Chapter 36
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Ogre Subjugation
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Ogres are far more ferocious and powerful monsters than goblins.
Their build alone sets them apart.
Standing over three meters tall with a weight approaching one ton.
The sheer power emanating from that massive frame was beyond any human's ability to contend with—and surprisingly, their speed wasn't sluggish either.
Their skin was so tough that ordinary spears or swords without infused mana couldn't even leave a mark. A true monster.
From goblin extermination to ogre extermination in one go.
The difficulty spike was steep, but the Alize Mercenary Group showed no signs of retreat.
"We've only been commissioned to take down two ogres. Stay alert, but no need to panic just yet."
The one silver lining was that ogres didn't live in packs.
Spurred on by Alize's encouragement, the mercenaries pressed forward vigorously. Two days later, they finally reached the ogre-infested area.
"Ah, ogre or goblin, I just wanna smash 'em quick and head home."
"Me too. A soak in hot water would be pure bliss."
The twins, now fully embracing Ruyan as one of their own, never shut up.
They'd chattered so much during the march that they were drained before the fight even began.
"This is all Alize's fault. Doesn't she know pounding on people like that can kill 'em?"
"Right? She called us extreme, but she's the worst offender."
Eric and Eddie only saw eye-to-eye when it came to trash-talking Alize.
"You little...!"
Alize, who'd been gritting her teeth through their nonstop banter, was on the verge of exploding when Ruyan casually stepped forward.
"Want me to handle it again?"
"Oh! Great idea. Ruyan, give these idiots a thrashing."
Alize's face lit up, her eyes sparkling eagerly. The twins, thoroughly spooked, scurried behind her.
"Hehe, what's with this sis today?"
"Alize, just beat us yourself! Don't pawn it off on someone else!"
The twins desperately clung to Alize, pulling out all the stops with their cutesy act.
It was the purest, most primal survival instinct: anything but getting hit by Ruyan.
"Never seen those morons so well-behaved. Ruyan, let's stick together forever!"
Alize, utterly touched, clutched Ruyan's hands tight and nodded vigorously.
Then, belatedly dropping the antics, she let out a low gasp.
"Ah...!"
She'd sensed it now too. The presence of the colossal monster bearing down on them.
Ruyan's earlier remark hadn't been aimed at the twins, of course—it was the ogre.
"Two ogres inbound! Battle stations, everyone!"
Alize's command shifted the group's mood in an instant.
The twins quit their joking, Gerard and Cloyang stopped spectating—everyone moved with sharp precision.
After confirming the formation, Alize drew her greatsword last. She glanced at Ruyan and shook her head.
"Ruyan, sit this one out."
An unexpected order.
A monster way stronger than goblins, and she was turning down help?
It didn't make sense at first.
But Ruyan just tilted his head and complied, stepping back without argument.
"Got it. I'll watch."
"Thanks. The twins and Gerard need the experience. Foes as tough as ogres don't come around often."
Warriors through and through.
The Alize Mercenary Group treated perilous battles as just another lesson.
'That's how they've grown this strong.'
Ruyan nodded in genuine admiration as he took up position beside Cloyang.
He wouldn't interfere unless things got dicey.
Right then, trees were uprooted wholesale, the forest cleaved apart, and a hulking behemoth burst forth.
The forest's tyrant. The calamity itself.
An ogre.
Kraaaargh!
Spotting the mercenaries, the ogre unleashed a roar that shook the woods to their roots.
Its feral aura alone could make the timid wet themselves.
But the Alize Mercenary Group had no weaklings.
Just drooling lunatics.
"Kyahahaha! Come at me! I'll slaughter every last noisy bastard!"
Gerard cackled wildly as he charged. The twins flinched for some reason, exchanged glances, then crept after him.
"Gerard, that felt aimed at us. Nah, just my imagination?"
"If he's got beef, say it outright. This sneak attack vibe is scary."
"Die! Drop dead! Kyahahaha!"
Even on the brink of deadly combat, the Alize Mercenary Group stayed true to form.
And Ruyan gained a fresh appreciation for just how horrifying an iron shield could be.
And...
'Huh. Never realized Silence was such a handy spell.'
For the sake of his sanity, Ruyan tuned out their racket with a temporary ear-block.
"Gerard, you good?"
"Y-yeah. Feeling better now."
Gerard answered Alize's concerned question in a tiny, timid voice.
Back to his usual self the moment the battle wrapped.
'Or maybe that berserk frenzy was the real him.'
Ruyan chuckled inwardly and handed Gerard a waterskin.
"Ah... Th-thank you."
Face drained white, Gerard bowed deeply to Ruyan before taking it.
