Unwanted Undead Adventurer - Episode 40

Is this really inside a building?

This scenery makes me question that. The grass is green, the sun is shining brightly, and I can even see a forest in the distance. I’ve seen this scenery before with a veteran adventurer, but no matter how many times I see it, it’s still strange knowing that there’s a space like this in the labyrinth that looks just like the outdoors.

It is said that no one knows the truth of who built the labyrinth and how, but the biggest reason for why we don’t know these things is due to this unique and abnormal internal structure. When you look at space expansion magic, such as the magic from my bag, it’s clear that it’s possible for humans to modify space with magic or sorcery, even if only partially. Therefore, it is said that it’s possible to create such a space as an extension of such technology. However, for various reasons, it is said to be impossible through modern techniques. This is because of the amount of magic power required, the incompleteness of the spell itself, the fact that we don’t know how to maintain this kind of space permanently, and so on. Nevertheless, such spaces do exist in many places. And yet, they still appear and disappear repeatedly. It’s nothing short of a mystery. There are even people who worship the beings who create labyrinths as gods or something similar.

…Well, even so, there’s no doubt that labyrinths are essential for humanity. This is because in labyrinths, you can obtain not only monsters that can be used for various materials, but also magical tools and treasures that are more perfect than anything man can create. Moreover, if left alone for a while, these things are restored even after being hunted or taken. There are even people who declare that labyrinths are semi-permanent resource mining grounds. In reality, there are aspects of the labyrinth that make it beneficial, but there are also aspects that make it extremely dangerous for people. There’s no end to the number of people who have lost their lives simply because they entered a labyrinth in search of such treasures, and if a new labyrinth appears and is left unnoticed and unattended, monsters will eventually emerge from within and it’ll turn into a large-scale disaster. However, the fact is that the existence of labyrinths is essential to human beings today. There are a lot of things we wouldn’t be able to do without them. Such is the situation. The materials from the labyrinth can be used to make weapons, armor, medicines, and food.

And the Orc is the monster that is most valued for its meat.

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The Orc has a very simple appearance. It’s a fat, humanoid monster with a pig’s head. They look like they’d be so slow that you wouldn’t need to be very skilled to win.

That monster is in front of me right now.

However, the Orc does not run sluggishly, but with beautiful form as it draws near. His arms and legs are covered in muscle, and his eyes are fixed on my neck, which if snapped would kill me with a single blow. In the Orc’s hand is not a sword or a spear, but a rough-hewn club that looks like it was made from the trees of the forest around here. It’s so big that I can imagine that its mass alone could easily take a person’s life if they were hit by it. The Orc’s physical strength can be seen in the fact that he’s carrying it so easily.

As you can see, the Orc is not a weak monster. In fact, it’s not uncommon for them to kill you instantly if you come across them while looking for Goblins to fight. They are often portrayed in picture books as plodding monsters with protruding bellies, but this is either because they have never faced a real Orc before, or because they’re caricatures in picture books.

The real Orc is a warrior.

No matter how poorly armed they are, you must not be careless. That carelessness can easily kill an adventurer.

Even so…

I easily avoid the strike from the Orc’s club. Then, I swiftly go around behind the Orc and swing my sword.

It’s true that the Orc is strong. But if you know how strong they are, you can be prepared to deal with them, no matter who your enemy is.

However, the Orc is formidable. When it realizes that I cut it from behind, it immediately turns around and swings its heavy club to the side to attack me. Its back being wounded doesn’t cause it to panic at all, probably because my attack was so shallow. The body of the Orc may look fat at a glance, but it’s actually a mass of extremely toned muscles. The Orc has a sort of natural armor from the moment it is born.

However, that doesn’t mean that I can let it beat me. As I avoid the Orc’s club, I fill my body with magic and spirit energy, knowing that if I don’t, I’ll end up in a pitched battle. I make sure I  can put up a shield at any time if the need arises, and I also use spirit arts to boost my physical strength. I want to be able to inflict a fatal wound with a single blow.

It is said that the majority of Normal Orcs are not armed with metal armor and do not possess magical power or spirit energy, but it still seems to notice a change in the atmosphere around me. It glares at me with its club at the ready and, as if to prevent me from making any more preparations, swings at the ground with all its might and heads towards me. The full force of its sprint is so frighteningly powerful that it makes me want to run away from it.

However, if any adventurer tried this, the Orc would catch up to them and kill them. It is said that the key to victory over the Orcs is to never be afraid of their sprint, and to take full advantage of the openings in the attacks unleashed by their considerable physical abilities. To do this, you need knowledge, experience, and battle instincts.

In the past, I had only knowledge. And currently, I lack experience in fighting Orcs. However, my battle instincts, my ability to recognize the turning points of a fight, has reached a much different level than it was in the past. Of course, this is only compared to back then, and comparing it to adventurers above the silver level would probably be a whole different story. However, I am convinced that I have the strength to fight Orcs.

Based on this confidence, I ready my sword and intercept the Orc’s charge. I definitely have a chance. I know it. That’s what I tell myself.

Finally, the Orc shows up right in front of me. At that moment, as if time has been stretched, I can see the Orc’s movements clearly. The Orc raises its club at me, attempting to kill me by adding the momentum of the charge to its attack. Unfortunately, the way it moves, putting all of its strength into the attack, leaves a huge gap at the center of its body. I draw back my sword, stomp the ground, and swing as hard as I can, aiming for the center of the Orc’s body – in other words, the chest area.

When I turn around after the Orc and I cross paths, I see a lot of blood gushing out of the Orc’s body as it stands still. Then, with its club raised, it slowly falls towards the ground.

Seeing this, I think to myself, “Apparently, I’ve won.”