Chapter 36: Chapter 12.3: Useful Information

Here’s the last release for the day. Goodnight everyone!

After returning to their room in the inn with his newly bought clothes, Bash steadily prepared himself for his outing according to Zell’s instructions.

He took a bath, scrubbing himself thoroughly, sprinkling on some of the flower-scented perfume that the Faerie had brought with him, and slipped into his brand-new outfit.

He massaged his hair with a nice-smelling pomade and slicked it back.

As to why he did this – all Elven men wore their hair like this.

Bash’s hair wasn’t very long, and rather unsuited for this style. During the war, most if not all Orcs shaved their head to avoid accidentally leaving any traces of their presence, lest the Beastkin track them down. This made him look a little awkward, but still managed to somewhat adopt the look.

Finally, he went to a flower field right outside of town and prepared a bouquet, which Elves apparently enjoyed.

His appearance was perfect.

All that remained was just the execution, which would come with practice.

Bash, accompanied by Zell, went out into town.

“All right mister! You’ve got the basics down, but there are still a couple of things to keep in mind! So, you know how Elves stay with only one person the until one of them dies, right? Well, you can’t go around asking everyone to marry you! It’ll just make you look like a hungry playboy, and that’s no good! So don’t talk to anyone unless I give you the go-ahead, okay? Anyways, I’ll go talk to people and find a girl who looks like she’s single!”

“Okay.”

It was dusk now.

This was around the time most people with day jobs packed up and headed home.

They were still in the post-war period, and there were many soldiers returning to the city in their respecting groups, carrying weapons and armor.

Of course, his potential wife’s occupation didn’t really matter to the Hero.

It might be important to the honor of the Orcish people as a whole that their representative, their Hero, took an Elven warrior as his wife, but not to the man himself.

It didn’t matter what she did for a living.

She could be unemployed, or even a NEET for all he cared.

So long as she was willing to become his wife.

So long as he could graduate from his virginity.

So long as he didn’t end up as a magic warrior.

Elves were usually beautiful, and he wasn’t about to be picky about it. Just about anyone was fine.

Anyways, with this many Elven women around, he was hoping at least one of them would be open to marry him.

“Oh, how about that girl over there!”

Following Zell’s suggestion, Bash immediately approached a woman walking on her own.

She was a tall Elf with shoulder-length blonde hair pulled back in a bun.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

She wore a standard issue red leather armor, holding a bow in her hand and a full quiver on her back.

There was a rather large burn mark on his face, but that didn’t matter to the Orc.

She was walking brisky, her face wearing a tired, yet content expression.

Bash felt it in his gut – this was going to be the one.

“Good evening, m-m-m’lady.”

“Hm…huh? An Orc?”

The Elf’s eyes narrowed as she saw Bash, all her senses going on alert.

However, she loosened up, and raised an eyebrow when she noticed the man accosting her was nervous, dressed up, and holding a bouquet.

She realized something.

“Ah, um, hm… Uh, actually, I was wonderin—”

“Whoa hold on a second! I’m really sorry, Mr. Orc, but I can’t accept your feelings!”

The Elf interrupted Bash, turning him down before he was even done talking.

Her expression was full of smugness, as she blushed slightly and puffed her chest.

From the Hero’s point of view, it was rather endearing – cute even. But if another Elven woman were to see this, it would likely make them seethe and sick to her stomach.

It was an expression that seemed to say, “Kah! Good grief, it’s so hard being so beautiful! Ah, my life is so tough! I’m just so popular that I’m getting so much attention wherever I go!”

“Ah…”

“Oh, it’s not that I don’t like you, Sir Orc. Here, take a look at this.”

She pointed towards her head, leaning down slightly so Bash could have a better view.

There was a white flower adorning her hair.

Incidentally, Bash had picked some of these same flowers to make his bouquet.

“You might not know this, as an Orc, but Elves that are engaged wear white lilies on their head just like this. Those who are married also wear white flowers, though not the same type. It’s just like how Humans wear rings on their left ring finger to show that they’re taken.”

Hearing this, Bash took a look around him, noticing that most of the Elves walking home were wearing white flowers on their head.

They came in different forms – individual flowers, brooches, crowns and circlets.

And in retrospect, he remembered that the three Elves he had met earlier during the day did not have any flowers in their hair.

“I don’t know what Orcs find beautiful or ugly… but, whatever the reason might be, I’m glad you approached someone like me. I’ll take it as a compliment!”

“…”

“Honestly, just a few days ago, I was so desperate that I was ready to marry damn near anyone, even an Orc! But then my wish got granted and I got a proposal! I’m sorry Sir Orc, I’m already taken, so I can’t accept your proposal. I hope you understand.”

“…I see.”

When Bash backed off without an issue, the Elf looked surprised.

“Uh, you know, I was wondering… I heard that Orcs would never give up pursuing a woman they liked.”

“Non-consensual sexual intercourse with other races is forbidden in the name of the Orc King.”

“Oh, I get it. So, you thought that if you just kept insisting after I turned you down it would have been considered non-consensual, huh…”

“Hm? Was I wrong?”

“No, no, you’re right. You’re pretty wise, for an Orc.”