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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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It meant the number of workers would increase.
‘In any case, there’s no one left in this area who would dare touch us….’
“I understand. I just mentioned it in case.”
I roughly nodded at her words.
After resting for a full day, the next day, we attacked the main base of the large tribe.
With their chief being captured and dragged like a dog, and magic pouring down on them, the large tribe couldn’t resist for long and started scattering in all directions.
Being orcs, it wasn’t that there weren’t those who resisted until the end, but we must have seemed almost like a disaster to them, as many fled as expected.
In that way, as the large tribe completely collapsed, with the help of the hornorcs, I moved a large amount of resources to my underground dungeon.
“Leave enough to build a small village at least.”
It was more than they could all use, and since we were also protecting their young hornorcs, Rithild readily nodded his head.
We ended up taking care of the young hornorcs for the time being.
However, there were no major issues.
Perhaps because they had gone through such dangerous and difficult experiences, they didn’t cause any disturbances, so there were no particular problems aside from what was visible.
Food was not an issue.
Orcs were edible monsters.
From the hornorcs’ perspective, it might feel like eating monkeys, so it wouldn’t be very pleasant, but in the current situation, there was no other way to feed this many of them, so they couldn’t stop it.
Realizing the situation, Rithild periodically brought game to minimize the young hornorcs eating orcs.
I supported Mutre so that Rithild could build the village a bit more.
“Supporting a dwarf…”
“I’ll assign an escort.”
I assigned Skeleton No. 1, No. 2, and the Specter to Mutre, and just in case, I also sent Kayla.
Thanks to that, the construction of the village could be sped up, and Rithild expressed his gratitude to me once again.
After the village was completed, I sent the young hornorcs to them, and as a sign of our alliance or something, Rithild periodically supplied food to the underground dungeon.
“Even without such a thing, we can secure food on our own, you know?”
“Just think of it as a sign of gratitude. Something like this isn’t even a burden.”
There was no need to refuse goodwill, so I accepted it, but since we shouldn’t get used to only receiving, I didn’t stop the periodic food procurement.
In the underground dungeon that had regained stability, I used the horns of the hornorcs, tainting them with magic to strengthen the skeletons, and thanks to the combat experience and additional enhancements, I finally obtained the result of No. 1 becoming a Skeleton Warrior.
The remaining horns were used to build Mutre’s forge at the request of the hornorcs.
There were many places to use them, such as treating smoke and injecting air into the fire.
When I kept my promise, Mutre expressed great joy and gratitude.
“If there’s anything you need, just say the word!”
As promised, I returned the fully used horns to the hornorcs, and although some horns showed traces of magic infiltration, Rithild expressed his gratitude when the horns were returned.
“Thank you for keeping your promise.”
They must have guessed from the beginning when they first gave the horns that magic would infiltrate them to some extent.
It was natural.
After all, I was a warlock.
‘Phew… One by one…’
The Specter had also grown in the same way.
After feeding it the captured orc chief, the Specter also grew and became able to exert some physical force.
I had hoped for it, but I was very satisfied when the results actually appeared.
The land of death on the surface was also recharged with the magic it had consumed, and as time passed, the hundreds of undead drastically reduced to just over a hundred.
Although it was regrettable, I wasn’t greatly disappointed since I knew this would happen.
Thanks to the stabilization of the area, we were able to spend peaceful times just like when we first created the underground dungeon.
There were no more requests for help from the Dolgaebaram Tribe after the village was completed.
Fortunately, they seemed to have succeeded in establishing their own territory among the many competitors in the area.
About a month after they had settled, Rithild came to see me.
“You see… We found some humans.”
“Humans?”
Suddenly, the report from Athena and Kayla came to mind.
‘They said there were people still alive…’
“Where?”
“They were settled in a Giant Ant nest. We were aiming for the Giant Ant nest for the purpose of securing a large amount of food, but amusingly, humans were living there.”
“Humans were living in a Giant Ant nest?”
“Yeah. It seems they occupied an empty spot. I was surprised that more people than expected were alive.”
“How many were there for you to say that?”
“More than 50.”
“That many were still alive?”
“I was surprised too. We would have normally ignored them, but I thought you might need them.”
‘I should go see.’
It’s fine even if they’re there… but I should go and see for now.
I had a guess from the mention of the Giant Ant nest.
I immediately summoned Athena and Kayla.
“You called?”
“What is it, Master?”
“Rithild just came to see me. He said they found some humans.”
“…I guess there really were survivors.”
“He said they were hiding in an empty Giant Ant nest.”
“The Giant Ant nest… you mentioned before?”
Kayla asked with a surprised expression.
“…Inha, could it be…”
“Yeah. There’s a possibility they’re survivors from Evergreen Forest Village.”
If it was a place that was subjugated right before the monster wave, it would be there.
“…If they’re people from there… will you take them in?”
“It wouldn’t be bad. If they’re from there, they’ll follow my orders well.”
They were people who had received my kindness.
Moreover, if they survived in the Giant Ant nest, it was as good as receiving help from me again indirectly.
If we rescue and protect them in such a situation, they will probably never betray us.
‘Even if one or two traitors come out, they’ll be dealt with internally.’
The village chief isn’t that stupid.
Of course, it’s possible the village chief is already dead…
‘Then we can just appoint someone else as the representative.’
We just need to choose someone who knows about the kindness received and listens well to be the representative.
And in any case, they’ll be under Thea.
