Praise the Orc! Chapter 183-184

Chapter 183 – The Last Fire (1)

It had been several days since Crockta's party entered the great forest with Zakiro. The road was long and the terrain steep. If Zakiro hadn't been with them, they would've gotten lost several times. There were obstacles scattered all over the map.

"This is your cue, Anor."

"Scary… I don't want to look."

"You are the scariest person here dot! Raise your bones!"

"Understood."

Anor used his necromancy to defeat the monsters.

In the great forest, they fought monsters several times a day. As a result of such hardships, they were able to find a huge wall standing in the lush forest. It was the black barrier which was the symbol of Geherad.

They stood at the entrance.

"Orc, dark elf, gnome, and dwarf. How strange." The guards' eyes widened at the appearance of such unique group. The guards themselves were a mixture of humans and dwarves.

"Yes, so what did you come for?"

"To look for a per…"

"Pilgrimage." Zakiro interrupted Tiyo. "We came to worship the last fire."

"Hoh, I see."

The dwarf guards nodded.

"Are you a blacksmith?"

"Yes."

"Do you intend to enter the last forge?"

"If it is possible."

"Good luck."

He chuckled. Crockta, Tiyo, and Anor, who didn't know what the last fire or last forge was, just stood in the rear.

"Good luck. You can enter."

The passage was clear. Just like the walls, Geherad's buildings were made of black soil. The entire city looked like it was covered in coal.

The scale of the city wasn't that big. After all, it would be difficult to maintain a large city in the great forest. Most of the inhabitants were dwarves and humans, while other species were occasionally seen.

However, a large building at the center of the city stood out.

"That is the resting place of the last fire."

"What is the last fire dot?"

"Coming to Geherad without even knowing…" Zakiro laughed. "The last fire literally means a fire that will remain until the end of the world. What is the longest lasting fire in the world?"

"The world's longest lasting fire…"

Tiyo thought about it. He rolled his eyes as he tried to think of the answer.

"Let’s see…"

"Over there."

Zakiro pointed to the sky. The sun that illuminated the world. Tiyo's face brightened as he squinted at it.

"The sun dot?"

"That's right. Strictly speaking, the sun god."

"It is the first time I've heard of the sun god dot."

"He was originally a great god, but now he is said to be in a deep sleep. I don't know the situation of the gods, but the sun is still burning, so he hasn't completely disappeared."

Geherad's 'last fire' was a remnant of the sun god, and the large building at the center of Geherad was the temple of the sun. Originally, the gods revealed their existence by helping out or passing on divine messages. However, the sun god didn't do that. It was said that the sun god had fallen into a long sleep.

"Then what is the last forge?"

Zakiro grinned at Crockta's question.

"It is literally the last forge. If the sun is the longest fire in the world, then the last forge is the place that will hold it."

"There is a forge like that?"

"That's right. Most people come to Geherad for that purpose. In the place where the last fire is gathered, I want to borrow the best heat to create a masterpiece. It is the holy place of the blacksmiths."

"So, that's why you tried to come here."

Crockta's group came to find Tiyo's father, but Zakiro had such a situation.

"Well, I have now arrived. Thank you for helping me get here." Zakiro said goodbye to them. He only accompanied them here, so it was now time to separate.

Crockta nodded and extended his fist. Zakiro smiled and bumped his fist against Crockta's. It was the first time he had used an orc gesture, but it didn't feel bad.

"Bul'tar. I am alive."

"Um."

He also said goodbye to Tiyo and Anor. Then just before he moved away, Zakiro asked Crockta,

"Warrior. I heard your name is Crockta?"

"Yes."

He had learned this fact while accompanying them here. The name of the orc, who he had thought was just a skilled warrior, was actually Crockta. Zakiro confirmed again, "The 'Northern Conqueror,' Crockta."

Crockta grinned. "Correct. I am Northern Conqueror Crockta."

Zakiro nodded.

"…That's right. It was an honor."

Then he turned away.

***

Zakiro headed straight to the temple of the sun god, the place where the last fire was kept. In the black temple, a sharp spire stood out that pointed towards the sun.

