150 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

"Captain!" With a swift flick, Rin imbues her dagger with magic, cutting through the iron bars. She enters the cell and does the same to the chains binding Tarkind. She catches Tarkind, who sways like seaweed. "Captain! Are you conscious? Do you know who I am?" "Uh…?" Tarkind blinks blearily, his eyes sweeping around the room until they land on Rin, embracing him. Long, flowing hair. The moment he catches the distinct scent of a woman— "Eek! I hate females! No more mating!" "Captain? What's wrong, Captain! It's me, Rin! Get a hold of yourself!" "Eeeeek!" Tarkind lets out a shrill, girlish scream, hiding his face with his arms and struggling fiercely to escape Rin's grasp. Yet, due to his weakened state, breaking free was no simple feat. The respected and gentle leader, now a shadow of his former self, left Rin bewildered. Not knowing what to do, he looked at Karami. "Why, why is the Captain acting like this?" "Hmm, perhaps the female orcs abused him? Considering he’s reacting so violently even to a human woman like you, Linbar, it seems he’s been through quite an ordeal." Karami clicked his tongue disapprovingly at the sight of the broken Tarkind. In the world of games, if one were to be born a male character, they’d ideally be powerful enough to break through any level. But Tarkind was different. Not only was he captured due to lack of combat skill, but he was even violated by the orcs. Born a man, only to fall to being a woman’s doormat and worse. ‘Pathetic.’ I won’t end up like him. I will remain a noble master. Karami resolved within himself. But that was not what mattered right now. Though there was a faint doubt, Tarkind was a slave not seen in the game before. Perhaps, the slaves appearing in the lottery are characters not present in the game, Karami mused. Yet, thanks to Tarkind, new information was gained. If slaves aren’t rescued in time and are left unattended, they'll spiral down a path of ruin. Of course, a question lingered. ‘Did I enslave him because I acquired him through the lottery?’ Could a single draw change the world? Perhaps, or maybe he was always a slave. There's no way to know at the moment. "Damn those orcs... I'll kill them all." Rin seethed with rage, grinding her teeth in anger. Though her intent to erase the orcs from existence was fierce, just having zeal would not suffice to solve the matter. "Linbar, I understand how you feel, but we have urgent matters. Right now, let’s just be thankful Tarkind is alive." Rin shot a sharp glare at Karami. "Be satisfied? When the Captain is in this state?" "If you don’t like it, you can stay here. I’m not your master, nor am I obliged to help you." Karami turned on his heel without hesitation. From the start, he intended to go alone. With the stealth cloak, he could freely move around the fortress. He refrained from using it with Rin around, as he preferred not to reveal it openly. "……." Rin glanced back and forth between the departing Karami and Tarkind lying on the ground. Annoyingly, Karami was perfectly right. There were many others captured by the orcs. In Tarkind’s current state, it was difficult to take him along. Above all, if they stayed here, Ashies would eventually wipe out all the orcs. Rin wanted to exact revenge for Tarkind herself. "Captain, stay here for a bit. I'll be right back." "No females…." Rin draped her coat over Tarkind and laid him on the ground before dashing in the direction of the corridor where Karami had disappeared. *** Karami cautiously advanced, hiding behind a corner of the wall. Not all the orcs had gone out to fight. An orc patrolled the corridor underground. ‘Maybe I should have brought Harge around.’ Though combat skills would make dealing with it a breeze, the incessant chatter bothered him, so he left him behind. Now, if he were to free him from the ice, no doubt he'd be furious. The stealth cloak was handy, but Karami needed to open the door across the corridor and the prison cell further. For that, he needed the bunch of keys at the orc’s waist. Even though concealed, stealing the keys so blatantly could expose him…. Ziiing! At that moment, from the other end of the corridor, a sharp, piercing shriek cut through the air, accompanied by a thin line slicing it. Thunk. “Oink!” With a pig-like squeal, the orc hit the ground. An arrow was buried in its neck. Rin approached, deftly nocking another arrow on her bow. “After making such a grand exit, this is where you stop?” “What about Tarkind?” “I’ve left him in a safe place. I’ll get him on the way out.” "Understood." Karami picked up the bunch of keys from the orc, continuing onward. “What’s your plan now?” “We need to free the hostages and gather them in one place.” “Again?” “What do you mean, again?” Rin narrowed her eyes at Karami’s feigned innocence. She recalled Yorn's subtle words before her departure. “You mentioned bringing back Baskal? Is he here by any chance?” “Of course not. How could a dead man be here?” Baskal was already cremated. His grave was by the village’s communal cemetery, and his ashes freely scattered with the winds of Isengard. Even knowing this, Karami insisted on retrieving