It was a success. What was? Ogakichi-kun's confession, of course.
Ogakichi-kun reported this to me, blushing, after I woke up today before the paired kata with him that had become my daily routine before morning practice. TL Note: kata – it's a Karate thing. Practicing the 'form'
Well, I did expect it to be a success so I was not surprised. Perhaps Ogakichi-kun did not realize it, but Asue-chan had also fallen for him since some time ago.
The news that Asue-chan had consulted Dhammi-chan about it had fallen into my hands, so the rumor was not a mistake.
There really was no worry about him getting rejected; I even secretly shared all the details of yesterday's strategy meeting with Dhammi-chan using the cuff-type communication devices in order to buy time to orchestrate those two's relations.
The fact that things turned out this way was all a matter of course.
The only thing I was worried about is whether he got too excited last night and broke Asue-chan or not. TL Note : He’s an Ogre, but Asue-chan should be just as big.
Well, I already mentioned previously that I had put Ogakichi-kun in charge of the male elves as advance practice, but there was a precedent where he broke various things when he had his first time with a partner that had a 1 meter difference in physical size. He was assigned a 2 meter tall Elf, the biggest of them, right now the Elf is being healed by Hobuji-kun as practice and put to bed.
Asue-chan is currently the top miner of spirit stones that pop up around the area, because of the influence of Velvet's Dungeon, and also of various rare metals, so it would put a dent in work efficiency if she couldn't move.
See, the current Asue-chan is an excavator-like existence.
I wonder if I should regulate various plans in response.
That was what I thought, but as far as the reports I've heard, everything seems to be fine.
Because it wasn't Ogakichi-kun's first time, because Asue-chan is tough, and then because he honored the promise I had him make last night at the strategy meeting, it seems he was able to do it in moderation. Which was a pleasant thing.
At any rate, during today's kumite, Ogakichi-kun was so spirited he took several of my punches. Note: kumite is similar to kata in that it ‘s one of the three main sections of karate training. Even with trembling knees he was still smiling. His spiritedness was so annoying, I might have to allocate several black Skeletons to let out my feelings on. I immediately put that into practice.
The sparring finished at noon, and as I was going to go capture Hind Bears with Ogakichi-kun, Dhammi-chan and Asue-chan said that they want to come along.
When I asked Asue-chan about how her mining operations were progressing, it seems that she had been steadfastly working all morning and had met her quota, so for the first time in a while the four of us went hunting.
Unfortunately, we weren't able to encounter the Hind Bears we had hoped for, but we succeeded in hunting five Stamp Boars, six Poison Mantises (tentative name) with 1-meter bodies and sickles dripping with purple venom, four Rhinoceros Beetles (tentative name) with 1-meter long horns and lustrous black iron-like exoskeletons, five Argiope, four Demon Spiders, three grey-shelled sixty-centimeter long Messenger Locusts (tentative name), and eleven Yellow Monkeys (tentative name) with yellow fur and strangely-growing tails.
As expected from an area that we haven't come to before, there were lots of monsters that I hadn't eaten before. Only unfortunately, I had to worry that shelled insect-types like the Poison Mantises and Rhinoceros Beetles would be poisonous if eaten by anyone but me, so the products of the land weren't so good.
Unfortunately. Yeah, Unfortunately.
As a result, as soon as I stripped the parts that seemed usable off them and tossed those in my item box, I crunchingly ate the remains. Feeling awkward that I was the only one eating, I had the other three eat two Yellow Monkeys each.
Ability [Molt] learned
Ability [Generate Insect Wings] learned
Ability [End Edge] learned
Ability [Silent Kill] learned
Ability [Horn Blow] learned
Ability [Dissonance] learned
Ability [Parasitic] learned
Ability [Improved Jumping Power] learned
Ability [Tough Vitality] learned
Ability [Exoskeleton] learned
Ability [Shell of Wrought Iron] learned
Ability [Limit Breaker] learned
Ability [Cold Vulnerability] learned
I became a henshin hero. TL Note: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HenshinHero
Well, I ate the rhinoceros beetle to obtain [Exoskeleton] and then the personal armor I was wearing that was created from the red bear was immediately taken the instant I activated it. The carapace had a unique red luster to it and came from a humanoid stagbeetle no less than 2 metres 50 centimeters in height. I was in was completely covered in armor.
I was second guessing myself about why it looks like a stag beetle when I ate a rhinoceros beetle? Surely my horns are to blame.
When I turned my senses towards the slightly curved, sword-like, pair of horns, I could get them to move. As a test I held a tree in between them, and *slash*, I was able to cut it. Furthermore, I did not feel the slightest bit of resistance, so sharp were the horns.
I could really get used to this
I inspected the exoskeleton for a little while.
Since I was doing that, I expected to understand the skeletal structure as well, which seemed to be awfully easy to move in yet extremely sturdy. I tested it by having Ogakichi-kun hit me and while the part that was hit was dented a little, I did not feel any pain. Somehow it seems that there was a mechanism incorporated into it that reduced damage by dispersing the impact throughout the exoskeleton.
Moreover, wearing it felt like wearing the armor from when I was deployed at work before my reincarnation, a power suit made from biometal. Eventually I got used to it until there wasn’t even a slight feeling of my movement being obstructed.
Moreover, somehow the exoskeleton seemed to even have power assist, so I couldn't find any faults in it. Well, maybe being too conspicuous is one.
Yeah, well, this was an extremely good ability.
Only, after a brief investigation, I want you to excuse the fact that I become stark naked as soon as I dismissed the [Exoskeleton]. It's okay though, since I had the trousers I made before; I don't actually have a hobby of stripping.
It did hurt that the sentimental protective gear, full of memories, from my fight with the Red Bear disappeared.
Well, as I tuned my senses, [Ability [Exoskeleton] Entry 1 [Red Bear Beast King's Prestige] registered Entry 2 [ ] empty Entry 3 [ ] empty Entry 4 [ ] empty Entry 5 [ ] empty 4 more form entries remaining. Which entry number would you like to equip?] was displayed inside my head, so it didn't completely disappear. I was thankful for that.
It looks like I was able to change forms depending on the course of battle. It was a handy ability for having such a good use.
Also, it was good that I could produce wings that enable me to fly, but the flight controls were more difficult than I had thought.
I should practice when I get home.
Being extremely pleased with this outcome, I grabbed my spoils, returned home and ate them.
Taste of Stamp Boar meat never disappointed.
Ability [Reckless Charge] learned Ability [Tail Attack] learned
After that, I tried some flight practice, crafted a couple items and then dropped to sleep.
Mhm, excellent day.