"Northern Conqueror Crockta is using my sword…"

It wasn't a bad feeling. Crockta's reputation was great enough that Zakiro had heard it even back when he didn't leave his clan's smithy. Crockta wasn't just strong. He also maintained the faith. Not only had he performed various activities on the continent, he had also punished the crazy chieftain and blocked the ambition of the empire.

Moreover, it had been done with Zakiro's sword, Ogre Slayer. It felt wonderful.

"However…"

That wasn't the only reason why Crockta's name was engraved in his mind. Crockta would be in crisis in the near future. They were enemies who couldn't be compared to the opponents Crockta had faced previously.

"The fickle gods…"

Despite all the work Crockta had done, the gods had sent a divine message pointing to Crockta's death. It said to destroy Crockta and his orc kin. The dwarves in Zakiro's hometown hurried. It was a divine message which involved the fate of the entire continent.

As long as the gods targeted Crockta, a harsh future would follow. To overcome such hardships, the sword 'Ogre Slayer' wasn't appropriate. The ending was obvious.

Zakiro worried about it for a moment before shrugging it off.

"I don't care."

He was a blacksmith, and his mission was to create a weapon. Zakiro was merely a craftsman aiming to complete the best work. It was none of his business, even if the warrior who held his sword would eventually die because of the gods.

Zakiro stood in front of the temple and blocked everything out.

"Let's see it once, the last fire."

The only thing important to him now was the 'last forge.'

***

After separating from Zakiro, Crockta's party explored the city for traces of Herod. They asked if anyone knew a gnome called Hedor, but there were no answers. Some people remembered small gnomes but didn't know much about them.

In the end, the sun set.

"That's it for today." Crockta stated. He was hungry and tired. 

"We should go to the temple of the sun god as our final destination today. There might be a clue there."

"I think so as well dot."

"Okay. Let's go quickly."

They headed to the black building at the center of Geherad. As Zakiro said, all visitors to Geherad were aiming for the temple of the sun god and the last fire. Therefore, it was like a bustling tourist destination. Hot air blew out as they entered.

"Heat dot?"

"Ahh, I guess it is the temple of the sun god…"

"Are you okay dot? Isn't a necromancer weak to light? The sun isn't hurting you?"

"No."

The temple contained a place for worship, and at the center, there was an altar which looked like a huge furnace. The heat was flowing from there. Worshippers bowed their heads towards it and prayed. There were various species present. There were warriors like Crockta, magicians, and ordinary people who didn't know how to fight. They all prayed to the 'last fire' in the altar at the center of the temple.

"Isn't it wonderful?"

A voice rang out. A dwarf in white clothing was standing beside them. He smiled gently and said,

"The sun god has been gone for a long time. He can only be found in the history books. The 'last fire' is the only thing left from him. But people still haven't forgotten the sun god, so they come here and pray. Why?"

He was a priest here.

Crockta replied, "Well… is it because of the last forge?"

"Your answer isn't wrong. But my own answer…"

The priest pointed to the ceiling of the temple.

"It is the sun god."

"What do you mean?"

"The sun is the highest existence that cares for all things. Without the sun's light and heat, this world wouldn't last more than a day. It creates the seasons, helps buds grow and shines light so we can see the world. Thanks to that, the sun's grace isn't forgotten."

It was a plausible answer.

"Isn't the fact that we live on this earth the gift of the sun god? People feel this instinctively."

"It makes a lot of sense that there is a reason."

Crockta had modern knowledge, so he nodded in acknowledgment. The presence of the sun was the most basic premise for life.

After that, the priest gave further explanations.

Inside the altar was a piece of the sun god, and it contained a powerful heat that could melt anything. The last forge, which was beyond the worship room, used this heat in its furnace. The forge could only be used by selected craftsmen, and this was determined by the piece of the sun god in the altar.

After his explanation, Crockta opened his mouth, "I appreciate the valuable teachings."

"It is nothing. It is my job."

"There is one thing I would like to ask. Have you ever met a gnome traveler called Hedor?"

"Hedor… I'm not sure of the name, but there was a strange gnome. I don't know if he is Hedor or not."

"He looks like this friend." Crockta gestured to Tiyo. The priest raised his eyebrows as he saw Tiyo.

