527 – The Hound That Caught The Wolf
Orcma had once conquered Oberon. However, they eventually collapsed after failing to deal with various problems in a timely manner. Orcma seemed to be falling apart as it was.
However, Grull’s existence brought the pig-kin together. He negotiated with Saphien, absorbed Orcma’s organization as it was, and used its organizational power for the war against the Wolf King.
Grull is a strong man who is reasonable and at the same time the glory of the pig-kin. Not only Orcma, but also ordinary pig-kin who had nothing to do with Orcma admired him. Even Oberon’s officials and various powerful people had no choice but to follow Grull because he was the only one who could protect them.
Grull found Urkpeng. Urkpeng, who had led the mercenaries and marched with the Beast Paw warriors, was struggling with exhaustion from the strenuous march. Grull approached him, ignoring his exhausted appearance.
“Urkpeng! You’ve worked hard fighting the wolves with us, but I need you to work a little more!”
“Hoo, hoo. No, Mr. Grull. It was an honor to fight with you, Mr. Grull!”
“You’re the most talented person I’ve ever taught. No one could have taught you. I’m so relieved to have an orc like you.”
“No… no…! Ugh. Really… I’m honored…!”
Urkpeng, overwhelmed with emotion, cleared his throat and began to clear the rocks.
People think of Grull as a violent savage, but he could not be called the Great Chief of the Beast Paw simply by force. Grull was also excellent at handling people.
Sometimes he praised them, and sometimes he scolded them. The pig-kin worked tirelessly as he held the leash and coaxed and soothed them.
“I hear a voice in here! Everyone! Gather here!”
“One, two, three!”
There are many pig-kin. And the number of heads is a bully in itself. Numerous pig-kin carried stones, searched for people by smell, cleared debris, and rescued buried people.
“I’m alive! Thank you for saving me….”
“…Get out.”
The Oberon watchdogs, who had been trapped in the darkness for hours, felt a grudging gratitude as they looked at the pig-kin who had rescued them. Just as Grull had hoped.
The outside unites the inside. Even if the grudge remains, the memory of meeting on the battlefield will remain.
“Orcma and the pig-kin are mixed enough. Now it will be difficult to easily distinguish who is Orcma and who is pig-kin.”
Grull always observes the situation and considers the next move while acting. Grull’s appearance resembled that of a businessman rather than a warrior. Grull, who was looking for something more he needed, found workers groaning in front of a large rock.
“Okay. Then I’ll add some color.”
Grull began to clear the debris, loosening his sore shoulders.
In the meantime, he found a pig-kin boy that he seemed to have seen somewhere. It was the boy he had met at the dump when he first came to Ende.
It was said that supporters of all ages and genders were accepted in preparation for the fight against the wolves, but he never thought they would bring a boy from the slums like him. Grull approached the boy.
“Hey.”
“Yes? Ah, Mr. Grull….”
The boy who was rolling the rock was at a loss when he found Grull. Grull checked the boy’s appearance. Judging from the quilted leather armor and the spear he was holding, it was clear that he had been brought in as a soldier.
“Who brought you to the battlefield?”
He was a boy who had been trying to survive in the slums. He would never have come out unless someone had forcibly conscripted him. Grull, who thought so, asked the boy, but the boy answered, avoiding his gaze.
“I, I volunteered.”
“I see. Who told you to answer that way?”
“Really. I went to fight on my own. Orcma asked me to fight for the pig-kin.”
“Orcma?”
“Yes. Orcma… gave me meat.”
The boy’s face turned red at the thought that he had fallen for something like meat. Grull waited for the boy to speak without saying anything. The boy continued with difficulty.”I’ve never had anything like this since I was born… and they said if things go well, my family can taste it too. So I followed you.”
“You refused my offer. Are you saying you’ve risked your life for some meat? And you believed the promise of an Orcma?”
“…Yes.”
If the boy had been brave, he would have accepted Grull’s offer. If the boy had been wise, he would not have participated in this battle.
However, the boy was neither brave nor wise. He had been tempted by some meat and a promise made by an Orcma.
But how could he blame or laugh at the boy? A pig-man, no, a boy from a slum at this age, could not help but be foolish and impulsive.
Not everyone can be strong like Grull. Not everyone can afford to observe with a wide view.
However, it didn’t take many reasons for the boy to stand up with a weapon.
“You will get what you want. I promise.”
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Grull patted the boy’s shoulder hard and stood up. His heart was originally as hard as a rock, but it became even harder after meeting the boy.
Sapien approached Grull with such a story.
“Grull. I have something to say.”
“Tell me.”
“It’s about Orcma. It seems like you’re trying to make their crimes disappear by giving them credit.”
“So?”
He doesn’t deny it. He asks what to do because what you think is correct. Sapien also realized his intentions and spoke bluntly.
“Impossible. They have violated not only the rules of Ende, but also the laws of the principality. You can’t just let it go as if they had done nothing but follow their duty.”
“Me?”
“You are an outsider, not a citizen of Ende. The same rules cannot be applied. You also have the merit of defeating the wolf king.”
“Then you banish the Orcma. I’ll take care of it.”
