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 9 - The Hero's Strength

The written examination was over, and next was the practical exam, which would take place on the following day. Therefore, those who passed the written exam would prepare for tomorrow by resting at the inn.

Will, having passed the written exam, was eating at a restaurant. While he was elated to have passed the exam, he couldn’t completely shake off the nervousness thinking about what was to come. As he was contemplating, a youth with spiky hair approached him.

The eatery had counter seats and about three round tables. Paintings of the iron-masked face of the hero Dan adorned the walls, and a perpetual lamp made from a special mineral was placed.

“Can I join you?”

“Oh, Ban! Please, go ahead.”

Will had felt somewhat lonely eating alone, so he gladly allowed the young man, who he recognized as Ban, to sit with him.

“Tomorrow’s the practical test. You must be nervous.”

“Oh, so it’s not a question, but a confirmation.”

“That’s because you’re definitely nervous.”

“Haha… Well, yeah, I guess I am.”

“Only fifty people passed the written exam. Apparently, it’s going to be further reduced to less than half, about twenty people after tomorrow’s practical test. It’s natural to be nervous.”

“Uh, yeah, that’s right. I heard we’re going to the Suya Mountains… but I’m nervous about what we’re going to do.”

“But all we can do is fight and do our best.”

At Ban’s calm laughter and the way he spoke, Will felt a strange sensation.

(This guy… he seems like he could be anywhere, and he doesn’t have that special aura around him like Hero Dan… He’s the exact opposite. He’s really laid back. He said he was nervous, but I don’t get that vibe from him at all.)

(In a way, he doesn’t waver… In that sense, he seems similar yet different from Hero Dan… I’m getting confused thinking about it myself…)

Whether the tension of the exam had gone somewhere, instead, his mind was troubled by the mysterious being in front of him. His slow, low-energy way of talking really stuck in his mind.

“Even if I tell you not to worry, I know your type will still be nervous. I won’t say anything more. You probably won’t be able to move as you expect due to your nerves. So, just do as much as you can even with less than your usual performance.”

“Oh, thank you?”

(I understand he’s giving me advice, and he’s a kind person. Truly mysterious. This person probably isn’t nervous at all. There really are all kinds of people… just like that blond guy with the bad attitude.)

As Will was recalling Eugene, the blonde boy with the bad attitude he met in front of the statue of the hero in the morning, a loud voice echoed through the room.

“What did you say, you brat!”

“I merely stated the obvious.”

The eatery fell silent. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, where Eugene was being confronted by a burly man with a bad demeanor. He was surrounded by his cronies, all of them glaring at Eugene.

“You lot are unbearable to look at. Get lost.”

“You little…”

(The guy from the statue this morning!? What’s happening!?)

The burly man tried to grab Eugene by the collar, but in the next moment, his arm was seized by Eugene and crushed by his grip strength.

“You’re all this weak. You small fry who mistake banding together for strength, live off in the fringes.”

“……”

After staring at the man writhing in pain from having his right arm nearly crushed by his grip strength, he let go of his arm. Then, he overpaid the shopkeeper.

“This is too much money…”

“It’s for the commotion, keep it.”

With that, he left with his hand in his pocket, his aura ensuring that the followers who were glaring at him didn’t try anything.

(I don’t know what happened, but… Eugene is really amazing.)

The burly man and his followers, Eugene, Ban. The various entities intersected, and he braced himself again for the exam tomorrow.

“Hey, what just happened?”

“You’ve heard, right? That big guy and his crew were making fun of Ruta, who’s been failing the exam for many years.”

“So that blonde kid got pissed off?”

“He said he couldn’t stand it, that if they were going to step on others, he would too.”

“Oh…”

“Ruta always passes the written test. It’s after that he fails.”

“How many times has Ruta taken the exam now?”

“Apparently this is his tenth time. Usually, people give up.”

It seemed that Eugene had picked a fight because he couldn’t stand that a young man named Ruta was being made fun of and bullied by everyone. Knowing this, Will felt that Eugene really was impressive.

