@aveney41 tbh, he should have realize it already! Why else an S party wants his aid? A whole town praised him and the ex party member girl apologised...all should raise some confidence, but no! Mentioning a black mage being his opposite his first thought was "oh, I'm the weakest"... yeah, it's played out, even with the premise it's on purpose!
Beside he's "
slow"! If someone is following you, you don't run away, you try to find out who is and what does it wants! A female hooded character bumps into you, and you fall dawn it's already a 2nd danger flag, he becomes aware of the rest but then she blurs out she knows his companions? Yeah, nothing to worry, carry on...