Chapter 367
Chapter 367
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 367
Chapter Title: The Troll's Song
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Troll.
I didn't know the details, but by my standards, it was a pretty damn strong monster. Probably some hulking brute that occasionally rampaged through villages or devoured travelers.
I'd never laid eyes on one myself. All I knew came from scraps of hearsay or the occasional passage in a book.
"Troll? Isn't that a fucking strong monster?"
"Blackie, you never seen one?"
"If I had, I'd be dead."
To be precise, my skeleton would be bleached white in the dirt.
Kim Katt would've been completely broken down, turned into fertilizer for this world. Sure, not now, but back then I was just your average snot-nosed punk—nothing like a Heavenly Demon.
"Heh heh. Yeah, probably."
Still, if Winia—a C-rank mage—was picking up a troll-hunting job, it had to be something they could handle.
I voiced my doubts, and Winia started explaining.
"It's not as monstrous as you think, Blackie. Just a bit tougher than a cockatrice? Usually, when one shows up, they call in C-rank adventurers to take it down. I've hunted a few myself."
"Oh yeah? How's it go?"
"Roast it with fire and stab it with a sword. Dead."
"Hard to picture."
"You saw that cockatrice last time."
"Hm..."
In my memory, the cockatrice we'd taken down before was no pushover.
Even so, if it was me now in a one-on-one... Honestly, I wasn't sure, but I didn't think it'd kill me. If I could line up a clean executioner's cut on its neck, I could probably end it.
Anyway, it was a request from Winia—a seasoned mage and veteran adventurer—so it should be fine. She'd done it before, no issues there.
"Still, give me the rundown on what it looks like."
"Alright, it's tall and bulky. But hunched over, so maybe a head taller than you? Kinda like a hideous dark green giant that eats people. Agile, but pretty cowardly."
An image formed in my head.
The inhumanly hunched monster was still a head taller than me, its rough, lumpy hide gleaming with a filthy dark green sheen, packed underneath with heavy fat and savage muscle.
A man-eating demon lurking in the shadows.
Looked stronger than an orc, no doubt.
"How's it stack up to an ogre?"
"Blackie, you even comparing? A troll's just an ogre's snack."
The ogre was the toughest bastard I'd ever faced. Tough comparison, but Winia's take suggested no big worries.
"Got it. So what brings you here today?"
I asked as Winia headed in to wash up.
"Ran an errand for the Magic Tower. Picked up the troll job on the way at the Adventurer's Guild. Oh, we gotta head out early tomorrow morning, so I need to crash soon."
"Roger."
With Winia gone, Cloudy finished unpacking and started undressing.
"What'd you buy so much of?"
"Huh? This? Grabbed some necessities while I was out."
Looks like daily goods and clothes. I helped sort while asking,
"Cloudy. You ever seen a troll?"
"Nope? First I've even heard of it."
Guess no similar monsters in the desert.
She seemed pumped about hunting something new. Regular pro headhunter vibe. She headed off to wash up too, and I lay on the bed imagining trolls while waiting.
Troll, huh.
* * * The next morning.
We geared up, hit the Adventurer's Guild to register our party, and headed to the gates.
A carriage was already waiting—courtesy of the guild, taking us straight to the village where the troll appeared.
C-rank mage privileges.
Being a mage came with built-in trust and status from the title alone. Unlike the guild's ragtag adventurers with their loose screws, a Magic Tower-issued mage ID carried weight anywhere.
For example, as a D-rank adventurer, I was solid in Isvant, but elsewhere? Useless. Neighboring spots like Krasheim might honor the rank with trade ties, but experience reset.
Farther out, though? Meaningless. Outside this frontier, I'd just be a wandering bum.
Mages were different.
Casting a spell proved it—no fakes or tricks possible. In another city, hit up their Magic Tower, pay a fee, renew the ID. Done.
Flash that at the local guild, snag a high-rank adventurer tag easy.
Winia had her mage ID plus C-rank plates from Isvant and Krasheim. Even in a distant city, show 'em off, sweet-talk a bit, instant C-rank.
Not every town had a guild, but surprisingly, they were woven into this world's culture. Fragmented by city, sure.
Point is, Winia was a top-tier C-rank adventurer. C-rank exclusive quests even got travel covered.
"Off to Oros Village! Hyah!"
—Rumble.
The coachman shouted, and we rolled out.
