Episode 21
The village chief, who had been watching our banter, spoke cautiously.
“Hero, now we must tie the two of you up.”
“…I’ll do it.”
It’s better if I do it than some strange man tying them up.
The chief politely handed over the rope.
As I approached with the rope, the Saint covered her mouth and giggled.
“Kya~♡ I don’t like bondage play~! You pervert♡ beast♡”
…What a lunatic.
“I’ll tie it loosely. Turn around.”
“Okay~♡”
The Saint stretched her hands behind her back, and Chloe did the same.
When I went behind to tie their hands, I felt a bit embarrassed because of their outfits. Their pure white, smooth backs, shoulder blades, and even their waists were completely exposed.
Honestly, Chloe’s childlike figure didn’t stir any thoughts, but the Saint was a bit…
“Hero, what are you doing? You need to tie us up.”
“…Right.”
Alright, close my eyes, do it quickly, and get it over with.
“Done.”
Chloe turned her head slightly and looked back, asking.
“How do we get out of this?”
“I tied it loosely, so just a little effort and it’ll come undone.”
“Oh, really?”
Wait, if you undo it, what’s the point? I looked at her in disbelief, and Chloe finally realized something was wrong.
“…Oh, right. We’re supposed to stay tied, right?”
Chloe gave an awkward, sheepish smile. That innocent smile reminded me of my mischievous niece. She’s cute, so I’ll let it slide.
“I’ll tie it again.”
“Okay.”
After retying Chloe’s hands, I helped the Saint and Chloe onto the cart. Chloe, sitting on the cart, said.
“It really feels like we’re being taken somewhere….”
“Hero~♡ Where are you taking us~♡ Kidnapper♡”
“…I’m not the one taking you.”
If I were, I’d have already dumped you in the river, you brat.
Everything seems ready, so we can start soon.
“Chief, let’s go.”
“Yes, I’ll guide the way.”
“Wait a moment, Hero♡”
The Saint called me with a sly smile. When I looked at her questioningly, she spoke as if it was obvious.
“I need to give you a blessing. How are you going to fight an Ogre with your bug-like strength without a blessing?”
“Ah.”
But their hands are tied. How is she going to give a blessing?
“Come closer.”
“Okay.”
I approached as she said. Whenever she gives a blessing, she always touches my body, so I guess physical contact is necessary. Surely she’s not going to step on me while giving a blessing, right?
But the Saint wasn’t that much of a monster, and she gave the blessing in a way I never expected.
*Tap*
“Eh!?”
“Gasp….”
Both I and Chloe, who was watching, were surprised. A soft sensation touched my forehead.
The Saint’s smooth, round forehead was touching mine. I didn’t know physical contact for giving a blessing could be like this. The Saint then infused me with Holy Power.
《 Solira’s Grace 》
I felt the immense Holy Power filling my body. A surge of strength throughout my body.
“Done~♡…Hero, why do you look like that?”
“…Huh? What about me?”
“…Aha♡ Could it be that you were flustered because I touched foreheads with you~? Virgin Hero♡”
“No, I wasn’t!!!”
“Pfft♡”
…Really, I wasn’t.
The Saint stopped laughing and spoke in a serious tone.
“Hero, let me explain a bit about Ogres.”
“Ah, okay.”
I need to hear the Monster Encyclopedia’s explanation.
“Ogres are more dangerous and stronger than Trolls, which are classified as the same high-level monsters. They’re bigger and stronger. Despite their size, they’re quite fast. Simply put, they’re an upgraded version of Trolls~.”
“…Sounds tough.”
“Yes, extremely tough. Without a blessing, a bug-like Hero like you would die in one hit~♡”
“Any weaknesses?”
“They’re as dumb as Trolls. Maybe even dumber. Just like you, Hero♡”
“Hmm.”
Then it’s probably best to provoke them like I did with Trolls.
“Also, their skin is incredibly tough, but since you have the Holy Sword, you don’t need to worry about that.”
“I see.”
After hearing the explanation about Ogres, I was about to tell the chief to start moving. But the chief was looking at us, or rather, the Saint, with a curious expression.
…Are you also amazed that the Saint knows so much about monsters? Me too.
“Chief.”
“…Ah! Yes, Hero.”
“Let’s go.”
#
Following the chief, I pulled the cart behind him. With the blessing, I could easily pull the heavy cart loaded with two people and lots of offerings.
Blessings really are cheat codes.
We entered the mountains and reached a place where a valley was visible. Suddenly, the chief, who was leading the way, stopped. I also stopped the cart and looked at him.
“Hero, and everyone.”
“Yes?”
“From here on, you need to be careful.”
…This must be the Ogre’s territory.
“…Okay, understood.”
“Then let’s continue.”
I’m a bit nervous. I’ve seen Ogres in games and comics, but facing one in reality will be a different story.
Maintaining a suitable level of tension, I followed along when suddenly, I heard a woman crying from behind.
“?”
“Sniff, sob! Selling us to an Ogre and running away…what a trash Hero…!”
What nonsense…oh, she’s acting.
The Saint was crying and sobbing as if she were really being sold off. Her realism even startled Chloe a bit.
…But she’s really good at acting. She could win an acting award.
*Thud*
Suddenly, the ground shook with a loud noise. The chief trembled and said to me.
“…H-Hero, it’s coming.”
