Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Ogre Raid
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After receiving two intense kisses, heat surged through my entire body. My lower abdomen swelled massively. Like a pufferfish. If even rough nodules sprouted on it like this, I could truly become the goblin club in the flesh.
"Hehehe, putting it up like that."
"..."
"Next up is going down there. I'll do it as much as you want, so calm down for now?"
I don't think there's a man in the world who could calm down after hearing that.
More importantly, this wasn't the time.
Slap.
I smacked my own cheek hard with my palm. Snap out of it. I'd shown a pathetic sight in front of Claudie. I couldn't tolerate that.
The reunion with Winia had been the worst. The emotions she'd left behind stirred sadness and anger in me.
But I couldn't let that break me. Now was the time to stand tall.
Didn't I have Claudie? I no longer had any reason to fear the likes of Winia. No matter how skilled she was in magic, there's always someone better above the flyer.
"Yeah, you're mine, Claudie."
I conveyed my feelings to my girl.
"So you need to take good care of yourself."
In any case, it looked like the roster check was done. The armored man scanned us all over before speaking.
"Lady Isvant will be arriving shortly! Do not commit any discourtesies in her presence! The guild bears no responsibility for incidents caused by individual misconduct!"
With that, a new procession began ascending from the rear. It was a group of well-equipped men in matching uniforms, their movements disciplined like soldiers.
"...That's Lady Isvant, huh."
Kobson rested his chin on my shoulder as he said it. What the hell was this guy doing? I was caught off guard. No, I was still flustered in real time. He continued in that pose.
"By the way, that was quite the spectacle just now. Even if you're lovers, engaging in such acts in a public place in broad daylight is morally questionable, to say the least. You brazen barbarian."
"No words for that."
It hadn't been my intention. I felt embarrassed all over again. Everyone around must have seen it. Claudie seemed fine with showing off the kisses, though. Her thinking differed from mine a bit.
"Don't make others jealous to that extent."
"Wait, that was the issue?"
"Then what is?"
"Ah... whatever. Anyway, here they come."
The soldiers' armor bore familiar crests—the emblem of this city. There were ten in total, and they seemed to be Lord Isvant's personal guards.
The City Guard belonged to the lord too, but private soldiers felt different. If City Guards were like police, these were proper military.
They lined up first.
And then.
"Oh, ooh, it's her!"
Kobson let out an exclamation. One of the soldiers shouted loudly.
"Lady Isvant enters! Pay your respects!"
I frowned, curious about what she looked like to earn such fame for her beauty. Finally, the lady appeared.
She was a classic noble beauty with red hair in a roll bun. Why did noblewomen all seem to agree on roll buns? As that question crossed my mind, my jaw dropped.
"Whoa, what the hell is that."
Strapped diagonally across her back was a massive two-handed greatsword—the exaggerated kind from fantasy games.
It had to weigh dozens of kilos; swinging it seemed impossible, let alone carrying it. Yet she bore it effortlessly. She could wield that? She seemed tougher than she looked.
Naturally, a berserker in pitch-black armor from my memories came to mind—the one whose life was ruined by his ugly mug. It was a similar blunt greatsword.
Damn, she uses that? If someone told me to carry something like that, I'd kill them on the spot. This truly was another world.
"S-She's stunning! Barbarian, what are you doing? Bow already!"
Kobson exclaimed again, jabbing my side.
Well, she wasn't particularly beautiful to me... Thanks to Claudie, my standards had shot sky-high; I felt nothing special. No, it was worse. Lately, no other women registered as women to me anymore. They all looked like Kobson now. Was this a curse?
Anyway, unable to ignore Kobson's nagging, I glanced around. Every adventurer had their head bowed.
It was a novel sight. These guys who wouldn't listen to anyone were meekly showing deference? Reading the mood, I bowed too. That's nobility for you.
"Claudie, could you use something like that?"
I whispered to Claudie with my head down. She was peeking at Lady Isvant with evident interest. Strength must be her thing.
"No, that's not my style... But I've seen plenty who do."
As expected from her long life (presumably)... She'd seen her share. After a brief bow, Lady Isvant, now close, spoke up.
"Are all the adventurers assembled, Sir Jawrus?"
"Yes! All present, Lady Isvant!"
So the armored roster guy was Sir Jawrus. Didn't care what he did—just the name-caller. Good enough.
"Hehe."
"Lady?"
