Ch.76Midterms of Doom (6)

After that, we enjoyed our happy time to the fullest before focusing on studying again. The key was to make them study during that brief moment when girlfriends were suffering from their “sage time.”

That way, we studied diligently until midnight.

Midnight. It was time for the Special Activities Club to start hunting monsters.

“I’ll be going then.”

I said while stroking Eri’s hair.

“Okay. Come back soon? My husband.”

Eri kissed me right away. Really… calling me “husband.” She always chooses just the right words to make a man lose his mind.

Pat pat!

I gave Eri her favorite butt pats. The key was to knead affectionately while patting.

“Ehehehehe.”

That made Eri absolutely delighted.

“Let’s get going.”

Umi said with a slightly jealous, sulky expression.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

I immediately tapped Tomato, my trusty sword at my waist. It was a name that lacked coolness compared to its performance.

——-

Central Park, the standard meeting place by unwritten rule, was where Sasitsu waited.

“You’re here.”

Sasitsu immediately stood up.

“Then let’s hurry up and hunt!”

I said with a smile.

There was still some time until the May dungeon appeared, but we needed to level up in advance. After all, this world was fundamentally an RPG, and level was justice.

Moreover, I had learned a new skill. A skill that didn’t even exist in the game. Since Issen started with Form 1, learning Form 0 was a major deviation from the original storyline.

‘Issen Form 0: Armor Breaker’

The skill description was roughly like this:

‘Delivers a powerful strike to the enemy, dealing damage proportional to weapon damage. Considered a passive skill.’

‘Reduces enemy defense when attacking. Also greatly increases threat level against enemies. Can stack up to 5 times.’

That was roughly the skill description.

“Armor piercing, huh…”

I couldn’t help but recall a skill from a famous MMORPG. Memories of stacking armor piercing three times on each mob in dungeons came flooding back. That game… it was fun. I wonder if it exists in Japan too? I’d like to play it again.

It reduced enemy defense, concentrated aggro, and could even stack.

‘Am I completely going down the tank route…?’

Well, since Psychorobo had no dealing capabilities, that was the only thing I could do. Well, if I didn’t want to get kicked out, I had to do my best as a tank.

“Let’s go!! Pinocchio!! Unfilial Shield Activate!!!”

I immediately brought out Pinocchio.

“Unfilial…?! I reconciled with grandfather properly!!”

Pinocchio bristled.

Yet he was still Pinocchio who extended his nose by telling lies.

Grab!

I seized Pinocchio’s handle-like nose. Pinocchio folded his limbs and took a shield-like posture.

This was my unofficial weapon, the Pinocchio Shield.

Pinocchio’s body itself was sturdy, and I was utilizing his characteristic of naturally drawing aggro by his very existence. There was no better shield than this.

“Follow me!!!”

I shouted loudly.

“Hey… I’m the leader.”

Sasitsu said in a slightly uncomfortable tone.

“Ha! In dungeons, the tank is the leader!! Don’t you know the rules?”

I immediately replied.

“DPS just follow my ass!!”

And I rushed toward places where monsters were likely to be.

“Really… he tries to show off at every opportunity.”

Sasitsu followed me with a bitter smile.

———

The old town district was still a hot spot for monsters.

Monsters typically had a habit of multiplying in places with low human density, places that weren’t well-recognized. This old town district, where hardly anyone walked around, was the optimal environment for monsters to appear.

“Grrrraaargh!!”

“Guuuaaarrgh!!!!!”

Level 20-something monsters blocked our way. They looked like skeletal soldiers wielding swords. The field monsters had become quite strong now. The game system where mob levels changed according to dungeon progress was implemented here too.

I might have been scared in the past… but I’m different now. I’ve reached level 20 too.

That level 5 loser who fought desperately against Geruruk is dead. I’ve been reborn as a level 20 beefy main tank.

“Hyaaaah!!!”

I blocked the monsters’ path.

“Grrrraaargh!!!”

The monsters let out angry howls as soon as they saw the Pinocchio Shield.

Clang! Clang!! Claaang!!

The monsters’ swords struck down on the Pinocchio Shield.

However, my stance didn’t falter. Having reached level 20, my strength stat had increased considerably. I could easily block attacks like these.

But… it felt like only my strength and speed stats were increasing. I was becoming more and more of a pure physical fighter.

After blocking one round of attacks with my shield, I immediately drew my sword.

“Hmmmmph…!”

I had already grasped the basics of Issen. First, I needed to supply my entire body with oxygen through breathing.

Ping!

With a temporary slow-motion effect, the monsters’ weak points became clearly visible. I could see vulnerabilities that pulsed slightly with each breath the monsters took.

“Kieeeeek!!!!”

After identifying the weak points, I swung my sword immediately.

Swoooosh-!!!!

Tomato’s blade struck directly at a skeletal soldier’s rib area.

Crack!!!

With that, the skeletal soldier’s rib area was instantly shattered.

“Weak bones!!! Drink some milk!!!!”

I immediately brought my sword down on the next skeletal soldier’s skull.

Craaack-!!

The sword smashed through the skeletal soldier’s head.

Something… the nature of combat was different from before. Previously, it felt like I was just tearing enemies apart with physical strength.

But now it was different. I was targeting only the parts that looked like they would yield critical hits. Moreover, the power had increased significantly.

