Praise the Orc! Chapter 85:
Chapter 85 – Alive (3)
“What is this, a buffet?”
An orc warrior in steel armor strode forward, causing the dark elves to hurriedly retreat back .
“How fun . ”
There were more than 10 orcs, all of which had blood dripping down their sides . It was from the people they had just killed .
“Hiik . . !”
Every time they took a step forward, a path opened, like Moses’ miracle of splitting the Red Sea . The orcs stared at the dark elves .
“Isn’t this easy?”
“It seems like everyone is gathered here for us to eat . ”
“Somehow, not one of them are looking at us . Kukuk…”
An orc warrior chewed on a piece of bread that was on the table . Then he frowned and spat it out . He wiped his mouth and raised a hand to the shoulder of a dark elf near him .
“Hey . ”
“…Yes?”
“Is this tasty?”
“Huh?”
“Will it be tasty if I eat it?”
“That…”
The orc laughed as the dark elf hesitated . Then he grabbed the hair and slammed the dark elf onto the ground .
“Why aren’t you answering?”
“D-Delicious . Delicious,” replied the terrified dark elf .
The other orcs laughed at his appearance . It was a humiliating spectacle .
“Haha, indeed . This is why big ears are my favorite . ” The orc kicked the piece of bread he spat out towards the dark elf . “Then eat it . ”
“……!”
“Big Ears, you said it was delicious, so you should eat it . ”
The dark elf looked at the orc with trembling eyes . The wicked axe came into view . The blood and flesh on it made it obvious that someone had just been slaughtered . The axe was pushed closer to his face . He smelled blood .
“That…”
The moment the dark elf hesitated, the axe struck downwards . The dark elf’s head was destroyed . The skull was split open and bits of the brain were revealed inside . The dark elves gulped at the horrific cruelty . However, the orcs just laughed like this was a game .
“Hahaha, your personality is so urgent!”
“You should at least listen to these guys . ”
“That’s right . ”
The leader of the orcs walked towards the podium in the hall . “Isn’t there a lot of time left?”
The militia member, who had been explaining how to prepare for battle, was shaking on the stage . The orc grabbed the militia member’s ear and pulled .
“Aaack!”
“If you see that I’m coming, you should leave, you fool . ”
He threw the militia member downwards . The ear was torn and blood flowed out . The ear was still held in the orc’s hands .
“Eh? Why didn’t you go as well?” asked the orc as he played with the torn piece of ear .
The laughter of the orcs grew louder . The leader also laughed and threw the ear towards the crowd of dark elves . The dark elves shrieked as blood splashed on them .
The orc stood on the podium .
“This is nice and easy . I am the warrior Karmat and I fight under the banner of the great chieftain . We originally intended to collect all of you as hostages… You knew this beforehand and gathered here . How wonderful . I express my sincere gratitude . Kuhahahat!”
The orcs laughed again . None of the dark elves laughed .
Karmat continued speaking, “I don’t know the situation and you are supposed to wait with us until the signal comes but… In the meantime, we’ll be bored . We can’t kill the precious hostages . ”
Karmat touched his chin and looked around at the dark elves . “So I thought of a fun game . How about it, do you want to play?”
“Kulkulkul! Let’s do it!”
“How fun!” replied the orcs .
Karmat grinned and nodded . The scene of a group of people enjoying themselves while the other group were terrified was absurd .
“All in favor! I’ll do it! I’m going to!”
“Yes!”
“……”
“Okay . Let’s start . Um . . first… how about the popular vote? The popular vote . ”
Karmat descended from the podium . He gazed at the cowering dark elves in front of him . They all avoided eye contact . “One person . Vote for one person to be killed . ”
“……!”
“Isn’t it good? There must be one person that you don’t like . If you decide on one person, we will resolve it . Then you can rest for the remaining time without worrying . Isn’t this too kind?”
Karmat sniggered . He was enjoying this wicked behavior . He liked having the upper hand and being able to tease them psychologically .
The dark elves were all silent . Karmat knew this would be the case when he decided on the game . So he immediately wielded his axe .
“Kyaaaaak!”
“Kuheook!”
It was a random blow towards the crowd of dark elves . One of the dark elves standing in front was cut in half and die, while another standing next to him had the abdomen cut and his guts spilled out . Another person had a shallow wound .
Karmat smiled and declared, “10 seconds . ”
He began stamping his foot .
Kung . Kung . Kung .
