Chapter 134
Chapter 134
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: No Shipwreck for the Protagonist (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
* * *
***
The chieftain's tent was filled with silence.
The joy from the meal just moments ago had vanished, leaving all the gathered orcs with hardened expressions, their mouths firmly shut.
By the time the lingering sweet scent of Spam had completely faded from the air, Boldugu, fiddling with his tusk, finally spoke.
"...And the guests?"
"We've escorted them to their tent."
"They're with child, so take extra care. Make sure they have plenty of fuel."
The fuel he referred to was dried animal dung. It was a vital resource in the desert where firewood was scarce, but the clan didn't have much left.
It was barely enough even for the clan members' own use.
Perhaps that's why one of the seated orcs suddenly lifted his head and spoke to Boldugu.
"Chieftain... do we really need to give them fuel too? We're short ourselves... Why not just throw them in the prison right away..."
He couldn't finish his sentence. Boldugu was glaring at him with bulging eyes.
"Since when has throwing guests into prison been our clan's tradition?"
"..."
"Don't forget. Lose our traditions, and we'll be no different from the jungle beasts."
No sooner had he spoken than an orc exited the tent to relay the chieftain's orders.
Just as silence was about to settle again, the orc with the broken right tusk snapped his head up.
"Why's everyone agonizing over this? Just capture them quick and sell 'em off!"
"...Gadudu, shut your mouth."
"Chieftain, don't you get it? This is a gift from the heavens!"
"A gift?"
Undeterred by the chieftain's furrowed brow, Gadudu let his youthful hot-bloodedness show.
"Those Earthlings? Sell 'em in the city, and we'll fetch a fortune! Enough to meet the wraiths' quota and buy Spam to last us through the summer—then head home!"
"..."
"Honestly, even debating this is a waste of time. Traditions? What good are they if the clan's gone...!"
"Enough!"
Boldugu slammed the ground, shouting. But Gadudu didn't cower; instead, he defiantly thrust out his chin.
Not a single orc present called out his rudeness. Some even nodded thoughtfully in agreement.
Watching this, Boldugu scowled and asked,
"All of you think like Gadudu? You really believe ignoring our traditions like barbarians and selling off guests is the right choice for our clan?"
Seizing the moment, the previously silent orcs voiced their opinions.
"Chieftain, think realistically. Sticking to the original plan of hunting beastkin would take at least a month. We'd lose a lot of clan members too."
"Strictly speaking, slave hunting isn't our tradition anyway. Until the wraiths leave, prioritizing survival over tradition..."
"Besides, they're vicious Earthlings. The gods won't blame us."
The ones speaking were all relatively young orcs, their words and eyes filled only with the desire to return home as soon as possible.
Boldugu swallowed a sigh and scanned the tent.
"...Any other opinions? Not a single one?"
The older orcs looked uncomfortable, but even they didn't openly oppose.
The chieftain hadn't truly expected an answer. His own resolve was wavering.
It was just a shot in the dark...
Unexpectedly, an orc raised his hand.
An orc with a striking scar across his face.
"Ballagu? You have something to say?"
The orc called Ballagu glanced around at the others in the tent before speaking cautiously.
"Chieftain, and respected brothers. May I point out one small issue?"
"A small issue?"
"You're all speaking as if we've already captured the guests... but have we really?"
"...What are you saying?"
"Some of you saw it already, but the guests were armed. Not with guns—with a sword and a hammer."
"...A sword and hammer? Earthlings?"
"Yes. Even with my limited experience, they looked like extraordinary high-end pieces."
At his words, the eyes of several orcs shifted subtly.
They hadn't thought it important until now, but what a coincidence.
Of all the moments, in this situation, such Earthlings as clan guests...
"So what?!"
As everyone's thoughts deepened, Gadudu shot to his feet, yelling.
"You saying we grovel before some pregnant woman and a pint-sized Earthling?"
"I'm just saying we should be cautious. Those two guests might be superhumans."
"Cautious? Watch your mouth, Ballagu. One more word, and I'll take it as an insult to the clan warriors!"
"..."
Ballagu fell silent at the forced threat, and even Boldugu shook his head.
Undaunted, Gadudu addressed the orcs proudly.
