Orc Eiyuu Monogatari Sontaku Retsuden - CH 39.5

“That’s something I can’t do.” But Bash no longer looked at Nazar.

“Huh?” Carrot’s stunned voice sounded very loud. “Why? But you said the other day that we would fight shoulder to shoulder again!”

“I owe this man a debt.”

“A debt…!”

“That’s right.”

“So you accept it!? You accept the current status quo!?”

“What’s wrong with the status quo?”

“The succubi are starving now, even our children are! It’s the same with the orcs! In fact, after the war, many warriors left the country because they were dissatisfied with the Orc King’s rule! Many proud warriors! Even Gagan, who had reached the rank of Greatchief, left the country because he couldn’t stay there, because he couldn’t even sleep with a woman! He told me that he would be willing to become my slave if he could only sleep with one! A succubus like me! And this is the result!”

Bash saw Gagan’s body. From where Nazar was standing, it was impossible to read Bash’s expression. But he looked somewhat sad.

“I understand Gagan’s feelings, but…” Bash said and was silent for a while. It was as if he was choosing his words. After a while, Bash said softly, “This is what it means to be defeated.”*

Frizcop: Damn, that line hit hard…

Hearing this, Carrot made an astonished face and then fell silent.

“I see. You are the usual Sir Bash, and you have come all this way with determination…” Carrot said and stood up slowly. Her face looked as if she was about to cry. It looked like she was dismissing a warrior who was going into a battle they could not win. “No matter what I say, will it be impossible to change your mind?”

“That is true.”

“Even if I tell you that the Demon King Gediguz will return?”

“Even with that.”

Carrot slowly closed her eyes and exhaled with a snort.

“I understand… even though we follow different paths, I respect you as a warrior.”

“I also consider you a warrior worthy of respect.”

Carrot’s cheeks colored slightly and her mouth relaxed at the words. But her shy smile faded quickly. She hardened her expression. From a woman who longed to be a hero to the face of a warrior.

“Even if I have to defeat you, I will not abandon my path.”

“I see…”

Carrot stepped in front of Bash and prepared her fists. The two warriors needed no more questions.

“Former Commander-in-Chief of the First Battalion of the Queen of the Succubus Nation, Carrot of the Hissing Voice.” Carrot said her name. She tousled her hair and spoke her name in a bewitching manner.

“Former warrior of the Boulder Company, Orc Kingdom. Bash, the Orc Hero.” Bash spoke his name as well. It was an impressive name, but there seemed to be some hesitation in his voice. Perhaps he was hesitating to fight her because he could empathize with the succubus’ current situation. “…”

Bash glared at Carrot and readied his fists. They had no weapons. Both Bash and Carrot had left their weapons behind when they entered the royal palace. The only person who had a weapon here was Nazar, who had brought his own sword with his prior permission.

So he did not move. It was a perfect opportunity to escape, but he didn’t.

Well… that’s about it… I’m incredibly impressed. How wonderful…

Nazar didn’t know about their relationship. Since he hadn’t seen them, he didn’t know what kind of conversation they’d had before. But at least the conversation Carrot suggested couldn’t have been bad for Bash. If war broke out, he could throw himself into the fray as much as he wanted. There would be no lack of women. Not only would there be no shortage, but succubi would be willing to serve them. And if Gediguz were resurrected, victory would be assured. He could have it all.

But Bash objected. He owed it to Nazar.

And all Nazar did was allow him access to the border. He also took him to the royal palace, but he felt bad about it, considering the problems that arose afterwards. Normally, no one would have been grateful. It would not be surprising if he felt that he had been tricked.

But Bash took it as a debt. No, more than a “debt”, a “duty”. That was why he rejected Carrot.

Nazar’s heart burned.

He tried to protect the pride of the orcs while accepting defeat. He believed that the orcs should change with the times.

Or perhaps it was reprehensible in the eyes of the orc race as a whole. What did it mean to accept defeat? They had no other choice but to fight. Fighting, capturing, and raping women was the orcish way of life. But Bash refused, choosing instead to follow what he believed to be the right path.

Nazar thought that Bash’s goal was similar to his own. He thought they were going to the same place, just in different ways. But no. His destination must be farther away than Nazar’s.

Surely the Orc Hero was looking to the future. The future where the era of peace would continue as it did now. Something even he could not see. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said that he was indebted to Nazar, who couldn’t help him much and hid his true identity from him.

Houston, now I understand why you praised Bash so much in your letter.

There was no way for him to escape this situation. Nazar was determined to see the election, the battle, and the pride of the Orc before him.