Praise the Orc

Chapter 92: Nameragon

“Thank you for everything,” said Crockta as he extended his fist toward all of the monster trainees in succession.

The monsters seemed amused by the orcs’ greeting and bumped their fists against his. Out of all the monsters, the ogre was especially sad about Crockta leaving and bid him farewell with a warm gaze.

The cyclops squinted his eye and slowly sounded out the words, “Next. You. Me. Fight.”

“Hahaha, I’m looking forward to it,” replied Crockta.

The cyclops had had his eye on Crockta from the beginning, but he hadn’t had a chance to spar with Crockta because Crockta had always been training with Xantimur. The cyclops was even larger than an ogre and had bulging muscles rippling through his whole body. It would be a match of the century if he were to fight with Crockta.

Meanwhile, Tiyo was conversing with Kiao and the kobold archer who used illusions and guerilla warfare in his battles.

“I will punch holes all over your body with my Vulcan next time,” declared Tiyo.

“Kiak! I will pierce a hole through your abdomen next time kyak. A hole this big kyak!” yelled Kiao.

“Back of your head grrr, arrow grrr, stab grrr!” growled the kobold.

It didn’t seem like a normal conversation, but they still seemed sad about saying goodbye.

Anor was exchanging farewells with the lich. The skeletons who followed the lich were waving goodbye to Anor with their handkerchiefs.

Xantimur was the last of the bunch. The hermit of the Black Forest turned out to be a kind black dragon who helped trainees break down the walls that were in their way.

“You really won’t listen ‘til the end?” asked Xantimur.

“That’s right. I will listen to it next time,” said Tiyo.

At their first meeting, Xantimur had immediately known that Tiyo was Hedor’s son. The two had a similar appearance, and Tiyo was carrying Hedor’s previous weapon, the General. Xantimur had tried to tell Tiyo about Hedor, but Tiyo refused to listen. Tiyo was currently set on getting rid of the crazy chieftain with Crockta, so he didn’t want to risk losing sight of his goal upon learning about his father.

Tiyo had boldly declared to Xantimur that after killing the chieftain, he would return to the Black Forest and receive the information about his father from Xantimur. The declaration was also a promise that he would return to the Black Forest. Xantimur respected Tiyo’s decision and refrained from telling Tiyo about his father.

“But I will ask just one thing,” said Tiyo with a stiff face. “Is my father alive?”

Xantimur calmly looked at Tiyo and then nodded. “Most likely.”

“Then, that’s enough. I will save the rest for later,” replied Tiyo as he turned around.

Kiao kept shouting “Kyak kyak” and slapped Tiyo on the back.

Then Xantimur’s gaze shifted to Crockta.

“Are you going to the Temple of the Fallen God?” asked Xantimur.

“Yes,” replied Crockta.

“I see. To the temple...” muttered Xantimur.

He said that with a blank face, but there was a nostalgic look in his eyes. Xantimur always appeared lost in his memories whenever he talked about the Temple of the Fallen God. Crockta had asked him about the temple a few times, but Xantimur had been sparse with his words.

“Can I visit again after everything is over?” asked Crockta.

Xantimur nodded and said, “Of course, as many times as you want. You are my friend.”

‘He’s saying such a warm thing with a deadpan face,’ thought Crockta.

Nevertheless, warm feelings surged within him.

Crockta extended his fist, and Xantimur bumped his fist against Crockta’s.

“Let’s see each other again. Hope you stay alive,” said Crockta.

“You too,” replied Xantimur.

It was a farewell. Crockta’s party was about to turn and leave when someone spoke up. Crockta looked at where the voice came from—his waist. A steel-mouthed skull had emerged from the belt Crockta wore, the Demon’s Mouth, and said something for a second.

“What did it say?” wondered Crockta.

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He hadn’t been able to hear the Demon’s Mouth properly because it had whispered. Crockta tapped on his belt, but it refused to speak further. He even slapped it a few times, but it remained still like a regular steel belt as if it had fallen asleep again.

“This guy has a story...” said Crockta as he glanced over at Xantimur to explain the belt.

“...!” Xantimur looked at Crockta with surprise.

However, his face then loosened up, and he gave a faint smile. Then, the slightly curved ends of his lips curled and turned into a bright smile. It reminded Crockta of a flower blossoming in the spring. Xantimur’s face wore a beautiful expression that Crockta had never seen before from him. Xantimur was now all smiles, and he was laughing with his eyes.

“Is that so?” replied Xantimur with a bright smile on his face. “I will be waiting for the day we meet again.”

Crockta could only nod while smiling back.

***

Crockta and his friends finally exited the Black Forest and headed to Nameragon.

