Chapter 166 : Chapter 166

Chapter 166: Tattling

If ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍we did not particularly want to kill them, that also meant there was no particular reason to stay here.

It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍meant neither Ratel nor I needed to spend any more time here.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍problem was that this damned river was only continuing to swell and did not seem to have any intention of letting us go.

What ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was even more troublesome was that the other party was not an existence one could hold a conversation with.

Threats ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and coaxing...... No, not being able to communicate was a headache.

Even ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍between those who could communicate, conversation went this far astray, so how could there possibly be any way to persuade some stagnant power?

As I looked down at the force of the water growing stronger, a sigh came out on its own.

Why can’t anything ever just be resolved quietly?

“Kkwek. The river is only swelling and doesn’t seem to have any intention of shrinking.”

“Wouldn’t it be enough to show that we’re no longer interested in the holy object he’s guarding?”

Ratel, who had no way of knowing about the voice only I could hear or the hidden past, said it as if it were no big deal.

I felt bad saying this to him, but simply revealing that we had no intention of destroying the holy object would not be enough.

There was probably only one reason the owner of the voice kept holding me here.

It wanted me to fulfill the contract Sierra Abalan had ruined.

But that was absurd.

I had not the slightest intention of paying off the debt of someone else’s ancestor whom I had never even spoken to.

“Kkwek. This is annoying, so how about we just run away?”

“I suppose everything we’ve done until now was just hide-and-seek.”

Ratel answered with a faint laugh.

“Kkwek. Yes, it was hide-and-seek.”

The game had gone on too long, so if we did not return soon, our guardian would get angry.

“Kkwek. You forced yourself into the game as you pleased from the beginning, so you’ll definitely be scolded a lot.”

“I’d hate that. Jing nags too much.”

“Kkwek. Still, if it’s Jing, he won’t hit you.”

At the answer mixed with laughter, I felt Ratel’s strange gaze.

“Kkwek. What matters right now is that the seeker has no intention of letting us go.”

I quickly changed the subject.

Ratel looked at me for a moment, then soon obediently followed my blatant change of topic.

“Then wouldn’t it be solved if we got rid of the seeker?”

The content was a little brutal compared to the kind intention.

“......Kkwek. How about handing the game over to someone else entirely?”

“Who else would play this beggar-like game?”

I gestured with my eyes toward the half-wit, who was diligently rolling his eyes to follow the conversation between Ratel and me.

“Kkwek. Fortunately, I found out that Sierra’s power doesn’t only act on us.”

“What does that mean? Are you saying some other Imperial Family member sneaked in here?”

Ratel’s eyes flashed sharply.

“Kkwek. No. If that were the case, I would’ve dragged them here at once.”

If there had been something that useful, I would have used it long ago.

“Kkwek. Sierra’s power seems to act on the half-wit too. Kkwek. Judging by how desperate it is to sink him in water, it might even be a little more favorable to him than to you or me.”

“What reason would the Emperor’s power have to favor the half-wit?”

“Kkwek. How would I know that? Kkwek. That’s what the half-wit said, according to him.”

Well, the bastard probably would not remember what he had said himself.

“Kkwek. If the thing helping him avoid the leader’s eyes every time is Sierra’s power, then we can use that too. Kkwek. If the power is acting, that means energy is being used somehow.”

In other words, it also meant Sierra’s power would be dispersed to some extent.

“You mean we can use that opening to get out?”

“Kkwek. Yes.”

As if he found my assertion hard to believe, Ratel furrowed his brow.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Kkwek. Because I saw it with my own eyes.”

It was a fact I had just confirmed, without any room for distortion of memory to interfere.

“Kkwek. That bastard definitely pulled me up as if it were nothing.”

When I was being dragged down by Sierra’s power, the half-wit had pulled me onto land with one hand.

As if he could not even feel the force trying to sink me into the water.

***

For reasons I did not know, the half-wit was affected by Sierra’s power.

No, should I say they affected each other?

At any rate, it was certain that the remaining power was favorable to him.

At least, he was probably better than Ran Abalan, the descendant it charged at while telling him to pay his ancestor’s debt.

The bastard seemed to have used this power mainly to secretly follow the leader around.

Whatever the case, if the river water prioritized the half-wit more than me, then all we had to do was use that.

***

The half-wit tilted his head with a puzzled face at Ratel’s sudden change, as his attack posture fell apart.

When we fully finished preparing to leave, that confusion soon turned into surprise.

“Kkwek. Wh-what are you doing?”

The bastard, who had briefly forgotten his fear out of curiosity, took one step forward and asked.

“Get lost. I have no business with you anymore.”

Ratel said, not losing his sharpness despite going through the trouble of sparing them.

“Kkwek. Y-you’re not going to k-kill us?”

“Kkwek. You’re not needed anymore. Kkwek. We’re planning to leave you be. Kkwek. For now.”

The half-wit’s eyes widened.

“Kkwek. Do whatever you want. Kkwek. Whether you kill that leader, keep him alive, or run away again this time.”

When I confirmed once more that he could preserve his life, color gradually began to return to the half-wit’s blank face.

But the corners of the half-wit’s mouth, which had been revealing relief and joy, soon bent downward again.

“K-kwek. Why d-did you change your mind? Kkwek. You said you were going to live here.”

Forcing myself to ignore the way one of Ratel’s eyebrows rose at the bastard’s tactless confession, I answered this blabbermouth.

“Kkwek. The plan changed.”

“Kkwek!! Why? Kkwek! J-just live here!”

“Kkwek. I can’t. Kkwek. Something I have to do came up.”

Perhaps he still did not understand the simple answer, because the bastard frowned.

But I had no intention of asking for his permission or understanding.

