I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 46
CHAPTER 46
“What’s that?”
Suddenly, there was the sound of orcs from the direction of the forest, and the guys who had been fighting busily stopped in their tracks. Some even stretched their necks towards where the sound came from as if straining to hear something they couldn’t quite make out.
A knight, while protecting the carriage, took a step back to observe the situation.
“Chweeik.”
“Chweik?”
“Chweik!”
As they faced each other and said something, they began drawing circles in the air with their fingers.
“Chweeeeeik!!”
Once again, as the sound echoed, this time the orcs’ green skin turned pale.
“…Chweik, Chweik?”
Some were so shocked that they dropped their battle axes, while others drooled profusely from their mouths.
What on earth is that?
What did they say to elicit this reaction from the kids??
‘I want to know too!’
Even the knights and soldiers blinked in curiosity.
Just as they were all curious, another roar echoed.
“Chweeeeeik!! Chweik, Chweeeeeik!!”
To human ears, it was the same “Chweik,” but this time, the orcs who heard the sound turned red with rage.
“Chweik!!”
“Chweeeeeik!!”
“Chweik!!”
Ah, I get it now.
It must mean “Stop him!” or “Get that guy!” or something like that.
“Uh, uh! Knight, look at that!”
A soldier shouted, snapping the knight out of his reverie.
“The orcs are heading into the forest!”
“W-We’re alive!”
Another soldier cheered.
Yes, they were alive. They couldn’t possibly defeat the dozen or so orcs with just five of them.
“Over there. The mages are there!”
The mages who were supposed to guard the magic circle where the orcs had left were lying unconscious.
Judging by the rise and fall of their chests, it seemed they had only fainted, fortunately.
“Snap out of it, mages!”
“We need to wake up the mages and send a signal to the tower.”
“First, take care of the mages.”
The knight ordered, scanning the surroundings.
“Check the mages’ bodies. There should be a signal flare. Find it!”
“Yes!”
Once they got the signal flare, reinforcements would come from the tower.
While the soldiers searched for the signal flare, the knight kept a keen eye on where the orcs had gone.
What on earth is over there?
* * *
“Chweik! (It’s you!)”
I chuckled confidently as I watched the orcs rushing towards me.
Too late, buddy.
You should’ve rushed over as soon as Meru’s daughter revealed herself as Ark!
I took a deep breath!
“Chweeeeeik, Chweik!! (Ark is the one who killed Retsie!!)”
“……!!!”
I dropped another bombshell.
“Chweik, Chweik! Chweeeeeik?! (I thought you’d do that, your eyes didn’t look indifferent?!)”
“Chweik? Chweik??? Chweeeeeik???? (Our Ark did that? Our Ark??? Our gentle Ark????)”
“…….”
From the one who thought it would happen to the one who denied reality, and even the one who lost focus along with words.
This is quite amusing, isn’t it?
“Chweik. (Step aside.)”
Amidst the despairing orcs, one orc walked forward.
Compared to the other orcs, he had a bigger and more imposing figure.
The patterns carved into his body were also noticeably different from the other orcs.
‘Finally, someone who can communicate has arrived?’
I smirked.
“Chwiik, chwi-iik? (Human, who are you?)”
“I have nothing to say to a kid.”
I plopped down on a rock.
Since a while ago, I’ve been trying to speak in Orcish, and my throat is killing me.
“Are you the little chieftain of the Teckon tribe? Where is the chieftain now?”
“……”
The Orc’s eyes, which had been staring at me, narrowed.
Soon, an awkward human language came out from between his long fangs.
“Stomach, hunger.”
Chwiik, the Orc approached closer.
“You, stomach, hunger. Chwiik, is that right?”
“That’s right.”
I tried my best to hide my identity because it would be troublesome if it were revealed.
Some intelligent beings, including spirits, were aware of my existence.
That’s how they would trade with me.
And the Teckon Orc tribe was also my trading partner.
More precisely, the chieftain of the Teckon Orc tribe.
Judging from their familiarity with me, this guy must be the successor.
‘And I’ve told them stories.’
Among the Orcs, some are curious about human civilization.
