Chapter 12: Arcane Hermitage
Amid the tense atmosphere, Cassius finally spoke:
"I see that you have an unusual bone structure, sharp-witted—you're a talent, no, a magical talent. Are you willing to become my retainer?"
Langpu, relieved, stopped casting the Fireball spell.
He answered obsequiously, "From the perspective of submission to strength, I would certainly be willing to be your retainer, especially since you're a mighty red dragon."
But before the red dragon could reply, he cautiously raised his head and added in a low voice:
"However, I'd also like to know, becoming your retainer—what's in it for me and my tribe?"
"This ogre sure isn't easy to fool; he's a clever one. If it were any other red dragon, he'd already be reduced to ashes from a single breath of fire—only I can see his potential."
Cassius couldn't help but silently grumble.
But considering the rarity of spellcasters, the red dragon decided to "show humility" toward this ogre. Channeling his inner leader, he began to speak slowly:
"I can see that you're not like the typical ogre; you're smart and seek knowledge and wisdom."
Langpu nodded, somewhat pleased.
Who could understand the frustration of being surrounded by ogres who only knew how to eat?
"But do you truly wish to spend your days in this narrow valley, eating and sleeping away the rest of your life?"
"Are you content to be among these kin, only to one day become a bounty for adventurers breaking into the valley?"
Seeing the ogre slightly moved, Cassius intensified his persuasion, tempting the ogre like a devil from hell:
"Don't you want to wield greater power, see a wider world, and have your name sung by bards?"
"Submit to me, and I can provide you with endless food, unimaginable power, knowledge as vast as the stars—your talents will truly have a purpose, as I establish a great empire."
The red dragon paused, his tone commanding: "Imagine yourself as part of my grand vision."
Cassius's promises grew grander and grander—since they were just words, the more, the merrier.
"I... I..."
The ogre was too overwhelmed to speak.
Langpu pondered, his gaze still tinged with hesitation.
These words had a profound impact on him, prompting him, as an ogre, to consider for the first time if life could hold more meaning than just eating.
Meanwhile, his fellow ogres had already gathered around, too afraid of their leader's wrath to interrupt, yet unable to contain their cheers at the mention of "food":
"Submit! Submit!"
"Food!"
Though they couldn't understand the rest, "food" was enough for them.
"Now, I need an answer."
"Are you willing to be my retainer?"
Cassius's tone was impassioned.
At last, determination shone in Langpu's eyes. He lifted his head, his bulky form half-kneeling, and solemnly declared:
"With the gods as witness, I, Langpu, chieftain of the ogres of the Valley of Gluttony and the smartest ogre in the world, am willing to be your retainer, to conquer this world for you."
The red dragon wasn't moved by the "grand" pledge, only feeling slightly parched.
He thought to himself that this clever ogre had indeed stayed in the mountains too long—had he experienced the hardships of human society, he'd be less easily swayed even with 17 points of intelligence.
"Cassius, your master. Remember this name well."
"Yes, my honorable master, I am willing to be your sword and shield, to charge into battle..."
The ogre's tone grew impassioned, as if already lost in the "great vision."
"Don't speak like that."
Cassius interrupted Langpu's impromptu dramatics.
A three-meter-tall, one-ton ogre speaking in the manner of a bard—it sounded strange no matter how one looked at it.
"Yes, master."
The ogre mage wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Oh! Oh, oh, oh!"
The ogres cheered again, waving their mismatched maces, wooden clubs, and giant bone sticks.
In truth, they didn't know what had happened, only that they seemed to have a new boss.
According to the tribe's second-smartest ogre, Big Head, they would have more food now, and this made these gluttonous creatures very happy.
"We've got a new boss!"
The "smart one" among the ogres, Big Head, cheered.
Langpu sternly corrected him, "Not a new boss, but Master, or His Majesty."
"Alright, old boss."
Langpu, at his wit's end, raised his club again.
"Old boss, why are you still hitting me?"
"Ouch!"
...…
Leading the ogres to relocate to his new domain, the red dragon curiously asked the ogre mage:
"Where did you learn magic, and get those books?"
Langpu scratched his head, recalling for a moment before answering:
"A few months ago, I ate a mage traveling by carriage. He was soft and tender, quite delicious, and his carriage held many books."
Lost in memory, the ogre couldn't help but lick his lips, a look of bliss on his ugly face—proving that even wisdom couldn't change the gluttonous nature of ogres.
"As long as you serve me, avoid eating humanoid creatures."
"Yes, master."
Langpu looked a bit disappointed. Those soft and tender mages were indeed tasty, but for the sake of the "great vision" in his heart, he had to accept this harsh demand, a true sacrifice for an ogre.
For Cassius, though, it was a necessary request—not out of compassion, but because he planned to enlist many players in the future. If his minions retained a taste for human flesh, players might turn against him.
"Right, take me to see that carriage."
The red dragon's expression turned a bit odd; he had a good guess about what had happened.
Following Langpu to a hidden spot in the valley, Cassius saw the broken-down carriage.
Though abandoned for some time, its ornate gilded decorations still exuded a sense of grandeur, and on the inner wall was a gilded badge—an emblem featuring an all-seeing eye and two crossed wands.
"As expected, it's the Arcane Hermitage, and this is even a high-ranking member's badge."
"Tsk tsk, what a waste."
Cassius sighed inwardly.
The Arcane Hermitage—this was a renowned wizarding organization of later eras, founded by the legendary archmage Trelafarlanlo.
Members would regularly gather to share spell knowledge and research findings, sometimes cooperating to root out evil. Its branches spanned Erezega, with one located in Anzeta.
Cassius mused at the fickle hand of fate.
A young noble mage apprentice, destined to join the Arcane Hermitage, carrying the hopes of countless people. Yet with little actual magic ability, he suffered from the typical mage's pride.
Defying orders and refusing family aid, he likely uttered words like, "I control my own fate," filled with youthful idealism.
He ventured into the wilderness to make a name for himself, slay monsters, rescue princesses, seize treasure, and craft his legendary tale.
Yet this unfortunate apprentice hadn't traveled far before an opportunistic ogre knocked him out with a club and devoured him.
Thus, his chest of valuable books and family's treasured magical items fell into someone else's hands.
In a twist of fate, it was the very ogre who killed him—a crude, ugly ogre named Langpu—who would become a rare ogre mage.