Ossan Boukensha – 153

Hot Spring Tour – Invitation

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“Gya! Gya-gya!”
“Gege!”

The goblins continued to eat. I had never watched them eat at such a close distance before.

There was a surprising level of skill, and they were removing the organs properly. And the hobgoblins took what was edible and bit into them first. While it was raw, I somehow doubted that goblins would get food poisoning. They were like wild beasts, after all.

As they tore into the flesh and became covered in blood, the goblins seemed to be enjoying themselves.
While goblins were capable of making fire, they did not seem to use it for cooking.
The two hobgoblins sat importantly, while the meat was brought to them. The smaller goblins just ate what was left on the bones. It seemed like they had a strict pecking order.

Though, I wasn’t that interested in how they lived. But as we had to stay still, I ended up observing them closely. However, nothing happened.

It was a big mountain and forest. So perhaps it was not surprising…

That’s when it happened. The goblin clamor stopped all at once. They stood up and raised their weapons while looking around.
The air grew noticeably tense. Ah, it must be them. They finally arrived. But I didn’t know where they were yet.

Now that the goblins were quiet, you could only hear the swaying of the trees in the wind. My throat grew dry with anticipation.
As I waited, Metto pointed to one spot in the forest.

Even from a distance, I could tell. The red eyes that looked down at the goblins from a slight cliff. The twisted horns coming out of the forehead. Its skin was partially brown and hardened like armor over its muscles.

So that’s an ogre.

“Gugya…”

The hobgoblin spotted the ogre and then moved back. I understood the feeling.

In terms of size, it was not that much larger than an orc. There were many monsters that were bigger. However, there was something intimidating about it. An overpowering feeling that an orc could never match.

The ogre made a fist and shouted into the sky.

“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!!”

It was filled with rage, and the goblins froze. In the next second, the ogre moved.

There was a dull thud, and then one of the goblins crashed into a tree. The ogre had kicked off of the ground with both feet and launched itself from the cliff like a rocket. And without losing any momentum, it had kicked the goblins.

Without a pause, it knocked another nearby goblin off of its feet. It bounced on the ground twice before falling like a limp doll.

What speed and power. Fight with that? It was insanity.

Alright, time to pack up. It’s too bad about the hotspring. As for responsibility, this was all the fault of the person that categorized these as C-Rank.

‘You really are a fool, Ajifu.’ I thought of Zechis’s exasperated face. But this wasn’t my fault. Adventurers are all the same!

While I was thinking this, the goblin magician was the next to go flying. It would have been impressive if it was magic, but it had merely been kicked.

The other goblins watch as if stunned. A moment later, it was plunging back down, and crashed wetly to the ground.

“Gya-ga-gya!”
“Gugya!”
“Gegyaro!”

Then the goblins returned to themselves, and scattered, running in every direction.

“Graaaaghh!”

The ogre chased after them, quickly catching one under its foot, creating a puddle of blood. It was all very one-sided.
Then the ogre turned around, and saw the hobgoblin.

As the ogre took a step towards it, the hobgoblin retreated, but then tripped onto the ground. After that, it desperately tried to crawl away.

But just as the ogre was about to move towards it, an arrow came flying through the air. The ogre swatted it away like a fly.
The ogre glared in that direction. And the hobgoblin archer could not move from fear.

I suppose it had stayed in order to save its comrade. And unleashed the arrow in spite of the danger. That was brave.

It must have decided that it was more dangerous, as the ogre then rushed towards the archer. And then its backhand slammed into the brave hobgoblin so hard that its head was torn off.

As the hobgoblin went down, the ogre turned its body. And then looked at its next target… Us.

Damn it. Our eyes had met.

We had been hiding in the bushes. And at a decent distance from it. And yet it had seen us somehow. And judging by that glare, it had no intention of letting us escape.

So I have no choice then… Thankfully, it seemed like there was only one ogre now. Well, there was no point in concealing ourselves at this point. I would be better off acting quickly, before the other one arrives.

Whether I run or I fight, this was my best opportunity.

I made up my mind and stood up while making as much noise as possible. There was no chance of an ambush anyway.

“He-hey.”
“Run as soon as you have the chance.”

I said, but they did not answer. I get it. It felt like one wrong move and you would be dead.

When I showed myself, the ogre ignored the fleeing goblins and fixed its attention on me.
Right now, I had the higher ground. At least it would not be able to accelerate so explosively as before.

In order to delay the attack, and not provoke it too much, I descended the hill slowly.

“Me-zroi-tar-mez-rei. Protection.”

Light enveloped my body, and my strengthened armor shone brightly. I also charged up Mine Breaker. Under the dimness of the forest, I was a shining swordsman.
The strangeness of it all made the ogre cautious, and it went into a crouch.

Yeah, I understood it. This was why I couldn’t use Protection so lightly during combat. Even if it did strengthen my armor, it made me stick out too much.
Besides, it was a little embarrassing. Not that that was important right now.

I moved away from the bushes until I was dangerously close to the ogre. But it still did not move. With its legs, it could reach me in no time.

But in spite of its strength, it was a cautious one. This was going to be complicated. It probably didn’t want to charge into something that glowed with magic. But it was still out of reach for me. That meant it could decide when to attack. And yet it was so quick that I wanted to keep my distance. I could only react to it.

Well, if it wasn’t going to attack, then I would hope that it would retreat. But that was unlikely, since we were the intruders. Oh, well. While I hated to do it, I would have to try provoking it a little.

I was still positioned a little higher. And it put me above the ogre, even though it was tall. And so I stopped, raised my sword high, and then let go with one hand.

Like that, I looked down at the ogre. And then, as if to dare it to attack, I gestured for it to come.

I really didn’t want it to.
But my weak challenge was very effective.

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