Ch.4The Variable Called Umi

Grrrrrr-!!

Three slimes—one Level 2 and two Level 3—closed in on me.

Since I’d acquired a new skill, I needed to test it out.

“Power Strike!!!”

Fwap-!!

I felt certain I was using a skill.

Ding-!

In the corner of my vision, the SP gauge below my status window decreased slightly. It was like the skill points concept in typical games. Well, in this game, SP stood for soul point. I could clearly see the hipster energy of the developers who rejected conventional concepts.

Anyway, I swung my iron pipe with full force.

KWAAANG-!!!

The Power Strike skill cleanly hit the Level 2 slime right between the eyes.

SPLAAASH-!!

The Level 2 slime’s body burst apart cleanly.

“Gurrrk!!”

The remaining Level 3 slime charged at me with a body slam.

“Dodge!!”

Saying it out loud doesn’t actually help me dodge better, but I shouted it anyway for the feeling.

Whoooosh-!

Even with its higher level, it was still a slime at its core. Its movements were completely predictable. I dodged the attack with ease.

“Power Strike!!!”

I activated the skill once more.

SPLAAAASH-!!!!

The iron pipe struck the Level 3 slime right between its eyes.

“Gurrrrrk!!”

Being Level 3, it didn’t die in one hit. But its posture was completely broken.

“KIEEEEEEEK!!!”

Howling loudly to assert my dominance as the stronger life form, I swung my iron pipe once more. Finishing with a normal attack was the essence of JRPGs.

SPLAAASH-!!!

The iron pipe completely shattered the slime’s body as it passed through.

Now I could handle Level 3s with ease.

——–

“Gurrrrrk!! Gurk!!”

Several Level 2 slimes surrounded me.

“You’re… weak.”

No need to use skills. I swung my iron pipe with full force.

SPLAT-SPLAT-SPLAT-!!!! KWANG-!

The slimes were slaughtered with a single normal attack.

Enemies that used to take two hits now died in one. That gave me a real sense of getting stronger.

“I’ve… conquered the slimes.”

I allowed myself this bit of self-indulgence.

That’s when it happened.

“Gurrrrrk….!”

A slime approached me.

“You want to die too?”

My confidence was short-lived as I noticed something unusual.

‘Level 4’

The highest level I’d seen so far.

Some might think one level higher is no big deal.

But creatures above Level 4 were different. They could use magic attacks.

“Gurk….!”

As the slime’s mouth trembled, a small fireball flew toward me.

“Holy shit!!”

I immediately took evasive action.

WHOOOOSH!!!!!!

Flames spread across the ground near me.

‘Should I just spam Power Strike?’

I briefly considered it but quickly abandoned the plan.

My mana was already nearly depleted.

‘Wait… I’m Level 3, but isn’t this too low?’

Even players weren’t this limited. Then I realized the reason.

‘Magic Power: 0’

My magic stat was so low that magic-related skills and mana had negative modifiers.

It looked too tough to take down with normal attacks.

“Adios!!!”

The answer was obvious—run away. I immediately fled the old town.

“Gurrrrrk!!”

The Level 4 slime chased after me with incredible momentum, but it was still a slime. It wasn’t fast. I successfully escaped.

——–

And so, another day passed safely.

The next morning.

“Rise and shine!!!!”

I jumped up high.

“Hehe. Shota. Did something good happen?”

Mother chuckled as she spoke. Her complexion seemed much brighter lately. Well… her son had become more cheerful, so she was probably influenced by that.

I had reason to be in a good mood this morning. I could now handle ordinary slimes with ease.

I might actually be able to avoid the confirmed event in the first week of March. That hope was growing.

Anyway, after breakfast, I headed straight to the kendo dojo.

After hustling at the dojo for nearly three weeks…

Gonzaemon handed me something with a smile.

“Here. Bogu armor. I never thought you’d reach this level so quickly.”

Gonzaemon laughed heartily.

“B-bogu…..”

It sounds weird in Korean, but I was incredibly moved.

“Earning bogu in just two weeks. That’s unprecedented.”

Gonzaemon patted my shoulder with a smile.

“But… the payment.”

These things aren’t cheap. I needed to pay for the bogu.

“Ah. This belonged to a former student. Just take it. It’s a gift.”

Gonzaemon said with a kind smile.

He really seemed like a good person…

“I’ll need to invest this much if I’m going to work you hard in tournaments later.”

Something flashed in Gonzaemon’s eyes.

I had a strong feeling that even if I wanted to quit kendo later, he wouldn’t let me.

“Come on. Put it on. I’ll show you how.”

Gonzaemon said with a smile.

“Today… we’ll have an initiation ceremony.”

Gonzaemon grinned.