Baskal. Whatever plan he was concocting had Rin on guard. “Hmm.” As they walked, Karami stopped in front of a door. A locked door. He began to jingle the bunch of keys, searching for the one that would unlock it. "Linbar, how long do you think the chieftain will live?" "...What?" "I don't think it'll be long. The north isn't a place where the frail survive." Sadly, it was something everyone in the village, including Rin, was aware of. But there was nothing to be done; they couldn't bring the dead Baskal back to life. "Do you want Darka to die as a senile old woman, forever longing for a son who will never return?" Click. The door swung open. Inside was a storeroom filled with thick, dusty air. Karami began rummaging through the storage. "What are you trying to say?" Even as Rin questioned him, Karami continued to rummage silently until he pulled something from the pile of junk. The moment Rin saw what Karami held, her eyes widened in shock. "You, that…" A line sewn with various ornaments. Like a severed bracelet. To Karami, it appeared as such: [Broken Bracelet] Someone's bracelet. Though faint, it still holds some magical power. "I intend to give her a chance. A chance for Darka, who has lived bearing the duties of a chieftain, to die with dignity, like a person. Of course, the choice is hers to make." Karami carefully placed the broken bracelet in his pocket, brushed past Rin, and exited the storeroom. Having acquired what he needed, he intended to finish what he came to do. Rin, standing forlornly, turned her heavy head to watch Karami. Despite the harsh northern climate, a bead of cold sweat trickled down her back. "Who... exactly are you?" How on earth did he get that bracelet? Karami offered a gentle smile. "I'm just a humble slave trader." *** The orc settlement teemed with orcs: from lowly minions to orc warriors, berserkers, and shamans—thousands of them lived there. They were leagues apart from the mongrel orcs commonly seen in the wild. They didn’t wield logs like clubs but instead had weapons crafted by their dwarf slaves and wore armor. Organized, disciplined; they were a respectable legion. In the north, no group could stand against the orc legion. Undoubtedly, they were the rulers of the north. Swish─! Amid the core of the orc encampment, Ashies danced gracefully, her sword play elegant among the grotesque gathering of orcs. She moved deftly among them, stepping rhythmically over their heads as if it were her own territory. Anywhere Ashies stood was a glacial field; those orcs near her were swiftly frozen by the icy aura. Truly a living, breathing block of dry ice. None dared approach her. Yet, the orcs were seasoned warriors in their own right. Instead of a hasty assault, they kept their distance, while the orc shamans began chanting spells. Body-enhancing magic. Empowered by the spells, the berserker orcs' bodies flushed red. The berserker orcs charged in with reckless abandon. Even upon entering Ashies' freezing sphere, the enhancement magic ensured they didn’t freeze instantly. Though they couldn't entirely withstand it, and their bodies began to crackle with frost, they were undeterred. “Wooooargh!!!” Seemingly unable to feel pain, a half-frozen orc closed in on Ashies. The berserker roared, swinging his crimson axe. Heavier and swifter than the others' assaults. Yet, still insufficient to reach Ashies. Gracefully avoiding the axe, Ashies plunged her sword into the orc. A display of elegant yet ruthlessly efficient swordsmanship. Countless wounds etched into the orc's green skin. Even if they couldn’t feel pain, they weren’t invincible. The severely wounded berserker orcs collapsed into the snow. Boom! Lightning flashed. A bolt of lightning crackled above Ashies’ head, erupting in a dazzling explosion with snow flying in every direction. Yet, when the smoke cleared, Ashies stood unscathed. The hemispherical ice shield she had projected nullified the orc shamans' attacks perfectly. “Grrk… Female. Strong.” They couldn’t break through her defenses. No matter the tactics employed, they were ineffective. The initially fierce orcs faltered, none daring to lead, hesitantly circling the lone woman besting them. The mighty orc legion, queens of the north, were floundering against a single woman. As if recognizing their true sovereign. “Move aside.” “W-woah, Your Highness….” Startled by the quiet, low voice echoing through the stronghold, the orcs flinched, stepping aside. Cleaving through them marched an orc twice the size of a conventional orc. Not the usual green, but a dark, coal-like hue. His hulking body adorned with grotesque scars, carrying a massive double-headed axe. He was the king of the orcs. Ruler of the north. The arrival of Valkrash, the Orc King, under the blessing of Skadia, the ice dragon. Karami, haha, I can’t wait to see him eventually get overpowered by his slaves. 0 qhtm 2024.12.17 17:26 신고 The blessing of the ice dragon? 0 해피하면시원함 2024.12.18 19:20 신고 Is this why they said to flee after capturing the Orc King? 0 아디쉐 2024.12.31 07:58 신고 For the ice dragon to bestow a blessing like that, if he dies, the dragon will immediately know. 0 개와고양이 2025.01.10 22:14 신고 Oh the blessing of the dragon! 0