Praise the Orc! Chapter 181:
Chapter 181 – Slayer Maker (1)
Crockta informed Guardi, the leader of Katalu, and quietly escaped the city . It was to get rid of the fans and users following them .
“It is like going back to the beginning . ”
“Huhu, I think so as well dot . ”
Crockta headed north to find the Temple of the Fallen God, while Tiyo wanted to find his father . It was the beginning of destiny . He’d met Anor there, fought the great chieftain, and eventually conquered the north . Next was the south . He’d met an Alaste knight there and learned about the empire’s ambitions . Then he rescued the city from an army .
They had been through many things . Now, they were heading on a new path . Their goal was the west . It contained the magnificent Orcrox and Basque, as well as the mountain cities of the orcs . There were a wide variety of orcs present in unknown territory on the continent . Beyond that was Geherad .
Geherad was the ancient word for ‘last fire . ’
“The last fire, is it an incredibly hot place dot?”
“Tsk . Think about it . It would be something figurative . ”
“What do you think when you hear last fire dot? Heat!”
“Not that . Um… passion? A place where passionate people live?”
***
They walked for a long time after leaving Katalu . After heading north-east from Katalu, a great forest appeared . From there, it was a long march to Geherad .
“I see it . ”
There was a small village at the entrance of the forest . It was commonly known as the ‘resting area . ’
“Be careful . I heard rumors that the prices are expensive dot . ”
“It’s okay . Crockta is rich . ”
“Indeed, there is a saying that a friend’s money is our money dot . ”
“…It is the first time I’ve heard that . ”
The great forest was a rough place . However, there were adventures, treasures, and magic hidden throughout . There was also a city like Geherad, where mysterious species lived . That’s why adventurers who wanted to enter the forest stayed at this village for a while . They could gain equipment, information, and companions from the village . The great forest was a tough place, so it was advantageous to have as many people as possible .
There were adventurers shaking placards at the entrance of the village .
[Recruiting people to explore Darunen Dungeon . ]
[Looking for people to hunt trolls . ]
[Looking for an adventurer to accompany me to Seoru Academy . ]
[Looking for people with courage . ]
They were all gathering people . Many showed interest in Crockta’s party . There was a dignified orc warrior, a gnome with a mysterious artifact, and an unknown hooded person, who gave off dark energy . They seemed strong and skillful . The adventurers waved their placards towards the party with eager eyes . Everyone was preparing to enter the forest for various purposes .
Crockta’s party didn’t respond and headed straight into the village . There were inns, restaurants, and equipment stores all over . Houses for residential purposes were rare . In other words, most of the villagers were wanderers .
“We will stay the day and head off tomorrow . ”
“Good dot . ”
They didn’t need another party member, so they headed straight to an inn . It cost a lot to stay for just one day . Then at that moment…
A man holding a placard was staring at them from the entrance to the inn . A bearded dwarf . He looked at Tiyo, who was a similar height to him, and then at Anor and Crockta . Then he moved his placard closer .
[Geherad . ]
There was only a brief description of his destination . He was already confident they were going to the same place after hearing the conversation that went on within Crockta’s group . However, his shabby appearance didn’t fit that of a dwarf .
Tiyo and Anor shook their heads, while Crockta avoided eye contact . They ignored him and tried to enter the inn . Then the dwarf opened his mouth to say,
“Going to Geherad will be useless . ”
Crockta’s party stopped walking .
The dwarf said, “The one you are looking for isn’t there . ”
Crockta looked at the dwarf . He seemed to already know the purpose of Crockta’s group . Perhaps he knew about Hedor .
Crockta asked, “What are you talking about? Do you know Hedor?”
“Hedor?” The dwarf was confused . “It is the first time I’ve heard that name . I don’t know who he is, but he won’t be enough . ”
The momentary conversation paused . What was the dwarf talking about? Crockta’s group looked at each other . Something was strange .
Crockta spoke again, “You said that you know why we are going to Geherad…”
“Of course . ”
“What do you think the reason is?”
“Um…?” The dwarf seemed to have noticed something was strange as he pointed to Crockta . “Aren’t you going to fix that?”
“What are you talking about? Fix?”
“You are heading to Geherad without knowing anything?” The dwarf sighed . “Foolish warrior!”
“What are you saying? Please explain . ”
Tiyo tugged at Crockta and Anor’s sleeves .
“Ignore him dot . He is just a weird dwarf, a crazy dwarf . ”
“My mind is fine, gnome with an undignified expression!”
“What dot! Crazy dwarf!”
Anor gently stopped Tiyo . The dwarf sighed, “You really don’t know anything . Warrior . Listen carefully . ” He pointed to Ogre Slayer on Crockta’s back . “Your weapon is on the brink of breaking . ”
“……!”
Crockta’s eyes widened . Then he reflexively grabbed the handle of Ogre Slayer . It felt heavy in his hands . That dwarf said that Ogre Slayer was on the verge of breaking down . There was a problem with the work of the Golden Anvil Clan? Crockta couldn’t believe it .
