Praise the Orc! Chapter 195-196

Chapter 195 – The Road to Orcrox (1)

Abaddon didn't come back after a long time.

"……"

It was then that Crockta realized that the grey god didn't want him to know too much information. Abaddon wouldn't return while they were still here.

"The grey god won't send him back."

Zankus, Tiyo, and Anor looked at Crockta.

Zankus spoke, “Those cursed by the stars, fighting something unknown."

The group of four were rushing to Orcrox in order to defend the orcs from the divine message when they encountered the bizarre being called a demon and heard about the grey god. As if this wasn't enough, they also learned that the night sky was fake, an illusion.

Zankus glanced at Crockta, as if asking him for an explanation. Crockta didn't say anything. He didn't exactly know about the curse of the stars and the grey god had an unknown plan. The other gods probably spread such a strange divine message because of her.

Crockta didn't know the proper context, so it felt like the story was heading deeper into a labyrinth. Abaddon, who seemed able to explain it, had disappeared.

“It is similar to when Crockta sometimes returns to the abyss of the stars dot. Is he like you?"

"My case is different. Maybe the god called him directly."

"Ummm…" Tiyo's mind was busy, his face scrunched up in concentration as he calculated different paths and outcomes. "There is no need to worry dot!"

He got up after a few seconds.

“First of all, let's stop the gods' plan for Orcrox dot. Then the answers will gradually emerge."

The rest of the group nodded at Tiyo's words. His loud voice loosened the tense atmosphere. It was better for them to move than to sit still and worry. Everyone got up. Crockta's group hoped that Abaddon would return safely to study a higher level of cuisine. They left a note for Abaddon.

[We will come back someday, and we will be expecting spicier dishes.]

As soon as he was about to leave the large space, Crockta found something. There were faded letters on the wall. Crockta focused on it. The words were written long ago. The ink had melted but the contents could roughly be understood.

The contents were praising the star god. Crockta looked at the light illuminating this space. It was a comfortable light that the eyes could easily look at. Yes, like the stars. Crockta realized that this pyramid was a building for the star god. When he died, the temples serving him would've disappeared. This pyramid might be one of the few remaining traces.

Abaddon, he remained here in remembrance of the star god. The dead god.

'The stars have cooled down a long time ago.' Crockta stopped. 'I always see death. Life is a process of convergence towards death. So I want to save everyone.'

The voice of the grey god flashed through his head again. The memory of that day was revived. It was the vision that she showed him before he confronted the imperial army alone. A desperate power that saw the last of all living things.

The sky of dying stars that she planted in her white world. Maybe that was the real sky of this world.

“You know the answer.”

Crockta touched the Demon's Mouth that was exposed to Abaddon. The guy in it didn't speak again. Crockta remembered the first time he met him. The demon, desperate from all the deaths and emptiness, had emitted his fears towards the outside world through the belt. Quantes almost became a land of death.

The grey god and the demons. If he kept fighting, someday he would get the answer.

"Crockta, what are you doing dot?"

Tiyo called out to him. Crockta stroked the blurred letters with his fingertips and looked at the luminous light again. It was a moment of silence for the star god.

The rest were eagerly waiting for Crockta.

"Crockta! We can't open the door dot!"

“It is like when the pyramid recognized Crockta."

“We need Crockta this time as well."

They were pushing the door this time. Crockta silently pulled the door. Listening to their praises, Crockta imagined that he might be very clever. Anor's bone sparrow was waiting for them at the pyramid entrance. Anor stroked its head and returned it to death. The snakes were no longer hostile to Crockta. Under their uncomfortable gazes, Crockta's party headed north again.

Orcrox was getting closer. Many things had happened since he left. The previously immature orc was now a warrior shaking the continent. Somehow, it felt like the orc guards he saw at Orcrox would still be there.

***

Aklan looked at the army following him and smiled.