“Kkwek. What do you want to do? Kkwek. Do you want to keep following that leader around?”

At my question, the simple orc bastard quickly forgot his regret and turned his gaze toward the leader.

“......Kkwek. I d-don’t want to see him get eaten by o-other bastards.”

The bastard spoke haltingly with a confused face.

His expression said he did not understand himself either.

“Kkwek. Then you’ll have to protect him so he doesn’t get eaten.”

“Kkweeeek. I w-will. Kkwek. If the l-leader doesn’t get angry.”

The bastard muttered with a face full of worry.

Since a bastard with a simple thought process was thinking too much, he only looked even stranger.

“Kkwek. If you were scared of being scolded, then you shouldn’t have lied from the beginning.”

This time too, a stinging gaze struck the side of my face.

“......Kkwek. But the way the world works doesn’t always flow according to correct arguments. Kkwek. There are also such things as white lies.”

In my subtle self-defense, Ratel’s eyes narrowed.

Before the bastard’s sarcasm could begin, I quickly placed a final farewell gift in the half-wit’s hand.

“Kkwek. Wh-what is this?”

The half-wit asked, lifting the pouch I had handed him and looking it over this way and that.

“Kkwek. A final gift. Kkwek. With this, you should be able to put the leader to sleep for a while.”

I answered while instinctively stopping the bastard, who was about to open the pouch and shove his nose into it.

“Kkwek. Th-the leader is already sleeping.”

“Kkwek. You’ll need it when you put him to sleep again.”

After answering roughly, I passed the still-confused half-wit and approached the unconscious leader.

Then I kicked the leader’s leg once.

“Kkwek!!”

The leader, startled awake, opened his eyes wide, and upon finding me, immediately sat up.

The bastard’s face twisted like a rotten, crumbling apple when he saw me.

“Kkwek!! If you lay a hand on my body one more time, I won’t let you off!”

Perhaps he was furious that he had lost consciousness twice today by my hand, because the bastard shouted venomously.

“Kkwek. It wasn’t my hand. It was my foot.”

“Kkwek!! Do I look like I’m joking?!”

The leader screeched.

It was a chilly joke even by my standards, but still, was there any need to get that angry?

At any rate, if he disliked jokes, I did not mind getting straight to the point.

“Kkwek. Hey......”

“Kkwek!! I’m not listening to you anymore!! Kkwek. Do you think I don’t know everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie?!!”

I had not even brought up a proper topic yet, but the bastard shook his head hard, as if he did not want to listen.

Thinking that the mental ages of the half-wit and the leader might be similar, I waited for the bastard’s meaningless struggle to stop.

Moreover, unfortunately for the leader, among those gathered here, there was no one with the character to indulge someone else’s childish tantrum.

As expected, the leader’s movements gradually slowed as he wore himself out.

What remained with the silence was only the gaze of the other four turned toward the bastard.

It seemed the bastard himself had belatedly realized that his resistance just now had been quite pathetic.

Shame appeared on the leader’s face.

“Kkwek. There’s no need to be too embarrassed. Kkwek. There are so many things in this world to feel awkward about.”

“Kkwek!! Shut up!!”

Even though I had gone through the trouble of offering comfort, the leader yelled back instead.

Well, he was embarrassed right now, so it was possible this kind of comfort would not reach his ears.

Considering the bastard’s position, I decided to step on the accelerator of consideration once more.

“Kkwek. I mean it. Kkwek. I already know you watched humans every day until your eyes wore out, so something like this isn’t really worth being embarrassed about.”

This time, the comfort was quite effective.

The blood slowly drained from the leader’s face, turning it pale.

“K-kwek......! How did you know that......!”

As the bastard even stammered while asking how his secret had been exposed, I subtly gestured with my eyes.

Following it, the bastard turned his head, and at the end of his gaze was the half-wit, who was looking at me with a face mixed with betrayal, despair, and resentment.

The half-wit himself did not notice, but that expression seemed to give the leader some kind of certainty.

Fire rose in the leader’s eyes.

“Kkwek!! You secretly followed me? Kkwek. Since when have you been deceiving me like that?”

At the cold question, the half-wit did not rashly open his mouth.

Thanks to that, I ended up participating in the awkward silence between the two of them, and I shrugged at the half-wit’s resentful gaze glaring at me.

“Kkwek......!”

In the end, the first to break the taut tension was the half-wit.

The horrified bastard began running with Oaks grass in one hand before anyone could stop him.

The leader’s face, which had been staring blankly at his back, gradually turned dark green.

“Kkwek!! You damned bastard!!!”

The bastard, who came to his senses one step late, also began chasing after the half-wit.

The leader’s back as he ran off with the force of someone about to kill the bastard looked more energetic than ever.

It even seemed as if he had more energy than when he charged at me saying he would kill me.

“What happens if the half-wit gets caught like that?”

Ratel, who had been watching the two play hide-and-seek with me, asked as if the thought had suddenly occurred to him.

Well, as long as Sierra’s power helped him, that would not happen.

“Kkwek. That’s why I gave him a gift. Kkwek. I gave him every last bit of the remaining Oaks grass, so he should be able to knock him out for a while.”

While we chatted, the two orcs moved away in an instant, until they could no longer be seen.

I had wanted to resolve this as quietly as possible, without the leader bastard pushing himself too far, but judging by how much he could run, it seemed there was no need to worry anymore.

After confirming that the bastards’ scents were growing distant, I turned my body with a lightened heart.

“Kkwek. Shall we get going now?”

When I looked down below, I saw the waterway, whose current had noticeably slowed.

We had to leave quickly.

Before the waterway recognized my and Ratel’s existence again.