The Second Subjugation — Disgust and Warm Banter
The second subjugation area was a medium-sized goblin nest consisting of about 60 individuals.
Unlike the ratmen who had human-like appearances and only squeaked, these goblins were muttering to themselves and conversing among themselves, and they had relatively advanced equipment, which evoked an indescribable sense of discomfort in me.
Unlike the ratmen from which we could obtain pelts, there was no significant harvest from the goblins. Therefore, unlike before, we cast magic preemptively to cause confusion, and then the infantry approached for close combat.
Somehow, they had adapted to this method, or perhaps due to the discomfort felt earlier, I didn't feel the same shock as during the ratman hunt, and I managed to take the lives of five goblins.
Good, if we keep doing this, can we even kill humans? I was having crazy thoughts in my head when, as expected, Laurel approached me again.
"Congratulations, young master. You have achieved victories over twelve ratmen and five goblins in the first subjugation. I was surprised earlier, but this is truly unexpected."
Laurel was dragging a goblin by its neck with her left hand, and its limbs were dangling, so it seemed like the thing was already dead. Or perhaps Laurel had strangled it to death.
Laurel brought the hand holding the goblin in front of my face and started shaking it left and right.
Following the rhythm of the shaking hand, the goblin's limp body danced along.
Staring blankly at the sight, suddenly the thing dangling between its legs entered my line of sight.
Suddenly, a comic I had seen in my previous life flashed before my eyes.
In that comic, goblins were creatures that, despite being small, would pounce on human women. But facing the real thing, it seemed that the comic was just a comic after all. Perhaps to these goblins here, human genitals are like caves or something.
But why am I thinking such things? In the unexpectedly continuing stream of unpleasant thoughts, I scrunched up my face and pushed Laurel's hand away.
"Hey, get lost. Or do you want me to do the same to you?"
"Kukuk, young master, you're so cheeky."
Laurel laughed with a grin, threw the goblin corpse she was holding with a flick, and sat down next to me hesitantly.
"Still, I really saw it. I'm serious. Young master probably doesn't know, but originally, for young masters and young ladies of noble families, in the first subjugation, they usually show all sorts of indecent behaviors. The nobles of this country boast that they base their spirit on martial prowess, but the fact that those who have actually subjugated monsters before entering the academy are few in number is quite strange. At best, they might have hunted deer or rabbits and shot a few arrows.
Yet, young master, who is a very pampered young man who hasn't even done rabbit hunting, didn't show any such indecent behavior today at all. Even so, it makes me think it's the blood of Count Reed. Well, it's still far from enough, though. Kuk."
"Sigh... Why did you praise me? Anyway, now that we've gathered at Macni, and we've summarized today's achievements, the subjugation will be over, right?"
"Yes. Since the second subjugation was completed in a short time, it might be good to rest a bit longer and move. Of course, we should do some scouting at Macni once, but I deeply agree with Count Reed's words. A troll in the south? That's absurd. It's definitely an old man who got drunk and saw things. Even if we give a hundred points, it was probably a mistake in seeing the footprint of a bear.
Laurel. Have you ever faced a troll directly?"
"I once followed the Count when he went to war and helped out. Even considering that my skills were still lacking back then, it was quite a tough monster. Its skin is as hard as iron, and you can't penetrate it with a weapon unless it's mana-infused, and it has two hearts, so it's hard to kill in one breath, and every time it swings its arms, which are as big as a human torso, the surrounding soldiers fly away like fallen leaves.
Well, in the end, we did catch it. I still remember the hunting method I learned back then. So, if, if a troll really appears, as long as you quietly hide behind me, Laurel, young master will be able to return home safely. Ah, I hope I didn't scare you with the explanation I just gave?"
This woman always adds unnecessary afterwords after speaking. Laurel finished her words, patted my shoulder with her hand, and then left for the place where the soldiers were.
***
It was late afternoon when we finally arrived at the gathering point, Macni. There were already many soldiers waiting in Macni, scattered around and having completed the subjugations, gathering in the order they arrived.
When I entered the barracks set up in the center of the square, a kind-looking young man stood up from his chair and greeted me.
"Hey, young master. You must have worked hard today. I heard you had a great performance in the first outing?"
The young man's identity was the commander of the Magic Corps, Rus. Rus with light brown wavy hair and platinum-rimmed glasses, a commoner, but his appearance was so elegant that anyone would mistake him for a young master of a noble family. And befitting his appearance, his personality was gentle and courteous, making him a man with great popularity in a different sense from Laurel.
"Hello, Rus. Performance? I was just pretending, just pretending."
"What? I heard you caught almost 20 ratmen and goblins combined? That's really a great performance for the first time, haha. You should think more proudly of yourself."
"Kuk, okay. Thanks, Rus. It would have been better if I had hunted with you today. Listening to Laurel talk all day is harder than swinging a club."
