Chapter 196 – Episode 196. A Series of Unexpected Encounters (5)
The Beldus Plain is the largest area in the Demon King’s Territory.
The entire scale is made up of a harsh environment, and of course the ferocity of the creatures that try to adapt to it also reaches a level beyond imagination.
To the extent that even Orcs, who boasted of their innate physical abilities, found it difficult to settle down there.
“The village, this is it.”
However, when we arrived, what caught our eyes overturned that common sense…
It was a landscape where what could be called a village was created on this barren plateau.
“It’s more prosperous than when I came before.”
Margaret, the head of the Witch Society, takes even such a startling sight lightly.
Barmash nodded at her words and walked down the road in the center of the village.
“Yes, my breath has eased since the beast disappeared.”
A cave made by digging out a rocky valley and a leather tent that can be seen sparsely. It was seen that orcs were hiding everywhere.
Perhaps he heard the chieftain’s message in advance and hid himself. As before, friction may arise over unexpected things.
“Come to think of it, I heard that after the beast disappears, there will be a struggle for supremacy among the beastmen… Were you the one who knocked it down?”
“… If you’re talking about Alakion, an officer in the Demon King’s army.”
“You did a great job.”
Come to think of it, a group of beastmen led by Alakion were also staying in the Beldus Plain.
Of course, from the point of view of Barmash, who wants to survive here, Alakion can be said to be an obstacle.
“Please, let me pray for that gratitude to be evident.”
Even so, as if he hadn’t been able to express his gratitude because he was still wary, he started walking across the village, giving off an unpleasant snort.
While following him, he hears whispers from around him.
“Chwiik, a lot of foreigners.”
“Did you catch it to eat?”
“They said that if the chief can talk, he won’t eat.”
“There are a lot of females. A bride-to-be?”
“They are witches. Chwiik.”
“Did you bring anything else to eat?”
A simple whisper not befitting the size of an orc.
But even that was done on a scale large enough to cover the entire valley, so much so that you could feel the clutter in the surroundings touching your skin.
In terms of size, is it comparable to a large-scale farmhouse located on the border of a country?
It is common for Orcs to not exceed the level of a savage tribe, but it was a moment when they realized how great Barmash was for maintaining discipline even after gathering such beings on this scale.
Except for one thing that bothers me.
“… They are all men.”
Am I the only one who cares about that? To Verdia’s murmur, Margaret, who had followed Barmash in the same way, answered.
“Women are very valuable in Orc society. This is all the more so since male Orcs, who are born with masculinity, cannot do jobs that require delicacy such as childcare.”
Even that female doesn’t discriminate between species, so she’s an orc who is also a predatory soul, but well… It shouldn’t be necessary to mention it here.
Considering Barmash’s personality that he’s shown so far, it seems like he wouldn’t even consider it in the first place.
“But this time it is a little strange. Still, in the past, when visitors came, some would come out and peek…”
But even taking that into account, is there something to be concerned about?
When Margaret, who had been here before, raised her doubts, Bar Marsh answered, squeezing her hand that was hanging down below him.
“The inferior species spread the plague because they were presumptuous of climbing.”
“… Garbonya, to the mothers of the herd?”
“I heard that Orcs are the most fun when they reproduce savagely and vulgarly. He even told me to thank myself for making me return to my savage past.”
Is that why the number of females in the village was small?
I could see why he was so furious with his eyes wide open. As the leader of the pack, the annihilation of those who would take care of his children would be a matter of anger not only for him alone, but also for the entire tribe.
“… Was it to stop Garbonna from burning the World Tree for revenge?”
“Yes, if it hadn’t been for your interference… No, even if there was no interference, it would have been the same as not being able to take care of it. That clever bitch must have already made several holes for herself to slip through.”
Barmash soon stopped in one place.
The place he was facing was a cave located in the deepest part of the village built in a rocky valley, and there were a lot of ivory made from animal bones all over the place.
Everyone who encountered it instinctively felt it. That this is the place to be used for the upcoming ‘serious conversation’.
“And that may still be the case now.”
Celica stiffened at Barmash’s words.
While the atmosphere was heightened by the low voice, Verdia, who was watching Barmash with her back to the entrance, bowed her head as if respecting him and looked back at the party.
“From now on, I think it would be better if only the representatives of each group participated. Ymir, I want you to go back to the lodging the orcs have prepared for you and take care of Heira.”
“… Are you trying to make me babysit and bully you?”
“I am in a position to represent the party and humanity, and Celica has no choice but to take her because her witch needs to take care of her condition. And Dave…”
Verdia gave me an explanation while glancing at me.
After exchanging glances with her, she faced Katarina, the representative of the 10-member action squad in front of me.
“Then I will come after talking with Barmash and Margaret. So that you guys can rest quietly in the village.”
“Yes, I hope the story ends safely.”
Katarina falls to her knees as a courtesy. The crew bowed their heads in line with her actions.
They didn’t say anything different, but they all respected Katarina’s choice and showed their loyalty to me.
It’s burdensome, but it’s something you have to bear. Because I, like Katarina, wanted to inherit his will.
“… Anyway, it must be because there are many family members.”
