Praise the Orc! Chapter 144-145

Chapter 144 – Dirty South (1)

Crockta gave a warm farewell to Maillard and the Rehabilitation Brothers.

Edgar had committed suicide and disconnected, but there was no news about him showing up in Maillard again. Other Heaven and Earth members gradually reappeared but Edgar never showed up.

According to Robina, while he hadn't been an excellent user, his skills grew quickly after he entered the Heaven and Earth Clan.

The words that Ji Hayeon said to him earlier popped into his head. There were people who used illegally modified capsules and drugs to increase the assimilation rate and gain profits. The awakening of the drugged person would also usually depend on the contract.

Edgar might be in such a situation. But Crockta had no way to get in touch with him and had to leave Maillard.

It was the true south now.

“Thanks to Crockta, I was treated well." Anor laughed.

"You are quite good dot. You are so popular in Maillard… of course, I am very popular in Quantes dot."

Crockta was an icon for the users, so the accompanying Anor and Tiyo were treated very well.

“I miss the caruks."

“When the time comes, we will see them again dot."

It was possible to move faster by taking horses instead of caruks. The caruks were left to the Rehabilitation Brothers. The caruks, who had great advantages in the desert area, weren't useful in the continent. In the Rehabilitation Brothers, they were taken care of as 'Crockta's mount.'

“This is the first time I am going to the south dot."

"How come?"

"It is the land of humans."

There are many humans in the south. The northwest of the continent was a harsh place where orcs and creatures lived, while the northeast was the land of the elves, dark elves and gnomes. The south of the continent was where humans lived together.

It was the most populated, fiercest and disruptive land, the south. In particular, the center of the continent contained many species due to its geographic location, meaning there were occasional fights among species.

They had to pass through it to arrive in the south. Tiyo wanted to meet his father Hedor while Crockta was trying to completely eliminate the remnants of the Thawing Balhae Clan, who had joined the Heaven and Earth Clan.

And Anor had no thoughts. "What does the food in the south taste like? Won't there be an abundance of hot and fat foods? Many fruits as well. Hahaha." He chuckled from aboard his horse. "Look. There are many new creatures on the continent!"

Anor stretched out his hand and bones started to rise. It was a strange bipedal creature.

“Lay it down again dot!"

“Why? The bones are fresh as it just died."

“It is unsightly dot."

"This is discrimination. Tiyo will be like this when you die."

"……"

Tiyo fired General at the bones. The bones were smashed to pieces.

"Ah! My bones!"

"The dead have no words."

"Too much…"

Crockta smiled as he watched them, but he soon fixed his expression. He started to feel something from the forest they were riding through. There were presences moving here and there simultaneously. The movements were too sudden for them to be people passing by.

As they rode along the path, the video of White Knight Andre, no Baek Hanho popped into his head. He annihilated all the bandits and declared war against Crockta.

That's right. Bandits!

“It is started once again. Kulkul." Crockta laughed as he turned to Tiyo and Anor. “Shall we take a break?"

“That’s right. IT has been a while. I want to rest. Isn't it hard?" Anor replied while patting his horse's mane.

Tiyo smiled at Crockta. "I don't think I should sweat before resting dot."

“If you sweat from this then you are weak."

"I won't sweat dot."

At that moment, Tiyo twisted his body and fired General. A bandit hiding behind a tree was hit by General and flew in the air. He bumped into another tree and fell to the ground with a groan.

“Bandits can only make me sweat a little around my eyes dot!"

Tiyo had already noticed the approach of the bandits.

“Cover everything!"

At Tiyo's attack, the bandits jumped out and rushed towards them. Anor, who had no idea what was going on, screamed and hid behind Crockta and Tiyo.

“They are gnats dot."

Crockta got off his horse while Tiyo showed brilliant marksmanship while holding the reins of his horse.

“Iyat! Iyat! Kiyooh!"

Chong! Chong! Chong! Tiyo's magic bullets accurately knocked down the bandits approaching.

Crockta also wielded his greatsword. However, he hesitated and didn't attack anymore.

“……!”

The enemies' weapons were terrible. Some of them were stepping awkwardly while holding farm equipment. Some held swords or spears, but their eyes were terrified.

The man in the front exclaimed. “I-I-If you leave what you have, w-we won't kill you!"

It was a pathetic voice. He realized they weren't a match after seeing their companions knocked up because of Tiyo, but he spoke the threat because there was no room to back off.

