It's been a while, Eco. You're a sharp one, Parry, very good.

It's been a while.

......?

How do you like it, Lottie?

Yes, I'm fine. Ms. Eco-san is enjoying her matches as much as ever, isn't she? I'll have to follow your example.

You can copy me!

Yes, I'd like to copy that.


　Kongo Rock 'n' Chair vs. Eco Leaflet.

　Contrary to the friendly atmosphere, the two men were quietly burning with fighting spirit.

　On the one hand, it's a fight where the defense is at stake, and on the other hand, it's a fight where the first title is at stake. Zero or one, it was truly a match that would decide everything.


'Bow to each other!　Ready!

　The two men take out shields from their inventory according to the order of the judge.

　Eco is equipped with the Iwakko shield, Iwakko armor, Iwakko shoes, Iwakko basket hand, and the full body "Iwakko Series" equipment.

　In contrast, Rock'n'Chair is--.


Mithril Buckler.

　A second in the audience was the first to spot it and mutter. The Mithril Buckler is a small, lightweight and sturdy shield that attaches to an arm that is about fifty centimeters in diameter.

　And.


...... Yeah, I knew it.

　The green crystal embedded in the shield. It is the proof that it grants "side-stepping" with a 150% AGI effect.

　Equipment that emphasizes quickness. Rock'n'Chair made full use of the "Effectiveness Grant" and gave the most appropriate effect to the shield that was most suited to the combat style that makes use of its own AGI.

　Having won first prize in the winter bingo tournament, Rock'n'Chair has realized the importance of this effect, and has probably gone to great lengths to prepare the Mithril Buckler.


　And is that why? The Second couldn't help but cringe.

　The green crystal glittered not only on the shield of the Rock'n'Chair, but also on his shoes and on his basket hand.

　In just six months, he would prepare three parts of equipment with identical granting effects. That could be said to be an unimaginable hassle.



''--Start!

　Finally, the battle for the Kongo was about to begin.

　Immediately after the command was given, Rock'n'Chair ran out without using his skills.


''Ha!''

　Fast--Eco's round eyes rolled up even more in surprise as he calmly followed the movement of the sprinting Rock'n'Chair.

　Rock'n'Chair took advantage of his very high AGI to move backwards while moving to distract Eco, and prepared the 《Flying Car Shield Technique》.


　A rush is coming. Everyone expected that, however ...... Rocknchair didn't move even after the preparations were complete.

　Silence. Suddenly, the two of them stopped moving slightly as they stared at each other.


'He's so careful,'

What do you mean?　Lord Second.

　The stalemate continues for a few seconds. Silvia nodded her head to Second, who muttered as if impressed.


The best way to do this is to have a good idea of what to do. Do you understand?

''Ummm, the flying car rush, the wide-ranging attack of Ryoma and the ranged attack of the Dragon King and ......?''

"After that, General Paley the Silver General will fight back.

'Oh!　Okay, so that's that too.

'So, you know you're basically going to have to go for the flying car's impromptu (・・・・) or the silver general parry, right?

An imposter?

"The goal is to get the opponent down in his chariot so that he can complete his preparations for the Dragon King.

That's a common practice. Hmm, you call it a trick.

'Yeah. I mean, the Kongo fight is soooo simple, it's just a game of how to get it into those two patterns.

'I get it. So you're saying that Lord Rocknechair is wary of Eco's parry?

　When Sylvia sounded like she understood, Second replied with a sigh and a smile.


'It's not that simple. Look, it's true that the Kongo battle is simple. But, you see, it's because it's simple that each move must have a deeper meaning.

"Mmm. ...... deeper meaning, huh?

''The Rock 'n' Chair showed the speed of the rush by the flying car with the side-stepping equipment once yesterday, even if only for a moment. Even though it was only once, the possibility that Eco had already prepared a response to that speed could not be denied. Hence, he's probably daring to put some time in between now, and trying to make the high AGI rush more intense. In other words, it's an ingenious way to keep your opponent from parrying you. Perhaps by confining everything to the first shot, he's trying to prevent Eco from stepping into a fixed-track change in his aim.

'It's hard to ....... How can you think that much in the middle of a game in a split second?

That's why it's so hard to make sense of it all. I think you get the idea.

Hmm, I don't know.

The one I showed yesterday was a lunge with the effect of one buckler, or one side stride. What I'm going to show you now is a rush for three side-steps with a basket and shoes combined. That's why the first shot is so insanely important. Hence, that guy is this cautious. Do you understand this?

Okay, I don't get it.

...... Well, if you've been at it long enough, you'll figure it out eventually.

　Some of them are stronger than others, even if they don't know it, the second said to follow up.


　Just then, Eco started to move as if he was numb.

　The skill he started to prepare is 《Long King Shield Technique》, a very powerful ranged attack to the front.


　That's right - it's an invitation (...).

　Eco said that the preparations were complete, go ahead and activate the flying car quickly.


''Alright!

　Rock'n'Chair nodded strongly and activated the Flying Wheel Shield Technique.


