Praise the Orc! Chapter 158-159

Chapter 158 – Evil Solidarity (2)

There was the sound of shattering glass. People shouted with surprise as they gazed at the source of the sound. Very quickly, a crowd began to gather around. It was bloody.

"T-That…"

"Idiot." Kim Hyunchul looked down at it from the coffee shop on the second floor and clicked his tongue. 

"Why is he an idiot?" The face of Park Hansik, who was sitting across from Kim Hyunchul, hardened as he asked.

Despite the gruesome scene which had occurred before his eyes, Kim Hyunchul seemed to be emotionless. "What has been achieved? The child is hurt, and he isn't the only one. There's also another person who is hurt."

"Hey."

"Why? It's true."

The Hyunchul that Hansik knew wasn't such a person. Hyunchul was very timid but warm-hearted to his friends. However, he had started to change since playing the game.

"What are you saying? He was trying to save the child."

"Can't I be honest? After all, if that person dies, he would be the only one losing something."

"This jerk… Your sins will be returned to you."

"Is this a mental victory? Encouraging good and punishing evil. It is just a concept that people use to comfort themselves."

"Don't say that."

"Okay, is your job going well?"

"It is hard."

Park Hansik took a sip of his americano and looked out the window again.

People were surrounding the scene of the accident. A woman was hugging a child in her arms, regardless of the dirt on her clothes. Meanwhile, the other people tried to do first aid on the man who protected the child, but his body was bloody and pierced with glass.

Fortunately, the man was moving, so he wasn't dead. He could hear the sound of ambulance sirens in the distance.

Suddenly, Kim Hyunchul asked, "Work is hard?"

Park Hansik looked at him. "What? Can you help me?"

"Of course. Friends should help each other."

"Okay. I understand."

"If you are having a really hard time, tell me, and don't hide it. I’ll let you rake in money."

"Rake in money?"

"Yes, rake in money." Kim Hyunchul grinned slyly. "You can make a few year's worth of money at once."

It was the same face, but he now gave off a different impression.

Park Hansik looked at Kim Hyunchul and drank his americano silently. Then he asked, "You said you played the game?"

"Yes. If you are interested…"

"Are you role playing?"

"Role play? I don't do such things."

"I see…"

Hyunchul instantly stopped laughing. Park Hansik smiled at his expression.

Then Kim Hyunchul adjusted his posture. "Why are you smiling?"

"What?"

"Why are you smiling? I feel bad, like you are laughing at me. I'm not just playing a game. It's business."

At the end of Kim Hyunchul's words, Park Hansik stopped smiling and narrowed his eyes, causing Kim Hyunchul to tense up slightly.

"……" Park Hansik shook his head with a smile. "I'm not saying anything, you brat. Calm down."

Hansik just wanted to tease Hyunchul, but Hyunchul's pride was hurt for a trivial reason and he stiffened. Hyunchul had been like this since their school days. However, they were now adults and couldn't maintain the same relationship as before.

They were no longer boys, and as adults, they had facial expressions that never existed before. Park Hansik's head shake meant he was resigned about something. Every time he did that, he erased someone he thought of as a friend.

An old song played on the radio.

–Even though seasons come again

Where has my love gong

I didn't send you away

I didn't leave you either

"The song is killing my mood." Park Hansik rose from his seat. "I'm busy, so I should be going. It was good to see you."

"Already?"

"I told you, work is hard. I have to work without any breaks."

"Yes, I understand. Don't overdo it. If it is difficult, contact me." Kim Hyunchul handed Park Hansik a card. "It is the same as going on a deep-sea fishing boat. Of course, it is much more comfortable, and there is more income. You just need to lay down for a few months or a year, as if you are sleeping. I'm telling you specifically…"

Park Hansik received the business card. It had 'Luin, Elder Lord Clan' written on it.

Park Hansik looked at Kim Hyunchul. Kim Hyunchul was wearing expensive clothes and an expensive watch, and he carried himself in an arrogant manner. Unpleasant emotions could be read in Hyunchuk's eyes.

Park Hansik smiled again. "Yes. Stay well."

Park Hansik said goodbye before turning around. Maybe he wouldn't meet Kim Hyunchul in the future.

"You too."

