Chapter 122 King Ogre
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I dashed into the teleportation room, only to find a small line had already formed. The six magic circles—three for diving in, three for returning—were evenly split at the moment. Naturally, no one was queued for the return circles, but I could see parties streaming back in one after another.
I cut straight to the front of the line for the dive circles.
”Excuse me! Student Freedom Alliance! We’ve got an emergency rescue request! Let us go first!” I shouted, brandishing Nyaruko-san’s smartphone like a badge.
If anyone dared to argue, I’d flatten them on the spot.
”[Mad Dog] Tsuchimiya!? O-okay! Go ahead!”
Thankfully, they stepped back and let me through. The people behind them looked shocked but didn’t complain. Everyone makes way for emergency vehicles in Japan—it’s a beautiful thing, this spirit of mutual aid.
”Wait, Takeru-kun!? What’s going on!?”
Lugia-san blocked my path as I strode toward the magic circle that had just teleported the party ahead.
”I just got an SOS from someone who dove into the fifth floor. It’s urgent, so I’ll skip the formalities,” I said, cutting past Lugia-san.
”C-communication!?”
”Don’t worry, I’ll explain later!”
”Yes, absolutely!”
Lugia-san looked confused but let me through. Those regular bribes do work after all—I’ll make sure to add an extra cup of instant noodles later.
Once on the magic circle, Hiromi grabbed my hand.
”Uh… the destination’s the fifth floor. So, Maekawa-san is still—”
”We’re going. There could be monsters attacking, right? You can’t handle both combat and rescue alone. And I’ve got Valeria with me, too.”
I hesitated… She was right. If I went alone, I might be stretched too thin. Yesterday, we’d visited the recovery spring area, which updated everyone’s teleportation logs. If I got stuck, no one could come to help. Bringing Maekawa-san along meant we could even call reinforcements from the Academy.
”Alright, let’s go. Maekawa-san!”
”Hiromi.”
”Ah… yes. Hiromi-san.”
It was the first time I’d addressed a girl in my grade by her first name. At first, after… well, you know, it felt fine, but gradually it got embarrassing. Amahara-senpai also made me use first names during… certain activities, but in everyday life, it was still awkward. I’d just have to get used to it.
Placing my feet in the center of the magic circle, a window popped up. Normally, I’d tap to choose which circle to teleport to, but Tina handled it automatically, so I’d never done it myself.
Bathed in light, the scenery shifted, and we teleported to the fifth floor. Immediately, the auto-map unfolded in front of us. Blue points of light moved in clusters toward the northeast.
Three… no, four. Two were missing. Was everything okay!?
”Tina, guide us!” I ordered.
’Hold on! First, change into your boots!’
Tina stopped me as I dashed toward the northern exit.
’This floor is tricky underfoot! In those shoes, you might trip even just running, let alone fighting!’
I grimaced. The fifth floor was damp, with safe areas kept clean, but moss grew along the walkways, and puddles were scattered about. Step on moss in regular sneakers, and you could slip. That’s why everyone had been given boots for exploring this floor.
”Damn! Fine! Hiromi, did you bring your boots? Change quickly!”
”Yes, Valeria has them.”
We hurriedly switched to combat boots.
”Tina! Can you message Kijima-senpai?”
’Yes. I can operate Master’s device.’
”Tell her we’ve arrived on the fifth floor and are heading their way!”
’Understood!’
Once the boots were on, I tested their fit. Monster-hide spikes gave excellent grip, and the high ankle support meant they wouldn’t slip off even during vigorous movement. Still, I’d need to watch my step on moss.
My phone buzzed—a call from Kijima-senpai. Hiromi, ready, ran while putting it on speaker.
’Tsuchimiya-kun!’
That voice was Saegusa-senpai.
”Tsuchimiya here. Heading your way. I can see your positions on the auto-map—only four of you. What’s the situation?”
Tina overlaid the fastest route to the senpais on the auto-map while giving directions.
’Suddenly… beast attacked, and Higashimura-kun’s badly hurt. Sogahara-kun, Secretary Tsukuba, and Keita are holding them off!’
