Volume 6 Chapter 10 The Ogre’s Resolution
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Anyway, it’s a spectacular view. Felward Fortress isn’t a small fort, but it looks like a speck when surrounded by ten thousand.”
I was flying above Felward Fortress on Ludmila.
Behind me, Garvey, who was in charge of the defense command, was also on board to plan the defense strategy.
”General! Monsters from the Abyss Gate, ‘another world monsters,’ are coming too. They’re eating the Ghost Clan. We can see some large ones that can breed, so we need to hunt them down quickly before lots of beast monster larvae appear.”
As Garvey pointed out, the disturbance caused by the Ghost Clan this time had activated the ‘another world monsters’ that had been quiet near the Abyss Gate, and they were flowing towards Felward.
They were feeding on the Ghost Clan and growing.
And some of the large ‘another world monsters’ were seen starting to breed by incorporating ogre species.
”Yeah, I know. It seems like more bad things are piling up. Monsters are being attracted by the smell of corpses, and it looks like some of the Ghost Clan are turning into monsters too. The area around Felward is the hunting ground with the highest magic element concentration designated by the Hunter Guild.”
”The young kobold and goblin species wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
Goblins and kobolds have a physique that is easily affected by magic elements, and as they age, they build up resistance to magic elements. However, when they are young, even a slight change in concentration can cause them to turn into monsters.
This fact makes it difficult for the Ghost Clan to live together with other tribes.
It is a rule that young kobold species kept as pets in towns must wear a [Shield Choker] to prevent them from being affected by magic elements.
”It’s very bad for them, but we have no choice but to exterminate them due to the breach of the agreement.”
”Well, that’s true. The guys from the Ghost Clan are on the same level as pests and monsters. Even though they have some intelligence, most of them aren’t citizens of the Kingdom. We need to make it clear who’s the boss in this region, or they’ll commit a second and third breach of the agreement.”
Garvey is saying to defeat the Ghost Clan gathered in Felward this time as a warning.
I don’t have any resistance to defeating goblins and kobolds, which I’m used to seeing as monsters despite their human form, but I feel it’s a pity to defeat the ogres like Giuliana, as they have the potential to become competent warriors.
”Can’t we do something about the ogre with the highest intelligence in the Ghost Clan… It’s a pity to kill them.”
”General! They’ve lost their sense of self. I don’t think brainwashing will be undone even if we take them prisoner.”
The Ghost Clan participating in the attack on Felward this time are all individuals who don’t understand Western Language, and there was no effect at all on those who understand Western Language like Bruyne and Giuliana.
Therefore, it is recommended that acquiring Western Language could lead to breaking free from influence, so I was thinking about possible methods.
Nevertheless, if Orphée Bleu is involved in this attack, it is also thought that he has gained the power to freely manipulate the Ghost Clan, which would greatly increase the danger level of the Southern Region where the Ghost Clan is prevalent.
”Goblins and kobolds are just for earning experience no matter how many of them gather, but if we leave the ogres, who are excellent warriors, it could lead to a major disaster…”
Among the presumably prolific Ghost Clan, the ogres have the same reproductive form as the Majin Clan, so they are a minority species that accounts for less than one-tenth of the Ghost Clan, but in most Ghost villages, they often hold leadership positions.
”I know you like talent, General, but the situation is what it is this time. We have to be practical. Also, I don’t like the idea of massacring them, so if we can find a way to undo the brainwashing, I’d like to save the ogres at least.”
”Got it. Let’s discuss the method with Lina and Milly’s group. If it exists, we won’t settle until they cooperate.”
”Heh heh. Since it’s the general’s idea, you’ll probably come up with some outlandish method. Even if you suggest making all the Ogre women your lovers, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Oh, I wonder if that’s an option… If I turned them into my Handsome Guy Carrier, what would happen… But the problem is, I have my own preferences… If it’s a muscular beauty like Giuliana, then sure, no problem.
Regarding the method Garvey mentioned, I’ll set it aside as a last resort and, having finished my reconnaissance, I decided to return to Felward Fortress.
* * *
Upon returning to the fortress, I made my way to the large room that serves as the operations center.
When I arrived at the room, representatives from each of the Felward-based Hunting Groups and Milly were commanding the defense.
For now, I’ve organized the stationed Hunting Groups under Garvey as the overall commander, but they’re like mercenaries and might retreat if the damage is too severe.
Therefore, it was decided that I would give special rewards to the Hunting Groups that performed well in this defense.
As a result, the representatives of the Hunting Groups were also satisfied.
”Hey, Kent. How are things outside?”
It was the playful Hendric who asked about the situation outside with a teasing tone.
Despite looking carefree, this man is a genius who leads the ‘Golden Apostles’, one of the top Hunting Groups in the south.
