Kays Translations

Chapter 177: The One Who Was Offered

"So, Lutz, when did you know?"

While climbing the hill, Josel asked. His sentence omitted the subject, but in this context, there was only one meaning: the relationship with the serial killer Donald.

Illuminated by torchlight, the split Hyotokomen mask looked eerie rather than comical. It was not something you'd want to see in the middle of the night.

"Well, I guess it was when he started wearing that weird mask..."

"From the beginning of this commotion! Hey, you didn't assist in killing knights, did you?"

Behind the Hyotokomen, his eyes sharpened. Lutz and Claudia had motives to hate and kill knights. If they began to doubt, there would be no end to it.

Lutz panicked and waved his hand, realizing that he had been seriously misunderstood.

"No, no, I wouldn't do such a thing. I'm more like someone who got involved by mistake. Please hear me out."

Lutz started explaining from the point where he met Donald at the materials storage area. Josel, who had been listening in silence, let out a big sigh. His anger and suspicion seemed to have changed to exasperation.

"Let me make it clear that you, Lutz, don't have the duty to arrest the criminal. But in name, you are a knight and belong to the establishment side. Hiding the criminal or covering up their identity isn't a good idea."

"That's absolutely true, I'm sorry. I got carried away by his enthusiasm and eccentricity, and I ended up cooperating with him."

"I'm not going to turn around now and arrest you, but..."

Josel warned Lutz to let him know if anything happened next time.

It was a day filled with apologies and forgiveness for everyone.

They returned to the orc encampment once more. The central shack and a few others had burned down to ashes.

The fire had spread terrifyingly fast. When Lutz thought about what would have happened if Donald hadn't jumped into the shack when it was set on fire, a chill ran down his spine. It was fortunate that it didn't escalate into a wildfire.

They looked at the orcs tied to the trees with stern eyes.

"Hey, your friends didn't come to rescue you?"

The remaining orcs were killed by Ricardo, and despite knowing that, Lutz jokingly mentioned it. The orc glared back resentfully, but there was nothing more they could do.

"I have something to ask you. Tell me about the ritual of offering sacrifices."

The orc snorted arrogantly and gave Lutz a disdainful look.

"Is that the attitude you use when asking for something? Try begging me while sucking my ****, and maybe I'll think about it."

Before he could finish his sentence, Lutz took a hammer out of his pocket and, stooping down, slammed it onto the orc's foot. Regardless of how tough an orc's body might be, targeting the pinky toe was effective.

"Ugyaaah!"

A blood-curdling scream echoed through the night sky as if it were squeezed out of his very soul.

"Have you reconsidered?"

Lutz's tone was light, but his eyes didn't reflect any amusement. He was ready to do whatever it took. Whether this orc lived or died, Lutz wouldn't suffer any loss.

"I-I'm a proud orc. I won't yield to such a dirty threat..."

With tears in his eyes and sweat pouring down, the orc tried to endure the pain.

"Trying to burn a young girl as revenge, while boasting about your pride?"

"You also roasted my comrades alive!"

"Killing in battle and harming non-combatants have different meanings, don't you think?"

"It's the same for the victim!"

The orc's sad cry turned into a scream. Lutz cruelly crushed his second finger.

"It's just a difference of opinion. Well, I'm not talking to you because I want to be friends, so I don't mind."

Lutz stood up and pressed the bloody hammer into the orc's cheek. The orc still didn't answer. But there was a look of fear in his eyes.

Thrice, the hammer was swung, crushing the middle toe of the orc's right foot. A sticky drool leaked out of the orc's mouth like foam.

“M-Man…”

He was wary of what he was going to say this time, but it didn't seem to be the obscene meaning that Lutz had imagined.

"On the night of the full moon. Offer a sacrifice of a virgin and cut off her head with the ax of blessing..."

He spun his words while breathing heavily. Lutz was caressing the crushed part of the oak's leg with his fingertips, so he couldn't stop halfway. If he closed his mouth, his fourth finger would be crushed, that much was certain.

"If an orc drinks the blood that flows from her head, it will gain great power..."

“Josel-san, that ax seems to be called the ``Ax of Blessing''.''

"It's a joke in bad taste."

Josel said this as if spitting it out and continued listening to the orc’s words.

"The orc who gained power becomes the new leader... The previous leader goes on a journey and forms an organization in a new land. This is how the orcs were supposed to expand their sphere of influence..."

This seemed to be the end of the conversation, and the orc slumped down and nodded his head.

The giant orc that Ricardo had previously encountered was probably a former chieftain who had drifted into the area. It makes sense.

But there are still some things we don't know. Lutz looked up at the night sky and twisted his neck. The moon is missing.

"Isn't the night of the full moon already over?"

"Three days ago, it was raining on the day of the ritual."

"It seems like there are quite strict conditions. But it would be troublesome if they mass-produced monsters like that."

On the day of the ritual, it must be sunny. Rain is, of course, not acceptable, and even cloudy weather is questionable.

Every time they perform the ritual, they must bring back a human woman. There's no guarantee that the woman would meet the conditions. That's probably why they targeted a five-year-old this time.

The orc attack on the town had ended after abducting the little girl, not only due to the fierce resistance of the vigilante group but also because they had achieved their objective.

"Where did you get that axe?"

"I don't know. The previous, previous, previous leader, who knows how many generations ago, seemed to have obtained it. It's a story from when I was just a kid."

"The possibility that those giant orcs are scattered all over the continent..."

Josel said with a deeply annoyed expression.

"Let's consider it good if they don't increase any further this time."

"That's right, we can't afford to be picky."

With the discussion among Lutz and the others wrapping up, the orc spoke in a dark voice.

"...Isn't it enough already? Can you let me go?"

The future was bleak, and he had betrayed his comrades. All he had left was his own life.

Lutz pondered for a moment. If he were to release this orc, what would he do next? It was likely he would continue to attack travelers to acquire weapons and food. Allowing an acknowledged offender to escape, knowing the harm they might cause, wouldn't be appropriate for peace-loving civilians.

However, deceiving and killing someone who had met their demand also seemed unfair.

Lutz picked up a nearby spear and walked behind the orc. Using a knife, he cut the ropes.

"Lutz, what are you doing!?"

Josel exclaimed in surprise, which was quite understandable. Lutz didn't respond and handed the spear to the orc.

"Fight me. If you win, I'll let you go."

“"What did you say!?"”

Both Josel and the orc exclaimed simultaneously.

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