## Chapter 67 – Ogre Raid
They say an ogre has appeared.
The guild is on emergency alert.
“An ogre is blocking the road?”
“That’s right, you barbarian bastard. Apparently, the Abnel Trading Company got completely screwed.”
Copson, sitting across from me, said calmly. The way he leisurely spoke while tearing off a piece of jerky made it seem like it was nothing. He followed the jerky with a swig of beer.
Come to think of it, Abnel Trading Company… wasn’t that the name of the company that helped me when I came to Isvant?
They definitely offered me a scout position back then.
It was after I fought off the bandits on the way to Isvant.
“Seriously? Are they all dead?”
“No, just eight wagons heading to the Dodens barony. But that’s still a huge loss. More than twenty people died, I heard.”
“Damn, that’s scary as hell. That’s a massacre.”
Twenty people was a significant number.
The thought that if I had followed the trading company back then, I might have been among those twenty, crushed to death by an ogre’s punch, sent shivers down my spine. I rubbed my arm. As expected, timing and connections are the most important things in life. Being a guard is not for me. I won’t even look at it in the future.
“So that’s why the guild was so noisy…”
The guild was more crowded than usual. People running around, shouting, falling, and playfully bickering. Seeing it so lively at this hour, something must have happened.
“An ogre, huh.”
Ogre.
Ogres are the quintessential destructive monsters: really big and really strong.
They are incredibly dangerous. A massive build with a muscular body supporting it, and thick layers of fat surrounding it like armor. They were natural-born warriors and addicted to destruction.
Based on their physical abilities, they reign as kings over most monsters. And they are so ferocious, they are like natural-born gangsters who destroy everything they don’t like. When they get angry, nothing is left. Who in the world would put up with a muscle giant’s tantrum?
If one appears in a remote rural village, the village is completely devastated. Even if the village militia manages to drive it away, many young men die, leading to the village’s decline.
So, when one of those guys suddenly appears during a trade run and goes on a rampage, it’s no wonder people get screwed over.
To deal with them, you need at least mages or warriors who can use mana, but from what I saw last time, the Abnel Trading Company didn’t seem to have any of those. They really ran into the wrong thing.
“Why would one of those guys suddenly appear? I’ve never even heard of ogres being near here.”
“How would we know what a monster is thinking? Maybe it came down from the mountains to find its mother. Barbarian, think like a monster. Your insights from living in the wild might be helpful.”
“I have no idea.”
But those powerful, large monsters usually don’t appear near cities where many people live. They prefer to establish their territory in deep mountains or forests and stay there, not wanting to cause unnecessary disputes with humans. They know that if they kill too many people, a subjugation force will come.
Is there a special reason? I don’t know.
I’m not a monster ecology expert.
The source of my knowledge comes from books I borrowed from the library whenever I had time, or rumors I picked up from adventurers here and there.
“Anyway, the Abnel Trading Company, the Lord of Isvant, and the Adventurers’ Guild have all offered rewards. The amounts are incredibly generous… Naturally, every adventurer in the vicinity will flock there. So, what do you say? Want to come with me?”
Copson suggested that we participate in the subjugation force together. I shook my head.
“Is this guy crazy? Stop drinking beer. Are you already drunk?”
“There’s no way I’d get drunk on this little.”
How are we supposed to catch an ogre, you crazy bastard? The strongest monster I’ve ever seen was a cockatrice, and for an ogre, that chicken-brained thing is just an instant snack they can easily tear apart after a meal.
Copson took another swig of beer. He gulped it down and slammed the glass on the table with a thud.
“A barbarian without courage is no different from a corpse. Fighting enemies stronger than yourself, isn’t that your faith?”
“I don’t know where you heard that crap, but I don’t have any such religion, and the idea that barbarians are courageous is just a prejudice. And why do you keep calling me a barbarian? You acne-faced jerk.”
I pointed out Copson’s skin.
“No, why do you keep trying to back out? Can’t you just come with me? Just participating in the subjugation force gets you a basic pay of 1 silver. And if the subjugation is successful, you get an additional 2 silver. This kind of opportunity doesn’t come often. And what? Acne?”
“Yeah, you acne-faced jerk. Make some money and invest in your skin.”
“Hahaha. Damn it.”
Copson, awkwardly laughing, ran his fingers over his face. Touching it with his bare hands like that is what makes it worse. I didn’t bother pointing that out.
“…There are already dozens of applicants for the subjugation force. No matter how strong an ogre is, it can’t possibly survive against that many people. Some people will die, but surely we won’t be among them? The more people there are, the less the risk.”
Certainly, no matter how powerful a monster is, it can’t survive if people swarm it like a pack of dogs. Humans are that kind of species. Well, in terms of insects, humans are like ants. Even solitary predators are overwhelmed and eaten by sheer numbers.
Listening to him, I started to understand to some extent. A basic pay of 1 silver, plus a success bonus if the subjugation is successful… There will be many adventurers gathering, so the risk will be reduced accordingly.
It was a tempting offer.
“And this is a secret…”
“A secret?”
Copson leaned in and whispered.
“Yeah, don’t be surprised, but listen carefully. The Lady of Isvant is participating in this ogre subjugation and will be leading it herself.”
“The Lady of Isvant? Who’s that?”
“The Lord’s daughter, you barbarian bastard. Don’t you even know that?”
“No, how the hell would I know that?”
I’ve never even seen the Lord’s face, so how would I know? I’m always amazed at how this guy picks up on these things. Is it because he wanders around so much? Whether he has a wide network or good information, he’s a fascinating guy.
