Chapter 2

---

When I woke up, I found myself in the middle of a forest.

"......At least I seem to be alive."

I checked my entire body to make sure there were no injuries. My consciousness was clear, and there seemed to be no issues with my health.

Looking outside the car, I saw trees towering in every direction. This was a landscape that shouldn't have been near the road I was driving on just a moment ago.

To calm down, I decided to first analyze the current situation.

The first possibility is that this is a dream. I might have fainted from the shock of a lightning strike and am now dreaming. If that's the case, I need to go find a cute girl right away.

The second possibility is that I am dead. Whether it was a direct lightning strike or a driving error, I might have died in an accident and am now in the afterlife. Damn, I need to get rid of my home computer or I won't be able to die in peace.

The third possibility is that I have been transported. I might have been caught in a warp-like phenomenon, common in secondary entertainment, and ended up in a different place. If I'm still in Japan, that's good, but if I'm abroad, I'll need a passport.

The fourth possibility... Well, it's starting to sound less and less realistic. I thought of other far-fetched possibilities, but there's no end to them, so I stopped thinking about them.

The car's engine starts, but the radio doesn't receive any signals, and my cell phone is out of range. The situation doesn't seem very optimistic.

"Anyway, I should check my surroundings."

I got out of the car and looked around again.

--- It's a huge tree.

Larger than the centuries-old trees I've seen on TV, by one or even two sizes. Moreover, the forest is filled with such massive trees as far as the eye can see.

"......Wow."

When I touched it, I was overwhelmed by its weight. It was so tall that I couldn't see the top.

"It's clearly not a cedar or a cypress."

It doesn't seem to be like the trees in a plantation or the tropical trees like the banyan. Since most plantations are cedars and cypresses, it's likely that I'm in a natural forest, but...

"From the atmosphere, it doesn't feel like Japan."

The trees exude a presence that seems more than just their size. I can feel a kind of wavy air, like steam rising from the trees.

"......Could it be?"

This time, I observed the palm of my hand. I had been feeling it since I stepped outside, a force similar to the trees but much stronger. Once I recognized it, I couldn't pretend not to see it anymore.

"There's no choice. I'll give it a try..."

Pretending to be resigned, I smiled, feeling the excitement in my chest, and decided to move my body. First, I tried a boxing jab-like move.

*Boom! Boom!*

"Wow, this is the sound of cutting through the air, isn't it?"

Even though I'm doing it myself, I'm amazed by the incredible speed of my moving arm. With this, grabbing ten leaves should be easy.

"Hmm, the wind is quite active today."

While causing a breeze with my punches, I tried to sound cool.

"......"

Yeah, that's it.

I feel like dying a little.

"Next, I'll try kicking."

I gave a light low kick to the tree. Sure enough, it shook. The massive tree shook.

...So, the last thing to try is jumping. Let's give it a go.

"Ugh, jump!"

I crouched and lightly jumped.

"Wow!?"

Oh, I jumped about three meters! It's a world record!

"Phew, that was scary."

I managed to land safely and sighed. Even from such a height, I didn't feel any impact.

Still, this jumping ability is amazing. My middle-aged, slightly overweight body is bouncing around like it's nothing.

...Suddenly, I remembered an old dream. Maybe one of my dreams from my student days will come true. The dream of that ultimate move...

"I might be able to do it now!"

Muttering to myself, I took a run-up and jumped high.

"Secret Technique! Moon Salto!"

Let me explain! The Moon Salto is a technique where you perform a backflip while releasing the energy stored in your legs! Sorry, I lied. That's the Summer Salto. It's actually a gymnastics move, officially called the Tsukahara. It involves two back somersaults and one twist in the air, and is written as "Moon Salto" to convey a dynamic and cool move!

"Ouch."

Of course, I failed. No matter how much my physical abilities have improved, a technique without the necessary skills can't be performed just by knowing it. I spun randomly in the air and ended up face-planting into the ground.

"Like a dog god."

I pulled my head out of the ground and made a self-comment. Well, I didn't expect to succeed on the first try. I'll practice to develop my spatial awareness.

"I'll definitely succeed someday!"

With a new goal in life, I declared it.

---

I might have gone off on a tangent, but this is definitely it.

My physical abilities have skyrocketed. Whether it's due to a difference in gravity or some special SF rule, the fact is that I now possess extraordinary physical strength.

However, this isn't a situation to be carefree about. Whether this power is unique to me or standard in this place will greatly affect my future.

---

While I was lost in these thoughts, feeling like I was in a fantasy world, it appeared.

It emerged as if pushing aside the massive trees, fitting the setting of a forest.

"Kumamon is here!?"

Did you get the proper usage approval? That stern face isn't part of the official design, you know? The color of the red circles on the cheeks is also specified.

...No, no, calm down.

The thing in front of me is a black bear-like creature, completely lacking in cuteness, and of a different size. It's about three meters long. It's walking on two legs, so it's not a wild bear. It doesn't feel like a living being at all.

In this situation, the appearance of such a strange object...

"Is it a monster?"

Such an unconventional interpretation came naturally. The atmosphere here allows for such unconventional ideas.

...Well, what should I do?

