Chapter 354: Become stronger. (2/2)

The presence that Arthur felt earlier began growing stronger without ceasing. The more it grew, the more Arthur felt an itch inside his mind that he wanted to scratch.

It was similar to the feeling of wanting to sneeze but not being able to. Then, a voice appeared from the round stone, and it resounded in everyone's minds while bypassing language barriers.

”The one-armed man can be trusted.”

After saying this single sentence, the glow of the stone disappeared. The Leader looked shaken to the core, but it nodded without hesitation and stood up.

”The judgment has been given.” Rosa translated his words as the Leader said them. ”We will aid the one-armed man.” It said with a resolute expression.

”Seika,” Gruen looked at the Ogre with a baffled expression. ”Maybe I should cut off one arm too?”

”You want Aimee to kill me?” Arthur scowled but couldn't shake what happened off. The monster this altar was erected after said Arthur could be trusted, but how did it know?

There was no interference with Arthur's mind or an entity that tried to read his it. Even the King of Yalen couldn't read his mind, so Arthur didn't understand how this creature knew he could be trusted.

The itch disappeared with the voice, and so did the presence from the altar. Then, as if it was fleeing Arthur's detection, the presence vanished from the valley. Before it did, it left a few words that shook Arthur's heart and others couldn't hear.

'Become stronger.'

***

”Well, they are monsters, alright,” Gruen said with a frown as they sat in the village of the Ogres. There wasn't much to behold other than waste and half-eaten corpses. The Ogres lived in caves on the base of a cliff that oversaw the forest where Hidden City will be built.

They sat on a tree trunk around a campfire, surrounded by the giant Ogres. The Leader sat in front of them as several ogres brought chunks of meat and placed it in front of Arthur and the rest.

”The hospitality is top-notch!” Arthur gave the Leader a thumbs-up, but the Ogre couldn't understand the gesture. When Rosa translated, the Leader showed its teeth in what resembled a smile.

”Seika, I think we'll need to eat if you say that,” Gruen said with an uneasy face as it looked at the unprocessed slab of meat. It wasn't even cut properly but torn out.

”Nothing like a big slab of questionable meat in the morning,” Arthur said with a grin as he grabbed the bowl.

”It's the afternoon, and what about hygiene?!” Gruen shouted, almost slapping the bowl away from Arthur's hand.

”Well, that's true.” Arthur's spiritual energy covered the meat, and debris began to rise from it. He threw them to the side before he controlled the meat as well, raising it in the air.

He began spraying spices and salt on the meat before flames engulfed it. As the crowd watched with dumbstruck expressions, the aroma of meat spread on the cliff.

”Gulp.”

Arthur glanced at the Leader, who gulped after smelling the meat. He gave a sly smile before spinning the meat around the flame, making the aroma even stronger.

When Arthur felt that the meat was cooked properly, he infused his mana into it. The aroma exploded so strongly that some ogres began to drool as they stopped eating.

”Damn Seika, what spices are those?” Gruen wiped away his watering mouth. Arthur didn't reply and simply smiled. They were specialties of Kera, his home city.

He didn't eat the meat and presented it to the Leader, who gulped again as the giant slab landed in front of him. He glanced at Arthur, who nodded in approval, before reaching out toward the meat and pinching it.

The Leader seemed shaken by how easily the meat tore apart, unlike its previous nature. He placed the meat in his mouth, and it slid right through as his eyes widened in amazement. Its arm turned into shadows as it devoured the meat in a few seconds under the envious eyes of its followers.

”Janei Ka...” The Leader muttered.

”That means heavenly,” Rosa said with a smile. Arthur grinned and stood up.

”Well, I guess it's time to have a barbeque party.”