“She’s always mentioned when adventurers talk about the strongest in the city, and you don’t know her?”
“What? The strongest? The Lady is strong?”
I didn’t even know that adventurers had a culture of talking about the strongest in the city. Are these guys talking about that without me? Don’t I have too few friends?
“Yeah, they say she’s been intensively training in mana cultivation and greatsword techniques since she was young. She’s supposed to be very strong. If we’re with someone like that, the risk will be even lower. And more than anything…”
Copson paused for a moment and said as if he were dreaming.
“She’s supposed to be incredibly beautiful.”
“This guy, that’s what he was after.”
“I’d have no regrets if I could just see her face once.”
Copson’s specialty as an old bachelor: He likes that kind of thing.
“Wake up. With your skin, you wouldn’t even be able to get close, even if you were reborn.”
“No, do you think I’m expecting some kind of romance? I just want to see her face once. There are only rumors, I’ve never actually seen her.”
“Why? If she’s pretty, are you going to lower your voice again?”
“When have I ever lowered my voice?”
You always do, you bastard.
Copson, who said that, suddenly hesitated and looked behind me.
And he cautiously asked me.
“By the way… Who is that person standing behind you?”
“What?”
At that question, Claudia, who had been silently listening to our conversation behind me, placed her hand on my head. Then she started stroking it. Copson looked at my face as if wondering what the hell was going on.
“Ah, Claudia?”
“Claudia? Is that the name of that beautiful woman?”
Copson asked back in surprise. Then Claudia greeted him.
“Hello? I’m Claudia.”
“Ah, yes, yes. Nice to meet you. I’m Copson.”
“Don’t lower your voice, you bastard.”
“No, when did I lower my voice again…”
You just did it again, you idiot. He hesitated and said again.
“So, what’s the relationship between you two?”
My relationship with Claudia. I tilted my head and looked up at Claudia. Claudia was also looking down at me. That alone made me feel good. I smiled and said.
“We’re in a loving relationship.”
“What!”
Copson was startled.
To be honest, I’m also incredibly surprised. That a hyper-loser like me would end up dating a perfect woman like Claudia. I couldn’t even imagine it, but it was the truth. Satisfaction and superiority welled up from deep within.
I puffed out my chest like a mountain and flaunted my masculinity to Copson. Like a peacock spreading its tail feathers wide.
“I… I can’t believe it.”
“What can’t you believe, you idiot.”
“This barbarian has a girlfriend like that…?”
Claudia, who had been touching my head all along, said.
“Hmm~. Katt is a wonderful man, you know.”
“Hehe… Claudia, you’re the prettiest.”
“Hehe. Thank you.”
“I’m more thankful. Ah, that tickles.”
“Here, do you like it here?”
“Khuh! Ah, wait!”
Claudia and I were being lovey-dovey.
“This is unbelievable.”
Copson dropped his jerky.
“Hehe… You should get a girlfriend too.”
“…”
More than that, it’s the ogre. Listening to Copson, I became interested in it. I’ve never actually seen an ogre. But Claudia, who is of unknown age, must have seen them a few times in her life.
“By the way, Claudia. Have you ever seen an ogre?”
“I’ve caught a few Desert Ogres.”
“What’s a Desert Ogre?”
Is that also a palette swap?
“Um… Monsters that live in the desert? They’re big and fast. They often attack oasis villages, so I’ve hunted them a lot.”
“You’ve hunted them a lot? What are they like?”
To my question, Claudia said simply, as if she were explaining how to prepare carrots.
“Well~. They’re not that difficult. You shoot an arrow to draw their attention, then go behind them and cut their ankles. And then you stab a spear into the carotid artery of the fallen one, and that’s it.”
“Wow.”
What level is she even?
I have no idea.
“Katt, I think it’s okay. I want to see the ogre that lives here too. I’ll protect you, so let’s go? Huh?”
“No, you don’t have to protect me… I’d rather protect you, but that’s a bit much. Anyway, if Claudia says so, then we have to do it.”
“Wow, thank you.”
It feels like we’ve decided as if we’re going for a walk in the neighborhood, but there are many people, and Claudia and even the Lady of Isvant are going, so considering all of that, it might be a quest with a decent level of difficulty.
More than anything, a big case like this is a great way to build up achievements. Let’s try to get to D-rank. From D-rank, the guild even creates a savings account. As the rank goes up, there are some benefits.
F-rank has no benefits and the guild doesn’t even care about you, while E-rank has a slight level of rights protection, and from D-rank, you can be said to be a core member of the Adventurers’ Guild because you have built up credit, and corresponding rights and interests are guaranteed.
It usually takes several years to go from F-rank to E-rank, and it takes quite a while to get to D-rank from there.
“Hey, Copson. I’ve decided. Let’s go.”
“…”
“I said, let’s go?”
“Damn it. Then let’s go apply for the subjugation force.”
And so, we applied to participate in the subjugation force. It seemed like they were accepting almost anyone above E-rank. They said the results would be announced tonight, so we had some time left.
“Then, Copson, see you tonight. Goodbye.”
I waved to Copson.
And I took Claudia’s hand with that hand.
“Claudia, is there anything you want to eat?”
“Anything I want to eat?”
“No, no, no. Not like that. Let’s have a meal.”
“Hehe, what were you thinking?”
Ah, my chest tickles.
And so, Claudia and I wandered around the city as if we were sightseeing.
I think men and women should not only have sex but also have normal dates.
