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 17.4: Flick on the Forehead

To elevate himself, to stand atop a distant pinnacle, he… a young boy named Eugene seeks power. It all started with a mere single glimpse of a hero’s back, a longing that arose from that moment. His originally mild nature underwent a drastic change, and his withdrawn attitude, once ridiculed by those around him, transformed completely.

He began to seek strength single-mindedly, straightforwardly. Even if he knew it was dangerous to attain it, in the face of heights that might be within reach if he extended his hand, he would seize it without hesitation.

And then, he would challenge it.

That’s how it is even now.

The White Goiger. Standing about two meters tall, its entire body is covered with white, hard fur. Its arms are more than twice the size of a well-trained human’s. It resembles a gorilla, and its movements are agile.

“――Gaaa!”

Eugene also knew that the White Goiger was there and came to defeat it, showing his attitude of deliberately plunging into danger to seek strength. And he had heard that the White Goiger had even defeated Hero Dan before he had awakened to his true strength. In his youth, he had dared to challenge an overwhelming enemy, even if it was stronger than himself. Furthermore, he had defeated it and climbed to greater heights.

(For my strength… I only immerse myself in the fight.)

He draws one of the two swords at his waist, taking a stance. A glint of light reflects off the blade, illuminating the White Goiger, and from there, an endless battle of offense and defense begins.

Arms that are more than twice as strong are swung mercilessly. It’s not as much of an advantage as the higher-ranked opponents he usually faces. However, what is entirely different is that the opponent does not hesitate to take his life.

(Magic… I won’t use it; I will defeat it with swordsmanship alone. Like Hero Dan did… I will also bind myself and win over it.)

He deliberately chose not to use magic. The irrational blizzard of the monster’s fists. With one punch, a hole opens in the ground. He leaps, trying to slash its neck, but is repelled by the coarse hair and condensed muscles.

(A protracted battle… huh.)

He decides to slowly, bit by bit, chip away at the skin, anticipating that the battle will consequently become drawn out. However, the wild beast, living naturally in nature, had seemingly inexhaustible physical energy.

“Galalaa!!”

A downward swing, a sweeping blow, a monotonous attack. Yet, or rather, therefore, even though he tried to read ahead and act, he couldn’t. The movements of a beast whose natural rationality has vanished.

An ordinary person would surely have been defeated instantly.

(An ordinary F-ranked adventurer would have been defeated, but…)

“Don’t underestimate me. Who do you think I’ve been training under? Dodging the movements of a mere beast is nothing to me.”

Eugene had also continued to grow every day. Battling against stronger opponents was always the best training to draw out his abilities, and he knew that he was getting stronger.

The adventurers who were watching, and who had accepted the same request, could not hide their surprise.

“Is that guy… stronger than a C-rank like me?”

“His skills are undoubtedly at least B-rank… He’s avoiding everything by a hair’s breadth.”

“That’s not the movement of an F-rank…”

Those who had accompanied him because of the dangerous monster felt that they were unnecessary. If they intervened, they would interfere in the domain of the strong. On the contrary, they realized that they would be a hindrance.

(I’ve been catapulted into strength by the hero. There’s no reason for me to lose.)

Combo attack, combo attack, combo attack. The White Goiger’s white fur was turning red due to the hundreds, thousands of blades being thrust. Blood was flowing, and the blades were gradually beginning to sever the flesh.

There was not one chance in ten thousand that he would lose, and victory was undoubtedly in his hands. However, if there was one miscalculation, it was that the monster, too, had a life. If its life was in danger, its survival instinct would lead it to disengage from battle.

Eugene tightly clenched a handful of sand, so much so that it seemed it might crumble further, and threw it at the White Goiger. Like a symbol of fear, the monster disengaged from the battle zone at full speed to escape.

“Damn coward!”

Enraged by the fleeing opponent, Eugene gave chase. The surrounding adventurers watched his movements with astonishment. Then, a short distance away from the monster, they spotted a young boy with black hair, who looked very pleasant.

“Will, move out of the way!”

Eugene called out as he spotted Will, who had just arrived on the scene. Will didn’t understand why the monster was approaching him just as he arrived. However, since it was coming, he had to face it.

If he let it escape here, someone far away might get hurt. Moreover, the monster in front of him was obeying its survival instinct to live. Since it was a mindless creature, there was no telling what it might do.

So, he didn’t move out of the way.

He raised his sword, ready to swing. But in that moment, he realized something.

He would die if things continued this way.

It wasn’t a matter of living or dying, one of the two. He would certainly die.

(I’m going to die. Ah, I’m surely going to die. Should I move? But that’s not right. If I don’t face something just because I can’t win, I’ll never become a hero. Just like him, when faced with a formidable foe, I must…)

(――I must grow.)