A Somewhat Peaceful Visit
A Somewhat Peaceful Visit.
We'd been traveling for nearly twenty days and finally arrived near Ulbar, the orcs' capital. Being the northernmost region where humans lived, even in the height of summer, a cool breeze brushed against us.
I eyed the orc cavalry unit charging in from afar. There had to be over five thousand of them—the sheer scale was beyond majestic; it was downright terrifying.
Hubeo sidled up to me, looking scared out of his wits.
"Hey. We gonna make it back alive?"
I shot him a mocking glare.
"Yeah, why'd you even follow? Just head back to your homeland."
"What was I supposed to do? Someone had to come, and I'm the young one."
"Not a runaway, then?"
"Tch. Can't say it's zero percent."
I scolded him like he was pathetic.
"Hubeo. Running away 'cause you don't wanna get married? That make any sense?"
"Of course not, but that's not something you wanna hear from you."
"From me? What about me?"
"You ran away too, didn't you?"
"Hey, I've got grand ambitions. Look—I'm living large right now."
Hubeo pouted.
"I've got grand duties too. Gauging Grollmog's intentions and scouting the enemy capital Ulbar. Super important on an imperial level."
"Excuses..."
"Pot calling the kettle black. Who was it that broke off their engagement before running away? Must've had some ulterior motive to go that far."
I rolled my eyes.
"Word got out, huh?"
"It's famous. The Kern Kingdom was spreading it everywhere to deny any connection to you."
"Tch."
Hubeo whispered.
"The breakup didn't stick, though."
"What're you talking about?"
"Sierra Princess rejected your breakup request."
I scowled. That stubborn woman—what a pain. She should've just played along and called it off quietly, but no, she clings to it. Probably pride. Accepting my declaration would've made her the dumped one.
Women like that have zero appeal. A girl needs some flexibility, but Sierra Princess is rigid as a board.
"So why go through with the engagement to Lobos Crown Prince?"
"That was kingdom politics, not her choice."
"Still means nothing. You don't marry alone. If one side calls it off, it's off."
Hubeo narrowed his eyes.
"You hate Sierra Princess that much?"
"You that into the Addis family girl?"
Hubeo scowled instantly. The Addis girl was his betrothed.
"Hey. Why bring her up here?"
"Why? Same deal."
Just then, the charging orc cavalry passed us and halted at a gesture from their massive leader up front.
He had graying long hair braided into thousands of strands, clinking with bells every time he moved. Turei, who'd been riding ahead, approached the orc.
"Jalral. What's the issue?"
Jalral snorted and whipped his braids side to side.
"Came to check the filthy beast stench."
Turei followed Jalral's gaze to me.
"Mind your manners. That human's a guest invited by Grollmog Great Chieftain."
"Hmph. The dog we were told to hand over, right?"
"What?"
"Cut the chatter. One word: Dog enters sacred orc lands? Get off the horse, crawl on all fours like one. Might spare your life."
Jalral's voice boomed. As Hubeo moved to dismount, I grabbed his collar.
"What're you doing?"
"That hero orc said he'd let us live if we crawl."
I facepalmed. Having one friend is rough. I'd expected this, but not such cowardice. Guy always saves his own skin, no matter what.
"Wanna die?"
"Trying to live, man."
I glared murderously.
"By me."
"Ah..."
Jalral shoved past protesting Turei and approached me.
"Human, you deaf?"
I spurred Jeolguma to block him.
"Hey. Let's just go peacefully."
"No peace between orcs and humans."
"Then we'll make some."
Jalral smirked.
"Submit, then. Orcs show mercy to the obedient."
I shrugged at Turei.
"Hey, Turei?"
"Don't worry about the human. I'll talk Jalral down."
"Nah. Which way's Ulbar?"
"Northwest along this path. Why?"
"Duh. Grollmog called me, right? Gotta meet him. Peacefully."
I stretched atop Jeolguma and drew Yojyo scabbard and all. Sensing trouble, Jalral yanked a massive crescent sword; Turei tried to intervene.
Too late. I was already charging through them toward the five thousand orc cavalry.
"Stop that human!"
"Don't fight!"
Jalral and Turei's orders clashed. But the cavalry was already reaching for spears and swords as I swung Yojyo scabbard-first into the fray.
I leaped from Jeolguma, kicked an orc's face, and surged forward.
"Block him! Don't let the human through!"
Officers urged their men, but too slow—I was stepping on orcs and halfway through before they drew.
Jeolguma screeched grotesquely, spewing flames; the cavalry split. I landed in the saddle and blasted through.
Stunned Jalral and Turei chased with their men.
Eh. Grollmog won't mind a peaceful approach. Tch.
Jalral's cavalry pursued desperately, but the gap widened. Normal horses tire unlike Jeolguma.
Eventually, they vanished behind; I galloped leisurely across the plains.
"That the fortress?"
Three, four hours later, a dot appeared—a fortress of wood and stone, ruggedly sturdy unlike human elegance.
Innumerable leather gers dotted before it—orcs' barracks. With three hundred thousand troops, the scale was immense.
