The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Chapter 60 - 60 Twelve Ogre

?Chapter 60: Chapter Twelve: Ogre Chapter 60: Chapter Twelve: Ogre “Magic Crystal Mine?!” The news stirred quite a commotion, shocking not only Komer but also Fran, who had been sitting quietly by the side, couldn’t help but exclaim aloud.

This was indeed startling news.

If there truly was a Magic Crystal Mine in Caucasus, wouldn’t it attract craftsmen and practitioners of magic from the Homer region, and even from across the entire kingdom and Continent?

You must know that the output of such crystals is extremely low on the Continent, and the Kingdom of Nicosia has never heard of such ores being produced anywhere within its borders. It seemed that even the whole Blue Continent only had a small yield from the southern Hudson Region and the northern Somta Mountain Range. Even their own country struggled to meet its needs, let alone exporting them.

“Uh, that’s just a preliminary guess. The dwarf was talking nonsense after he had drunk, how much you can trust his words, I’m not sure. However, there is a high probability for the presence of the Fine iron mine. Over ten years ago, someone had gone there to explore but unfortunately encountered Ghost Monkeys. They were sucked dry of blood by the Ghost Monkeys and died. Also, that place is near the territory of Barbarians, so ordinary people dare not venture there, which is why nobody else has tried to go there since,” Puber scratched his head, somewhat troubled.

“Boss, that Fine iron mine is also somewhat troublesome. Last time I accompanied the dwarf for reconnaissance there and we encountered an Ogre. That area seems to be its territory. If it wasn’t for my quick reactions, that drunken dwarf would have become its dinner. However, the Ogre was also very agile, my greatsword, even when imbued with high-speed Fighting Qi, was not able to harm it. If we hadn’t run fast enough, we would likely have been unable to escape misfortune. And I’m really worried there might be other Ogres living nearby.”

Ilot licked his lips, seemingly still traumatized by the encounter.

“Ogres?” Komer asked in surprise, “Are there really Ogres in Caucasus?”

Ogres are a type of evolved and mutated Magical Beasts, reportedly originating from the evolution of the high-level Demon Beast known as the Dread Ape. Dread Apes are known to feast on the rotting flesh of humans, but Ogres prefer fresh human flesh, particularly the internal organs, making them a fairly terrifying type of Magical Beast that is not commonly seen on the Blue Continent.

What’s most frightening is that, unlike ordinary Magical Beasts, Ogres possess considerable intelligence; they are agile and can move swiftly through the forest by climbing and even walking upright. They have tough skin that renders most weapons nearly useless against them. Both male and female Ogres have a ferocious sexual appetite, and humans unfortunate enough to be captured are often violated before being devoured, which is why Ogres are listed as one of the most terrifying creatures on the Blue Continent.

“Yes, the dwarf and I ended up face to face with a male Ogre. I’m worried that there must be several female Ogres nearby, which is probably why that land, though not too remote, remains unclaimed and feared,” Ilot said with a hint of fear on his face, recalling how his desperate sword thrust managed to merely puncture the Ogre’s flesh, causing no substantial injury. If it weren’t for the Lightning Magic Scroll Komer left him, which struck the Ogre, he and the dwarf might have ended up as a delicacy in the Ogre’s stomach.

“Heh, Ogres, intriguing. I wonder how much stronger they are compared to a Purple-maned Gray Wolf?” Komer squinted his eyes with interest, asking nonchalantly.

“Boss, it’s not even close to being the same level. Although Gray Wolves are fierce, we still have the power to fight back, right? The stench of the Ogre alone is enough to make one dizzy and not to mention, just the sight of its fangs is enough to faint a normal person. Plus, its muscles are so elastic that it’s hard to cause any real damage with a sword. You definitely should not take it lightly,” Ilot warned, sensing his boss’s eagerness to test himself. “An Ogre could be worth at least ten Purple-maned Gray Wolves. Relying on weapons alone, without the strength of Fighting Qi, it would be very difficult to handle.”

“Good, I too would like to find the time to try my luck. Ogre skin is top-quality material for making war drums, it’s said that the sound of a drum stretched with Ogre hide has a soul-stirring power; I wonder if that’s true. Perhaps my Guard could use such a war drum,” Komer said with a light laugh.

