Chapter 5: The Ogre Army ②

Tension spread through the ranks at the lookout’s report.

“Can you confirm the Ogre army!?”

At Volks’ question, the lookout responded.

“No, I can only confirm the Ogre Lord. However, that Ogre Lord is acting strangely!”

“Strangely?”

“Yes. It is definitely heading this way, but… rather than invading, it looks like it’s fleeing from something!”

““Fleeing?””

Axe and Volks’ voices overlapped at the lookout’s words.

“It keeps looking behind itself as if terrified of something while running this way! …Ah!?”

“What is it?”

“The Ogre Lord has fallen. I can’t see clearly, but something appears to have pierced its body!”

““…What?””

“Ah, someone just came out from the bushes behind the Ogre Lord. They appear to be an adventurer.”

For a brief moment, Axe and Volks’ minds went blank.

But as seasoned veterans, they immediately grew wary of the individual who had supposedly defeated the Ogre Lord.

And the person who walked toward the deployed forces was—

“Wow, I didn’t expect it to be this effective. The wisdom of our predecessors is amazing. Hm? Why are there so many people gathered out here?”

Muttering in a laid-back tone as he approached was Land.

Sensing no hostility from the man, Volks addressed him.

“Who exactly are you? There was a notice sent out telling people to stay away from this area because an Ogre army was advancing.”

“Oh, was there? I did think there were an awful lot of Ogres around.”

“There were a lot, you say? What happened to that horde of Ogres?”

“Huh? They attacked me, so I counterattacked. There was one particularly quick one, but it finally hit once we got around this area, so that took some effort.”

“You hit it and defeated it? Did you use magic? You don’t look like a mage…”

“No, not magic. I defeated it by throwing this.”

Saying that, Land showed them a small spherical object resting in his palm.

“What is that? Some kind of special magic bomb?”

“No, it’s just a bean.”

““A bean?””

“You know how they say you scatter beans to drive away ogres? I had no idea ordinary beans would be this effective against them.”

“No, there’s no way beans could possibly—”

“Gwoooooooh!”

At that moment, with a roar, the Ogre Lord—who they thought was dead—rose to its feet.

“W-What, it’s still alive—”

“Take this!”

Land tossed a bean toward the Ogre Lord.

At incredible speed, the bean pierced straight through the Ogre Lord’s forehead.

“Go…”

This time, the Ogre Lord truly collapsed, lifeless.

““Eeeeeeh!?””

Once again, the voices of Axe and Volks echoed together.