Praise the Orc! Chapter 57:
Chapter 57 – To the North (2)
The door opened .
The faces inside the gloomy pub turned towards Crockta . They discovered the appearance of an orc before turning back to their conversations . It was an old pub that had scenery similar to Van Goghs The Potato Eaters .
Crockta sat at a table . The owner of the place, who was standing at the bar, threw a glance to Crockta, as if he was asking what he wanted . Crockta declared, “Cream spaghetti . ”
He spoke quietly, but the inside of the pub was narrow, causing his low voice to echo inside . The pub customers turned to Crockta after hearing cream spaghetti . His eyes turned dreary . The guests were laughing at him .
An orc ordering cream spaghetti… This isnt a comedy .
“Isnt that a dish for girls? Kukukuk…
“Will he also order strawberry juice and a kiwi parfait? Kelkel…
Crocktas eyebrows twitched .
The pub owner also laughed, like he thought it was absurd, before going into the kitchen . He placed butter in the frying pan, poured in chicken broth, and stirred it quickly, so that there were no solid clumps . At the same time, he prepared 160 grams of spaghetti and boiled it in three times the amount of water, while also cooking bacon in another pan .
It was a classic recipe .
Crockta admired the masters meticulousness while also squinting at the table of the customers who were laughing at him .
They were eating pork dishes and drinking strong alcohol . They placed thick pieces in their mouths and sucked on their greasy fingers . Their eyes were filled with arrogance as they looked at Crockta while chewing on the meat . Then they gulped down the alcohol .
……
He had to admit it . They were rugged men, real males . He was eating cream spaghetti in the holy place of these men . Crockta found himself becoming smaller on th einside . The one who was blind to romance and dating had ordered a cream spaghetti!
The food he ordered came out, and Crockta discovered the fork and spoon wrapped in a napkin . He stopped the owner and said, Wait .
……?
The owner looked at him with a scornful look, as if his customer was being troublesome . Crockta said, Chopsticks .
…Hoh . His eyes changed .
Chopsticks .
The atmosphere in the pub was released at Crocktas declaration, becoming one where the other people recognized him as a man .
“I thought he would put the fork and spoon in the bowl to twirl the spaghetti .
“Maybe it just suits his taste?
“I also want to eat greasy food sometimes . Kukuk .
They nodded as they placed boiled eggs in their mouths and chewed . Crockta also slurped up the spaghetti using the chopsticks . He chewed and ordered whiskey . He downed the glass of whiskey handed to him by the owner .
“Kuoh .
Crockta was now a brother of the pub after drinking the alcohol .
Ah, right .
He had been swept up in the atmosphere . He had a separate mission . Crockta looked at the note again .
[Go into the pub and order cream spaghetti . Then, ask for chopsticks instead of a fork to eat it with .
After that, take a line of spaghetti and use it to draw an inverted triangle on the table .
Then they will give you access . ]
“……!”
It was a big deal . Crockta had already eaten all his cream spaghetti . He forcefully raised the hand that wouldnt go up . The owner looked over at Crockta and approached, placing a hand on Crocktas shoulder .
Hey, Macho Orc . Do you want something to drink now?
Crockta spoke in a hesitant tone, Cr…
“Cr?
“Cream spaghetti…one more…
The owners gaze became cold .
……
Crockta looked down . The owner returned to the kitchen without speaking . When he looked around, the other customers were also shaking their heads at Crockta .
Crockta was ashamed . He vowed that as soon as he obtained information from the guild, he would eat a whole pig here . In the end, Crockta ate the cream spaghetti again with the chopsticks and drew an inverted triangle on the table .
……
The owners eyes changed when he saw the symbol . The owner walked towards Crockta and banged on the table .
Hey, Orc .
……
Crockta turned to him . The owner beckoned, “Come here . ”
Then he opened a door in a corner of the pub and entered . Crockta looked after him with a grim expression and followed as the pub customers heckled after the orc .
What did you do Orc? Are you going to be hit?
“Dont cry as youre being beaten . Kelkel .
“If you endure it, then Ill buy you some cream spaghetti, and some srawberry juice as well . Kikik!
They dug back into their pork with the reassurance that they were eating manly foods .
The interior of the room was larger than Crockta thought . The pub owner pulled something on the floor and revealed a staircase leading to the basement . It looked quite deep . He glanced at Crockta and descended .
Deep underground, there was a dark, dimly lit room that looked like it was meant for investigation purposes . Inside was a table with two chairs facing each other . They each sat down and Crockta asked,”The **** is the mark of the guild?
“It is our belief .
Panties?
“It is the intelligence guilds belief that they can even discover the color of a persons **** .
……
“There are some branches that are ashamed and use the inverted triangle, but I respect tradition .
It was odd but it made sense . Crockta nodded . “In any case, I came to buy information .
“What information do you want, Crockta?
“……!”
Crockta raised his gaze . This man already knew Crocktas name . The man laughed and continued, “Do you want to chase after the rest of the Thawing Balhae Clan?
“……!” Crockta quickly agreed . “Yes, truly great . I can believe that you are an information guild .