A bit bumpy, but beats walking. Free ride? Mood lifted even more.
"Alright, Blackie. Sis. Pay attention—briefing on this quest."
I listened lying with my head in Winia's lap. Her heavy breasts pressing my temple felt pretty damn nice.
"Troll showed up in Oros, a farming hamlet next to the capital. Some villagers hurt. Six total casualties, dead and missing. Missing ones? Probably eaten already."
"Six innocent farmers dead... Unforgivable."
Slaughtering criminals or heretics? No sin. Killing innocents? Heinous crime.
Basically a monster serial killer case.
"One lucky almost-victim escaped and reported it. Rushed to the city guild for a subjugation request—I snagged it. Pay's 20 silver."
"Whoa, pricey."
"Yeah... Last hobgoblin subjugation was like 10 silver, right?"
Cloudy said, chewing jerky.
Oh yeah, that hobgoblin squad in the abandoned mine netted 10 silver. One troll for 20? C-ranks rake it in.
"Good memory, sis. But no valuable byproducts then, right? Trolls got money-makers: heart, brain, bones fetch good coin. Skin's decent if intact... Blood's the real prize."
Winia, with the highest knowledge here, laid it out expertly. Bigger monsters meant more loot.
"Blood's the most expensive? What's it good for?"
Cloudy perked up.
Blood topping the list? Unusual.
"Refine troll blood into potions. Low-grade, but useful. That's thanks to their regen."
Trolls had good regeneration?
Couldn't let that slide.
"What? Regen?"
"Aww, Blackie knows so little."
Winia patted my cheek, explaining kindly.
"Deep sword cuts? Heals perfectly in days. Tough to kill by bleeding, y'know."
"Ah, crazy natural healing?"
"Yep."
I'd thought arms regrew on the spot or something.
Days to heal a slash without treatment? Immunity and recovery leagues above humans.
Blood the source?
First I'd heard of troll blood potions.
Made sense—I couldn't afford potions anyway. Pricey stuff.
"See that big backpack in the corner?"
"Yeah."
"Blackie, check it."
I sat up, rummaged inside.
Several leather flasks.
"Fill those with troll blood. Got preservatives—keeps fresh a day or two."
"Got it."
Briefing done, napped.
Oros wasn't far.
Left early morning, arrived just past noon.
The rural village, ringed by woods and hills, looked peaceful on the surface. Reality? Troll serial killer turf—hellish. No wonder it felt so gloomy.
"Ngh...!"
"Ow."
Cloudy and Winia stretched after hopping off. I did too, said bye to the coachman. Turns out he was staying overnight.
Makes sense. Late now—night travel with a troll around? Nah.
"Katt. Let's go."
"Aye."
First, the client: village chief. Grabbed a nearby villager for directions.
"Excuse me. Oros local?"
"You folks... Ahh! Adventurers!"
"Yes. Here for the troll. Chief's place?"
He blabbered about how scary the troll was, seven dead already, trembling as he explained.
Victim count up one?
Totally panic-stricken.
"Got the scary part. Just point us to the chief's."
"Sorry, lost my head. Straight that way, biggest house—that's the chief's."
"Thanks."
Off we went.
"Mm, Winia. How long you think?"
Cloudy asked.
"Dunno? Figuring two days. Tracking'll take time."
"Hope there's lodging."
"Me too."
Two days meant overnight here.
Village seemed big enough—no lodging issues. Perks of proper villages.
Shithole hamlets often lacked even inns or eateries.
Reached the chief's, knocked.
"You... Ahh! Adventurers!"
"That's us. Mind if we talk?"
"Come in!"
Spacious, comfy inside.
Sat as directed.
"Didn't expect you so soon... Thank you! Another victim's gone! Save us, please!"
Chief near tears, bawling.
Pure terror.
Planned to ask about damage sites, haunt areas, size... But calm him first.
"Don't worry. That's why we're here."
Winia said calmly.
"Ah, mage lady!"
"I'd like to meet the survivor who escaped. Can you call him?"
"Of course! Honey! Fetch Jake!"
He bellowed; his wife emerged and headed out. Winia grilled the chief, gathering intel.
"Tracking'll take time. Any decent lodging?"
"Yes, mage lady. Though it might be too humble for you..."
"Doesn't matter. Here to work, not vacation."
"R-right. Understood."
Winia sounded smart, composed.
She's a thug with me, not others. Waiting, the chief's wife returned with someone.