When I Reincarnated, I Became Even More of a Gorilla - 28

[OOGA!!! (OUCH!!!)]

The teacher’s initial strike was a counterattack with a straight punch while guarding my overhead strike.

I had expected to be blocked since I had attacked him head-on, but I hadn’t expected that he would counter with another blow, and I ended up getting hit in the face.

[I certainly am surprised by your jumping attack right from the start, but I guess you didn’t expect the counterattack. Even so, are you really an Arm Kong? Even as an adult, you’re smart. Moreover, your power is impeccable. I mean, look at this.]

The teacher muttered as he indicated the web-like crack that had formed below his feet. It seems that I have more physical strength than he had assumed.

Well, the teacher may have praised me, but I was more amazed that he was able to block my full-force overhead strike. Even if you take into account the fact I’ve shrunk and my feet aren’t on the ground.

Leaving me frozen in surprise, the teacher continued to explain.

[You have to have a lot of power to make a crack this deep in the round, and it’s even more difficult from an attack in the air, where you don’t have a firm foothold. Well, it’s something one can do as long as they have their feet on the ground. For example, if you keep your feet firmly planted like this…… Ora! There, as you can see, that attack had crushed the ground. I’m not saying you have to do it like this though.]

While explaining, the teacher swings his arm down to the ground, completing a crack that is about the same size as the crack that was created when he blocked my attack.

Even though they were startled by the loud sound, the students were somewhat taken aback by the fact that the teacher managed to pull off the same feat as me, a monster known for its brute strength.

Well, looking at it from the side, a teacher who could do the same thing as a dangerous monster is a dangerous person. What I did was just the usual for a monster, so I’m not feared even if I do something like this, but I don’t think that would be the case for the teacher.

Now then, having regained my composure while the teacher was explaining, I moved on to my next attack. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t attack while he’s explaining anyway.

[……OOGO!!!]

Approaching from behind the teacher, I sweep my arms horizontally as if to trip him. He was too absorbed in explaining to his students to pay attention to me, so this was the perfect opportunity.

[When one receives attacks from above——– Whoa!?]

My plan worked perfectly, and I succeeded in knocking him off his feet. The teacher’s head spun counterclockwise and he fell to the ground. This time, since I’ve got my feet on the ground, my attack carries an appropriate amount of power to it.

Maybe his earlier guard had directed the impact of my attack flow directly to the ground, causing the ground to crack. Just as he was about to explain that though, he got tripped, stopping his explanation halfway through.

I raise an arm to inflict pursuing attack. His head was tipped towards me when he was flipped over, so his head was in the right place for me to attack.

[Uwahh! W- Wait a mo, gufu!!!]

The teacher tried to guard his head by crossing his arms, so I changed my aim to his stomach and swung down.

The reason why it’s only one blow and not a series of swings like I do with Down-B is because this is just a match, not a fight to the death.

[OOOG!!! (FINISHING BLOW!!!)]

[LIKE HECK I’LL LET YOU!!!]

The arm I swung with force was avoided by the teacher with a roll to the side, and he ended up standing up. Well, I didn’t expect it to hit in the first place, so I have a different aim in mind.

The hand I swung down wasn’t a clenched fist, but an open palm strike. What I had been aiming for was to shake the ground.

The slap directed towards the ground carried a decent amount of force, causing the ground to shake. With just that, the teacher, who should have dodged and stood up, finds himself unable to transition to the next move due to the unstable footing, creating a momentary opening. Seizing the opportunity, I swiftly strike him in the abdomen. It’s the so-called “belly punch”.

[Oog!]

[Ah, fu…… Guhaak!]

The teacher cleanly receives the blow, his body bending behind him and blown away, his body hits the wall of the sports complex, sending up a cloud of dust.

The students were watching him closely, so it would be quite problematic for the teacher if he couldn’t stand up. Mainly for maintaining his dignity, that is.

Well, I know that the teacher wasn’t completely knocked down. Look, he’s getting up already.

[Kuhh, that hurt. As expected of an Arm Kong huh. Good grief, it seems like I was mistaken. I thought he’d be a Rank 2 or 3. With that strength, he’d at least be a Rank 4, maybe even higher.]

The teacher stood up, mumbling to himself, but no matter how much he lowered his voice, I could hear him clearly. Well, my Rank is actually 6, so I think the teacher has read it well. He’s mumbling to himself since then, but I guess he’s collecting his thoughts.

[Oog oog! (That’s right, I’m Rank 6!)]