The test, where the crafty, the weak, and the strong intersect, was looming right in front of them.

***

The next day, the fifty successful written test takers were gathered in front of the Adventurer’s Guild. A kind-looking male guild employee was standing in front of them.

“Now, I will explain the test. First, please take a look at this. This is a monster called Black Cat.”

In front of the man was a cute little black cat. There was a ribbon tied to the cat’s ear.

“This one has been tamed, so it won’t attack you. However, it has been trained to run away as soon as it sees a human. Those of you who are quick to understand may have already noticed, but the test is to snatch the ribbon from this Black Cat. By the way, it’s forbidden to harm this Black Cat.”

This cute creature, the size of a small black cat, is also a monster. However, it has an affectionate personality and often lives as a pet in people’s homes. It can fight, but its speed is exceptionally high, and it excels in escaping.

“Twenty of them have already been released in the underground of Suya Mountains near this town of Popo. Yes, as you all may have guessed, the number that can be caught is limited. Since the number of successful practical exam takers is limited, please act promptly…”

He said this with a smile.

“Furthermore, there is a time limit until noon. If you exceed that, you will also fail… Now, the test starts from now. Good luck, everyone.”

With that, everyone started running towards the Suya Mountains from the town. However, only Eugene stopped and crossed his arms at the exit of the town.

“Hey, why don’t you try attacking me here?”

It seemed to be directed at the burly man from yesterday. They face each other, grinning at Eugene’s words.

“Oh? Have you Noticed?”

“Of course. It’s easy to imagine what lower beings like you are thinking. You were planning to attack me in a closed-off dungeon, weren’t you? It’s quicker to settle it here.”

The surrounding examinees pay no heed to them and move on. Eugene probably thinks he can easily catch up later.

“Come at me, all of you.”

“Heh, fine. I’ll smash you. Hey, guys, it’s forbidden to kill or injure the Black Cats, but not humans. Crush him to the point where he can’t get back up.”

At those words, about ten of them pounced on Eugene. They are the ones who take the adventurer’s exam as a group, seeking to pass through cooperative efforts powered by numbers. Anyone would know that numbers are one answer to strength, and they were thinking of first crushing the cheeky Eugene.

Moreover, they had planned to ambush the test-takers who caught the Black Cats even if they were late for the exam and steal the ribbons. One against ten, normally, defeat would be certain. Will, who was watching worriedly nearby, thought he couldn’t overlook this and felt like intervening. However, the situation changed in an instant.

With a speed like a flash of light, a dry sound echoed. Eugene used the wooden sword he had brought to strike their solar plexus, skull, and neck, respectively, forcing them to the ground.

“That’s my line. I’ll make sure you can’t get up again.”

His words were full of confidence, but the fact that he was controlling his injuries with a wooden sword to prevent aftereffects was either the mercy of a strong man or… He then pointed his sword at the burly man.

“You fool…”

His eyes widened in surprise as his entourage was taken down. He was in awe of someone with far superior strength.

“Hmm, looks like he’s the strongest one.”

Even the guild staff watching from a distance couldn’t stop grinning at Eugene. He was excited to feel a new era in strength that clearly stood out from the others.

“Heh, but a wooden sword… That leniency will be your downfall. You’re no match for my great sword. I’ll cut you down the moment you touch it.”

He equipped a large iron sword he had been carrying on his back, about the same size as Eugene. However, Eugene coolly held out one hand and taunted him.

Again with anger seeping into his forehead, the man swung his great sword. If he were to receive it with a wooden sword, there was no doubt that Eugene would be cut along with it. However, he didn’t hit the blade but the handle of the great sword with his wooden one, stopping the man’s sword in its tracks.

“I don’t deny the power of numbers, but you, who look down on others because of it, are weak.”

With that, he aimed his sword at the man’s neck. The large man was thrown several meters, twirling in the air before hitting the ground. Losing interest once he had defeated him, Eugene headed toward the mountain range.

