Chapter 110: Orcs
TL: Potato-tan
Proofreader: Asianpotato
Jess walked up to Russell, who was smoking a cigarette.
“Cough, cough. Oof. You smoke something pretty strong, don’t you?”
“It’s not that strong. Want to try one?”
“No, thank you.”
Russell didn’t offer a second time. He had bought plenty of cigarettes while he was in Errandis, so he still had a lot left. All of them were not ordinary cigarettes but were filled with ground-up magical herbs, called magical herbs, that grew by absorbing magic. As a result, blue particles danced in the smoke billowing from his mouth.
“Feeling good?”
“Well, it’s a mood changer.”
The two of them stood side by side for a moment, looking at the street outside Dancing Bear.
The moon was high in the completely darkened night sky. The blue moon waned and then waxed again. The sky was filled with scattered stars.
Below, merchants who had not yet closed up for the night were loudly hawking their wares, trying to attract passersby.
The weather was slightly humid and hot. It was not just because of the season, but also because of the heat emanating from the people in the city.
Carriages went back and forth, making clinking sounds on the neatly laid flagstones. Some were pulling carts, while others were large ones carrying people.
The street gradually became brighter. The brothels, inns, taverns, and pubs that started their night business lit the lanterns hanging on the walls of their buildings.
There was a young man holding a long stick, with two rows of tin cans filled with red-hot charcoal hanging on either side, a woman carrying a bundle wrapped in a cloth on her head, and middle-aged men heading towards a tavern after a day’s work.
Russell looked at the people, taking a deep drag of his cigarette.
Even though the world was different, life wasn’t that different. They all lived with their own thoughts, beliefs, and ideologies, and they were all steadily walking towards their destined deaths.
The road was equal for everyone. Whether they walked, ran, or crawled, The issue stemmed from individuals who had the ability to arbitrarily cut off or block the road. Those things always caused trouble.
And Russell knew that for such troublemakers, fists and sharp knives were always the best solution.
“You came out because you have something to say.”
Russell said this without turning his head. Jess’s gaze fell on Russell’s profile, and then he looked away.
Actually, he had felt something strange from the moment he first met Jess. He had formally become a paladin, but even so, it was less than a year since he had been appointed, and yet he was on a solo mission.
He knew that paladins moved in groups of two or three, unless there were special circumstances. As expected, Jess began to speak.
“Actually, I have another reason for coming to Latham. It’s about Hailyn-nim.”
“Is there a problem?”
“Yes. Specifically, the issue lies in the fact that I’m unsure about the nature of the problem.
“What do you mean?”
“Hailyn-nim’s last known location a month ago was here. And then he disappeared without a trace.”
“Hailyn is missing.”
Russell’s eyes narrowed. Hailyn. Hailyn Gracias. He was the only brother of Elenora Gracias, one of the candidates for the saintess, and a paladin of the Church of Light.
He first encountered him while engaged in combat with a mutated creature, a hybrid of ghouls. He was a knight who was skilled in handling a shield and sword, and who could wield powerful divine power. And yet, he had disappeared. Russell asked.
“How?”
“You know that piece of red stone that came out of the body of Herokeinin, the one we caught with Russell-nim’s help? He was investigating that stone and had set his destination for this place, but he suddenly stopped sending regular reports back to the church.
He unconsciously took a deeper drag, and his exhaled breath was thick. The remnants of magic within it touched the mana in the air, causing a blue glow to flicker before fading away.
“It’s called the Stone of Life.”
“Excuse me? What are you talking about?”
“The red stone. This is the same stone that emerged from Herokeinin’s body. In an instant, it transformed a mediocre wizard into a formidable warlock.
“That stone, you say?”
“Yes. And I’m here to see the face of the devil who’s spreading the knowledge of making that stone.”
Jess stared at Russell with wide eyes.
“The devil’s name is Geliotos. Is that a familiar name?”