“The information about the Thawing Balhae Clan costs either 20 gold or 30 gold .
“Whats the difference?
“I will let you know if you have the money .
Crockta nodded with folded arms . Its quite expensive .
“The payment needs to be upfront .
…Here .
Crockta pulled out some money . He hadnt known that he was going to pay 30 gold, so there wasnt much money left . “Now, let me know the difference .
“20 gold is for the current information, while 30 gold will give you more information in the future .
You mean?
“The exact location of those guys is still unknown, but we will keep an eye on them and continue to accumulate information . I will provide you with any information I gain in the future .
Crockta shook his head . “How can I trust you? What if you fail?
Failure…
The man from the information guild got up from his seat before turning to the wall behind him . He placed his hand inside the hole on the wall . The sound of someone moving around could be heard from within . When he finally pulled out his hand, he was holding a piece of paper in it .
The information guild must be beyond this room . The man handed the piece of paper to Crockta .
Luin .
Luin?
“That is the new name of Grom, the one who you are tracking .
Crocktas face stiffened . He checked the paper that the man gave him . On it was the name Luin, a rough description of his appearance, and some other information on it .
“Do you know that those cursed by the stars can change their appearance?
……
“Its hard to believe, but its true . They lose all of their abilities and appear with a new look . The orc Grom, the one who betrayed you and Lenox, has now become a human . We can hardly believe it either . The curse of the stars is a really unknown phenomenon .
Crockta listened to his words . The man seemed to have a subtle understanding of the users . NPCs were gradually grasping onto the characteristics of users . Crockta once again felt like Elder Lord was mysterious .
Were they really just AIs in a game? Were the three-dimensional characters he met just fakes designed for the game to be enjoyed?
Go to the Temple of the Fallen God .
Gordon’s voice was heard again . Crockta had a strong feeling that he should go to the Temple of the Fallen God .
Crockta said, “Yes, I will believe you . Then I will buy one more piece of information .
What is it?
“Do you know about the Temple of the Fallen God?
He looked at Crockta, not expecting this question .
Temple of the Fallen God… I dont have any information about it . The north is far beyond our influence . The north, a harsh land where ogres roamed freely and wyverns flew across the skies . “I know the approximate location since it isnt hard to find . I can get it from anywhere . Ill give it to you for free .
“Thank you .
“Do you mean to go to the north?
Crockta nodded . The man looked at Crockta . Tattoos everywhere and a burly body . An excellent greatsword . It was the appearance of a powerful man worthy of the rumors . He was qualified to head north .
When you came back from the north, I will have information about the Thawing Balhae Clan ready . The man grinned .
“I understand . The current information has been sent to the mailbox of the Blacksmith Company .
The information guild already knew that Crockta had an account . Crockta had only made it today because of Stella, yet they already knew . It meant an information source existed inside the Blacksmith Company . Maybe it was Stellas intern .
Crockta nodded and got up . The man spoke, “If you are going to the north then you might want to find out more information from Quantes .
Quantes was a city located on the fringes of the north . Crockta entered the name Quantes in his head .
Crockta climbed the stairs with the owner and entered the pub, where the previous pub customers were still present . They looked between Crockta and the pub owner with excitement in their eyes .
“What, no blows were exchanged?
“He looks fine .
The customers said with disappointment .
Crockta spoke to the information guild employee and owner of the pub, Hey .
……?
He glanced at Crockta for a moment . It was a signal to not say anything about the information guild . But Crockta wasnt trying to talk about that .
“A roasted pig, is it possible to get that here?
“……!”
The pub customers were stunned by Crocktas words .
“I would like to eat a whole roasted pig .
The pub owner looked at Crockta with surprise before laughing . Can you afford it?
“Of course . ”
Crockta looked at the customers who laughed at him and said, “Its different from eating a sandwich that only contains a few pieces of pork .
“……!”
Their faces distorted but they couldnt make any excuses .
The pub owner went into the kitchen to prepare a roasted pig . In a corner of the kitchen, there was a complete pig barbecue system with ventilation . He placed a pig on a skewer and started cooking it . The great smell of pork filled the inside of the pub .
Hum hum . We will be going .
Yes .
“Eat deliciously, orc brother .
The customers drank the remaining alcohol and tried to escape the pub like they were running away . Crockta called after them .
Hey, you guys .
“Yes…?
They looked back at Crockta . Crockta gestured to the kitchen and asked . Arent you going to eat?
“……!”
They came to a stop . Thats right . The orc was a man .
They laughed and teased him about strawberry juice, but a real man wouldnt care . He forgot all about earlier and invited them without any hesitation . It wouldnt be manly if they refused the invitation .
“This is…we have lost .
“Orc, you are a real man .
“I met a decent male . Kikikik .
They turned around again . Together with Crockta, they ate pork and drank wine . The pub owner joined them at a later time .
The communion between men!
It was the last dinner that Crockta enjoyed before heading to the north to find the Temple of the Fallen God .
Praise the Orc:
Current schedule: Next Patreon goal has been reached!! Thank you for the support . There will now be 14 chapters a week, meaning two chapters every day .