They might've been turned away at Maillard, but the size of the expedition was gradually increasing. Every town and city they passed, ambitious youths volunteered while religious nobles led their soldiers. By the time they arrived in Orcrox, it would be a huge force to be reckoned with.

Humans, elves, dark elves, dwarves, and gnomes. While the members were mostly humans and elves,  there were quite a few varied members from the other species. The orcs would be destroyed by the followers of the gods.

“The gods are watching us."

"I don't believe in the gods too much." Adandator said. He wasn't delighted by the scale of the expedition. "I just want to see a crazy guy who might kill a god."

Adandator remembered the crazy orc warrior fighting the imperial army alone. People participated in the expedition to kill him, but it wouldn't be so easy.

"Huhu, we will soon arrive in Chesswood. There will be many more joining. Adandator should have faith."

Since the expedition's departure, everything had been smooth going except for Maillard. Aklan was confident. He would attract more people at Chesswood.

“But what about the support of the business companies for the expedition?"

They needed supplies to sustain such a large number of people. Funds were sufficient due to donations not just from the empire, but from volunteers as well. They asked the business companies for a smooth supply of goods.

The first one they contacted was 'Blacksmith', the largest business company on the continent. The Blacksmith Company decided policies through a meeting of its senior executives. The decision would take some time due to this meeting, but Aklan wasn't worried. Why would they refuse?

"They will make a decision soon. Once we receive the materials from the Blacksmith Company, the expedition will become smoother."

Aklan replied as passing volunteers bowed to him. The gods they believed in were different, but they all became one due to faith. It wasn't a mere conquest, but a struggle that would unify the continent.

"Once this fight is finished, the continent will become more peaceful."

"Really…”

"Faith will bind people together."

Adandator shrugged. He thought that if the expedition won, there would be a bigger fight over the distribution of profits. However, Aklan's mind was more of a flower garden than he thought. Aklan was a pure man, despite being a paladin of the war god.

***

"Look over there."

Chesswood could be seen. It was named this because the villages scattered all the place looked like a chessboard. It wasn't a single city but many villages joined together, so the population exceeded a few big cities.

"Raise the flags higher."

They raised flags in the name of the gods to recruit volunteers. It meant there was a flag for each god. There was also the patterns for the nobles. Colourful flags showed as they headed towards Chesswood.

“Let’s go.”

They reached Chesswood. It was the first village. The sign said 'Dandelion Village.'

"It is a nice name for a village.

A man dragging three cows found them. The three cows were identical.

"Wonderful cows."

“Huhu, they are my pride. Triplets."

"Can you call the head of the village here? You might already know, but we are the expedition trying to destroy Crockta and the orcs…"

But before Aklan could finish what he was saying, something came flying.

Cheolpeok.

It was an egg. An egg had been thrown at him.

"Oh my, what is this?" The farmer pulling the three cows looked around with surprise. A village resident was holding a basket of eggs.

"Bad people. There is no one left to kill, so you want to kill Crockta?"

"Have patience, patience."

“Mister, why should I be patient? Didn't you hear him?"

“No matter how angry you are, it is dangerous to do that to someone holding a blade…"

“Let him stab me! I would already be a dead body if it wasn't for Crockta."

Aklan wiped the egg flowing down his head. The volunteers tried to pull out their weapons, but he restrained them.

“Haha, just listen to our story. We aren't going against the orcs for no reason."

Aklan's mind became complicated. It was the same atmosphere as Maillard. It was understandable that the Free Cities Alliance in the south refused to join them. They had waged war with the empire and Crockta helped them.

But in Maillard, he came to know one side of Crockta that he had no idea about. In that city, Crockta was a great orc. Now his name had appeared again in Chesswood.

The man with the triplet cows walked over to Aklan.

"I'm sorry."

"No." Aklan said while wiping off the eggs. “As you can see, there are a lot of people. I would like to meet the village leaders of Chesswood."

“Well…you won't hear anything good but…" The man nodded. "Please wait a while. I will report this to Ingram, who represents Chesswood, and he will come soon."

