(1) "Everyone, keep your wits about you and follow me.
Anyone who makes a mistake dies."
"Yes, sir!"
A patrol of the outer regions of Patrick's fief. This patrol, meant to clear out the monsters around the fief in advance, gradually grew in numbers, and the search area began to extend into deeper territories.
"Young master. Aren't we going in too deep?"
"It's fine. It's fine."
"No, if we come this far, there's no telling what kind of monsters might appear."
"Isn't that why we came?"
"Pardon?"
"Powerful monsters need to show up so you guys can train, we can collect their byproducts to make money, and we can clear out the monsters in the area, right?"
"What if we die in the process?"
"Should guys who make a living by the sword be afraid of dying?"
At Patrick's nonchalant words, Soldier A, no, Oliver, was momentarily at a loss for words. 'What is this? For such a harsh remark, it sounds strangely correct, so I can't refute it.'
Because it was all true. In reality, with this one patrol, Patrick was enjoying all three benefits. He was increasing the safety of the fief's residents, giving the soldiers practical combat training, and at the same time, accumulating byproducts by catching rare and strong monsters.
Since he had arranged to hand over monster materials for money whenever the Red Merchant Group visited in the future, this was an extremely important activity. 'The only useful resource around here is monsters, so we have to catch them no matter what. Well, it's a pain that I have to step in personally every time, though.'
Patrick glanced at the soldiers following behind him and let out a sigh. They've improved quite a bit, but it's still not enough. Sanson could probably beat the Brian of the past now, and among the other soldiers, a few could be seen who could fight on equal terms with Brian.
However, from Patrick's perspective, Brian, who had been at the two-star level, was such a small fry himself that the soldiers' growth was bound to be unsatisfactory. 'The Heavenly Martial Body will need some time to grow and pull its own weight, and it will also take time for these guys to do their part.
Tsk, there's no one useful as immediate fighting power.' In the end, it meant that for the next few years, Patrick would have to consistently lead the soldiers on patrols around the fief like this.
"Young master. It's a Giant Bear."
"Oh, Sanson! Take the men and deal with it."
"Yes, I understand, young master."
In the midst of that, a beast-type monster several times larger than a human appeared, and Patrick leisurely watched from the back with his arms crossed as the soldiers confronted the monster.
"Spread out! I'll take the front. Harass it from the left and right with your spears to distract it!"
"Yes, Captain."
"Over here, you monster!"
"Here! Over here!"
Seeing the soldiers fighting quite bravely and systematically against a large beast they wouldn't have dared to face before...
"Right. Still, their skills have certainly improved. I mean, after I taught them so kindly, if they're even human, their skills ought to improve. Yes. Of course they should."
In Patrick's eyes, it was still insufficient, but considering how they were before, it was a remarkable improvement. In fact, what other fief could face a monster like a Giant Bear with only its soldiers? Just looking at this, they were quite...
"Aaargh!"
"Valdor!"
Patrick placed a hand on his forehead and shook his head slowly. 'I'm afraid to praise them. I really am...'
One soldier was pushed back by the Giant Bear's attack and fell down. He couldn't get up, perhaps having twisted his ankle as he fell, and the other soldiers around him were desperately holding off the Giant Bear to save their fallen comrade.
"Yo... Young master!"
"Young master! Quickly! Hurry!"
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Looking at the soldiers shouting desperately, Patrick let out a sigh.
"Alright. I'm coming, I'm coming, you guys..."
At the very moment he was about to step forward and lightly chop off the Giant Bear's head...
"Uwoooooooooh!"
A warrior of massive build wearing green clothes popped out holding a giant stone blade and struck the Giant Bear with it.
Kuhuuuung!
Patrick, who was about to dash forward, flinched to a stop. And the soldiers were also momentarily taken aback. Regardless, the warrior who had suddenly jumped in fiercely swung his crude stone blade, as large as his own height, and shouted.
"Weak humans, fall back!"
"Huh? Weak humans?"
He couldn't be talking to me, right?
Weak? Me?
It was a word he had almost never heard in his life, and for a moment, Patrick's thoughts came to a halt. And after grasping the situation...
"Who does that bastard think he's..."
The soldiers, who were already prepared, hurriedly blocked Patrick as he was about to charge forward with a beat of delayed anger.
"Young master. Please calm down."
"That's an Orc. An Orc!"
"You can't fight an Orc. It'll start a war!"
The soldiers were now quite accustomed to Patrick. This demon couldn't be stopped once he had already exploded. So, if it looked like he was about to explode, they had to cling to him and stop him in advance.
The soldiers' desperate clinging managed to stop Patrick for the time being. For now, that is.
"Orc or whatever, if he's got no manners, he deserves a beating."
"The Orc tribe has hundreds in a single group. Are you going to go to war with the entire group?"
"Hundreds? There are hundreds of guys like that?"
Patrick watched the Orc who was furiously overwhelming the Giant Bear by himself. He had thought it was wearing green clothes, but now he saw that its skin was just green. Except for a single old rag worn below, the Orc's muscles, exposed over its entire body, rippled with every movement.
Seeing this, Patrick smirked and said.
"Looks like a good warm-up."
This bastard is hopeless. It was nothing new, but the soldiers realized once again how meaningless it was to try and persuade Patrick with words. But in the midst of that, the Orc warrior delivered a powerful blow to the Giant Bear he was facing.
The powerfully swung giant stone blade dug halfway into the Giant Bear's thick waist. Rather than cutting, it would be more accurate to say it crushed its way in. But regardless of the quality of the attack, for the one on the receiving end, it was undoubtedly a fatal wound.
