Praise the Orc! Chapter 197:
Chapter 197 – Like a Slave, Like a King (1)
Crockta’s group left the great forest . They were in the territory of the orcs . Although the forest was still thick, it wasn’t as dangerous as the great forest area . As they passed through the forest, animals like deer and rabbits stared at them .
“A nostalgic landscape . ” Crockta muttered .
This was the scenery he saw when he was on his way to Grant to defeat the mutant wolves, his first assignment from Lenox . If they kept heading north, they would soon reach Orcrox .
“It has been a long time since I’ve been to Orcrox, so it feels good . ” Zankus said . Crockta laughed .
“Don’t be excited, we are going to war . ”
“That makes me more excited . ”
“Kulkul, me too . It is exciting!”
Both orcs expressed confidence in the following battle .
“An incredible number of enemies will probably come . ”
“It doesn’t matter . If there are 10,000 people, hunt 10,000 people . If there are one million people, hunt one million people . ”
“If the gods come?”
Zankus smiled, “I will hunt a **** . ”
An absurd remark! But they were Zankus, the hunter who penetrated the sun, and Crockta, the warrior who conquered the north and stopped the empire . It wasn’t arrogant to say this . Crockta and Zankus weren’t bragging, but talking about their aspirations in the future war .
“I see something dot . ” Tiyo shouted .
As he said, there was something . An adult’s figure could be seen from behind the bushes . As they approached, the appearance became clearer .
“This…?”
It was an elf . But it wasn’t an ordinary elf .
“What the **** is this guy dot?”
“It isn’t an ordinary elf . ”
“A little… No, the elf is very strange . ”
The elf, dressed in splendid clothing, was sitting on the rock and thinking about something . He failed to notice Crockta’s group approaching him because he was deep in thought . The figure of the elf was clearly like Rodin’s ‘The Thinker!’
But unlike the naked sculpture, his outside was beautiful and colorful . The silk and gold threads made him look as luxurious as the emperor . It was a strange appearance that didn’t match the forest .
“You over there . ” Crockta said as he approached . But there was no answer .
“Hey dot!” Tiyo shouted . The elf didn’t panic at the sudden yell . He raised a hand from his chin . It was a signal to keep quiet . However, Tiyo couldn’t .
“What are you doing dot?”
“……”
“Hey? Can you hear me dot?”
The elf, who had his eyes closed, sighed and got up . His clothing flowed downwards . “There are two kinds of people in the world . A person who interferes with someone’s thoughts, and a person who leaves them alone . ”
“Did we bother you dot?”
“I didn’t say that . But at the very least, I can’t let it go . ” His quiet voice had an air of dignity . They met an unusual person in the forest .
“What happened?” Then the bushes rustled and one more person appeared . An orc warrior . He stood next to the elf and faced Crockta’s group .
“No, who are you?” The orc asked .
“That is what we want to ask dot!”
An orc stood beside an elf . The combination of the luxuriously dressed elf and the orc warrior with the weapon was curious, like a nobleman and the servant who served him .
The orc rolled his eyes and introduced himself . “I am Arakunta, who is accompanying this person . A warrior . ”
“The elf?”
The elf didn’t open his mouth . The orc explained . “We met in the forest . I don’t know his name . ”
“What is your relationship dot? The combination of elf and orc is strange . ”
“Your group is also strange but…” The orc shrugged . “I am on my way to Orcrox . I think that you are the same . Not long ago, there was an absurd divine message about the orcs being attacked . ”
Crockta nodded . “Yes . We are on our way to meet the enemies of Orcrox . ”
“I am doing the same . Although immature, I am still a warrior recognized by Hoyt and Tashaquil! I can’t stay still . ”
Hoyt had become the warrior instructor after Lenox . In other words, Arakunta was a warrior younger than Crockta .
Crockta smiled warmly . “How brave! Truly an orc warrior, Arakunta!”
“Kulkulkul . It is nothing, Senior!” Arakunta already noticed that Crockta was a more experienced warrior than him . “Anyway, I was going to Orcrox because of that, and was surrounded by ogres when passing through the great forest . It would be different if there was one, but there were too many for me . ”
Ogres were classified as some of the most dangerous among the creatures . There weren’t many monsters stronger than ogres, but they weren’t the top predators because of their small numbers . Being able to face one ogre alone already made him a great warrior .
