33

In search of the highest-grade video camera, I rummaged through the shopping mall’s warehouse.

I had found a large-screen television.

Whether it still worked was uncertain, but since it was discovered still sealed in its original packaging, I wanted to believe it was alive.

No—in this case, I should display patriotism, praising the Empire’s science and technology to increase its chances of survival, if only a little.

Glorious is my homeland!

Let me offer unreserved praise to its achievements.

(Well, though it did end up blowing itself up…)

What was done was done, so I continued my search for the video camera.

I had found equipment I thought necessary, but the key item remained elusive.

Naturally, the display models couldn’t be used, and what I really wanted was the one listed in the catalog: the “latest multifunctional model with zoom capability,” priced at 240,000 Nien—more than a first month’s salary.

But no matter how much I searched, the thing I wanted most couldn’t be found.

I did find my second-choice model, but its size made it inconvenient.

Its specs were fine, but the size was a serious issue.

After wandering about for some time without success, I gave up.

(…In that case, should I head to the electronics district in Jisuvāya?)

Jisuvāya had much to see, including its weapons factory, but given the war, I worried whether it had survived.

After all, half of the Empire’s ammunition was manufactured there.

That made it a prime target, and it was very possible the area had been destroyed after the great war.

At any rate, that was for the future.

For now, gathering what I needed and bringing it to the main base was my priority.

With a large-screen TV, a player, and some movie data discs, I could at least set up an environment to watch films.

This time, I would settle for carrying back only a few discs as a test run.

My modified backpack still had room, so I could bring back other potentially useful items.

So I went to look at the pile of goods I had collected in high spirits last time.

Seeing the result of my rampage after so long made me laugh, and I began picking through it.

What I decided to take were towels, tools, a machete, an extra backpack, and a cooler box.

The backpack could be used to carry small items without wearing it, and the cooler box was worth taking given my food intake—it was better to have another.

Finally, I wrapped the large television in blankets, stuffed other equipment into the modified backpack, and carried the rest awkwardly by hand or over my shoulder before returning to the main base.

(It’s disappointing I couldn’t get the item I wanted most—or rather, the one I wanted to experiment with—but since I intended to make trips back and forth to the city anyway, it’s no problem. Besides, I’ll need more blankets anyway, since they take up too much space for me to use comfortably)

Even with my body, blankets were bulky.

And keeping them in their cases made them even bulkier. This time I used them as padding for the TV, but large boxes themselves could be useful as containers.

Next time, I might bring them back case and all.

(Alright then, time to head out)

I walked cautiously to test my balance, then gradually increased my speed, heading back to the main base safely above all.

As expected, keeping the pace slow meant it took over a full day.

After setting down my load, I went hunting.

The facility used underground water veins, which was great, but the passages were all built for humans, making them useless for me.

It was frustrating—water was so close, yet inaccessible.

That was what I thought, until I discovered that some taps still worked normally.

Truly, Imperial technology was supreme.

I tested leaving them running for a while, and when the water showed no strange taste or smell, I decided to use it—though I would boil it first, just in case.

Leaving the water issue aside, I caught a deer and began grilling meat in the above-ground section of the facility.

Ventilation issues prevented me from doing it below.

While waiting for the meat to cook, I went to fetch water and salt.

I also brought tableware and various utensils.

While looking for something suitable to use as a cupboard, I ended up taking too long and slightly burning the meat.

But that was fine.

With an Imperial-made scrub brush, no matter how burnt the residue, I could scrub it clean until it shone!

(How empty… spending so much time alone, I really do start feeling lonely)

I had begun talking to myself more often too. Recognizing how much it affected me only made it worse.

I sighed, scratching my rear, wondering when I had started inserting meaningless jokes into my speech.

Still, it wasn’t serious, so I switched my mood and ate the salted venison with gusto.

Burnt bits aside, I felt like my diet had become richer.

(But I really want more than just salt…)

The Empire had been the only country mass-producing seasonings. I wondered how other nations fared now.

Muttering “gao gao” to myself, I finished the venison.

After resting, I brought the griddle down to wash it.

Wiping it dry, I realized I wanted something else.

(A long rod, for drying towels or cloth after washing)

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of a monster longing for a laundry pole.

With no choice, I picked up the shovel and finished tidying up.

Since I ate aboveground, I decided to store all necessary items there.

I sealed the salt in an airtight container and placed it inside a medicine cabinet borrowed from the underground facility.

Tableware and cooking tools also ended up there.

Thanks to survival knives used as forks and machetes used as kitchen knives, it looked more like an armory—but that was fine.

After dinner, I set up the television.

Struggling through the manual, I dragged a desk from another room, placed it near a wall socket, and set the TV on top.

The space beneath fits the data disc player, which I adjusted for height with random items.

Once I connected the cords, the setup was complete.

When I powered it on, the screen remained black, but the indicator light came on.

As expected of Imperial make—still functional after 200 years.

I loaded a data disc into the player and operated it with the remote.

(If this works, I’ll finally have a way to pass the time…)

The result: it played.

The problem was the content.

Due to age, the discs were damaged—every one of them. The sound was distorted and screeching, while the images were nothing but flickering, eye-hurting patterns.

