Chapter 93 – Noble of the North (1)

It was an unforgettable face, the troll Sagong who used strange moves. Se-min discovered him and opened his eyes wide.

“When did you come?”

“We arrived a long time ago.”

“I heard only the goblins arrived, and the trolls are still on their way?”

“To deceive the enemy, you must deceive your allies first. We came a long time ago and were watching the goblins struggling.”

Se-min stared at Biryu. Biryu smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

“I guess he deceived even me.”

Upon hearing that the trolls had already arrived, Se-min grew pleased. Chuckling, he slapped the troll Sagong’s forearm repeatedly.

“Jackpot, this is seriously a jackpot. When did you come? I didn’t even imagine it. I thought it was completely a surprise show.”

“……?”

“Trolls are seriously awesome. How did you deceive us so completely?”

Those around him were flustered by his foolish tone. Shozen quietly advised.

“Y-Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“Please maintain your dignity.”

Se-min realized his mistake and cleared his throat. Perhaps due to the aftereffects of that Badurbarok bastard showing Bang Yu-bi’s imitation, the memories of his old Earth days seemed to have revived.

Se-min shook his head to clear his mind and recovered a dignified expression.

“Sagong. Welcome. The Emperor has been waiting for you.”

It felt strange again after speaking.

Using informal ending forms did not match their appearances. Although he suffered a lot, Se-min still possessed the appearance of a youth, while the troll Sagong was close to an old man, even considering the racial differences.

“Ahem, no, not this.”

However, Sagong accepted it warmly.

“Yes. Thank you for welcoming me, Emperor.”

Se-min regained his composure and nodded.

“Yes, Sagong. Welcome. The goblins hid themselves so they couldn’t be seen.”

“Ah, I know. The goblins’ stealth magic, right?”

Sagong stepped forward.

“Since they do not show up even though a guest has arrived, I will peel it off.”

He waved his hand in the empty air.

Although no magic power was felt, Se-min felt the rules of the world rearranging according to his hand movements.

As he put his palms together and gradually pulled them apart to both sides, the scenery beyond his grasp began to change as if a sticker were being peeled off.

On the plain where only overgrown bushes had been, the goblins’ camp appeared.

He had seen something similar when he briefly learned about formations from Noh Hak-jae, but the troll Sagong was on a different level.

“Huh?”

A goblin was standing in front of the camp revealed in that way.

It was Calondo.

He was picking his nose, but when everyone’s gazes suddenly focused on him, he wore a flustered expression.

Thinking it was a coincidence, Calondo scratched the back of his head and continued to move his finger, but as the gazes kept following, he gently moved his foot to the side.

The soldiers’ gazes followed him.

Only then did Calondo realize the stealth magic was undone and withdrew his finger from his nose. As the staring gazes continued, he politely gathered his hands.

“H… How…?”

Calondo’s eyes wavered.

He tried to hide his embarrassment by looking back in vain and then looking forward again.

“Welcome…?”

Se-min nodded.

“Yes. Welcome. It seems while I was suffering like a dog, you were only watching while picking your nose.”

“Hahaha… Emperor, I watched your power well. It was truly amazing. Hahahaha. Let’s shake hands.”

“No.”

Se-min was disgusted.

“Go wash your hands first.”

“…”

He looked down at his finger that had been picking his nose, then wiped it on his clothes. That appearance looked even dirtier, but since Se-min was a broad-minded Emperor, he did not particularly point it out.

Calondo tried to act nonchalant and continued.

“How did you undo the formation? And when did the trolls arrive?”

Se-min pointed at the troll Sagong. Sagong smiled.

“We arrived a long time before you.”

“What are you talking about. There was no one when we came.”

“Because you cannot see us.”

“Do not bluff. We goblins arrived first.”

Whether pride in useless things was a characteristic of goblins, Calondo overlapped with Kaorak, and Se-min ended up chuckling.

“Since the Emperor has arrived, there is no need to hide anymore.”

Sagong turned his body toward the opposite side of the goblins’ camp.

His hands entangled busily. Although nothing was visible, his fingertips delicately groped the air as if manipulating something.

Then, the world began to change once again. What was visible became invisible, and what was invisible slowly emerged.

