Chapter 171 : Chapter 171

Chapter 171: Bad News

Watching ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the half-wit’s body sway in the enemy’s grasp, the leader felt his blood run cold.

“Kkwek. ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I said come closer!”

At ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the half-formed orc’s bark, the leader ground his teeth and approached him.

Because ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he had seen the bastard’s blade graze the half-wit’s neck at that ignorant shout just now.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wound healed in an instant, but the blood left on the blade sharpened the leader’s nerves.

“Kkwek. ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Even if you kill that bastard, you won’t become leader anyway. Kkwek. Can’t you even think of that?”

“Kkwek. Even if I don’t kill him, you listen to me.”

The half-formed orc did not seem to have any intention of letting go of the bait he had gone through the trouble of obtaining.

And as if to prove his words, this time the blade sank deep into the half-wit’s neck.

“Kkwek!! Stop!!”

In the end, the leader lost his composure and shouted.

“Kkwek. Throw away your weapon too.”

The leader obediently followed that command.

Joy appeared on the half-formed orc’s face.

“Kkwek. You a-always called us stupid, but you’re no different.”

It was clear mockery, but the leader did not feel much from it.

It was not wrong either.

More than that, the bigger problem was the half-wit, who did not come to his senses even after suffering a large wound to his neck.

Why isn’t he waking up?

Could that bastard’s earlier blow have gone wrong?

Or......

“Kkwek!! What are you standing there stupidly for?!”

The leader, who had been staring blankly at the half-wit, suddenly raised his head.

When his eyes met those desire-glossed pupils, his mind somehow became clear.

Clear enough for another thought to slip into a head that had never thought of anything except killing the opponent every time.

“Kkwek. Why do you want to become a leader?”

At the leader’s question, the orc’s expression crumpled.

I know that expression well.

It was the expression of someone thinking he was hearing all kinds of nonsense.

“Kkwek. Obviously, because that’s what I have to do. Kkwek. Everyone wants to become a leader.”

At the dull answer, the leader nodded.

It was an ordinary answer. Nothing strange about it.

“Kkwek. Fine. Kkwek. If you want it, take it all you like. Kkwek. But let the half-wit go.”

At the leader’s offer, the corner of the orc’s mouth twisted unpleasantly as he gripped the half-wit’s neck.

“Kkwek. Fine. If you let yourself be eaten without resisting.”

A lie.

If I die, you intend to eat the half-wit too.

Otherwise, you won’t be able to fully seize the leader’s position.

The leader swallowed a bitter laugh and approached him.

It was fortunate the bastard was stupid.

Because he was a fool blinded by greed, unable to notice even his own shallow lie.

The leader obediently threw away his sword and approached the enemy, who had opened his mouth.

The orc, filled with joy, drew in a rough breath and charged at the leader.

The leader, with no strength or weapon remaining, rolled helplessly across the ground.

He had always been on the side that hunted, so being forced into the role of the hunted felt this filthy.

It was a fear and helplessness different from simply having his breath cut off.

Piercing through that displeasure, someone rose in the leader’s mind.

No, saying he remembered was not appropriate.

Because he remembered nothing that could identify the other party.

Personality, voice, not even a face came to mind. The one he had eaten was the previous leader.

It was not because of affectionate feelings toward the dead or guilt.

The leader was simply relieved.

There was no one left now who remembered the one who had once been eaten.

The leader was the only one who even recognized that the other’s existence itself had been separated from the world.

And even that was merely an inference gained through the empty place the dead leader had fallen away from, not the dead leader himself.

Perhaps he too would end up in the same position.

The leader felt quite relieved by that fact.

But the one who would make him that way was not this half-formed bastard.

The leader firmly grabbed the head of the orc trying to tear into his neck.

It was the moment the sharp teeth were about to sink into the leader’s neck.

“Kkwek!!”

A familiar cry came from behind.

Immediately after, the sound of metal cutting through flesh, between bone and flesh, brushed past his ears.

As the thick smell of blood spread and he felt the force pressing down on his body weaken, the leader quietly thought.