Of course, Crockta’s group were an exception because they had already gone beyond the normal level .
“Then this elf saved me . ”
“This elf dot?”
“Yes . He is a quiet person with many thoughts, but he has great strength . He defeated the ogres in an instant . He followed me once I said I was heading to Orcrox . I just took a few minutes to hunt . ”
Crockta’s group looked at the elf . There was something about him apart from his unique appearance . Crockta felt something unknown from him . There was a sense of familiarity about him . It felt like he had seen the gaze that penetrated inside him before . However, this was definitely the first time he saw the elf .
Crockta stared at him and asked, “Anyway, it is nice to meet you . What is your name? I am Crockta . As you can see, I am an orc warrior . ”
The reaction came from the side .
“Crockta…!”
Arakunta’s eyes widened . Crockta was the envy of all newbie warriors . The last person trained by legendary instructor Lenox, the apprentice warrior who grew up and quickly became the strongest orc . His name was all over the continent . In particular, the story that he attacked the imperial army alone and eventually destroyed it with his friends was heard in every ear .
“Are you really the ‘Northern Conqueror’ and ‘Empire’s Deficit’ Crockta?” Arakunta asked .
“It is the first time I’ve heard of ‘Empire’s Deficit’ but I am definitely the ‘Northern Conqueror . ’”
“Ohh, Crockta! It is an honor to meet you!” Arakunta approached him for a huge and to shake hands . Crockta laughed and accepted him . “Then the people here…”
Arakunta looked at Tiyo and Anor in turn .
“The famous two people who are always with Crockta…! No wonder why the combination was strange!”
Tiyo and Anor pricked their ears . Arakunta pointed at Anor with shaking shoulders and shouted .
“Then this dark elf! You are the lord of the dead, ‘Death’s Ruler’ Anor!”
“……!”
Anor looked awkward . He hadn’t used his necromancy often after coming down to the continent . Nevertheless, his reputation increased as he traveled with Crockta and such a great title ended up attached to him .
“If so, this small gnome!”
“Hehet, yes, I am that gnome dot!”
Tiyo shrugged .
“Magic Bullets Berserker!”
“W-What dot?”
“When a battle is going on, there is a rampage of magic bullets, ‘Magic Bullets Berserker’ Tiyo!”
Tiyo’s mouth twisted . He didn’t seem to like the expression ‘berserker . ’
Tiyo cleared his throat and said . “Hum hum . Well, rather than that expression…merciless shooter…storm bombardment…”
But Arakunta had already turned away . “These two I know, but Orc, what is your name? You look like a hunter . ”
He examined Zankus . His tone was polite because he realized Zankus wasn’t an ordinary hunter after seeing the huge bow . “Is your name perhaps…”
Zankus shrugged at Arakunta, “Zankus . ”
“Z-Z-Z-Zankus!”
Arakunta was thrilled as he looked at Crockta’s group .
“Crockta and his friends, as well as the legendary hunter who shot down the sun, ‘Sun Killer’ Zankus! That is a really huge arrow! I will have no regrets, even if I die today!”
He shook like Zankus’ arrow was pointed at him .
“Calm down . I’m not that great of an orc . ”
“What are you talking about? Zankus and Crockta are legendary orcs . I met legends today!”
Arakunta’s fussing continued .
“Hrmm…”
Crockta ignored Arakunta and looked at the elf . He hadn’t heard the name of the elf yet .
“Anyway, so what is your name?”
“Name…I can’t tell you my name . ” The elf replied .
Crockta raised his eyebrows .
“What an expensive person . ”
“We aren’t going to stay together long, so there is no need to know my name . ”
“I see . Are you going to Orcrox?”
“No . ”
“Then where?”
“I’m not going anywhere . ”
His words were like a zen riddle .
“Then?”
“Until when is the right question . I will walk until I find the answer . ”
“Umm…”
“If you are heading to Orcrox, we should go together . ”
The elf wanted to join Crockta’s group .
This elf had a strange head His clothing wasn’t that of a warrior, but he was a magician strong enough to defeat ogres . There were plenty of magicians who became strange due to their long research . The elf probably belonged in that category .
“Crockta! Let’s go to Orcrox together!” Arakunta’s eyes shone as he exclaimed .