“. . . . . . He’s a devil who’s been alive for a long time. No one knows how old he is, and even when we try to hunt him down, he hides so well that we can’t find his location. He’s a devil who hasn’t shown much of his presence until now. How did Russell-nim know about these facts?”
Russell glanced at the shadow at his feet and finished his cigarette.
“While traveling.”
Jess let out a dry laugh.
“I can’t even imagine the kind of journey you’ve been on.”
For a moment, silence hung in the air like smoke. Russell, who had been staring at the people coming and going even at night, exhaled the last of his smoke.
“Are you scared?”
“. . . . . .I would be lying if I said I wasn’t.”
Jess clenched his fists. He appeared incapable of ceasing his trembling until he took action.
“It’s my first mission. It’s possible that my senior is facing danger. If the statements made by Sarannen-nim or Russell-nim are accurate, they also have a connection to the devil. To be honest, I’m not confident.”
“How many people in the world live with certainty.”
Russell rubbed the remaining buttocks between his fingers. Because of the magic he emitted, the butt turned to dust and scattered.
“Just worrying won’t solve anything. You have to move.”
“. . . . . .I guess so.”
“Let’s go in.”
“Yes.”
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
Russell was standing in a three-person room. Kai was snoring in his sleep on the bed opposite him, and Aellasis, who had been lying on the bed next to him, was now clinging to Russell’s side in her sleep.
Russell, who had been up all night without a wink of sleep, suddenly looked out the window.
Outside, it was now almost dawn. The azure light was gradually turning the sky blue. Shadows were being defined by the light in the room that had been filled only with darkness. The brighter the light, the darker the shadows grew.
Clink.
Russell lowered his gaze slightly. A small bat was sitting on the window sill, not sure when it had arrived. Russell pushed Aellasis away from his side and opened the window.
The bat that flew in through the open window soon turned into a woman with a voluptuous figure and beautiful features, landing on the floor of the room.
“Russell.”
A low, soft, and seductive voice echoed. Russell nodded.
“How many?”
“A little over five hundred. The orcs are well prepared.”
“Where are they?”
“Right in front of you. By now, the guards must have noticed and sent word to the lord.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“What. It’s all part of the deal.”
Calia smiled slyly and nudged Russell. She pushed him all the way to the bed where Aellasis had been lying, laid him down, and climbed on top of him.
Russell quietly stroked Calia’s back. Soon, he felt her lips touch his neck, and then two adorable fangs pierced his vein.
She heard Russell swallow his Adam’s apple. Three minutes later, Calia lifted her head from Russell’s neck. Her face was full of ecstasy.
“Ah, ah. It’s so delicious. It’s thrilling.”
“Didn’t you drink too much?”
“I’ve been searching the forest for two days, so I deserve this much.”
At that moment, Russell sensed a swift step approaching the inn. Vandel, a knight wearing heavy armor, was there.
━Is there a guest named Russell here?
━Ah, Sir Vandel? What brings you here so early in the morning?
━It’s urgent! What floor is he on?
━Ah, he’s on the third floor. . .
After quickly rousing the attendant and obtaining the answer, Vandel proceeded up the stairs. Russell let Calia, who was still drunk on blood, get off him and out of bed.
Because of the commotion downstairs, he heard complaints from people who had woken up in their rooms while sleeping.
“Russell? What’s going on?”
“Yawn. . . . . .”
Kai and Aellasis were the same. As a warrior, Kai immediately started loosening the stiff muscles in his neck and shoulders, groaning.
“War.”
“Sir Russell! Are you here?”
The door opened with a bang, and Vandel appeared. He was wearing sturdy armor, and his face, unlike his helmet, was filled with terrible fear.
“The Lord is calling for you. The plan has changed.”
Russell said, even though he had guessed it.
“What’s going on?”
“Monsters. There are a huge number of monsters outside the outer wall.”
Latham’s outer wall consisted of five towers, each connected by an outer wall. The overall shape is close to a pentagon when viewed from above.
