Danmachi: Hephaestus is my Wife

Clank!

Clank!

Clank!

As we moved around the training field, I clashed swords with Tsubaki at high speed. She kept a smile on her face the entire time, showing her excitement about what was happening.

After a few days of training with Tsubaki, my level increased. Now, I could put some pressure on her, which made her quite excited about our training.

We sparred a bit more before I stopped attacking. Even though my skills had improved, my stamina hadn't increased much, so I was starting to feel a bit tired.

Breathing heavily, I sat on a bench beside the training field, and Tsubaki sat next to me.

"You're getting better every day. Your progress is terrifying," Tsubaki said, praising me.

Honestly, I have no idea how I'm improving so fast.

I've never been particularly good at learning things, no matter what she and Hephaestus think. To be honest, I've always been a bit slow. But now, I can learn everything effortlessly. It feels like my mind has improved tenfold.

Everything I learn sticks with me. I can replicate anything easily.

"I don't know how I'm improving so fast either. Maybe it's because I'm working really hard."

"Of course not~~" Tsubaki chuckled. "How long have I been training you? A week? And only for about two or three hours a day. Normal people take a long time to learn and improve, but you're already 200 times better than when we started."

"You're exaggerating."

"I'm not. Your learning ability is incredible. I'm happy for you."

"What is it? Are you trying to get rid of me? You don't like training with me?" I said, joking.

Tsubaki played along and said, "Yeah, I hate training you."

"Unfortunately for you, we're going to keep doing this for a few more days."

"Huh? Did you fall in love with me?"

"That's the conclusion you came to?"

"I'm just joking."

"I just haven't learned enough yet. I'm sure you still have a lot to teach me… Besides, it's fun fighting with you—it helps me a lot."

"I did say before that it helps, didn't I? You doubted me."

"Well, inside the dungeon, you just stood there and didn't teach me anything. This is different."

"It's the same thing…"

"If you say so." I stood up and stretched my body.

"Are you ready to continue?"

"No… I think I'll head back to the workshop and forge a few things. I haven't worked much in the past few days. I'm starting to forget how to forge a sword."

"Hahaha. Alright. Do you want me to go with you? I can help you with anything you've forgotten."

"No, it's fine. Thanks for today's training."

"Alright, see you tomorrow."

Tsubaki stayed on the bench as I left the training area, feeling quite excited. After all that training, for some reason, my body felt really hot and full of energy. The exhaustion from earlier had disappeared.

I went straight to the workshop. I stored my sword in my inventory and then took out some mithril ores from the system's inventory.

"I think I'll try forging a legendary-ranked sword today…"

Unfortunately, the probabilities are not in my favor.

####

The sound of hot metal being hammered echoed through the forge as I focused entirely on the mithril sword resting on the anvil. Every strike of the hammer was precise, carefully shaping the metal. The mithril gleamed under the heat, a unique beauty only blacksmiths could truly appreciate.

"It's coming along well… just a little more…" I murmured to myself, sweating from the forge's heat.

I raised the hammer once more, ready to deliver another perfect strike when—

"Hey, darling!"

A voice came from behind me.

My soul nearly left my body. My heart pounded like a Minotaur had just appeared in front of me. Startled, my arm trembled, and instead of striking the center of the blade, the hammer landed on the edge.

CRACK!

The sound of metal fracturing reached my ears, and I froze. Slowly, as if afraid to face reality, I looked at the sword. A grotesque crack ran through the blade. All my effort… ruined in an instant…

I stood there, holding the hammer mid-air, as my mind struggled to process the tragedy that had just occurred. Then, slowly, I turned my head back.

Hephaestus stood behind me, blinking in confusion.

"What?" Hephaestus asked, innocently.

I pointed at the broken sword.

"You startled me, and I broke the sword."

She looked at the cracked blade, then at me… and then… burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! You… you broke the sword just because I called you?"

I placed the hammer on the anvil and turned to her.

"It's not funny."

"Sorry, sorry," Hephaestus said, trying to hold back her laughter but failing miserably. "But seriously, what kind of blacksmith gets scared so easily?"

"One who has a wife that sneaks up on him and calls out suddenly."

She stepped closer and ran a finger along my jaw, smiling teasingly.

Hephaestus laughed again and ruffled my hair.

"Alright, I'll pay for the mithril. But next time, try not to get startled by your own wife."

I picked up the broken sword, looked at it, and then tossed it aside.

"Damn it… Guess I'll have to try again."

"I can help if you want."

"It's fine." I pulled more mithril from my inventory, and Hephaestus eyed the ore with curiosity.

"You have a lot of that stored?"

"More or less. I'll need to head to the dungeon to get more."

"I see. It's just… I was hoping you could help me gather some materials. It would be a big help."

"Don't tell me the Familia is running low on ore."

"…"

"Seriously?" I asked, incredulous.

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Next chapters: Chapter 48 - Leveling up. / Chapter 49 - Freya's curiosity. / Chapter 50 - What are you two doing? (Hephaestus's POV) / Chapter 51 - Ex-girlfriend. / Chapter 52 - Hephaestus is so cute. / Chapter 53 - The darkness consumed my entire body. / Chapter 54 - Excessive jealousy.