Ogre (2): The Knight King's Mobilization
The Greenskin kingdom soon escalated into a major crisis.
Hordes of goblins pillaging the surroundings and devastating the territory with reckless hunting. Swarms of ogres devouring anything edible. If such creatures were left to rampage unchecked, no king ruling that land would deserve the title.
And the Knight King was a man more than worthy of being called a king.
"The goblin horde is acting strangely...?"
Thanks to the Immortal Crown on his head, the Knight King—nearing old age yet retaining a youthful appearance—repeated the report to the retainer who had brought the news.
"Yes. According to the cavalry scout who returned, their numbers are absurdly vast."
"They're just goblins, aren't they? How could that be?"
"Countless goblins and hobgoblins, along with a significant number of monsters called orcs. And... there was a monster they could only observe from a distance."
"A monster?"
"Yes. The cavalry said it was a beast with a giant's massive build, strong enough to repel a starving drake."
"A drake?"
The Knight King's face hardened.
What was a drake? A wingless dragon, wasn't it? Not as overwhelmingly powerful as a true dragon, but no one could deny the strength of its flesh and the toughness of its scales. For a monster capable of repelling such a drake to be moving alongside the goblins... that was no ordinary matter.
"The scouts report that several villages have already vanished, and even the city of the local lord who ruled the area has been reduced to ruins. With no survivors, we haven't received proper intelligence until now."
At those words, the Knight King sighed and covered his face with his hand. It was news too grim to witness with open eyes.
"Which regions have suffered damage?"
"The Semer region in the southern plains."
"Semer... Semer is a vital area not just for Procyon but also for trade with the lizardmen."
"Yes. It's a wealthy region thanks to its substantial tax revenue."
The Knight King pondered for a moment before speaking.
"If memory serves, it's a place that built a formidable army with that wealth and clashed with neighboring lords. For such a region to be obliterated without a sound... this is no ordinary affair."
"Shall we muster the army?"
"Yes. Muster them. As many as possible. And request aid from the other races as well."
"The other races? Isn't that a bit excessive?"
The Knight King shook his head at his retainer's words.
"For this incident, it's better to overreact. The events in Semer will serve as a stern warning to those who underestimate goblins."
"A warning...?"
"Indeed."
The Knight King spoke with a stern expression.
"Frankly, until I heard your report, I thought little of these goblins. Mere monsters with the strength of children—why would the Life Church warn against and fear them? But now, with this news... I understand why the Life Church has issued repeated warnings."
An individual goblin held no great power, but if their numbers swelled and they evolved into monsters capable of battling drakes, the story changed entirely.
"Yet we ignored the Life Church's warnings. If the result is this monstrous horde, then we must etch that warning into history with our own blood."
"Your Majesty..."
"And it won't be our burden alone."
The Knight King continued in a low voice.
"The other races must remember this warning as well."
"That's why you're requesting reinforcements from the other races?"
"Exactly. We don't know how long a warning carved in blood by our generation will endure, but long-lived races... especially elves who live a thousand years... could carry it on far longer. If their voices propagate the warning, our blood will have been well spent. If their armies come, all the better; even if not, as long as one messenger arrives to spread the word."
The retainer nodded in agreement with the king's intent to engrave the goblin warning for the ages.
"Send word not just to the elves and dwarves, but to Bestia, Ratkinia, the lizardmen, and Procyon as well. The peril of neglecting goblins—these green-skinned monsters—must reach everyone."
"Understood. However, the trade routes to Procyon and the lizardmen pass through Semer, so contact may not get through reliably."
"Seek the Life Church's cooperation. They've consistently warned about goblins; they'll help without hesitation. Their pilgrims know paths through the southern plains that avoid Semer. And with the potential for many wounded in a war against goblins, priestly aid would be invaluable."
"Yes. We'll request their assistance too."
And so, news of the endlessly strengthening goblins spread swiftly.
"What in the world is this?"
"Impressive."
Yggdrasil and Sagarmata marveled at the armies arrayed across the plains.
Romania’s grand host. And leading them, Knight King Lucius Altrius Caesar. Loyal knights following him, elite soldiers ready to stake their lives. Even counting only the armed fighters, their numbers exceeded nine thousand. Including support personnel, it surpassed twelve thousand.
But they weren't all.
Two hundred priests from the Life Church, faithful healers for the wounded.
One hundred Procyon mages, who could summon flames in exchange for goblin and orc magic stones.
Two thousand from Bestia’s multi-racial coalition. Five thousand from Ratkinia’s shield legion. One hundred elf hunters and two hundred dwarf prototype weapon testers.
"Prototype weapon testers?"
"Experts with mobile forges and labs to field-test new inventions. Reliable bunch."
Sagarmata smiled warmly.
"And more numerous than the elves, too."
"Ugh... I thought a hundred was plenty..."
Yggdrasil and Sagarmata engaged in their subtle rivalry. The kids were rivals, not you two. Or perhaps the children's competition had rubbed off on the adults.
In any case, next came the dwarf reinforcements...
"The Genesis Dragon has spoken!!! Among those monsters are warriors as strong as our lizardmen!"
"Woooaaarrr!!!"
"The Genesis Dragon commands!!! Burn those mushroom-like scum to ashes!!! Show them true strength!!!"
"Yaaaahhhh!!!"
The lizardmen shouted with ecstatic faces. One hundred strong.
"Mom. Did I say that?"
"No... I just said those orcs are strong, though not quite lizardmen level... and that greenskins are weak to fire..."
"Yeah. Liberal interpretation."
I could only sigh at Sagarmata's words.
The lizardmen... I really don't know. I appreciated their loyalty, but sometimes it felt overwhelming.
"This is a battle we can't lose in numbers."
"Yeah. War's about overwhelming force."
The sight of soldiers gathered on the vast plains was truly spectacular. Unprecedented in any prior war.
But the biggest problem remained.
"That's the ogre, right? The huge one? Definitely no ordinary beast."
An ogre lounging arrogantly on a throne crudely piled from boulders.
That ogre would likely decide the war's outcome.
But.
"We've prepared properly for that monster, so no worries."
I held up the small glass orb in my hand.
Inside the fist-sized sphere dwelled the black rock knight.
"To fit that massive Talos into something that small... what did you even make?"
"Just for fun."
I'd wanted to make it a red-and-white ball, but that felt a step too far! No one would get the reference anyway.
"Talos accepted it, even on vacation."
"I promised extended leave in exchange."
Who would refuse more vacation for a little effort? Not a golem, that's for sure.
"If the ogre moves, I'll deploy Talos immediately. Keep the others from getting caught in the crossfire."
"Won't the humans be in more danger?"
"I've informed them through the Life Church priests."
Nothing teaches the ogre's might like witnessing it firsthand. Especially against a giant from myth, the black rock colossus.
