Chapter 22. Horompel's Secret.
Just to be sure, Ji-hyuk double-checked. "It's not that he went somewhere— you're certain he just vanished?"
"Yes, he was gone when I checked this morning. Maybe he disappeared last night, but I'm not sure. Anyway, he's not the type to leave without a word. ...I searched all day."
"Hoo..."
Katrine pleaded desperately. "I'll repay this favor next time, no matter what. Ask me for anything. I'll help with whatever I can. So please, help me. Okay?"
She must have cherished her subordinate dearly. ...Well, if one of his comrades he'd shared years of hardship with vanished overnight, even Ji-hyuk would feel a chill.
"Did you ask the Count?"
"...He said he'd look into it."
To Ji-hyuk, it was obvious the Count was behind it. A roundabout warning. Don't get any more involved. She wasn't stupid; she must have sensed something off. She'd asked the Count, but it hadn't worked.
...Of course, he couldn't admit to kidnapping a hero's comrade. And there was his pride to consider.
"Alright. I'll look for him too. If I find him, I'll let you know."
"Yes, thank you. I won't forget this debt. I promise."
Katrine gripped Ji-hyuk's hand tightly to convey her gratitude before hurrying out of the room.
Honestly, he wanted to help. She was one of the few heroes worth respecting. It seemed this incident had made her personality much colder. She'd tasted life's bitterness too harshly. Losing a precious subordinate because of her naive sense of justice.
Still, he liked that naive justice of hers. He needed more heroes like that—ones who could step forward selflessly with such conviction.
Ji-hyuk headed straight for the Count's quarters. They were on a high floor. Security grew tighter with every flight of stairs the hero climbed, requiring him to flash his hero badge at each checkpoint.
Navigating the labyrinthine castle, he finally reached the Count's door. The orc guard was no pushover— at least on par with Giranoshi.
"Hero Kang Ji-hyuk." He flashed his badge and stated his name. Everyone already knew he was staying here, so there was no rigorous identity check. His hero status was clear enough.
The orc guard knocked lightly and said deferentially, "Hero Kang Ji-hyuk is here, Master."
- Let him in.
"Yes."
The orc nodded slightly and carefully opened the door. Ji-hyuk stepped inside.
A few mana orbs brightly illuminated the Count's room. The lord of the underground city Horompel was none other than an orc. And a massively muscled one at that. Count Markmahu— a figure rivaling A-rank heroes in prowess, the idol of orcs for his genius resourcefulness.
The orc, reading something on his desk, set the papers aside, clasped his hands lightly, and looked up. His expression and gaze were remarkably calm for an orc.
"Have a seat there."
Ji-hyuk dropped into the chair in front of the desk.
"Pleased to meet you, Hero."
"Likewise, Count."
"I should have invited you sooner, but things have been busy."
The orc glanced at the stack of documents on his desk. Of course, Ji-hyuk wasn't offended by the lack of invitation. If anything, he'd preferred not meeting until departure.
"So, what brings you here?"
"Hero Katrine... you know her?"
"Of course. That lady."
"Her subordinate went missing."
"I just heard about it. Such a shame."
Markmahu stared leisurely at Ji-hyuk without batting an eye. His face showed no regret whatsoever.
"We're searching diligently, so we'll find him soon."
Ji-hyuk grinned.
"Put a little more effort into it. He's surely wide awake now. I gave him a stern warning— know his place before he acts."
"...What do you mean...?"
Ji-hyuk leaned forward slightly. Now was the time to cash in a valuable name.
"I heard you're close with Elder Cheonma... is that right?"
Markmahu's eyes flickered subtly.
"You know the Elder?"
"Of course. He's a close friend of my master. ...He stayed at my mansion for a few days recently."
"Ah, I see."
The orc smiled faintly, but his stiff expression didn't fully relax.
"I never expected to meet someone who knows the Elder here. ...Delighted."
"The Elder talked about you a lot, Count."
"What did he say...?"
Ji-hyuk landed the decisive blow.
"Something about thrashing a cocky young punk 20 years ago until he was half-dead."
"Ah, ahh—."
Hearing that, the Count burst into hearty laughter. The tense atmosphere dissolved instantly. He seemed convinced Ji-hyuk was truly close to Cheonma.
"Why would the Elder bring up something like that..."
"You have no idea how much I laughed."
"It was youthful hot-bloodedness. ...Heroes have those moments too, don't they?"
"All the time. Even now."
They both chuckled.
"Never thought I'd meet someone close to the Elder here."
"I was dying to say something. It was torture holding back. ...If we hadn't met like this, I'd have been in real trouble."
Met like this. The Count's smile faded slightly. He remembered why Ji-hyuk was here.
Ji-hyuk wiped his own smile, turning serious.
"...Help me out a bit. Hero Katrine was desperate. If you just put in a little effort, wouldn't he turn up right away?"
In truth, no effort was needed. One order to bring him, and the missing subordinate would appear. Even if as a corpse.
