novelraw Chapter 156 : Chapter 156
Chapter 156 : Chapter 156
Chapter 156
The Tyrant read the information displayed beneath his closed eyelids.
[Orc]
- Population: 581,212
- Treasury: None
- Food: Extremely Scarce
- Power: Mighty (King’s Army 50,000, Legion 22,521, Warriors 12,442)
- The 2nd Legion Commander has died in action during a mission. You can appoint a new Legion Commander in the information window.
- The 4th Legion Commander has died in action during a mission. You can appoint a new Legion Commander in the information window.
[Faction Relations]
Human: Extremely Wary, At War (Reime Kingdom)
Elf: Racial Enemy
Naga: Hostile
Werewolf: Hostile
Goblin: Hostile
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- The King (Player) has declared the Elves as enemies. Warriors inheriting the souls of warriors will dedicate their lives to hunting the pointed-ears.
- Hostile relationships have been formed with all races. They will attack Orcs immediately upon discovery.
- (New!) The Reime Kingdom has joined the domain war. Relations with the Reime Kingdom have deteriorated.
- (New!) The Human race has defined Orcs as enemies. Disadvantages will occur in diplomacy with the Human race until the rumors subside.
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Reading the information window, the Tyrant spoke as if leaving a review.
“It’s inconvenient.”
Even after confirming the death of the Legion Commanders, he only felt that much emotion.
Just a slight bit of displeasure and inconvenience.
‘It’s a pity the Legion Commander died, but it’s not a big problem. I was planning to purge them after this war anyway.’
Red Orcs are the ones born with the most warlike traits even among Orcs.
They are the ones who fight other tribes every day because they have no way to quell their boiling desire for struggle.
Red Orcs can be said to be the most ‘Orc-like,’ but they are the first clan that needs to be purged for the Orcs to advance.
He was just keeping them around because he regretted losing a talented Legion Commander, but he felt no emotion at the death of the Red clan or the Legion Commander.
‘Rather, what’s unpleasant is this side.’
The Legion Commander’s gaze turned to a new message.
- (New!) The Reime Kingdom has joined Moner’s domain war. Relations with the Reime Kingdom have deteriorated. The domain war is escalated to a conquest war.
The participation of the Reime Kingdom.
Considering Moner is a Duchy of the Reime Kingdom, one might think it natural at first glance, but the Reime Kingdom’s participation would never be the Royal family’s will.
‘Because there are things that don’t change even if the game becomes reality.’
For example, a King who tries to save a Duchy does not exist in this world.
Especially if the Duchy has higher fame than the Royal family and possesses military power comparable to the Royal family.
‘So, there’s no way the Reime Royal family would help Moner.’
The fact that the Moner family was annihilated before the main story of 『Lost Chronicle』 began was probably not a coincidence either.
The cause of the displeasure tickling his chest was here.
‘It’s certain that someone intervened.’
Someone he doesn't know is interfering with him.
‘Who? When, and from where?’
He couldn't answer any of that.
‘Was even being deceived by the World Tree someone’s plan? Or since I was kicked out of the depths as if fleeing?’
Since he didn't even know when the intervention began.
The most suspicious side was the World Tree, which could manipulate humans at will.
‘As expected, was that straw bitch targeting me from the beginning? No, if it were the World Tree, the Witch, who is of the Fairy race, wouldn't have moved. And if she had decided to move, she wouldn't have moved just the Reime Kingdom alone. Then who on earth…….’
The Tyrant’s gaze, moving his finger out of habit, turned to the ring on his finger.
“A player……?”
Actually, this wasn't the first time he suspected another player's intervention.
Things that couldn't happen in the game had been happening continuously for the past few months, such as the Witch ‘coincidentally’ showing interest in a war that should have ended in half a day, or Moner’s soldiers, who should have been holed up in the fortress, ‘coincidentally’ discovering Hlyundeyrr’s experiment.
‘Certainly, such coincidences wouldn’t repeat unless a player intervened.’
Looking at the ring with narrowed eyes, the Tyrant’s gaze moved to the next message.
- (New!) Malicious rumors about the Orc race are spreading across the continent.
- Five kingdoms have defined Orcs who colluded with demons as enemies.
- Disadvantages will occur in diplomacy with the Human race until the rumors subside.
‘Then this must also be a player’s work.’
It was strange from the beginning.
Malicious rumors about ‘Orcs,’ who are monsters.
Isn't that as meaningless as rumors that demons are evil?
‘Unless the person who spread this wasn’t a player.’
However, if a player intervened, the story changes.
From the beginning, the purpose wouldn't have been to lower the Orcs' reputation, but to hinder any possible diplomacy.
‘Is it insurance in case Moner is defeated?’
Even nations that wouldn't normally care what Orcs did in the Demonic Beast Forest would now keep a close watch on Orcs and be wary, as a hostile relationship has been formed.
‘And if I declare territory, a subjugation squad will storm in.’
With such rumors, turning the entire continent into enemies would be only a matter of time.
The strategy of moving surrounding nations using rumors was a familiar one to him as well.
‘No matter how I look at it, it’s definitely a strategy the King of Strategy used.’
Because it was one of the King of Strategy’s strategies that anyone who had played 『Lost Chronicle』 even once wouldn't fail to know.
‘Player, a player…….’
Lost in thought, the Tyrant’s gaze turned to one side of the notification window.
- Time remaining until ‘Community’ opening: 6:32.
