Chapter 179: Hedoro’s Legacy (1)

“Something is wrong.”

“Yes, I can’t stay still.”

“I gathered the sorcerers. What about your side?”

“I have called them to convene.”

“Let’s start as soon as possible. We’re short on time.”

“Right away.”

***

Things were changing in Cathalu while Crockta was away. The grave scene of preparing for battle was now long gone, and the city was bustling as if they had restored their old prosperity. Crockta walked down the hectic market with Tiyo.

Then, he discovered a shop and slowed down. It was a vegetable store. He was suddenly reminded of old memories. He had sold vegetables before. He was the man who helped Stella sell her vegetables in Anail.

“That guy, he’s pretty good.”

“Looks like a man who would be able to sell a stove in the desert.”

The vegetable vendor was excellent at dealing with customers. His sociability attracted the customers, stopping them from walking. Moreover, using his sales skills, he enticed them to grab a basket full of vegetables.

While Crockta and Tiyo were admiring his skills, there was a sudden commotion.

“Look here, I don’t eat things like vegetables.” A man, led by the vegetable vendor and standing in front of the vegetable shop, pointed at the vegetables disagreeably.

“We’re not herbivores. Do you think we can grow stronger by eating things like vegetables?”

The man raised both his arms and flexed his forearm, showing his buff muscles.

“You have to eat meat to be as strong as me.”

The customers stepped away from him as he was showing off his physique.

The brawny man laughed mockingly at the vegetable vendor and shrugged, “Look at yourself, uncle vegetable. You look like you’re about to faint, no? You don’t look any different from dried anchovies. Eating vegetables has made you weak.”

“Meat is good, but you have to eat a balanced diet...”

“Balanced diet? I’m sick and tired of hearing that! I grew up being told that eating bean sprouts would make me grow taller, and eating spinach would make me stronger! But I was incredibly weak then! It’s all a lie!”

As the man shouted, the customers turned away from the vegetable shop one by one. The vegetable vendor’s face grew tearful.

“I get it now, so please say stuff like this somewhere else...”

“I’m telling you to eat meat! Chicken breast! Pork sirloin! Pork tenderloin! Pork shoulder! Pork ham! That’s what will become our muscles!”

He stripped off his top, tossing it aside, and then he struck a pose again, showing off his muscles. His bulky muscles were revealed.

“That’s... amazing.”

“Oh my god, so indecent.”

The men walking around the market admired the bulky muscles, whereas the women also peeked at his body through the gaps of their fingers while pretending to cover their eyes.

The man grinned and shouted, “If you want to be like me, come to Arnold’s Butcher Shop.”

“...!”

It was blatant publicity! Crockta realized then. That man was definitely a tout employed by Arnold’s Butcher Shop. The man was misleading people with his defined muscles. What was the point of explaining things? He had big chest muscles, triceps, and biceps, all throbbing with life!

One by one, customers at the vegetable shop returned the basket and asked the man, “Where’s Arnold’s Butcher Shop?”

“Haha! Arnold’s Butcher Shop can be found on the right after you turn left at the corner over there! Pork tenderloin is on sale today!”

The atmosphere had turned in another direction. People were deciding to have meat for today’s dinner.

The vegetable vendor dropped his head woefully, “It’s all sophistry... Without vegetables... humans can’t survive...!”

However, his voice did not reach the people. Crockta closed his eyes as he witnessed the scene. Obviously, meat and protein were important, but that should not undermine the value of vegetables.

Although protein was important, vegetables rich in fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and anticancer properties, as well as various minerals and phytochemicals were essential ingredients for good health.

Crockta took a step forward resolutely.

“...!”

People were buzzing at the sudden appearance of a muscular orc warrior. The muscular man, who was posing and flexing his muscles, also flinched.

Everyone in Cathalu knew him. He was a real man who saved the city by himself, he was Crockta!

Crockta looked at the man with hollow eyes. The man could no longer continue his poses under Crockta’s gentle gaze, so he stood up properly. Standing next to Crockta, the man looked tiny.

He smiled awkwardly and said to Crockta, “Hahaha, if it isn’t Crockta-nim? As expected, you have a great body. You eat a lot of meat too, right, Crockta-nim? Haha! Look at your muscles! You must only eat chicken breasts for three meals a day! Kahaha! As expected of Crockta-nim!”

Crockta did not answer. People’s belief was not something that could be attained through running their mouths, it had to be proven.

Crockta spoke to the vegetable vendor, “Hey.”

The vegetable vendor, who dropped his head, stuttered in a panic, “Ye-, yes?”

“How much is this spinach?” Crockta grinned.

