Chương 403: Chapter 376. Jessie And Ben Have A Chat

" Thank you, Suzi. Here, for the cider."" No problem, Mr. Ben!" Ms. Suzi happily took the copper coin from Ben and returned to her workstation where she seemed to be cutting bits of fruit. I guess it's for putting onto glasses of certain drinks? Coincidentally, Laura was also the one sitting closest to Ms. Suzi's workstation. Again, her expression seemed to grow somewhat softer with Ms. Suzi being in closer proximity to her. What a weird reaction from her?

Regardless of what was going on with Laura at the moment, Ben turned himself in his seat from looking at the bar to now facing Jessie, who was previously behind him. Jessie took this as an invitation to speak." Master, what are you doing here?"" I'm enjoying some apple cider obviously... Okay, okay. I heard about the Demons and decided to come to town to see how things were going."" But last I heard, you were in Phoenix Wing, right?"" Yes, but even though I'm 45, that doesn't mean I can't travel.""

That might be the case, but didn't the King reach out to you for help in this case?"" I've received no Official Mail from the Government, though?"" What? That makes no sense... He said he would reach out to different S-Ranks?" Jessie and Ben seemed to be going back and forth in confusion. It looks like Ben being here with us is just coincidence. Though it was surprising to hear where Ben had traveled from.

Phoenix Wing is in the Northeastern part of Promethia, the fact that he's traveled from nearly the top of the Country all the way to the Southern tip says something about his interest in the situation that's happening here in Phoenix Tail." Well, either way, I'm here. What exactly would be expected of me if the King would've reached out?"" I wanted someone I could trust to come with us. I thought about you immediately, Master."

Ben sat back and leaned his back onto the bar as he seemed to be thinking about what Jessie had explained to him." Ah..."" "Ah"?

"Ah", what?" Luke spoke up this time. It looks like he's taken a bit more of a hostile stance ever since Jessie referred to Ben as Master. For what reason, I'm not too sure. Maybe Jealousy?"" Luke! Don't talk to him like that!" Jessie quickly snapped at Luke for his disrespectful attitude. Honestly, I think the most helpful thing about Jessie's presence here is the fact that Luke listens to him." What!? But, why? Who even is this old man? You said "Master", but what does that mean, Jessie?""

Ah, Jessie, so you've been training him, eh? That makes sense. He does remind me of you when I first started training you."" Training?" Luke seemed to finally connect what Jessie and Ben have been speaking about for a few minutes now. Jessie began to explain things to Luke." Yes, training. He's my Teacher, he looked after me when I first became an Adventurer. He's partly the reason why I am who I am. Without Master, I'd still be an arrogant idiot.""

Well, you shouldn't make it sound like I did it out of the kindness of my heart. I was paid quite well to look after you when you were a little welp."" Oh? And what about when you stopped getting paid for it?"" I started taking you on big boy Requests, didn't I? At that point, you either would sink or swim. Look at you now, S-Rank, just like me. I'd say it all worked out. Have you taught him the basics of the Clear Sky Sword Style yet?" This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent.

Report any appearances on Amazon." Not completely, he struggles with it, though he's gotten the basics of Warring State and Barren Land Style."" Ah, he's an idiot, isn't he?"" Hey!" The 2 S-Ranks continued to speak to each other. From what I understand, in Promethia, there're 3 big styles of melee combat. Clear Sky is more of a countering style of fighting. Barren Land is a defensive style, and Warring State is a purely offensive style.

All 3 have their advantages and disadvantages, but the best fighters in Promethia can mix and combine them to fit the situation. Even Ashley, Lucy and Laura have learned them since they all can fight with weapons or their bare hands. From what I recall, Ashley is skilled in Barren Land and Clear Sky, Lucy is much more talented at Clear Sky than the others and Laura was able to learn the 3 Styles without much effort.

Sure, there's tricks and tips for each of them based on their weapons, but it still seems amazing to me that they've been able to pick up so much Martial Arts Styles." Hey! Just because I don't want to wait around and counter the enemy, that doesn't mean I'll lose! I've been able to beat every enemy I've come across so far!" Ben looked to Jessie with a look of disbelief. No doubt from the fact that we failed at invading Diablos." Yes, he's right.

