Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 189: A Village in Crisis
A few days later, Shin, Rumeya, Yu, and Ren departed for O’Circus.
Tauro and Aeris managed to see them off with smiles. It was a peaceful farewell that left no resentment between them.
Tauro believed Shin and Rumeya would succeed in the city. Both were capable, sociable adventurers, and their coordination as front-line fighters was excellent.
After their departure, Tauro and Aeris took several days away from adventuring.
Although Aeris had smiled during the farewell, she couldn’t immediately shake the sense of loss.
Tauro used the break to visit the Marches Trading Company and hold several business meetings.
Beginning on the second day, Aeris accompanied him. She didn’t want to remain alone, and spending time outside the house gradually restored her spirits.
By the morning of the sixth day, she seemed like herself again, so they decided to visit the Adventurers’ Guild.
On the way, Aeris sighed.
“Had I known things would turn out like this, I’d have followed Ragune to the dragonfolk village.”
“We met her only about a week ago, so she’s probably still traveling,” Tauro replied. “Going with her would certainly have been an unusual experience.”
“She also seemed like an excellent front-line fighter. We should have asked her to join us.”
“That might have worked. [Dragon Knight] is an exceptional ability, and Ragune seemed trustworthy.”
They continued discussing possible new companions until they reached the guild.
The moment they entered, they noticed that the entire hall was tense and unusually noisy.
“What happened?” Aeris asked.
Listening to the surrounding conversations, Tauro repeatedly heard the word “ogre.”
Ogres were large, demonlike monsters that armed themselves with weapons and armor. They were natural warriors and delighted in battle.
Tauro approached Kannes, who was free at the reception counter.
“Are ogres involved?”
“Yes. A group has been sighted near a neighboring village.”
“A group? That’s unusual.”
“The first report mentioned approximately five, but we’re waiting for further information.”
Ogres were C-rank subjugation targets.
Under ordinary circumstances, the Dansas branch had one B-rank team and two teams in the C-rank band, along with four D-rank teams and numerous E-rank adventurers.
Bob, the dogfolk adventurer who had risen through the ranks at remarkable speed, was the most prominent individual fighter currently based there.
With the B-rank team and both C-rank teams available, five ogres wouldn’t have posed an overwhelming problem.
“Then the B-rank team and the two C-rank teams should be enough, shouldn’t they?” Tauro asked.
An adventurer nearby answered before Kannes could.
“The B-rank team and one of the C-plus teams are away.”
“Both of them?”
“They went to assist with a large-scale Troll King subjugation requested by the Adventurers’ Guild in Dareder.”
That left only six fighters in the C-rank band: the three members of the team Goblins, Bob, and two other adventurers currently working independently.
“The problem is that ogres are extremely resistant to physical attacks, even though magic works well against them,” the adventurer continued. “Most of the remaining C-rank fighters rely heavily on muscle and weapons. Six people might barely handle the original five ogres, but anything more would be dangerous.”
The situation was far worse than Tauro had first assumed.
Depending on Chloe’s decision, the guild would probably have to add magic users from the D- and E-rank bands to the expedition.
At that moment, an adventurer burst into the guild with a new report.
“The original five have been joined by eighteen more. We’ve confirmed twenty-three ogres in total!”
A despairing silence spread through the hall.
The remaining force at the Dansas branch couldn’t safely confront that number. Sending only the C-rank fighters would be closer to ordering their deaths than mounting a rescue.
Chloe, the branch manager, fell silent as she considered the report.
Finally, she raised her voice.
“We can’t abandon the neighboring village. The Dansas branch will mobilize every adventurer of E rank or higher, with priority given to those capable of magical attacks.”
She began assembling mixed teams.
“Marge, you’re an E-plus mage, and Holly is a healer. Both of you’ll join the C-rank team Goblins. Aeris is also E-plus and can use magic, so…”
Chloe paused, searching for suitable companions.
Tauro raised his hand.
“I can make magically empowered attacks as well. May I join Aeris?”