19. Today, I just want to slightly offend you.

Relying on Gerolum’s status as a high-ranking orc beside me, even though the Grand Sorcerer of the Austro-Hungarian tribe was glaring at me with a fierce gaze that seemed to wish I were chopped into pieces, he could not refuse to meet me simply because he was displeased.

After a brief explanation from Gerolum, I successfully met this orc who was somewhat unlike any orc I had encountered—the Grand Sorcerer of the Austro-Hungarian tribe. Unlike the previous gatherings of orcs at the “High Orc Council,” this was a “private meeting” between me and the Grand Sorcerer. Given the prior circumstances, it was strange to expect any good attitude from him.

[The Grand Sorcerer designed to kill Eugilid because his plans were thwarted by him!]

With the reappearance of this orc’s death script, his words, which were less about “hostility” and more about hiding a desire to “stab me,” emerged beneath a sarcastic demeanor.

“What’s wrong, human? Do you still need to come to me for an investigation after fulfilling the Great Chief’s request?”

Right from the start, he was trying to trip me up. Compared to Gerolum and the Minotaur brother, this Grand Sorcerer was indeed much smarter. It was only upon arriving here that I realized what I had been suspicious about regarding the Grand Sorcerer.

After all, this was undoubtedly the Grand Sorcerer’s residence, and whether it was the luxurious mansion that could rival the grand castles of the human kingdoms or the shiny gold and silver treasures within, everything reflected the Grand Sorcerer’s “high status and power,” making him seem quite different from other orcs.

You see, the Minotaur brother I encountered with Kephiel was said to be the chief of the Minotaur clan! Yet that brother casually sat on the ground, eating grass and reading, while the pile of grass beside him seemed to be both his food and his bed!

As for the Grand Sorcerer before me, if it weren’t for his appearance, I might have mistaken this place for the residence of some human noble. So… I had to be extremely cautious; at the very least, I couldn’t treat this Grand Sorcerer as an ordinary single-celled orc. Moreover, with Kephiel not by my side, even though Gerolum was acting as my bodyguard, there were some death scripts that he couldn’t help me resolve…

Calming my thoughts, I steeled my resolve; now was not the time to back down.

My plan had already begun!

“The investigation has already concluded, Grand Sorcerer.”

Gathering my composure, I met the Grand Sorcerer’s truly “sneaky” gaze. Compared to Gerolum, who seemed strong once you got used to him, for some reason, the Grand Sorcerer appeared to me more like a giant rat.

“However, since I can’t find your Great Chief for the time being, I thought I should inform you of the results. After all, when the Great Chief of the Austro-Hungarian tribe is absent, aren’t you the second orc in charge?”

With that, I immediately glanced at Gerolum. To my surprise, I had intended to subtly remind him not to “undermine me,” but Gerolum seemed to have already understood that I was “talking nonsense,” nodding along with a casual “uh-huh, yes, yes!”

It seemed that Gerolum had taken the wrong medicine today; he was being too perceptive!

Dealing with this Grand Sorcerer was more important, and I had no time to think further. After all, compared to the relatively clever Gerolum, the Grand Sorcerer before me was clearly more troublesome and dangerous.

[The Grand Sorcerer doubts Eugilid’s words!]

As the script unfolded, I was met with the unmistakable suspicion and mockery reflected in the Grand Sorcerer’s shifty eyes.

“Results? Did you catch any orc? When I look at the results… it can’t possibly mean that you humans have achieved nothing, right?”

I immediately grabbed the visibly irritated Gorom.

Trying to mock me? Hmph, you’re still centuries too early for that, orc!

I scoffed disdainfully, and as the orc furrowed his brow, I proudly spoke up.

“Achieved nothing? How could that be? If I had achieved nothing, would I even come to you? I know exactly what you’re thinking.”

“…”

“I want to inform the Grand Sorcerer about you. I already have leads on the ‘Shadow.’ I came to you today just to ask for your cooperation in preparing to catch someone. This is a command from your tribe’s chieftain himself, Grand Sorcerer. You wouldn’t dare hesitate because of personal feelings, would you?”

As soon as I finished speaking, the expected script unfolded!

【The Grand Sorcerer holds a grudge against Oqilide!】

The hint of “bragging” in my words was too obvious; the Grand Sorcerer couldn’t possibly miss it. I saw him furrow his brow tightly, as if trying to bore a hole through me with his gaze, and it took him a while to squeeze out a response from his throat.

“Found it?”

“Pretty much. Speaking of which… you really are something, Grand Sorcerer. You keep shouting about wanting to clash with the elves, yet you can’t even find a criminal. Look, we just arrived and casually asked around, and we found someone. Sigh… do you still want to be the Grand Sorcerer like this?”

“You!”

In the next moment, I clearly saw the Grand Sorcerer wanting to leap up and stab me, but Gorom’s robust figure forced him to swallow that thought. It seemed to take him quite a while to calm down, though the lingering, angry grimace on his face hadn’t faded.

“I… I will cooperate. If there’s nothing else, please leave! This is no place for a mere human!”

“You don’t need to say that; I wouldn’t stay in a rat’s nest anyway, Grand Sorcerer~”

“!”

“~”

Without waiting or caring about the orc’s reaction, I waved my hand, signaling Gorom to follow me as we left. As for the death script that popped up in my mind again? Hmph… it doesn’t matter. If my earlier words didn’t provoke the Grand Sorcerer into wanting to kill me, that would be my failure.

After leaving the Grand Sorcerer’s mansion, we quickly distanced ourselves from the Skaven clan until we reached a safe place. Only then did Gorom, with a worried expression, nervously grip my shoulders and shake me, finally letting out the thoughts he had been holding back!

“Human! What were you doing just now!? The Grand Sorcerer already dislikes you, so why did you have to provoke him like that!? This Grand Sorcerer is super vengeful; he might really take action against you!”

I blinked, surprised as I looked at Gorom.

This red-skinned, muscular man was acting quite strangely today. Normally, he should be giving me a thumbs up, saying something like, “Bro, you’re amazing! You made the Grand Sorcerer turn green with anger; Oqilide is always my bro!”

Now he looked all flustered, like a woman…

Forget it; he’s just worried about me out of kindness. I shouldn’t overthink it. I’ll simply share my thoughts with Gorom.

“You guessed it right, Gorom.”

With a slight smile, I said, “I just wanted to mildly offend this Grand Sorcerer today.”

【Oqilide was killed by the Grand Sorcerer!】

After all, while it might lead to a troublesome death script,…

Now, this Grand Sorcerer would surely feel anxious and take action because of my mockery and the fact that I was “about to find the Shadow,” right? I was ready for it!

——

This book seems to have garnered millions of clicks, quite satisfying.

It hasn’t been easy, and I hope everyone continues to support me. I will keep working hard.

—