âThatâs something I canât do.â But Bash no longer looked at Nazar.
âHuh?â Carrotâs stunned voice sounded very loud. âWhy? But you said the other day that we would fight shoulder to shoulder again!â
âI owe this man a debt.â
âA debtâŠ!â
âThatâs right.â
âSo you accept it!? You accept the current status quo!?â
âWhatâs wrong with the status quo?â
âThe succubi are starving now, even our children are! Itâs the same with the orcs! In fact, after the war, many warriors left the country because they were dissatisfied with the Orc Kingâs rule! Many proud warriors! Even Gagan, who had reached the rank of Greatchief, left the country because he couldnât stay there, because he couldnât even sleep with a woman! He told me that he would be willing to become my slave if he could only sleep with one! A succubus like me! And this is the result!â
Bash saw Gaganâs body. From where Nazar was standing, it was impossible to read Bashâs expression. But he looked somewhat sad.
âI understand Gaganâs feelings, butâŠâ Bash said and was silent for a while. It was as if he was choosing his words. After a while, Bash said softly, âThis is what it means to be defeated.â*
Frizcop: Damn, that line hit hardâŠ
Hearing this, Carrot made an astonished face and then fell silent.
âI see. You are the usual Sir Bash, and you have come all this way with determinationâŠâ Carrot said and stood up slowly. Her face looked as if she was about to cry. It looked like she was dismissing a warrior who was going into a battle they could not win. âNo matter what I say, will it be impossible to change your mind?â
âThat is true.â
âEven if I tell you that the Demon King Gediguz will return?â
âEven with that.â
Carrot slowly closed her eyes and exhaled with a snort.
âI understand⊠even though we follow different paths, I respect you as a warrior.â
âI also consider you a warrior worthy of respect.â
Carrotâs cheeks colored slightly and her mouth relaxed at the words. But her shy smile faded quickly. She hardened her expression. From a woman who longed to be a hero to the face of a warrior.
âEven if I have to defeat you, I will not abandon my path.â
âI seeâŠâ
Carrot stepped in front of Bash and prepared her fists. The two warriors needed no more questions.
âFormer Commander-in-Chief of the First Battalion of the Queen of the Succubus Nation, Carrot of the Hissing Voice.â Carrot said her name. She tousled her hair and spoke her name in a bewitching manner.
âFormer warrior of the Boulder Company, Orc Kingdom. Bash, the Orc Hero.â Bash spoke his name as well. It was an impressive name, but there seemed to be some hesitation in his voice. Perhaps he was hesitating to fight her because he could empathize with the succubusâ current situation. ââŠâ
Bash glared at Carrot and readied his fists. They had no weapons. Both Bash and Carrot had left their weapons behind when they entered the royal palace. The only person who had a weapon here was Nazar, who had brought his own sword with his prior permission.
So he did not move. It was a perfect opportunity to escape, but he didnât.
Well⊠thatâs about it⊠Iâm incredibly impressed. How wonderfulâŠ
Nazar didnât know about their relationship. Since he hadnât seen them, he didnât know what kind of conversation theyâd had before. But at least the conversation Carrot suggested couldnât have been bad for Bash. If war broke out, he could throw himself into the fray as much as he wanted. There would be no lack of women. Not only would there be no shortage, but succubi would be willing to serve them. And if Gediguz were resurrected, victory would be assured. He could have it all.
But Bash objected. He owed it to Nazar.
And all Nazar did was allow him access to the border. He also took him to the royal palace, but he felt bad about it, considering the problems that arose afterwards. Normally, no one would have been grateful. It would not be surprising if he felt that he had been tricked.
But Bash took it as a debt. No, more than a âdebtâ, a âdutyâ. That was why he rejected Carrot.
Nazarâs heart burned.
He tried to protect the pride of the orcs while accepting defeat. He believed that the orcs should change with the times.
Or perhaps it was reprehensible in the eyes of the orc race as a whole. What did it mean to accept defeat? They had no other choice but to fight. Fighting, capturing, and raping women was the orcish way of life. But Bash refused, choosing instead to follow what he believed to be the right path.
Nazar thought that Bashâs goal was similar to his own. He thought they were going to the same place, just in different ways. But no. His destination must be farther away than Nazarâs.
Surely the Orc Hero was looking to the future. The future where the era of peace would continue as it did now. Something even he could not see. Otherwise, he wouldnât have said that he was indebted to Nazar, who couldnât help him much and hid his true identity from him.
Houston, now I understand why you praised Bash so much in your letter.
There was no way for him to escape this situation. Nazar was determined to see the election, the battle, and the pride of the Orc before him.