Just recognizing it as a monster helped me calm down surprisingly. Maybe it's because it feels so unreal. Lack of crisis awareness is said to be a flaw of the Japanese, but in this case, being calm is a plus.

--- There are two options.

Run or fight.

Both rely on my significantly improved physical abilities.

If I run, it will come down to a race of leg strength. I'll either shake off the monster or find someone to help me, but either way, I'll have to get far from here.

If I fight, the biggest issue is the unknown strength of the opponent. I don't know my own combat skills, and I have no experience or weapons. I should also consider the possibility that the monster might run away or approach me friendly, saying, "Do you want some honey?"

*Gaaaaah!!!*

With a roar and a terrifying expression, the object charged at me. There's no room for such hopeful thinking! I might be a bit chubby, but I'm past my physical peak and not a juicy piece of meat.

"......Alright, I'll fight."

After a moment of hesitation, I chose to fight. There are a few reasons.

I'm reluctant to abandon my car, one of the few possessions I have in this confusing situation. Dying from exhaustion after failing to escape would leave me with regrets. My physical abilities are enhanced, making me more confident.

Especially the car is important. If this is a different world, it might be a condition for returning to the original situation. Even if I can't return, it would be useful as a place to sleep. And, of course, the game-like rule that the first enemy you encounter is a weakling.

...I know. This is just an excuse.

--- I just want to fight.

This is the dream world I once imagined. Supernatural powers. A clear enemy.

And facing challenges, breaking through desperate situations, like a hero.

I couldn't resist such a foolish temptation and shouted to encourage myself.

"Uuuuuuuuuhhhh!!!"

And then---

Yeah, first, I'll observe. Using the trees as a shield, I dodged the bear-like creature's charge.

What? A direct punch? No way, no way, no way, snail!

That's right! I believe!

I know better than anyone that I'm unreliable in any situation!

"Whoa! Whoa! Watch out!"

Fortunately, the enemy seems to have trouble turning. Its speed isn't that great either. I can easily avoid it with side steps. It's a brute force type, relying on straight-line power. I heard that ghosts can only move in a straight line, but that's not really relevant!

"Let's try a counterattack."

Feeling good from the successful dodges and getting used to my enhanced body, I decided to try a hit-and-run attack.

*Gugog!*

I kicked the side of the bear-like creature, which had lost its balance, and used the momentum to move away. It seemed to have a significant effect, as the black giant staggered.

If this were the real Kumamon, it would be grounds for dismissal.

"Did I get it!?"

Why did I say that?

The enemy is still full of energy, but why did I say that? It's a major death flag.

This time, I circled behind it, delivered a Yakuza kick, and made a self-comment. I seem to be gaining some mental composure.

"One more time."

I repeated the same attack, whistling. The monster doesn't seem to have any learning ability and can't adapt to my movements.

"It seems to be working."

My physical abilities are indeed significantly enhanced. However, I can't be complacent.

While the enemy's attacks miss and my attacks hit, there's still a risk.

"Can you go down already?"

No matter how many times I kick, it doesn't seem to be a fatal blow. Maybe it has a resistance to physical attacks, being a monster. My cautious attacks, focused on evasion, might also be too weak. I wish it would just give up and leave.

If this continues, I'll be at a disadvantage. I still have some stamina, but the enemy might have the same. It might be best to use a powerful move while I still have the energy.

However, powerful moves leave openings. If the enemy withstands it, I might face a counterattack. My defense is still uncertain. The enemy's bare-handed attacks are powerful, and I saw its fists deeply gouging the trees when it missed.

"I don't have any weapons either."

I searched the surroundings while dodging, but there were no suitable weapons. Throwing stones might be an option, but the monster's skin seems hard, and the stones would likely just shatter without causing much damage.

In that case, the remaining option is---

"Maybe magic?"

The steam-like substance coming from the trees, if interpreted in a fantasy way, might be a source of magical power. The monster also seems to be surrounded by a sinister, magical-like aura.

But it's weak.

The trees and the monster are only emitting a thin magical aura. In contrast, the aura covering me is growing wider and darker as the battle continues. Unlike the refreshing green magical aura of the trees, it's a sinister black, or a mix of many colors, like a crucible of magical power. If I can use this as a source of power, it could be called magic.

--- I was overwhelmed by this sudden and joyful idea.

"Uuuuuuuuuhhhh!!!"

I took a large step back, focusing the magical power in my right arm.

Imagination. That's right, imagination!

And remember!!

Since childhood, I've loved stories of imagination. I believed I would one day have special powers. That belief changed from "believing" to "wanting to believe," then to "wish," and as I grew up and became deeply immersed in reality, it finally turned into "envy."

...But it's still there.

Compared to the original "it," it has become so small and changed in shape, but... it's still there. I realized I was just an ordinary person in the world I was born into.

But what if, ... what if, in a different world, it could be different?

No, even that might be a delusional self-flattery, but if we consider the possibility of anything being possible, maybe there is a world where I can be special. In that world, maybe I can use special powers.

--- Slowly, I held my palm out in front of me, focusing on the monster.

I believed!

--- And the power turned into light, enveloping the monster.