Sparring Partner
[Nu...]
"Gaaah!"
Returning to the dungeon antechamber with Shark's sparring partner, I was greeted by a grandiose scream.
"Hey, quiet down a bit. And that's another filthy scream."
"W-what the heck is that!?"
Shark asked, pointing at me, visibly shaken and tongue-tied.
"What do you mean, it's a frog? Can't you see?"
"What part of that thing looks like a frog? It's clearly not a Western monster!"
Upon hearing that, I looked again at the combat frog standing beside me.
Well, it's certainly a bit sharper than when it was on the 7th floor. But that's because it's been roaming around hunting slimes on the 1st floor, taking down giant crabs on its own. It's stronger than before, but not by much.
"But still... it's a frog, right?"
"It's standing! It's huge! I've never seen a frog with such ripped abs! It looks even stronger than a predator!"
"Hey, calling it a predator is going too far. It doesn't vanish like one, nor does it use strange weapons. It's primarily hand-to-hand combat. I thought it would be a good sparring partner for you."
"I don't want to spar with something so slimy and scary! Ugh!"
Shark glared at the combat frog discontentedly.
Is it really that strange? Even in fairy tales, a frog is wrestling a rabbit. So, if a hardcore otaku high school girl wrestles with a combat frog, it shouldn't be that strange. By the way, our monkey doesn't act as a referee, it just throws poop.
Hmm, let's observe the combat frog again.
Yeah, it's about the same height as an adult male. It would be close to two meters if it stood straight. But it's hunched over. But it's broad. That's partly because its head is big, and it looks like its front legs grow from the base of its head where its shoulders would be.
However, it's very muscular, with ripped abs just like Shark said.
That's probably from exercising while hunting slimes and sticking to high-protein, low-fat crab meat. As a result, it has a triangular, almost diamond-shaped silhouette. Well, the diamond shape is mainly because of its big head.
Its front legs are muscular and thick, and it's extremely dexterous with its webbed fingers and agile joints.
But the most impressive thing is its thigh muscles, which have a balance of muscles similar to a track cyclist. So its kicks are very powerful. With one kick, it could easily crush someone's collarbone.
It's not good at moving like a frontkick because of its frog skeleton. But if you let your guard down because it showed its back, you'll receive a terrifyingly powerful backkick.
And the scariest thing about it is yet to come.
Its entire body is covered in amphibian mucus, making it almost impervious to strikes. It's like trying to hit a boxer covered in Vaseline.
And if it can't defeat its opponent in combat, it'll resort to grappling techniques and drag them into the water.
For example, it'll lock them in a headlock or a bear hug and try to drag them into the water together. It knows very well that few monsters can beat it in a breath-holding contest underwater.
How about that? Pretty strong?
"Hmm... you're good at grappling, huh."
"Gecko..."
See, it even responds when spoken to.
And I also made an effort, you know.
Though my boundaries are lax, even I have a line between lucky pervert and sexual harassment. So I thought I couldn't just team up with a younger girl who's not even my girlfriend, even if it's just for sparring.
"Why is such a monster even here..."
"Mmm! Hey, that's not right, Shark!"
I admonished Shark, who couldn't contain his dissatisfaction.
"Huh... What's with you all of a sudden!?"
"Even the pixies you know were originally dungeon monsters. But now they're reliable companions. It's the same with this one. Shark, are you saying, 'Cute is okay, but creepy is not'!!?"
"Ugh!?"
Shark stumbled over his words at my question. It seems he understood.
"That's right, that's what I mean. 'Cute is okay, but creepy is not.' That's not how it works. Those who have become like that have their reasons and meanings. Without understanding them well, we shouldn't deny them."
Sexy! No, great!
I'm a pervert, but I want to praise myself for saying something good. This must be the effect of being a "profession: teacher."
Shark, I want you to have a kind heart like a princess who loves bugs.
"I got it... Please spar with me."
"Gecko."
Shark bowed his head and asked the combat frog to spar with him.
Yes, the Pixies saved the school from goblins before, right? So this time, let the combat frog lend you its chest with a bang.
It might be slimy, but that's part of the charm.
....
And so, Shark and the combat frog began their sparring.
[Thud! Bam!... Wham!]
"Ugh! Th-this one's strong!"
"Geckoo!"
"Hehehe, how's that? Is it tougher than you thought? That's why I chose it as your sparring partner."
Even though I say so myself, I've been going to the 7th floor to polish my combat sense and fighting spirit like a hundred-person sparring match. And even if my level has dropped, such combat experience will always be flesh and blood.
So even though my level was 12 before and now, there's a world of difference.
Here's a comparison.
Yeah, even at the same level 12, you can tell it's ridiculously strong. Isn't that amazing?? Back then, I would've been overjoyed with just a 2 or 3-point increase in stats.
Oh my, how nostalgic.
But looking at it again, it's amazing. Stats are about 8 to 9 times higher, and sadly, luck has remained at 3. If I hadn't gotten the Luck skill orb from the giant tadpole, it might have stayed that way forever, and that's chilling.
Now Before
Level 12 12
Race: Human
Occupation: Teacher
Stats
Strength: 266 33
Endurance: 258 32
Intelligence: 251 31
Spirit: 265 34
Agility: 253 33
Luck: 390 3
Frustration: 554 -
Dexterity: - 27
By comparison, it's like this.
Even though they're both level 12, you can see how much stronger it is. Isn't it incredible? Back then, I was so happy with just a 2 or 3-point increase in stats.
Oh well, how nostalgic.
But looking at it again, it's amazing. Stats are about 8 to 9 times higher, and sadly, luck has remained at 3. If I hadn't gotten the Luck skill orb from the giant tadpole, it might have stayed that way forever, and that's chilling.
Now
Level 12 38
Race: Human
Occupation: Teacher
Stats
Strength: 266 245
Endurance: 258 250
Intelligence: 251 246
Spirit: 265 271
Agility: 253 248
Luck: 390 166
Frustration: 554 356
And looking at the stats for the same level, it's like this.
When I was level 38, it was the closest to now. In terms of level difference, it's about three times. But back then, I was in darkness and turmoil. It was a lonely and painful dark age. Because of the overflowing magic at that time, the pupils of the bug king mask turned red.
But why is the "frustration" value higher now than it was then? Considering how happy I am now, I think it should be lower.
"Hyaah! Take this!"
"Geckoo! Geck!"
Hehehe, now that we're in battle, Shark seems to have forgotten about the combat frog being slimy and scary, and he's putting all his effort into sparring. And since the combat frog has been told not to hurt Shark by overextending its joints, they're fighting quite nicely.
[Thud! Wham! Whack!]
Yeah yeah, looking good.
It was a pretty good decision to make the combat frog our ally. But "Western monster" huh? Is it not entirely inaccurate? Shark sure knows how to put it.
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