Ch.2727. Brandy (2)

Troll. This creature is classified as one of the representative mid-tier giant subspecies alongside ogres, a race synonymous with enormous humanoid creatures.

Standing at a towering height of 3 to 5 meters. Possessing tremendous strength capable of crushing massive boulders. Bones as hard as steel and remarkably tough skin. The long reach from their disproportionately long arms cannot be ignored either.

But there’s an ability far more dangerous than these physical attributes, one that elevates the troll’s threat level. This ability is essentially the troll’s signature regenerative power.

The troll’s regenerative ability is practically a superpower.

It’s so powerful that severed limbs can regrow within 10 minutes, and even injuries to vital organs like the heart can heal almost instantly.

Of course, this regeneration doesn’t create something from nothing.

Maintaining such regenerative power requires enormous amounts of energy and calories, and trolls possess extremely powerful digestive acids to compensate for this need.

Thanks to this digestive capability that can break down not only living creatures but also logs, rocks, minerals, and even metals, trolls can obtain the energy they need, but in exchange, they spend their waking hours solely focused on devouring anything they can find.

Additionally, a troll’s regenerative abilities cease to function when the damaged area is altered by strong acid solutions or fire, and trolls are so stupid and unintelligent that one might question whether they truly possess self-awareness.

But precisely because of this, trolls know no fear or terror, making them culprits behind incidents such as devouring entire rural villages…

Probably, the one blocking my share of brandy shipments is also just a creature that wandered here looking for food.

Trolls, as creatures, quickly adapt their body structure to their environment based on the materials they digest with their unique digestive abilities.

Thanks to this, all sorts of troll subspecies exist in this world.

And the identity of the troll blocking my brandy is a river troll.

It’s an amphibious giant subspecies that has adapted to freshwater environments, developing gills and webbed appendages.

River trolls, or more precisely, trolls that inhabit freshwater, have developed underwater mobility, can breathe underwater, and have slimy secretions covering their skin that provide some resistance to fire.

Of course, a troll is still a troll. It’s true that they wouldn’t stand a chance against a well-prepared professional extermination team or high-ranking adventurer, but…

“What? The extermination will be delayed?”

“Y-yes… Unfortunately, an ant nest was just discovered nearby…”

According to the clerk, all the powerful individuals capable of exterminating the troll are currently attacking a beast ant nest that appeared nearby and won’t return for at least two weeks.

Even if I were to transport the brandy by land, considering the distance, road conditions, and the inconvenient procedures for moving cargo, it would still take at least two weeks.

Then… what if I exterminate that troll myself?

Trolls are monsters that have devoured countless lives, and among their victims are certainly mid-tier warriors and knights who had awakened their aura and overcome endless crises.

However, this creature called a troll is inevitably at a disadvantage against mages, precisely because of its relatively low defensive capabilities.

Before a mid-tier mage who can unleash high-powered attacks of elements that exploit a troll’s weaknesses from a distance, the relatively sluggish troll is nothing more than a large target.

And as it happens, I too am a mid-tier mage (druid). While not as obsessed with firepower as those crazy mages, with a little preparation, I can certainly generate enough power to take down a troll.

…In fact, creatures like trolls, being mid-tier or higher monsters, are seriously treated as regional threats, so exterminating one could earn substantial rewards from the lord.

Beyond money, it’s not a bad idea in terms of building intangible assets that can never be obtained through financial means alone.

Moreover, as a druid who protects the mysteries of nature, there’s no harm in hunting down a primary culprit of ecosystem destruction that devours everything in sight.

‘…Alright, everyone, get ready. Let’s go to work.’

Having made up my mind, I signaled to my animal friends who would participate in this expedition.

After all… I couldn’t face a river troll alone.

※ ※ ※

Planning to exterminate the river troll in a day trip, I first transformed into an animal shape to sneak out of the city without the hassle of checkpoints.

The form I chose was a crow, which wouldn’t look out of place flying between the city walls.

Being able to instinctively learn how to fly the moment I transformed into an animal, I spread my wings without hesitation and took off.

After flying for some time.

‘Korin, I need your help!’

[Yes! Leave it to me, master!]

At some point, I released my transformation and summoned Korin, instructing him to grab me with his legs and carry me instead.

As a mid-tier (adult) creature, Korin’s size was just slightly small for carrying me.

But carrying me with his two legs and flying was no problem at all.

Anyway, while Korin held me and vigorously flapped his two pairs of wings,

I focused my senses on life detection, using the simplest method to find the troll.

Trolls are stupid, brainless creatures that devour everything in sight.

Therefore, if there’s a place notably devoid of life force, there’s a high chance a troll is there or nearby…

[M-master! There! Over there!]

‘Yes, I see it too.’

As I suspected, near a gravel beach by the river where life signatures were notably absent, I spotted a river troll devouring some unidentifiable chunk of meat.

‘…Ugh.’

And the actual appearance of the river troll I saw with my own eyes was utterly disgusting.

Something resembling fins had grown on the already hideous troll, and yellowish slime oozed stickily from its skin, which had developed strange scale-like patterns.

Momentarily nauseated by this revolting sight,

I soon pulled out the staff I had strapped to my back and, with Korin’s help, was about to start chanting a spell when…

-WHOOSH!!!

‘…?!!’

[Wh-what?!! Master, I’ll dodge!]

Suddenly, the troll raised its head toward us, then began grabbing gravel from the ground and hurling it at us!

The gravel, thrown with the joint structure similar to humans but optimized for throwing, backed by longer and more powerful muscles… was launched in clusters, creating an effect similar to a shotgun blast.

[—Wind!]

Although it seemed to be throwing randomly rather than aiming, I had to hastily channel my magical power to activate the celestial magic “Wind Shield” to counter this attack.

Still, one consolation was that the troll was excessively stupid.

While the gravel shotgun, which the river troll probably didn’t even intend, was difficult to dodge and quite powerful, the larger rocks it was now throwing were slower and easier to avoid.

So at some point, having regained my composure… I began to immerse myself more deeply in the mysteries around me, trusting in Korin’s flying skills.

[Come, celestial judgment. Strike of destruction, flashing brilliance. You shine with golden light and after a flash—]

Incantations to praise the mysteries and control celestial power flowed from my lips. The foundation of this mystery lies in Korin, the thunder bird within me. I externalized this power while continuing my chant.

[—Desire! Want! And thus judge with fire! O celestial light, mystery of nature! You shall flow according to my will!]

Golden sparks crackled around Korin and me. The sky gradually darkened as storm clouds formed, and the thunder bird feather charm in my pocket slowly crumbled, supplying me with mysterious power and magical energy.

The shining lightning implied someone’s destruction and downfall. Celestial beings pulled the trigger attached to my power. And thus— the ultimate celestial magic shyly revealed its form in reality.

-KRRRRRAAACK!!!!

The extremely refined violence in the form of lightning, struck the troll below, followed by a sound so loud it could only be described as an explosion.

And… that was the end.

The celestial magic I unleashed by consuming a charm I had spent an hour creating instantly killed the mid-tier giant (subspecies) river troll.

Beyond merely being scorched, its brain and heart were thoroughly cooked, making survival impossible even for a troll with excellent regenerative abilities and tenacity.

And so, the river troll that had blocked the waterway logistics of the Frankish Kingdom for 17 hours ended its life as a well-done electrified troll roast.