Chapter 23

3 THE FIRST APPRENTICE The torrential downpour raged on. Bash and the ogre twins decided to go and sit in a nearby cave for the time being. After all, there was no point in standing around chatting in a deluge like this. The three of them now sat around a bonfire. “Please allow me to thank you again. You saved our lives earlier. I am Ludo, the son of Rularula, the great warrior of the ogre tribe. This is my younger sister, Luca.” Ludo, the son of Rularula, the great warrior of the ogre tribe. Luca, the daughter of Rularula, the great warrior of the ogre tribe. That was how the twin brother and sister introduced themselves. “I’m Bash.” The moment he said his name, the younger sister, who’d been giving Bash the stink eye, suddenly jerked her head. “Bash? The one who became known as the Orc Hero Bash, after the war? “Yeah.” “News of your greatness has reached even the ogres! It is an honor to meet you!” Surprised by her change in attitude, Ludo blinked. “Wait, this man is famous?” “Oh, Brother, you’re so oblivious to things. The Orc Hero Bash is a great Hero on par with our mother’s fellows! If it weren’t for Lord Bash, I don’t know how many battles we would have been on the losing end of!” Luca’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at Bash. It was like a child looking at a hero from a fairy tale. From Bash’s point of view, it was a familiar gaze. “Are you really the real Bash?” “Yeah.” “Swear it on the Orc King’s name?” “I swear on the name of the Orc King Nemesis.” “He’s the real deal!” Swearing on the Orc King’s name was no small thing. Still, Bash was talking to a child. Orcs didn’t mind telling white lies to whelps. But Bash was Bash, and he had no reason to lie. He was a mighty warrior, one who swore fealty to the Orc King Nemesis. “And you are the son and daughter of Rularula…?” “We are!” “And how is she?” The great fighter Rularula. She was known by that name and many others, the most famous among them being “Frozen Eye.” “Frozen Eye Rularula.” A famous female warrior. An ogress with three eyes. Three-eyed ogres weren’t all that rare, but her third eye had glowed with a striking blue light since birth. She could summon an icy spear from that eye and skewer her enemies. But being a great warrior, that wasn’t her only strength. Bash had seen her on the battlefield many times, running amok with a metal club clutched in each fist. With amazing strength and agility typical of ogres, she had turned several human soldiers into bloody piles of flesh with a single swing. Bash remembered the sight well. During the war, she was said to be one of the candidates for the next chieftain. Even if she hadn’t become a tribe chieftain, she was definitely the sort of person who would take a prominent position in the ogre tribe. Incidentally, she was quite beautiful to behold—Bash’s type, you might say. If she hadn’t been an old war buddy, or if she hadn’t been married, Bash might have pursued her. However, the ogres were ranked above the orcs in the Alliance. For an ogre woman, mothering the child of someone of a lower rank was considered the greatest humiliation. Bash might have been an Orc Hero, but he wasn’t up to her standards. Now, of course, Bash had no intention of laying a hand on the young sister. Maybe in ten years… No doubt she’d grow up to be a beautiful ogress, maybe five years from now at the earliest. At the moment, however, she held no appeal for Bash. Orcs did not consider any women too young or too old to bear children to be true women. “No, she died.” Ludo was the one who answered. “…I see. Was she sick?” “No, she died in battle.” “A warrior of her caliber…?” Bash groaned. He remembered Rularula as an exceptionally strong warrior. The memories were vivid, even now. “It is what it is. The war claimed many lives.” But Bash knew some warriors who were even stronger. For example, the great Elf Mage Thunder Sonia, or the Hero Leto. They would have been able to best Rularula on the battlefield. Still, by the end of the law, the overwhelming disparity in numbers alone… A thousand, or ten thousand mediocre warriors would still have been able to take out a warrioress like Rularula. “Our mother was killed after the war, actually.” “…In a duel?” Ogres are a warlike race similar to orcs. Moreover, unlike orcs, who drink heavily and have a weakness for women, ogres are stoic and lust for power. Bash had heard somewhere that when they had free time to drink and mate, they would spend it training instead, and to test the results of their training, they would fight duels, with at least one ogre dying almost every day. “No. She was killed in a despicable sneak attack.” “…What?! How could that be?” “I don’t know the exact details of the fight… Although I doubt my mother, with all her strength, would