Chapter 83 – Temple of the Dragon (4)

The Orcs who had evacuated outside the Sea of Trees began to gather as if someone had instructed them, becoming a single massive crowd.

The era that was together with the Grand Marino Sea of Trees was over.

The Orcs admitted that fact.

“Are you going to leave?”

“Yes. Once we persuade even the other two races, that will be the beginning.”

“We shall wait.”

To the point that it was hard to believe they had lived quietly until now, they revealed their combative nature.

The Orcs who had lost their homeland only thought of two things: either killing Badurbarok, or dying themselves. Other options were not considered.

“What are you going to do until then?”

“I will rally all the Orcs and prepare for war.”

“Alright.”

“The remaining two races are completely different from us. They are also different from humans and goblins. Do not think it will be easy.”

“I know.”

Se-min grinned and tapped his shoulder.

“Don’t worry and do your role well, Warchief.”

Maktar nodded.

Behind him, the Orcs who used to lead each fortress stood in a long line, bidding farewell to Se-min together. The masters of the fortresses, including Galatur and Gigantur, were now gathered under the Warchief’s banner.

They were no longer looking fearful of something.

Badurbarok had awakened the nature of the Orcs.

“When we meet again, it will be the battlefield.”

“Yes. Let’s sever Badurbarok’s head and drink alcohol all night in front of it.”

“I look forward to that.”

Se-min said goodbye to Maktar.

He also exchanged glances with various Orcs whom he had been together with in the Grand Marino Sea of Trees.

Se-min soon turned his body.

There was no need to stay long.

Like the way he had arrived soundlessly, the Emperor suddenly departed.

Watching their receding backs, Maktar spoke.

“Will they be able to persuade the other two races?”

“It will be difficult.”

Galatur, who was standing behind him, spoke. He was pessimistic about Se-min’s group’s success.

“The third race did not even step forward properly in the ancient war. It will be even more so now. They are wise, but they are cautious to that extent. If the Emperor goes while thinking of goblins or Orcs, he will fail. Because the other two races are completely different existences from us.”

“Still, I get the feeling that that Emperor might somehow persuade them.”

Maktar looked back.

Numerous Orcs were gathered.

Who could imagine that these were the Orcs who had lived pastorally in the Grand Marino Sea of Trees? They all held weapons, their eyes were imbued with resolve, and they did not fear the coming war.

The blood of the warrior had awakened.

It was a change that occurred with the Emperor’s arrival.

Because of that, even Maktar himself had changed.

The appearance of such an Emperor might be the will of the world throwing its final die.

***

Se-min’s group completely left the region where the Grand Marino Sea of Trees had been.

“Why are you following us?”

“I am the observer.”

“What?”

“The Elder Orc told me to watch you. Since we don’t know what you might do, I must follow behind you.”

“Isn’t this guy a spy?”

Se-min’s group had gained one more Orc.

It was Kubar.

He did not remain with the crowd of Orcs and followed Se-min. Kaorak, who looked upon him with displeasure, shouted.

“Big Orc! Since food will be scarce if you come, you do the hunting from now on! Earn your keep!”

“Do I only need to catch mine?”

“As expected of a practitioner, you lack social skills! Of course you must gather everything up to ours too.”

“Why should I?”

“That’s what a community is!”

It became even noisier. Se-min shook his head.

“By the way, what kind of fellows are the third race?”

“They are known as the wisest race.”

“Really? I hate smart guys.”

Their next destination was an island.

“Anyway, we will have to go for quite a long time to reach Hesse.”

“It is far and rugged.”

Se-min spoke to Gullard.

“Gullard. Guide us to a shortcut.”

“There is no such thing.”

“How can you be from the wolf tribe when you can’t even find that? Didn’t they say the wolf tribe are guides who find paths?”

“How am I supposed to find what doesn’t exist? We are going in a straight line right now.”

“Make it closer even if you have to fold the earth!”

“You are talking nonsense.”

Se-min raised Lupus and swung it in the air.

“Since we are only walking continuously, it is boring and tiring. Shouldn’t we prepare something like a gift?”

At that, Kaorak began to claim that they could just offer an Orc as a living sacrifice. Se-min ignored him.

Bi-ryu smiled quietly and spoke.

“They will already know.”

“That we are going?”

“Yes. Because they are a wise race.”

“Are they that wise?”

