Free Web NovelChapter 20: Chapter 21
Time Skip – 5 Hours Later
Leon sat atop a makeshift throne carved from dark stone and reinforced with scraps of metal. Its uneven edges gave it an intimidating and primal charm, perfectly suited for a newly forming tribe. Around him, the orcs and goblins buzzed with energy, celebrating their hard-earned victory.
Orcs crowded the area, their booming voices echoing as they competed to serve Leon different dishes. Plates of roasted meat, bowls of spiced roots, and slabs of unfamiliar—but surprisingly delicious-looking—vegetables piled high on wooden platters. freewёbnoνel.com
"Master, try this!" One orc barked, proudly holding out a roasted leg that seemed larger than Leon’s entire arm.
"Master! No, this one is better!" another exclaimed, shoving a steaming bowl of broth laced with fragrant herbs toward him.
Leon leaned back, amused by the spectacle. He chuckled as one goblin, smaller than the rest but more enthusiastic, darted forward with a bundle of berries, nearly tripping over itself in the process.
"I didn’t ask for all this," Leon said, picking up a piece of meat reluctantly.
"It doesn’t matter, Master!" one of the orcs barked back, beaming with pride. "You saved our people. This is how we honor you."
Leon sighed but couldn’t suppress a small grin. The attention was overwhelming, but he wasn’t entirely opposed to their gratitude. The smell of roasted meat mingled with the earthy aroma of herbs, and despite himself, Leon took a bite. It was surprisingly good, tender and seasoned perfectly. freёweɓnovel.com
Slowly, laughter and chatter grew louder as barriers between the two groups dissolved.
After finishing the meal and observing the growing camaraderie, Leon stood and addressed Goban, who was laughing with a group of goblins.
"So, Goban," Leon began, his voice carrying easily over the crowd, "we should prepare to head back to the main tribe with everyone. ."
Goban nodded, straightening as he clapped a goblin on the back. "Yes, Master. I will let everyone know to gather their things and assemble outside the village."
With that, Goban vanished into the throng, his towering frame making the task of coordination easy as he barked orders. The goblins scurried to collect their belongings while the orcs helped dismantle anything worth carrying.
Leon stood near the edge of the village, arms crossed, watching the flurry of activity.
By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, the village was cleared. Goban approached Leon with a satisfied grin.
"Master," he said, bowing slightly, "everyone is ready. Shall we march?"
Leon smirked and nodded. "Let’s go. We have a lot of work ahead of us."
Leon walked at the front, his makeshift cloak billowing slightly in the cool evening breeze. Orcs, goblins.
"From here on," he muttered to himself, "things are only going to get harder."
...
As the group made their way toward the main tribe, Alpha, two orcs who had gone ahead to scout the area returned with a surprising discovery—a human captive.
Leon glanced at the captured man, who was tall and slim, his face smeared with dirt but oddly defiant. The human’s eyes were closed as two orcs carried him by his arms, his legs dangling helplessly.
Leon sighed. ’Another one of those runaway slave traders?’ he thought bitterly.
Before Leon could speak, the captive muttered under his breath, "Why am I so unlucky? First, I get hunted down by the Golden Order Church, and now I’m caught by these brutes. Oh my God, what am I going to do?"
The muttering didn’t escape Leon’s keen hearing, nor did it go unnoticed by the orcs. One of them bonked the human on the head, eliciting a pained yelp.
"Don’t disrespect Master by closing your eyes in front of him!" growled the orc who delivered the smack.
Leon rolled his eyes at the display, stepping forward to address the stranger. The captive slowly opened his eyes, wincing as he locked gazes with Leon.
"What is your name?" Leon asked.
The human blinked, his expression a blend of confusion and fear, before he spoke in a halting voice, his tone a mix of fear and defiance. "My name... is Alcha. And I haven’t done anything wrong!"
Leon raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the man’s words. "Then who are you, and why are you here in this forest?"
Alcha hesitated, glancing around at the intimidating orcs and goblins surrounding them. It didn’t take long for him to understand that Leon wasn’t just some ordinary figure; the monsters referred to him as their master. He was someone extraordinary.
"Well..." Alcha began, his eyes shifting nervously from the towering figures around him to the imposing leader in front. "I’m actually hiding from my enemies... or, well, they want to kill me, so I’m forced to hide here, in this... hellhole. I’m just an alchemist. If you promise me safety, I’ll serve you—serve you until my last breath."
"..."
Leon raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this strange man’s offer. He crossed his arms and looked Alcha up and down. "And who are those that want to kill you? What’s your involvement with them?"
Alcha hesitated, his anxiety growing. This wasn’t part of the plan—he’d hoped Leon would simply take him in without questioning him, offering protection immediately. But now he had to explain, and his words didn’t come out smoothly.
"Well..." Alcha began again, trying to compose himself. "I’ve angered the Golden Order Church. They say I’ve gone against their will. But all I did was try to push the boundaries of alchemy... They’ve marked me for death, and I’m being hunted down." Alcha seemed to deflate as he finished his sentence. "If I’m under your protection, I swear I’ll serve you with all my skills. Potions, poisons, explosives... whatever you need."
Leon listened attentively but remained unfazed. "The Golden Order Church?" he asked, with no sign of recognition in his voice.
Alcha blinked. "You don’t know about them?" His disbelief was palpable. "They’re the ones who decide who lives and who dies! Their reach extends throughout the land."
Leon’s gaze turned cold as he considered Alcha’s words. "And why should I believe you? You expect me to protect you without even knowing whether you can be trusted?" Leon’s voice was steady, though his eyes narrowed, still uncertain.
Before Alcha could respond, one of the orcs behind him gave the captive a sharp, unmistakable thwack on the head.
"Call Master with respect," the orc snarled, his voice firm and unwavering. Alcha winced, rubbing his head from the force of the blow, his heart racing. But despite the pain, his gaze quickly returned to Leon, now more frightened than before.
Leon narrowed his eyes, not letting Alcha off so easily. "And on top of that, why should I take you in? Shouldn’t I become an immediate target of the Golden Order Church if I take you under me?" Leon’s voice was calm.
Alcha faltered, his mind racing for an answer. He hadn’t thought much beyond his immediate need for survival and didn’t have time to plan. This wasn’t the easy path he had envisioned. With a deep breath, he spoke, his voice quivering but determined.
"Yes, yes, you’ll become a target," Alcha admitted, his eyes shifting nervously. "But you’re already a target. The Golden Order Church doesn’t like monsters. Once they find out about you... a human working with monsters... then they—" He hesitated, watching Leon’s unreadable expression carefully, wondering if his words were pushing too far.
Leon’s eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening me?"
