Tentacle Monster Reincarnation: I Will Protect the Heroines

Swing, swing, swing.

I continue swinging tentacles freely in all directions.

In a simple indoor space like a fighting-game practice stage, sometimes with brute force, sometimes delicately.

”Hah — has it gotten a little better...?”

While muttering that it’s only a sparrow’s tear, I operate eight tentacles simultaneously.

I tangle the tentacles together in the air, sew them as if stitching, and create an impromptu shield. I try slamming the thing that has taken on the appearance of a medieval knight’s shield against the wall — and upon seeing it warp with a single hit, I let out a large sigh.

”It’s just not going well at all...”

I sink down onto the floor, regulate my breathing while storing the tentacles away.

The key to the other-space I received from Mr. Rat. From the day after I obtained it, I’ve been trying training-like things several times like this, but—

”Maybe it’s stronger to just use the tentacles as tentacles...”

—It’s not going very well.

Since I have as many as eight that I can freely use, I was thinking of combining them like knitting and making a special move or something — but while the power increased by the amount of weight, that was all. Honestly the reduction in number of attacks is a minus.

Weaving them into the shape of a shield is more sturdy than guarding with ordinary tentacles — but if the shield is destroyed, all eight tentacles used in the weaving become useless. Unless it’s for blocking an ultra-powerful attack there’s no point in using it, but I can’t see a future where this shield can block such a powerful attack.

I’m also practicing ordinary tentacle attacks in parallel, but there is the question of whether I can fight with only this.

——I am weak.

——Not only compared to the Sacred or Diabolics, but even compared to other Monster Villains.

That’s why I’m trying to fill even a little of that gap like this... but I don’t feel like it’s being filled at all.

I think it’s better than not doing it, but I also think this level is just pouring water on a hot stone.

”...If only I at least had a sense for fighting.”

Like a manga protagonist, even though I’ve never done that kind of club activity until now, somehow displaying talent and becoming a regular in a few months — can’t I power up with that kind of flow, I probably can’t.

Since I awakened to previous-life memories, I also wonder if there’s a power-up utilizing that, but—

”...No matter how much I remember, it just feels like I was an ordinary salaryman.”

Zero elements like a one-child-inheritance assassination art or a demon-exorcising bloodline passed down through generations. Apart from game knowledge, the parts before becoming a Monster Villain are missing and moth-eaten, but even looking at the few remaining parts as favorably as possible, it’s the same ordinary person as me.

Honestly, there’s already a sense of being at a dead end. I myself think the dead end came too early, but apparently the limit of me who has little experience even in fistfights was earlier than I thought.

While shururi returning the tentacles into my body, I nod ”Then.”

”They say leave rice cakes to the rice-cake maker... shall I at least hear the talk.”

◇

Climb.

The long, long stone steps.

While the sun tilts and the entire mountain is dyed madder red, I walk aiming solely upward.

A little while ago I would have been gasping, but the physical strength improved when I became a Monster Villain seems to handle this level without issue.

I lightly exhale and look up.

What is visible is an old-fashioned yet carefully maintained mountain gate — the entrance to a temple.

An oldness that stands out among the comparatively new townscape. The land around here was bought by a certain large corporation for a smart-city plan and has been modernized across the board — but places remaining as-is like this also exist. The set-meal restaurant near the school is exactly that.

Passing under the mountain gate, I walk through the grounds that are empty of people... yet cleanly cleaned. This area is lively at festival times, but there’s no way many people would be here on a weekday evening.

Well then.

I look around the grounds and search for the target person.

But whether I arrived a little too early, or whether he has long since returned home and is relaxing, the person I’m searching for is nowhere.

Shall I show my face at his house, I thought right then — light footsteps ring from the direction of the stone steps.

Thinking it can’t be, I direct my gaze that way, and the figure of Niekawa running up the damn long stone steps comes into view. Niekawa in uniform while shouldering a bag dashes through, and upon sliding into the grounds he continues running without stopping while slowing speed perhaps for cooldown.

