Chapter 95: What Do You Mean by That?
A flat tone devoid of any emotion. Chills raced up my spine and spread through my entire body as the intent to kill me came through loud and clear in those words.
"Eek! Don't kill him! Miner is my friend! You can't kill him!"
Res trembled violently but still threw itself in front of me at the orc's words. The green-skinned monster just flashed a wicked grin at the sight.
"Orckhuk. How interesting—a hatchling protecting a human."
—Ma, Miner. Don't worry! If anything happens, I'll protect you!
I snapped back to reality and patted myself down, but my subspace pouch was gone. Res was saying all the right things, but without gold, it couldn't cast any spells. No matter how positively I tried to spin it, I couldn't see a way out.
Damn it, even the Dvure is gone.
The northern holy relic I'd always worn around my neck for emergencies had been snatched at some point—my neck felt bare.
"W-wait a minute! I'm not a knight or anything, just a simple doctor. Aren't you mistaking me for someone else?"
To buy time until someone came to rescue me and Res, the green monster opened its mouth wide, revealing jagged fangs protruding from its jaw.
"Sorry, but you're the one we grabbed. No hard feelings on my end. Just following orders from above. To be precise, you die, and the hatchling lives. But if the hatchling tries to run first, you die right away."
"……."
This was a no-win situation. No matter what, I was dead.
"Why are you doing this? At least tell me the reason. I heard the subhuman alliance invaded human lands first—why not resolve this peacefully instead of—"
BAM!
A sound perfect for making someone choke echoed through the cave floor. The spot where the green monster slammed its fist sank in like punching wet clay.
"We invaded first?…… You filthy bastard, who do you think started this war?!"
A beastly roar erupted from the orc's mouth. His eyes wilder now, he unleashed a murderous glare and shot to his feet.
"You humans! Especially scum mages like you—do you think other races' lives are worthless?!"
"P-please…… calm down and sit……."
"My child! You turned that poor kid into something that couldn't even be called orc or ogre—a monstrosity! And now you ask why we can't resolve this peacefully?!"
The orc, who had been calm except for choking me when we first met at the clinic, suddenly lost it and stormed over, grabbing my throat again.
"I'd love to rip you apart right now, but I'm holding back!"
"N-no! Not me, I swear! The kid got hurt? I really have no idea!"
"You trash!"
Crunch— As strength poured into the hand around my neck, I gasped desperately. Unlike the first kidnapping, if I passed out now, I'd never wake up.
"Gack, p-proof flower……! I don't…… know…… innocence, hek……!"
"Maaaiineeer! Don't! You bad guy! Don't hurt Miner!"
Res pounded the orc's thick arm with its cotton-candy fists, but without magic, its strength was obviously feeble.
"Kuhuk, huuk, heuk!"
Not because of Res's punches, but the orc flung me to the ground. It wasn't a huge drop, but I was just an ordinary modern guy—smart and handsome, sure. Hitting the cave floor sent pain shooting through my body.
"Proof flower, huh…… Fine, let's see if that's true."
Thud— The orc calmed its rage and tossed my subspace pouch in front of me.
"Take it out. We'll check if it's real."
"Haa…… Should've done this sooner. Hold on."
Subspace pouches only worked for their owners. I reached in and rummaged around.
"It's in a box somewhere…… Ah, not this. Not this either, where—"
Crack!
As I pulled items out one by one searching for the proof flower seed box, the orc stomped on the crystal orb I casually extracted.
"No tricks. Find it now."
"……Here it is."
I pulled out the proof flower seed—and snuck a gold coin into my pocket. If I got a chance to run, great. I tossed the seed on the cave floor and poured water on it.
Crack—Split! Crunch! Grind! Grriiind!
The black rugby-ball-like seed split open with a hair-raising horror sound, fuzzy tendrils sprouting. Soon, it grew into a massive, familiar cylinder nearly touching the cave ceiling.
"Get in."
