Inside An Ad*lt Game As A Former Hero - Chapter 22

After the farce was over, we decided to move on immediately. It’s because the more time you delay, the worse it gets.

“Tsk, we don’t even have anything to eat.”

“Here’s your food.”

I handed the beef jerky pickled in garlic juice to Howl.

Howl was disgusted and shook his head readily.

“Wait, how did Cloud-sama brought that?”

“I carried it in a pouch tied around my waist. It’s a little wet, but it’s better than nothing.”

“N, No, thanks. I have been eating it for days… I can’t consume any more.”

“Um, as you say. Well, it looks like we don’t have anything else to pack, so let’s get going.”

“Guys, follow me well, and if you discover something along the way, please tell us.”

We started moving.

Me and Howl, who were the most powerful of the batch, both led the group from the front and the back.

“Hot…”

As we continued to advance further, the people following behind started murmuring one by one. I glanced around and saw that everyone was drenched in sweat, muttering ‘hot’ over and over again.

If we keep going like this, many will be left behind.

I decided to announce a short break.

Howl came up to me while everyone was sitting down and resting.

“How much further does Cloud-sama think it will take us to get out of here?”

“That’s what even I want to know.”

“…Cloud-sama doesn’t know? Then, you just told them to come together without knowing which way to go?”

“Do you really want to make me say it now? It was the only way I could see.”

“It’s like that… haa, so there’s nothing we can do?”

Howl sighed and looked around.

The surrounding was dotted with dried up trees, barren land, and occasional scorpions. There was nothing other than that.

“So that’s what the land of orcs look like. If it hadn’t, they wouldn’t had the need to loot others.”

The territory of orcs is located on the western side of the continent.

The sun is hot enough to remind you of a desert. In the dry land, there is no moisture to be found, and the soil structure is so loose that it crumbles with every step that one takes.

Naturally, the land is not suitable for farming. Because of which, the Orcs were always struggling with food shortages.

The method they choose to survive was—looting.

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Once a year.

During the harvesting season, the warriors of all the orc tribes gather to create a powerful integrated army.

And the great army tours the kingdoms, demanding that some of the harvested grain to be given away if they don’t want a war.

This is the so-called rip-off.

It’s a very outrageous request, but all the kingdoms grant it anyway. Anyone would be reluctant to take severe damage by fighting against a large orc army.

‘In the first place, it’s questionable if they can even win in a war against orcs.’

If it wasn’t for the intervention of the Empire, the three kingdoms would have long fallen in the orcs’ hands, the NPC in the game once said that.

‘But this guy is a vampire, he doesn’t even knows about the territory of orcs?’

Seeing that he is still alive even after eating so many of my garlics, he seems to be of a fairly high ranking. Then he must have lived for quite a long time, and so, of course, he should must have visited the orc’s territory at least for once.

That said, the appearance I see now is just acting.

‘These smelly vampire bastards. I need to get rid of this one sooner or later.’

Unfortunately, I can’t kill him with this body right now. It would be very simple if I used my old techniques, but he’s not the kind of guy who can compel me to use my real moves.

Simply—not worth it.

But, he is a man that can be used in many ways.

‘I’ll have to ask Lina to make a stronger garlic concentrate later.’

If you can still eat it and endure it, then there’s nothing more. I’ll have no choice but to acknowledge your tenacity and give you a better and stronger food next time.

As I was thinking about it, Howl opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“Then what now? First, we still don’t know how we are going to get to the border. Second, many will starve to death before that.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I already have something in mind.”

* * *

“Are you sure this matches with the ‘something’ in your mind?”

Howl looked at me with an expression that said that he was already astonished enough and couldn’t be stimulated anymore.

“Intrusi Kah Kah!”

Orcs riding on camels or large scorpions were pointing their spears at us.

I spoke to him in a low voice so that only Howl could hear.

“Did you actually think we could get to the border without ever getting caught by the orcs?With more than twenty people? Really?”

We’re not the FBI, how do we do that?

“Seguire Balah Tuk Fuke!”

The orc, mounting on the largest scorpion, cried out and began to move.

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“What is he saying?”

“He is asking us to follow. Everyone, don’t be afraid and just follow along.”

“Hey, this crazy bastard is driving us to our death! After all, I shouldn’t have followed you idiots. Actually, I should have been in control… huh?!”

A sharp spear blade was aimed at the nape of the bickering Callios, who let out a frightened scream.

“Tranq Uilla Mente!”

“Gulp. W, What is he saying?”

“Shut up. Well, Mr. Callios, let’s shut up, as the orc friend here says. Kindly, you too. Guys, all of you have to be quiet to get things done. Ah, Mr. Callios, I hope this time you don’t do anything crazy. Come on, let’s go.”

I followed behind the scorpion riding orc. Howl followed me, and the others hesitated for a moment and then followed us.

The orcs moved in a state of siege as if they moved while surrounding us.