Se-min let out a sigh. Hearing only the name made them sound not very wise and rather savage, yet everyone around referred to them as sages.

Such fellows were tiring to deal with.

“Because the wisest race, the Trolls, know everything.”

***

They marched for a while and reached the coast.

Although demonic beasts were loitering, Kaorak and Kubar disposed of them all on their own. The battle of pride, which had started as a war of words, had now reached a level of competing for superiority even over trivial matters.

Even if Kaorak was like that, seeing Kubar do the same action left Se-min dumbfounded.

“I killed more.”

“I won.”

“Do not lie.”

“You are the one lying.”

Perhaps because he was a practitioner, he had no immunity against someone like Kaorak.

“What do we do now?”

Se-min turned back to Bi-ryu. Bi-ryu shrugged his shoulders.

“There will be a ferryman, but we won’t be able to find him.”

Bi-ryu seemed to know well about the third race, the wise Trolls, as well.

He flew into the air for a moment, scanned the coast, and landed.

“There are trolls who guide people to Hesse Island. They say they only appear before those destined to go to the island. Since seeing fate is the trolls’ role, we cannot know the outcome.”

“So if we are unlucky, we can never go?”

“Yes.”

“Can’t we make a raft and go?”

“The Trolls control the ocean currents around Hesse Island. Hesse is a place that no one can reach if they do not wish it.”

“It’s complicated.”

Se-min walked to the shore. A wide white sandy beach stretched out. The sand was fine.

“Is waiting the only thing we can do?”

Bi-ryu approached and answered.

“Yes.”

“Then let’s rest a bit. We ran too much until now.”

Se-min spoke as he lay flat on the ground, not caring about the sand.

Looking back, he had run for a long time.

After Earth was destroyed, he came to another world and rolled as a colosseum gladiator, suddenly became the Emperor, and wandered all over to rally other races.

The dark and damp underground of Pandemonium, the vast Grand Marino Sea of Trees.

And now he had to go to the Trolls’ island.

“Destined to go to the island… He will appear when the time comes. If we wait, he will come.”

Se-min spoke so.

Bi-ryu smiled.

“That is an attitude the Trolls like.”

Se-min’s group set up a residence on the shore.

They took off their clothes, jumped into the sea to swim, and even betted on who would catch more fish.

When they had a competition to make shapes with sand, Kaorak built a massive fortress with unexpected manual dexterity, receiving everyone’s applause.

When night fell, they lit a bonfire and skewered the fish caught during the day to grill.

There were many stars in the sky.

They began to talk about what would happen after the war ended.

“I will take a bride and become a wonderful father. That is my dream.”

Since Kaorak of all people said such words, everyone looked at him suspiciously. Especially at the part about being a wonderful father, Kubar and Gullard choked and coughed at the same time.

“A-A wonderful dream. Though it lacks reality.”

“And what about you, what will you do?”

“I am thinking of returning to the wolf tribe and perhaps becoming the alpha wolf.”

“Is that a position you get just because you want to? Throw away vain dreams.”

“You too, who said anyone would let you be a father?”

Shozen had a dream of raising his family, and Kubar still had a goal of reaching the end of the path. Bi-ryu said he had a place to go.

Kaorak spoke.

“Emperor, what about you?”

Everyone looked at Se-min.

“Me?”

Se-min looked at the five faces in turn and scratched his head.

“I have never thought about it.”

“A life without dreams is a dead life, Emperor.”

“It leaves me dumbfounded to hear you say that, Kaorak.”

“At least think of one quickly.”

“Well, visiting my master is my current goal.”

“A master. That is also good. And after that?”

“I don’t know, kid.”

Se-min had never thought about the period after killing Badurbarok.

If there were constructive activities he could do after returning to Earth, it would only be helping rebuild civilization, but he was a person who killed and destroyed, not someone with a knack for establishing something new.

Kaorak stared at Se-min with a serious face.

The bonfire flared up, casting shadows on his face.

“Emperor.”

“What is it?”

“If you truly intend to kill Badurbarok, it would be best to think of what comes after.”

Se-min stared blankly at Kaorak.

“Kaorak.”

“Are you impressed by me?”

“Since you are acting cool, I want to beat you up.”

“Damn it. I will change my goal. My goal is to dethrone the Emperor. Cackle!”

They slept after enjoying the leisure they hadn’t shared in a while like that.

