First Empathy (5)
I need to shove the gag back in this woman's mouth first.
“What!? What is it? Mmph! Mmmph!!”
The hysterical surround-sound noise finally died down, giving me a moment of mental breathing room to think.
But it was too late.
Footsteps were swarming toward the warehouse. Furious shouts mixed with the clanging of weapons and armor.
Still, you never know.
I hoisted Orio over my shoulder and kicked the warehouse door with enough force to shatter it.
BAM!!
Damn it. Wrong call.
Orcs and goblins had already surrounded the place, spears and swords trained on the entrance.
“There he is!! A human!! The human trying to steal the hostage and Lord Katona's head!!”
“Just one!? Why only one!? What the hell is this guy?”
“Check the surroundings! Stay alert for other soldiers!”
They seemed baffled that I'd come alone to rescue her.
Yeah, Orio thought the same thing.
Damn it... I didn't see this coming either.
What now?
No, screw it. If I just ditch Orio here and bail solo, then later...
“Graaah, wait! That human!! I know him!! It's that guy!!”
“What!? Who!? Who is it!?”
“Kirgil!! It's Kirgil!! That human is Kirgil!!”
Whoa, they're more rattled than I am.
And one of them knows me?
Ah, yeah—there are a few guys over there I let live.
“Captain!! It's Kirgil!! Kirgil!!”
Unlike the earlier alarm, this sparked a whole new panic. The spears and swords aimed at me tensed even more.
Unease rippled through the enemy ranks. No clue how this'll play out, so best to hold still and watch.
If luck's on my side, an opening might appear.
“Kieaa!? Kirgil!? I'll confirm... If it's Kirgil, then...”
Moments later, the crowd parted slightly as their leader stepped forward.
Oh no...
That goblin looked extremely familiar.
Scars from blade wounds across his eye and cheek.
And that unforgettable name.
“Tsradra?”
“Kiaaaaa!! Kirgil!? Why the hell are you here!? Not again!? Another trap!?”
In that instant, everything clicked in my head.
The real reason they'd dragged their entire unit here. Their goal, their emotions, their fear of me... It all made sense at once.
Someone once said their kingdom runs on strength and revenge. Spot on.
But that wasn't the whole story.
They had loyalty. Honor among thieves, or whatever you call it.
That's why Katona stormed Agnes Village for his brother's revenge.
That's why Tsradra marched an army all the way here for his brother's head.
Romantic mob-movie loyalty crammed into those tiny bodies.
And just like that, I finally understood them for the first time.
Which meant...
I could connect with them.
Guys with loyalty like that would get honor too.
This was a do-or-die moment, no doubt.
But understanding them washed away my panic.
I felt certain now. Confident enough to speak.
“Tsradra. You came for Katona's head, right?”
“Your brother's head... and his honor?”
“Y-Yes... He's my brother!”
“The brother who fought for a runt like me!”
Just as I thought.
I lifted Katona's head from beside me.
“This head is mine by right.”
“I beat Katona one-on-one.”
“You saw it, didn't you, Tsradra?”
“The honorable moment when I severed his head with this sword.”
I caught the spears and swords wavering hard.
They must know what Katona meant to them.
And I was the hero who'd taken him down fair and square.
“...I-I saw it.”
“I saw Hero Kirgil fight honorably and defeat Katona.”
Murmurs erupted through the ranks.
Orio, slumped beside me, stared in shock.
“Thanks for acknowledging it, Tsradra.”
“You're a warrior who knows honor. A fitting brother for Katona.”
I tossed Katona's head to Tsradra.
“That's why I'm handing this head to the most honorable place.”
“What!? Whaaat!? Kiii!?”
“Tsradra, that head is yours now. Take it and protect your brother's honor. And in doing so, you'll protect mine too.”
“What do you mean!? Kiii!? Another trap!?”
I grabbed Orio's arm and yanked her to her feet.
“Tsradra. Do you know why I came here? Why Katona's head was next to this woman instead of me?”
“...N-No idea. Kiii. I... I only came for my brother.”
“Because this woman tried to steal my honor—and Katona's—like a thief! She planned to sell it to those filthy, weak Darania knights!!”
“...!?”
Orio flinched and shot me a startled look.
What's wrong, lady? It's the truth.
“You think I came to rescue a hostage? To save the bitch who stole my honor? You kidding me!?”
I dragged her forward into their view.
Then smashed her hard with the spear shaft.
Thwack!!!
“Mmmph!! Gaaahhh!!”
Orio spat out her gag from the impact and collapsed face-first.
“This bitch tried to sell my honor to trash Darania knights.”
“She wanted to make your brother Katona out as some dishonorable loser who fell to weaklings.”
“A woman like this!!”
Thwack!!
