Ch.102Chapter 4. Prove You’re the Strongest (2)

Once, I had a conversation with the Chairman about this.

“Do we really have to shout technique names?”

“Yes.”

The Chairman was adamant.

“Don’t you sometimes feel it’s childish? Like you’re advertising to your opponent what technique you’re about to use.”

“Shouting technique names is self-suggestion.”

“Self-suggestion?”

“Yes. It’s to use your technique more definitively, more powerfully, without weakening.”

The Chairman offered a somewhat novel answer to my question.

“Name this technique.”

The Chairman enveloped his fist in flames and swung it forward.

“Hmm… Flame Punch?”

“Let’s make it sound cooler and call it ‘Fire Punch’.”

I deliberately changed it to “flame,” but the Chairman still called it Fire Punch.

“Imagine a hero who’s been using this technique since E-rank. He used Fire Punch to defeat his first villain, and he continued using Fire Punch even after his abilities grew stronger.”

“That’s consistency.”

“And if, in the final moment, at the last instant, the attack he delivers with his clenched fist is still Fire Punch?”

“…Anyone who’s watched him for a long time would be deeply moved.”

As a reader, I’m weak to circular narrative structures.

Especially when a stubbornly straightforward protagonist succeeds through such persistence.

“That’s part of it, but for the person using the technique, it’s self-suggestion that allows them to use their technique with the exact output they want, regardless of any external circumstances.”

“Does it really work that way?”

“Of course. Think about it. Let’s say that S-rank fire ability user from Northern Europe… Surtr, for example, developed a ‘Ragnarok Punch’.”

Later, he actually used that technique.

“What if someone called a full-power flame punch ‘Noryangjin Spicy Fist’ in a truly critical moment? How would that feel?”

“…It would feel pretty awful.”

“Exactly. It would throw you off. For a split second, you’d think your technique has an ill-fitting name, and your output would weaken slightly.”

“So it weakens the user by shaking their mental state?”

“Right. The foundation of an ability user’s technique is imagination. I call this ‘the power of will.’ If your will weakens, your ability weakens, and ultimately your output weakens too.”

The Chairman extended his fist toward me.

“My Fire Punch has the destructive power to pierce the universe. Just by thinking that, you can exert close to 99% of your potential power.”

“Chairman, your way of thinking strikes me as quite unique every time I hear it.”

“This is a lecture you couldn’t get elsewhere even if you paid for it, so take it to heart, Manager. Oh, and in that spirit, I’ll take a measure to help you not feel awkward about this issue.”

“…Chairman? W-wait, what are you trying to…!”

“Just stay still.”

The Chairman forcibly inserted a “gimmick” into me using his magical power.

“Hehehe. From now on, when you see someone using a technique that looks really powerful, try provoking them by casually commenting on their technique name. It might shake their mental state. Who knows, it might even save your life someday.”

The Chairman’s words…

Are always right.

* * *

Snow White’s freezing punch—no, her full-power attack—weakened slightly at the last moment.

Perhaps she thought, “How dare they call my attack something like ‘freezing punch’!”

Or maybe her mental focus wavered as she compared her power to other ice-type heroes who use freezing punches.

“Kugh!”

[What a shame.]

Following the Chairman’s advice, I slightly weakened Snow White’s attack with just a word, and using that opening, I immediately countered.

The fastest attack would be to swing my sword at Baek Seol-hee.

If I imbued the blade with Qiongqi’s flames and swung it, Snow White descending from above certainly wouldn’t be able to dodge.

But.

‘Tsk.’

Just as Snow White seemed determined to use only techniques that would subdue me without causing harm, I too felt reluctant to use attacks that would make her bleed or injure her.

Because she’s a heroine?

Because she’s developed quite a deep relationship with Do Ji-hwan?

Well, that’s part of it.

It does have a significant influence.

I couldn’t injure an innocent hero, especially a female hero.

Kwaduk!

I caught Snow White’s fist with my left hand.

Her eyes widened in shock as I caught her attack head-on with one hand.

Kangangang!

Instantly, a chill shot through my hand as if it would freeze solid.

Having concentrated Qiongqi’s magical power in the flaming sword in my other hand, my shallow magical reserves couldn’t neutralize Snow White’s cold.

Jjeojeojeok!

My hand holding Snow White’s began to freeze.

Her eyes trembled greatly, either surprised that her attack was working or surprised that I had grabbed her hand instead of attacking with my sword.

“Why…!”

[I can’t hurt a patriotic hero.]

I pulled her toward me while blocking her attack.

Suddenly she fell toward me as if embracing me, and I pulled my freezing hand along with my arm while turning my body sideways.

“!!”

