Praise the Orc! Chapter 34:
Chapter 34 – Contrast (1)
Crockta wasn’t impressed as he finally entered the elven city of Arnin .
Of course, everything was well organized . The scale of the buildings was enormous, and the beautiful elves smelling the leaves of the trees looked like the gods from Greek mythology . But it wasn’t any more grandiose than Orcrox Fortress . Apart from the elves’ buildings being whiter with their aesthetic tastes, the level of construction in the city was similar to that in Orcrox .
So he wasn’t impressed like the elf guiding him expected .
“It has been a long time since I’ve seen an orc . How about it, isn’t our city beautiful compared to what you are used to?”
Crockta nodded slightly .
“Look, this building is in the latest Bellitran style . It is an architectural style developed by the elf architect, Bellitran . It was a revolution . There was an uproar in the capital . To emphasize the depths…”
“Where is Ilya?
Crockta interrupted . The elf pouted with dissatisfaction .
“Don’t be in a hurry . Once you learn more about Arnin…”
“I didn’t come here to play . ”
Crockta looked around . There were only two species in Arnin, humans and elves . They were mostly elves, and occasionally humans could be seen . But most users were humans . In his eyes, they all seemed suspicious, like they were members of the Thawing Balhae Clan .
“Oh, you are urgent . Too urgent . I know why you came here, but you shouldn’t live like that . ”
“……”
“Okay . Follow me . ”
The elf raised a hand to Crockta’s shoulder . He turned away from the residential area of Arnin where they were walking into an alley between two buildings . The elf increased his pace . Arnin was filled with greenery, so it wasn’t hard to keep up with his movements . He jumped between trees like a monkey and led Crockta to a hidden place in the city .
Soon, an entire forest was revealed . There was a lush forest inside the city . As the elf ran through the forest, his form temporarily couldn’t be seen . Crockta sped up as he headed in the direction that the elf had disappeared .
It was a while before Crockta caught up with him again . The elf was sitting at a round wooden table in the middle of the forest .
“This place?”
“I have fond childhood memories here . It is also a safe place . ”
The elf grinned .
“I am Ilya . ”
“I guessed so . ”
“Is that so? Huhu . I was surprised when Derek suddenly said he would help me… It is even more surprising that the person sent is an orc . ”
He waved his hand . The magic power swayed and a few leaves fell into his hands . He arranged them on top of the table . “Our objective is the same, so let’s join hands . ”
“Please explain in detail . ”
“You want to get rid of the group of cursed people called Thawing Balhae . I want to get rid of the corrupt people who colluded with Thawing Balhae and establish a clean order in Arnin . ”
“Corrupt?”
“Who is the corrupt person?”
Ilya placed three leaves on the round table and picked up one of them . It had a hole in it from where a worm had bitten through . Ilya raised it to his eyes . His blue eyes were visible through the hole .
“Arnin’s mayor, Elsanad . ”
Crockta nodded . He recalled Derek’s voice .
‘I have planned a few investments on the premise that you are successful in your revenge . ’
Derek was betting on the collapse of the Arnin mayor . Crockta looked into Ilya’s eyes . Derek was absolutely not a good person . It was hard to believe in Ilya if he had a good relationship with Derek .
Ilya shrugged .
“All you have to do is hit the Thawing Balhae Clan with me . I will take care of the rest, so don’t worry . ”
“…Um . ”
But Crockta wasn’t a good person either . His goal was a **** revenge . Therefore, he would join hands with Ilya for the collapse of a common enemy .
“I understand . ”
“It sounds like you have decided to do it together with me, so let me explain in more detail . ”
Ilya placed a hand on the round table . Suddenly, the wind blew away the leaves .
“In the past, Mayor Elsanad and I were friends . She was a dear friend of mine . ”
His eyes became distant as he recalled the past .
“We once wanted to make Arnin a happy place for everyone . We were young . I helped her to become the mayor . However, she gradually changed . After getting the taste of power, she changed . Now she isn’t the Elsanad that I knew anymore . ”
“Is this related to the Thawing Balhae Clan?”
“Of course . She is conspiring with those cursed by the stars called Thawing Balhae…they started elf trafficking and the reconstruction of the city . ”
“……”
“The people you want to kill are the dogs of Mayor Elsanad, the ones enjoying profit from her . Here, let me show you . ”
Ilya beckoned to the air . Then two elves walked out from among the bushes . Crockta wasn’t surprised since he had noticed them . Ilya introduced them, “They are my friends . ”
“It is nice to meet you . ”
“Nice to meet you . ”
They greeted Crockta . They felt something unusual in the orc’s eyes . Crockta greeted them .
“Are you alive? I am the orc Crockta . ”
Ilya explained Crockta’s words . “This is an orc greeting . ”
The two elves moved . The group left the forest where the round table was located, heading in the opposite direction from the way Crockta entered .
Crockta frowned as he saw the landscape outside of the forest . It was far from the glamorous Arnin that he saw earlier . There were crumbling buildings and houses that were just barely keeping their shape . These were the streets of the poor . It was like looking at the back alleys of Anail .
“I showed you Arnin’s sunny spot earlier, while this is Arnin’s shade . Nobody cares about this place . ”
Suddenly, there was a disturbance . Ilya placed his finger to his lips in a ‘shh’ gesture . They approached the place through some shade .
“……!”
Crockta’s eyes widened .
