Praise the Orc! Chapter 25:
Chapter 25 – Bul’tar .
Bul’ta .
The more accurate pronunciation was Bul’tar .
It is a word familiar to the orcs in the present time . It seems that the ‘r’ ending has been omitted, and has now become the present form, Bul’ta .
The ancient orc word Bul’tar has both the most complex and subtle meanings . In universal terms, it refers to survival and life; however, in contextual terms, it sometimes symbolizes the most important thing or something of high value that the orc must fulfill in life .
It isn’t easy to interpret this word in the continent’s language, because it has a variety of meanings . In the case of the former, it is possible to replace the word with ‘life’ and ‘survival’ . However, the problem becomes more complicated in the latter meaning . This is because there is no word to describe it in the official language of the continent .
It is a word that collectively refers to life, morality, goals, dreams, and the most important things in life . Understand this word is the most critical and difficult task when studying the culture and philosophy of the orcs .
I have met countless orcs . As I moved among them, I could feel the true meaning of Bul’tar . Despite the gap between the two different languages, if there is a way to express it in our current language, then I would like to do so .
In the ancient orc language, Bul’tar is life . Life is ‘honor’ to the orcs .
For them, life is the process of realizing honor, and honor is the sum of the most important values of their lives . This orc belief is solemn and religious . Therefore, Bul’tar is life, and is separate from the will of survival .
-Elliot De Pontian (The Cultural Philosophy of Each Tribe’s Ancient Language)
***
The orcs took the offensive against the death knights, Hoyt and Lenox dealing with one knight each . Only they could fight easily against the death knights . Lenox’s axe split apart a death knight . Black smoke emerged from the death knight’s body and healed the wound .
The fight started up again .
Ian regained his spirit . He thought that he had sliced the death knight, but his sword just bounced off .
They truly were death knights . If so, how strong was the master of the dungeon, the one who controlled them?
Lenox laughed in delight . It was a thunderous sound . At that moment, Lenox’s body blazed with a white glow as his body moved at an unseen pace .
The death knight was also covered by a black energy, becoming a dark figure . The two exchanged invisible attacks with only the spectacular flashes of light and the metallic clang as the two weapons collided a few dozen times in a few minutes .
Ian’s mouth dropped open . The darkness started to become diluted with light under Lenox’s glorious axe . Every time his attack hit, a scream emerged from the mouth of the death knight .
Hoyt also slammed his hammer down and the head of the death knight that he was facing was smashed apart . Darkness flowed from the wound, but it couldn’t endure against the torrent of attacks . Hoyt’s hammer slammed against the death knight’s body several times .
The remaining death knight collapsed under the attacks of all of the orc warriors and their attacks that were blessed by the shamans . Kinjur shouted as he waved his staff, Lightning striking the fallen death knight .
The death knight got up for a final hurrah . , rushing towards the orcs in a broken state . It was a threatening attack . The battle continued again, but in the end, it was the orcs’ victory .
The orcs took deep breaths . Another battle was imminent . Lenox had minor injuries while Hoyt sprinkled potions in his wounds . Other orcs moaned from their injuries .
Gulda approached and placed a hand on Ian’s shoulder . His breathing was rough . However, he laughed excitedly as he panted .
“Kuhahahal! Apprentice! Good fight!”
But he wasn’t as wild as usual . Ian turned to him . Blood was flowing from a deep stab wound in Gulda’s chest .
“Don’t worry about it Apprentice . ”
“But…”
“This isn’t enough to stop Gulda . Kuhahal . ”
Gulda’s eyes turned towards the huge door .
“The dirty undead **** won’t be able to stop me . ”
Lenox organized the troops . Once again, a large number of orcs were unable to fight . For the first time, a few deaths occurred . The fight against the death knights was the most intense one . One of the death knights had even infiltrated the shamans and slaughtered them .
The orcs closed their eyes at the bodies of the dead orcs . There was a short moment of silence . Another fight was imminent . After the battle, they would hold proper funerals for the honorable warriors .
The wounded left, carrying their comrade’s corpses on their backs . Now there were only a small number of orcs left .
Lenox looked around . The warriors and shamans, including Ian and Grom, nodded .
It was the final stage . Lenox pushed open the door .
The huge door slowly opened with a strange sound . The door opened and revealed the shadow of a person . A magician with his back to them .
He slowly turned around .
“……!”
Under his hood was the bizarre appearance of a rotting face that seemed to be holding on by force . Bones and rotten flesh could be seen through his robe .
He discovered the orcs . Mocking laughter filled the air .
“Kuhuhuhu . In the end you came here, foolish orcs…”
“Lich, don’t interfere with the rest of the dead . ” Lenox stepped forward and lifted his axe . “The person who goes against providence will be quickly taken care of . ”
“You really don’t know anything…”
The lich walked out .
