DanMachi Universe, Lower World, Orario.
"I learned a lot today," Momo said with a smile.
"Good," Tatsuo replied with a smile of his own. "We can have another lesson sometime this week after dinner."
"I'm looking forward to it," Momo replied happily, with a slight blush on her face.
'It's like we're having a date,' Momo thought to herself while stealing glances at Tatsuo. 'Tatsuo-Kun even holds my hands when he's showing proper techniques. Hehehe.'
Unaware of what Momo was thinking, Tatsuo led Momo back to the Dragon's Nest after they left the Hostess of Fertility. Deciding to cut through an alley to shorten the time, they noticed a group of Adventurers surrounding a small person while shouting at and hitting the smaller person.
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"What are they doing?" Momo asked with a frown.
"Looks like a robbery," Tatsuo muttered while looking at the small hooded person and the Adventurers surrounding them.
'Those are people from the Soma Familia,' Tatsuo thought after noticing the Familia emblem on the Adventurers' clothes. 'Then, the little one is probably Liliruca. *Sigh* I knew I'd run into a situation like this before long.'
"Then, we should do something about it." Momo said as she used her Skill, [Material Creation], causing her left upper arm to glow.
A moment later, Momo pressed her right hand against the glowing part of her arm. At the same time, a sword hilt protruded from her arm. Then, after wrapping her fingers around the hilt, she pulled, producing a basic iron longsword.
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However, before Momo could charge forward, Tatsuo placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.
"Tatsuo-Kun?" Momo asked in a confused tone.
"I'll take care of it," Tatsuo said softly.
Then, he vanished from where he stood with a [Blink].
Meanwhile, the group of Soma Familia Adventurers surrounded the small person, Liliruca Arde, while repeatedly kicking and cursing at her.
"We told you, if you can't pay up this week, we would break your hands, didn't we?" one Adventurer asked with sadistic glee. "Did you think we were joking with you?"
"I'm sorry..." Liliruca said weakly while doing her best to guard her head.
"You're sorry?" another Adventurer asked while leaning forward to grab Liliruca's arms. "Do you think an apology will help you pay your quota?"
"Hold her down," a third Adventurer said as he looked around for something. A moment later, his eyes lit up. Then, he took a few steps, picked up a brick, and returned to his previous position. "I'll use this to do it."
"No... Please, don't..." Liliruca cried fearfully after seeing the brick in the Adventurer's hand. "I promise, I'll make up for it next week."
"Hmph!" The third Adventurer snorted. "If you couldn't come up with the money this week, why would you be able to come up with it next week?"
With that, the second Adventurer forced Liliruca's arms away from her head. Then, he gripped her thin wrists and pressed her arms against the ground.
"Do it," the second Adventurer said with a vicious smile. "Let's see if she dares fail again."
In response, the third Adventurer raised the brick above his head and tensed the muscles all over his body in preparation to strike.
"Are you all idiots? If you break her arms, how is she supposed to make money?"
However, before the Adventurer could bring the brick down on Liliruca's arms, an unfamiliar male voice drifted into all the Soma Familia Adventurers' ears, causing them to freeze in confusion.
"Who's there?" the first Adventurer asked while looking around warily.
*Thud!* *Thud!* *Thud!*
Yet, without receiving an answer, all three men had their eyes roll back before they fell to the ground. They never even got a glimpse of their attacker before they lost consciousness.
Naturally, this fate did not apply to Liliruca. Even so, she was still terrified. When the Adventurer holding the brick lost consciousness, the brick he was holding fell toward her head. And as a Level 1, if it landed on her head, it would, at the very least, injure her severely.
*Bang!*
Yet, before the brick hit her, Liliruca saw a dark purple blur strike the brick. Then, the brick exploded into dust that drifted down all over her.
Meanwhile, Tatsuo, who had used rapid [Blinks] to knock out the Adventurers and get into position to destroy the brick, looked down at Liliruca, whose face still showed an expression of terror. Then, he turned to Momo.
"Let's go," Tatsuo said nonchalantly. "The girl is safe."
Momo, who was still standing near the alley's entrance, hurriedly made her way over to Tatsuo's side. A moment later, she realized she was still holding the unsheathed sword. Then, she looked at Tatsuo with a hint of embarrassment.
"Don't worry about it," Tatsuo said while reaching out to take Momo's free hand. "I'll melt it down later and use it as material."
"Okay," Momo replied as a blush crept across her cheeks.
Then, without a word to Liliruca, Tatsuo and Momo left the alley and continued their trip back to the Dragon's Nest.
