Chapter 132: Going Back Home
Everything has an end and a beginning, or a beginning and an end... You know, never mind. Just know that the coronation of the pink-haired, beautiful orc king and the gigantic orc queen was over.
And with it came the next journey. Going back home. No matter how good it sounded that they were now royalty, they still had a place to go back to. Besides, they couldn’t just go missing for hours or maybe days... no one even knew how much time they’d spent in Gorgath.
Plus, Silas was overwhelmed by how quickly everything was moving. He needed time, space, and everything necessary to gather his thoughts, and Gorgath was the last place he would need for that. The orcs and other races here were highly intelligent. No doubt.
But their world was gray. In the sense that every single person here was ugly! No offense, but for example, the beast tribes. They weren’t beast-kin. There’s a difference.
Beast-kin were much more human, with animal features like ears, tails, and eyes. The beast tribes, on the other hand, were actual monsters that had gained a humanoid form, but still retained everything monstrous about them.
But at least, they looked a bit better than the ogres and goblins. Those creatures were the worst, especially the ogres with huge and wide noses that seemed to create a massive vacuum around them. Standing beside them was like standing on Mars. There was no fucking oxygen around.
They took in everything!
Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
The whole point is...
"We are returning."
Silas, who was still seated on Gromda’s shoulder, suddenly spoke. The sun was almost setting, and it was getting late. Anna would be worried. No. She was worried. He could feel it. It seems a lot had changed in him ever since he got here, but now wasn’t the time to check everything.
He needed to get back.
"My King..." The orc elder from before, who happened to be the head of the tribal alliances, Gorda, started, but Silas cut him short.
"I know what you want to say, but don’t worry. We are not abandoning you. As a matter of fact, we can come and go as we please."
"H-How?" Gorda asked, remembering how they’d first appeared.
"Well..."
Silas stretched out his palm and selected Earth from the World Catalogue. It had been recorded as [Home World] in it. As he selected it, pink light burst from his hands. This wasn’t exactly necessary, but you know, sometimes, you must show off to make something believable.
I know you get me.
Silas smiled as pink light gathered in his palm, glowed brightly, and expanded. Runes formed one after another, revolving around his hand like miniature stars before connecting into an enormous magic circle suspended in the air. The circle spun slowly, emitting a gentle hum that resonated throughout the valley.
The countless gathered races instinctively took a step back.
The mana released by the portal wasn’t violent. It was... orderly, as though it had existed long before the worlds themselves. Silas casually tapped the center of the circle, and the space before everyone fractured like glass.
A vertical line of pink light appeared and spread, allowing a massive pinkish-violet portal to unfold before the gathered tribes. Unlike the unstable green rifts that invaded Earth, this portal was serene, stable, and beautiful.
Within it, everyone could clearly see another world. Towering buildings, bright blue skies, roads filled with strange metallic vehicles, electric lights... It was another civilization entirely.
Thousands of gasps echoed across the valley.
"Another world..."
"The King’s homeland..."
"The Sky Realm..."
Some goblins immediately prostrated themselves. Several ogres simply stood frozen, while the Beast Tribe leaders stared with wide eyes. Silas folded his arms with a satisfied nod.
"See? I wasn’t joking. We really can come and go whenever we want."
Gorda slowly approached the portal, stopping only a few meters away.
His old eyes reflected the unfamiliar world beyond.
"Magnificent..."
Silas nodded.
"My home. And one day..." He looked toward everyone. "Perhaps all our worlds will know each other."
The words alone filled many with excitement, and Silas truly meant it. Some of the younger orcs looked ready to volunteer immediately, but he quickly raised a hand.
"Not yet. We’ve only just met. Gorgath has been divided for generations. Some wounds still need healing."
His expression became serious.
"I won’t rule over a kingdom constantly at war with itself."
The enormous valley fell silent. Silas slowly scanned the gathered tribes.
"You all have something in common. You all call Gorgath home. So stop destroying your own home."
No one spoke. Silas continued.
"Strength isn’t proven by crushing your neighbor. It is proven by protecting what belongs to everyone."
He pointed toward the distant mountains.
"The monsters beyond your borders. The beasts that threaten your children. The disasters that strike your villages. Fight those, not each other."
Several elders slowly lowered their heads, while many warriors looked ashamed. Gorda stepped forward first.
"My King..." He knelt. "The Tribal Alliance hears and obeys."
One after another, the tribal leaders followed.
"We obey."
Silas smiled. "Good. Now... I have one more thing."
