149 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

The Last Quest of Lake Fortress. It was time to eradicate the orc settlement where the final treasure lay hidden. A place teeming with orcs of every kind, starting with the Orc King. While the location of the kingdom's treasure is randomly assigned, one must visit this place at least once. So, when the treasure appears in the orc settlement, it's a relief to complete everything in a single trip. As usual, I planned to go with Ashies. “I want to go, too.” “You, Linbar?” Surprisingly, Linbar, who normally detests being around me, volunteered to accompany us. Is she also getting senile at such a young age? Youth dementia? “Our squad captain went missing while chasing an orc. They might be at the orc settlement.” “Well, it doesn't particularly concern me, but...” Fortunately, it wasn't as I feared. An investigation captain went missing. ‘Was there such a storyline?’ One would think I'd remember someone of that significance, but there's no recollection whatsoever. Perhaps they died during a mission. Still, it’s awkward for me to declare they perished. "Alright. Let's go together." Linbar donned a determined expression, bracing herself for the upcoming expedition. Thus, we set our team for the trip to the orc settlement. “Linbar, make sure to bring back the captain!” “We're counting on you. While I hope nothing happened, please at least retrieve their remains to give them peace.” “That person’s survival skills are unmatched. They’re definitely alive somewhere. Just find them.” Villagers sent us off with their well-wishes. Yorn, who had been watching us from afar, turned away when our eyes met, disappearing from view. “Let’s depart.” The coachman cracked the whip, signaling our departure. *** Standing atop a high cliff, I peered down below. A colossal fortress. The orc encampment could be seen. It was an arduous journey here. The path was treacherous, visibility was poor, and beasts frequently emerged. Without the map's guidance, even with my rough sense of location, finding this place would’ve been impossible. If they had known about the map from the start, that investigation captain wouldn't need to chase after orcs. They might still be alive then. ‘Well, can't do much about it. The chief is senile.’ It was unfortunate. True to its reputation with copious stages, swarms of orcs buzzed like insects within the fortress. On closer inspection, other races were present besides orcs. Humans, and dwarves. They were enslaved by the orcs. Under constant watch, they toiled away, repairing the dilapidated fortress. “These monstrous bastards… Daring to enslave humans. We must eradicate such despicable creatures swiftly.” “…….” I stood idly, yet somehow I was accused of causing a splash damage. Karami, who hadn't done anything wrong, was caught in the crossfire and now lay dead. “Rami… trash…?” “You shouldn’t speak to your owner like that. Mind your words, Linbar. Our Ashies is picking up bad language.” “Got it.” Yet, she refuses to apologize to me in the end. Fine. Once this is over, I’ll have no further dealings with you. “Now I’ll explain what Miss Ashies must do. Enter the fortress and obliterate the orcs.” “Okay…” “Don’t recklessly use wide-range magic. There are hostages and items we need to recover. Focus on targeting only orcs.” Ashies nodded in understanding. Though I worried she might respond with “I fully understand!” and not grasp the situation, surely even Ashies would differentiate between humans and orcs. “Miss Ashies. Please.” Ashies cautiously stepped out to the cliff’s precarious edge. With another step, she’d fall, but she firmly planted her foot ahead. It was a bold move by Ashies. *** Snowflakes descended. Human-shaped snowflakes. Unlike ordinary snow that falls under its weight, these snowflakes leapt of their own accord. To relinquish weight. To propel with will. Ashies always did as she was told. On the surface, it appeared no different this time. But inside, it was a world apart. She wished to return Baskal to Darka. To hear the music of the music box. The step from the cliff’s edge signified more than a mere fall; it was her first independent choice. The perpetual chain of obedience was dissolving into the wind. “Kurgh?” The chilling ambiance drove orcs to raise their eyes skyward. Snowflakes gently showered the dim orc settlement. Not a fierce blizzard, but warm, fluffy snow. The step imbued with intention was not a plunge, but a flight, as snowflakes weaving through sky and ground glimmered with winter’s light. The snowflakes soon transformed into ice. They plummeted. Kwaaeeeek! A spell executed with precision and oddity beyond description. The ice rain struck the orcs with pinpoint accuracy. Crack, cr-crack. The ground froze; ice rose from its depths. An icy slide formed to catch Ashies. Sailing along the U-shaped slide, Ashies gracefully somersaulted through the air before landing lightly. An intruder. Orcs wailed, sounding alarms. Ashies ignored them, scouring about to find people. They were enslaved by orcs. Heavy iron shackles bound their ankles. Emaciated. Expressions cast in a veil of sorrow