Chapter 3 (2/2)
“A divine message from the G.o.d of battle, Maal?”
“Yes. Maal appeared to me because he pitied our Tribe. He personally delivered his message to me, as undeserving as I am.”
“And what was Maal’s message?”
“Lord Maal views us with favor, as we are the only Orc Tribe to wors.h.i.+p him.”
Luke nodded his head.
“That seems reasonable. Humans also wors.h.i.+p Maal, but Maal would definitely view the simple and honest Orcs with favor compared to humans.”
“Somehow that seems like an insult, Kueeek. But I’ll ignore it. The great Maal pitied us enough to gift us with a divine object, imbued with his authority.”
“Divine object? What artifact is that?”
Kurotan frowned, seemingly new to the word ‘artifact’.
“Artifact? What is that word? The cursed human tongue is difficult.”
“Divine object, artifact, they are the same thing. Don’t think about it too hard.”
“Maal told us to become humans in order to continue our faith. The divine object turns us into humans.”
Kurotan’s secret struck Luke like lightning.
“O-Orcs into humans?”
“Yes. This is the ‘artifact’.”
Kurotan revealed an old-fas.h.i.+oned sword. It only had a handle, without a blade, seemingly broken through long use. Luke looked at it with skeptical eyes.
‘How the h.e.l.l would an Orc turn into a human?’
Luke shook off his surprise and asked.
“How does this divine object turn Orcs into humans, Kurotan?”
“Simple.”
Kurotan gripped the broken sword in his right hand and screamed.
“Kueeek, come in!”
A little while later, three well-muscled Orcs entered the cabin.
“d.a.m.n, the smell.”
The Orcs were a race that distanced themselves from bathing. The smell was unimaginable, and Luke couldn’t help but frown.
Kurotan ignored him and spoke to one of the Orcs that had entered.
“Have you prepared yourself, Kalgor?”
“Kooooek, I have. By the will of Maal.”
“So be it. I will commence the ritual.”
Kurotan gripped the sword, and from the broken remainder of the sword a blade of white light suddenly sprouted.
Paaahht.
The gleaming light of the transparent blade was hypnotic.
The next moment, Luke couldn’t help but gasp in surprise.
“Kehup! What have you done?”
It was because Kurotan had stabbed the Orc called Kalgor with the blade. It was the left chest, exactly where the heart was.
Poook.
The blade was sure to have penetrated his heart, but not a drop of blood fell.
Kalgor’s eyes went dark, and the Orc dropped on the spot.
Luke could not believe his eyes. Kurotan had retrieved the blade, but Kalgor’s chest did not have any sort of wound.
“H-He died.”
With the wave of his hand, Kurotan dismissed the remaining two Orcs, who dragged out Kalgor’s corpse.
“Wh-Why did you just kill your subordinate in front of me?”
“Kill? It’s because you don’t see yet. Look carefully.”
Kurotan shoved the s.h.i.+ning blade in front of Luke’s face. Luke could see a small spot of light within the s.h.i.+ning blade.
“It is the soul of Kalgor that I just took. The divine object removed his soul from his body.”
“T-took out the soul?”
“Yes. Kalgor’s body will rot away without the soul. However, Kalgor is not dead. The power of Maal keeps his soul safe in the divine object and will revive him.”
Luke s.h.i.+vered at the unbelievable truth.
“How will you revive Kalgor?”
“Simple. I will pick a human, and then stab the divine object into his heart. Kalgor’s soul will then enter the body and be revived.”
Luke’s pale face turned even whiter.
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