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Seeing the two walk away, Liliruca did not know what to think. On one hand, she was grateful that they saved her. As Tatsuo said, if her arms had been broken, she would not be able to make any money. And if she could not make any money, she would never be able to save the Valis needed to buy her way out of the Soma Familia.
But on the other hand, because of her experiences in the Soma Familia and as a Supporter, Liliruca hated Adventurers. And it was obvious that Tatsuo and Momo were Adventurers.
As a result, Liliruca's thoughts were rather complicated.
Yet, before she could sink into her thoughts, Liliruca remembered the situation she was in. She could think about whether she should thank or loathe Tatsuo after she got out of there. She knew that if she was still there when the three Adventurers woke up, they would vent their shame and anger at her for having been knocked out without even seeing their attacker.
As quickly as she could, Liliruca stumbled to her feet, wincing from the pain of the injuries she had received from the beating. Then, she looked around the alley. Eventually, she found what she was looking for: a large backpack that was even bigger than she was.
Making her way over to the backpack as fast as she could, Liliruca stuffed all the items that had fallen out of it back inside. Unfortunately, none of the items she picked up included any Valis, as it had all been stolen. She knew that if the Adventurers didn't find the money when they woke up, they would make things even harder for her the next time they cornered her.
Once Liliruca finished packing all her belongings, she took a final look at the three unconscious Adventurers, frowned, and turned around. Then, as fast as her short legs would carry her, she ran out of the alley in the direction from which Tatsuo and Momo had entered.
About ten minutes later, Tatsuo and Momo returned to the Dragon's Nest. After greeting Aislynn and Zelretch, who were studying the Language of the Gods in the main hall, they went back to their bedrooms and changed their clothes. Then, Momo joined the others on the training field while Tatsuo went into the forge to work on Haruhime's weapon.
Around lunchtime, everyone finished training. At the same time, Tatsuo came out of the forge carrying a sheathed katana. When he did, he saw James, Alfonzo, Elicia, and Akatsuki chatting happily while Violet, Sakura, Aletia, and Momo crouched around Haruhime, who was so exhausted that she was lying flat on her back in the middle of the training field.
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"Did you really have to put her through the wringer like that, James?" Alfonzo asked with a smirk.
"I did," James replied with a nod. "I needed to find her physical limits. That way, I would be able to push her past them in a controlled manner."
"That sounds a lot like how we used to train back in the day," Elicia said happily.
"You're all maniacs," Akatsuki said while shaking her head. "This is clearly her first time pushing herself like this."
"Trust me, it had to be done," James said. "Just be glad she wasn't training with Master. Otherwise, she would be questioning life right now."
"It looks like she's already doing that, though," Elicia said while pointing at Haruhime, who was lying on the ground and breathing hard.
Following Elicia's finger, the four saw Haruhime on the verge of tears while her muscles spasmed from time to time.
"James-Sama is mean," Haruhime said weakly.
"It only seems that way," Violet said in a gentle tone. "Everything he's doing is for your own good."
"Violet-San is right," Momo said in a serious tone. "He's helping you learn to protect yourself in the Dungeon."
"Just stick with it," Sakura said with a soft smile. "Things will get better."
Meanwhile, Aletia poked Haruhime's cheek, seemingly getting great enjoyment out of the act. Having been through Scáthach's training once, Aletia was happy to see someone else suffer, even if the intensity was nowhere near as bad as Scáthach's.
"Wow! You look like you've been through hell," Tatsuo said as he approached the group of five young women.
"Oh, you're finished," Violet said, smiling happily at Tatsuo. Then, she pointed at the katana in his hand. "Is that Haruhime-San's weapon?"
"Yeah," Tatsuo replied with a nod. "Like Zelretch-San's weapon, it can act as both a melee weapon and a magical focus. Though, this one doesn't have the ability to fire energy blades. Instead, it reduces the Mind cost of casting spells."
"So, it's more like my circlet and Aletia-San's bracelet than Zelretch-San's sword?" Sakura asked.
"Pretty much," Tatsuo replied. "Anyway, I'm gonna head inside to make lunch. Can you all help Haruhime-San inside and put her in the bath? It would do her some good."
"Don't worry, we'll take care of her," Violet said reassuringly.
In response, Tatsuo nodded. Then, he made his way inside to get cleaned up and start preparing lunch. Not long afterwards, the others headed in, as well, with Violet and Momo carrying Haruhime.
A while later, everyone had cleaned up and eaten lunch. Then, everyone got to the things they wanted to do on their day off.
