockta was well aware of this. Any action he did would bring about tremendous changes that he couldn't predict. As Jung Ian, Crockta had assassinated many people and sometimes changed the situation of the world. In the permanently sealed secret records, Jung Ian was probably the wildest butterfly in the world.

Crockta's expression hardened. Tiyo's face became serious. Only Caburak had an unknown smile on his face.

Gorit hit his son in an attempt to alleviate the atmosphere.

“This guy, Caburak. What were you doing all this time?"

“I did some traveling."

“What type of trip…!" Gorit shouted. His eyes shook as he became angry again. He swallowed back his anger and whispered, “All your power has disappeared…"

"……!"

Crockta and Tiyo looked at Caburak. Caburak just laughed while revealing his broken teeth.

“You can't deceive me. You had much stronger blood than your mother, who is a shaman. But…"

Gorit had been very glad when Caburak came back. It wasn't simple because Caburak was his son, but because a strong tribe member had returned. Caburak was a mighty shaman so they could resist the great chieftain threatening the north.

But now the power felt inside Caburak was at the level of a mere shaman, maybe even less.

The power of his son Caburak, who had been called a genius shaman, had almost disappeared. His magic power that was like the ocean, faded like the bowl had broken and only faint pieces were left behind.

"……"

Caburak just smiled instead of answering. Gorit shook his head with a dark expression. Then he spoke again, “Cough! No. Something must've happened. I won't ask anymore! It is enough that you came back safely."

“Thank you."

"Aish!" Gorit shook his head and sprang up. “I need to meet the mayor of Dejame so please enjoy this slowly."

Then he left the hot spring alone. Crockta and Tiyo couldn't say anything as they watched Gorit put on his clothes.

They didn't know anything about Caburak. At first, they thought he was just an optimistic orc but he turned out to be a genius shaman. Now he was an unfortunate man who lost all of that magic power.

But Caburak's face still looked casual. “Father is right, I lost too much. Should I tell you? Kyulkyulkyul."

"Caburak…"

“I don't care so don't worry about it."

Caburak slowly lowered his body. His body was submerged under the surface of the water, leaving only the area above his nose revealed. His eyes flashed through the vapor of the hot spring. Despite saying he was broken now, Caburak's eyes were calm and straightforward. 

A strange sensation was coming from him. His eyes seemed like he was looking into the distance. Then his shoulders suddenly trembled. He was recalling the past.

Within a short period of time, Caburak's body rose up again. His pronunciation became clearer.

“I said I would show you Orcheim's Holy Land."

Crockta nodded. They stopped by here because of that in the first place.

“I couldn't tell my father but before showing you the Holy Land, I want to tell you why I lost my magic power."

"You don't have to explain…"

“No, I heard Crockta's words about the gods and realized something. That is why I have to tell you."

The two people couldn't say anything. Caburak raised a hand to the surface of the water. He stared at his hand soaked in water like it was burning.

"I saved the world."

What did that mean? Crockta and Tiyo cocked their heads in confusion. 

Caburak looked at them and laughed. Then he said once again, “I risked my life to kill a demon and saved the world."

"……!"

His eyes were shining. Crockta realized that Caburak was serious. 

A shaman who saved the world.

Crockta nodded. Caburak had his own story. Crockta wanted to know more about this orc.

"I understand. Tell me more."

“It is a long story so…I will tell you on the way to the Holy Land. Let's leave. It is hot.”

“I see."

Crockta and Caburak left the hot spring. The tough bodies of the orcs emerged from the water. But one person wasn't seen.

"Huh?"

Crockta looked around and found Tiyo. He hadn't risen from the hot spring where he was soaking himself.

"Tiyo?"

“Um…"

Tiyo winced. This wasn't the dignified gnome proud of his physical appearance. “Get up first…I…slowly follow…"

"What…?"

A shy attitude like he had lost all confidence! What had made him so timid?

Crockta followed Tiyo's gaze.

