Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Ogre's Demise
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The swirling, condensed power of mana around my fist was clearly no ordinary sight—even a child could tell as much.
“……!!”
The beast must have realized this attack was different from the ones before.
The ogre crossed its two arms in an X-shape to guard its chest.
“Useless!”
With the ogre's body at its disposal, it probably figured defending just the vitals would be enough.
Not content with that, flames erupted across its entire body.
The scorching air impeded the path of my advancing fist.
But.
Pffft!
First, the flames enveloping its body burst outward in concentric rings.
Clang!
Cracks spiderwebbed from where my fist struck the ogre's armor, shattering it apart.
Whirrr!
The vortex of energy carried in my fist twisted the ogre's arms, tearing through its hide.
“Kraaaagh!”
The ogre staggered back, screaming as it clutched its shredded arms.
“Grgh… Damn pest from the Shield Family… So you had a hidden trump card after all…”
The ogre rasped through labored breaths.
The guards on its arms were completely shattered, its skin ripped open with blood pouring steadily out.
Yet it was smiling.
It had blocked the blow, after all.
“Heh! That was close, but in the end, I'm still the victor…?”
Drip.
A single drop of blood began trickling from the corner of its mouth.
“Cough!”
Hack! Spuuurt!
The blood that had been dribbling from its mouth soon gushed out like a burst dam.
“H-How… Tia's body, shattered by a mere human fist… Impossible!”
The ogre stared at me in disbelief.
“Did you think an aura-clad fist couldn't crush even an ogre's body?”
At my words, the ogre let out a hollow laugh.
“Ha, haha…! At your age… you’ve already mastered aura? Who the hell ever called you a worm… Shit…”
Thud!
The ogre—Tia’s body, possessed by the dwarf soul that had transferred into it, Kazalim—collapsed with a sigh.
‘I… have to inform… His Excellency… of this…’
Its master.
The noble one who had bestowed all these blessings upon it.
Kazalim's only regret was that it could no longer report everything to Duke Camille.
The fact that a monster seed capable of threatening the Holy Empire was growing in that small kingdom.
“You did it! Jerome, you bastard! You were hiding something this insane?!”
Saladin, his body ragged and torn, came stumbling over shouting.
Now that I looked, Saladin had fought hard too—there wasn't a single unscathed spot on him.
Mimi and Nene weren't half-destroyed; they'd been completely wrecked in this battle.
He wouldn't say it, but it must have stung.
‘Once we reach Banten, I'll hook him up good—nice and fat compensation.’
Money was no issue; he could borrow as much as needed for this job's reward.
But first.
Saladin still had one last bit of value to squeeze out.
“Hey, give me a hand here.”
“Huh?”
Thud!
“Hey, you idiot! Snap out of it!”
I let Saladin's panicked voice lull me like a lullaby as I slowly closed my eyes.
I was too exhausted.
For now, time to pass out.
“A failure?”
Ballista, the fortress guarding the Holy Empire from the monsters of the Dragon Mountains.
Its master and absolute warrior, Duke Camille, rarely asked for confirmation—but now, he couldn't help it.
“Yes, Your Excellency. The periodic signals from Kazalim and Tia… vanished today.”
Duke Camille, who never flinched at any monster, felt genuine bewilderment today—a rare emotion.
When was the last time his predictions had missed so completely?
“The Shield Family's third son was that strong? Fine, Tia aside—but Kazalim too?”
Tia was no ordinary ogre. Secretly trained through the Holy Empire's ‘hidden forces,’ it was a knight in a massive body.
And Kazalim was a capable hound he'd personally scouted and raised.
A well-trained hunter that carried out any order without fail.
“Did Kazalim use the Demon Jewel?”
“...Yes. The jewel we attached to him reacted, and shortly after, both signals disappeared.”
Even with the insurance they'd planted just in case, it had lost.
“Heh, what a mess. What am I supposed to tell Her Highness the Imperial Princess?”
Duke Camille scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Well, can't be helped. Connect the communication line to Her Highness.”
He couldn't skip the report just because it was a failure.
Duke Camille recalled the odd expression on the Third Imperial Princess's face when she'd contacted him recently.
He hadn't seen it in a mirror, but he was probably wearing a similar one now.
“Heh, so this is how Her Highness felt.”
The words felt foreign even as he said them.
As western border commander and Ballista's overseer, he'd handled countless missions before this post.
When was the last time he'd ‘failed’ one?
‘Shield Family's third son, Jerome… Interesting. Very interesting.’
Duke Camille decided to remember Jerome not as a ‘worm,’ but by name.
Not just for defeating Tia and Kazalim.
The fortress had plenty who could handle Kazalim's level.
But taking down Kazalim even after he used the Demon Jewel—and delivering ‘failure’ to him.
That was enough to earn a spot in Duke Camille's memory.
Before he knew it, Jerome was beginning to make his name known to his past enemies.
“Ah, there it is.”
Like Saladin's mutter, Banten came into view far ahead.
With the battle in broad daylight behind us, we'd finally returned to Banten after a journey full of words and troubles.
“Urgh.”
I forced my still-healing body up and leaned against the carriage.
‘Man, it feels like things are getting tougher every time.’