“…Yes.”
After a few more loud noises, a giant wielding a club appeared from a cave in the valley. The giant took heavy steps towards us, and the chief trembled and bowed his head.
I also bowed my head, pretending to be a porter.
“Groooar! Chief,
“Welcome.”
“Is that an Ogre?”
“Seeing it in person, damn, it’s huge. Its arms are way longer and thicker than a Troll’s. The legs seem a bit short, but proportionally speaking, compared to a human, they’re still massive.”
“In its hand, it’s casually holding a giant mace that could easily crush a person.”
“The intimidation is no joke. I feel like a mouse placed in front of a cat. If that giant hand presses down on me, my body would shatter in an instant.”
“Oh, Ogre-sama, I’ve brought the tribute we promised. And as you requested, we’ve captured these two outsiders…”
As the village chief pointed to the Saint and Chloe, the Saint began to put on a full performance.
“Ugh… How did I end up with an Ogre…? I don’t want to bear an Ogre’s child…!”
“…Hey, isn’t that going a bit too far?”
But seeing the Saint’s reluctant expression, the Ogre seemed to enjoy it even more, laughing heartily and praising the chief.
“Gwahaha! Chief, you did well! I commend you!”
“Th-thank you, Ogre-sama.”
“But who’s that man next to you, gwah!”
“He’s just a porter we brought to move the cart.”
The Ogre, in an uncharacteristic manner, stroked its chin and stared at me.
“Is it suspicious of me? That can’t be good…”
“…We don’t need men, gwah!”
*Thud—!*
“Ugh…!”
“…!”
The Ogre suddenly swung its mace. The mace landed precisely next to me, and thanks to that, I…
*Crash—!*
Abel, who was hit by the mace, flew far away. Seeing Abel crash into a rock and fall to the ground, Gregorio looked at the Ogre in shock.
“…O-Ogre-sama? What…?”
“Gwah, I didn’t like that man, so I killed him. Go back alone, Chief.”
Gregorio swallowed hard. He realized that if he showed concern for the hero here, the Ogre might catch on to their act and endanger everyone.
“…Understood.”
Gregorio bowed his head and left calmly. Estelle, watching him from the cart, thought to herself.
‘He’s calm. I was worried he might mess things up.’
As Gregorio left, the Ogre, seemingly in a good mood, laughed loudly.
“Gwahaha! Satisfying! To have such women fall into my hands, my brothers will be pleased too!”
“…You think you can lay your hands on me, an Ogre…!”
Estelle continued her act. Chloe gave her a look as if questioning the need for such a performance, but Estelle didn’t stop.
“Gwah! Of course! Playing with pretty women is the best entertainment!”
“…You’re just a trashy monster.”
“Think what you want, human! It won’t change your situation, gwahaha!”
The Ogre, laughing, approached the cart and reached out with its massive, menacing hand.
“…Hero, should I throw it?”
“Gwah?”
Estelle pulled out the Holy Sword of Order hidden among the offerings and hurled it with all her might in the direction Abel had flown. Seeing this, the Ogre was momentarily stunned, then turned to Estelle.
“…What are you doing? That man is already dead, gwah!”
Estelle wiped away her previous acting expression and smiled coldly.
“…Who said you could kill people? You’re just a monster.”
“Gwah! No human can survive my mace…”
At that moment, a small noise was heard, and something cut through the wind from the side.
*Slash—!*
“…Gwah?”
*Thud—!*
The Ogre’s left arm fell to the ground. Blood began to pour from the cleanly severed arm.
The Ogre turned its gaze to the side. There stood a white-haired man holding a greatsword stained with its blood. It was the man the Ogre thought it had killed with its mace just moments ago.
“Ptooey.”
Abel spat out blood mixed with saliva. If it weren’t for the blessing, his body would have been shattered, but Abel’s body, blessed as it was, remained intact despite the Ogre’s powerful mace. He only suffered some internal injuries.
Estelle and Chloe, who had been loosely tied in the cart, stood up, and seeing this, the Ogre realized it had been deceived.
“Gwahahaha!!! You humans dare deceive me!”
“It’s your fault for falling for it~♡”
The Ogre roared in anger at being tricked.
“Graaaaaah—!!!”
Hearing the Ogre’s roar, Abel and Chloe covered their ears.
“Kyaa!”
“Damn, my eardrums are gonna burst!”
But Estelle remained calm and spoke in a composed voice.
“…Hero, that’s the Ogre’s signal to call its comrades.”
“Huh?”
“The village chief said it. The Ogre group rules the village. They’ll probably come back soon.”
“…Then what do we do?”
Facing one Ogre was one thing, but a group would be a big problem. Even with the blessing, Abel knew he wasn’t strong enough to handle that.
“What else~♡ We kill them~♡”
“But how…”
“Hero, you handle the one-armed Ogre here. I’ll take care of the incoming Ogres~. Even a weak hero like you can manage that much, right~?”
“…Are you okay, Saintess?”
Hearing his concerned words, Estelle smiled arrogantly.
“I’m not as useless as you, Hero♡”
“…Got it. But Saintess.”
“Yes~?”
“Do you believe in me, a weakling?”
Abel was asking if she really believed he could defeat the Ogre here. Seeing him like this, Estelle smiled with a curve in her eyes.
“If I don’t believe in you, Hero, who will~♥”
