Chapter 127
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 127
“……”
His strongest attack, delivered with every ounce of his being, had been stopped by a single, casually outstretched hand.
—This is extremely dangerous.
He reassessed the situation. The thrill he’d felt moments ago wasn't the excitement of facing a powerful foe.
It was his body’s desperate signal to run.
He's on a completely different level.
Just then, Gakundar’s eyes met the monster’s, right in front of him.
A cruel smirk was spreading across the black monster’s face.
The world seemed to spin.
Perhaps this monster was stronger than the Legion Commander. Perhaps? No… he was definitely stronger than the Legion Commander.
How many such beings even existed? No matter how massive the merchant guild was, how on earth had those dwarves managed to bring someone with this kind of power?
“Could it be…”
No. Thinking about it now wouldn't change anything. First, he had to survive.
He had to run.
Shoving the thoughts aside, Gakundar hurriedly tried to yank his weapon back. But the sword, its blade gripped firmly in the monster’s hand, didn't budge an inch.
What kind of monstrous strength is this…?
Abandoning his weapon, Gakundar retreated to put some distance between them.
He figured that while the monster was strong, he probably wasn't fast. After all, hadn't he walked the entire way here? Gakundar couldn't win, but he could escape.
He quickly scanned his surroundings for an escape route.
Directly ahead was the black monster. To his left, the silver maid was hanging a centurion upside down and flaying his skin. Her entire body was so stained with blood that she could no longer be called silver. Fleeing to the right meant running straight into her blades.
Having made his decision, Gakundar bolted toward the rear. Even as he ran, his eyes remained locked on the monster behind him.
All around, the bewildered warriors of the Woldur tribe were dying.
What was killing his subordinates were several black thorns sprouting from the black monster's back.
Ah.
Only then did he realize the identity of the black monster that had puzzled him.
This was his first time seeing him in person, yet he was certain. There were very few beings known to be stronger than the Legion Commander and capable of unleashing such hidden weapons.
Swallow.
If so…
「Please, please believe me just this once. Those provisions are goods that must be delivered to Lord Swallow.」
…the old dwarf’s words had been true.
He had provoked the monster’s wrath.
Overcome with terror, Gakundar looked ahead and forced himself to run faster.
But just before he could pass the torn tent, his vision shook violently.
This time, his body was launched into the air. A pain so intense he couldn’t even breathe washed over him instantly.
Gritting his teeth, Gakundar gasped for air and tried to push himself off the ground, only to realize his right arm was gone.
His right arm, reduced to a tattered mess, was rolling on the ground. The black thorn that had pierced it stretched far into the distance.
He tried to push himself up with his left arm, but this time, he had no legs to stand on.
His left leg had also been pierced below the knee by a black thorn and blown apart.
“Kishiiiiik, shiiik!”
A shriek burst from Gakundar’s mouth. Pain was the only thing filling his mind; no other words would form.
The powerful body granted to him by the Woldur treasure had lost its magic, reverting to its original state. His condition was so wretched that he couldn't even muster the courage to look down at his own torso.
As he writhed on the ground, a belated realization struck him.
Even if he could crawl away, he would never escape Swallow.
“Help me, help me!! Daru, Daruuuu!”
Desperately searching for a way to survive, Gakundar called out to Daru. The robed Orc shaman had been standing still the entire time, taking no part in the battle.
Swallow, too, had not bothered to attack Daru, who stood as still as a corpse.
“Teleport, teleport me!! Kishiiiiiiik!”
“Ha.”
Before he could finish his sentence, Gakundar’s eyes met Swallow’s once more.
Swallow sneered at him.
With that mockery, a thin black thorn shot toward Gakundar, extending like a whip and blowing his left shoulder apart.
“Ghuak, guaaaaaaaah!”
Having completely lost his mind, Gakundar let out a ruined, unintelligible sound that could no longer be recognized as language.
“It is finished, Lord Swallow,” said Rene, sheathing her blades after dealing with the Orc centurion.
