Chapter 26: Kazuya’s Flashback (Part 3)

Why did things end up like this?

Right now, I’m completely exhausted. My body’s wrecked, I can’t move, and I’m in a hopelessly desperate situation.

It’s already been nearly a week since I left on this quest.
If things had gone according to plan, I should’ve returned to town long ago, reunited with Miki, and received my orichalcum weapon from Zack.

I’ve lost count of how many orcs I’ve taken down. I must’ve defeated a fair number of giants too.
I had confidence in my strength—at least, within the bounds of an A-rank.
But that guy? His strength was outrageous.

After parting ways with Miki at Zack’s forge, I took on a rare A-rank quest for the town of Cylindarl.
The request was to subjugate a large horde of orcs and defeat the Orc King.
As far as A-rank quests go, it shouldn’t have been particularly difficult.

In fact, defeating the horde and the Orc King went relatively smoothly. So my assessment wasn’t wrong.

But like with many A-rank quests, the real problem was the lack of information—the kind of crucial data about truly dangerous monsters that had been completely missing.

I should’ve realized something was off the moment I saw small-sized giants among the orcs.
But I never would’ve guessed the Orc King was just a vanguard, and the true threat was one of the Demon Lord’s top officers—King of the Giants, Typhon.

The giants are a humanoid race, ranging from 3 to 10 meters tall. Monsters with the name “giant” typically fall into this category.
Typhon is said to be their king, and rumors claim he can change his size anywhere from 3 to 100 meters.
He’s revered as the true monarch of the giants, and counted among the top brass of the Demon Lord’s army.

Thinking back, the orc horde’s movements were odd. There were frequent retreats, like they were stalling for time.
I wasted days just pushing them back, wary of traps, rather than pressing the attack.

Turns out that was exactly what they wanted—stalling until Typhon arrived. I had played right into their hands.

Gradually, the number of giants among the orcs increased. Even after defeating the Orc King, the horde kept growing.
And eventually, he appeared.

At the time, he was about five meters tall. I was so worn out I barely registered what I was looking at.

"Ah... a Hero, is it? I see."

A deep, heavy voice. Only then did I realize a powerful monster had appeared before me.

Due to the giants’ immense size, I’d had to use Golden Awakening repeatedly to slice at their necks.
Combined with days of nonstop fighting, I was already badly drained when Typhon finally showed up.

Still, I tried to test him. I activated Golden Awakening and rushed in, slashing at his knee.

Just as I thought, his massive body made his movements slower. I struck at his knee from the front.
Bathed in a golden aura, my mithril sword flared with lightning as I swung it sharply at the joint.

But—the blade only just managed to cut into the surface. It barely scratched him.

I tried to pull back immediately to avoid retaliation.

But Typhon was far quicker than I’d expected—faster than any other giant I’d faced.
He stepped forward in sync with my landing and delivered a direct kick.

Did he take the knee strike on purpose?

The sheer force of that blow… it felt like it broke every bone in my body and ruptured my organs.
If I hadn’t been in my Golden Awakening state, I’d be dead. That’s how strong the hit was.

"Impressive. You withstood that? As expected of a Hero. And a lightning user, I see. Hmm, not the best match-up for me. Well done."

Typhon praised me with an air of complete composure.

Not the best match-up? That kick didn’t feel like my lightning was doing anything at all.

As for me—I was already in no condition to fight after that one blow.
If I dropped out of Golden Awakening, I’d collapse immediately and be unable to move.

I needed to back off and heal.

But by the time I looked around, I was already surrounded by orcs and giants forming a wide circle around us.
It was as if they were politely watching our one-on-one duel.

"Don’t worry. No one will interfere. Let’s enjoy this match."

Typhon spoke with maddening calm.

Damn it. This fight’s already decided. I just need to hang in there until Golden Awakening wears off.
But even escaping… I didn’t know if I had the strength left to manage it.

As I was thinking that, Typhon kicked with his other leg.

This time, I narrowly dodged and created a bit of distance.

My arms were so weak I couldn’t even swing my sword properly anymore.
I racked my brain for something—anything—and remembered one thing.

I readied my sword and cast a spell.

Typhon himself had said it—lightning wasn’t a good match-up for him.

If that was true, then maybe…

"Raijin Blade! Raitei Issen!!"

A roaring thunder spell that channels lightning into the sword, then unleashes it in a concentrated burst.

It’s the most powerful lightning spell I can use.
If this doesn’t work even in an awakened state… then I’m truly out of options.

And the spell struck Typhon’s knee dead-on.

"GRUOOOHHH!!"

His knee sizzled and burned. Typhon groaned and dropped to one knee.

Yes! Looks like he really is weak to lightning.

