# 89. Hero Party's Special Training! (2)
Facing all four members of the Hero Party at once.
I had memories of testing their abilities in the past, but the situation now was different from then.
'Wish Ticket'
With an incredible 'Wish Ticket' that could grant any desire at stake, the children's determination in approaching this training was completely different.
I stood at a distance from the children and observed them.
*Somehow, this has become exactly like defeating a Demon King to have your wish granted.*
From the Hero Party's perspective, I was the Demon King right now. A Demon King who dropped a Wish Ticket when defeated.
However, the goal this time wasn't to defeat me. It was for whoever performed best to seize the Wish Ticket. So it could be seen as competition masked as cooperation.
I called out to the children who were huddled together in the distance.
"Hey there. You must be ready by now?"
"Yes! We're ready!"
"Yes, we're all set."
In that case...
"I'll yield the first move. Come at me."
Let's see just how much you've all grown.
The Hero Party sent serious gazes toward me. Except for Estia, who couldn't participate in combat.
"Hehe, a butterfly..."
She just stared at the sky with vacant eyes, watching a yellow butterfly.
*There's no need to check Estia's abilities.*
Fixing Estia's mental state came first. I'd postpone confirming her growth for later and decided to focus on checking the teamwork between Luna, Hare, and Saten.
Currently, the three with their heads together were all thinking the same thing.
*The Wish Ticket is mine.*
Absolutely no compromises!
When they had made wishes before, Luna and Hare realized just how powerful the force called a wish could be.
*An amazing wish to train with Uncle all day long!*
*A chance to get closest to Uncle...!*
Uncle, who wouldn't spend time with them unless something special happened. They could spend a whole day with him and even have casual conversations.
*I absolutely can't miss this!*
For children starved for affection, it was time as valuable as gold.
Luna asked Saten, who seemed the most reliable.
"Saten! How can we beat Uncle!?"
"Winning isn't really important."
"Huh?"
"What matters is who did best. That ranking is what's important."
So you see, Saten declared to Luna in a cold tone.
"That means I have no need to cooperate with you."
"!!"
"We're competitors from now on. I'm going to do well on my own and win the Wish Ticket."
A declaration of solo play. Like shouting in a group project that she'd get a good grade by herself.
At such selfishness, Hare cried out.
"Th-that's selfish, Saten...!"
"Please call it individualism."
"U-Uncle won't approve...!"
"If I show overwhelming ability, he'll acknowledge me."
"Ugh...!!"
She won't listen at all...! It's like talking to a wall...!
Hare gave up on persuading Saten and decided to change her target of persuasion.
*I-I can't do anything alone...!*
I need someone to draw attention... and someone to attack while I'm drawing attention...
"Luna...!"
"Huh?"
"Team up with me...! Let's combine our efforts and do our best together...!"
Whoosh—
Hare extended her hand toward Luna. Normally she wouldn't have done this out of pride, but Hare desperately wanted the Wish Ticket, so she reached out to Luna.
"Luna, team up with me...!"
"A team! I'm fine with that! But what's the plan?"
"That would be..."
Hare worked her brain hard to come up with a strategy. The most effective plan. The plan with the highest success rate.
*This is the only way...!*
Nod—
Hare shouted out the contents of the plan she'd worked so hard to devise.
"Luna, you run at Uncle...! Then I'll attack Uncle in the meantime...!"
"Are you telling me to be bait right now?"
"..."
"Hey! Why aren't you answering! You really were going to use me as bait! You thief!"
"...Tsk."
It didn't work...
Having failed to recruit Luna, Hare quickly left. The abandoned Luna could only be furious at how she'd been treated.
"Y-you! You think I'm stupid!! I-I'm so smart!"
More angry at being treated like an idiot than at almost being used, Luna looked like an idiot from above, from the side, from any angle.
Seeing the three separated from each other, Lee Jun-woo sighed.
*...Are they all moving individually for the competition?*
Since whoever did best would get the Wish Ticket, moving individually wasn't a bad idea.
However.
"To think you'd try to beat me alone."
What audacious thinking.
"I absolutely won't let things go your way."
Lee Jun-woo decided to teach them the importance of cooperation as they tried to act individually.
The attack began with Luna.
*This is so frustrating!*
When the other children showed no signs of attacking as they watched each other, unable to bear the frustration, she charged out.
Gripping her wooden sword tightly, Luna ran toward Lee Jun-woo and swung her wooden sword with a battle cry.
"The Wish Ticket is mine! Haaah—!!"
Swish—
Luna's sword was faster than before. Lee Jun-woo dodged the wooden sword not lightly, but with just a bit of concentration.
"Your skills have certainly improved a lot."
"I'm the Hero, Uncle!"
Swish— Swish—
Luna continued swinging her sword, gradually cornering Lee Jun-woo. There was no longer any hesitation in her swordsmanship.
While Lee Jun-woo liked this, he felt a bit disappointed.
"Your swordsmanship has improved greatly, which is good... but it's a shame you're alone, Luna."
"Huh?"
"I'm saying you can't handle this by yourself."
Tap—
Lee Jun-woo caught Luna's wooden sword with his hand.
"Huh?"
