Chapter 35

So, after guiding Jitsu to that beautiful spring, we continued our exploration.

Then, Moshin took out the gloves I was carrying on my back and stared at them.

"What is it, Moshin?"

"Huh? Oh, these gloves are unique equipment, right? I was thinking if they could be enhanced."

"Oh, you were checking their abilities, huh?"

Moshin nodded in response to my answer.

Ah, I remember that.

"What are you going to do with this thing... You should enhance a knife or Metal Turtle's sword..."

"Checking out the odd ones... Wait, they can't be enhanced by abilities...?"

Well, they are odd.

They are meant to be used when you prioritize evasion, right?

"Wait a moment."

Moshin tapped something, and an arrow appeared in my field of vision, somewhat large.

Enhancement conditions... Defeat the boss kangaroo with the gloves.

Required Level 10

"An enhancement condition appeared in my field of vision..."

"Ah, it seems we need to go in that direction..."

The arrow has become quite large.

Is this thing right in front of us?

And is it okay to fight a boss?

"It seems there's a boss right in front of us! Should we run early!?"

"No, shouldn't we see the results of the new armor?"

Moshin... If I think about the wallaby, you mean I have to kill the boss kangaroo, right?

I glared at him with a half-closed eye, and he averted his gaze.

You...

As I was thinking this, the arrow...

A lot of footsteps could be heard.

A Strawberry Wallaby medal floated up from somewhere.

Hey, did this item summon them?

"Something that looks like a kangaroo is visible in the darkness!"

They don't come close within the range of the lantern.

Straining my eyes, I could see the name of the monster.

Straw Knight Kangaroo.

"Isn't there a lot of them?"

"Yeah, there are. We can't seriously fight these things."

Just as Miko was about to gesture to retreat,

Pfft!

Four fires lit up around a rugged stone altar in front of us.

"Huh?"

There are sometimes ruins in the forest... but this is a stone stage?

Corner ropes made of grass?

In the middle of the corner ropes, a Straw Knight Kangaroo, which is apparently the one with the gloves, is standing with its arms crossed.

The fires have revealed the Straw Knight Kangaroos around it.

There must be about ten of them.

Huh? I found a rare kangaroo without gloves.

Well, it's fine for now.

It is sitting around the corner ropes, watching us.

...No, I don't understand.

"Um..."

What's the situation?

I can't understand the ecology of these monsters.

The other world is so confusing.

"What's going on?"

Jitsu looked around, and Moshin put his finger to his lips as if in thought.

Miko narrowed her eyes and stared at the kangaroos, and Hagizawa had a subtle smile.

Hagizawa, stop smiling.

What's going on here?

"Qu!"

A large kangaroo in the corner ropes pointed a fist at me and then beckoned provocatively.

I really don't understand.

"Hey Kousuke, what's this?"

"Don't say it. Ignore them and either wipe them out or consider retreating."

"Is it a challenge to Kousuke?"

"Kousuke looks like a challenger."

"Is it a championship match? Because he has the gloves!"

Those were their responses.

And finally, Jitsu, why are you so confident?

"What do we do?"

The Straw Knight Kangaroos that seem to be followers haven't shown any hostility yet.

The monsters seem to be aware of this.

"Qu!"

The boss Straw Knight Kangaroo pointed to the corner.

Then, gloves similar to the ones I have were hanging from the corner.

Is it collecting them?

Then it started shadow boxing at me.

Is it challenging me to a one-on-one or a group fight?

"Ah!"

At this point, Moshin clapped his hands as if he remembered something.

"What is it?"

"There was a time when Taniizumi and the combat team talked about the boss."

"What's the point now?"

"Apparently, when you defeat a boss monster, it just disappears as light and reappears in the area after some time. It also seems to summon its subordinates from somewhere."

Does it respawn?

No, that action is too mysterious!

"I don't know the logic, but it seems the boss wants Kousuke's gloves."

"If you don't have them, you just fight and defeat it."

I get it, but what is that monster trying to do?

Why do I have to box here?

"Your armor is good. Maybe you should take the challenge."

"Can we wear armor?"

"Qu!"

Don't nod!

"Should we run?"

"Qu qu qu qu qu!"

Do the kangaroos understand Miko's words? The boss pointed at us and started laughing.

Stop laughing!

Grrrr... How much more are you going to provoke me, kangaroo?

"Fine, I don't know if it's a life-or-death match, but I want to beat the crap out of that thing."

"Go for it, Kousuke. Miko, Hagizawa, and Jitsu, help Kousuke if he's in trouble."

"Declaring cheating in front of the opponent is pretty bold."

"I don't know... But it's a bit amusing and endearing."

I understand Miko's concerns.

But I don't like that mocking smile.

It reminds me of the look Taniizumi gave me when he mocked me.

I put on the gloves and stepped onto the stage.

"Let's start the match between Kousuke and the boss Straw Knight Kangaroo!"

...Why is Jitsu the referee?

There seems to be one on the Straw Knight Kangaroo side too.

Moshin and the others are trying to cheer me on from the corner behind me.

"Qu!"

"Ready... Fight!"

A sound rang out from somewhere.

I took a fighting stance and approached the boss Straw Knight Kangaroo with the boxer's steps I can now use thanks to the Instant Expansion skill.

"Quuuu!"

I defended a quick jab with the gloves... The impact was less than I expected.

Is it because I'm wearing armor?

"Ha!"

I threw a big straight punch at the Straw Knight Kangaroo.

I had no confidence it would hit.

I aimed for one hit, thinking I could withstand it.

"Qu!"

The Straw Knight Kangaroo tilted its head as if to say "too slow" and countered with a body blow to my side.

The impact traveled through my armor.

"Ugh..."

I stopped breathing for a moment.

Oh no, I can't breathe!

After taking a deep breath, I aimed a hook at the boss Straw Knight Kangaroo's face, which was grinning at the successful hit.

It was shallower than I thought!

The boss clicked its tongue as if to say, "What a hassle."

"You can't challenge me with armor on!"

It's good that you're acting like a big shot, but Moshin's armor won't be defeated by this.

"Qu!"

Hmph, it's the same with you. I'll aim for your face, which is poorly defended, until you use a fancy straight punch.

...Why can I understand what the monster is saying? It's using the gloves to give obvious instructions, and it's impossible not to notice!

Are you holding back?

Fine, I'll do it!

I provoked the boss by aiming only for its face, as we can't communicate through words.

The boss grinned.

Is it enjoying the fight?