Episode 20
We were heading to Lancaster City to drop off Chloe. Along the way, the Saint kept doing weird things to attract monsters, and I never stopped training to defeat them. Chloe seemed to have gotten used to the Saint’s antics by now.
Today was no different. When I saw the Saint throwing pebbles at a group of Kobolds we passed by, I thought she was genuinely insane.
“Hey, idiots~♡ You weaklings with crossbows getting hit by rocks~♡ Come at me if you’re mad~♡ Too scared to come, huh~? Kyahaha♡”
…Even I felt sorry for the Kobolds listening to her. Some even died from the rocks she threw.
Anyway, after wiping out the Kobold group, we trudged along as the sky turned completely red.
“Wow…”
The sunset was really beautiful. But the sunset meant it was evening. It would be hard to keep going once it got completely dark.
Another night of camping, huh? I’m starting to miss a proper bed.
As I walked, I turned my head slightly and saw a cluster of buildings on the left.
Buildings?…Why are there buildings on a mountain slope like that?
“Huh?”
It’s a village! We might not have to camp after all!
“Saint, there’s a village over there!”
“I already know, Hero. You just noticed that now~? Your observation skills are lacking~♡ You dummy♡”
If you knew, why didn’t you say something, you jerk?
“…Saint, it’s getting late. Shouldn’t we stay in that village for the night?”
“Hmm…that might be better. Wow, the Hero actually came up with a useful idea~♡”
…What a pain in the ass.
Where did she even learn the word “execution”? Did the author not do proper historical research?
“Let’s ask first, and if it doesn’t work out, we’ll just camp~♡”
“Alright.”
“Yes…”
Chloe sounded exhausted from all the walking. Well, she’s a magic apprentice suddenly forced to walk long distances—it’s understandable she’d be tired.
“Are you okay, Chloe?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
She’s tough. Her small stature means her steps are shorter, making it harder to keep up, but she doesn’t complain at all.
“The village is really quiet.”
“It’s probably because it’s evening.”
When we arrived at the village, we looked for an inn first. Since the village wasn’t big, there wasn’t a proper inn, but luckily there was a restaurant that doubled as a guesthouse.
“How many rooms do you need?”
“One is enough.”
“O-One!?”
I was used to booking just one room, but Chloe was the one who seemed shocked.
“B-But, Hero, you’re a man…”
Don’t worry, Chloe. I’m not interested in little girls.
“It’s fine, Chloe. The Hero doesn’t have the courage for that~♡ He’s a virgin♡”
“…Huh?”
…What’s with that reaction, Chloe?
“Aren’t you an adult, Hero…?”
“He’s seventeen~♡ Still a virgin♡ A cherry boy♡”
“…Oh, I see. That’s reassuring.”
Haha, these funny kids. I feel like killing them all.
Since everyone was tired, we just wanted to eat and sleep, so we sat down in the restaurant and waited for the food.
“Good evening.”
An old man approached us. Is he a guest here too?
“Hello. But who are you?”
“Ahem, I’m Gregorio, the village chief.”
That’s a five-letter name.
“Chief, what brings you to us?”
“…Are you perhaps the Hero?”
…How did he know? Did he figure out who I was from the start?
When I gave him a suspicious look, he slightly bowed his head and said,
“I heard about your exploits in Habsburg. The white-haired Hero who defeated a Troll…I guessed it might be you, with your white hair and that pure white greatsword.”
So the news spread, huh? Well, it’s been a while since I took down that Troll.
“…Hmm, I see. So what’s the matter?”
“…Would you be willing to listen to this humble old man’s request?”
A request?
“Let’s refuse.”
The Saint answered for me. She was extremely wary of the chief. She coldly shot him down.
“Whatever your intentions are, the Hero doesn’t take personal requests. Do you think the Hero exists to fulfill private requests?”
“P-Please, just hear me out.”
The chief pleaded desperately.
Is there really something going on?
