Chapter 2: Training

-Naofumi POV

After exiting Erhard's shop I check again my equipment, but considering the only thing that changed about me is an additional chainmail for armor nothing much has changed 'Now that I'm armed I can go and hunt monsters right?' with that thinking I voiced my opinion to Gudako, but before anything else she asked me if I can fight which made me slump. I mean seriously, can I fight? Hell no I can't, I'm an otaku and is recently searching for a job but besides that I'm unathletic but since I'm a hero I'll be fine right? Apparently not, shown by the fact I'm being dragged by Gudako by my neck as easy like a feather.

Snapping myself out of my depressing thoughts I checked the new notification on my status window which is apparently a party management window it shows my and Gudako's status, our level is of course level 1 but it also lists our class. My class is of course 'shield hero' but Gudako's class is called the 'Inheritor of Legends', I mean what kind of class is that, I'll have to ask Gudako later, also I am curious if I could see Gudako's atributes but when I attempted to see it a screen suddenly appeared with 'Unable to see status without permission due to the legends protecting the information'. That information made me blink, I mean real legends are protecting her status from being viewed as if her class's name is not enough to signify her worth, but with legends on her side... I just feel sorry for the ones who is going against her.

Out of the sudden I was dropped by Gudako that made me return to reality, I look around and see an empty plot of grassland surrounding me with a few big stones and some trees nearby. After that I turn to Gudako remembering the chills I had when she mentioned that she would train me, her face right now is a poker face meaning I can't get anything from her expression. After standing up I asked "What are we going to do now?" while she answered "Now? Now you show me what you have so that I can form a training regiment for you."

After saying that she put down her sword by one of the rocks before turning to me, confused by her behavior I stood still dumbly before asking fearfully "And how exactly are we going to do that?" Hearing my question Gudako made an evil smile which made my body shiver all over while saying "How you say? Isn't it obvious, mock combat training and I won't use any weapon as a handicap."

Hearing that I felt more fear and my body is screaming for me to run, but before I could do anything Gudako started walking to me while saying "Now then, try not to die... I mean not to pass out, and now the training BEGINS!" As she said begins she rushed to me at a speed I could only see blurs. I'm gonna be in a world of pain aren't I?

-Gudako POV

After a round of beatdown.. I mean training Naofumi laid down on the floor with his body bruised all over and if it weren't for the fact that he's breathing you couldn't tell if he was alive, I may have gone a 'bit' overboard with using Martha's fighting skills. As for my evaluation for him? he'll make a great defender due to his high defense stats and he also has good instincts even if he doesn't recognise his own talent, but his attacks are just pathetic I only felt mosquito bites when he landed hits on me. But for now I guess he deserves some rest also a good meal, seeing him unconscious I carried him to an inn the townsmen recommended and rented 2 rooms on the second floor, I also asked permission to cook for my and Naofumi's meal. They first agreed but it costs extra fee, but when I started cooking they offered discounts for our stay to 20 coppers a day if I were to cook the meals for the inn. Seeing no problems in that I agreed to the offer and after cooking the meals I see Naofumi going down the stairs still a bit bruised here and there, but otherwise fine. Thinking that I should have cooked enough portion for about a 500 men I took two plates and filled them with grilled meat and herbs, a simple menu if you ask me but for some reason the people around me are calling it the food of the gods and those who eat it are crying tears of joy while some are calling me angel and even the goddess who decended, I smiled upon those comments thinking how exaggerated they are, but for some reason people are kneeling before me and started to worship me I tried to stop them but they still insisted, after the argument I could only manage to have them simply call me saint, at least it's not as exaggerated as goddess. Shaking those thoughts I bring the two plates to an empty table before inviting Naofumi to eat with me, but for some reason he's shaking while looking behind me. When I looked behind me all I could see is the inn's patrons enjoying the meal that I cooked with some of them smiling amicably to me, seeing them I smiled back but for some reason Naofumi's mouth is twitching.

---A few minutes ago

-Naofumi POV

'Eurgh.. my body hurts all over, where am I?' Groaning I open my eyes i see a wooden ceiling, seeing that I'm in a building I assume that Gudako carried me to an inn, guess I'm lucky she's not heartless enough to leave me be after training me by beating me to a pulp. Opening my status window I raise my eyebrows in surprise before rubbing my eyes to see that what I'm seeing is right, after blinking a few times. I decide that my status is real and that I'm now Lv.12. Yes seriously Lv.12, just how exactly I just jumped 11 levels is still unbelievable but the earlier 'training' came into mind. The training itself other than being beaten to the brink of death is nothing special, but I did felt that I was growing and that my body was moving faster than I could think, I guess it was like my instincts? Suddenly smelling the pleasant smell of delicious food I somehow manage to draw upon an unkown source of power to lift my fully injured and aching body and head to the door.

After opening the door I am assaulted by an increasingly heavenly smell of food and before I knew it my body no longer felt anymore pain, out of the sudden my status window opened and on it lists 'Heavenly Food Smell -Effects= Gradually heal the body and mind of those who smell it, also cures some disease and light curses.'

Reading that I blinked a few times before coming to my senses and started going to the stairs to search the source of the heavenly smell, climbing down the stairs I notice Gudako coming out of the kitchen wearing an apron holding two plates filled with grilled meat and herbs before putting the two on an empty table before inviting me to eat with her.

But how can I just accept her offer when all the people behind her is directing killing intent to me, I mean I can understand the big picture here, it's not difficult when you see her wearing an apron carrying food that is recognized as heavenly quality even by the shield and even more because Gudako is cute and beautiful. But when Gudako saw my stiff smile and my gaze to the people behind her she turned around, but when she did all the people instantly acted normal and even some of them are smiling amicably to which she smiled back. But when she turned back her gaze to me the people instantly put on their murderous face and even some of the adventurers are threatening me with weapons one of them took out a HUGE axe with an edge that is menacingly sharp and is as big as a 5 years old boy, how the hell does he take out a weapon that big without making any noise? But the message is clear, eat with her and we'll kill you. Maybe noticing my predicament Gudako sighed and took her plate and moved to another empty table, now free of the murderous intent I make my way to the plate she left behind.

Without anything to disturb me I glance to the warm food to appreciate it, no wonder the shield gave the rating of heavenly to this meal the meat looks tantalizing with the herbs decorating it. Waiting for nothing else I take the fork and knife to cut a piece of the meat and put it in my mouth, the taste was HEAVENLY. Unconciously my hand and moved on it's own and before I knew it I devoured the entire meal, feeling a bit ashamed i covered my face with my hands before noticing that the people around me are doing the same thing (devouring their meals). After that I put my attention to the screens that popped up when I was eating but ignored it due to the heavenly flavour, the screen at the top said 'Simple Meat & Herb Heavenly Dish -Effects= Restores Stamina, HP by 70% and dispels all mental debuff, medium level curses, and some disease'. I blinked a few times and I was convinced Gudako is at least an angel.

-Gudako POV

After moving to an empty table to eat I'm currently multitasking, what exactly am I doing? Cooking for my servants (in their rooms) also managing the servants affairs, eating my food (physically), and thinking about my current problematic situation with spies following me and Naofumi also at the same time cursing Merlin for putting me in this situation.

Also I saw Naofumi's mouth gaping for some reason, maybe he's seeing his status and is surprised to the increase of stats recieved from my beatdow... I mean training. With Martha reassuring me it was just simple mock combat, I finish my meal unaware of my food being the reason he's that surprised.