LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 21 - Scarred Wolf (2)
11. Scarred Wolf (2)
“Simon!”
The knights simultaneously drew their swords.
The orc pulled the unconscious Simon into its arms and growled. The pleading demeanor it had shown earlier was nowhere to be seen. It grabbed Simon’s neck and shouted something.
“What is it saying?”
“Simon!”
“We must save him!”
Jaime did not panic. He gestured to someone behind the knights.
“Kori.”
A small figure with a hood walked forward. Perhaps due to a disability, its gait was asymmetrical. Bowing his head to Jaime, he spoke.
“He says if you set him free, he’ll spare the human.”
He seemed to understand the language of the orcs.
Yuri scrutinized Simon closely.
“Is he already dead?”
Then Kori spoke to the orc again, who slapped Simon lightly on the cheek.
“Ughh…”
Simon’s body flinched.
He is not dead yet.
Yuri let out a sigh of relief.
“Thanks to the helmet, he survived. Owes me his life, it seems.”
Outwardly, Yuri appeared calm, but inwardly, he clicked his tongue. He hadn’t expected Simon to become a hostage so easily. Had they fought the orc in this state, Simon would soon have become another nameless skeleton on the plains.
Feeling a renewed sense of gratitude towards Jaime, Yuri looked back.
“Are you just going to stand there watching?”
Hernando stood at the end of Yuri’s gaze, his eyes wide open.
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“You should say something.”
“I’m doing it now.”
“Understood.”
As the humans conversed, the orc stomped its feet and demanded something from Kori. It seemed to be trying to intimidate in its own way.
Then, suddenly, the orc’s voice ceased.
Simon’s body fell to the ground.
The orc stood frozen like a statue.
“Now.”
Hernando had cast a spell to stop the orc.
Yuri moved forward, grabbing Simon’s ankle and dragging him back.
“Thanks, Hernando.”
“Think nothing of it. It’ll wear off soon.”
As he spoke, the orc regained its movements.
“Roar!”
The furious roar reverberated through the underground. It picked up the sword Simon had dropped and glared at Yuri and Jaime.
Yuri gestured to a young knight standing nearby.
“What’s your name?”
Blinking, he then firmed his lips and stepped forward.
“Guiness, Your Highness.”
“Guiness, do you think you can do it?”
“Yes.”
“Go ahead.”
“Understood.”
He activated the Mana Method, moving lightly before charging the orc with his sword.
Clang!
He was pushed back.
Despite utilizing mana, he lost in the contest of strength.
The orc pressed its attack, unrelenting. Though Guiness evaded with nimble footwork, the sheer difference in power forced him to retreat repeatedly.
“Ugh!”
Though initially struggling, Guiness gradually adjusted to the orc’s movements. Spotting an opening, he slashed at its thigh.
But the orc wasn’t idle either—it swung its fist, landing a direct hit on Guiness.
The two exchanged blows, neither backing down.
This chapter is translated by f.enrirxlations/j.joestar
The fierce battle raged on without pause.
Yuri turned to Jaime.
“Offer them some advice, Sir Jaime.”
“Advice, you say…”
Jaime observed the fight and spoke.
“Remember, it is not a human opponent. Fighting a beast requires a different approach than exchanging blades with humans.”
Whether provoked by the orc’s resistance, the knight summoned a blue aura to his sword.
The orc stepped back, gauging the distance as if it understood human tactics.
Guiness launched a decisive attack, exploiting an opening to slash the orc’s arm. With the aura enveloping his sword, it sliced through the flesh effortlessly.
Blood spurted out, but simultaneously, the orc retaliated, striking Guiness with its other arm.
Guiness tumbled to the ground, still clutching the orc’s severed arm. He tried to stand but collapsed again, likely suffering from a concussion.
“Orcs don’t care if they’re injured. They also learn techniques as they fight. Don’t rush in recklessly unless you aim for the heart or throat. You need to approach it like a slow hunt.”
The orc was about to charge at Guiness once more when Yuri stepped in front, blocking its path. The orc halted and growled menacingly.
“Your Highness!”
Raymond called out to him.
Yuri waved reassuringly and helped Guiness to his feet.
“Guiness, can you stand?”
“Y-yes, Your Highness…”
“Go rest.”