“Crockta, did you fall in love?” asked Tiyo.

“What do you mean?”

“You seem completely out of it after seeing Xantimur’s killer smile,” commented Tiyo.

“N-No, I’m not...” muttered Crockta.

“Hehehe, I didn’t know that was your type.”

Crockta shook his head and said, “What do you mean? I’m undoubtedly a heterosexual man who loves women.”

“Why does that matter?”

“...?”

Anor, who was beside them, laughed and remarked, “It seems that Crockta doesn’t know much about dragons.”

“As expected, he’s an ignorant guy!” exclaimed Tiyo.

Crockta furrowed his eyebrows at their teasing.

“I can’t understand what you guys are saying,” he said.

Tiyo climbed up onto Crockta’s shoulders and observed Nameragon in the distance.

He explained, “Dragons don’t have gender. Wow, Nameragon is a large city.”

“What?!” exclaimed Crockta.

‘Dragons don’t have gender? Are they hermaphrodites like snails?’ he wondered.

“I heard Nameragon is huge with lots of humans,” continued Tiyo.

“Not that... I meant what you mentioned before that...”

“Ahh, dragons can become female or male depending on their needs. Did you really not know? Xantimur could be a beautiful woman next time you meet him, hehehe.”

“What, is this a scandal? The love between a dragon and an orc? Wow, nice, hahaha,” said Anor with a sly smile.

He had grown cheeky under Tiyo’s influence.

Crockta shook his head and thought, ‘They say the bad drives out the good.’

Anor had definitely found the wrong role model.

“We are almost there,” announced Crockta.

He decided to ignore them and instead took a look at Nameragon in the distance. However, Crockta wasn’t able to see too clearly because there was still quite a distance until they reached the city. So, he activated his Heart and Soul Penetrating Eye to enhance his eyesight. In addition to helping the user analyze their opponent, the skill had the perk of improving the user’s eyesight.

‘Wait, now that I think about it, I gained some kind of new skill,’ remembered Crockta.

[Status Window

Title: ‘One Who Wants to Become a Hero’ Crockta, Orc Warrior

Level: 65

Achievement Points: 545400

Assimilation: 86%

Skills:

World-Engulfing Mountain Wrenching Strength (Pinnacle)

Indomitable Restoration (Pinnacle)

Leyteno’s Heart Swordsmanship (Pinnacle)

Extreme Fighting Spirit (Pinnacle)

Heart and Soul Penetrating Eye (Pinnacle)

Tattoos of War, Honor, and Indomitable Will (Pinnacle)

Army Crushing Roar of Madness (Pinnacle)

Monster Slayer (Essence)

Unknown Mysterious Skill (???)]

Crockta’s new title, One Who Wants to Become a Hero, was similar to his former title, Pursuer of the Pinnacle. His proficiency was guaranteed to rapidly increase until he reached Hero-Tier, but starting from Pinnacle-Tier, he would need more than proficiency to level up. He needed to attain enlightenment.

Crockta noticed that his level and achievement score had also greatly increased. He was sure his ranking had improved as well, but the thing he was curious about was the mysterious skill that couldn’t be identified until he used it. It was truly mysterious.

Right when Crockta was about to use it without giving it much thought, he paused. ‘What if I use this skill, and it creates a giant explosion that injures Tiyo and Anor? Or what if it creates a blade-like storm that sweeps through our surroundings and produces a giant crater... or a meteor that drops from the sky and makes this area into the land of death? Or like in a certain manhwa, will it turn my hair blonde and make my body surge with strength and power-up?’

Crockta muttered to himself, “How troublesome... hahaha.”

He was very excited about the mysterious skill. Despite knowing that having great expectations would lead to greater disappointment, Crockta’s heart still thumped with anticipation at the newly acquired skill. Moreover, it was a skill that he had gained after touching a dragon’s heart. He was certain it was a skill that befitted the prowess of a dragon.

“You have a lewd look on your face, Crockta. What are you thinking about? Perhaps...” probed Tiyo.

“No,” Crockta replied, shaking his head.

“Hmm... Suspicious,” commented Tiyo as he came down from Crockta’s shoulders. “Anyway, Nameragon is right in front of us! Let’s run! Follow me, Anor!”

Tiyo began running toward Nameragon, and Anor followed after him with a dark elf’s characteristic great agility.

Crockta was left alone. He had been staring at his status window trying to decide whether to use his new skill, and he decided now was the time to use it.

“Activate the unknown mysterious skill!” he commanded.

***

“Crockta, what’s wrong?” asked Tiyo.

“It’s nothing,” answered Crockta.

He had a dark expression on his face when he caught up with Tiyo and Anor.

