kscans

Chapter 21 - # The Reincarnated Hero Hires Allies with Money

"Well now... so this is the 'volcanic cave where the Boss Trolls live,' huh."

In the mountains at dusk, the reincarnated Hero Ares stood before a gaping hole in the rock face, a faint smile on his lips.

Inside were over twenty Trolls in total, with Shaman Trolls clutching fire talismans mixed among them. For any normal party of adventurers, it was a number that could easily lead to annihilation.

But next to Ares was Lumina, a genius water magic user he had hired with money from the mercenary guild. The blue-eyed girl maintained a cold expression as she focused her magical energy.

"They're coming! Intercept them!"

One of the Trolls let out a war cry, and the front line charged all at once. The shamans in the rear guard roared as they chanted a fireball spell.

"Fuboh! Burn them to ashes!"

Red magical energy gathered, and a ball of fire materialized in the air. At that very moment.

"O spirits of water, blessed by the heavens, become a pure stream and pierce all creation. Come forth, Aqua Javelin."

With Lumina's voice, dozens of spears made of water rained down from above. The mass of pure water, capable of piercing even steel, deflected the fireball and stabbed into the horde of Trolls.

"Gyaaaaah!!"

"I'm, hot, so hot!!"

"Where! Where am I!!"

The shaman that had cast the fire spell was instead burned by steam, writhing in agony. The battlefield was enveloped in the smell of steam and blood.

Giant bodies collapsed. Clubs went flying. By the time the rain of water spears stopped, more than half of the Trolls were sprawled on the ground.

Ares's eyes widened at the sight of the Trolls' suffering, and he was overcome with mad joy.

"Hyaaaaah!! This is incredible! This is it! This is what this world is all about!"

"The feeling of control, of destruction, that I dreamed of in the game! Everything shatters with a single command from me!"

Laughing, he approached a Troll that was not yet dead. The Troll coughed up blood, its mouth moving faintly.

"The Hob... goblin's... 'Mamoru'... is coming... ugh..."

Ares's smile vanished.

"'Mamoru' again, huh. The Orc boss said the same thing. What's up... is everyone believing in some weird legend?"

Lumina brushed off her dirtied robe and spoke in a flat voice.

"Job complete. The reward is as we agreed."

"Ah... yeah, that's fine. You did good work. I'll be counting on you next time, too."

As a wind mixed with cold and blood blew through, Ares looked up at the cave and curled the corner of his mouth into a smirk.

"So, this 'Mamoru'... I take it you're the boss of this first stage."

His shadow, cast by the setting sun, stretched long behind him. His eyes, while stained with pleasure, were somehow... just faintly, hollow.