Soon, a surprising sight unfolded.

Se-min clapped his hands unconsciously.

“What on Earth is this…”

Calondo was lost in daze.

The goblins who were watching this place from their camp shouted in surprise, and the dragons flapped their wings in great shock.

A castle woven of earth and stone stood towering.

It was a building too massive and grand to have appeared suddenly. Tree and vine roots entangled to support the castle walls, and thick tree trunks stretched toward the sky to form spires.

On top of it, the trolls who were guarding the surroundings waved their hands.

It was a wondrous sight, as if Mother Nature had sculpted the fortress herself.

“How is it?”

“My goodness…”

It was on a different level from the goblins’ camp, which pitched tents and only erected barricades.

Calondo had no choice but to nod like a mute who ate honey.

“We saw everything. We even saw your clothes get burned while you and Temujincar were having an argument.”

“T-That was the first day we arrived here.”

“I told you. We have been waiting here continuously.”

According to his words, the trolls departed for this place immediately after Se-min left Hesse Island. That was before any agreement to gather here was made.

They had foreseen gathering here in advance.

“As expected, Trolls are wise.”

Contrary to Earthlings’ perception, trolls were a smart and wise race. Se-min nodded and praised Sagong and the trolls once again.

“Amazing, amazing.”

Then suddenly, Se-min narrowed his brows.

“But when we were suffering across the river, were you also just watching?”

“…”

Sagong cleared his throat and avoided the answer unlike him.

“The weather is good today. It is a good day for the races to gather.”

“You’re changing the subject?”

“Shouldn’t the humans also prepare a place to rest? How about moving quickly?”

Se-min decided to let it slide.

Soon, the troops established their camp.

Occasionally, when great power was needed, Se-min personally dug up the ground or swung Lupus to raise piles of earth. The soldiers utilized them to build barricades.

The humans’ quarters were prepared between the goblins’ camp and the trolls’ castle.

Se-min crossed over to the trolls’ camp and met Izergazin. Perhaps because it was after meeting Imuncazer, Izergazin looked small to Se-min today.

“Your face became half its size. Are you eating well?”

[What are you talking about?]

“The goblins aren’t overworking you without feeding you properly, right?”

[I take care of my own meals. Feeding me, what an unpleasant expression.]

“Do not skip meals just because it is bothersome.”

Izergazin had an expression of disbelief. Se-min tapped his torso and gave him more well-wishes.

Calpacino’s face had grown bright in the meantime.

“Now that you’ve become a lord, your face is glowing?”

“Same to you. Did you repair your clothes?”

“An Emperor cannot wear worn-out clothes.”

Se-min’s souvenir jacket had been torn here and there while suffering in the meantime, but Sargassonia’s famous tailors gathered and restored it excellently.

Rather, it was glossier and more luxurious than before, which was not lacking to be called the Emperor’s clothes.

“Is Kaorak doing well?”

“Of course. Though he is a guy who should be doing a bit worse.”

Calpacino chuckled.

“I am going to the trolls’ castle now. Let’s all meet later.”

“What about the ogres and Orcs?”

“I heard they are still coming. They will arrive soon.”

Forces that could be called the entirety of the five races were gathering one after another.

It was something unprecedented in the history of this world.

Since Badurbarok’s existence was also an unprecedented disaster, they must also face it with a corresponding anomaly.

“Are you confident?”

Suddenly, Calpacino asked Se-min.

Calpacino was from Pandemonium and had never clashed properly with Badurbarok. Although they removed magic beasts while reclaiming their home, the Cloud Mountains, that was not the true army of Badurbarok.

Se-min grinned and said.

“Of course.”

The answer he could give was always one, and the answer he had to give was also the same.

Se-min then visited the trolls’ castle.

When he approached close, the castle gate opened on its own. From the moment he entered the entrance, he could know the path he had to go. Because the tree branches hanging from the ceiling gestured the direction to Se-min.

Se-min could meet Sagong soon.

“Did you come?”

“I came to meet the Sage.”

“Follow me.”

The Troll Sage was an existence that gathered the wisdom and knowledge of trolls into one. He wondered whether he was looking at the future, and whether he was predicting the outcome of this war.

Se-min soon stood before the room where the Troll Sage was.

Entering here made him feel nervous for some reason. It felt like going to have his homework checked by a teacher.

“Do not feel pressured.”

Whether he noticed that mind, Sagong smiled and said.

“High Sage does not know everything.”

“Hearing that makes me feel more pressured.”

“If so, I am sorry. Here, enter.”

Sagong opened the door at will. Se-min ended up stepping into the Troll Sage’s room as if pushed.

He was sitting on a chair, drinking tea.

Although the impact of the first meeting was strong, making it feel as if he were the incarnation of all trolls, in the end, he was also a single troll.

He only obtained the authority of the Troll Sage to share the inner minds of all trolls.

“I’m here.”

“You’ve arrived.”

Se-min looked at the Troll Sage.

He was an ordinary troll. The faces of everyone did not overlap on him like before. That was because the Troll Sage was not using his authority. If he used such power constantly, he might go crazy.

“I just came to talk. I heard you waited here in advance?”

“I can predict at least that much.”

“Amazing. How is the outcome of this war? Can you predict it?”

“Defeat.”

When the Troll Sage spoke, Se-min opened his eyes wide and stared at him.

The Troll Sage smiled faintly and continued.

“The probability of doing so is not low, but it is an unknown thing.”

“You startled me.”

“I know you are not very curious about that anyway.”

“Then?”

“The ogres will arrive soon.”

“Whew.”

What Se-min had wanted to ask first was about the remaining two races. Although it was said they were coming, not a hair of them was shown yet.

“Wait.”

Se-min looked at the Troll Sage.

He said that the ogres would arrive safely. If so, what about the Orcs he did not mention?

“What about the Orcs?”

“They are coming.”

“Will they arrive?”

“That is…”

The Troll Sage thought about something. Then, his eyes trembled finely from side to side. It was as if a computer were calculating something.

“It seems the Orcs will take a little time.”

“Why?”

“Because Badurbarok will not easily let the Orcs go. If he can strike one now, he will strike the Orcs.”

“Does that mean they are fighting now?”

“Even if not now, it will become so.”

It was puzzling.

According to Biryu, who exchanged contacts with the Orc shaman, they were coming toward this place without any major issues. However, since the Troll Sage spoke like this, it felt as if that event would truly happen soon.

“Then I should go to help.”

“Do not go.”

“Why?”

“If you leave your place, trouble will arise here during that time.”

“Trouble?”

Se-min stared at the Troll Sage, not knowing what he meant. He continued.

“The gathering of the races is all due to you, the Emperor. If you are not here, everyone will be anxious.”

“Is that so?”

“It is better not to go yourself but to send a support force separately.”

“I see. Understood.”

Se-min nodded.

“It would be better to send them even now, right?”

“Probably.”

“I must go. Thank you for telling me. Let’s meet again later.”

“Understood.”

Se-min left the Troll Sage’s room.

After he left, Sagong, who was outside the door, entered.

Sagong’s expression was serious.

“Is it alright not to tell him?”

“The moment the truth is revealed is also important. Rather than telling him now, finding out on his own will bring about a better result.”

“……To be wise might mean to become that cold.”

“Maybe so.”

“Alright. Then I won’t say anything either.”

The troll Sagong sighed.

“About the fact that there is a traitor.”

***

The Orcs were coming to this place while fighting magic beasts.

Se-min ordered Germanos to support the Orcs. Leading the troops, he set out in the direction the Orcs were coming from. It would not take long for the Orcs to arrive.

In the meantime, the ogres arrived.

It did not require any special tools to notice them coming.

“What is that?”

“Is it a magic beast?”

“It is incredibly huge.”

The soldiers clamored, and Se-min turned his gaze following them.

A massive existence was walking beyond the horizon. It was Gru, the giant whom he had thought was merely a part of the Starlight Mountains.

Ogres that were tiny compared to Gru clung here and there on his shoulders and head, coming along with him.

Blood and flesh of magic beasts were smeared at Gru’s feet.

“It is not a magic beast. That is our ally, the ogre.”

When Se-min spoke, the soldiers marveled.

It was rare to see other races in this kind of era. Among them, trolls and ogres were truly hard-to-see existences. Trolls at least looked like living creatures, but since ogres looked as if boulders were moving, it would be wondrous to those seeing them for the first time.