I gave him an honest answer because he had read well, but the only one who reacted to what I said was Elena. She also knows that my words won’t reach anyone else and understands that I answered with that knowledge in mind. So, even though she’s sighing at my antics, she doesn’t scold me about it.

As I was leisurely waiting for the teacher to return, he returned with a focused expression on his face, swinging his arms around while loosening his waist.

 [Alright, I’m convinced it’s my fault for estimating your rank too low. Honestly, I’m not even sure what to expect anymore. But you know what? I still have my pride in being someone who had risen to A-Rank Adventurer. Even if I can’t match the monsters up in the S-Ranks, I’m still among the top adventurers.]

The teacher said something like that, but I don’t know anything about adventurers, so I wouldn’t even know how to react. However, I could base what he’s saying on the ranks of the adventurers in my memory, a profession unique to fantasy.

It seems that S-Rank is the highest rank here, and even though A-Rank is the next highest, there’s a sharp difference between those within the two ranks.

Well, I’m not surprised because that tends to be the case even in common fantasy, but I can’t say for sure without actually interacting with them.

I heard a rumor that the highest rank among the nobles is 8, but I wonder how high it is for the Adventurers. Since this teacher, who was the same Rank 6 as me, says they’re monsters, I wonder how strong they are?

[Oog. (They sound strong.)]

[Hmm? Are you interested in adventurers? ……Well, there’s no way that’s the case huh. Alright, let’s continue.]

I felt a jolt in my mind from the intuition this teacher had, reacting to my muttering. I mean, is it just me or isn’t the teacher’s way of speaking getting increasingly rougher? There are novels that depict adventurers as rough individuals, but maybe they really are like that.

The teacher raised his fists again, and I did the same. This time, instead of holding my hands forward like I do while knuckle-walking, I lifted my arms up like a boxer, which kinda looked awkward. I lightly shadow-boxed to intimidate him.

[Oh! This is great! Looks like you’re getting more eager? Anyhow, I’m the one coming at you now, okay? Fuuu……]

The teacher said that and in the next moment, he disappeared from sight. When I felt a presence from behind me to my right, I turned around and there, right next to me, was the teacher’s fist approaching. 

The fist was so close that I could no longer avoid it, and it was about to strike me in the face with its momentum.

However, I couldn’t just let him hit me, so I tried to fight back. I quickly jerked my head back as fast as I could as the fist hit me. This was to let the impact flow as much as possible, avoiding much damage.

Considering the power of the teacher’s fist, even a direct hit could knock me out. I may not suffer any damage, but if my head is struck, my brain could be shaken, and a concussion is possible.

[Oh! That’s how you deal with it huh. I’m really starting to doubt if you’re really a monster. Good, let’s fight more!]

The teacher seemed to be enjoying himself, as he started to thrust his fists out even more. While it’s a more improvised strike than the straight punch from earlier, its speed indicates that the force behind this blow has increased.

[Oogo, oogo. (D*mn it, that was dangerous.)]

Continuing to evade the fist and letting the impact flow away, I focus on simply evading. Honestly, I think the teacher’s physical strength and agility are already beyond human, but then again, I’m not human either. I’m using the full extent of the physical capabilities of a gorilla.

Even though I have a small body, if I make full use of my physical abilities, I can compete with the teacher. I mean, I’m at a disadvantage to begin with, but I wonder if he even has any intention of holding himself back?

[Fuuu…… Haahhh! Tsk, eat this!]

Despite my feelings, the teacher’s aggressive attacks continued. I tried my best to endure, but this is getting troublesome. I’ve decided to keep a low profile with Elena at school, but I think I’ve had enough.

Glancing at Elena, I saw her mouth move slightly as she was looking at me. That was definitely her mouth forming words, telling me to “beat him”.

With those words, I decided to launch a relentless attack.

[Oog oogo. OOGOGOGO!!! (Master has given her permission. I’m going to get serious, okay?)]

[Wha!? That’s n——-!!!]

I felt like Elena was saying something, but as I’ve already made up my mind, what she said doesn’t reach my ears. Facing the teacher, I took a deep breath and puffed up my chest.

[OOOOGGGAAAAAA!!!]

With a spirited battle cry (albeit a slightly higher-pitched one), I begin drumming. Each pound on my chest creates shockwaves that ripple outwards, affecting even the teacher who was attacking me at close range. Somehow, it seems like I’ve gained myself a bit of distance.

[What the——!? A shockwave attack? An Arm Kong used one!? ……Interesting!]