Most of the examinees had already headed for the mountains, but some had watched his fight. They were Will, Van, and Ruta. Will and Ruta were astounded at Eugene’s strength, but seeing him heading towards the mountains, they too started heading towards the mountains.

Adventurer’s Guild practical exam, thirteen out of fifty dropped out. Thirty-seven left.

***

Eugene had just caused thirteen examinees to drop out. He did not regret it. However, there was something that bothered him.

(I’m not aiming for strength in numbers, but for the absolute power of an individual called a hero. Those guys just lost to me. That’s all. I’ll crush whoever comes next, no matter how many times.)

(There’s nothing strange about that. And yet, what is this unease?)

While looking for the Black Cat in the Suya mountain range, he was trying to identify the source of his discomfort. However, he just couldn’t find the answer.

That’s when he noticed something. Someone was following him.

“…Who’s there?”

“Oh? Have you Noticed?”

The voice was mocking, but familiar. He looked puzzled at the man who appeared. Because the man was Ruta, who had been repeatedly failing the exam.

“I see, I’ve been had, huh?”

“No, that’s not it. I really have been taking the exam every year, and it’s true that they’ve been bothering me because of that. There’s no plot between me and them to trap you.”

Ruta laughed. At his eeriness, Eugene reached for his sword to draw it. The transition to combat mode between him and Ruta happened almost simultaneously.

Ruta, who had been a human, suddenly sprouted horns from his forehead, and his skin color, which had been close to a beautiful white, changed to a creepy blue.

His slender body also changed to one with a thick chest. Like a reborn, he transformed into a monster with an aura of domination.

“A demon, huh…”

“Hmm, you’re not surprised. I guess I should crush you after all.”

There is a race called demons. There are humans and fairies, who are at peace, but the demons are different. They target the nations and the world of these races. They have attacked time and time again, and have been repelled each time by an entity known as a hero.

Demons are dangerous and ruthless. It’s even said that if you encounter them, you should run.

“Why did you target me?”

“It’s a bit of a long story… Well, I’m going to kill you, so I’ll tell you.”

The demon Ruta spread his arms and began to speak, looking up at the sky.

“This is a story from fourteen years ago… You humans should remember, right?”

“The Curse King Daidalos?”

“That’s right. Once upon a time, the Curse King Daidalos invaded this world from the demon world. I also came to this world at that time. We, his minions, and our king, thought we could rule the world, but…”

“The hero obliterated him.”

“… Literally, in one blow. Moreover, it was just an hour after he had declared war on the Great Tree Nation, Frontier, where the fairies live!”

He waved his hand in apparent frustration. Eugene watched him, expressionless.

“At that moment, everyone realized. This guy is dangerous, we mustn’t pick a fight with him.”

“Then you should have quietly returned to the demon world and lived quietly in a corner.”

“That’s not possible. Crossing dimensions requires a lot of magic. We can’t go back and forth many times.”

“……”

“Besides, our goal has not changed. To rule this world… The Four Heavenly Kings are also staying in this world, preparing.”

“Hmph, so the Four Heavenly Kings are still alive. They were known as the right hand of the Demon King, but I suppose they’re alive because they got scared of the Hero’s power and ran away in a panic.”

“That’s right, we all did the same, we ran away as fast as we could. That’s why we’re alive.”

“Heh, quite the cowardly bunch you are.”

“You can laugh now, because… the hero is going to die soon.”

“…What?”

“Our last hope as demons… is the curse of Curse King Daidalos. At the moment of his death, just before he was defeated by the hero, he used all his power to cast a curse.”

“…”

“The curse must be eating away at him. But he’s a true hero. He even defeated the Demon King two years ago…”

(A curse…)

Eugene remembers the battle with the Curse King. And then, he recalls the recent incident.

“I’m looking for a successor.”

(I didn’t ask for the reason… but it makes sense now. A curse. A curse from the Demon King on his deathbed. Has he been enduring it for fourteen years? Or is he still enduring it now…)

(Which means… he’s weakened by the curse, and the demons are waiting for their chance to win.)

