NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24
Near Normans.
Before we properly searched the area where the elves supposedly disappeared, we made one preparation.
“Master, what’s that?”
“It’s a Mana Control Robe.”
Over the clothes I bought from the Cosparco salon, I added a robe that covered my whole body.
“With this, there’s nothing exposed except my face, hehehe.”
The blessings of the Moon Goddess are only needed for adventurers exposed to danger.
Is there really a need for those unaffected by divine power to be exposed at all?
Especially those who don’t want to be influenced by other powers.
“I heard this is what the sorcerers in the magic tower wear during experiments. How does it look?”
“It seems white, so it might get stained easily.”
“We can solve that with cleaning magic. It may look like this, but it’s quite sturdy.”
The white robe that resembled a gown was more than worth the gold coin I spent on it.
“This has the power to prevent anything from leaking out. Hehe.”
The Mana Control Robe I obtained from the Adventurer Guild has the power to stop mana from leaking out.
“The Adventurer Guild said that exposure is defense. But not for me, right?”
“That’s….”
“Undead don’t receive the blessings of the Moon Goddess. See?”
I rolled up my sleeve, extended my arm, and gently pressed my hand against the back with a dagger.
Swish.
“Master!”
“Stop overreacting.”
It was just a dagger, yet I got a wound.
I quickly checked my hand to ensure blood—specifically, mana—wasn’t leaking out, then calmed the startled Lucius with my outstretched hand.
“No blood. I just pressed lightly. After all, I’m not crazy enough to get wounded when healing magic won’t work on me!”
“That’s true.”
“Right? So stop panicking. I know my body best.”
Mana spreads throughout my body, and based on that mana, I can control all my physical abilities.
“I’m also a sorcerer. I may not recover my body with divine power, but I can regenerate with mana.”
If need be, even if my muscles tear, I can forcefully move my body with the power of mana, and if my body is damaged, I can restore it using mana.
“Moreover, I’ve realized thanks to you that this body can also be strengthened, so basic regeneration should be possible.”
“Because of me…?”
“Because I figured out I could exercise with you.”
“Oh.”
Aside from the blood flowing in my body, I am no different from a human.
A human who cannot receive the help of divine power.
“I might even be able to build a six-pack later. Look at this. Right now, it’s just a flat, skinny belly.”
“Master….”
“What? Can’t I show my belly just because you’re here? No one’s watching.”
“But I am.”
“I’m showing it for you, aren’t I?”
Lucius froze in place.
“Watch carefully. Don’t forget, as I work out really hard, see how I change. This body can do everything a human can do…”
At that moment.
“Ah.”
I realized something important.
“Could I get pregnant then?”
“…….”
Lucius didn’t say a word.
“Ugh, I’d rather not think about that.”
At least, I wouldn’t have any monthly troubles.
The magic that affects women wouldn’t occur.
How could I spill any blood when I have no heart to create it?
What flows through my body is mana, and at most, mana would just reside within my body.
“……Hmm. Wait a sec.”
I placed my hand on my lower abdomen and elevated my mana.
“What are you doing?”
“Quiet. I’m adjusting so mana doesn’t leak out.”
Mana is, after all, my life force.
I can’t just shed it once a month because of being a woman.
“What’s with that look? Are you shocked because of the pregnancy talk?”
“It just caught me off guard.”
“I can understand being surprised since it came out of nowhere, but I haven’t experienced it either, so I have no idea what will happen.”
“Pregnancy… You’ve never carried a child?”
“Of course not.”
How could I, a man, carry a child?
“Am I crazy enough to get pregnant?”
The demon race also has women who get pregnant, while men merely perform the male function.
Although there are some hermaphrodites, I am definitely male.
“Oh. Is the subject too stimulating for the innocent Lucius? Hehe.”
“…Master.”
“Just kidding. But it’s related to what we’re about to see.”
This was not a jest.
“Lucius, do you know about orcs kidnapping elves?”
“Isn’t it to eat them?”
“Yes. To eat them… heh heh.”
As I wore a cunning expression, Lucius’s face suddenly darkened.
“O-orcs really do that?”
“What’s with your response making it feel real?”
“T-then…?”
“It’s a bluff.”
“……Huh?”
“A bluff. Don’t you know? Geez, kids these days….”
“…Isn’t there a word for lie?”
“Whatever. I just wanted to make a joke, but it didn’t land.”
I tightly fastened the Mana Control Robe and drew a depiction of orcs and elves with the tip of my staff.
“Orcs and elves are rivals. They can never coexist. Orcs solely target the elves’ land. So in short, they want to devour the elves’ territory.”
Five hundred years ago.
The reason why the orcs of the Demon King’s Army fought fiercely against the elves belonging to the human alliance was, of course, because of ‘land’.
