Drenched in the fast-acting paralytic, the soldiers collapsed to the ground. They weren’t dead, but returning to the fight was out of the question. While issuing commands, I activated my Minstrel job class and Melody of the Red Crystal, using the otherworldly string instrument along with my voice to strengthen our allies and weaken our enemies.
There weren’t any particularly strong enemies in this supply unit, but I couldn’t rule out the possibility of reinforcements arriving, drawn by the explosions. To ensure a swift retreat, it was best to be thorough, so we carried out the plan to the end without mercy, and the operation concluded smoothly.
Of the ten knights we’d sent to scatter the Burst Seeds, three were killed in the explosions, five sustained injuries from the blasts or were trampled while unconscious, and two returned unscathed. These were our only casualties.
As we gathered captives and supplies, we consumed the flesh of the three deceased knights. I had been expecting them to taste better, due to their noble status. Disappointingly, I was wrong.
Incidentally, I hadn’t brought Redhead Shorty along; while she had no qualms about eating monsters, I felt it best to avoid allowing her to witness us eating humans.
I killed the severely injured members of the supply unit swiftly to end their suffering and claim their experience, then I consumed their hearts and other parts of their bodies, turning their essence into my own. It is one of my principles to eat those I kill, so I can live on for those I’ve consumed.
I also made sure the other goblins ate parts of their kills, to reinforce the responsibility that comes from taking life.
We took the lightly injured as prisoners; they totaled exactly one hundred, all of them men. Although there had been a few women among the unit, they had died during the attack. It was a pity, but it couldn’t be helped. Otherwise, we already had enough labor, so there was no need to capture more at this time.
Since we didn’t have enough ear cuffs or collars for all our new prisoners, I parasitized them with the bodies I generated from my blood. Fortunately, there was plenty of raw material (blood) around, which allowed me to replenish immediately and prevented any significant drain on my stamina.
[Ability learned: Rapid Thrusts!]
[Ability learned: Helmet Splitter!]
[Ability learned: Stab!]
[Ability learned: Armor Pierce!]
[Ability learned: Sword Storm Dance!]
[Ability learned: Sneaking!]
[Ability learned: Military March: Attack Force!]
[Job unlocked: Ranger!]
[Job unlocked: Reservist!]
I acquired several combat arts I had heard about from the Dull Iron Knight. From Rapid Thrust to Sword Storm Dance, all of my new abilities were combat arts. In my case, I would use them as abilities, meaning that activating them in conjunction with the techniques I’d already learned would enhance their effects and increase my power compared to using them on their own. Non-humans shouldn’t even have been able to use them, so they’ll serve as a secret weapon for critical situations.
Feeling quite pleased, I returned to the base with our prisoners and other spoils of war.
As we made our way back, the gloomy looks on our new prisoners’ faces made the already dim forest path seem even more dismal. An idea struck me. Although our base still had plenty of room to spare, these supply unit soldiers weren’t particularly strong and, frankly, wouldn’t be very useful as pawns, and treating them as disposable just seemed wasteful.
So, I decided to pass about half of them to the elven army, figuring that the best and most profitable option was to cultivate their favor. We changed our plans and walked to the elven village to sell the prisoners to the elven chieftain. He immediately agreed, noting that having humans who could follow orders would expand the elves’ tactical options. Our payment included convenient magic items for daily life.
While we were exchanging new information, I inquired about the elixir the humans were after. According to the elven chieftain, the elixir had extremely high efficacy and no notable side effects, making it very versatile. Due to its highly rare ingredients and unique production method, it even contained a faint power of the Demigod of Verdant Green, so it could function almost like a universal remedy. It wasn’t as effective against powerful curses or special toxins, but a single dose could cure most diseases.
… If I drank that, would I gain an ability?
The sudden thought made me remember that I actually already had the elven elixir. I had received it as a gift, along with the elven wine, on the first day I’d met the elven chieftain. The wine had left such a strong impression that it had overshadowed the elixir, which had been forgotten in my Item Box until now.
Curious, I asked him why he had given me such a precious elixir. He explained that while there was a long-standing law against giving it to humans, giving it to an ogre who had saved his daughter did not violate any rules.
What? So if the Empire had asked for the elixir through non-human intermediaries, they could have gotten it? Well, that’s beside the point.
On the way back, I drank the elixir.
[Ability learned: High-Speed Regeneration!]
[Ability learned: Elixir Blood!]
Elixir Blood transformed my blood into the elixir.
To test it out, I gave a drop of my blood to an injured slave. Amazingly, he healed instantly, his gaping wound closing within seconds and his complexion improving as if the lost blood had returned. He also mentioned that his chronic back pain, which had troubled him for years, was suddenly gone.
This is terrifying. If a single drop can do this, what would happen if someone drank a large quantity?
I didn’t intend to find out, but my curiosity was piqued. Could my blood grant something akin to immortality?
If humans learned about this, I’d become a target, a “golden goose” ogre, and that thought scared me deeply. Yes, my healing abilities had just significantly improved, but considering the risks, it felt like a mixed blessing. Humans were greedy, arrogant, persistent, and incredibly numerous, so I had to ensure they never found out what my blood could do.
Then again, if they did, I could always eliminate them.
My mind swirling with such thoughts, I arrived back home.