Secretary Tsukuba was present, then. Saegusa-senpai had led the three rearguard members to retreat. Could monsters on the fifth floor be enough to split them? Saegusa-senpai said “beast,” not “Monster”—I hoped that was just a slip. A bad feeling gnawed at me.
’Do you have any universal potion? Higashimura-kun’s in danger!’
”I’ve got some! But three monsters are heading your way! I’m close, so either hold your position or retreat!”
’Got it! We don’t want to move Higashimura-kun—staying here!’
”Understood!”
Saegusa-senpai’s group pulled back to the corridor entrance, making a protective line. The monsters were near but slow, so we’d likely meet them as they arrived.
Ahead, the blue points of the three rearguard members appeared. There were supposed to be three, but four lights showed, forming a large triangle around one. Could it be—
’Tsuchimiya-kun! I see the monsters! One ogre and two orcs! Hurry!’
Saegusa-senpai’s urgent voice cut through my phone. I heard Kanami-san casting attack magic.
”I’m almost there! I see the monsters’ backs!”
Rounding the corridor, a monster charged into the room, swinging flames and roaring.
”Wait up! Oraaa!”
I shouted, leaping in. The monster stopped and turned.
”Azure Thunder Fang!”
I charged the middle ogre with Kondou Spear wrapped in azure lightning. As it raised its club, I blasted forward, stabbing the spear into its chest. Blue lightning exploded, and the ogre crumpled. A second-floor boss wandering freely? Unbelievable.
Next to me, Hiromi skewered an orc, piercing its leather armor. Her spear had Sagara’s +2 bonus—it packed a punch.
The last orc panicked, only to be cut down by Saegusa-senpai.
”Tsuchimiya-kun, thanks! You saved us!”
Kanami-san and Kijima-senpai, carrying the exhausted Higashimura-senpai, entered the room.
”Tsuchimiya-kun! Please take care of Higashimura-kun!”
Kijima-senpai crouched with her back to me, revealing Higashimura-senpai’s bloodied back.
Three deep scratches ran from his right shoulder to his left side, as if clawed by some beast. His leather armor had been torn in the back, but maybe that saved him from instant death. Thanks to the universal potion, he hadn’t died either, so this level of injury was probably manageable.
Looking closer, I noticed Saegusa-senpai had cuts running from her left shoulder down to her arm, bleeding heavily.
”Takeru-kun! I’ll take care of him here—go ahead!”
Hiromi said, loosening the cord of a water pouch she pulled from Valeria’s storage magic.
”Got it! I’ll leave it to you!”
I replied briefly and darted down the corridor without looking back.
Checking the auto-map, I saw three enemies surrounding one in the center. Whenever the central one closed in on a single target, the other two attacked from behind. When the center paused, they retreated slightly.
Still, they hadn’t finished them off. They were coordinated, but not expertly. If the central enemy wasn’t weakened, it would be a slow bleed-out. Their strategy would eventually fail—I could see that already.
’Not a monster, but a player, huh? Could that be that Kibakura guy? I’ve got a bad feeling.’
Don’t say it—I felt nothing but dread too.
Thanks to Sogahara-senpai and the others clearing the path, no monsters blocked the route. I sprinted along the shortest path and arrived at the room.
”Waaaahhh!!”
”Tsukuba-kun!!”
”Damn it! Face this way!”
I burst into the room, where Secretary Tsukuba was cornered by a red-black ogre.
”Everyone, get back! Lightning Bolt!”
As Sogahara-senpai and Katsura-kun, who had been attacking from behind, retreated at my shout, a bolt of lightning pierced the ogre’s side. Tsukuba slipped out from the corner as its movements froze.
’Lightning Bolt’s strength depends on level, so it’s only enough to startle,’ Tina reminded me.
It could have felled a goblin, but the ogre quickly turned back. I knew it—magic attacks and I weren’t exactly compatible. Thanks to Nectar, my magic was high for a beginner, which barely kept me effective.
”Tsuchimiya-kun!”
”Thank you, Tsuchimiya-kun!”
”Higashimura-kun is being treated with universal potion! He won’t die!”
”Oh! Thank you!”
Sogahara-senpai and the others glanced at me briefly, smiling, then immediately tensed again. The ogre turned and glared at me.