After seeing me like that, Ymir finally understands and hugs Heira.
Afterwards, as she stepped away, the head of the witch’s society stared at Ymir as he left.
“Mrs. Margaret?”
“Ah yes. I’m sorry, Luna. I sold my eyes without even realizing it.”
Margaret barely came to her senses at the words of the witch who followed her. Afterwards, she withdrew her attention from Yumir, and faced the witches who had followed her, she said.
“Then I’ll just go for it. Please, as long as you are indebted to the tribe…”
“Yes, I’ll look for a place that can help while taking care of it like last time.”
The witches soon finished their greetings and withdrew from their seats.
In the end, what remained were Margaret, Verdia, and I, who represented each group, and Celica, who became the center of conflict.
“… Then let me listen.”
Barmash, who looked around them all, raised his back from his seat with a solemn voice, and soon prepared to enter the pre-arranged entrance.
To the place that was strictly guarded by the Orcs even before we arrived.
“I will open the door. Chwiik.”
Afterwards, the orcs grabbed the handle of the door and opened it wide, revealing the interior to everyone’s eyes.
A place decorated with the bones of monsters that were lavishly decorated just like the outside.
On top of the round table in the center was a brazier where bones were burned as firewood.
A place worthy of the name of an altar rather than a conference hall. There was a passenger waiting there ahead of us.
“Sure, sue, evil, evil~”
A woman wiping away sweat by wiping the tables and decorations with a rag in her hand…
Yes she was a woman
It was a woman with blonde hair in a short ponytail, with her ears standing tall on either side.
“Ah, Barmash! Arrived just now…”
The door slammed shut with a terrifying ‘Bang!’ As the woman greeted Bar Marsh at her entrance.
Afterwards, Margaret asked him with a trembling voice, as if she was embarrassed to see him standing there as if frozen.
“Chief Barmash? The woman from before…”
“I.”
However, Barmash has no time left to answer her question. Soon he began to show an angry face at the orc guarding the entrance.
“Didn’t I tell you to get rid of that woman beforehand?”
“Chwiik, don’t listen to godmother.”
“Godmother, how can we not do it, Chwiik? I can’t raise my kids without a godmother.”
“I would have told you to do it if it didn’t work!?”
Isn’t it strange?
No matter how much she once lost her cool and rushed at it, she came out so emotionally just because she had a place to talk to and a passenger.
As for Celica, she finally succeeded in having her cool, so she couldn’t help but feel that way even more.
Who is the woman he saw just now, so that this savage chieftain is running amok?
“Barmash, what if the door suddenly closes?”
However, she is an unidentified woman who reveals her appearance as the door opens, disregarding such disheveledness.
Looking at it again, she, far from an orc, began to approach Bar Marsh with her distinctive sharp ears pricked up.
“Oh, the door gets loose when you close it so hard. I did that last time and broke down the door, so the kids suffered so much…”
“Shut up! Would I have told you to stay quiet?”
“You can’t do that. When guests come, we can’t show the dirty room as it is.”
“That’s none of your business!”
“Ugh, our Barmash is getting angry again. I can’t use it if I do that in front of guests~”
“So that…”
“Come on, stay calm and follow me. Don’t be angry, calm down and then move the corners of your mouth like this~ like this~”
Barmash, who reveals her teeth as if she is about to rush in, and a woman who puts her finger on her mouth while smiling in front of him.
Facing that figure, Varmash tried to vomit some heat, but soon gave up and began to grab his face.
Has this happened many times before?
A woman with a smile as she watched Bar Marsh withdraw from the author’s portrait like that, and she belatedly began to stiffen her body as she saw her companions staring blankly at her.
“Ah, sorry. I forgot to say hello to the yard in front of guests.”
And she is a woman who naturally wants to greet everyone.
The greeting that followed was very warm and friendly.
“Nice to meet you all, my name is…”
“… Melia?”
Yes, the atmosphere would be familiar to anyone sitting here.
“What? How do I get my name… Huh?”
The mysterious woman, who was suspicious of her name suddenly heard, immediately pricked up her ears and began to look around her party.
Could she have found a familiar face in the process? Soon she began to open her eyes and put her hand to her own mouth.
“Verdia, Celica? Why are you two here?”
“That is what I will do. Melia. Why are you here…”
Two people who recognize each other and vomit embarrassment.
The other three, who had been watching them, stood blankly in their seats, as if they hadn’t grasped the situation properly.
Two women who met in the Demon King’s Territory recognized each other. Anyone who didn’t know the circumstances would find it strange.
“Wait a minute, Mr. Verdia.”
But I still remember the name Verdia mentioned. I could understand immediately why she reacted the way she did now.
If the name I remember is correct.
“Is Melia the person I know?”
“… Okay. He is the one you know.”
Soon she nodded her head at my words, she said in a cold sweat, staring at her elf staring blankly at her.
“Originally, he’s an elf who should have been the sniper of the hero’s party instead of Heira.”
A sniper who is one of the 10 strongest members of the Human Union and is said to be the best among the elves who have settled in the great forest.
And she was recognized for her status, and she should have joined the hero’s party even today, following a century ago, why did she suddenly appear in an orc village to trouble Barmash?
