Chapter 137: Harvest Day (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 137: Harvest Day (5)
Lugar’s presence itself wasn’t strange.
The city of Avila had been occupied by the allied orc forces, and Lugar was the chieftain of a tribe.
If anything, it would be stranger if he wasn't here.
What surprised me was that Lugar had appeared from the very hole in the wall that Gis had been sent flying through.
Not only that, but he spoke as if he were the one who had thrashed Gis.
I glanced around to see if any other orcs were with him, but that didn't seem to be the case.
Which meant Lugar was the one who had put Gis in this state...
Is that even possible?
In the game, ‘Lugar’ wasn’t even mentioned. He was just an extra who never made it to mid-boss status. Sorry to say it, Brother, but even when we first met, I never thought he was particularly strong.
As I was puzzling over the incomprehensible situation, the thumping of footsteps echoed from all around.
So much for getting through this quietly.
Agh, that contrary bastard, Gis.
I knew he was a mess, but I didn't think he was this bad. I should have left him behind, even if it meant beating him to a pulp first.
I let out a deep sigh.
What good would regret do now?
What’s done is done.
I could decide what to do with that bastard later. For now, I had to get this situation under control.
I spoke to my companions in a low voice.
“Don’t panic. Act as tough as you can. Gather as much magic power as you can and pretend to be unfazed. Eri, Leslie, prepare your most powerful spells. You fire on my signal.”
The moment I finished speaking, orcs burst out from all directions.
We were suddenly surrounded.
Did they sense the gravity of the situation?
My companions’ expressions hardened.
I was about to tell them there was no need to be so tense, but I held my tongue. They weren't amateurs who would make mistakes out of nervousness anymore.
I turned my gaze back to Lugar.
He, too, looked quite taken aback, a surprised expression on his face. Hulking orcs gathered by his side.
“Great Chieftain, are you unharmed?”
Huh?
What was that? Did I hear wrong?
“I am fine. What of the intruders?”
Seeing Lugar reply so naturally, it seemed I hadn't misheard.
So my brother really became the Great Chieftain?
Surpassing Axir, the one who was supposed to take the title?
Well... I expected the continent's political landscape to change because of me, but...
I didn't expect this.
“Three are dead, and two have been captured. The remaining two are being tracked. They will be caught soon. However... it seems they were not all of them.”
The orc who had finished reporting to Lugar glared in our direction.
“You there, human. Release the shaman in that sack at once.”
“Wow. How did you know there was a shaman in here?”
“Enough nonsense! Hurry up!” the orc bellowed.
Left with no choice, I upended the sack and let the shaman out.
Thud.
“Ugh?!”
The shaman, who had hit the floor, regained consciousness. Still dazed, he whipped his head around, trying to make sense of the situation.
I grabbed him by the neck and threw him in front of Neria.
“If a single one of them makes a wrong move, take his head.”
“Got it.”
Without hesitation, Neria stomped the shaman to the ground and held her sword to his throat. Seeing this, the orcs roared in fury.
I had no idea what they were saying, though.
If you want to curse me out, use human words, you bastards.
Ignoring their shouts, I spoke to Lugar.
“Brother. I think we need to talk.”
*
“Lay a single scratch on the shaman, and I’ll tear you to pieces!”
“You’ve finally crossed the line! You filthy humans!”
Vicious insults rained down from all sides.
Even if the language was foreign, the fury in their voices was palpable.
But the human at the receiving end of all that anger and condemnation remained perfectly calm.
“Brother. I think we need to talk.”
He even offered a sly smile as he spoke.
Seeing that, Lugar was suddenly reminded of the past. Of a man who, despite being surrounded by his tribesmen, showed no fear and instead grinned as if he were enjoying himself as he proposed a challenge. Years had passed, but the memory of that day was still vivid.
Lugar let out a small chuckle.
“Alright, my brother. Let’s talk.”
At his words, the orcs who could speak the human tongue stared with wide eyes. The orc who had reported on Gis’s companions asked in bewilderment.
“Great Chieftain. Did you just call that human ‘brother’?”
“I did. We became sworn brothers in the past.”
“Good heavens... Great Chieftain, please be aware of your position. The Great Chieftain, sworn brothers with a mere human!”
“You misunderstand a few things. First, we became sworn brothers before I became Great Chieftain. Second, that man is no ordinary human. He is the Hero.”
“...Even if he is the Hero, the fact that he is human does not change.”
“Are you suggesting I should break a promise I made in the past?”
“...”
The orc couldn't answer.
The idea of the Great Chieftain being sworn brothers with a human was distasteful, but breaking a promise was a dishonorable act for a warrior.