He walked toward Gorda, and the elderly orc immediately bowed deeper.
"You’ve been leading everyone long before I arrived. You know the tribes, the customs, and this world."
Silas placed a hand on the old orc’s shoulder... with support from Gromda. Gorda was huge, you know...
"Therefore, I appoint you... Grand Advisor of the Kingdom of Gorgath."
A notification appeared before Silas alone.
[Royal Authority Exercised.]
[Position Created: Grand Advisor]
The system immediately projected another screen. Silas glanced over it before speaking.
"My authority and Queen Gromda’s authority remain absolute, but while we are away..." He smiled. "...you will govern in our name."
Gorda’s entire body trembled.
"My... King..." Tears rolled down the old orc’s face. "I... accept."
Silas helped him to his feet.
"I know you will."
He then turned toward the gathered leaders. "This kingdom will require more than one person."
His eyes moved from tribe to tribe while the system projected clues and descriptions for him.
"The Ashfang Tribe."
A towering warrior stepped forward.
"I appoint your Chief as Minister of Defense."
The warrior struck his chest.
"I accept!"
"The Ironhide Dominion."
A broad, soot-covered blacksmith stepped forward.
"You shall oversee all forging, construction, and industry."
"Minister of Industry."
He grinned broadly.
"My hammers serve the Crown!"
"The Stormtusk Clan."
A woman carrying two lightning axes stepped forward.
"You will oversee communications between tribes and rapid-response forces."
"Minister of Sky Defense."
She saluted immediately.
"The Bloodmoon Legion."
Their scar-covered commander knelt.
"You will command the elite royal legions whenever called."
He bowed deeply.
"It shall be done."
"The Earthbreaker Confederacy."
The gigantic chief smiled.
"You shall oversee roads, fortresses, cities, and all major construction."
The giant laughed.
"We build!"
Silas nodded. "Good."
He continued.
"The Goblin Clans."
A surprisingly well-dressed goblin nervously approached.
"You will oversee trade."
The goblin nearly fainted. "M-Me?"
"Yes. You people negotiate better than anyone."
The goblin puffed out his chest proudly.
"We absolutely do!"
Laughter spread through the crowd. Silas then looked toward the Beast Tribes.
"You will oversee forests, wildlife, and relations among the races."
The Beast Chief nodded respectfully.
"We accept."
One after another, positions were filled by what each race naturally excelled at. By the time he finished, the foundation of an actual government had already taken shape, and even the system seemed impressed, though it was the one helping him out.
[Kingdom Framework Established.]
[Political Stability Increased.]
[Future Expansion Available.]
Silas secretly sighed.
’Why does this feel like I’m playing a kingdom-building game?’
[Because you are.]
’...’
He turned toward Gromda. The Runic Jotun Queen had remained unusually quiet. She looked at the portal, then at herself.
"Too big."
She raised one enormous hand and smiled at Silas.
"Watch."
The crimson runes covering her body suddenly lit up. A deep rumble echoed throughout the valley, and her gigantic body began shrinking, till it was back to her seven-foot-tall body.
Her long white hair reached past her waist, while the crimson runic markings remained beautifully engraved across her arms, shoulders, back, neck, and legs, glowing faintly beneath her skin.
Her features hadn’t become any less regal. If anything, she looked even more imposing.
"Better."
"That’s convenient..." Silas commented.
Gromda smiled proudly.
Alpha slowly nodded. "I’ve officially accepted that nothing surprises me anymore."
Chloe just smiled lightly.
Gromda immediately leaned closer. "...Carry?"
Silas laughed. "I don’t think I can anymore."
"Maybe later." She pouted.
The atmosphere became much lighter. Silas finally turned toward everyone.
"We’ll return. I don’t know when, but we will. So until then..."
He smiled.
"Take care of Gorgath."
Thousands of fists struck thousands of chests simultaneously. The resulting thunder echoed across the mountains.
"LONG LIVE THE KING!"
"LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!"
"LONG LIVE GORGATH!"
Silas scratched his ear.
"They’re loud."
"Very," Chloe agreed.
Alpha sighed. "I’ll be hearing this in my dreams."
Silas laughed before stepping toward the portal.
"Come on."
One after another, they entered. Gromda ducked slightly before stepping through. Silas remained behind for one final moment. He looked back, and an entire world... an entire kingdom, looked back at him.
For some reason, it didn’t feel overwhelming anymore. It simply felt... right.
He smiled. "See you soon."
Then he stepped through. The portal shimmered brilliantly before slowly closing.