Of course, he couldn't say it outright. This matter had to stay as if the Count knew nothing. Ji-hyuk had to play along.
"Hmm."
Markmahu stroked his chin. Then he looked straight at Ji-hyuk and spoke bluntly.
"You seem convinced."
"...Of what?"
"That I ordered it."
Ji-hyuk paused briefly before answering. He hadn't expected the direct admission.
"Yes."
"...He was overstepping without knowing his place, so I taught him a lesson. You understand my feelings, right?"
"Of course. That's why we're talking calmly like this. ...He's surely learned his lesson now."
"Fine. For your sake, Hero, I'll ease up."
Markmahu rang a bell. The door opened, and the orc guard entered.
"Yes, Master."
"He's going to retrieve the item, so assign a guide."
"Understood."
Ji-hyuk stood and nodded lightly.
"Thank you."
"No need. ...I trust you'll handle things well with Hero Katrine."
"Of course. Then."
Ji-hyuk turned crisply and left the room. A guide was soon assigned—the same manager who'd welcomed the heroes before.
"An honor to escort you, Your Excellency."
"Lead the way quickly."
"Yes, I'll go ahead."
They descended the stairs. Midway, the manager slipped into a secluded spot, heading toward an underground passage. Orcs guarded it too.
With surveillance everywhere like this, who else but the Count could've done the kidnapping?
They descended via the passage. It was a private area for insiders only.
"Follow me."
They entered a pulley room that moved up and down. At the manager's signal, it slowly descended with them inside.
It went deep, heat wafting up. It stopped well above the bottom.
The manager and Ji-hyuk got off and walked elsewhere. More guards there—all orcs. Loyal to Markmahu, no doubt.
The manager asked the orc who looked like the captain, "...The guy from dawn?"
"Not sure."
"We're retrieving him."
The manager, Ji-hyuk, the captain orc, and five more headed into the mine shaft. A horrific stench hit immediately— a mix of everything imaginable.
But Ji-hyuk didn't flinch. After countless regressions, he'd smelled far worse. Gagging at this was laughable.
Deep in the shaft, a wide space opened up, lit brightly by mana orbs.
Clang, clang, clang, clang.
Slaves swung pickaxes. A few orc overseers watched.
One spotted the manager and hurried over, bowing deeply. "Elder, what brings you to this humble place?"
"Where's the human male thrown in here at dawn?"
"We'll check. Probably tossed in a slave pit somewhere."
...Slave pit?
Ji-hyuk had a bad feeling. Soon, orcs followed the overseer to the slave pit. Moments later, a brutally ravaged man was dragged out.
Hmm. Ji-hyuk narrowed his brow slightly.
...His condition was dire. Face swollen beyond recognition from beatings, body covered in stab and tear wounds, cock and balls crudely severed and gone, urethra ripped open for fucking— blood still oozing. His asshole was even worse off.
At least he wasn't dead yet. Aside from the missing genitals, his limbs were intact. Bones broken in places, but healable. The lost cock and balls? Irrecoverable.
"Take him."
Ji-hyuk turned away. The overseer bellowed a farewell behind him.
The hero exited the shaft, hoisted the mangled man on his back, and rode the pulley up with the manager.
Back at the castle, Ji-hyuk parted with the manager and went straight to Katrine's room. Maids gasped at the man on his back.
No hero in sight. Still futilely searching useless spots for her precious comrade, probably.
One of her team members remained, a massively muscled man. He clutched his head at the gruesome sight.
"What the fuck..."
Ji-hyuk quickly told a maid to fetch Grace. Soon, the chain-smoking healer clacked in. She too was stunned by the man's state.
"Heal him first. Hurry."
Prioritize the wounds. Ugh— blood, semen, spit, piss, shit— the stench was nauseating. Grace dry-heaved several times.
But the severed cock area wouldn't regenerate. Nothing to be done. Later, seal everything except the piss hole.
Just then, Hero Katrine rushed in. She let out a stifled scream at her subordinate's state.
"Ah, ahh—."
Her hands trembled faintly. Kneeling beside him on the floor, she collapsed.
"D-D-Dyke...!"
Ji-hyuk, who had been squatting, stood.
The burly comrade bowed deeply to him. "Thank you. Truly, thank you."
"Forget it."
Katrine staggered to her feet, shock plain on her face. "Th-thank you.... For finding him. For finding my brother-in-arms, thank you...."
"Once treatment's done, don't do anything else—just leave. Sorry about your comrade, but no more dragging this out. Got it? ...We'll leave at dawn tomorrow too."
"...Yes."
Katrine's spirit was already broken.
Ji-hyuk placed a hand briefly on her shoulder in reassurance. "Hope we meet again sometime."
"...I'll never forget this debt."
"I hope this young man recovers fully. ...Then."
Ji-hyuk turned and strode down the hall. He wanted to wash off the mess from carrying the man.
Grace, walking close beside him, asked what happened. The leader glanced at her and said, "...Just pretend you didn't see. It's better for you."
"Ah—."
Only then did Grace realize she'd been in the monster's jaws.