“Out of the way!”

The orc elder led the way with stately strides. Wherever he went, young orcs bowed in respect or welcomed him with wild cheers. It was a different sort of tribute from the acclaim nobles received in cities. The orcs welcomed their elder in their own way.

“Whooo!”

“Snort, snort!”

“Shut up, you young brats! You’re too loud!”

“Wahaha! Let’s yell even louder! Looks like his deaf old ears are finally working!”

“I said shut up, you little bastards!”

Laughter erupted all around us. The orcs scattered about made ridiculous noises and raised a ruckus, while the elder grumbled with a broad grin on his face. For all their reputation as savages, orcs were an ignorant but impossible-to-hate race.

“Well, human? There’s warmth in an orc settlement too, isn’t there?”

After we had walked for quite a while, the elder abruptly asked that question. At his quiet words, I walked on for a moment before answering honestly.

“Yes. You can be exasperating... but you’re a race I’d like to befriend.”

“Heh heh, an honest fellow. Yes, we orcs can be rather exasperating.”

The elder chuckled as he walked, leaning on his staff. As we continued, the presence of other orcs gradually dwindled until only the elder, myself, and the elite orc warriors escorting us remained. The trail grew terribly rough as well.

Beyond an ordinary mountain trail lay an ascent so steep it felt like walking up a cliff. Before a slope that was impossible to climb on two feet, the elder raised his staff and drove it into the ground.

“Here we are, you impudent human brat.”

At that, the steep slope heaved like a great wave.

Moments later, the hillside covered in tall trees and undergrowth vanished without a trace. In its place appeared hills bristling with blades of every description. A mountain of swords, spears, axes, and bloodstained helmets. A mountain made of steel, to put it another way.

As that wondrous sight briefly captivated me, the elder spoke.

“This is the fourth sacred ground of our people, the 「Land of Bitter Cold」.”

Before the mountain with its uncanny air, the elder slowly turned. Looking at me with vivid blue eyes, he spoke in a solemn voice.

“Now, impudent human. Choose the sacred relic you desire here. You have proved yourself in a rightful struggle and earned that privilege. Choose anything you like.”

After a long journey, I had finally made it here.

“All the blades planted here belonged to heroes who fought great battles in ages past. We keep them to honor those who went before us, so their descendants will remember them forever. We have gifted them the glory of resting close to the sky.”

Every weapon planted in the sacred ground was crude and old. Compared with the dwarf-made steel sword I carried, their quality was abysmal. That was only natural, really. Orc smelting techniques were terrible, and their weapons were primitive compared with those of other races.

“These blades hold the wills of those warriors. Human, as a descendant of steel, you must know that I speak the truth, not a metaphor.”

“... Is it really all right to give me something so precious?”

“Hahaha, of course it is!”

The elder laughed heartily at my question.

“Those fellows would consider it an honor to become part of you. Having departed before us, their blood must boil at being unable to fight anymore. If they seep into your soul, they’ll get to enjoy some very entertaining battles.”

“...”

“All descendants of steel live amid endless struggle. Becoming part of such a soul would make those warriors happy too. To be perfectly honest, even I would like to join you right now.”

He looked as though he truly meant it.

Old as he was, a shaman who had accumulated wisdom over many years, he was still an orc through and through. Fire still burned in his aged eyes.

“Now, which sword will you choose? I’m most curious.”

As the elder urged me on, I walked straight toward the center of the sacred ground without a moment’s deliberation. The sword I would take had been decided from the start. I strode in the direction Liam indicated, and there lay a sword of absurd thickness.

Without hesitation, I grasped its hilt.

“Oho.”

Holding the hilt of the blade buried deep in the earth, I pulled with all my strength. Only after sucking in a breath and gritting my teeth did I manage to wrench it free. It was far too heavy. As dirt flew in every direction, the sword I had drawn was revealed in full.

“You’ve chosen a very interesting fellow.”

It was too big to call a sword.