have lost a fair fight. And they just left her corpse lying there. It was foul play, no doubt. That’s why we’re on our journey… We’re going to avenge our mother.” The whole world was currently striving for peace. In this new age, getting revenge wasn’t looked favorably upon. War was a thing of the past. Whatever grudges remained, the leaders of each country had collectively decided to treat it all as water under the bridge. But not everyone was satisfied with this. Like the rogue orcs, who refused to follow the decrees of the Orc King, and had gone afield. Some traveled across the continent to avenge their parents who died during the war. Not that Bash knew anything about that. “You mean…? That woman from before…?” “…Yeah.” Bash thought about the woman. A female swordswoman with a perfect body and a scarred face. Bash hadn’t even asked her name… But he had no doubt that she was famous. Bash didn’t need to fight her to know that. One could tell just by looking at her. “Are you going to try again?” “Yeah.” “…You can’t win.” The boy before Bash was a weakling. No doubt he had trained, but he didn’t have the kind of strength needed to defeat that swordswoman. If she’d wanted to, she could have beheaded him in an instant. “I… I know that!” Ludo bit his lower lip agonizingly, then looked Bash in the eye and spoke in a resolute voice. “But I’ll keep trying. And next time… I will win.” “I see.” Bash didn’t really feel like dissuading the boy. Sometimes warriors have to challenge an opponent they can’t feasibly beat. If you lose, you die. That’s all there is to it. “…” Ludo then pulled out his sword and placed it in front of Bash. Bash didn’t twitch. If the boy was signaling an attack, Bash would have fought back. But there was no sign of this. “So let me ask you again! I know it’s rude to ask such a thing of an Orc Hero such as yourself! But I ask again! Please, take me on as your apprentice!” If this had been a bar in orc country, there would have been quite the commotion. For starters, everyone present would have kicked their stools back and immediately closed in on the boy. Who do you think you’re talking to?! Impudence! Get in line! I’m first to be the almighty Bash’s apprentice! No, me, I’m first! …And then things would likely devolve into a brawl. After the dust settled, all that would remain would be a tavern in rubble, a heap of dead orcs, and only Bash left standing. “Hmm…” Up until yesterday, Bash would have turned the boy down without a second thought. It is the duty of veterans to train young warriors, but Bash was on a quest, with a specific goal. He didn’t have time to help train this boy. “Bro, don’t be so rude. You can’t ask Lord Bash to do that…” “Luca, you were watching earlier! If I learn swordsmanship skills from him, I’ll finally be able to defeat her!” But there was something tugging on Bash’s mind when it came to these twins. …The water spirit’s request… The water spirit was trying to tell Bash something. Bash’s best guess was that it wanted him to aid these twins. Well, he had aided them. But why would the spirit ask Bash? An orc, one who had no connection to these whelps whatsoever? Spirits don’t appear before people with whom they have no affinity. For the spirit to have gone to these lengths… Surely Bash was meant to do something more. What did the spirit want Bash to do for these twins? If Zell was here, the fairy would surely be able to explain the spirit’s intentions… “…” Spirits are difficult and capricious beings. Once angered, they become so ferocious that even fairies, their close friends, would tremble. Bash had heard many tales. It was said that a dwarf town that had angered a fire spirit was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. It was said that a human town that had angered a water spirit was washed away by a terrible storm. It was said that a lizardman town that had angered an earth spirit was once swallowed up by a fissure in the earth. It was said that a fairy who had offended a wind spirit was whisked away by a sudden tornado and tossed about in the air all night until penance had been performed. Spirits were not to be angered. That was the common understanding held by everyone who lived on this continent. What if Bash left, thinking, Well, I saved their lives. Surely that’s enough? If that wasn’t quite what the spirit wanted, then it might get angry. But wait… No… Could that be the reason? Suddenly, Bash thought of Frozen Eye Rularula. Come to think of it, she was loved by the spirits. She was an ogress with little magical power, but she could wield ice magic with ease. Proof of her affinity with spirits. Perhaps the water spirit wanted to help the twins take revenge on their mother. But Bash had never heard of spirits going in for vigilante justice. Then