Chapter 27: Ogre Subjugation (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 27: Ogre Subjugation (2)
I had a dream.
I don’t remember what it was about, but while I was dreaming, I was filled with a deep sense of longing and heartache.
It probably wasn’t a good dream.
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
The sound of horse hooves striking the ground.
With it, my body swayed gently.
Is this what woke me up?
More importantly, who was this person supporting my slumped body?
Judging by the feel of hard metal against my cheek, it seemed to be someone in armor.
I slowly opened my eyes.
I saw silky red hair and a pale white nape.
Lifting my gaze just a little, I saw a familiar beauty with a cold expression.
“Frillite?”
“Hah?!”
Startled by the sudden call of her name, Frillite yanked hard on the reins.
The horse, its head pulled back, reared up and snorted. To keep from falling off the tilting animal, I squeezed my legs and held on tight to Frillite’s waist.
No, it seemed I’d been holding onto her waist tightly ever since I was asleep.
When I woke up, both my arms were already wrapped around her.
The horse calmed down and lowered its front legs. Only then did Frillite let out a sigh of relief. She narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
“What do you think you’re doing, startling me like that? We could have fallen off.”
“Startling you? I just woke up, saw you, and said your name. You’re the one who got spooked.”
“Imagine if someone you thought was asleep suddenly whispered in your ear. How could you not be startled? And if you’re awake, at least make a sound to let me know. Then I wouldn’t have been so surprised.”
“What good would it do to announce I’m awake when I don’t even know what’s going on? Fine, fine. Let’s just say it was my fault.”
“Hah… Surely you’re not sulking at your age?”
“Who’s sulking? More importantly, explain the situation. Where are we going, and why am I sitting behind you?”
“Lady Frillite! We must hurry!”
“And what’s his reason for rushing us?”
“I’ll explain as we move.”
Frillite struck the reins, urging the stationary horse into a run.
When the horse, which had been gradually picking up speed, returned to its full pace, she began to speak.
“An ogre has appeared.”
“An ogre? Why all of a sudden?”
Ogres are level 60 mid-boss monsters.
As mid-bosses, their stats are incomparably higher than regular monsters of the same level.
On top of that, ogres have a troublesome trait of 50% physical damage immunity, making them difficult to take down without a mage.
They weren’t common monsters to begin with.
“I don’t know why it appeared. However, according to that cavalryman, the forest where the ogre was spotted is an environment where ogres can’t naturally live. So, I suspect someone with malicious intent deliberately released it in the forest.”
“Huh… If your guess is right, that’s one crazy bastard. So, what does that have to do with me hugging you? You’re not thinking of making a delicate person like me fight an ogre, are you?”
“Do you really not remember anything?”
“About what?”
“It seems you truly don’t remember…”
She let out a deep sigh and shook her head.
“When I heard about the ogre, I was planning to leave you at the inn. It would be a danger you couldn’t handle. But I couldn’t. Do you know why?”
“Why not?”
“Because just as the cavalryman finished his story, you staggered to your feet and insisted on coming with us.”
“I did that?”
“Yes. No matter how much I tried to stop you, you wouldn’t listen. We were already short on time, and I couldn’t afford to waste any more, so I had no choice but to bring you along.”
“Hmm… Really?”
So, I had understood the situation and made a choice while completely drunk.
It was possible.
I survived an encounter with an assassin while drunk, so why wouldn’t I be able to comprehend a simple story?
I don’t remember, but at that moment, I probably heard the word ‘ogre’ and thought of the pattern.
The reason I insisted on coming along must have been to absorb the ogre’s karma and acquire its pattern.
Hmm, a perfectly rational decision.
However.
‘So it was all my fault in the end?’
I glanced at Frillite’s eyes.
As expected, they held the look of someone itching to lecture me.
‘If she starts nagging now, it’ll probably last until we arrive…’
That would be too horrible.
I realized I needed to change the subject, and fast.
What could I say…
What conversation could make Frillite forget about lecturing me?
I wracked my brain.
Fortunately, I managed to speak before she could begin her nagging.