Kim Hyunchul looked at the leaving Park Hansik and leaned back. He smiled at Park Hansik. Then his nose twitched as he muttered to himself, "That child still acts as if he is in high school… Too bad."

He grumbled and took a sip of coffee.

Then he glanced out the window. The man from earlier was being carried into an ambulance. He was talking to the paramedics while lying down, so he didn't seem to be in any danger of dying. Then the ambulance closed its doors and departed.

There was blood left on the ground where the man had been lying. There was no feeling of exhilaration. Hyunchul had seen this kind of sight many times in Elder Lord. These days, the blood in Elder Lord seemed more familiar than that of this world. Seeing the blood splattered on the ground was like meeting a familiar face in a strange place.

Then he suddenly heard the lyrics.

–It is gradually forgotten

I thought it was a love that would stay

Another day goes by

We live apart every day

"Yes, this song is depressing."

Kim Hyunchul closed his eyes. As he listened to Kim Kwangseok's song, memories of his 'Hyung-nim' talking to him popped up.

'The world is all about trying to survive.'

Those words…

The past Hyunchul had been considerate, but that person had died.  Now, he was someone who mocked a man who had jumped to save a child, wore expensive clothes and drove a foreign car. Park Hansik, who sympathized with the man, ran a small bar and struggled to pay the monthly rent.

Anyway, the world was unfair. Those who truly realized it also discovered that they had to be unfair. If he was more unfair to those who were unfair, that unfairness would work for him.

'A good life? Don't make me laugh. Look at me. I am successful. Look at you. Because I live like this, I drive a foreign car. Don't worry about the excuses of a loser and just follow me.'

"Hyung-nim was right." Kim Hyunchul checked his phone. There was a message. It was from 'Keynes' who had made him like this.

It was time to work again. Kim Hyunchul got up from his seat.

Outside the cafe, a woman was sweeping up the blood-stained glass pieces. The broom was dyed red. Based on her apron, she seemed to work in a small restaurant next to the cafe.

Kim Hyunchul looked at the scene quietly and asked, "It isn't your store, so why are you cleaning it?"

She replied back, "This is important. It is the same neighbourhood that is my home. It is ugly. I don't want to wait for someone else to clean it up. Don't you think?"

"Yes…"

Kim Hyunchul lit up a cigarette. There were so many good people in the world. So, he and his 'Hyung-nim' were bound to be successful.

"Good work."

Kim Hyunchul spat on the floor and walked away while blowing cigarette smoke.

***

The emperor, Akantor, looked down at them from the throne.

Luin was always nervous meeting him, but Keynes and Rommel seemed to be fine. Keynes always said it was a game, while Rommel wasn't the type of person to be shaken by this. Rommel had to learn all types of courtesies when Akantor had still been the king. Now that Akantor was the emperor, Rommel had to be more formal.

He was accustomed to it now, but it still wasn't easy kneeling down. Luin was a modern man and unfamiliar with the class system. Of course, while playing Elder Lord, he learned about the class system which  wasn't visible in modern times.

"Can I trust you?"

When Akantor had been a king instead of an emperor, he had been a quiet man. He had always smiled, and he had looked more like a nobleman than a king. However, he now looked down with an arrogant face and didn't hide his feelings. It was the right of the strong.

"If it fails, it is the end. I will prevent you from escaping to the abyss for eternity."

Luin's nose twitched nervously at the words. It meant Akantor would use the Concrete method. The fact that NPCs understood the weakness of those cursed by the stars gave Luin a strangely fearful feeling.

It was no different to what he felt when watching movies about robots conquering mankind. However, by walking this tightrope, they earned wealth and honour.

"We will make certain of it." Keynes said. He excelled in gaining favour with NPCs. "Please remember the role we have played to allow Your Majesty to sit on this precious throne. We will always devote our loyalty to Your Majesty."

"Of course. I'm well aware. However, this is the empire. We can never fail."

"How can Your Majesty talk about failure?" Keynes bowed his head. "The trend in the world is heading towards the empire, Your Majesty. A pebble can't stop a river. Espada will be decimated."

"That isn't the failure I'm talking about." The emperor leaned against his armrest. "You have to kill that orc."

Keynes spoke with a serious face.

"Crockta."

"Yes. That ugly orc needs to be killed and hung at the gates. No, it would be nice to capture him alive and pour maggots and worms over him to gnaw on his body."

