Even in an Orc Den
"Squeeeal! Got it. Wait here!" The Orc with the bow slung over his back disappeared into the distance, leaving the other Orc behind.
Jing stared at the remaining Orc, utterly unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed.
The creature glanced in the direction the archer Orc had gone. The moment the other beast faded from view, it sprang to its feet and began to slink away in the opposite direction.
Jing’s jaw dropped. It was, by all accounts, a blatant act of deception and escape.
He had participated in numerous Orc subjugation campaigns himself. He prided himself on knowing their habits and traits better than most. Yet, he had never heard of, much less seen, an Orc possessing this level of intelligence.
Unconsciously, Jing began to follow the creature. He couldn't quite pinpoint why. Perhaps it was curiosity toward a seemingly evolved subspecies of Orc, or perhaps it was because the way the beast walked felt strangely familiar.
The Orc dragged its sword lazily along the ground, strolling along before casting a quick glance over its shoulder to make sure the archer wasn't pursuing. Then, it plopped down onto the dirt.
"Squeak... Damn it, what a pain. And I'm already starving." It muttered to itself. It was a remarkably cynical attitude for a mere Orc.
Fascinated by this unbelievable display of intellect, Jing leaned in for a closer look. If the creature could speak this fluently, it would surely be easy to extract information from it. Jing adjusted his grip on his sword and crept toward the Orc.
Perhaps it had traded its wild instincts for the gift of speech; the Orc did nothing but sniff the air, failing to take a defensive stance even as Jing drew near.
"Squeak... This scent smells awfully familiar..." The moment the beast muttered this, Jing lunged forward and pressed his blade against the back of its neck.
"Quiet. Move, and I'll cut you down," Jing whispered coldly.
Despite the warning, the Orc whipped its head around. It wasn't a threatening gesture meant to attack, but rather a spasmodic jerk of sheer shock. Because Jing hadn't pulled his sword back, the edge bit into the creature's neck, drawing a trickle of thick green blood.
"Hey, I told you not to—" Jing cut himself off. The Orc’s eyes were wide with a shock that transcended mere terror. Having never seen an Orc's face painted with pure, unadulterated astonishment rather than rage, Jing couldn't help but feel bewildered.
"Squeak... Why are you..." The Orc mumbled, then abruptly shut its mouth and narrowed its eyes. "Squeak! What is a human doing here?"
Feeling a sudden wave of unease at how quickly the creature reverted to acting like a typical Orc, Jing pressed his blade tighter against its throat.
"I'm looking for someone. A man with black hair and black eyes."
At Jing's question, the Orc let out a huffing sound. Did this thing just laugh?
"Squeak! Do you know how many humans have black hair and black eyes? Squeak! How am I supposed to know who you mean? Squeak, I saw one yesterday too." Jing frowned, experiencing a bizarre sense of déjà vu at the obnoxious tone.
"He is my companion. We were separated today at high noon while fleeing from your kind in this forest. Have any humans been eaten today?"
"Squeak, no humans were caught in the forest today. Squeak! And if it's a black-haired human you're looking for, he already escaped out of the woods."
"Is that true?" Jing asked, hope flaring in his voice. The Orc grimaced as if irritated by his reaction. Once again, Jing narrowed his eyes at the uncanny familiarity radiating from this strange beast.
"Squeak. Yes, aren't you talking about a young, black-haired kid carrying a brown bag? Squeak, I saw him heading that way." The Orc pointed dismissively toward a distant path used by travelers. It was the road leading to Limis.
Since Ran had the map, it wasn't unusual for him to head toward Limis. Still, Jing felt a lingering sense of doubt as he stared down at the Orc.
"And you, an Orc, just stood by and watched him walk away?"
"Squeak! Are you seriously complaining that I didn't kill him?"
Yep. That deliberately grating, passive-aggressive tone was far too familiar.
"Squeak, he was on foot and alone, so he might have been eaten by other beasts by now. You'd better hurry up and look for him. Or maybe he's already out of the forest."
"If you are lying to save your own skin..."
"Squeak, it's no lie. The Boss Orc started fighting a newcomer over the chieftain position, so the rest of the pack has been slacking off. Squeak, he probably took that chance to slip away."
"You... speak remarkably well for an Orc. Actually, you just speak remarkably well in general." Jing had never imagined it was possible to hold such a coherent conversation with a monster.
"Squeak, if you think I speak so well, then don't kill me and just go on your way. Squeak." Despite the Orc's urging, Jing remained standing, staring down at him in silence.
"Have you ever killed a human?"
The Orc's expression turned peculiar at the question.
"Squeak, why do you ask?"
"If you promise never to kill a human in the future, I will spare your life."
At Jing's solemn reply, the corners of the strange Orc's mouth twitched upward.
"Squeak, what if I'm just saying that? Squeak, wouldn't it be safer to just kill me here and now?"
In response to the sarcasm, Jing sheathed his sword.
"The newcomer fighting the Boss Orc for the chieftain position... that's you, isn't it? I saw you ditching him to come this way earlier."
A look of dismay crossed the Orc's face. Jing shrugged.
