Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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The battlefield, shrouded in silence, was eerily quiet, while the Red Orcs quietly parted ways, like they were honoring the victor.

They didn’t pursue us until we passed, the Gray Orcs and I, merely gazing at the corpse of the Shaman Orc who had led them.

I ran alongside the Gray Orcs.

“Cough… cough…”

I was coughing lightly on top of the running Nightmare. My throat felt scorched, as if I had burned it, and the heat of the flames I had unleashed was radiating throughout my mouth.

Occasionally, blood mixed in with my cough, indicating that I was likely feeling quite unwell.

On top of that, having exhausted all my mana left my body feeling heavy and limp.

I needed to rest somewhere safe, but I couldn’t afford to let my guard down, not knowing when the Red Orcs might attack again.

The Nightmare trotted slowly, as if considering my condition.

A thick black smoke rose endlessly in the horizon where the sky met the earth.

Black clouds, regardless of direction, soon covered the clear sky, bringing a gloomy overcast to the area.

This was the true beginning of war. The black smoke was a signal, conjuring vague fear of what lay ahead.

I silently turned back. The Orcs who had exited the Kaum City were chasing us.

While we didn’t exchange words, I could tell they were relying on me.

What should I do? I couldn’t choose the option of returning to the Hill of Storms.

Ultimately, I resolved to lead these Orcs toward Greenfall, the largest city in the country.

After all, if we were going to escape the country, we had to pass through there anyway, so it wasn’t that troublesome.

As time went on, the dark ash-clad clouds blurred the lines between day and night.

In a situation where it was hard to tell whether it was day or night, I and the Orcs had to keep running.

The city we encountered on our path was left in ruins, as if it had been raided by Red Orcs.

Charred ashes and the shriveled corpses of Orcs evidence of their horrific end.

The surviving Gray Orcs, upon witnessing the scene, felt anger but could do nothing at that moment.

They had to silently swallow their emotions and press on toward Greenfall.

A week had passed since we left Kaum. Along the way, I had encountered a few Red Orcs, but they were not numerous, allowing me to handle the situations without significant harm. They appeared to be scouting, wandering in pairs of five to ten.

I stripped the armor from the Red Orcs and distributed it among the Gray Orcs.

The older Orcs rekindled their fighting spirit, once again grasping weapons.

While their aged and weary bodies may have lost some strength, the battle know-how accumulated over the years persisted.

The older Orcs took the lead, clearing the way alongside me.

The path toward Greenfall was a streak of black smoke and blood.

Proper food was out of the question. Even my magic was insufficient to provide enough drinking water, resulting in many Orcs collapsing from exhaustion.

It was pitiful to witness their fates, but this retreating group had no leisure to take care of the stragglers.

The Orcs bid farewell to the fallen, glancing at them only once.

After about two weeks had passed, we finally arrived at Greenfall, the largest city in the nation.

The atmosphere in Greenfall was tense, as if everyone was aware that war had erupted.

Dozens of soldiers guarded the entrance, all emanating a sharp energy.

I approached them with the Orcs following behind me.

The Guard Orcs eyed me warily at first, but when they saw the survivors behind me, they welcomed us.

“Re ka se tsoge re.”

It was still an incomprehensible language.

I entered the city of Greenfall, wearing a weary smile alongside the Orcs.

We weren’t the only ones seeking refuge in this city.

The inside of Greenfall was bustling with a massive number of Orcs.

Meals were immediately provided for me and the surviving Orcs, alongside temporary quarters for us to rest comfortably.

Though it was merely a tent erected in the city square, the surviving Orcs began to relax with relieved expressions.

I looked around at the Orcs and smiled slightly.

Our time together was short, but the bond felt quite deep.

Perhaps it was because we had fought for our lives together.

However, this was where our journey together ends. Since I had completed my business here, I could not stay in such a dangerous area any longer.

I gathered a little food and rode the Nightmare toward the entrance of Greenfall.

I was ready to leave this country behind.

Yet, the guards at the city entrance would not let me pass.

Not just me, but other Orcs, as well.

As the Guards explained something to the Orcs, they retreated with understanding expressions, but I could not discern the reason for my inability to leave since our languages didn’t connect.

“It’s frustrating…”

“a ka se t?wa.”

By looking at their expressions, I could tell the guard Orcs were worried about me.

