Quotes of the day:
"Why do you care so much about the things you have in your head? Instead, why don't you go over to the ones who caused you to be in this state and cherish them?"
-‹›-
The fact that the group of female orcs was capable of agilely dodging the trees on their way made his scalp go numb. Isn't their figure huge? Then why can they so damn easily dodge the trees in their way?
Tell me, isn't that pure nonsense?
Kazuma and the hooded figure keep running, but it seems like the latter actually knows where she was going. It relieved Kazuma greatly, as he finally found a reliable source.
All he did since he arrived is to speculate. With no clear substance regarding the world's information.
"Oh, let me caress that tender ass~!"
Kazuma's eyes twitched. Fuck, please have some integrity ma'am, how could you say that in broad daylight? Don't you have any shame? Don't you ask for a beating by acting like this?
"Hihihihi! Bear me a child~!"
"That's it!"
Their words cause intense migraine. Kazuma, who cannot bear it any longer, brought out his sword. The hooded figure beside him snapped her head and hurriedly urged, "A-Ah! Wait, stranger guy! If you fight them, you will simply be suppressed! Just bear with it-!"
'[ Sword Wave ]!'
'[ Sword Wave ]!'
'[ Sword Wave ]!'
Not regarding anything else, Kazuma madly unleashed three consecutive [ Sword Wave ]. The swivelling sound destructively boomed right the moment the shockwaves were released from his sword. Screaming utter destruction.
Witnessing those destructive shockwaves, the female orcs' expressions drastically changed.
But the shockwaves were too fast. They cannot react at all as the shockwaves crash against them.
Boom!
The combined force of three [ Sword Waves ] is a sight to behold. From where the duo stood, they could see the collision of the skill that brutally collided with the female orcs. Blood splashed out everywhere, with limbs and body parts flying right and left.
«Seven Female Orcs have been defeated!»
«Received: 210 Class Points»
«Congratulation! [ Sword Wave ] has been upgraded to Lv. 2!»
«??? [ Rank AAA ] has developed an interest towards you»
[ None ] » [ Interest Lv. 1 ]
«Congratulation on the achievement!»
«Rewards of Achievement › 200 Affectum Points, An Upgrade Point»
"Peak Swordmaster. Hm, not bad."
Witnessing the destructive collision, the hooded figure nodded, as if approving him. But Kazuma, while noticing the azure screen filled with notifications, cannot be lax. Because the opposing group isn't made up of only seven. No, it is filled with more than that.
In addition, witnessing the brutal scene makes him pale. But he shook it off. Right now, he had to focus. This fight regards his life, after all.
"Quite fierce, ah?"
"Heheheh, it's not the first time that our prey refused to compromise!"
The remaining female orcs, instead of backing down by witnessing his skills, fearlessly pushed forward. Their previous perverted faces are nowhere to be seen. Their current faces are only filled with rage and battle intent.
"Catch that bastard and never let him rest after that!"
The hooded figure stiffened before mumbling out, "I told you stranger-san, it's better not to collide with them if we can. Now, we have to handle their berserk nature. Ah..."
"RAAGH!"
Before the hooded figure finished her words, one of the female orcs explosively charged forward. In an instant, she collide with Kazuma, who was pushed back a couple of meters by that clash.
It could be said that his current strength is not enough to fend off the female orcs in their current state. Worse, the female orc he collided with is just a subordinate.
From the group, he could see a couple of them with distinguishable features. And amongst them stood a humongous female orc, at least 2 meters tall. That female orc used a massive mace as a weapon, with red irises as eyes and hard, strong red skin.
Seeing that there was no way out anymore, Kazuma could only do this. Run away? Don't be joking, the explosive charge of a subordinate orc is comparable to his all-out run with his current speed.
«Strength › F Plus» -› «Strength › E Plus»
«100 Affectum Points have been spent»
[ Remaining Affectum Points: 400 ]
«Strength › E Plus» -› «Strength › D Plus»
«1 Upgrade Point has been spent»
[ Remaining Upgrade Points: 0 ]
However, rather than escaping, why not get some extra Class Points?
Kazuma didn't realize that his mind was accustomed to the way of using the system way too fast. It's been only a couple of hours yet, he already treats these beings as nothing more than 'points'.
When you have a purpose and a way, it seems like everything would just flow. Common sense and logical thinking seemed worthless. Or it could be that the game enthusiast side of his was brimming with excitement.
Either way, it doesn't change the fact that he was brutally treating the killing as nothing more than reaping more points.
Though, what he killed was worth killing. And the purpose of why he did all of this... Makes everything more worth it.
Nonetheless, in the first place, they are monsters, so it was understandable for him to kill them.
After all, it was the custom of a monster-infested world. If he didn't do this, he would probably die.
