Clink*
While clasping a few strands of his hair, a young man is gently brewing a cup of coffee while basking in the gentle light of the morning sun.
A woman with an Eyepatch can't help but admire his beauty while waiting for her coffee.
'I don't mind spending my eternity like this'
Blushing at her thoughts she laments how he easily captured her heart, but she doesn't really care especially how short mortal life is.
"I'll be waiting for you David"
Hephaestus declared shyly, while he still hasn't created something that can satisfy her she doesn't mind even waiting for forever.
David showed a slightly surprised expression before giving her a cup of coffee.
'Goddess Hephaestus must have detested waiting for me for a whole day creating that simple knife, she's even rushing me for a cup of coffee
With a sigh, he drinks his share while looking outside.
'After verifying the uses of Correxion maybe I should show some ability as a protégé of a god, even Hephaestus herself is now teaching me personally.'
"As I have seen your skill David, I won't remark about your resolve in perfection because even I as a god of forging understand that feeling,
But starting tomorrow I would be teaching you how to create weapons and armors using higher quality materials.
If you can't keep up and take more time than usual then I can only advise you to let go of your obsession without grasping the basics."
Hephaestus instruct him with solemnity, even if they could be lovers and wed in the future she is a god of forging before anything else, so she can only hope that he can swallow his pride to advance. Even if he can perfectly create a weapon, at the end of the day it's only an item for mortals.
"Yes I won't disappoint you Hephaestus"
David answer respectfully, even though she requested him to call her by her name he is still polite to her.
" Then let's meet up again tomorrow, you should rest as you have also requested for Tsubaki to train you in the evening, take care."
David stands up then bows, he never fights anyone higher level than him, if he wants to gauge his strength no one in Hephaestus Familia is better than its captain.
---------
(Evening)
Tsubaki is sitting in her courtyard along with Welf while waiting for her guest, she agrees to help David in combat training in exchange for cooking for her
"Don't be stiff Welf, she barely talks, but I can assure you she is friendly, just don't mess up, or else I'll make fun of you, haha"
Tsubaki joked to ease her friend sitting stiffly on the floor, she wonders where is that confident man declaring to surpass their goddess in forging a few years ago.
'It must be good to be in love'
Exactly 6 at night they heard a gentle knock on the front door
Welf was surprised and tried to stand up, but she told him to relax.
Opening the door a young woman was smiling at her while twirling her Umbrella on her shoulder.
"Good evening Miss Tsubaki, I hope I'm not intruding"
"Sigh, no it's fine, but I have a friend inside, I wonder if he can stay here while we train"
She had to ask for her permission or else it would be rude for someone else to know about her moves and secret
"No it's fine, I'm the one who asked you for this and I don't have anything to hide with my measly talent in combat"
She giggled while hiding her mouth in amusement, Tsubaki can only sigh again at how cute she was.
After inviting her inside and guiding her into the courtyard she glances at her friend gawking at David.
'I can only help you with this Welf'
She silently prayed for her goddess Hephaestus.
"Btw he is Welf Crozzo our most talented blacksmith in Familia"
Tsubaki intentionally mentioned Welf's last name to see her reaction regarding the Crozzo bloodlines that enable them to create magic swords.
"Good evening mister Welf, my name is David I am from Goibniu Familia, but I hope we can be friends."
She greeted with a smile while bowing in the process unfortunately Welf.exe is broken so Tsubaki can only proceed for their spar.
Readying she notices that David only had her umbrella in one hand without any weapon.
"Where is your weapon? Are you using that umbrella?"
Tsubaki can't help but ask in confusion, she has never seen anyone use an umbrella as a weapon, especially how flimsy they're, a kick from a level 5 adventurer like her can shatter it in pieces.
"Yes miss Tsubaki it is my weapon, even with its appearance I'm very confident with it"
Tsubaki can only agree, as a protégé of a forging god, maybe she knows about something that she doesn't know.
Wielding her Benishigure, a first-class Naginata she created by herself, she takes her position.
Looking at David holding the umbrella with one hand and another holding its base, her stance is similar to those samurai who specialize in katana.
Examining the umbrella she assumes that there must be a hidden blade on its base.
Her opponent has a serious expression with a loose stance, ready to react to any attack Tsubaki would dish out.
While holding her Naginata with both hands she rushes in with a swipe, she thought David would dodge her attack, but she only stands in her position without moving and looking at her intently.
"Miss Tsubaki please don't hold back, I'm sturdy enough contrary to my looks"
Tsubaki was amazed at her composure. Even with her blade almost cutting her nose she didn't even blink knowing that it won't hurt her.
She can't help but be amazed at the young woman. Her goddess praises her that talent in forging is second to none but her combat ability must be more monstrous.
"Sorry David it's my mistake I should have taken you seriously"
Tsubaki scratches her head and suddenly leaps with a thrust, she knows that her opponent wants to improve herself, and she must respect her determination.
David while holding his umbrella in his left hand suddenly unleashes a sword with his right, bringing it in a vertical hold to clash with the blow.
He knows the unsurpassable gap between their level, so he can't just fight it head-on.
With every move Correxion is madly consuming his mind, so he can't bring this fight for a long one.
Tsubaki was surprised by how light her weapon felt after the initial crash, it seems like David disperse the attack by jumping back causing her to be thrown and skid for a few meters until she fully stops.
She can't help but whistle how perfectly she executes that move, a single mistake can break her umbrella, hand, wrist, shoulder, or even her balance.
Her strength is no joke and a simple level 2 can't just easily eat that attack within a few meter stops.
She leans her Naginata on her shoulder and can't help but comment on that move.
"Be careful David or else you won't be able to hold a hammer for weeks!"
"It's fine miss Tsubaki thank you for your concern"
David replied while slowly walking towards her, her sandals echoing in the silent courtyard with only them and frozen Welf on standby.
Sheathing her katana she burst after unsheathing it again.
"Ton!"
With a sharp cry along with a sharper attack, followed by a swipe and a leap on Tsubaki's side without stopping in full arc David delivered a seamless combo of attacks.
Tsubaki had to be careful as every attack is centered toward her eye blind spot, her opponent is using the fact that her right eye is Eyepatch and she had to move every time they clash their weapons.
Leaping back to avoid being swarmed by attack Tsubaki did a full arc to distance herself from David, even her monstrous strength and speed can barely help in their fight.
'I could win this if we are fighting for death or if I had to prolong this fight'
She had a weapon advantage but her opponent almost knows her every possible move and instead of distancing, she closed their distance for her to be unable to use her Naginata advantage.
Reach and Strength
Tsubaki jump for a smash but it was greeted by a fast thrust, barely tilting her attack to miss its intended target, David had to dodge to avoid her following attack.
Tsubaki examine her opponent's shaking body and concluded that she can barely fight, every clash they had almost exhausted her strength and mind.
David smiled and admit defeat. Tsubaki can only be amazed at how perfect her every movement is. If she was a level 4, no a level 3 then there's a chance that she can defeat Tsubaki.
"I admit defeat miss Tsubaki, thank you for a good fight"
"Haha don't be stupid David your skill and techniques are way better than mine, if you have a better stamina and perhaps level up then you can defeat me."
Tsubaki truthfully replied, she glance at her friend still frozen on the sidelines either from shock or awestruck.