Chapter 37

This time, it's about ten thousand words, a bit longer.

Limbs as thick as they can be embraced.

A massive body over two meters tall.

A single horn growing from the head.

The "Oni" stood there, having swung its powerful arm.

Yuvel was blown several meters away and slumped against a tree, listless.

The wolf didn't run away because its companion died; it might have sensed this presence.

And the Oni walked toward Yuvel, who had collapsed.

This is bad.

No good.

What this thing intends to do to the weakened Yuvel is obvious.

It plans to finish her off.

Yuvel is trying to stand up, but can't.

Probably because she protected me.

She seems to have taken quite a bit of damage.

Yuvel can't avoid a monster's attack in her current state.

Besides, Yuvel no longer has that bracelet.

If she takes another hit from this thing, she might really die.

That can't happen.

That mustn't happen.

Absolutely, I can't let it happen.

I immediately stand up and grip my mace firmly.

"Haahaaa!!"

I swing the mace at the Oni.

The mace strikes the Oni's exposed back—

The mace bounces off.

A hard, metallic sound, like hitting a steel plate.

The sensation is so hard that I almost let go of the mace.

It feels like hitting metal.

I lean back from the recoil of the mace.

My balance is lost.

I stumble and fall on my butt in the mud.

Right after that.

A powerful arm whips past just above my head.

The intense wind pressure shakes my body.

The puddle at my feet ripples.

—This is not winnable.

If I hadn't fallen, I might have had my head crushed in one blow.

It was that powerful a strike.

I'm certain.

I can't even stand up to it.

Moreover, that hard skin.

Even with a metal mace, it doesn't seem to have taken much damage.

Given that, even if Yuvel cuts it with her knife, it might not even leave a scratch.

If Yuvel or I attack, we probably can't defeat it.

I shouldn't fight this thing.

I definitely can't win.

...No, I shouldn't be thinking about whether I can win or not.

It's about Yuvel now.

First, I need to help the injured Yuvel.

I immediately stand up and run in the direction where Yuvel is.

The instant I do, the Oni's fist grazes my back.

My back feels like it's burning.

I almost lose my balance but manage to steady myself and run to Yuvel.

I immediately pick up Yuvel and cast a healing spell—

Just before, I see a shadow fall on the ground.

I have a bad feeling.

I hug Yuvel and jump to the side.

The powerful arm crushes the spot where Yuvel and I were just a moment ago.

The ground shatters.

I roll on the ground, showered with broken stones and mud.

This is bad.

Really bad.

If I take a direct hit from such an attack, I'll die.

I'll definitely die.

If it hits my head, I might die before I can even use a healing spell.

At the very least, I'll lose consciousness.

The only option is to run.

In a panic, I grab a handful of dirt and throw it at the Oni's eyes.

"Ex Heal! Yuvel, are you okay!?"

Then, without stopping, I stand up, pick up Yuvel, and run.

I don't look back as I flee from the Oni.

The Oni's roar echoes from behind.

It seems the dirt got in its eyes.

This will buy us some time.

I need to put some distance between us.

"Mi, Master, I'm sorry."

Yuvel looks at me and apologizes.

Perhaps she's apologizing for not noticing the monster's approach.

Her voice is trembling.

It seems this monster is what Yuvel has been fearing since we left the city.

Given the situation, I need to confirm.

"...Was Yuvel's eye injured by that thing?"

"Ah...!"

Yuvel's eyes widen in surprise at my words.

I see, I was right.

Yuvel has probably been wary of this thing all along.

"Mi, Master, I'm fine, put me down. I'll buy some time, you run away in the meantime!"

Yuvel says this with a serious face.

But that's not possible.

This thing is different from the monsters we've fought in the dungeon.

Yuvel could die in one hit.

If she dies, I can't heal her.

Moreover, I can feel Yuvel trembling in my arms.

After sustaining such severe injuries in the past and now again, she must be terrified.

Furthermore, Yuvel is exhausted from the journey.

I can't let Yuvel fight this monster.

What should I do?

Yuvel's bracelet is broken.

Moreover, Yuvel is exhausted.

Even if I was distracted by the wolf, I should have noticed this monster approaching.

Yuvel is not in her usual state mentally.

She's trying to hide it, but I can tell she's scared.

We have to run.

Fortunately, thanks to the Oni, no other monsters are in sight.

Given that the wolf ran away, it's likely that this monster is also feared by other monsters.

"Mi, Master, p, put me down!"

Yuvel cries out in a desperate voice.

Looking behind, the Oni is already close.

It's faster than I thought.

If this continues, it might catch up to us.

It's a big monster.

Just the fact that it's targeting me with its intent to kill makes me shudder.

My body curls up.

I shouldn't fight this thing.

What would happen if I did?

What happened to Yuvel when I saw her at the slave market?

Her face was crushed, her ears were gone, and she couldn't fight anymore.

I'm scared.

My mind is filled with fear.

But it seems the Oni is faster.

It's closing the distance.

I don't know if I can escape with my current speed.

To run, someone needs to buy us time.

—A thought crosses my mind.

Yuvel might hate me for this.

This is the first time I'm using this on Yuvel.

Until now, it wasn't this dangerous.

I didn't think it was necessary.

