Only I know that this world will end – 084 | Sousaku – 創作

D-class Quest: Orc

――The twenty-eighth time.

Akira woke up and left the hospital after completing all the known events.
He did not see Nao.
Or perhaps it would be more correct to say that he could not see her.
Even though there was nothing he could do about it, by returning from death, Nao was forcibly dragged onto a battlefield. Akira knew that this would cause her trauma.
Because he was aware that he was doing something painful for her, Akira had no face to meet with Nao.

With the axe returned to his possession through the inventory, Akira moved on through the city.
So straight into the next city, Akira happened upon that monster, acting alone.

――Ding.

――――――――――――――――――

This is the monster that previously defeated you.
A quest will be generated.

――――――――――――――――――

Ⅾ-class Quest: Orc will start.
The condition for clearing the quest is to defeat the orcs.

――――――――――――――――――

Number of orcs defeated ０/５０

――――――――――――――――――

Akira let out a sigh of breath at the displayed screen.

(As I thought. No doubt about it. If the quest wasn't generated against an opponent whom I "intentionally" lost to, then it would be strange that the quest was generated against the Minotaur from the beginning. If suicide is a method of determining whether or not a quest occurs, then there is no way a minotaur quest could have occurred in that cycle. Because at the time, I…… I was so desperate to escape that I didn't even think about fighting him. I decided to stand up to him from the moment Nao-san made that comment to me. ――――If the will to fight is involved in the quest's occurrence, then the minotaur's quest should never have occurred in the first place.)

So why did the quest not occur when he chose to die by suicide against the Black Wolf during one of those iterations?
The answer to this question became clear when this quest occurred.

(……Because the Black Wolf had a lower rank than I did at that point, I guess. Thinking back, the timing of the quest was always when I was killed by a monster of my own rank or higher. This quest does not occur against opponents of lower rank than yourself. So I, who at that point had a higher level and status than the Black Wolf, couldn't meet the requirements for the quest to happen.)

Rather than a quest, perhaps it would be easier to say that this was a trial given to Ichijou Akira.
When you die, if the opponent who killed you at that time was of the same or higher rank, a quest would be generated; if the opponent was of a lower rank, it would be your failure, and the quest would not be generated and you would return from death in vain.

That's how this system worked.

(I'm wondering, though, if the monsters are going to get stronger, will you eventually get quests against monsters that are lower-ranked at this point in time……? Well, let's leave it at that for now. For the time being, I'm glad the quest occurred. It was a kind of a half-bet. If this had not generated a quest, well, I would have just carried on leveling…… But this will make it much easier to raise my level.)

Muttering in his mind, Akira stared at the displayed screen.
Then he stared at the letter D on the display there and let out a sigh.

(……D-class, huh? The points I got for clearing the Minotaur in class C were 50, so I'm guessing it would be less than that for class D. ……Well, whatever. Still, that's enough.)

After regaining his composure, Akira raised his battle-axe.

Then, as he turned his gaze toward the hostile Orc, he quietly gathered his strength throughout his body and strode forward as if to release it all at once.

"Ghraaaa!! "

Akira glided across the ground and came within range of the Orc, swinging the battle-axe in his hand.
The Orc matched his iron sword to Akira's axe and met the blade head-on.

――Kiiiiiin.

The high-pitched sound of two metal objects colliding with each other echoed in the surrounding area. Akira saw the sparks that blew up at the same time, and a small smile appeared in his mouth.

"The Minotaur's axe would suffice, but that sword would be nice too. I would love to have one for a side weapon!! "

Shouting, Akira kicked the ground and stepped away, then charged at the Orc again.
The Orc, too, aimed at the rushing Akira and swung the iron sword in his hand, but Akira was slightly faster.
After narrowly avoiding the iron sword that loomed before him, Akira entered the Orc's bosom and swung his battle-axe, tearing the Orc's body apart.

"Goaaa!? "

The Orc screamed and his body arched over in pain.
Without missing the opportunity, he pursued it. Akira used all the momentum in his body to deliver an all-out low kick to the Orc's thigh.
The certain feeling of crushing flesh.
The shock and pain slowed the Orc's movements for a few seconds, creating a clear opening.
Akira put all his strength into his arm to swing his axe once more, but the Orc was not so willing to take so many attacks.

"Buoooo!! "

The Orc shouted and grabbed Akira as he entered his bosom, trying to grapple him.
Akira clicked his tongue at the action, slammed his fist against the Orc's arm, and leaped back toward his rear.

"……As expected, we're in the same rank. It's not easy to take you down, is it?"

Akira exhaled, wiping the sweat from his temples and down his cheeks.
It had been a long time since he had faced nothing but so-called small fries such as Black Wolves, Goblins, Boars, and Gray Wolves, and not someone whom he could not defeat even if he faced them with all his strength.

"Fuuー…………"

As if to change his thoughts, Akira recalled the battle with the Minotaur in his mind.
The movement, the Focus, the emotion of that moment.
As if to draw it all out again, Akira recalled his own memories, then held the battle-axe in his hand at his waist and looked straight at the Orc.

"But that's all…… If I beat you, it means that my level will go up."

Akira said and licked his dry lips.
Then, he gathered strength in both feet again, kicked the ground at once, and dashed out.

"Haa! "

He exhaled and, at the same time, swung his axe with all his strength.
The blade came straight for the Orc's throat, but the Orc, perhaps anticipating its trajectory, quickly ducked to avoid it.

"Bumooooooooo!! "

The Orc returned to his stance and swung his iron sword.
Akira twisted and ducked the iron sword and slammed his fist against the outstretched arm.

"Uoooo!! "

The impact loosened the Orc's grip on his iron sword.
Immediately, Akira fired a kick toward the hand and pushed the Orc's iron sword away from him.

"Ooh!! "

Akira shouted and twisted his hips.
The high kick he delivered caught the Orc squarely in the jaw and shook his brain.
Whirling, the Orc's eyes turned white.
The concussion must have knocked him out.
Taking advantage of the clear opportunity, Akira spun the axe in his hand around and held it at the ready, then exhaled deeply.

"It's over."

Muttering, Akira swung his arm.
The blade went straight for the Orc's thick neck, tearing at its flesh and bone and ending its life.

――――――――――――――――――

Level has been raised.
Level has been raised.
Level has been raised.
……………………
…………
……

Five points were awarded.
There are points earned that have not been spent.
Please distribute the points earned.

――――――――――――――――――

Ⅾ-class Quest: Orc in progress.
Number of orcs defeated：１/５０

――――――――――――――――――

The massive body collapsed, and a large number of levels were displayed in front of him.
Akira let out a big breath at the simultaneous display of the quest progression.

"The monster strengthening happened, and thanks to the difference in levels between me and the Orcs, I'm leveling up faster."

Originally, it would have been impossible to defeat an Orc in his current level range, but he was able to do so because of his status through physical strengthening, which had been enhanced by the points he gained from defeating the Minotaur.

――For the very first time, I might have received a decent benefit from the strengthening of the monsters.

With that thought in mind, Akira turned off the screen as he brushed off the blood stain on the battle axe in his hand.

"Next……"

Catching his breath, Akira picked up the iron sword that the Orc had dropped and started to walk away.
Then it wasn't long before he found his next prey.