It was a massive creature, over two and a half meters tall, with red-black hardened skin that looked like armor. Two horns sprouted from its forehead, and its shoulders, elbows, and back had hardened spikes.
It resembled an ogre but was clearly a different species. Its upper body was bare, wearing only tattered belt-strapped pants, and its face carried faint traces of someone I knew.
”This…! Could it really be Kibakura!?”
When I first saw him, he was already inhuman. Seeing a human mutate into a feral monster was shocking.
’He’s small for now, but he’s a higher-class ogre! Comparing appearance with what Appraisal can’t detect, he must be a King-class… King Ogre!’
King Ogre!? Even King Goblins were considered Expert Level monsters—what was going on here!?
”Goooaaaargh!!”
The King Ogre roared and charged at me, arms outstretched, slobber dripping from its wide gaping mouth. Its yellow, clouded eyes betrayed no intelligence.
This bastard… wants to eat me!
Despite its size, it was fast, closing the distance in an instant. I hit its face with a Blast, but it barely moved its head and slashed downward with claws.
Shit!
I deflected the blow with my Blast, narrowly dodging. Its sharp claws whistled past my face. I thrust my spear in a counterattack, but the tip only scraped its chest armor-like skin.
”Damn! Hard as hell!”
The Blast barely made an impact either.
”Tsuchimiya-kun, fall back!”
Sogahara-senpai and Katsura-kun struck from behind. The King Ogre paused as their strikes hit its knees, but it didn’t falter, swiping at them with its claws. The two quickly retreated, and I put some distance between us as well.
”If it charges, just pull it in! Don’t fight it head-on!”
”Understood!”
Facing it directly was dangerous, and fortunately, it didn’t seem very intelligent. The plan was simple: the targeted person acted as bait while others attacked from behind.
While we kept the King Ogre surrounded at a distance, something caught my eye.
”Tina, what’s that smoke?”
White smoke rose from the King Ogre’s left knee, slashed by Sogahara-senpai.
’That’s rapid regeneration. When wounds heal quickly, heat is released along with moisture. It’s part of the spell, and this usually happens with high-speed regeneration.’
Evaporative cooling, huh? So, basically, no damage.
We kept up the encirclement, but it was futile.
”Gugooaaargh!”
The King Ogre lunged at Sogahara-senpai, and I, along with Katsura-kun, moved immediately.
”Katsura-kun, you’ll get caught! Stop!”
I held him back while closing in behind the King Ogre. After diving together for the past few days, Katsura-kun quickly caught on and halted.
”Azure Thunder Fang!”
I stabbed Kondou Spear into the gap of its side armor. Blue lightning exploded as the King Ogre screamed.
”Guruaaah!!”
It turned and leapt at me.
”Whoa!?”
I used Blast to create distance, but it kept coming, claws swinging relentlessly.
It must’ve hurt enough to enrage it, but it was ridiculously resilient. Sogahara-senpai and Katsura-kun struck from behind, but it didn’t care. The wounds were surely regenerating even now.
This was bad. I heard Sogahara-senpai’s voice:
”Tsukuba-kun! Escape while you can!”
”What!? B-but…”
”Shiori and the others should have reached the safe zone by now. We’ve bought enough time. But we can’t all escape and drag this thing to safety. Tsukuba-kun goes first!”
”U-understood! Sorry, excuse me!”
Secretary Tsukuba looked frustrated but bolted for the exit. The King Ogre noticed the missing target, paused its attack, and turned toward the exit.
I couldn’t let it reach the safe zone—this was Kibakura. If it entered the safe zone, it might use teleportation magic to advance to the Academy. The potential casualties were unimaginable.
Sogahara-senpai’s caution was probably correct. On the auto-map, this one appeared as blue, a human, not red like a monster. The risk of it entering the safe zone was high.
But if we keep the King Ogre here, what about the last person? Ah… that’s why they were waiting for me.
”Next, Katsura-kun! Go!”
I yelled at Katsura-kun, ready for the next move.
”Tsuchimiya-senpai!? N-no, you can’t! Tsuchimiya-senpai, you need to leave first!”
”No, if everyone’s going to get out safely, I have to stay. Right, Sogahara-senpai?”
