Chapter 41 – / 41

/ 41

Pyrrhia looked at the sky, which was ridiculously different from usual, and slowly closed her eyes.

Was she fortunate among misfortunes? At least Pyria did not fall to her death.

Pyrrhia felt something warm and soft surrounding her body. Could it be that Randel accepted her? It was a ridiculous thought, but Pyrrhia imagined it and opened her eyes.

“..!”

Pyrrha’s imagination was only half right.

It was true that someone picked up Pyrrha from her she fell her and held her in her arms her her her, but that person was not Randel, but Nerka, the orc slave who had slapped her just moments ago .

“You, you… Big…!”

Pyrrhia was unable to finish her sentence and moaned at the pain radiating from her side. She must have been hit by something the orcs threw at her. Luckily she didn’t seem to have any cuts or broken bones, but for Pyrrha, who was not at all used to physical pain, that was enough to take away her concentration.

“…”

Nerka just looked ahead of her in silence, holding her Pyria in her arms. She had an indifferent expression, as if she had no interest in her.

Pyrrhia inadvertently followed the end of that gaze and turned her head in the direction where Nerca was looking.

“Ah…”

There, Randel was.

He was on his knees, completely battered. He seemed unable to move because two large orcs were holding down his shoulders. If he had been in perfect condition, he would have easily escaped this level of oppression, but right now, he was completely depleted of both physical strength and magical power.

Still, Randel was still alive.

“Randel… Randel..!”

Pyrrhia struggled to get out of Nerka’s arms. Nerka obediently placed Pyrrhia on the floor, but she was soon approached by two other orcs who restrained her arms. Her wand had already disappeared somewhere.

“Ugh..! You dirty things! Let go of this! Release Randel!”

“Woman.”

“..!”

Why? Pyrrhia felt an inexplicable sense of strangeness in every word Nerka said. Is it because he treated himself poorly, even though he was just an orc slave? Or…

Maybe it was because she felt vaguely uneasy when he called her ‘woman’.

Only then did Pyrrhia begin to see the situation around her little by little.

Numerous orcs surrounded herself and Randel. It’s glaring at her as if it’s going to eat her at any moment, but it doesn’t come closer than a certain distance away from her. Just as a well-trained army is under the control of its commander.

And right now, there was only one orc speaking freely.

Pyrrhia said, looking at Nerca with her doubtful expression.

“Who the hell are you…?”

“…”

Nerka did not answer the question. He just looked at Pyrrhia with the same indifferent expression as before.

After a moment of silence, Nerka spoke. However, it was not an answer to the question.

“Choose, woman.”

“..What?”

Choosing… What do you mean choosing?

“I will give you two options. If you choose the first option, I will let you out of here safely. However, in that case, that man will be killed immediately. On the other hand, the other option is the option that can save that man. Instead, in that case, …”

“Are you… Going to kill me?”

“No.”

As Nerka continued, the color disappeared from Pyria’s face her.

“I will use it as a seedling until I die.”

…

“Hoo… This is the capital of the empire, Imperial Town.”

Minwoo, who was looking around, said with admiration. It certainly seemed different both qualitatively and in scale from the villages we had passed through so far. In fact, the only places he passed through were Roswell Village and Viscount Shelton’s estate, so there was no comparison.

Aisha said.

“Well… I’m here for the first time in almost decades, but… It doesn’t seem like much has changed.”

Aisha and Minwoo were looking around the streets like people who came to Seoul from the countryside. Due to the possibility that the transfer magic circle could be used for unholy purposes, it was installed on the outskirts of the capital, far from the imperial palace, so the two people had to walk for some distance.

In fact, given Aisha’s position, she could have easily gone by carriage, but she deliberately did not do that. Unlike during the time of Viscount Shelton, the imperial castle could not be entered by anyone except those with permission, so it was necessary to find a place for Minwoo to stay, even for a few days.

“Hmm… How about there? It’s relatively close to the imperial palace, and the facilities don’t look bad?”