“By the way, are you okay with this?”
“With what?”
“With me being this close to you. I know it’s to ride the horse together, but we’re pretty close, right? Wouldn’t your fiancé be upset if he found out?”
A joke designed to make Frillite uncomfortable.
If she got flustered and started spouting nonsense, I could use that to seize control of the conversation.
Having missed her chance to lecture me, Frillite would eventually give up on it.
“Fiancé? I don’t have one.”
But my plan fell flat; she wasn’t the least bit fazed.
Wait, what did she just say?
“You don’t have a fiancé? Why not? Aren’t you the daughter of a super-rich noble family?”
“A super-rich noble family… Well, that’s not wrong, but… as I said, I don’t have a fiancé. I’ve heard many nobles wish for an engagement, but my father has refused them all. And I have no complaints about that decision. In fact, I’m quite satisfied.”
“Satisfied… Does that mean you have no intention of getting married?”
“Not for now. My time is already tight with self-training and saving the people. I have no time to spare for things like engagements or marriage.”
“What about after you defeat the Demon King? Will your thoughts change then?”
“Once the Demon King is defeated and monster appearances decrease, bringing stability to the continent, I suppose I’ll have to. As the heir, I have a duty to continue the family line.”
Frillite said with a bitter smile. An awkward silence followed.
‘What the hell.’
Why did the mood suddenly turn so gloomy?
And why did she stop talking?
…At this rate, we’re going to spend hours in this awkward atmosphere.
That didn’t seem right, so I decided to throw out a slightly shameless joke.
First, I needed to steel my nerves…
Once I was ready, I opened my mouth.
“You look like you’re not a fan of political marriages. Alright, then I’ll do you a special favor and grant you the privilege of taking me as your husband to marry into your family.”
“What?”
Genuinely surprised, Frillite’s eyes went wide.
Her expression screamed, What kind of bullshit is this?
I’d never seen that look on her before.
I decided to be even more shameless.
“What’s with that reaction when I’m granting you a privilege?”
“A privilege? You call that a privilege?”
“Of course it’s a privilege. Hey, let’s be honest. I’m good-looking, have an easygoing personality, and as a fellow Hero, my status is nothing to scoff at. You won’t find a better groom anywhere on the continent.”
My dick is only three centimeters, but I’ll be fixing that soon, so let’s leave it out of the discussion.
“…Don’t people usually feel embarrassed saying such things about themselves?”
“What does it matter? It’s the truth. And it’s not a bad deal for you, either. Isn’t it better to be with me, someone you know a little, than some random stranger? And if I marry into your family? I’m confident I wouldn’t lay a single finger on you.”
“Not laying a finger on me… That’s impossible. We would have to produce a child to continue the family line.”
“Let’s adopt.”
“…Are you in your right mind?”
“I’m serious.”
Frillite stared at me with a look of disbelief.
Meanwhile, like a job applicant in an interview, I continued to pitch my strengths.
“Also, I wouldn’t meddle in any of your affairs. I’m not very interested in power. As long as you provide three delicious meals a day, I’ll gladly stay cooped up in a corner of the house.”
I crossed my arms and nodded confidently. The sales pitch was over. Now, all that was left was to wait for the boss’s decision.
“…Didn’t you ask me to be your friend just a few hours ago?”
“I did.”
“And now you’re proposing? Are you aware that you’ve skipped a tremendous number of steps?”
“Isn’t that more manly and attractive?”
“You lunatic.”
Despite her words, Frillite didn’t seem offended. In fact, she was chuckling as if she found it amusing.
Good, she laughed. That’s all that matters.
She’s the first friend I’ve made in this new world. It’s better if we can spend our time laughing, isn’t it?
“Really… When I first met you, I never imagined you’d be like this. How on earth did you hide that crazy side of yours?”
I shrugged.
“Diligently. Skillfully. So, what’s your answer?”
“I appreciate the thought, but I must respectfully decline. Besides, marriage isn’t something I can decide on my own.”
“Damn, what a shame. It was a golden opportunity to reverse my station in life.”