What kind of idiot deliberately makes such a loud noise right before a surprise attack?

Thinking he had to properly teach that idiot how to hunt before he died, the leader raised his body.

“K-kwek. Are y-you all right?”

The half-wit asked while examining the leader.

Yes, I knew you would have regained consciousness.

The bastard made a fuss over the smallest injury.

It would have been stranger if he had shown no reaction after his neck had been cut that deeply.

Just as the leader thought it was impressive that the bastard, who exaggerated even minor pain, had somehow avoided being discovered, the faint trembling of the half-wit’s hand entered his eyes.

The leader moved while pushing back the half-wit, who was circling around him with a face full of fear.

“Kkwek. This much is nothing.”

Answering as if it were no big deal, the leader slowly approached the half-formed orc rolling on the ground.

The bastard, whose neck had been pierced by the leader’s sword, swept murderous eyes over the leader and the half-wit.

“K-kwek! You damned......”

Calmly receiving the resentment mixed with the sound of bloody phlegm boiling, the leader gestured to the half-wit.

It meant for him to step back, and the half-wit obediently followed the leader’s command.

After confirming that the half-wit had moved far away, the leader quietly looked down at the orc.

Originally, perhaps this bastard would have been sufficient to become the next leader.

If the half-wit had not helped, he would have been helplessly eaten by this bastard.

“Kkwek. You did nothing wrong.”

The leader muttered in a mood and voice calmer than ever before.

“Kkwek. It’s just that this time, you were unlucky.”

The leader did not speak at length.

He reached out and seized the orc by the neck.

The leader, who had become a predator once more, opened his mouth, and his molars sank into the loser’s neck.

***

Wiping the blood from around his mouth, the leader crawled toward where the half-wit was.

Unable even to endure that much, the leader tilted his body as if lying down and turned his head toward the half-wit.

His beaten head spun, and there was no sensation in the arm he had strained beyond its limit while attacking the fallen bastard.

His body, which could no longer even withstand the recoil of his own attack, showed that there truly was not much time left.

The temptation to comfortably close his eyes and sink into sleep was strong, but there was still something he had to do.

The leader reached out toward the half-wit with difficulty.

“Kkwek. D-don’t move. Kkwek. Rest.”

Perhaps because he was still an orc and instinctively sensed the presence of death, the half-wit’s eyes trembled uneasily.

“Kkwek. You’re noisy. Kkwek. I know my own body. Kkwek. I can’t die yet anyway.”

There was something he still had to do.

To be precise, there was still something he had to pass on to the bastard.

It was more important than something lukewarm like a final goodbye.

“Kkwek. Listen carefully.”

“Kkwek! No! Kkwek! I w-won’t listen!”

Making the difficulty with which he had spoken meaningless, the half-wit denied him at once.

“Kkwek! You have to listen! Kkwek. There isn’t much time! Kkwek. I’m going to die soon, and then it’ll be too late!”

The leader, his temper flaring, screeched and tried to grab the half-wit.

With barely a span left, the leader’s hand suddenly stopped.

It was not because he had suddenly pitied the poor half-wit and changed his mind or anything like that.

It was because of the vibration of the ground he felt through the floor.

At the sound, different from the ground simply shaking, as if something massive were covering the earth, the leader hurriedly struggled to raise his body.

He had realized far too late that the source of the roar was the flood that had so terribly swept through the cave until now.

“K-kwek?”

The half-wit, equally flustered, looked around.

“Kkwek. You idiot, run away!”

The leader urgently shouted toward the half-wit, but it was too late.

By the time he finished speaking, the stream of water that had traveled along the floor had already surrounded the two of them.

It was not the leader’s fault that he noticed too late.

It was because the water moved differently than before.

Unlike when it had rushed in with the force to sweep everything away, the water approached the two orcs slowly and gently.

Then it lifted the two orcs onto itself as if lifting something fragile.

Flustered by that careful movement, the leader wriggled his body to escape it.