"Hahaha! Usually I get grabbed by her, but since I'm not here, she stuck to you, huh? Don't be too upset, young master. Laurel might pretend not to be like that on the surface, but she's been feeling lonely more these days. Well, she has no choice. She's getting to an age where... ack!!"
Rus, who was happily chatting, suddenly made a strange sound and stopped talking.
A coin fell with a clinking sound at the feet of Rus who was clutching his neck.
"Hey, Rus. I told you not to talk about age. You really want to challenge me?"
While lifting the curtain at the entrance of the barracks, Laurel entered with a very scowling expression. Laurel, who is usually cheeky, showing irritation is quite rare. But was that coin thrown by Laurel?
"Kelok... Laurel, you're here early? The Count?"
Rus coughed, but smiled kindly and waved at Laurel.
Laurel lightly ignored Rus's greeting and continued to glare at him.
"She returned. She said there was something urgent to handle in the homeland. She left command to you and me. Since the subjugation was successfully completed, she ordered us to complete the last scouting in Macni and return. Besides, you can't do anything about it. If you mention age again next time, I'll stab this straight through your anus and mouth."
Laurel tapped her waist knife and threatened Rus, but Rus just smiled and laughed. When her warning didn't work, Laurel let out a big sigh and shook her head. Then, nervously, she sat on the chair inside the barracks with a thud.
There are people who can beat Laurel. Rus might be a more extraordinary person than I thought. Moreover, Laurel's weakness was age. Unexpected. It was a valuable harvest to find out the weakness of this seemingly scary Laurel. Will there be a day when I can use it later?
"And young master? The Count left a message. It said it's okay to participate in the scouting, but don't overdo it, and if there's any abnormality in the body, return immediately. What do you think?"
"What do I think? We've come this far, so we have to finish and go back. I'll participate in the scouting too. After all, with you guys here, what's there to worry about?"
Honestly, if it weren't difficult, it would be a lie. My stamina is already different, and I've circled two mountains. Carrying these lumps on my body. Still, my strength wasn't completely depleted, and the subjugation only left the last scouting. If I just go back now, there will be lingering unease.
"Young master, you chose very well, unlike you. It's right to do the first together and the end together. Sometimes, no, often, I feel that the Count is too overprotective of you. So, with all this flesh..."
"Haha, it should be fine. As you said, with us here, even if a troll appears, what is there to worry about? Come on, let's finish quickly and go back. Tomorrow is a holiday, so you should quickly go and drink a lot of alcohol and stretch out!"
This woman always adds unnecessary afterwords after speaking. Laurel finished her words, patted my shoulder with her hand, and then left for the place where the soldiers were.
***
Laurel had the soldiers form a long encirclement along the lower slopes of the mountain in Macni. And the scouting was conducted only with the knight corps, the magic corps, and a small number of soldiers who volunteered, but as expected, there was no trace of the troll.
Rus and Laurel had expressions as if they had known this would happen.
"Rus, have you hunted a troll? Laurel said so."
On the way down the mountain after the scouting, the sun was now setting on the horizon, and shadows were falling in the mountains.
I asked Rus about what I had been curious about all along.
"Unfortunately, I haven't hunted a troll. Unlike Laurel, I was still before entering the Reed family at that time."
Rus was making three mana balls, juggling them while descending, and playing pranks. When I asked, Rus extinguished the balls and slowed his steps to match my pace.
"Still, I have a rough idea of the theoretical hunting method. And although I haven't caught a troll, I've seen even tougher ones when I was a trainee mage roaming around.
Young master will learn about it in biology class when you return to the academy, but if you look at the monster world as a whole, trolls are rather in the middle position.
However, since the top predators have very few individuals, trolls that appear relatively often are highly rated. Except for the south, in other regions, they still appear occasionally."
Hearing Rus's words, I suddenly felt impatient.
Now I'm barely catching goblins, when can I catch trolls? And even stronger monsters than that?
If I don't get a chance, it might be a lifelong wish. I hope these items I know still exist in this world.
"Haha, you don't have to be too impatient. It's true that your current achievement is a bit behind, but didn't you firmly decide not to be late? Since the blood flowing in you is Reed's, if you are young master who inherited the Count's talent, you will surely be able to succeed greatly."
As if reading my thoughts, Rus patted my shoulder with a thud and gave me encouragement.
Just like Rus continued to nag me even when I was a delinquent, without giving in, Rus continued to give me advice and warm words that were helpful no matter how I reacted.
Recalling that, although Rus's appearance as a gentleman hides it, Rus was a few years older than Laurel, who is sensitive to age. So, of course, there would be more difference with me.
Thinking about this, Rus feels like an older brother. Then, is Laurel a sister? I lived as an only child in my previous life. At that time, there was no particular regret, but seeing it this way, it seems not bad to have an older brother or sister.
It's not that bad after all...
"Hey, Rus. If you are so pampering, young master keeps getting distracted. Even if you wrap it, you have to say that it's not something to be decisive about!"