Another day of orcs. Today was apparently the day for revenge.
After returning yesterday, everyone had held a meeting and even done practice fights. They were putting in real effort.
Once this was over, they could finally head to town. Naturally, their motivation was sky-high.
The fastest things in the forest—the kobolds—were no longer a threat. They could even handle groups of goblins now. So, the only thing left was the orc—the strongest monster in this forest.
Once they reached town, they'd get proper weapons and might even learn better fighting techniques. Unlike me, their levels would keep climbing steadily.
If they could defeat an orc, there really wouldn't be anything left for them to learn in this forest.
"Today's probably the end, huh?" I said, flatly.
Well, I'd agreed to escort them to town. I wanted to see the town myself anyway, and I had no idea what might lie between here and there.
Monsters were one thing, but possibly thieves or other humans? I wasn't sure if the class rep's group could handle them.
There might even be unknown monsters waiting.
I wonder if the otakus are already in the town. For the bitches, that's literally the only reason they're still alive.
But… somehow, I get the feeling the otaku might have already been chased out of town?
No one had called for breakfast yet, so I decided to do a little solo training.
I held the staff, walked while swinging it, swung it while walking.
I can never stop moving.
My strength is low.
My durability is low.
So, I have to be fast.
More attacks.
More techniques.
Extend the staff.
Hold the center with both hands, thrust and sweep with both ends.
Switch grip to one end and swing through.
Switch again and thrust.
Keep walking.
Step forward with momentum into a swing.
Step sideways with momentum into a thrust.
If I stop, I die.
If momentum dies, I can't finish them.
If I stop, I'll be surrounded and finished.
Faster.
Sharper.
Never let the movement halt.
…
"""Oooooh~ clap clap clap!"""
They were watching?! I must have gotten too focused… good thing I didn't do any poses—right? I didn't, did I?
"Haruka-kun, did you train in some kind of martial arts?"
It looked like martial arts to them. Probably because of extending the staff—images of Shaolin or Journey to the West practice, maybe?
"No, nothing like that. Just self-taught?"
"Really? It looked pretty polished though."
The secret is that I sometimes practiced cool fight choreography alone in front of a mirror. Practicing what I see on TV, or movies. Obviously, the poses were secret too. Seriously!
"Breakfast? What's for breakfast?"
"Of course—fish!"
Another good day. Fish is delicious.
…
We hunted goblins and kobolds while advancing through the forest. Another big mushroom haul today.
"I think mushrooms are monster food. Someone's wiping out the monsters, so mushrooms keep multiplying, right?"
Makes sense. That's why there are so many monsters here. The cave area has HP/MP recovery mushrooms, so monsters get stronger. Logical.
"Mushrooms bring monsters, monsters eat animals, so no meat. Total genocide. I want meat."
We kept chatting and hunting while pushing deeper.
Everyone's level is over 30 now. The cave area is perfect for leveling. Too bad I still live here and haven't leveled as much. Just me.
…
Finally found an orc—Lv16. A little too strong?
"There—one for me first, okay?" I said, needing to level up.
"Yeah… be careful…?"
They saw me off with a question mark.
I walked normally right up to the orc. No ambush, no surprise attack.
I extended the staff, parried the downward club swing with the right end while spinning, then struck with the left end.
Kept spinning my body, used centrifugal force to sweep the legs.
It didn't fall but staggered. I drew its attention downward, thrust at the eyes—blocked by club, leaving the legs wide open—cut them.
Scattered attacks up/down/left/right, forcing defense.
Pushed it back, stopped its feet, circled around, thrust the club-holding hand.
Chain attacks—move while repeating, just keep attacking.
Target eyes, legs, weapon. Force it to defend.
The girls had worried about lacking a decisive blow. No decisive blow? Then corner it.
Eliminate the orc's options one by one.
When it won't come to me—be tricky, break its posture.
Threw Fire at its face, struck while it flinched.
…
The orc already lost both eyes, lost its club, both arms barely moving, legs dragging.
"Finishing blow's yours. Try your big technique?"
"Thanks Haruka-kun. Today was actually useful."
They ran to surround it. Yeah, I got bored and swapped— ssh. Can't say. Secret, secret.
But "today was useful"—yesterday wasn't my fault?
No, because—otaku info… class rep said… etc. I kept grumbling.