But as if it would not allow that much, the water increased its speed and began carrying the leader and the half-wit away.

Before the bizarre natural phenomenon, there was nothing the two orcs could do.

All they could do was hold tightly to each other and entrust their bodies to it.

***

As if mocking their anxiety, the place where the stream carried the leader and the half-wit was so familiar that it drained the strength from them.

It was the place where the leader had spent most of his life, the center of the burrow.

The nest where the two-pronged waterfalls met entered his eyes.

He had thought he would never return here again.

Well, perhaps meeting death in the place where he had been born would not be so bad either.

Seeing the burrow this quiet also reminded him of the day the half-wit had first been born.

How could he forget?

A bastard who did the stupid thing of being shoved by the others and falling below as soon as he was born.

That idiot, as if something had made him happy, was wandering around as if he had come out on an outing.

“Kkwek. Here, below.”

Raising his exhausted, seated body, the leader approached the half-wit, who was pointing below the waterfall.

Most of the memories left to the leader had the half-wit in them.

Now that he thought about it, the period he had spent together with the half-wit in his life had not been that long.

Though it bothered him a little that most of it had been cleaning up after the accidents the bastard caused.

Finding the bastard irritating all over again, the leader tried to hit the half-wit on the head with his powerless hand.

But unlike the leader’s intention, his hand failed to find its direction and waved through empty air.

The leader looked at his trembling hand with a stiff face.

The leader knew this meant there truly was not much time left.

“Kkwek. Wh-what’s wrong?”

The half-wit’s anxious gaze turned toward the leader’s hand.

The half-wit had said they should hide and live together, but unfortunately, the leader had no intention of doing so.

Because the leader intended to die by the half-wit’s hand.

He intended to hand over the leader’s position to the half-wit.

***

The leader pondered.

What was the easiest way to hand over the leader’s position to an idiot?

No matter how he thought about it, it did not seem as if the bastard could eat every last bit of his neck before he died.

It seemed like it would be faster if he were eaten by another bastard instead, and then the half-wit took the leader’s position back again.

By the way, why is this bastard so bad at fighting?

It was not as if his physical abilities were particularly poor.

“Kkwek. Th-the leader is about to be born.”

The leader, who had been deep in thought, raised his head at the half-wit’s voice.

“Kkwek. O-over there.”

The half-wit was pointing at the center.

It was the leader’s territory, which he had forgotten for a moment because he had been distracted by the waterfall.

At the ominous black energy creeping out from the center, the leader clicked his tongue.

For a new orc to appear now, of all times.

The newly born orc would also surely fight over the leader’s position.

Thinking things had become troublesome, the leader tried to drag the half-wit away, but the half-wit planted strength into his legs and held on.

“Kkwek. What is it? Kkwek. Nothing good will come from staying there right now......”

“Kkwek. W-wait. There’s a human.”

What kind of nonsense is that?

The leader turned his head, following the half-wit’s gaze, and swallowed his breath.

There was a human.

He had not even noticed the human’s existence because they were holding their place too quietly and without moving.

And there was no way a human who could hide their presence this skillfully would not be a threat.

The leader hurriedly grabbed the half-wit and hid him behind his back.

“Kkwek......! Run away, you stupid bastard!”

But the half-wit stood in place without moving, as if the soles of his feet had stuck to the ground.

“Don’t do anything pointless. If you die, that will trouble me too.”

The answer came from a place that was not at all welcome.

In a familiar way of speaking, and with an unfamiliar, cold voice.

Damn it. Why did this human bastard suddenly come back?

Toward the owner of that unwelcome voice, the leader turned his head.

The leader’s gaze climbed up the legs of the two humans who had somehow come close, and his eyes met the golden eyes looking down at him.

And at that moment, along with a chill, goosebumps brushed the back of the leader’s neck.

It was the piercing hostility he had once felt from the bastard after he failed to kill the insolent one.

The disgust from before was no longer there, but that did not matter.

The leader’s instincts were telling him.

Right now, this bastard was prepared to kill everyone, and they had to run from this human at once.