Arthur walked down the narrow path in the forest, his mind filled with questions about what had just happened. His steps halted when he heard a rustling sound from the nearby bushes. He quickly turned, his heart racing. Before he could prepare to flee, a woman emerged from behind the bushes.
The woman was wearing light armor that suggested she was an adventurer. Her black hair was tied carelessly, and a large backpack hung on her back. She had a pretty face, but it was full of wariness. In her hand, there was a small knife, which seemed to have just been used for cutting plants.
Arthur took a step back. Who is this? he thought. He didn't remember any character like this in the story he had read. The woman looked at him with raised eyebrows but then smiled slightly.
"Hi," she said in a friendly yet watchful tone. "Are you lost? This forest isn't usually frequented by strangers."
Arthur tried to calm himself. "Uh, yeah. I was just... looking for the nearest village."
The woman stepped closer, her eyes scanning Arthur from head to toe. "Hm, you don't look like a villager or even an adventurer. What's your name?"
Arthur felt tense. Arthur D. Bump was a fugitive, so he decided to use his real name from his previous life. "My name is... P*******."
However, what came out of his mouth was, "Arthur D. Bump."
The woman immediately froze, her eyes widening. "Arthur D. Bump?" she said, her voice suddenly sharp. "You're that one?"
Arthur furrowed his brow, confused. "That one? What do you mean?"
Without further hesitation, the woman attacked Arthur. Arthur felt nimble and easily avoided her strike.
Arthur tried to hold back, but the longer he faced the woman, the more he felt cornered. With his hands still slightly trembling from the attack he had dodged, he knew he had to try harder to avoid bloodshed.
However, when the woman swung her small knife again with swift movements, Arthur responded immediately, dodging the strike nimbly.
"Damn, she won't stop," Arthur muttered as he focused on the woman, who now seemed even more focused. It seemed this woman knew more than he had expected.
He stepped forward, determined to try something more drastic. "Bounciechomie!" Arthur signaled to the small slime on his shoulder. "Get down and move a bit away!"
Bounciechomie hopped down onto the ground, cheerfully stepping aside—unaware that Arthur was preparing something much bigger.
Suddenly, a robotic voice echoed inside his head.
[ Use SSS-Rank Father Slap! ]
"What?" Arthur frowned.
The robotic voice began to explain again.
[ To avoid excessive damage and create physical harm to a target not considered an enemy ]
[ SSS-Rank Father Slap Recommended ]
Arthur paused for a moment, confused by the strange command he had just heard. What is SSS-Rank Father Slap? Then, the robotic voice explained clearly.
[ SSS-Rank Father Slap: A special technique that can change the course of a battle with a very powerful effect, but more focused on the psychological impact that destroys. This attack uses deep emotional trauma, creating fear, low self-estseem, regret, and helplessness in the target. It can affect the mental state of the opponent without causing significant physical damage. ]
Arthur's heart raced. What had he just heard? It seemed this attack wasn't about destroying the opponent physically, but rather breaking their mental resilience. But before he could think further, the woman attacked again. Her small knife swiftly came at him, and Arthur knew he had to act immediately.
"This is too dangerous if I keep dodging," he muttered to himself. In a desperate situation, without thinking twice, Arthur decided to follow the robotic voice's command.
[ Activating SSS-Rank Father Slap: Starting... ]
In an instant, Arthur's body was filled with strength from the depths of his emotions, an incredibly powerful energy, yet also strange. He felt something entirely different within himself, as though power from his past experiences that he had never realized before flowed through him.
As the woman swung her small knife once again, Arthur didn't dodge. Instead, he stepped forward with unwavering determination, his hand raised in a smooth but powerful motion. With a gesture that didn't appear violent, Arthur slapped the woman's cheek, but the effect was extraordinary.
Slap!
The sound of the slap was like an explosion in the silence of the forest.
The woman didn't move, then continued to attack Arthur. "You fool! You think you can defeat me with a slap?"
Arthur jumped backward, and the voice returned.
[ Target Immune ]
[ The target is likely 100% lacking a father figure in her life ]
"Her father must have been buying some milk," Arthur muttered.