——In physical strength alone this guy is above me who’s become a Monster Villain.

I thoroughly wonder why this guy can’t fight.

A temple-born swordsman who protects justice transformation heroines or something would suit far better than the likes of me.

Perhaps noticing that ”Seriously, you” gaze, Niekawa directed his gaze this way with ”Mu?”

”This is — unusual, what’s wrong Shusawa. You said you would never come here again after giving up at mere stone steps, did you not.”

”Shut up, don’t make the physical strength of athletic clubs the average.”

Apparently some clubs use the temple’s stone steps for training... honestly I end up thinking ”Are you training monks or what.” Even with the bottom raised by becoming a Monster Villain I got normally tired.

I sighed small and took out tea sweets from my bag to show off.

”More than that, I have a bit of consultation. Can we talk a little?”

”Depending on the consultation... however, I don’t know what change of heart there was, but lately there are many things like this.”

”My bad, lately Monster Villain activities and such are active, right? I also have thoughts.”

Fumu, Niekawa nodded and urged me on, and while looking straight into his eyes I opened my mouth.

”I might be told that martial arts aren’t that kind of thing — but I was thinking if you could teach me fighting methods or something.”

◇

Behind the temple, that house was there.

Although it is an old-fashioned Japanese-style building, it seems to have been renovated several times; electricity is normally running, and a PC and such are normally placed in Niekawa’s room.

Niekawa lined up two zabuton on the tatami and sat. I also sat on the zabuton placed opposite.

”I’ll state first that something like defeating Monster Villains is impossible even for me. Shusawa may not have the actual feeling because you didn’t see, but my one blow could not even give pain or itch to combatants.”

While having tea prepared by Niekawa’s mother, Niekawa cut into the main topic.

That tone was extremely regretful, and I could not say light comfort like ”Humans and those guys have too different specs, don’t mind it.”

Modern martial arts are not things for injuring people — but even so, he is probably frustrated at himself who could do nothing while a malicious existence was attacking a girl.

I cannot say I understand that feeling. Because I have never seriously devoted myself to something.

”But, that is that. Answer with what kind of thinking you said fighting methods or something.”

Depending on the reply I’ll beat that spirit into shape, he stared straight this way.

Well of course, I nodded.

As I thought earlier, martial arts are not tools for fights; that is the same for other combat sports as well. They are ultimately things for competing with opponents who have polished the same techniques, not for punching the weak with that power.

”Frankly, it’s gotten dangerous lately, right? Actually there was news that a thief appeared in the gap while the Sacred and Monster Villain were fighting, right?”

”...I see, the possibility of being entangled by strange fellows.”

”Yeah. Also, even if culture club, I’m a senpai. At the critical time having no means but abandoning juniors and running is pathetic, right.”

I mixed several lies and truths and asked.

There’s no way I can say something like ”Actually I’m Atel Octo, teach me something because I’m fighting Monster Villains.”

But well, thinking that I have to learn fighting methods is the truth, and thinking that even before transforming I have to protect juniors — at least Reiko — is not a lie.

Perhaps my seriousness was transmitted; Niekawa crossed his arms as if deeply thinking ”Fumu...”

”Shusawa. I think you understand, but martial arts are accumulation. Not something that can be acquired overnight — you understand that, right?”

”Well yeah. If not, you wouldn’t be practicing every day in club either.”

I’m not thinking of dramatically getting stronger with a single hint.

I fully understand that I am weak and that I have no talent.

But even so I hate giving up with that and being crushed and dying as a weakling.

Even if beyond my station I struggle because I want to help the Sacred those guys.

”If I can surprise a bit and buy time that’s enough. I’m not thinking of stylishly repelling the guy who entangled me and ’I’m awesome.’ If someone near me can escape, that’s enough.”

——Atel Octo is weak.

Not only compared to the Sacred or Diabolics, but among Monster Villains as well he is on the weak side.

Therefore I discard the thought of defeating the enemy by myself.