The emperor's anger had reached its peak. Everything flowed according to his will. No, it followed the blueprints presented to the emperor by Keynes and Rommel. Crockta was the exception.

The emperor wasn't the only one who wanted to kill him. It was the same for Keynes. Crockta was an unpredictable variable for him. He wanted to get rid of Crockta and eliminate all possibilities of failure.

However…

"Your Majesty. Don't waste our forces on him. He is an individual. An individual can never beat an army. We should look at the bigger context, and he will eventually be trampled on by the army."

To Keynes, Crockta was a stumbling block. However, he knew how stupid it was to consume energy to catch a bug.

Luin nodded as he listened to the conversation. Keynes used to say this to Luin.

"He is a strong person, but he will lost the moment he goes against an army. He is alone. He is strong and difficult to catch, but not fatal. He is tricky like a mosquito. It is better for us to ignore him than worry about him. When winter comes, the mosquito will freeze and die."

Looking back at how much Crockta had interfered with them, Luin came to admire Keynes' sober judgment. Luin thought about using the full force of the army to kill Crockta. However, Keynes was right. Crockta was a monster who beat Adandator. He would somehow manage to run away.

They just needed to do their jobs. Then one day, Crockta would be found as a corpse on the battlefield. 

The emperor said, "I want his head."

Keynes bowed his head.

"If Your Majesty…"

"But you always speak the right words. If it were someone else, I would set up a trap to kill Crockta."

It was a gentle tone toward a faithful servant.

Luin laughed inwardly. Keynes would also be smiling. Everything went as Keynes said.

The young emperor was merely a child who wanted to play a game. Sometimes he wanted to be dignified, while other times he wanted to be impulsive. There were also times when he wanted to be praised as a king.

He had flimsy ambitions.

Then at that moment…

"Your Majesty, an imperial guard is waiting to see you."

The guard shouted from outside the throne room. Then the emperor replied, "Send him in."

The door opened. A servant entered and knelt down before the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I am an officer on the west side, Gospel.

"Yes. What is going on?"

"I saw this and thought Your Majesty should know…"

He held out a piece of paper. It was a letter.

"This is being sent out randomly all over the empire."

"What is this…?"

The emperor accepted it. The guard closed his eyes and fell facedown. His choice was right.

Kwaang!

The emperor threw an ornament decorating his throne.

"Rommel! Keynes!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I want that garbage orc called Crockta on his knees before me! I will give you Adandator and the White Lion Knights! Go right now!" The emperor's face distorted into a scowl. "Catch Crockta!"

Praise the Orc: 

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

Chapter 159 – Evil Solidarity (3)

“He is either stupid or clever," Keynes muttered. He was currently talking about Crockta. “He isn't stupid, so why would he do such a stupid act?"

“In my opinion…"

“I'm not asking you."

Keynes glared at Luin, who fell silent. It was rare for Keynes to show such a temper tantrum. Instead, the silent Rommel opened his mouth, “He is a beast."

Keynes nodded and said, “A beast, a plausible yet strange analogy."

“He is smart, but only in comparison to other stupid beasts."

“And humans are people?" Keynes said with a laugh.

He appreciated Rommel. He respected the parts of Rommel that couldn't be controlled, and that he had high abilities.

“Don't you know that humans sacrifice themselves for others? But in the end, their instincts are to survive and reproduce."

“I saw it in a book."

“Sacrifice is an emotional thing. Follow the calculations of reasoning, not emotions. That is what a human is. Monkeys are those who follow emotions. Of course, it is funny when speaking about NPCs who have an artificial intelligence."

“It is interesting."

Keynes nodded. The answer was interesting. He learned a bit more about the person called Rommel. Keynes was a person who controlled others, but sometimes he needed people like Rommel. A partner who could think along the same lines as him.

"Luin."

"Yes, Brother."

“Are the clan kids arriving soon?"

"Huh? Yes."

“I am speaking of the 'fortunate' kids…" Keynes touched his chin. “If you think about it, you should do it properly. Then you can achieve your lifelong dream here."

"Huh?"

"You don't understand?"

“One person…are you saying you sent it?"

Keynes laughed, “Hey, it is a joke. Threaten them. Intimidate them. Do it well. Be a bad person. A bad person who properly manages those fortunate kids."