“I want to buy all that you have.”

“...!”

Spinach! Spinach was once ranked as one of the top ten superfoods in the world. Spinach had a tough green exterior that would make people frown just by the look of it, but it devoted itself to them with all of its beneficial properties. The dark knight on the dining table, spinach!

Crockta declared that he would buy it all. The market was buzzing.

Crockta continued, without stopping, “Hey, balloon muscles.”

“...!”

The man’s face turned blue. Balloon muscles was an unbearable insult to a muscle maniac like him.

“Look closely.”

Crockta flexed his arm, and it swelled up immensely.

“These are what you call actual compressed muscles.”

Gasps of admiration came from among the crowd. If Crockta’s compressed muscles were like that, how much bigger would his muscles become if he flexed normally?!

The man wanted to protest that there were no such things as balloon muscles or compressed muscles and that it was all the same. However, the vibe had already tilted over to Crockta’s side.

No, putting aside his compressed muscles or whatnot, Crockta was just bigger in size.

“Meat is definitely important. But if you don’t know the value of vegetables, then you are not a true muscle maniac,” Crockta continued.

“Tha-, that’s...!”

“Tell me, what did you eat this morning?”

“It was...” The man could not answer.

Crockta urged him, “

“Say it!”

“...!”

“Your body does not lie! What did you eat this morning!”

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

The man gritted his teeth as the orc demanded an answer. Crockta looked at him gently. The man, who was exercising his right to remain silent, had no choice but to open his mouth when Crockta and all the people around him were staring straight at him.

He clenched his teeth and replied, “Of course, I ate chicken breast...”

“And?”

“...”

Crockta looked down at him and said, “And what else did you eat?”

The man immediately dropped his head, and he confessed in a small voice, “Steamed sweet potato...”

“...!”

The people were appalled. However, Crockta did not stop there.

“And?”

“Ugh...”

“And what else did you eat!”

“Cabbage salad with tomatoes and blackberries...”

Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, blackberries and cabbage! It was all vegetables that he treated with disdain!

A muscle maniac would certainly be aware of the importance of a balanced diet. He deceived the people, preaching false beliefs just to promote Arnold’s Butcher Shop as one of its employees.

However, when Crockta questioned his character, he had no choice but to tell the truth.

“I see. Say it again. Are vegetables still not important?”

“Vegetables are...”

Crockta pushed him, “Are they really not important?”

The man decided to admit his defeat. He could no longer deceive himself.

“It’s important...!” He eventually confessed the truth.

Vegetables were important. The man dropped his head. It was a declaration of defeat.

Clap clap clap.

People witnessing the scene began to clap as they chanted Crockta’s name. Yet again, Crockta protected the honor of the vegetables.

“Kugh...”

The man couldn’t raise his head due to the shame. It was disgraceful to deceive for the sake of money. Now that it had happened, he couldn’t get any money from Arnold either. He became a third-rate person who couldn’t keep his money or honor. He felt a strong sense of shame.

Suddenly, a thick hand touched his shoulder. He looked up and saw Crockta.

Then, Crockta said with a kind face, “Hey, you.”

“...”

“I was joking earlier. You have very cool muscles.”

“...!”

The man looked at Crockta with trembling eyes. Crockta’s face had a gentle glow as he acknowledged his body sincerely.

“Before, you called it balloon muscles...”

“You also said you didn’t need vegetables.”

Crockta learned his arms back, showing off his muscles, and said, “If you have time, let’s do weight training together next time.”

Crockta’s acknowledgment!

Crockta acknowledged his time and effort. The man’s nose bridge got hot for some reason.

He rubbed under his nose and bragged, “My training will be harsh. It’s hell training.”

“I guess so. You must be amazing to achieve that much despite being a natural[1].”

“...”

“You must have overcome a hard time.” Crockta continued.

The man got emotional. It wasn’t just words of consolation. Crockta was truly recognizing him. Crockta extended his hand, and the man did the same. The two of them hugged. The two muscular men forgave their old mistakes and acknowledged each other.

People began to flock to the vegetable shop too. The vegetable shop was acknowledged by Crockta! A strong body, good health, and longevity were what people dreamt of. Those who saw that future in the vegetables today purchased some without hesitation.

Crockta was the Kim Seon-Dal[2] of the vegetable world.

The man, who regained his courage, spoke to Tiyo, who standing quietly beside Crockta.

“You were here too, Tiyo-nim? Why don’t you buy a basket of vegetables since you’re here? How can you be with Crockta-nim with that kind of body? Kaka!”

“Kekeke, kakakaka!” The man chuckled, and Crockta did the same.

