Chapter 224: High Orc Army (1)
Chapter 224: High Orc Army (1)
The safety of the pioneering city, Ava, had not yet been fully secured.
In the midst of such uncertainty, creating farmland?
Normally, it would be considered an act of madness.
Even Patrick thought it was impossible for the time being.
However, the situation had changed.
The shift was brought about by the ships traversing the Moana River waterways.
The Moana River.
Currently, it was nothing less than the lifeblood sustaining the pioneering city.
It had to be strictly managed to ensure not even a single mishap occurred.
To that end, Patrick had invested a great deal of effort.
He had built elven outposts along the Moana River to keep monsters from even approaching, and he had taken every precaution to arm the ships traveling the waterways to prevent any potential danger.
But here was the thing.
The banks of the Moana River were so quiet that all those preparations seemed almost unnecessary; monsters hardly ever showed their faces.
It wasn't that they were completely absent, but the instances of transport ships being attacked could be counted on one hand.
And this was despite hundreds of ships coming and going every single day.
It was strange.
The area surrounding Ava was still teeming with monsters, requiring daily subjugation efforts.
So why was the Moana River basin in the rear so peaceful?
When asked about this phenomenon, the 5th Sage provided an answer.
"It is likely because of you."
"Because of me?"
"Are you not going out every day to slaughter the monsters around the pioneering city?"
"I am. If I didn't, things would turn ugly. What else am I supposed to do?"
Truly, this damn Great Forest produced an endless supply of monsters. But…
"For water to overflow, it must first fill the bottom and rise past the middle. Is that not the law of nature?"
"…?"
"Ho ho ho. Do you still not understand?"
"Why don't you try explaining it in a way that's easy to understand? Making explanations convoluted and incomprehensible is the forty-eighth thing I hate most in this world."
Must be nice, having so many things to hate.
The 5th Sage let out a sigh and explained calmly.
"The Atronia Kingdom is a nation that holds back the Great Forest, but even then, it was the eastern territories that suffered the most from monsters. The other territories in the rear were relatively peaceful. Was it not so?"
"That’s true."
When a national disaster-level monster invaded and caused chaos, the entire army would be mobilized, but before that, the rear territories were comparatively peaceful.
At the very least, they didn't suffer from daily monster invasions like the other eastern territories.
Why was that?
The 5th Sage asked for the reason.
"What was the reason those other territories could remain relatively safe?"
"That’s because we in the east were blocking them… Ah."
Only then did Patrick realize.
To put it simply, the anti-monster front line that came with living next to the Great Forest had shifted significantly to the east.
Looking only at the vicinity of Ava, Patrick was engaged in a fierce struggle against the monsters, but as a result, as long as Ava did not fall, the area behind it secured relative safety.
"Wait, this isn't a war between nations; we're dealing with monsters overflowing from the Great Forest. Can a 'front line' really be formed like this?"
"I find it unexpected as well. However, since Ava was built…"
"Uh-huh, who do you think you are, calling my mother's name so casually?"
"……."
You're the one who named the city that, you lunatic!
The 5th Sage let out a sigh and continued.
"Since the pioneering city of Ava was built, haven't monster raids on the Schneider Territory ceased entirely?"
"They have."
"It might be a coincidence, but you've accurately pinpointed the most crucial path in the monsters' migration flow. Thanks to that, the area behind this pioneering city has secured relative safety."
"Hold on. Then… even if we're suffering like dogs here, the land in the rear is safe? Is that what you're saying?"
"Perhaps not completely, but it should be viewed as nearly so."
"Safe? Well, then we can't just let it sit there."
Patrick reached a conclusion.
If they had obtained safe land, shouldn't they use it for something?
Therefore…
"I intend to start farming like this."
Patrick moved his hand along the map.
Starting from a point slightly behind Ava, following the Moana River basin all the way to the Schneider Territory—that vast region…
"I'm going to clear it all out and turn it into farmland."
Upon hearing this explanation, Aaron spoke up.
"It’s vast. An area of this size would be larger than any granary in the east—no, in the entire Atronia Kingdom."
"Right? Besides, since it's near the river, it'll be easy to build irrigation channels for farming."
"But there is a problem. This vast area you want to cultivate is all jungle. To reclaim it, you'll need a massive amount of labor."
"Don't worry. As they say, civil engineering is all about…"
"We have reached our limit."
Before Patrick could say that civil engineering was about grinding down mages, the 5th Sage quickly interjected.
He spoke while gritting his teeth.
"From the construction of Ava to the creation of the Moana River waterways, every single mage has already been fully mobilized. And now you want us to create farmland on top of that?"
"……."
"You might as well kill me instead!"
The 5th Sage spoke with grim determination, his eyes bloodshot. Patrick, faced with words that carried the collective will of mages whose dark circles had reached their chins due to overwork, stepped back as if he had no choice.
