I Don't Trust You, Hero~♥
The village chief, who had been watching our meeting, spoke with careful caution.
“Hero-nim, it’s time to tie these two up.”
“…I’ll do it.”
It’s better for me to tie them than some stranger.
The chief respectfully handed over the ropes.
As I approached with the ropes in hand, the saint covered her mouth with her hand and giggled.
“Kyaa~♡ Bondage play is gross~! This pervert♡ beast♡”
…That crazy bitch.
“I’ll tie them loosely. Turn around.”
“Okay~♡”
The saint extended both hands behind her back, and Cloe did the same.
I turned around to tie their hands, and the sight of their bare backs—smooth, flawless skin, shoulder blades, and waists completely exposed—made me feel a bit embarrassed.
Honestly, Cloe’s petite figure didn’t bother me at all, but the saint’s was a little…
“Hero-nim, what are you doing? Hurry and tie them up.”
“…Yes.”
Right. Close my eyes, tie quickly, and be done with it.
“All set.”
Cloe turned her head slightly to look back and asked.
“How do I get free?”
“They’re tied loosely, so a little pull should do it.”
“Really?”
No, what then if I untie them? I stared at her with my jaw dropped, and only then did Cloe realize something was off and say.
“…Oh, right. I should be tied up, huh?”
Cloe let out a hehe and gave an awkward smile. That childish grin reminded me of my niece who used to laugh after causing trouble. She was adorable, so I’d let her get away with it.
“I’ll tie them again.”
“Okay.”
I retied Cloe’s hands, helped the saint and Cloe board the cart, and Cloe climbed in.
“This really feels like we’re being kidnapped…”
“Hero-nim~♡ Where are you taking us~♡ Kidnappers♡”
“…I’m not the one taking you.”
If I were kidnapping you, you’d already be at the bottom of the river, you brat.
Everything seemed ready, so it was time to start moving.
“Chief, let’s go.”
“Yes, I’ll lead the way.”
“Wait a moment, Hero-nim♡”
The saint winked at me. I gave her a questioning look, and she said it naturally.
“I have to cast a blessing. Without blessings, how will you fight ogres with those pathetic skills?”
“Ah.”
But they’re tied up. How am I supposed to cast a blessing like that?
“Come closer.”
“Okay.”
As she said, I stepped closer. Every time she cast blessings she always touched my body, so I assumed it required physical contact, but she wasn’t that crude, right? She wasn’t about to stomp on me while blessing me?
But the saint wasn’t human trash like that. She cast the blessing in an entirely unexpected way.
Tap.
“Eh!?”
“Huu…”
I was surprised by her action too, and Cloe watching from the side was startled. A soft sensation reached my forehead.
The saint’s smooth, round forehead touched mine. I never imagined she’d use physical contact to cast a blessing this way. She breathed divine power directly into me.
《Solaria’s Grace》
A powerful divine power settled into my body. I felt strength surging through every fiber.
“It’s done~♡… Hero-nim, why is your face like that?”
“…Huh? What?”
“…Aha♡ Did the forehead touch make your heart race~? Virgin Hero-nim♡”
“No way!!!”
“Fuhuhu♡”
…It really wasn’t.
The saint stopped laughing and spoke in a serious voice.
“Hero-nim, I’ll explain a little about ogres.”
“Ah, yes.”
I had to learn from the monster encyclopedia.
“Ogres are more dangerous and stronger than trolls, which are also upper-class monsters. They’re bigger and stronger. Despite their size, they’re surprisingly fast. In short, think of them as supercharged trolls~.”
“…That sounds tough.”
“Yes, extremely tough. Without blessings, your pathetic hero would die in one hit~♡”
“Any weaknesses?”
“They have dumb heads like trolls. Maybe even dumber. Just like you, Hero-nim♡”
“Hm.”
So I should try provoking them like with trolls.
“There’s also their incredibly tough skin, but since you have the Holy Sword of Order, you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Understood.”
After listening to the ogre explanation, I turned to the chief to say it was time to leave. But the chief was staring at us with wide eyes. Precisely at the saint.
…You’re amazed the saint knows so much about monsters? I was too.
“Chief.”
“…Ah! Yes, Hero-nim.”
“Let’s go.”
#
Following the chief who had gone ahead, I pulled the cart. With the blessing, even a heavy cart loaded with offerings moved smoothly.
Blessed is cheating.
We climbed into the mountains until we reached a valley. The chief, leading the way, suddenly stopped. I stopped the cart and watched him.
“Hero-nim, and everyone.”
“Yes?”
“You must be cautious from here on.”
…This must be the ogres’ territory.
“…Yes, understood.”
“Then keep going.”
My legs trembled a little. I’d seen ogres in games and manga, but facing them in reality would be different.
I followed with just the right amount of tension when suddenly the sound of a woman crying came from behind.
“?”
“Ugh, boo-hoo! How dare you sell us out to an ogre and run away… Trashy hero…!”
What kind of nonsense… Ah, she’s acting.
The saint was actually crying and sobbing as if she really was about to be sold to an ogre. Cloe next to her looked slightly startled by the realism.
…But she acts too well. Like a professional actress?