Se-min slowly walked up into the sky using the subtlety of the Cloud-Ascending Steps, as if stepping up stairs. His eye level became similar to the approaching Gru.

“Welcome.”

[Long time no see.]

Gru answered. On top of his head, Kububu waved his hand. Se-min also waved back. Mukudu and Maladuk were also visible.

On Gru’s body, there were various ogres he had seen in the Starlight Mountains.

They looked like just cute rocks, but once they entered battle, they were truly terrifying existences. Se-min felt reassured by their joining, as if he gained thousands of troops.

“All the other races have settled in. Once the Orcs arrive, we will march toward the capital of the ancient empire in earnest. Until then, well…”

Se-min spoke, pointing at the wide ground.

“Do you… want to build houses? You should rest comfortably.”

[It is fine. The world is our home.]

Gru answered like that and walked to a place not far from the other races’ camps. Then he slowly crouched down. Then, his body clumped into one, truly taking on the shape of a small rocky hill.

That was why he could not be recognized even in the Starlight Mountains.

“Are you sleeping?”

[…….]

Gru did not answer.

“You must wake up when we depart. You shouldn’t keep sleeping.”

The portion where his head was located shook slightly up and down. It seemed to mean he understood. Se-min left Gru to keep sleeping.

The ogres also just began to sleep on top of Gru. A small number of active ogres came down and strolled around the surroundings as they pleased. They approached the trolls’ fortress and knocked on the gates, introduced themselves to the humans, and exchanged greetings with the dragons.

“I am Kububu. Who are you?”

[I am Izergazin.]

“Can you spew fire?”

[Of course.]

“Then burn me a bit. I want to become a black ogre like basalt.”

[…….]

Se-min looked at the forces of the four races in turn.

Humans were the largest in number. However, the strongest were the ogres. If they faced Badurbarok together with them, it felt like they could win even if there were many enemies.

Especially, the ogres and dragons were a powerful force that could render the numerical difference null.

“The Orcs will come fine, right?”

Inwardly, he wanted to go himself. However, the words of the Troll Sage weighed on his mind. He said if he was not here, trouble would arise.

“They should just get along well.”

Se-min stroked his chin. The Troll Sage would not say something groundless. He was wise and intelligent. He must have spoken like that because there was a reason.

However, in Se-min’s eyes, no room for trouble was noticeable.

The trolls stayed only inside the fortress. The ogres only slept and possessed peaceful personalities, so they were not ones to start a fight. The goblins were busy spending time with the dragons, and the humans were under Se-min’s control.

“Trouble…”

Se-min tilted his head, descended to the ground again, and headed toward the tent built for him.

And he witnessed trouble.

“Keekeekeek! Are you only at that level! Keekeekeek!”

“Again, do it again.”

“The game is over. You are a loser. Keek!”

“This is a trick. There is definitely something. Isn’t that right, Shozen.”

“Well… wasn’t it just bad luck?”

“Keekeekeek!”

Kaorak, Kubar, and Shozen were in the middle of playing cards, where Kaorak was mocking Kubar mercilessly, and Kubar was trembling his hands in anger.

“Kaorak, you used a trick. Isn’t that so?”

“A trick, do not frame me. Keekeekeek!”

“If I search your body, an extra card will come out. I am sure of it.”

“Oh, are you confident? If not, how will you compensate? Are you prepared to call me a cheater?”

“Yes. If I am wrong, I will become your servant for a week.”

“Keekeekeek, that is not enough. For life, my…”

Kubar lunged at Kaorak. Kaorak struggled. In the end, Kubar found a card on Kaorak’s body.

“……Kaorak.”

“……”

Kaorak got up slowly and shook off the dirt on his body.

And he fled.

Kubar ran after him, and a desperate chase unfolded. Shozen shrugged his shoulders, watching that sight.

Se-min realized that the Troll Sage’s words were true.

“To cause trouble even during the short time I went to welcome the ogres, these bastards…”

***

Germanos gathered the forces he had personally trained and was advancing to meet the Orcs.

“Commander.”

“What is it?”

