Hachiman's routine in Orario was solidifying, but some elements remained stubbornly consistent. He woke up in his new bed, in his new room, in his new house, but the first sensation was still the familiar weight of Aqua clinging to him. He sighed.
'Even with separate rooms, she still ends up here,' he thought, observing the blue hair spread across his pillow. 'Is it just a habit she formed in that hovel? Or does that forced 'bond' between us have some strange effect that physically pulls us close, even while sleeping?' The idea was a bit unsettling, but he had no way of knowing. Resigned, and perhaps enjoying the soft, warm feeling of the goddess's body next to him for a brief moment ('This bizarre situation has to have some perks...', he admitted to himself with resigned cynicism), he carefully disentangled himself and got up.
The sun was still low on the horizon. Normally, this would be the time to hastily prepare for another day of hunting in the Dungeon. But today... he didn't feel the same urgency. The memory of the confrontation with the Minotaur, the massive jump in his status, the financial security of the 300,000 Valis – all combined with a deep mental and physical fatigue. He simply didn't feel like diving back into that environment of constant danger immediately.
'What to do then?' he pondered as he got dressed. His eyes fell on his own hands. He remembered Hephaestus's offer, made just over a week ago. 'If you want to practice, you can come use this forge when you need to.' He thought of his 'Blacksmith I' Development Ability and the functional, but crude, sword he had managed to produce under the Goddess's watchful eye. 'Maybe... maybe today is a good day to learn something useful outside of direct combat. Understand this ability better, learn from a real master.' The idea of improving a different skill, of perhaps one day being able to create or enhance his own equipment, seemed more appealing than facing monsters at that moment.
Decision made, he left a simple note for Aqua (something about leaving to 'handle important matters' and that he'd be back later) and headed once again to the imposing Hephaestus Familia shop. This time, he wasn't there as a needy customer, but as someone responding to an invitation, which made the situation even stranger for him.
Upon entering the main hall of the shop, before he could even ask for Tsubaki or head towards the back, he heard a deliberate throat-clearing from the side. Turning, he found Hephaestus and Tsubaki standing there, near the entrance, almost as if they had been waiting for him. Hephaestus's expression was a peculiar mix of expectation and restrained irritation, her lips slightly downturned, her single eye fixed on him with an intensity that made him feel inspected. She looked genuinely peeved. Tsubaki, on the other hand, had an amused smile on her lips, arms crossed, clearly enjoying the situation.
"Well, well, look who finally decided to show up!" Tsubaki exclaimed, her voice laden with playful mockery before Hachiman could even say anything. "The Chief here was starting to gather cobwebs waiting for you, you know? It's been over eight days since she gave you that special invitation to use the forges!" She gestured towards Hephaestus. "I thought you got scared and ran away!"
Hachiman felt his face heat up. 'Eight days? Has it really been that long?' He'd lost track of time in the intense Dungeon routine. He looked at Hephaestus and saw that the goddess's face had also taken on a distinct pink hue.
"T-Tsubaki! Don't talk nonsense!" Hephaestus reprimanded her captain, her voice slightly higher than usual. "I-I wasn't waiting for anyone! We just... happened to be here!" The excuse was so transparent that Tsubaki let out a chuckle.
To cut the awkward moment short (mostly for herself), Hephaestus quickly grabbed Hachiman by the arm – a surprising contact that made him freeze for an instant – and pulled him towards the back door. "Let's go! If you came to learn, we don't have time to waste on Tsubaki's nonsense!"
As he was practically dragged into the private forge area where he had been before, Hachiman glanced back and saw Tsubaki following them with a victorious smile.
Once in the relative privacy of the workshop, Hephaestus released his arm and regained her professional composure, although the blush was still slow to fade completely. "Alright," she said, her voice firm again. "You made that sword last week using more instinct and memory than technique. Today, I'll teach you the proper fundamentals."