His Monster Hunting ability is S-rank, and he has the same level of skill as Milly.
However, one of his flaws seems to be that he can’t accept not being number one; he’s fought Milly for the title of strongest in Abyss Vena, and when Clayd was at my castle, he challenged him repeatedly and got beaten up. In any case, he’s a troublesome man.
”Mr. Hendric. Well, it was quite a spectacle. Over ten thousand Ghost Clan were swarming, and behind them, ‘another world monster’ was preying on the Ghost Clan, while monsters were approaching the corpses. Should we call that a clan?”
”Oh, so even the monsters are drawn to it…”
”Well, since Mr. Hendric’s ‘Golden Apostles’ are here, we have nothing to worry about, right?”
At my provocative words, Hendric’s expression twitched.
”Of course! As long as my Hunting Group is here, we’ll hunt them all down. My Hunting Group can act freely, right?”
Garvey, hearing Hendric’s words, replied with a troubled tone.
”Well, that’s fine. The General said to let you operate freely. However, if you chase too far, I can’t provide you with supplies. I trust your experience as a Monster Hunter, but I just wanted to let you know.”
”I get it. We’re not looking to overdo it. We’ll come back after making enough of a show to earn a special reward from Kent.”
”Then I’ll give Hendric’s ‘Golden Apostles’ the freedom to act as a skirmish unit. I’m expecting results.”
”Ah, sorry, but I’ll make sure to earn my keep.”
Hendric led his aide and left the hall.
”Gahaha! Hendric is being worked hard by Kent. Don’t overdo it with him. Surprisingly, that guy takes things seriously.”
Matthew, the Hunting Group Leader of ‘Silver Wolf’, and his wife Thelma approached me.
”I’m not planning to work him too hard. Also, this time I intend to earn my share as a Hunting Group Leader.”
”Kent seems to be feeling motivated. BeaBea was a bit worried. Lately, you’re been so focused on being a Lord that your belly is starting to sag.”
Matthew’s wife, Thelma, guardian of Beatrice, seemed concerned about my physique.
Certainly, I had been putting in more hours at the office lately, and it was true that I’d gained some belly fat.
”Ms. Thelma, please keep that to yourself. I’m surprised too that the armor I haven’t worn in a while is a bit tight.”
”Lord’s work is tough too, but you’ve got to move your body every now and then.”
”Kent is probably hustling at night. Gahaha”
Indeed, as Matthew said, I was hustling at night, but it seemed I was taking in more calories than I burned.
Maybe I shouldn’t have indulged in the pastries and sweet cakes during work breaks.
The office was a garden of women, and sweets inevitably appeared during breaks.
If I was the only one getting fat, it was because I was the only one indulging.
”As Mr. Matthew says…”
”Kent, you should also know your limits. If you make Beatrice cry, I’ll hang you from the castle gates.”
Matthew threatened with a gentle smile.
I flinched for a moment at his intensity.
”Hahaha, don’t worry. Beatrice is well taken care of.”
”That’s good then.”
Thelma seemed worried about Beatrice as well.
Although they were not her biological parents, they were very sweet to Beatrice and often came to visit her for any reason.
”…Lord Matthew, I wish you’d cut down on the nonsense. Kent, Lord Garvey, so, what are we going to do? For now, we’re repelling those trying to climb the walls.”
The Hunting Group Leader Soumei, with his prideful hair twisted around his finger in his usual pose, asked the question.
”Oops, sorry about that. Shall we get down to business?”
Matthew was prompted and switched to work mode.
”Ah, I’m sorry. Mr. Soumei, you always work so hard. I appreciate that you’ve coordinated the Hunting Groups to defend this time as well.”
Thanks to Soumei’s negotiating skills, the Hunting Groups, whose interests were intricately intertwined, had united to defend this land. I am grateful for that.
”…It’s nothing. I’m getting paid by Kent after all. I’ll do this much as a service.”
’Hand of Glory’, who had gained financial stability thanks to my side job – making bullets – had relaxed their joining requirements and opened their doors to anyone who wanted to master magic, regardless of their race.
Thanks to that, mostly Magicians joined Soumei’s Hunting Group, and it had grown into the strongest magic force in the south.
”I want you to continue taking charge of the Hunting Groups, Lord Soumei. My unit will handle the fortress defense, and I want each Hunting Group to earn money outside.”
”…Alright. I think the other Hunting Groups will be fine with that. Unlike the army, we Hunting Groups have to rely on our own funds. Defense alone won’t make money. I appreciate it if you could do that.”
I plan to pay a decent amount for participation in defensive battles, but hunting monsterized Ghost Clan members outside the castle would be more profitable.
It was natural for a leader of a Hunting Group to want to fight outside the castle.