Boom!
Suddenly the ground shook with a loud noise. The chief trembled and said to me.
“…H-Hero-nim, it’s coming.”
“…Yes.”
After several more booms, a giant with an iron club emerged from a cave in the valley. The giant walked over with heavy steps and the chief bowed his head while trembling all over.
I played the role of porter too, so I bowed my head after the chief.
“Gwaaaa! Chief, you’re right on time.”
So this was the ogre.
It was huge up close. Its arms were much longer and thicker than a troll’s. Its legs were a bit short, but proportionally correct—the comparison to humans made them look enormous.
It casually held a massive iron club that could crush a person in one hand.
The intimidation was no joke. It felt like a mouse placed in front of a cat. If that huge hand pressed down, my body would be pulverized in an instant.
“Oh, ogre, I’ve brought the tribute I promised. And I’ve captured these two foreigners…”
The chief pointed at the saint and Cloe, and the saint began her performance in earnest.
“Ugh… What did I do to end up with an ogre… I don’t want an ogre’s child…!”
…Hey, that’s going too far.
But instead of scaring the saint who hated it, the ogre laughed loudly and praised the chief.
“Gwaheru! Chief, well done! I’ll give you praise!”
“T-Thank you, ogre.”
“By the way, who’s the man over there, gwaere!”
“He’s a porter I brought to move the cart.”
The ogre, unfittingly, stroked its chin and glared at me.
Was it suspicious? That wouldn’t do…
“…The man is unnecessary, gwaere.”
Smash――!
“Ugh…!”
“…!”
The ogre suddenly swung its iron club. The club struck precisely beside me, and thanks to that…
#
Bang―!
Abel flew far away after being hit by the club. Seeing Abel crash into rocks and fall to the ground, Gregorio looked at the ogre with shock.
“…O-Ogre? How…”
“Gwaere, the man didn’t suit me so I killed him. Go back alone, chief.”
Gregorio swallowed hard. If he showed concern for the hero here, the ogre would know it was acting and endanger everyone.
“......Yes.”
Gregorio bowed and left calmly. In the cart, Estelle thought while watching him.
‘He’s so composed. He was worried I’d mess up the job.’
After Gregorio left, the ogre laughed loudly in good spirits.
“Gwaheru! Satisfied! Pretty women falling into my hands, my brothers will be too!”
“…Are you trying to lay a hand on me…!”
Estelle continued the act. Cloe looked at her with eyes that asked if she needed to keep acting in this situation, but Estelle didn’t stop.
“Gwaere! Of course! Having pretty women to play with is the best entertainment!”
“…A monster that thinks so trashily.”
“Think what you want, human! It doesn’t change your situation, gwaheru!”
The ogre approached the cart while laughing, and its massive, brutal hand stretched toward it.
“…Hero-nim, shall I throw?”
“What?”
Estelle pulled the Holy Sword of Order from behind the offerings and threw it hard in the direction Abel had flown. The ogre was startled and turned to her.
“…What are you doing? That man is already dead, gwaere!”
Estelle wiped the acting expression off her face instantly and smiled wickedly.
“…Who gives anyone permission to kill people? Monsters.”
“Gwaere! I hit you with my club and you’re still alive…”
That was when, with a small noise, something flew out beside her, slicing through the air.
Slash!
“…Gwaerk?”
Boom!
The ogre’s left arm fell to the ground. Blood began to flow from the clean-cut cross-section.
The ogre turned its gaze sideways. There stood a white-haired man holding a club covered in its blood. It was the man the ogre had just thought it killed with its club.
“Tch.”
Abel spat out a bloody spittle on the ground. Without the blessing, his body would have shattered, but the blessed Abel’s flesh didn’t break even from the ogre’s powerful club. He had only taken minor injuries.
Estelle and Cloe untied the loose ropes they had been bound with and stood up. Seeing that, the ogre realized it had been deceived.
“Gwaere!!! Humans, you dare trick me!”
“You’re dumb for falling for this~♡”
The ogre was furious at being tricked.
“Grrrrraaaaaaaa――!!!”
Abel and Cloe covered their ears at the ogre’s roar.
“Kyaaak!”
“Shit, my ears are going to fall out!”
But Estelle maintained a calm voice even hearing the ogre’s roar.
“…Hero-nim, that’s the signal ogres use to call their comrades.”
“Huh?”
“The chief said the ogre group is ruling the village. They’ll probably come back.”
“…Then what do we do?”
If it was one, no problem. But if it was multiple, it was a big issue. Even with the blessing, Abel knew he wasn’t that strong.
“Never mind~♡ We’ll kill them~♡”
“So how…?”
“Hero-nim, please handle the one-armed ogre here. I’ll take care of the ones coming. Even a pathetic hero like you can do that much~?”
“…Are you sure, Saint?”
Abel asked in concern for her. Estelle gave her signature arrogant smile.
“I’m not the kind of person who needs X meals like you♡”
“…Understood. But, Saint.”
“Yes~?”
“Do you trust this pathetic me?”
Abel asked if she truly believed she could win against the ogre here. Estelle curved her eyes in a smirk.
“I won’t believe you if you won’t believe the hero~♥”