“I am different from the other orcs, somehow smarter. From the moment that I was born, I knew that I was not the same as other living creatures. Or perhaps I should say that I was told.”
“Who told you?”
“I do not know. It was like an instinct. I am sorry, I cannot explain it well.”
It was as if intelligence in abnormally evolved beings was a gift of some sort.
“I was raised among orcs, even though, deep within, I was different. And one day I realized it. How harsh and violent this world was.”
Arthur muttered quietly as he stared at the ground and made a fist.
“One day, the village I lived in was attacked…the Adventurers had come.”
Arthur didn’t look up as he continued.
“Everyone was killed. It didn’t matter if they were women or children. The small house we had all worked so hard to build was overturned and burned down. These Adventurers had the most twisted of smiles as they went around killing everyone.”
Arthur talked slowly and painfully and now raised his face. But there was no hatred or similar emotion that I could detect on his face.
“But I knew it. This was the way of the natural world. Orcs. Monsters. Such creatures are meant to be killed by humans.”
“And so you created this settlement and attacked the village?”
“No, that is wrong. I wanted to develop this place and create an environment where we could be independent. We would be orcs who did not attack humans. I wanted to change the way that we lived. And perhaps, one day. We would be accepted as our own country.”
This orc too? Was it the way of things for abnormally evolved beings to want a country? A place where they could live in peace without anyone bothering them.
“I have met someone like you before. A monster with the intelligence of a human. He also wanted to build his own country.”
Daniela said. Of course, she was talking about the Assault Kobold.
“However, he meant to use military power to destroy humanity and then build his county. Are you any different?”
“…I am sure he did want to build a country too, but I am different. I did not plan on doing this for myself. I only wanted a place where we could live happily. I had no intention of harming any humans!”
“And yet, an entire village was wiped out.”
Yes. There were victims in all of this. By the hands of the orcs.
“No…no…damn it. I was too late then…”
Bam! Arthur’s fist came down on the ground again.
“It must have been him then…the orc who betrayed me…Mordred!”
Mordred…who betrayed Arthur…
“It was Mordred who imprisoned me here. It was over two weeks ago.”
“The village was attacked after that, yes.”
“I am so sorry… There is no excuse…those people…”
Arthur scraped his head on the ground and apologized.
“But you have not done anything? Then there is no need to apologize.”
“But…I am responsible…as their king.”
“Then you can atone for it from here on out.”
I thought that was the best thing to do. Daniela looked at me and gave a slightly exasperated smile.
I don’t know. But meeting with Beowulf and knowing that there were good monsters had changed my perspective. I could never find myself becoming an enemy of someone so sincere. Well, I would definitely be killing this Mordred, but not Arthur.
“Should I really be spared… Is it really the right thing to live as an orc who does not attack humans?”
“Yeah, why not? I’m quite fond of the idea.”
“…What is your name?”
There were tears in Arthur’s eyes as he stared at me.
“I’m Asagi. Asagi Kamiyashiro.”
“I am Daniela. Daniela Villesilf.”
“Thank you…thank you. Asagi. Daniela. I have a request for both of you. Will you hear it?”
Daniela and I looked at each other and smiled.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Let us hear it.”
“Thank you…thank you. Please!”
Arthur stood up and said,
“Help me! Get me out of here!”
Daniela and I tore through the bars with our swords. My hands felt a little numb after it, but it wasn’t too hard.
“Good. Now I will take back my country.”
“Let’s go then, Arthur.”
King Arthur killed Mordred but was then killed by Mordred. But we wouldn’t allow that to happen. This kingdom of orcs who did not attack humans…I wanted to see it. He had fascinated me. Was I so strange for sympathizing with monsters? Daniela accepted me without saying anything…but if it came down to it… No, I shouldn’t think about that now.
And that was how I met the captive king.
Now, time to make some plans. I decided that I would help Arthur. But I had to think about how I would explain this to Virgil. If I didn’t do that now, things would get very complicated later on.
Translator:
I’m thinking about picking up a series again. Please post any titles you are interested in!