And so the lesson began. Hephaestus was a demanding teacher, but incredibly skilled and precise. She wasted no time on empty praise or excessive theory. She went straight to practice. She showed Hachiman how to properly control the forge's temperature for different types of metal, how to hold the hammer for maximum impact with minimum effort, the different hammering techniques for shaping, stretching, and refining steel, the importance of heat treatment – quenching and tempering – for the blade's durability and flexibility.
Hachiman, for his part, absorbed everything like a sponge. He set aside his usual cynicism and focused completely on the teachings. It was a golden opportunity, learning directly from the greatest blacksmith in Orario (and probably the world). He listened attentively, observed her every move, and when it was his turn to try under her supervision, he did his best to replicate her instructions. His 'Blacksmith I' Development Ability, though basic, seemed to help him grasp the concepts faster than a complete beginner would, allowing him to correct his mistakes more quickly under Hephaestus's precise guidance. The day flew by, a succession of heat, sweat, the ring of hammer on metal, and Hephaestus's firm voice correcting his posture, his rhythm, his technique. Tsubaki watched from a corner most of the time, occasionally making a technical comment or a joke to ease the tension.
As evening began to fall outside, Hachiman was exhausted, but in a different way from Dungeon exhaustion. It was the physical fatigue of working at the forge, but also the mental satisfaction of having learned something tangible and valuable. He had managed to forge another short sword under Hephaestus's tutelage, and although it was still clearly apprentice work, the quality was visibly superior to his first attempt.
"Not bad for one day," commented Hephaestus, inspecting the last piece Hachiman had produced. "You learn fast, kid. That... affinity... of yours is real."
It was Tsubaki who interrupted the evaluation moment. "Enough work for today!" she declared with a wide smile. "All this effort deserves a reward! How about we go to the Hostess of Fertility? Celebrate our new apprentice's progress!"
Hephaestus seemed to hesitate for an instant, perhaps preferring the quiet of the workshop, but Tsubaki was already practically pushing them both out. "Come on, Chief! You need to relax too!"
And so, the unlikely trio – the Goddess of the Forge, her Level 5 Captain, and the Level 1 Adventurer/Apprentice – headed to the Hostess of Fertility. Upon entering the tavern, which was already lively with the evening crowd, their presence immediately attracted attention. It wasn't every day you saw Hephaestus and Tsubaki Collbrande there, let alone accompanied by an unknown boy of ordinary appearance. Whispers and curious glances followed them as Tsubaki, completely ignoring the attention, chose a spacious table in a relatively visible corner. Hephaestus also seemed oblivious to the stares, more concerned perhaps with reprimanding Tsubaki for her initiative.
Hachiman, however, felt the stares. 'Great. More unwanted attention.' He just tried to look as invisible as possible as he sat down. It was then that his gaze wandered across the room and landed on the counter.
There he was. Bell Cranel. Sitting alone at the bar, but not really alone. Beside him, leaning in with a charming smile and an almost predatory aura beneath the sweet facade, was Syr Flover, the silver-haired waitress. She was saying something that made the boy blush furiously, seeming completely oblivious to the rest of the world, totally engrossed in her conversation. 'Or maybe it's Freya in disguise, who knows?' Hachiman pondered, remembering the divine complexities of this world he only knew superficially.
The interesting thing, Hachiman noted with a pang of irony, was that Bell, despite being only a few meters away and in his line of sight, didn't cast a single glance in his direction. No spark of recognition for the boy who was there when he was almost killed by the Minotaur just over a week ago. 'Yeah, seems like being saved by Aiz Wallenstein and getting covered in Minotaur blood really erases any memory of random supporting characters nearby. The protagonist's life is convenient like that.' He gave an almost inaudible sigh. At least he wouldn't have to deal with awkward questions or forced gratitude.
He averted his gaze from Bell and Syr, focusing on the table in front of him, as Tsubaki began ordering a generous amount of food and drink for the three of them. The night was just beginning.