Hero Chapter 46: Teacher Secured! (Patreon)

Honing his combat skills was, in fact, the simplest and most effective way for Keyaru to grow stronger: repeat training until the movements burned into muscle memory.

High-intensity practice that led to muscle strains—that was exactly what he wanted, so he could use Mimic afterward for double the gains.

As for which god to learn from, the choice was obvious:

God of War Takemikazuchi.

He got along well with Hestia and wouldn’t refuse a request to train; and at the rate things were going, their Familias were bound to form deeper ties anyway.

One-sided leeching? Keyaru couldn’t go that far. In return, during the upcoming party delves he’d provide free healing support.

Compared to the Dian Cecht Familia’s 500,000-valis price tag for a panacea, Heal—which restores injuries all the way back to their original state, even ones that would normally require prosthetics—was something money couldn’t buy.

“Not bad,” he thought. “A mutually beneficial deal.”

With that in mind, Keyaru felt no burden about heading to the group dorm to ask Takemikazuchi for weapon fundamentals. The yard out front was empty—no Mikoto, no Kashima Ouka; probably out on an errand. If you ask for instruction, you bring patience.

He did just that. And the god of war, just back from his shift at the fried potato stall, didn’t keep him waiting and soon returned.

Keyaru straightened up and called out first. “Lord Takemikazuchi.”

Seeing the familiar face, the god of war’s impression of him was unmistakable—be it talent or insight into the martial arts, Keyaru was one of the most gifted children he’d ever seen.

The bad news: gifted children like that usually belonged to other Familias.

Recalling that the past few visits had been to spar with Mikoto, Takemikazuchi quickly guessed the boy’s purpose.

“Keyaru, are you here for Mikoto? She’s not at the Familia right now, but she should be back later.”

“Actually, no.”

Keyaru had no intention of hemming and hawing before the god of war.

He answered squarely. “I came to see you today, Lord Takemikazuchi. I want to learn more practical weapon skills under you.”

“Why?”

“Because with only what I know now, I can’t handle the increasingly complex combat deeper in the Dungeon,” Keyaru said, laying it all out.

“Ah.” Comprehension dawned. To a martial artist, that kind of forthrightness was an excellent trait.

And Takemikazuchi was interested in the boy already.

“It’s also prep for the upcoming party delve,” Keyaru continued. “It’s not often I get a chance to train on the middle floors—I have to make the most of it.”

Relationships don’t last if you only take. In a boy’s body but with an adult’s soul, Keyaru knew his manners. “And as for safety on this run, Lord Takemikazuchi—you can leave it to me.”

Confidence is good, the god of war thought—but his expectation for bringing Keyaru along was simply that the boy could protect himself against tougher monsters.

Still, looking at that unwavering expression, curiosity flickered. “Middle-floor standards are for Level 2 adventurers. Keyaru, can you reach Level 2 in the next few days?”

“A bit difficult.”

Now that his stats could break the S cap, Keyaru’s target was to push everything to SSS. As for the question, he didn’t reveal his Heal trump card—he just grinned.

“To be honest, Lord Takemikazuchi, when I first asked Lady Hestia to have you train me in live combat, it was because my original development path…”

“…was back-line support.”

“!!”

Even a god blinked at that. Takemikazuchi studied the brown-haired boy anew. The words rang true—because they were the truth, the impact hit harder.

A back-line support with talent like this for the blade? After a bit of Dungeon work—and even in sparring—he’d managed to suppress Mikoto for a time?

Meeting the boy’s steady gaze, the god of war found it hard to believe. “So… you must have a way to restore and heal, don’t you?”

Keyaru didn’t answer, but the smile said enough.

Takemikazuchi was one of the few gods in Orario Keyaru could trust. In the original story, when Hestia was away from the Hearth Mansion, she’d still ask him for help. He’d even helped her children polish their skills—and taught that white-haired, red-eyed rabbit’s finisher.

And Heal wasn’t something he could hide forever; it was only a matter of time before adventurers learned of it.

Only Imitation and Looting were secrets that could never be revealed.

“Well now…” Takemikazuchi chuckled, the usual “poverty lines” of his face softening. “That’s beyond what I expected.”

Gods descend to chase change. That had felt a bit distant to him—he had an orphanage to keep afloat and hadn’t chased change for its own sake.

But here it was, right in front of him.

His impression of Keyaru—mature, capable—went up another notch.

“Even if you hadn’t said so,” he added, “I wouldn’t refuse to teach you.”

“But since I belong to another Familia, I can’t keep troubling you without giving back,” Keyaru said with a shrug.

His main goal—securing a teacher—was met. Next came effort and sweat: mastering more weapon types and working toward being a weapon master like the legendary hero.

“You… Hestia really did pick up a treasure.”

No god dislikes a child like this—and Takemikazuchi was no exception. If he had one like Keyaru in his own Familia, things would be easier… but that was just a thought. Poaching Hestia’s child wasn’t something he’d do.

When it came to the craft, his expression turned strict—more so than when he first taught sword basics.

“Keyaru, I think very highly of you. As for learning other weapons, I’ll help. But be ready for the same standards I set for my own children.”

“Mm?” Keyaru blinked.

The god of war didn’t hedge. “Even if you’re from another Familia, I’ll hold you to my requirements. Don’t fuss over affiliations. Think of it as a master instructing his disciple.”