Chapter 117 : Chapter 117
Chapter 117 : The Leader
The dark passage stretching out in a straight line was quiet, as if it were a world apart from the commotion outside.
Because it was a single path, there was no need for arguments such as whether this path was right, how I knew that, or for me to tell him to go by himself if he was so suspicious, so silence naturally settled between me and Ratel.
However, I was having the strange experience of being able to feel a loud gaze piercing my back even in the darkness.
I was anxious because I couldn't tell what he was thinking again, but I walked in silence since I had no intention of striking up a conversation first.
Because I had no intention of striking up a conversation, I moved my steps in silence.
Eventually, it was Ratel who broke the silence first.
“Do you even know where you’re walking to?”
Ah, come to think of it, had I not explained the destination yet?
Thinking that he had followed along without much complaint for someone with that personality, I opened my mouth.
“We’re going to the place where the Core is. It’s the Orcs’ nest, and at the same time, a place like their heart.”
Ratel stopped his steps at my retort.
“Are you saying we’re going to invade their stronghold now after avoiding the Orcs?”
I left him behind and continued moving forward.
“It doesn't matter. There won't be that many there anyway. Even without using Manis, we’ll be able to handle two or three of them without killing them.”
“How can you be so certain without even seeing the situation inside?”
“Because the leader's position is vacant right now, and if my prediction is correct, the entrance the Orcs originally used must have collapsed because of the water.”
Since they aren't smart guys, they won't be able to find their way well unless it's the road they originally traveled on if they don't rely on smell.
I continued my words while checking the sound of Ratel’s footsteps as he slowly began to follow behind me again.
“Do you remember the Orcs that Jing and Ria found by the river earlier? How they put the prey into their mouths as soon as they caught it.”
“What about that?”
“Orc society originally revolves strictly around a leader. When they catch prey, they don't eat it first, but take it to the cave where the leader is guarding. It’s like a genetic imprinting phenomenon.”
“Genetic?”
“No……, anyway, the fact that they shoved it into their mouths just like that means there’s a problem with the system, and there’s a high probability that a leader hasn't been decided.”
This point was exactly the part I couldn't understand.
Why would the leader's position be empty?
Usually, the change of generations for a leader is bound to happen in an instant.
The most likely hypothesis so far was that the previous leader had succeeded in escaping before his position could be taken.
Then, who would be the leader that Ratel has to cut down?
Finding the answer to the question was pushed back for a moment as we reached the end of the passage.
Because I was busy holding back a sigh at the steep cliff that appeared before my eyes.
I knew that once we climbed this cliff, we could finally arrive at the destination.
The problem was that it felt a bit daunting.
I never imagined that a time would come when I would have to personally climb the towering rock I had read about in text.
So the Orcs travel this kind of path just like a daily routine.
“I wonder if the reason they have bad heads is because they don't need to use their heads.”
When I murmured, Ratel gave a smirk and passed by me.
“The reason you roll your head like that every time is because your body can't keep up.”
And then, as if showing off, he began to climb the wall stably.
Yeah, you’re so great.
I clicked my tongue once and then followed him, gripping the wall.
***
The wall surface, which was full of moisture, was incredibly slippery.
Because there was nothing to serve as a handle like before, the speed of climbing was slow.
If I transformed my human body, I would have been able to climb more comfortably, but I didn't want to take the risk of being engulfed by the river water again.
Above all, I didn't want to have another scuffle with that protagonist guy.
Climbing the rock wall with gritted teeth for a while, finally, the end of the cliff was felt at my fingertips.
While I struggled to pull my body up and exhaled my breath that was filled up to my chin, Ratel waited for my breathing to return without saying much.
Once enough time passed for me to breathe somewhat comfortably, only then did the surrounding scenery enter my sight.
In front of the pit that me and Ratel had crawled up, there was a circular space, and the huge cliffs unfolding on both sides were similar to yet different from the description in the original work.
“It’s become just a cliff instead of a waterfall.”
When I murmured weakly, I felt Ratel’s gaze looking down at me.
