Raising A Hero – Chapter 62

Ch 62: Recruitment

Grace brought a mountain of luggage from the Mendeva family. It was almost the equivalent of four carriages. She also used two rooms. One was the bedroom, and the other was a walk-in closet.

Anyway, the rooms were spacious, so Ji-hyuk didn’t care whether this foul-mouthed healer used two or three rooms.

Grace’s skills were initially terrible because she had almost lost her practical sense after playing around for nearly two years. However, she was quickly regaining her old senses with her inherent talent and burning vengeance.

Ji-hyuk also didn’t skip training with Mahushu every day. Once he seemed to have mastered a certain level of skill, he started combat training as if it were real. He also brought along the healer Grace. It was to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances. Kayak quietly watched the two men and women training from his room’s window.

The hero used his fists instead of a sword. There was nothing like fists to beat without killing.

“I’m not going easy on you.”

Uuuhㅡ.

Ji-hyuk raised his spirits. Mahushu held her spear tightly with a nervous expression and assumed a stance. She definitely had a somewhat established system compared to before.

“Attack like you’re going to kill me.”

“…Yes.”

Mahushu thought so too. The difference in their power was too extreme for her to think about holding back. She doubted whether she could succeed in even a single attack, even if she desperately struggled.

Ji-hyuk went hard from the start. He ran forward in an instant and swung his fist.

ㅡㅡ!!

Mahushu urgently twisted her body and swung her spear. She tried to quickly increase the distance from him, but he persistently followed her.

She had to use the flexibility and adaptability he mentioned here. She used everything around her. Sometimes she kicked the ground to sprinkle dirt. However, nothing worked on Ji-hyuk.

The hero’s powerful fist pierced her solar plexus. Pa-eukㅡ. A pain-filled breath escaped Mahushu’s mouth. However, she didn’t lose her mind and immediately counterattacked.

But this time, a fist struck her jaw. Her head snapped.

Ahㅡ.

The moment her vision flashed. She instinctively leaned back. But Ji-hyuk quickly followed and kicked her legs, and at the same time, he punched her chest again.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡ!!!!

She crashed to the ground.

“Aghㅡ!”

Mahushu clenched her teeth at the excruciating pain and writhed slightly. She couldn’t breathe. Ji-hyuk stopped abruptly as he was about to punch her face.

If that had fallen, her face would have been completely destroyed. She barely caught her breath and calmed her startled heart.

Ji-hyuk’s expression wasn’t very good. Mahushu’s heart sank.

“Why do you seem to have less stamina than before?”

The half-blood Beast-man couldn’t say anything. Ugh. She slowly raised her aching body. She felt ridiculous. As he said, she couldn’t show the pride of a glorious warrior.

“Are you complacent with your skills? Hey, Mahushu, don’t be ridiculous. A great warrior? You’re not even worth a toenail. Didn’t I tell you to attack like you’re going to kill me? But what is this? Are you whining now because it hurts? Are you kidding?”

Ji-hyuk relentlessly poured it on Mahushu, who was bowing her head.

“Even if one arm flies off, you have to fight without letting out a single groan. Even if your eyeballs are gouged out, you have to fight while looking with the other eyeball. You have to transcend pain, got it?!”

“I’m sorry, Captain. I will work harder.”

“It won’t work with just saying you’ll work hard. Do it with the thought that it’s this or death. Got it? Answer quickly?”

“Yes, I understandddddㅡㅡㅡ!!”

Mahushu closed her eyes tightly and answered as if screaming towards the sky. That appearance was like the cry of a berserked training soldier.

Ji-hyuk flicked his finger towards Grace, who was watching the sparring while puffing on a cigarette. She got up from her seat and slowly approached them.

“Give me a heal.”

Grace gave Mahushu a heal. The wound was cleanly healed.

“Practice more. Practice like you’re going to die. …I’ll be watching.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Ji-hyuk left this half-blood Beast-man and entered the mansion again with Grace. The chain-smoking healer, who followed him closely, said softly.

“…Isn’t it too harsh? She’s a girl, be a little more gentle.”

“If you don’t train like it’s real, you’ll die later. This is also restraint. …What’s the point of being gentle or not if you die? And I’m the Captain. It’s my duty not to let my comrades die.”

Grace’s heart suddenly sank. …His words were right. What’s the use if you dieㅡ.

At first impression, he was a bit of a rascal, but he was a much more excellent captain than she thought. It had only been three days since they had been together, but she could fully feel how much the comrades respected him.

He was definitely an outstanding person, as the rumors said. It felt like something was reliable when she was with him. …She also felt like she could really succeed in revenge.