Sapien shook his head at the suggestion of lumping together good and bad.
“Everyone in the world knows that it’s a trick. If you want to resolve it amicably, choose a few of the Orcma leadership.”
“To kill?”
“I’ll try not to.”
“You’re going to hand them over to the principality. You’re saying you caught the leaders of the rebels.”
“…”
Trying means that even Sapien, a public figure in Ende, cannot intervene. In other words, it meant handing it over to the principality. Grull chuckled.
“Tell them you tried to catch them. The principality is not so incompetent as to force you to do something beyond your ability.”
“Everyone knows that we worked with you. We can’t solve it with words.”
Politics is a fight for legitimacy. Grull understood that. However, Grull intended to carry the pig-man.
Grull relaxed his muscles and raised his body.
“Then show it with action. Let’s fight. I’ll only beat you enough so that you don’t die. The principality will understand that much.”
Fighting spirit bursts out from Grull’s whole body. Sapien, realizing that he was serious, stepped back.
“Are you going to fight the principality? Are you going to make all the credit you earned from fighting the wolves in vain?”
“It’s not in vain. I proved it.”
“What?”
Grull muttered to Sapien, who was speechless, recalling the past.
“We proved that we can go further.”
Grull was originally from Ende. Like other Orcs, he grew up scavenging through the dump.
However, what set him apart from other Orcs was that he struggled to escape his situation.
To the southeast of the Enger Plains, in the land of the former Man Kingdom, the treasures of the fallen nation lie dormant. Adventurers seeking treasure passed through Ende to the ruins of the Man Kingdom. Despite the harsh environment, dangerous beasts, and the evil remnants of the fallen kingdom, it was also a land of opportunity where all kinds of elixirs and treasures were hidden.Grull decided to use his position as a pigman to his advantage. He made contact with the pigmen of the Beast faction, descendants of the old orcs who roamed the plains, and gained their trust. Ende, which bordered civilization, was a land of both curiosity and envy for them. He acted as a mediator, providing information about Ende and introducing connections.
And he helped adventurers by using the Beast faction as guides. Adventurers who arrived in Ende and searched for guides step by step were guaranteed a much safer adventure with the guidance of the local nomadic tribes. Grull and the tribe he belonged to had changed so much from their original appearance that they were often attacked, but they flourished greatly with Grull at the center. After all the other candidates for chieftain were killed or fled, Grull eventually became the chieftain.
He learned martial arts from adventurers and took elixirs obtained from the ruins of the kingdom. He overcame numerous dangers and made them his own with greed, and eventually came to his senses.
However, after the wolf pack gained power on the Enger Plains, business was cut off and he was forced to flee.
“The glory of the pigman. It’s a funny thing to say, but I thought of myself as glorious. That’s why I used to be disappointed in my fellow tribesmen who couldn’t seize opportunities like me. But I decided to think a little differently when I came here.”
“What?”
“I’ll be their opportunity.”
Then he won’t be as stupid as Orkma. Then he can do it instead of Orkma.
Grull declared confidently… Sapien replied with a darkened face.
“Grull. Have you ever failed?”
“I can’t think of anything.”
“I thought so. But remember. Fate doesn’t always smile on you.”
Sapien’s abilities may be inferior to Grull’s. That’s why Sapien learned resignation much faster than Grull. Sadly, Sapien was far superior to Grull in knowing his place.
“Because absurdity can come at any time.”
“General Oho? Who?”
Trust supports the top of the Guardians. The top row does not lie. Although it is the basic of business to deceive others, those who faithfully kept that basic all disappeared like flames. Only the seven tops that shone brightly like the Big Dipper in the sky kept their places.
“General Black Tiger, Marquis Raphaeno of the Charcoal Sword. The Black Tiger Army and the Royal Mercenaries he leads. The exact number and record are confidential and cannot be disclosed under the contract.”
“Raphaeno…? The one who uses the rapier? Why him?”
“The military purpose cannot be disclosed under the contract.”
The Moore line answered briefly. But knowing that you can’t reveal it means you know it. The regressor could guess to some extent.
“It must be because of the wolf king. From the standpoint of the vassal state, I’m not sure if Ende can handle it properly. If they called the Royal Mercenaries, it must have been urgent.”
‘When the rebellion broke out last time, they didn’t even bother with Ende. It seems that they had some leeway because it was before the rebellion broke out. We caught the wolf king ourselves.’
Anyway, if the wolf king wins, there is a high possibility that he will threaten the vassal state. Then it is better to send troops to defeat the wolf king before Ende completely collapses. It was a very reasonable and normal guess.
However, the Moore line said nothing.
The world doesn’t seem to be that reasonable and normal.
“Your status is guaranteed by the Purple Top. However, please be aware that the execution of the contract may be slightly delayed depending on the judgment of General Oho.”
“I see. But did you come here to say that?”
The Moore line did not answer and turned the bracelet on his wrist. At that moment, the wind blew from somewhere, and the cloak spread like a sail and moved with the wind. The Moore line flew over the ground like a swallow.
“It’s a wind sail. You’re wearing something expensive.”
