Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Living Long Enough to See All Sorts of Things (2)
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"Why are you here so soon?"
It felt a bit too early to meet yet.
- ....&*&^%!
"I can't understand you, I told you."
Gullak's brother, right?
That would make this one a descendant of an orc shaman too.
Its soul's condition was much clearer than when we first met.
If it grew properly from here...
Maybe it could even utter a word or two.
Like the ghosts in horror movies, sobbing as they speak.
"Good grief. Even if our house's Headless grew up, it wouldn't be this ridiculous."
An orc soul growing? What was this?
It was like the spirits of ancestors who had achieved enlightenment and finished their studies before visiting.
- ...&%$#!
The one pointing at me seemed to be saying something about my rattle.
Then it politely bowed its head.
Probably thanking me again for helping Gullak.
"An orc pup saying thanks?"
- ...*&%&!
"Behave yourself."
Nod.
In my opinion, it wasn't the right time for Gullak to meet him yet.
But the fact that he came meant there might be a problem.
I needed to figure out the situation first.
"Did Gullak send you himself?"
Shake shake.
"Is it dangerous?"
The guy hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.
"Then why are you here?"
The orc pointed at the rattle again.
Mimicking shaking it, it hopped in place and shrugged.
"What are you saying?"
- ...&^&%
Frustrated, the orc started jumping up and down.
Honestly, I pretty much got it.
I've spent years dealing with souls; this much was easy to understand.
I was just teasing it.
"Gullak doesn't know much, so you need me, right?"
- ...!!!
Nod nod nod.
"There are no more orc shamans? Just Gullak left?"
Nod.
"So no one to teach him?"
There were too many unknowns for him to figure out alone.
Even shamanism, which had its own system, varied by region.
"Ours and yours are different, though?"
Nod.
"And that's okay?"
Nod nod.
Surprisingly, it nodded readily.
I'd find out the details when I got there.
But regardless, this was a tricky situation.
I'd been looking forward to waiting until the other orcs said it was time, but here they were asking for help like this.
- ....&^&%&
The orc pointing at itself puffed up, as if explaining something.
Honestly, this I couldn't understand.
"Wait. People are coming with me."
As I turned, the orc soul slid in front, blocking my way.
Shake shake.
"Why?"
Shake shake.
"No. We have to go together."
Swoosh—
It circled around me, starting to observe.
Once around Serena.
Approaching Luna once.
- ....?
Alternating between me and them.
Then it nodded, as if understanding something.
From the vibe, it seemed okay to bring them along.
"Outsiders forbidden?"
Nod.
"We'll regret leaving the old folks behind?"
- .....?
It shook its head, as if it didn't matter.
I had clearly warned them.
They'd regret it.
Gullak seemed to be in the middle of the ocean.
Some kind of island?
Whoosh—
A massive spirit.
From the sky, the sea stretched endlessly.
"How'd you get here?"
Serena peered into the empty air and asked.
"...Do souls get tired traveling far?"
"Just an old saying. Ghosts can't cross the sea."
Not that they can't cross the sea, but they can't get past the threshold.
The Dragon King god guards the sea, and the locals are everywhere.
Lowly spirits that can't even cross a doorstep won't easily pass such a barrier.
In old tales, ghosts mimic voices from outside the door to lure people out.
They're not inside for a reason.
It's all the domain of the resident spirits; they can't invade.
Not sure if it's the same here, but since it couldn't enter the shrine, it was probably similar.
"So the soul talking to Chris now crossed the sea?"
"It can. As long as it doesn't get lost."
Get lost, and it turns into something like a drowned ghost.
Absorbing yin energy from the water and getting bound to the place.
You need a strong grudge to claim territory there...
That's why water ghosts are good at possessing people.
The yin energy makes them strong.
Just like our house's Headless.
"Huh...? Is it really okay we left them?"
"Pardon?"
- ....?
As we bantered idly, something odd caught my eye again.
"That's orcs, right?"
"...Yes, it is."
"Crossing by boat?"
"Not a boat, I think..."
Not a fancy ship.
A log raft.
One without even a sail.
Orcs with massive muscles furiously paddling.
Orc souls watching from the side.
Another raft floated a bit further away.
Really, each one was a weirdo monster.
Less monsters, more low-intelligence subrace.
- &$%#!
The orc soul clinging to the spirit's wingtip shouted something, and souls below responded.
- ....
Orc souls looking up at the sky, waving arms.
What a bunch of oddballs.
"Serena, let's hurry."
"Still far?"
We'd been flying for ages.
Left at dawn, and dawn again.
Minus a break on a small island, nonstop flight.
"Not even on the map..."
How far had we gone? The map just showed sea.
"How'd those guys get here?"
True to their monster name, the orcs were still paddling.
The ones we saw at takeoff wouldn't arrive for days.
- &%&$#!
"There?"
Thick sea fog.
The fog grew denser until the whole world turned milky white.
Then, in an instant, vision cleared as the fog parted.
"Looks like we're here. Coming down."
The fog wrapped around like a barrier.
No mana, so not magic.
These guys had found a killer spot.
"My butt's killing me. You okay?"
Serena was worn out too.
Not an easy flight here.
"I'm fine. But orcs are gathering ahead."
"Doesn't look like a fight. No misfortune either."
Nod.
As Serena said, orcs started emerging from the forest.
Each gripping axes or clubs.
"Chwik!"
"Intruders!"
Ferocious auras as they surrounded us.
"Humans!"
"Chwik!"
"Hey, they knew we were coming, right?"
- .....
Contrasting scenes unfolded.
The orc soul that followed seemed to know me, looking around curiously, while the living orcs snorted excitedly.
- &*%#@!
"The rattle?"
The orc souls gestured urgently for me to show the rattle.
Ding-a-ling—
Flinch.
"Chwik...! White hair! Blue rattle!"
"Human, what's your name!"
"Chris?"
They didn't seem interested in my answer.
They muttered among themselves, then the biggest orc stepped forward.
"I am Barku! Human shaman, welcome."
"....?"
"Chwik! Didn't call the scrawny elf!"
Scrawny if muscles small?
"Will guide to shaman. But only human shaman allowed to meet..."
"Why?"
"Scrawny elf. High elf?"
Serena nodded slightly.
"High elf, welcome. Not scrawny."
Know what hits first seeing this guy?
Finally, an orc I could talk to.
"Hey."
"Chwik?"
"Why are you all gathered here?"
"Guided by shaman."
"Forget it. Let's go."
Apparently, understanding words didn't mean conversation flowed.
We followed Barku and the orcs for a while.
A proper village vibe emerged.
Wooden palisades from whole logs.
Houses built from whole trees too.
Too neat for a monster dwelling.
"Living better than expected..."
The moment we stepped through the gate between palisades.
A massive drum boomed.
Dong—
Dooong—
Majestic drumbeats.
Orcs lining the path to the sound.
"...."
And at the path's end, I saw it.
Not the necromancers' fire, but a pure, clear blue flame.
An orc standing before it too.
"Whoa..."
"Chris, welcome to the orcs' land."
Gullak, looking imposing.
Welcoming me confidently, with real presence.
But.
"Move. What's that?"
"...Ch, chwik?"
The ancestral spirit they spoke of.
Flickering in the flames.
"This crazy..."
It was at least centuries old.