Guardian: Derek Walker 25
Even for a cunning orc like Bargo, it was hard to make sense of Walker's reaction this time.
Bargo realized this fat human male was a powerhouse who could kill someone like him without breaking a sweat. In that brief clash, he'd toyed with him like a cat batting at a mouse.
Any ordinary human would have shown no mercy and finished him off. As Phallax had said, to humans, orcs were nothing but God's failed experiments. There were a few humans who treated orcs as a sub-race, but finding one with that mindset in the Miles Kingdom was damn near impossible.
Whatever the case, he couldn't fathom the man's intentions, but the knife was in his hand, not Bargo's. Bargo knew he was like a bird trapped in a cage. To prolong his life, he had no choice but to follow the man's lead.
"......Run away. You get it, right?"
Walker gave Bargo a curt rundown of what he needed to do, not forgetting the threat.
"If you fuck it up even a little, you're dead. You seem smarter than the average orc, so you understand me perfectly, yeah?"
"Got it."
"If you play nice, I might even take you and your little gang in. We're short on troops in our territory anyway. You look like you've trained those underlings pretty well. If you wanna live like humans, just do exactly what I say."
Bargo swallowed hard at Walker's words. Among orcs, there was a saying: better to trust a rock than a human. Even if the man's words were lies, his offer was too tempting to ignore.
If I get under a powerhouse like that, I could stabilize the tribe even more.
He had no real choice anyway. Bargo nodded slightly in agreement. Walker continued in a low voice.
"Then get to it."
The moment Walker's words ended, Bargo shoved him away. Walker deliberately relaxed his body, letting the counterattack land.
For a split second, Bargo felt the urge to smash the human's face in and end him right there. Could I do it now? But Walker's cold voice stopped him cold.
"Pull any bullshit, and not just you—your whole gang dies too. Remember that."
"A-alright."
Bargo thought back to the massive gap in skill he'd just witnessed. This human had handled him like a child. If the counter failed, he'd be dead in an instant.
The man had said he'd slaughter not just him, but all the other orcs too. But if Bargo obeyed, he'd spare them all.
Trusting a human's slippery tongue was the height of folly. But this wasn't about trust—it was survival. Bargo had no options. Disobeying meant death either way.
"You little shit!"
Walker growled at Bargo in a sharp, warning tone. Bargo pulled away and bolted toward the villagers.
"H-he's coming! Run!"
The villagers, who'd been spectating Walker's one-sided slaughter, scattered in panic as the massive orc suddenly turned toward them. But Bargo was faster. He snatched two sisters who'd been watching the fight from the crowd, grabbing them with both hands.
"Rita! Bianca! Damn it! You orc bastard!"
Walker aimed a Darkness Arrow at Bargo, the dark projectile locked precisely on his forehead—ready to blow his head like a watermelon if he tried anything funny.
Bargo glared at Walker with tiger-like ferocity. Staring at the black arrow hovering in the air, sweat trickled down his cheek. His expression was pure, desperate acting.
"Don't move! Anyone who moves gets killed!"
He shouted as he pulled Rita and Bianca tighter against him.
"Guh! Ack!"
Bianca choked, and Walker's brow twitched. The sharp-eyed Bargo loosened his grip slightly. Walker's expression eased.
"Damn it, wizard human! Try any tricks, and this bitch dies!"
"Coward...."
Walker muttered in an anger-filled voice. Bargo yelled back at him.
"Taking hostages in battle is standard! That pissed? Then got anyone else to swap for these bitches!?"
One of the village vigilantes stepped forward at Bargo's shout.
"Damn it! Take me instead!"
He was a guy who had a thing for Bianca. Bargo and Walker's eyes met. Walker signaled with a glance.
Kill him.
Bargo pretended to surrender and kicked the approaching vigilante as he neared.
"Gahk!"
The man's body flew through the air like an angry bird and slammed into a wall. The impact crushed his skull, blood and brains spilling out. The other villagers recoiled in horror.
"Who said you could move on your own!?"
"Th-that orc's insane!"
"Orcs are all crazy anyway!"
"Damn...."
The villagers glared at Bargo with furious expressions. Then, suddenly, a loud voice boomed from the crowd.
"Lady Luna's back! We've won!"
The shout spread everywhere. At the mention of Luna's name, the terrified, frozen villagers' faces lit up.
Just her name alone ignited fierce fighting spirit among them.
"We're saved! Lady Luna can take down that orc!"
Reading the mood, Bargo realized Luna was that insanely skilled swordswoman he'd glimpsed from afar.
What now?
Bargo shot Walker a pleading glance.
Don't worry. Just follow orders.
Walker replied with his eyes.
Luna, Kelly, and Drobin arrived at the scene moments later. Luna, fresh from hunting hundreds of orcs, gazed coolly at Bargo holding the hostages. Walker spoke to her via the slave control's remote communication.
Luna. We're in the middle of an op. Just react like I say.
Understood.
Luna gave a subtle nod.
Seeing Luna, Bargo felt his throat tighten. He bellowed at Walker.
"Tch! You wizard! Want these bitches alive? Then you be the hostage!"
"Lord Walker! We're fine!"
Rita cried out in a strangled voice at Bargo's threat. She hated herself for being dead weight instead of helping Walker.
"Fine. I'll surrender—just let the women go!"
"Lord Walker!"
Walker’s response drew simultaneous protests from Rita and Bianca. Drobin shouted too, voice laced with emotion.
"Orc! I'll be the hostage! Let the women go!"
Bargo looked to Walker for his pick. Walker silently pointed to himself.
"Heh! Only need the wizard as hostage! Lucky bitches! Scram!"
Bargo released Rita and Bianca as Walker approached to "surrender." He pinned Walker to the ground.
"Now! Run!"
With Walker under him, he waved one arm wildly. It was so convincing, goosebumps rose on Bargo's skin.
This man could crush him effortlessly if he wanted, but right now, he looked utterly defeated.
"Fucking bastard. Hurry up."
Walker whispered. Bargo swallowed and nodded.
"Heh! Look at you! Price for underestimating orcs!"
"Ngh! Damn it!"
"Lord Walker!"
Bianca's face went pale. Rita's too. Drobin grabbed the fidgeting women's arms, unable to flee himself.
"We gotta run first!"
"Drobin! Lord Walker!"
"Don't waste Lord Walker's sacrifice!"
Drobin dragged them away. Walker watched with a baffled expression.
This guy's hogging all the glory solo. Fuck. Should I just kill him?
Rage bubbled up. But it was showtime.
"L-Lord Walker's caught by that orc!"
"Let's help him!"
A few spear-wielding vigilantes charged Bargo to rescue Walker. Even "wounded," Bargo swept them aside with his free arm.
"Kill 'em if you want."
Walker whispered. Bargo looked incredulous.
"They're your allies, aren't they?"
"Those guys?"
Bargo couldn't grasp the human's intentions at all.
"Kreeek! Boss is the best! Let's kill that human!"
"Kreeek! Victory is ours! Follow the boss, and we never lose!"
The clueless orcs roared in triumph. Irritated, Walker told Bargo.
"Kill those fuckers."
"What? They're my kin."
"Then shut 'em up."
"Fine."
Bargo turned to his tribesmen.
"Quiet! The fight ain't over!"
The cheering orcs shut up at his thunderous bellow.
With a few vigilantes down like fallen leaves, no one else dared approach Bargo. It was like an invisible wall had sprung up between the villagers and him.