"My name is Aroshi. As for me, I'm the thirty-forty-fifth generation descendant of the great orc Akashi, kuiik!"
"Thirty-forty-fifth generation descendant?"
"That's right, kuik."
"Isn't that thirty plus forty plus five?"
"No. It's forty minus thirty plus five, kuiik!"
"So, fifteenth-generation descendant?"
"You calculated that in one go? You're a genius, kuiik!"
"...."
Tch.
Lloyd gazed at the orc who had just opened his eyes on his bed in his room, a complicated feeling(?) washing over him.
And he thought.
*Did I pick up a retard without a frontal lobe by any chance?*
*Or maybe this orc only has fifteen brain folds.*
Suddenly, the events of the day came to mind.
He had explored the ant nest with Haviel.
It was the final stage of the sixteen-day safety inspection.
They had finally reached the deepest part of the ant nest, the presumed lowest level storage room.
That was where they found this orc.
Surprisingly, he was still alive.
"I feel dizzy since it's been so long since I woke up. That ant paralyzing venom stung like hell, kuiik."
"Paralyzing venom?"
"That's right, kuik."
"I knew it. It really was paralyzing venom."
He had a rough idea now.
An orc preserved in the storage room in a comatose state.
The purpose was obvious without being spelled out.
*The ants must have stockpiled him as preserved food. Using paralyzing venom.*
The best way to keep food fresh is not to kill it.
Live meat doesn't rot or spoil.
Aroshi bared his huge fangs in a grin.
"As for me, I'm Aroshi of the Charge. I couldn't just die easily before even completing my coming-of-age rite, kuik."
"Coming-of-age rite?"
"That's right, kuik."
"So you're still a minor?"
"What's a minor, kuik?"
"Underage… I mean, you're not an adult yet?"
"Once you complete the coming-of-age rite, you're recognized as a warrior orc. That's why I charged into the beast ant territory, kuiik."
"Don't tell me your tribe's coming-of-age rite is capturing beast ants?"
"That's right, kuik."
Aroshi continued.
"It's a tradition passed down from our great ancestors. It started when my great-great-grandfather's son's father settled in the eastern wilderness, kuiik."
"…Just say great-great-grandfather."
"Anyway, I caught a ton of beast ants. Beat 'em, sliced 'em, killed 'em. I must've killed ten groups of ten. But then I got too excited, kuik."
"And then?"
"I wanted to catch the queen ant and be recognized as the greatest warrior. So I charged into the ant nest, kuiik."
"You went into the ant nest? On purpose? Alone?"
"Of course. A warrior doesn't fear being alone, kuiik."
"You're insane."
Now he understood how this orc had ended up as the ants' emergency rice ball.
He couldn't control his excitement, launched a reckless charge, got surrounded, and tired out.
In the end, he fell to the paralyzing venom.
Lloyd couldn't help but smirk.
*You got lucky. Both you surviving that mess and me scoring you.*
Suddenly, the commotion from earlier came to mind.
The moment they realized this guy was alive in the ant nest, they carried him out.
Naturally, the mansion was in an uproar.
The maids, seeing an orc for the first time in their lives, fled in terror.
Even the baron, who rushed over in his pajamas upon hearing the news, went pale.
*'Lloyd, what in the world are you doing?'*
*'Inheriting the throne… No, as you can see, I brought back an orc.'*
*'Why an orc, then?'*
*'I have my reasons. First, have a cup of cold water.'*
Lloyd responded calmly instead.
His composed demeanor reassured the baron.
*'We found him while exploring the ant nest. If we save this orc, it'll bring great benefits to the territory.'*
*'Benefits?'*
*'From what I've heard, orcs are valiant warriors who clearly distinguish between favors and grudges.'*
It was true.
It had been mentioned several times in the novel *Iron-Blooded Knight*.
*'I know that much, but still, is it really okay?'*
*'It'll be fine. If he wakes up and causes trouble, Haviel can subdue him in an instant.'*
That was how he barely calmed the baron.
He laid Aroshi on his bed.
Called the territory's doctor.
