The Challenge

"Outrageous!"

"How dare he say that?"

Inside the main tent, the assembled generals and lords were seething with indignation, all of them speaking up to berate Dieter Evans.

"What an insolent bastard!"

Montrelet rose with a hand on his sword, his eyes seeming to spit flames.

He looked toward Catherine.

"We should cut off this arrogant bastard's head and have his followers take it back for their prairie warriors to see."

Catherine shook her head and gestured for him to sit down.

"Envoy, you entered Aldo's territory without our king's permission, allied yourself with our country's traitors to seize Watchman Fortress, and killed our generals and soldiers. There is so much hatred between us, so please stop saying such unrealistic things."

Under the stern gaze of those deep-blue eyes, the orc envoy gave a slight bow.

"Oh... That truly is regrettable, Your Highness the Princess."

The expression on Evans's face changed. He was no longer as frivolous and provocative as before, but had instead adopted a solemnity akin to that of a pilgrim.

"I know that everyone here grew up in the civilized world and regards us as uncivilized savages, giving yourselves a tremendous sense of superiority over orcs. I must make it clear that I am not mocking you. I sincerely agree with part of what you think. Yes, in the eras before this one, orcs truly were far behind the humans of the south. Even our Great Chieftain Abaal knows that. But—"

His tone shifted sharply.

"Ever since Great Chieftain Abaal established the new royal court, everything has changed. I can now say with great pride that orcs are no longer the uncivilized savages of your old understanding. We have our own nation, our own civilization, and from this day onward, we will engage with the Human Nations