“I only have this." Crockta pointed his greatsword.

There was no need to fight. Tiyo also stopped firing General.

“What dot? Sorry I hit you dot."

"These bandits have no killing intent. They are bandits but…"

As the clouds moved, bright sunshine fell in the forest. The shadows of the forest were removed, revealing Crockta's form.

The bandits were stunned.  A huge size and rugged face. The fearsome greatsword. The opponent was much more vicious than they imagined. Crockta looked at them without saying anything. The bandits stepped back at his gaze. The tattoos covering the body and the terrible belt at his waist made him seem like a demon.

The person in the lead bowed first.

"W-We're really sorry!"

The other bandits identified the situation and also bowed while begging for mercy.

"We're sorry!"

"Spare us!"

“It is hard to eat and live!"

Bowing to the overwhelming enemy! 

Tiyo hit Crockta's waist. "Smile a bit dot."

"……"

Tiyo had a point. He didn't look so scary when smiling. A nasty person wouldn't smile.

Crockta smiled at them and said. "Stand up."

The reaction was explosive.

"Hiik! We're sorry! Spare us!"

“My wife and children are waiting for me!"

"Sir Orc! Mercy!"

Crockta glanced at Tiyo. He shrugged and immediately changed his words.

“You should've left it as before. Look the way you want dot."

"……"

Anor came forward and helped them up. "Phew. Stand up. This person looks like a serial killer but he isn't bad. Stand up. It's okay."

He was wearing a dark robe, but as soon as the dark elf Anor appeared, they started to recover.

“Pff. Anyway, life is unfair dot. Pffft."

Tiyo giggled.

Crockta muttered, "…Kid."

"W-What did you say dot?! Say it to me!"

"I didn't say anything."

“Don't lie dot! You called me a kid dot!"

“You heard wrong."

"Eek!"

Tiyo jumped and clung to Crockta. He tried to place Crockta in a headlock, but he just looked like a child hanging on.

"What are you doing now? These kids." Anor muttered as he stared at them. “Is this the right time?"

"T-Then?"

“Listen to these people's stories! Go and talk to them!"

"Um…"

There weren't many bandits in this area, which was the north of the continent. It was so peaceful that people hardly ever turned to the criminal path. But this happened as soon as they headed south. The south might be different from the continent that they had experienced.

“I’ll do that.”

Crockta completely recognized Elder Lord as a real world. In the world of Elder Lord, he had power. In other words, a Hero. With great power comes great responsibility, so he wanted to help people who were in need. He should find out their circumstances.

The bandits' eyes widened.

***

They were residents of a small village in the forest. They didn't have much, but it was still a life of freedom. Then one day, an existence appeared that took all of that away from them.

Knights.

“They told us to follow the Emperor."

"Emperor?"

"Yes." One bandit said. He was their leader called Hans. “As you know, there is no emperor on the continent. It is an unwritten rule. The advent of an emperor had always led to the persecution of other species."

“But someone is calling himself an emperor?"

"Yes. The knights are gathering villagers and farmers like us under the emperor's name. They speak nice words but we will be serfs. It is no different from slavery. So we refused."

Once they refused, the knights turned like they had been waiting and devastated the village. Anyone who rebelled was killed. In the end, they had nothing left and become bandits attacking adventurers and merchants in order to survive. However, their combat power was weak so they were often defeated.

“It is our fault but our children are starving…sorry."

"You don't need to apologize."

Crockta's group reached their home. The elderly, women, and children poked their heads out from tents in the forest. They looked frightened at the sudden appearance of a heinous orc.

"Umm…"

All of them were starving and their ribs poked out from underneath their skin. In particular, the children’s conditions were serious.

Hans sighed, “We are eating fruit in the forest and hunting, but…"

Tiyo clicked his tongue.

“What are these knights doing dot? The emperor of where?"

“The king of Esperanza."

"The king had a change of heart…"

In the case of orcs, each city was operated independently. The elves were similar to orcs, but they were weakly connected by the world tree. Gnomes regularly voted for their representative.

In the case of humans, there were royalty and nobles. However, the king's power wasn't strong and he was mainly regarded as a symbolic entity representing the nobles. Something seemed to have changed.

The advent of an emperor would shake the entire continent.

“It is unknown if the other species know about this."

“If he does this, they will probably find out dot. But this is serious dot."

