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 17.5: Flick on the Forehead

(Protracted battle, foresight is of no use. Clearly, this is not a situation for a drawn-out fight. I can’t even create such a scenario. I must finish it in one strike… but my movements, my strength are just… too weak.)

“Move aside! You can’t handle this! I will do it! Me, me! I will take it down!!”

Eugene yells. A boy, usually silent, cold as ice, now screams. “I’ll do it,” and “Let me do it!” that thing is “my prey,” after all.

His lust for power, something akin to fighting spirit, to become a hero almost makes me want to back away.

(But no, that’s not right. It’s not him; I’ll become the hero, right? I mean, we made a promise.)

(It will be me, and no one else… right now, in this moment…)

Resolute, he stays in place, not moving aside from the path of the monster. Then, he draws his sword, not the person he was before but establishing a new self. He pulls the sword he held in his right hand back, the blade extending behind him. Then, he holds his right wrist with his left hand.

He puts strength into his right hand with a gritting determination. He tries to force his right hand forward, putting power into a straight thrust beyond his limits. But, forcibly restraining it with his left hand, he keeps his right wrist held back, suppressing the force unnaturally.

At first glance, it seems like a meaningless act. The surrounding adventurers wonder what he’s doing, as if he’s intent on committing suicide. But Eugene is different.

He feels something is there. Because—his appearance…

(—Why? Why does HIS figure overlap with Hero Dan’s!?)

Will’s appearance overlapped with the one and only strong person he respects. The faces are not similar, and since the hero wears an iron mask, his face is unknown. There’s no similar aura, either. However, it appeared the same in his eyes; it was reflected.

In his eyes, Will, still holding his right wrist with his left hand like drawing a bow, stands still. Then the White Goigar enters his domain. At that moment, like releasing a drawn bow, like letting go of a thumb pinching the middle finger for a flick… he releases his right wrist from his left hand.

His restrained right hand explodes. The blade drawn with overwhelming stored power surpasses Eugene, tearing the monster’s body apart with terrifying force.

“!”

“!?”

Everyone was astonished at the movement of his sword. Even he who released it could not hide his surprise, as if he could hardly believe it. The monster, cleaved in two, died instantly.

“No… way… I… I defeated it…? This is the answer to strength that Hero Dan spoke of…”

“…You.”

“Ah, um…”

Will, noticed by Eugene, awkwardly looks down. He had not moved even when told to get out of the way. He thought he’d be scolded for it.

“You… what… are you…?”

“Eh? M-my name is Will…”

“That’s not what I mean… That moment, I clearly saw it…”

“What did you see?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

With that, he turns his back on Will and leaves.

(That attack, it was certainly powerful… but I had nicked the skin and hair, allowing it to be cut in two with a single strike… It wasn’t just his strength… However, it’s clear that Will’s attack was the fatal blow!!)

(The fact that I didn’t use magic can only be an excuse…)

Eugene clenches his fist tightly, gritting with force.

(Besides, in that moment, the moment it overlapped… I was pulled back. I could have used magic to finish it off… But I was unconsciously drawn back by HIM…)

(Not yet. I will… from here on.)

Unable to hide his anger, Eugene disappears from before Will’s eyes. Will stands dazed for a while but then senses his own growth through real combat. And then, beyond life and death, the sensation of transcending himself was engraved into his soul, beyond words.

“…Ah, ah.”

His hand trembles. His very soul is quivering. It was just a momentary occurrence, but it brought new strength to him.

“Hero Dan… foresaw this growth…”

An unfathomable master. Thinking that he too must have experienced this strange sensation countless times… the more he knows, the more distant the hero’s back seems to become.