Chapter 72 The Orc Who Is Oblivious (As All Men Usually Are)
Kazh would like to think he was a patient man… even though orcs were not naturally a patient breed and this whole pretense of acting cool and calm was not eating him from the inside.
But it was. It truly was.
“Kazh—”
“Azog, if you say what it is I believe you wish to say, I would do something quite unbelievable to you.” He cut in, his eyes landing on his companion— and the rest of the orcs anyway who were now laying in the middle of the estate, their eyes looking up at the sky as they collectively let out a sigh… of disappointment.
“What is it? You all wanted this.” He said, even though deep down, he wished they would get up and stop acting all down and mopey. The only issue was, he just wasn’t creative.
Sure, all of the orcs tried to work on the Estate but they had so many people working. And deep down, they did not really want to work so they thought they’d use that opportunity to laze around and do nothing—
But they were a race with adrenaline. They needed something.
And the way it was looking, they were already becoming restless.
And Kazh knew firsthand what happened when their kind became restless.
“We should raze a neighboring land!”
Ah, it has begun.
“No. No raging.” Kazh started, but no one was listening.
They were already sitting up, their eyes wide with excitement. “It seems they need more land! If we set certain places on fire, then they will own it! We have not done it in years but I am sure with all the rest we have had—!”
“No. No. No.” Kazh could feel his head hurting as he moved to the center of the group, his voice hard and commanding, “We spoke about this during the counseling class with the lovely women down the road, remember? What did we say during our evenings? Say it with me—”
“No burning things because we are bored. If we feel the urge to pillage, we should place the energy into something actually constructive and if we wish to break something then we should try to create something instead.”
“Yes. Yes. See, you were all listening—”
They all collectively groaned. “BORING. This is why we all wanted the human girl. You are a disappointment.”
“I am… I am not…”
“Booooooo—!”
The sound of a loud whistle instantly stopped the noise in its tracks as everyone turned to face the voice from whence it came— which was an Isabella in a strange pose— think Michael Jackson— and a whistle in her hand, held high up in the air while smoke poured out from behind her.
All the orcs stood, mesmerized— including Kazh, who was sure he was used to her antics but for some reason found himself slightly dumbfounded when he heard her yell, “ATTENTION!”
They all stood, taking a position he had never seen them take before.
Their legs slightly parted, their arms behind their backs— and their heads facing directly forward as Isabella walked forward, a colander at the top of her head, a wooden spoon stuck in on the rope around her waist and a spatula in her hand as she said with seriousness in her voice, “I hear you demeaning my second in command. Surely, you do not wish to go into a battle with me, do you, soldiers?!”
“SIR. NO. SIR!”
Sir? What was that word? And when did she mobilize them in this way?!
She turned to him, her eyes slant though she let them go wide as she said, “Ignore them. You are built for far more better things. It is why I have finally found a better job for you. Away from here and all its hullabaloo.”
“What—”
She turned around again, facing his people as she said, “Listen. There will be an event. Well, more or less a game, if you will, with the elves. And humans, if you will,” Then she added, “And if you win— and play fair, then I might consider giving you individuals a gymnasium.”
“What is… that?”
“A place where you can work out—” Then she made a face. That kind of face they attributed only to the demon king that made humans who were not even near the vicinity shudder in disgust though the Orcs shared the exact same smolder as she yelled, “TO THE MAX!”
They yelled, all of them taking a pumping pose of sorts. It was… far different from the restless group that his people had been. Also made him slightly wish that they were not this way—
And highlighted how different he was from them.
Of course, he truly didn’t mind the day to day workout… but not like this. Not with this maddening desire to cause chaos.
He was not sure how to feel.
So Kazh began to walk. He didn’t even know how long he did so. He just kept moving, and moving until he heard the sound of a leaf crunch behind and stopped before he said, “I can smell you, human. Do not run. My instincts might kick him and I might chase you.”
“A-Ah, my apologies.”
The voice is surprisingly tiny. And chirpy, like a bird. Which was strange for him as he had noticed that same smell watching him for quite a few days now and had not expected her to sound that way.
Kazh turned, his eyes narrowing on the small creature right in front of him. Human. “You have been following me. Why?”
“A-Ah,” She had the maid uniform of the Montague household. Not the other one that came and left. There was a flower in her hand, though she immediately put it behind her as she said, “S-Sorry. It is just— I saw you caring for… for the plants. And… it was… it was a new sight for m-me to see a male caring—”
“They were in bad shape.”
She nodded immediately. “Yes. Yes. Very bad shape. We… We are not very good with them. Not very talented. So… seeing you… yes.” She looked like she was about to combust as she held the flower behind her tighter. “I would… I would like to help you… plant and stuff. It seems the work is… a lot.”
Now, unbeknownst to the dear orc, the rest of his clan and Maeve hid quietly behind a large tree, staring at them as the woman in question whispered, “There’s no way he’s gonna mess this up. There’s literally only one response for this.”
“That should not be a reason for you to follow someone.”
All of them let out a groan, their heads thunking softly against the bark of the tree in unison. Maeve’s eye twitched violently.
The small maid, whose name was Lily, flinched as if struck. “O-Oh. I— I didn’t mean to intrude! I just thought— the gardens are so big, and you’re always alone out here, and I—”
Kazh simply stared at her, his massive frame unmoving, his expression unreadable. “I prefer it that way.”
Lily’s face crumpled, just slightly, before she forced a smile and nodded, shoving the flower— a small, carefully picked daisy— back behind her apron. “Of course. I’m sorry. I’ll… I’ll leave you be.”
She turned and hurried away, disappearing down the path.
From behind the tree, Maeve watched the scene unfold with mounting horror, her hands clutching at her hair. “No. No, no, no. That— that was the exact wrong response! What is wrong with him?!”
The orcs simply grunted in agreement.
Kazh, oblivious to whatever had just transpired, simply turned and continued his walk, wondering what he could possibly do to fill time here on the Montague Estate.