“Saint, let’s just hear him out. We can decide after listening.”
“…Thank you, Hero.”
“So, what’s the matter?”
“Well…”
The chief made a serious face, and his voice trembled slightly, as if he was afraid of something.
And what came out of his mouth next was a bit shocking.
“…Actually, our village is being ruled by Ogres.”
“Huh?”
“A group of Ogres appeared a year ago and have been threatening our village, demanding tribute and maidens at regular intervals. We have no way to defeat the Ogre group, so we’ve had no choice but to offer tribute and maidens every month.”
“…Is that really true?”
Honestly, it was hard to believe. Why would Ogres demand tribute like some fairy-tale goblins? They could just kill everyone in the village and take what they want.
But the chief nodded as if it were true. He trembled at the mere thought of the Ogres, adding credibility to his story.
‘Is it real?’
But the Saint and Chloe seemed to think differently.
“…What kind of scheme is this?”
“Honestly, it’s hard to believe…”
At their reactions, the chief flinched and waved his hands.
“A scheme? That’s absurd! I’m not lying, Saint!”
“Assuming the Ogres did threaten the village, why didn’t you inform the outside world? The Empire’s army could easily handle a group of Ogres. You could’ve gone to the nearest city and reported it to the guards. It would’ve been resolved long ago.”
…That’s true. Ogres wouldn’t stand a chance against a nation’s army.
Chloe also supported the Saint’s opinion.
“If you couldn’t go to the city, you could’ve contacted the Adventurer’s Guild.”
“…Yes, you’re right. But we couldn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
Exactly. As the three of us looked at the chief with suspicion, he knelt down.
“We really tried all those methods! But whenever we tried to leave the village, the Ogres would capture and kill us immediately.”
“What about letters?”
“…Letters were the same. Since our village is so remote, the postman doesn’t come regularly, so we had to send someone out. But anyone who left the village would be…*sob*, it’s all true, please believe me!”
“…Even if we assume everything you’re saying is true, there’s still something strange. We entered the village without any threats.”
The Saint was right. If the chief’s story were true, the Ogres wouldn’t have just let us, outsiders, enter the village.
It’s very suspicious.
But the chief’s answer left all three of us stunned.
“…The women who came with the hero are the reason.”
“…Huh?”
“The ogre wanted those two ladies as the virgins to be offered this time. Both of them are said to be incredibly beautiful…so…”
…This is ridiculous.
“Then, were you with the ogre just a while ago?”
At the saint’s question, the village chief nodded with a sigh.
“So even if the heroes plan to leave the village tomorrow, they will encounter the ogre who wants those two ladies. Therefore, I humbly ask for your mercy to defeat the ogre.”
…If the chief’s words are true, does that mean the entire village will die if we don’t go?
“Boss, is everything the chief said true?”
“…Yes?…Yes, it is. The ogre has made it hard for us to even make ends meet, as guests have stopped coming.”
“…Hmm.”
The restaurant owner also backed up the chief’s words.
Ogres…I wonder how strong they are. Are they stronger than trolls?
“What should we do, Saint?”
“…If we think normally, we could just ignore it and leave.”
Cold-hearted.
At the saint’s cold remark, the chief pleaded desperately.
“P-please, hero, saint, I beg of you!”
“…But a hero shouldn’t do that. I’ll give you a blessing, so fighting the ogre now might not be a bad experience.”
…So we’re fighting after all.
If that’s the case, why were you so cold earlier? You’re really something.
Regardless of my confusion, the chief’s face brightened up.
“Thank you! Thank you!”
“That’s enough, please get up, chief.”
#
I wanted to grow stronger without relying on blessings, but after the battle with the troll, Abel had grown significantly. Especially his ability to read battles had improved dramatically.
This was visible to Estelle, who had watched the lizardman battle. Perhaps fighting the ogre would lead to further growth. With such expectations, Estelle decided to accept this request.
