Chapter 4: Mission Complete!

*Back at Gladius City*

"Honey~" Martha called out while walking slowly to her and her husband's room.

"Yes?" Carl answered back while getting curious about why would his wife look so happy.

"Honey~ You would not believe it~! Look~ Look~!" Martha showed her phone to her husband.

"Hmm?" Carl quickly turned a slight to the side toward Martha and looked at his wife's phone, and there, he saw a message.

[Mom! 

Thanks for the additional allowance! I love you~~!

Phil]

"Huh? Phil? You mean Philip?" Carl was surprised by the message.

"Of course! Who would it be aside from Philip!? What do you think happened?" Martha asked her husband's opinion.

"This is shockingly surprising. I, in a hundred years, would not believe it if I did not see it. Is this really our son? What really happened at Pentalara? Do you think someone is manipulating our son!?" Carl quickly became pessimistic.

"Honey~ I asked Jason and he confirmed no third party near Philip since he arrived there. Also, Jason was quite surprised as well with Philip's behavior as he became milder and sociable when they arrived in Vermillion City. Is our son becoming more adult now?" Martha closed her eyes contemplating their son's coming of age due to his behavioral changes.

"If that is the case, we don't need to worry then. We should be happy instead as this signals our son's adulting becoming faster, he could hold some responsibilities better when the time comes." Carl surmised.

"Then that is good. Right, Jason also reported that Philip bought a sword mastery skill, do you think Philip will follow his elder brother's path?" Martha asked.

"That could be, but sword mastery skill is passive and could be used by different classes, even a paladin could use it. We'll see his decision when the time comes too." Carl sighed a bit and smiled back at Martha. "Stop worrying about the youngest, we need to sleep now, we got more things to do tomorrow." Carl kissed Martha's lip and both lay on their bed. Martha replied to Philip before they went to actual sleeping.

[Dear Phil~

I love you too~ Your father and mother missed you so much~

Take care and don't overdo things, alright?

Love,

Mom]

Sent.

//

*Back to Vermillion City*

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

...

45 minutes passed.

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

200!

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) LEVELED UP!]

God, getting the skill to level 3 is a fucking torture. Good thing Marvin is here to massage me after this session.

I laid down on the portable bed and Marvin started his thing.

"Young master, I'll start now." Marvin said. 

*wichick* *wichick* *wichick*

The massage lasted for 30 minutes and I added another 30 minutes for additional rest. 

It's already 4 in the afternoon but I still have 2 more levels to do, so, I needed to do more! Plus, doing these exercises, makes my body acclimated to the stress of swinging a sword, although wooden swords are not that heavy, the instinct is being shaped already. I could even automatically swing my wooden sword much better than before, this is also thanks to the skill's techniques being ingrained in my brain. I just need to practice them so that my body will learn it instinctively. 

Ah, let's start again.

"Marvin, stand by, I'll start another session." I said.

"Yes, young master." Marvin nodded and sat on the side.

//

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

...

50 minutes passed.

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

250!

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) LEVELED UP!]

I opened my skills tab and saw the updated description of the skill.

[Skills Tab:]

[Sword Mastery (PASSIVE)] [Level 4] [Proficiency Points: 0/300]

[Basic Sword Skill, increases mastery of the sword]

[+0.5% Damage using swords]

[+0.5% Sword Skill (ACTIVE) damage]

Level 4 is a 0.5% increase to both normal and skill damage. Now this is amazing, if I master this, I will have an additional 10.1% increase in both normal and skill damages. 

Ah~ time to lay back on the bed and get the massage.

Marvin quickly stood from the seat and started massaging me again.

It's past 5 in the afternoon already and that could be the reason why Jason entered the training room with Shina to bring our food, both for me and Marvin, as per my request.

Marvin wanted to refuse the food but I insisted so he ate with me. 

Actually, I asked him for some details about the school to learn some intricate rumors or news about this city. Why? I needed to level up and to do that, I needed live combat capabilities, swinging the sword will not be enough, I need combat training. Wait...