"Well, if you put it that way, I guess it can't be helped. Please focus on your current tasks for the time being."
When Patrick backed down so easily, the 5th Sage let out a sigh of relief.
Aaron, on the other hand, spoke with concern.
"Without magical assistance, it might take years just to reclaim a farmland of this scale."
"Well, that’s if ordinary humans were doing it."
"Hmm…"
"I did think we were a bit short on manpower. I've already issued orders to recruit more labor recently."
"Recruiting labor?"
"Yes. Well, to be precise… should I call it recruiting Orc-power?"
"…What?"
What is this nutcase planning to do now?
* * *
The Great Forest is a paradise for monsters.
However, it isn't as if intelligent races don't live in this monster paradise at all.
For example, Orcs.
The Red Rock Tribe might be living as neighbors to the Schneider Territory now, but they were originally a race that lived within the Great Forest.
Born warriors, they had somehow managed to survive through the hardships of the Great Forest.
And the same was true for other tribes.
KRA-BOOM!
The peaceful Black Tooth Tribe.
Hundreds of Orcs kicked down the gates and invaded this place.
At the head of the Orcs, who bore red tattoos on their bodies, a massive Orc with a grand physique shouted at the top of his lungs.
"My name is Tutan, Great Warrior of the Red Rock Tribe!"
If Turanta had heard this, he would have said, 'My son, when did you become a Great Warrior? I only gave you permission to be independent.'
But Tutan shouted without hesitation.
"I have come to take over the Black Tooth Tribe. Warriors of the Black Tooth Tribe, come forward!"
At Tutan's roar, the Orcs of the Black Tooth Tribe swarmed out all at once, brandishing their weapons.
They shouted back in booming voices.
"Are you declaring war as a Great Warrior?"
"I am! I shall win and make the Black Tooth Tribe mine!"
At Tutan's bold claim, the warriors of the Black Tooth Tribe roared.
"What if we win?"
"If I lose, I and all the warriors behind me shall join the Black Tooth Tribe!"
In short, the side that lost the fight would serve under the side that won.
Does this make any sense?
"Wooooooh! War!"
"Kalaron! Look down upon this war!"
"Uwoooooooh!"
For them, it did.
Orcs weren't called a race of warriors for nothing.
* * *
"Uwoooooooh!"
The stone blade Tutan swung with all his might sent two or three Orcs from the Black Tooth Tribe flying simultaneously.
The opponents were also sturdy Orc warriors, but it was useless.
The moment they touched Tutan's stone blade, they felt an overwhelming, irresistible force and were blown backward.
"I am Tutan of the Red Rock Tribe!"
Tutan bravely stepped forward, swinging his stone blade. The Orc Blade technique, which he had learned from Patrick and developed into his own style, struck the enemies fiercely.
There was no warrior in the Black Tooth Tribe who could stop such a Tutan.
In truth, Tutan had always been an outstanding warrior.
He was strong enough to take down a troll by himself.
But the current Tutan could easily handle ten trolls at once.
The teachings he received from Patrick.
The experience accumulated through life-like sparring with the soldiers of the Schneider Territory.
The confidence gained from leading young warriors.
All of it had made Tutan several times stronger.
"Uwoooooooh!"
Every time Tutan swung his stone blade, the opposing Orcs flew away like scarecrows.
"Follow Tutan!"
"Show your bravery!"
"Wooooooh!"
Following behind him, the Orc warriors of the Red Rock Tribe also began to run wild.
Every one of them was a warrior with power equivalent to a 4 or 5-Star human knight.
The Orc Blade, sublimated into their own style, was also a magnificent sword technique.
The forms were simple, but when the fierce momentum of the Hebe Peng Family merged with the naturally strong bones of an Orc, it exerted terrifying power.
They hadn't realized it when sparring amongst themselves, but the difference became immediately apparent when fighting another Orc tribe.
"Weak! Too weak!"
"Does the Black Tooth Tribe have no warriors?"
"Uwoooooooh!"
Only fifteen minutes after the war began.
The Orcs of the Black Tooth Tribe had all been struck down.
Tutan raised his stone blade high and shouted loudly.
"Victory is ours!"
"Uwoooooooh!"
"Wooooooh!"
If Patrick had seen this, he would have told them to stop that damn 'Uwoooo'-ing.
And then.
The fallen Orcs of the Black Tooth Tribe began to stagger to their feet one by one. Then…
"We lost the war. From now on, we are the Red Rock Tribe!"
"Uwoooooooh!"
"Long live the Red Rock Tribe!"
"Long live the Great Warrior Tutan!"
They joined Tutan and his group, letting out shouts of victory.
Even though they had been fighting to the death just moments ago.