The shy guy even used formal speech with Ruyan, his peer.
At least on normal days.
"I told you to be careful a million times. You nearly got yourself killed!"
With the situation sorted, Alize laid into Gerard with a stern glare.
Not that she was overreacting.
Gerard had gone berserk and taken a glancing blow from the ogre's fist.
Just a graze—but horrific all the same.
A chunk of flesh torn from his waist, blood gushing everywhere.
Even with hasty first aid, it was touch-and-go for his life.
That's when Ruyan truly grasped how invaluable priests were.
"O Almighty Bella, we beseech thee. Banish suffering from thy child. Recovery!"
"O Almighty Bella, we beseech thee. Banish suffering from thy child. Recovery!"
⟨ Recovery ⟩
A brilliant white glow poured from Cloyang's hand with the incantation, seeping straight into Gerard's body.
'Healing like that, so dramatically. What a world.'
In the Central Plains, even under top-notch care, he'd have been bedridden for at least a fortnight.
But one holy spell stanched the bleeding and knit the wound closed.
Gerard had endured such trauma with just pallor for his trouble—and was walking fine.
'Holy magic, huh... Gotta study it someday.'
Magic had opened new horizons for him; holy magic might spark another revelation.
"I'll be really careful from now on."
Gerard mumbled in his mosquito-like voice again. Alize tsked and spun away.
"Good work, everyone. Time to head back to the village."
Twists and turns aside, the Alize Mercenary Group had nailed another commission.
Now to scrub off the grime and fatigue back home.
The return trek felt lighter, swifter than the outbound.
Lighter packs sans rations helped speed things up.
No incidents over the next two days.
One more day, and they'd exit the dense woods onto Trvente Highway.
"Final camp tonight. Hang in one more day—beds tomorrow!"
Village in sight, the mood soared.
Even stoic Cloyang cracked a touched smile at "beds."
Jerky and hardtack for dinner, then bedrolls out.
"Eddie first watch, swap every two hours. Wake the next yourself."
Alize called it unilaterally. Eddie cocked his head.
"Alize, math's off today. Two-hour shifts means ten hours' sleep."
"Yup. Three's plenty. I'm crashing—good luck waking the tough ones."
Killing intent flickered in Alize's eyes; Eddie folded and backed off.
Eric, watching, dove into his sleeping bag with a smirk.
"Hey sis, you know what happens if you wake me? I'll wake you next."
Gerard and Cloyang sneaked peeks at Ruyan, then sighed softly.
Three-watch lineup was set in stone.
The final night wore on, everyone tucked in tight.
'Phew. Guess peace ain't in the cards for me.'
Ruyan, settling for rest, froze mid-motion and murmured low.
"Someone's approaching."
Last night of many.
Trouble always struck when you thought it was over.
His warning had sleeping bags flying open as everyone piled out.
"Ugh, that's the worst."
Alize sounded extra pissy.
She kicked free, perked her ears carefully, then scowled deep.
"Damn. Humans."
On these forsaken trails, people were scarier than beasts.
The group eased hands onto weapon grips, wary.
"Ruyan, can't get a clear read. How many?"
"Three... wait, four."
Ruyan started to say three, then corrected. He'd nearly missed the fourth presence.
Even his honed senses from perfecting Heavenly Martial Body had almost slipped.
Tension hung thick. Bushes rustled soon after—a group emerged.
Four men.
They shuffled in slow, ragged steps, then erupted in cheers at the sight of Alize.
"Yes! We're saved!"
"Saw the firelight and hoped—didn't expect folks out here."
The men looked beat. Mountain ordeal had left them filthy and bedraggled.
Alize sized them up quick, then advanced a cautious step.
"Alize Mercenary Group, out of Trvente Village. Who might you be?"
"Trvente? Thank the gods! We're merchants bound there."
They lit up at "Trvente," sighing relief or clapping glee.
Alize held her guard, scanning coolly.
'Merchants, sure... but.'
They looked like beggars, but fine silk cloaks peeked from the grime.
Standard gear for merchants hauling valuables sans wagons.
"Traveling trade routes this late?"
"Not exactly trade—we got hit. Two days back, orcs ambushed outta nowhere. Lost the caravan, been stumbling through mountains since."
Alize bored into their eyes—no deception.
Clutching salvaged goods sans carts, they looked downright pitiable.
Plus, she'd just dealt with a surprise orc raid herself—easy to relate.
"We hit the same snag. Orcs popping up sudden-like. Rough go."
"Which is why we're asking... could you escort us to Trvente? Proper commission, mercenaries."
A midnight mountain gig.
For some reason, Ruyan's expression hardened.