Chapter : 123
Heimken (3)
“Who are you?”
“Probably a guide.”
When permission from the Russian side was obtained, a message must have already been sent to the Heimken side. That orc was clearly sent by Heimken.
“Umm… hello?”
“Sorry, you’re in the wrong country.”
An orc wearing a t-shirt approached, looking at a small booklet while speaking. It was completely off, though.
“Doesn’t someone in charge usually carry at least a translation device?”
“Our guests bring their own, so it’s unnecessary. Not from the U.S., maybe China?”
“Korea.”
“Ah, Korea. Right. Kim Ch…”
“Stop wasting time with nonsense. Will you show us the way or not?”
“Yes, sir.”
At Suhyun’s command, the orc obediently turned. Most of the people who reached this place were either wealthy or had something else that mattered, and it never paid to argue with them.
“What’s your name?”
In response to Kim Chang-sik’s question, the orc answered politely.
“You can call me Kruk, sir. But… your group is unusual. I’ve been working as a guide for over ten years, and I’ve never seen a group like this. That monster—are you controlling it properly?”
Since Shaina was handling the tiger, Kruk wasn’t particularly surprised. Dark Elves taming monsters was fairly well known.
“Don’t worry. It won’t bite.”
“That doesn’t seem like it’s just about biting or not…”
Kim Chang-sik quickly befriended the orc, chatting casually, and Park Soo-yong asked with concern:
“Is it okay to just let him talk like that?”
“It’s fine. That’s exactly why I’m letting him.”
“?”
“Orc guides are honestly only useful for tourists. They don’t matter much to us. We kept him around only because of the internal situation.”
The incident with Mogok being beaten and chased away was clearly an anomaly. That such an incident occurred meant there was a reason, and that reason was always noticeable.
“A guide like this will understand the internal situation. Let him get familiar like that.”
“Yes, sir.”
Taking a short break, Suhyun called Kim Chang-sik over and gave him instructions: ask if anything was happening in Heimken, especially if there were any rumors around the chieftain.
“I’m nervous if I can do this well.”
“You’re the best at talking, what are you nervous about?”
“Team leader!”
“Just kidding. He’s experienced and tough; being careful won’t change that. If you lie, you’ll just see their reaction, so ask casually. Here.”
“Money? Why?”
“You give him money while asking. Don’t be too obvious about it.”
Some members of other races maintained their ways despite contact with humans, while others were influenced heavily by humans. An orc who had long served as a guide for humans would be a typical example of the latter.
Feeling the illusion break, Kim Chang-sik asked:
“So, is anything happening in Heimken lately?”
“Excuse me? What do you mean?”
“Anything at all. You never know, even small information can help people like us. Someone might be planning new developments…”
He handed a bill to Kruk, who quickly pocketed it with a grin.
“Then you’ve asked the right question. See that gentle hill over there? The plan is actually to level it and develop it…”
Suhyun sighed. This orc had only learned the worst things from humans. A stranger might not know, but Suhyun saw it as a trivial lie.
“Don’t talk nonsense. Development here is impossible. I understand you want to be helpful, but if you’re going to lie, don’t bother.”
“!”
“What? That was a lie?”
Kim Chang-sik looked at Kruk with a betrayed expression. Kruk avoided eye contact with an awkward smile.
“No, rumors work like that. Even if some parts are true, others can be wrong…”
“You little… I even gave you a tip…”
Kruk quickly thought. If he continued like this, he wouldn’t even recover his money. He needed to come up with something believable.
“Ah! Recently, some humans have been visiting Chief Herkul frequently. Normally, humans don’t come so often.”
“Isn’t that a lie too? The chieftain is very high-ranking, practically the king here. How do you know who he meets?”
Having been tricked once, Kim Chang-sik’s face was full of suspicion. Kruk waved his hands frantically, trying to regain trust.
“It’s not a lie. It’s true! I know who Chief Herkul meets because I’m close to him.”
“Who are they?”
“Huh?”
Suhyun, who had been quietly listening, intervened.
“You said they visit often. Who are they?”
“Well… I’m not sure?”
Kim Chang-sik’s gaze turned cold. Kruk shouted desperately:
“There’s no way for me to know that! How would I know!”
“If you know what to look for, it’s easy. Did you see them visiting?”
“From afar…”
“Was their skin similar to ours?”
“I think so.”
“…They’re Chinese.”
“Eh? You can tell just from that?”
“It might not be, but it’s likely. East Asians are uncommon here…”
It could have been Korean, but Chinese was more probable.
‘For what reason?’
Heimken was not a newly discovered place. It was already well known, so there was little reason to try something new now.
“You’re close to the chieftain?”
“Yes! Chief Herkul has always adored me since I was a child.”
“That works out.”
“?”
“We need to meet the chieftain. Can you arrange it?”
“Eh? That’s a bit…”
Outside access within the city was limited. To meet the chieftain or other important figures, formal permission was needed.
Suhyun had deliberately avoided such procedures.