Unfamiliar yet familiar strength filled his body. Kazuma could feel an explosive force that perfectly assimilate with his body, waiting for him to unleash it. He felt unstoppable.
With his newly-gained strength, he slowly walked forward. Unwavering confidence was emitted from his figure. The hooded figure threw out her hand to stop him but retracts it afterwards. Instead, she just asked, "Honorable Swordmaster, do you still wanna fight?"
She puts that title for this Swordmaster for the fact that the person before her did not retreat even when the situation is incomparably hopeless. He still fights. Not bent in the slightest by the circumstance.
It was rare to meet such a person in this world.
"Yeah."
Then, a bunch of female orcs, including the previous one, charged forward, their explosive figures covered in veins, exhibiting madness and rage. The hooded figure lowered her eyes while grasping the clothed pole. Under the hood, a pair of gleaming crimson could be seen.
She steeled herself, 'Do not worry Honorable Swordmaster, this Archwizard shall not let you die-'
"[ Sword Strike ]."
A simple chant was heard throughout the battlefield. The hooded figure saw that a sword was raised, emitting devastating force. If not for the clear auburn-haired visage holding the sword, she would've thought that it was someone else.
The sword descended.
The female orcs truly don't know what hits them.
BANG!
They were obliterated. It's not an exaggeration. Their explosive figures break apart, showering the surrounding with their filthy blood. Amidst it all, a silent visage holds the sword, placing it beside him.
The ground surrounding him cracked apart. It wasn't until the cracks went for about 10 meters around the visage before it stopped.
It was truly an unforgettable scene for the hooded figure. Her tiny pink lips gaped under the shadow of the hood.
'Breaking through under the pressure...?'
«??? [ Rank AAA ] interest has increased»
[ Interest Lv. 1 ] » [ Interest Lv. 5 ]
«Congratulation on the achievement!»
«Rewards of Achievement › An Upgrade Point, 1500 Affectum Points»
«Five Female Orcs have been defeated»
«Received: 150 Class Points»
«Congratulation! [ Sword Strike ] has been upgraded to Lv. 2!»
"[ Sword Wave ] showed incomparable sharpness while [ Sword Strike ] showed incomparable strength..."
The difference between the two skills, at first Kazuma thought, was not much. After all, both of them are sword skills. But just now that he realized how wrong that assumption is.
It was simple. [ Sword Wave ] is insanely sharp that it could cut down trees like butter, while [ Sword Strike ] is stupidly strong it could break the ground apart, despite the sword not being a blunt weapon.
Their essences are worlds apart.
"My subordinates died very easily under your hand, huh? Very good. A strong mate will produce strong offspring!"
Finally, the final boss came out, Kazuma mused under his breath. He looked forward and saw a towering figure slowly strides forward, with a mace so big it looked like a person if one sees it from afar.
Truly, a menacing presence.
This time, however, Kazuma feels a sense of dread. Especially when he realized the intelligence that far surpassed the female orc subordinates that the female orc leader had in her red eyes.
It was like dread that slowly loomed over. And when the leader of the group showed a canine, sinister grin, Kazuma felt a wind blows through his ears, shocking him backwards.
Kazuma always acknowledged that the scariest enemy is not the one who possessed strength. No, it's those who possessed exceptional intelligence. Hence, even an average intelligence could be so frightening when it was edged to the corner.
So when he turned around and saw that the hooded figure was pinned by the leader, Kazuma knew.
This is gonna be tough.
"Kya-!"
"Oh? A tender little girl? Eheh, my preference is not only limited to males. Not bad, not bad. Let me see your figure!"
As Kazuma charged forward, the leader ripped the hood that the hooded figure covered herself with, and what lies beneath makes him dumbstruck. Even so, he did not stop charging.
An approximately 13-year-old girl, in a simple red dress with fair skin and contrasting raven hair. Big, crimson eyes, with a cute pointed little nose and a pair of tiny pink lips. All in her heart-shaped face, framed by her two silky mid-neck-length bangs. But no, that's not the most surprising part.
It's those two small, black horns protruding from her forehead.
"Y-You!"
"Hmph! Do you dare make an offence towards me, a Crimson Demon?!"
Before the female orc leader could answer, a shockwave charged towards her, causing her to feel a tingling sense of dread. Unhesitatingly, she retreated. Even so, the shockwave manages to sever half of her face.
That attack was no joke at all.
The exposed Crimson Demon, this time, gaped again. A leader of a group of female orcs is also injured by stranger-san?!
"YOU BASTARD!"
Kazuma, who heard the threatening boisterous scream was still focused on the exposed hooded figure. Especially those two protruding black horns. Combined with how she proclaimed herself as a Crimson Demon...
No doubt, she's essentially a demon.
To be honest, Kazuma isn't really fearful towards them. Demon, while deemed as the embodiment of evil, is so pitiful if he thought about it. According to popular belief, a demon was a lower-ranked member of Hell. They are subordinates of the Devils and were believed to be mindless.