perhaps the water spirit was bonded somehow to one of these twins. In such a case, perhaps that water spirit wanted to see the twins succeed in their goals. Based on the scant information he had, Bash made his decision. “Fine. But only until you have your rematch with that woman. I have my own quest to be getting on with.” Bash didn’t know how much help he could give. But, considering the future, he knew he ought to comply with the spirit’s desire. “Oh, thank you!” Ludo bowed low. If this was orc country, the other orcs would have broken into a chorus of cheers. They’d be frustrated not to have been the ones chosen, but the great Bash taking an apprentice… That was something to celebrate. Maybe they’d even have tossed the young whelp up into the air. “Incidentally, Lord Bash…what is your quest?” “I’m looking for something.” “What?” “I cannot say.” “Oh, I see. All right.” Ludo didn’t pursue it further. Perhaps because he wasn’t interested. This was good, as far as Bash was concerned. He was a little bit tired of having to explain his quest all the time. “Anyway, I appreciate your help. Even if it’s only for a short time, I look forward to learning from you.” “Right. I don’t know if you’ll ever be able to beat her, but I’ll do what I can to train you up a bit.” “Yes! Thank you!” Thus, Ludo became Bash’s apprentice. His first one ever. When the young orcs of Bash’s homeland talked of their hopes and dreams, this very situation was the kind of thing that would make them blush and squirm with desire and embarrassment. That’s how valuable the position was. Ludo was overjoyed. Luca gave him an unreadable look. A look that no one else noticed. The rain would not let up. In the midst of a ferocious storm, Bash and Ludo faced off against one another at the entrance to the cave. The rain was punishing. But this much rain often fell on the battlefield. Bash didn’t care. Ludo was struggling to keep his footing, though the gale threatened to blow him away. Ludo was armed with swords. He wielded two in each hand. No doubt he had learned from Frozen Eye Rularula. His stance was not bad at all. “Come, then!” Bash yelled over the rain, and Ludo nodded. “Graaagh!” Ludo roared and swung a powerful blow. Bash caught it with his greatsword. …Hmm! Bash’s eyes widened. The weight of the swords. Their sharpness. The child of Frozen Eye Rularula. The one who sought to get revenge for her death. Even though it was a sneak attack, to have been able to kill Rularula, the assailant must have been quite something. From Bash’s point of view, the swordswoman from earlier seemed quite skilled. Ludo had sworn to defeat her “next time.” Or words to that effect anyway. With that being what it was, and despite all appearances to the contrary, Bash had been prepared to receive quite a heavy blow. He’d even girded his loins and braced. Yet… “Oh, you are amazing indeed, Master! You parried my blow!” But Bash had hardly parried. “…” The blow had been so light that Bash, taken by surprise, had almost fallen forward and lost his balance. Springing lightly on his feet, Ludo prepared for another go. “I’ll just keep on coming, then!” Hearing those words, Bash braced himself again. Ludo seemed a little more limber now. Perhaps he was about to unleash a barrage of real attacks. Yes, Rularula’s arm strength was formidable, but it was her speed that set her apart. The continuous attacks she launched from those two metal swords had overwhelmed even Dandelion, the great elven swordsman who went by the nickname of Instant Bloody Reflex. Therefore, Bash guessed that Ludo would also be the type to compete with speed rather than with physical strength. There are many warriors who excel when it comes to speed. But Bash had never been far behind those warriors. Bash was often considered a warrior of great strength, but he was no slouch in the speed department. It takes more than just superior strength to be dubbed a Hero. Those who fought against the Orc Hero would say, when asked of his swordplay skills: “His swordplay? Gah, I tremble just to think of it. At any rate, it sure is something. Oh yes, indeed. Now, you know I can fire three spells at you in the time it takes you to swing your sword once, right? I don’t mean to brag, but I am pretty fast. As far as I know, there’s only three folks out there who can shoot spells at this speed. Now, take Bash. He can swing his sword three times in the time it takes me to shoot three spells. That’s how fast he is. Of course, Nazar would have been faster. But Bash’s sword also has more heft. Even one blow of his could shatter any magical barrier, and you’ll get the full force of the blow, just like being clubbed on the head. And I’m including my magical barrier in this, too. Not to mention he could even shatter the magical barrier