But I have no choice.

I gently place Yuvel on the ground.

She immediately tries to go toward the Oni, but I stop her by grabbing her shoulder.

Our eyes meet.

Her expression is determined, but also tense and anxious.

Then, Yuvel seems to realize something and gasps.

She looks at me, sensing what I'm about to do.

But I continue regardless.

I infuse my voice with magic and—command.

"Order. Yuvel, run to the city."

A red, red pattern appears on Yuvel's shoulder.

"Mi, Master!?"

Yuvel lets out a scream.

Slave mark.

A magical seal that forces absolute obedience to commands.

I was unsure if I was using it correctly, but it seems all I needed to do was infuse my voice with magic and speak the command.

No incantation was necessary.

It's working properly.

I can't let Yuvel fight this monster.

If I'm this scared—Yuvel must be even more terrified.

"I'll buy time, you run."

This is a place where I need to be cool.

As a master.

Yuvel heads toward the city.

Yuvel looks at the glowing slave mark in shock.

Even as the mark controls her body, she repeatedly looks back at me.

Yuvel should be able to return to the city alone.

I face the Oni.

When I raise my mace, the Oni looks at me with interest and stops.

It's okay.

Even if it's a strong monster, its only weapon is its fists.

And I can use healing magic.

As long as I protect my head, I won't die immediately.

I'll buy time until Yuvel is far enough away.

I look at the massive Oni.

Yuvel's injuries from the slave market.

Yuvel's constant vigilance since we left the city.

Yuvel's expression, trembling but determined to fight in my arms.

As I look at this monster, various scenes come vividly to mind.

I feel my emotions rising.

I know I can't win in a fair fight.

I only intended to buy time.

But as I think about using healing magic while fighting, maybe I can outlast it.

That's what I start to think.

I want to defeat this monster that makes Yuvel so afraid.

I want to erase her trauma.

This feeling grows stronger.

Maybe I'm getting carried away with the idea of being a shield for a girl and fighting a powerful monster.

But I really want to defeat this monster.

So that Yuvel doesn't have to fear its shadow anymore.

First, I use Identify.

Armored Ogre (Mutant)

This monster is called an Armored Ogre.

I hoped to find a weakness, but it doesn't seem that easy.

"Armored" likely refers to the hard skin that repelled my mace.

I'm not sure what "Mutant" means.

For now, I raise my mace to protect my head and slowly close the distance.

We're still out of range for attacks.

I cautiously close the distance bit by bit.

What's important in fighting monsters is being prepared to take hits.

Always be ready to use healing magic.

My healing magic can instantly heal even fatal wounds.

Theoretically, as long as my head is safe, I won't die.

I should be able to fight.

As I think this—

The Ogre suddenly swings both arms at me.

What?

There's still a distance between us.

Swinging its arms won't reach me.

What is it—

In an instant.

Blades-like objects shoot out from the Ogre's arms.

Something about fifty centimeters long, growing from its arms.

...Is this a sword, no, a claw?

I remember, the Identify result said it was a mutant Armored Ogre.

...Is this the mutation?

Large claws that give a sense of sharpness just by looking at them.

These claws grow from the arms of the Armored Ogre.

...This might be bad.

My mind goes cold.

This might not work.

No, it probably won't work.

Blades are bad.

Blades are definitely bad.

I might be able to withstand a punch depending on how I receive it and where it hits.

But blades are different.

There's no way to survive being cut in half.

It's scary.

Blades are really scary.

I feel the trauma of having my leg cut by a Giant Ant resurfacing.

I remember, Yuvel's face was more likely injured by claws than punches.

That makes sense, claws, right?

The scales in my mind tip suddenly.

I should run too.

A tactical retreat.

There was a glimmer of hope with bare hands, but those claws are a no-go.

Hard skin, sharp and deadly claws, a perfect combination of offense and defense.

I don't think I can win in a fair fight.

I was getting carried away with the idea of being cool, but seeing those claws, I immediately sobered up.

I'm not a swordsman or a warrior.

I'm just a regular person who can use healing magic.

I shouldn't fight this monster.

I'll just get killed and add to Yuvel's trauma.

—While I'm thinking, the Ogre swings its arm.

"Ah, ah!"

I dodge the direct hit by jumping to the side, but my clothes are cleanly sliced.

This sharpness.

...And even though I've decided to run, the Ogre is right in front of me.

I'm in a crouched position after the jump.

I'm about to be killed in five seconds.

No, maybe two seconds.

Is there anything, anything at all?

I throw a rock from the ground at the Ogre.

The rock is shattered by a single swing of the Ogre's arm.

I take out a piece of clothing from my item box and throw it at the Ogre's face.

The clothing is cut in half before it reaches the Ogre's face.

As I rummage through my item box, I find something useful.

It's a magic item for hot water that I found in the dungeon.

...This might work.

I stand up and aim the hot water magic item at the Ogre's eyes.

The output is about the same as a fully open faucet.

It's like a water gun.

A minor annoyance.

But it's effective at close range.

The Ogre shields its eyes with its arm, seemingly bothered by the water in its eyes.

For a moment, the Ogre loses sight of me.

I take the opportunity to splash water at the Ogre's feet.

The ground around the Ogre's feet