Tiyo was looking at Crockta and Caburak's bodies and slowly lowered his gaze. He moved past the orcs' solid chest and abdomen. Then the part of the orcs that was shrouded by steam…

That…

Tiyo dropped his head. Crockta couldn't say anything…

“I'll go first…come slowly…"

"Thank you dot…"

I’m going New Zealand tomorrow for 5 days. I’ll have time to post one more chapter tomorrow but then it will be no chapters. The chapters will be slowly released when I get back, including those from when I went to the hospital as well.

Chapters owed: 13 PTO, 13 BEM.

Praise the Orc: 

Current schedule: Next Patreon goal has been reached!! Thank you for the support. There will now be 14 chapters a week, meaning two chapters every day.

Chapter 78 – Orcheim (3)

“I have traveled around the world. I wandered to the northernmost part of the continent and saw the most beautiful lands," Caburak said.

They walked from the hot spring towards the Holy Land of the orcs hidden deep in the forest. The ecology of the forest gradually changed. There were strange plants that he saw for the first time. The green forest gradually became white, silver and a mixture of other colors. Flowers and plants with a strange beauty that couldn't be seen anywhere else stood in front of them.

“Wasn't the land of the dark elves in the north?"

“At that time, such limits didn't apply to me. Kyulkyulkyul." Caburak laughed.

“Did you change your appearance?" Crockta asked.

“Kyulkyul, something like that."

It was said that changing his appearance and deceiving others was very difficult magic. Crockta nodded. Caburak was certainly a mighty shaman.

“I found an ominous presence in that place."

Caburak recalled his memories. It was the presence of a demon. It had been sleeping a long time to regain its strength, and its power was so strong that the fallen beings of that land were raising themselves into undead.

“I asked for support from the dark elves but…they didn't believe me."

“Um…"

“The demon was soon about to wake up. I had no choice but to get rid of it alone."

He was a great demon who called himself the demon king. He still hadn't recovered his strength but his undead army made him the worst to face alone. If left alone, he would be resurrected and not just the dark elves, but the orcs and most of the north would be devastated.

That's why Caburak faced him alone. He used the treasure of his family, the artifact called 'Constellation Staff', but it was destroyed during the battle.

Caburak was determined to die to stop it. He fought using everything he had. Thus, after using all his powers, he succeeded in killing the demon.  The price was his magic power, the Constellation Staff and…

His life force.

“I won't be able to live for a long time…kyulkyulkyul!"

"……!"

Caburak laughed like it didn't mean anything. 

“Since I lost my strength and couldn't freely move around the north like before…I tried to return to Orcheim. I had just barely reached the territory of the orcs when I was captured by the Great Clan and sold as a slave. Then we met, Crockta!"

His eyes were telling the truth. Caburak omitted a lot of the story, but Crockta knew of his hard work. Caburak, the orc shaman who sacrificed his life to save the world. But his story wouldn't be remembered by anyone in history. His noble sacrifice wasn't recorded anywhere.

Now Caburak didn't look like a normal orc to Crockta. Crockta asked, “How can you laugh?”

“We’re here." Caburak pointed to the front instead of answering. Crockta turned his head.

There was a cave. An unknown, refreshing feeling was felt from it. It was the opposite of the demonic energy of the Forest of Creatures.

“Something feels good dot."

"Kyulkyulkyul, follow me."

Upon entering the cave, Crockta felt a sense of deja vu. Yes, it looked similar. It resembled the path that he walked towards the Hall of Fame in Orcrox. The cave was artificially cut, like someone had touched the wall.

They walked through the darkness. Caburak created a light at his fingertips to light up the way. They kept walking. Finally, there was a large space at the end of the cave.

A monument stood there.

"This…"

It was the same as the monument that had the warrior's laws carved on it. There was writing in the ancient orc language that he couldn't understand.

“It is a unique object from our god," said Caburak. “We don’t believe in the gods. The Goddess of Benevolence, God of Light, God of War, etc. They aren't gods, they are just stronger than we are."

Tiyo nodded. Gnomes traditionally didn't have a religion. They were usually atheists.

