I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 47

CHAPTER 47

 

“Woooo…….”

After a few more splashes of something iridescent, Oakle picked me up.

He’s been like this from the beginning, oh…….

It took a couple more hours of running before I could step on solid ground.

Ah, here.

This was a place I used to visit frequently when I was Carmel before.

A sign nearby warned not to enter.

“They’ve indeed designated it as a restricted area.”

Well, it’s dangerous here.

“We’ve arrived, Cheeek.”

“Which way?”

Oakle pointed to one place with a careless gesture.

Where there was a big cave.

As soon as we entered, I frowned.

Dozens of orcs were huddled, trying to stay quiet.

The orcs remaining in the cave were either young, old, sick, or injured.

‘They all seem to be in bad shape.’

I furrowed my brows.

The condition of the orcs in the cave right now was dire.

Some had wounds oozing without proper treatment.

I noticed a child with a high fever.

Strange, these guys should be capable of at least this much treatment.

“Chee, eek? (Human?)”

“Chu-eek! (Human!)”

The orcs who spotted me immediately bared their fangs and started throwing rocks.

“Human!”

“Chu-eek, cheeek!! (Human, die!!)”

Thunk, thud.

A rough stone landed near my feet.

“…….”

I picked up the stone, narrowing my eyes.

“Cheeek! (Stop!)”

Oakle stepped forward.

“Chu-eek, chee-eek. (She’s guest of the chieftain.)”

“Cheeek, chee-eek!”

“Chee-eek.”

The orcs in the cave muttered something, but Oakle firmly restrained them, and they backed off.

But the suspicious glares toward me didn’t fade.

Of course.

Only the chieftain and his successors knew I was a wanderer.

They wouldn’t welcome the sudden appearance of a human.

“Here, follow.”

Oakle walked further into the cave. After a while, we reached a section separated by a curtain.

Oakle gestured inside with his chin.

It meant to go in alone.

As I stepped in beyond the curtain, I saw an elderly orc sitting there.

He slowly opened his eyes.

“Wanderer.”

A much more refined human language came out compared to Oakle and the other orcs.

Indeed, the chieftain.

I greeted him lightly in the orcish way as I sat across from him.

“So, what happened to the Teckon Orc Tribe?”

I stared at the chieftain.

“I heard roughly from Oakle the warrior, but I’d like to hear more details.”

“…A sudden attack.”

The chieftain spoke slowly.

“They lured the warriors out of the village.”

When the warrior orcs went out of the village due to the sudden attack, the hidden ones moved.

“They set fire to the herb field.”

With a whoosh, the herb field soaked in oil quickly caught fire and soon engulfed the village.

“There was no choice but to flee.”

They had to scatter in all directions to escape the fire and invaders.

By the time the warrior orcs returned, the village was already completely engulfed in flames.

“Humans didn’t give up. They kept, kept chasing.”

“…You mean they kept following you?”

The chieftain nodded.

“The pursuit stopped once we entered here, but they might come again, human.”

“…….”

“While fleeing, the healer died. Many children and elderly were badly injured.”

The chieftain continued with a somber look.

“There’s no herbs, no one to help. But there are many patients.”

“…….”

“Can you help us, wanderer?”

I took a deep breath, nodding.

Then I smiled slightly.

“Just leave it to me.”

After all, my main expertise is in herbs, isn’t it?

“In exchange, lend me some of your warriors.”

I have a use for them.

 

* * *

 

“Cheeek? (This?)”

“Chu-eek! (No!)”

I kicked my foot as if threatening.

However, it didn’t seem like the threat had much effect.

“Cheeek, chu-e-eek, cheeek!! (Look carefully, you have to pick the sharp tip of the leaf, that’s the herb!)”

“Cheeek……. Chuung, cheeek. (I don’t know……. They all look similar.)”

The orc who brought back poisonous plants scratched his head.

Bring it back again, this time with real herbs.

As I sent off the orc, I sighed heavily.

Fortunately, there were plenty of needed herbs in the vicinity.

But it wasn’t just one or two herbs needed; it was quite a substantial quantity.

So it was good to bring in the warrior orcs to start gathering herbs.

‘There are no competent ones!’

They specialized in roughhousing, so of course, they were confused between herbs and poisonous plants.

Because they were so rough, they even tore apart precious herbs in the process.

Phew, taking a deep breath to calm my rising frustration.

“Kkweeek!”

…What’s that sound, like a pig snorting?

“Chee, cheeek! Cheeek!! (Hey, big trouble over there!!)”

“Oh, what now!!”

Following one orc’s lead, we rushed over to find an orc frothing at the mouth and collapsed.

Sending them to gather herbs, what on earth did he do?

“Cheeek, chuung……. Cheeek, chuung……. (Actually, he got confused between poisonous plants and herbs……. He tried it and confirmed by eating it…….)”