“The orcs living in the wasteland wanted to settle in the forest. They intended to cut down trees, burn them, and build large fortifications. So, where’s the best place? The place where the elves live.”
They fought intensely.
Although the size difference was stark, orcs fought with resilience, strength in their spirit, and determination.
– Demon Lord. We’re ready. Prepare to pluck their ears.
– Is this the extent of the Elf Forest?
– Yes.
– Then set the forest on fire. In a circle.
– …Wait, if we set the forest on fire, we won’t be able to fight here, will we? I can’t do something so cowardly against those pointy-eared bastards! If that’s how we win, I’d rather die, cough!
– Stop arguing. I’m threatening to set fire. We’re preparing to attack… Hey, hey! Who actually charged in with fire, ouch, really!!
– For the Demon Lord!!!
– For victory for the Demon Lord!!!
– Let’s capture the Elf Queen and offer her to the Demon Lord!!!
– …Ouch, those faithful dullards.
With the Demon Lord’s innate tactics, the elves couldn’t help but surrender quickly.
However, this angered the elves immeasurably, leading them to become utterly merciless to the Demon King’s Army, which was a bit of a blunder, but I learned something important.
“The orcs are stupid. That hasn’t changed one bit in 500 years. Right?”
Just looking at the goblins made me realize that the demon race hadn’t changed much over 500 years.
“…It may still be dangerous. We should approach cautiously.”
“Right. They’re coming up over there.”
Orcs.
Those who haven’t changed a thing from 500 years ago, those—
“…What are those?”
“They’re orcs.”
We held our breath.
Lucius was holding his breath in front of the enemy, and I was at a loss for words at the sight of orcs that, while they looked similar, were drastically different from what I knew.
“Is that… an orc?”
“Grub, gruff, rawr.”
“…How is that an orc?”
In front of me stood an orc exposing his upper body with a belly so large that even if he casually covered it with a leather strip like a goblin, it wouldn’t matter.
– Victory or death!
– Ka Ah Bin Mok Tajak Cha!!
“…The orcs I knew… where did they go?”
Where are those elite orcs of the Demon King’s Army?
Warriors, who prized war and honor, who once vowed to follow the stronger after losing to me, where have they all gone?
“That’s not an orc, it’s a walking pig.”
“It is an orc. It may look like that, but its strength is….”
“Really? Lucius. Do you think you can take it on?”
“…If it’s hunting from a distance.”
Lucius is a hunter.
He may have become the Master of the Holy Sword, but his swordsmanship is still unrefined.
“In a direct confrontation, it seems you’d need the Holy Sword?”
“Shall we try?”
“No. You could get hurt. No need to take that risk….”
At that moment.
I noticed Lucius clenching his fist.
‘His pride.’
Could he take on just one orc?
It made me a bit sad to call it an orc, but then again, if strong lands change in ten years, couldn’t the orcs have changed over 500 years?
Just like a camel in the desert accumulating fat on its hump, they must have accumulated fat in their bellies.
“…It does look blunt right off the bat.”
Strong or not, it doesn’t mean much if you can’t land a hit.
“Well, there’s no way our Lucius could lose to that pig. Right?”
“Of course.”
“But still, avoid attacks as much as possible.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Try to capture it alive if you can. And….”
I infused my mana into Lucius’s sword.
“What is this…?”
“Elemental Affinity. The power of the wind should be used at crucial moments, for now, fight with this.”
“This… is it flame?”
“Yes.”
Fire and wind are opposites.
The one who wields the power of flames is the owner of the Holy Wind Sword?
No one would guess Lucius’s true identity but would just think of him as a swordsman wielding the ‘Sword of Flames’, not easily suspecting he’s the Master of the Holy Wind Sword.
They’d just assume it’s fire infused by the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus.
“Of course, I can use this to intimidate that one….”
“I’ll catch it quickly. Just watch.”
Lucius gripped the sword infused with flames tightly.
“I’m going…!”
He leaped towards the orc in an instant.
“Swish, swish…!!”
The orc pulled something out the moment it saw Lucius.
“…A whip?”
I was genuinely shocked at the appearance of an un-orc-ish weapon—although, wait, is it fitting?—but Lucius calmly dodged the whip’s trajectory and swung his sword with all his might.
Swish, swish!
“Kwik!!”
With a pig-like squeal, the orc knelt as blood poured from each shoulder.
Lucius pointed his sword at the orc’s neck, and its skin began to redden.
“…….”
Though he tried to appear calm, Lucius’s eyes sparkled with genuine satisfaction at his achievement.
I gave him a thumbs up and smiled before shifting my expression to face the orc.
“…Rok’tar?”
“……Taram’la?”
I was certain.
These are not orcs.