Tiyo tilted his head curiously and said, “Are you sad because we are far away from Xantimur? We can see him ag—”

Crockta picked up a pebble and threw it at Tiyo, who swiftly dodged it.

Tiyo laughed, “Hahaha! You are too sensitive!”

“Don’t push him too hard, Tiyo. Crockta needs some time to realize his feelings. Hahahaha,” teased Anor.

It was even more infuriating when someone like Anor took on the position of an annoying lackey. Crockta grabbed a rock the size of a fist and threw it at Anor, who was still chiming in on Tiyo’s mischievous remarks. Anor screamed and ran away.

That’s how the three of them arrived at Nameragon’s entrance. Nameragon was nowhere near as large as a city in the continent, but it was comparable to Arnin in size.

However, the moment they stepped in front of the entrance, dozens of arrows pointed at them from the top of the city walls.

“...!”

Crockta grabbed the hilt of his greatsword, and Tiyo put his General into gear. Meanwhile, Anor hid behind Crockta.

“Who are you guys?” asked the dark elf standing on top of the entrance.

He was wearing the same attire as the other dark elves on top of the city walls, but he was the only one who had a red cloak wrapped around him.

“Orc, gnome, and a halfie with his ears ripped off. What a bizarre combination,” remarked the red-cloaked dark elf.

Crockta narrowed his eyes.

Then he said politely, “We have come to seek Nameragon’s cooperation. We are in alliance with Orcheim, Dejame, and Altanas’ leaders and have also been acknowledged by Nadya, the leader of Nuridot. My name is Crockta.”

“Ahhh, are you those guys?” the red-cloaked dark elf asked, placing his foot on the guardrails of the city wall. “I heard a trio that enjoys playing the part of the hero has appeared in the north,” he spoke in a provocative tone, seemingly trying to pick a fight with them.

Crockta stayed silent when he realized that there was no point in talking to the red-cloaked dark elf any further. He wouldn’t give up his dignity to gain something out of a hostile situation.

“We can’t just give you guys our permission for nothing,” said the red-cloaked dark elf.

“Do you have a condition?” asked Crockta.

“Hmm... We might consider it if you brought fifty heads of members of your own species or offered a treasure chest filled with gold. We need at least that much to let an orc enter Nameragon.”

“That’s unreasonable.”

“It’s not unreasonable; it’s a fair—”

Crockta pulled out and raised his greatsword before the dark elf finished talking.

“You are greatly mistaken,” Crockta stated.

“Are you out of your mind? How dare you pull out your sword in front of us?” questioned the red-cloaked dark elf.

“Listen closely,” began Crockta.

Mana rose from his body, and the world slowed down.

The Nameragon’s entrance gate was large and thick. Most wouldn’t even think of trying to break through it, but it was different in the world of the pinnacle. Crockta had learned how to freely travel to and from the world of the pinnacle while interacting with Xantimur. In the pinnacle’s territory, that gate was just a piece of wood.

Crockta’s field of vision changed as he entered the realm of the pinnacle.

Crockta continued, “We weren’t asking for permission. We were showing respect.”

He unleashed enormous power from the Ogre Slayer. The mana that the greatsword emitted charged forth, cracking the ground and then striking the gate. A huge crack extended from where Crockta was standing up to the gate.

“What?!” the red-cloaked dark elf shouted in astonishment when he saw the gate crumble.

Crockta now had a view of Nameragon beyond the collapsed gate. The city appeared to be quite advanced. The dark elves who had been passing by inside the city walls looked outside in surprise.

“Just know that we can enter Nameragon any time we want,” declared Crockta.

“...!”

“We were being considerate and holding back from entering by force.”

After witnessing Crockta’s power, the red-cloaked dark elf fell silent. He gritted his teeth and assessed the situation before speaking again.

The red-cloaked dark elf stammered, “Th-This means you guys are willing to become our enemy—!”

Nevertheless, Crockta paid no heed to him.

Crockta turned around and said, “Let’s go.”

He turned his back on Nameragon without any regrets.

“Is that okay? The Temple of the Fallen God is inside Nameragon,” said Tiyo.

“It’s okay,” replied Crockta.

The dark elves behind him were chattering noisily among themselves, but Crockta didn’t care.

He said, “They will need us after two days.”

“What do you mean?” asked Tiyo.

Crockta remembered what he had seen earlier. ‘Two days, two days, two days, two days, two days, two days, two days. It’s two days for everyone. Their remaining lifespan is just two days.’

[Ashen Eyes of God (Beyond Classification)—this is a skill that cannot be classified into a specific tier because it was bestowed upon you by divine power. With this skill, you can temporarily see the remaining lifespan of those who enter your field of vision once a day.]