The moment Even opened his eyes, he felt as if his brain were on fire. But the searing pain was instantly eclipsed by a shiver of pure terror. He realized his feet were pointing toward the sky and his head was dangling toward the ground—exactly like an animal hanging in a slaughterhouse. A massive Orc held him upside down, and directly beneath him, a giant cauldron of water bubbled and steamed over a roaring fire.
A sky-rending scream tore from Even's throat. "NO! LET ME GO! HELP!"
But his desperate cries were merely entertainment for the Orcs. They bared their tusks, mocking him with hideous laughter. Even thrashed his limbs like a madman, but in the Orc's iron grip, he was nothing more than a squirming fish. He was a prey animal making its final, futile struggle before the feast.
With terrified eyes, Even tried to scan his surroundings. It was a primitive settlement filled with dust, debris, and piles of bones. Suddenly, his gaze shifted forward.
Under the scorching sun, a massive canopy had been erected like a giant umbrella to provide shade. Beneath it sat a stone throne, occupied by the Orc Leader—a monstrous figure with deep green skin. His massive frame was slumped into the throne, head resting on one hand, seemingly lost in a state of profound boredom.
The Leader remained unmoved by Even's screams or the rowdiness of the other Orcs. He merely let out a long sigh, as if the preparation of this obese human was a tedious, mind-numbing chore. That cold indifference terrified Even even more—he realized he wasn't a threat; he was just an uninteresting ingredient.
The steam from the boiling cauldron lashed at Even's face. In a final, desperate bid for survival, he shrieked, "LISTEN, HEY BIG GUY! Over Here! Please Don't Eat Me. I'm Not Tasty At All. There's No Meat Inside Me—I'm Just Stuffed With Fat!"
The Leader on the throne remained still as a statue at first. Then, slowly, he began to scratch one of his long tusks with his fingernails. Without even looking at Even, he spoke in a deep, gravelly voice, "Shut up, human runt. Your meat alone won't fill my stomach, let alone satisfy my kin."
Even froze.
He had only screamed to comfort his own mind, to feel like he had tried before he died. But the fact that the Orc Leader replied in a human tongue was beyond his imagination. Was he truly speaking human language?
Even couldn't let this life-or-death opportunity slip away. Panting, he said, "That's exactly what I'm trying to say! My meat won't fill anyone's stomach. So, wouldn't it be better not to eat me at all?"
The Leader finally raised his reddish eyes to look at Even. A smirk of disdain crossed his face. He said calmly, "So, you are conscious. But even so... what hunter lets go of his prey once it's in his grasp?"
Ending the sentence, the Leader seemed to lose interest again. This conversation was becoming a bore. He raised his hand in a cruel, silent signal.
"Prepare the food."
Upon receiving the order, the Orc holding Even began to lower him further toward the boiling water. The skin on Even's back began to sting from the rising heat.
Just as death was breathing down his neck, a bolt of inspiration struck Even's mind like lightning. He roared with the full strength of his lungs, "YOU ARE NOT FIT TO BE A KING!"
The entire camp fell silent instantly. For the first time, a flash of rage appeared on the Orc Leader's indifferent face. His cold voice swept through the air like a chilling wind. "STOP!!"
The Leader leaned forward from his throne, staring directly into Even's eyes with a murderous intensity. "Runt, what are you trying to say? Do you want to fight me before you die? Or are you trying to steal my rank?"
"I won't say what I want until you let me sit somewhere properly. If you don't listen to me calmly, it will be your loss."
The Leader thought for a moment and signaled his men. "Fine. Place him beside the cauldron. That way, if he chatters too much, you can just shove him in!"
Following the order, Even was placed beside the pot, slightly away from the flames so his skin wouldn't be ruined.
Even was a master of lying. He hadn't gained this skill overnight; it was the result of fifteen years of dark experiences. Could a person really spend their life just watching porn on a laptop screen?
