Chapter 6: Basic Combat Training, Basic Sword Art Lv1? (Please Continue Reading) (Patreon)

[God of Martial Arts, Takemikazuchi]

Rozz was actually pretty unfamiliar with this god... but if someone could be given a title like "God of Martial Arts," his strength was unquestionable.

Compared to that, though.

What actually caught him off guard was Hestia's divine connections — after all, just yesterday, it had clearly been a ramshackle, fly-by-night operation.

So at this stage, Hestia, acting as the "boss," was scrambling to patch things together.

Honestly, Rozz couldn't think of a single reason to refuse. Once he had the basics of combat down, he'd at least be able to properly explore the Dungeon from then on.

"Thank you, Lady Hestia."

"Aww~"

"Don't say things like thank you. I'm really looking forward to the day you start exploring the Dungeon — if you really want to thank me, just work twice as hard!"

The girl's thinking was simple: as long as it helped Rozz, that was all that mattered.

Hestia didn't rush him. Only after he'd washed up and gotten ready to head out did she hand him the fried potato balls she'd been holding.

"Eat some breakfast."

"..."

He couldn't shake the feeling that Hestia was raising him to become a total slob.

But Rozz didn't refuse. He wolfed down the plain fried potato balls in big bites, following behind the girl as they made their way down Adventurer Street.

Just like Hestia had said.

If he really wanted to thank her for this help, he'd have to put in twice the effort — and try his best not to make his goddess worry too much.

Finally, the girl came to a stop in front of the "Temporary Residence Townhouse." With Takemikazuchi about to come into view, she remembered to explain things to Rozz.

"You'll train under Takemikazuchi today. He's got a great personality, so don't put too much pressure on yourself — just focus and learn well."

"Okay."

"What about you, Lady Hestia?"

"Me...?"

Caught off guard by the question, Hestia blinked her deep blue eyes, reached out, and patted Rozz's shoulder, speaking with earnest weight.

"Of course I'll keep working hard — to give you a better environment!"

The girl waved and turned to go. "I'll see you off just this far. I'll come pick you up in the evening — if you don't understand something, ask Takemikazuchi."

"..."

If it were any other Familia, they'd almost certainly never encounter a goddess as beautiful — and as responsible — as this Petite goddess Hestia.

Rozz figured he was pretty lucky.

He didn't linger at the doorway. As he approached the building's distinctly Japanese-style architecture, he noticed a black-haired young man already waiting there.

His clothes looked somewhat like the style of the island nation.

Long black hair tied into two braids hung down on either side of his face. Just looking at him was enough to produce a certain feeling.

A god.

"Excuse me, are you Lord Takemikazuchi?"

"You must be Rozz."

Takemikazuchi chuckled and nodded, showing none of the so-called divine airs toward this black-haired rookie Adventurer standing before him.

His gentle smile looked genuinely friendly.

He went on, "Last night Hestia told me you're the first member she recruited into her Familia. Since it's a friend's request..."

"...there's no way I could refuse it."

"So, what kind of martial arts do you want to learn?"

"..."

If he could choose,

Rozz would have unhesitatingly become an Archmage — but the DanMachi setting didn't have such detailed class divisions.

Besides, he never expected to master everything overnight.

Rozz started weighing his immediate needs — as a rookie, the priority was simply exploring the Dungeon properly and gradually getting used to an Adventurer's rhythm.

"Lord Takemikazuchi."

"Honestly, I'm not even sure what direction I want to study in. As long as I can fight the monsters in the Dungeon and explore it, that's enough."

"Then let's start with the basics of combat."

Takemikazuchi didn't mind at all.

If anything, he felt a flicker of admiration for this Adventurer standing before him — someone who looked about fourteen or fifteen, yet carried such a practical, grounded mindset.

In all his years active in Orario, he'd met plenty of Adventurers. Compared to the type who insisted on nothing less than becoming a "master swordsman," Rozz's request was... genuinely down-to-earth.

"For simple exploration like that, you'll be more than fine."

"Thank you, Lord Takemikazuchi."

Rozz naturally had no objections.

In his past life, signing up for karate or taekwondo classes meant at least six months before you saw results. He couldn't just live off Hestia's cooking that whole time, could he?

Efficiency mattered.

...

Through a bit of conversation,

Takemikazuchi learned that Rozz had never touched combat before in his life, and he already had a rough plan in mind for the training ahead.

First came getting familiar with the weapon — starting with a feel for the blade, building control through repeated grip and stance drills.

After that came the slow, day-by-day buildup of strength in the waist and upper body.

Repeating the basics — chopping, cutting, thrusting, tapping, sweeping, parrying — over and over, until Rozz built raw muscle memory for every move.

By then, even without much experience, he'd be able to react to the Dungeon's monsters purely on instinct.

Entrusted with the task by Hestia, Takemikazuchi took the instruction very seriously.

Once Rozz made it through the training without a single mistake, Takemikazuchi smiled and offered encouragement: "Following this method I've taught you—"

"—once it becomes second nature, everything will get a lot easier."

"At the very least, you'll be able to handle ordinary Dungeon monsters like goblins and orcs. As for actual combat skill, though, that's not something I can just teach you."

"You'll have to hone that yourself, through constant battle."

"Thank you."

Looking at the black-haired young man before him, Rozz felt genuine, heartfelt gratitude. This method of handling a weapon was quite basic, with none of the flashy, showy techniques.

But once mastered, it would certainly be enough to handle exploration on the Dungeon's upper levels.

"You're welcome to keep training here."

After all, Rozz was still a friend's Familia member no matter what. Takemikazuchi made sure to add, "If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to come find me."

"Don't hold back."

"I will."

With things having come this far, Rozz knew exactly what he had to do: keep working hard and make the most of this special training opportunity Hestia had secured for him.

He took a deep breath and gripped the wooden training sword tightly.

Time to grind!

—

"Ahh..."

"How am I even supposed to adjust the heat on this magic-stone stove? Why does it feel like... every single potato ball coming out is charred black? Would any customer actually eat these?"

"..."

At the fried potato ball stand on North Main Street.

The girl, apron tied around her front, stared at the charcoal-black disaster she'd just fried and, in that moment, began to doubt herself.

"I totally messed it all up, meow~"

Takemikazuchi's demonstration last night had looked so simple — so why had her mind understood it while her hands still couldn't manage?

But, looking at the line of Adventurers waiting in front of her stall,

Hestia had no choice but to grit her teeth and keep trial-and-erroring her way through the "fried potato balls." As for how she endured that stretch of agonizing time —

she had no idea.

Not until evening, when the semi-transparent light screen of the "Hero Cloud-Raising Plan" popped up in front of her, did Hestia instantly perk up.

"Character: Rozz"

"Level: Lv1"

"Mood: 56↑100 (Anxious)"

"Stamina: 12↓100 (Exhausted)"

"Health: 98/100 (Excellent)"

"After basic combat training, Rozz's body feels utterly exhausted, but with the prospect of exploring the Dungeon ahead, his mood remains hopeful."

"Rozz has unlocked a new Skill."

"Basic Swordsmanship: Lv1"

"Hm?!"