A group of humans were kidnapping an elf in front of an old house . The elf’s mouth was covered with a towel and her body restrained so that she couldn’t move . The captured elf was twisting her body to resist, but she couldn’t go against the strength of many . A kidnapping was taking place in broad daylight .
“Damn!”
Crockta tried to run out . However, Ilya grabbed Crockta . His body was greatly shaking . Ilya looked startled as he saw Crockta’s arm trembling .
“Calm down . ”
“Look at that…!”
“I know where they are going . ”
“……!”
“They are the small fries . Taking care of them will just make their leaders more vigilant . We must wipe them all out . ”
The kidnappers disappeared with the elf . Crockta took deep breaths to try and calm his anger .
“You have a strong sense of justice . I’m really surprised . ”
“……”
Ilya said, “Hang in there . I also want to save her right now . But numerous other women, children, and men have disappeared this way . We have to save them as well . ”
“Doesn’t Arnin have security forces or guards?”
“They do, but they don’t come here . It is an abandoned area . ”
“……”
“One or two people will disappear and the empty houses will become a rich elven villa . ”
He pointed to a distant place . New buildings were going up in that area . Elves and humans alike were sweating as they built a mansion . It was strange comparing the large building to the old and ruined houses .
Crockta asked,
“What about the kidnapped people?”
“There are only a few options . Sold into slavery, selling their bodies, or worse . ”
Ilya placed an arm over Crockta’s shoulder .
“I also feel the emotions that you are currently feeling . ”
They looked around the slums for a while before entering the center of Arnin through the forest . It was a stunning city compared to the streets that he had just seen . Elves were smiling as they walked the streets, looking like they were from photographs of famous brands .
But it no longer looked beautiful to Crockta .
“I’ll introduce you to the inn where you will be staying for the time being . ”
“When will the plan begin?”
“Tomorrow, or maybe as early as tonight . ”
Crockta nodded .
“I know that orc warriors are tough, but there are many enemies . Be well prepared . ”
Ilya guided Crockta to his accommodations . It was a small inn located on the corner of the main street . The owner was an old friend of Ilya’s . He was surprised to see an orc but nodded at Ilya’s description . Then he welcomed Crockta .
“It is the first time I will have an orc guest, hahahat! You are really big and strong . Elves aren’t like this . Kuhuhuhut!”
Despite being an elf, the owner had rugged muscles . There were a few muscular people among the elves .
“Yes, aren’t you a little bit heavy? What is your weight? Is it three times mine? Hahat!”
“……”
“Next time, you should exercise with me . Hahat!”
Ilya paid for the inn .
Crockta put down his luggage, left the inn, and looked around Arnin . The rare appearance of an orc drew the attention of the elves . Crockta ignored their gazes and reached the fountain in the center of the main street .
“Can I ask you one thing?”
He talked to a young man sitting idly at the fountain . He was a human and he seemed to be thinking as he stared into the air . Then he looked startled as Crockta appeared .
“Wow, an orc! How surprising . What did you want to know?”
“What is Mayor Elsanad like?”
“Elsanad? She is an excellent mayor . She has made Arnin prosperous . ”
“Is that so?”
“I hope she will be elected again . There is an upcoming election . I will vote as a citizen of Arnin . ”
Crockta nodded .
“So she has no problems?”
“Problem… I heard that she’s worried that her daughter isn’t listening to her . Why? Do you want citizenship here?”
“Something similar . ”
“Haha, Arnin is a livable city . Welcome . ”
“I will think about it . By the way, what were you thinking about so intently just now?”
“Ah…in fact…” The young man struggled to open his mouth . “The person I love…how to… I want to confess…what do you think about expressing my heart publicly? Would you be impressed?”
“……”
“I’m going to do a surprise event after calling her . I’ll make a heart with candles and serenade her, singing publicly in front of many people… . ”
Crockta shook his head . “Get rid of that . ”
“…Huh?”
“Listen to my words . ”
“T-Then…”
“Rather than a spectacular event, your sincerity will work better . ”
“…Ah…”
“It is better to confess your heart when the both of you are alone . ”
Like this, he saved the life of the young man . Crockta finished the conversation and got up from his spot .
Something had been irritating him from the beginning . Crockta turned his head . There was an elf looking at him from the middle of a crowd . He smiled as he noticed Crockta’s gaze . Crockta approached him .
It was Ilya .
“Are you following me?”
“Yes, something like that . Please understand . Derek sent you, but I can’t trust you straight away . ”
He cleared his throat and placed an arm around Crockta’s shoulder . Then he lowered his voice . “I heard your conversation with that young man . ”
“……”
“Just like that young man, Arnin’s citizens are being deceived . Everybody thinks she is a good person . The truth is…what we saw . The awful truth . ”
Crockta and Ilya moved with their shoulders close to each other . As Crockta walked a little bit, he saw Ilya’s colleagues . They whispered something to Ilya .
“The date is decided . Tonight, we will move . ”
“……”
“I will stop by the inn at midnight . I’ll see you then . Please be prepared . ”
Crockta nodded . Ilya licked his lips before saying something else . “Right now, your anger at their misdeeds is vivid . I have been waiting for someone with a strong sense of justice like you to come . ”
He grinned . “Arnin needs people like you . Welcome . Then…”
He disappeared into the crowd with his group .
Crockta considered his words . A sense of justice . It didn’t fit at all . He was angry at the scene, but that didn’t mean that it was due to a sense of justice . Crockta looked in the direction that Ilya had disappeared in for a while . His eyes blazed .
He just had common sense .