“It is said the scouts found the corpses of magic beasts again. There were traces of being hacked by weapons. Since the blood is not fully hardened, it hasn’t been long.”

Germanos nodded.

There was a reason why the Orcs’ arrival was delayed. When they got into a fight with a magic beast horde, they pursued them to the end and killed them all. They even seemed to go back the way they came and strike the magic beasts’ stronghold.

That was why the corpses of the magic beasts were discovered, but the Orcs themselves were not visible.

“This is not going to welcome them, but rather serving them.”

Germanos clicked his tongue. Gathering everyone was more important than fighting magic beasts. He did not like the Orcs’ behavior.

“Orcs are always the same.”

Germanos knew the Orcs well. Not only that, he had experience mingling with all the other races.

He was a veteran who participated in the old war, and therefore crossed the threshold of life and death together with the other races that helped the former Emperor.

“Was it like this in the past too?”

“Yes. They are warriors, not soldiers like us.”

Unlike humans who followed orders, Orcs acted according to their own beliefs. Although he respected them, it was difficult to predict their actions as allies to fight a war together.

“We continue going.”

They continued walking, guarding the surroundings.

The corpses of magic beasts began to increase gradually. Eventually, they reached a point where the corpses of magic beasts filled the ground. It was a trace of a fierce battle.

No corpses of Orcs were visible.

Germanos gauged the direction. The Orcs pursued the magic beasts after fighting here. The direction was two o’clock. Germanos sent a signal to the scouts advancing ahead.

“Everyone prepare for battle.”

It was highly likely that the fight was not over yet.

Germanos moved quickly, and the others also raised their aura to keep pace with him.

They could soon hear the sound of battle in the distance. It was beyond a large hill blocking their view. Germanos’s form became light and rushed forward.

Germanos stood on top of the hill.

“Heh.”

The sight beyond the hill was beyond imagination.

It was not a small-scale battle.

It was already a war.

Numerous Orcs formed a battle line and were charging toward the magic beasts. The magic beasts hit by the charge collapsed helplessly. However, occasionally powerful magic beasts appeared and pressured the Orcs.

It was a chaotic battlefield where winning and losing sides were mixed.

It was a scene seen countless times in the old war.

Examining the Orcs carefully, there was one Orc watching the fight at the rear of the battlefield. A flagbearer stood beside him, and the Orc letter written inside was a word Germanos still remembered.

Warchief.

That guy was the Warchief. He was watching the battle with arms crossed. Germanos approached him.

The soldiers standing around him cut down all the bothersome magic beasts. They were elite soldiers Germanos had personally trained thoroughly. Armed with the aura method he personally transmitted, they could face ordinary magic beasts without difficulty.

The Orcs who were in the middle of fighting also opened a path for the humans when they suddenly appeared.

Soon, the Warchief also recognized Germanos. Germanos greeted him.

“Greetings. I am Germanos. I came sent by the Emperor.”

“I am Maktar. The Warchief. Is the Emperor doing well?”

“The Emperor is waiting for you.”

“What about the other races?”

“All have arrived. Once you come, the preparation will be complete.”

“Type of last. Sorry for being last.”

Maktar waved his hand. Then, the Orcs pushed the magic beasts even more fiercely.

Germanos spoke again while watching that sight.

“Did you absolutely have to fight?”

“For us, we could not pass it by.”

He pointed at a spot.

There, magic beasts of a form Germanos also saw for the first time were entangled with the Orcs.

Tearing sounds of breaking air kept erupting from where they were. It was the most intense part of the battlefield.

Germanos realized that the Orcs there were also somehow different.

“If he intended to make the Orcs angry, Badurbarok succeeded.”

Anger was mixed in Maktar’s voice. Germanos realized that the enemies he was looking at had shapes seen often.

And Germanos realized. What made them angry was not the magic beasts themselves, but the fact that the Orcs had been remodeled. Those magic beasts were not just magic beasts, but things made into Badurbarok’s subordinates by remodeling Orcs.

Germanos had seen similar cases, but it was the first time they were modified so grotesquely.

“We will merge after killing them all.”

“How long do you think it will take?”

“We should finish clearing within today and go.”

“Within today.”

Germanos glanced at the battlefield.

