Chapter 136 - Monke And Some Talk
Edit: 13/10/2021 - Mixed up the Ogres colors, fixed!
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The red ogre stared blankly at me for a few moments, the rest of the ogres also staring at him with blank expressions. A few moments later, the red ogre\'s shoulders trembled for a few moments, before he burst out into a roaring laugh.
The rest of the ogres were silent, but then the dam broke and they also laughed. With me out of the loop, I could only gaze in confusion at the strange reactions of the ogres.
I waited for their laughter to die down, and finally, they stopped, the red ogre wiping a tear shed from his eye.
"Chieftain\'s eye sharp. No regret following new Chieftain." The red ogre proclaimed and stood up, then bowed before me once more, once again giving me the same gesture he did once he pledged his submission to me.. "Me name Zurug, leader of Colored Ogre Tribe."
The rest of the ogres also stood from their seats and bowed before me, taking the same position as Zurug.
"Me name Ugut, I tell Chieftain name already." The blue ogre said this with his head bowed down.
"Me name Touzig, only female in Colored Ogre Tribe." The yellow ogre, who I noticed to be slimmer and shorter than the rest, as well as sporting a more modest outfit than her peers, but still a bit on the daring side. She wore a leather jacket with some wraps underneath that covered her bountiful mammaries, and instead of a loincloth and tassets, she had a leather skirt with an iron lining at the waist that covered her thighs and ended at her knees.
She also had tattoos, but not as many as Ugut and Zurug.
"Me name Igruk, blacksmith of Colored Ogre Tribe." The black ogre, Igruk, supplied his own name with his head bowed down. He wore the same kind of outfit as Ugut and Zurug, but had gloves that covered the entirety of his hands. I noticed a couple of hammers on his waist, which I believe he uses to craft their own gear.
\'I wonder, could he teach some new recipes to the blacksmiths under my care?\' I had to refrain from asking Igruk at the moment since there was still one more left who had yet to introduce themselves.
"Greetings, Chieftain. My name is Xek, the only shaman in the Colored Ogre Tribe." Xek, a green ogre with a hint of purple in his skin, spoke fluently, unlike his other tribe members, who had a somewhat broken accent.
He was garbed in completely different clothes than his peers. Instead of a short jacket that only covered a part of his upper body, he was garbed in a furry leather jacket that reached all the way to his waist. The front was still open though, revealing his well-toned body to the world. Wrapped on his waist was a long, front open skirt that reached all the way to his calves, his legs clothed in leather pants that reached his knees.
He also had some kind of head ornament, and by head ornament, I meant a skull of an animal with two, pointy horns. I couldn\'t recognize the skull, so I assumed it to be some kind of monster they had killed.
\'A shaman…? Hm… Not to jump the gun, but aren\'t they the ones who specialize in curses, rituals, and voodoos?\'
"I see. Then, since you have supplied me with your names, I command you to rise and greet your new Chieftain." I may come off as an asshole, but I\'m sure that these ogres value strength and cunning over formality and words. I was right, and the ogres wised from their kneeling positions and gazed upon me with respect and loyalty. "My name is Jionni, the Dungeon Master of this here Dungeon."
They all nodded and I took my seat, the five of them also taking their seats uniformly at the same time.
Damn, they really remind me of that kid\'s show from back on Earth.
"Anyway, I want to ask you some questions regarding your current occupations in my Dungeon. Xek, you said you were a shaman, right?" I pointed my gaze at the green ogre, his eyes closed and head tilted down.
"Indeed, I am a shaman." Xek replied with a single open eye, the skull on his head seemingly looking at me like a judge would at a convict. "Why do you ask?"
"Are shamans the type to focus on curses and rituals?" He nodded, and I grinned. "Then, you will be perfect for defending my Dungeon, and your new home."
The shaman in question looked at me with barely concealed curiosity, the rest of the ogres also joining in.
"Well, for the most part, you will be cursing some of the traps that will be placed in some places of my Dungeon, which means you\'ll get access to the second floor and so on." His curiosity piqued, Xek leaned down and regarded me with both of his eyes open.
"I see. Are there any restrictions on the curses I place?" Xek asked, and I flashed back a devilish grin.
"No restrictions. Go ballistic." I see the light in Xek\'s eyes gleam under the light, a manic grin forming on his face, causing the other ogres to sigh in acceptance. "Place the deadliest curse on the first trap right off the bat for all I care. I want to make sure that none, not even residents, step foot on the second floor until I allow it."
"Done deal." Xek clapped and his manic face calmed down into his usual bored face, the rest of the ogres shifting uncomfortably in their seats.
"Great, then Igruk, a question for you." The black ogre in question perked up and looked at me with curious eyes, the same type of eyes Xek gave me when he learned he could go ballistic with the curses he place in the future. "Are you okay with sharing your blacksmithing techniques with the others?"
And suddenly, the curious gleam died a fiery death as all that replaced it was a grimace.
"Sorry Chieftain, but Igruk no like sharing." The black ogre was adamant about not sharing his techniques with others. "Not because of threat. No, Igruk better than that. Igruk no like share because of weak craftsmen."
\'Hmm… I guess Igruk has some kind of trauma regarding the teaching of his art. I guess I can put it on hold for now. Traumatized teachers can\'t really teach properly, but I think I know of a way to let him get over it.\'
"It\'s fine, don\'t worry about it. Now then, final question," I looked at Zuguk. His ever-stoic eyes were looking straight at me without faltering, "What was it like living in another Dungeon?"
"Same, but very different." Zurug said with a far-off gaze. "Follow Chieftain, and survive. Follow Chieftain, and get good food, good gear, good everything. Also, Chieftain strong, stronger than Colored Ogre Tribe."
"And now you stronger than old Chieftain." Zurug suddenly focuses back at me with an intense stare. "You killed old Chieftain in seconds, no mercy. We ogres follow strong Chieftain, and we follow until death."
I smiled, and gave out a hearty laugh.
"Hahahaha! You could say that." My laugh slowly devolved into chuckles, until it all went silent. I then stood up and gave each of the ogres a glance over. "Anyway, I think it\'s time I head out. I still have some more work to be done. Igruk, a few days later, I\'ll let you see my blacksmiths in action. Xek, I\'ll give you more details in a few days. Until then, you can contribute to the town by doing what the primates request you to."
I then turned around and bid them goodbye. The ogres gave me their personal salute, and I exited their house, their door snapping shut as I left.
\'Next, I need to talk to the new humans and demi-humans. I also need to discuss some things with the Shaiydons and Gallaghers, as well as that group of demi-humans and the elf twins.\' I made my way through the town, all the while returning the greetings sent my way by the monster residents and primates.
Heading towards the giant gate that led to the passageway leading to the Human Area, I swiftly dodged the busybodies who were going about their daily lives, whether it be bringing some stuff for an ongoing construction job, or just delivering some food to the other monsters.
Looking around once more, I noticed that the Monster Town was progressively getting larger and better. Stone roads were being built, new houses were made out of stone, and overall, the situation was improving.
I mean, just look at the lone kobold sitting on the bench over there. Instead of dirty, smelly fur, all I could see and smell (from a few feet away, damn, my senses are getting stronger) was smooth and fragrant fur.
It appears that my DP use of teaching some of the basic necessity crafters the blueprints for soap and shampoo was not a waste.
I left Monster Town with my head held high.
\'It will continue to grow, and without fail, become a large city. When that would happen, I don\'t know, but I will make it a reality.\' Another goal set in my mind, I went through the gate and into the passageway leading to the Human Area.