of the great Elf Mage Thunder Sonia…” This could go on for a while, so let’s stop there. But anyway, that’s how people spoke about Bash’s swordplay skills. Basically rhapsodizing about them. I could have already killed him three times over… The thought crossed Bash’s mind as he easily dodged Ludo’s clumsy swings. Bash wasn’t in the habit of criticizing others. Since everyone was beneath him, what was the point of ranking them? But sometimes he did size up an enemy, judging their strengths and weaknesses, gauging how easily he could defeat them. Based on Bash’s experience with evaluating foes, if he was to rate Ludo here… His strength and speed are both below average. And he’s weak, too… Bash looked around, confused. The cave was ahead. A girl stood at the entrance to the cave. Ludo’s younger sister, Luca, was it? She’d been watching Ludo with a troubled look on her face, but when she caught Bash’s eye, her expression changed to one of sadness, and she looked almost apologetic. Surely, she knew. Even if Ludo trained hard from now on, there was no way he would be able to defeat that woman in the future. … To train him, in this short period of time, to be able to defeat the one who had killed Frozen Eye Rularula… Even if it had been a sneak attack… The sheer impossibility of it made Bash’s head swim. He’d never been this flummoxed, not even when he’d been bashed in the head by the human knight known as Ashes the Giant Killer. What am I to do? Thirty minutes later. Bash looked down at Ludo with a conflicted expression as the boy, lying on his back, gasped for breath. He’d asked Bash to take him on as an apprentice, but Bash had no idea how to teach someone this weak. Orcs do not train, except when they are young. They have an innate fighting instinct, and even without being taught anything, they naturally grow up to be warriors. If they don’t, they just die, and so any weaklings are naturally weeded out… But all orcs have a desire for self-improvement. Bash had never taught anyone how to use a sword. Veterans had a duty to train the juniors, but they were never asked to take on apprentices. Any young person would jump at the chance to be an apprentice of Bash’s, but none could ever voice such a request. The very idea was ludicrous. Still, back in orc country, Bash had been asked for fights many times. Especially by the King’s sons. They approached Bash with stars in their eyes and said, “Lord Bash! Might we have the honor of a fight with you?” and when Bash agreed, they would yelp, “Yay!” Then they would proceed to be pummeled by Bash. But then again, they’d been expecting this. After the fight, they’d ask Bash, “Lord Bash, what did you think of my skills?” all agog with anticipation. As the winner, Bash wouldn’t dole out false compliments, but he would offer pointers. “Your footwork is too meek. If you’re no coward, then show it, and come at me, even if you risk losing balance.” The king’s sons would laugh with glee and respond with something like, “But Lord Bash, if your sword slices my legs from under me, I’ll lose not only the legs but my entire lower body. I won’t be able to go to the breeding grounds…” Still, though, they would take his advice to heart. This was the way of education in orc country. If Ludo’s skills were a little sharper, Bash could have offered pointers. Too much advancing. Not enough advancing. Take more care to observe your opponent’s movements more closely before you swing. Maybe the boy would have some quirks Bash could iron out. Or perhaps his style was too textbook, too easy to read. Issues like that can be straightened out by fighting practice. But in Ludo’s case… Well, the boy sucked at everything. In battle, it was not uncommon for Bash to slay four or five enemies with one swing of his sword. Some fools even found themselves killed by the effect of falling bodies crushing them. Ludo had a lot in common with those types of fools. Come to think of it…all the King’s sons were high-class warriors. Most were still young. But they had survived the fierce battles near the end of the war. Hmm… Bash racked his brains. What could he possibly teach Ludo, now slumped before him? He had never encountered such a weakling of an ogre. What could be done with him? What happened to other young orcs, ogres, warriors on the battlefield? Those who let their exhaustion show would die without exception. On the battlefield, those who were unable to move died first. Being unable to move or flee made you a sitting duck. At the very least, Ludo’s tendency to slump over had to be corrected. “On your feet.” “Agh… Gah… I can’t… Can’t stand… Guh!” Bash kicked Ludo up into the air. Those claiming they could no longer stand on the battlefield often miraculously found themselves able to do so after Bash did this.