"Move, you brainless pigs!" Minori's voice cut sharply through the foul, stagnant air of the swamp.
The monstrous troll at the center of the group—muscles taut, yellow pupils gleaming with primal hostility—glared at him. His gaze barely lingered on the human before shifting to the radiant figure floating just behind Minori.
Compared to a human in black robes…
The Archangel of Fire, wreathed in divine flames, was clearly more interesting prey.
"Insolent human… and that glowing toy of yours… You dare enter my dominion?" The trolls heavy voice rumbled like a collapsing cliff. "You disrupt the rule of the great Guu! Seize them!!"
With his booming order, three lower-ranked trolls howled and surged forward, their massive wooden clubs raised.
"Tch. I was hoping we could talk first."Minori didn't even blink. He simply gestured with a flick of his hand.
FWOOOSH—!The Archangel of Fire launched skyward with a gust of scorching wind.
The three trolls swung—too slow. Their crude weapons sliced through nothing but empty air.
Then—
BOOM!A flash of fire descended from above. The Archangel cleaved downward with his flaming blade. One troll, looking up too late, caught the full brunt.
SCHLNK—!Its thick neck parted. The head spun, trailing a crimson arc through the air. Blood gushed skyward like a geyser.
[Experience gained: 356]
The remaining two trolls bellowed and smashed at the descending angel.
CRACK! CRACK!Blunt force collided with silver armor—but the divine construct didn't flinch. The armor didn't even scratch.
One by one, they fell. Their blood turned the swamp floor into a pool of rot and red.
[Experience gained: 362][Experience gained: 377][Experience slot: 2918 / 30000]
"Smellless."
A flicker of spell light shimmered over Minori's robes. The stench vanished from his senses. It wouldn't do to gag mid-negotiation.
"I could kill you all and earn a nice sum of experience."He stepped over the corpse of the last troll, drawing a plain iron sword from beneath his robe.
"But killing the goose that lays golden eggs isn't profitable."He pointed to the eastern treeline.
"If you fall, the Tob Forest will lose its deterrence. Then comes chaos—migrating monsters, adventurers, maybe even empire scouts. A headache I'd rather avoid."
He looked up toward the remaining trolls.
"So… how about this—submit to me?"
Silence.
Even these crude creatures were stunned by his boldness.
Then—
"AHAHAHA!""Did you hear what he just said?""A human ordering us?!""Let's eat him!!"
They howled with amusement, even stomping the ground in mocking glee.
The loudest of them, the chieftain Guu, slammed his massive cleaver-sword into the mud with a THUNK.
"You're more amusing than the last ones we caught, human!" Guu bellowed through laughter. "But don't get cocky!"His tone dropped into a growl."Crush this whelp. I want to hear him scream. I'll chew his limbs one at a time!"
From behind the mob, a particularly massive troll surged forward.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
Each step shook the earth.
"KILL! Human! Shiny thing!!"
The troll charged—muscles rippling, arms spread.
Minori didn't move until the last second. Then he sidestepped, blade flashing.
SLICE!
The iron sword tore across the trolls chest. The wound twisted unnaturally, the skin folding outward.
[Effect triggered: Extra Weapon Specialization]
The troll stumbled forward, momentum lost. It crashed into the mud with a thunderous SPLAT.
Then—CRACK!
The sword in Minori's hand splintered. Fractures ran down the blade, and it shattered in his grip.
"Damn. Cheap blade. At this rate, I'll go bankrupt buying weapons faster than I earn coin."
The troll groaned, already standing.
To Minori's sharp eye, the gash on its chest was knitting together.
"Tch. Regeneration."
"Your scratch is nothing!"The troll snarled and rushed again.
But halfway forward, its expression changed.
Eyes widened. Legs stumbled.
Plop!The brute collapsed at Minori's feet.
[Experience gained: 596]
Minori waved away the dust and calmly stepped onto the corpse's head.
"Now we can talk, Guu."
Shock rippled through the remaining trolls.
"W-What did you do?!""Magic?! Poison?!"
Guu's eyes flared in rage.
Minori tilted his head."Death curse. Simple, really. Your regeneration won't help. One scratch, and you're gone."
He let the silence stretch before adding:
"It's not about strength. It's about level disparity. If you can resist it, you live. If not, you die."A wry smirk played on his lips."Even that fat rat in the east lasted longer."
He raised a new sword.
"Curse Knight class. Level 5."
The trolls recoiled, horror dawning.
But Guu didn't retreat. He roared, grabbing his cleaver and stormed forward.
"YOU DIE HERE, HUMAN!"
Minori sighed."A walnut for a brain, just as I thought."
Buzz—
A wave of magic pulsed from his body.
"All Races, Charm."
The wave struck Guu mid-charge.
He froze. Drool hung from his lower lip. His eyes dulled.
Minori turned to the stunned trolls near the cave.
"Gather your kin. Now."
None moved.
So Minori raised a hand—and tapped Guu on the shoulder.
"Snapshot done."
With glassy eyes, Guu turned and roared at the trolls.
"You heard him! Gather everyone—NOW!!"
Silence. Then…
The trolls obeyed.
One by one, they lumbered off into the forest.
Minori sheathed his sword and whispered under his breath:
"Step one... complete."