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“Oh, by the way, during the time you were in closed-door cultivation, Mr. Hesse also came to look for you, and the Thunderhorse Knights also arrived in Caucasus,” Ilot added.

“Oh? Is it Green Knight and Knight Maray?” Komer’s eyebrows slightly furrowed, these guys really were like persisting ghosts, chasing him all the way from Cyprus, it seems they wouldn’t rest until they achieved their goal.

“No, it was Green Knight and another knight; it seems that Knight Maray has disappeared,” Ilot explained. “They stayed here for two days, and seeing that you were in closed-door cultivation, they did not disturb you. However, I did notice that Green Knight sometimes wandered near the farm, I don’t know what he was plotting.”

Komer let out a cold laugh, this guy must have wanted to investigate whether he was practicing dark or necromancy magic while he was cultivating. Luckily, he had mainly focused on cultivating his spiritual power during this time and hadn’t dabbled in magic. Otherwise, if these guys really got wind of the truth, he would be in big trouble.

Although Komer was very confident in his current strength, he had never thought of confronting the Thunderhorse Knights or even the entire Church of Light on his own—such a thought was most unwise. It was better to keep a low profile, waiting for the opportune moment to act.

“So, where have they gone now?” Komer casually asked.

“I told them there was a Wicked Dragon causing havoc on the eastern coastline, threatening the local people, and asked the Thunderhorse Knights to eliminate the menace for the sake of the people. They couldn’t refuse and agreed to take a look. They’ve been gone for two weeks now, hopefully, they won’t be able to come back,” Ilot replied with a chuckle, “If they really do manage to slay the Wicked Dragon, shouldn’t some of the treasures they get also be shared with us?”

“Good kid, that was a clever move. The Thunderhorse Knights have always taken it upon themselves to serve the world; they surely wouldn’t refuse a request from the common folk. Ridding Our Caucasus of some troublemakers is also beneficial,” Komer praised with a smile.

“Right, Puber, you’ll need to hurry up with the identity proof issue. Get in touch with your friends; such a big business, I believe they would certainly be interested. Also, invite their representatives over so we can have a good talk. Once the identity issue is resolved, there’s no need for them to stay hidden in the wilderness—they can move out. Plus, if we truly get the fine iron mine up and running, we’ll definitely need skilled workers; the roads to be built will also need repairing, and for all of these, we need labor. My Guard should also recruit some hands; Fran, if you find any suitable candidates, feel free to enlist some. Begin rigorous training as soon as possible. Although we may not have a need now, it will certainly be useful later; it’ll be too late to start then. It’s always best to be prepared before the rain,” Komer planned.

“Boss, I’m afraid those people might despise the mines by now and wouldn’t want to work for us,” Puber said, feeling troubled.

“No, I’m not forcing them. I can hire them as if they were Free Citizens, offer salaries, and improve working conditions and situations, and the working hours won’t be like over in Leon. I think they will consider it; after all, they come from a miner’s background, and these jobs are like the back of their hands to them, making money is also easier than other trades. These days, making a living is not easy,” Komer shook his head, analyzing.

“But the primary issue right now is that we need to get the fine iron mine developed, and those Ogres are precisely what we need to deal with first,” Komer stated.

“Boss, be careful. Ogres are not as easy to deal with as Gray Wolves,” Ilot warned with some concern.

“Heh, what deed is without risk? Our place here is poor; we lack people, and scarce are the fields. If we want to build fortunes quickly, developing the mine is probably the fastest shortcut, albeit, of course, it comes with risks. Ogres are one issue, and besides, we might also need to assuage the doubts of the Barbarians nearby to avoid unnecessary troubles,” Komer said, a confident smile flashing across his face.

“By the way, how is that Drunken Dwarf doing? Is he really up to the task? It would be a real shame if we went through all this trouble, only to be happy in vain,” Komer asked.

“Don’t worry, boss. Although that guy loves his drink, his eye and sense for things are actually quite sharp. But to get him to work, you have to keep his cup filled first. He’s picky with his booze; he doesn’t care for just any drink. I’ve already spent a good amount of money buying him quality liquor from One-Eyed Bill. If it turns out to be a blunder, that old drunkard would truly deserve to go to hell,” Puber said with considerable confidence.

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