Alfonzo was in his bedroom building a primitive beat machine.
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Tatsuo, James, Elicia, Akatsuki, Zelretch, and Aislynn were all in the main hall. James was sitting on the floor in front of Elicia, who was braiding his hair. Akatsuki was watching Elicia work with interest. Aislynn was once again teaching Zelretch the Language of the Gods. As for Tatsuo and Momo, they were sitting on the piano bench near the piano and discussing the music Tatsuo was writing.
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Meanwhile, Violet, Aletia, Sakura, and Haruhime were in Haruhime's bedroom. Completely exhausted from training, Haruhime was lying face-down on her bed while Violet and Sakura gently massaged her to loosen her spasming muscles, as Aletia sat on the edge of the bed and watched.
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The rest of the day passed peacefully, and before anyone knew it, the sun rose on the next day.
After breakfast, the eleven members of the Aislynn Familia left the Dragon's Nest and made their way to the Dungeon before breaking up into their teams and heading to either the Fifth or the Eighth Floor.
However, the team consisting of Alfonzo, Elicia, Violet, and Haruhime moved much more slowly than the other two.
DanMachi Universe, Lower World, Dungeon, 1st Floor.
"All right, we're gonna have you fight a little on each Floor," Alfonzo said while glancing back at Haruhime. "Not too much. Just enough for you to get used to it."
"Do I really have to fight?" Haruhime asked in a trembling tone.
"Of course," Alfonzo replied matter-of-factly. "It's not like we're expecting you to turn into a frontliner or anything. But you have to be able to handle yourself when everyone else is occupied."
"I… understand," Haruhime said with her head lowered.
"Hey, raise your head," Elicia said sternly. "I know you're not used to fighting, but you have to stay alert."
"Yes, Elicia-Sama," Haruhime said as she quickly raised her head.
"You need to calm down, Haruhime-San," Violet said gently. "If you panic or get too tense, it will only get harder."
"I'll try," Haruhime said after taking a deep breath.
*Crack!*
As if the Dungeon was waiting to hear those words, a crack opened in the wall ahead. Then, a Goblin climbed out of it. At the same time, Haruhime stiffened when she saw the Goblin's head poke out of the wall.
"Okay, here's the first one," Alfonzo said, gesturing to the Goblin. "Now, draw that sword and kill it."
Hearing that, Haruhime began to shiver. Her shivering was so bad that, despite trying to follow Alfonzo's instructions to draw her weapon, she had trouble pulling the katana from its sheath.
Meanwhile, because Alfonzo, Elicia, and Violet knew this was her first time fighting, they did not rush her. Instead, they did what they had to do to keep the Goblin from getting too close to Haruhime without hurting it too badly.
*Shing!*
Eventually, Haruhime drew the katana. When she did, a black katana with a silver edge and a magic circle embedded at the base of the blade was revealed.
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"Good, now attack," Alfonzo ordered from behind.
Hearing that, Haruhime closed her eyes. Then, she charged at the Goblin with a battle cry.
"How much you wanna bet her eyes are closed?" Elicia asked while watching Haruhime raise the katana over her head.
"No bet," Violet replied, shaking her head.
Alfonzo only sighed. Then, he dashed forward to save Haruhime, who could not see the Goblin's claw that was aimed at her throat.
A moment later, Alfonzo stopped between Haruhime and the Goblin, his hands clamped around both of their wrists. Then, he flung the Goblin away, turned to Haruhime, and tapped her on the head between her ears.
"You have to keep your eyes open, Haruhime," Alfonzo said sternly.
"Sorry," Haruhime said while lowering her head in shame.
"Don't apologize," Alfonzo said, his tone softening slightly. "We've all been where you are, and we know you're scared. But you can't conquer that fear if you don't face it."
Hearing that, Haruhime slowly raised her head. When she did, the first thing she saw was Violet controlling the Goblin with her shield. Then, she turned her head and looked at Alfonzo, who was calmly looking back at her. Then, she took another deep breath.
"I'll try again," Haruhime said, her tone still trembling a bit.
Hearing that, Alfonzo nodded. Then, he let go of Haruhime's wrist.
At the same time, Violet pushed the Goblin away. Then, she backed off until she was standing behind Haruhime again.
After another breath, Haruhime stepped forward and fought the Goblin. To Alfonzo's, Elicia's, and Violet's surprise, Haruhime looked as if she had experience wielding a sword, even if her technique looked more ceremonial than practical.
"Well, at least James will have something to work with." Elicia said.
"Still, it's going to be a lot of work." Alfonzo replied wistfully.