Chapter 81: Outsider (1)

The chiefdom orcs who had attempted to invade Mount Luclan retreated. Although most of them had died in battle, some injured warriors returned to the chiefdom in dismal states. After this incident, one thing was certain: Crockta was now a clear enemy of the chiefdom. His name became engraved in the minds of northern orcs.

“Gullito,” said Gorit to the long-bearded gnome standing in front of him.

The gnome was Gullito, the leader of Altanas. All of the leaders of the villages on Mount Luclan—Orcheim’s chief Gorit, Dejame’s leader Janaru, and Altanas’ leader Gullito—had gathered in Altanas to discuss how they would punish Gullito and the gnomes for their wrongdoings.

The gnomes of Altanas lowered their heads in shame, but Gullito stared back at Gorit.

“Gorit,” Gullito replied, puffing his chest proudly, “I don’t have anything to say. Have your way with me.”

“Do you not feel any remorse toward the countless orcs and dark elves who were sacrificed because of you?” asked Gorit.

“It would be a lie if I said I didn’t, but I don’t regret it,” replied Gullito.

He looked around him, and the surrounding orcs and dark elves began cursing at him. They were angry because Gullito’s decision had flooded Mount Luclan with blood.

Yet, Gullito was unashamed.

He said, “Once the north opens up, the gnomes will be in danger. I was just trying to do as much as I could for gnomes in the face of the inevitable.”

“Because of your unfounded anxiety, the blood of many was spilled,” stated Gorit.

“Unfounded anxiety? Can’t you see it? The world is in imminent danger of the horrors of war!” exclaimed Gullito.

“You are jumping to conclusions!”

“No! You guys are underestimating the situation! That crazy chieftain has decided on war regardless of what it looks like beyond the boundary. Soon, the dark elves will become the orcs’ slaves. When that happens, Orcheim can just bow their heads and join the chiefdom. But us?” Gullito said. He looked at the leader of dark elves, Janaru, and accused, “You guys are the same! You foolish elves are always doing nothing and just lying in wait!”

“Shut up,” said Janaru.

“Stop turning a blind eye to what is going on. The world is about to enter a war. Janaru, if you are truly looking out for Dejame’s dark elves, then there are only two options—go to the World Tree and resist with your species or prepare for the future by selling your own species to the chieftain! Why don’t you understand?!” exclaimed Gullito with bloodshot eyes. “If the gnomes do nothing, only downfall awaits us since the chiefdom has already decided on war! Only the strong survive in the world! I just tried to survive because I’m weak! I do not regret my decision! Who can blindly point their fingers at me? If you want to curse at me, then do it!”

Everyone shut their mouths at Gullito’s fiery truth. No one could easily condemn him.

However, someone smacked Gullito’s cheek right then.

“Aargh!”

It was none other than Tiyo.

“You idiot!” Tiyo chided.

Gullito stroked his cheek and raised his head to look at the one who had slapped him. He had never seen this gnome before.

“Who are you?” asked Gullito.

“My name is Tiyo! I’m the captain of Quantes’ defense unit and a rational gnome who can’t stand stupid talk.”

“Quantes?”

“That’s right,” said Tiyo as he placed the General on his shoulder. “I came to the north with Crockta from the southern continent beyond the boundary!”

Gullito’s eyes widened at Tiyo’s declaration, and the atmosphere buzzed with tension.

“But it doesn’t matter where we’re from. I just want to tell you that you’re a pitiful guy who has lost the level-headed rationality of gnomes. You are a foolish gnome!” continued Tiyo.

“What?!” exclaimed Gullito.

“Anxiety that stems from fear grows rapidly. Thus, we always have to objectively assess our reason for doing things. But you are just a dumb gnome who lost your cool and was swept away by fear. You are nothing but a fool!” stated Tiyo, who spoke more confidently than ever.

“N-Nonsense!” muttered Gullito.

“Think about it! If the chieftain is really as crazy as you said, then how long do you think that peace will be maintained even if you manage to temporarily avoid his anger?!” questioned Tiyo.

“Why does the distant future matter when the end is right in front of your eyes? Survival is the priority!” shouted Gullito.

“That’s why you are stupid! A gnome who stumbles while looking only one step ahead is a gnome who has lost their sense of reason to fear or is not actually a gnome at all!” Tiyo berated Gullito.

Tiyo then looked around at the gnomes of Altanas, who averted their gazes at the sight of Tiyo’s fiery spirit.

He continued saying to Gullito, “Guys like you tend to delude yourself that they’re doing something really important! And the more radical the decision is, you comfort yourselves thinking you have made an extraordinary decision! How pathetic. You are just a really pathetic guy!”

With Tiyo aggressively cornering him, Gullito’s face crumbled. “Then, what should I have done?! We gnomes—!”

“Your sense of reason!” shouted Tiyo. “Instead of asking me, ask your sense of reason!”