The time remaining until the ‘Community,’ where all players gather in one place once a month, is 6 hours and 32 minutes.
The moment he had always considered a waste of time was more anticipated today than ever.
In a few hours, he would know which of the cowards was opposing him.
“I’m looking forward to this evening.”
- Pardon?
When the Shaman who was waiting on him cautiously raised his head and asked at his muttering, the Tyrant casually pointed to the Legion Commander’s corpse and said.
“We cannot let the death of an outstanding warrior be in vain. Gather those qualified to be warriors and share the warrior’s body.”
Licking his molars at the unbearable hunger, the Shaman answered quickly.
- We shall follow the King’s will.
* * *
As night fell, a festival took place in the legion that had stopped its march.
- Alcohol! Bring more Goblin alcohol!
- Meat! We need more meat!
- When are those who went hunting coming back!
It was literally a festival lacking everything, but no Orc cared.
If alcohol was lacking, they drank the blood of Trolls and Goblins, and if meat was lacking, they just caught and ate young Orcs.
- You may eat as much as you want today!
- Krararak!
While a festival and disaster mixed with thousands of laughs and hundreds of screams took place, the Tyrant, who forbade everyone's approach, lay alone.
- Time remaining until Community opening 00:00:30.
- The Community does not guarantee safety.
- Rest assured, you can exit the Community at any time.
‘Still an unfriendly guide.’
Thinking that entry and exit was an incredibly unfriendly guide for 30 seconds.
Flash!
Just as bright light seemed to envelop his eyes, a pure white plaza appeared before him.
In the exact center of the pure white space where not even spatial boundaries existed, a full-length mirror was located.
Normally, he would have turned back without taking a single step closer to that mirror, but today he couldn't do that.
“Tsk, I feel this every time I come, but it’s really bad taste.”
It’s a ‘customizing’ place seen when creating a character, but actual ‘customizing’ cannot be done.
That mirror is the only way to the ‘Community,’ and just a mirror.
As he walked in front of the mirror, not a Tyrant but a frail blond man smiled crookedly at him.
A pathetic human being with dull skin devoid of vitality, a small build, and shoulders hunched inward, who couldn't even properly face himself in the mirror.
“Long time no see, William.”
The man’s name is William, William Powell.
The name and face he was called by on Earth.
When the Tyrant greeted the man in the mirror, a thin and weak voice flowed through his vocal cords.
“I think this every time I come, but it’s really bad taste.”
As he awkwardly waved his hand, the European man in the mirror waved his hand at the same time.
“It’s not even a curse, but to be forced to see this state once a month.”
The being who brought the players to this world and created this space might have made it with the meaning ‘do not forget what you left behind on Earth,’ but William thought the mirror in front of him was one of the biggest mistakes that being made.
“There’s no way I’d want to go back after seeing such a pathetic state.”
The players dragged into this world were only those who had seen the ending of 『Lost Chronicle』 in some way.
A human who cleared 『Lost Chronicle』, which boasted extreme difficulty, cannot be a normal human.
Unless it’s a ruined person who gave up all relationships with others and lived immersed in the game.
Thinking that whoever made it was not in their right mind, he frowned and stepped towards the mirror.
Flash!
A familiar message appeared before the Tyrant’s eyes as he passed through the mirror.
* * *
It is the Community, a space to share joy with everyone!
- You can check necessary information with /help.
- The Community does not guarantee safety.
- If safety is not secured, you can shout ‘Exit’ to return.
- If the physical body’s life is cut off, you will be forcibly exited from the Community.
- You can purchase desired items with Community points. Detailed information can be checked in the shop.
- If you are ready, please shout ‘Enter’ to enter!
* * *
Ian muttered blankly.
“…Where is this?”
Unfolded before his eyes was a pure white space where no boundaries could be found.
The only thing visible was a silver full-length mirror.
“I think I dozed off for a moment.”
When I opened my eyes to the intense light, it was here.
A bizarre place I had never seen once in my life.
Was I kidnapped by the Witch in that short moment?
Or a dragon?
“What do you think, Reina?”
In my drowsy state, I called for Reina out of habit, but Reina’s voice, which always answered with a bright tone, was not heard.
“Reina? Reina!”
I couldn't find her presence or any trace of her.
“Calua! Lina! Hoodwock! Vergil!”
Only after shouting for a long time did I realize.
That I am the only one in this space.
“I can’t find Calua either.”
I couldn't even feel Calua, who was connected by contract.
“Then, is it a place like the mental world Rihaltan used?”
It’s a vague guess, but it felt somewhat similar to the dream space used by Rihaltan, who called himself a Count of the Demon World.
The fact that I can't find Calua connected by contract, and this subtle sense of heterogeneity felt in the empty space with nothing but a mirror.
Thinking I couldn't just stay still, I checked the mirror too, but the silver full-length mirror that looked special to anyone was surprisingly an ordinary full-length mirror.
Rather, I was slightly surprised by Ian's face reflected in the mirror.
“I feel this every time I see it, but he’s really frighteningly handsome.”
I’m not joking, there was a time I stared at the mirror for over thirty minutes by myself.
It feels like my perspective on beauty changes the more I look at it.
“It’s a lifelong regret that I can’t use this face, really.”
After admiring Ian’s face for a moment, feeling awkward, I reached out my hand, and my hand disappeared behind the mirror as if sucked in.
‘Ah, the path was this way.’
Quickly accepting it, I took a step forward, and a message I had never seen before blocked my view.