“You are a great warrior . I can feel it . You might’ve become stronger through many battlefields, but the sword has continued to be damaged . ”
He had a point . Ever since Crockta received this as a gift from Thompson in Anail, he hadn’t changed weapons even once . In the meantime, he had dealt with countless monsters and enemies . A conventional weapon would’ve already been destroyed . However, Crockta had always taken care of Ogre Slayer and brought it to blacksmiths . Yet a shabby dwarf was saying this to him out of nowhere, so he couldn’t accept it .
“I entrusted it to a blacksmith every time a fight ended . ”
“Yes, you left it to a blacksmith . That is the problem . ”
“How come?”
“An ordinary blacksmith can’t handle Ogre Slayer . ”
“……!”
Crockta’s eyes widened . This dwarf knew that the greatsword was named Ogre Slayer .
“Who are you?”
Crockta held Ogre Slayer . The dwarf nodded fearlessly at the blade which Crockta held . There was a faint smile on his face .
“I am a craftsman of the Golden Anvil Clan, Zakiro . ”
He was a member of the Golden Anvil Clan . However, this wasn’t the end .
“I am the one who created Ogre Slayer, the Slayer Maker . ”
***
“Your Majesty . This divine message is strange . ”
Duke Christian said . He was the one who had caused the emperor to become close to the Heaven and Earth Clan . He was also the one with the greatest power in the empire, maybe even more than the emperor . The kingdom could become an empire due to Duke Christian manipulating it from behind .
After the Heaven and Earth Clan disappeared, Duke Christian rarely left his estate . However, he came to Akantor after hearing news about the divine message .
“Please think carefully . ”
“I followed your cautious words and lost most of the troops . ” Akantor said sarcastically .
However, Christian wasn’t agitated . “It was Your Majesty’s choice to strike Crockta . ”
“Are you really saying that?”
“Isn’t it?”
Christian shot back . Emperor Akantor… The only person able to question him was Duke Christian .
Akantor’s lips twisted as he smiled, “Yes, let’s say that . ”
“I believe you understand my point . ”
“So, I should refuse the temples . ”
“The empire isn’t a place ruled by the gods . It is only Your Majesty who can decide on war . ”
“You speak well . ”
“I have always been loyal . Please listen to me, Your Majesty . ”
“So, what is wrong with this? I don’t know about matters regarding the gods . But this is an opportunity to get rid of Crockta who insulted the empire, as well as the dirty orcs . Does the duke think otherwise?”
Christian closed his eyes .
Of course, it was a tempting offer . In addition to the empire, all the species on the continent, including the elves and dwarves, had received this divine message . If they joined together, they could destroy the orcs without much damage . If Crockta was killed, the empire’s fallen honor would be rebuilt . However, they needed to be careful .
“Mogsulin was at the fight on the plains . ”
“I heard he was watching from a distance . ”
Mogsulin was the magician who had stopped Crockta and saved Keynes . He was the genius who was the most powerful magician in the empire, and Duke Christian’s most beloved follower .
“He can borrow the power of the gods . Therefore, he has a great deal of knowledge about the gods . ”
“A magician who can borrow the power of the gods?”
“He has the ability to interact with them . Anyway, he felt something at that time and learned that the gods were watching Crockta . ”
Mogsulin had sensed a power that shouldn’t be present in Crockta .
“That is why the gods are trying to kill Crockta and the orcs . ”
“What is that power?”
“The power of the fallen **** . ”
“It is the first time I’ve heard of it . ”
“It is dangerous . We must be cautious as long as the power of the fallen **** is involved . She is the worst being who drove the world to the brink of destruction . ”
Christian gazed at Akantor with serious eyes . Akantor sighed . Christian was the real power of the empire . Simultaneously, he was his mother’s brother, or in other words, his uncle . His strength was manipulation, but sometimes he gave sincere advice .
“Then shouldn’t we do something before the situation worsens?”
“We will have no obligation to . ”
“Isn’t the world in danger because of Crockta and the orcs?”
“Your Majesty is still pure . ” Christian laughed . Akantor’s face distorted . “It doesn’t matter if it is dangerous . The orcs live in the northwest of the continent . The elves, dwarves, and gnomes will receive the damage first . ”
“……”
“Then when the time comes, the gods will come out in person . They leave troublesome things to the mortals, but once the damage is too large, they will use their power . ”
Akantor nodded . “The gods… It seems like a distant story . ”
“They are insignificant . They are merely mighty beings who call themselves gods and follow their own desires . ”
“So, you’re saying we don’t need to exhaust our strength and should just watch . If nothing happens, it is good . If the other species are damaged, it is beneficial to us . ”
“That’s right . ” Christian looked at Akantor with gentle eyes . “Keep this in mind . There is no joint responsibility in this world . A battle is divided between the loser and the winner . In this case, there is no loss from not participating . ”
“I understand . ” Akantor nodded .
Once Christian thought the emperor was convinced, he bowed and left the room . Now that Akantor was alone, he rubbed his chin . Christian’s words made sense . However, it was clear that Christian had failed to grasp the power of the ‘gods . ’ The gods weren’t so convenient to deal with .
Akantor muttered, “I wish it was that easy…”