Anor's ears pricked, “The emperor…is he like the orc's great chieftain?"

"Yes dot."

"Then do we have to worry? Don't we have the great chieftain here?"

"Ah! That's right dot! The great chieftain…oof!"

Tiyo and Anor tried to tease Crockta again. Crockta quickly blocked their mouths and said, “Anyway, this is a pitiful situation…I want to help."

“How dot?"

“This much…"

Crockta looked at the residents. There weren't many of them because they were originally a village. The Rehabilitation Brothers could afford this number. Besides, the Rehabilitation Brothers were formed for the purpose of helping others. They would also listen if Crockta asked them to do it.

Crockta told them, “Go to Maillard."

"Huh? Maillard?" Hans questioned. He became even more polite after hearing the name Crockta.

"There are people in Maillard who will help you out."

“Do you mean us?" Who…?"

"My friends are known as the Rehabilitation Brothers."

“Rehabilitation Brothers?”

Hans was dubious. "But Maillard isn't close. It won't be easy to reach there…"

They had to worry about the daily meals. Crockta shook his head as if telling them not to worry.

"Here."

Crockta pulled out some gold coins. He had become a top ranked player while playing the game and could afford at least this much.

“This…!”

Han's eyes widened. For ordinary people, gold coins were worth a huge amount of money. Crockta pulled out several, not just one, and placed them in Hans' hands.

“Why is this…?"

He didn't put away the gold coins on his palm as he stared blankly at Crockta.  Crockta scratched his nose and shrugged.

"A warrior shouldn't turn a blind eye to those in distress."

“……!”

“Just take it. The gold coins are just shining stones to me. I can spare a few stones if it saves you from starving!"

Hans was thrilled. “Ahh…please forgive me for taking this. Crockta!"

“Don't do that."

“I wouldn't be willing if it wasn't for the children! Thank you!”

Crockta raised him up. As the two were talking, the villagers started to falter.

Tiyo was the first one to notice.

"……?"

Tiyo suddenly felt horseshoes approaching. The village residents were terrified when they looked to one side. He followed their gaze to see a group of humans. The humans were mounted and in full-body armor. They held lances and swords.

Knights.

“Now, are you willing to follow the emperor?"

Praise the Orc: 

Current schedule: There will now be 14 chapters a week, meaning two chapters every day.

Chapter 145 – Dirty South (2)

The appearance of the knights in the iron armor was imposing. It was hard to see so many fully armed people in the land of other tribes. They never bowed their heads. They were arrogant people who looked down at the villagers like they were dirty from their horses.

“His Majesty is merciful. You have another chance."

The villagers recalled the past and shivered with fear. As nobody answered, a knight came forward and pulled out his sword. The sunlight falling through the dense trees reflected off the blade, causing a dazzling flash.

“All you dumb people! Answer!"

The villagers were hesitant and resigned. Their eyes were focused on the blades of the knights.

These swords. Their homes had been trampled and the family was killed by these swords. They would be forced by those swords to follow the emperor. The obvious way was to follow the emperor. In the end, they would become serfs and sacrifice their lives. No, the emperor would recruit them for a war that they didn't want to participate in.

The emperor was such a person.

“……!”

Hans shook from behind Crockta's back. He took deep breaths. He held the gold coins he received from Crockta, hesitated for a moment before grasping Crockta's hand. Crockta accepted his hasty gesture.

Hans whispered. “Run away!"

"……"

He headed towards the knights without looking back. He was the representative of this place.

“I will be happy to answer. Sir Knight."

He bowed his head in front of the knights. The knight's blade descended towards Hans' head.

"Go ahead."

“We are…"

“Before you say it…" The knight interrupted Hans' words and laughed. “Look at the people around you and think about it."

Hans closed his mouth and looked back. The eyes of all the villagers were facing him. The wrinkled eyes of the elderly, the nervous faces of the youths, the frightened women and the infants sleeping without knowing anything.

Hans closed his eyes, took a deep breath and spoke again. “I live in a small village and don't know anything about the world, like you knights…"

The blade fell to the top of his head. Hans stopped breathing.

“…After the knights came, we moved to the forest to become bandits. We tried to hunt and fight, but were often defeated."

“You speak too much."

“…We are just normal people. If the knights point swords at us then we can only follow. It is better than dying. But that is what I'm saying."