But isn’t it only right that their intentions are conveyed correctly through language?

I tugged on the reins of the Nightmare and continued to bicker with the guards.

That was when familiar shouts echoed from a distance, a voice I recognized.

“Seris!”

Turning around, I saw a large man with a tanned complexion running toward me—an interspecies hybrid of Orc and human, Agul.

Finally, someone I could communicate with. I breathed a sigh of relief and waved at him.

“Agul!”

The swiftly approaching Agul began conversing with the guards blocking my path.

Naturally, he spoke fluent Orc language, as one would expect.

As the conversation continued, Agul’s expression darkened.

How long had it been?

After concluding his discussion with the Guard Orcs, Agul turned to me.

“I see you plan to leave this country, right?”

“Yes.”

“Unfortunately, that’s not possible at the moment.”

Agul began explaining sternly why leaving the country was not an option.

With the outbreak of war, an unknown barrier had covered the border area between Greenfall and the royal nation, a barrier that was said to drain the life from everything living.

“So, you mean we can’t go outside?”

“Yes. Those who tried to force their way out have all perished.”

I frowned. His words seemed absurd.

While I could accept the barrier of mana that enveloped the vast borderlands, it was hard to believe in a magical existence that could kill you with just a touch.

However, he had no reason to lie to me.

“But what if I’m determined to leave?”

“Well… I could let you go, but…”

Agul asked again if I was really intent on leaving, if I was willing to go to my death.

He even warned that when I returned, he might not be able to let me through the doors again.

I silently stroked the mane of the Nightmare.

“What do you think?”

Prr— The Nightmare shook its head in response to my question.

It started to trot away from the entrance.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but give a wry smile and said to Agul.

“It seems this guy thinks it’s safe here.”

“You made a wise decision. Stay safe until the war is over…”

“Is there really a safe place?”

Agul fell silent at my question.

Looking up at the sky with a stern face, it seemed this city wasn’t as safe as one might think.

As time passed, more and more Orcs began to take refuge in this city exponentially.

Watching the numerous Orcs made it feel like war was creeping closer.

My heart banged heavily, and often when I snapped back to reality, I found myself biting my lips alone.

The psychological unease prevented me from resting comfortably.

Thus, I wielded my sword.

I swung it, drawing starlight and moonlight, contemplating the inner world I had created.

As many worlds glimmering like the stars continuously inspired me with new insights.

On the fifth dawn of my stay in Greenfall, when the dark clouds enveloped the sky and even obscured the starlight, the sound of a horn announcing the beginning of war resonated.

The chill of dawn faded in the heat exhaled by the Orcs, and the vague anxiety was engulfed by the grand sound of the horn and drums.

Standing atop the city wall, I gazed at the distant red wave approaching us.

Hundreds, no, thousands?

It was an unfathomable number of troops too vast to comprehend at once.

Then, amidst the army of the red wave, one Orc appeared.

Dressed in dark red robes, that Orc was clad like a Shaman.

Behind the Orc Shaman, ominous mana flowed down like a cloak.

He struck his staff against the ground.

Boom-!

Even from a distance, the huge resonance could be heard.

At the tip of the staff held by the Orc Shaman, a Mana Stone shone brightly, much like the one attached to my sword.

[bula mojako!]

The voice that flowed from the Orc Shaman carried an eerie tremor as it spread through the mana.

Though not loud, the mana contained in the voice reached every ear within the city.

At that moment, a hefty Orc stepped into view at the center of the city wall.

Unlike the others, this Orc knight donned full plate armor, drawing his sword aloft.

A chilling sound accompanied him, emitting light from the revealed sword, unleashing a fierce lightning strike.

Crash!

“lwa!!!”

A short but intense roar.

As the Orc knight’s roar ended, the Gray Orc shamans standing on the city wall unleashed their magic.

Fiery orbs and frozen spears flew at the Red Orcs, who commenced their retaliation.

“Whoa!”

In that moment, the Orc knight jumped outside the city. The massive figure of the knight charged straight toward the enemy as soon as he landed.

While brave, that choice appeared reckless to me.

Could he be driven mad by the pressure of war to abandon the advantageous defensive position?

Before I could ponder further, the previously closed front gates opened, and excited Orcs surged out.

Following the vanguard, the Orc knight, there was no hesitation among them.