With the existing slaves, and Baldur and his three trainees, considering what they’ve received from me so far, even without the village chief, they won’t be people who won’t listen.
‘Honestly, if it doesn’t work out, we can just abandon them.’
“Even if I leave after becoming 4th-class, this place will be maintained, so it would be helpful to have a certain level of population.”
It was not a problem even if we didn’t have them, but it wouldn’t be bad to have them either.
In the end, this place was meant to be a hideout and a safe house for me.
Originally, it was also a place for Thea to stay while I established myself outside.
Assuming they didn’t betray us, it wouldn’t be bad for the population to increase.
‘It can’t be helped. I can’t take a powerless Thea with me as a warlock’s companion.’
I had told this to Athena as well.
Athena was afraid to leave her sister behind, but after I explained again how bad the perception of warlocks was, and with Kayla’s persuasion added, she soon understood.
‘Instead, we agreed that I would establish myself as soon as possible.’
I had a plan.
I told Athena that I could sufficiently establish myself within 2 years at most, or 1 year at the shortest, and she said she would trust me.
‘I was worried about how to persuade her if she said she would stay with her…’
After much thought, she seemed to have decided that she couldn’t be separated from me after all.
Her sister was important, but thinking about the future, she couldn’t be separated from me either.
In the long run, my growth would have a big impact on their stability as well.
‘We can’t live here forever, after all.’
Although Athena seemed to think it wouldn’t be bad either.
“What if they’re not people from Evergreen Forest Village?”
“Well, it depends on what kind of people they are.”
They could also be mercenaries from the merchant union who happened to discover that place.
I couldn’t trust them.
If I couldn’t trust them, I couldn’t accept them.
Depending on the need… I could kill them all.
However, such worries were unfounded.
Following Rithild, the Giant Ant nest we arrived at was definitely the one we had subjugated, and inside, there was a familiar face, albeit in a shabby state.
“…Sir Knight?”
“You were alive, Village Chief.”
“H-how…?”
The village chief collapsed in front of me and kneeled.
“Sir Jimnis…”
“I’m not a knight. My name is not Jimnis either.”
At my words, the village chief looked up at me with a puzzled face.
“…Warlock! Could it be…?”
Thinking something, the village chief’s face contorted with horror and a sense of betrayal.
Seeing him alternately looking at me and Rithild, I shook my head and answered.
“I did not cause the monster wave. The hornorcs are not monsters I combined either.”
“In the first place, with that level of skill, why would you hole up in this remote place and cause a monster wave? You could even receive support from the royal family.”
A warlock capable of intentionally causing a monster wave.
Moreover, if they could create a race at the level of hornorcs, they would be considered beyond human.
‘With that skill, you’d establish a kingdom.’
It was sufficiently possible.
If you can intentionally cause a monster wave and mass-produce a race at the level of hornorcs, what’s a mere country?
Perhaps thinking there was reason in my words, the village chief slowly nodded his head.
“I see…”
“So, how were you able to escape here?”
“We didn’t run away because of the monster wave. We fled in advance after learning that bandits were attacking villages around the pioneer castle.”
‘Was that so?’
Indeed, if they knew that information in advance, they could have escaped.
“We managed to bring a considerable amount of food… but it all ran out. Some people went out to get food and found out that a monster wave had occurred. At first, we thought it was the bandits, but those who returned alive informed us. They said a monster wave had occurred and the castle was completely destroyed.”
“But… you survived.”
“I evacuated. I was lucky. I’m currently staying with some people at the former location of the pioneer castle.”
“The monsters…”
“Monsters can’t come to that area as it’s my territory. I also formed an alliance with these hornorcs here.”
“An alliance… with monsters?”
“Hornorcs are not monsters, but another race. They are fully intelligent and quite good at human language.”
“When you say monsters, it seems you’re referring to orcs, which is a bit unpleasant.”
When Rithild frowned, the village chief quickly apologized.
“In the first place, it was them who discovered you and informed me. If he hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have come here.”
“…Thank you. I was rude.”
Realizing the truth, the village chief immediately bowed to Rithild.
Perhaps not expecting him to be so humble, Rithild accepted his apology, and the village chief spoke to me again.
“The fact that you’ve occupied the area around the pioneer castle…”
“That area is mine, so it’s safe.”
“…Could you please accept us? I know it’s shameless. But at this rate, we…”
“It’s interesting. I thought you would ask to be sent to another territory?”
“They are people who neither thought to look for us nor save us all this time. It’s obvious what will happen if we go.”
If I search my past memories, I can roughly guess.
They will probably be treated as wanderers.
It would be fortunate if they didn’t become slaves.
That was why he showed a desire to rely on me.
‘Still, I thought they would be reluctant since I’m a warlock…’
“…You said you were a warlock, but the Jimnis I’ve seen so far has been fair, observant of proprieties, and compassionate towards the weak.”
‘Did I do that?’
I just did what I had to do and went around clarifying that I wasn’t a knight to avoid getting involved in unnecessary troubles, and I just didn’t bother the villagers, but that seemed to have been greatly exaggerated.
“If such a person is a warlock, what does it matter? Besides, we will all die anyway if you don’t accept us.”
Rather than that, he would rely on my mercy.
That was what the village chief said.
‘It’s convenient if you think that way…’
But I couldn’t help but feel a lot of doubts.
Originally, a warlock could never receive such treatment.
Moreover, there were strangely many people who viewed me favorably.
Honestly, compared to the first round… it felt like a completely different world.
I wondered if there were originally so many decent people in this area.
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