* * *

The blade Liam called 「Wildness」 was classified as a greatsword. Even among greatswords, it was exceptionally huge and thick—so large that it ought to have been called a mace rather than a sword. With my current physical abilities, merely lifting it was a struggle, never mind swinging it.

「It is very old, young descendant. Of all the orcs sleeping in this sacred ground, I chose this one as a fitting match for you.」

I struggled to carry 「Wildness」 as I inspected it. Its surface was scarred all over, and for some reason, the well-honed blade gave off the metallic tang of blood. I felt a chill at the thought of how many lives it had taken while its owner lived. Studying Wildness, I suddenly asked Liam a question.

“There’s something I’m curious about.”

「What is it?」

“Master, how can you know the memories a sword holds just by looking at it? No, more than that—you wouldn’t even have seen 「Wildness」 in person, so how...?”

「Hahaha, took you long enough to ask. You were curious about that?」

It was strange when I thought about it.

Liam could read what memories a blade held simply by looking at its exterior. This time, he had even selected a sword in the orcs’ sacred ground far away, saying it would suit me. When I asked about that mystery, he paused before answering.

「Because I am the master of all swords.」

“... What?”

「It is too early for you to understand. But you will learn everything eventually.」

Liam’s eyes were as sharp as blades.

A little unfamiliar.

「Provided you reach a level where you can set foot in the Land of Swords.」

For a fleeting moment, Liam seemed to change from my familiar ancestor into a being far removed from me. Not a grandfather I could face and freely joke with, but an absolute being looking down on all things from an impossibly lofty height. Like a great being worshipped by a religion, revered by everyone.

While his presence briefly overwhelmed me, Liam flashed a grin.

「Don’t think too deeply about it for now. You have a long way to go, young descendant.」

Then he pointed somewhere.

「Isn’t it time you spoke to the other old man instead of me? Go and collect your gift.」

“...”

「It seems he’s prepared quite a fine one.」

Just then, the tent flap opened and the elder walked in with his distinctive chuckle. His heavy footsteps announced his arrival before he plopped down on the floor and looked at me.

“Human, do you like the sword of our great orc warrior?”

“Yes, well...”

“Then you should receive another gift.”

Right.

I hadn’t finished collecting the gifts I was due here.

“Hold out your hand, heir of steel.”

* * *

The elder’s hand was enormous—large enough to crush my entire skull in one grip. Holding my tiny hand, he murmured some incantation.

“Hmm. Indeed, it will not be smooth.”

“What won’t be smooth?”

“Your fate.”

A blue light shone in the elder’s eyes.

“Heir of steel, the road ahead of you is filled with blood and struggle. Then again, I suppose that is only natural, since you took up the sword to slay such a fearsome monster.”

“...”

“Well, the heirs of steel have always walked such roads. That is why we orcs loved them. We always revere warriors who challenge injustice and the impossible.”

I had no idea what the elder was seeing.

There was a mystical air about him. A deeply mystical air.

“Before long, you will confront the arcane.”

“The arcane...?”

“Something exceptionally wicked and terrifying, even among the many arcane things on this continent. Those who live in the darkness that so many races fear and shun. They will reach out to you.”

After those cryptic words, the elder chuckled again.

“Giving you too much help would be an insult. But a little help should be fine. Human, I know what gift to give you.”

With that, he released my hand and slowly reached up to stroke my head. Heat surged through it as though it had caught fire. Starting at the crown, it spread inside my head, then set my eyes and the bridge of my nose burning. As my breath briefly stopped short, the elder spoke.

“Heir of steel, your sword is still too immature to cut through the arcane. So when a darkness you cannot withstand descends upon you, this will aid you. This is the gift of Sherdik, orc shaman, to the descendant of a great warrior.”

With those words, he took his hand away entirely. The heat I had just felt vanished as if it had never existed. As I sat there in a daze, he gave me five blue stones.

“Take these. They are wardstones.”

“Wardstones?”

“When I looked into your fate, I saw that you were bound by a useless past, unable to journey far afield. These will help. Bury them around your land. The will of the ancestors dwelling in the earth will drive out unholy intruders.”

Wardstones.

I had heard of them.