"Thank you."

The man left and Aklan waited with his troops at the entrance of the village. Then he suddenly heard a song from the village. At first glance, Chesswood was a land of musicians who produced a lot of minstrels, and they seemed to like songs. Once the expedition ended, minstrels would turn their story into an epic.

At that moment. While waiting for the leader, a bunch of children ran up to the expedition members.

Aklan smiled. "Hello. Little friends."

However, their expressions weren't bright. The children glared at the expedition before one child stepped forward.

“Are you really going to kill Crockta and the orcs?"

“That’s right. We are…"

"Bad people!"

Aklan made an absurd expression.

The child shouted, “You aren't worthy of our support! Concern for you? Get out of here right now! Stranger to language and rhyme! Change your metal head!"

“……!”

It was a type of rhyming song that recently became popular on the continent. A fresh form of music that criticized others. As expected from Chesswood, the children were booing them beautifully through song.

“Misters should be careful! I will say it with my stormy rhyme! Listen carefully, Crockta is our hero! You don't know anything, just staring straight ahead with blind eyes!"

The other children cheered at the little boy's impromptu lyrics.

“Yes!”

"The best!"

“Truly our village's rhyme king!"

The child didn't stop.

“A crisis in Chesswood, the raid of evil people! We didn't have strength, like hitting rocks with eggs! Then he came, our friend Crockta! There was a fountain of blood every time he moved his greatsword! He is our savior! He always pursues justice! Don't bother Crockta, you bastards!"

The song was over and the child turned around. Then he bumped shoulders with his friends and celebrated the impromptu lyrics. The children cheered.

“Yes! Historic lyrics!”

“The best improvised song!"

“Those uncles are going crazy right now!"

Aklan was speechless. After listening to the lyrics, he learned there was a crisis in the village and Crockta had rescued them.

"Misters, Crockta is our hero. Remember that."

The child who made the impromptu lyrics looked at them. Then a man appeared and tapped the child's head.

"This brat, what are you doing here?"

"Leader!"

“You can't do this.”

“If you just heard my lyrics…"

"You…?"

"U-Understood!"

It was the head of Dandelion Village. He looked at Aklan and the expedition troops.

“Hrmm…”

But his eyes weren't good. Aklan felt that things in Chesswood wouldn't turn out how he wanted.

Praise the Orc: 

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

Chapter 196 – The Road to Orcrox (2)

The expedition entered Chesswood. They were able to stay in a vacant lot in the center of the village. However, their expressions weren't bright. It was because of the insults that been poured their way.

Chesswood didn't welcome them. The residents went as far as throwing eggs.

"Ack! Eggs! These bastards…!"

"Be patient, patient!"

“Don't react to the residents of Chesswood."

Aklan and the commanders calmed down the expedition troops. As the representative of Chesswood, Ingram spoke to Aklan.

"I'm sorry."

"No."

"Crockta is a hero in our village, so people who want to kill Crockta will never be welcome here." Ingram was a man with a solid body. In the past, he might've been a mercenary or a soldier. "It is because Crockta saved our village, which was once on the verge of destruction."

“It is understandable. I'm curious." Aklan nodded. “What is he like?"

“Crockta?"

"Yes."

“Huhu, it is better not to know. If you know, you might want to disobey the gods' will."

"Is he that strong?"

“He is strong, but at the same time, if you know what a wonderful warrior he is, you won't want to be hostile towards him. Rather, you would want to be friends with him." Ingram added with a smile. “Of course, the orc warrior's song he sang is terrible."

Aklan discovered that Ingram really liked Crockta. Aklan smiled bitterly and looked around. He could feel the gazes of the villagers. Following Maillard, there were traces of Crockta here. He was the founder of the Rehabilitation Brothers in Maillard and the hero who saved Chesswood.

There was a song in Chesswood praising Crockta. It was an epic song about how the strong and honest orc fought against the people raiding the villages, calling his friends and achieving a brilliant victory.