”That’s right. Sorry for making you do all the work. Of course, I’ll stay too, so forgive me.”
The last person heading to the safe zone would draw the King Ogre along. That’s why we had to act as bait, leading it deep into the dungeon and losing it somewhere along the way. We couldn’t get trapped in a dead-end, and we had to avoid groups of monsters. Returning to the safe zone afterward required my auto-map.
”Katsura-kun! See you later!”
Sogahara-senpai called out, and Katsura-kun seemed to accept the plan.
”You two, come back no matter what!”
The King Ogre’s eyes followed Katsura-kun as he ran for the exit. I stepped between them to block its pursuit. But it let Katsura-kun go, turning its gaze to me and Sogahara-senpai flanking it.
What the… the atmosphere just changed!?
It no longer seemed like a mindless, raging beast. Now it was measuring us, focusing on me and Sogahara-senpai. The feeling was… unsettling.
”…Kibakura-kun?”
Sogahara-senpai must have sensed it too, his voice tense as he spoke to the King Ogre.
”Gruooaargh!!”
The King Ogre lunged at Sogahara-senpai, and I saw its back, bracing Kondou Spear as I closed the distance.
But as it swung its right arm, it spun smoothly, facing me. That motion—clearly human.
It’s baiting me!
I’d anticipated this somehow, because I stopped my feet and leapt out of range with a reaction that surprised even me.
”Ugh!?”
But its raised right hand now held a long metal club. The crack of air hit me like a truck. Reflexively, I blocked with Kondou Spear, but I had no idea how effective it was.
The blow sent me flying into a wall meters away, skidding across the floor.
’Waaah! Master! Wake up! Wake up! It’s coming this way! This is bad!’
I knew, but my body wouldn’t move. A numbness kept pain from registering, which only made it worse. I tried to reach for the rolled Kondou Spear, but only my fingers twitched.
I expected the King Ogre to leap at me, fangs bared, but it trudged forward, raising its club.
”Tsu…chimiyah…!”
It recognizes me!
”Kibakura!”
Sogahara-senpai charged from behind with his sword, and I saw the corner of the King Ogre’s mouth curl into a grin.
This is bad! Same pattern as before!
It spun quickly, bringing the club down toward Sogahara-senpai. That speed and power—if I weren’t down, I might not even react.
The club smashed the floor, shattering stone where it struck. Sogahara-senpai’s head swayed out of the path just in time, his raised sword clanging with sparks.
Did he just parry that!?
Sliding past the King Ogre, he swung his sword, sparks flying from under its arm.
The King Ogre staggered a few steps, then stopped.
”Tsuchimiya-kun, when you can move, escape to the safe zone. Don’t worry—I’ll buy time until then.”
Sogahara-senpai turned back to face the King Ogre. His sword had lost about a third of its length.
It would take more than a minute or two for me to move… I might even pass out.
If he had a stronger sword, maybe he could take the King Ogre head-on. But with our current firepower, there’s no way to defeat it.
How is he not running…?
The King Ogre looked back, and the sword buried in its shoulder clattered to the ground. White steam hissed from the wound.
”I would’ve preferred to fight you in your right mind, but it won’t go like last time.”
Sogahara-senpai gripped the broken sword, glaring at the King Ogre. His hair fluttered as if he were already using the Wind God Sword (Fūjin Ken).
The King Ogre rotated its right shoulder, testing its strength, then raised the club and charged.
Just before collision, a female voice rang out.
”Flash Flood!”
A massive torrent of water shot from the side like a speeding train, knocking the King Ogre off its feet. It was swept into the distance, crashing into the far wall.
”Takeru-kun! Now, this way!”
Hiromi stood at the exit, arms outstretched, shouting. Behind her, Secretary Tsukuba and Katsura-kun looked stunned. That had to be Valeria’s magic!
Sogahara-senpai quickly dropped the sword, grabbed me, and ran toward Hiromi while I picked up Kondou Spear.
”Why did you come back!?”
”Well, this guy wouldn’t stop, so I had no choice…”
Secretary Tsukuba and the others looked concerned.
”No, thanks to you we’re safe. You’re Maekawa-kun, right? Take care of Tsuchimiya-kun. And Katsura-kun, lend her that sword.”