‘Mogok got beaten and chased away. Even if we requested officially, they’d have refused.’
Moreover, unnecessary attention would have multiplied.
“Not enough money?”
“It’s not about the money… well, more would be nice, of course.”
Even while refusing, Kruk remained consistent.
“Chief Herkul isn’t someone you can meet just because you want. If I say outsiders want to meet him, the people below would immediately cause trouble.”
“In short, the chieftain has no reason to meet us?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Go tell the chieftain there’s something to discuss about Marlock.”
“?”
“That’s enough. He won’t stay idle after that anyway.”
Heimken lived up to its reputation. Following the mountain slopes, the massive stone city drew awe from the team—except for Luiril, Shaina, Gorgan, and Mogok.
Tourists were usually guided along the city gates on a set path. But Suhyun’s team was led straight inside.
“Is this okay?”
“What is?”
“Isn’t this too direct?”
Seo Kang-seok looked worried. Many mercenaries underestimated other races, but as a hunter, he knew their strength.
Even small tribes could spill blood if mishandled; city-level orcs were even more dangerous.
“Given what happened to Mogok, something’s going on, right?”
“Yes. If we speak too directly without knowing, we could suffer consequences…”
“You’re misunderstanding one thing.”
“?”
“I told you to say: if you can, go ahead and try.”
“Eh?”
“Tell them they can act as boldly as they did with Mogok, if they dare.”
Suhyun’s expression was calm, but Seo Kang-seok sensed the lethal intent beneath. Cold fire sparkled in Suhyun’s eyes.
“I never forgive anyone who messes with my people. If they don’t understand and strike again, it’s combat.”
Seo Kang-seok swallowed dryly. Suhyun had not misjudged the situation. If a fight were necessary, she seemed willing.
“Nervous?”
“I can repay what you’ve done for me so far.”
Suhyun smiled faintly. This was why Seo Kang-seok admired her.
“But I don’t think there’s anything to worry about now.”
“Eh?”
“The chieftain isn’t foolish.”
They walked through the inner fortress corridors, reaching a large hall. Shaina leaned against the Poshukan tiger, listening to Suhyun and Seo Kang-seok.
Orcs guarding the inner gates were initially shocked at the monster but allowed entry after seeing a Dark Elf hold its reins.
‘If they treated us like last time, they’d be crazy.’
Mogok’s team was all orcs, and physically unthreatening, so the guards could handle them easily.
Suhyun’s team included many humans, additional races, and even monsters. It was an unusual group, and the orcs could tell.
Reports must have been sent already, and they would test the newcomers until they knew their purpose.
“Come inside. Leave the monster and weapons here.”
The team frowned. Mogok had been beaten, and now they were expected to leave their weapons? They looked to Suhyun for guidance.
“Leave your gear here.”
“Is that okay?”
“Yes. You won’t need to fight with weapons anyway.”
Slowly, the team set down their weapons. Shaina struggled to calm the growling tiger.
“Quiet now… calm… okay?”
- Grrr…
“Is this really okay?”
Shaina ignored the orc’s question and walked on.
Beyond the hall doors was a space adorned with banners. At the center stood a massive orc, back turned, muscles visible through his cloth.
‘The orc chieftain really is different!’
The team nodded in awe. Suhyun scanned the area. Other than the orc guards watching them warily, no one else was visible.
“Welcome. I am the chieftain, Herkul.”
The orc strode forward and extended his hand. Suhyun wasn’t short, but the orc’s head towered over her by a full head.
Smack!
“?!”
Suhyun slapped the orc’s hand away. The orc’s face twisted in anger, growling fiercely.
“What’s the meaning of this?”
“We’re not here for fun. If you don’t want trouble, bring the real chieftain.”
The reply came from elsewhere. A small orc, almost dwarf-sized, jumped up from a turned chair. Not a chieftain by appearance.
“How did you know?”
“If someone unfit tries to imitate, it shows.”
“Calm down and talk, won’t you?”
“My subordinates were beaten and chased away. I see no reason to stay calm.”
“Subordinates… ah… those orcs. Kazak, stand down.”
The large orc glanced at the real chieftain, then back at Suhyun. He seemed displeased with her stiff posture before the chieftain.
“Don’t listen?”
“Human, show respect. No one can be insolent before Herkul.”
“Ah… respect.”
Thunk!
Kazak’s knees collapsed. Kneeling before Suhyun, he looked shocked.
“Do you think you can be insolent in front of me? Much better. This is respect.”
“You… human…!”
“Want me to teach proper respect?”
Kazak’s movement stopped mid-action and his body collapsed to the floor. Subdued by an invisible force, he groaned deeply.
“Stop!”
Clack!
Orc guards nearby drew weapons. The team immediately grabbed their artifacts. They had left their weapons, but not their artifacts.
Yet they didn’t need to use them.
Crunch!
The orcs’ weapons bent and lifted in the air. Controlling them with psychokinesis, Suhyun flung the orcs into the corners.
