The Record of Orc Civilization - Chapter 446: The Shadow of the Demon

They set off toward Diru’s burrow.

Upon arrival, they were greeted by two Valkyries—Diru’s wives. Judging by their damp hair and the combat armor they were just fastening, it appeared the two were preparing to return to the front lines.

“Call Diru. I have need of him,” Nerphyl said without preamble.

The two Valkyries immediately summoned their husband. Shortly after, the two Queens finally stood face-to-face with one of the only two Asuras who had survived the death trap that had claimed twenty-two of their kin.

By then, the wounds on Diru’s body had already closed; he was ready to fight once more. However, as an Asura who had mastered Vivid Dream, he was required to command his own unit. But because the number of remaining Asuras was currently so low, the Kingdom had decided to prioritize replenishing Kuja’s unit first. Consequently, Diru had to wait longer in the capital before being permitted to return to the fray.

“Your Majesty, you summoned me. How may I be of service?” Diru asked bluntly.

Wilwatikta knew nothing of the culture of small talk or the sycophantic behavior typical of human nobles. They preferred to speak directly to the heart of the matter without wasting time on ethics they deemed cumbersome. Even with two Queens before him, Diru would not squander their time with unnecessary pleasantries.

“Come with me. This is for your ears alone,” Nedira replied, glancing at Diru’s two wives.

Though she was certain neither would leak secrets, Nedira was unwilling to take risks in a case this sensitive. Moreover, these two Valkyries were those who had transformed from Hobgoblins. Nedira did not want to bet on the chance that they might share a familial bond with Leon.

“Very well,” Diru nodded without further question. He turned to his wives and kissed their cheeks gently. “I am leaving now. Be careful, both of you. If there is any indication of pregnancy, contact your superiors immediately and request leave to return to Capital. I am sure Nevare would wish for that as well, and you won’t be given a hard time.”

“We know. You be careful too,” the two Valkyries replied before departing for their unit’s assembly point.

Diru followed Nerphyl’s team from behind. They passed through several underpasses before Nerphyl finally stopped and turned to face Diru. He immediately stood at attention—the alert posture he used when receiving vital orders.

“This matter is extremely sensitive, so I want you to keep your mouth tightly shut regarding anything you see or hear after this,” Nerphyl said calmly.

“Yes!” Diru nodded firmly.

“This concerns you, or more accurately, Kuja’s Unit. Before I explain what I want from you, it would be best if you recount exactly what happened when your unit was surrounded.”

Diru’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t expected this business to relate back to the tragedy of the encirclement. He recounted the report he had already given multiple times to the intelligence agency. He knew perfectly well that exaggerating or omitting details before the two Queens would be an act of utter stupidity.

Though he was a third-generation Asura, he knew Nerphyl and Nedira well. Legends of them were frequently told in books and bedtime stories for the monster children of Wilwatikta. From how Nerphyl used The Eyes of Queen to help Moku and the Orcs defeat powerful Mage armies, to how Nedira’s leadership snared formidable enemies with brilliant tactics.

Both had been leaders of their respective races before marrying Moku and becoming Valkyries. Even after their marriage, both remained the strongest pillars supporting the kingdom. The title of The Four Queens was not just a name; it was a testament to their power within the realm.

“…At that time, I saw one Asura from my group manage to break through. I thought then that my duty was done, but I still wished to die fighting so that my soul would be accepted into The One’s Heaven. I managed to manifest Vivid Dream, even though I knew I couldn’t defeat Garyu. But perhaps my time had not yet come; Kuja arrived to save me. After that, I lost consciousness, and when I woke up, I was already home,” Diru concluded his story.

Nerphyl and Nedira exchanged a glance, confirming that Diru’s story aligned with the written reports. Even without the Inner Eye, their experience was more than enough to detect if someone was lying.

Nedira turned back to Diru. “The Asura you said managed to survive—what was his name?”

Diru shook his head. “I couldn’t be certain. The corpses of my four other brothers were too mangled for me to recognize,” Diru answered bitterly.

“I ordered the Druids to the scene. Based on the residual Dragon Prana left behind, I can confirm that the four Asuras killed there were Gusro, Huri, Konca, and Lein. That means the Asura you saw break the encirclement must have been Jugo. Is that correct?” Nerphyl asked, confirming.

“If Gusro, Huri, Konca, and Lein died there, then Jugo did indeed make it out. But I heard news that only Kuja and I survived.”

“You are correct. Only you and Kuja survived out of the twenty-two Asuras in that unit. Everyone else fell, including Jugo. However, there is an anomaly. The investigating Druids confirmed that twenty-one Asuras were killed by human Mages, but Jugo’s body—which was found quite far from the site of the ambush—showed different signs entirely.”

“What do you mean?” Diru asked, confused.

That Jugo was found far from the ruins made sense; he likely had been heavily wounded but forced himself to retreat and report. But what made his death different?

“If Jugo had been killed by a human Mage, the Druid investigators would have recognized the signs. It’s possible there was another enemy unit tasked with chasing survivors. However, if Kuja came to your rescue, it means there was no pursuit unit, or they had already retreated upon seeing Kuja kill that Level 6 Constellation Mage. By all accounts, Jugo should have survived and reached the base.”

Nerphyl paused for a moment, her gaze becoming as sharp as a sword. “But the reality is, Jugo did not survive. He didn’t die from his wounds—which is almost impossible for an Asura in escape mode—rather, he was murdered.”

“Who did it?” Diru asked, his voice rising with budding rage.

“Based on the residual mana left at the site… it appears Jugo managed to put up a fight. And the figure who killed him was a Demon.”

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Bonus Chapter Event: Let’s Finish TROC This Year!

It looks like sticking to just one Chapter a day won’t be enough to hit my goal of completing TROC by the end of the year. But here is the good news: I currently have a stockpile of over 20 Chapters locked and loaded!

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