Making a Hero (5): The Sword is Prepared
The hero's sword was ready. His strength was more than sufficient. He'd even grown adept at handling mana. All that remained was to confirm whether he could actually slay monsters.
Which was why...
"Alright, time for hunting training."
It was time to teach him the weight of taking a life.
"Uh... that's...?"
"You'll figure it out when you see it. It's a slime."
I nudged the slime wriggling at my feet with my toe. The foundation of all life in this world—slimes. They'd evolved into countless forms to become the creatures we know today, but some still lived on as slimes. They didn't mutate without need, instead multiplying in droves. Thanks to that, they cleaned up waste and refuse at the bottom of the food pyramid, keeping the environment pristine. Precious little things, really.
"I can see it's a slime, but... why this?"
"You need practice harming living things, don't you?"
If I started him off on massive monsters, he'd balk naturally. Better to build up gradually, from the simple stuff. Slimes were the weakest of the weak—even kids squished them without a thought. No matter how kindhearted our hero, this should be a breeze. Honestly, aside from me, their creator, no one would even consider slimes "alive."
"Give it a go."
I kicked the slime toward the hero again. He hesitated a moment, then swung his sword.
Crack!
The squishy slime body shattered in an instant.
Hm. Easy enough for something that'd die underfoot.
"So... a hero's job means taking other lives."
"That's right. Slay rampaging monsters and save the rest."
Probably tough for such a good kid. But he had to get used to it. No room for hesitation against real monsters.
"If slaying one saves ten... I can't afford to waver. If I do, dozens or hundreds might die."
"Exactly. Not easy, but steel yourself."
He nodded, face set with resolve.
Phew, not just a goody-two-shoes. That compassion will fuel him if he channels it right.
And so, I rounded up live monsters for his experience points. From ordinary horned rabbits to wild dogs wreathed in fire or lightning, cows shrouded in shadow, and massive earth-burrowing worms.
Bit by bit, he grew accustomed to killing—but I could see him tiring, the strain showing.
"You alright?"
"Hoo... Yeah... I'm fine..."
Shoulders heaving with deep breaths. Pushing him nonstop was too much, after all.
"That's enough for today, then."
"No, I'm okay."
"Hey now. Look at yourself. How can you fight at less than full strength?"
"But..."
I shook my head. "Enough stubbornness. How do you protect others if you can't even gauge your own state? Who guards them if you collapse from ignoring it? Go wash up and rest."
Chided, he bowed his head silently. With a snap of my fingers, I sent him to his room.
He looked a tad sulky, but oh well. He was visibly wiped.
Speaking of...
"The others, maybe, but this sandworm? I hunted it down with some effort. And he cleaved it clean?"
I gazed admiringly at the bisected sandworm. I'd worried it might be risky... but his skill exceeded expectations. No chance he'd fall to monsters from lack of power.
"Whoa! A human slicing a giant earthworm? Is that guy really human, Mom?"
"Sylphid. You're here."
"Yup, Mom! I teased that human just like you asked~."
I nodded at Sylphid's words. I'd told her to harass Acad Kingdom's wandering second prince a bit, and she'd dumped him in the heart of a storm. She seemed thrilled.
"The nerve, lusting after you, Mom! He deserves a thousand deaths! I tormented him good~!"
"Seeing a guy get tossed like trash in a gale... speechless. And not a scratch on the other humans—precise control. Impressive."
"Hehe! I've been honing control for centuries~!"
I smiled. "For helping out... time for a gift."
"Ooh! Giving back my scale? You don't have to~!"
"Not the scale."
No way I'm returning that. Ever. Acting all casual while coveting it—this greedy girl.
"Huh? Not the scale? Then what gift?"
"Not as good as a scale, but... magic to craft a body."
I taught Sylphid the incarnation spell.
"It lets you form a human body to use like your own. Weaker than a dragon's, sure, but plenty strong to roam the world."
"Bummer it's not the scale, but this'll do! Thanks, Mom!"
"No biggie. You scouted these monsters for me."
While I trained the hero, Sylphid's wind spirits had located dangerous beasts, warning me of threats too strong for humans—and stalling them from harming people. This sandworm was one.
"It was rampaging in the hot desert—big trouble. Ifrit was about to handle it personally."
"Ifrit, who barely stirs? Whew... must've been pissed."
"Yeah, it nearly hit a village on the desert edge. But Ifrit was watching it—and Babel..."
Sure enough. Ifrit kept a quiet eye on the magicians' city. That guy.
"Anyway, Mom."
"Hm?"
Sylphid had already formed her incarnation, standing before me. Quick learner.
"What're you planning with that super-strong human? Using him to conquer all humans?"
Her face lit up with odd excitement. This girl?
"As if. Just having him hunt monsters too tough for regular folk."
"Huh? Why the hassle? You could flick 'em and they'd shred to bones and flesh."
True, if I felt like it, I'd have done it ages ago.
"Some might hold Erebos fragments. Too tiny for me to spot, so I'm outsourcing to the kid."
Auto-hunt FTW! Setup's a pain, though.
"Heh... okay, if you say so."
She knew? It is that.
"Gonna head out now. Always wanted to tour human lands myself."
"Go ahead. Oh, don't forget to report other monster sightings. Next time, I'll send the hero himself."
"Nee! The wind spirit kids are scouting hard! Bye, Mom!"
She wrapped herself in breeze and floated away.
Now, who next for incarnation magic? Thetis, maybe? Gotta visit her later—middle of nowhere ocean's a trek otherwise.
Alright, time to check on the hero.
I'll be back after a short trip.
A slightly crooked, childish note lay in the hero's room. Pouting over a little scolding and running off? Stormy teen phase should've passed by now. Body all grown, mind still a kid. Sheesh... tsk tsk.
I could track him in seconds via the sword. But...
Maybe just watch. Curious what drove him to punch through the ceiling. Planned to send him out soon anyway—call it early.
Strongest among humans now; no real threats. All that survival training? He'll manage.
So I tracked his position from afar, observing.
What would he find at journey's end? Shed his kind but frail self for strength? Or despair at harsh reality?
I watched with keen interest.
Of course, ready to rush in at the first sign of trouble.