''If possible--please don't think of it as cheating, etc.


　Then he muttered softly and kicked the ground.



''!''

　An extraordinary acceleration, like a rocket blast.

　Rock'n'Chair moved to Eco's side while drawing a curve, and struck the 《Flying Car Shield Art》.

　Rocknchair's speed was far more than double Eco's expectations, far beyond.

　The Rock'n Chair's AGI, which was higher than the original, was 250% due to the effect of the side-stepping x3, it was natural. ''Don't think of it as cheating, etc.,'' he said.


'Ugh!'

　Eco immediately cancelled the Dragon King Shield Technique and switched to the Infantry Shield Technique, but failed to ...... parry.


　There was no way he could not fail. There would be one or two people in the world who could parry a flying car of this speed on the first try.

　Yes, there was no choice.

　Rock 'n' Chair's strategy won. The best use of this side-stepping equipment was the first shot. Hence, he kept everything focused on it.


I'm going to do my best ...... to have fun. I don't think we can truly enjoy ourselves unless we do everything possible within the confines of the rules to give each other the best we can.

　In response to Eco, who went down after receiving a direct hit from the 《Skipping Car Shield Art》, Rock'n'Chair spoke while preparing the 《Long King Shield Art》.


　The smile on Eco's face disappeared and a drop fell on her cheek.

　The rain began to fall, drizzling down in a steady stream before the time for a decision.


Everyone gets serious and does everything they can to win. That's the kind of place I want to enjoy. So excuse me .......

　And by the time he finished speaking, the preparation for the 《Long King Shield Technique》 was already complete.


　...... The formation of the flying car has been decided.


''Thank you, Eco-san,''

　Almost at the same time as Eco gets up, Rock'n'Chair activates the Dragon King Shield Technique.


　A tremendous impact break shakes the ground.

　The large drops of rain made everyone in the arena anticipate the coming downpour.







''--Don't say it's not fair.



What--?



　That's why everyone was surprised when Eco popped out of the dirt and smoke.

　No, there were only two people who weren't surprised. It was Second and Raspberry Belle. They knew the meaning of the brown crystal (・・・・・・・・) on Eco's full body equipment.


　The granting effect "Anaguma" - a defensive specialization grant of 150% VIT.


　That which Eco is wearing is a rock armor series armor made from materials dropped by the boss rock turtle in the Limptophart dungeon. All of them are granted "Anakuma". It has five parts: head, body, hands, legs, and feet. In other words, an effect of 350% VIT.

　This was the reason why Rock'n'Chair couldn't see it through. The same granting effect, with the same series of equipment. Such an undertaking would require a tremendous amount of time, effort and financial resources. If they were to use high quality materials such as rock armor, I have no idea how much it would cost.
　Hence, Rock'n'Chair said it was impossible, and as soon as Eco's full body equipment was available in the rock armor series, he had stopped looking for crystals and detecting the granting effect.

　This was the strength of a blacksmith. It was the strength of Yukari, who had been steadily and steadily doing the 'grant, dismantle, create, and grant' loop endlessly since the time when the Castal Kingdom was still in turmoil due to political strife.


''Why?!''

I'm a slave to the guards.

In the infantry?


　Normally, this would be impossible.

　However, with a VIT of 350%, it was comparable to the greatly strengthened defense of the Angular Shield Technique. It's no wonder that he could withstand the Dragon King Shield Technique.


''Then, let's go.

　To the Rock'n'Chair, who was unable to move due to the rigidity after the 《Long King Shield Technique》, Eco, who moved lightly right after the 《Infantry Shield Technique》, prepared the 《Flying Wheel Shield Technique》 and attacked him.


''Gu, ugh!

　Rocknchair was helplessly hit by the flying car and rolled backwards down.

　The damage, which was more than he had imagined, made Rock 'n' Chair look in anguish and astonishment. The reason for this is because he had become 'on the verge of death' with a single blow.

　That was the effect of the STR raised to the bottom by Eco's [Axe Technique] and the characteristics of the [Flying Wheel Shield Technique], where the VIT was added as STR. Hence, the damage was that large.


　And then - the flying car takes over.



I know it's fun to do all of them and have fun with them.

...... Yeah, hmmm, you're right. I see that Mr. Eco already knew that.

But it's too bad. I didn't do everything.

............ You mean you weren't serious?

No, no. I couldn't get it out.

Paperback ...... would have been nice.



　The breathless Rock'n'Chair, who was returning the words, looked at the way Eco had completed the preparation of the Dragon King Shield Technique, and spoke the last words with a regretful, but still smiling, smile on his face.


''I'm here.''




That's it!　Winner, Eco-Leaflet!


　For the first time in history, Kongo the Beast Man was born after defeating Kongo the human.

　The audience, who had been present at the decisive moment of the creation of a new history, gave a great round of applause.


　The rain began to fall with a thunderous sound.

　With a relieved look on her face, Eco, her tail still wet from the rain, stood up happily and waved to the second people in the audience.