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Chapter 8 - Basic swordsmanship training, encounter with Xi'er Froy!

Takemikazuchi's words were like telling an elementary school student who just started learning to skip grades and take the college entrance exam.

Keare couldn't think of any other way to describe it.

In his world before transmigration, kendo was a high-end sport that only a small group of financially free people could access.

Then, without any foundation, he was directly thrown into practical combat training.

The key opponent was Takemikazuchi, a War God who could rival high-level Adventurers just with his martial arts.

Is it real…

"Then let's try it."

Keare quickly made a decision.

If he didn't even have the courage for simulated combat training, how could he fight when he truly entered the Dungeon and faced monsters that required life-and-death struggles?

As for getting injured or anything.

He didn't care about these at all; the Recovery magic he possessed was equivalent to a free healing pack.

What's more, high-intensity combat training could increase various stats, which was like improving his strength for free in a safe zone.

Without this foundation, all Keare could do was Imitation.

He carefully observed Takemikazuchi's grip on the sword, then placed his right hand against the guard and his left hand on the end of the hilt, holding it naturally.

"…"

Takemikazuchi noticed Keare's Imitation and wasn't surprised; if he were a particularly mediocre type, Hestia wouldn't have recruited him as a Familia member.

He quickly scanned him:

"Pay attention to body balance and coordination, sink your shoulders, and become one with the sword."

Following the prompt, Keare relaxed his tense shoulders, maintaining as natural a posture as possible.

He adjusted his breathing and decisively charged towards Takemikazuchi, five meters ahead, accustomed to using his right hand to exert force, raising the sword hilt above his head and slashing with full force to the left.

The speed was so fast that he could faintly hear the sound of air being torn.

"Bang!"

Wooden swords collided.

Immediately following was the dull thud of the wooden swords clashing.

Due to the absolute strength difference, Takemikazuchi merely gripped his sword and performed a side block, using the momentum of force dissipation to press forward, easily arriving in front of Keare.

With just a slight exertion of force, he pushed the young man's slender figure back several meters.

He frowned and evaluated: "It seems you really haven't touched swordsmanship."

"This kind of attack is only useful against Adventurers weaker than you. If the strength is the same, this wide-open attack style is full of flaws."

"…"

Keare barely maintained his balance, then felt a tingling sensation in his tiger's mouth. He re-gripped the training wooden sword, and just as he was about to attack again, he saw Takemikazuchi wave his hand:

"We can stop here for now. What you need to master now are the basic skills of swordsmanship. It's best to turn these into muscle memory."

He looked at the slightly childish young man, "Next, I will teach you the key movements."

"Okay."

Keare never expected to win. As a beginner with no training, being able to touch Takemikazuchi with a training wooden sword would be the most unbelievable thing.

Only by truly realizing the gap in skill would he have the motivation to improve.

Adopting a proper learning attitude, being guided by Takemikazuchi, who could be called a "War God," was purely due to Hestia's favor.

"Intensive swordsmanship basics…"

"No need to worry about muscle damage either; just use Recovery magic to heal it."

He quickly adjusted his state.

He followed the War God Takemikazuchi in intensive basic training, striving to remember the key movements of all the stances.

Through detailed guidance, Keare simply categorized basic swordsmanship into three stages.

Starting with familiarizing himself with the feel of the sword, continuously practicing grip postures, and enhancing control over the weapon.

Then moving on to strength training for the waist and upper limbs.

Repeatedly practicing core sword techniques like chopping, slashing, thrusting, pointing, parrying, deflecting… until each stance formed muscle memory.

"That's about it."

Takemikazuchi was very serious in his work, only stopping after Keare could repeat this training sequence without any detailed errors.

He clearly felt the burden on his shoulders lighten.

After all, Keare was Hestia's first Familia member, and her personal request for help indicated Keare's importance in her heart.

Since he had agreed to her request, he had to take responsibility for the matter; this was a principle he upheld!

Returning to their usual interaction, Takemikazuchi was not as serious as he was during teaching. He gently patted the young man's shoulder and asked, "Any other questions?"

"My mind has learned it," Keare shrugged, his tone relaxed, "I just don't know if my body will remember it when I wake up tomorrow…"

"Thank you very much, Lord Takemikazuchi."

"It was no trouble at all."

Naturally accepting Keare's thanks, Takemikazuchi added before parting: "Once you have mastered these swordsmanship basics, you can explore the shallow levels of the Dungeon. If you're worried about practical combat, you can come directly here to find me at night."

Bidding farewell to the War God Takemikazuchi, Keare left the collective dormitory and set off back to the Familia residence on South Street, circling around a detour to return to the street.

The atmosphere was no longer as lively as in the evening.

As night approached, the shops on both sides of West Street had already closed, but fortunately, the bright moonlight overhead spilled over Orario, providing him with faint illumination.

And at The Benevolent Mistress restaurant ahead, it hadn't completely closed yet, with sporadic lights extending through the half-open door to the area in front of the shop.

Just as Keare was about to pass by, a girl wearing a green maid's long dress and a pure white apron in front of her came out of the restaurant, carrying a plate.

Seemingly noticing footsteps behind her, the girl stopped and turned her head to look in Keare's direction: "Mr. Adventurer, are you here to dine?"

"I've already eaten tonight."

Keare gently shook his head. With his financial situation, where his wallet was emptier than his face, he couldn't even afford fried potato balls, let alone The Benevolent Mistress, which had top-tier prices.

Eating for free, unable to pay… he couldn't even imagine how physically spectacular that scene would be!

However, when Keare looked in the direction of the voice and saw the girl's sweet face, he was uncharacteristically lost in thought.

Her long gray hair was simply tied up, then styled into a single ponytail. The girl's slightly chubby face perfectly accentuated her pretty demeanor.

She was like a girl next door.

"Syr Flova," he couldn't help but recall that name in his mind.

As the poster girl of The Benevolent Mistress restaurant, her appearance and personality were impeccable, but that was only limited to her identity as Syr Flova.

Because… the one in front of him now was most likely the leader of Orario's strongest Familia: The Beauty Goddess, Freya!

Keare didn't have many emotional fluctuations. His soul had absorbed the Legendary Hero's memories from his previous life, and if he had to describe it with a color, it would definitely be turbid.

He wasn't worried about entering Freya's sight at all.

"Oh."

Syr Flova's lips gradually curved upwards, and a playful idea suddenly came to her: "Then you're very lucky! Would you like to try Syr's cooking for free?"

"No, I can't."

Keare decisively shook his head.

If he remembered correctly, only the Rabbit had high poison resistance and could get used to Syr's bento. He really couldn't bring himself to put strange things into his stomach.

And facing the girl's pitiful gaze, Keare decided to bring up Hestia. He said seriously: "My Goddess doesn't allow me to eat things given by strangers outside."

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