Ohㅡ. Ji-hyuk stopped walking and spun his body with a single exclamation. Grace stopped abruptly and looked up at him slightly. Why?

“Do you happen to know of anyone to recommend? I’m looking for someone right now, but there’s no one suitable. …Don’t feel pressured. I’m just asking. Just in case.”

Grace hesitated a little. There was one person that immediately came to mind. …But she wondered if it was really okay to recommend him.

“There is one person, but….”

He was one of the three who barely survived that terrible accident.

“Who? Tell me. It’s okay.”

Grace eventually spilled out the name.

“There’s an Orc named Grendal. …He used to be my colleague. I know he’s in the capital, but I don’t know anything beyond that.”

“Grendal?”

“However, the possibility is not that great.”

Ji-hyuk smiled.

“You were the same. …If you earnestly desire something, you start moving.”

That was the truth.

She was desperate.

…And he, too, would probably be desperate.

· · ·

Grendal got up early in the morning and went to the backyard with the laundry piled up by the children. He poured all the clothes into a large tin bucket and poured water. Then he started washing the clothes, stepping on them thoroughly.

Since he came to this orphanage, he started every morning with laundry, except on rainy days. After that was done, he hung up the laundry and prepared meals. Then, a loud bell rang.

━ Get up, get uuuup.

The children got up groggily at the orphanage director’s loud voice. And they quickly washed up and prepared to eat breakfast. Grendal worked busily because they lacked hands.

After feeding the children, he then gave them a simple writing lesson. He even acted as a teacher because he had learned something.

The children all liked Grendal. The gentle Orc, who was always smiling, never got angry. He always embraced the children with love. He gave equal love to all children, whether they were human, Orc, Goblin, or Troll.

So, people around him treated him as a strange Orc. How could an Orc be so gentle? That was it.

The orphanage was poor. They were always short of money. So the Orc took care of all the chores himself. He repaired everything that needed a fee himself. He also mended the children’s worn clothes overnight. If anyone got sick, he would even carry the luggage to earn money and get medicine.

It would be good if they received donations from the nobles, but they were reluctant to spend a penny on this useless orphanage. They barely managed with the money given by those who grew up in the orphanage and occasionally visited.

Still, the orphanage was always happy. The children trusted and followed the director and teacher like parents.

Then one day.

Someone came to see Grendal. It was two men and women. The woman was also a familiar face to him.

“Grendal.”

“…Grace.”

The Orc never imagined that she would come to see him. Didn’t he hear rumors that she had become a wreck and was wandering around like a madwoman?

However, her appearance now was completely different from the rumors. Although her face was quite haggard compared to before, her eyes were still alive. …As if a new goal in life had been made.

“What brings you here?”

“I have a proposal for you.”

“Proposal?”

And the man stepped forward. He was a clean-looking human male.

“I’m Hero Gang Ji-hyuk.”

“…It is an honor to meet you, Hero. But what brings you to this humble place…?”

He had a hunch. If she came with Grace, the reason was obvious.

“I want to recruit you.”

However, Grendal shook his head firmly as if he didn’t even need to think about it.

“I’m sorry. I have vowed never to return to the battlefield again.”

“You know the demon Genevy, right?”

ㅡㅡ!!

The Orc’s gaze became sharp. Something that was fiercely boiling inside was conveyed through his eyes.

“I don’t want to hear more. Please leave now.”

Then Grace stepped forward.

“Grendal, you can get revenge. You have the chance to kill that demon. Give us your strength.”

“Grace, think wisely. Like you used to.”

“Grendalㅡ!”

“I’ve decided not to fight anymore. I’m happy. That’s enough.”

“In the end, are you going to run away again?”

Grendal scanned the orphanage with his eyes.

“I will protect these children. That’s my way of atonement.”

“No, you have to kill the demon. That’s the only way to escape this pain.”

“You’ve become blurry, Grace.”

“You’ve become even more stupid, you idiot. …Don’t you still understand? This is our last chanceㅡ!”

Grace ground her teeth and shouted at this frustrating Orc. Then Ji-hyuk raised his hand and stopped her.

“That’s enough. Well, since he doesn’t want to, there’s no need to hold on to him for long.”

Ji-hyuk smiled leisurely. And he took out a leather pouch from his arms.

“Here, take this.”

“…What is this?”

“Stop pretending you don’t know what it is.”

“I refuse. I decline.”

“Think of it as a donation. Don’t feel burdened.”