Ah… the initiation. The dojo’s regular event. New students put on bogu and spar with each member of the dojo one by one. Naturally, beginners with no technique get beaten up. The finale is handled by the dojo’s instructors and masters. That’s where you get thoroughly thrashed and learn the difference in power.

It might sound harsh, but it was effective. You get practical experience injected right from the start. I think it’s a decent system.

Anyway.

“Will you participate too, Master?”

I asked while putting on the bogu. “Master” was the correct term, but Gonzaemon preferred being called “Shifu.”

“Say it once more.”

Gonzaemon suddenly glared at me intensely.

“Master…”

“Shifu!! Emphasize that part!!”

Gonzaemon seemed to really like being called Shifu. Well, if that’s what he wants.

“Shifu!!!”

“HYAAAAH!!!!”

“SHIFU!!!!”

“WOOOOOAH!!!!”

“SHIFU!!!!”

“KIEEEEEK!!!!”

Gonzaemon and I confirmed our master-disciple bond for a while. The other students seemed used to this.

“…They’re not normal.”

I heard Kiryu Umi’s voice from a distance as she casually played with her phone. That’s strange. She usually hates the stuffy atmosphere of the dojo and stays in her room. Why was she here? The other students were giving her intense looks.

“Hehe. I’ve never seen my husband this excited. You must be a very special disciple.”

The master’s wife chuckled.

——-

The initiation ceremony was scheduled for the afternoon when more students would be present. Until then, my job was to get used to the bogu.

Whoosh-! Whoop-!

Swinging a sword while wearing the heavy bogu definitely consumed more energy.

“How is it? Getting used to the bogu?”

Gonzaemon asked with a smile.

“Can you feel it, Shifu? My power.”

I immediately took a stance and asked.

“Hehehe. Getting cocky, are we? I’ll make you soil yourself during the initiation.”

Gonzaemon laughed heartily.

———

Soon, it was lunchtime.

“Why don’t we have a meal together?”

Gonzaemon said as he set the lunch table in the dojo.

“No, I’m fine.”

I smiled. I was planning to use a nearby convenience store.

“Aw… so shy.”

Gonzaemon seemed disappointed.

Anyway, I had a simple meal at the convenience store. As expected of Japan. The quality of convenience store lunches was impressive. Just looking at convenience stores makes me a Japan fanboy. Seriously.

After finishing my meal, I brushed my teeth and washed my face in the dojo bathroom.

As I was leaving the bathroom, someone approached me.

“Hello?”

It was Kiryu Umi. She was talking to me.

“Oh. Hi.”

I responded plainly.

But inside, I was disturbed.

‘Why… is she talking to me?’

The semester hadn’t even started yet. Arigiri Shota was supposed to start harassing Umi with advances right after the entrance ceremony. There should be zero contact before that.

‘And… this isn’t like Kiryu Umi.’

That was the question.

Kiryu Umi was, in a word, a face-snob. She was the apex predator of the dating market who only dealt with handsome men. Well… it was legal since she was a beauty herself. She was the type who wouldn’t even speak to men who didn’t meet her standards. That applied to the player too—you needed high “Charm” among the humanity stats to progress your relationship with Umi.

Despite her cold shoulder, the dojo students kept pursuing her. That’s the power of beauty.

‘I’m… not that handsome though?’

Yes, that was important.

Arigiri Shota wasn’t terribly ugly, but he was below average. His gloomy impression had improved thanks to the personality change, but fundamentally, he was still a below-average plain guy. Normally, Kiryu Umi wouldn’t even speak to him.

‘Ah… seriously.’

I hate this kind of variable!! Just follow the game’s flow!! My reincarnator’s privilege is disappearing!! Just be the Umi I know!!

Why did she approach me? Just to say hello? No, she wasn’t exactly the polite type.

“I… saw you working so hard at the dojo and wanted to talk. I’d like to get to know you.”

Kiryu Umi smiled warmly at me. Between her smile and figure, she looked strangely bewitching.

“Ah. Right. You’re about to be a first-year in high school too, right?”

I chose a safe topic.

“Yes. Natori High. You?”

Kiryu Umi asked.

“Me too, Natori High.”

Yes, and even in the same Class F.

“Really? I hope we can be friends. Are you going to continue kendo?”

Kiryu Umi asked.

“Yeah.”

I answered briefly.

“Well, see you.”

I tried to make my escape. Honestly, her suddenly approaching me like this was very unsettling. A game character not acting according to script is extremely stressful for someone like me who’s been reincarnated.

“Huh…? W-wait. That’s it? We still have time. Let’s talk more.”

Kiryu Umi suddenly blocked my path.

No. Seriously, why is she acting like this? I was filled with dread.