People booed the expedition and sang the song. It was to the point where the expedition had memorized the lyrics. In particular, the 'Bul'tar bul'tar bul'tar~' refrain was so addictive that the soldiers of the expedition couldn't help humming.

"The orc is more amazing than I thought."

Adandator just shrugged and said.

“Our expedition is turning out worse than we thought."

Adandator heard some expedition members shouting at the villagers and not following commands. The volunteers were angry at the reception from the village. If Aklan hadn't swung his sword and set an example for a few people, there might've been trouble.

"Adandator. Please manage the soldiers."

Aklan was a paladin who believed in the war god, so he wouldn't spare his sword if necessary.

"If you need to, discipline them using military standards."

If they caused problems for ordinary people, not Crockta and the orcs, their honor would fall to the ground. This had to stop. They were gathered for an honorable reason, not plunderers who attacked villages.

The children they encountered at the entrance kept chasing them and calling out rhymes.

“Get out of Chesswood! We can't sleep because of you!"

“I will stab you in the shoulder! Move your feet on the road!"

“You will never win against Crockta, you are a hammer that will be nailed in! Reflect!"

"These guys…"

Ingram chased the children away. The children screamed and ran away. He shook his head and told Aklan, "If you continue, you will see a wide open space. You can stay there for a day. If you need more space, you can occupy the path. I will let the villagers know."

"Thank you for your consideration. And…" Aklan laughed awkwardly and said. “Can I recruit volunteers from the village?"

“Hehe, well… Are you really going to do it? I can't stop you. Try it if you want."

Looking at the atmosphere of the village, no one would come. Still, it was better to try than to do nothing. Aklan gathered the priests of each temple.

“People from each temple will recruit volunteers."

"Based on this atmosphere, will there be any volunteers?"

The priests had already given up. Aklan had a bitter expression on his face.

“Let’s just give it a try."

They traveled to the other villages of Chesswood to recruit volunteers. But in the end, there was only booing. They were priests who worshiped the gods, so the villages didn't throw eggs or hurt them. However, they all had hostility in their eyes.

It was an unfamiliar sight for the priests. In the end, they returned to the camp without recruiting one volunteer. 

“The plan is going wrong."

“First Maillard and now Chesswood."

Aklan frowned at Adandator's smile. He had expected a tremendous number of volunteers from Chesswood, but the result was zero. There were no volunteers whatsoever.

“It’s okay. We have plenty of troops now."

The expedition army was already great in number. Too many was the problem.

“There are many cities in the future."

"Yes. Let's hope so."

“Besides, good news will come soon." Aklan said to comfort himself. "Once we get a reply from Blacksmith, the marching speed will increase. Materials will be supplied quickly."

***

The Blacksmith Company's headquarters meeting room, where only the heads of the Blacksmith Company could gather. There was a meeting going on there. It was different from the usual calm atmosphere.

There was one woman who raised her voice the most, “The life of the company is trust!"

“But this case is different!"

“It is different! Mister Pascal! Think closely. Crockta is our top rated member and has a great deal of money! In addition, the whole world knows it! Crockta is advertised as our customer! Crockta's red headband is also a popular item! Besides, how many orcs are among our customers? Numerous orcs use our company!"

“But if we make a deal with the expedition, our profits will be enormous. There is a lot of money!”

“The trust of our customers is better than short-term profit! That is our cardinal rule! But what if we make a deal with the expedition? What will the customers think? That we consider customers as trash who can be sold to others?"

“It isn't that bad!"

“So are my words wrong? Customers trust us. Orc customers! Crockta! They believed in us and dealt with us! The amount of money from the orcs is huge! It is a betrayal for them!"

“The orcs will be gone anyway!"

"How do you know that? Even if they do disappear, this history will be remembered! That Blacksmith betrayed its customers!"

“This is really…!"

“Does anyone else think like Mister Pascal?" The woman turned her head and asked, "What do you think?"

Black Smith, the chairman of the Blacksmith company, smiled as he watched the controversy.