"Ahh…" Luin nodded. "Yes. That is my specialty. I will manage the kids."

Luin grinned and left the room. He was in such a hurry that he didn't even close the door. 

Keynes looked at his back and clicked his tongue. "Tsk tsk…"

Rommel suddenly asked. “What are you playing at in regards to Luin?"

"Playing?"

“Don't you consider controlling people a game? You play with Emperor Akantor. Duke Christian was just a game."

Keynes laughed. That's right. He steered people. It was possible because he gave them what they wanted. He made them think it was what they intended to do. People were engrossed in Keynes' sweet words and played like he wanted.

"Luin wants to play a bad guy."

"Play a bad guy…"

“As a child, he was ignored while growing up. What could he do, when he didn't have any power? So he just pretended to live a good life. Then once he got money and a nice car, he did bad things and spit in God's face. A truly clumsy bastard."

“But I thought you regarded him as a brother."

“Slightly. But this is this and that is that. I like him. His thoughts are transparent."

Keynes chuckled. Rommel also smiled and examined the map of the southern continent on the wall. The class 'War Maestro' wasn't just a name. He was always working.

“How about me?" Rommel asked.

"You?"

“What type of play are you doing with me?"

Rommel looked at Keynes.

Keynes laughed and opened the bottle placed on the table, “You are playing next to me. It is interesting."

Keynes acknowledged Rommel in his own way. Rommel received a cup.

"What about you?"

“Me? I…”

Keynes and Rommel made a toast. Soon they would lead the emperor's army. It was the best accomplishment they could enjoy as a user. The message window to celebrate their achievements kept flashing.

“I'm not playing. This is just me."

Keynes drank the alcohol and laughed.

***

Crockta lifted a pen. The world of Elder Lord was really mysterious. He wrote a letter while thinking in Korean, but the words that appeared were in the continent's language instead of Korean. Nevertheless, he could understand the meaning.

"We, what are we doing now?"

A member of 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' asked miserably while moving his pen. Unlike his facial expression, his hand was dazzling.

“I don't know, we…"

Gilgamesh listened to their conversation and said, “Perhaps it is 'fear'…? Kukuk, I'm envious…I lost such emotional nuances a long time ago… Kukukuk…!

"……"

“Whew…Shaq should've been…"

Every time Gilgamesh said such things, Shaq would promptly attack him. Now there was no one restraining him. One person sighed.

"What is going on with Shaq?"

“He posted on the forum. It seemed like something happened."

Shaq wrote on the forum that he wouldn't be able to connect to Elder Lord for a while. Everybody accepted it because they had their own lives. But due to his writing, the five members with Crockta became known. Shaq was lost so there were now only four, but they started to be called Crockta's five apostles in the community.

"There is no one else coming?"

“They can't come to the south."

There were people who wanted to join. But when Crockta had been fighting the empire, they withdrew from the south. The type of users who could fight against the knights of the south wasn't common.

“It looks like we really will die…" one of Crockta's five apostles muttered.

They were currently writing letters of propaganda that provoked the emperor. Each of them would show their talent at mocking the emperor, drawing cartoons that would be sent to him. The letters would target everywhere, from the nobles to commoners, scholars, mages and even the Imperial Palace.

A person with the stealth skill would infiltrate the empire and sneak it into the post office. The goal was to provoke the emperor.

“Just send this amount and then stop. They will begin to start tracking it."

"Yes."

Unlike her worries, she started to show off her artistic talents.

Everyone did their best. Gilgamesh even drew a picture of the naked emperor being whipped.

Crockta scratched his head. "It is a bit…"

“Kukuk…Crockta, perhaps…" Gilgamesh lowered his voice. “Are you afraid of the emperor…?"

“What are you talking about?"

“Then it doesn't matter what the level of this letter is."

"That is true."

“So Crockta, take this pen and add things. More irritating! Make the emperor so angry that he loses his hair!"

"Yes!"

Crockta lifted the pen. Then he began to add his own style to Gilgamesh's work. An arrow was placed above the head of the stripped and whipped emperor, then words added.

[This is a wig. The emperor is bald.]

It was propaganda stating that the emperor was bald.

“Hah…!" Gilgamesh covered his mouth with his hands. It was hard to believe his eyes. "No blood, no tears, no slander…! Any adults looking at this will shake in anger, not just the emperor. This is truly…! Kukuk…!"

