Chapter 34

Solo Clear – Chapter 34: Stage Five #3

We managed to successfully take back the base .
In order to leave this place, we had to take back one more base .
However, I wasn’t in a hurry to do it and decided to take my time coming up with a plan .

After taking back two bases, the Elves were discouraged .
Even though a couple of days passed, there were a couple of small battles .
The reason why they avoided an all-out war was because their nation became afraid because of the strong warriors .

The Orcs needed time to reorganize so they weren’t planning on participating in a large battle .
Because of it, I was able to get a break .

“Looks good . ”

At dawn, as I greeted the clear sky, I rode a grey-colored wolf and headed out .
Master Kalax was beside me .

“How are you feeling?”

Kalax carefully asked how I was feeling, but his expression looked gloomier than mine .
The brave Orcs must’ve been shocked by what they saw before because they all stared at me .
Before going to war, all the Orcs looked at me with respect, but after taking back the last base, they were filled with fear .

After that day, the Orcs that approached me to shake my hand no longer came .

“Are you asking because I killed my own kind?”

When I asked calmly, Master Kalax hid his shocked expression by turning his head .

“…That’s right . ”
“We call this place a stage . The stage is split up into many levels and isn’t restricted to just this place . Below here, there are at least four stages . ”
“It’s the first time I’m hearing this . ”

I’m sure I’m not the first person to support the Orcs, but Master Kalax looked like she was hearing it for the first time .
“It’s up to the person whether they want to enter the stage or not . No one forces them . ”

There were several cases where people were first sucked in, but it was now different .


People that have listened to the survivors’ experiences would enter instead of someone forcing them into it .
However, there was a big difference between the stage and the games and novels that people are familiar with .

“I believe that the people that come to this place are determined . That includes their life as well . ”
“I’ve seen humans kill other humans before . However, I thought that what you experienced was on a different level . ”

It seemed like he was speaking calmly, but his voice was shaking .
I was suspicious about whether he really was the head of the strong Orcs, but I decided not to question him .

“I see it . ”

Even though we left early in the morning, the sun was up high by the time we arrived to our destination .
When we arrived at the temple that Master Kalax promised to take me, I stepped off of the saddle that I was sitting on .
The temple was as white as snow and it was created by a master, so it was beautifully designed . It was definitely something that couldn’t be seen in the real world .
It was such an artistic building and I was so mesmerized by it that I touched the smooth surface for a long time .

“I didn’t know the Orcs had such refined skills . ”

It could’ve sounded like an insult, but Master Kalax didn’t answer and looked as if he agreed .

Click, clack, click, clack .

Orcs that were wearing a white robe appeared at the entrance while holding a lance that was bigger than them .

“We heard you were coming!!”

They greeted him by kneeling down and showing respect .
Even though I was standing next to him, they kept their guard up .
“He’s a guest . Please treat him with respect . ”
“Back to your stations . ”

Since he was the head of the Orcs, they had to get rid of their doubts even if they didn’t want to .

While walking through the entrance, I saw them keep their heads down and wondered if this was what it was like to have power .

“It seems like everyone is uncomfortable around you . ”
“It comes with the territory . ”

He was carrying a lot on his shoulders and it was a position that I couldn’t understand .
Since I never had the chance to lead, I couldn’t sympathize either .

“Isn’t it burdening? I don’t really like those types of position . ”
“Ha ha ha . ”

Master Kalax had a serious expression, but a smile appeared .

“There were times where I wanted to hand over this position to someone else, but it’s worthwhile despite of the hard work . It can get fun too . ”

“…May I ask you something?”
“Sure . ”
“In the world before this one, I met an old magician and he told me that I would become a hero . But, I’m not really interested in those things . In other words, I don’t really want to risk my life for the world . ”

Master Kalax stopped walking and sat on the fountain that was inside the temple .
He grabbed his chin and looked as if he were thinking deeply about something .

“I was also an ordinary clan leader like Hocrim and Orkhar . However, the previous head passed away and we had to choose a successor and by following the tradition, the clan leaders fought amongst themselves and chose a head . I won and my clan celebrated for an entire week . As an Orc, I thought this was the highest honor . However, it was very different . ”

I was fascinated by his story, so I ended up sitting next to him .

“My plate was too small to control the other clans . I’ve gotten used to it since time passed, but I still regret it . I shouldn’t have done it . I should’ve purposely lost that day . ”
What would happen if the other clan leaders heard this?
Some of the leaders might volunteer to take his place with open arms .
No one cared for the mental stress that Master Kalax had .

“Cruel events happen without any warning . Those moments are what you call reality . I’ve become the head, but it can’t be considered the right thing . In the end, I’m regretting it . Did that help?”
“It helped a lot . ”

The Great Spirit and the Oracle told me that reality will come to an end .
I didn’t want to think about it, but those words stayed in my mind and made me miserable .
I wanted to tell someone about how I felt and I thought it was a good choice to talk about it with Master Kalax .

“Let’s go in . ”

We made our way inside the temple again .


Inside the temple, there were many believers that looked at me, but no one tried to talk to me .

“This is the God that we serve . ”

The sunlight that shined through the stained-glass window shined on the statue vibrantly .

A thick robe was covering its body, so I couldn’t see its face .
All I could do was assume that it was an angel because there was a pair of wings attached to its back .

“It’s not an Orc, huh?”
“That’s right . This is Krosus and they’re the creator of this world . ”
“…Master Kalax, do you know about the existence of Managers?”

This was a stage .
All the stages were worlds created by a Manager and I thought maybe that statue was one of the Managers .

“Managers? Never heard of it . ”

Master Kalax shook his head .
It seemed like he really didn’t know .

I was more interested in the Managers that created these stages than the enemies that will invade several years from now .
The stage was created so that the humans will compete against each other .
It was as if they were trying to pick the strongest one .

They didn’t treat the humans kindly .

“It was just once, but I have met them . ”

I was so surprised that my mouth opened wide .

“You’ve met them? I see . ”
“Once you become the head, you’re allowed to meet them once . ”
“What were they like?”
“… . . ”

Master Kalax looked around and checked to make sure no one was around .
Even after he checked, he didn’t speak for a while and a frown appeared on his face .
It was as if he was worried about Krosus overhearing their conversation .

“It’s nothing . Please forget what I said earlier . ”

Just from his expression, I could tell their meeting wasn’t that great, so I didn’t force him to answer .
Despite of their title as the creator, they probably didn’t behave like one .
The 13th Manager that he met was the same as well .

“Is there anything else I need to see?”
“No . If you’ve seen this statue within the temple, you’ve explored 90% of the temple . ”

He thought he would obtain some information regarding the Manager, but it ended up being fruitless .
He let out a sigh of disappointment .

“I apologize . I dragged you out here for no reason . ”
“It’s fine . It’s what I wanted . ”
“Shall we go back?”
“Looking at the map, it looks like Ericsson isn’t that far from here . I would like to meet Azera there . ”
“Is it to meet the spirits?”

I nodded my head .
“Then, there’s a better method than meeting with Azera . ”
“Method?”
“Not too far from here, there’s a place they call the Spirit’s Plateau . The Great Spirit is there . It’s also the homeland of all the magicians . If you go there, you’ll be able to meet the magicians that are currently training . ”

The amount of mana was great, but I was still lacking the skill to control it .
As of right now, I had two skills that required me to use my mana .
If I learned magic, then I’ll be able to use a variety of skills, which made me have high expectations .

“I really want to go . Could you take me there?”
“Of course . ”

With an excited expression, I followed behind the wolf he was riding on .

<Stage Five #3> End .