Though looking at the excessively cute girl before him whose big eyes sparkle with intelligence, Kazuma knew that this girl must be an exception. Or it could be that the term demon was considered different from what he believed. Or precisely, from what the modern era thought it would be.
"Hehe, considered it as this Crimson Demon owing you a favour, stranger-san!"
The demon smiled cheekily, patting her nonexistent chest with her hand proudly. Kazuma considered replying, but it seems like there was someone who wanted to interrupt them.
Kazuma turned around and saw the ruined face of the leader, who charged forward. Her muscles quivered with veins bulging underneath. They are explosive, contracting in rage and pure madness. Behind her, her group followed her suit, showing the same demeanour.
"DIE!"
"Ah, so your intelligence is only limited to this, huh?"
To be honest, the female orc leader's speed exceeded his. If not, how could she easily passed him to pinned the girl?
But unfortunately for the female orc leader, she had to choose the competition of strength.
If they wanted to compare strength, then...
Immediately, a sword was lifted. Then, it was swung horizontally by its owner. A simple attack. But beneath is a force capable of obliterating hundreds of humans. Rank-D Plus strength is not to be underestimated.
"[ Sword Wave ]!"
Not to mention that the [ Sword Wave ] is now level 2.
It is the first time Kazuma unleashed such a power. Rank-D Plus strength and [ Sword Wave Lv. 2 ].
It was more than enough.
Under the Crimson Demon's amazed eyes, a boisterous shockwave with swivelling sound, approximately 5 meters in width, was released from the sword. The female orcs could only charge forward in madness before they collided with the shockwave.
BOOM!
«6 Mid Female Orcs and 1 High Female Orc have been defeated!»
«Received: 400 Class Points»
«Congratulation! [ Sword Wave ] has been upgraded to Lv. 3!»
"Ah, Rank-D threat was neutralised just like that..."
She looked at the casual visage in a strange tracksuit.
At first, she thought he was just an unlucky passerby who has caught those female orcs' attention. She planned to lure those monsters so they would chase someone else, clearing her path to escape.
It was quite sinister, but she was a demon in the first place. Cunningness is like her middle name.
However, she made a mistake. She wore the wrong cloak.
The cloak was supposed to make her invisible, but instead, she snatched a normal cloak. So inevitably, the female orcs noticed her when they saw the Swordmaster before her.
When the Swordmaster was capable of using a Peak Swordmaster skill, she felt a little bit relieved. That's until a huge figure slowly emerged from the group. At that moment, her only escape route is to expose her identity and scare these female orcs off so unwanted incidents wouldn't happen.
But who knows that such a threat, capable of reaching the C-rank threshold, was easily neutralized by the Swordmaster. No, dare she say that he was actually a Sword Grandmaster.
A young man whose capability reached the rank of Sword Grandmasters alike.
"Very impressive!"
Kazuma turned around and saw a little brat nodding, as if she was overseeing a trainee and was satisfied with him. His eyebrows twitched.
"Hey, you lured those things, aren't you?"
"Of course not, if I did, then why did I go with you? It would be better for me to go off somewhere else!"
It was quite impressive for a little girl like her to blatantly lied. What goes off somewhere else? The female orcs would easily notice her with their widespread scouts around this area and with their speed, she would be caught easily.
"I believe you, for now."
Yeah, right. The girl inwardly snorted. Just look at that deadpan plastered on that face of his. Do you think that's a face of a person who believes her word? Nevertheless, she was satisfied with his words. He's not dumb and clueless, that's enough.
"Hmph, of course. Tell me stranger-san, what's your name?"
"Satou Kazuma. What's yours?"
"This esteemed name is too heavy of a burden for you to carry. So I cannot tell you."
Kazuma could only nod. If she's not willing then that's fine. Usually, knowing a name with a humongous identity wasn't very safe. He could see the way the female orc leader reacted to her identity was that of intimidated and fear.
In reality, he was thinking too much. The girl refused to give off her identity because she feared that he knew who she was. If he knew, he would surely report it to her father and that would result in her being grounded.
Being grounded was torturous!
At least, that's what she thought.
"So what should I call you?"
"Hm? What for?"
Hearing her question, Kazuma coughed out indignantly, "Well, I'm lost, so I kinda need a guide. Could you be that guide?"
"Well, where do you wanna go?"
"A town, a village, whatever it was. As long as it was a civilization then that's fine."
The girl revealed a strange look and refuted, "Hey, every place has its specialities. Some have their primer business based on blacksmithing, there are other who was based in the military, and so on. You have to be precise."
Kazuma scratched his head in confusion. Including that factor, then, what should he choose? He mindlessly looked over the azure screen that materialized according to his will and was enlightened when he saw something
[ Locked: Magic Status ]
"Ah, how about a place that specialized in magic?"
