Simon tumbled several times before finally coming to a stop, and when he did, he quickly stood and held his right cheek in disbelief and confusion.
He was not in disbelief because Instructor Ormon.
No.
He was in disbelief for a completely different reason, and the more he thought about what just happened, the more confused he became.
’What just happened.’
Despite asking himself this question, he knew exactly what happened to him.
He was slapped.
But his main source of confusion was... when did he get slapped?
He shifted his gaze to Instructor Ormon who was standing in the same exact position as before.
It looked like he had not moved a single muscle.
’He was definitely the one that slapped me, but... I did not get slapped at that exact moment I felt it and at that exact moment I flew because of the force of the slap.’
’The instructor did not move. He did not use his speed to attack me. If he did, I would have sensed it through the wind and through his shadow. Even if I would not have been able to react to his attack, I would have sensed it.’
’But he didn’t move.’
Simon’s frown could not help deepen as he recalled everything that happened when he was slapped, before he was slapped, and after he was slapped.
He was 99% certain that the instructor had not slapped him at the exact moment he felt the impact on his cheek.
Just like he said, if he had, he would have sensed his movement even if he was not able to react to it.
’So when...’
Simon’s eyes flickered as he recalled the time Instructor Ormon patted his right cheek.
’Was it then? Did he slap me when he patted my right cheek?’
’But how?’
’Seconds had passed after he patted my right cheek, and he had even walked away. So how is it possible that I felt the impact after so long?’
’What the hell is going on?’
Just as Simon was about to get lost in his thoughts, he sensed the instructor approach him through Shadow Sense.
He looked up at the instructor.
"Your instincts, reflexes, and energy control are terrifyingly good. You coated your entire body with your demonic energy the moment you sensed danger, and your reaction time was even less than a second."
"Even I would not have been able to respond to that at your age and rank... You’re truly a monster."
Instructor Ormon said with a light tone as he walked toward Simon with two of his arms folded while the other two were hanging by his side.
"I was expecting you to go unconscious, but since you didn’t, that’s good. I can give you a proper lesson on how to appreciate a woman’s beauty."
Instructor Ormon held the wrist of two of his hands and twisted it.
He was ready to beat up Simon.
Simon was silent and calm despite the words of the instructor.
He got to his feet and asked with the same frown he had from the moment he recovered from the slap.
"How did you do that? When did you actually slap me?"
Instructor Ormon paused, and the entire training ground became silent. Some of the other Initiates who were present stared at Simon with slightly wide eyes while some were confused.
"What did you just say?" Instructor Ormon asked with a solemn tone.
"I want to know when you slapped me. You didn’t slap me at the exact moment I felt it, and you did not use your speed to slap me without me knowing."
"So, when did you slap me?"
Instructor Ormon’s four eyes widened slightly in surprise when he heard Simon’s words, and he could not help but give Simon a strange look.
"When do you think I slapped you then?"
Simon narrowed his eyes. "The time you patted my right cheek, that’s the only time you touched me, but it still does not make any sense."
"A lot of time passed from that time to the moment I felt the impact of the slap. So, unless you have the ability to manipulate time or space, I can’t think of any other way you could have slapped me, but I felt it seconds after."
There was silence in the training ground for at least four seconds, then Instructor Ormon smiled then laughed.
"You are the third child to ask me this question after using my technique on you for the first time."
"... But what’s frightening is that you’re the first child to ask me this question after using this technique on you through a slap. The other two noticed it when I punched or sparred with them."
"You truly are a monster. Nothing about you makes sense."
Simon’s frown slowly eased up when he heard the instructor’s words, then he looked around.
’There are four Initiates here. Are the two he mentioned among these four?’
"Don’t look at them. Focus on me. Those two little brats are not here, so forget about them."
Simon looked at Instructor Ormon with a light raise of his brows, then he nodded.
"Can you explain to me how you did that? I’m very interested in it." Simon said with a serious tone, and Instructor Ormon could not help but chuckle.
He continued his approach toward Simon, then he stood about three meters in front of him.
"That is my technique which I spent years honing. I can definitely not teach you just because you asked for it."
"If you were rich, you would have to pay an obscene amount of money."
"And if you were a beautiful woman with big breasts... I might teach you as long as you’re able to thoroughly satisfy me and make me happy in bed."
Simon’s lips could not help but twitch.
"Then what would it take for you to teach me?"
Instructor Ormon stretched out his upper right hand and beckoned at Simon with his four fingers.
"We spar. Show me what you got, and I’ll determine if you’re worthy to be taught my technique."