Fantasy Galaxy: Why Are There Goblins and Orcs in Space?

Chapter 25 : Urufado the Black Beast

I tumbled across the ground, sprang up on reflex, and threw myself backward. Right where I'd been, the Urufado's fangs snapped together with a gachi[clack]. Another instant and my skull would have been crushed.

The Urufado pressed its attack, so I thrust out my Lance Driver and hit the switch. It twisted its body to dodge the spearhead, then rammed straight into me.

For defensive gear, I wore armor constructed from Frenzy Kong leather and ultra-rigid wire. The Urufado's body slam didn't break any bones thanks to that armor. But bruises and scrapes covered me from head to toe.

「Like hell. I'm not dying in a place like this.」

I glared at the Urufado and tried to stand. My legs wouldn't cooperate. I dragged myself backward inch by inch, but the Urufado lumbered forward.

「……I don't want to die. Someone……」

Just as the thought crossed my mind, a voice reached me from the distance. A low voice, like someone chasing prey.

「Wait, wait, don't run!」

The instant that voice rang out, a Tyrant Dragon Belgona burst from the trees. It charged right between me and the Urufado and fled.

A man appeared in pursuit. He unleashed a Tactical Magic Technique at the Tyrant Dragon Belgona. I had a weak Bosoru Sensitivity, so I could tell Tenshiryoku had been used.

Something flew at incredible speed and severed the Tyrant Dragon Belgona's neck clean off.

「No way…… The Belgona we couldn't even take down……」

Only then did the man notice me for the first time.

「Miss, are you hurt?」

How could he not notice the Urufado? I pointed at it. The man slowly turned his gaze toward the giant wolf. Far too slow. The Urufado raked him with its vicious claws.

He went flying through the air with a scream, slammed into the trunk of a nearby giant tree, and dropped to the ground. I thought he was dead.

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「Ow…… My spine just went goki[crack].」

I glared at the giant wolf.

「How did I not notice something this huge?」

I had a rough idea why. I'd been too fixated on chasing the Tyrant Dragon Belgona, and the Particle Armor covering my entire body was interfering with my ability to sense presences. The Particle Armor still had plenty of room for improvement.

I pressed a hand against my back as I stood, and the massive black wolf crept closer. Probably looking to finish me off. It raised one enormous forepaw and swung it my way.

Ready to trade blow for blow, I fired a Particle Bullet into the giant wolf. Launched from my low position at an upward angle, the Particle Bullet struck its hind leg a split second before the forepaw reached me and detonated. The blast wave sent me flying too.

I rolled across the ground, then got to my feet. The giant wolf bled from its hind leg, but the wound didn't look fatal. It was, however, dragging one hind leg.

Incredibly lucky. This monster's greatest weapon was its speed. That damage robbed it of quick movement, making it far easier to take down.

It lunged at me anyway, so I fired a Piercing Particle Bullet at that black head. The round tore through its cheek and out its neck. The giant wolf thrashed wildly as it tumbled across the ground.

「Finish it fast! That thing has high regeneration!」

From the sound of it, that was the female Toryū Ryōhei from before - though her speech was rough as a man's. Valuable advice regardless. I resolved to finish it off and launched a Particle Circular Soaring Blade at the giant wolf's neck.

Spinning as it hurtled forward at Mach 7, the Particle Circular Soaring Blade closed in to slice through that thick neck covered in black fur. The giant wolf sprang sideways on its three good legs and dodged. The blade carved through two massive trees behind it before dissipating.

The giant wolf failed to land cleanly and tumbled. It scrambled back up and charged. If it truly had high regeneration, a drawn-out fight would work against me. I decided to bring it down in one shot, even if it meant taking a risk.

I watched the giant wolf bearing down on me and extended my right hand toward its head. I waited until the last possible second and fired a Particle Circular Soaring Blade. At this range, not even it could dodge. The giant wolf's head split vertically in two. But its massive body crashed down on top of me.

「Guehhk.」

I'd calculated the Particle Armor would protect me, but the impact struck from above at an angle, drove me into the ground, bounced me, and sent me rolling. Pain ripped through every inch of my body hard enough to bring tears to my eyes.

I'd taken damage, but the Particle Armor had kept me alive. I swore to myself that I would seriously commit to improving it.

The woman who'd watched the giant wolf's head split in two stared with eyes like saucers.

「How the hell does it have that kind of ridiculous power?」

The female Toryū Ryōhei was saying something, but I decided to let it go. Having powerful Tactical Magic Techniques was, fundamentally, a good thing.

I endured the pain, got to my feet, and stored the Tyrant Dragon Belgona and the giant wolf in my Isō Box. Then I went to check on the female Toryū Ryōhei. Some might say I had my priorities backward, but dead monster carcasses attracted other monsters, so dealing with them first was the right call.

「I'm Zen, Rank D. How are your injuries?」

The woman who stood was about a hundred and seventy-five centimeters tall, with a toned physique and striking beauty. What left the strongest impression were the cat ears on her head.

A woman with cat ears - my first time seeing one in person. Back on Earth, I would've assumed cosplay, but here it didn't feel out of place at all. And she was gorgeous. Supermodel-tier, easily.

「I'm Regina Tabotto, Rank D. Just bruises, so I'm fine. Thanks for saving me.」

Blunt words, but genuine gratitude behind them. I asked about the giant wolf. She countered by asking whether I hadn't heard the warning from the Achievement Collection Badge.

「My homemade Particle Armor seems to have blocked the warning from reaching me.」

「Sounds like you'd better improve that thing.」

I sighed, nodded, then had her fill me in on the warning's contents.

「So that's what happened. Anyway, can you make it back to town?」

When I said that, Regina grimaced.

「Something wrong?」

「My Hover Bike's parked a ways off.」

「Then I'll give you a ride on mine.」

I pulled my Hover Bike from the Isō Box, and we flew tandem to where Regina had left hers. Flying through the sky with a beautiful woman riding behind me was a first. My heart was going dokidoki[thumping] - a bit much for a man my age.

After she retrieved her bike, we headed for town. We stopped at a hospital along the way for proper treatment. When we arrived at the Toryū Ryōhei Guild, we were immediately summoned to the Center Head's office. Regina as well.

We entered the Center Head's office and took the seats he offered on the sofa.

「The Achievement Collection Badge report tells me you defeated the Black Beast Urufado?」

「Yes, we had the bad luck of running into it and had to fight.」

Center Head Dessero let out a sigh.

「Still, defeating a Black Beast Urufado at Rank D…… What were you doing before you came here?」

「I was a soldier.」

The Center Head nodded as if that explained everything. He seemed to think rigorous military training accounted for the kill. In reality, the Goblin Race had only trained me for a short time. If I could take down a Black Beast Urufado, it was thanks to Zorofiēnu, who gave me the knowledge to control massive quantities of Tenshiryoku.

「The Achievement Collection Badge report also confirms you've defeated your fifth Tyrant Dragon Belgona. You're promoted to Rank C.」

「Thank you. Now I can go to Gilda Canyon.」

「Hm, don't tell me you're planning to search for the treasure the Tenjin Race supposedly left behind?」

「That's right. No one's found it yet, have they?」

The Center Head nodded.

「True, but no one even knows whether it actually exists.」

It might not exist at all, but I wanted to take on the challenge. Even if the results were disappointing, the experience would remain - so it wouldn't be a waste.