As the tenth stomp approached, the dark elves started to panic . Karmat smiled and stomped his foot again . Then he tightened his grip on his axe . The dark elves were shaken . He scanned the faces with his eyes . In the middle of the crowd, one male glared . Karmat laughed and gradually moved his feet .
Then just as he did the eighth stomp,
“Him!”
Someone shouted . Karmat looked in the direction of the loud voice . It was a young male dark elf . Then Karmat followed the direction of the finger .
A dark elf stood with an expression of despair .
“Anor, that brat . ”
***
Anor’s eyes widened . He couldn’t believe this .
Nakai’s finger was pointing towards him . Then his name was called . Anor spread open his arms and looked around .
“What…”
But none of the dark elves looked at him . They turned their heads away from Anor with a relieved expression . His blood chilled .
The cursed orc was approaching him . “This is a majority vote . Now, if anyone opposes the murder of this Anor, raise your hand . ”
They didn’t move . Karmat’s shoulders shook like he was having fun .
“What? No one is opposing? Anor, how did you manage to live this far? Eh? Your heart must hurt . Are you being bullied? Kulkulkulkul!”
The smell of the orc next to him entered his nose . He laughed as he pushed his face against Anor’s . It was the face of an orc, but unlike Crockta, this face was too ugly .
“Is there really nobody who objects? Do you want to save this friend and vote again?”
The dark elves were silent . Karmat let out a large burst of laughter, “This is funny! Yes, Anor! You should’ve lived a better life!”
Karmat placed an arm around Anor’s shoulder . Then he dragged Anor towards the podium . Anor was led like a cow towards the slaughter . He would die . Anor looked at Nakai . Their eyes met . Nakai avoided his gaze . Anor couldn’t help smiling bitterly .
“You should’ve lived better~,” Karmat sang .
Anor’s head became complicated . He lived well enough . No, he lived the best in this place . This **** orc .
Karmat pulled Anor in front of the podium . Anor felt lightheaded . He looked at Karmat . He waited for the axe to swing but it wasn’t the end . Karmat walked through the dark elves again .
“……!”
He came back with Nakai, who screamed, but became quiet after being kicked .
“The rules have changed . ” The dark elves froze while the orcs cheered . “This guy, he sells someone out from his own village . Right Anor? Right?”
Karmat said with a sweet smile, “So I have decided to mediate between the two of you in the manner of the orcs . ”
He handed a dagger to Anor and Nakai . It seemed like something he was carrying around as secondary weapons .
“Fight . ” He was proposing a game with their lives on the line . “I’ll give you 20 seconds . If you don’t settle this by then, both of you will die . ”
Then he stepped back . Anor looked at Nakai . He was holding a dagger but he didn’t know what to do . Everyone’s gaze was turned towards them .
Kung!
Karmat stomped his feet .
Kung!
The meaning was obvious . Once that sound was heard 20 times, their necks would be cut . How did he want to meet his end? Anor thought it would be better to stand still and die than be played by them .
However, that was just his thoughts .
Nakai charged . The dagger was swung randomly . Nakai also hadn’t learned how to fight properly . The orcs laughed at his moves . But Anor couldn’t laugh when faced with the dagger . The blade swung at him .
“S-Stop!”
Anor cried out as he retreated . Something was felt behind him .
“……!”
He looked back and saw that retreating was blocked by an orc warrior . His expression was like a guard dog . He gestured towards the front .
Anor breathed out as he gazed at Nakai again . For some reason, his forearm was sore . He looked down and saw that it was bleeding .
“Die, hybrid bastard!” Nakai screamed and rushed forward again .
That expression . Something seemed to snap in Anor .
“Uwaaaaaah!”
Anor struck out with his dagger . It was a short encounter . Both of them wielded their daggers but they didn’t enter within range of each other . It was because both feared the blade . A knife was a formidable weapon .
Karmat didn’t like this and the stomping of his feet accelerated .
“10 seconds left!”
It seemed like they had fought for a very long time, but it was only 10 seconds . Nakai urgently ran forward . Anor closed his eyes and waved his dagger .
“Ack!”
Jeurereuk .
One person hesitated . It was Anor .
Anor looked down at his arm . Blood poured out . Nakai had cleverly aimed for his arm . As Anor closed his eyes, Nakai had ducked behind him and sliced his arm . Anor couldn’t withstand the pain and dropped the dagger .
Now he was defenseless . The victor was decided .
Nakai headed towards him .