I couldn't just lounge around upon arriving in Banten.
Twists and turns aside, I'd successfully rescued Millia, princess of the elves.
This was leagues beyond procuring wheat for Philador Kingdom.
On the wheat run, sure, we'd encountered a High Orc, but top Shield Family knight Beskin had been with us.
There'd been friction with the Sword Family, but that was routine for Shield Family expeditions.
Rescuing Millia was on another level.
We hadn't even known where the elf princess had been taken.
If we'd bungled it and lost track of her, or acted rashly and endangered her.
It could've sparked war with the elves—a mission of grave weight.
Indeed, before I left, Banten had quietly stockpiled supplies in a near-wartime state.
Failure would've let my eldest brother and sister's retainers tear me apart gleefully.
I might never have recovered.
But greater risk brings sweeter fruit.
Succeeding in such a massive mission meant my standing in the family would shake things up from today.
‘Now, how will big bro and sis react?’
No other major family missions lately, so plenty of room for pushback. Though what form it'd take was unknown.
Still, they couldn't outright block me. Sabotaging someone with this huge merit would cast doubt on their heir qualities.
‘They'll probably watch quietly for now.’
That left the perfect window.
If I solidified my position in the family in a flash while they hesitated, they'd be out of moves.
Situation wasn't bad.
After rescuing Millia, the elves hadn't said it outright, but their trust in me was clear.
And I'd gained Miron, a reliable past comrade and fighter.
‘And Misha's gotta have some talent too.’
Was it because she was Miron's sister, or her mana reversal had enlightened her to the world?
Even with her frail body, she'd handled the Holy Empire raid calmly without panic.
“Ahem. Busy?”
As I leaned on the carriage sorting my thoughts, Ash approached with a cough.
“Nah, it's fine. Speak.”
“Ahem. Well, nothing major. Thanks to you, we rescued Her Highness safely, and no one fell to those vile attackers.”
Ash unusually coughed again, beating around the bush.
“What, you're not yourself. It wasn't just for you guys—our family was tangled up too. Don't sweat it.”
That's what I said, but he had to care at least a little, right?
As if hearing my inner shout.
“Ahem, no. It started from our carelessness… We'll never forget this debt and repay it properly.”
Ash continued, face slightly flushed.
“With Misha's situation too, once the weather warms, come to the forest… Jerome.”
Huh? Did I hear that right?
“You just said my name?”
“Ahem! Anyway, we're here, so let's part ways. Faster for us to head straight to the forest.”
Ash fled the scene, face beet red as if mortified.
“Once your affairs are settled, come visit!”
Adding that one line.
Watching him, Millia approached with a bright smile.
“Young Master Jerome, please understand. He's awkward… He means it from the heart, even if it comes out like that.”
Millia bowed slightly to express her gratitude.
“Thank you again sincerely. Thanks to you, I made it home safely.”
“Haha, no need. You've been through a lot. Rest well and recover once you're back.”
At my modesty, Millia fidgeted with her fingers as if she had more to say.
“Um, Young Master.”
She mustered courage and parted her lips, but in the end, didn't say whatever it was.
“...Never mind. Please come to our forest in spring. We'll welcome you grandly.”
“Haha, sure. Gotta pick up Misha anyway, so I'll visit.”
‘Probably something about Prince Peter.’
The elf feeling love—or maybe just affection—for the first time didn't seem to understand her emotions fully.
Miron and Misha, already tipped off by Ash about parting, were saying goodbyes.
“Miron, listen to Young Master well. Sis will definitely get better, so you trust me and stay strong, okay? You can do it?”
Young Miron clearly hated parting from his sister, gripping her hand tightly for a moment before letting go with a forced smile.
“...Yeah. Don't worry.”
I saw off the elves and Misha heading to the Magical Beast Forest with their luggage, then asked Miron.
“Not sad?”
“Of course I am. Super sad. I don't wanna separate, but…”
Miron shook his head briefly, then spoke with unchildlike resolve.
“Even if parting sucks, if it's temporary and lets Sis heal, I'll endure it.”
The spirited boy looked at me.
“Young Master, I want to protect Sis. You said you'd make me strong, right?”
I met his steadfast gaze without wavering.
“Of course. You've got talent. A unique talent no one else has. I'll nurture it. It'll be tough getting that power, though…”
I warned him upfront of the trials ahead. No power comes free.
But I added with firm conviction.
“Endure it, and no one will look down on you again. I promise.”p>
You can gain power.
His eyes sparkled at those words, as if nothing else mattered.
Strong will to protect his sister, sure—but still.
‘Misha doesn't seem like an ordinary kid either.’
Miron's sister, bearer of the power called Frenzy, suffering mana reversal.
Is she really just some ordinary girl needing his protection?
‘Guess we'll see once Misha recovers.’
Right now, Miron was the focus, eyes on me.
As if he'd seen it somewhere, Miron awkwardly but earnestly dropped to one knee before me.
“You're my benefactor, Young Master. I'm still lacking in many ways, but I'll serve you with all I have.”
I responded by gently placing a hand on his shoulder.
“I'm glad to welcome a promising kid into the family. Looking forward to it.”
Yes.
This was perfect.