The next day, the ferryman still did not appear, and they spent the entire day lounging.

It became night again.

Se-min’s group lit a bonfire and sat around, grilling demonic beast meat and fish according to their preferences.

“This fish is better eaten steamed than grilled.”

“Really? I should do so next time.”

“Can I eat just one skewer?”

“Of course.”

Kubar recoiled while handing one meat skewer he was holding to the side.

“Thank you.”

Before they knew it, everyone’s gaze was directed there.

Between where they sat in a circle, a strange entity was sitting.

No one knew when he had appeared, or how he had naturally fit in and sat among them.

“Because there are few opportunities to eat meat on the island.”

Yellow eyes glowed between the hood he was wearing.

After chewing and eating the meat for a while, he rose. He was tall.

He looked at Se-min’s group and spoke.

“I will return tomorrow morning. If you get seasick, eat moderately.”

And he began to walk toward the sea. His height was taller than an Orc, but his build was on the thin side. The arms extending from the robe were long.

His steep silhouette soon vanished into the darkness of the night.

He was a mysterious existence, and it was impossible to tell how he had come or where he had gone.

“Is that a Troll?”

When Se-min asked, Bi-ryu answered.

“Yes.”

Se-min was silent for a moment, then asked Gullard.

“Gullard. How many of us are there in total?”

“You and I, Shozen, Bi-ryu, Kaorak, and Kubar. Six in total.”

“……”

“Why do you ask?”

“What rank were you when we betted on skipping stones earlier?”

“That was a mistake. Because my shoulder slipped, I was last, seventh…”

Everyone grew quiet.

There were six people.

But Gullard was definitely seventh.

It felt like being possessed by a ghost.

“It gives me goosebumps.”

The next day, Se-min’s group stood on the sandy beach fully armed.

Straightening their minds and bodies which had relaxed for two days, they returned to their sharp appearance.

Se-min checked his body by gripping and releasing the handle of Lupus a few times.

Perhaps because he rested well, he was in optimal condition.

“He is coming.”

Se-min spoke.

From the distant horizon, a black shadow was approaching.

***

The ferryman’s low voice resembled the rhythm of the rocking boat.

“I have lived as a ferryman for a long time. Before Badurbarok appeared, I had to travel back and forth quite busily. There were many visitors who came seeking the wisdom of the wise Trolls. Mages came to seek mysterious wisdom, and brave warriors came to ask how they should use their strength. But in fact, what we gave them was not a new answer, but merely revealing the true feelings inside them.”

Somehow, he felt like he was falling asleep.

It was not because it was boring. The boat moved comfortably like a cradle, and the voice was low and quiet. Every time the boat tilted, the ferryman’s tone also deepened.

“It seems my story was boring. Everyone has fallen asleep.”

“No. It’s because it is so pleasant to listen to.”

“Hearing praise from the Emperor makes me think of the previous Emperor.”

“What kind of fellow was the previous Emperor?”

When Se-min asked, the ferryman smiled and looked at the distant horizon. Black outlines were rising beyond the horizon.

It was Hesse, the black island rising in the middle of the sea, the homeland of the Trolls.

“Emperors were always like that. Gentle, kind. Only those with a vast heart capable of embracing others could receive the acknowledgment of the Imperial Throne. The previous Emperor was no different.”

“That’s true. I am like that too.”

“However, unfortunately, the Imperial Throne fell due to the blood of gladiators, so this Emperor is a tyrant like never before.”

“What?”

The ferryman laughed heartily. Even the sound of his laughter was low and comfortable, not disturbing the drowsiness.

“As expected of a Troll, he is wise. Cackle cackle.”

Kaorak, who had been tilting his head in his sleep, snapped his head up and chuckled.

Se-min tried to throw something, but held back since there was nothing in his hand.

“It is a joke. An Imperial Throne is not something that falls by nature. Just as a Troll is a Troll even if they wear human clothes, even if the Imperial Throne drank blood, the essence of the Imperial Throne never changes.”

Gradually, the island began to draw near.

It had looked completely black from afar, but as they drew closer, the various colors of the island entered their eyes.

Although the brightness was low and the colors were darkly subdued, Hesse clearly had various vegetations forming a harmonious ecology.

“Will we be welcomed?”

Se-min asked.

Although he had met and conversed with the ferryman, he couldn’t get a sense of what kind of people the Trolls were. It felt like becoming a young child and conversing with an elderly, experienced adult.