“This is awful,” I muttered “gao gao,” pulling the last disc from the player.

At the same time, I realized the chances of recording anything onto blank discs had dropped drastically.

Sighing heavily, I returned the disc to its case and tossed it into the pile with the movie discs.

Incidentally, the film was Space Knight EP:4.

I had watched through Episode 3 and wanted badly to continue, but now it was denied to me—cruelly so.

(Damn it! Episode 3 ended with the final showdown against the Black Knight, the shocking twist that he was the protagonist’s father—and now Episode 4 was supposed to be a prequel about his origin!)

Now that I had proof playback was possible, I absolutely wanted to find intact discs.

Entertainment was vital for survival, and this gave me all the more reason to head for Jisuvāya.

I decided to leave manga for later, since improving my living environment took priority—and as paper media, they were more likely to be intact wherever preserved.

There were countless manga I had never read, and they would become my hope for living.

Yes—one must always leave some “enjoyment” in reserve, or else, faced with despair, one might choose death.

Since time was awkwardly in-between, I lightly cleaned the usable parts of the underground facility.

It was unclear if I could lodge in Jisuvāya, so departure would be tomorrow.

Until then, I would spend daylight cleaning, then hunt to secure enough meat for tomorrow.

Tonight, I would go to bed early and leave at dawn.

And so, at the faintly dark crack of early morning, I prepared for departure.

Packing only the bare minimum into my backpack, with just under a day’s worth of food and water, I set out.

My body could handle two or three days without food, which was convenient.

With that, I left for Jisuvāya.

If I pushed my pace, I could arrive today, but I resolved not to exhaust myself like last time.

By now I had grown accustomed to this body, and I had a better sense of what speed was sustainable.

Even without pushing, I could reach my destination comfortably by tomorrow morning.

With the Empire’s pride in mind, I strode forth from my main base—only to discover something unexpected along the way.

An orc.

Why was that unexpected? Because this orc was hanging from a tree.

Naturally, the hanged orc was a corpse, its body heavily damaged—there was no doubt it had been a one-sided battle.

And this display was clearly a territorial warning.

“Enter my domain, and this is what happens.”

That was surely the message.

(Very well! I accept your challenge!)

If they put such a thing within my area of activity, they were prepared.

This world was survival of the fittest.

Whatever creature it was, it had been foolish enough to draw my attention, and it would regret its recklessness.

Still, I had no intention of actively seeking it out.

I had other priorities.

Or so I thought, until I ran straight into it moments later.

What timing.

A red ogre—a “Red Ogre,” a superior variant of the ogre.

If memory served, Red Ogres possessed bodies far tougher than normal ogres, and higher intelligence. Some could even understand human speech, and there had been reports of them reading tactics, causing great casualties.

From my current perspective, however, all I could say was: “So what?”

Still, since we had met, there was no choice. Its bad luck, not mine.

The Red Ogre bared its teeth in readiness. I calmly set down my luggage, moved my fingers in a taunting gesture, and invited it forward.

Both of us were unarmed—it would be a test of pure physical strength. But the troublesome thing about Red Ogres was that they possessed combat technique.

On land, among humanoid monsters, they were considered among the strongest.

And now, one such creature was challenging me, the pinnacle of Imperial science and technology.

I spread my arms wide to welcome it.

“GAAAAAARRHHHHH!”

The Red Ogre roared.

I remained still, imagining a fearless grin on my face.

Well—imagining, since these facial muscles didn’t work right. With this face, smiling naturally was tough.

I had even practiced in the mirror, but with such a fierce face, it was hard.

The first to move was the Red Ogre.

I had intended to let it have the first strike, and its straightforward charge suited me just fine.

At last, a proper opponent for a melee brawl.

Hoping it wouldn’t disappoint me, I braced myself and met its opening blow head-on.

I caught its wide punch in a cross-guard—and it hurt.

The force was such that my feet slid back slightly. It was clear this was the strongest opponent I had faced yet in raw power.

Now it was my turn.

I readied myself to drive a blow into its gut—and got punched in the face.

Reeling, I took further hits.

The onslaught continued, until I caught its leg mid-kick.

Without hesitation, I crushed its ankle.

(Alright—this isn’t a match or a duel. It’s a kill-or-be-killed fight. You wanted this, so don’t blame me)

Honestly, it hurt a lot.

I was even bleeding from the nose. I wouldn’t forgive this.

Even as I gripped its raised leg, the Red Ogre tried to attack, but the fight was already decided.

Because it was in my grasp.

I pulled it in and smashed a straight punch into its chest.

Catching the blow full-on, it spat blood. I didn’t care—I drove another strike.

It tried to guard with both arms, but one broke completely, the other likely fractured as well.

Finally, I hooked its remaining leg with my tail, dragged it closer, and pressed my foot onto its chest where my punches had left a deep mark.

“Hiieee!”

The Red Ogre cried out.

I could tell it was begging for mercy—but since it had wanted a fight to the death, I would show none.

I poured my weight down, crushing its heart beneath my foot.

My conclusion: it had attack power capable of exceeding my defenses, but the gap in ability was fatal. If I simply pressed forward with brute force, I could win easily.

Perhaps now I had the right to call myself the strongest creature on land.