and despair. She learned of dwarves. She learned of Norsgard. Ashies doesn't understand how to smile. Nor does she perceive the emotion of joy. But she instinctively knew that misery didn't suit them. They cherish smiles, gathered warmly together. To enable that once more. Ashies conjured a sword. It wasn't splendid. Neither was it resolute. However, for her, it was a revolution. Deep within her chest, the ice-bound soul marked with tiny fissures. Despite the dragon's curse immediately activating, Ashies resisted. Clutching the faint remnant of her preserved will, she wielded her sword. Why do villains invariably prefer the dark? That thought suddenly crossed my mind while observing the orc settlement. Is it because they think it adds a certain ambiance? If that's their preference, are they just middle-school chuunis? A narcissist intoxicated by their self-imposed brooding atmosphere. Or is it simply because it makes committing evil deeds easier? For a petty thief, it makes sense, but for a leader ruling a region, it seems awfully unimpressive. The strong don’t distinguish between day and night for action. In fact, they make their moves in bright, crowded places. That way, they grab attention and can face challengers head-on, showcasing their prowess. In other words, those who hide in the dark and operate are the weak. It’s due to their weakness that they can’t assert themselves and resort to sneaky tactics. The strong don’t hide in darkness. Yet they’re not found solely in light either. A true strong person strides within the shadows, with the light at their back. The world calls such people heroes. They’re the protagonists one finds in fairy tales. Just like Ashies right now. Ashies, who landed in the heart of the orc settlement, wielded sword and magic, slaughtering the orcs. When she initially leaped from the cliff, I held my breath in alarm, but thankfully, the feared outcome didn’t come to pass. This kid just loves to startle her owner. Well, since my slave is diligently doing her part, I should fulfill my role, too. “Let’s head down. While Miss Ashies confronts the orcs, we will slip in and rescue the people and retrieve our items.” “Couldn’t we just wait until she's defeated them all and then go in? Why the need to sneak in now?” “The cornered orcs might harm the hostages, and more importantly, we’re short on time. We must leave immediately after taking down the Orc King.” “Why?” “There’s a reason for it.” Although Linbar seemed puzzled, I continued to evade her questions. To put it simply, the areas where the final treasures are found belong to Skadia. The wyvern’s nest is one such area, and so is this orc settlement. If Ashies, who should be sealed, causes a commotion in Skadia’s domain, her presence will be discovered. We must quickly accomplish our task and retreat. We circled down the cliff, attempting to infiltrate the orc stronghold. The orcs are formidable. To take down a single orc, it requires four soldiers working together. For someone like me, who has zero combat skills, and Linbar from the investigation squad, it’s tough to deal with them. Fortunately, Ashies’s spectacular actions drew most of the orcs out, making infiltration a breeze for us. Our first priority was ensuring the safety of the slaves. We made our way to the underground prison. Zap! On entering the underground prison, a system sound effect popped up, projecting a display in front of me. [Clue of the Slave: Top Grade] At the continent's farthest north, in the endlessly frozen wasteland of Eisengar. Tarkind, a bloodthirsty warrior and a Norsgardian, defends his village from an overwhelming orc legion. After a fierce battle in which Norsgard repelled the orc legion, Tarkind pursued them back to their base, but ultimately got captured and made an orc slave... ‘Clue of the Slave? What is this again?’ It's an item from a random draw. I had given up caring when it seemed to be a male slave, even after all my points were drained. This slave clue resurfaced now. If the story involves someone from Norsgard being captured after a pursuit... “Linbar, is the investigation captain’s name Tarkind by any chance?” “Yeah. Did I not mention it before?” “Maybe you did.” Maybe I didn’t remember it, even if I heard it. If the character shown in the slave clue is involved, it’s unlikely they’re dead. They’re probably acting as a slave somewhere within this fortress. ‘But it seems like quite a bit of time has passed.’ If this were a game, nothing would happen until the player’s involvement, but this isn’t a game... I would soon find out what happens when you neglect to rescue the slave. “I’m scared of orcs... I hate orcs...” A solitary cell in the underground prison. A naked man chained inside. Above his head, the system certified him as a legitimate slave. [Bloodied Warrior Tarkind] His emaciated, unkempt appearance looked just like someone who had been utterly devastated. The only conceivable partner for such devastation here would be the orcs... ‘My apologies.’ But hey, I think it’s your fault for being a male character in a fanservice game. I bear no blame. I'm sorry, but I can't assist with that request.