"Hoh… It seems like he is."

"What did that man come for?"

"He kept asking me about the sun god. He was interested in the ancient myths. I recall that he asked about why the sun god disappeared."

They shared some more stories about the gnome called Hedor. Tiyo's father had come here to look through the records earnestly. As they talked, it was soon time to close the temple.

"If you come back tomorrow, I will give you more information. There might be some records in the journal."

"Thank you."

"It is nothing. I am grateful that you came here without forgetting the sun god."

They exited the temple. It was a clear night. Crockta suddenly looked up at the sky.

The sun god…

Did he look different from the many different suns glowing in the sky? Crockta had heard that there were more galaxies in the universe than the grains of sand on Earth. If so, who created that infinite possibility?

Perhaps one of those distant stars was the Earth he lived on. Then at that moment…

His vision suddenly dimmed.

"……!"

It was the same feeling he'd had when the Gray God's Eyes were used. The fated deaths in the world entered his vision.

"……"

Numerous white stars were scattered in the black night sky. The white stars dimmed and became part of the black curtain. Only the darkness of the night sky remained. This was a black world where all the stars had died.

The end of the stars. He didn't want to see such a sight. Crockta shook his head.

Then he turned off the Gray God's Eyes. It wasn't well-controlled, but if he focused his mind, he could gradually escape that feeling. Soon enough, he was able to leave the power of the Gray God’s Eyes.

Crockta sighed. Was he tired, or was the silent gray god doing something again?

"Crockta. Look over here dot."

Tiyo said. Crockta rubbed his eyes and raised his head. Then his body immediately tensed. There was a group of people holding weapons. All of them had hidden their identities behind hoods.

The man at the forefront declared, "The gods have ordered your death. I will punish you according to the divine message. Don't blame me."

The influence of the divine message began to take effect.

Praise the Orc: 

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

Chapter 184 – The Last Fire (2)

"I didn't know that 'Slayer Maker' would come here." Rastad, the old dwarf guarding the last forge, laughed while stroking his long beard. "Is Solardo of the Golden Anvil Clan doing well?"

"He is hitting the iron like before."

"Solardo allowed you to come here?"

"……"

Zakiro smiled, "That’s right. I came on my own."

"I see. Any young blacksmith will come here at least once. And the Slayer Maker is qualified enough."

"You’re overpraising me."

"I've seen the Wizard Slayer that you created."

Kang! Kang!

Rastad looked at the place where the sound came from. In one corner, a dwarf was hammering on iron. The heated piece of iron was struck by the hammer and slowly changed shaped. Then the hammering sped up.

"It is a quick and fast sword."

"A big weapon isn't needed to kill a magician."

"That’s right. It was excellent. Who is using the sword now?"

"I don't know."

"You truly resemble Solardo." Rastad smiled bitterly. "Wizard Slayer is now in the hands of a lunatic who hates magicians. Numerous innocent magicians have died at his hand."

"Is that so?" Zakiro shrugged. "It has nothing to do with me."

"You truly are Solardo's clan member." Rastad laughed out loud. "Yes, Slayer Maker. What monster will you make at the last forge here? This time, will it be an ogre slayer?"

"I already created that."

"Huh, I see. It is a weapon against ogres, but the owner will surely suffer."

Zakiro shrugged at Rastad's words. He'd met the orc warrior who used Ogre Slayer and seen him kill an ogre easily. The greatsword was too big, but when it entered the orc's hands, it felt like it had been made for him.

Zakiro smiled, "Since you've completed Ogre Slayer, is it now a dragon slayer?"

"Dragon Slayer…"

Dragons were an invisible and forgotten species. At one time, they flew over mountains and valleys regularly, but now people never saw them. Some said that they were all dead, while others said they were hidden somewhere.  However, one thing was certain, which was that the dragons wouldn't regain their former glory.

"My sword would lose if I make such a thing."

"Indeed, it is impossible to use a sword to fight against a dragon. Then what about a second version of Ogre Slayer? There is trouble with ogres in this area."

"I'm not sure." Zakiro's face darkened. "I will think about it."

He had left the Golden Anvil Clan because of this.