Fortunately, the doctor recognized Aroshi's condition at a glance.
*'Hmm, this… Judging by the blue fingernails, he's been hit with the venom beast ants use to hunt and store prey. Feed him this medicine, and he'll be fine.'*
*'This?'*
*'Powder made from dried and ground tanaria leaves. Excellent for relieving paralysis.'*
He fed him the medicine from the doctor.
As the doctor boasted, the effects were remarkable(?).
Not even ten minutes after taking the medicine, Aroshi opened his eyes.
"Anyway, thanks. If you hadn't carried me out of there, I, Aroshi, would've ended up as ant food, kuiik."
"Right? You're grateful, aren't you?"
"That's right. You're my benefactor, kuiik."
"Then you should repay your benefactor, right?"
"Exactly, kuik!"
"So, just tell me what you want as repayment?"
*He's taking the bait.*
Lloyd's voice turned sly.
Aroshi nodded vigorously.
"Of course. Say anything, human, kuiik!"
"I need about 120 orc men to work in the mines."
As if he'd been waiting for this exact moment.
Lloyd didn't beat around the bush and stabbed straight to the point.
Truth be told, this was the reason he'd saved Aroshi.
Orcs are tough.
Stamina for days, and their strength is even better.
Brave and fearless, they dive into dangerous work without hesitation.
They were a race with top-tier talent for grueling mine work, rivaling even dwarves.
*'That's why I saved you. Otherwise, why would I carry your ugly ass all the way here and nurse you?'*
He saved him.
Bestowed a favor.
Stated his demand.
But Aroshi's demeanor was off.
He was subtly avoiding eye contact.
"…"
"Hey?"
"…"
"I said say what you want."
Lloyd tilted his head innocently.
Aroshi rolled his eyes sideways slyly.
"Hey, mister?"
"…"
"Orc mister, look me in the eye?"
"Kuiik, that's a bit… difficult, kuik."
"Difficult how?"
"Human, you saving me, Aroshi, is something I'm grateful for. If I can repay the favor, I'll do anything. But the request you just made is a different matter, kuiik."
"Different how?"
"You're not a warrior, kuik."
"So?"
"Only warriors can command orc men. You don't have the qualifications, kuiik."
A troubled look appeared on Aroshi's rugged face.
He spoke with genuine apology.
"Sorry, human, kuik. I don't think I can grant that request, kuiik."
It was sincere.
This human named Lloyd.
He had saved a total stranger.
He was the benefactor who rescued him from becoming ant food in the dark ant nest.
He wanted to repay that favor somehow.
He wanted to grant any request this human made.
Orcs spared no effort in settling favors and grudges, even staking their lives.
That was the pride and honor of an orc warrior surviving the wilderness.
That's why it pained him.
Lloyd had made a request he wanted to grant but couldn't.
"So, because I lack warrior qualifications, I can't have orc men as workers?"
"That's right, kuik."
"What do I need to do to gain those qualifications?"
"You need to complete the coming-of-age rite. The same way we do. And get the chieftain to recognize your feat, kuik."
"Ohhh?"
A sly smile crept onto Lloyd's lips.
He lifted his chin and countered.
"Then it seems like I do have the qualifications?"
"What, kuik?"
"It's true. You said completing the rite is enough. And your rite is catching beast ants."
"That's right, kuik."
"Then take a look at that first."
Lloyd raised one hand.
He stuck out his thumb and pointed to one side of the bedroom.
Aroshi's gaze followed his finger.
Over Lloyd's shoulder.
Along the bedroom wall.
To the object hanging on the wall.
"It's the queen ant's head. Hung it up as a trophy to commemorate the catch. What do you think?"
"Kuiik…?"
Aroshi's mouth fell open.
It was really the queen ant's head.
Not a fake or replica.
He was the son of a tribe that spent its life fighting beast ants.
There was no way he couldn't recognize a beast ant head, especially a queen's!
"How did you, kuik?"
"How? Caught it and hung it up."
Lloyd grinned.
Half true, half lie.
Exploding the methane gas to kill the queen ant was true.
