Next chapter in 3-6 years. Hoping to do 4 more before I sleep next. . .Year 7446, Month 1, Day 4
Today we plundered 10 ogre magic stones on the 7th floor so it"s been a decent profit. I was able to return to the surface while feeling reasonably good and ate a pot of oysters. After all oysters are delicious right. If I just had some miso and ponzu then I"d have nothing more to say but things that I don"t have can"t be helped. Even boiling them together with cabbage and pork delicious things are delicious. If I could had some rice to cook it with to make oyster then it would be great though..I notice there"s no meaning to continuing with things I don"t have. But, it can"t be helped thinking about it right.
However, after all I guess you could say, I had already predicted it ahead of time but Henry and Mekku who were acting as tanks at the front line{Vanguard} suffered quite a few injuries. My combat slaves managed to take down one ogre(of course, it was on top of us adjusting the numbers though) with their own abilities.
I had them a fight a total of three times but the first two times left pretty miserable results. The first time, at first Miduchi hit it with a throwing noddle smeared with paralysis poison. However, before the paralysis poison could take effect Mekku took a hit from a club and broke his right arm, additionally some of his ribs broke as well. Seeing Mekku defeated and send flying in a single blow, Rubi and Jesu"s morale was on the verge of collapse. Miduchi was about to jump in right away but I held on to her arm to hold her back. It"s because Henry who somehow was able to endure started reprimanding and encouraging them.
Although, when that Henry was stepped on with it"s right foot and had his movements sealed, he ended up taking a blow, his shoulder of the arm he was holding his weapons suffered a pulverizing break and he wasn"t able to move anymore. At that point I intervened and easily parried the attacks of the ogre who the paralysis poison had started taking effect on while Rubi and Jesu continued to attack and kill it. The two front line members who were injured and fallen we took our time healing after finishing off the ogre.
The second time we used the paralysis poison as well. However, before the paralysis poison could take effect Mekku"s long sword was suddenly knocked out of his hand. Well, it was fine how he didn"t adhere to the weapon that fell to the ground and immediately pulled out a knife(in order to gather magic stones I"ve given everyone a knife), but after that was bad. Mekku tried to attack with that small knife. I can recognize his guts but obviously even if you land a hit with it there"s almost no meaning. If he was used to combat against ogres to where he could aim for the tendons in it"s arms or legs then it wouldn"t be as big of a problem but Mekku doesn"t have that sort of experience.
The opponent was a brawny giant with a height of over 2.5 meters that easily swings around a ma.s.sive club. Even if he"s swinging around a knife with a blade of at most 15 cm the ogre wouldn"t recognize Mekku as any sort of threat. It"s like an elementary schooler wielding a box cutter to try and restrain a brainless adult swinging a metal bat around. If it was a member of the {Slaughterers} on the contrary they"d make use of it not paying attention to them and use someone else as a decoy while they cut the tendons in it"s arms or legs. Even if they can"t actually manage that just trying to do that would be enough to pull the ogres attention back to themselves.
Since Henry ended up essentially one on one against the ogre he tried to take an attack with all of it"s strength using his shield and his posture crumbled, then took a kick to the flank during that time being sent flying 3 meters where he pa.s.sed out in agony. Mekku wasn"t able to pick up his own weapon and unable to decently keep it in check with the knife he wasn"t used to as he was driven into full defense. Even then if he managed to make good use of his remaining shield to endure something could have been done but since he wasn"t used to combat against ogres, it was just a matter of time before he couldn"t endure anymore. Obviously hoping that the opponent would go off guard just by enduring is an empty dream. He wasn"t able to create any openings for Rubi and Jesu to attack with the spears.
Miduchi intervened and after cutting the ogres right arm that was holding it"s club off from the shoulder to earn some time, I picked up Mekku"s long sword and handed it to him. As expected the ogre who had suffered serious injuries on top of having the paralysis poison circulate had it"s movements dull so keeping an ogre without it"s main arm in check wasn"t a problem. Rubi and Jesu obstructed the ogre from trying to pick up it"s club with it"s remaining left arm and that made it possible for Mekku to parry it"s attacks as well.
It took Rubi and Jesu close to 20 minutes to finish off the ogre but well that"s fine. During that time I had plenty of leeway to use a healing spell on Henry.
The third time, the last time just the same the two front line members ended up suffering bruises to their left hands holding the shield but I guess they were getting used to it they were able to avoid any fatal blows during the rest of the combat. There was some spectacles that made me nervous watching as well but Henry and Mekku somehow managed to endure and create an opening, then hearing Mekku and Henry"s command Rubi and Jesu attacked it precisely. It took four people over 20 minutes to finish off just a single one of them, and near the end both the ogre and the two tanks were basically in a mud slinging match with how worn out they were but in the end they were able to finish off an ogre without Miduchi or I intervening.
As expected the two of them were true knights, they were skillfully able to overcome their fear and their instructions to Rubi and Jesu were good as well. Well, I don"t feel like I lost out buying them I guess.