“Fourteen years. Even for a hero, it must be taking a toll on his body. In Demon King Daidalos’s will, it was stated that the hero would die within ten years, but the hero is not dead. But, but, but, but, it’s certain that he’s weakened! And furthermore! The Demon King Balkan, a descendant of Demon King Daidalos, is even stronger than Daidalos himself! But, we’ve been very careful, waiting for the hero to weaken due to the curse!”

“……”

“The war is about to start!! Finally, we can defeat the detestable hero and stand at the top of the world!!”

“…You’re not answering my question. I asked why you’re after me.”

“Ah, that’s right. Even if the hero is weakened, it’s useless if another monster-like hero appears. So, I, who have the ability to disguise myself, have been watching this town of beginnings for years and years to eliminate any seeds of a new hero.”

“…You mean me.”

“That’s right. I didn’t think such a man would appear, but when I saw your combat ability, your manner… I was convinced. I decided to crush you here and now.”

“I see. The spirit of the demons may be like gravel… but your discerning eyes seem to be real.”

Hearing this much, he decided there was no need to listen any more. In fact, there was never any need to listen.

(Whether I know it or not… what I have to do won’t change.)

“All that’s left is to defeat you and shatter you to pieces.”

“Why do you think I told you all this? Because I can win now.”

“Give it a try…”

With a clang, the sword of beginnings and the demon’s long claws crossed. The sound was heavy, despite being metal and claws.

The demon’s physical ability surpassed that of Eugene, a human. However, that alone wouldn’t determine the outcome of the battle. That’s why the wide-sweeping claw and the sharpened sword were on par.

As he narrowly dodged a claw aimed at his head, he wished.

(I want more power. I should be able to go further.)

He was confident he could win. However, the demon was no mere weakling. Ruta increased his speed even further. Eugene was still only 15 years old, whereas the demon was well over 40. Although Eugene was continually growing, he was slightly overwhelmed by the depth of strength of the high-race demon.

A kick from the demon hit his abdomen, and he was sent flying.

At the same time, some sounds of combat echoed several times in the underground of the Suya Mountain Range. It was a secluded place with a slight characteristic of echoing sounds, but not everyone could hear it. Only those close by could.

(What’s that noise? Is that… the sound of metal?)

By chance, Will was walking around that area looking for Black Cat. He noticed the sound of metal and ran towards it.

(I have a bad feeling about this…)

He ran and arrived at the spot where Eugene and Ruta were fighting. Eugene was holding his stomach, spitting out blood. However, his eyes were far from dead.

(I have to help…)

That was Will’s immediate thought. Until a moment ago, he considered Eugene to be a level above him, probably in a completely different dimension. But now, he immediately became someone Will felt he had to protect.

His mind was as cool as if it had been chilled. The moment Eugene became someone he had to help, his body was literally able to exert its full strength.

(Now, he’s definitely injured, holding his rib cage with his hand. Is it broken, injured? I need to take a rough look and come up with the best solution possible. I have to reflect on his actions up to this point. He’s probably the same type as Hero Dan. I can tell from those unbending eyes and his words and actions. He doesn’t team up with anyone, and he even dared to fight alone with that group of adventurer examinees.)

(What I should do now for someone who won’t be swayed by anyone and seems to prefer fighting alone… Call for help? It won’t be in time. If I help, I’ll be joining in. This is the closest to the right answer. But even if I tell him that, even if I say I’ll help here, he would probably refuse it.)

(There’s no point in even calling out. What’s needed here is not cooperation but silent support.)

It took him only a few seconds of intense concentration to position himself in front of Eugene, who had been cornered against the wall, and throw a stone at Ruta.

“What!?”

Without a word, he drew his sword and faced Ruta, who had avoided the stone.

“Don’t get in the way.”

“I’m just moving on my own.”

He swung his sword, but as expected, Ruta avoided it and was about to counter. But Will blocked it with his own sword. Eugene swung his sword again to keep Will from taking his prey. When Eugene moved forward, Will confirmed it and stepped in further. Eugene also confirmed Will’s presence and narrowed his eyes.