The labored breathing of the dying Orc echoed exceptionally loud in the sudden quiet.
“Daru, Daruuuu!”
Refusing to give up on escape until the very end, Gakundar screamed again through his shrieks.
Only then did Swallow, realizing the cry was directed at the Orc shaman, turn his gaze toward him.
Instead of answering, Daru removed his robe.
Gakundar, flailing on the ground with both arms gone, looked up at him.
Daru’s eyes were cold. It was not the look one gave a superior.
It was clear hostility.
“Ha, of course, of course…”
Though despair filled his face, Gakundar spoke in a tone that suggested he had expected this.
The patterns drawn all over Daru’s skin were unique to the Time Tribe, the most powerful of the six tribes. And beneath those patterns was a grotesque tattoo.
It was different from the innate markings of the Time Tribe. That tattoo, carved into the flesh, signified an oath.
—It was a tattoo worn by those who swore absolute loyalty to Legion Commander Kurak.
“Right… There was no way he would entrust such an important mission to me without oversight.”
He had suspected as much; Kurak had been monitoring him all along.
“What are you going to do?”
“The Legion Commander will be arriving here shortly,” Daru replied. His pronunciation was distinct and un-Orc-like, much like Gakundar’s own.
“S-Shortly, you say.”
Gakundar smiled bitterly.
Daru probably hadn’t called Kurak expecting things to turn out like this. In all likelihood, it was because he had reported Gakundar’s disobedience.
Once Kurak arrived, Gakundar would undoubtedly be punished.
But it didn't matter.
‘We are on the brink of war.’
That was what Kurak told the Orcs whenever he had the chance.
Yes, just as he said, Kurak was facing a war. Gakundar's Woldur tribe was one of the great tribes supporting Nilkumbal. The Orcs he had brought on this expedition were merely a small, elite force. Back in Nilkumbal, ten thousand Orcs still awaited his command.
Kurak would never kill the commander of ten thousand Orcs right before a war. He would absolutely not kill Gakundar.
He would be disciplined, of course, and his standing within Nilkumbal would plummet.
But that was far better than dying at Swallow's hands.
“Kaha, kahahahahaha!”
Amidst his agony, Gakundar let out a mad laugh.
As if finding this descent into madness entertaining, the corners of Swallow’s eyes crinkled slightly as he watched.
But that was only for a moment.
Soon, starting with the now-breathless Orc centurion, the sound of a black maw devouring Orcs echoed repeatedly.
“Lord Swallow.”
After the brief meal ended, Rene called out to him. Swallow nodded, showing he had noticed it as well.
The sound of flapping wings echoed.
The half-destroyed barracks were blown away by the wind whipped up by massive wings, vanishing completely.
A creature landed in the wide clearing between Swallow and Gakundar. It was a Hippogriff, a species known as a phantom beast.
Following the Hippogriff, several giant birds on leashes touched down. Soon, the Orcs who dismounted from them revealed themselves to Swallow.
Swallow raised an eyebrow. Hippogriffs were notoriously difficult to train, and they detested beings they deemed evil. For one to serve an Orc, a fallen race, was highly unusual.
“We meet again.”
“Ancient monster.”
Swallow greeted Kurak as he dismounted from the Hippogriff. Having already received Daru’s message, Kurak did not panic and bowed his head toward Swallow.
“I beg your forgiveness for causing you this unintended trouble.”
“I'll have to hear the details to know if it was truly unintended.”
“Could you wait for a moment?”
Swallow closed his eyes, signaling for him to do as he pleased. Immediately, Kurak turned his head to look at Gakundar.
He was a wretched sight.
“...Gakundar.”
“G-Great Legion Commander,” Gakundar replied, coughing up a mouthful of blood. He was fading fast. If the bleeding wasn't stopped, his life would soon flicker out.
“...I am… sorry.”
“There is no need to apologize.”
Gakundar remained prostrated on the ground. To facilitate their conversation, Kurak walked over and knelt on one knee before him.
