After what felt like approximately thirty minutes, the group of Homonculi lead by the Roach finally reached their destination.
It appeared to be a poorly constructed village situated near a flowing river of crystal-clear, fresh water that seemed to be without even a single impurity.
The village itself was as barbaric as one can imagine. It was surrounded by crude walls made from the trunks of large trees, it seemed as though the Orc's didn't even bother carving the bark off or polishing them.
The only thing that was impressive was the sheer size of the village, the wall encircling it easily had a radius of nearly two kilometers.
"Stick close, or these gluttonous swine might snatch you away."
As they stood at the entrance of the muddy village, the bipedal Roach couldn't help but flinch as the pungent stench from within wafted over to his antennae.
[Ugh... I wouldn't be surprised if every deadly disease in the world could be found in there.]
Kaelen frowned slightly, glanced back at the members of his decadon as though giving them courage, and followed the Roach into the village.
As soon as they entered, they were welcomed by an array of terribly constructed houses that were made from thin wood, animal skin and whatever else the Orcs could scrape by.
[A little huff and puff and this entire village would blown to smithereens.]
[Maybe I set their IQ a tad bit too low?]
Kaelen pinched his nose, and the others finally got the courage to do so as well.
Collectively, they missed the crisp, fresh air of Mother Nature, now that their nostrils were terrorized and their lungs defiled by a suffocating barrier of methane and body odor engulfing the village.
"Oink! Move slave!!"
Slash!
"Kaaaka! Khik!! "
A loud commotion caught their attention, and to their right, they saw three green creatures that were about their height, being forced to haul a wheel-less carriage.
[Goblins...]
Under different circumstances, he might have been excited to see them, but right now, he couldn't care less.
All he wanted was fresh air!
[No... It's a good thing I limited their IQ since they're the dominant species of the first floor.]
[Aside from the herbivorous creatures, there exists Kobolds and Goblins on this floor.]
As they continued making their way to the Chief's, Honyopi's residence, the residents of the village began to gather around them, drooling fountains of saliva.
[Argh! Don't get so close!]
[It smells like armpit and damp ass!]
He cried inwardly, the smell was so pungent that he could almost taste it.
It was honestly a miracle that none of them had lost consciousness.
//
"Oink. I hate waiting, where are your so-called finest specimens?"
Seated on a throne poorly carved from wood was the Orc Chief, his frame incredibly large, about twice that of a normal Orc.
He had a mullet of long brown hair that was so scruffy and filled with muck and flees that it would honestly take decades to clean.
Rather... Shaving it all off would be the best recourse.
His tusks were so long that they appeared to obstruct his vision, to his left, rested on his chair's armrest was a metal club riddled with deadly spikes.
And on his right, was an extremely large jug filled to the brim with foamy alcohol.
"Be patient. They should be here soon."
Charymos replied, he sat on a somewhat similar throne beside the Orc Chief, his skin violently excreting slime and his tentacles trembling.
"I see... Oink. Are you sure you don't want a drink to pass the time?"
The Orc Chief offered his hospitality once more, after all, these two could be considered business partners with how much they transact with one another.
"..."
Charymos silently glanced at the contents of the jug and saw a liquid that appeared to be waters collected upon mopping up sludge.
[... How dare you offer me such a thing, you barbaric mongrel...]
"No. I'm fine."
He clenched his jaw, a few of his tentacles intertwining as though they wanted to rip themselves from his chin.
And just as they were about to snap...
"Oink! Boss, the foo — uhh, the guests are outside."
An Orc who was the Chief's personal guard entered the large tent which barely had any furniture, the only thing of value in there was the long carpet which they stole from the Kobolds.
Well... It was without its former splendor, given how muddy and wet it was now, its color too had long been buried by layers of grime.
"Very good. Oink, let them in."
The Chief gave permission, and the five decadons lead by the Roach finally made their way in.
"We greet the two Lords, Guardian of the First Floor and Overseer of the Basement Floor."
The Roach bowed to one knee and placed his arm across his chest, the five decadons followed suit and paid their respects.
[High Orc Honyopi...]
[... How did I come up with that terrible name...]
Kaelen slowly raised his gaze and studied the imposing figure seated on the chair, whose gaze, although a tad obstructed by his sharp tusks, inducing fear.
[Welp, it suits him I gue —]
"Oink..."
[!!], [!!]
Suddenly, a wave of intense bloodlust that made them all shudder and almost lose control of their bladders, enveloped the tent.