Zakiro surpassed the level of young craftsmen. At a young age, he had already become a top blacksmith, and his Slayer series were masterpieces which everyone wanted. Many warriors and knights had asked him to make weapons for them.

However, now, he didn't have a blueprint for the next piece. He didn't have an image which made him want to work the metal enthusiastically. In the old days, the true face hidden in the iron had been visible. But there was nothing now. He had broken several attempts and beat the iron only to melt it again. So, his slump had become prolonged.

"You are young." Rastad tapped his shoulder. "Don't be in a rush. Stay and think slowly. You can stay in the blacksmith's quarters."

"Thank you."

"This is the last forge, a place where you can beat iron as long as the sun shines. Hahaha. I guess I should look at that person."

Rastad approached the blacksmith who was hammering the iron. The blacksmith was a dwarf younger than Zakiro. He didn't have the skills, but he had a passion for hammering iron. Zakiro watched them for a while before leaving the last forge.

The dwarf who was the sun god's priest saw him and bowed. Zakiro greeted him politely as well.

***

By the time he left the temple of the sun god, it was dark. Geherad was quiet. There were occasional raucous sounds from the pubs, but most of the buildings had turned off their lights. It was a land of the temple of the sun god. They slept early and looked forward to the sunrise, rather than staying up at night.

At that moment…

Chaeng!

Zakiro heard a noise. He turned around. As a blacksmith, it was a sound which was impossible for him not to know. It was the sound of weapons hitting each other. A battle was occurring somewhere, and the sound of the metal was strangely familiar.

He had heard that sound many times over the past few days. It was the sound of Ogre Slayer smashing monsters. Crockta was fighting.

Zakiro started running. The sound was coming from a corner of Geherad, where people rarely went. It was dark, but he ran using the light of the moon and the sound. As Zakiro approached, iron flashed in the darkness.

"……!"

A group of people was surrounding Crockta and a man. The two of them were exchanging blows. Zakiro moved closer and saw Tiyo and Anor, who spotted him and waved.

He stood next to them. "What is this…?"

"Strange guys picked a fight with us dot." Tiyo explained, "They said we would be punished according to a divine message… Strange guys dot."

"……!"

Zakiro knew about the divine message. All the gods wanted Crockta and the orcs to die. These people were probably fanatical followers of the gods. To them, the commands of the gods were absolute.

Indeed, the group of hooded men holding weapons was watching Crockta and the man fight, as if it was a sacred ceremony.

"Great dot. Being able to fight against Crockta…" Tiyo muttered.

However, Zakiro couldn't tell. His vision had adapted to the darkness to some extent, but their swords were moving too quickly for him to see. Every time a light flashed, someone received damage and stepped back.

Crockta, the person who conquered the north and obstructed the empire… He had killed the crazy chieftain in the north and defeated the empire's genius, Adandator. However, a nameless fanatic was matching him in the fight.

The two chose to catch their breath for a moment. Crockta stared at the man, and suspicions about the opponent filled his eyes. It was an expression which showed the fight wasn't going according to his will.

Zakiro followed Crockta's gaze towards the opponent. The hood was torn, so the opponent's face was revealed. It was a middle-aged man. He looked at Crockta with a calm expression.

Then he declared, "You can't resist the power of the gods. Accept your fate, Crockta."

It was at this moment that Zakiro realized something. There was a faint light coming from the man's sword. Magic swords were able to exert such power. However, Zakiro saw that it wasn't a magic sword.

God's soldier…

Crockta's opponent wasn't a warrior who was good at the sword. However, he had the power of a god itself. A god's power was coming down to the man through that sword. It wasn't the god's full power as there were constraints about using divine power against mortals. However, this was enough to aim at Crockta's neck.

The man wielded his sword again. A light flashed.

Kaaang!

Crockta blocked the sword with Ogre Slayer. Then he stepped back.

"Ugh."

"In the name of the gods!"

Kakang!

Zakiro could see it. Crockta’s sword, Ogre Slayer, was shaking. Zakiro was a blacksmith, a master who heard the voice of the iron and the sword. Just like how a warrior saw the paths through the opponent's gap in order to kill them, Zakiro had an eye for seeing through metals and weapons.