His appearance was fully revealed under the blazing torches .
“……!”
“You orcs… You are naive…”
The lich wasn’t in a normal state . A blue glowing dagger was stabbed in his chest . The life vessel inside the heart was pierced and had a black glow around it .
“Anyway, I also… I… Just being used…”
“What does that mean?”
“They will come soon . ”
The lich laughed again . It was at that moment .
Step . Step . Step . Step .
Footsteps were heard . It wasn’t the sound of one or two footsteps . It was the sound of many troops marching in unison . The orcs looked behind them . From the invisible end of the tunnel, fully armed human soldiers were moving towards them . It was an infantry unit wearing iron armor . They came through the front door .
“You were right,” a human male who led the unit said . He wore a helmet with blue eyes shining from within it . “It is easy to get the captain of the disgusting orcs here with a bait . ”
The man burst out laughing . His laugh rang throughout the dungeon . The magician standing next to the man nodded .
“I told you, everything would go the way I planned . ”
The magician looked at the orcs with pleased eyes and slowly took off the hood attached to the robe . He shook his sweaty hair off his face . A white star was revealed on his forehead . A magician user .
The magician asked, “How about it, isn’t it like I said?”
“It is accurate . ”
“There is a link between those who have been cursed by the stars . Communicating with the hidden spy is the easiest thing to do . ”
“Wonderful . I will remember this merit . ”
“Thank you . Hahahaha!”
What were they talking about?
Ian’s eyes widened . It was a story that he didn’t want to believe, but Ian clearly saw it . Grom was slowly moving towards them .
The magician called out, “Hey, Hyunchul! Come here!”
“……”
“Good work buddy . Now I will push you forward . ”
Grom ran and stood beside the humans . He looked down and avoided the gaze of the orcs . The magician user struck his shoulder . “You were dependable as an orc . Are you still going to reset?”
“Yes . ”
“I see . Good decision . I will raise you up in the clan . ”
“Thank you . ”
Ian couldn’t believe the sight in front of him . Grom had betrayed them . No, from the very beginning, his mission had been to infiltrate the orcs .
“Earl, I did as I promised . ”
“I will reward your group . Is the quest complete?”
“Catching those guys will resolve it . In particular, it would be a huge achievement if we catch him . ”
The magician’s finger pointed towards Lenox .
Quest . The instructor of the orc warriors at Orcrox Fortress . The great warrior Lenox . He was their goal . Defeat the orcs and kill Lenox . It was their quest, and Grom was the spy prepared for this quest . He became a warrior to gain Lenox’s trust . The lich was just bait .
“Hey Lich . You can go . ”
“Kuhuuuok…”
The magician user chanted a spell and the blue dagger fell out of the life vessel . The lich sat on the floor and recovered his breathing . The lich started to run . There was a small door near the lich . It opened the door and ran out .
Ian’s eyes shook . There was an escape route . They could run over there .
Maybe he could buy some time .
Ian went to Lenox .
“Lenox! Over there…”
But Lenox was looking elsewhere . Ian’s eyes followed Lenox’s gaze . There were familiar faces among the humans .
Ahh . He had forgotten . The wounded orcs . They were already beaten and had been dragged here . They were collapsed like corpses, except they were breathing . Bleeding marks showed the path that they were pulled .
The earl kicked the face of the orc that was brought to the front . The orc’s tusks flew through the air .
“Dirty orc scum . ”
“Kilkilkil . ”
“Scumbags . ”
His kicking continued .
“Die! Die!”
Ian turned back to Lenox . Lenox’s eyes had sunk into his sockets . Ian was furious, but he opened his mouth to suggest that they flee .
“Apprentice,” Lenox opened his mouth .
“Yes . ”
“Run that way . ”
“Huh…?”
“There might be troops waiting there, but I believe in you . Survive until the end and let Orcrox know what happened . ”
“Lenox…”
“We will remain . ”
Lenox raised his axe . The orc warriors simultaneously lifted their weapons .
It was ridiculous . The warriors were tired and wounded . The blood covering them didn’t only belong to the enemy, and the difference in numbers was ridiculously huge . It was a battle between an egg and a rock . The orcs were about to collapse after the sheer number of battles . And the enemy was an army that was completely armed and hadn’t lost any troops .
“Lenox…!”
Ian gritted his teeth . They were different from Ian, they wouldn’t rise again after dying . Their deaths were a complete end . But he could see that Lenox wouldn’t listen to his words . As long as there were orc warriors among the humans, nobody would turn to flee .
“Then I will fight . ” Ian declared .