Krrrrrrr The massive Giant Bear collapsed, foaming blood at the mouth. And the Orc stepped on the fallen Giant Bear with one foot, raised its weapon high, and...
"Oooooooh!"
It let out a roar at the top of its lungs. It was the victory roar, a custom unique to the Orc tribe. Seeing that valiant display, Patrick thought with a pleased smile.
'What a load of crap.'
The Orc who had defeated the Giant Bear approached Patrick's group and spoke.
"Are you alright, humans?"
"Not alright. This Orc... Mmmph."
Patrick's mouth was covered by the soldiers before he could speak, and instead, Sanson stepped forward to deal with the Orc.
"We are fine. Thank you for your help, warrior of the Orc tribe."
"As a warrior, it is only natural to help the weak."
"Mmmph! Mmm-mmm!"
Patrick was twisting his whole body in protest, but the soldiers deliberately ignored him. The highest-ranking person in this group was undoubtedly Patrick. But isn't there a right time and place for everything?
In the world, the Orc tribe is called the warrior race. They possess strong bodies and valiant spirits, and once they recognize someone as an enemy, there is no submission or surrender. Once a fight started, they were the type who wouldn't be satisfied until it ended with either you dead or them dead.
If they were to become enemies with such an Orc tribe... 'No. The fief is finished.' 'We have to stop him, no matter what.'
Putting aside rank and status, the top priority was to firmly contain the bomb that was Patrick Schneider. And Sanson, who had stepped up as the representative, spoke.
"Ahem, if by any chance we have trespassed on your territory, I apologize. It was not intentional."
"It is fine. We do not concern ourselves with weak beings."
"Mmmph! Mmm-mmm!"
Aside from one person who was about to die from frustration, things were proceeding smoothly. At that moment, the Orc warrior spoke.
"However, it would be best for you to leave. A great war is about to break out."
"A war, you say?"
"That is right. We will wage war against the King Ogre that has invaded our tribe's lands."
"What did you just say? A King Ogre? You don't mean a King Ogre has appeared in this territory?"
To the astonished Sanson who asked again, the Orc warrior said.
"That is right. Therefore, you weak humans should retreat from this area. You will get hurt."
At those words, Sanson and the other soldiers all looked at each other, their faces pale.
"Good heavens, a King Ogre."
"A King Ogre. A monster like that is coming here."
"This is crazy. Dammit, things were just starting to get better, why would a monster like that... Aaargh!"
The soldier who was speaking pitifully screamed. It was because Patrick had bitten his finger. And Patrick shook off the soldiers piled on top of him all at once and said.
"You bastards! You have to at least let me breathe."
Oliver said to the complaining Patrick.
"No, young master. Isn't that not the problem right now?"
"Then what is the problem?"
"The King Ogre. A King Ogre has appeared."
"So what?"
"... You don't know what a King Ogre is?"
"Of course not. I'm only ten years old."
At Patrick's words, the surrounding soldiers thought, 'Come to think of it,' and nodded their heads. And Oliver sighed and explained.
"A King Ogre is..."
King Ogre.
It is a creature literally called the king of Ogres. Generally, except when seeking a mate for reproduction, Ogres always live alone. Even living alone is not a problem, given the nature of an Ogre to be able to easily tear apart and kill four or five Trolls.
However, the story changes when an individual known as a King Ogre appears. A King Ogre, true to its name, makes other Ogres its subordinates and reigns like a king. As a result, a pack of Ogres is formed.
Each and every Ogre is already a powerful, large-sized monster. Their danger level is that of a monster no less than the Saber Tiger that Patrick had previously caught. When such monsters begin to move in a pack, their destructive power becomes immense.
A mutation so powerful that it can change the very food chain and structure of the nearby ecosystem. That was the King Ogre. Naturally, the appearance of such a King Ogre was something that the Schneider Fief also had to take seriously.
After hearing the full explanation, Patrick spoke in a serious voice.
"Soldier A, you're saying..."
"It's Oliver. Anyway, do you now understand the gravity of the situation?"
"You mean an extremely expensive monster has appeared near our fief, right?"
Ah, what did I expect from this person? All the soldiers turned their heads and shed tears, lamenting this hopeless situation. At that moment, the Orc warrior spoke.
"You there, weak and young human."
"What is it, you ignorant, muscle-bound Orc."
"First, thank you for the compliment."
Indeed, the Orc warrior puffed out his chest and accepted it as if he were very grateful. 'What are these bastards? Never seen them before...
No, I feel a sense of familiarity from somewhere.' To the dumbfounded Patrick, the Orc warrior said.
"You seem not to know because you are still young, but a King Ogre is not a being that weak humans like you can face."
"Hooo..."
"Our Red Rock Tribe is preparing for an all-out battle with the King Ogre. So, you all should run far away before that happens. O, weak ones."
"Oho... so what you're saying is..."
The corner of Patrick's mouth twisted up. At that sight, the soldiers momentarily flinched and stepped back, and Patrick took one step forward and said.
"You're saying that because you guys are strong, you'll fight, and utterly weak humans like us should run away?"
"That is correct."
"Hahaha. So that's what you meant."
"Hahaha. Yes, that's what I... Kuweek!"
Jjeoeok!
Before the Orc warrior could finish his sentence, Patrick's foot slammed straight into the Orc warrior's face, sending him flying. And looking at the fallen Orc warrior, Patrick said.
"This disrespectful bastard. Weak? Weeeak!? You son of a bitch. Not even the bastards from the Ten Great Evils of the Unorthodox Alliance spouted such nonsense in front of me! You bastard!"
And Patrick began to mercilessly stomp on the fallen, twitching Orc warrior.