He ascended the spiral staircase to reach the gallery atop the wall. The lord, Tatiana, knights, and soldiers were already looking into the distance in the humid air.
None of their expressions were good. If they looked good in the middle of all this, it would be even weirder.
Monsters were making their way across the high and low plains of a terrain characterized by endless forests and hills. These creatures were not typically able to coexist in such close proximity.
But as Calia had taught him, powerful magic was controlling the monsters, and they were marching towards the territory.
Among the demon beasts and monsters, orcs were clearly visible, riding large wolves. Their numbers were surprisingly small.
Russell’s eyes shone as he looked at the orcs. Green-skinned giants, each with a large sword and ax, wearing crude leather armor. Some were even wearing animal heads as helmets, as if they had stripped them from demon beasts.
He had heard from Tumelun that there were four orc tribes in total. But there were only a few orc tribes present here. The only ones visible right now were a small group of orcs, presumably shamans, holding staffs, and warriors.
‘I heard that there were different opinions within the tribes.’
They had united to address the issue of their species’ extinction, but if the solution required them to align with the devil, they would undoubtedly hesitate.
“You’ve come.”
Lord Tatiana, who had finished arming herself, said when she saw Russell coming up. Her face was deeply worried.
“Since the situation has become like this, it’s going to be difficult to organize a hunting party.”
The lord’s voice trembled. She must be prepared to die. The other knights and soldiers standing next to her were the same.
“Dragon Slayer. I understand that you fought a similar battle in Calisden last year. Could you give me some advice?”
Russell touched the wall. It was an old wall. It looked sturdy from the outside, but when he came inside, he could see how old it was. Although he could see broken and cracked parts here and there, the repair seemed insufficient.
“Proceed with the hunting party as planned.”
“. . . . . . What?”
Russell turned his gaze away from the wall as he heard the lord’s question. He saw a sinister vortex of magic, faintly visible even to his magical eyes. It emanated from a group of orc shamans, particularly the one in the center.
“However, the hunting party has a set number of members.
“. . . . . .Who are they?”
“It’s me and Kai.”
And before anyone could stop him, Russell jumped off the wall. He heard screams and groans from behind, but he didn’t care.
Even though he jumped from the high wall, he landed on the ground without a sound. It was a combination of amazing balance, physical ability, and magic manipulation.
Kai, with brown skin, followed, landing with a thud. He rubbed his ankle, which was tingling, and walked over.
“Are we doing it according to the plan?”
“Yes. You just do what you always do.”
Russell’s magical eyes saw the red line connecting to Kai’s body. The red line looked back at Russell. He felt the faint presence of the god within it, and Russell drew his greatsword and ax from his coat.
“Let’s draw out the devil.”
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
The clash erupted at a time and place that Kelpag could not have predicted.
Boom!
“What’s going on?”
“T, There’s a clash in the demon beast horde!”
“What? I told you not to start the invasion yet. . . . . .!”
“We didn’t attack first!”
Another loud bang. And he could see the flesh flying high in the air, even from the back, where Kelpag was.
“Who the hell are those guys!”
He hurriedly swung his staff, and water condensed in the air, illuminating a distant place. There was a man with black hair and a coat.
A man wasn’t wearing any armor, but because of that, he moved more lightly and gracefully. But the greatsword and ax in his hands were like crushers, crushing the demon beasts, goblins, and imps.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
A huge bear with a unicorn horn charged at him. Its eyes glazed over, and its mouth dripped with saliva. It wasn’t the only beast that had gone mad from the magic.
There were leopards, wolves, and giant snakes—all kinds of beasts. Russell bared his own teeth and claws at their sharp teeth. Of course, they were stronger and sharper.
According to his will, the magic in his body surged up mightily, and his muscles and nerves moved with conviction without a moment’s hesitation.