“What are they going to do now?”

“Well, like I said before, we should settle the matter amicably through peaceful negotiations.”

“Is that possible?”

As Howl said so, he glanced at the orcs, as if he couldn’t understand how to converse with these ignorant bastards.

I couldn’t even laugh out loud because of the situation though it was so ridiculous. As expected, vampires are still vampires. Seeing how easily they ignore, or more specifically— disregard other races, vampires are vampires anywhere one goes.

“The orcs aren’t as stupid as they may seem to you. They know how to measure the situation. Otherwise, they would have been long annihilated by the Empire.”

“Um… that’s right.”

Howl nodded his head with a trembling expression. The status of the Empire is just so great, even a vampire would have to admit it.

To be more precise, it should be said that it was the status of the Platinum Knights, the Templar Knights under the Empire.

Platinum Knights.

The sharpest sword of the Empire.

It is an armed force capable of destroying a kingdom on its own strength without any need of other support troops.

On the day they draw their silver swords on the vampires, that will be the day when the vampires will disappear from the continent, unless the Blood King comes forward.

“So don’t worry, just walk.”

Howl nodded helplessly.

* * *

Hot sun and dry earth.

With only these two, no matter how hard they plundered, the Orcs would not have been able to survive.

But the orcs survived.

Because there was something that allowed them to survive.

Oasis.

It is a large pool of water that can be found all around this dry land.

However, there are big differences from the ordinary oasis back on Earth. Both in size and effectiveness. Aside from the fact that it is much larger than what a naked eye could measure, it is said that the water in the oasis of this world is safe to consume.

The quality of the water is so good that you can drink it even without boiling.

It is a very fantasy type setting, but it is said that this is the key to the orcs’s present day survival.

The water of the oasis can solve drinking problems and the surrounding land is farmable.

Of course, that alone is not enough, so they loot.

“Hey there. Are you sure we will be okay?”

As I was yawning, someone pulled my shirt’s hem with a worried face.

The orcs have brought us to the center of their tribe while still surrounding us from all sides, so its normal that there is a lot of anxiety mixed in the air.

I smiled at her and calmed her down.

“It’s okay. Trust me.”

“I want to believe it, but…”

She looked around herself with a face full of fear. I followed her gaze and looked around, and besides the orc warriors who surrounded us, other orcs were gathering one by one.

But it didn’t seem like there was a need to worry too much.

Compared to the orc warriors, the energy they exuded was too poor.

It was no different from a slightly larger human being.

“Is it you people? Humans who fearlessly invaded our tribe’s territory?”

A thick voice came from inside the large tent. The orc that emerged from the tent was way larger than any of the other orcs.

He was 2.5 m tall with thick muscles.

He also has a hideous black tattoo on his right shoulder.

The energy emitted by this orc was far exceeding those normal orcs as well as those orc warriors.

“Hey, the orc knows our language.”

“Scary…”

“Indeed…”

Those who were still very nervous were terrified by the appearance of the larger orc.

After calming them down, I asked the orc.

“Are you the chieftain of this tribe?”

“Yesh. I am Lugar, the son of Roxar, and the chieftain of the Wolftooth tribe.”

“I am Cloud. Lugar, the son of Roxar, I—challenge you to a duel.”

* * *

“I am Cloud. Lugar, the son of Roxar, I—challenge you to a duel.”

Cloud’s sudden words stilled everyone in the group except for him.

A duel?

Does that mean he is going to fight against that strong-looking orc?

On the other hand, Lugar looked at Cloud with an intrigued expression.

It was because it was particularly strange that a human knew about the orc’s duel.

“Duel. Why should I duel with you, human?”

“For an orc warrior, isn’t a duel an honorable battle to showcase his pure strength?”

“Indeed, but you are not an orc.”

“Is not being an orc a problem? I am also a warrior. Always ready to die a virtuous death in a honorable battle. Or that, you are unprepared to face one? Lugar, the son of Roxar.”

“A chieftain’s position is not so light, that it will make me fall for such trivial provocations. No need to ask me again, my answer will be the same. For say, do I need to have a duel with something which I can kill like a bug just because of some trival words?”

Cloud put his hand under his arms. To which, the orc next to him raised his spear—ready to subdue him, but Lugar raised his hand to halt the orc’s movement.

Because what Cloud took out were six heavy-looking tabloids.

“500,000 gold each. All together, it’s 3 million gold. I will bet this as a wager for the duel. If you win, you can have all this money.”

At the word of 3 million gold, everyone’s eyes shook except for Howl. This is because most people here were not qualified to hold even 10,000 gold, let alone 3 million gold.

Callios, the successor of a Viscount family, was the same. It’s not that a Viscount family doesn’t have 3 million gold.

But, there’s no 3 million gold in cash.

To prepare 3 million gold in cash, they would have to sell a lot of their slaves, lands and assets.

