第十一話 決着
「え、F級冒険者に、あんな化け物と正面からぶつかるなんて無理に決まってるだろ!」
「馬鹿っ! 黙っとけ! 今の内に、とっとと逃げるぞ! あいつが殺されたら次は俺達だ!」
遠巻きに冒険者達が大騒ぎしている。
だが、それでいい。
逃げたい奴は勝手に逃げてくれればいい。
下手に加勢されても、魔物の動きもわからず、防御力が低く、防具も安物で済ませているF級冒険者では、マッドヘッドの相手はできない。
もって十秒だろう。
俺は【Lv:16】、対してマッドヘッドは【Lv:40】。
直撃をもらえば、防御特化の俺でも一撃でやられかねない。
動作は読みやすいが、レベル差のせいで動きも恐ろしく速い。
マッドヘッドの特性〈痺れ毒の腐肉〉による麻痺は、平均三分間で自然治癒する。
その間を凌ぎ切れば、テイルの〈ヒール〉で回復したゴウタンが立て直せるはずだ。
この三分間を死ぬ気で耐え切ってみせる。
「ブゥワアアアア! ブゥワアアアア!」
マッドヘッドが両腕をブンブンと振り乱す。
俺は常に、マッドヘッドの腕が一手で当たるところには立たず、常に移動して攻撃を回避していく。
マッドヘッドは大振りで攻撃を読みやすい。
だから、安定して攻撃を避けられるはずだったのが......。
「ぐぅっ!」
頭上から飛んできた一撃。
俺は右へ回避しつつ、〈パリィ〉で爪を左へ受け流してギリギリ回避した。
やはりステータス差がキツ過ぎる。
もっとも、〈マジックワールド〉なら、今のくらいなら完全回避できてたんだがな......。
状況は最悪だ。
安全第一で動きたかったのに、準備なしでレベル格上と一対一でぶつかることになるなんて思っていなかった。
「お、おい、あの重騎士、ゴウタンさんを吹き飛ばしたあの化け物と対等に戦ってないか?」
「馬鹿言え! どう見てもジリ貧だ! 今生き残ってるのが奇跡だぞ!」
遠くから冒険者達の声が聞こえてくる。
「なぁ......アイツ、笑ってないか?」
その声を聞いたとき、最初はマッドヘッドのことかと思った。
だが、すぐに俺は、自分の頬が緩んでいたことに気が付いた。
「参ったな......こういう状況は避けたかったが、不思議と嫌いってわけじゃないんだよ」
ハイリスク、ハイリターン。
〈マジックワールド〉でもよくある状況だ。
敗れた際のデスペナルティが痛かったため、効率で言えば最悪だったんだが、自分の実力を限界まで問われる状況で、燃えない奴は男じゃない。
方針を切り替える。
どうにも今の俺では、マッドヘッドに一方的な攻撃を許していては、回避しきることは困難なようだ。
牽制程度にこちらからも攻撃する必要がある。
【スキルツリー】
[残りスキルポイント:0]
〈重鎧の誓い〉[15/100]
〈防御力上昇〉[0/50]
〈初級剣術〉[5/50]【+5】
俺は〈ステータス〉を開き、〈初級剣術〉へと全て割り振った。
先に〈重鎧の誓い〉を伸ばすか、アイテムで新しいスキルツリーを入れてそっちを伸ばすのが好ましかったのだが、まあ、仕方ない。
結局〈初級剣術〉の【5】で手に入るスキルも、どうせいつかはとっておくつもりだった。
【〈初級剣術〉が[5/50]になったため、通常スキル〈当て身斬り〉を取得しました。】
よし......!
〈当て身斬り〉【通常スキル】
ゼロ距離から対象を剣の腹で殴りつける技。
防御力の高い相手にもダメージを通しやすい。
〈当て身斬り〉は〈初級剣術〉の中でも外れ扱いされているスキルである。
だいたい皆、【10】で手に入る剣装備時の攻撃力を上げる特性を先に欲しがっているため、必要以上にネタにされている節もある。
そして実際、剣のリーチの長所を捨ててまで敵に飛びつくのは剣士の戦い方にあっておらず、後半の効果にしてもダメージが通しにくい格上の相手にそもそも挑むなという話になってくる。
だが、このスキルは攻撃力が低く、防御力の高い重騎士のステータスと噛み合っているのだ。
また、〈マジックワールド〉のレベル上げは基本的に、如何に自分より格上を狩っていくかにある。
どんな相手にもダメージを見込める〈当て身斬り〉の有用性は高い。
「ブゥワアアアア!」
また、マッドヘッドの一撃を〈パリィ〉で弾く。
俺もまた殺しきれなかった衝撃で吹き飛ばされたが、地面に剣を突き立てて勢いを利用して身体を半回転させ、マッドヘッドの脚下へと転がり抜けた。
「ブゥワ......?」
マッドヘッドが俺を見失った。
「〈当て身斬り〉!」
背後より密着し、マッドヘッドに至近距離から殴るように斬りつける。
「ブゥッ!」
マッドヘッドの身体が大きく揺れ、慌ててこちらを振り返る。
その後、我武者羅に腕を振るっていた。
動きが乱れてくれれば、より動きを読みやすい。
俺はマッドヘッドの攻撃範囲から逃れるように駆け回りながら、強引に追ってきた攻撃を〈パリィ〉で受け流す。
隙を見つけては〈当て身斬り〉で反撃し、マッドヘッドが一方的に攻められないように牽制した。
だが、マッドヘッドの攻撃を〈パリィ〉で完全に打ち消すことはできない以上、俺のHPもかなり削られていた。
それなりに〈当て身斬り〉も入れたが、マッドヘッドの高いHPを削り切れるほど甘くはない。
「ブゥ......ウウウウ......!」
マッドヘッドは、明らかに格下の俺を一向に仕留めきれないことに対し、強い苛立ちを覚えているようだった。
次こそ終わらせてやるとばかりに、巨大な腕で地面を殴りつけ、俺を威嚇する。
「そうだな、マッドヘッド、ここからが本番だよな。......だが、悪いが、俺の役目はお前を倒すことじゃない」
「ウウウ......?」
俺が剣を下ろしたのを見て、マッドヘッドが訝しげな声を上げる。
「〈竜殺割り〉!」
マッドヘッドの背後でゴウタンが高く跳び上がり、その脳天目掛けて斧を叩き落とした。
マッドヘッドの頭から血飛沫が上がり、その巨体が倒れる。
〈竜殺割り〉は、クリティカル狙いの大振りスキルだ。
強力ではあるが、動作も隙も大きく、動く相手を芯で捉えるのは難しいため、使い所が限られてくる。
ただ、激昂したマッドヘッドは俺に集中していた。
HPを回復し、麻痺から脱したゴウタンが背後より接近するのに気付くのが遅れたのだ。
【経験値を330取得しました。】
【レベルが16から23へと上がりました。】
【スキルポイントを7取得しました。】
経験値の多くはゴウタンに流れたはずだが、それでも桁外れの量が入ってきた。
スキルポイントも美味しい。
使った分以上に返ってきた。
Ch 11
"Eh, there is no way an F rank adventurer could fight head on with a monster like that!"
"Idiot! Shut up! We need to run while we still can! Once that guy gets killed we will be next!"
The adventurers nearby were in a panic.
However, that was fine.
Let those that want to run, run.
Even if they clumsily tried to help, they would be unable to follow the monster's movements and F rank adventurers with cheap armor and low defense stats could do nothing against a Mad Head.
They would last ten seconds, tops.
I'm [(Lv:16)] , as opposed to the Mad Head's [(Lv:40)] .
Even with me specializing in defense, I don't know if I could survive a clean hit.
Its movements are easy to read, but also terrifyingly fast due to the level difference.
On average, the paralysis from the Mad Head's special skill [Paralyzing Toxin of Decaying Flesh] goes away by itself in about three minutes.
If I can hold out for that long, then Goutan should be able to get back on his feet after Teil uses [Heal] on him.
I will hold out for that three minutes with everything I have.
"BWAAAAAH! BWAAAAAAAH!"
The Mad Head wildly swung both its hands back and forth.
I was already out of the Mad Head's immediate reach and I kept in motion to dodge its attacks.
The Mad Head's attacks have a long wind-up and are easy to read.
That's why I should be able to calmly dodge its attacks, or so I thought....
"Guh!"
An overhead attack.
Dodging to the right and [Parry]ing its claws to the left, I was barely able to avoid it.
As expected, the difference in stats is too steep.
That being said, in [Magic World] I would've been able to cleanly dodge this attack....
The situation is very bad.
I wanted to keep to a safety first approach, so I didn't think I would end up fighting against a much higher leveled enemy with zero preparation.
"O-oi, that Heavy Knight, doesn't it look like he is fighting that monster on an equal footing that blew away Goutan-san?"
"Don't say stupid things! No matter how you look at it, he's dancing on a razor's edge! The fact that he's still alive is a miracle!"
Another adventurer's voice could be heard from far away.
"Hey.... that guy, is he laughing right now?"
When I heard that question, I first thought he was talking about the Mad Head.
However, I soon realized that I had a grin on my face.
"Well damn....I wanted to avoid situations like this, but somehow, I don't dislike it."
High risk, high reward.
Something that happened in [Magic World] a lot too.
In case of defeat, the death penalty hurt pretty badly, so in terms of efficiency it was pretty lousy, but no proper man wouldn't be fired up by a situation where your abilities are tested to the limit.
Let's change tactics.
It seems, with my current abilities, if I keep letting the Mad Head attack continuously, then I won't be able to evade everything.