Hans raised his head. The sun reflected off the helmet but he stared directly at knight's face. It was the face of a young man. Hans spoke.

“We also know what the Emperor is like. We aren't people who fit your world. Can't you just let us go?"

There was an earnest appeal in Hans' eyes. The knight nodded. "I see. I heard it well."

Hans bowed his head again. The knights glanced at each other. After a short exchange of opinions, the knight opened his mouth.

“People not from His Majesty's world…" The knights pulled out their swords. “Then you should go to a world that suits you."

The village residents shrieked. The first target was Hans. The sword descended towards him.

Kakang!

Then there was the sound of weapons hitting each other.

“……!”

The knight was stunned. Something was blocking him. It was a gigantic greatsword that couldn't be lifted even if he tried.

"Bul'tar. You don't deserve the name of a knight."

The ferocious orc moved the greatsword and the knight staggered. He was strangely covered in tattoos. His body emitted a terrifying killing intent.

"Who are you?"

The knights were hesitant. They instinctively felt that this orc wasn't easy. Crockta pushed the puzzled Hans back before firmly replying, "My name is Crockta."

“……!”

Crockta, a name they had heard somewhere before. It was a name that all the gods whispered in the temples. A northern hero who conquered the north and stopped the great chieftain.

Northern Conqueror. But the only thing known about him was the name Crockta and that he was an orc. It was hard to believe that he was Crockta.

The knights snorted, “Where did you hear that?"

They thought that he was just borrowing the name of Crockta. Crockta placed the greatsword on his shoulder and declared, “If you are really a knight, there should be oaths that you made when you became one."

Chivalry wasn't that different in the world of Elder Lord. They pledged to defend the knight's oath. It wasn't that different from the warriors' law that Crockta received.

“Do you remember?"

The knights' faces distorted. “What Crockta nonsense? Garbage orc bastard. Everyone attack!"

"Yes!" They shouted as the horses started running.

At that moment, Crockta roared and kicked off from the ground.

"Bul'tarrrrrrrrrr──────!"

A shout like thunder! At the same time, Crockta's energy exploded. The horses were shocked and turned like something was blocking the front.

"Whoa! Whoa!"

“What is going on?”

The knight in the lead called out. The orc looked like a giant, no huge monster in front of the horses. He was actually like that. His killing intent shot into the sky.

The knights started sweating. The horse's eye level was much higher, but it seemed like the orc was looking down at them from a huge height. The greatsword seemed like it could break a mountain. The pressure was huge.

Was this orc really that person? The orc Crockta, who killed the great chieftain and conquered the north alone! Did he come to the south after leaving the north?

“Tell me.” Crockta gazed at them with fierce eyes. “What was your oath?'

“……!”

The illusion of a giant orc crushed them.

“Did you swear to persecute the weak? Is that the type of knight you are?"

“Something like this…!"

“Or did you want to swear an oath now?"

Crockta's killing intent tied up their bodies. A knight feared the crisis and aimed his sword at Crockta.

“Shut upppp!"

His body filled with strength. He wasn't an ordinary soldier. At the end of hard training, he was a man who received the title of a knight. The knight who was after Crockta's life laughed wildly and got off his horse.

"Chivalry? Puhahat, what nonsense."

He realized that he shouldn't rely on horses to deal with this orc. The horse was unable to charge because of the opponent's fierce killing intent. He could feel that his horse was shivering.

“Everyone get off your horses and deal with this orc. He is someone who can't be ignored."

Crockta was calm. He was familiar with one-to-many fights. The knights started to surround Crockta.

"Chivalry? An orc shouldn't say something so funny. But I will give an answer." The knight talking to Crockta laughed. They were knights. No matter how strong this orc was, he would never be able to win against so many knights.

He shouted, “I said to protect the weak, fight injustice and do justice. But what good is that? Anyway, strength is the only thing that matters in this world. You will die today! Kuhahat!"

The blades of many knights headed to Crockta.

“The emperor is more important to us than the oath! For His Majesty!"

"For His Majesty!"

The knights aimed for Crockta. It was a forest of swords with no place to avoid.

Ogre Slayer moved.

“You forgot your shame and are speaking so unabashedly."

Kang!

Kang!

Kang kang kang kang kang!

Kaaaang!

At that moment, Ogre Slayer hit dozens of blades at the same time. The swords of the knights bounced back. The knights retreated from the tremendous shock. They couldn't comprehend the situation.