Tiyo frowned, “What did you say!?”

“It’s about time you build up your muscles. Kakaka!”

“That’s right. Kekekeke!”

“Kakakaka!”

The two muscular men jeered at Tiyo. Tiyo’s eyebrows trembled. His pride as a gnome did not allow him to stay still. Tiyo jumped up.

“Hiyah!”

Jumping up like a spring, Tiyo spun and did a turning kick. It was a lightning-fast strike aimed at both Crockta and the man’s jaw. Crockta managed to avoid it, but the man couldn’t avoid it and was hit in the chin.

Tiyo’s space control was on point, and it was just a slight graze to the chin, but the man’s brain suffered a small concussion and he dropped to the ground.

The man could not recover from the damage and sat down staggering for a while.

“Ugh...”

“Look closely, you balloons! This is what you call real compressed muscles!”

Tiyo stripped off his top. His sculpture-like figure was revealed.

Not a single part of his body was excessive at all, and fine muscles were densely packed all over his body like a slab of lean meat.

His latissimus dorsi[3] muscle, spread like wings, was reminiscent of Bruce Lee.

He looked slender like a model when wearing clothes, but when he took off his clothes, his fashionable lean muscles were revealed with densely packed muscle fibers. It was the perfect slim body that was neither insufficient nor excessive.

“That’s...!”

“Beautiful...!”

The people were in awe. The vegetable vendor watching them also clapped his hands.

“Watching you reminds me of another gnome I once knew, Tiyo-nim.”

“What? There’s another cool gnome like me?” Tiyo asked in disbelief.

“Yes. A gnome, who was particularly fond of spinach, once stayed in Cathalu. His body was as brilliant as yours, Tiyo-nim.” The vegetable vendor replied.

The vegetable vendor’s eyes grew sentimental.

“His name was Hedoro! He was a brilliant gnome.”

“...!”

“...Hedoro!”

Crockta and Tiyo’s eyes grew wide. Hedoro was Tiyo’s father, who they were looking for. They obtained the clue of the beginning of a series of entangled threads from the vegetable shop.

***

As Crockta’s popularity skyrocketed, there were more fans and stalking streamers tracking his every move.

Although they always lost his trail because he suddenly appeared and vanished, Crockta did not bother to avoid or top them. That was the reason why it began.

“Yes. I came because I wanted to have an amazing body. This is it...”

“Yes.”

Baek Han-Ho was worried about the increasing number of new gym members these days. It was a good thing to have more members, but most of them said strange things during their first consultation.

Baek Han-Ho sighed deeply as he looked down at the application forms filled in by those who wished to join.

“Yes, I want to have lean muscles like Tiyo.”

“That’s right!”

“Hey you, do you want to build orc warrior muscles like Crockta?”

“Yes. I want to be strong just like Crockta!”

Three young men were sitting side by side, looking at Baek Han-Ho with firm eyes.

One of the young men staying still blurted out, “I don’t have such an unrealistic goal, instead, I just want to be as muscular as the Butcher Shop meat man.”

The man who interfered with the vegetable business was nicknamed “Butcher Shop meat man”, and it circulated all over the internet. His meat-praising character became surprisingly popular, and people started exercising by using the Butcher shop meat man’s body as their goal.

It was a new workout craze. Crockta’s popularity led to a trend in the real world.

“...”

Baek Han-Ho tapped on his temple with a ballpoint pen.

After thinking for a while, he gently said, “Hmm... How about a nice body like Andre’s?”

“Andre?”

They shook their heads in unison.

“Nah, what Andre.”

“He’s a weird dude.”

“Crockta is the current trend. What do you mean Andre, bleurgh.”

Baek Han-Ho nodded, “Okay. Let’s start right away. Everyone, get changed.”

“What? We will just start tomorrow...”

“I have an appointment though...”

“Too much talking. We must live in the present, leave tomorrow to the you of tomorrow! Get changed right now!”

Baek Han-Ho’s eyes were blazing, “I’ll help you achieve that body. It’s hell training for the three of you.”

1. In the fitness world, they call someone natural if they do not take any steroids or muscle enhancement drugs. ?

2. Kim Seon-Dal is known for his ridiculous yet amazingly clever schemes that tricked people into believing his stories. It was said that Kim Seon-Dal tricked a greedy man into buying the Daedong River in Pyongyang. ?

3. The word latissimus dorsi comes from Latin and means "broadest muscle of the back", from "latissimus" (Latin: broadest) and "dorsum" (Latin: back). The pair of muscles are commonly known as "lats", especially among bodybuilders. ?