To properly keep its attention, I will need to start attacking back.
[(Skill Tree)] 
[Remaining Skill points: 0]
<Vow of the Heavy Armor> [15/100]
<Defense UP> [0/50]
<Beginner Swordsmanship> [5/50][(+5)] 
I opened my [Status] and put all my points into [Beginner Swordsmanship].
I wanted to develop [Vow of the Heavy Armor], or get a new Skill Tree from an Item and develop that first, but well, it can't be helped right now.
In the end the Skill I get from putting [(5)]  points into [Beginner Swordsmanship] is something I intended to get in time anyway.
[(With [Beginner Swordsmanship] reaching [5/50], you have gained the Normal Skill [Vital Blow].)] 
Good....!
[Vital Blow] [(Normal Skill)] 
A technique that uses the flat of the blade to hit the opponent from a point blank distance.
It can more easily deal damage to opponents with high defense.
Even in the [Beginner Swordsmanship] Tree the [Vital Blow] Skill is generally considered a failure.
One possible reason for that is most people would rather get the attack power increase whenever you equip a sword at [(10)]  points investment first, so they come down on it even harder because of it.
And in fact, a move that sacrifices the long reach of the sword, one of its main strong points, just to hit the opponent from up close, is not something a swordsman would be using normally. Even the letter effect that lets it more easily damage opponents with higher defense would only come into play when fighting against higher level opponents, which you shouldn't do anyway.
However, this Skill's attack power is low, which mashes well with the high defense of the Heavy Knight.
Also, in [Magic World] your leveling speed basically depended on how much were you able to hunt higher leveled enemies.
In that case, the utility value of [Vital Blow], which can be expected to deal damage to most opponents, was high.
"BWAAAAAAAAH!"
I use [Parry] to divert another of the Mad Head's attacks.
The impact force which I was unable to neutralize yet again blew me back, but by stabbing my sword into the ground I was able to use my momentum to turn my body half-way and roll near the Mad Head's feet.
"BWAAH.....?"
The Mad Head lost sight of me.
"[Vital Blow]!"
I kept to its back as I launched a blow from point-blank range at the Mad Head.
"Bwah!"
The Mad Head's body shook greatly, causing it to zero in on me right away.
It followed it up by frantically swinging its arms at me.
With its movements disturbed, they became even easier to read.
I used [Parry] to divert its overextended blow, as I ran around to get away from the Mad Head's attack range.
When an opportunity presented itself I used [Vital Blow] to counterattack, thereby preventing the Mad Head from keeping up its one sided attacks.
However, since I wasn't able to completely cancel out the Mad Head's attack with [Parry], my HP also went down quite a bit.
I also got a number of hits in with [Vital Blow], but it wasn't nearly that easy to deplete the Mad Head's large HP pool.
"BWU....UUUUUH......!"
The Mad Head was positively, royally pissed off by the fact that he couldn't easily deal with an obviously lesser opponent.
Thinking it would be ending this with its next attack, it struck the ground with both its giant hands to intimidate me.
"That's right, Mad Head. This should be where the real fight starts. .....however, sorry about that, but my role wasn't to defeat you."
"UUUH....?"
Seeing me lowering my sword, the Mad Head let out a confused voice.
"[Dragon Killing Splitter]"
Aiming for the top of its head, Goutan leapt high from behind the Mad Head and struck down hard with his axe.
A spray of blood erupted from the Mad Head's skull, then its enormous body fell down.
The [Dragon Killing Splitter] is a big move that focuses on critical damage.
Although it's a powerful move, since it has a long wind up time and leaves the user vulnerable, making it hard to hit a moving opponent, the situations it can be used in are limited.
However, the raging Mad Head was focusing on me.
It was late in noticing Goutan, who after his paralysis ran out and got his HP recovered, approached it from behind.
[(You have gained 330 experience points.)] 
[(Your level has increased from 16 to 23.)] 
[(You have gained 7 Skill points.)] 
Most of the experience points should have gone to Goutan, but I still got a phenomenal amount.
Getting this many Skill points is also sweet as hell.
I even ended up with more than I used up.
The Reincarnated Heavy Knight Who Was Exiled After A Supposed Big Miss Is Unparalleled With His Game Knowledge
大ハズレだと追放された転生重騎士はゲーム知識で無双する
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-heavy-knight-who-was-exiled-after-a-supposed-big-miss-is-unparalleled-with-his-game-knowledge/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Shounen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alchemy Arrogant Characters Artifacts Blacksmith Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Determined Protagonist Dungeons Fallen Nobility Fantasy World Game Elements Guilds Hot-blooded Protagonist Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Male Protagonist Mystery Solving Naive Protagonist Nobles Poor to Rich Previous Life Talent Reincarnated in a Game World Romantic Subplot Skill Books Strategic Battles Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8465gx/
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