Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Temporary Chieftain
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10 minutes.
Having received Maxen’s invitation and entered the wooden palisade, Eugene organized the village’s forces in a mere ten minutes.
The remaining forces numbered fewer than thirty, and the rest of the residents were mostly women, children, and the elderly.
Of course, orcs were a race strong and brutish regardless of age or gender, but that didn’t mean ordinary villagers could stand against Eugene’s group.
“You vile little tusk-rat! The spirits of the earth will punish you!”
“When the warriors return, they’ll rip you limb from limb and chew up your heart!”
The warriors, subdued after being beaten just enough to break a bone or two here and there, and the Tollo clansmen bound tightly, bellowed their curses, but Eugene didn’t so much as twitch.
Instead, he wore an irritated expression as he addressed them.
“Funny. So it’s just if you kill me, but evil if I conquer you?”
“……What?”
“You lot’s chieftain and warriors went off to kill me, didn’t they?”
“Th-then you……”
Only now realizing his identity, Eugene nodded to the orcs and said,
“That’s right. I’m Duke Yan Eugene Bartla. You should at least know who you’re up against before getting killed, you ignorant brutes.”
“……!!!“
The astonished orcs gaped, their tusks protruding sharply from their mouths.
“And if I were truly evil, I’d have killed you all, right? As you know, I’m a vampire, but I didn’t even drink any blood and left you alive—doesn’t that mean there’s a reason for it? How can idiots like you claim to rule Brantia?”
“…….”
Insulted though they were, the orcs couldn’t retort. Simple they might be, but they weren’t complete fools.
Eugene held the swords, yet he hadn’t killed a single one of the enemy soldiers or clansmen who could rightfully be slain. There had to be some reason for that.
“Maxen.”
“Y-yes, ahem.”
At Eugene’s call, Maxen stepped forward with an awkward cough.
The orcs’ expressions immediately turned fierce.
A half-breed collateral branch bearer of Tollo blood had betrayed the clan and sided with the enemy leader—there was no way they’d look on him kindly.
“I understand. You must all be furious. You see me as a traitor. But it’s all a misunderstanding. I accepted Duke Bartla’s proposal and made the decision to save our Tollo for that reason.”
“Shut your goblin-shit-eating mouth and prepare to die, you traitor bastard.”
“When the chieftain returns, he’ll rip out your spine. Keep your head safe until then.”
Maxen’s face paled at the savage insults.
But catching a glimpse of Eugene’s coldly sunken gaze, Maxen mustered his courage and spoke.
“Th-that won’t happen. Because the chieftain and all the warriors have fallen.”
“What!?”
“What are you saying? You half-tusk bastard, where do you get off lying……”
“It’s not a lie. It’s the truth.”
At Maxen’s signal, the hunter set down another bundle and reverently, solemnly, laid out its contents.
“Guhk!?”
“Th-that’s!”
They were colorful tusks embedded with rings. And the largest, most ornate among them belonged to the Tollo chieftain.
“The chieftain and warriors perished while crossing White Fang Mountain, ambushed by roamers in a valiant struggle. And just then, Duke Bartla happened to be crossing the mountain……”
Maxen spun the tale he had rehearsed dozens of times with the hunter.
He told it so convincingly that the orcs gripped their fists, interjecting with gasps like “Oh no!” and “Good heavens!” as they hung on every word.
“……Thus, after confirming Lord Kunderima’s final moments, Duke Bartla judged that dealing with the roamers on the mountain took priority. So after crossing, despite being enemies, the moment he spotted the chieftain, he joined the fight against the monsters. But it was too late—they had all fallen, and only I and this friend survived thanks to the duke’s group.”
Pausing, Maxen swept his somber gaze over the tusks and orcs, then suddenly dropped to his knees.
“I shamefully survived alone, and I apologize to Tollo’s fangs for it! I should have died there with them, but I thought someone had to inform you all! Please… please don’t forgive this shameful half-tusk!”
