Episode 105
The orc’s eyes went wide.
It was like another world.
Is this really the same village I raided before?
Back then, the place had been small and shabby.
Now, the buildings were many times more numerous. The streets were packed with people coming and going. Their faces were full of life, their clothes looked fine, and the stalls overflowed with goods.
“This was Vepar’s old house.”
Where vampires had once lived in groups now stood the residence of Geru, the zombie minister.
Naturally, there wasn’t a trace of vampires left.
On the day of the purge, Bephar and every vampire in the Demon Lord’s domain had been executed.
When the orc returned home, he reported everything.
“Chieftain, it’s all true.”
But more than the news of Bephar ’s death, the chieftain was shaken by the description of the Demon Lord’s lands.
“…Even without the ents, we could never win against that power.”
In the end, the orc chieftain signed a peace treaty with Demon Lord Ludwig.
Since the chieftain couldn’t read, Ariella read out each clause and explained.
The main point was to end all hostilities. No one was to harm travelers or transport moving between the two territories.
Why are so many leaders here illiterate? This is more work than when I signed Ludwig’s contract.
While Ariella grumbled to herself, the chieftain frowned.
“A labor agreement? What does that mean?”
The treaty had several add-ons.
“It means the rules for orcs who come to work in the Demon Lord’s land.”
Ariella explained about wages, raises, days off, and food and lodging.
The more they listened, the more the orcs’ stiff faces softened.
“You mean… we don’t have to work at night? And we get more time to rest than to work—and still get paid?”
To the orcs, the terms sounded so generous they almost seemed suspicious.
“This is normal here. And if you don’t want coin, we’ll pay in food and supplies instead, at fair market value.”
The documents even explained how to calculate fair prices. It was all written for the orcs’ sake.
The first group of orc laborers sent to Ludwig’s land was ten in number.
More would come later, but they started small.
At the site, piles of timber and iron frames waited for them.
“You’ve come a long way. Rest well today.”
The construction overseer looked nervous in front of them.
The orcs, too, were uneasy.
“What if the demons attack us while we sleep?”
“The chieftain already sealed the pact.”
“Of course we will keep it. But what if they betray us?”
They muttered anxiously among themselves.
Living side by side was still uncomfortable.
“Your meal is ready.”
A kobold, even more nervous than the demon, approached carefully.
A moment later, the orcs’ eyes bulged.
Each plate was piled high with meat, enough for their enormous appetites.
The kobold stammered, “If it isn’t enough… please ask for more.”
The orcs stared, dazed.
‘That’s so much!’
‘Why feed us this well?’
‘What if they want us stuffed and sluggish, easy to kill later?’
But hunger crushed their doubts.
The moment they took a bite—
“Ahh!”
A gasp of wonder burst out.
They devoured the food, racing each other for the next bite.
It was incredible.
Orc cooking was crude; they had never tasted anything like this.
The meat, seasoned with spices, was grilled crisp outside, juicy inside, bursting with flavor that made their tongues sing.
Chomp, chomp!
They hadn’t eaten this well in years.
Stuffed full, they finally flopped onto their tents, bellies round.
One orc muttered, trying to save face, “…The food was good. But we shouldn’t lower our guard.”
Awkward silence filled the tent.
The next day—
“First, build your own houses.”
That was unexpected.
“What? Not demon houses first?”
They wouldn’t have complained about staying in tents longer. Yet the demons insisted on giving them homes first, as promised in the contract.
For the orcs, it meant free materials—and only their labor was needed.
“Huh. So this is what they call a blueprint. Demons sure are thorough.”
The overseer explained the drawings. Most of it was numbers, so the orcs understood quickly.
Good. I was worried they’d riot if things went badly.
As expected, the orcs’ strength was incredible.
A log that would take several demons to carry, they lifted one on each shoulder with ease.
After watching, the overseer hurried back to report.
“They work faster than I imagined. Their housing should be done in three days.”
But when he returned at midday—
“Ah, you’re back.”
“What’s next on the list?”
“…What?”
The overseer blinked.
The ground that had been empty hours before now held a finished hut.
Already? I thought it would take days!
Their speed was unbelievable, and it only got faster as they got used to the work.
The orcs looked at him expectantly.
“We’ve been waiting for over an hour. Tell us the next job.”
“…?”
Construction in the Demon Lord’s southern lands raced ahead.
The first ten orcs were soon joined by more, streaming down from the mountains.
Their wages went home as food and supplies for their families.
Everyone could see the results—their neighbors grew richer, their children healthier. Soon, every able-bodied orc volunteered.
“Mom, where are we?”
“This will be our new home from today.”
Some families even moved in entirely.
What had been just a few huts was now a full-fledged orc settlement.
“Your kids look healthier—chubby, even.”
“I know. It’s like heaven compared to the mountains.”
Bang, bang!
Even after building their own homes, the orcs kept working, building houses for demons.
Time passed, and Ariella decided it was time for the next step.
She called the overseer and gave him a special order.
He gathered the orc foremen.
“Attendance check. Gerz, Helyoz, Urz, Beitz, Suutz, Yogitz, Aitz…”
Then he frowned.
“Where’s Tezets?”
“He took leave to care for his sick mother this morning.”
“Oh right, she hurt her back. He told me over drinks the other night.”
The orcs nodded.
“She still hunts despite her age. Tried to wrestle a stag barehanded yesterday, and hurt her back worse.”
“Stubborn old orcs, eh?”
“What about your family, Beitz? Didn’t they catch that cold going around?”
“They drank the herbs your people gave us. They’re fine now. Please thank your contract-holder for us.”
After some chatter, the overseer unrolled a huge blueprint on the table.
“What’s this?”
“Never seen a design like that.”
By now, the orc leaders could read blueprints. They leaned over in curiosity.
“This building’s enormous. Twenty meters tall, and so long! How many demons are supposed to live in one place?”
It was larger than all the other houses combined.
The overseer replied calmly:
“This is a dragon’s lair.”
“A dragon’s lair?”
They all knew a Gold Dragon hatchling lived in the land—they saw Pi flying overhead every day.
“Lady Pi will one day grow as big as a hill. We’re preparing her home in advance.”
The orcs nodded. It made sense.
They even felt jealous that the demons had a dragon guardian.
The overseer swallowed his guilt.
It’s still a secret. They can’t know yet.
Because the truth was, the “dragon’s lair” was no lair at all.
It was a shipyard—large enough for a grown dragon to hide the real purpose.