”But, there are only 300 of us in the Hunting Groups. Could we retreat if we were surrounded?”
Milly points out the large number of enemies.
Indeed, being outnumbered and isolated could cut off our escape route.
”We will take responsibility for securing that. We have brought 4 AK-MK02 (Meat Chopper) weapons with us this time. They are set up at the castle gate, so we believe we can secure both the advance and retreat routes.”
Kerstin has brought 4 powerful AK-MK02 (Meat Chopper) guns to this Felward Fortress, setting them up at the castle gate.
This AK-MK02 (Meat Chopper) was named for its devastating power and high rate of fire, likened to making its targets into chopped meat.
”With the magic guns Kerstin brought, securing the area will be easy. Just be careful not to misfire.”
”I understand.”
”But before that, I want to help at least the ogres… Is there any good way? I believe if they could speak Western Language, they could escape influence.”
The people gathered in the hall gasped at my words.
”Ke, Kent. Do you still intend to absorb them under this status? They are violating the treaty, you know? Moreover, according to Giuliana, they’ve reportedly lost their sense of self. To think of helping such beings…”
People in the hall murmured in agreement with Milly’s words, saying things like “Absorbing ogres is reckless” and “Lord Kent’s fondness for people is troublesome. They’re from the Ghost Clan,” and “Are you going to take an ogre woman as a mistress this time?”
”You! This isn’t something that can be resolved so easily! For the Ghost Clan, acquiring Western Language requires either relying on a Magic Tool or substantial effort! It’s not something that can be learned so easily…”
”Hmm, Ms. Lina, don’t you have a Magic Tool like Bruyne’s ‘Ghost Language Ring’?”
Lina looked troubled at my question.
”Ah, there is one, but it’s no good; there aren’t enough! Hundreds of them are impossible!”
”What kind of Magic Tool is it?”
I was suddenly very interested in the Magic Tool Lina mentioned.
”It’s a Magic Tool called ‘Ring of Intelligence.’ It temporarily boosts Intelligence while equipped, enhancing thinking and memory.”
”If the ogres’ Intelligence increases, will acquiring Western Language become easier?”
”Kent should be able to learn it too; I think even an Ogre species could master it in 2 to 3 days with intensive training…”
Hearing Lina’s reply, I couldn’t help but smirk.
”No way, Kent. You’re losing yourself! There’s no place to detain such a status Ogre species!”
Milly, having sensed my thoughts, stopped me again.
”We can create a place. If it’s an Ogre species that hasn’t monsterized, we can put them inside a barrier I make with my Barrier Magic [Anti-Magic Barrier] and block all magic from the outside. Given the current situation, it seems the Ghost Clan is being affected magically, so it might be a good idea to observe them by putting them in a blocked space.”
That was said by Lana.
This time, anticipating a large-scale attack, we expected injuries and serious casualties, so we had sent personnel from the treatment branch and had her come as reinforcement from Felward.
Lana is excellent as a Healer, but she has also been raising her level as a Warlock.
She has already acquired Intermediate-level Barrier Magic [Anti-Magic Barrier].
The eldest daughter of the influential Dorman family of the Magician Guild, whose ancestor Arsella Dorman was famous as a Warlock, also has that blood running through her veins and has been growing steadily.
Barrier Magic is a magic that uses precious stones or gemstones called barrier stones, which have monsters sealed inside, and it can create a space where magic is nullified, purify, or make attributes ineffective.
”What, Lana? Are you sane? What if the Ogre species doesn’t return to normal?”
”We can just capture 2 or 3 and try. I’ve brought a lot of barrier stones, so it’ll be fine.”
Milly also chimes in on Lana’s words.
”Lina, how many ‘Ring of Intelligences’ did you say you had?”
”If I gather them quickly, even asking Hector would only get me 50. But it’s an item worth one gold coin each.If I buy them all, it would be a tremendous amount of money.”
Fifty for 50 gold coins…50 thousand? That’s cheap…maybe my sense of money has become numb recently.
Actually, I leave the management of the household finances and land income to Annabella and Helga, and I don’t really understand how much Blackdagger family assets there are, but I should have enough money to buy that much.
”That much should be within the acceptable range, right? Considering the damage caused by the ogre species, it might even be a bargain.”
”Lord Kent! Even I, as a member of your side, believe that those who have violated the pact deserve the death penalty. It’s unacceptable to pardon such people.”
Giuliana, who had been listening quietly until then, protested indignantly.
She can’t forgive her own clan members for violating the pact.
”Hmm…so, how about this? The ogre I helped this time will be my personal slave until they pay back the debt of one gold coin. Of course, I will have the right to life and death.”
”If Lord Kent says so, I will accept that condition. But, I also want to participate in the Western Language Education. I would like permission to use force against those who show resistance.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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