The number of magic beasts was large. The Elder Orc and the practitioners Se-min mentioned were not visible.

“Where is the Elder Orc?”

“He is following behind. Personally leading the practitioners.”

“I see.”

Germanos nodded.

“The Emperor is waiting for the Orcs to merge quickly.”

Then he raised his sword. When he raised his sword, all the troops that followed drew their weapons at once.

“I will help.”

[…….]

Maktar looked back and forth between Germanos and the troops that came with him.

Indeed, the felt momentum was extraordinary.

“Thank you for helping.”

“I also participated in the old war together with the former Emperor. The Orcs were blood allies who fought and shed blood together with us.”

“Blood allies.”

Maktar chewed on those words, then raised the axe slung on his back.

“If you put it that way, I cannot stay still either.”

“Will it be alright for the Warchief to step forward personally?”

“Muhahaha, isn’t it an era where the Emperor personally swings his blade? A Warchief goes without saying.”

Germanos put on a bitter smile at those words.

His Emperor was a man who swung his blade directly at the very front. Compared to that, there was nothing to be surprised about the Warchief fighting personally.

“Then shall we go?”

As the Warchief stepped forward, the Orcs escorting him also took up weapons.

Maktar and Germanos walked toward the battlefield side by side. A magic beast leaped and rushed at them. Germanos’s sword tore the magic beast apart.

Maktar admired.

“Impressive.”

“It is nothing.”

Soon, Maktar raised his axe and shouted.

“The reinforcement sent by the Emperor has arrived!”

At his shout, the Orcs let out a roar in response. Maktar raised his voice further.

“It is in front of our blood allies! Do not show a shameful appearance! We beat and eliminate these guys right away and merge!”

Germanos watched closely how the Orcs fought. Rough and crude, but destructive to that extent. Ignoring ordinary resistance as it was, they emitted their own power to crush the enemy.

“Did they call it martial fighting?”

The Orcs called it by the name of martial fighting.

Before, he had thought it was merely a matter of naming, but now he thought there was more meaning than that. Just because the technical context was the same did not mean it was truly the same aura method.

Will.

The difference of race, the difference of thought they harbored, created such a change. Therefore, the essence of Orcs dwelt inside the Orcs’ martial fighting.

Germanos raised the corner of his lips.

The Orcs he knew were truly.

“Hot-blooded friends.”

Then what about him? Germanos wandered the world as a swordsman, and fell for the former Emperor, volunteering for the guard.

Germanos enjoyed the most beautiful era of humanity brought about by the late Emperor, and also witnessed everything they achieved being destroyed by Badurbarok.

Therefore, his aura was stained with the past years.

A pure white aura rose from Germanos’s sword. Like Germanos’s graying hair, ash-colored shade was cast here and there.

His sword was by no means headlong.

However, it was not weak either.

Slowly, but perfectly, it advanced. The veteran had already been deprived of too many things by the world. That was why his sword no longer tolerated mistakes.

It annihilated all possibilities given to the enemy and delivered a certain death.

A magic beast was struck down by Germanos. He stabbed the sword into its crown to confirm the kill and shook off the blood.

“Fight to your heart’s content.”

Germanos spoke to the troops under his command.

Everyone drew their swords. Although they might have been intimidated by the Orcs’ fighting, not a single one showed signs of shrinking.

“Show them who you are.”

The troops lined up shoulder-to-shoulder to establish a formation, then pushed forward toward the magic beasts as they were.

They thoroughly crushed the things they saw. Although they did not beat the enemy to death and hack them cheerfully like the Orcs, they never showed a gap and killed all the enemies with only the necessary movements. Wherever they passed, the corpses of magic beasts piled up.

It was a slow and complete advance that could neither be stopped nor ignored.

They erased all the magic beasts in the places they passed, like an eraser.

Watching that fight, Maktar, the Warchief, also admired. It was different from the Orcs, but looked more effective and orderly.

While the Orcs made themselves strong with their innate strength and martial fighting, humans fought more efficiently and smartly in their own way.

“There is much to learn.”

The magic beasts that were blocking the Orcs gradually realized their disadvantage and began to flee.

However, the Orcs had no intention of letting them go.

“Do you want mercy?”

Maktar spoke while pointing his axe after striking down a magic beast.

