Ch. 39

A massive shadow crashed down right in front of me with a thud. Its eerie red eyes glowed menacingly, and its shark-like teeth gleamed in jagged layers.

My body froze stiff. It was the same sensation I had experienced before. My legs refused to move.

Why does nothing ever go my way?

I could see the ogre’s hand slowly rising into the air. I needed to run, but my mind went blank.

There was no way I could dodge an ogre, a top-tier monster that was not only fast and strong but also incredibly agile. I simply closed my eyes.

As the sound of the wind being sliced apart whistled in my ears, I knew—I was going to die.

‘Damn it!’

But after a few seconds, nothing happened. I cautiously opened my eyes.

[Hiss! Where do you think you’re going?]

Rai had coiled tightly around the ogre’s wrist.

He defended me before I even had to tell him. You’ve grown, Rai! My harsh training paid off. Well, technically, I just let him run wild and hoped for the best…

The ogre swung its arm violently through the air, clearly irritated.

I stared blankly as it flailed, but when the ogre realized Rai wasn’t dealing any real damage, it reached for me again.

Did it think young humans were soft and delicious?

“Geenie!”

Someone suddenly tackled me, sending me rolling across the ground.

It was Anel who had shoved me aside, and now Kenta was facing off against the ogre.

Kenta’s sword was unbelievably massive—nearly the size of a person.

With my messy hair covering my face, I lifted my head and saw that the ground was dented in various places.

Dirt fell off my clothes in clumps after being thrown around.

The ogre, frustrated by its failed attack, raised its foot this time.

“Attack!”

But before it could strike, other mercenaries rushed in, thrusting their spears and swords at the beast.

Some threw ropes, trying to restrain its limbs, but the only result was them getting flung into the air, ropes and all.

The ogre must have grown tired of them—it ripped a tree from the ground and began swinging it wildly. So this was the ogre’s infamous brute strength… impressive.

But if it was about raw power, Rai wasn’t about to lose either.

[Rai! Help them!]

We had to end this before the ogre jumped again.

The mercenaries wouldn’t last forever.

I was sure Rai could be a huge help in this battle.

But instead, he sulked.

[No way.]

[What?!]

[These guys tried to eat me! I only need to protect Master!]

Rai was still clinging to the ogre’s wrist.

Calling it a “wrist” felt wrong—it was thicker than an average person’s torso.

[Then at least twist that wrist!]

[No.]

That little—! But then, a brilliant idea popped into my head.

“Rai!”

[Argh! You idiots, watch where you’re swinging! You’re peeling off my scales!]

I understood why Rai hated the mercenaries.

Even now, their attacks weren’t discriminating between the ogre and Rai.

I got that the situation was urgent, but Rai was surprisingly petty.

[Rai, think of that ogre as Kenta!]

[…Kenta!]

[Go wild! Use up all your mana if you want!]

[Understood!]

Rai seemed to like that order. A deep, sickening crunch echoed through the battlefield.

Crack. Crack. Crunch.

The sound of bones snapping was always horrific.

My face twisted in disgust.

“Ugh… Uuuugh! Guaaagh!”

The ogre’s hide was so thick that its hand still looked mostly intact, aside from the fact that its wrist had shrunk unnaturally. But the pain was clearly excruciating.

Still hanging onto the ogre’s wrist, Rai proudly roared.

[Hahaha! Master, I did well, right? Right? This one was a little tough!]

“Of course! Great job! Rai, you’re the best!”

“Stab it! Go for the eyes!”

“Damn it, my sword broke!”

My praise was drowned out by the mercenaries’ shouts. But that was fine.

They didn’t have time to admire Rai’s strength—because the ogre, now thrashing in agony, had become even more dangerous.

I quickly backed away, assessing the situation.

Swords and spears shattered against the ogre’s hide, unable to pierce it. Several mercenaries were sent flying, coughing up blood after being struck by its wild swings.

About ten mercenaries were still fighting up close.

Around five others lay sprawled on the ground, most likely lower-ranked mercenaries.

“Damn it! The Spirit Mage! Where’s that kid?”

A voice called out, searching for me.

Of course, I wasn’t thrilled to hear it.

Shavel, the mercenary leader, was scanning the area, gripping his bleeding side. Blood dripped steadily from his wound.

“There you are! Get over here and fight.”

He tilted his chin toward the ogre. At first, I thought I had misheard him.

“…Are you insane?”

I was a ten-year-old girl.

A delicate, lovely, and absolutely adorable blonde noble lady…

But before I could protest further, Shavel grabbed me and hurled me straight toward the ogre.

He actually threw me.

“Aaah!”

Just like that, I was back in the middle of the bloodbath I had barely escaped.

The ogre stank! That distinct, carnivorous stench filled my nose, making me shudder.

“I’m not insane! Physical attacks barely work on ogres unless they’re imbued with aura. So do something with your spirits! Even if it’s weaker than magic, it’s better than nothing!”

“…You have the most annoying way of putting things!”

“Earn your keep!”

So those few pieces of bread I ate were that expensive?! I should throw them up in his face!

“Urgh!”

I was frustrated. Why were so many people in this world so dismissive of spirits?

Sure, Rai was inefficient, and Ador was rebellious, but… now that I thought about it, I really didn’t have any useful ones. They were practically useless without my direct orders.

And if I complained about my spirits’ incompetence, the conclusion always came back to one thing—my own lack of ability.

Mana, mental strength, courage, decisiveness—those kinds of things!

“Damn it! I just want to live elegantly!”

I was born a noble, so why was I fighting an ogre?!

“What’s wrong, kid?! Are you scared? Why are you frozen like that? You’ll die if you just stand there!”

Shavel nudged me with his foot, provoking me. For someone on the verge of death, he sure talked a lot.

“Just help, then! But in exchange—!”

“Exchange? Your life is on the line here!”

“If I help, you’re not allowed to ignore me anymore! And you have to pay me!”

“Hah! I save you from becoming monster chow in the forest, and now you’re making demands?”

The situation was dire. Even though Rai had crushed the ogre’s wrist, it was still standing strong, and five of our people were already down.

While I was trembling in the corner, another mercenary was stomped underfoot, coughing up blood.

I glanced at our remaining forces—Anel, Kenta, and four or five others who looked competent. Everyone else was either injured or barely standing.

The ogre’s brute strength was overwhelming, and even Kenta was now focused on dodging rather than attacking.

“Pay me! Pay me! I’m premium labor!”

As the number of mercenaries dwindled, even I started feeling the urgency.

But recklessly jumping in and drawing the ogre’s wrath was just as terrifying.

If I was risking my life, I at least deserved to get paid!

I yelled in frustration, dropping all formalities, but Shavel didn’t care.

“Fine, if you contribute, I’ll pay you. Now get out there and help! A mercenary’s comrades are their lifeline, you little brat!”

Rai alone wouldn’t be enough to take down the ogre. Undine wouldn’t be enough either… Even if I called Ador too, the odds weren’t great.

But there was no choice. I had to try.