The place Aisha pointed to was a three-story stone building. Compared to the inn I stayed at in Roswell Village, it was literally the difference between a local inn and a hotel… It wasn’t that much, but it was an inn that had a certain level of luxury and friendliness at the same time. The structure was similar; the first floor was operated as a restaurant and pub, and the upper floors seemed to be accommodations.

“I don’t know much, so let Aisha decide.”

“Then let’s go. I’ll pay for everything, like lodging, so don’t worry.”

“Haha… I really feel indebted to you.”

“What’s going on… Why are we talking like that between us?”

Aisha said so, crossed her arms and dragged Minwoo into her inn.

“Haha…”

Our relationship… Does she really know what our relationship is and she says things like that? Minwoo just smiled.

After Aisha got Minwoo a room and gave her plenty of money, she left for the imperial palace. She says she will be able to contact her in five days at the latest. Minwoo had no intention of returning to his original world from the beginning, so it wouldn’t have any particular meaning.

However, being able to enter the imperial palace was a significant advantage for him. There might be a chance to meet the warriors, and since it was the imperial palace, many beautiful women would be waiting for Min-woo. A princess, a princess, etc…

However, the first target Minwoo met when he came to the capital was neither the princess nor the princess.

…

“Why are you giving me that choice?”

Pyrrha’s question was valid. There is no need for Nerka to give the two people a choice in this situation. You can do whatever you want, whether you kill or live, so why make them make that choice?

“Because that part is fun.”

Nerka answered with a completely uninterested expression.

“Fun…? Ha…That’s the only reason…”

“That’s the only reason?”

When Pyrrhia said it was absurd, Nerka asked back.

“Then do you humans have some very noble ideology, and have kept us as slaves for a thousand years?”

“What is that…”

When Pyrrhia was speechless, Nerca spoke calmly.

“In the past, we were defeated by you humans. That is why we have lived as slaves until now. There is no special reason, thought, or ideology. It is just that the winners enjoy and the losers have everything taken away.”

“..So? What does that mean?”

“Nothing. I’m not particularly dissatisfied with that. But you humans always like to pretend. It’s as if we are uncivilized and ignorant and have no choice but to become slaves.”

“…”

“So I became curious. How noble are you who treated us like animals? So, make your choice. “I will respect whichever you choose.”

As soon as Nerka finished speaking, Randel, who had suddenly been suppressed, cried out.

“Mr. Pyria! There’s no need to listen to what he says! There’s no way the orcs could keep that promise… Haha..!”

Before Randel could finish speaking, Nerka made a slight gesture, and one of the orcs who was oppressing him hit his solar plexus hard. Randel lost his consciousness.

“Is it easier to choose now?”

“…”

“It’s okay. Everyone wants to live. There’s no need to be ashamed.”

Ignoring Nerka’s sarcasm, Pyrrhia opened her mouth.

“I have one question.”

“As much as you want.”

“Even if I choose to let him live, he is very injured right now. Even if you don’t touch him, there is no guarantee that he will return safely from here.”

Monsters occasionally appear in the desolate land. It wouldn’t be a problem if he was in good condition, but it would be dangerous for Randel now.

“I’ll give you at least first aid. I won’t give you much, though.”

I would say it was surprisingly generous treatment. Pyrrhia checked one last time.

“..Nobility and all, so you made a fuss first… You’ll keep your promise, right?”

“Surely… “You plan to save that man?”

“…”

Pyrrhia looked at Randel, who had fainted. In all her life until now, she had never experienced true love. Even with Randel, she didn’t really confirm her feelings for each other. It hasn’t been long since she found out. There is no need to sacrifice my entire life for him.

‘What… If you didn’t want to be called by your name, why didn’t you tell me from the beginning?’

‘No, it’s the opposite.’

What is opposition?

Pyrrhia saw Randel with her head down, unconscious. Her Pyrrha’s eyes were shaking greatly. She opened and closed her mouth repeatedly.

Pyrrhia bit her lip.

“I…”

“…”

She chose.