“Hey, Elf . I’ll teach you . ” Karmat stood next to Nakai . “Aim for the neck . With a knife, you can kill the enemy just be lightly slashing it . Now, calmly . ”
He laughed like he was having a lot of fun as he advised Nakai . Nakai’s trembling hand moved towards Anor’s neck .
Death was near . Anor was keenly aware of it .
“Shit…”
Anor swore for the very first time . Nakai flinched at the wild eyes but he kept staring down at Anor’s neck . The blade approached .
“This dog bastard…”
It wasn’t a big curse word . Nakai called a **** a dog **** . A dog **** who rolled over like a dog .
The moment that Nakai’s blade was about to touch Anor’s neck,
“I am a dog **** . ” Anor stood up and stabbed Nakai’s neck .
Nakai’s eyes widened as he stuttered with a disbelieving expression .
“K-Keok…”
Blood flowed out from where the dagger was stuck in the neck . Anor pulled out the dagger and blood poured out . The dagger in Anor’s hand was the one he had brought from home . He had lost the one given by the orc, but this one still remained . He had killed Nakai with that dagger .
It was his victory . Anor muttered, “Dog bastard…”
The orcs cheered at the unexpected ending . Karmat started clapping .
“Hahahahat! Wow Anor, you dog bastard! You aren’t like a dark elf . Carrying your own knife, what a great person! Kuhahahat! You reversed the situation? Puhahahat!”
He laughed like he was excited by the death . Then he placed an arm around Anor’s shoulder .
“Anor, I like you! I like you! Puhahat…!”
But his laughter didn’t last . He pushed Anor away, who fell down with a loud noise . Karmat’s face distorted like he was a demon .
“This bastard…”
Blood was flowing from his chest . Anor had tried to stab Karmat . Anor got up . He was holding only one dagger . The tip was aimed at the smiling orcs on the edge .
“What, this dog **** . ” Karmat no longer laughed . “You mistook foolishness for bravery . ”
He raised his axe . “I will just kill you . ”
The enraged orc approached Anor . Anor trembled but he was smiling . He was going to die anyway . He had lived like a fool in the meantime . So finally, he decided not to roll over like a dog .
Karmat raised his axe . The blood on the axe still wasn’t dry . Anor realized that death was close . At that moment,
“Kiaaaaaaah!”
There was a roar from the entrance of the hall . Everyone looked over there . Anor couldn’t believe his eyes .
There . It was Third Dragon .
“Third Dragon?”
He must’ve felt that the situation in Nuridot was unusual and came to find Anor . Third Dragon growled as he discovered the orcs in the hall . Flames blew from his snout .
“Third Dragon! No! Run away!”
The orc warriors were familiar with combat and rushed towards the intruder without hesitation . Axes were swung towards Third Dragon . Third Dragon emitted flames .
“Kuaaaaahhhhh!”
“Oooh!”
The orc warriors survived the flames . A translucent shield was wrapped around their bodies . Karmat laughed .
“How did we come here secretly? Kukukuk . ”
An unknown light was coming from Karmat’s hands . A shaman . He was a warrior, but also a shaman . They had been able to sneak into the town thanks to his magic .
Anor screamed as he watched the orcs attack Third Dragon . “Nooooooo!”
However, the law of cause and effect in this world acted in a relentless manner . The orc warriors ruthlessly swung their axes towards Third Dragon . They struck Third Dragon’s body . There was nothing special . Blood splattered from Third Dragon every time the orc warriors wielded their axes . As the assault from the axes continued, Third Dragon died .
That was it .
“Is that a friend of yours? Huh?” Karmat laughed .
Anor looked at him . Of course, Karmat looked disgusting . Anor raised his dagger instead of answering . Nakai’s blood was still dripping from it .
“Hey, are you trying to fight us with that? Puhahat . ” Karmat laughed . The orc warriors watched Anor like they were excited . They expected an enjoyable game to unfold .
‘You should be a good elf . ’
He remember his mother’s voice .
‘You should be a good elf . ’
She always looked sad .
‘I hope you do, but the dark elves’ society probably won’t let you . ’
He remembered the words he hadn’t wanted to remember for a long time .
‘If you are in a situation where you can’t live as a good elf anymore, have a strong heart and give up being an elf . ’
‘I don’t think I can live as a good elf anymore . Mother . I’m sorry . ’
Anor picked up the dagger . Then he put the blade to the long ears that were the symbol of an elf .
‘Cut off your ears and make yourself a bad human . ’
Seokeok .
His ears easily fell off . As his ears fell, the forbidden lineage in his blood stretched out, as if it had been waiting for a long time .