Maxen burst into unexpected sobs. Midway through speaking, doubts and shame had overwhelmed him: ‘Do I really have to go this far just to live?’
‘What’s wrong with that guy?’
‘How should I know? But damn, what acting.’
Unaware of their inner thoughts, Eugene simply marveled at Maxen’s stellar performance.
But the true acting prodigy was someone else.
“Lord Maxen! You did your utmost! So cast aside your guilt now! And never think of taking your own life again! You must live to carry on the pride of Tollo’s warriors! Sniff!”
“Suicide……?”
Rather than panicking at the sudden turn, the hunter timed his entrance perfectly, consoling Maxen while wiping his eyes.
The orcs, who had been gazing at Maxen with somber eyes, now flashed surprise.
‘Kieee. That quick thinking in such short notice. These guys are something.’
‘Indeed. I told him to, but I didn’t expect their chemistry to sync this well.’
‘Anyone would think they’re the world’s most honorable knight and loyal retainer.’
Eugene’s group inwardly admired as they watched the half-orc and hunter clutching each other, shedding thick tears like chicken droppings.
“Th-then let me ask one thing.”
“Sniff! Ask anything.”
As Maxen wiped his reddened eyes, an elderly orc glanced at Eugene and asked,
“Why not tell the truth from the start? Why deceive us all to get in here?”
“Sigh! Would you have believed me? The chieftain led an expedition to punish someone. I didn’t lie for fun.”
“Mm…….”
The elder orc had no choice but to fall silent.
Had he spoken so from the beginning, not only would they not believe him—the entire clan would have fought the vampire duke to the death.
With that, the Tollo orcs’ mood sank, and Eugene stepped forward.
“May I say a word?”
“…….”
As the orcs silently raised their heads, Eugene spoke calmly.
“I originally planned to wipe you all out. But one proud Tollo warrior here risked his life to persuade me. To spare the remaining clan, at least. But I’m not generous enough to let live those who decided to kill me. Then this fellow made a proposal.”
At Eugene’s words, the orcs’ gazes naturally turned to Maxen.
“He would uphold Tollo’s honor and pride, persuade the other clans who set out to capture me, make Tollo once more the heart of the Baiman Orcs and forge peace with me. So I agreed to let him try, for now.”
“……!!!“
The orcs’ eyes bulged at the unexpected story.
“Th-that’s absurd!”
“Indeed! We’re grateful you recovered the chieftain and warriors, but the Baiman Orcs will never submit!”
“We still have many brave warriors!”
Eugene coldly swept his gaze over the indignant Tollo orcs and said,
“Most of those warriors boarded ships to come after me, didn’t they? So the other clans must be in a similar state here?”
“……!”
“And are your ears blocked? I said let’s make peace. Why? Because I beat you and tied you up, you don’t believe talk of peace? Should I just kill you all as originally planned?”
“Ah…….”
Even the dimmest among the simple orcs finally realized why Eugene had subdued and bound them instead of slaughtering them, despite being able to.
“Speak now if you want to die. I’ll burn you all and go find the other clans.”
A voice colder and sharper than the north’s flesh-cutting winds, paired with Origin’s murderous aura, made the orcs’ thick hides tremble.
In the end, they had no choice but to submit. Refusal meant the end of the Tollo Clan.
* * *
Maxen earned unanimous approval from the surviving warriors and clansmen, becoming interim chieftain.
Unable to claim the full title due to not being pureblood and with young direct descendants remaining, he was content with that.
Eugene had no complaints either.
If things went according to plan and the other clans were unified, Maxen would have no choice but to represent all Baiman Orcs, whether Tollo liked it or not.
Why?
Because Eugene would make it so.
If he openly declared he’d only negotiate with Maxen, what could the orcs do?
Even if some other clan harbored ill intentions, it didn’t matter.
The Brantia north that Eugene had seen was too barren and primitive.
Forcing annexation under the banner of unification would cost far more than it gained.
