Ch. 42 - We Are of One Mind
To be honest, when she saw her incompetent subordinate about to cleave that human along with that annoying old goblin in half with a single axe strike.
Shivana felt somewhat expectant.
The [Fierce Roar] tribe had always been a hodgepodge of orcs, goblins, and giants.
What they revered wasn't a bloodline.
But 'strength.'
This was the creed of many orc tribes.
Whether orc, goblin, or whatever species—as long as you could demonstrate your value and prove your power, the tribe had reason to accept you.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have let her, a mixed-blood, fight her way to the chieftain's position.
But Babaya, this old prophet of goblin lineage, commanded far more prestige than she, the new chieftain.
This wasn't merely because the old prophet was the tribe's only spellcaster, able to hear 'divine guidance.'
And the tribe had always revered such faith.
It was also because she herself was a female who should have been taken to the 'pig cage' for breeding purposes.
Now that she'd become leader, she faced the jealous hatred of some old bastards.
Of course, it was also inseparable from the fact that she'd agreed to that deal.
To escape the black fog in the south, they'd used the great teleportation array to lead the entire tribe in migrating to this forest, deciding to head for that small town.
Since then, the tribe hadn't been able to conduct any raids for two months.
All the tribe members were holding back their anger, thinking only of reaching that town and unleashing their thirst for slaughter and hunger together.
This had given that old prophet the opportunity to spread her bewitching words.
She'd repeatedly volunteered to take the vanguard.
Leading a group of advance troops, she'd raided some humans in the forest, earning considerable affection.
Now many tribe members had begun to feel disappointed with her brief rule, secretly following Babaya's orders.
It was just this time, encountering a tough opponent, that the old prophet had capsized in the gutter.
If she could just die like this on the migration journey, it would be perfect for Shivana.
But this thought could only remain a thought.
Babaya was, after all, the prophet who heard the 'divine oracle.'
If the tribe members learned she'd stood by and done nothing, the entire [Fierce Roar] tribe would split apart during the migration.
Thinking of this, Shivana even felt somewhat resentful.
Why hadn't this human directly slit the old goblin's throat?
"Let her go, and I'll leave you a complete corpse."
Though he'd detected some intrigue.
This didn't help Tang Qi escape.
Compared to whatever 'conspiracy' among the ruling class, he still needed to preserve his life first.
Gripping the curved blade that had pierced through the warlock, not pulling it out simply because it could plug the wound and prevent her from dying of excessive blood loss.
Tang Qi spoke plainly: "I won't kill her. You let us leave."
This giant axe blocking the orc must have come from the one before him.
This meant the goblin in his hand was critically important to her.
He had to make good use of this card in his hand.
"Kill if you're going to kill—I just can't stand you humans and all your damn talk!
If I really let you kill her, would you dare?"
Shivana wasn't like those stupid orcs under her command.
She understood perfectly well what this human was planning.
"Fine. Then I'll do as you say."
Tang Qi gritted his teeth and simply pulled out the curved blade, then stabbed it into her left abdomen again.
Just as he was about to pull it out and stab a third time, the old goblin being strangled couldn't take it anymore and wailed, tearing at her throat:
"Stop, stop! Foolish children, open your eyes wide and look at what your newly appointed chieftain is doing—
Shivana, the tribe members will remember how you treated me!"
Shivana knew these two stabs wouldn't kill this old goblin.
She could tell from the ghostly green glow attached to the wound on her waist and abdomen.
Her body was suffused with a necromantic aura that was lessening prophet’s injuries.
[False Life]—that spell seemed to be called something like that.
But she really fucking couldn't let this human keep stabbing:
"Fine, then a life for a life!"
She waved her large hand, having her orc subordinates push out a group of humans.
Explosivewolf and the merchant's master-servant pair had long since vanished.
These were several ordinary mercenaries who hadn't managed to escape and had been trapped.
Along with several adventurers who'd ventured into Dawnmist Forest and been captured.
They were bound together, whimpering in their throats, casting hopeful gazes toward Tang Qi, as if wanting to tell him 'we're all humans, we're family.'
"You, or them. At worst, add in the people in that town. Choose one—a life for a life!"
The town?
Tang Qi and Black Snake exchanged glances.
This orc tribe was heading for Starberry Town?
But regardless of their purpose, this seemingly fair trade wasn't safe.
The creed each orc adhered to varied.
This depended on differences between tribes.
'Conquest,' 'faith,' 'strength,' 'hatred'...
But there was decidedly no 'keeping promises.'
Tang Qi wouldn't gamble:
"Her one life for our three."
"Rua?"
Completely unexpected that this involved it too.
Kuru's eyes immediately moistened—
Actually, it was because the effect of the [Fear] spell earlier had scared it to tears.
But now, it didn't mind telling Tang Qi:
These were tears of emotion.
"Not worth it." Shivana shook her head.
She really fucking hated negotiating.
These cunning humans were never straightforward.
Tang Qi insisted:
"Whose life is more valuable—an ant's or an elephant's?"
"Neither is valuable."
"Whose life is more valuable—yours or mine?"
"Mine."
"A three-for-one trade is too one-sided,
Lives have always been divided into the high and the low;
The facts are right before your eyes,
You should consider my opinion."
Tang Qi sang softly, constantly watching the half-orc's expression—
He wasn't quite sure whether these fellows, renowned for their impetuousness and brutality, could be influenced by [Friendship] to calm down and be his friend for one minute.
Never mind any subsequent pursuit of this 'friend.'
One minute would be enough for them to escape into the forest.
Shivana's brow furrowed tightly.
She preferred passionate war cries and couldn't listen to these gentle melodies.
She liked to fight when disagreeing, unwilling to hear reason big or small.
But somehow, for that instant, she inexplicably saw a shadow of her father in this human—
"Shivana, the reason we slaughter and plunder has never been because of some primitive bestiality or some divine curse.
It's because we want to live, to live well.
Obsessing over strength is to live better; indulging desires is to live happily.
But those short-sighted ones won't understand—when disaster comes and we're no longer as prosperous as before.
To survive, we can only learn restraint, learn control..."
"Annoying old man, you're so irritating."
Shivana couldn't help but spit out.
Tang Qi froze.
Sure enough, in these orcs' eyes, the concept of 'friend' simply didn't exist?
If that was the case, with limited time, he could only...
Tang Qi exchanged glances with Black Snake and Kuru.
The latter two looked at each other, as if understanding something.
Seeing this, Tang Qi stepped forward.
Black Snake gripped his curved blade tightly.
Kuru started walking.
They were of one mind!
All three spoke simultaneously—
"I'm here to join you!"
"Where are you running?"
"Spare my life!"
"..."
The three of them stared at each other.
Black Snake was about to curse, but Tang Qi cut him off first:
"Your orc tribes should have a tradition of accepting the strong, right?
No matter what method you used to cross the Great Wall, now that you've penetrated deep into the Lord's Alliance's heartland, you're bound to face many threats.
Being able to capture this goblin spellcaster has already proven our abilities.
As a human, I can also help you familiarize yourself with the local geography."
Seeing one person and one dog—one with a determined gaze.
One holding a blade to face the enemy.
One simply kneeling directly on the ground, kowtowing vigorously.
Shivana had probably never imagined that her single-threaded brain would one day crash.
Indeed, no one could guess what these cunning humans were really thinking—
Tang Qi hadn't realized that his [Friendship] had succeeded.
So much so that the young chieftain actually began considering what use they might serve.
Most importantly, how to capitalize on Babaya's failure.