If I keep this up… maybe I can win! That hope flickered in me.

"You little… You’ll pay for that. I won’t hold back anymore."

Typhon, now furious, launched an attack.

I did everything I could to dodge his strikes, waiting for a chance to counter.
At the time, I was so giddy at the glimpse of victory that I completely forgot my own condition—how utterly exhausted I was, and that my Awakening wouldn’t last much longer.

And then, it hit me. The Awakening wore off.

My stamina ran out, and I collapsed on the spot.

Typhon’s next blow approached—I couldn’t dodge.
Pain surged through my body. I couldn’t even twitch.

This really was the end.

...Heh. If only I hadn’t counterattacked. If I’d focused on running, I might’ve lived to see Miki again.
But getting cocky like this has always been my worst habit.

She must be worried by now, since I haven’t come back… Ah, Miki. I’m sorry.

As I closed my eyes, Miki’s face rose in my mind like a fading memory—
All the days we spent together.

From when we were just two idiot guys fooling around in a past life,
To when we met again in these new bodies, and began holding each other close—
It was a long journey, but it felt like a flash.

A massive explosion rang out, followed by another behind me. I heard the shouts of orcs and giants.

When I opened my eyes to see what was happening, Typhon’s face was smoking. He was covering it with his hands, pausing his attack.

And part of the orc and giant formation that had surrounded me and Typhon was blown wide open—probably by some kind of explosion magic.

And in that open space, I saw a familiar face.

I thought I was dreaming.

That it was just my imagination.

There was no way someone would show up in such a convenient moment.

But it wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t a delusion. She was really there.

Just a moment ago, I had recalled all our memories together and felt it deep in my heart. My beloved elf—she might’ve been a man in a past life, but that didn’t matter at all.

She was my best friend, and the one I loved.

“Miki!”

Summoning all my strength, I called out her name.

I forced my body up and stood.

Haha… just seeing Miki gave me this much strength. Maybe she really is my goddess.

And looking closely, Miki wasn’t alone.

With her were Zack, the first-class blacksmith, and—if I remembered right—Clara, who called Fabio her master at the weapon and armor shop.

Now that I thought about it, she had once asked to go on an adventure together.

Zack and Clara were fighting nearby orcs and giants.

Though it looked more like they were managing to hold their ground with Miki’s support magic boosting them.

“Kazuya!”

Miki ran toward me.

I somehow managed to move too and ran toward her.

Typhon, now recovered, launched another attack.

I somehow embraced Miki—or rather, clung to her with the last of my strength.

Miki managed to catch me and immediately cast that powerful barrier spell.

And then, she used the highest-grade healing magic on me.

She even helped me drink a stamina recovery potion.

Thanks to that, I was fully healed.

The barrier blocked Typhon’s next attack.

I picked Miki up and dashed toward Zack and the others.

“Alright, let’s retreat for now!”

Miki raised her voice.

But I was thinking.

I can’t win on my own. But… if I’m with Miki, maybe—just maybe—we could pull it off.

Wouldn’t be a bad way to earn my first S-rank subjugation. Even if it’s a demon lord’s officer.

“Miki, that guy is one of the demon lord’s officers—Typhon. He’s insanely strong, but… if it’s with you, I want to try. I really think we can do it. Is that okay?”

Miki looked exasperated but still replied.

“Haa… I figured you’d say that, Kazuya. But we can’t just leave Zack and Clara here. We’ll take them to safety first. We fight after that, alright? Got it, Kazuya?”

“I understand. This fight’s too much for them. I’ll take them somewhere safe. So Miki, hold him off just for a little while.”

Saying that, I set Miki down, activated Golden Awakening, and scooped up Zack and Clara under each arm.

“Hold on tight. Don’t bite your tongues.”

With that, I took a mighty leap. Yep, my body was fully recovered—stamina back to full.

I landed at a safe distance and set them down.

“Zack, Clara—thank you both for coming to help. You saved me. I’ll take down that big guy and come back, so wait here.”

Zack pulled out a furoshiki bundle and handed it to me still wrapped.

“Kazuya, this is your orichalcum sword—Takemikazuchi. Miki came up with the name. It’s a sword forged with everything Miki and I have. It should match your lightning well. Go make it shine.”

I accepted the bundle. I wanted to unwrap and admire it, but there was no time to waste—Miki was waiting.

“Thanks, Zack. …Alright, I’m off.”

Waving to Zack and Clara, I returned to Miki in Golden Awakening mode.

She had properly stalled the enemy and even cleared out some of the mobs.

“Sorry to keep you waiting! I’ve got the weapon. Let’s do this!”

“Yeah, let’s go, Kazuya!”

Now then—time for the counterattack.