“I made an objective—!”

“What you asked was the fear encroaching on your mind. Listen to your sense of reason, not your fear!” exclaimed Tiyo as he raised his General, the epitome of magic engineering technology. “So, I will ask again, Gullito! Answer me! What should you have done? Sell your old friends, make other species into slaves, and submit to a war-crazed orc for the sake of cowardly self-preservation? Or...” Tiyo was now shouting at all of the gnomes in Altanas. “...follow the moral compass established by our sense of reason and resist evil ‘til the end?!”

“...!” Gullito’s eyes widened from shock.

Tiyo was shouting the ancient virtues of gnomes that no one in the northern region remembered. Everyone knew about them but ignored them because they were relegated to being things of the past.

“How about it, Gullito?! What are your gray brain cells saying?!” questioned Tiyo.

Gullito was unable to respond. He had known the right answer, but he had been too afraid of the possible downfall of his species and the deaths that could have resulted from following his moral compass. He had just wanted to stop the extinction of Altanas’ gnomes.

Gullito’s head dropped in shame.

Right then, someone answered in his place, “You can say those things easily because you are an outsider.”

Tiyo turned his head to find that it was Gullito’s daughter, Yona, who had spoken. He glared at her, but Yona didn’t falter and stared back at him. Then she grinned. Tiyo was startled but couldn’t help but soften at her sudden smile.

Yona continued, “And because you are an outsider, you can say the right things without hesitation.”

Gullito looked at his daughter. “Yona.”

“Father, I respect your intentions. You tried to make the best decision for your species, but us Altanas gnomes aren’t that weak. We can fight,” said Yona.

“...”

Yona looked around at the gnomes in attendance. “If we bow our heads to the chiefdom to survive, then we become just like them. Father, there’s something you have always said to me—no, not just me but to all gnomes.”

“Yona...” muttered Gullito.

“Rather than be a full pig, be a hungry gnome.”

All of the Altanas gnomes nodded. It was a maxim that had been passed down to all gnomes.

Crockta, who had been watching everything, felt there was something strange about what he’d heard. The content of the conversation between Tiyo and the gnomes sounded familiar. Then Crockta realized that they were referencing terms and passages from philosophy books he had read for leisure in the military.

‘Are the developers’ tastes being reflected in this game, or is there really a connection between reality and Elder Lord because Elder Lord is more than just a game?’

There was no way for Crockta to find out though.

Gullito let out a deep sigh and said, “Is that so...”

“Yes,” replied Yona.

“If you and everyone else feel the same way...”

Gullito looked at the gnomes around him, and they all nodded in unison. Although the gnomes respected Gullito, they also had reservations about his decision.

Gullito let out another sigh and said, “I will acknowledge the error in my judgment.”

Gorit gestured at the orcs, who then went behind Gullito and tied him up with a rope.

“You will be detained, and the punishment for all the gnomes who betrayed their neighbors in Mount Luclan is...” Gorit began.

The gnomes tensed up.

Gorit exchanged looks with Janaru and then declared, “We will overlook your past mistakes under the agreement that you will work together with Orcheim and Dejame to protect Mount Luclan and that you will appoint a new leader.”

After hearing that, the gnomes murmured noisily among themselves. It was a radical compromise!

Gullito, who was now under arrest, looked at Gorit and then at Janaru.

Gorit grinned. “Don’t be surprised. As that gnome friend from the continent said earlier, I just followed what my reason and moral compass told me to do.”

“Is that so?” muttered Gullito.

“But there were many victims. Extensive efforts will need to be made to take back our friends who were sold as slaves and to apologize and compensate them appropriately,” said Gorit.

“I accept that,” replied Gullito.

It was an amicable closure.

While observing them, Crockta recalled a famous passage from a philosopher and thought,

‘If I recited that line right now, it would be a really cool ending. Should I do it or nah? Though... there is a saying that if you are hesitating to do something, just do it.’

Crockta succumbed to his urge and said, “A thought comes to mind as an outsider watching everything that’s been happening.”

Everyone’s eyes turned toward Crockta.

He continued, “The more I think about it, there are two things that fill my mind with growing admiration and awe.”

“...?”

“One is the starry sky that the stars show us, and the other is...” Crockta paused, further drawing everyone’s attention.

“...The moral law shining within us that tells us which direction to go,” finished Crockta.

It was such a blatant copy![1]!

Crockta peered at his surroundings with half-closed eyes.

“...!” Everyone around him was looking at him in awe. Even Tiyo’s mouth was agape with surprise.

“I thought he was only good at fighting...”

“He even says intellectual things like that...”

“I can’t believe it... An orc with both literary and fighting skills!”

“What a beautiful passage that compares us to nature!”

Crockta closed his eyes and smiled contentedly.