The opponent was an Orc. Although half-transformed into a magic beast, various emotions wavered in his eyes, perhaps because he still possessed intellect. At Maktar’s words, the opponent opened his mouth.

“If you let me live… I will not forget the favor.”

“You ask me to let you live?”

“Y-Yes. I do not want to die like this.”

Maktar laughed.

“A pity.”

His axe struck down.

“I was going to let you live if you were an Orc, but seeing you beg for your life, you were not an Orc.”

The Orcs divided their forces to block the retreat path of the magic beasts.

Most of the magic beasts were annihilated after a melee, and the fleeing individuals were also eventually pursued and met their end. Especially, the Orcs did not leave the Orcs who had gone over to Badurbarok alone.

They were caught and killed to the end. There was also a guy begging for his life, saying he was forcibly kidnapped and turned into a magic beast.

“Save me. I did not want it, but I became like this inevitably. Just save my life.”

Maktar thought about whether those unlike Orcs ended up submitting to Badurbarok, or whether they became unlike Orcs because they were remodeled by Badurbarok.

Of course, such speculation did not last long. Because the axe split them.

Since the battle was over, they should rest now, but the Orcs did not do so.

“Then we march right away.”

“Will it be alright?”

“Everyone should be waiting for us, so we cannot afford to relax further. Resting after arriving is sufficient.”

The Orcs were orderly enough that it was hard to believe they had fought a fierce battle until just now.

They all adjusted the column and formed ranks according to Maktar’s command. And they began to march past the magic beasts.

Germanos led his troops and advanced together with Maktar at the front.

“How are the other races?”

“What do you mean how?”

“Is everyone of one mind with the Emperor?”

“Of course. Why do you ask such a thing?”

“Just asking.”

Maktar lowered his voice.

“The shaman performed a divination, and it came out bad. It showed that a rift will occur in this alliance. So I am a bit worried.”

Germanos looked at Maktar.

“Did you by any chance delay the merging on purpose?”

“I won’t say it’s not at all.”

Germanos revised his assessment of the Warchief named Maktar.

He did not fight the magic beasts merely led by his emotions and bravado. He deliberately did not merge immediately while observing the state of the alliance.

Germanos had seen the divinations of Orc shamans several times while staying with Orcs in the past.

Although they could not present specific situations, overall they often predicted the future accurately.

“I actually thought the Emperor would come. If it is his personality, he would fully come in person. I thought if a problem was revealed in the alliance in the meantime, it would rather be better. That way, we could know in advance what the problem is.”

Germanos thought deeply. A rift, no such sign was visible. Goblins were existences that had lost their home to Badurbarok in the first place, so they harbored a grudge no less than the Orcs. Ogres were pure existences to play such moves.

What about the trolls?

Germanos did not know much about them. Wise and intelligent, but they were also that much unknown.

It seemed as if they knew everything, and at the same time, they also appeared to have plans of their own.

“What about the trolls?”

Germanos asked.

“Trolls?”

“I don’t know much about the trolls. Even in the old great war, they hardly participated. Do Orcs know about trolls?”

“Very wise and intelligent ones.”

Maktar said with a grin.

“I think we do not need to worry about the trolls.”

“Why?”

“Because they are wise, they must know what is right and how this war will end.”

Germanos stared at Maktar. Maktar’s eyes were filled with conviction. Germanos asked.

“What would be the ending of this war?”

“We will win, and Badurbarok will die.”

Failing to know whether that was his bravado or if he truly thought so, Germanos stared at his pupils. Maktar rather asked back to Germanos.

“Germanos, I suppose you do not think so?”

“I do not know if we are at such a clear advantage. I saw Badurbarok’s power in the old war. The guy must have grown stronger now than then.”

“There is something different from then.”

“What is different?”

“The Emperor.”

At those words, Germanos’s expression turned subtle. Maktar continued.

“I believe in the Emperor.”

“Achoo!”

Se-min sneezed.

“Did you catch a cold?”

“Is it the change of seasons? My nose tickles.”

Se-min shook his head.

“Is Germanos not coming?”

“He should be coming. He is probably walking while talking with the Orcs.”

