Ch.392Ogre and Goblin

Morning of the second day of searching Ogre Hill.

The five women were keenly feeling the impact of Will, Jessica, and the camping wagon’s absence.

“It seems preparations take quite some time…”

“Hmm… I still think this is far more comfortable than what ordinary adventurers experience.”

“It really makes you realize how easy we’ve had it all this time.”

At least meals weren’t a problem.

The box of stopped time contained not only ingredients but also many prepared dishes.

Taking those out to eat would be enough to feed the five of them for 3-4 days without any issues.

Besides, Iris was also quite skilled at cooking.

But it was the little things beyond meals.

Without Jessica to provide an infinite supply of ‘water,’ they had to conserve what they had brought,

and in such circumstances, they also missed the ‘Clean Up’ spell that instantly made bodies and clothes pristine,

and setting up or taking down tents, cleaning up after meals, and washing dishes all required time and effort.

As a result, it took nearly an hour from waking up to completing preparations for departure, and afterward, they had to spend a bit more time solving another problem the party was experiencing.

*Bump bump*

“How is it, Anastasia?”

“Not entirely satisfactory… but better than riding directly on Ancestor.”

Aerial reconnaissance was essential, not optional, to find traces of battle in the vast Ogre Hill.

But Anastasia, who had attempted it while on horseback, suffered terribly from motion sickness.

Mina’s solution to this problem was a one-person carriage that resembled an ancient Roman chariot.

Although it was small and required sitting, which meant “Ancestor’s backside is right in front of your face”—a minor drawback…

‘It doesn’t matter since you’ll be wearing goggles anyway, right? And it’s an automaton, so there’s no smell.’

That was the reasoning that led Anastasia to ride in this somewhat unglamorous designated seat.

Fortunately, Anastasia’s humiliation didn’t last even half a day.

Aquila’s vision caught sight of clear traces of fierce battle, distinctly different from the minor things they’d seen so far.

“This is…!”

“More than thirty blades scattered around. A small group would have been annihilated.”

“It continues down that ridge over there.”

At the meeting point of two large hills.

In a place reminiscent of a small canyon entrance, dozens of weapons, shields, crude arrows, and small metal trinkets were scattered about.

And from there, traces leading downward along the ridge, as if someone had fled.

Whatever Seti’s group was looking for was undoubtedly down there.

“Hmm~ It seems wide enough for Ancestor to fight too… what should we do?”

“Since it’s currently serving as a pack horse, let’s keep it at the rear until an unavoidable situation arises.”

“Yes. If we’re facing goblins or orcs, this terrain favors us. Even against ogres, we can overwhelm them with firepower if there aren’t too many.”

Finally—the thought brings tension to everyone’s faces.

In fact, they had already encountered two types of enemies on the way here: Hunter Wolves and Ice Elementals.

The wild Hunter Wolves were easily driven away without much difficulty, but in the battle with the Ice Elementals that followed, Mina suffered a scratch on one arm.

It was a minor injury that didn’t even leave a bruise, let alone cause bleeding, but the means to treat it was the issue.

‘The effect of healing potions is nothing compared to Jessica’s healing magic. We must be careful not to sustain serious injuries during combat.’

The most important thing was to avoid being ambushed by enemies.

Better yet, the most desirable outcome would be to seize the opportunity for a preemptive strike and defeat the enemy one-sidedly.

For that purpose, Aquila took to the sky once more, and this time they were able to find their target.

“Oh…? This is quite a rare sight.”

“What do you see?”

“An ogre is driving about twenty goblins to build a palisade. It seems there was a small landslide, and they’re repairing it.”

It’s not uncommon for humanoid monsters like goblins or orcs to build things.

But the fact that it was being done under the command of another monster—an ogre—was quite interesting.

From the traces they had found so far, it was clear that ogres and goblins had fought, but territorial disputes between monsters typically end with one side fleeing or being annihilated.

Cases of the defeated group surrendering and being used as labor are rarely witnessed.

“What should we do? Wipe out the goblins first? Or the ogre?”

“Even if we target the ogre first, the goblins won’t cooperate with us. I don’t think there’s any reason to risk diving into the middle of the enemy formation.”

“Agreed. It would be better to calmly reduce their numbers by taking advantage of our geographical position.”

“The ranged weapons goblins use are at best throwing axes or daggers.”

Our range is far superior.

If we establish dominance with guns and magic, the numerical difference of 5 versus 21 won’t be a major issue.

Having made this assessment, the group, after hearing from Anastasia about the approximate deployment and distance of the enemy, hid on the upper part of the ridge in positions favorable for an ambush.