Kobson beside me was trembling outright. This was it—the idol vibe. She had that kind of popularity.
"Oh~hohohohohoho!"
Suddenly, Lady Isvant burst into an utterly noble laugh.
In that moment, I got it. She was nobility through and through. No denying it. Only a noble could laugh like that.
I figured I should show respect to this noble lady.
"With this many, the ogre subjugation is as good as done! I can almost hear Father rejoicing from here!"
"L-Lady, please calm down a moment..."
"Now, adventurers! Raise your heads!"
She bellowed at peak energy, matching her laugh. Sensing a speech incoming, I lifted my head cautiously.
"So many adventurers gathered to slay the wicked ogre threatening our city— I offer you my boundless gratitude! With numbers like this, that ogre will die squashed like a maggot!"
...Squashed maggot?
Her chilling description suggested she wasn't entirely sane either. A person's true character shows in their words and deeds.
"In my name, I promise: the one who plays the decisive role in slaughtering the ogre shall receive 1 gold as reward!"
"Woooah!"
"Long live Lady Isvant!"
Morale skyrocketed at the mention of gold. I joined the other adventurers in cheering. With morale like this, even an ogre would die squashed like a maggot. Nice phrasing.
"Then, Sir Jawrus! Prepare the ogre lure!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The soldiers sprang into action. Among them was a robed mage clutching a staff with a white crystal orb. He approached the watchtower base and began drawing a magic circle.
"I'll perform the monster-luring ritual, so everyone else stay back."
He cleared the adventurers, then traced the circle on the bare ground with his staff tip. Impressively precise. This guy had drawn soccer lines in the army or something. Art school grad?
Finishing the circle, he lit incense atop it. Soldiers brought unknown items. He piled them, rummaged, and chanted vaguely.
"Mumble mumble."
Poof!
A small explosion erupted, white smoke billowing up.
"Preparation complete. The ogre will appear shortly."
"You heard him! Adventurers, pair up and guard the perimeter! Per the contract, 1 silver bounty to the first spotter!"
Adventurers scattered to positions around the clearing. Now came the tense part. The ogre would die for sure, but casualties were inevitable on our side too.
I hunkered in the bushes with Kobson and Claudie. No sign of Winia nearby—good, I wanted distance from her.
We scanned the surroundings. With nothing else to do, I chewed rations. Then Kobson spoke.
"Hmm... First discovery. If all three of us spot it simultaneously, who gets the bounty?"
"Dunno. Probably split it three ways."
"Overly optimistic."
Fine, we'd just split whatever we got.
We chatted idly while eating our morning rations—we'd skipped breakfast leaving early.
"Here, ahh~."
Bored, I broke off a piece and held it to Claudie's mouth.
She blushed unusually.
"I-I can eat alone... I'm not a kid."
"Come on. You're treating a grown man like a baby."
Ahh.
She glanced around shyly before nibbling it off my fingers.
What was this satisfaction?
"Claudie, do me too, ahh~."
"..."
This was happiness.
I rubbed my head on her thigh, pleading. Her face reddened as she complied.
"H-Here... ah, ahh~."
The rations tasted like crap, but this way, they were delicious. Ah, so damn happy. Too happy—swearing almost slipped out.
Another world was livable, huh? I'd only thought of returning home, but with Claudie stuck to my side lately, those thoughts faded.
I missed a lot. But if I returned home, wouldn't Claudie become something I missed too?
Well, no clue when—or if—that could happen.
"..."
Kobson watched us with a displeased expression. It had to be awkward as hell. Being the third wheel with a lovey-dovey couple? Thorn in his side. I'd endured it plenty; now I was dishing it out. Heh.
"Hey, Kobson. Get yourself a girlfriend already."
"Damn it. Can't stand the envy. Friends don't act like this. I always thought you were on my level, barbarian."
"You little shit?"
Anyway, the mountain was quiet. Even usual small monsters were absent. Probably scared off by the crowd—or the ogre.
"Katt, if we get that 1 gold..."
"Huh? 1 gold?"
Claudie seemed intent on claiming the ogre's head herself. Honestly, I was worried sick and wanted to stop her. If only I'd seen the ogre myself.
"Let's buy a house. Yeah?"
"A h-house?"
"Yeah~. A house. We'll live together there. Sound good? Never thought I'd settle down, but this chance makes it appealing."
"..."
Unable to resist her forward push, I nodded.