The Orc had no choice but to receive the pouch. …Actually, he was quite short on money. The orphanage currently had a lot of debt.

“I’ll tell you my thoughts one last time.”

“I will listen carefully.”

“I understand your intentions. But I think it wouldn’t be bad for you to help Grace with her revenge once. Since it’s the only way to escape this cycle. Then your guilt will be a little less. …Thank you for hearing my presumptuous words.”

“You’re welcome.”

“And the orphanage will need money too. It’s a rare opportunity to both take revenge and earn money. …Well, the decision is yours.”

Grendal pursed his lips tightly. Ji-hyuk patted his arm lightly.

“Think about it carefully. …Let’s go now, Grace.”

Grace stared intently at her old colleague once and turned her body, following Ji-hyuk. Grendal stared at the backs of the two men and women leaving for a while and slowly turned his body.

He opened the pouch and checked the money. Everything inside was gold coins. It seemed to be at least thirty.

Ahㅡ.

If he saved it, he could last for two months. Of course, it would be much less if he considered the debt.

Anyway, he delivered the pouch with the money in it to the director without taking out a single coin. The old director was surprised and asked where the money came from.

“Someone donated it.”

“Oh, I’m so grateful.”

The director smiled brightly after a long time. The Orc’s heart was a bit complicated.

All day long, he was lost in thought. He couldn’t even get his work done. Even when he lay down at night, he couldn’t sleep.

━ Aaaaahㅡㅡ!!

The screams of his comrades were heard. He covered his ears with both hands and suffered.

It’s because of me. If I, if I had hit him. If I had hit him, this wouldn’t have happened.

The soft-hearted man writhed in guilt. With that one mistake, he lost almost all of his precious comrades. He couldn’t escape that nightmare.

━ You have to kill the demon. That’s the only way to escape this pain.

Grace’s words kept coming to mind. Grendal eventually got up from the bed and sat on the edge.

Hoo, hooㅡ.

His teeth were grinding. In fact, his anger towards the demon was still burning inside him. He glared at the floor with fierce eyes.

━ In the end, are you going to run away again?

Grace, who was suffering the most, eventually decided to confront him again. The Orc looked back at himself.

His suffering was no less than hers. His precious comrades had died en masse because of his mistake. It was a truly maddening time.

You can get revenge. You can kill him.

He desperately wanted to kill the demon. Of course, even if he succeeded in revenge, all the suffering wouldn’t disappear, but at least he could alleviate a lot of it.

━ Aaaaah

The screams of his comrades tormented him relentlessly all night.

Grendal washed the laundry early in the morning and hung it on the line. And he prepared the meal and watched the children eat their breakfast deliciously.

“Play as much as you want today.”

The Orc said with a smile. The children ran out to the yard, excited. He watched it with satisfaction.

Soon he entered the director’s office. She was busy planning how to use the large sum of money.

“Oh, Grendal, you’re here.”

“Director.”

“What’s going on?”

“…I think I have to leave.”

The old director’s eyes widened. Grendal bowed his head as if apologetic.

“I’m sorry. …However, I have something I must do. I will definitely return, Director.”

The director sighed softly. However, she smiled more deeply than before.

“If you have to leave, then you must leave. You’ve been through so much. I don’t know how much I relied on you because you were here.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for? I’m the one who’s sorry. Thank you. Thank you so much, Grendal.”

“It’s not like I’m leaving right away. …However, I don’t know exactly when I’ll leave.”

“Okay, leave on the day you want. Don’t worry about here. Be sure to achieve what you want.”

Grendal bowed his head and came out of the director’s office. And he immediately left the orphanage and headed to the mansion where the hero was. He stopped people on the street and asked for directions, and finally, he arrived in front of Hero Gang Ji-hyuk’s mansion. The security was very strict.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Grendal.”

The guard’s eyes changed. It seemed they had been informed in advance.

“Wait a moment.”

The guard sent a message inside. Soon a person came out. It was the administrator. The guards quickly bowed their heads.

“Follow me.”

The Orc Grendal followed the administrator closely.

Soon, he met the hero in the reception room.

“What brings our Orc here?”

Ji-hyuk said as if he knew everything. Grendal got up from his seat and bowed respectfully. The Orc was surprisingly well-mannered.

“Shamelessly, I have come to ask for a favor.”

“Go ahead.”

“I will help you. …Instead, please take care of the children.”

The hero was very pleased with Grendal’s kind heart. He was a rare and excellent Orc. He went to the Orc and patted his arm affectionately.

“Of course. I’ll do that, of course. …I sincerely welcome you. I welcome you as a comrade.”