Training Day… or So They Say

The next day, Lilith decided it was time for me to undergo "official hero training." This was alarming for two reasons:

1. I was not, nor had I ever been, a hero.The last time I attempted anything remotely heroic, it 2. involved almost choking on a sandwich mid-battle.

Still, Lilith insisted.

The Training Grounds

The demon castle's training grounds were an intimidating sight. Towering rock walls surrounded a massive arena filled with all sorts of terrifying contraptions: spinning blades, flaming pits, and giant metal golems that looked like they could punch me into next Tuesday.

"Do I really need to train here?" I asked nervously.

Lilith nodded, clapping her hands. "Of course! A hero must be prepared for any situation."

Ryuu, who had begrudgingly joined us, crossed his arms and smirked. "This should be good."

A grizzled demon instructor stepped forward. He had one eye, two scars, and three times my body mass. "So, this is the legendary hero?"

"Legendary might be a bit of a stretch…" I muttered.

The instructor ignored me and handed me a wooden sword. "Show me what you've got."

The Mop Strikes Again

I hesitated, holding the sword awkwardly. It felt foreign in my hands, like trying to eat soup with a fork.

"Can I just use my mop?" I asked hopefully.

The instructor raised an eyebrow. "A mop? Are you serious?"

Lilith stepped in, looking offended. "The mop is his sacred weapon! How dare you question it?"

The instructor blinked, then shrugged. "Fine. Mop it is."

I grabbed my trusty cleaning tool, feeling a small pang of comfort. At least it was familiar.

A Trial by Fire (Literally)

The instructor pointed to a series of spinning flaming wheels. "Your first task is simple. Get through that obstacle course."

"Simple?" I echoed, staring at the deathtrap.

Lilith gave me a reassuring smile. "You'll do great, Kazuki. I believe in you!"

Ryuu, on the other hand, leaned against a wall, barely containing his laughter. "This is going to be hilarious."

With no way out, I took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Dodging Doom

The first obstacle was a gauntlet of swinging axes. I crouched low, clutching my mop like a lifeline.

"Just pretend they're customers during a weekend sale," I told myself.

Somehow, I managed to dodge the blades, though my mop got a little singed. The crowd of demons watching from the sidelines started to cheer.

Next was a pit filled with lava. The only way across was a series of wobbly stepping stones.

"Don't look down," I muttered, hopping from stone to stone. Of course, I looked down anyway and immediately regretted it.

By the time I reached the final challenge—a golem with fists the size of boulders—I was drenched in sweat and ready to call it quits.

An Accidental Victory

The golem roared, raising its fist. I panicked and swung my mop wildly. To my surprise, the mop glowed faintly and shot out a blast of energy, hitting the golem square in the chest.

The giant stumbled backward, toppled over, and crashed to the ground with a deafening thud.

The crowd went silent for a moment before erupting into cheers.

"Unbelievable!" the instructor said, his jaw practically on the floor.

Lilith clapped enthusiastically. "That's my Kazuki! Such raw talent!"

Ryuu groaned, burying his face in his hands. "You've got to be kidding me."

A Hero's Celebration

That evening, the castle held a feast in my honor. I sat at the head table, feeling out of place as demons toasted to my "incredible" skills.

"I'm not sure I deserve this," I said, poking at a suspicious-looking piece of meat on my plate.

"Nonsense," Lilith said, raising her glass. "You're the most remarkable hero I've ever met."

Ryuu, sitting nearby, snorted. "Remarkable? More like remarkably lucky."

I ignored him and tried to enjoy the moment, though I couldn't shake the feeling that my so-called hero career was only going to get more chaotic.