Chapter 18 (2/2)
“W-what am I looking at right now?”
If one were to be pushed back here, it wouldn’t simply end with a few broken bones.
However, the one who broke in this tense balance of strength was me.
‘Was it still too much…?’
Even if I could maintain a certain level of strength against the ogre, to suppress it using strength alone was still too much for now.
That was why I used to quickly turn my body out of the way.
[……!]
As the strength stopping it disappeared, the ogre lurched forward and hit its body on a tree trunk.
Crash!
Of course, the thing that broke was the tree trunk.
[You rat-like human!]
Regaining its senses after shaking its head violently and drumming its chest, the ogre poured out its savage aura and charged at me while swinging its fists.
Woosh! W-Whoosh!
The savage fists were strong enough that even a small graze would pulverize my bones, but luckily for me, the fists couldn’t hit me.
It was at a level where I could dodge while my movement was being supported by and .
Crash!
Another fist crashed into the ogre’s abdomen, and as the ogre lost its balance, I kicked at its legs.
Crack!
[Kugh!]
Being attacked just above its thigh where the skin was relatively weaker, the ogre lost its balance and fell down backwards.
It was a dizzying moment, like watching a huge tree topple down.
I jumped on top of the collapsed ogre and raised my open hands.
Crimson hellfire began blooming from between my palms.
“Now. Let’s end this.”
Skill, .
A skill to borrow the strength of an ogre and rapidly increase my strength for 30 seconds.
Shwaaaa!
My fist blazed with a crimson light.
An unknown strength endlessly flowed into me, and the immense strength was crying out to be released.
Maybe the ogre felt a sense of familiarity at the ‘strength’ overflowing from my fist.
The ogre muttered,
[A-are you real human?]
Strength comparable to an ogre.
And an unmistakably familiar scent pouring out from the skill .
As I looked down at the frowning ogre, I gave it a disgusting smile.
“You weren’t really expecting an answer, right?”
[…You. Did you understand what I say?]
“You’re also understanding what I’m saying, right?”
[……]
A human and an ogre.
Both of us were speaking a different language, but we could understand each other.
Confused beyond belief, the ogre could only blink at this strange situation.
Now was the finishing blow.
“Mana Burn Explosion.”
This was the strongest magic I could cast, and also the spell that granted me 100 points from the Ancient Ogre Kingram a few days ago.
The effects of The Ogre’s Fury will be added on.
The spell has changed to a violent state.
A small ‘key’ appeared in my palm and I flicked it a little before shoving it straight into the ogre’s chin with my fist.
K-K-K-K-KABOOOOM!
The ogre’s chin, which felt hard as stone, melted and ripped away as soon as my fist touched it.
‘……!’
It was an oppressively strong power that was enough to surprise even myself.
K-K-KABOOM!
At the intense heat from the flame and the explosion created from my fist, the ogre’s jaw vaporized, and the burning ogre fell unconscious, unable to even scream.
Shooooo-
The unpleasant smell of burning flesh spread throughout the testing grounds with the black smoke.
The testing grounds were filled with a deathly silence.
“……”
“Is-is it over?”
The one who broke this silence was the knight captain that was observing my battle from the closest position.
Coulter Pirante.
“You…”
He walked up to me, looking speechless.
“…what’s your real identity?”
“I’m just…”
“Sure. You’re just a student who wants to get a good mark on the test. Then I’ll ask you again. Student who wants a good mark on their test, what did you say your name was?”
“It’s Ruin Ardell.”
“Ruin Ardell, ey?”
My shoulder was throbbing.
Anyhow, it seemed like I had excessively used my body as this was the first time I had fought in a real battle.
I massaged my stiff shoulders while Knight Captain Coulter Pirante kept asking me questions, as if overcome by curiosity.
“I don’t know the Ardell House that well… Has your family perhaps produced any sword masters? Or Archmages?”
“We had none.”
“I’m an amateur when it comes to magic, so I don’t know very well, but this is the first time I’ve seen that magic. That immense strength is also a different story…”
“Do I need to give an answer?”
“Hm? No, if you’re uncomfortable. Since I’m asking, I’ll ask one more question. That body art, did you perhaps learn that from someone separately?”
“No.”
“Then is it self-taught?”
“Yes.”
Coulter scratched his chin and laughed, amused at my answer.
“Is that so…”
His face looked like he was crafting a cunning plan.
I lowered my gaze from Coulter and looked towards Professor Hydel.
Professor Hydel was showing a pretty shocked expression, even if just for a moment.
His expression was saying something like,
‘He actually won.’
But his expression quickly faded and he walked up to me with a neutral face.
“I thought it would be a tough opponent for you, but you never even gave me a chance to come to help you.”
“……”
“You always exceed my expectations, Ruin.”
“Are you saying…”
“That’s right. You pass.”
Pass.
“…I like that.”
As a faint smile started to appear on my face,
“WOOOOOAAAAAH!”
A thunderous shout flowed out from the testing grounds, enough to blow it away.
Simultaneously, a half-transparent status window appeared in front of my eyes.
The Emergency Quest has been completed.
Please receive your Reward.
——