A log-fenced outpost appeared, guarded by five orc warriors who blocked me on sight.
"Halt!"
"Halt what!"
I leaped skyward with Jeolguma. The orcs gawked as I soared overhead.
"H-human?"
"Human attack! Sound the alarm—tell everyone!"
Urgent bells rang; orcs poured from gers. Seeing me streak by, they muttered blankly.
"A human?"
"Nah, no human gets here alive unless dead."
"Then what is that! Chase it!"
Shouts of "human sighted" echoed. Even Jeolguma couldn't outrun sound. Countless orcs drew weapons and swarmed.
"Real human..."
"Human! Block him!"
I bowled through blocking warriors, Jeolguma spraying flames. Orcs hesitated; some nocked arrows but relented at officers' shouts.
This was three hundred thousand orcs—no mass arrow volley for one guy.
I closed on Ulbar fortress.
"Trip him!"
Orcs thrust long spears across paths. Risky—I veered, smashing gers to forge my route.
"Kragh!"
One unlucky orc tumbled far from Jeolguma's撞击.
Soon, a massive black-armored orc charged, trailing over-one-meter aura blades. Strong—high-grade Master Berserker. I dismounted, drawing Yojyo for the first time.
The brute bellowed.
"Human! To face Ulbus? Bold as brass!"
"Save it!"
Ulbus swung his aura-clad sword at my landing. It clanged harmlessly off Yojyo. He recoiled at my two-meter blade sprouting.
I feinted a lunge, remounted, and bolted.
Realizing the ploy, Ulbus roared after me.
"Cowardly cheat! When I catch you, you're done!"
He seized a horse from arriving cavalry and pursued.
I drew my magic bullet launcher, aimed—not at him, his horse.
Lightning bullet fried it. Ulbus rolled as the horse screamed and fell. I ignored his dusty curses, rampaging onward.
"Dodge!"
Orcs leaped from Jeolguma's charge and flames.
My wake: inferno, orc screams. Pursuers choked on smoke and fire; blockers scattered, unable to follow.
"Fortress soon."
I pierced the ger zone—a miracle of orc complacency and my breakthrough skill.
Not brag-worthy. Many regular soldiers did it: couriers breaching sieges to report, returning. Unbelievable to civilians, routine in war.
Real issue's inside the fortress...
Ulbar was surely on high alert from the chaos. Not easy breaching to meet Grollmog.
But doable. Past life, I escaped a demon-infested fortress.
"Outta the way!"
At the wall, I vaulted high, unsummoned Jeolguma, snatched its essence midair, and clung to the stone.
"Loose arrows!"
Arrow storm bounced off armor and wall. I scrambled up, battered spear-wielding guards, and crested the ramparts.
"Human scum breached the capital! Kill him!"
Ferocious orcs swarmed. I vaulted down to a nearby rooftop, leaping building-to-building, shaking pursuers in streets and alleys.
"Whew."
Landing on a roofless three-story building, I descended stairs, dove through a window to evade rushers.
Gracefully atop a two-story roof across the alley, I kept hopping gaps, ignoring roars to come down. Climb if you want—I'll be gone.
Then, a raspy orc voice from somewhere.
"Unbelievable. A real human."
I glanced toward it. Slight for an orc, but his aura was no joke.
"Who're you?"
The small orc chased hard, yelling.
"I'm Tur of the Thousand Kills!"
Tur—I remembered. Hero who slew a thousand orc warriors single-handedly.
I called while fleeing.
"Nice to meet ya. Catch you later?"
"Like hell!"
"Fair."
Soon, Master-grade Berserkers swarmed. I dodged, but they caught up—dozens encircling.
Fit for orc capital—plenty of Masters.
"Stop, you!"
I faced a ponytail orc elder with dual swords: Shalita. He'd fought with Grollmog against Karl territory; I'd seen him.
I halted, redrew Yojyo.
Shalita was fast, strong—turn my back, and I'd be quartered. Orc rank three, local number two. Beat him, and all but Grollmog acknowledge me.
Encircling Masters formed up.
Shalita stepped forward.
"Alone, human?"
"Yep."
Shalita narrowed his eyes.
"Gutsy."
"Can't tell? So big it spilled out."
I smirked provocatively; Shalita darkened, Berserking for battle.
"But arrogance costs dear. No thoughts of returning alive."
"We'll see. I'd love to oblige, but I tend to survive."
I wreathed Yojyo in thin aura blade. Shalita, eyes sharp, bellowed.
"Stand back, all. This human's mine."
Masters retreated at his command; I sneered.
"You sure you can solo?"
"Young human hasn't heard of me."
"Oh, I have. Piss-pants orc geezer. Gramps' rep's legendary even in human lands."
Shalita trembled ragefully, lunged with dual swords.
"You! I'll kill you!"
"Wail! Yojyo!"
A bang—Shalita rocketed back, smashing a building. Yojyo's magic.
As rubble buried him, shocked orcs rushed to dig. Needless—Shalita emerged through dust.
A Somewhat Peaceful Visit. End