As with the Fransil Clan, Eland, and Brodin, it was better to grant moderate titles, enfeoff them, and guarantee autonomy.
Let the orcs fight over those titles among themselves.
Someday a great hero might unite all orcs, but that was far in the future—a problem for Luke’s descendants then.
“Um, is this really okay?”
Unlike a typical orc, Maxen—who could read and write thanks to his human father—timidly offered a parchment scrawled in crooked letters.
Eugene nodded in satisfaction after checking the contents.
“Yes. My knight will be pleased with this.”
What Maxen had written at Eugene’s “request” was none other than an apology letter to Ranslo.
Though he had killed the Tollo chieftain and most direct descendants, revenge felt hollow without doing it personally.
‘Even interim, a chieftain’s handwritten apology and the direct lines’ tusks should satisfy Ranslo.’
As Eugene pocketed the parchment with such thoughts, Maxen cautiously asked,
“Then where to now, Your Grace?”
“Back where we came from. The same trick won’t work on the other clans anyway.”
“Ah, true.”
The reason they could take Tollo was Maxen—a Tollo blood carrier, albeit collateral—had “invited” Eugene. No sane other clan would allow a vampire entry.
They could scheme their way in depending on circumstances, but Eugene had already lost interest in the north.
‘Better to leave the orcs to squabble among themselves. All their fighting warriors are off on ships anyway.’
There were only three demon realms, opened long ago and fully purged by the relentless orc warriors’ numbers.
No monsters with red mana stones would remain there, nor any other gains, so Eugene abandoned any lingering attachment to the north.
“Um, Your Grace.”
“Yes?”
“As long as I’m chieftain, I’ll take responsibility and ensure no one crosses White Fang Mountain. I stake my tusk on it.”
Of course, it was a result of aligned greed and interests.
But regardless, since Eugene had made him chieftain, Maxen spoke with sincerity.
“That’s appreciated. But it doesn’t matter if someone tries to cross.”
“Pardon?”
“No one can cross anyway.”
“Ah… y-yes, of course?”
He nodded along since Eugene said it, but Maxen doubted it.
Not as strong as Eugene, perhaps, but if a mighty warrior appeared someday……
“Tell them to go ahead if they want to be torn apart by the snow ogre.”
“……!?”
Eugene glanced at the stunned Maxen and rose.
“Then I’m off. Oh, you, follow me.”
“Y-yes, yep?”
The hunter—the only one privy to the chieftain’s secret and basking in visions of a rosy future—jumped in shock.
“Why so surprised? Were you planning to stay here?”
He couldn’t say ‘Of course!’ even on pain of death, so the hunter sweated profusely as he hauled his heavy bulk up.
Eugene chuckled.
“You’ll die if you stay.”
“What do you mean…….”
The terrified hunter’s eyes darted between Wolfslaughter on Eugene’s belt and Madarajika on his back.
Eugene slung an arm around the hunter’s shoulders, raising his voice slightly for Maxen’s benefit.
“Once we leave, you’ll be the only one left who knows that guy’s secret. Do you think that cunning half-orc will let someone who knows his weakness live? If it were me, I’d never leave such a liability.”
“Guhk!”
The hunter’s face slowly turned. His eyes met Maxen’s, who wore an expression of dawning realization.
The hunter easily read the ‘dilemma’ in Maxen’s gaze.
‘No way, that half-tusk bastard is really gonna……?’
The hot camaraderie from their shared tears evaporated like a midsummer mountain mirage.
“See? I’m right, aren’t I?”
‘Anyone can see you just made him realize it!’
“Y-yes, indeed… it seems so. Heh heh, heh heh heh…….”
Forcing a laugh he didn’t feel, the hunter had no choice but to follow the sly vampire duke.
“Here, take this. You have a very important mission. And it’s your only path to survival.”
“Your Grace’s words are always right. I’ll follow to the end.”
The hunter immediately withdrew his recent grudges at the gold coins Eugene handed him.
A bit sly, but as expected, His Grace was generous.
(To be continued in the next installment)