He couldn’t help but be surprised that something like that was easily available in Cloud’s hands.

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‘Damn, I was right after all..!’

Callios was very resentful of the past himself, who talked nonsense for no sense.

But it didn’t matter, because people’s reactions didn’t mattered to Cloud.

“Ah, Mr. Orc, can you stop pretending to be so casual? You think I don’t know anything?”

“What do you mean?”

“Jeez, still pretending to the end. You think I don’t know that you orcs are buying scarce quantity of food from the Empire.”

“….you even know that much?”

They farm around the oasis and loot food from the kingdoms. Even then, food was and is still a scarce commodity for them.

Farming not always guarantees a bountiful harvest, and weaker the tribe, the less food they receive after looting the kingdoms.

That is why most of the orc tribes use money as a medium to exchange it for food at the Empire’s borders.

In such a situation, a huge amount—that is 3 million gold was like a coveted fruit that any tribe will want to swallow.

“What do you want in exchange for winning the duel?”

“Guaranteeing the safety of me and my companions, plus food and bed for one day. And, a guide to the border.”

Cloud had no intention of travelling to the border on his own from the very beginning.

How can he get to the border with no food and proper navigation?

If he had been alone, it wouldn’t pose a problem for him, but the burden that he was carrying was too much. So he chose to have a duel with the orcs. Surrendering to the outcome of the duel was one of the Orc’s long standing tradition.

Besides, he had to visit an orc tribe someday anyways. Because he had to get that ability, the one Gis got in the game.

“How about doing this? If you give us that money, I’ll fulfill every condition of your’s. We will give you food and a place to sleep, and I’ll personally guide you all to the border. I swear in the name of the chief.”

People’s complexion brightened at Lugar’s suggestion.

To them—an easy way to survive was plated in a platter.

However, just as Cloud said his words with a smirk, their faces stiffened again.

“Wait, wait, wait, you don’t really mean it, right? Do you think that treatment, it’s worth 3 million gold?”

“I can kill you and take it away right now.”

“Then do it, in form of a duel. It’s same, ain’t I right?”

“It just means that I don’t have to step up.”

“You are frightened.”

“Once again, a chieftain’s position is not so light, that it will fall for your trivial provocations. Choose—either give money and live, or die and then give money.”

At Lugar’s threat, the group’s complexion looked more frightened than before.

They wanted Cloud to give that 3 million gold to this orc.

Sure, it’s a lot of money, but what about it?

—It’s not my money.

Callios poked Cloud on the shoulders.

“Hey, you… I think it’s getting a bit dangerous. Why don’t you just give them the money? No matter how much it is, isn’t it less valuable than your life?”

“Then will you put that 3 million gold on the tab of Goldenbern family?”

“Wh, What?! No why, why put it on my family?!”

“It was the money that I spent to save the heir of their family, of course I have to put it on their name. Why, you don’t like it?”

“…it’s not that I don’t want to… but, if I go back with such a large amount of debt, my position as the heir will be a little jeopardized…”

“Then shut up and be quiet. The same goes for others. Only those who can pay back 3 million gold, please kindly raise your hand.”

Krappa standing on the side gently raised his hand and then quickly held it back.

Now he’s not Haley’s henchman, but Cloud’s companion Howl.

Confirming that the people had become quiet, Cloud looked back at Lugar and said.

“A group of humans who were caught in distress and begged for a duel to the chieftain of the tribe against all risks, risking everything to catch that glimmer of hope. However, the chieftain didn’t accept it, and his tribesmen cruelly annihilated the humans who weren’t even capable of resisting. These are the real—very honorable orc warriors of a certain Wolftooth clan. How does it sounds?”

“Didn’t I just said that provocation won’t work?”

“You did. You said, a chieftain’s position is not so light that it will fall for trivial provocations. But now, it will.”

“Hgm?”

“Even if you order your subordinates to annihilate my companions, I will survive. Because I have the ability to take myself out of here safely. Meanwhile, I will inform all the orc tribes around you about the disgrace you brought to the name of orcs. They will mock and despise you and your ancestors. Let’s see then, if the chieftain’s seat will still be heavy even then. Or, will it become light enough at that time?”

“You wanna die?”

An unusual pressure emanated from Lugar. It was obviously hostile. People were terrified and trembled at the pressure that flowed from a strong warrior.

But Cloud’s expression was still same.

“Like I said, I won’t die here.”

“…the other tribes won’t believe you.”

“I will make them believe. Even if in the process—I have to use up all of this 3 million gold.”

“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to quietly give us that 3 million gold and leave safely?”

In Lugar’s words, the hostility had already disappeared. Cloud relaxed his expression and shrugged his shoulders.

“As you value honor, I value self-esteem.”

Seeing Cloud’s smirk, Lugar sighed and nodded his head.

“Okay, I accept the duel. Anyone of you who wants to challenge me, come forward and challenge. I shall take it all.”