“Maktar and Germanos, I cannot imagine it. Will the two talk well upon their first meeting? They are quite unsociable people.”

Se-min clicked his tongue, indulging in useless worry.

“Never mind that, let’s look at the map. Where is Kila?”

“I will bring her.”

Se-min spread the map in his tent. The capital of the ancient empire was drawn.

Since a long time had passed and it had become Badurbarok’s main base, it would be different from before, but he was still looking at it in advance.

Soon, Kila appeared with Shozen. Kaorak also followed and grumbled.

“What is the point of looking at a map? We just go, beat everyone up, and teach Badurbarok a lesson.”

“That is why you are lacking. Think. We must use strategy and resourcefulness.”

“It is laughable for a guy who tried to resolve everything with a blade to say such things. Keekeekeek.”

Se-min searched if there was anything to throw at Kaorak, but suppressed it as nothing was caught.

“Kila. You still remember the terrain, right?”

“Roughly.”

“As expected…”

Se-min felt a bit uncomfortable even as he said so. Because every time they discussed the capital of the ancient empire, Kila’s age came to mind. Kila was said to have been a famous magician in the empire since before the old war.

“Then… is the surrounding geography also… correct like this…?”

“Why the sudden polite tone?”

Kila raised her eyebrows. Se-min shook his head.

“Since I became the Emperor, ahem. I am merely using a polite tone in the sense of respecting everyone.”

“Will you speak politely to me too?”

Kaorak intervened again from the side.

Se-min approached Kaorak. Kaorak flinched. Se-min whispered something in his ear.

“……!”

Kaorak was shocked. Se-min went back to Kila indifferently.

“Now, Kila. Shall we continue looking at the map?”

“The Emperor just used abusive language on me! I have never heard such insults in my life!”

“Kaorak, shut up.”

“Didn’t you say you’d speak politely!”

Kaorak made a fuss.

After roughly settling the situation, Se-min seriously discussed the terrain near the capital of the empire with Kila.

“This lake here? What is it?”

“It is a reservoir. The people supplied water from here to farm.”

Although they farmed now, it was not on a large scale. Most of the food was resolved with magic beasts. Se-min stared at it for a moment, then changed direction again.

“What about the hill here?”

“This is…”

Kila delayed her answer for a moment.

“A grave.”

“A grave?”

“It is the place where successive Emperors were buried.”

“It must be a sacred place.”

“It is only an old thing.”

If it was a place where Emperors were buried, it would have been considered sacred to the empire’s people. Se-min had nothing to say, so he just nodded.

“Passing the lake and the hill, the outer wall of the city appears…”

The capital of the empire was very massive and wide. Passing the outer wall, another wall appeared, and another wall appeared again.

Beyond lay the palace where the former Emperor resided.

“He should be here, right?”

“Probably.”

Although Badurbarok’s taste was unknown, since he took control of the capital of the ancient empire and obtained the palace, he would have built his residence there as well. Partly to show off his victory, but it was also said the site was good.

“The palace is a sacred location where the energy of the world gathers. That is why the palace was built. If it is Badurbarok, he will surely establish a base here.”

Se-min discussed various things about the fight with her. However, no clear conclusion was reached. Because it was unknown how the capital of the empire was currently.

Thinking of as many cases of numbers as possible was all.

“It would be better to discuss with the trolls rather than me.”

“The Troll Sage also said he doesn’t know well. He said we must go and see with our own eyes first for something to come out.”

“If they spoke like that, it must be so. Just take it easy.”

“We must prepare as much as possible.”

At that time, Shozen called Se-min.

“Your Majesty. The Orcs have arrived.”

“Ah, really?”

Se-min stepped outside the tent.

People were already standing on tiptoe, looking at the distant place. Se-min trod on the empty air, ascended, and saw the massive army of Orcs approaching from afar.

“There are many.”

It was more than he imagined.

At the front, a familiar face was walking together with Germanos.

Se-min chuckled. He had committed various things together with him in the Grand Marino Sea of Trees.

“Maktar!”

Se-min rushed forward and stood in front of Maktar, calling his name. He still possessed a savage face. Maktar also grinned.

“Emperor.”

The two embraced.

The alliance was complete.

In the capital of the ancient empire, Badurbarok was waiting for them.