Caburak laughed. The sound of his low laugh rang through the space. He raised the light to reveal the words written on the monument. They were different from the warrior's laws.

"Crockta," Caburak called out. His eyes were clear. It was no longer Caburak's voice.

"The world is like dust that runs into the void."

Crockta's eyes widened. He heard a similar story somewhere before.

“If you look at the universe, the world is empty and all living things will eventually sink into the void."

"……"

“Some people believe in heaven after death, but it is inevitable that they will sink downwards."

It was the story told by the demon when Crockta obtained the Demon's Belt. Crockta touched the belt. It didn't respond. Caburak was talking about the same nothingness, but his voice was somewhat gentler.

“In this tiny world, is your Bul'tar meaningful?"

"……!"

“I killed the demon and saved the world. That was my honor. But Crockta, in a world that will sink anyway, is our clamoring meaningful? Don't you think?"

Caburak was still laughing.

Crockta couldn't answer. If he hadn't obtained the Despairing Demon's Mouth, he might not have considered his answer. But he had been infused with the idea of the voice by the Demon's Mouth. He witnessed it, making this question too difficult. In the end, everything would die.

Caburak kept laughing as he looked at Crockta. “What do you think, Crockta?"

Crockta looked at Caburak. The face of this broken orc seemed to already have its own answer.

Crockta replied, “It doesn’t really matter.”

"Hoh."

“No matter what meaning it has, I will do what I believe. I'll just do what I have to. Even if it doesn't make sense, I will walk along my own path."

"Even if no one acknowledges you? What if no one understands, or if the world is against your beliefs?"

“It will be the same.” Crockta also laughed as he looked at Caburak. “If the road is solitary, I will be a little lonely. But that is it."

Caburak's expression changed. His eyes grew larger and he started to laugh out loud.

“Only loneliness…you really are an orc. Crockta." Then he pointed to the monument. “His voice came and he looked at us. He promised us only one thing."

Caburak cried out loudly, his voice echoing throughout the cave.

“We will look so that you aren't lonely."

He also heard this somewhere before. A familiar face popped into his head.

Lenox.

'God, please acknowledge me. See that our honor won't be lonely.'

Lenox had said this before passing on the warrior's laws.

Caburak’s voice continued, “He who we don't understand or can't understand. He who builds the world and supports the world. And he who always watch us."

Crockta and Tiyo listened. Caburak's voice sounded like a spell in their heads.

“He who blows the wind along our back when we walk the road alone." Caburak's eyes turned towards the monument. “This is our god… no, our pathetic belief."

"……"

"I sacrificed my life to save the world. But nobody knows. If this was meaningless, how lonely would I be?" Caburak hit Crockta's shoulders. “So I desperately hoped. Someone is watching. That is why we walk through life with a sense of honor."

“That is the case."

“We believe in the forgotten god of the orcs, the nameless god."

Silence filled the space.

Tiyo spoke like he wanted to break the atmosphere.

“We are the same dot. We gnomes are atheists. One gnome said that if there is something they can't understand, it isn't worthy of their faith. If they couldn't understand, there is no reason to believe in it. But we gnomes sometimes pray for salvation. Orcs are like gnomes."

“Then Tiyo, you also believe in our nameless god. You can shout Bul'tar nicely."

"Bah, people who preach are disgusting dot!"

“Gnomes too. Kyulkyulkyul!"

They left the Holy Land. It was called a Holy Land, but it was just a cave and monument.

He asked Caburak, “Well, the reason why… it is the only relic left by our god, so we call it the Holy Land."

“I see."

Crockta looked up at the sky. There was no difference from the sky in reality. If he kept on playing Elder Lord, he would forget that this is a game. Once he heard about the orc's beliefs, he felt like this world was more realistic.

Looking at the smiling Caburak and straight-backed Tiyo, he could hardly think of them as meaningless existences. The nameless god.

As Caburak said, he was watching over them. Crockta was locked in his thoughts. And at that moment, an arrow flew out from among the bushes.