Crockta looked back at his party . Everybody shrugged .
“Well…there is no reason to reject dot . ”
“It doesn’t matter . ”
“Huhu, I will show you my skills dot!”
Thus, Crockta was accompanied by the novice warrior Arakunta and the unidentified elf .
***
Aklan’s expedition was cruising . A few unexpected places declined but it was heading in a positive direction .
The number of volunteers increased as the faithful and temples continued to participate . Nobles and knights who wanted to build merits also joined the expedition . There were too many people, so he had to divide the command .
“The Blacksmith Company declined the deal,” Aklan said as he marched beside Adandator .
They were near Arnin, the city of elves .
“Why?”
“It is the result of the meeting they called . ”
“It is about trust . The orcs . ”
Aklan scratched his head . “Well, it isn’t a big deal . We can find another company before the battle . There is time . Ask the Thompson Company; its headquarters in Anail are right in front of Orcrox . ”
“You should find out more . ” Adandator said while swinging his blade through the air . “There are many unexpected things . Who knows what will happen in the future . Don’t you know? Perhaps Crockta has a relationship with Thompson . ”
“……”
Aklan imagined it . It seemed possible .
As he organized the expedition and moved across the continent, he had to face Crockta’s trail . In fact, Aklan didn’t know much about Crockta . Before appearing in the south, the gods had whispered ‘Northern Conqueror’ and he was ‘Empire’s Deficit’ after fighting the empire . That was all he knew .
However, Crockta had many achievements outside the south . The people praised him . It was an act difficult to imagine with a person colluding with the gray **** .
“If that is the case…”
“Don’t worry about it . ”
Someone said from behind him .
It was one of the nobles who joined the expedition . He ruled a small territory in the east . Rather than volunteering because of faith, he wanted to increase his reputation and earn some of the profit from this expedition .
“Peros . ”
“Anail has a very dangerous man . ”
“Dangerous man?”
“He rules the underworld there . A man who runs Anail and exerts influence throughout the continent . The king of the back alleys . ” He smiled . “Even Thompson can’t fight him in Anail . And I am familiar with the king of Anail . I did something for him before, and his work is thorough . I’ll ask him to stop Thompson from refusing the deal . ”
“He is a criminal . ”
“Of course, the worst villain and cold-blooded . But in this case, a villain is the strongest ally . Thompson can’t resist him . ”
Aklan fell silent . While it would be better if the deal with the Thompson Company were successful, he was unwilling to hold hands with a criminal .
Adandator asked instead of Aklan . “What is his name?”
“Derek . ”
“I’ve heard it somewhere before . Then, please ask . ”
“Please leave it to me . I will send a messenger down . It will be a quick horse . ”
A cooperation with Derek was established . Aklan declared, “But we are are an expedition that follows the gods’ will . Holding hands with such a person…”
“You are a very stiff person . ”
Peros frowned . Adandator also winked at him .
“Everybody…”
Aklan sighed, “Do you think so as well?”
Aklan looked back at the army following him . Numerous gazes were gathered on him, They were the heads of the expedition moving with them . The nobles and commanders, as well as Aklan and Adandator . They nodded as he listened to the conversation .
“If there is light, shadows have to exist . Please leave it to us this time . ”
“We need to be as prepared as possible . The orcs are tough opponents . ”
“There is a secular way of life . We need to use everything possible . :
Even the priests of the other temples closed their eyes . It was unspoken consent . He couldn’t go against the majority opinion . Aklan once again felt nervous about the expedition . There was an anxiety that kept stabbing at his stomach .
Yes, it was present since Maillard .
‘All of them admire Crockta . ’
It was the same at Chesswood .
‘Listen carefully, Crockta is our hero!’
He once again deeply sighed .
“…I understand . ”
Peros gave an order to his deputy, who headed to the rear . Within a short time, a messenger rose away from the army . Aklan felt heavier with every step . He wanted to stop this . But, he didn’t stop . Numerous volunteers were following behind Aklan . Now he couldn’t stop .
He moved forward like he was pushed . Adandator, Peros, the other nobles who were shoulder-to-shoulder with him . Aklan stepped forward like he was caught in their wave . The momentum of the crowd didn’t stop . He couldn’t tell whether he was leading them or being pushed by them .