Chapter 40: VS Raging Orc (Two)

Original: Chapter 40: VS Raging Orc 2

While the Raging Orc is screaming, I check my appearance.

My skirt is fine. My blazer is gone. My blouse is barely hanging on, only around my back and right shoulder. My bra is intact.

What a miserable state I’m in. I’m in no condition to be seen by anyone.

By the way, my left side is caved in unpleasantly and has turned a color I can’t quite identify—some mix of red and purple.

Recognizing my own wretched state makes my anger toward the Raging Orc boil even hotter. Maybe I should crush its right eye while I have the chance.

“B-GAAAAAAAAAAH!”

“Eh, you’re moving already?!”

Does the pain and shock of having your left eye crushed heal that quickly? The Raging Orc grabs my right shin, lifts me up, swings me around, and hurls me away.

“Ugyah! That huuuuuuurts!”

I hit my head on a tree again. But this time, I didn’t lose consciousness.

My HP is down to 18. My body feels unreliable. I managed to stand, but the sensation in my legs is getting weird.

I need to drink a Potion right away. No, I can’t. The Raging Orc picked up its bludgeon and is coming for me. Blood streaming from its left eye, it charges at me with a furious expression.

“No way I can face that bare-handed.”

A gush of blood wells up in my mouth. Spitting blood from the corner of my mouth, I scan my surroundings. There it is. My Hammer is lying about three steps ahead.

The Raging Orc raises its bludgeon overhead. I need to dodge that and grab my Hammer.

“BUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!”

“Now!”

I jump to the right to evade. Then, rolling across the ground, I grab the Hammer’s handle. Using that momentum, I crawl to put some distance between me and the Raging Orc.

I can’t put much strength into my legs.

Gritting my teeth, I somehow manage to stand up. I turn to check the distance to the Raging Orc.

…Huh?

The Raging Orc has lost sight of me. Where is it looking? It doesn’t seem to understand that its left eye being crushed has narrowed its field of vision.

If its left eye were still functional, I’d be in its sight, but with only its right eye, it absolutely cannot see where I am.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

I re-grip the Hammer’s handle. I channel all my strength, sending blood rushing through my entire body. I bare my instincts, becoming like a wild beast.

I’ll close in on the Raging Orc from behind and finish this in one go. Once I resolved to do that, I was already running.

Ah, the Raging Orc noticed my approach. It seems to have sensed my footsteps or my presence. It turns toward me, but it seemed to take a moment for its focus to lock on.

“UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

While running, I raise the Hammer overhead on my left side, squeezing out power from my whole body. It hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts. Owowowowowow. My left side is painful, hot, and I don’t understand what’s happening. Also, quite a bit of blood spilled from the corner of my mouth.

But that doesn’t matter. All I need to do is defeat the enemy before I die.

I muster every last bit of my life energy and slam a full-power strike into the Raging Orc’s left eye. I clench my back teeth even harder. Putting intense force into my abdomen, I push the Hammer in as if intending to send the Raging Orc flying to the ends of the Dungeon.

“UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Maybe letting out that final shout was good—I managed to generate unbelievable power. I swung the Hammer through with tremendous force.

“BUGOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Letting out an ugly scream, the Raging Orc goes flying about ten meters. It probably weighs much more than me, but my strength sent it flying that far.

But—. I overdid it. The Hammer’s recoil swung me back instead, and I spun around about three times. I landed hard on my rear.

I check on the Raging Orc.

“No good, it’s still breathing.”

It went from lying on its back to face down. It’s putting its hands on the ground, trying to get up.

I need to push a little harder. I have to pour out all my strength.

The Raging Orc placed both hands on the ground and lifted its upper body. It glares at me with its one remaining eye.

I need to attack before the Raging Orc stands up. And I absolutely must win with that attack.

Right in front of me, the Raging Orc’s bludgeon comes flying.

“Eh—?”

I can’t dodge it. There’s no way I could dodge it. To think it would throw its weapon. I never imagined that possibility.

The bludgeon hits my forehead, dealing massive Damage at a level I absolutely cannot endure.

Ah… my consciousness is fading…

This is definitely a fatal wound. I’m absolutely dead. I died. Even if the Raging Orc can’t move another step, other Monsters will definitely eat me.

So this is the end of my life. I can’t go to school anymore, can’t go home. I can’t eat delicious food, can’t make friends, can’t meet a lover. And above all, I can’t conquer Dungeons anymore…

“I don’t want that…”

I plant my right foot far back and brace myself. Using my abdominal muscles, I pull my leaning posture back upright. I’m sure I have terrifying, demon-like eyes right now.

Despair floods the Raging Orc’s expression. So Monsters feel fear too. It might send shivers down my spine. The Monster that tried to kill and eat me is now about to be killed in turn—

“Ufufufu, hey, how are you feeling now? …Scared? …Want to run away? …Or do you still desperately want to eat me?”

I ask in a high-pitched, ghost-like voice. Then, I start running. I raise the Hammer high and powerfully.

Looking closely, it’s clear. The Raging Orc is dripping cold sweat. Its mind must have gone completely blank. So I think it’s in a state where it can’t even consider a Counterattack or Defense or anything like that.

“This is the end! My victory!”

I slam the Hammer right into the Raging Orc’s snout. I feel the distinct sensation of crushing its nose. I also feel the sensation of destroying the skull and brain beyond. The feeling of taking a life clearly transmits through the Hammer.

Ah… It seems that was my last bit of strength too.

I have no power left. Spinning around once, I end up throwing the Hammer far away.

Then, as if losing all strength in my body, I collapse from the knees.

“Ugh, exhausted…”

Placing both hands on the ground, I end up on all fours. Drops of my red blood drip onto the ground.

“My whole body hurts. If something hits me one more time, I’d probably die instantly. Actually, if my mind weren’t so high from the fight, I think I would have died already.”

Ah, but I’m satisfied. Happy. Fulfilled. It’s the best. I can’t stop smiling. I’m grinning. I forget the pain and just smile.

“I-It was fun. Even though it was exhausting…”

I plop down into a seated position on the ground. My entire body is flushed and hot. I’m in quite an agitated state. My bra, panties—anything constricting my body feels incredibly bothersome and tight.

“Ah, I really, really want to be naked.”

I want to stand up completely unclothed.

“I don’t need any clothes at all.”I want to strip off my clothes and roar a victory cry toward the sky with all my might. “I wooooooooooon!!!!!”

The Raging Orc was a strong Monster. That made the afterglow of victory all the more special. I think this victory experience has made me even more unable to quit Dungeon Commuting.