They positioned themselves on the steep slope above, where goblins couldn’t approach in a straight line after the first attack.

It was also at an awkward height for throwing weapons.

“Blast them away, Phyllis!”

“Fireball {Incendiary Grenade}!”

*KABOOM!!*

Phyllis’s fireball opens the battle.

A huge explosion shakes the hill, and six goblins who were gathered working in one spot are caught directly in the fireball’s explosion, disappearing without a trace.

‘Kikikik!?’

‘Kyaaaak!!’

The goblins, confused by the sudden attack and still unable to grasp the situation.

Dozens of white magic bullets and arrows of black magical energy rain down on their heads like a downpour.

The goblins’ reactions are truly varied.

Some flee into the cave in terror, while others lie flat behind the palisade trying to preserve their lives.

Of course, most of them meet their end under the group’s attack, unable to do either.

‘GROOOOAR!!’

Unlike the panicked goblins, the ogre’s response was calm.

Pointing in the direction from which the initial attack came, commanding that the enemy is there, it displays leadership that seems to transcend species.

But no matter how great a commander is, it’s meaningless if the subordinates are a disorganized rabble.

Especially when that position is one where goblins can neither charge nor throw weapons to attack—it’s just an empty cry.

*Clang clang clang clang!*

Still, one persistent goblin bangs on a shield that looks like a pot lid, sending a signal toward the cave, and shortly after, goblins begin to swarm out from inside the cave.

Just how many reserve goblin troops were waiting inside the cave?

Depending on the result, they might need to consider abandoning further combat and retreating, but…

“Drex Discharge!”

*Fwoooosh~*

Pure white cold air spews from Phyllis’s rifle, which just fired a fireball, and the residual formula accumulated in the barrel is expelled.

A supporting spell newly created by Phyllis using the ‘ice’ attribute obtained from the Great Sage’s Magic Tower.

Its effect allows for the immediate reuse of an attack spell once.

*Click!*

“Once more, Fireball {Incendiary Grenade}!!”

And with the crisp movement of the repeating lever, a second fireball flies toward the dark cave entrance.

The ogre standing right next to it, thinking it was aimed at him, hurriedly throws himself aside to dodge, but…

*KABOOM!!*

The blazing fireball lands just inside the cave entrance.

Causing a massive explosion in the narrow passage, it claims the lives of many goblins who hadn’t managed to escape.

Even the goblins who had escaped the cave just in time are thrown about by the explosion’s impact, rolling on the ground.

“Truly a magnificent sight. The annoying goblins are rolling around on the ground like garbage.”

“Anastasia, danger. Duck.”

*Whoosh*

A rock the size of a soccer ball flies toward Anastasia’s head as she watches the massacre with satisfaction.

The ogre, who had just gotten to his feet, threw it randomly, but his aim was quite accurate.

If Seti hadn’t warned her in advance, she might have been hit directly.

“It’s threatening to continue firing with the ogre’s throws. Defensive magic is…”

“Sorry, Phil. I don’t think I can block that kind of mass head-on.”

“…No problem. The goblins have lost their will to fight. I’ll go down.”

Seti was right.

The goblins, having suffered devastating damage from the two fireballs, had completely lost their will to fight, and unable to go back into the cave where flames were raging, they were just milling about in confusion.

Even if there were surviving forces inside, they wouldn’t dare come out for fear of another fireball.

In that case, taking care of the ogre in this gap would be the best choice.

Having reached that conclusion, Seti confirmed Phyllis’s intentions once more and jumped down the hill with light movements.

*Grrrr*

The ogre also draws out its favorite steel club, burning with fighting spirit at the sight of the small challenger.

Looking closely, Seti noticed that those thick and crude fingers were adorned with ill-fitting gold rings—probably originally made as bracelets—dangling from them.

If Will had seen this, he would have remarked that it looked like a “shirtless giant yakuza.”

*Gruk, grurururu. Grrrr*

The ogre, taking a combat stance, points at Seti and mutters unintelligible words.

But even without understanding, there’s a nuance that comes across through attitude and atmosphere alone.

It was probably an introduction, or a statement of resolve before the duel.

“I can’t understand what you’re saying, but… I am Elem Lu Seti, B-rank adventurer.”

*Krrruk.*

“Let’s begin.”

*Fwash!*

Seti kicks off the ground, still warm with residual heat, and flies like an arrow.

Toward her, moving like a meteor, comes the fierce attack of the ogre, in a different class entirely from the sluggish trolls.