Only after entering his father’s hut, did Buhara find some peace and quiet as he kept eagerly looking around for any signs of his mother.

“Your mother is not here Buhara…. She’s challenging floor 35 as we speak.

I don’t think you shall be able to meet her unless you plan on staying a few days” Chief Ohara, Buhara’s father said, as he calmed Buhara down.

“Oh–” Buhara said, sounding slightly disappointed as he was quite excited to meet his mother.

“Don’t be too sad! You can still spend time with your old man….. ain’t I enough?” Chief OHara said, as Buhara began chuckling out loud.

“Of course you are enough, old man. I’m not sad….” Buhara lied quite obviously, however, Ohara did not press him on it.

“So, are you here to finalize your engagement with Sohara?” Chief Ohara asked, as Buhara’s cheeks flushed at the question.

Buhara and Sohara were childhood sweethearts and Buhara quite liked her.

When he was chosen as a climber by the tower of ascension, their relationship grew complicated, as Sohara did not want him to leave, however, Buhara wished to.

However, their separation had made Buhara realize that she was the only one he truly loved and if it were up to him, he really wanted to marry her.

“No…. I don’t think Buhara will be able to marry Sohara anymore, father. I don’t think Buhara will be able to marry anyone” said Buhara with a sad voice, as his father immediately raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“What happened? Did a rival orc cut your donger off? Are you not longer the master of the battle axe? No longer an impaled?” Chief Ohara asked, as Buhara immediately denied those allegations.

“Buhara’s orc-hood is fine and fabulous, however, Buhara has joined the party of a Champion.

Buhara’s friend is the Champion Of Gemini, and as a member of his party, Buhara does not expect to live a long life” said Buhara, as listening to his words, Chief Ohara felt enlightened.

His boy had definitely matured over the past year and had grown wise.

If it were the Buhara of the past, he would not have seen past his own self and his own needs, however, this new Buhara did.

This new Buhara understood the consequences of his actions and had understood the importance of sacrifice.

“Joining a Champion’s party is most admirable.

A life of adventure is what all orcs seek…. And you being friends with the Champion Of Gemini does bring a lot of prestige to this family–” Chief Ohara accepted, as he did not admonish Buhara over his decision and supported him wholeheartedly.

“Follow your heart my boy. While I appreciate you thinking about others…. You should not decide what’s best for others.

Tell Sohara what you feel about her and what other ongoing commitments you have and let her decide if she wants to be with you or not.

That way, whatever her decision is…. She won’t regret it for life” Ohara advised as he patted his son on his back.

Buhara took a moment to process his father’s advice, his gaze dropping to the ground as he mulled over the words. His heart felt a strange mixture of relief and confusion—relief that his father supported his decision, yet confusion about how to handle the situation with Sohara.

After a brief silence, Buhara nodded slowly. “You’re right, Father,” he said, his voice steadier now. “Buhara should be honest with Sohara. She deserves that much.”

Chief Ohara smiled warmly at his son, pleased to see Buhara’s maturity. “She does, my boy. And whatever happens, you’ll know that you made the right choice by being truthful.”

Buhara absorbed his father’s wisdom for a moment longer before shifting the topic. His expression grew more serious as he asked, “And how are the village affairs, Father? How is Uncle Juhara doing?”

At the mention of Juhara, Chief Ohara’s demeanor subtly shifted. A hint of discomfort flickered across his face, and he hesitated before answering, “Ah, Buhara… your uncle Juhara… he’s… well, he’s no longer with us.”

Buhara’s heart skipped a beat, shock and disbelief overwhelming him. “What? Uncle Juhara is dead? How… How did this happen?”

Chief Ohara sighed deeply, the weight of the story pressing on his shoulders. “It’s a grim tale, my son. You see, Goruk Tor has been having trouble with our neighbors. There’s been frequent fighting over the control of the nearby lake—an essential resource for both our village and theirs.”

Buhara listened intently, his mind racing with questions as his father continued.

“The nearby village had a different lake under their control which was once a lifeline for their village,” Chief Ohara explained, “but recently, it’s been poisoned. A large, mighty snake, a creature of terrible power, has taken residence in the waters and has driven the neighboring orc village residents to desperation.

With their own water source tainted, they’ve begun pushing into our territory, trying to take the lake that sustains us.”

Buhara’s brow furrowed as he processed this troubling news. “And Uncle Juhara… he died in one of these border clashes?”

Chief Ohara nodded solemnly. “Yes, he did. The tensions have been rising, and despite our best efforts to defend our land, the conflicts have grown more violent. Juhara… he was leading a group of our warriors when they were ambushed. It was a fierce battle, but… they were outnumbered.”

The room fell into a heavy silence, both father and son grappling with the loss and the grim reality of their village’s situation. “The bad blood between our clan and the neighboring orcs has only worsened since,” Chief Ohara added, his voice tinged with sorrow. “And with every passing day, it feels like we’re inching closer to an all-out war.”

Buhara clenched his fists, anger and sadness swirling within him. “This is terrible news… What can be done, Father? Is there no way to resolve this?”

Chief Ohara shook his head slowly, the lines of worry etched deeply into his face. “We’re doing what we can, Buhara, but the situation is dire. The snake in the lake has made things difficult for everyone, and until it’s dealt with, I fear the clashes will only continue.”

Buhara nodded, his mind already made as he decided to solve the problem of the nearby snake before he left for Earth.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep