Ogre, Just You Wait! (4)
At the meeting the night before, Roy's proposal had sailed through without the slightest resistance.
Though he had spoken through Geren's mouth, both the wolves and the mercenaries had declared it an excellent idea and agreed on the spot.
That was why, as Roy looked down from the hill now, trees were toppling sideways one after another. The mercenaries, drunk on the sweet bite of their keen axes, even hummed while they worked. Monsters approached now and then, only to be cut down in an instant by the Soaring Wolves. By the time morning drew to a close, several hundred trees had fallen. Just as Roy had predicted, the felling was finished in half a day.
All right. Time to move on to the next stage.
Using the newly cleared ground and the felled timber below the hill, Roy set up a makeshift monster-dismantling yard. He put the mercenaries to work and put the laborers he had brought along to use as well. The only real nuisance was having to issue every order through Geren; otherwise the plan advanced exactly as designed.
"Tell them to keep only the expensive pieces that aren't enchantment materials and throw the rest away. We can't haul everything anyway. Crossing the hill with that much dead weight is pointless."
Two of the cargo wagons Roy had brought had already left for the city. On the spot he had bought up the by-products the mercenaries had stockpiled and loaded them. Those goods would be dropped at a warehouse prepared on the outskirts of town, after which the wagons would return. Useful materials would be stored safely; the surplus would be sold at once through Marek and Cokes.
Even though payment for the loot had not been made immediately, the mercenaries remained thoroughly cooperative.
"Everything I bought today is going straight into the next round of weapon enchantments. Settling the bill a little later is fine, yes?"
"Of course. Promise us first crack at the new weapons you're making and you can have as much credit as you like."
They had already heard the quiet tip from Geren that the materials were for magic enchantment. Whether it was felling trees or building the dismantling yard, they threw themselves into the work, eager to stay in Geren's good graces.
They've taken the bait completely. If ordinary gear gets them this excited, rune-inscribed weapons will make their eyes roll straight back into their heads.
With that, the preliminary work Roy needed was more or less finished.
The next day arrived.
At last the Soaring Wolves party decided to enter the forest. Roy, of course, was not among them.
Their plan was simple and clear. Kill every monster the moment it appeared. Leave the corpses—magic stones and all—where they fell and move solely for the purpose of locating the ogre. Once they found it, they would keep their distance, signal the others, and lure the creature all the way to the cleared ground at the foot of the hill. They could have fought it inside the forest, but if the goal was to bring the beast down without a single friendly casualty, this was the best way.
The mercenaries entered the forest as well. Their task was not to push deep but to sweep the shallow woods, clearing out lesser monsters. If the ogre drove a whole pack of them down the hill at once, things would get extremely messy.
"All right! Move out!"
Everyone launched into the operation in earnest. Only Anna and Geren, Roy, Megan, and Shepard remained on the hill. A young child and her escort, plus a mage whose agility would be a liability inside the dense forest—those who would only slow the advance had been left behind from the start.
Inside the temporary barracks on Wolf Tail Hill, southernmost reach of Greenhilt territory.
"Wow, you know a ridiculous number of spells."
"Take away my memory and I'm basically a corpse."
Roy kept the conversation going with genuine interest. His partner was Shepard.
"Is there any chance I could get hold of books where you've written down the spells you know?"
"I have a few volumes organized at home. If Young Master Roy wants them, I'll have them sent to the mansion."
"That would be wonderful. Thank you—it'll be a tremendous help."
The two of them got on well. Shepard's memory was so sharp that he answered every one of Roy's questions without hesitation. The easy rapport, however, quickly sparked the jealousy of Anna, who could not join in. She had been sulking ever since they arrived at Wolf Tail Hill, though no one quite knew why.
"Roy. Play with me too. Stop talking about hard things."
"Anna, we're discussing magic right now. Did you forget the promise not to interrupt during lesson time?"
"I know! But this isn't a lesson. You're just using big words."
"That's only because you don't understand them yet."
"Do not! I can use magic too!"
Roy let out a long sigh. Shepard, watching, hurried to soothe the girl.
"Come to think of it, I heard Lady Anna is overflowing with magical talent as well..."
"Magic... I'm better with a sword than Roy is."
Skipping neatly past the subject of magic, Anna lifted her chin with absolute confidence in her swordsmanship.
"Is that so? Most impressive."
Shepard clearly had considerable skill at handling children. Roy, however, wanted the interruption resolved quickly. He scanned the surroundings and at once found a suitable person.
"Megan!"
"Yes?"
"You said you were an instructor for the guard unit, didn't you?"
"I did."
"Would you teach Anna a little? Teacher Geren is excellent, but varied experience helps growth."
"I'm the magic instructor, though."
"Anna needs to learn magic too."
Anna's lower lip jutted out. No matter how hard she tried, she could never catch Roy in magic.
"Roy... do you hate me? You do, don't you!"
She huffed and puffed until her face looked ready to overflow with tears at any second. Roy's next words would be critical. One misstep and a storm of wailing would begin. Under every watchful eye he placed a small hand on Anna's head.
"I don't hate you. I like you, actually."
"Really...?"
"Of course. You work harder than anyone. I never hate people who try hard."
Those words were not empty comfort. In his previous life he himself had struggled harder than anyone. Bloodline limits had still brought him a wretched death, yet that same effort lived on as the very foundation of the magic he now commanded. Roy understood the sanctity of effort better than most.
"Anna. If you work hard enough to surprise me with magic, I'll grant you one wish. A gift you want is fine too."
"A wish?"
"Mm-hm. Whatever you ask, I'll do it. But you have to genuinely surprise me."
"Fine. Just you wait!"
Whoever she took after, Anna's competitive fire burned fiercely. Once a goal appeared, her drive and concentration became almost frightening. Halfway to Megan she turned back.
"And if Roy surprises me with a sword, this big sister will grant him a wish."
"Ah... s-sure."
Roy stood blankly for a moment.
A sword...? Do I really have to...?
Having successfully calmed Anna, he returned to his magic discussion with Shepard. Time slipped past; morning became afternoon. Before long the mercenaries who had entered the forest returned—scarcely after the midday meal. More hours passed until the sun was nearly ready to set. Yet strangely, not a single member of the Soaring Wolves showed any sign of returning to the hill. Anxiety flickered across Roy's face as he turned to Geren.
"Could something have happened?"
"I couldn't say. They were due back long ago."
A seed of unease began to sprout in his chest.
At the foot of the hill, past the sprawl of fallen timber to the very edge of the forest, they waited. No one appeared no matter how long they stared. They waited longer still. At last the sun slipped behind the mountain and a vast shadow swallowed both forest and hill. Night had not yet fallen, yet the woods under that mountain shade were dark enough that one could not see an inch ahead.
"Huh!?"
A figure burst through the trees.
"They're out!"
It was one of the Soaring Wolves. A moment later another emerged, then a third. They did not rush up the slope at once but lingered, waiting for those still behind them.
"What are you dawdling for? Get up here—you're making everyone worry!"
The mercenaries were just as anxious. Among those who had entered the forest was the very lord who employed them. Lose their employer and every meal ticket vanished overnight. Geren, standing beside Roy, finally allowed a note of relief into his voice.
"They're coming back one by one. Thank goodness."
"Any sign of the ogre?"
Even scanning the distant trees revealed not the slightest tremor. If a creature that size were moving nearby, the forest should have shown it. The mercenaries had sworn the ogre was so huge its head would poke out between those giant trunks.
Did they fail to find it today?
Swaaaaah—!
Then it happened. Trees near the hill began to shudder. Thinking it might be wind, they strained their eyes—yet nothing appeared, only the sharp crack of timber snapping.
"Wh-what is that?"
Something punched upward through the dense canopy. A tree, half-snapped yet still whole, was ripped out by the roots and hurled high above the forest.
"It's the ogreeee!"
Someone screamed. Every eye was already locked on the same place. Roy and the others all saw it clearly—the ogre's massive head rising for a single heartbeat before vanishing once more into the trees.
"Everyone, battle stations!"
Padec roared with every ounce of strength he possessed.