“But what about you, Your Highness…”
“Don’t worry about me.”
He sent Guiness off.
The orc only clutched its injured arm, glaring at Yuri, but did not attack further.
“Sir Jaime, is this orc a typical one?”
“No.”
Jaime shook his head.
“Though it seems smaller, it’s quite experienced. It’s stronger than usual orcs. A veteran, you could say.”
Yuri glanced at Calcio. He shrugged, palms open.
“Understood.”
The orc remained in place, still and watchful. Yuri’s dominant presence was suffocating it. Only Jaime, standing nearby, noticed this.
He looked at Yuri with newfound respect.
Yuri called over the interpreter.
“Was it Kori?”
The solitary figure nodded and bowed slightly.
“Yes, yes…Your Highness”
“Relay my words to the orc.”
“Understood.”
“How many humans has it killed?”
Kori hesitated.
Yuri gestured with his chin, prompting Kori to ask the orc with a shaky voice.
The orc’s face twisted, unclear whether in anger or laughter. With a grin stretching to its ears, it seemed closer to laughter. It barked something at Kori, then turned its gaze back to Yuri, continuing its speech.
“It says, um…”
“Say it.”
“Two…”
“Two?”
It wasn’t as many as expected. The knights slowly exhaled, and Kori continued speaking.
“There were two warriors, or soldiers…”
Everyone turned to look at him.
“Five men…”
The mood grew heavy.
Kori, shrinking back, continued to speak.
“There were four women and three children…”
Anger spread like wildfire. The knights’ eyes began to gleam with malice.
The orc, wearing its usual grotesque expression, grinned. Its laughter sounded like a drumbeat.
“That one…”
A few knights stepped forward, looking as if they wanted to begin an execution right then and there.
Yuri stopped them.
“Enough.”
“Your Highness, after hearing that creature’s words, you still…”
“Send one out.”
“Pardon?”
Gesturing at the orc with his chin, Yuri spoke.
“This is a rare opportunity provided by Sir Jaime. We can’t waste it on venting emotions.”
“It’s not just venting…”
“It’s just a single orc.”
Yuri placed his arm across the shoulders of two knights, his gaze moving from one knight to the next.
“See all those others?”
Despite the deaths of their kin, the other orcs remained silent. They understood that stepping forward meant certain death.
“All of those here are the same. Out on the plains, you’ll find far worse.”
Yuri tapped one knight on the cheek.
“This is training. We will face orcs countless times ahead. So harness your anger.”
Then he nudged the knight forward.
“Now, let’s practice how to kill more orcs.”
Yuri’s words held an undeniable logic.
The atmosphere grew heavier.
The knight squared himself to face the orc calmly.
Once one orc was slain, Jaime opened another cage. Realizing Jaime’s intent, the orcs ceased resistance but, upon experiencing pain, charged forward wildly again.
The knights gauged the true terror of an orc’s strength through this unsettling exercise.
They killed a total of seven orcs.
Yuri addressed them.
“Many among us haven’t faced orcs before. If you assumed they were just borderland bandits, you should now understand otherwise. Extend your gratitude to Sir Jaime. Without him, many here might have perished early.”
This chapter is translated by fe˚nrirxlations/jjo˚estar
Despite the clarity of their victory, the knights’ expressions were not of triumph.
Their faces showed the internal conflict of having practiced on defenseless prisoners.
They stared at their bloodstained garments, sweat, and discomfort etched on their faces.
Jaime stepped forward.
“It doesn’t feel good, does it? I understand.”
The knights looked at Jaime with a new gaze. No longer just awe, they saw him more like an enigma who, against such orcs, defended their borders.
“For your benefit, I’ll show you one more thing.”
He tapped Calcio’s arm, and Calcio looked up with a questioning gaze.
“Count?”
“To the upper floor.”
“Excuse me?”
Calcio scratched his head, questioning the need.
“Lead.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The door to the underground prison closed.
They ascended the stairs and stopped at a floor they had passed earlier. Another iron door lay before them.
“This is it.”
Nerves were high among the knights.
Jaime turned to them and smiled confidently as he fitted the key into the lock.
The door swung open.
Inside, darkness prevailed.
With decisiveness, Jaime ventured in with a torch. The shadows receded.
A wall blocked their view, but a barred door sat in the center—a massive prison.
