Chapter 269: Form of Trust

The first to regain composure was Victor. Although it was something he wasn’t particularly accustomed to, he was used to being told things he didn’t want to hear.

“Oh… First of all, I’d like to clarify something. When you say ‘five or more’ giant Orcs, does that mean you didn’t confirm the exact number?”

“Y-yes… We were afraid of being discovered if we got too close…”

Perhaps feeling scolded, the knight lowered his shoulders as he spoke. Being a former member of the Thirteenth Knight Corps already put him in a vulnerable position, and offending the captain wasn’t just his own problem.

Victor waved his hand in a hurried manner, denying any blame. 

“Sorry, I’m not blaming you. On the contrary, retreating was the right decision. Reconnaissance isn’t over until you safely return and report back.”

Relieved by the captain’s consideration, the knight nodded.

Victor pondered, pressing his fingers against his forehead, wondering where to start. Then, he turned to Lutz.

“You mentioned that you’ve fought giant Orcs before. Could you share that story with everyone again, as detailed as possible?”

Victor treated Lutz as an integral part of the discussion. Lutz had no intention of leaving prematurely, and so he began to speak as requested.

Although this was the second time Victor had heard Lutz’s tale of defeating Orcs, the previous telling had been more of a heroic anecdote, whereas now they sought to find a way to defeat the giant Orcs. Victor listened intently, not wanting to miss a single word.

Giant Orcs, White Lilies, the cursed axe…

When Lutz finished speaking, everyone’s faces had turned pale. Particularly, the part about sacrificing a virgin to make the Orcs grow larger was simply gruesome.

“Wait a minute.” 

Keith suddenly spoke up, as if struck by a thought. 

“You said they sacrifice a virgin on a full moon night to create a giant Orc. It doesn’t make sense. It seems like a lot of effort for the frequency of their attacks to be odd, doesn’t it?”

“Several cases of young women being abducted in various places haven’t been reported. Even during the recent attack, the Orcs destroyed houses but didn’t seem interested in abducting people.” 

Next, their eyes focused on Karin, but she also said that there were no reports of orc sightings or kidnappings in the territory.

“Isn’t it possible that the premise of giant Orcs multiplying through a ritual is incorrect? You didn’t actually witness the ritual, did you?” 

Keith asked, to which Lutz replied with a somewhat troubled expression.

“Based on the situation that day and the conversations we overheard from the Orcs, I’d say it’s almost certain…”

“Well, let’s leave that discussion for later. The problem now isn’t the location of the cabbage patch, but the fact that the Orcs are roaming around arrogantly.” 

Victor summarized, and everyone agreed.

“Keith, gather the former members of the Thirteenth Knight Corps and head to the village ahead of us. I’ll seek His Majesty’s approval and follow after.” 

“B-but… What should we do if the Orcs attack before the main unit arrives?”

“You’ll deal with it yourselves, obviously.” 

Victor replied sharply.

Even someone like Leonard had to fight against opponents who would cost him his life. Victor saw through Keith’s hesitance as if reading his mind, and fixed him with a sharp gaze.

“I’ve waited long enough.”

“Huh…”

Keith was given time to organize his thoughts. Whether he had actually managed to do so was up to him. Victor’s kindness and severity lay in allowing him to fulfill his duties as a knight; if he died while still hesitating, that was his own choice.

Keith left the room with the knight who had come to report. After seeing the door close, Victor let out a heavy sigh. Then, he awkwardly smiled at Karin.

“Sorry, but let’s postpone the discussion about relinquishing your title for now. We can’t exactly tag it along with the report of discovering giant Orcs.”

“It’s understandable. Please don’t worry about me.”

“I appreciate you saying that. His Majesty seems to be showing more concern for me lately; I’m sure he won’t refuse a meeting. …I wonder why that is?”

Victor, wearing a puzzled expression about why he was favored by the king, saw Lutz raise his hand with a slightly hesitant gesture. When Victor nodded, Lutz began to speak.

“Perhaps it’s a sense of camaraderie between those who possess legendary swords.”

“Just that? Is that all?”

“Sometimes, even the smallest gestures can lead to a sense of goodwill.

Upon hearing this from Lutz, Victor reflected on himself.

To be honest, Victor had never really thought highly of the king. He saw him as a lifeless figure, a man who sat on the throne solely because of his lineage. While Victor maintained a certain level of respect, it was directed towards the royal bloodline rather than the individual, Ratwald Walscheid.

However, recently, that perception seemed to be changing. The king had begun initiating conversations with him, and there did indeed seem to be a sense of camaraderie among fellow wielders of legendary swords.

Moreover, the king had been showing a lively demeanor for about six months now, actively engaging in state affairs. Unlike before, Victor had no intention of saying that he was unfit to be king.

“Yeah, that’s right. I doubt the deployment request would be rejected now.”

If the king had been indecisive, he might have dismissed the threat of giant Orcs, saying it could be a misunderstanding and refusing to allow the knight corps to act.

There are people who, in their effort to avoid trouble, end up causing even more. If that happened, the village and the former Thirteenth Knight Corps would undoubtedly be devastated.

However, Victor trusted that the current king would permit deployment. And he was somewhat surprised to find himself having such trust in the king.

While he could deceive by claiming it was reconnaissance or patrol if only a part of the knight corps was mobilized, he couldn’t complain if he were treated as a rebel for moving the entire army without formal orders.

Furthermore, even if they were to defeat monsters without formal orders, they wouldn’t receive any reward money. They would have to pay for provisions and equipment repairs out of their own pockets. It was a topic Victor didn’t want to dwell on, but they wouldn’t even be able to provide condolence money to the families of the fallen soldiers. For those who managed and operated the army, money was crucial. Regardless of chivalry or facade, those who didn’t understand the value of money weren’t worthy of being knights.

“Alright, I’ll go right away. You all can go home today.”

As Victor stood up and reached for his cloak, Lutz straightened his back and spoke.

“Your Excellency, please let me participate in the Orc extermination as well.”

Victor gazed at Lutz’s face for a moment, seemingly surprised. Then, with a smile full of his characteristic wildness, he replied.

“Sure, do as you please.”

As he briskly put on his cloak and left, his figure was one befitting of a hero.

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