"Magic? Aren't you a Swordmaster?"
"Just curious."
Looking at the Swordmaster before her, the demon sighed and shook her head, "Kazuma-san, magic is something only certain people could harbour. Whether it was talent or bloodline, either was essential for one to use magic. I don't want to discourage you but if you have none of them then just, don't go there. The discrimination rate was insane."
Her crimson eyes were burning when she said the last sentence. The town was the centre of all magic in this kingdom but it was heavily infested with its propaganda and whatsoever nonsenses that the governors, nobles in charge in other words, could come up with. And one of the things that she could consider as beyond help is discrimination.
Those who harbour magic and those who don't are worlds apart when it comes to social standing. Because it wasn't just a matter of talent and bloodline, but one.
Power.
Magic and non-magic attacks aren't even worthy to be compared. Because magic attacks are too powerful. The way to defend against it could only be found from artefacts and equipment that were created from rare materials that were strictly produced and sold.
Or defend against it with another magic spell.
So the only one that could be compared to magic is magic.
The girl was a Crimson Demon, and while their proficiencies in magic far surpassed that of normal humans, they hate the centre of magic because of one reason. And that's discrimination.
Hence, their clan was discriminated as long as they can remember. It wasn't until a pure-blooded Crimson Devil, a higher standing of the already talented Crimson Demons, was miraculously born that they could escape the treatment by waring against humans into submission.
Though that was a long time ago, those magic supremacists still remember the devastating destruction that the Crimson Demon Clan could initiate. It was like an apocalyptic day back then. That's why they were never discriminated against by them.
Still, the Crimson Demon Clan hates the act itself. But they also hate conflict based on something stupid such as this. So in the end, they decided to not care anymore.
"Discrimination?"
Hearing that it happened here too, Kazuma could imagine how much worst it could be. His previous world was bad enough, but here, it reached another level. Because it wasn't a matter of appearance, but power and social standing.
In the end, he could only sigh. Without the system, perhaps he would be just a normal person who has to get used to being attacked by monsters and ploughing farmlands so he could live.
Considering his original all rank-F stats.
"So, where do you suggest for me to go?"
The girl took a thinking posture before looking in a certain direction, "By the way, why do you wanna go to the centre of magic?"
"I wanna learn about magic and mana."
"Ah? You just want to know?"
"Yeah?"
What was he supposed to do other than learn magic when he wanted to go there, anyway?
"Then why didn't you say so?! Hmph hmph, this esteemed one is an Archwizard! Incomparable to any wizards or witches! There's no need for you to struggle about finding any knowledge about magic if you have me by your side!"
Again, she patted her nonexistent chest proudly. Dignifiedly puffed her chest out, with her other hand grasping the clothed pole. Kazuma was amused, nodding to her affirmatively.
"If you wanna learn from me, then you have to follow me. I want to go to the nearby town named Axel. There was a guild that we could go to register as Adventurers. The people there are peaceful too."
"Alright, lead the way."
After coming to an agreement, both of them followed the pavement and walked down the clear road. Leaving the scene with relaxed strides.
"By the way, what should I call you?"
"Nah, there's no need. My name is Megumin. The daughter of the Crimson Demon Clan's Patriarch's Brother. Don't tell anyone though."
Kazuma looked at her strangely.
"What's up with the change of attitude?"
"Eh, I don't know. Call it instinct but I don't sense any hostility or greed from you. Well, I did sense a sense of caring from you but maybe you have a precious person back home or something."
Kazuma cluelessly nod. Though when he proceed the words she uttered out, he jumped on his feet.
"What? You can sense my emotions?"
The girl, identified as Megumin, blinked her eyes and cutely tilted her head, "Ah no, I'm just observing your movement and the glint of your eyes."
"Even so, how could you conclude the things you've said?"
Megumin replied with a proud smirk, pointing at her head, "I'm pretty smart even amongst my peers, heh."
In the end, Kazuma could only sigh in exasperation. This girl will be difficult to handle.
«Megumin Ostensionem Daemoniorum [ Rank AAA ] has developed acknowledgement towards you»
[ Interest Lv. 5 ] » [ Acknowledgement Lv. 1 ]
«Your bond with Megumin Ostensionem Daemoniorum [ Rank AAA ] has developed from Interest to Acknowledgement!»
«Congratulation on the achievement!»
«Rewards of Achievement › 5000 Affectum Points, An Upgrade Point»
[ Upgrade Points: 2 ]
[ Class Points: 830 ]
[ Affectum Points: 6900 ]
There's that folk. Fuck, I'm quite exhausted.
Hehe, 69 ( ͡ ͜ʖ ͡), Ehem, I mean heh, 6900 Affectum Points. Damn that's a lot!
Megumin has entered the arena!