”Yes!”
She’s going to lure the King Ogre deeper into the dungeon alone. If I drink the universal potion now, I can keep up.
”All we have to do is hold it off, right? Everyone, come this way!”
Hiromi grabbed Sogahara-senpai’s arm and led him back along the corridor.
”Wait! We can’t let it reach the safe zone!”
”I understand. Valeria, is this enough space?”
”No, that’s a King-class. Move to the edge of the corridor, just in case.”
”Got it.”
Everyone paused at Valeria’s voice, but Hiromi, still holding Sogahara-senpai, sprinted to the corner.
A roar of anger echoed, and I looked back to see the King Ogre charging into the corridor.
”Here it comes!”
”Valeria, please!”
The serpent bracelet on Hiromi’s wrist slipped off and floated in midair, transforming her into a figure in a dark blue robe. Valeria raised both hands.
Water surged into the corridor from nowhere, rapidly filling it, forming a high, clear wall in front of her. Not a drop passed to our side.
The King Ogre struggled, unable to move in the floating torrent, and was thrown into the incoming room.
By then, I managed to move. With Secretary Tsukuba’s help, I drank the universal potion, catching my breath. My insides and bones had taken a beating—I might not have gotten up alone.
”This is a kind of defensive barrier. If I were at full power, it could last ten years, but now… maybe two or three days at most.”
”That’s enough. That gives us time to regroup and face it. Right, Sogahara-senpai?”
”Ah… yeah. By the way, who exactly is she…?”
Everyone’s eyes focused on Valeria, cloaked like an invisible figure.
”Hehe, I’m Elderun—”
I stood up and swiftly shoved Valeria’s head.
”This is Valeria, a water spirit. Due to certain circumstances, I’d like you to keep her a secret.”
”Oh! Maekawa-kun, you’re a spirit user! But… she’s visible and can speak so clearly… she must be a high-ranking spirit, right?”
”Well, you can tell, can’t you? I’m a water spirit—oh!?”
”Don’t just start talking on your own!”
’Um… my heart can’t take it if you keep slapping the spirit king’s avatar like that.’
”Ugh, Takeru, that’s mean…”
”Of course, I’ll keep the secret. Now we need to head back for an emergency board meeting. I’d like Tsuchimiya-kun and the others to attend as well.”
”Understood. I’ll fully cooperate.”
There’s no way we can have a peaceful Academy life while leaving him alone. We need to deal with this now. But it’s clear my power isn’t enough. At minimum, we have a two-day grace period. I need to be able to face him during that time.
”I was planning to start work tomorrow, but I’ve used up my stored magic, so it looks like a recharge period for a while.”
Valeria’s talking like a shut-in. I thought she was busy, but she’s been holed up in her room every day—what was she doing?
After that, we somehow managed to return safely to the Academy.
Notes:
• Lugia-san – Facility manager who was bribed by the MC with cup ramen
• Lugia – Facility manager who was bribed by the MC with cup ramen
• Maekawa-san – The leader of the group of four girls (including Hano, etc) who are in the same class as the MC.
• Amahara-senpai – Student Council President
• Kijima-senpai – Kijima Shiori. Sogahara-senpai’s girlfriend. Currently working as a Student Council assistant.
• Kijima – Kijima Shiori. Sogahara-senpai’s girlfriend. Currently working as a Student Council assistant.
• Saegusa-senpai – Third-year vanguard student in Sogahara-senpai’s party
• Higashimura-kun – Third-year scout in Sogahara-senpai’s party
• Sogahara – Student Council Vice President
• Tsukuba – Secretary of student council. The one who find MC.
• Keita – First-year vanguard student in Sogahara-senpai’s party
• Kanami-san – Second-year rearguard Magician in Sogahara-senpai’s party
• Higashimura-senpai – Third-year scout in Sogahara-senpai’s party
• Kibakura – Leader of Demiurge
• Sogahara-senpai – Student Council Vice President
• Tsukuba-kun – Secretary of student council. The one who find MC for Karen.
• Katsura-kun – First-year vanguard student in Sogahara-senpai’s party
• Shiori – Kijima Shiori. Sogahara-senpai’s girlfriend. Currently working as a Student Council assistant.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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