"Again?" Tiyo rolled his body and cried out like he was tired. Caburak ran towards the place where the arrow had fallen, while Crockta lowered his position and grabbed his greatsword.

"This isn't an arrow from a dark elf."

“Then who dot?" Tiyo asked.

“It is from a gnome's crossbow."

“What?"

Tiyo's eyes widened. Arrows flew again. Crockta's group flung themselves down. Then a voice was heard, “This is the Holy Land of the orcs."

An alluring female voice. “We can get rid of all of them. Kill them all."

Crockta looked for the source of the voice and saw a gap in the bushes. A female gnome wearing armor was commanding the unit. She was small but she looked like a beautiful woman. The gnomes followed her order and advanced quickly. They were all carrying crossbows.

“Gnomes…

Tiyo's expression changed. He immediately seized General on his back.

"Tiyo?" Crockta called out to him but Tiyo got up from the ground and fired General towards the front.

“The ones who have forgotten the honor of the gnomes, die dot!"

Colorful flashes hit the gnomes. There was a rain of magic bullets and due to the small size of the species, the gnomes couldn't endure the hit and collapsed. Other gnomes tried to aim their crossbows but Tiyo moved quickly and disturbed them.

Crockta plunged in with his greatsword whenever there was a gap.

“Be careful!"

Crockta blocked the crossbow arrows with his greatsword. The gnomes shouted and tried to reload the arrows. However, giving such a moment to an orc warrior was a precursor to a slaughter. A few gnomes held up shields and spears to stop Crockta. But it was clearly the difference between David and Goliath.

“There is a gnome with an artifact."

The gnome commander gritted her teeth. She shouted in Tiyo's direction, "You are a gnome! A gnome joining forces with those hostile to us, you should be ashamed!"

"Stop talking nonsense dot!"

Tiyo jumped up. Then Tiyo flinched and stopped as he was about to shout. He was at a loss after seeing the commander's face.

“A tremendous beauty dot…"

Tiyo muttered. The commander was embarrassed.

"…S-Shut up."

Tiyo soon regained his spirit. "I-In any case! Gnomes who are linked with trafficking slaves are shameful dot!"

“Bah, how old-fashioned!"

Their eyes flashed as they glared at each other. At that moment. The bush next to Tiyo started shaking. It was the enemy. A gnome soldier jumped out and aimed a spear at Tiyo.

"…Tiyo!" Crockta shouted.

The spear was heading towards Tiyo's chest. It was only for a moment.

"Stupid child."

Tiyo skillfully dodged the attack and placed his arm around the enemy gnome's neck.

"…K-Keok!"

Tiyo seemed hesitant, but he soon put strength in his arms.

Crunch.

The gnome's neck was broken and he fell down.

"……!"

An outstanding body! Tiyo truly was like Bruce Lee.

"Hoo."

Tiyo let go of the dead and stared up at the sky. He never killed his own people. He was a gnome of the Quantes garrison. He protected gnomes and never imagined that he would kill another gnome.

But the time had come for him to do so. He killed the gnome with his own hands.

‘We walk our lives with honor.'

He remembered Caburak's words. Then Tiyo nodded. He would just believe as well. His path was right.

Tiyo turned his head. The gnomes flinched. In addition to the powerful artifact, they were afraid of his ability to kill a soldier in a flash.

Tiyo met Crockta's gaze. Crockta nodded. They were eyes that seemed to understand everything. Tiyo smiled at him.

He was a reliable colleague. If so, there was nothing to hold him back.

“Let’s go, Crockta!"

"Yes!"

Tiyo shouted as he rushed forward with General.

"Bul'tarrrr!"

I’m going New Zealand tomorrow for 5 days. I’ll have time to post one more chapter tomorrow but then it will be no chapters. The chapters will be slowly released when I get back, including those from when I went to the hospital as well.

Chapters owed: 13 PTO, 13 BEM.

Praise the Orc: 

Current schedule: Next Patreon goal has been reached!! Thank you for the support. There will now be 14 chapters a week, meaning two chapters every day.

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