Chapter 189: The Apprentice Samurai (2)

Aria was... crying.

Her expression hadn’t changed much.

Her face remained calm, serious.

But tears streamed steadily from her eyes, quietly, as if her body had processed the words before she allowed herself to feel them.

Jake’s proud smile vanished as he panicked and asked worriedly,

"A-Aria, are you okay??"

He hurried toward her.

Aria shook her head.

"...No. I’m fine... I am just happy."

Hearing this, Jake froze and smiled wryly.

"Happy? Phew, I thought there was something else."

To be honest, watching Aria’s face remain the same as tears flowed out was truly strange, and he was getting worried for a second there.

Aria nodded and hesitated for a moment before she softly murmured.

"...I have always been a failure."

Her fingers slowly tightened around the shirt she was holding.

"No matter how hard I trained, no matter how many times I tried... I could never escape that name... Trash class."

Her voice remained calm, but the tears continued to fall.

She looked at her hands.

"But you changed it."

Jake’s expression softened.

"You didn’t laugh at me. You didn’t tell me to give up."

Her eyes lifted toward him.

"You simply... changed it."

At that intense gaze, Jake scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"Well, yeah. You’re my crew member. Of course I’d help you."

Aria stared at him.

That simple answer seemed to impact her even more profoundly.

Then aother tear rolled down her cheek.

"...Thank you, Jake."

Jake sighed, feeling a strange sense of helplessness seeing her cry like that. "Come here," he said, opening his arms.

Aria hesitated for only a moment before stepping into his embrace.

Gently pulling her closer, he murmured, "There’s no need to cry over something like this."

He patted her back lightly.

"And besides..."

A small grin spread across his face once more.

"Common is merely the starting point."

Aria’s posture grew slightly more rigid.

She tilted her head to look up at him.

"...Just the beginning?"

Jake gave a confirming nod.

"Naturally."

His grin broadened.

"As long as you’re with me, whether it’s Rare or even Elite Class, you’ll get there in no time! No, I will make sure you get there no matter what!"

At those declarations, Aria’s eyes brightened.

For a moment, she simply stared at him.

Then she bit her lower lip and slowly lowered her gaze.

Her fingers tightened slightly against his clothes.

Without saying anything, she leaned closer and rested her head against his chest.

Jake blinked.

He could feel her body relaxing in his arms; she wasn’t crying anymore.

Instead, a faint, almost imperceptible smile played on her lips.

At that moment—

[Ding!]

[Bond Level has increased!]

[Aria Fragarach]

[Bond Level: 1 Star → 2 Stars]

Jake looked at the notification with pleasant surprise.

Then a smile appeared on his face as he gently hugged Aria.

Meanwhile, Aria remained completely silent.

She simply stayed in his embrace, her eyes closed.

For the first time in her life, she felt like she had finally found somewhere she belonged.

Time seemed to pass quietly.

Eventually, Jake noticed something.

’Oh?’

He checked his status again.

’Why didn’t I get another skill copy slot?’

And now that he thinks of it, when Grace’s Bond reached two stars, he hadn’t received another slot then either.

Now the same thing had happened with Aria.

’So... is there something special about the second star?’

Jake rubbed his chin.

The system had not clearly explained what each Bond Level unlocked.

Perhaps the Skill Copy Slot wasn’t granted consistently, or maybe the second star provided a different reward.

His eyes narrowed a little.

For some reason, he felt the Bond was hiding more than it had shown him so far.

Then he shook his head.

’Well. Whatever. I’ll figure it out when the time comes.’

He smiled and gazed downwards. Aria was nestled against his chest, silent and warm, as though she had no intention of moving.

Jake’s tone became more cheerful.

"Hey," he said. "Don’t you want to take a look at your new class?"

Aria blinked up at him.

"...My class?"

"Hehe. Come on, come on."

He tapped her back and stepped back, already rolling his shoulders.

"Let’s spar. You should feel what Apprentice Samurai is like with your own body."

The cave wasn’t big, but at least it was big enough for them to have a simple spar and test out her new strength.

Aria stared at him.

Then she looked at her hands again, her eyes still a little red, and nodded.

"...Yes, Captain."

A faint spark showed in her gaze.

This time, it was not tears.

It was readiness.

Jake smiled as he could feel that fierce fighting spirit was rising within her.

Quiet and steady, like a sword that finally got unsheathed after so many years.

"Good," he said, "that’s what I wanted to see."

He took his sheathed sword and tossed it toward her.

Aria caught it cleanly with both hands.

The movement was natural, and much cleaner.

She looked down at the weapon, then back at him.

"Captain, this is yours."

"Use it."

Jake reached to the side and pulled out a spare short sword.

The blade was shorter and simpler, but it sat comfortably in his grip.

"I don’t need the long one for this."

Aria’s fingers closed around the sheath.

She bowed her head slightly, serious as ever.

"...I will not damage it."

Jake pointed the short sword at her with a grin.

"Don’t worry about the sword. You should worry about hitting me."

Then, his expression grew serious. "Now... if you truly wish to thank me..."

He lowered his stance.

"Show me your strength."

Aria’s eyes sharpened at his words.

Then, she stepped back and slid one foot into position.

Her body lowered slightly, while one hand rested naturally on the hilt at her waist.

Then—

HMM...!

A strange pressure suddenly filled the cave.

"...!"

Jake’s eyes widened slightly.

That sensation...

He gazed at the woman standing before him.

Her demeanor remained composed.

Her stance was still simple and straightforward.

And yet, something about her had changed.

The way she stood.

The way she gripped the sword.

The silent determination radiating from her body.

It was no longer the awkward stance of a girl desperately trying to imitate a swordsman.

It was natural... instinctive.

It was... the stance of a samurai.

Jake’s eyes narrowed in surprise.

’So this is it...’

A smile slowly spread across his face.

’The Apprentice Samurai has finally awakened.’