What just happened? Only one sword had blocked their swords at the same time. The attacks were all from different angles. But the sword had met dozens of blades at once.

Crockta opened his mouth. “Destroy the covenant."

"What?"

“The burden on your back!" Crockta lowered his posture. His lower body contracted. “It will be the cause of your death."

Crockta exploded forward. The knights raised their swords but Ogre Slayer penetrated through the gap. The broken bodies and blades flew through the air. A fountain of blood followed. Crockta laughed as his sword pierced a stomach. “If you wonder why the emperor will die, this is your answer."

“……!”

The knights' morale was broken after suffering from his explosive strikes. The formation was broken. Crockta didn't miss this chance as he dug into the knights' encirclement and broke it further.

“Kuaaaak!”

"Aaaah!"

Terrible screams were heard. The horses were watching their masters be slaughtered with frightened eyes. The sight of blood spouting and the greatsword separating the body was reflected in their big eyes.

Ogre Slayer sank into the belly of a knight who resisted. The situation was over. The knights were scattered all over the place, making it impossible to tell which body and head went together.

Crockta kicked a head at his feet while walking towards the one remaining knight. The knight fell to the ground and shivered while moving backward.

""M-Monster…!"

"Monster?" Crockta kicked him. The knight fell back on the ground. “You are the monster."

“……!”

“It isn't just here. How many villages did you destroy?"

When he didn't answer, Crockta placed the greatsword against his neck. The knight hurriedly opened his mouth.

“W-We didn't kill everything. According to orders, we didn't kill…"

“So how many did you kill?"

"……"

The knight moved his mouth but couldn't speak.

“Ohh…" He suddenly fell face-down in the dirt. “P-Please spare me."

He spoke as his forehead touched the floor. It was a subservient appearance.

“It can't be helped since I just followed the emperor. Please spare me. I worked my whole life to become a knight. My dream just barely came true so I can't die like this…please forgive me once!"

"……"

Crockta couldn’t answer. The knight became still but slowly looked up when there was no answer.

"…Ah?"

But the greatsword was right before his nose. The greatsword moved.

Kwajik!

"Kuaaaaak!"

The knight's right hand was severed. The severed limb rolled across the ground. The bleeding continued. Crockta tore clothing from a dead knight's body and threw it at him.

“Tell the one you call the emperor."

The knight covered his wrist with the cloth before wriggling to retrieve the hand that had been cut off. If he went quickly then he could reattach it. Crockta kicked the severed hand away. The knight felt despair.

“I am Crockta, the one who killed the crazy chieftain. He who has killed innocents and cast the world into darkness for his own sake."

Crockta grabbed the knight's neck and raised him. Then he placed the knight on top of a horse. The horse trembled lightly. Crockta whispered in the ear of the knight.

"Let the emperor know that his fate can be the same."

***

Crockta's party left Hans' village. After witnessing Crockta's ruthlessness, Hans and the villagers worshiped Crockta like he was a god. Crockta gave them money and sent them to the Rehabilitation Brothers in Maillard. He wrote a letter asking them to be looked after.

Hans and the villagers bowed in thanks before leaving immediately. It was because the emperor might dispatch more men if they stayed there. Maillard, the area of the elves, was beyond the emperor's touch.

“The south is a little strange dot." Tiyo said.

They were now riding the horses that used to belong to the  knights. After seeing their masters die because of Crockta, the horses started following them in earnest. The rest of the horses were given to the villagers.

“Humans are the strange ones."

It seemed like hierarchy still remained in the southern part of the continent.

“Even so dot… Look, isn't that strange dot?"

Tiyo pointed in front of him. Crockta looked forward. Then he slowly opened his mouth.

“What is that?"

“I don't know dot."

“Isn't it a knight?"

“What are you saying dot?"

As Anor said, it was a knight. But it was different from the knights they met before.

"Help me! I am a knight! Save me!"

Someone was running on all fours. And there were bandits chasing him.

“You can’t run away! Give us everything you have, Knight!"

"Nooooooo!"

The knight's eyes shone as he saw Crockta. Then he started to run towards them.

“Orc Brother! Hey, Orc Brother! I am a knight so can you help me? Orc Brother!"

“Crazy!"

Praise the Orc: 

Current schedule: There will now be 14 chapters a week, meaning two chapters every day.

Chapter end