Agu cautiously glanced at Minori.
When he saw the faint, thoughtful smile on the human's face, he felt a deep wave of relief.
This powerful being seemed satisfied with their information.
Perhaps—not only could they rescue Brother Muguo, but they might even form a connection with this mighty human.
At this thought, Agu's heart filled with joy and pride.He was glad he had chosen to seek out humans rather than grovel before the ogres like the cowardly elders of his tribe.
His companions had been fools.
Timid.Short-sighted.Willing to debase themselves for survival.
But Agu—Agu had taken the bold path.
—
"Thank you for providing so much useful information," Minori said softly.
He tapped a finger rhythmically against the blade of the iron sword at his waist, as if in thought.
"So," Minori continued, a slight curve to his lips, "what reward should I grant you?"
Hearing this, Agu's heart leapt.
He hurriedly bowed his head and said, voice trembling with contained excitement,"Great Lord, Agu needs no reward. If you could spare Brother Muguo's life, that would be enough!"
He paused, gathering courage, and his gaze briefly flickered to Minori's wrist—where the small, orb-like tribal treasure of the Gigu Tribe now rested.
"If... if you would also return our tribe's sacred treasure..." Agu continued cautiously,"then we, the Gigu Tribe, will wholeheartedly aid you in investigating the trolls and the movements of the ogres!"
By the end, Agu's voice trembled with nervous anticipation.
—
Minori chuckled lightly.
It was not a cruel sound—merely indifferent.
"You offer a good bargain," he said.
"I have already decided on your reward."
At those words, Agu and the two goblins behind him looked up in surprise.They hadn't expected such generosity simply for answering questions.
—
Minori smiled gently.
"Although it's somewhat wasteful to use fourth-tier magic here," he mused aloud, "testing its power is still necessary."
He raised his hand casually, palm outward.
"Heating."
—
The three goblins watched blankly, confused by Minori's action.
But Agu, being the most perceptive, realized something was wrong.
His mouth opened in horror.
Yet before a single word could leave his lips—
Buzz—
A distortion spread through the air.
Centered on Minori's outstretched palm, the ambient temperature skyrocketed.
The forest air—once cool and pleasant—instantly turned blistering hot.
Agu gasped reflexively—
—and immediately seared his throat.
His vocal cords scorched, his lungs burned.
Panic overwhelmed him.
Yet even the pain quickly faded, replaced by numbness.
Their green skin turned red, blood vessels rupturing beneath the surface as their internal fluids boiled.
Experience Gained: +55
Experience Gained: +62
Experience Gained: +63
[Experience Bar: 180/10000]
—
Steam hissed from their shrinking bodies.The continuous nature of the Heating spell kept pushing the temperature higher.
Hairline cracks of glowing red appeared across their now shriveled forms.
Minori calmly observed the process.
Only when he felt the air around his own body growing dangerously hot did he snap his fingers, canceling the magic and stepping back.
—
The surrounding vegetation had withered into charred yellow scraps.The lingering heat still burned against Minori's skin, stinging his nose and throat.
"This magic is indiscriminate..." Minori noted, feeling his cheeks tingle from residual heat.
"A potentially fatal flaw at higher levels."
He mused silently.
Without resistance to fire or heat, this spell could backfire horribly on the caster if amplified beyond control.
—
At his feet, the three goblins had already turned into mummified corpses, their features twisted grotesquely.
Minori looked at them without pity.
He had merely tested a tool.
No different than verifying the sharpness of a blade.
Behind him—
A quivering voice broke the silence.
"Ah... Agu..."
The goblin prisoner, Muguo, stared at the remains of his companions with wide, terror-stricken eyes.
He could not comprehend how this human, smiling and polite just moments ago, had slaughtered Agu and the others without hesitation.
The stench of urine filled the air as Muguo trembled, crawling desperately backward.
"You... you said... you promised!"
"You don't keep your word—!"
Muguo screamed incoherently, scrambling to flee.
Minori's footsteps were calm, measured.
He approached Muguo without urgency, speaking softly.
—
"A transaction only holds meaning between equals," Minori said.
"If one side is too weak... it is simply devoured."
"That is the true law of the jungle," he added, his voice cold and devoid of mercy."Not even your kind seem to understand it fully."
Raising his iron sword lazily, Minori prepared to finish the job.
—
Just then—the bushes rustled.
A small, black-furred figure tumbled out:the young evil hound Minori had encountered earlier.
The little beast barked fiercely at Muguo, blocking his path.
Minori raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
He hadn't expected the creature to follow him so persistently.
"How about you take care of him?" Minori suggested casually.
The evil hound's black eyes gleamed.
With a sharp bark, it lunged.
Muguo howled in terror, striking at the cub with a desperate slap, knocking it aside.
But the evil hound shook itself, bared its teeth, and pounced again—this time latching onto Muguo's crippled leg.
Muguo shrieked in agony, flailing wildly.
Moments later—
Snap!
The evil hound clamped its jaws around Muguo's throat, silencing him permanently.
Minori watched dispassionately as the small monster fed.
The goblin, despite being stronger, had been too broken by fear to resist properly.
A fitting end.
—
After a few minutes, the evil hound had devoured the goblin's corpse entirely.Its previously flat belly now bulged grotesquely.
It looked up at Minori with pitiful eyes, blood staining its black fur.
Minori tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"An efficient cleaner of corpses," he murmured.
"Not bad."
—
Turning away, Minori retrieved his sword and prepared to depart.
After a few steps, he glanced back.
The evil hound still stood there, staring at him expectantly.
"Well? Hurry up," Minori said with a faint smirk.
The creature barked excitedly and scampered after him, bone chains clinking softly.
Together, they vanished into the shadows of the forest.