I looked at Jason, and I saw Jason become attentive, his expression said that he was expecting me to say something.

And I did, I asked, "Jason, what is your level and class?" I know this is some personal information and asking directly from someone might make that person uncomfortable, but this is Jason, entrusted to serve and protect me, it means that his fighting capabilities are not something to joke about.

Jason turned his expression in a serious tone, "Young master, might I know why you are asking me this?" 

Seeing his expression, I think I might have an idea of what he is assuming I would do after getting his class and level. "Ah~ Jason, I just want to know because I want you to train me in combat practice, however, if you're not comfortable answering me this, it's okay, I'll ask someone else instead to teach me combat practice." I smiled at Jason saying that.

I saw Jason lighten up his expression and sigh a bit, what the hell was that? "If that is the case, young master, I will be your combat sparring partner, when do you want us to start sparring?" Jason turned his expression back to normal. 

"Oh, that is great! We'll start tomorrow after my class ends! Wait, what is your level and class?" I almost forgot. This Jason seemed good at manipulating conversations avoiding any information leaks! This is good! I wonder what is his class? Assassin?

"Young master, I'm under the rogue class, the "Stalker" class and I'm level 198." Jason bowed slightly re-introducing his self to me.

"Ohh~ That is so cool! Never thought you were that strong!" I clapped hearing that from Jason! What a strong protector! If that is the case though, what about Shina? "Jason, what about Shina?" 

"Shina is level 145, her class is of the druid class, the "Elemental Druid"." Jason didn't hesitate to answer that question from me.

I nodded and turned my gaze to Marvin. I saw his face becoming paler with each second. What was the problem? I asked, "Marvin? What's wrong with you?" 

Marvin snapped and just shook his head, "N-nothing young master! I finished the food, are we continuing the session?" 

Huh? He seemed nervous... rather... scared? Of what? Wait, he just became like that when Jason introduced himself, is he scared of Jason? Why? Hmm? 

"Marvin, are you fine?" I asked.

"F-fine young master! Shall I wait on the seat there?" I definitely sensed his fear. Why would that be? I'll ask Jason.

"Okay, please wait I'll finish this session and we will be done." I answered.

"That is great, young master! I'll wait then." Marvin stood from the chair and snuck a look at Jason for a bit second and then avoided the gaze from Jason. He walked for quite a distance and sat from his seat. 

//

"Jason, what was that?" I asked in a low voice.

"Young master, you must know that we rogues that have transcended our class belong to the strong members of the society, however, he heard my class, which is "Stalker" and you should know, young master, that our class is feared as we are the assassins of this world. Normally, we don't expose our classes to the public, and it's common knowledge that we kill those who know our class and levels, except for the one we're serving." Jason explained.

Ah, that's why. I understand now. What a closed tight group, well, it's understandable due to the nature of their class, they assassinate or stalk either monsters or other people they target. 

"I understand now, thank you Jason for informing me! That's a good knowledge to have!" I smiled at Jason and quickly got up from the chair and started walking in the middle to swing my sword again. One more! And one mission will be completed soon!

//

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

...

40 minutes passed.

*Swish!*

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) GAINED +1 PROFICIENCY]

300!

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) LEVELED UP!]

Alright! One final session of the day has been completed!

[CONGRATULATIONS! MISSION "LEVEL UP SKILL TO LEVEL 5" HAS BEEN COMPLETED]

[REWARD: +1,000 SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) SKILL PROFICIENCY]

Now we are talking!

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) LEVELED UP!]

[SWORD MASTERY (PASSIVE) LEVELED UP!]

That is 2 level-ups! Awesome!

I checked the skill tab and the sword mastery (passive) skill has improved!

[Skills Tab:]

[Sword Mastery (PASSIVE)] [Level 7] [Proficiency Points: 250/450]

[Basic Sword Skill, increases mastery of the sword]

[+0.8% Damage using swords]

[+0.8% Sword Skill (ACTIVE) damage]

*To be continued*