The Tutorial Boss Forces Training
Back at the guild, the atmosphere felt off somehow. It was always rowdy with laughter and chatter, but this time, all eyes turned toward me as their conversations buzzed.
Elena was sitting in my usual spot. She declared firmly,
"Mister. I've got a duel set with Darko in three days."
What?
"What kinda bullshit is that?"
"Well, here's what happened." Elena explained the whole story.
As I listened to how the duel with Darko had come about, I rubbed my temple.
"So? You've got this duel, and you made a bet on the outcome?"
"Yeah. If I win, he'll acknowledge my skills."
Elena's face lit up with smug confidence, like she'd already won.
"And if you lose? What'd that bastard want?"
"Um... he said to comfort him. Guess it's tough for him not to acknowledge me."
"And you're taking that at face value?"
She tilted her head with an innocent look that said, Isn't that how it is?
"I can comfort him no problem. Heck, if you want, I can comfort you instead, Mister. Isn't it hard dealing with how much I'm still lacking?"
Giggles erupted from someone eavesdropping on our conversation. I shot a glare their way, and the audience suddenly went dead silent, eyes dropping to the floor.
"Haa... No clue where to even start explaining this."
"?"
She gave me that wide-eyed, clueless stare.
Given Elena's personality, even if she was misunderstanding out of naivety, she'd honor the promise. That's the kind of pure, honest girl she was—the perfect eroge heroine archetype, the reason she went through all that crap in the game.
"One thing first." I beckoned her aside and took my seat. Elena sat across from me.
"You've fallen for his temptation."
"Temptation?"
I lowered my voice. "The 'comfort' that Darko bastard mentioned? It ain't the comfort you're thinking."
"Comfort's comfort, right? What's it mean otherwise?"
How do I even put this? Best not to beat around the bush—gotta spell it out straight so she doesn't twist it weird.
"You know why adventurers hit up whores after a hunt?"
"Huh? 'Cause... they like women...?"
"They want comfort."
"...Huh?"
Elena's expression froze. One beat. Two beats.
".......Huh?"
Color drained from her face. Her lips quivered, then her ears turned beet red.
"W-wait. So then, what I just said—how'd that sound?"
"Heh. First chick I've met who'd offer free sex to a total stranger."
"....!"
Elena covered her face with both hands. Her ears burned even brighter.
"Teaching you is a real chore sometimes."
I spread my legs, patted my thigh. "Wanna try getting some comfort? Sit here and comfort me a bit."
"W-who's gonna?!" Elena yelled.
"Just win, duh! How hard can it be? Mister, I've gotten stronger, right? So that means I've already won!"
"Naive kid. If you think that simple, sure."
I shook my head. "But Darko sets the passing criteria, remember? You think he'll admit you've improved?"
"Huh? But... wait, I have gotten stronger. Doesn't that settle it?"
"That's why you fell for his temptation."
Elena's mouth snapped shut.
"Darko judges the result. No matter how well you fight, if he doesn't say 'pass,' it's over. Hinges entirely on that bastard's word."
Fair judgment? Not from the same guy who's both judge and opponent. Might as well hand your gold to a thief.
"So then... I..."
Elena's face went pale as a ghost.
"Scared now?"
"Not scared...!"
"That's why slow thinkers struggle. You gotta go bold in situations like this—don't you get it?"
I glared at her. "Beat him decisively."
"Beat him?"
"So thoroughly no one can argue. Even if his mouth twists, he can't overturn it. Makes his judgment irrelevant."
"Decisively... but he's the guild's sword instructor. Doesn't that mean he's super strong?"
"You gonna lose to some C-rank parachute hack?"
"C-rank's still really strong."
Common wisdom held C-rank adventurers as powerhouses. Ranks ran from S at the top down to I. A C-rank could claim top dog in a backwater village. But F and below? Just local thugs, no real threat—practically nonexistent. Even C-rank got similar leeway.
My gaze dropped to the material bag at my feet. Peeking inside, a blade mantis's scythe arm gleamed. A C-rank blade mantis. With the skill to dismantle swordplay, it was an easy kill.
I'd sent her expecting victory, and she'd delivered beyond expectations.
"Worrying's a luxury. Forgot I'm right here?"
I stood. "Schedule change. No hunting for three days. Sword training till the duel ends."
"No hunting means no money?"
"I'll handle cash. You focus on the blade."
A few silver coins wouldn't stain Elena's record. If anyone's giving her first loss, it's me.
Elena clenched her fists. "I can win, right?"
"Win."
Inn backyard. Elena drew her sword. I slung mine over my shoulder from its sheath and faced her.
"Know Darko's strengths?"
"No clue."
"He's C-rank. Parachute or not, he's got the skills to match. Bigger than you, stronger too."
Just like the gulf in physical prowess between me and Elena, a wide gap yawned between her and Darko.
"You can't beat him with raw power. If it comes to blows, never clash head-on."
I pointed my blade tip at her. "Lucky for you, you've got talent. I guarantee it."
Elena's eyes wavered—doubt? Hope? She couldn't decide.
"What's with those eyes?"
"Darko said you suck at teaching. Like it was obvious."
"What a joke." I sheathed my sword and thwacked her head.
Thunk.
"Ow! Why'd you hit me?!"
"For entertaining dumb assumptions. Got time to daydream? Think you can win that bet without my help? Who else is gonna back you?"
"...No one."
"Then cut the bullshit. It breaks focus. Just think about winning."
I raised my sword again. "I'll prove it with results."
I swung down slow. Elena blocked with her sword. I added force, pushing. She gripped two-handed, knees buckling.
"That's weight class. Never match his strength against him. If you do, you lose for sure."
"Th-then what do I do?"
"Don't block."
"Huh?"
I pulled back a step. "Fights aren't won by who attacks more. Or by opponent approval."
Eck's memories overlapped my past life's. Beating a physically superior foe? Same in reality or games.
"One strike."
Elena blinked in confusion. "One strike?"
"Aim for one precise, decisive hit. From now on, I'll drill footwork and deflection into you."
I stamped the ground. "Master it with everything you've got these three days. Fail, and you'll comfort me before that bastard."
I stepped into footwork. Before she reacted, I was at her side, hand blade at her throat.
"Focus. I'll hammer in how scary footwork and deflection are. Block. Check me. You a decoration? Block already?"
"Y-you're really swinging?"
"Think I'll get cut by your swing?"
Elena's blade slanted toward me. I parried, deflecting it harmlessly outside my body line.
"Swing harder."
"Hup!"
"That all you got?"
"Hah!"
"Pour every ounce of strength!"
"Hyaaah!!"
But her desperate flails? I dodged with footwork, deflected everything.
Frustrated attacks missing entirely, Elena's assaults grew wilder. After a few exchanges,
"That's enough."
"...Huh?"
No sword in her hands. I handed back the one I'd snatched to her.
"Head clear now?"
"Yeah... how'd you do that?"
"Figure it out yourself from here."
Now I pointed my blade. Swung slow. My light thrust met her block, slid along her blade—tip grazing under my chin.
Quick learner, as expected.
"Not bad."
I stepped back, reset stance. "Again."
We drilled till sunset, no breaks. Till her focus cracked. Now she deflected my casual swings effortlessly. Dodged into my guard with footwork.
Unbelievable.
Three days. Long if long, short if short.