In fact, this was one of the characteristics of the Orc race.
The strict Rule of the Strong.
However, this rule only applied to their own kind.
If the invaders had been another race or monsters, the Black Tooth Tribe would have fought to the very end.
But since they had been fairly defeated by their own kind, there was no shame in serving under them.
Rather, it was only natural.
As Orcs who followed the strong and revered great warriors, they considered it natural for the weak to follow the strong.
After integrating the Black Tooth Tribe, Tutan asked.
"Are there other kin nearby?"
"Ten days to the west, there are more."
"Let’s go! We shall make them ours as well."
"Uwoooooooh!"
"Long live the Red Rock Tribe!"
Weren't you guys the Black Tooth Tribe until just a moment ago?
In a sense, they were a race that adapted remarkably fast.
* * *
Tutan integrated all the Orc warriors in the neighboring regions.
The 200 Orc warriors he had been leading had suddenly increased tenfold, surpassing 2,000.
And above all…
"Hahaha. Great Warrior Brother. I have arrived."
"…And who might you be?"
"Hahaha. Brother, it’s me."
"You look like an Orc I've never seen before… Do you know me?"
The other party looked shocked and said.
"It’s Tutan, Brother. Tutan, the younger brother of the Great Warrior Patrick!"
"Huh? You? Tan?"
Patrick looked at Tutan with a face of disbelief.
He was the younger brother he had sent out to recruit nearby Orcs and increase their numbers, but the kid had grown.
And I don't mean that metaphorically; he had literally grown.
Originally, Tutan was a giant nearly 2 meters tall with a broad, muscular frame.
But now, he had a massive physique that looked to be over 2.5 meters, and his muscle mass had increased significantly.
One could easily mistake him for a small troll.
Wait, did this kid fall off a cliff and drink some Thousand-Year Stalactite Milk or something? Why is he so big?
As Patrick stood there confused, Riman Sierra approached, pushing up his glasses.
"I see. This is the privilege enjoyed by the servants of Kalaron."
"Huh?"
"Hmm, I've read about it in literature, but this is my first time seeing it in person."
"Seeing what?"
"I'd like to conduct a more detailed investigation… Gack!"
"Is this punk ignoring me? I'm gonna kick your ass!"
He already had.
Riman stood up, adjusted his glasses, and glared at Patrick.
"Ugh… Patrick Schneider."
Did you just dare to kick me, a Magic Swordsman of the Tower of Truth and a future Guardian? Do you think you'll get away with this?
Patrick responded to that gaze, which was full of such meaning…
"What? Why? You got a problem? You wanna go?"
"……."
If only this bastard weren't better at fighting than me…
Riman's anger quickly subsided.
Anger management, after all, is always relative.
Patrick then spoke.
"Explain it so I can understand. What happened to him?"
Riman Sierra let out a sigh and spoke.
"Unlike us humans, who are subordinates of Yupinel, the subordinates of Kalaron undergo a species evolution when certain conditions are met. Goblins are the best example."
"Goblins, huh…"
Goblins were monsters at the very bottom of the food chain.
However, the reason these Goblins never disappeared and even maintained their own territories in the Great Forest was because of higher species with special powers.
Hobgoblins, Goblin Mages, Goblin Riders, and even Goblin Lords…
Because of these beings, Goblins couldn't simply be dismissed as a lower species.
And this evolution was precisely the privilege enjoyed by the servants of Kalaron.
"It’s the same for Orcs. They are intelligent beings, but in theological classification, they are strictly subordinates of Kalaron."
"So, they evolve if they fight a lot."
"The change in that Orc warrior named Tutan is proof of that."
"Hmm… Right. I see."
Only then did Patrick understand.
It means they undergo Bone Forging and Marrow Washing once they pass a certain level.
He understood it in his own way, but it was essentially correct.
Tutan's evolution this time was because he had achieved a leap in his internal identity during the process of integrating various tribes.
It was a sensation that couldn't be explained in words, and in a sense, it shared commonalities with enlightenment in martial arts.
Anyway, it’s a good thing.
He had been worried it might be something bad, but if he had undergone Bone Forging and Marrow Washing, it was something to be celebrated.
"Hey, good job, Tan. Keep up the hard work in the fut—"
"Ahem. Brother—no, Patrick Schneider."
"Huh?"
What was this? Why was the kid suddenly acting stiff and putting strength into his eyes?
Then Tutan spoke.
"I have something important to say. No, I have something to tell you."
"…What is it?"
"I, Tutan, Great Warrior of the Red Rock Tribe, challenge you to a duel."
"……."
"I shall prove that my strength has surpassed yours."
"……."
"If I win, you shall become my younger brother."
"……."
Ah, his guts had grown along with his size.
Patrick smiled warmly.
And then, he clenched his fist tight.