“Welcome.”

The Troll grinned.

“It is no different from other places. Welcome returns to those who wish for welcome, and hostility returns to those who wish for hostility. That is no different anywhere in the world, not just Hesse.”

It was like when he conversed with Noh Hak-jae.

“If you wish for welcome, welcome is given; if you wish for hostility, hostility is given.”

Se-min repeated those words and looked at the ferryman with a grin.

“Then what about Badurbarok?”

A strange emotion appeared in the ferryman’s eyes. It looked like pity, and also like self-deprecation. After looking at Se-min, the ferryman looked at the other companions leaning behind him.

The ferryman spoke.

“He must have obtained the things he wished for.”

“Then we must give him more of what he wants. To the point of being sick of it. Because I want the same thing from him.”

“As I spoke earlier.”

The ferryman raised the oar he had resting on the boat and scooped up the water once. The boat sped up.

The black boat was not large as Se-min had imagined and had no power source other than the ferryman, but it glided soundlessly across the water.

“Just as a Troll remains a Troll even if they wear human clothes, even if you change your appearance and act as if you are something else, the essence cannot change. The Trolls try to see that.”

“What does that mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

The ferryman smiled.

“It means you cannot help but be yourself.”

And he glanced back. There was Se-min’s group. He fixed his gaze on a certain spot among them, then looked back at Se-min.

“You too, and the other friends as well.”

“Not all Trolls speak like you, do they? I hate Zen riddles.”

“Even if you say so, everyone liked it in the end.”

“I really hate it.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The ferryman raised the oar again.

Se-min’s group eventually arrived at Hesse Island.

It was clear that this black boat was imbued with some magical energy. Otherwise, there was no way it could float the boat up onto the land, going against a place with no dock.

They stopped on the sandy beach.

“Welcome to Hesse Island.”

The ferryman disembarked on the sandy beach first, and Se-min’s group also stepped onto the sand one by one.

Looking back, the mainland they had departed from was not even visible. They had come to such a distant place aboard this small boat.

Se-min was newly impressed.

“What should we do now?”

“Just enter the island.”

“Aren’t you going?”

“I am only a ferryman connecting the mainland and the island. Since I brought you here, my job is finished.”

“Right.”

Perhaps because he had already grown fond of the ferryman, he was sad to part like this.

“You will give us a ride when we return too, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then see you then.”

“Will do.”

After greeting the ferryman, Se-min advanced toward the center of the island. The group followed.

Parting and crossing the forest that hid the interior of the island, an unexpected sight unfolded.

“A lake?”

There was a wide lake inside the island, and islands floated here and there on it.

It was a configuration where islands gathered inside an island.

Se-min looked around and discovered empty boats prepared a short distance away.

They were canoes that could carry one person each.

“Are we supposed to use this?”

“It seems so.”

“It seems the Trolls prepared them. Let’s each ride one and go.”

The canoes were prepared to match the number of the group. Each rode one, moving across the lake inside the island.

The water was so clear that fish swimming below could be seen completely.

“Where are we going now?”

“That nearby island.”

Several islands were visible on the large lake, and a single house was built in a nearby place.

Everyone paddled. Since they were unfamiliar with boats, they hesitated at first but soon got the hang of it and began to advance toward the nearby island.

“To persuade the Trolls, who must we meet? Is there no existence like a Goblin Lord or Warchief here?”

“There is a sage.”

As expected, the one giving the answer was Bi-ryu.

“A sage?”

“Yes. Among the Trolls, there is the wisest Troll. He exerts influence on other Trolls as well.”

“But will the Trolls be of help in fighting Badurbarok?”

Although Se-min could feel that the ferryman was an extraordinary existence, he couldn’t know if he was someone who would be helpful on the battlefield. Though mysterious, he wondered if the Trolls could exert strength in places where blood was spilled and flesh was torn.

“During the ancient war, the number of Trolls who participated was not many. The sage also remained on the island. However, the few Trolls who participated in the war faced thousands, tens of thousands of demonic beasts alone.”

“Really?”

“Wise ones have their own way of fighting.”

“Indeed…”

The four ancient races were called disaster demonic beasts on Earth. They caused damage close to a disaster to that extent.

The Trolls had also dealt an immense blow to Earth, but their true identity was not accurately revealed.