Then he snatched the wooden sword from Luna's hand and threw it toward Saten.
From Saten's perspective as she was casting magic, it felt like a bolt from the blue.
"As expected of Uncle. Not easy."
Having no choice, Saten bent at the waist to dodge the wooden sword. Saten was annoyed at having to cancel her magic.
Luna shouted at her.
"Saten! Throw me the wooden sword!"
"..."
"Hurry! Throw the sword!"
"..."
Saten pondered.
*If I don't throw the sword here, Luna is automatically eliminated. That benefits me.*
However, without Luna, I'll be left defenseless. A moment where gains and losses were clear.
Saten chose the direction most helpful to herself.
"I hate to admit it... but I have no choice. Catch it or don't."
"Ah! Thanks, Saten!"
I don't like that I need that Luna, but it can't be helped.
With Saten's help, Luna picked up the wooden sword again. Despite having lost to Lee Jun-woo once, she courageously charged again.
"Uncle! Prepare yourself! Here I come!"
Rumble—
Luna ran again and swung her sword at Lee Jun-woo. But this time, she wasn't alone.
Feeling a chilling sensation, Lee Jun-woo turned around.
*...This time it's an attack from two together.*
Though unintentional, Hare had been watching for an opportunity and entered at the perfect timing.
It seemed Hare's nature was closer to adapting to situations rather than creating them. And unlike before, Hare's attack was quite fierce.
*How badly does she want that Wish Ticket...?*
Beyond trying to beat me, it seemed like she might be trying to kill me. Hare's red eyes gleamed coldly and seriously.
"Uncle...! Please die quietly...!"
"Hare, are you planning to kill me?"
"N-no...! It-it's not that...! I-I'll just hurt you a little...!"
Of course, there were still some naive parts, but her attack was fierce as trained. Since she was even matching her breathing with Luna's attacks, it felt somewhat difficult to handle.
*...As expected, Luna and Hare have good chemistry. They know how to cooperate.*
If their relationship wasn't good, it would be different, but currently the two got along well. They would show this cooperative attitude when fighting the Demon King too.
However...
"Move aside."
"Huh?"
"S-Saten...! D-dodge, Uncle...! Saten's magic...!!"
Hare shouted at Lee Jun-woo to run. Indeed, this time it was somewhat dangerous.
*Two attacking at close range and one supporting from long range. Certainly difficult.*
An ordinary person would have died without being able to breathe. However, Lee Jun-woo wasn't ordinary, so he could easily break through the attack.
Lee Jun-woo canceled the incoming Blood Magic, pushed away Luna and Hare who were nearby, and approached Saten.
Luna and Hare chased belatedly, but it was already too late.
"Your skills have improved a lot, but it's a shame."
Still, though she wanted to shine the brightest herself, these were fairly cooperative actions.
Thinking this, Lee Jun-woo tapped Saten's head.
"Ow..."
"Good cooperation and magic, Saten. But next time, don't use magic when your allies are close to the target. You could get hurt if something goes wrong."
"...That hurt. But the magic itself was within my calculations, so it was fine."
"Real combat is full of variables. Even calculations can be wrong, so don't do it."
"...Yes, Uncle."
As he was lecturing Saten, rumble— the two who had been far away came running breathlessly.
They shouted at Lee Jun-woo.
"Uncle! Release the hostage! Let Saten go! That's cheating!"
"R-right...! Th-that's cheating...!"
"The training ended the moment Saten was caught by me, so stop and come here."
"Eh, it's over already?"
Thud—
Luna and Hare put down their wooden swords and ran over. Confident in themselves, they asked with shining eyes.
"Then who's first!? It's me, right? Hero Luna, right!?"
"I-I think I did well too...! H-Hare attacked Uncle well...!"
Like puppies waiting for treats, the two waited for Lee Jun-woo's words. Saten, having made the last attack, recognized she was in last place.
In this situation, Lee Jun-woo's answer was short and simple.
"One idiot's unintentional actions made things easier for the others. Today's first place goes to that one."
"Ah, not me... Hare, congratulations! You're first!"
"No, Luna. First place is you."
"Huh?"
Thoughtless attacks had resulted in actions that helped Hare and Saten. I didn't need to teach the children about cooperation.
*The other children can just use Luna as she confidently charges in.*
If I give Luna freedom, the others can be more comfortable. Of course, that freedom would need to be restrained somewhat later.
"You weren't bad today, Luna."
"R-really? Hehe... But I'm not an idiot! I intended it all!"
"..."
Lee Jun-woo ignored Luna's words and asked.
"When do you plan to use your wish?"
"Oh, right! The wish! I'll use it now!"
Now? What could she possibly want to use it for?
The moment Lee Jun-woo showed a puzzled expression, Luna confidently shouted her wish.
"In today's hell training!"
"In hell training."
"Exclude Estia!"
"...Not you, but Estia?"
"Yes! I want to do hell training together with Uncle!"
...She's definitely crazy. Definitely crazy about training.
Lee Jun-woo let out a hollow laugh looking at training-crazed Luna.
"...Do as you wish, Luna."
"Yahoo—!"
Heroes were truly an incomprehensible species.
And so that evening, Luna ended up conducting hell training alone with Lee Jun-woo.