However, if she accepted too easily, she feared that Abel might be asked for favors again in the future, so she deliberately maintained a cold attitude.
‘Given the hero’s personality, he might soften up and accept if asked like this again~♥’
Estelle asked the chief, who kept thanking her.
“The ogre wanted us as offerings, right?”
“Yes?…Yes, that’s right. But we’ll prepare the offerings with the village women.”
“No, you said they wanted us.”
Estelle turned to Chloe.
“Chloe, can you help me a bit?”
“Of course I’ll help!…But what are you planning to do?”
As Chloe tilted her head in confusion, Estelle kindly explained to her.
“We need to disguise ourselves as offerings. And the hero will approach the ogre with us, disguised as a porter.”
Estelle told the chief.
“So, chief, can you prepare everything?”
“Yes, yes! We’ll prepare everything perfectly!”
#
Two days had passed since we conspired to deceive the chief and the ogre. The chief secretly visited us last night and informed us that today was the day to offer the sacrifices to the ogre.
So, the saint and Chloe left early in the morning with the villagers to prepare for the disguise, and I was given shabby clothes and a hat by the chief.
“If you’re disguising as a porter, you need to look like one of our villagers.”
“That makes sense.”
I couldn’t wear this over my armor, so I took off my armor and put on the shabby clothes. It’s more comfortable than I thought?
…I wondered why it felt familiar, but then I remembered this body originally belonged to a country bumpkin. That’s why it feels familiar.
“Where should I hide the holy sword?”
“Hide it among the offerings. Carrying a sword would look suspicious.”
“That sounds good.”
Are the saint and Chloe still preparing?
“The saint and your companions will be loaded onto the cart soon. Hero, please come out too.”
“Ah, okay?”
I guess my thoughts showed. I followed the chief outside and headed towards the village entrance. While walking, I saw a place with many knives hanging and asked.
“Is that a slaughterhouse?”
“Ah, yes. We slaughter cows, pigs, and chickens to sell outside. It’s our village’s main source of income…though we can’t do that now because of the ogre.”
“I see.”
We need to defeat the ogre quickly.
At the village entrance, a cart was loaded with offerings.
“Do you offer this much?”
“The ogre is big, you know. And they come in groups, demanding a lot.”
“Hmm.”
Most of the offerings were food. From meat to rice, wheat, wine, beer, and other foods meant for humans.
Stealing food meant for others, what a bunch of wicked creatures.
“But when will the saint and Chloe arrive?”
“It seems the preparation is taking a bit longer. Please wait a moment….”
“Hero~♡”
Here they come. I turned around to see where the voice came from.
…What is that?
“…Chief, what’s that….”
“It’s the ogres’ preference. When offering virgins, they like them dressed like that. I’m sorry for making your companions look so disgraceful….”
“…Haha.”
Those ogres…have quite the taste.
The clothes the saint and Chloe were wearing could be described as…well, dancer outfits.
They revealed almost all of their white skin except for their chests and lower bodies, with veils covering their faces. And they were adorned with flashy accessories.
Both the saint and Chloe looked good in them, but Chloe gave off a criminal vibe.
…Officer, I didn’t do anything.
Chloe, wearing the dancer outfit, was extremely embarrassed.
“T-this is too embarrassing…isn’t it too revealing….”
“Chloe, you’re doing great. Be more embarrassed. We need to act like virgins being forcibly sold.”
“But the saint doesn’t seem embarrassed at all…?”
“I’m confident in my body~♡”
The saint glanced at me and winked. Then, with a cheeky smile, she called out to me.
“Hero~♡”
…What now.
“…Yes.”
“Don’t get too excited seeing us~♡ Otherwise, you’ll be no different from the ogres♡”
“I’m not excited….”
“Chloe, the hero is looking at you with lecherous eyes~♡ Be lecherous♡”
“Eh, hero! Don’t look!!”
“I’m not looking!!!”
…Chloe is slowly getting caught up in the saint’s pace.