I rolled my eyes and gestured toward the cliff with a glance.
“In the book, it was written that a waterfall originally appeared. Because the water on the island moved however it wanted, the cliff below the waterfall was revealed.”
And I raised my hand to point at a large valley situated above the place where the ends of the two cliffs met.
“Because it’s not able to do that since the water isn't coming out enough.”
From the hole that should have originally supplied enough water to the two waterfalls, a weak stream of water was flowing down.
It was a relief that there was at least that much movement of water.
If even that hadn't existed, there wouldn't have been the luck of the center being empty like this while avoiding the Orcs' sense of smell.
“So you're disappointed?”
Ratel, who was moving his gaze along the direction I was pointing, opened his mouth.
What is there to be disappointed about anyway, the water will return eventually.
Having roughly shook my head, I let out a groan and stood up.
And I walked toward the circular space connecting the two cliffs.
Only here was no difference from the description of the original work.
Even down to the fact that animal bones and rotten carcasses were stretched out around the empty space in the center.
“Is this the center you mentioned?”
Ratel, who had approached and stood behind me before I knew it, asked.
“Yeah, it’s not originally empty like this. Because the leader guards this spot.”
“What is this place anyway?”
I turned my body toward the guy who was staring at the empty space in the center with a blunt face.
“What do you think happens to the people who are consumed by the holy object?”
“You said they are used to exercise power.”
That’s right.
I reached my hand toward the space in the center.
Unlike its appearance, which seemed like it would be ice-cold, the floor held a bit of warmth.
“It seems even monsters are life forms. Seeing as how the place where they are born is warm like this.”
When I murmured, Ratel’s lip line hardened.
“Are you saying Orcs are born here?”
I slowly nodded my head toward the guy who got the right answer.
“They say monsters are born in places where evil is concentrated.”
To think that the trace of the God loved by the whole world had become a place where evil is concentrated; there was no contradiction like this.
Ratel, who was glaring at the floor with a frown, turned his gaze toward me as if he recalled something.
“Did that woman’s father also die in the same way?”
If he’s talking about Ria’s father, that’s probably right.
Because it’s a fact mentioned in passing along with Idan’s death in the original work as well.
“Probably.”
“And you hid that fact too.”
“Because it’s not the time yet.”
“Are you saying you have the right to decide that?”
The guy’s dry question had a somewhat naive side, so I raised the corners of my mouth.
“A right is usually created through a mutual promise. What I did was just a piece of trash.”
Ratel stared at me silently with an expression that my smiling was bothersome.
“Even if Ria found out the truth now, it would be pointless. In her current state, even if she feels anger at her father’s death, she’ll also have guilt at the same time. You should know that well, shouldn't you?”
That this world is a world made like that.
It’s not like a person who is already dead will return, nor is it that an Orc once born will die.
And it’s not like we can judge the temple that deceived the people right away either.
If so, I just judged that knowing the truth didn't necessarily have to be right now.
Whether I talked too much, I felt Ratel staring at me without a word.
I didn't know what he was thinking again, but for now, I had to resolve the task thrown before my eyes.
“Cutting the leader’s neck to grow your strength is the only struggle we can do right now.”
So stop being stubbornly useless and you just find the holy object and come back.
The guy, who noticed the omitted words, let out a sigh.
“I don't like being played by your tongue again, but fine. So where on earth is the leader?”
At the question that was no different from half-agreeing, I stepped on the center and moved forward toward its end.
I turned my body to the left among the two cliffs where traces of water flowing fiercely remained.
“Haven't you noticed already? The leader can't run away. His physical condition probably wouldn't allow it either.”
Having stopped my steps, I pointed with my finger toward the bottom where the end couldn't be seen.
“He is hiding below.”
***
Naturally, if it was natural, Ratel did not show signs of being surprised.
Well, if it was him, he might have sensed the Orc's breathing that I couldn't hear.
“Is there a hidden space below here too?”
Ratel murmured while looking down into the valley.
“To be precise, on the wall surface. There’s a hole beyond the waterfall. Just big enough for one Orc to enter.”