“Is there an orc inside?”
Jaime shook his head at the inquiry.
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s better to see for yourself. Come here.”
He gestured to the questioning knight.
The knight hesitated briefly before stepping forward, keeping a careful distance as he peered through the bars.
“I can’t see any—”
Suddenly, Jaime grabbed him by his collar, pushing him close to the bars.
“C-Count?”
“Look closer.”
Jaime pressed down on the knight from behind, thrusting the torch through the bars.
The view remained obstructed by their combined forms.
Sensing something, the knight leaned for a better look.
A moment later, he screamed and shook violently, his body convulsing.
“Aaaaah…”
Yet Jaime did not release him.
The knight clutched Jaime’s cloak, flailing helplessly.
Jaime eventually let him go a beat later.
The knight staggered back, burying his head against the wall, retching.
Jaime chuckled raspily, his voice echoing off the walls, even as the knight gagged.
Everyone swallowed nervously.
“What the…?”
None dared to step forward. What could they have seen to cause such a reaction?
Breaking the silence, Yuri stepped forward.
“You wouldn’t want to see such a thing, would you, Your Highness?”
“Well…”
In truth, Yuri had a pretty good idea of what might be inside.
In his past life, he had wandered the most dangerous frontlines seeking death. He had even carried out missions deep into orc territory.
“Sir.”
Yuri peered inside.
“Why are those things kept here?”
“Is it uncomfortable?”
“No. I’m just curious.”
Jaime smiled faintly.
“Even these things have their uses, occasionally.”
The prison was filled with grotesque, indescribable creatures.
The few strands of hair that remained hung loosely, while their eyes were strangely twisted and irregular. A foul fluid oozed out from the hole where their nose should have been. Teeth that grew wildly rattled as they moved.
Their bodies were hunched or asymmetrical, as though the bones had grown wrong, causing their skin to bulge uncontrollably.
But the most disgusting part was that within that horrific shape, traces of humanity could be seen.
Half-orcs.
Life born between orcs and humans was cursed in its very form.
What connection was there between the two races that allowed the gods to permit such a dreadful being?
“Half-human, so they are given a chance.”
“How merciful.”
Yuri turned his body.
“Let everyone see.”
This chapter is translated by fe.nrirxlations/jjoest⊹ar
One by one, the knights peered inside, shocked not only by the grotesque form but also by the fact that a hybrid could be born between humans and orcs.
“My gods…”
Few knew much about half-orcs. Most avoided mentioning them, and in truth, they were rare.
Jaime spoke.
“Normally, such a thing doesn’t come to be.”
He scanned the inside as if familiar with it, then withdrew the torch.
“But the fact that there are so many here… What do you think it means?”
Jaime passed by Yuri and gave a faint smile to the other knights.
“You thought we were excessive, but we were only imitating them.”
“Imitating, you say…?”
“The orcs also have their own ‘us’ among them.”
Jaime didn’t elaborate further, but everyone understood the meaning. The more hot-blooded among them struck the wall in frustration, muttering curses.
“You’ll be facing such things.”
The knights were left speechless.
Jaime turned back to them.
“Just a word of caution.”
His gaze finally settled on Yuri. His gray eyes were calm and unwavering.
Yuri asked him.
“Sir Jaime, do you despise orcs?”
He smiled faintly. The scars and wrinkles on his face twisted as he did.
“Yes.”
Everyone had their rivals. If Yuri’s enemy was the Empire, then Jaime’s was the orcs.
Yuri placed his hand over his chest and expressed his gratitude.
“Thanks to the favor you’ve shown today, the orcs will shed more blood. I guarantee it.”
“Is that so?”
Jaime blinked. The light from the torch reflected in his eyes, briefly casting a red glow.
“Thank you.”
He bowed deeply.
After a moment, Jaime rose and turned his attention back to the inside of the prison.
Throughout the entire scene, his expression didn’t falter. What had he seen during his time facing the orcs?
It was said that Jaime recovered his son’s corpse from an orc settlement.
Did those horrors still linger in his gaze?
—-
(T/N): This novel was sniped by a different translation group, even though I was the first to translate it. Then I found out that they used my translation in their recent chapters, how frustrating >.< Anyway, I’m still going to continue with this novel. Please support it by reading it here on our site. Thank you!