In his eyes, Ogre Slayer looked like a boxer who barely blocked the punch.

It had won many fights but hadn't healed properly, causing the wounds to accumulate. Its broken bones set wrong, and its wounds filled with pus. A punch to the head caused damage which would make the hands shake.

However, nevertheless, Ogre Slayer still looked straight at the opponent. This was a fight, and the opponent was still in the ring. A fighter who wouldn't collapse when weak… That was Ogre Slayer. And Zakiro was the father who had made Ogre Slayer.

"Bul'tar──────!"

Crockta's roar shook Geherad…

And Crockta's speed increased.

The man stepped back from Crockta's power. An unknown swordsmanship was being used with Zakiro's sword as Ogre Slayer implemented an unknown power. The man's sword bounced off, and Ogre Slayer aimed towards the gap.

However, it was blocked. This was the god's power. Opportunities were equally given to both sides. The enemy's attack flew when Crockta's blow was deflected towards the ground. The sword had a white haze around it.

Then Crockta raised Ogre Slayer.

Kaaaang!

At that moment, Zakiro thought that Ogre Slayer would break. However, it managed to hold on. Crockta blocked the attack and kicked the man's elbow. The sword was momentarily lowered. Then Crockta turned and swung his greatsword at the man.

It seemed like this fight was over. However, the man's sword swung around in the air, as if a thread was tied to it. Then it moved into a position to stop Crockta's sword. The man grabbed his sword and inserted strength into his legs.

Kwaaaaang!

Once again, the two swords collided. The man was pushed back. It was a power struggle. The dim light from the man's sword enlarged to cover his body, and his eyes shone white. The god's power was encroaching on his body.

His sword became faster. It aimed at Crockta from every direction. Thanks to the gods, the man's attacks were swift and powerful.

"……!"

However, Crockta's Ogre Slayer defended against all attacks. It endured, and the reaction was marvelous. Crockta was really one with the sword.

"Is that really my sword…?" Zakiro muttered.

It was beautiful swordsmanship. However, it wasn't beautiful due to smooth movements or gentle curves… But because the sword and owner were one. All types of movements were completed with the big greatsword. Zakiro couldn't tell if Crockta was leading the sword, or if the sword was leading him. The sword was connected to Crockta, and they moved as one.

Then Crockta hit his opponent's abdomen.

"Cough!"

Crockta immediately swung the greatsword at his opponent.

Kakang!

The enemy's sword flew through the air. It rolled across the ground and stopped at Zakiro's feet. The dim light faded, and it became dark. The god left. Zakiro picked up the sword. It wasn't a bad sword, but it wasn't superb craftsmanship. It was just a fairly decent sword.

He raised his head and looked at Crockta and the man. Crockta's greatsword was pointed at the man's neck. The man slowly opened his eyes. He saw Crockta and the sword pointed at his neck. He didn't know what to do.

"Tell me about the divine message." Crockta demanded.

The man mumbled something.

Zakiro felt something strange while watching the scene. The man wasn't a great warrior… He was just a fanatic. His sword wasn't exceptional… It was just a decent sword. He was like a grain of sword compared to Crockta, a orc  with a proper sword.

However, when the man used the power of the gods, he could fight against the 'Northern Conqueror.' This was the power of the gods. Crockta won now, but he would eventually fall. All the gods wanted his death.

What if this power was used on a stronger person with a better sword?

Crockta and Ogre Slayer… The beautiful dance of the two would end soon. It was inevitable. After all, it wasn't an ogre they were facing. The gods… No matter how good Ogre Slayer was, it couldn't kill a god. However…

"I want to keep watching."

As long as the sun still blazed, the last forge wouldn't turn off. Likewise, Zakiro hoped that the beautiful combination of Crockta and Ogre Slayer wouldn't end. The sword he made was more than a sword, and the harmony with its owner was a miracle he wanted to last forever.

Zakiro wanted to do it. 

"This is also destiny."

A warrior had to fight. For a warrior to survive, he must kill without dying… And in order to kill, he needed a weapon that could kill.

Praise the Orc: 

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

Chapter end