"Huhuhu."

The executive that he promoted was truly unique.

At first, she was a poor position as an employee who had a negative impression because she was cursed by the stars. However, the number of vegetables she sold in Anail was abnormal, causing her to become the selling queen of the market.

Stella. The youngest but most innovative executive of the Blacksmith Company.

“Huhuhu, Stella expressed my thoughts."

“In the end, the most important thing is what the chairman thinks. Heheh."

“I will express my thoughts." Black Smith laughed out loud.

Innovation meant thinking different from others. However, she didn't forget the cardinal rule of the Blacksmith Company. The root of everything. There were numerous talents from across the continent gathered beneath him, but it was rare that they had both innovation and this understanding of the fundamentals. Black Smith thought that this root essence absolutely couldn't be lost.

But Stella had it. The root. The chairman thought about Stella's words and opened his mouth again.

“The trust of our customers is better than short-term profit…" He looked at Stella and smiled. “Thank you for reminding me of something I had forgotten for a while. Miss Stella."

"It is nothing. Any employee of Blacksmith knows it. Chairman has proved it personally."

“Knowing it and putting it in practice is different. It looks like your colleagues who perform well have forgotten this fact. They don't see it anymore."

Some of the executives flinched at his words. They sometimes did dishonest things for the sake of Blacksmith's profits. It was how they had been able to raise their status. But the chairman already knew.

The chairman continued speaking,

“I agree with you. If we make a deal with the expedition, our profits will be enormous. The position of our Blacksmith, the top company on the continent, will be further strengthened. It will make up for the losses we recently got from the Thompson Company. But…"

The chairman looked at the executives.

“Miss Stella's words are significant."

"……"

"Didn't I tell you? If there isn't an answer, always look at the root. Our root that is always there."

Black Smith pointed behind him. There was a big framed picture. Above the picture was the motto of the Blacksmith Company, that made it what it was today. All executives fell silent as they saw it. It hung in every branch of the Blacksmith Company.

[The trust of the customers is heavier than your life.]

Even since Black Smith was a young man, he never broke this promise. Even when the staff miscalculate the numbers and the company received huge losses, he didn't withdraw from the contract. He opened a branch in remote villages and didn't close it down, despite the labor costs causing a deficit. It was because they were all promises.

As the size of the company increase, he couldn't manage all employees so he had this included as part of the staff training.

“We might see a loss now. But the world will remember that our company never harms its customers. The orcs might disappear in this war but their names will remain in our books. If we help the expedition, how can we open our books again?"

Stella’s face brightened. The executives also nodded. The chairman's decision was made.

“Remember. Our company’s mission isn't to make a profit."

The words that Black Smith always said, "What is our mission?"

The executives answered at the same time, “It is to benefit the world through distribution."

“Yes, that's right." Black Smith rose from his seat. "As a child, I wanted to eat fish. There was no fish available in a mountain village. Only pale chubs in the valleys…then one day, a company started trading with our village and I could eat the fish I like."

It was his origin that everyone in the Blacksmith Company knew.

“Thanks to it, my village could enjoy not only fish, but medicines, rare goods and new food. There are plenty of young Black Smith in the world. Everyone. We aren't merchants who profit from war, but true merchants who benefit the people."

“I understand."

“I’ll always remember this, Chairman."

“I will follow your words."

Black Smith's will was absolute in the Blacksmith Company. The executives who objected to Stella changed their attitudes quickly. Stella bowed her head. Black Smith smiled. It felt like he had a smart granddaughter.

"Then send the reply. Unfortunately, we can't agree to the deal."

The answer of the Blacksmith Company was decided. They would refuse the expedition's deal.

“Now they will probably try to make a deal with the Thompson Company," said an executive.

The Thompson Company was an emerging threat. It started from Anail and now its activities were spreading across the world.

“That’s right. I guess so. What will Thompson do? Hahaha."

Praise the Orc: 

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

Chapter end