“Kyaaah!!”
“I...”
Thwack!!
“Aaaah! I-I'm sorry... No, I was wrong...”
“Came to rescue her!?”
Thwack!!
“Aaaah!!”
As I beat Orio with the spear shaft, every orc and goblin watched in stunned silence.
Acting? Hell no, this is real.
Pure, honest emotion... Yeah, catharsis.
Hitting her ass so it doesn't leave fatal wounds—that's me being nice.
...Feels damn good.
“Orio, didn't you say a nobody like me couldn't have beaten Katona?”
“I-I'm sorry! Aaaah... Ack! I really didn't know! I didn't know, Lord Kirgil!!”
Obviously, her reaction wasn't acting either.
“I've proven I killed Katona. Proven I'm honorable. Now confess what you did. Speak!!”
I'd not only dismantled her logic completely...
“I couldn't believe Lord Kirgil killed Katona... I'm sorry...”
Thwack!!
“Aaaah!! Yes!! I was gonna sell it to Darania!! Me!! I was wrong!! Aaaah!! Please... please...”
...I'd even gotten her to confess her crimes naturally.
“You little shit. Finally spitting truth from that filthy mouth.”
“See that, Tsradra!”
“I'll drag this woman back and tell all the humans the truth.”
The woman who'd sneered and shrieked at me moments ago was now sobbing and begging after a few whacks.
Bet she gets it now—that all her high-and-mighty schemes were delusions.
That she deserves every hit.
This... is way too satisfying. Can't help grinning.
“Sniff. That smile's creepy.”
“Kieek... It's real. That guy's the one who got Lord Katona...”
“Kuh kuh, that hostage ain't gonna make it?”
I stepped on the fallen Orio and locked eyes with Tsradra.
He looked shocked but seemed to grasp my intent.
“Tsradra, give me that filthy woman instead of Katona's head.”
“Then I can reclaim my honor.”
“And your brother Katona avoids the dishonor of dying to rotten Darania knights.”
“......”
Tsradra trembled, staring at Katona's head.
At me.
At Orio, passed out under my boot.
“Kruuuuh...”
Finally, Tsradra hoisted Katona's head high and bellowed.
“My brother Katona!!”
“Fell in honorable combat to the human hero Kirgil!!”
“I want my brother to rest in honor!!”
“Untainted by cowards' hands!”
Tsradra roared his last words at me!
“Go!! Kirgil!!”
“Reclaim your honor!!”
“Protect my brother's honor!!”
These weren't just bandit scum or monsters. They had their own code of honor and loyalty.
Time to show respect.
“Thanks, Tsradra.”
“I'll protect your brother's honor in the name of Kirgil.”
Tsradra grinned.
Enemy or not, different races or not—we understood each other. A smile of mutual satisfaction.
“Clear the path!! Let them go!!”
“Our goal is achieved!!”
“We've upheld Captain Katona's honor!!”
The spears withdrew. A path opened like parting waters.
I slung the groaning, twitching Orio over my shoulder and strode through them boldly.
That's when.
“Kruuung!! No way!! We gotta kill that human now!!”
A burly orc stepped forward, bellowing.
“Kya aa!! Defying the captain's orders!? Back off!!”
“Kruuung!! He killed Captain Katona! He's a threat!! Gotta end him now!! Kruuung!”
“Kill the enemy!! Avenge!! That's our king's will!!”
“My brother's dead there!! Kraaang! I want revenge too!! Kraaah!!”
The chaos was escalating.
Tsradra was clearly the captain.
But now orcs baying for my blood clashed with goblins loyal to orders—internal strife.
What do I do?
Duh—don't look back, play dumb, and bolt.
To them, I'm the terrifying hero who soloed Katona. We'd just bonded over honor.
Strut out cool and untouchable. Panic and run? Kills the vibe, makes me look weak.
I walked as fast as dignity allowed.
Commotion swelled behind us. Cold sweat beaded.
“Kraaang!! Kill him! We'll claim honor too!!”
“Take his head to the king!! Don't stop me!! Kraaah!!”
The orcs' momentum was building.
Sensing trouble, the moment we hit shadows, I activated my ability.
Orio was out cold—no worries there.
I burned every last second of the thirty-odd remaining to sprint as far from the outpost as possible.
Damn...
Running with a limp body over your shoulder ain't easy.
Didn't get far. Hundred meters? Nah, fifty maybe?
Sounded like something charging my way from afar.
Turn and check? Draw a weapon?
Suddenly.
A sweet scent brushed my nose.
I instinctively lifted my head toward the thickest whiff.
Up in the tree.
“Hoo, you've got sharp instincts. Zi... Ahem.”
“Finding me hiding like this.”
A voice I recognized.
“You...”