“I heard everything from Daru.”
“I will… gladly… accept… my punishment.”
With every word, a wheezing groan escaped his lips. Holding onto his fading consciousness, Gakundar painfully forced out his next words.
“The sin of breaking the covenant… and sacrificing so many of our comrades… I will wash it away… with the blood… of the Empire's humans.”
“There is no need for that. This was entirely my, Kurak’s, misjudgment. As your Legion Commander, I misjudged you. Your ambition could not be satisfied by a minor task like securing supplies. Since that caused this trouble, the fault lies with me.”
“Legion Commander…”
Gakundar lowered his head.
And then, a thought. Something was wrong. Kurak’s words were warm, but a chill ran down his spine. Why? Gakundar searched for the reason, and then it hit him.
Though the voice was warm and gentle, it carried no mercy.
“Legion Commander… Legion Commander?”
“Say no more.”
Kurak raised his axe high. The shadow of the blade fell over Gakundar’s face.
Gakundar shrieked. “Legion Commander! Legion Commander!”
“This is my sin.”
The head rolled. Kurak of the Red Axe slowly stood up.
Turning his gaze once more, his eyes met Swallow’s.
* * *
A gentle breeze blew across the blood-soaked ruins.
The severed head rolled to a stop at Kurak’s feet, nudged by the wind. It was an ugly death, devoid of a single shred of honor. Gakundar’s expression was as pathetic as the undignified scream he had let out at the very end. As if for a touch of dark humor, saliva drooled from between his molars. His unclosed eyes seemed to cling to the mortal world.
Kurak silently grabbed the head by its hair. He paid no mind as blood from the severed neck soaked the top of his foot.
He simply turned to meet Swallow’s gaze, focusing all his senses to withstand that razor-sharp stare.
“Ancient monster.”
Swallow maintained a languid posture throughout, an attitude that reflected his opinion of Kurak.
“What do you think you're doing?”
He was annoyed. Anyone would be. He had intended to inflict more pain, to kill the Orc with care, but Kurak had dispatched him with a single blow. It was no different from stealing his prey.
Instead of answering, Kurak lowered his gaze.
Dark energy wavered beneath Swallow’s feet. Unlike its usual form of black mist, this time the substance pooled on the ground like water. The black liquid bubbled and boiled. From afar, several Orcs watching the dark energy dry-heaved repeatedly.
Clutching Gakundar’s head, Kurak walked toward Swallow. With each step, the black substance stretched its demonic claws right behind his back. The area touched by the dark energy was Swallow’s domain; Kurak was essentially putting his life on the line.
Every time Gakundar’s head brushed against the black substance, he felt as if something within the boiling darkness was pulling at it. Yet, Kurak paid it no mind and kept walking.
When he finally stopped right in front of the angered ancient monster, Kurak knelt on one knee without hesitation.
The bosses of the Great Evil Caves stood at the absolute pinnacle of monsters. Their pride pierced the heavens; they would never kneel, no matter the opponent. It wasn't just pride. Countless monsters followed them. They could not afford to lose their dignity. They had to maintain their majesty.
And yet.
“My foolishness has brought about my subordinate’s blunder. Ancient monster, I do not have the face to look up at you.”
He could feel the gazes of the Orcs behind him, but Kurak bowed his head, unbothered.
Cast aside your pride.
Kurak called himself foolish, but he was anything but. He knew how to read a room. In this situation, he couldn't afford to save face just because his subordinates were watching. There was no tightrope to walk between pride and survival.
“……”
Swallow, who had been frowning, smirked.
“I have no intention of forgiving you, though.”
Kurak raised his head slightly, a gesture asking for permission to speak.
Understanding the gesture, Swallow unleashed his dark energy even wider.
From the black puddle spreading in all directions, thousands of thorns erupted, looking ready to tear through Kurak’s skin at any moment.
“You’d better choose your words carefully. You know what happened to Erebos, don't you?”
After hesitating for a long moment at Swallow’s words, Kurak finally opened his mouth.