“……”
“I will fight with you…”
At that moment, Lenox pushed Ian . Ian rolled across the ground . He sat down and shook his head . Why…?
“Don’t make me laugh, Apprentice . This isn’t a fight that you can take part in,” Lenox said .
Gulda nodded from where he was standing . “Yes . Are you stupid? Don’t get in the way Apprentice! Kuhahahal!”
He removed his hand from his bleeding chest . That wasn’t the end .
“It would be a waste to use my spells on you, Apprentice . ” It was Kinjur .
The other orc warriors started to open their mouths .
“It seems like you’are mistaken because we fought together a little bit, but you will just be an obstacle in the main fight . ”
“In fact, we couldn’t fight properly before because of you . Go right now . Flee . Kulkulkul . ”
“Don’t look too unsightly as you run away . ”
“Stop bothering Lenox and do as he says . Kulkulkul . ”
“Run quickly and don’t get caught . I want to fight, so go right away!”
They were laughing .
Tears filled Ian’s eyes . They might be able to live if everyone would just run away . No matter how many died, maybe some would be able to live . But they would stay and fight until the end .
Ian shouted towards Hoyt, “Hoyt! What did you say? The most important thing is survival, life is the most important!”
Then he looked at Lenox .
“Lenox! You must live first! Isn’t our slogan Bul’tar?!”
He appealed to all the orcs . The orcs stared at Ian blankly . Then they looked at each other .
“Kuk…”
“Kukuk…”
The shoulders of one or two orcs started to shake .
“Puhahaha! Kuahahaha!”
“Kuhahahal!”
“Kulkulkulkul! Kulkulkulkul!”
They all burst out laughing . The laughter of the orcs echoed throughout the dungeon . They laughed for a long time . Then the laughter stopped .
Lenox stared at Ian with a smile on his face . Then he opened his mouth, “Apprentice . ”
“……”
“According to you, life is the most important thing . ”
“Yes…”
“Then I’m going to ask . ”
Lenox said, “Are you alive right now?”
Ian looked at him blankly .
“Huh…?”
“Are you living?”
“What…”
He couldn’t understand what Lenox was talking about .
“Are you alive right now?”
“I am alive . ”
Lenox asked, “Why?”
“Huh…?”
“Why are you alive? Is it because you are breathing?”
“Ah…”
“Keep this in mind Apprentice . ”
Lenox smiled . All the orc warriors smiled at Ian .
Lenox pointed his axe at Ian . In Ian’s eyes, Lenox’s laughing face overlapped with his axe .
Lenox shouted, “Keep this in mind! Apprentice!”
It was just like Lenox was at the training grounds . “Only this! You are breathing! But that doesn’t mean you are living!”
It felt like his final teachings .
“Just because you aren’t dead! That doesn’t mean you are living!”
Ian finally realized it . The orc’s greeting about whether a person was alive or not didn’t ask sbout one’s survival . Bul’tar wasn’t just a cry for life .
Lenox turned around . The orc warriors aimed their weapons at the humans with wide smiles on their faces . Lenox said, “You don’t understand this, making you not qualified to fight with us . So…”
At that moment, the warriors among the humans shouted and jumped up . It was a last hurrah . The ranks were disturbed .
“Get out now . ”
Those were Lenox’s last words . The orc warriors rushed in unison . Ian couldn’t bear to look anymore . He jumped towards the emergency exit . The orcs shouted behind him .
“Bul’tar────────!”
***
-Elder Lord’s Hercules Clan slaughtered a village and declared it their territory . What do you think about this?
–The method was brutal but in the end, it is difficult to place an ethical standard because they are NPCs . Even other clans…
“Absolutely ridiculous . ”
A man swallowed his whiskey . The bartender glanced at him as the man put down his glass .
“Stupid **** who don’t even know what they are doing…”
“It seems like you’ve had too much to drink . ”
“No, no . I am fine . You know me . ”
The man nodded . He once again focused on the television screen . The topic had changed .
–How did Elder Saga Corporation implement such a perfect virtual reality?
–Let’s see . It is due to the core system left behind by the genius scientist Yoo Jaehan . There is no public announcement due to confidentiality reasons, but there is probably a tremendous amount of computing devices…
–A genius that we can’t even fathom .
The man looked down at his pint of whiskey . The clear surface showed the man’s haggard face .
He muttered, “Stupid bastards… What virtual reality…? What computing devices…?”
He swallowed his whiskey again .
“Don’t make me laugh…”
He put down the cup and stared blankly into the air .
–All we know is that the core system called Albino is what makes it possible…
What? The man, Yoo Jaehan, laughed . What did he hear?
He stretched out his hand in the air . He was looking at something . He grabbed the air and muttered,
“A god…you idiots…”