Oh my, goodness.

I slapped my forehead.

“Chu-eek, cheeek, chu-eung. (It won’t be life-threatening. After he vomits it out, make sure he drinks plenty of water.)”

“Cheeekchuung! (Got it!)”

Before I finished speaking, two orcs rushed in and began hitting their chests with their fists.

Uh, um. They might break their ribs at this rate.

Oh… a fountain of blood…

‘Let’s give up.’

I grinned. They weren’t going to die from this.

“Cheeek.”

Turning at the sound, an orc held a bundle of cloth.

“Chee, cheeek.”

As I unfolded the cloth on the ground, it was filled with herbs.

All the herbs I needed.

“You picked them quite neatly, didn’t you?”

I smiled broadly.

“You did well.”

“Chu-eek.”

The orc blushed at my praise. Brat, how cute.

“Wanderer. Chu-eek, water, here.”

Oakle, who brought a few orcs, presented a leather pouch.

“There was spring water at the place you mentioned. Chu-eek.”

“See, didn’t I tell you to trust me?”

I chuckled.

This place used to be an old magic training ground from my days at the Tower.

I mainly practiced intermediate spells with a wide attack range here.

Since I lived around here during my days as Carmel, this area was practically under my control.

‘It’s nice that nothing has changed since it became a restricted area.’

Thanks to that, I could remember where was dangerous, where plenty of herbs grew, and where there was spring water.

Afterward, a few more orcs brought more herbs.

‘Let’s see…’

Recalling the orcs I saw in the cave earlier, I estimated the amount of herbs needed.

This should be sufficient.

Since I’ve started, might as well gather more and make extra medicine.

‘If only there were bandages.’

Or clean clothes, at least.

Tsk, I clicked my tongue lightly.

At that moment, an orc who went to gather herbs shouted.

“Chu-eek, chu-eek! (Human, humans who were chasing us!)”

“Chu-eek!! Chu-eek? (Calm down! Did they come this far?)”

“Chu-eek, chu-eek! (Yes, I saw it clearly!)”

Oakle stepped forward.

Sharp, attack-oriented axes were in his hands, pulled out from who knows where.

“Chu-eek, chu-e-eek! (Where are they, I’ll go get them!)”

“No, there’s no need for that.”

I shook my head.

“Warrior, Oakle. First, take these herbs and water back to the cave, then come to the place I’ll show you.”

“Enemies, invaders? Urgent.”

“Those guys.”

Taking out a hairband from the pouch, I tied my hair tightly.

“I’ll handle them.”

Those aiming for me should be sent off by me.

Isn’t that right?

 

* * *

 

“Found it.”

A man who trampled the forbidden area sign while smiling turned around.

“Orc footprints here.”

More than ten people stood behind him.

From swords and bows to iron ropes to capture fleeing individuals, various weapons were held in their hands.

“They were hiding here.”

The man standing at the front stepped forward.

A faint madness gleamed in his eyes.

“We need to thoroughly search this area!”

“Uh, Captain.”

The one who found the orc footprints subtly interjected.

“Do we need to go this far? Weren’t our orders to keep the orcs in the vicinity of the tower?”

And this was around the Tower.

It’s good enough to turn back by now.

Their captain didn’t seem to have any intention of considering what they were after.

“That’s true.”

The captain nodded.

“The one who gave us this order is someone who could either kill us in an instant or elevate us to nobility.”

“…Nobility?”

The hunters’ ears perked up at that word.

“Yeah, nobility! Can you believe it? We could become nobles too?!”

‘Yeah, as if I’m going to refuse becoming a noble?’

The man chuckled inwardly.

The order they received was to drive the orcs to the Tower.

But, didn’t the one who conveyed the message phrase it like this?

“The princess of the rebel faction causing all this trouble without even knowing the subject-. Ah, sorry. I’ll stop talking to myself.”

It was murmured very softly, but he didn’t miss it!

His sharp mind understood it immediately.

This cumbersome affair was about killing the dirty rebel faction, the princess.

‘She must be somewhere around here.’

So, he must have directed the orcs here.

To have the orcs kill the princess.

‘Before that, I’ll kill her.’

He would make sure to kill the princess and claim the credit for it.

‘If it can be attributed to the orcs, fine, if not…’

He glanced at the subordinates standing behind him.

Wasn’t it unnecessary to sacrifice himself for a new life?

And didn’t he also bring ‘that’ just in case he needed it for other purposes?

He grinned, his long lips showing yellowed teeth.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

His subordinates searched the forest for the orcs, while the man searched for the princess.

“Waaah, I’m scared!”

They found the princess sitting on the ground, her arms tied to a tree.

“Haah, hahahaha.”

An uncontrollable laughter burst out.