It was merely passed down that natural disasters occurred in places where the Troll, the third disaster demonic beast, passed through, causing large-scale damage.

“I’m already looking forward to the fourth race.”

The fourth race.

The fourth disaster demonic beast.

The worst existence among the demonic beasts Earth had faced.

Although Se-min needed the goblins and Orcs, he thought that the last race was what he needed most to kill Badurbarok.

They barely participated in the ancient war either. Some said that if they had cooperated fully, the outcome of the war would have been different.

Of course, the Troll was first now.

“Once we persuade the Trolls, it is almost over.”

Se-min muttered.

It was bleak at first, but he eventually persuaded the goblins and Orcs, and now he had come to the Troll’s island.

Preparations to strike Badurbarok were truly being completed.

Se-min shouted.

“Is everyone ready?”

“What preparations?”

“Threats. If the Trolls try to bewilder us with flashy eloquence, we immediately kidnap them and employ violence and extortion.”

“I don’t know if you are an Emperor or a highwayman.”

They reached a small island on the lake.

The house was not very large. With a mysterious appearance created by weaving wood and stone well, it was like the house of fairies in a fairy tale.

“Kaorak, you go and knock on the door.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You have the best impression. The person with the face must go and greet for the first impression to be good.”

“Coming to the Troll’s island, the Emperor seems to have grown wise too. It is logical, so I cannot refute.”

Kaorak nodded his head greatly and took the lead. And he knocked on the door.

There was no answer from inside.

Kaorak knocked on the door louder.

“Is anyone there? I am Kaorak! A goblin!”

When there was still no response, Kaorak placed his ear to the door. He moved his ear closer with a peculiar expression. It seemed that some sound was heard.

“Some… strange sound…”

“What?”

“I don’t know well.”

“Just open it.”

“Goblins keep manners. Opening a door carelessly is not polite.”

Kaorak shook his head and returned.

Se-min put his arm around Kaorak’s shoulders. When Se-min hugged his shoulder in a seemingly friendly manner, Kaorak grew tense.

“Do not do that.”

“I will.”

Se-min immediately loaded his aura and pushed Kaorak.

It was an immense force.

Kaorak moved his feet quickly to avoid falling, and eventually leading with his arms and shoulders to reduce the impact when he reached the door.

“Kiaaa!”

In the end, it took the form of Kaorak hitting the door with a shoulder charge.

“……”

The door shattered.

At the sight revealed inside, Se-min’s group lost their words for a moment. To the point where the sound of someone swallowing saliva could be heard.

It looked like a fairy’s house from the outside, but the internal situation was the exact opposite.

“……”

The figure of a Troll looking at them indifferently was visible.

In his hands were a blood-stained knife and saw.

“What are you? Why a goblin?”

The Troll spoke as he adjusted his glasses. Blood was splattered on the lenses. Se-min’s group took a step back.

“Do you want to lie down here too?”

Before him lay a Troll, whose stomach was completely sliced open, exposing its intestines.

He had been digging into the Troll’s body.

“Come here. Goblin specimens are not common.”

“W-We are sorry about the door.”

“Then you should pay with your body.”

“T-That is…”

At that moment, an even more terrifying thing occurred.

The Troll corpse that was exposing its intestines raised its head slightly and spoke.

“Stop playing around, Muraka.”

At that spine-chilling sight, someone screamed.

“Aaaaargh!”

Everyone looked at him.

It was Kubar.

Kubar cleared his throat after realizing his unsightly display. Unlike his appearance, he seemed to be easily frightened.

The corpse and the Troll continued to converse.

“I am serious. Goblins, humans, and Orcs. I want to split them all open.”

“Would ordinary fellows obediently yield their bodies?”

“We can just mix in an anesthetic while pretending to treat them to a meal. Cutting them in that gap is enough.”

Se-min snapped back to his senses and stared at their appearances closely.

The Troll holding the knife and saw was wearing white clothes, and beside him, knives and tools of various sizes were arranged in a polished state.

To Se-min who came from Earth, it was a familiar sight.

Se-min spoke what came to mind.

“Surgery?”

The Troll adjusted his glasses again and grinned.

“At least there is a fellow with properly functioning eyes.”

The Troll scanned Se-min. And his brows narrowed. A bluish light appeared on the Troll’s glasses.

After staring at Se-min for a while, the Troll continued.

“But while your eyes are good, your entire body is a mess. You won’t live long.”