When I spoke to Ratel, who was intently looking down the cliff, he looked at me with inquisitive eyes.
“How did I know? At this point, wouldn't it be faster to find something I don't know. Since there’s no time to explain every single thing, just go down below.”
However, despite my urging, Ratel did not readily go down but only stared at me intently.
“Why? Are you afraid I might run away while you're down there?”
Without being concerned by my sarcasm, Ratel moved his gaze to my arm.
“No, I'm afraid you might fall from above.”
What does this bastard take me for?
To say that, it was honestly difficult.
Because coming up all the way here had been quite a drain on my physical strength.
“Fine, then I'll stay here and……”
“No.”
I hadn't even finished speaking yet.
When I glared at Ratel, who stated his refusal like a reflexive action, the guy's one eyebrow twitched.
“Why would I trust anything from you? How do I know if you'll run away while doing some other nonsense?”
“Are your eyes decorations? The passage is blocked like that, and the only way you can even go out is attached up there.”
I pointed toward the only entrance blocked by a pile of fallen rocks and the pit that used to supply water flowing to the waterfall.
“Stop chirping and go down first.”
Ratel gestured with his chin toward the bottom of the cliff as if he wouldn't listen to any more words.
I, who was about to obediently go down just as he said, faltered at a question that came to mind and looked at that guy again.
“But why do I go down first?”
“If you're going to fall, don't fall on top of me but fall by yourself.”
That was truly……, a reason that was both rational and rude.
“Don't worry. Even if I slip, I'll grab and hang onto your ankles until the end.”
Having answered as if repaying the guy’s kindness, I lowered my body into the pit.
I almost slipped slightly because the way down was slippery, but fortunately, I didn't slide.
While I, who had protected my minimum pride, was descending slowly for a bit, soon the sound of Ratel following me down from above was heard.
“I'm telling you this out of concern, but if you do something stupid with the thought of playing a trick on me by any chance……”
“Why? Do you think I'll kick you and make you fall?”
A voice mixed with ridicule fell over my head.
“That would be a nasty thing to do.”
Of course, in terms of putting the only person who can guide him in danger, it’s also a stupid thing to do.
“Keep in mind what I said before. Don't do anything foolish until I ask to be saved.”
This time, even the sound of ridicule wasn't heard, but I counted the answer as having been heard.
Since we happened to arrive at the destination too.
In the darkness, my leg stepped into midair.
When I listened closely, a rough and regular breathing came up from below.
The damp breath touching my tiptoes was a bonus.
Seeing as how he doesn't grab and pull despite a human leg dangling in front of his eyes, it seems certain that he’s unconscious too.
I lowered my body just like that and hung onto the edge of the cave’s entrance.
Thanks to my eyes getting used to the darkness, I could tell that a blurred form was filling the inside of the cave.
Along with the fact that the face of the thing, which was noticeably larger than other Orcs, was closer than expected.
I was a bit surprised, but I soon came to my senses.
Because if I left him like this, other Orcs would swarm in.
I was able to land inside the cave by using the recoil from swinging my hanging body back and forth.
It’s just that other humans are monster-like strong, but if you look at it like this, the 7th Prince’s body is also quite sturdy.
“You managed not to fall.”
Behind me, who had successfully entered inside without landing on my butt, Ratel, who had elegantly placed two feet on the floor, murmured so I could hear it all.
“Consider it a relief that your pant legs are safe.”
Having snapped back once, I stood up.
And I could finally confirm the culprit who caused the first step of the holy object's destruction to go awry.
Even with blurred vision because of the darkness, I could tell at a glance that the guy’s condition was strange somewhere.
“One hand is missing.”
Ratel, who had approached my side before I knew it, confirmed for me that my eyes weren't wrong.
Just as he said, the part below the right elbow of the giant Orc, who was sleeping as if dead, was missing.
The missing hand pulled back past memories like the opposite pole of a stimulus.
The green hand that Ria had fished up.
The owner of the green hand that Ratel had turned into pieces of meat was before our eyes.