"Is that Mana I smell? How have so many of them already become so ripe Charymos? Slurp..."
"May I taste just one before the hunt? Oink."
"I want to devour that one with eyes that resemble the skin of my brethren, Oink."
The Orc Chief violently licked his lips and stared daggers at Kaelen, like a dog's piercing, unwavering gaze toward dangling meat.
"Hey..."
"Do not think that the slight disparity in our strength means that I cannot rip you apart."
"We have an agreement, don't displease me Honyopi."
A secondary wave of bloodlust filled the tent, and most could only collapse, some even foaming at the mouth with how unbearable it was.
Charymos was absolutely fuming, the two of them glared at one another for about three seconds, which to the Roach and particularly the decadons, felt like an eternity.
"Oink... Fine. I will honor our agreement."
The High Orc reined in his gluttony and retracted his bloodlust, and Charymoss followed suit. With that, the tent became inhabitable once more.
"Huff... Huff..."
Everyone caught their breaths and staggered as they corrected their postures.
An inferior creature is attempting to name you.
[...]
At that moment, Kaelen recalled that specific notification and his brows became etched by a deep furrow.
[Exactly what about him is inferior when compared to me?]
His body shuddered as it recovered from the intense fear he just felt, a cold sweat drenching his pale frame.
"Ahhh~ My precious children, how I've missed you."
As though he wasn't the one exuding such pressure and killing intent just then, Charymos sprung up from the wooden throne with his usual flamboyancy.
"Aww, don't be like that~"
"Did I scare you?"
He clasped his cheeks and feigned a regretful expression.
"Here, peck..."
He puckered his lips and pressed them against his palm.
"You must be suffocating in this place."
■■ Gentle Breeze.■■
He cast that spell and blew a kiss at them, and what accompanied it was a breath of fresh air that rivaled even Mother Nature's.
[... Thank you!!]
Kaelen greedily inhaled the cool air and dreaded the fact that it would soon be engulfed by that of the village.
"Run along now children, wait for me outside the tent okay~?"
Charymos waved his webbed hand and the decadons neatly departed from the tent.
"That includes you, Honyopi, I will be with you shortly."
He spoke, holding the Roach's shoulder to prevent him from leaving.
"Oink..."
The High Orc stood from his throne, albeit reluctantly.
"And remember don't —"
"Oink, I know."
The Chief departed from his tent and joined the children outside.
"..."
"My Lord, I —"
POW!
"Gargh!"
Charymos sank his right fist deep into the Roach's abdomen and stemmed the force that should have sent its insectoid frame into orbit by coiling his left arm around its throat.
"You incompetent cur, how dare you keep me waiting in this cesspool?"
He glared at his subordinate with bloodshot eyes and continued strangling him, leaving his insectoid feet dangling in the air.
"Cough! Urgh... Forgive me, my Lord, I have no excuse."
The Roach's mandibles were drenched in its internal fluids as it forced those words out of his constricted windpipe.
"Tch..."
He clicked his tongue, releasing his grip and the Roach immediately prostrated himself at Charymos's feet.
"So? Is there anything to report since my absence?"
The excessive volume of slime that Charymos had been excreting slightly decreased.
"Yes, my Lord... There has been word from the Eighth Floor."
"It is my understanding that they are to send an envoy to judge your progress with their own eyes."
The Roach briefed.
"Oh~ Things are going quite well then, when will they arrive?"
"A few weeks from now my Lord, a specific date was not given."
"..."
"I see... What of the Sixth Floor?"
"No word has been received, but I instructed the Mermen to notify me should the situation change."
"..."
[... That cold bastard, why has he not said anything?]
[My plan cannot be put into motion with just the Eighth Floor... Should Lady Rowena discover my betrayal....]
[...]
[I need someone volatile as a catalyst...]
[Show some interest damnit!]
[Should I contact the ninth?]
[No... He'll see right through me.]
Charymos began biting his long nails.
"Lord Charymos, I would not advise leaving Lord Honyopi with the children for too long."
The Roach's words snapped him out of his daze.
"Ah... Yes, that is true."
"Oh and by the way, do not refer to them as Guardians anymore, I have heard that our Ruler now despises that term."
"They are to be called Goveners now."
The two of them began to walk outside.
"Is that so, thank you for relaying the words of our Ruler to one as insignificant as me."
"Then, what about you my Lo —"
"Do you want to die?"
"N-no my Lord, I apologize."
Charymos recalled the words of Rowena and felt a bitter taste swell-up in his mouth.
They joined the others and made preparations for the hunt.