Powerful magical tools that the witches of the Heavenly Empire installed on high-ranking nobles’ estates for exorbitant sums, or placed in their own labyrinths to repel intruders. They were hard to obtain and undeniably effective, and he was simply offering them to me?

“I-is it really all right to just give me something like this?”

“It is fine. They’re useless pebbles to us orcs. Only the other six races, who fear struggle and death, need stones like those. Hehehe.”

I felt warmth fill my heart.

「Getting something for free has put you in a good mood, young descendant.」

“...”

「Keep that up and you’ll go bald.」

Or I would have, if Liam hadn’t put in his two cents.

“And you may return whenever you wish. You have proved yourself a brave warrior and shown the spirit of an orc. From now on, we will treat you as one of our own! Not as a weak human, but as an honorable orc warrior!”

The elder spoke with utter sincerity on his face.

“If you find yourself in trouble, climb to a mountain summit. Call for our help from a place close to the sky. Then we will go to our friend’s aid, wherever you may be! As you know, we do not fear battle, no matter who our opponent is. Be it the dragons that hold sway over the Sky Mountains, the Dragon King who rules the vast seas, or the emperor of the empire famed throughout the continent!”

The word “friend” rang powerfully when the elder said it. These were an ignorant but pure-hearted people who did not lie. Foolish they might be, but their loyalty was unshakable. Deep in my heart, I felt that his words were no empty promise. Whatever hardships arose, they would be steadfast allies. Those were the orcs I had come to know in this short time.

Once you befriended them, no race was more dependable.

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Ah, but human, you truly are so orc-like—have you considered settling here? My daughter Sherijik is very beautiful, and I think I could entrust her to you! Though she’s a girl, she has large, magnificent muscles, and she’s already over three meters tall. A splendid child—”

“Oh dear, I’d better be going. I just remembered something urgent I absolutely can’t miss...”

“W-wait, don’t do that! Human! At least have a nice cold mug of orc beer!”

... Well, there was no helping the way they drove you insane.

I hurried out of the tent as though fleeing. Behind me, I could see the elder reaching out with his thick hand, calling after me plaintively.

“Human! Human! Hey!”

Beside the tent stood another orc, her hair braided, her posture demure. Judging by the silk women’s clothing she wore, she appeared to be the elder’s daughter.

「That was one of the gravest crises we’ve faced recently.」

“If I’d let my guard down, it could all have been over. To think he had a hidden dagger like that.”

Having seen the elder’s daughter, Liam and I voiced the same assessment.

She was a female orc more powerful than any elite warrior I had seen here, with the imposing presence of a mighty, indomitable general. I ran and ran without looking back.

“Come again, human!”

“Let’s duel next time! A human who passed the coming-of-age rite—that sounds fun!”

“Visit whenever you like! I’ll keep my axe sharp!”

I ran to the sound of the orcs’ rather bloodthirsty but affectionate farewells.

Exasperating and exhausting as it had been...

Well, I thought I’d had a fairly good time after all.

“There’s nowhere nearby to heat up my new sword, though. I’d rather eat it than lug this huge thing around...”

「I would not recommend that.」

“What? Is there a reason?”

As we descended the mountain trail, Liam gave me one of his rare warnings.

「Digesting this sword will be quite an ordeal. You would be better off eating it once you return.」

Digesting it would be an ordeal.

This was the first time Liam had used that expression.

“Understood. Sounds like there’s another seriously fucked-up experience waiting for me.”

「...」

Since he didn’t deny it, that seemed to be the truth.

Fuck.

In any case, we retraced the long journey and returned to my estate.

And then.

“... Hmm.”

After my long absence, the estate was markedly different from before.

「The smell of blood is strong.」

I could tell as soon as I arrived.

“I really can’t get even a single peaceful day, can I?”

As always, nothing in my life ever came easily.

“What on earth is this?”

「The residue of malice. A portent of disaster. To put it more simply, the traces of a dark mage.」

Really. Not a damn thing.

「It seems a truly fucked-up uninvited guest has entered your estate.」