The answer was—absolutely not.
He had spent thousands of hours reading web novels and battling on the fields of online games. Those who play video games often have a decision-making speed under pressure that is many times faster than average people. To survive those complex gaming scenarios, Even had learned how to tell a perfect lie without blinking. In his previous life, his self-hatred and depression had buried these cunning traits deep inside, but now, facing certain death, his hidden talents were erupting to the surface. Purely out of the urge to survive.
Furthermore, from his experience with fantasy novels, he knew one universal truth—as strong and violent as the Orc race was, they were, intellectually, absolute idiots. Their blood held only primitive rage and a demonic urge for human flesh.
But intelligence?
That was a forbidden commodity or a completely unknown concept to these monsters.
…
"Actually, not eating me right now would be the best thing for you," Even began.
"What do you mean!?" the Leader's voice cracked with surprise.
Even pointed toward the sky. "Look up. The sun is directly overhead. If you eat me in this scorching heat, you won't be able to enjoy the feast fully. I admit I have a lot of fat, but there's a reason for it. I am the son of an extremely wealthy family. I've lived a life of luxury and extreme care. My body is nourished with expensive foods; therefore, my meat is far more delicious than that of common humans."
The Leader tried a sly smile and gestured toward Even's face. "Do you take me for a fool? You were the one screaming in fear that your meat isn't tasty. And what are those ugly things on your face? You look disgusting!"
Even paused for a second, but his gamer brain quickly found an answer. Composing himself, he said, "There is an answer, and you've already given it yourself."
The Leader furrowed his brow but didn't speak. Even added, "Fear! At first, I was terrified. But then I realized my life is a failure. Taking my own life is a sin, so I thought—if a powerful King eats me, only then will I find liberation. But if I am eaten in a common way, there will be no greatness in my end."
"Are you flattering me?" A strange tone entered the Orc Leader's voice. His posture made it clear he was secretly delighted, though he had to play the part of a clever king.
"Flattery!" Even added artificial emotion and despair to his voice. "If my praise is a lie, then is your kingdom a lie too? Because a true King always understands the value of a truth-teller."
The Leader, now slightly annoyed, said, "A moment ago you said I wasn't fit to be king. Why are you twisting your words now?"
"I said that because," Even threw a direct challenge, "in my country, a King has great responsibilities. Leaders of any race have special qualities that I have always observed. But I noticed a lack of those qualities in you."
The Orc Leader straightened his back, trying to look noble. His primitive brain was now peaking with curiosity. He asked, "So, what are those qualities?"
"To fulfill the final wish of the dying," Even threw the words directly into the Leader's face without hesitation.
The monster sat still for a few moments, then said in a deep voice, "Oh, so that's it! Fine, I will fulfill your wish. Since I am a great king, a great ruler—one who always thinks of his tribe—I will respect your final wish. Tell me, what do you want?"
Even lowered his head. He knew very well that if he said 'Let me go', the web of lies he had woven would snap instantly. So, he played his death-defying card once again.
"Please do not eat me directly now. Host a grand festival tonight and accept me then. That way, my soul will be satisfied, and your stomach will be full."
The moment he finished, the Orc Leader burst into a diabolical fit of laughter. The laughter was so intense and loud that it chilled Even to the bone. His heart stopped for a second. Terrified, Even thought, Wait!
Is my plan failing?
Are the Orcs of this world not as stupid as I thought?
Stopping his laughter, the Leader said, "Fine, fine! Your wish shall be granted."
Even let out a long sigh of relief. Finally, his life was extended until tonight! Now he just had to execute the real plan he was hiding in his heart. But then, the Leader's voice boomed again like a clap of thunder.
"But..."
That one word pierced Even's chest like an arrow. The Leader narrowed his eyes and looked sharply at Even. "A moment ago you were terrified of death. Now, suddenly, why are you asking a King for your own demise? Is there another motive behind this final request?"