Chapter 26: The Exiled Marquise is Strong 2
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Golden Ogre.
A monster with a name as straightforward as you’d expect for a monster.
As the name suggests, it’s an Ogre with golden skin.
Despite its simple name, it’s a troublesome monster.
Magic is less effective against it, its hide is tough, and the attacks delivered by its massive body are powerful; taking one undefended could easily mean death in a single blow.
For a typical adventurer, safely defeating one solo is said to require Rank 7, though it depends on the adventurer’s type.
Unless one is exceptionally skilled or exceptionally reckless, it’s not an opponent one would consider taking on alone.
It’s not a matter of whether it’s possible or not, but an issue of safety.
The Golden Ogre seemed to spot us and let out a roar.
Even though it should still be far away, the roar, imbued with Magicka, sent vibrations through my body.
Roars from three of them at once certainly are intense.
Erica frowned upon hearing the roars of the three Golden Ogres.
Did she imagine what would happen if they reached the village?
“Which one should we take first?”
Without a shred of fear towards the three Golden Ogres, Erica asking which one to deal with first looked cool.
“The one on the right. We can’t let them reach the village, so first, we’ll impair its mobility.”
Golden Ogres are rare around here, but they’re relatively common monsters in the Faltar Kingdom.
My master often made me subjugate them too.
Though never three at once back then.
Hearing my words, Magicka swelled around Erica.
“First, a feint, ですわね.”
The distance between us was about a hundred paces. Erica called it a feint, but my eyes widened at the scale of this “feint.”
Dozens of arrows made of fire floated around Erica.
It’s a famous spell called Fire Arrow, but normally it’s cast one shot at a time.
I know several people who can rapid-fire Fire Arrows, but I’ve never seen anyone launch a large number simultaneously like this.
As her Golden Magicka flared, the Fire Arrows were unleashed.
This power shouldn’t be called a feint, really.
I thought, watching the Golden Ogre hastily raise its arms to protect its head and assume a defensive posture against the incoming Fire Arrows.
The Fire Arrows rained down on the Golden Ogre, causing numerous small explosions around it.
Thinking this wasn’t a sight you’d normally see from a mere feint, I instantly pushed my Physical Enhancement to the limit.
The soft earth of the farm road erupted beneath my feet.
“Fast!”
Erica’s faint whisper was already distant.
By the time Erica murmured that, I was already behind the Golden Ogre, which was still crouched in a defensive stance.
As I dashed past its rear, I slashed at its undefended ankle.
The Golden Ogre let out a cry of agony.
The Golden Ogre swung its arms wildly, but by then, I had already put distance between us.
A beat later, Erica arrived beside me.
“I couldn’t keep up.”
Her voice sounded somehow dissatisfied.
“Wasn’t letting the man take the lead a bit part of a lady’s refinement?”
“Right now, I am an adventurer, ですので.”
I felt like the talk about letting the man take the lead also happened when she was acting as an adventurer, but I didn’t say it out loud.
I’m not that stupid.
Besides, the Golden Ogre had gotten up and was glaring at us with eyes full of hatred.
We were glaring at each other at close range, just a few paces from being within attack distance.
According to my master, at this distance, the one who looks away loses.
Moving with speed approaching that of a Rank 2 or 3 adventurer, the Golden Ogres attacked, attempting to surround us from three sides.
Not bad movement considering its slashed ankle, but still slow.
Before I could move, the direction of Erica’s Magicka told me she trusted me.
Just as I’d said, I dashed towards the Golden Ogre on the far right, while Erica’s Magicka was directed towards the remaining two.
Dodging the massive fist swung down by the rightmost Golden Ogre, I simultaneously used its arm as a foothold to run up.
Pushing my Physical Enhancement to its maximum, I extended the enhancement to my sword as well.
It’s one of the few practical spells I, who am bad at magic, can use in actual combat.
Its effect is simply making the sword sturdier. That’s it.
Incidentally, it has no name, because I’m the only one who uses it. At least, I don’t know anyone else who does.
According to my master, “If you’re going to use such a foolish spell, just use a sturdy sword. And if you have the dexterity for that, you should polish other magic instead.”
But for the second son of an Impoverished Viscount Household, it’s an extremely useful spell.
Because…
…even when cutting off the thick neck of a Golden Ogre—a feat guaranteed to chip the blade if attempted normally—my sword doesn’t get a single nick.
The moment the Golden Ogre’s head separated from its torso, the headless body began to change rapidly.
Its golden skin quickly faded to a pale gray, and it lost its lifelike softness.
Then, just as I landed and turned around, it crumbled apart with a clattering sound.
When monsters die, they leave behind a core called a Magic Stone, and their bodies turn into pale gray crystals called Magic Stone Fragments.
Rarely, body parts or other materials might remain, but not this time. No luck.
Two left!
Putting Guts into that thought, I poured more strength into my limbs, only to be momentarily stunned by the sight that entered my vision.
Following Fire Arrow, another commonly used spell for feints. It’s simple, versatile, easy to adjust the power of, and easy to construct, to the point where some say it’s the only fire-attribute spell you need.
Fireball.
That was the moment two of those Fireballs struck the faces of the remaining two Golden Ogres head-on.
The Golden Ogre’s golden skin is famous for being resistant to magic.
It’s not uncommon for spells to be deflected if they lack sufficient power.
In fact, the Fire Arrows Erica used earlier managed to delay it, but they couldn’t inflict any real wounds on the Golden Ogre focused on defense.
The power of a spell is proportional to the amount of Magicka poured into it and the complexity of the Magic Circle constructed within the caster’s body.
Spells that can be cast quickly use simple Magic Circles, making it difficult to imbue them with large amounts of Magicka.
Generally, casting powerful spells takes time because it requires constructing complex Magic Circles that can handle more Magicka.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t pour Magicka into a simple Magic Circle.
It’s just inefficient.
Is this what happens when you brute-force that inefficiency?
It’s sheer iniquity.
I thought, watching the Golden Ogres reel back from taking Fireballs to the face.
One was barely alive, but the other’s head was half-destroyed.
I couldn’t even imagine how much absurd Magicka was needed to produce this much power with a Fireball.
My momentary stupor, however, was shattered by a Golden Ogre’s roar.
The Golden Ogre with the half-destroyed head let out a roar like a death cry.
Erica hadn’t let her guard down.
Because of that, her attention was focused on the other Golden Ogre.
The roar that struck her then was its death cry, the greatest one it could muster, squeezing out the last of its life.
The roar, unleashed as its body crystallized, momentarily robbed Erica of her freedom of movement.
Letting out a terribly human-like war cry, the remaining Golden Ogre raised both its hands.
Its face, skin torn and flesh burnt and festering from the Fireball, twisted with the war cry, the flesh ripping further to reveal bone.
E
That’s why I know—with my level of skill and the sharpness of my Sword, I can’t cut through the Golden Ogre’s arm, an especially tough part of its body.
So that’s how it is. Damn it.
I steeled myself, thinking I could have let go of the Sword if only my hands weren’t numb.
The Golden Ogre yanked back its left arm where the Sword was embedded, and dragged along with it, I lost my balance.
My posture had been reckless from the moment I lunged in, so I couldn’t even resist.
I saw the Golden Ogre’s face twist ferociously.
I could tell its weight was shifting onto its pivot leg.
Now then, I wonder how far I’ll fly when it kicks me.
I found myself wondering that as I watched its leg, thick as a log, aiming for my stomach as it prepared to swing.