Chapter 119 : Chapter 119
Chapter 119 : Victory(2)
It didn't take long for me to realize that something had gone wrong.
The faint sounds of battle showed no sign of ceasing.
I thought it would end quickly if he just used his power, so why was he dragging it out like that?
Along with the question, what came to mind for a moment was the duel between Jing and him that had taken place behind the cabin.
Even the conversation that followed.
-I don't die even if my stomach is pierced. If a limb is severed, as long as it isn't completely destroyed, I can reattach it.
The moment I had the illusion that his emotionless answer was echoing in my ears, a curse naturally burst from my mouth.
"That crazy lunatic, seriously!"
I wasn't worried about him getting hurt.
It was because I knew the reason why he was doing that, even while enduring the pain of his injuries.
"Damn it, damn it."
Whatever it was, I had to use my power.
Something that could help him until the water flooded in, if possible.
What is there that can face an Orc?
I knew there was no such thing as an animal that could fight an Orc, but nevertheless, my thoughts did not stop.
Anything that could help that ignorant bastard fighting the Orcs......
It was the moment I reached the conclusion that only a monster could defeat a monster.
A heat so intense it felt like it would burn began to spread through my body.
My body naturally curled up at the sudden heat that was painful.
What is this all of a sudden?
In the midst of being out of it from the familiar yet strange sensation, I was able to be conscious of only one bizarre phenomenon.
The fact that the pit was gradually getting smaller.
Although I soon realized that even that was my delusion.
The pit wasn't getting smaller.
My body size was gradually growing larger.
As evidence, my eye level was gradually matching that of the one-armed guy who still hadn't regained consciousness.
I felt that the pit, which was barely large enough for one Orc to enter, was becoming tight, but I didn't care about such things.
My entire body was too hot for my athletic nerves to keep up with the speed at which my body was growing.
When the sensation of being scorched reached its peak, my body's growth finally stopped.
It was simultaneous with the wall of the cave that supported me and the leader reaching its limit.
Rumble!
The cave began to collapse.
From above, the sounds of the flustered Orcs in a state of confusion and the sound of the crazy lunatic protagonist guy murmuring curses were heard.
Through my vision, which was flickering from the high fever, I saw the body of the one-armed Orc slumping helplessly.
I reached out my right hand and grabbed the guy’s remaining arm.
Immediately after, the fall began.
Among the pile of broken rocks, a black-haired human also entered my sight.
I reached out my remaining hand toward him.
I saw Ratel, who thought I was attacking him, steadying his sword in mid-air.
It was funny that as soon as I became an Orc, I was in the same state as the leader, so my mouth twisted despite the pain.
Fortunately, I didn't end up in the same state as the leader.
Because I saw Ratel’s face, which was glaring at me like I was a madman for suddenly laughing, becoming dyed with surprise.
I did not hesitate further and grabbed him with one hand.
The moment I carefully grabbed him so he wouldn't burst, the river water falling from above swallowed us.
Ironically, the sense of liberation that opened my breath, which had been suffering from the high fever, hit me as I was submerged in the cold water.
Beyond my consciousness that was becoming distant, the low voice spoke to me again this time.
-Keep the promise.
I’m saying I never made any promises!
***
The anger of the Orcs, who discovered the human who had invaded the community's most secret core, was intense.
There were guys approaching while swallowing their saliva, and there were guys who only harbored bloodlust that they would tear him to death, but Ratel was peaceful.
-Skreeeeee!!!
The Orcs, who did not feel even a bit of threat at the fact that the opponent was a single human, rushed toward Ratel all at once.
Ratel, who kept his position with the stone slab behind him, cut off the head of the first Orc.
Immediately after, when green blood burst out from the clean section, the Orc aiming for Ratel’s left side faltered for a moment.
The monster had to give up its head just like the first Orc as the price for that short hesitation.
Fear and astonishment flashed in turn in the eyes of the remaining Orcs who were looking at the two heads of their comrades rolling on the floor, and soon after, anger covered over them.
I wonder if their sense of camaraderie is stronger than I thought.
While cutting the neck of one among the Orcs rushing toward him all at once, Ratel had a leisurely, idle thought.