(Is this guy really the type to step into a battle like this? He was clearly trembling with tension all along… is he a different person…?)

Eugene was momentarily convinced that Will was a different person due to his surprisingly battle-hardened movements and different facial expressions. The figure of Will, who had been trembling from the time of the written examination, was nowhere to be seen.

(I’m under him. But, if it’s for a few seconds, I can go against him…then, I’ll have him buy me a few seconds.)

Eugene focused his magical power and began to chant.

“Foundation of flame, birth from ashes, bestow upon my body.”

Until now in the battle, he couldn’t afford the time and energy to chant and unify his magic power. But, now that Will had joined in, he could.

“Enchant Blade: Blaze.”

Holding a sword wrapped in flames due to his spell, he faced the enemy. At the end of his gaze, Will, who had already bought a few seconds, was starting to fall apart.

“Get out of the way!”

The words he said towards Will and Ruta. Will immediately moved aside, but Ruta also sensed that the sword was dangerous. The third-grade magic spell, Enchant Blade: Blaze, is a simple ability that attaches flames to a sword, enhancing the sword’s power and having the significant effect of searing and slashing the skin. From the sword that could even tear apart claws, Ruta tried to move away for a moment, but a sword was stuck at his feet.

(Did this brat throw his sword the moment I disengaged!?)

The sword that Will had thrown was stuck in his foot, obstructing his escape. Will had taken some damage in the short fight and fainted as is.

“It’s over.”

“Arghhhh!!!”

Eugene cut through the body with flames. The demon Ruta was enveloped in an explosion of fire and met his end. Exhausted, Eugene also passed out. Both Will and Eugene were unconscious. The remaining test time was less than two hours. It seemed that their only problem was to wake up within the remaining time and catch the black cat. However, that wasn’t the only problem; the threat remained.

“Damn, that was close! If it wasn’t for the healing stone, Heal Stone, bestowed by the Four Heavenly Kings, I would have been dead!”

Ruta, whose body was cut and appeared to have turned to ash, was still alive. Moreover, he had fully recovered. The healing stone, Heal Stone, he possessed is a magic item that can completely heal any injury. Without it, he would undoubtedly have died.

“Haa, haa, hahaha, hahahaha. But I’m still alive. If I don’t kill both of you here…”

The demon approached the two unconscious ones, raising its sharp claws intending to split their heads and kill them in an instant.

“Hold on a minute.”

A drained voice echoed through the cave.

“Those two are literally ‘frameless’, you see.”

Looking towards the source of the voice, a black-haired man with spiky hair stood there. His facial features seemed soft yet firm, a face that could be found anywhere, like a common weed. It felt as though it could unintentionally dissipate any tension.

“A human, huh… If you run away now, I might spare your life, you know?”

“No, no, if I disappear, you’re going to kill these two, right? That would be a big problem for me.”

“What?”

Ruta tilted his head at the word ‘problem’. However, the man was still smiling casually.

“But you’re really something. I mean, defeating a demon once in a two-on-one fight, even though he’s still alive.”

“Were you watching?”

“Well, not all of it.”

“Oh? Then why are you showing up now?”

“That’s obvious, isn’t it? Because…”

The human man opened his mouth lightly, as if it was a matter of fact and as if it was the truth of the world.

“… If I showed up, everything would be over.”

The man started to walk slowly towards the demon. He kept his hands in his pockets and his posture was completely defenceless.

“You idiot!”

The demon exclaimed and aimed his iron-hard claws at him. He intended to tear his body apart and paint it a vivid red, but…

…the demon was dancing in mid-air.

(What…? Have I been… thrown?)

In a blink of an eye, his world turned upside down. He initially mistook it for being thrown, but soon realized the truth. On the ground lay his own body, decapitated at the neck. And his head was in the sky. The man had simply delivered a kick to the demon’s forehead while keeping his hand in his pocket.

“Hmm, this sensation. Quite a low-ranking demon, huh? But well, it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve defeated you. Those two did a great job, didn’t they?”

“Wh-who are you?”

“Well, demons keep popping up infinitely, right?”