The greatsword sliced the bear’s head off, and the ax smashed the wolf’s head. A kick tore open the leopard’s belly, causing it to fly away and knock down other demon beasts like bowling pins. A punch cut the snake in half at the waist.
Four demon beasts died in an instant, but the ones on the battlefield didn’t care about their own lives and attacked. They died as quickly as they attacked.
“Vul-can-!”
A fierce fire erupted from one side, along with a shout. Kai’s entire body was overflowing with divine red power. Kai’s punches consistently pushed the demon beasts back. When the demon beasts came into contact with the divine power, they contorted their bodies, emitting screeching sounds. The devil’s magic was reacting to the divine power.
Instantly, the demon beasts and monsters disintegrated and disappeared from the plains. Uncontrolled power forced unreasonable atrocities.
Roar!
Every time lightning engulfed Russell’s body, it chopped and killed dozens of demon beasts. Russell didn’t dodge or avoid the monsters that rushed at him.
He simply pushed forward like a sturdy tank. The demon beasts and monsters, intoxicated by the magic and the smell of blood that filled the battlefield, rushed at Russell like moths to a flame. And they met their predetermined end.
The horizontal slash bisected all the demon beasts within its radius, creating space at the waist. He took one step forward.
To take the next step, he had to deal with the arrows and other blades that the goblins, imps, and kobolds were shooting and swinging.
The ax in his left hand, Final Frost, exhaled cold air and slammed into the ground. The ground overturned with a loud bang and spread out in a radial pattern, frozen solid. Those within that radius turned into ice statues. Their fellow creatures crushed them underfoot.
After two steps, more demon beasts stood behind him for the third step. Russell didn’t retreat.
He swung his great sword towards the oncoming waves. The lightning-infused great sword tore apart the waves.
Russell’s elbow crushed the heads of those who managed to break through his powerful attacks and reach his body, unable to penetrate the protection of his coat.
Just as he had finished electrocuting dozens of demon beasts, a rough shout echoed from the air.
“This bastard!”
Russell, who knew that a huge presence was coming at him, raised his greatsword in time.
Bang!
The impact was so strong that the ground where he was standing sank in. Russell gazed at the large orc, gripping his sword tightly against his body. A green-skinned orc was emitting a dark magic swirling all over his body.
Russell twisted his wrist, changing the direction of the sword that had been pressing down from above. The sword blade scraped against the orc’s blade, making a grinding sound, and the orc lost his balance and staggered. Russell, not missing the opportunity, swung his ax towards the orc’s side.
“Kuh!”
Thud!
The orc, who had managed to defend himself by barely twisting his sword, slid back. His sudden movement caused his muscles and bones to scream, but if he hadn’t, his upper and lower bodies would have instantly separated. The orc, who was holding the trembling sword with all his might, looked at Russell.
Jadmu, a natural warrior and tribal chieftain who represented them all, looked at the man in front of him with eyes of shock and disbelief. Even he, an orc who had defeated countless enemies throughout his life and ascended to the position of chieftain, was facing a being whose skills he could not even fathom.
Jadmu spoke in a trembling voice.
“I am Jadmu. Who are you?”
“Russell.”
“Russell?”
He had never heard that name before, but it didn’t matter. His instincts were screaming. He was much stronger than before, thanks to the devil’s magic, but he still couldn’t guess the outcome of the battle.
“The devil you follow knows me.”
“What?”
While Jadmu flinched in surprise, Russell’s magical eyes scanned Jadmu. As expected, there was a red crystal, the Stone of Life, inside his body. He could see countless souls swirling inside. They had slaughtered at least dozens, if not hundreds, for that single stone.
“If you’re connected, tell him. I’m going to cut off your head.”
“. . . . . .You’re a crazy human.”
Jadmu pointed his sword at Russell. Russell put his ax back in his coat, leaving only Nahilnir to hold it with one hand.
“It’s not something you decide with words. You show it with your actions. Come, devil’s lackey.”
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