Shuna soon led Damien and Ogerpon to a slightly elevated area.
Here stood a bathhouse.
This particular section, reserved for honored guests, was typically closed off and only opened to welcome distinguished visitors.
Leaning against the bathhouse's edge, Damien let out a contented sigh. "What do you think, Ogerpon?"
"Ogerpon feels all soft and squishy…"
Beside him was Ogerpon, submerged in the hot water with only half her head above the surface.
Logically, the little girl should've used the women's bathhouse.
But Ogerpon, worried for Damien's safety, insisted on staying with him.
With no other choice, Damien let her join him in the bath.
It's not a big deal, right?
There's nothing to see anyway.
Not only was Ogerpon short, but her figure was also unremarkable.
Aside from her soft skin, she looked like a child under ten.
Given Damien's tastes, he wasn't about to make a move on such a young girl... she was more like a little sister to him.
"Lord Damien, these are clothes for you and Lady Ogerpon."
"I've left them outside."
Halfway through their bath, Shuna and Shion brought clean clothes.
Though Damien had plenty of supplies in his spatial storage, he couldn't refuse the Ogre Tribe's kindness.
Soon, cleansed of their fatigue, Damien and Ogerpon donned the clothes prepared by the ogres.
The style resembled Japanese yukata.
Given the Ogre Tribe's origins, this clothing choice felt fitting to Damien.
Leaving the bathhouse, Damien spotted Shuna and Shion waiting.
Without a word, he followed them to the village's central plaza for the banquet the ogres had prepared.
"Is that the legendary Oni?"
"She's so small, but her magicules are terrifying!"
"Don't you think she's adorable?"
"Hey, show some respect! Lady Ogerpon saved us!"
Compared to Damien, Ogerpon was clearly the star of the show.
Who could blame them? She was an Oni.
Oni were the stuff of legend for the Ogre Tribe.
It had been countless years since they'd seen an upper-tier Majin of their bloodline!
Damien patted Ogerpon's back, encouraging her to show off. "Let them see your power."
Ogerpon blinked, then realized what he meant.
She summoned her green vine club, and behind her, massive gem-like masks glowed brilliantly.
This dazzling display instantly captured every ogre's heart.
"What a beautiful figure!"
"Truly worthy of a legendary Oni!"
"Is this Lady Ogerpon's power?"
The village erupted in excitement.
"Vine Club: Explosive Strike!"
Ogerpon channeled magic into her vine club and swung it toward the night sky.
A beam of green, red, blue, and gray light shot upward, bursting into brilliant fireworks under the dark sky.
The eyes of young ogre children reflected the vibrant display.
Adult ogres, meanwhile, felt the unparalleled power in Ogerpon's casual strike.
"Onee-chan's amazing~~"
Unlike the reserved adults, the kids only knew Ogerpon was awesome.
Seeing Ogerpon swarmed by children, Damien signaled she didn't need to worry about him.
Their life-link ensured that if one was harmed, the other would sense it immediately.
"Go have fun, Ogerpon."
Damien then headed toward the ogre leader, who'd been waiting.
Damien stopped Shuna, who was following him.
"Let me add some flavor to tonight's feast."
He opened his spatial storage, pulling out ingredients and spices from the Konosubaverse.
At first, Shuna hesitated.
But the aroma and taste of Damien's spices exceeded her expectations.
The scent alone immersed her in a flavor she'd never experienced.
When she used the spices on the roasted meat the ogres often ate, an explosive aroma swept the plaza.
"What's that smell? It's incredible!"
"Is this really roasted meat?"
"So delicious! Too delicious!"
"It's because of these spices? Amazing!"
That night, bonfires lit the village to celebrate their victory over the forest-threatening bugs and to welcome Damien and Ogerpon.
At Damien's urging, Ogerpon joined Shuna, Shion, and the other female ogres.
Rooted in the Japanese Momotaro legend, Ogerpon's personality and habits meshed perfectly with the Ogre Tribe, and she quickly bonded with them.
Meanwhile, Damien sat with Benimaru, his father, and Hakurou.
"You must be the village's eldest, right?"
Damien poured a cup of wine for the elder, gesturing for him to try it.
He wasn't worried about harm.
With their life-link, fatal attacks on Damien were nullified, converted to numerical damage, and transferred to Ogerpon.
Before, he'd worried about draining Ogerpon.
Now, with Hyper-Speed Regeneration, she could recover any life loss in moments.
This was why Damien could sit calmly with Hakurou, a swordsmanship master.
"Thank you, young man."
Hakurou smiled, sipped the wine, and his eyes lit up.
"What rich, exquisite wine…"
Even the stoic elder was captivated by Damien's brew, quietly speculating about his origins.
Rare spices, fine wine, immense strength…
A reincarnator from another world?
But Hakurou harbored no ill will.
Damien had saved the village's younger generation.
That debt was beyond repayment.
The danger Damien imagined in the Ogre Tribe's village was impossible.
Bound by loyalty and gratitude, the Ogre Tribe would never harm their benefactor.
"Lord Damien, our tribe can never repay your kindness."
"If you'd settle in our village, it would be our honor."
Knowing Damien was still considering, the ogre leader suggested, "You and Lady Ogerpon can stay at my home for now. Tomorrow, we'll build you a house."
"And if you later wish to establish a new home elsewhere, we'll help find a suitable spot."
Though he said this, the leader hoped Damien would stay.
This temporary stay was a chance to convince him.
"Thank you for the trouble."
That night, Damien and Ogerpon stayed at the ogre leader's home.
Despite being in the Jura Forest, Damien enjoyed the comforts of a civilized world.
Without a doubt, this was far more pleasant than building a camp from scratch.
Hi guys, I hope you're all doing well! I want to share that I'm currently working on a new project related to Lord of Mysteries.
If you're interested, feel free to visit my profile and start reading. Below is a brief summary:
[Lord of Mysteries: Incarnation of Chaos]
Have you ever wondered what would happen if someone from a Lovecraftian world got isekai'd into another world built on Lovecraftian themes? Well, it's absolute chaos.
Meet Alaric, a human(questionably) survivor of the madness and chaos caused by a certain crawling chaos, who, thanks to the kindness of a certain bubble daddy, got isekai'd into the "fake it till you make it" world.
What will he do in this strange new world? Climb the ladder of power to become that impossible god unless you're just a pawn of a certain russian priest or a certain goth mommy?
Or become a cheshire cat, leaping onto the 4D chessboard to disrupt the schemes and mind games of these bizarre folks?
For Alaric, it's not a tough choice. But before he picks either path, he must, of course, uphold the time-honored tradition of isekai'd victims(questionably) that forms the foundation of this world.
What's that tradition?
[Alaric's Transmigration Diary]
[Day 1: I encountered Amon. Used a special technique to summon a projection of the Ancient Sun God, who personally delivered a heavy slap to Amon. Hope Amon appreciates this weighty paternal affection.]
[Day 2: I received an invitation from the Aurora Order. Told them I want it all... looks, brains, and combat prowess... and invited them to join my newly founded Joker Club.]
[Day 3: I met Leonard and acknowledged Gramps Pallez. Declined Leonard's enthusiastic suggestion for the old man to move in with me, as I'd rather not have a old man critiquing my every move, even in private moments.]
[Day 4: I told Klein I plan to pray to a deity named The Fool. Watched his eyes widen in shock and kindly offered him some eye drops.]
[Day 5: I listened to Medici perform a two-hour comedy routine. Suggested he go professional and invited him to share a meal.]
[Day 666: I fully absorbed a certain crawling chaos fragment within me. From now on, I am the Fifth Pillar.]