“Y-you are…?”

“Hm? What was that?”

“You are, wh-who are you?”

“…I’m the Hero.”

***

When Will woke up, his whole body was screaming in pain. No, that wasn’t the case, he felt completely normal.

“Huh?”

“Oh, you’re awake?”

“Ban-san.”

“Well.”

“I don’t quite understand, but it seems like both of you were unconscious when I got here.”

Next to Will, Eugene was grimacing. Looking at his face, Will had a pretty good idea of what had happened. They had slept too long. The Adventurer’s Examination was probably over, and even if it wasn’t, they surely wouldn’t have enough time to finish. They had to find the Black Cat, take its ribbon, and then return to the guild. Other examinees had probably already taken the ribbons, so there wouldn’t be many left, and finding one would be a hassle.

“Ah!? What about the exam!?”

“Oh, the exam. I’d say we have less than an hour left.”

“Wha!? So that means…”

“We’ve probably passed.”

“That’s right, we passed!?”

“Here, I’ll give these to you two.”

Ban said, offering two blue ribbons to them.

“Eighteen people have already reached the goal, so you should hurry. There could be ambushes, and there’s a time limit.”

“Eh!? But, Ban-san, you…”

“I’m fine. I have a plan. So, what will you do? Do you need these? Don’t you?”

“Er, um… But…”

“Sheesh, thinking of it as charity? But if it’s offered, I’ll take it. We need to move forward, there’s no time to waste.”

“Here you go. You should take one too.”

Saying so, Ban tossed the ribbons to the two of them. They hesitated but then took the ribbons and headed towards the guild. When they arrived in town, they saw the first staff member and the Black Cat they had been with when they got their instructions.

“Well, I think I’ll take this cat’s ribbon. Any objections?”

“…No, there’s none.”

“I thought so.”

“Then, you’ll be the last ones to pass. Please notify the reception desk.”

“Alright.”

Will and Eugene couldn’t hide their surprise at how easily Ban got his third ribbon.

“What’s the matter?”

“Wow, getting two ribbons is amazing.”

“Yeah, I’ve always been liked by specific monsters like the Black Cat. It just came up to me while I was casually walking through the mountains.”

“What!?”

Laughing heartily, Ban went ahead. Will found him a mysterious figure, but felt more gratitude than confusion because they could pass the exam thanks to him.

“Hey, you. What’s your name?”

“Um, it’s Will.”

“I see.”

“And you?”

“I don’t need to introduce myself. My name will soon echo around the world. It’s just a matter of time.”

“I… I see.”

Eugene abruptly asked for his name but didn’t give his own, which made Will give a wry smile. Then he noticed Eugene was staring intently at his sword.

“Um, can I help you?”

“Where did you get that sword?”

“Huh?”

“Your relationship with me is…”

The Hero’s words flashed back in Will’s mind. He shouldn’t let anyone know about their relationship. He mustn’t tell. So, he lied.

“At, at an antique shop!”

“I see, you’ve been tricked then.”

“Huh?”

“You probably assumed it was the ‘Sword of Beginning’, right? Unfortunately, the sword I’m holding is the real ‘Sword of Beginning’.”

“What!?”

Will was stunned as he looked at Eugene’s sword. It was indeed the same as his own, the “Sword of Beginning” of the Hero Dan.

“Where, where did you get that!?”

“This is…”

“Your relationship with me is――”

The words of Hero Dan revived in Eugene’s mind.

“I bought it at an antique shop. But mine is real. Yours is a fake.”

“I, I see.”

(I received it from the person himself, so it can’t be a fake… He probably got tricked at an antique shop… This guy… But he firmly believes that his is real, so it’s better to just leave it as it is, right?)

“You should learn to distinguish between a fake and the real thing. This world isn’t just full of beautiful things.”

With that, Eugene headed towards the guild’s reception. And Will, realizing that there really are all sorts of people in the world, also headed towards the reception.

…Will, Eugene, Ban, and eighteen others, a total of twenty-one people, passed the practical exam.