“Don’t be too disappointed. I’ll mention it to my father. Who knows? You might really get to marry into the family.”
“Sadly, by then I’ll already be off the market. Even if the esteemed daughter of the Ferdiac family comes looking for me, I won’t be available.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. If you’re unavailable, I can simply make you available.”
“Huh? How?”
Frillite smiled, a warmth in her expression that was uncharacteristic of her.
“If you were married, couldn’t I just make that marriage disappear? Fortunately, I have that much power.”
“Wow, you sure have a funny way of joking.”
“…”
“…It is a joke, right?”
Frillite didn’t answer. She just kept looking at me with that same smile.
Just as a chill was about to run down my spine, she let out a soft chuckle.
“Of course, it’s a joke. Would I say something like that seriously?”
I nodded in response.
“You should probably avoid making jokes in the future.”
“Why is that?”
“Because depending on who’s listening, they might seriously consider suicide.”
She took that as another joke, but unfortunately, I was being sincere.
Seriously, don’t you ever tell a joke again.
*
Perhaps it was thanks to riding all night, but we were able to meet the lord before his army clashed with the ogre.
“Ooh… Sir Hero! I am so grateful that you’ve come!”
The old lord, who had been pacing back and forth with a dark expression just moments before, brightened up and rushed over upon seeing Frillite.
“I have only fulfilled my duty as a Hero. So, where is the ogre?”
Frillite spoke down to the lord as if it were a matter of course, even though he was her elder and a count of the Empire. Despite this, the lord maintained a constant smile while dealing with her.
Did he not mind being treated as an inferior, or was he just enduring it?
I couldn’t know his true feelings, but one thing was certain.
‘There’s a vast wall of status between an ordinary imperial count and Frillite.’
It was a fresh reminder, but I realized once again just how high-ranking Frillite was.
…I really need to make sure she never tells jokes again.
While I was lost in thought, the count explained the situation to Frillite.
“I’ll skip most of the details, as I assume you’ve heard them from Alex. It has been about four days since the ogre was discovered, and we don’t know the exact time it arrived in this forest. According to a scout’s report, the ogre is currently staying by a lake deep inside the forest.”
“A lake deep inside the forest. Understood. I’ll go at once.”
“Yes, then… Yes? Sir Hero, I’m sorry, but this old man’s hearing isn’t what it used to be. What did you just say?”
“I said I will go alone. Do not worry. I will be sure to take care of the ogre. I ask that Count Raikel deal with any monsters that might flee the forest, either because the ogre escapes or because of the battle’s aftermath.”
Leaving him with what was essentially a declaration, Frillite exited the barracks.
I followed behind her.
“Cloud, you don’t need to come. Honestly, it’s too dangerous for you.”
“Let me ask you one thing first. Can you really kill an ogre by yourself? You’re not just being stubborn, are you?”
If she could really take down the ogre alone as she said, that would be the best outcome.
No one would have to die.
But that was only if she could actually do it alone.
I looked around at the count’s soldiers. There were some elite soldiers and knights equipped with good-quality armor and weapons, but most were conscripts without even proper gear.
Farmers who knew nothing about fighting.
If they were to face the ogre, they would suffer immense casualties. Many would die or be injured.
Frillite might have said she would go alone out of concern for them.
A cleric might call it a noble act, but to me, it just looked foolish.
At my question, she stopped walking, stared at me, and asked.
“What will you do if I say I am being stubborn?”
“What do you mean? I’ll have to go with you, of course.”
She looked a little surprised at my unhesitating reply.
“I was certain you would try to stop me. It seems I was wrong.”
“How could I stop you? And are you the type to listen even if I did? Even if I grabbed onto your leg, you’d just drag me along with you.”
“That’s true.”
Frillite smiled faintly. Then, in a serious tone, she said.
“Don’t worry. I’m not as reckless as you are. I’m going because I can do it.”
“You can take on an ogre by yourself? What’s your level?”
What level are you to say you can solo an ogre?
“60.”
“?”
Bullshit.