After he began training under me for real, he hasn't been beaten by an enemy." Ben looked at Luke as Jessie answered his question." What about sparring against other Martial Artists?" Luke looked away from Ben as he asked a simple, point-blank question." He has about a 50/50 success rate."" I see. You do know that Demons aren't moronic animals, right? They're a bit more war-like than us Humans, but they can think. That's what makes them dangerous. If that wasn't the case, Diablos wouldn't be a Country anymore.""

Yes, I'm aware! But I have alternatives than a simple reading of what my opponent might do!"" Because of your Job?"" Yes!"" What happens when you have no mana for your Hero Abilities? What then? You lack foresight, Hero Luke. That gets people killed in this line of work. I've watched many of them."" Were any of them Heroes?"" Some had the makings of a Hero. But their corpses during their viewings looked remarkably like normal people... Well, the ones whose bodies could be recovered."

Ben's words seemed to silence Luke's immature responses." Master, could you not scare my student before we embark on an expedition to kill Demons?"" You need to be more honest with him, Jessie. Did I ever lie to you and tell you that Goblins couldn't kill you?"" No, you just threw me into a Goblin Hideout with a rusty dagger if I recall correctly?"" And what did you learn from that?"" Not to drop your whiskey?" Ben smiled at Jessie's joking answer. After a moment, Ben explained what he was hoping Jessie would say."

Still, besides that, I'd hope that the lesson would've taught you about minding your surroundings and knowing how to deal with whatever is thrown at you. Something that the Clear Sky Style is great for. However, I suppose it doesn't matter for him, since he's here... As is... And we can't change it... Well, you can't. I'll expect payment for My Services, you know?"" I'll make the King pay for it. While you're at it, would you teach these 4 as well?"" Even the Mage?""

Especially her, she's been too focused on her Magic and Mana for the past year, she needs the exercise."" Wait! What could I possibly learn from a Martial Art? I'm a long-range Spellcaster." I quickly spoke up as the conversation turned to me. I don't see the point of having to train. I mean, I'll be blasting the enemies away with various Magics after all. Ben and Jessie quickly looked back at me." As I said... Erm..."" My name is "Jaime", Sir."" Ah, Jaime.

Like I said, the Clear Sky Style is based on observation, of your enemy, your environment, even yourself and your allies. What good is a Magic that you miss the timing to use? Ethel did tell you that there is a Staff branch of the Martial Arts of Promethia, right?"" There's a Staff branch?"" Well, that answers that question, I guess..." Ben rubbed his chin before drinking more of his cider." Anyways, it'll be beneficial to learn, I'm not just doing this for a paycheck, though it is a bonus.

In actuality, the Hero Party historically has always been treated as 1 of the 4 War Potentials in Promethia, that means the Hero Party is able to rub shoulders with the Royal Army of Promethia, S-Rank Adventurers and even the Church's Holy Artifacts and their Users. Your growth is important for the future."" But we're trying to go back to our world?" Ben looked at us in confusion, it was only for a second, but it was easy to see before he returned to his somewhat friendly expression."

Either way, it'll make it easier for any battles you'll have going forward to achieve your goals. Having said that, you'll also need equipment, while you all have pretty great equipment, it's never a bad idea to have a look around the Shops in any town you visit. That's where we should head next." Ben turned from me back to Jessie." Having said that, I'm assuming Lil Alex gave you some funds, didn't she?"" Yes, she did."" Good, let's head to Barb's, I'm sure her stock is still decent. But first...."

Jessie signaled to us that it was time to leave, but as we got up, Ben stayed sitting... Until he quickly began to gulp down the rest of his cider. / Burp! /" Damn, that's good!" Ben looked excited after finishing his drink. It looks like even with his friendly expression, he's still an Adventurer. He thought there was nothing wrong with burping that loudly, to the point where everyone around him could hear it. The other Adventurers all around us laughed at Ben's burp. Even the female Adventurers laughed...

Maybe it's a cultural thing?