At the orc's command, I stepped toward the upright proof flower but paused.
"One thing, though. If I'm innocent, unrelated to orcs like you think, what then? You should enter too and confirm humans didn't invade first."
"Keep standing there if you want to die."
"Going in."
Clear this orc wasn't one for talk. I approached silently. Crack—Spliit— Up close, it split with a gross noise. As I stepped inside, stem-like protrusions wrapped around my head, wrists, forearms, chest, and torso in sequence.
First time inside one myself—it was disgustingly uncomfortable beyond imagination.
"Question: Do you know this war started because you humans kidnapped orcs, ogres, and other subhumans?"
"No."
"……."
Simple question, easy answer. But the orc's face twisted more viciously than before.
"Don't lie! Humans—especially you mages—kidnapped my child and other subhumans' kids to make chimeras! Tell the truth!"
"Chimera? What are you talking about?"
"You sliced off our kids' healthy limbs and stitched them like dolls—and you forgot already?! Speak the truth!"
The desperation in the orc's red-eyed bellow rang true. No need for him to enter or micro-expressions—I knew there was no lie in his words.
"Tell me! The facts!"
"……."
His sincerity made it harder to speak. Because I truly knew nothing about it.
Swish—Creak—
"Ma, Miner! Answer quick!"
But I couldn't delay. The flower would deem late answers lies.
"First…… I've never heard of this."
"N-no way. Impossible……."
At my response, the orc collapsed before the flower, face blank like he'd lost his mind.
"Um…… you okay?"
"……."
He'd seemed like a green monster at first, but now he was just a father lost in grief over his child.
"Why…… If even your internals didn't know, was it just sport? Why? Why my child?!"
His anguished cry pierced my heart. The man slumped and wailing reminded me of an unforgettable patient from my university hospital days.
"D-Doctor…… Now you believe me, but regular doctors—and even mages—don't know. If we'd known sooner, no one would've joined this war."
Pure truth, no lies. No matter how many fines from the Ling Office, I'd never aid insane vivisectionists on kids.
"You…… really want to help us?"
"With all my heart. No race should suffer that."
"……Come out. I'll take you back."
The staggering orc reached to pull me from the flower.
"Thank you. I'll make sure to investigate this—"
"Baron! Bow your head!"
"Ugh?"
A booming voice from the cave entrance brought a fierce gust that knocked me over.
Slash!
"Graaaah!"
"Director! Any injuries?!"
"Director! Res! You okay?"
Turning in shock, I saw Walter and Rebecca.
"Walter! Rebecca!"
Unlike Res leaping into Rebecca's arms, my eyes fixed on Walter swinging at the orc.
"No! Stop now!"
"……Pardon? Isn't this the one who kidnapped you, Director?"
Walter looked baffled as I jumped in front, blocking with my body.
"Explanations later! Limb reattachment first. How'd you get here? Sky turtle?"
"Yes…… The sky turtle's parked right outside."
"Move now. Hurry!"
He was the kidnapper, but this stemmed from misunderstanding. Even without that, doctors don't hesitate to treat patients. We don't judge worthiness.
"Sorry, snap out of it a bit."
"Kuh…… My arm……."
"Yes! It's in the subspace pouch."
I stowed the cleanly severed orc arm in my subspace pouch and sealed the stump to stop bleeding. I'd heard dungeon mercenaries did this for severe wounds—first time protecting a cut surface like this, but no choice now.
"Hey, you with me?"
After loading him onto the sky turtle carriage, I tied the stowed arm tightly with my clothes and asked. Inappropriately, he chuckled.
"Even without the proof flower, you're trustworthy."
"This is Baron Maener Gold! Show respect or I'll sever your—"
"Walter, enough. I'm really fine."
Moving quickly inside the sky turtle carriage, I calmed Walter, still glaring fiercely. Patient came first.
First time using subspace for hemostasis—had to watch for infection. I told Walter and Rebecca:
"This war…… it's all wrong."