Orc Hero Story: Discovery Chronicles

The finals.

The crowd was buzzing with anticipation, as expected. The two fierce semifinalists would face off and bring the long tournament to an end. Nothing could be more exciting.

But this year’s final was unusually quiet. In the semifinals, Barabara Do Banga put up a terrible fight. Most spectators knew how he used to fight. Like a dwarf, he would stand on his armor and defeat any foe head-on. He fought in a manner reminiscent of the Doradora Do Banga of old. That was Barabara Do Banga.

That man, as if he were a rookie, was on the run and yet, unable to escape, he lost as if self-destructing. No one applauded, and the crowd was annoyed and bewildered.

But a portion of the audience saw beyond that. I don’t think Barabara Do Banga was awash in the waters of cowardice, they said. For he was the champion of the Armament Festival. They recalled how he bravely defeated all his opponents last year. And even this year, except for the fight with Bash, he had fought decently against all of them.

Surely he had some plan. Everyone wanted to think he did. That, in order to win, he had to put on that pitiful show. But even after all that, he still couldn’t achieve victory.

And now the one who would face Bash was also an orc. The orc who had won second place in the last tournament despite being a slave.

Donzoi. He was the most skilled slave orc. He was the most popular slave fighter, and he skillfully manipulated the buckler equipped in his left hand. Many people knew his strength. They did not know where he had gotten his weapons from, nor who his waiting room blacksmith was, but there was no doubt that he was one of the contenders for this year’s championship.

But still, his opponent was Bash, the Orc Hero. Comparing the two fighters so far, no one believed Donzoi could win.

Well, the stronger one would win. That was fine. But those who witnessed Bash’s strength and those who knew his title all thought so and shut their mouths.

This is not mature on his part.

Then. It was as if an adult had gotten mixed up in a child’s game. Of course, there was no rule prohibiting Bash from participating, not even an unwritten rule…

At this moment, Donzoi was the only one in the arena. In a little while, Bash, whose equipment was being finished repairing, would appear.

◆◆◆

When Bash arrived at the arena, Donzoi was standing with his eyes closed and his arms crossed, not moving in the slightest. But when he saw Bash approaching him, his expression clouded over.

“Bash, why…?”

Bash then replied to the confused Donzoi.

“I know what you want.”

Of course, Bash had no idea why Donzoi entered this tournament, or why he asked him to hold back. But even him could understand. Donzoi entered this tournament because he wanted something. And to win the tournament, he wanted to keep his opponents away.

What did Donzoi want? Bash guessed that it would probably be honor. The orcs were proud of their strength and prowess. He had abandoned his country, had been captured and enslaved, and now he was deprived of his honor. He wanted it back. The best way to do that would be to win this tournament. Bash thought so. Well, one could say that in the big picture he wasn’t wrong. He was far from right, though.

“But there’s something I also want… if I win, I’ll get a woman.”

At these words, Donzoi’s countenance changed. His face was one of doubt at Bash’s words. He promised him that he would get him a woman, didn’t he? He looked toward a corner of the bleachers, and there stood Donzoi’s wife, a dwarf woman, looking at him with bated breath. Bash looked in that direction as well.

“Why… What do you mean, Bash?”

Bash turned his attention back to Donzoi. To put it bluntly, Donzoi’s wife was not to Bash’s liking. She might have been a good woman, but that wasn’t the point. If Donzoi’s wife had been a very beautiful woman, Bash might have changed his mind at this point, but she was not.

There were two reasons.

First, Bash was the Orc Hero. In fact, he thought any woman would do, but if he was going to take her home, he would prefer a woman who would not embarrass the title of Hero. If he took the slave of Donzoi, a stray orc, and took her home, he would not be able to show his face to the orc king.

And one more thing. This was the most important thing.

“Donzoi, if you have the pride of an orc, fight and take what you desire.”

“…!?”

With these words, Donzoi’s heart was struck as if by lightning.