Even so, the teacher somehow manages to endure each shockwave, closing the distance step by step by step. Well, his pace has slowed down enough for me to take aim.

Shockwaves are powerful waves of sound. In a space like a sports complex, in an indoor gymnasium like this, sounds naturally reverberate. Additionally, the sound causes the teacher to unconsciously cover his ears, creating a clear opening.

Anyone could see what would happen if I made my move at such a moment.

[Oogo!]

[Gfuu!]

[Goahh!]

[Gafuu……]

I swung my arms as hard as I could, hitting the teacher from above, below, right and left. It seems like I’m starting to enjoy this more and more, but feeling pleasure from hurting others, it seems like my heart is becoming that of a monster.

Well, it’s probably more like my memories from my past life getting in the way. Besides, I’m already a monster in this world, so there’s nothing I can really do about it now.

[Oog, ooga! (This time for sure, the finishing blow!)]

[Wait a mo—–! Gfuuuhh!!!]

I deliver a full-force blow at the end of the flurry of strikes. My aim is once again his stomach, with the trajectory of my fist swinging up from below.

This punch lands perfectly in the teacher’s abdomen, forcefully sending him flying upward. Checking his facial expression, it seems like he’s completely unconscious.

[Oog…… (Fuuu……)]

After taking a moment to wipe the sweat from my forehead, as if to say I had a good exercise, I raise both of my hands and catch the falling teacher as he comes down. I heard some sort of sound when I caught him, but I didn’t mind it.

Rushing towards Elena with the teacher held up in my hands, I presented him to her for praise.

[Oog! Oogo! (Elena! I did it!)]

Having done my best, I thought I would at least get some praise, but the reaction of Elena, as well as the other students, was a little different than I thought.

[Sensei! Are you alright!? Water Magic or Light Magic users, use Recovery Magic to provide first aid! Also, someone call the school nurse!]

The students, following Elena’s instructions, begin to move. Five students step forward, each activating their respective magic abilities. Of course, Elena also starts providing first with Light Magic separately from them. Meanwhile, other students left the sports complex.

I was surprised and frozen by her unexpected response, but then Elena called out to me.

[Gorimatsu! I told you to “defend”!]

Her words shocked me.

Beat him

i e i¹This part isn’t about pronunciation, but about the way the mouth looks when they’re spoken.

Defend

So that’s how it was!? I never expected that the instructions I was following were wrong. I guess I messed up a bit.

Is there any effective way to show remorse? Ah! Let’s mimic what monkeys in my previous life did.

I put my hand on Elena’s shoulder and bowed my head.

[What is it?]

Oh…… It didn’t get through her! Heck, can’t I just talk to her normally?

[Oog, oog. (Unn, I’m sorry.)]

When I meekly apologized, even though she was slightly troubled, Elena forgave me. This was an apology for not following Elena’s instructions. Let’s apologize to the teacher later.

[It can’t be helped. Let’s apologize to Sensei later. !? Sensei!]

[Ughh…… Ouch. I lost consciousness huh. I screwed up.]

It seems that the teacher regained consciousness after receiving first aid and is somehow reflecting on things on his own. I bow my head and apologize to the teacher. I think that should get the message across, and Elena can also interpret for me.

[Hmm? What is it?]

[Gorimatsu is apologizing for overdoing it.]

When Elena said this, the teacher smiled broadly and put a hand on my head. I was a little surprised from having my head patted vigorously, but it seemed like the teacher didn’t mind it.

[Hahahaha, there’s no need to apologize for something I myself initiated. I’m the A-Rank Adventurer Wood North. I won’t complain about something like that. Don’t worry about it.]

That’s the first time I’ve heard of the teacher’s name. Even so, he’s quite tough huh. Although I did hold back, it seems like just basic first aid is already enough for him. As expected of an apparent top-rank adventurer.

Just as I was forgiven, it seemed that the students who left the sports complex brought the school nurse with them. The students, including Elena, are then instructed to leave Teacher Wood’s treatment to them and to proceed to the next class.

When I checked the time after receiving that instruction, I found that the time for this lesson had indeed ended.

[Oog, oogogo. (See ya, sorry again~~)]

I apologize once again to Teacher Wood and left the sports complex with Elena.

From behind us, seemingly having already recovered enough to stand up, the teacher waves his hands and cheerfully says “Let’s do this again sometime!”.

If possible, I never want to do it again though. I feel more at ease dealing with monsters.