“This is the scale of Crockta."

“Indeed, your sense of justice is unlike anyone else…kukukuk…!"

Everyone finished their work. A member of the thief class grabbed the packet of letters. He would go into the empire and send letters. There would even be a letter sent directly to the emperor.

"Will the emperor truly move?"

“Those with power are surprisingly simple."

Crockta intended to bring the enemy's attack to himself. Using a common word, it was to attract aggro. The imperial troops were spread out over the entire south. Villagers who surrendered were already provided labor for the empire's convenience. If this happened, it would be hard to save the people. It was better to anger the emperor and gather the army.

“However, once the emperor has gathered his troops…"

But the others were worried. 

"Are you sure about this?"

Crockta's point was true, but for this strategy to be successful, they needed to be able to deal with the enemy. There was no point gathering the enemy only to die. And they believed that Crockta had a clear way. Maybe an army of orcs would appear. Or maybe the cities of the continent will help…

But Crockta just shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know."

"Huh?"

“I have no thoughts.” Crockta told them. “I will think about if after the enemies gather."

“……!”

It was a shocking answer. He had no thoughts. However, they strangely weren't worried. As long as they were with Crockta, it felt like they could succeed in anything.

“Let's think about it later. Kulkulkul, bul'tar!"

“Huhu."

"Kukuk!"

They nodded. If they worried about the future, they wouldn't have succeeded in the many fights they experienced.

In the video of the fight at Chesswood, Crockta had said,

'That is the calculations of a human.'

He had different calculations than humans. His formula didn't consider things like the size and strength of the enemy. Even though it changed from a village to the empire, this person's calculations hadn't changed at all.

How far could this man go?

The users exchanged glances.

“Everyone, are you going to do it all the way?"

"Of course."

"Kukuk…"

They would die. From the viewpoint of the users, this was a reckless quest. It was an impossible mission with a hell difficulty, where the odds was close to zero. But it didn't matter. They were now with Crockta. This was the most fun they had in Elder Lord.

Crockta told them. “If the emperor's eyes turn away from other villages and come to catch us, that is enough."

The 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' decided to just follow Crockta and see what would happen. Anyway, he was a man impervious to calculations.

Their plan was successful. There was news that the imperial army was converging.

***

“Guys! Everybody listen," Keynes said.

Those in front of him were the elites of the Heaven and Earth Clan.

“At this time, Rommel and I have become nobles."

The members of the Heaven and Earth Clan applauded. It hadn't been possible for a user to become a noble since the launch of Elder Lord, so this was an unimaginable accomplishment.

“Guys. Is Elder Lord fun?" Keynes smiled. “Where else could you kill people and pillage villages? This is why Elder Lord is fun. We can do things we've always wanted to do, but never could."

The Heaven and Earth members laughed. In the past, they had won wars, trampled the rebels under the emperor's name, and enjoyed all sorts of looting. They carried out the actions without any hesitation because it was a game.

They finally understood why there were endless wars in human history. The winners who were given rights coveted it again, just like drugs.

“Dialph, no, Park Kwangchul."

He called a clan member. The clan members focused their attention. Keynes only called their real name when something important happened.

“Weren't you praised because you worked well before?"

"Yes!"

"I sent money to your account."

"Huh?"

“You'll die if you use it for something else." Keynes approached him and touched his shoulder. “Use it for a car, a foreign car. Understood?"

“……!”

The clan members all understood his will. Prior to any important work, Keynes would raise morale by giving out rewards. It was a message that all of them could get a reward like Dialph. In addition, the prize was enormous.

“After buying it, send me a picture to prove it."

Keynes laughed and Dialph bowed with a thrilled face.

"Brother, thank you!"

“You should thank your parents, for giving birth to such a wonderful son. I just showed my appreciation."

"Thank you, Brother!"

“This brat. Come on everyone. I don't want him to be the only hard worker." Keynes tapped his shoulder before going to stand next to Luin. Luin grinned as he raised his shoulders.

“When the war begins, listen to Rommel. Rommel is the best."

Of course, there was no need to ask. Rommel's 'War Maestro' was a fraudulent class that forced soldiers on the battlefield to obey him.

“Let's play a fun game today. Heaven and Earth!"

“War!"

Praise the Orc: 

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

Chapter end