“Really?”
“Yes. She raised us and made everyone around her recognize us as her own children, but it was another woman who gave birth to us.”
This was quite a culture shock for Bash. Apparently, there was such a thing as real or fake mothers in the ogre race.
“I like my mother Lula Lula, of course. But I had a real father and a real mother. Although my memory of them is a bit fuzzy now.”
“What happened to your father and mother?”
“They were murdered.”
“So you’re going to avenge them, not Lula Lula?”
“I am not. That’s what I thought when we started this journey to take revenge, but when I investigated, I found out that my father and mother deserved it.”
“Why do you say that?”
“They were spies. Dad was an ogre and sold information to the Four Races Alliance, and Mom was human intelligence… and they ran away together, had us, and were found…”
Luka’s face fell and her shoulders shook. Bash could no longer watch the girl’s expression. Orcs had no concept of treachery. They were not clever enough to betray each other. The most they could do was disobey the king’s orders.
“Among those pursuers was mom Lula Lula, who took in my brother and me, stunned by the death of our parents, and raised us.” Luka used a louder voice than usual when talking about her memories. “Mom Lula Lula was a good person. She worked hard to become Chief and took care of others. She was a very, very admirable person. My brother and I respected her. But,” she continued, “one day she was found dead. Lying in an alley, like a… like a dog…” Luka had tears in her eyes, and she burst into tears remembering those days, shuddering and supporting herself with her thin arms. “Mom, our strong mom, couldn’t have lost so easily, she should have been defeated in a cowardly way and left out in the open… She didn’t deserve to die like that. I can’t forgive them, and my brother can’t forgive them either, there’s no way we can…” As Luka said this, she tightened her grip on Bash’s hand. Eventually, Luka’s shaking stopped. “We took an oath. Even if we die, even if Mom didn’t want it, it’s our duty as ogres to avenge ourselves…”
“Ogre duty, eh?” Bash had heard of such a custom among the ogres. If someone killed their father or their master, they had to take revenge, even at the cost of their lives. Otherwise, they would not be recognized as full ogres and would not even be allowed to have children. This was the same reason why orcs r̲a̲pe̲ women on the battlefield. It was why the ogres were strong. In the long era of war, there was no father or master who was not killed. The ogre race had continued to stand on those corpses.
“But… um, from your point of view, Sir Bash, what do you think of my brother? And what do you think of me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Could we beat her? That woman. Him and me against her?”
“It would be impossible.”
The answer was immediate. Ludo’s and Luka’s abilities were very different from the woman’s. They could try a hundred times and only inflict a flesh wound.
“I thought so.” Luka’s shoulders slumped, as if she had given up. “I know, too. I know that my brother probably won’t win either. He will die in vain…” Luka said with a dejected expression. Again there were tears in her eyes. “What will happen if we die?”
“Nothing. The only thing that will remain is the fact that Miss Lula Lula and you will be dead. Or maybe it will be a story that the woman in the bars will tell.” Bash answered naturally. Death was something familiar to him, who had been on the battlefield for a long time. Although he had no parents, almost all of his superiors, teachers, and comrades-in-arms had died. At some point, he thought, “As long as he is with me, I can survive; if he leaves, I will surely die; but he will never die; we will always fight together…”. But even after they died, Bash survived, and nothing changed.
Bash thought that even if Zell died, it would be sad, but nothing would change. There was no one he could take for granted who would be by his side.
“I-I don’t want to die. I want my brother to live too.”
“Mm.”
“But I also want revenge. Even though I know we can’t win…”
“Mm.”
Not wanting to die was a normal emotion. And to have it, all races were inspired in every possible way.
“I want to avenge her, and my brother doesn’t want to give up. He already knows that he’ll never win, but he’s forcing himself to be strong… And I can’t watch him anymore…”
“…”
“I don’t know what to do anymore, I don’t know what’s wrong with me…”
Luka, suffering from the dichotomy, pleaded with both hands, shedding tears. Bash listened in silence, but finally asked.
“And why should this lead to marriage with me?”
“There is a rule that you are allowed to avenge the death of an ogre if you are a member of their family. Therefore, marry me and defeat this woman.”
Bash thought. She would have a husband to help her get revenge. It wasn’t something you heard much about, but it was understandable. If he had an orc in front of him, he would tell him that he should at least take revenge himself. Even if it was an ogre. But there was a child in front of him.
“…I will give birth to as many children as you wish, Sir Bash. Well, that may not be possible right now, but I will try my best! As the wife of the ‘Orc Hero’, I will work hard all my life to make you, Sir Bash, proud of me! So please, please… help me…”