"Get back~ ei[1]!" "Chance!" "Eiii!"
Magic squad landed their big move—charged-up all-out magic barrage. Overkill.
"Good work~"
I handed out fruit juice. Girls react fast to sweets… wait—did one just use Shrink Earth? Seriously?
…
Second orc Lv10—affordable. Reasonable price.[2]
Girls surrounded and fought—no danger.
Their coordination was good. Unlike yesterday, they understood their roles. Clean linked attacks, no wasted flair.
Bows and magic targeted eyes, and when it tried to protect eyes, it's legs got stabbed repeatedly.
If it protected its legs, then club swing, eyes taken. Meanwhile arms got shredded.
This was victory—no one said "ah" but yeah, they won.
Then lunch! Yesterday's BBQ got me yelled at. Today—fish and mushroom salt soup.
Yesterday flowers got me yelled at. But I'm a high school boy—I don't repeat mistakes. Unlike otaku, I read the air.
Yes—not flashiness. For Japanese people—wabi-sabi![3]
I then gather dead branches, bundle, and smoke them. Clean nicely, full dry with my temperature magic.
Carve bowls/plates from trunks. Straighten thin branches with my packaging magic, sharpen to chopsticks.
Table and chairs from logs.
Done, looks like they're finishing. Deadwood driftwood aesthetic—simple yet hospitable spirit.
"Welcome back~ dinner ready~"
Prepared hand-washing water.
"""We're back… wait—why is there always a delicious smell when we're fighting for our lives?!"""
Got yelled at? Again? After all, high school girls cannot understand wabi-sabi hospitality. Ei—call the head chef! Wait, that's me?!
Why do I get yelled at every day?
Probably the stupid Wooden Puppet effect?
Despite yelling, everyone wants seconds. Title "bullied kid" incoming soon.
Then Lv8, Lv11 consecutive kills. Today's last orc—Lv13 big one. Super Stamina Lv5.
"Um… why are its eyes so lewd?"
"This one… targeting big-chest girls?"
"Kyaa~ …wait it's not coming! What does that mean?!"
"Fufufufu… we get ignored…I'm definitely killing…"
"Ah~ why me~ …always coming for me~?"
""""Heh, is that so? You must be tough!""""
"Kuh—traitors!"
"Fufufufufu— I'm seriously killing…"
"Why… me… it's stare aimed at me…?"
No good, their team breakdown. I think as I listen to their complaints on orc.
Orc collapsed, but girls' friendship collapsed too.
Destruction culprit obviously Vice Rep B.
…
It's getting dark— they wanna hurry home… kind of scary?
"Seriously—whoever, that orc—likes big things so much, go transfer to Boob Planet!"
"Stared… at… by orc even… stared…"
"Ah~? Why me~ ignored~? Hmm~?"
""""Heh, is that so? Like I said you must be tough!""""
Yeah—girls' friendship fragile. But forest or Boob Planet—I'd transfer. Seriously please let there be boob planet!
…
Dinner now over, bath rotation while meeting, girls' meeting 20 + loner.
"Um, tomorrow morning downstream along river. If still forest by afternoon, then we come back here… okay?"
"Yeah—not sure if town is close. Half-day search—if we see a town or road, keep going, follow the path!"
"Then we'll get full gear. Bags in item bag, we'll pack up."
""""Yes~""""
Well—twenty girls in Villager A's magic tent, me sleeping bag or normal tent camping—plenty of room.
Dried fish, we got plenty. Mushrooms, also got plenty. Twenty-one people long-term stranded, still mushrooms plenty. Item bag vs mushroom limit now.
Leave for later days—probably will be mushroom-filled… and goblin filled too.
Day 15 End
[1] Ei and Eii (are like grunting)
[2] Haruka saying "easy for them to kill"
[3] Wabi-sabi (侘び寂び) is a traditional Japanese aesthetic and worldview centered on the acceptance of transience, imperfection, and the beauty of the natural cycle of growth and decay. Core Meaning Wabi: Originally referred to the loneliness of living in nature, away from society. Over time, it evolved to represent rustic simplicity, quietness, and understated elegance—finding beauty in humility and modest things. Sabi: Refers to the beauty that comes with age, the patina of time, and the melancholy of impermanence. It evokes a sense of serene melancholy or the poignant feeling of things fading.