Chapter 245 Good News

By the time Jake finally decided to call it a day, the sun had already begun its descent toward the horizon.

What was supposed to be a simple sparring session had somehow turned into an entire afternoon of fighting.

And Jake was starting to regret his decision.

"Haah… Haah…"

He leaned against the wall of the training hall, breathing heavily as he tried to calm his racing heart.

His entire body ached, and his arms felt as though they might fall off at any moment.

Across from him, Samu'dra looked considerably more energetic despite also breathing roughly.

Although her scales were covered in sweat, the giant Naga still had a satisfied smile on her face.

She looked as though she could easily continue fighting for another few hours.

"Jake... That was amazing!"

Jake turned his head toward her with a complicated expression.

'Amazing, my ass…'

He had initially thought that sparring with Samu'dra would be a good opportunity to help her become more familiar with him.

He hadn't expected her to be so enthusiastic.

Every time they finished a round, she would eagerly ask for another.

And every time Jake thought he had finally figured out her fighting style, she would try something different, forcing him to adapt on the spot.

It seemed Samu'dra was incorporating what she learned from Garrick.

Even worse, her enormous physique meant that blocking her attacks was no easy task.

One careless mistake was enough to send him stumbling backward.

Fortunately, they had kept the sparring friendly, and neither of them had used any particularly dangerous techniques.

Still, Jake felt as though he had been dragged through a battlefield.

Yet, despite his aching muscles, he couldn't deny that the experience had been worthwhile.

During their sparring sessions, he had learned more about Samu'dra's personality.

She was straightforward, competitive, and surprisingly eager to learn whenever he pointed out a flaw in her technique.

In return, Samu'dra had gradually become more comfortable around him.

She no longer looked at him with the cautious respect she had shown when they first met.

Instead, she would occasionally ask him questions about his fighting style or excitedly demonstrate a new movement she had figured out.

By the end of the afternoon, the distance between captain and crew member had noticeably narrowed.

Jake considered that a good result.

After all, being part of a crew wasn't just about fighting together.

He wanted his companions to trust him and feel comfortable around one another.

And if spending a few hours getting beaten up by an enthusiastic Naga could help achieve that, then so be it.

"…Well, that's enough for today."

Jake finally straightened his back, wincing slightly as his sore muscles protested.

Samu'dra tilted her head.

"...Already?"

Jake stared at her.

'Already? We've been doing this for hours!'

Nevertheless, he merely sighed and patted her arm.

"We'll do this again another time. For now, I need to get some rest."

Samu'dra seemed disappointed for a moment, but she quickly nodded.

"Understood… I'll practice… what you… taught… me!"

"Good. Just don't challenge everyone in the training hall while I'm gone."

"…I won't."

Jake narrowed his eyes slightly.

For some reason, he wasn't entirely convinced.

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After saying their goodbyes, Jake finally left the Vivian Guild's warehouse and made his way back toward his inn.

The streets of Haunfen City were still bustling with people, but Jake paid little attention to his surroundings.

He simply walked at a leisurely pace, occasionally rolling his shoulders in an attempt to ease the soreness.

"…I'm never underestimating a Naga's stamina again."

The sparring session had made one thing painfully clear to him.

In a short battle, Jake was confident in his ability to hold his own and win, especially if he could end the fight quickly.

However, if the battle dragged on, his stamina would eventually become a problem.

Samu'dra, on the other hand, seemed capable of fighting for hours without showing any significant signs of exhaustion.

Even after spending the entire afternoon sparring with him, she had looked ready to continue, while Jake had been struggling just to catch his breath.

'What ridiculous endurance…'

Jake shook his head and smile wryly.

'It seems that even if our status displays look similar, our actual capabilities can differ depending on our race and skills. I probably shouldn't take everything shown on the status display at face value. It's more like a general reference than an absolute measure of one's abilities.'

'Well, if I ever have to fight her seriously, I can't afford to let the battle drag on. Otherwise, I'll be the one collapsing from exhaustion.'

He made a mental note to put this new understanding of status displays to use and work on improving his stamina.

After all, there was no guarantee that every opponent he encountered would give him the opportunity to finish a battle quickly.

As Jake continued walking, he suddenly remembered something Vivian had told him earlier.

'Come to think of it, my ship should be finished in about a month.'

His mood improved considerably at the thought.

Once the ship was ready, he would finally be able to leave Haunfen City and begin exploring the wider world with his crew.

More importantly, the ship was the last thing he needed to advance his Class.

Jake couldn't help feeling excited whenever he thought about it.

He had already received 10,000 gold coins from the Vivian Guild as a reward for bringing back valuable information.

The money also served as compensation for the trouble he'd experienced because of the teleportation accident.

Of course, he wasn't the only one entitled to compensation.

Aria and the other maids who had been caught up in the incident were also supposed to receive their share.

Unfortunately, the maids had... died during the ordeal.

Their compensation had therefore been left to their respective families instead.

Jake's expression grew slightly sad as he recalled that detail, but he soon shook his head and continued walking.

Jake glanced toward the distant harbor.

In about a month, he would have his own ship, the means to advance his Class, and the freedom to explore the world beyond Haunfen City.

For someone who had spent so much time dealing with one troublesome situation after another, that was something worth looking forward to.

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Jake soon arrived at the inn and made his way toward his room.

His body was still aching from the afternoon's sparring session with Samu'dra, and all he wanted to do now was take a nice, long rest.

'Maybe I should take a bath first…'

With that thought in mind, he reached for the doorknob and pushed the door open.

Then he blinked in surprise.

"…Huh?"

Standing… or rather, kneeling right in front of the entrance was a familiar blue-haired beauty in maid uniform.

Aria had her long blue hair tied into a high ponytail, and her posture was as impeccable as ever.

With her hands neatly placed on her thighs, she raised her head and looked at him with her usual composed expression.

"Welcome back, Master."