“Because it’s a line of purple tops. There must be many things more expensive than that. Rather, Marquis Raphaeno…”
“Do you know him?””He’s a master who’s known for his strategy. I know a little about him. The coal-black swordsman, Raphaeno. He won the Colosseum’s Hundred Battles, earned the title of Dueling Master, and is famous for mastering all twenty-four moves of the Vulcan Combat Manual.”
He must be a great person. He’s a strategist and a general of a duchy at the same time. Everyone knows that.
“What about his personality and character?”
The Regressor rested his chin on his hand and thought for a long time before speaking.
“Um… arrogant? But that’s true for other masters as well.”
“Aha. So he’s particularly arrogant among arrogant masters.”
“Is that so? But he’s a general, isn’t he? There shouldn’t be any problems because of his personality… right?”
The Regressor’s words lacked conviction, probably because he had seen many people make mistakes because of their personalities. Of course, that included himself.
“Hmm. I’m not sure.”
“Something like that…?”
The Regressor was like a beast in a good way. He was a bit of an idiot, but it meant that he judged situations with his instincts rather than his reason.
The fact that Haengsu had come for no reason and that Marquis Raphaeno had advanced into Ender at a suspicious time. The Regressor felt a strange sense of unease.
And the Regressor’s instincts were right.
According to the information he had obtained by reading Haengsu’s thoughts, Marquis Raphaeno had not come to help Ender….
The era of fighting wars with numbers is over. A single master strategist can easily take on a hundred opponents. However, it would be foolish to throw a master into a siege by a hundred men. Reconnaissance, mobility, supply, siege, etc. It is common war doctrine to move with fast and functional units that support the central force.
Marquis Raphaeno’s unit was also following that doctrine faithfully.
The cavalrymen, all of whom had mastered the art of qi, could ride for three days and nights without tiring, and the royal magic unit could perfectly supply and manage even with a small number of personnel. If you add one wizard and one master to that, it would be a strategic force in itself.
Although it was hastily formed and the system was a bit sloppy, the power was still there. Marquis Raphaeno’s unit arrived in Ender as quickly as it was formed.
It was a bit late for the fight with the wolves, but that was a minor issue.
“Hmm. Is this Ender?”
A middle-aged man with a rugged face and a stylish mustache entered Ender. Hundreds of armed soldiers would have caused a commotion in the city, but now that many of the citizens had left to prepare for the fight with the wolves, there was hardly any reaction.
Marquis Raphaeno stroked the ends of his curled mustache and expressed his impressions.
“It’s as messy as the rumors say, but it’s not as noisy as the rumors say? hehehehe. Still, I have to find someone who can talk in this cesspool.”
Fortunately, news of Marquis Raphaeno’s arrival reached Obely. And in Obely, there were still public figures who had barely regained power.
Among them, the one who came out to greet Marquis Raphaeno was Erektus, the public figure of Ender. Erektus greeted the marquis at the city gate with a few attendants.
“It is an honor to meet Marquis Raphaeno, the shield that protects the duchy, the general of the Five Armies. I, the public figure Erektus, will greet you on behalf of all the citizens of Ender.”
“Ahem. Hmm.”
Marquis Raphaeno, who had been choosing his words for a moment, tapped his adjutant and asked.
“Who is that man? I don’t know much about the border relations.”
It is also necessary for the general’s aide to inform him of the power structure so that he does not commit any rudeness. The adjutant, who had studied Ender in advance, told Marquis Raphaeno.
“It’s Duke Erektus.”
“Duke? A duke in a city this size?”
“Strictly speaking, it’s a bit different from the usual duke. After Lord Enger ascended, leaving behind three descendants, the empire designated the Enger Plains as a border territory in honor of Lord Enger. Then, two hundred years later, when the Enger Plains were ceded to the duchy, some of them became part of the Lilac Duchy, but Ender remained a border territory. Therefore….”
“Ahem. That’s enough. You mean he’s a water duke? That’s why I hate the border. Even dogs and cows have the title of duke.”It was true, but he hadn’t studied to say it out loud. Especially using the expression “dog” or “cow” in Ende. The aide warned him in a slightly lower voice.
“Still, it is the land where Lord Enger planted his flag. Please be careful with your words and actions.”
“Aha, um.”
And the conversation between the two was heard by Duke Erektus.
Even though they could have talked through telepathy, they spoke out loud, which was a declaration that they would not be polite at all. It was almost a declaration of war, but who would dare to stop him?
Marquis Rafaeno didn’t care much about his rudeness.
“I heard the news on my way here. So, you took down the wolf king?”
“…According to the report, yes.”
“Hmm. Well, it’s a shame to be defeated by a mere herd of beasts and be called the king of all things! Oh, did beastmen live in this city? You did well for beastmen! I should praise you!”
“It was a result that everyone achieved together.”
“Oh, that’s right! I misspoke when I praised the beastmen! It’s the master who handled the beastmen well! hahahaha!”
He laughed as if it were a funny joke and then put his hand down.
“Well, whatever. That’s not important. If there are no wolves, let’s move on to the next item.”
“What do you mean by the next item?”
The Marquis finally smiled with a little interest and asked.
“Where is Grull?”