When I said, "You can be a hero," to a child with no talent, he really started to become a hero, so I acted like I knew what I was doing, like I was a wise master. - Chap 17.3: Flick on the Forehead

“You’re gradually improving.”

“Thank you, Hero-sama…”

The day after his mission with the son of the Seven Holy Swords, Will was training with the Iron Masked Hero. As always, the Hero doesn’t even seem to break a sweat, while Will himself is so fatigued that he falls and looks up at the sky.

―Is the gap between them really closing?

“One more time, please.”

“You must keep coming.”

He stands up and readies his sword. The Hero, looking down from above, stated it flatly. In Will’s mind, he has the Hero’s movements memorized. So he should be able to predict his moves almost perfectly.

But he can’t land a hit.

(I’m sure I’m reading his movements correctly… yet he’s always one step ahead!)

Even though he’s supposed to understand, even though he should be winning the reading battle… the Hero reacts as if playing a game of hindsight rock-paper-scissors.

(Maybe from Hero Dan’s perspective, there’s no need to predict or read the opponent… but even so, to be made to recognize that there’s such a difference…)

Against the act of swinging a sword, he dodges. Predicting that, he changes the course and launches a combo attack. Placing a great number of moves ahead in the future of the opponent. By doing this, Will’s developing style is to get the sword past the opponent’s response. During a recent spar, he managed to land a sword on his childhood friend Diya. However, no matter how much he attacks Hero Dan, no matter how much he predicts, he can’t break through or get close.

As if reflecting in a mirror, the Hero precisely places his sword, occasionally waving his hand in a feint.

(From here, from here…)

“You’re overthinking it.”

In front of Will’s eyes, the Hero’s hand appeared… in the shape as if to flick him on the forehead, with the middle finger held down by the thumb.

――Snap!

The middle finger, held down by the thumb, was released. The finger, liberated from restraint, struck Will’s forehead. A clear sound resonated through the air and his brain.

“It huuuuuuurts!!!”

Will flew back several meters, clutching his forehead and crouching on the ground. He tumbled and bounced repeatedly.

“It hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts!”

A red mark had appeared on Will’s forehead. The sheer impact had caused his skin to redden and swell.

“Shall we take a break?”

“Yes, let’s…”

By a nearby river, Will wet a cloth and used it to cool his forehead.

“A flick on the forehead… That really hurts, doesn’t it?”

“The middle finger’s movement is restrained by the thumb, storing energy, so when it’s released, it has quite the impact.”

“…I see.”

“Exceptions exist, but generally, to exert maximum force, time is required—what you might call charging up or incantation in magic. A flick on the forehead is the same.”

“…Ah! Are you pointing out my current flaw?!”

“Hmm?”

Dan looked at Will, feeling that the direction of the conversation was taking a strange turn. But Will, oblivious to that, clutched his head, lost in thought.

“I see… Indeed, the optimal, fastest action enabled by reading ahead relies on multiple moves, and that’s the advantage. But if it’s too fast, I don’t have time for myself. Thus, I can’t build up power, and my attacks are light… When I think about it, I’ve been chasing speed lately, and I may have lost focus on the basics, like my form and how I use my body… Just having fast attacks means I can’t have powerful ones… Even if it’s hard to have both, having the ability to use both would mean increasing my options… I see, you were hinting at this all along!?”

“…Exactly. It’s easy for me to give the answer, but there’s meaning in finding it yourself. That’s why I sprinkled in some hints.”

“Wow! To be able to understand the Hero’s intentions! I’m so happy!”

(What is he talking about? Well, I understand what he’s saying, but he’s reading way too much into the flick on the forehead… I was just explaining the logic.)

With sparkling eyes, Will eagerly nodded, while Dan, the Hero, went along with it and casually let it pass. After a brief rest, the two returned to their training, more determined than ever.

***

Will was deep in thought. How could he acquire an entirely different combat technique and skill set?

(I’ve been focusing too much on speed, and I haven’t been able to build up power. Building power takes time… But if I do that, I won’t be able to fight like I have been. I was able to match swords with Dya because I anticipated her moves so quickly…)

(What did Hero Dan mean…? I guess he meant that I should increase my options, right? But I don’t know if it’s good to branch out before I’ve mastered even one thing…)

Several days after training with Hero Dan, Will visited the guild as usual to take on a request.

“Ah, Will-sama,” called the beautiful receptionist who usually greeted him.

“Hello… I’d like to take on that request.”

“Ah, maybe you should hold off on that today.”

“Why?”

“Well, a ferocious monster called the White Goiger has been appearing nearby.”

“What!?”

“It seems a request for its subjugation was just accepted… I think it would be safer not to go out for a while.”

“… The White Goiger? Wait, does that mean I can’t go, either?”

“… Well,”

“I feel like I have to go… so—”