So whenever I visited the Teckon tribe, I gathered the Orcs and told them stories little by little.
But unfortunately, I died while revealing the part about Meru’s daughter.
‘Sorry. I spoiled the ending earlier, so bear with me.’
Anyway, the story that was interrupted at its climax continued to circulate within the tribe.
Despite my death and some time passing, these youngsters also knew about it.
“So, where is the chieftain?”
“……”
The little chieftain’s brow twitched at my question.
“Chwiik! Big, warriors, fell, fire! Chwi-iik!”
His eyes gradually began to turn red.
“Human, chwiik, lost, fire! Four days ago, in our village!”
“Chwi-iik!”
“Chwi-iik!!”
Even other Orcs who didn’t understand human language seemed excited.
“Children, elderly! Swords, swung as they pleased! Chwi-iik!”
“Chwiik!”
“What did we, chwiik, do wrong!!”
I blinked in confusion.
Who in the world set fire to the Teckon Orc village?
And why?
‘There’s no reason to provoke them.’
The land occupied by the Teckon tribe, Bahel, was virtually a wasteland to humans.
Moreover, monster habitats were concentrated nearby.
If they provoked them, it could lead to monsters invading the human village.
There was no benefit, only a huge risk.
‘Besides, the Teckon Orc tribe wouldn’t attack humans first.’
While Orcs were generally aggressive, each tribe had slightly different characteristics.
Among them, the Teckon tribe was mild, even tending to avoid humans.
Especially since the village was already established.
There was no need or reason to attack humans.
So why would they forcefully invade the wasteland and attack them?
‘Something seems off.’
There was a perplexing aspect to it. Something felt off.
“So, where are the other orcs now?”
I looked around.
Among the ten or so orcs, there were none injured or weak.
“Where are the injured?”
“…Stomach-hunger, chwiik, they heard, won’t make any more medicine, chwi-iik.”
The little chieftain sent me a suspicious glance.
“You, once an orc. I know that. Chwiik, but now, you’re human.”
His red eyes flared fiercely.
“How can I trust you? Stomach-hunger, not going to do it, betrayal? Chwiik.”
He seemed likely to react like that.
They had lived peacefully until now, and suddenly humans had attacked, shattering the peace in an instant.
“……”
I stepped down from the rock and stood in front of the little chieftain.
“Little chieftain, who are you? What’s your name?”
“…I’m Oakle.”
Oakle, meaning ‘excellent warrior’ in Orcish. It’s a good name.
“Oakle, I am ‘Lottie Paeon’.”
As I uttered my long-forgotten name, a halo briefly shone above my head before disappearing.
“I will help you.”
“……”
When I mentioned my name, Oakle seemed to trust me a bit.
I smirked.
“And I haven’t forgotten the favor. The Teckon Orc tribe helped me before.”
It was a long time ago.
Perhaps so long ago that the Teckon tribe might not even remember.
But I remembered.
“I will repay that favor now.”
“……Chwiik, fine. But, there’s something.”
Oakle nodded backward. It was towards where the carriages were.
“You’re a valuable person now, wanderer. If trouble arises, I’ll be in trouble. Chwiik.”
Indeed, if I were to suddenly disappear, the orcs would be in chaos.
But…
I glanced subtly at one spot.
There was an orc standing there silently, seemingly shocked, unlike the other orcs.
Slightly blurry compared to the others?
“No problem.”
I smiled wryly.
“Okay, let’s go. Quickly, chwiik!”
“……?!”
My body felt light.
Is this kid hugging me under my arm?
In disbelief, I flailed my arms in the air, but my body moved forward rapidly.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Perhaps because they were forest orcs, they navigated through the dense forest without hesitation.
Sensing the urgent signals from my stomach, I desperately waved my hand.
“Wait, wait a moment!”
“No time!”
Whoosh!
They moved even faster. My body swayed back and forth lifelessly.
It trembled like a butterfly in a typhoon.
Wait, just a moment… Please, stop…!!
“Wae-ek!!”
Finally, after scattering something into the air in desperation, the orcs stopped.
Some of them even seemed to be hit.
So, I asked them to stop.
Wah, my rights. My rights!