arc2 · 029-ch29

Episode 29: Rabbit Demon Iron Skin

　Summer vacation exploration day 10. Today too, Suzuka was exploring the dungeon.

　Despite having fought an intense battle with the Fresh Green Great Wolf, the area boss of District 2, the previous day, he returned to the dungeon again without taking a rest day.

　He had wounds all over his body from bleeding due to the great wolf's area attack, but they were now cleanly healed. After finishing dungeon exploration yesterday, he went straight to the cram school Yasu attends and got healed. Of course, they met during the dinner break, so he didn't interfere with studying.

　By the time he exited the dungeon, the bleeding had stopped, and since the wounds were at a level healable with recovery magic (1), it wasn't a serious injury.

　If the wounds are healed, he can go to the dungeon too. If he's going to rest anyway, he might as well rest after completely conquering District 2—so he decided to challenge the other area boss of District 2.

　Yesterday's battle with the Fresh Green Great Wolf felt pretty good. Although he took a hit from an area attack, he fought well, including the recovery afterward. The reason for fighting area bosses consecutively was also because he wanted to fight while that sensation was still fresh.

　The other area boss of District 2 is a rabbit-type monster. Previously confirmed from a distance, it had a silhouette that made one question, is it a rabbit?

　Like yesterday, while warming up, he hunts One-Horned Rabbits and Gale Rabbits. Perhaps because his level and skills rose from the battle with the Fresh Green Great Wolf, he can now defeat them more easily than ever before.

Name: Suzuka Jozenji

Level: 21

HP: 193

MP: 191

Attack: 199

Defense: 193

Agility: 201

Dexterity: 197

Intelligence: 189

Storage: 81

Abilities: Swordsmanship (2), Body Control (3), Body Reinforcement (3), Mana Control (2), Snatch, Thought Acceleration (1), Presence Detection (1)

　Especially significant was the Body Reinforcement skill rising to level 3. His range of movement expanded dramatically, and he became able to easily dodge both the charges of One-Horned Rabbits and the magic of Gale Rabbits.

　Taking a lunch break in the middle, he continues rabbit hunting. Since he fights area bosses at the end of the day, he continues hunting rabbits until around 3:00 PM. When he approaches the vicinity where he had previously seen an area boss, he can find the area boss in the distance.

　As he approaches, its figure gradually becomes clearly visible.

　Rabbit Demon Iron Skin: Level 24

　When he saw it for the first time, Suzuka's impression was a question: "Is this a rabbit?" Because at first glance, it has an appearance that could be mistaken for a bear.

　It's as large as a brown bear, and when standing on two legs, it's overwhelmingly bigger than Suzuka. It's probably over 2 meters. Its arms and legs are thick and muscular, with sharp claws growing on its hands. Its whole body is covered in hard fur, and the hairless areas like its hands had black skin reminiscent of iron, as the name "Iron Skin" suggests.

　Its face, like a Hannya mask, seemed to be holding anger, and its sunken eyes glowed red and ominously. The only feature that identifies it as a rabbit—its long ears—were pointed like two horns. Rabbit Demon Iron Skin was a monster completely unlike the pure white fluffy rabbit.

　As usual, Suzuka gripped his magic iron pipe tightly and prepared for battle. Although this is an area where Wooden Goblins exist, he naturally leaves his backpack far away for the fight with an area boss. Because fighting while carrying it on his back is too much of a hindrance.

　No Wooden Goblins were seen around the area boss, and his items weren't stolen when fighting the great wolf either, so it should be fine. Even if stolen in the worst case, it would be just a water bottle or lunch trash. He doesn't bring his phone or wallet to the dungeon since they'd just be in the way, keeping them in the Explorer Association's rental lockers. Since he's exploring with as little luggage as possible, even the worst case of theft wouldn't hurt or itch.

　Today's outfit is also the school-issued tracksuit. Yesterday it was torn to pieces by the great wolf's magic, but he has two school-issued tracksuits. It's tough when this one gets torn to pieces too, but since he has financial surplus now, he figured he can just buy a new one if it becomes unusable.

"Well then, what kind of guy are you?"

　Visually, it seems to be good at physical combat. Since the great wolf mainly used magic, it makes sense that this is a different type of monster.

　There's nothing around the Rabbit Demon. Neither One-Horned Rabbits nor Gale Rabbits are hiding. While not absolutely certain, it doesn't trigger the Presence Detection skill either, so it's probably not hiding either.

"GWWAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

　As Suzuka approached, the Rabbit Demon suddenly roared. Suppressing the impulse to cover his ears at the ear-piercing angry voice, he immediately entered combat stance.