Being able to have composure even in a situation where dozens of hands were rushing recklessly was not particularly because of confidence in his own skills.
As evidence, Ratel had his left arm grabbed by an Orc, whose number he didn't know, at the same time he thrust his sword into the neck of the Orc rushing from the left.
Crack.
Pain came along with a terrible sound as the bone was crushed by the monster’s grip strength, but Ratel was not flustered.
Because his arm would heal soon anyway, and he wouldn't die from an injury of this degree.
He pulled out the sword he had driven into the Orc’s neck and cut off the arm that was clutching his own arm.
-Skreeeeee!!
The Orc, filled with pain, grabbed its severed arm and retreated, and Ratel roughly shook his arm out.
By the time he took his stance again, his fractured arm had already recovered.
However, the attacks of the Orcs, who found a gap in the once-disrupted flow, became even more fierce.
Thanks to having his back to the precipice, the risk of being attacked from behind was lessened, but Ratel was still surrounded by the monsters.
Having his arms or legs grabbed became increasingly frequent, and the attacks stopped at wounding his limbs rather than being effective hits more often.
However, invariably, Ratel did not lose his composure.
He was not afraid of injuries.
No, rather, is it correct to say he welcomes them?
Ratel, whose left arm which had been broken was attacked once again, thought blankly.
Seeing that I can still have these thoughts, it seems a dangerous moment hasn't arrived yet.
He was not afraid of injuries.
Because if the body is in pain, idle thoughts disappear.
The moment only one emotion remains in the heart, Ratel was in a state where he had realized through various experiences that that is the moment one becomes stronger.
So, not yet, it wasn't yet.
A trial of this degree was infinitely insufficient as a stepping stone for growth, and was even insufficient for the purpose of shaking off idle thoughts.
Or to the point where even the abnormal behavior of a single Orc caught in his field of vision entered his eyes.
It wasn't particularly larger in size than other Orcs, nor was it particularly more ferocious.
Rather, in a situation where all the Orcs were aiming for his opening and attacking all at once, it just looked dim-witted to the point of being pushed back by the other guys.
Ironically, the stupidity of that Orc led to the behavior Ratel was most wary of.
It was an event that occurred because the place where the half-wit, who landed on his butt after being pushed by other Orcs, rolled to was unfortunately the end of the cliff, and because the half-wit’s mind was far more distracted than the other Orcs.
The Orc, who was startled and stood up because it almost fell down the cliff, moved its gaze to below the Core as if it sensed something strange.
"Kkwek?"
The Orc stretched its body way out down the cliff to check below.
"Damn it."
Ratel murmured a curse mixed with irritation as he twisted his captured left arm and leg.
It was accompanied by the pain of bones twisting, but such things didn't matter.
The moment he realized the creature's goal was the bottom of the pit, injuries that would heal anyway were pushed further back.
The damn prince guy hidden down the pit was in a state where his limbs were tied.
Well, even if his limbs weren't tied, it was unknown whether that guy could properly face a single Orc.
Ratel, who tore off the Orc hanging onto his leg, twisted his body to block the Orc heading down the cliff.
However, at the same time, it didn't go as he wished because of the Orcs rushing in again.
Ratel had to admit that he had lost the fight with that damn prince guy this time as well.
Because the plan to deal with the Orcs slowly was no different from being completely messed up.
Ratel, who hadn't known that things would go wrong because of a single half-wit, gnashed his teeth in a curse.
Thinking of how disdainfully that prince guy would laugh with his face if he found out things went according to his thoughts, he felt even worse.
Ratel reached out his hand while scowling deeply.
The target was the half-wit.
He intended to at least pierce a hole in its neck as the price for handing him a defeat.
Very fortunately for the half-wit Orc, and also a bit fortunately for Ratel, the win and loss between Ratel and the black-haired prince was overturned.
Rumble—
The vibration shaking the floor announced the signal of a come-from-behind victory.
However, Ratel could not enjoy the joy of victory to his heart's content.
Because at the very next moment, before he could even perceive what had happened, the ground beneath his feet began to collapse.