"Brothers, and Chieftain! Forget this meeting—let's discuss what to buy with the money from selling those Earthlings!"
"What..."
"Truth is, I already ordered the orc who left earlier to capture the guests—no, the merchandise."
The moment Gadudu finished, Boldugu leaped up, bellowing.
"Gadudu! Have you finally lost your mind?"
It was tantamount to usurping the chieftain's authority, so the other orcs couldn't hide their shock.
"Chieftain, please snap out of it! Why else would I do this?"
"You fool—how do you know if they're guests, nobles, or demons? And you start this on your own!"
"If they're nobles, sell 'em as slaves! If demons, smash 'em and...!"
That instant.
Boom!
An inexplicable shockwave shook the ground.
***
The orcs all turned toward the tent entrance.
"What was that?"
As if answering Boldugu's question, another boom resounded.
Like the footsteps of a giant from myth?
This time, the woven carpet on the tent floor rippled, and the orcs staggered, losing balance.
"W-What's happening? An earthquake?"
"As if earthquakes happen in the demon realm! Quit babbling and get out there..."
Before Boldugu could shout, screams from outside cut him off.
—Aaaagh!!
—...call the chie... guk!
—Fight back...!
All orc screams.
They multiplied with each ground-shaking boom until they abruptly stopped with the sound of the tent collapsing.
It all happened in an instant.
"Everyone out now! See what's going on!"
The orcs, snapping to their senses late, surged to check outside—but someone flung open the flap first.
More precisely, hurled an orc through it, smashing the entrance.
With a crash, the door shattered, and the flying orc rolled across the tent floor.
Boldugu approached and checked his face—it was the very orc he'd sent to the guests.
"No way...?"
The orcs stared outside in bewilderment, and in the next moment, a black-haired girl emerged from the desert dust.
"The meal wasn't bad, but your guest service leaves much to be desired."
Holding a hefty hammer the size of a dwarf, she swept her blue eyes over the orcs.
"...Slave traders through and through, huh?"
Only one orc here could sense mana, but they all instinctively reached for their weapons.
They could feel it too. The girl before them was a superhuman.
Even with their murderous glares fixed on her, the girl smirked.
"Oh, right. You said you don't talk to strange women."
"..."
"But count yourselves lucky I came. If Yeomyeong—er, my husband—had stepped in, you'd all be dead."
Her tone was straightforward, devoid of mockery. Yet Gadudu couldn't hold back.
"You ungrateful Earthling!!!"
He drew a dagger from his belt and charged her.
No fancy technique—just a bellowing, full-body lunge.
Against an ordinary girl, his reckless charge would have been lethal.
An orc's sturdy body was a weapon in itself.
But the girl was a superhuman who wielded mana, and her kick landed faster than his dagger.
Crack!
A crisp roundhouse struck Gadudu's jaw.
Near-perfect Flying Leg Art. His body floated up, flew through the air, and crashed into a tent pole with a splintering crunch.
Gadudu didn't get up. His body twitched faintly—he wasn't dead, but clearly out cold for a while.
"Anyone else wanna try?"
Heavy silence blanketed the tent once more.
One of the clan's top warriors downed by a mere kick, without a weapon.
An unreal sight. Not some imperial knight or city palace lord, but that young girl...
Yet no matter how unbelievable, reality was reality.
The clan orcs surrounded Boldugu with resolute expressions.
The girl raised her hammer, tension thick enough for blades to fly at any second.
Then Ballagu, silent until now, stepped forward.
"Guest, allow me to apologize on our behalf."
Even as he bowed deeply, the girl kept her hammer ready.
"What are you apologizing for? The drugged drinks you gave me and my husband? Or chaining us up to make us slaves? Or maybe tossing us into a mobile prison? Which one?"
"..."
"Well... if you give me what I want, I might consider it."
Ballagu glanced at Boldugu and the others.
The chieftain's eyes pleaded to end this however—and Ballagu nodded.
"Tell us what you desire. If it atones for our rudeness, we'll give anything we have."
"Really? Then..."
Perhaps her sincerity got through; the girl's expression softened.
She thought for a moment, gripped her hammer tightly, and stated her demand.
"Hand over everything you have."
* * *