"No way!?"

　After barking, the Rabbit Demon leaped toward Suzuka. The distance between them is still 10 meters. It attacked with a giant leap of probably 3 meters high to close that distance.

　It's a massive body nearly 2 meters. While shocked that such a thing is possible, Suzuka dodged to the side. Even for Suzuka with high status values, catching such a monster that's like a lump of mass is impossible.

　Though taken by surprise, it's ultimately a simple pounce. If he handles it calmly, evasion is easy, and he can even launch an attack targeting the post-landing immobility.

　Using both Body Reinforcement and Mana Control, whose skill levels had risen, to the fullest, he reinforced his body and filled his magic iron pipe with mana. Raising the magic iron pipe that glowed dully and imbuing it with the resolve to decide it with one hit, he swung it down at the Rabbit Demon's back.

　CLANG

　A sound rang out that didn't seem like hitting a living creature, and Suzuka's attack was deflected. This made Suzuka's eyes go wide too. Since his status rose, this was the first time his attack didn't land a solid hit.

　It wasn't blocked by a weapon like the Boss Fox. It was simply deflected by skin.

　Looking at zero distance up close, the Rabbit Demon's surface was faintly glowing red, just like when flowing mana through the magic iron pipe.

"This guy, is it boosting defense with Body Reinforcement too!?"

　It was only because it was using Body Reinforcement for the previous attack that it could jump so high without a running start. But even knowing the trick, there's nothing he can do about it.

　The Rabbit Demon swung its arm as it turned around to attack. Overwhelming mass. And it's attacking with Body Reinforcement too. Not thinking any foolish thing about trying to catch it, he dodged by slipping underneath like sliding and swung his magic iron pipe at the shin.

　But, like the attack aimed at its back, the attack on the shin also made a hard sound and was deflected.

"Too hard, this guy!!"

　The Rabbit Demon slammed both hands into the ground as if to crush Suzuka, but he dodged easily with a backstep. From the sight of the pounded ground denting and dust dancing, the high power of each blow could be inferred.

　Its attack speed not being that high is the only mercy. Unlike the One-Horned Rabbit which is speed-specialized with paper armor, the Rabbit Demon is the complete opposite, reminiscent of a heavy, slow weapon.

　Because its head position had lowered from swinging both hands down, he swung his magic iron pipe down toward the brow. If it went in this cleanly, even the Green-Yellow Wolf with high defense would have had its eyeball pop out and died instantly.

　But, the Rabbit Demon didn't budge an inch as if it felt nothing from the attack.

　Staring each other down at close range. Whether it was irritated by Suzuka's attack, or angry that attacks weren't landing. Its Hannya-like face distorted, and its sunken pair of eyes glowed suspiciously red.

"GWWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

　The Rabbit Demon, enraged, roared and leaped toward Suzuka as if to embrace him.

"Scary!! You're scary!!"

　While momentarily overwhelmed by the close-range roar, he dodged sideways by rolling. Toward the butt of the Rabbit Demon which was in a head-sliding-like fallen state, he slammed his magic iron pipe with all his might, but the steel butt deflected the magic iron pipe.

　Immediately, the Rabbit Demon also got up violently and swung its arm to counterattack. An action that can't even be called an attack, but for Suzuka it probably has power that can't be ignored. The opponent's attacks are fatal hits with one blow, while on his side, attacks don't have the sensation of working.

　It seems attacking brain-dead won't get results. Suzuka, who hasn't been able to land any effective hits so far, thinks about how to defeat the Rabbit Demon.

① Possibility of resistance to striking weapons.

　The Rabbit Demon is terrifyingly hard, but it might have low resistance to cutting attacks and normal attacks might go through, or magic might be a weakness. Suzuka's weapon is only the magic iron pipe, one type. If it were weak to cutting attacks, current Suzuka couldn't land effective hits. A long battle would be inevitable.

② There's a weak point location.

　The places Suzuka has attacked so far are back, shin, brow, butt. There might be vital points different from these, and parts where damage goes through easily. If he can find that place, the tide would turn at once.

③ Aiming for the Rabbit Demon's mana depletion.

　Even now, the mana leaking from its body surface glows deep red. If the Rabbit Demon's mana dries up and Body Reinforcement cuts off, Suzuka's attacks would probably go through. This too, like ①, would inevitably be a long battle, and there's also the risk of Suzuka's mana running out first.

"I thought about various things, but in the end they all seem to be long battles, oi! Let's go with a battle of willpower!!"

　He'll try everything possible. Concluding that, Suzuka resolved for a long battle.