Particularly the events that happened today, the combat on the 7th floor, the four of them were made to report it to Zulu and Angela. And then they received a harsh rejection.
It"s fine to do the report but you know, if you don"t eat soon we"re going to eat all of the oysters.
Since they"re delicious you should eat them before they cool down.
Look, you all stop preaching for so long.
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【Black Ogre Leather】
【Manufacture Date: 14/2/7446】
【Durability: 9999】
【Effect: Equipping this increases Strength by 2 points. Also, the proficiency level of Strength increases by 2 points as well. Furthermore, there"s no effect on HP.】
Just from a glance there doesn"t seem to be any problem.
"Well then, Angela, I leave it to you."
Being ordered by me Angela took the bracer out from the shrine.
"Status Open"
【Bracer.Of.Might】
Just from looking at it, it seems to be made of black leather and has a feel like you wear it on your forearm. It has a width of around 10 cm and you could almost say it"s a wide bracelet. There"s nothing that seems like ornaments on it.
"Supposedly it"s a Bracer.Of.Might. Also I feel mana from it."
I said while taking the bracer in my hand and looking at the status again.
"Oh~ a {Magic.Item}! Isn"t that great!"
Ralpha raises her voice in delight.
"Pl..Please show it to me!"
Basutoral checked the status while excited and let out a voice like ho~ho~ in admiration but do you really get it?
"Judging from the name I guess it would increase the users power?"
Bel seemed happy as well. Correct!
"I guess it raises Strength to increase attack power?"
【Cold Axe.Of. Returning】
【Condition: Normal】
【Value: 1】
【Ability: 60-250】
Both the lower and upper limits of it are above 50 and considerably higher than the current axes. I still don"t really get the meaning in the number though. I wonder if the 【Greater Identify】 that George Rombert the First had could open all of the sub-windows related to that? I"m envious.
With a deep blue metallic axe head and a handle most likely made from the same material. The handle isn"t straight but has a slight curve in two places and somehow gives off an impression that it"s easy to use. The handle portion is covered in some durable looking leather that somehow gives off the feel of a high cla.s.s item.
"Since it seems to be a throwing axe, I think Zenom should use this."
Ralpha occasionally throws her axe as well but Zenom is more skilled. When it comes to calculating the number of rotations of the axe for the distance and timing, the control of power used in the throwing it, Zenom should be able to make better use of it.
".."
Ralpha was making a strange face with her lower lip sticking out but it seems she doesn"t have any complaints. It can"t be helped right.
"If you want to use it then it"s fine for you to use it?"
Zenom said with a troubled face.
"Judging from the name it seems that after you throw it, it"ll return to you right? Then I think that Zenom-san who"s good at throwing should use it."
Bel laughed while saying with a feel like, how unfortunate. Ralpha said, "Yeah, that"s right. I know." and also "Father you use it." while looking at Zenom. I smiled while handing the axe to Zenom and saying, "Zenom should use this." Zenom made a bitter smile taking it.
"It"ll come back after throwing it? I wonder how it feels?"
Zulu said with a feel of great interest. Oh~ about that. I"m interested too.
After Zenom took the axe from me it seems he checked the status but soon after changed his expression and threw the axe at the corpse of a troll laying around. The head of the axe stabbed into it to the point where it couldn"t be seen anymore.
Zenom quickly lifted his right hand up and opened his palm.
Several seconds (I don"t think it was even 5 seconds?) the axe automatically pulled itself out and with a hy~unto~ sound while spinning returned back to Zenom"s hand. Of course, in a way where the handle was settled in the palm of his hand. It was almost as if a video was being played in reverse, that sort of surreal image.
I somehow expected it but everyone including myself had our mouths hanging open like idiots as we watched that. Zenom looked at the axe after it returned and then threw it at the troll"s corpse once again. After confirming it splendidly hit just like last time and Zenom suddenly started running.
That"s right, there"s few instances where you"d always be standing in one place while in combat. You"re always moving around. While Zenom was running with his right hand stretched out the axe went flying towards him. The trajectory was as if it was moving in arc matching with Zenom"s movement. Without even looking at the axe flying towards him he tightly grabbed the handle of it. It returned to Zenom"s hand almost as if there was some kind of invisible rubber string attached between the handle of the axe and the palm of Zenom"s hand.
And then he tried throwing it while rolling to the side in a difficult stance. Without missing it"s aim the axe hit the Troll"s corpse for a third time. It seems Zenom ran behind the altar. The axe came out of the corpse and then showed some unnatural movements as it flew over the top of the altar and we could hear the sound of grabbing the handle from the other side.
Seeing that sight all of us had our mouths stretched so far our jaws might reach the ground with our eyes wide open.
Zenom returned in front of us as we were all making idiotic faces and after wiping the axe off with the hand towel on his waist said.
"This is a good axe."
That"s splendid.