***
Ratel was not flustered even as the ground beneath his feet collapsed and he was submerged in water and falling below.
The surprise was brief, and strangely, a sense of anxiety did not arise.
Rather, a slight irritation and certainty took its place.
The fact that tying up the limbs was after all of no use.
He could instinctively tell that the one who committed this absurd act was that black-haired prince he had confined below.
Although he couldn't tell what kind of unimaginable thing he was pulling this time.
However, no matter how much it was Ratel, he could not maintain his composure when a large Orc that had risen from the ground reached its hand toward him.
Ratel was about to instinctively cut off the Orc’s hand, but he soon noticed that the gestures of the Orc that rose from the ground were completely different from the other Orcs.
In the very careful movement that didn't match the huge size, not even a bit of intent to attack was felt.
At the touch that grabbed his arm as if hoping he wouldn't be hurt, Ratel relaxed the strength in the hand that held the sword.
It was because a truly nonsensical hypothesis that this Orc might be someone he knew vaguely came to mind.
Ratel was soon able to realize the fact that his prediction was correct.
Kwaaaaaa---!!!
Because the sound of water, which was stronger than anything compared to before, began to fill the surroundings.
***
Waking up slowly was thanks to the smell of water and rot that stung the nose.
There were times when my sense of smell had become sensitive when I transformed into a dog or a wolf, but a scent so intense it was incomparable to then stimulate my nose.
In the stench so severe it could rather be called pain, I inhaled air diligently to make my nose get used to it even a little, but it was of no use.
I just realized that even smells of unknown materials were mixed among the stenches.
Damn it, it would be better to wash my nose with water instead.
Unable to bear the stench, I eventually snapped my eyes open.
“…….”
“…….”
What greeted me as I regained consciousness was Ratel’s face looking straight down this way.
It was a face I was glad to see if I were to be glad, but I could tell instinctively.
That he and I were not facing each other as human to human.
Seeing that expression mixed with confusion and bizarreness, there was no mistake.
I slightly checked the sword held in his hand.
It didn't seem like his sword, which had moved to the floor, would point at my neck right away.
It seems he is giving me at least a chance for an excuse this time.
Thinking that he managed not to kill me while I was unconscious, I slowly opened my mouth.
“……Kkwek.”
Originally, the words I intended to say were ‘First, listen to me.’
Not a pig's squeal that sounded like scraping metal.
“Is it possible that you can't even speak?”
Ratel asked, as if he was as flustered as I was.
I knew it was rare for Ratel to be that agitated, but I was in too much of a flustered state myself to tease him.
I cleared my throat once more and opened my mouth.
“Kku, kkwek……, I can speak.”
I felt relieved as I confirmed that the words were coming out.
Something similar to a pig's squeal was attached, but anyway, it was important that I could do language.
I slowly stood up and looked down at my hands covered in green leather.
The fingers moving according to my will proved that my body had really transformed into an Orc.
“……There’s a puddle over there.”
He pointed at the floor where water had gathered in a tone that was unusually careful.
He probably meant for me to check my face, but I shook my head.
“Kkwek, it’s okay. Skreeee, I think I know what I look like without looking.”
I’ll look like an Orc, obviously.
A more important problem than my appearance right now was how I would explain this situation, where I suddenly transformed into an Orc, to that protagonist guy.
Right now, he's watching and waiting since he's out of it, but if things go wrong again, there's no telling where his sword will point.
“Kku, kkwek, so this is……, my constitution.”
Feeling self-loathing at the excuse that was miserable even in my own opinion, I quietly waited for him to point his sword at my neck.
However, the keen blade did not threaten my neck.
“Pff……”
His body folded forward.
“Kkwek, what?”
Is he sick somewhere?
Come to think of it, the two Orc guys who were taking quite threatening stances until I lost consciousness were too quiet.
Wondering if he had perhaps been defeated by those guys, I hurriedly looked around, but both Orcs were just lying obediently on the floor.
It was the moment I took one step toward him, wondering what on earth made the protagonist bend even his waist.
Ratel straightened his bent waist.
“Pff, ahahahaha!”
He burst out laughing and very loudly at that.