"You clearly had the strength to kill him, yet you chose to run away to avoid a fight. And you explicitly told the other Orc not to kill humans. I don't think you're the type to slaughter people needlessly. I'm in a hurry, so I won't fight you. Consider this payment for the information."
Jing opened his bag, tossed over some dried jerky and a few loaves of bread, and hurried away. He rushed off to find Ran, completely oblivious to the fact that the very person he sought was standing right in front of him.
I watched Jing's retreating figure and let out a heavy sigh. If I want that man to stop acting like this, I need to destroy the holy relic as soon as possible.
I knew better than anyone how bizarrely loyal Jing was to me. Working for someone like me—who was technically of the Imperial bloodline, however loosely—was likely his instinctive way of trying to alleviate his own deep-seated guilt.
I popped the bread and jerky he left behind into my mouth. At least this wasn't the kind of favor that left a bitter aftertaste. The jerky, which would have felt tough and leathery to human teeth, was incredibly tender when chewed with Orcish fangs.
"Squeeeal! You bastard, where did you go?! Squeeeal!"
As I was chewing the bread and jerky, I heard the Boss Orc's furious roars echoing from a distance.
Wait, why did that idiot go over there?
The problem was that the roar was coming precisely from the direction I had pointed Jing toward. Well, actually, maybe this was for the best. If Jing killed the Boss Orc, it would save me a lot of trouble, and the remaining lackeys would figure out the leadership situation on their own...
—Squeal! I lost to you in front of the others, so I must defeat you! Squeeeal!—
...Wait, if that guy dies, doesn't that mean I automatically become the Boss Orc?
I sprang to my feet.
Following the scent Jing had left behind, I easily located him. He was already standing face-to-face with a massive Orc.
"Squeeeal!"
The Boss Orc roared threateningly. At his feet lay a pile of wild berries and a knocked-out rabbit. Jing's sword, pointed directly at the beast, gleamed with an exceptionally sharp, cold light under the moon.
"Squeak! Wait! Hold on!" Without a second thought, I threw myself between them.
"What's this? Are you going to team up with him? I don't mind taking on two at once," Jing said with easy confidence.
Of course you don't. You could probably take on ten of us at once.
"Squeak, just go," I said to Jing, since he was the only one who could actually be reasoned with.
"Squeeeal! What are you talking about?! All humans must die!"
Ignoring the idiot stomping his feet beside me, I continued.
"Squeak, killing this one guy won't wipe out all the Orcs on this mountain anyway. And didn't you say you were in a hurry?"
"That's true, but it doesn't look like your friend over there has any intention of letting me leave."
"Squeak, I'll handle him. So just go."
At my firm response, Jing stared at me intently.
"Did you... come back all this way because you were worried he would die?"
Well, technically yes, but it certainly wasn't for the grand, noble reason Jing was imagining.
"Squeak, it's just that if he dies, it'll be a real pain for me."
It was the literal truth, nothing more and nothing less, but Jing had clearly romanticized my words in his head.
"Incredible. I didn't know Orcs were capable of comradeship."
"Squeak, misunderstand all you want, but just let him go. Seriously, otherwise I'm screwed."
"I cannot do that. Unlike you, he tried to attack me the moment he saw me. He is accustomed to harming humans. If I leave him be, he will kill more innocent people."
"Squeal! Eating humans is only natural for us! Squeeeal!" The idiot, still completely oblivious to the danger he was in, bellowed at the top of his lungs.
"See?"
Without waiting another second, Jing raised his sword and slashed at the Boss Orc.
The Boss Orc frantically raised his shield to block, but there was no way a mere Orc could match Jing's blinding speed. The razor-sharp blade sliced clean through the massive monster's chest.
"Slower than I thought," Jing muttered, his expression as calm as if he had just sliced through a block of tofu.
"Squeeeal!"
Terrified, the Boss Orc scrambled backward, but Jing was faster. Closing the distance in a heartbeat, Jing aimed his next strike directly at the Orc's neck. It was a flawless, efficient motion that left absolutely no room for interference.
The Boss Orc desperately swung his sword to counter, but Jing's blade had already pierced halfway through his throat. As I rushed forward to stop him, Jing pulled his sword free and leaped back.
"What? Are you going to fight me too?"
Seeing the clear intent to slaughter us both in his eyes, I gritted my teeth. God damn it. If that idiot died, I would be the one stuck dealing with all the annoying aftermath. Before Jing's sword could deliver the finishing blow, I opened my mouth.
"Squeeeal! A black-haired human is in the forest! Everyone, capture him!"
My ear-splitting screech echoed through the entire forest, freezing Jing's sword mid-air. The glare he directed at me was colder and more terrifying than anything I had ever seen from him. Seeing a man who was usually so gentle or solemn look genuinely furious made me realize his true strength all over again. Was there anyone in the entire Abaran Empire who could best him in swordsmanship?
"Squeak, if you don't leave right now, the other Orcs will hunt down and kill the human you're looking for. Shouldn't you hurry?"
Of course, the tragedy Jing feared would never happen. The black-haired man he was searching for was currently standing right here as an Orc, and the subordinate Orcs wouldn't move a muscle without their leader's command. But there was no way Jing could know that. Without a moment's hesitation, he mounted his horse. Before riding off, he cast one final look back at me—as if trying to engrave my face into his memory forever.