Even if Lugar were just an ordinary warrior and not the Great Chieftain, he couldn't be forced to do something dishonorable.
That was an insult so grave it would warrant getting an axe to the head.
Confirming the orcs had fallen silent, Lugar began to speak with Cloud.
“I have many questions for you, but let me say this first. I would like you to release the shaman.”
“Brother, you know that’s not going to happen. Let’s skip the pointless posturing and have a more productive conversation.”
“This is a productive conversation. My brother, you do not understand the meaning of taking a shaman hostage. What you are doing is a great insult to their tribe.”
“That’s rich, coming from the ones holding the city’s citizens hostage. So, why did you refuse to negotiate?”
“Weren’t you humans the ones who proposed ridiculous terms first? It is a bit strange for you to say that, given how uncooperative you’ve been.”
Cloud glanced at Gis, who was slumped against the wall.
I knew it.
A bunch of blood-sucking mosquitoes, the lot of them.
I’ll have to exterminate them all when I get back.
He grumbled internally before speaking to Neria.
“Let him go.”
“Okay.”
Once again, Neria released the shaman without any question or hesitation. The shaman, suspicious of his sudden freedom, swallowed hard and watched them warily.
When he saw that Cloud’s party made no move, he scrambled toward the other orcs.
Cloud smiled.
“A show of good faith. I figured I should lead with action if we’re to clear up this misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding?”
“Yes, a misunderstanding. The previous negotiations had nothing to do with me. The reinforcements from the Prona Kingdom and I only arrived a few days ago.”
“Which means?”
“It means our reinforcements are willing to negotiate under reasonable terms.”
“I see.”
Lugar nodded slowly.
After a brief silence, he spoke in a solemn voice.
“I am sorry, my brother, but I must refuse your offer. The terms are not bad, but the situation has changed. You and the other humans attempted to kidnap a shaman. To us orcs, that is a crime of the highest order.”
“Ah... so it comes to this.”
“Yes. We will receive just compensation for the crime your side has committed. From the Alitia Kingdom and the Prona Kingdom.”
One by one, the orcs drew massive blades befitting their frames.
It was a silent pressure, a threat that they could chop us to pieces at any moment.
“My brother. For the sake of the times we drank together, I do not wish to harm you. I hope you will cooperate.”
“I don’t need that kind of consideration. I plan on having breakfast back home. I don’t mean to be condescending, but honestly, your food isn’t that great.”
Cloud shrugged and shook his head.
Infuriated by his smug attitude, Octan pushed past the other orcs and stepped forward.
“Lugar! Are you truly going to let this human, your so-called sworn brother, be?”
“Calm yourself. That is just his nature. There is no need to get excited.”
“No need to get excited? He’s blatantly disrespecting our warriors! You may be able to tolerate it, but I cannot!”
Octan drew the dual scimitars from his back. Droplets of blood fell from the blades, staining the floor.
“This is the blood of the wench who didn't know her place and targeted our shaman.”
Octan charged straight for Cloud. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. With each step of his massive frame, the marble floor cracked.
Closing the distance, Octan put power into his front legs. CRASH! Shattering the floor, he leaped forward and raised his dual scimitars.
“I’ll add your blood to it!!!”
In his excitement, Octan had lost all self-control.
Cloud, on the other hand, was calm.
He poured mana into his sword.
More than usual.
Compressed.
The blue blade took on a reddish hue, unlike its usual appearance.
He took a step forward and swung his sword at the same time. A vivid red arc was drawn through the air. Cloud and Octan passed each other.
While Cloud took his next step with ease, Octan couldn't handle his forward momentum and tumbled to the floor.
He had charged on his own and fallen on his own.
It was an embarrassing sight.
Normally, he would have gotten up immediately, but he couldn't.
Because the arms he needed to push himself up were no longer attached to his body.
His right and left arms lay in a place completely separate from where he had fallen.
“Guuuhh!!”
But a great warrior was a great warrior.
Octan began to push himself up using only the strength of his thighs. He was halfway up when Neria stomped on him, smashing his face back into the floor.
“I can’t believe you charged without even wrapping your blade in sword aura. You’re looking down on us a little too much...”
The atmosphere around Cloud’s party changed completely.
Mars, the simple-looking young man, now had black hair and eyes, and he radiated an alien energy.
Spirits of fire, water, wind, and earth floated in the air.
The surrounding mana gathered around the two mages as a golden and a pure white radiance enveloped them. Two lions, also pure white, let out a roar so loud it seemed to shake the very hallway.
“Isn’t that right, Brother?”
Cloud smiled.
It was the same sly smile he always wore.