But he hadn't caught it in direct combat.
Lloyd pasted on a thick face and licked his lips.
"But you know, there was something interesting about catching that queen ant. Wanna guess what?"
"W-What was it, kuik?"
"She seemed totally drained of strength somehow."
Lloyd's voice grew sly.
"Like she'd just fought someone else with everything she had? And we found this sword nearby. Haviel?"
Lloyd turned around.
Haviel, standing silently behind him, raised his sword.
It was the orcish iron sword they'd found while investigating the ant nest.
Aroshi's eyes went wide at the sight.
"Kuik? That's my sword, kuik?"
"Right? See?"
Lloyd flashed a meaningful smile.
"Now I get it. Who do you think wore out the queen ant?"
"No way, me, kuik?"
"Exactly. That's it. Smart guy."
Lloyd smiled even brighter.
Of course, it was a blatant lie.
Aroshi's iron sword had been found nowhere near the queen ant.
But that didn't matter.
*The real key is getting the other guy to believe it.*
That's how he'd seal the deal.
That was all that mattered to Lloyd.
Of course, Haviel's 'you scammer' glare stabbing into the back of his head in real time stung a bit.
But he didn't care.
"Think about it. When you were fighting in the ant nest, wasn't there a really big ant?"
"Kuiik… grr."
"You were fighting so hard you lost track?"
"That's right, kuik."
"But there was. Here's the proof."
He took the iron sword from Haviel.
Handed it to Aroshi.
"See? Your iron sword proves it. The queen ant was worn out because of you."
"So what're you trying to say, human, kuik?"
"What else? My feat of killing the queen ant isn't just mine."
"No way, kuik?"
"That's the one. In the end, we caught it together. You and me. The queen ant. So, us."
"…"
"Joint operation. Joint production. Joint copyright. Ah, how beautiful those words are. Right?"
"Then… kuik."
"Let's say we teamed up and caught her."
Lloyd stabbed like with an awl.
"Strictly speaking, you failed your coming-of-age rite. You didn't make it back to the village safely. If you go back now, they'll treat you like a failure. Got it?"
"Kuik?"
"But imagine going back with this queen ant head held high. How's that?"
"…"
"Pretty badass, right?"
Gulp.
Aroshi's throat bobbed heavily.
Just imagining it was awesome.
Countless warriors had done their rites, but no orc had ever caught a queen ant.
And now he'd be the one with that feat.
He'd get hot stares from every orc maiden in the village.
Not just that—he might earn the respect of every orc warrior.
Lloyd's voice scratched the young orc's itchy side soothingly.
"Think it over. No downside for you. Plus, it's not even a scam. It's the strict truth. I couldn't have caught the queen without you. Right?"
"T-Then… kuik."
"Exactly. Chest out proud. You're a total badass orc."
"Kuik!"
"Good. Looking good. So, you can grant my request now?"
"Request, kuiik?"
"We teamed up and took down the queen ant together. So take me to your village. Help me get the chieftain to recognize my qualifications. Once I'm acknowledged as a warrior, send 120 orc men as workers to our territory."
"And I… kuik…?"
"You become a warrior who completed the ultimate coming-of-age rite. Plus, you repay me. Everyone wins. How's that?"
"…"
Aroshi looked at Lloyd.
The human smiling gently at him.
The grateful human who saved him from death.
Just like a true benefactor, he had kind eyes.
And he'd made an offer overflowing with gratitude.
Aroshi steeled his resolve.
"Fine, human! I, Aroshi, am an orc warrior who doesn't take favors lightly. I'll do everything to help you gain warrior qualifications, kuik!"
The young, naive orc warrior extended his pot-lid-sized hand.
Lloyd clasped it firmly in a hearty handshake.
Of course, Aroshi had no idea.
That at this moment, Haviel was looking at him with pity.
That Lloyd was grinning the warm smile of a scammer who'd hooked a huge mark.
And so, Lloyd's grand scheme to fill the newly completed coal mine with top-notch miners for free took shape.
(End of Chapter 31)
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