***

Crockta and Tiyo were now ready to depart from Orcheim. They had visited the sacred site of orcs and resolved the conflict on Mount Luclan, so it was finally time to leave. Gorit, Kaburak, and numerous orcs gathered to send them off.

“Crockta, thank you, and sorry for increasing your burdens. I wish you luck,” said Kaburak.

Crockta was now headed toward the Temple of the Fallen God in dark elf territory. He was now an enemy of the chiefdom, but he couldn’t face all of the chiefdom’s armies on his own no matter how strong he became. So, he planned to approach the dark elves and persuade them to enter an alliance with him. The dark elves were one of the two powerful forces in the northern region, so having them on his side would greatly help his cause.

Crockta divulged his plan to Gorit, who placed his hand on Crockta’s shoulder and nodded in response.

“The dark elves are very closed off to outsiders. It won’t be easy, but the Luclan Alliance is continuing to send emissaries to them. So, don’t feel too pressured to handle everything on your own. I wish you luck,” said Gorit.

Orcheim, Dejame, and Altanas had joined hands to form the Luclan Alliance, working together to protect their home. Keeping this in mind, Crockta nodded at Gorit’s words.

Then the Orcheim warriors who had fought with Crockta gave him their blessings and extended their fists, bumping fists with Crockta.

Suddenly, Crockta heard Tiyo’s voice in the background.

“I will return no matter what,” said Tiyo.

Crockta turned around to look and saw Tiyo and Yona looking at each other.

“Hmph, it doesn’t matter whether you return or not...” muttered Yona.

“If you don’t give me a clear answer right now, I will just return to my hometown. I’m a man who stands by his word, so if you have feelings for me, you need to tell me now,” stated Tiyo boldly.

Crockta was in awe. Tiyo was indeed a real man. He was more macho than anyone else he knew.

At his assertive request, Yona averted her eyes and replied in a tiny voice, “...Stop by when you are done.”

Tiyo beamed. “Understood. Wait for me.”

There was more good news. They had gained clues about Tiyo’s father’s whereabouts. Tiyo had asked the Altanas’ gnomes about his father, and after describing his name and appearance, Yona and the gnomes recognized him and gave Tiyo information on where he could find his father. They had said that Tiyo’s father was an oddball who wandered the northern region while carrying mysterious objects. The last time they saw him had been several years ago when their paths overlapped while he was headed to dark elf territory.

After having extensive conversations and farewells, Crockta and Tiyo finally went on their way.

“Everything seems to be leading up further north,” said Tiyo as they walked down the mountain.

All of the answers to their questions about the Temple of the Fallen God, the war with the chiefdom, and Tiyo’s father were there.

“What do you think, Crockta? Are you still confident?” asked Tiyo.

“Of course,” grinned Crockta.

Crockta enjoyed being in the northern region. He felt extremely liberated here without the presence of other players. Everything progressed smoothly like a spinning wheel, and everyone he’d met lived their own unique lives to the fullest. Crockta preferred this world. Perhaps the truth was that players were intruders in the world of

Elder Lord

.

“What kind of animal is that?” asked Tiyo.

As they were about to leave Mount Luclan, they found a monster they had never seen before standing in the middle of the forest. It had the form of a reptile standing on two feet, but it had wings. Crockta and Tiyo moved nearer for a closer look, wondering if it was a dragon. They had only heard about dragons and had never actually seen one before. However, this creature didn’t have the grand presence of a dragon. Instead, it had a small frame, fierce eyes, and a flame wavering in its gaping mouth.

“That seems like a drake...?” said Tiyo.

“A drake!” exclaimed Crockta.

Drakes looked similar to dragons, but they were more like a poor imitation of dragons. However, drakes were still airborne creatures and had strength that was much greater than that of wyverns.

This drake began approaching Crockta and Tiyo and growled threateningly while exhaling fire.

Crockta and Tiyo exchanged looks.

“Are you confident, Tiyo?” asked Crockta.

“Of course,” replied Tiyo.

They both grinned. Then they charged at the drake with their weapons.

Elder Lord

was truly a world where everything was unpredictable!

Crockta leaped up as his heart filled with excitement.

“Unexpected events are welcome!” he shouted.

The drake breathed fire at Crockta’s face, but Crockta cut through the flames with his Pinnacle-tier swordsmanship. The drake pushed its terrifying face up close to his.

Crockta was just about to plunge his greatsword into the drake’s forehead when someone shouted, “What are you doing to my Sam-Ryong?!”

Crockta paused. During that small opening, the drake hit Crockta with its forehead. The impact sent Crockta flying into the air and then rolling across the ground. His head hurt, and he could taste the blood inside his mouth.

“Oh, my god! Are you o-okay? Sam-Ryong! Why did you do that?!”

As Crockta lay on the ground, he couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdness of the situation.

‘See, you never know what’s going to happen next.’

1. Crockta is referencing ‘Critique of Practical Reason’ by Immanuel Kant. ?