As her body flipped suddenly and nearly slammed into the ground, Snow White twisted her body trying to break free from me.

But whether it was because her determination to catch me was too strong, the ice connecting our hands didn’t break, and she tumbled toward the floor.

Naturally, I took measures to prevent her from crashing into the ground.

I quickly placed my foot under the small of her back, expelled magical power to reduce the impact, and cushioned the fall with magic as much as possible, allowing Snow White to land gently.

“Ah…?”

Confusion flashed in Snow White’s eyes.

Understandably so.

Why didn’t I attack with my sword?

Why did I allow her attack even at the cost of injuring myself?

Why am I treating her so well “again”?

Why would a villain executioner who normally kills villains without hesitation treat her so gentlemanly?

“You…!”

[Don’t misunderstand.]

I pointed the tip of the sword in my hand at Snow White’s neck.

[I’m not sparing you. I’m avoiding injuring you because when heroes fall, the world becomes more chaotic, and that’s troublesome for me.]

“Kugh…!”

[People have been saying things. That I keep sparing you because I have romantic feelings for you.]

“!!”

A flash of displeasure appeared in Snow White’s eyes.

It seems she was annoyed that I directly mentioned what had been bothering her most.

[I find you attractive. But that’s all. You’re a hero, and I’m a villain.]

I withdrew the foot I had been supporting behind the small of her back.

[When you’re ready to kill villains, evil people, come find me then. Personally, I’m extremely looking forward to it. If Snow White stands on our side to kill villains and demons, it would greatly help our cause and ambition.]

“Who would ever join your side…!”

[You never know what life brings.]

I withdrew my sword and then channeled magical power into the hand that was gripping hers.

Saaah.

White steam rose from my arm, and Snow White’s magical power that had been invading my arm was pushed back by Qiongqi’s magic.

It looked like ice melting away, and I stepped back from Snow White.

[By the way….]

If this woman truly doesn’t know that I am the Goblin.

Would it benefit me to subtly hint that the Goblin is Do Ji-hwan?

‘What should I do?’

The woman’s reaction could go two ways.

One, she might be emotionally conflicted, knowing my identity but unable to report me, continuing our precarious relationship.

Two, she might feel intensely betrayed and try to kill me, Goblin or Do Ji-hwan be damned.

But what’s clear is that even though I’m facing her now as the Goblin, if I treat her with completely shattered humanity, I might pay dearly for it later.

-Why did you act that way then? Why did you treat me so rudely? Huh? Answer me.

…The risk is great, but I decided to follow my instinct.

[Excuse me.]

I extended my hand toward Snow White to help her up from the floor-

“Don’t touch me.”

Snow White sharply knocked away my hand with fierce eyes.

Her attack was so fierce and fast that it was the sharpest and most vicious of all the attacks Baek Seol-hee had directed at me so far.

[Hmm….]

My hand stings.

She struck my hand with the back of her hand, but even though I had Qiongqi’s magic surrounding my extended hand, my fingers hurt as if frostbitten.

“Never, ever touch my body again.”

Snow White warned me in a coldly subdued voice as she got up on her own.

“I already belong to someone.”

[…….]

I’m the one you’re talking about.

[That’s good to hear. Is he a good person?]

“Of course. He’s much better looking, cooler, and kinder than someone like you. His bat is probably bigger than yours too.”

[…….]

Should I just take off my mask?

How would she react then?

I’m slightly curious, but unfortunately, there’s no time for that.

Kugugu.

The glacier I had split apart disappeared along with the mist.

The time the magical power could maintain its form had passed, and I backed away from Snow White.

[Time’s up.]

I’ve drawn enough attention, and my work here is done.

Fighting more would only cause trouble, and I’ve shown enough “showmanship” to the people with this spectacle.

[I look forward to it, Snow White.]

I released my fusion with Qiongqi.

Returning to my usual formal gentleman Goblin appearance, I adjusted my top hat and mounted Qiongqi, who had transformed into a tiger with wings.

[Farewell.]

Flap.

Qiongqi flapped his wings and soared into the sky, and I departed from the airport.

“W-wait right there—!”

Someone seemed to shout loudly from below, but no one could chase after Qiongqi who had taken to the sky.

[Hey. Are you okay?]

[Hmm. I think my bone is broken. It hurts.]

[Ah, you idiot.]

Qiongqi asked me in a worried voice.

[Release the transformation as soon as we get back to the lodging. Geez, I told you not to catch it with your hand! Why didn’t you just slash her body with the sword?]

[I couldn’t do that.]

I clutched my aching left hand.

[If breaking a hand is the price for not playing with a woman’s feelings and keeping her body unharmed, it’s a small price to pay.]

It might have been a foolish action, but…

[I have no regrets.]