‘I’m using less stamina than before.’

My combat endurance had noticeably increased.

“Grrrraaargh!!!”

One skeletal soldier swung its sword.

Screeeech!!

I held Pinocchio at an angle to deflect the sword strike. At the same time, terrible scratches began to appear on Pinocchio’s body.

“Uwaaaagh!! Master!!! My body is being torn apart!!!”

Pinocchio let out a scream.

“It’s just a scratch!! Just paint over it!!!!”

I shouted loudly. Geez, he’s getting more and more whiny. Why so many complaints?

“Hyaaaah!!”

And I immediately swung my sword, cutting a skeletal soldier’s waist in half.

‘I guess it really is a legendary sword after all…’

The cutting sensation was different. Even without applying much force, the monster was cut in two.

Games really are all about equipment. I realized that instinctively.

“Come on!! Come at me if you dare!!!!”

Excited, I rode the momentum and charged toward the monster horde.

———-

Only after fighting in a trance for quite some time did I come to my senses.

Before my eyes were piles of monster corpses.

There wasn’t even a need to ask my companions for help. I had taken care of everything myself.

“Shota… you’ve become incredibly strong.”

Umi said with her mouth wide open.

“Yeah. His level is the lowest but he’s crazy strong.”

Taiga nodded in agreement.

“This is what you call compressed real-combat leveling.”

I immediately struck a pose emphasizing my muscles.

“Hehehe. So cocky.”

Taiga poked my side repeatedly.

“But… Shota. Your muscles are impressive…”

Umi muttered, swallowing her saliva.

“Anyway. Shota is helpful. The battle becomes much more stable when he blocks enemies at the front.”

Sasitsu nodded and said.

“Wow~ Are you saying I’m the shield and heart of the team? That’s too much praise.”

I immediately poked Sasitsu while speaking.

“No… I didn’t go that far.”

Sasitsu replied with an expression of disbelief.

“That’s what you meant though. Don’t be shy.”

I continued poking Sasitsu.

“Really… I shouldn’t praise you too much. How far are you planning to climb?”

Sasitsu looked at me as if he couldn’t believe it.

Anyway. After finishing the hunt, it was approaching 2 AM. Time to wrap things up.

Feeling it would be a shame to just go home, we grabbed some sports drinks from a vending machine and sipped them.

“By the way, Sasitsu. Why does Hoeta call you ‘Master’?”

I asked Sasitsu.

“Ugh… that’s a dark history.”

Sasitsu immediately made an unpleasant face.

“Come on~ tell me.”

I immediately pestered Sasitsu. It was surely going to be hilarious. Something to tease him about forever.

“Well… back in middle school… I briefly posed as a duelist. I was quite dedicated, even placing in city tournaments.”

Sasitsu said.

“Ohhh… I see.”

If it was a city-level tournament, there might even be video records. I’ll investigate as soon as I get home. And then tease Sasitsu endlessly. That was my resolution.

“At that time… I referred to myself as ‘Master’… so that kid Hoeta calls me Master too.”

Sasitsu explained with a mortified expression.

“Wow… giving yourself such a title… you really had chuunibyou.”

Honestly, even I found that a bit cringe.

“It was youthful indiscretion!!!! I regret it too!!!”

Sasitsu exclaimed, bristling.

“Hehehe. Alright. Then I’ll have to change how I address you too. From now on, I’ll call you ‘Master’.”

I immediately said.

“Absolutely not!!!!”

Sasitsu shouted loudly.

“If that is your command, I shall obey, Master.”

“I told you not to!!!!”

Sasitsu yelled again.

———

In this way, I was having quite a fulfilling April.

After school, I would briefly meet with Hoeta and research decks with Sasitsu, then go to the kendo dojo to train for the tournament.

But… our girlfriends always insisted on coming along when we helped the dueling kid. There was no real need for that, but they were quite adamant. They said I might charm some girl without them knowing.

And… the blonde twin-tailed mesu-gaki Madoka would strangely hover around me and tease me whenever she saw me. Knowing it was just a common pre-duel tactic, I consistently ignored her.

A week passed like that.

Saturday. That was the day of the official duel tournament at Oubashi Elementary School.

“Big bro!! You came!! And the ladies too!! Thank you for coming!!!”

Hoeta greeted our group with friendly enthusiasm.

“Heheh. Of course. We’re already bound by fate.”

I said while patting Hoeta’s buzz-cut head.

“Ladies… I like that title… makes me look like Shota’s wife. Ehehehe.”

Umi seemed quite pleased with the title.

“Ah… true. I want to get pregnant with Shota’s baby soon… so I can look more like a proper lady.”

Eri said, hugging me tightly.

“Hmph… who cares about titles.”

Taiga tried to act cool like the delinquent she was, but her lips were trembling with joy.

“I… I’ll definitely win!!! Since big bro and Master helped me!!”

Hoeta shouted loudly.

“Yeah. Make sure you win.”

I said.

Honestly… if Hoeta doesn’t win, I’ll become that mesu-gaki’s slave. My dignity as a human being was at stake.

At this moment, Hoeta was my personal Abraham Lincoln.

Martin Luther King… Malcolm X… Ralph Waldo Emerson… and Lincoln… give strength to all the slaves of the world!!!!

And so, the duel tournament slowly began to unfold.