Based on the information extracted from the captured humans, it appeared that the human army planned to launch a full-scale invasion within the next twenty days. However, because fairly strong monsters like Hind Bears and Triple-Horned Horses inhabit the forest, the humans could only mobilize a large number of troops along specific routes.
Of course, we had already extracted information about those routes.
One might think that professionals wouldn’t divulge such crucial information easily, but when you sever limbs and cauterize the wounds, slice off flesh and bone before performing healing, open their bellies and stitch them back up, and force people to watch their comrades being devoured, anyone would eventually answer all your questions.
I’ll undoubtedly be considered a fiend for actions like these, but such practices are nothing new in the history of warfare, so it doesn’t bother me. Besides, I inherited most of my techniques from the methods refined by my predecessors. I bear no guilt personally.
Anyway, I’m now an ogre, not a human. Such things are of no concern to me. As it happened, for the sake of improving my skills, I refrained from using Subjugation and extracted all the information I needed manually. Once my captives were no longer useful, I savored their flesh.
In addition to a variety of jobs and abilities, I acquired several magic items and a considerable amount of experience.
[Job Unlocked: Secret Force!]
[Job Unlocked: Executioner of Beheaders, Vorpal Punisher!]
[Job Unlocked: Hermit!]
[Ability learned: Status Perception Skill: Ray!]
[Ability learned: Donation!]
[Ability learned: Unlocking!]
[Ability learned: Disarm Trap!]
[Ability learned: Trap Detection!]
[Ability learned: Enemy Detection!]
[Ability learned: Assassination Adjustment!]
[Ability learned: Hidden Weapon Mastery!]
[Ability learned: PvP Combat Ability Increase!]
[Ability learned: Beheading Vorpal Strike!]
[Ability learned: Aura Slash!]
[Ability learned: Back Attack!]
[Ability learned: Needle Shot!]
[Ability learned: Throw!]
[Ability learned: Severe Pain Resistance!]
[Ability learned: Charm Resistance!]
[Ability learned: Assassination Resistance!]
It was quite a few abilities. In particular, adding abilities like Beheading Vorpal Strike and Aura Slash to my direct physical attack repertoire, which previously consisted of nothing but Triple Thrust, will be quite beneficial. Useful abilities like Unlocking and Disarm Trap are the cherry on top.
The elf girl, who had now been in a drug-induced sleep for a full day, finally woke up around noon. I was just watching her serene sleeping face when she opened her eyes and, upon seeing me, sprang to her feet in shock, spreading her translucent blue-silver wings as she did.
“Where are my guards?” she cried out in a panic. “What do you intend to do with me? Are you planning to… take my chastity?”
I calmed her down by giving her a sedating tea, a blend of calming herbs I had created with the alchemist. Once the girl had settled, I explained everything to her in a calm and matter-of-fact tone.
I told her that none of the elves who had been traveling with her had survived, and that I had taken their equipment and their hearts as a token of respect before properly burying their bodies. I also told her I had observed the humans preparing to ambush her companions, and that I had killed and consumed all the attackers.
She listened, processing the information bit by bit. It was a lot for her to take in, but it was the truth, and she needed to understand the situation.
I didn’t hide anything regarding last night’s events. Ah, but I refrained from mentioning the elves we had previously captured. It’s not relevant to the current situation. If it had been, I might have brought it up, but since it’s not, I kept it to myself.
In any case, the elf girl was predictably furious. She followed the guidance of her emotions and pounded her fists against my chest. I wasn’t wearing armor, but my thick chest muscles absorbed the majority of her blows until they felt like light taps from a child. I suppose you could call them “pow! pow!” punches. That captures the essence of the situation.
Given the elf girl’s noble status, I thought it was odd that she was acting this way, but I understood where she was coming from, so I let her vent for a while.
Her faint insults and sobs gradually diminished and then ceased altogether. I gave her a light flick to the forehead in return for the ineffectual beating I’d taken. If I had punched her, of course, it would have been a serious matter. Even the forehead flick was delivered with restraint—otherwise, it could have been disastrous.
Restrained though it was, the flick made the girl’s head jerk back significantly. She put both hands over her reddened forehead and glared at me with tearful eyes. I ignored that.
“The conflict between you elves and humans has nothing to do with us,” I said. “But we did help you, so you have no right to complain now.” Then I added that there seemed to be a traitor among the elves, which caused the color to drain from her face. She fell silent.
Understandably, she was overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, angry at me for merely observing as her comrades were massacred, and saddened by their loss. Being scolded and then informed about a traitor only made things more complicated. Her reaction was layered but understandable.
After a while, all those complex emotions burst forth, and she really did start to cry. I did my best to comfort her. To be honest, it’s hard to turn away from a beautiful girl’s heartfelt tears.
I had planned to return her to the elven village, but our conversation took longer than expected, and it was getting late. So, she ended up staying another night. For her, though, it was basically the first night, because she’d been unconscious before.
That night, she slept in one of my thread hammocks again.
Tomorrow, we’ll be heading to the elven village. I was wondering how things would turn out when I noticed Gobjii giving me expectant looks. Annoyingly, he started asking if I was going to make the girl a slave. I had to spend about two hours explaining to him that she wasn’t our enemy and I had no intention of doing anything to her.