Translator: CinderTL
"Hunter?"
Roland wasn't surprised that mastering Basic Archery could awaken a new Job.
He focused on the last paragraph, his brow furrowing.
"Two Survival Skills."
"What exactly does this Survival Skill encompass?"
"Is it fire-starting? Water purification? Or identifying edible wild plants?"
Countless possibilities flashed through his mind.
Roland looked up at the completely dark sky, then shook his head, pushing aside the chaotic thoughts for now.
"No matter. I'll leave these verifications for tomorrow."
He stretched his arms, sore from hours of practice, carefully gathered the arrows scattered around the target, and left the training ground.
As a night breeze rustled through the manor's paths, Roland suddenly remembered the information John had shared last night.
"Right. I should ask Mr. Bronson if he knows anything about those strange occurrences in the Black Cedar Forest."
Following his memory, Roland soon reached the secluded wooden cabin.
Knock, knock, knock!
The sharp rapping echoed eerily through the silent night.
The wait was longer than he'd anticipated.
When the wooden door finally creaked open, Bronson's gaunt face appeared in the crack.
His eyes were sunken, yet they shone with an unnatural brilliance, giving him a sickly vitality.
"It's you, Roland."
Bronson's voice was accompanied by heavy breathing.
"I remember our agreement for research assistance. It's in five days."
Roland replied with a hint of apology.
"I'm terribly sorry to disturb you, Mr. Bronson. I just had a few questions I wanted to ask."
As he spoke, Roland suddenly felt a familiar sensation emanating from behind the wooden door.
It was the unique awareness he had first experienced when he awakened as a blacksmith and gained the Furnace Heart trait—the distinct sensation of fire.
Now, he could clearly sense a fire source within Bronson's room radiating volatile and restless emotional fluctuations.
"I'm terribly sorry."
Bronson's lips twitched, forcing a strained smile.
"Today probably isn't a good time. I'm currently..."
He glanced hastily back into the room, then turned back, his voice quickening.
"Engaged in a crucial research project. How about we wait until your assistance in five days? I can answer your questions then. Would that be acceptable?"
Noticing Mr. Bronson's growing agitation, Roland could only nod gently.
"Very well, Mr. Bronson. I'll take my leave now."
Before he could finish speaking, Mr. Bronson waved him off and slammed the door shut with decisive finality.
Cough, cough.
The force of the door slamming shook loose some dust, causing Roland to cover his mouth and cough lightly.
He stood there, his brow furrowed as he recalled the unusually violent flame fluctuations he had sensed earlier.
"What exactly is Mr. Bronson researching?"
Filled with unanswered questions, Roland turned and began walking slowly back toward his dormitory.
"Judging by the situation, I'll have to wait five days before visiting again."
Back in his room, Roland quickly washed up and buried himself in his soft bed. Exhaustion washed over him, and he drifted into a deep sleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow.
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, Roland was jolted awake by the sound of urgent hoofbeats.
He had barely rubbed the sleep from his eyes when he heard a familiar voice calling from outside his door.
"Roland! Are you awake?"
"That noble's son certainly has boundless energy."
Roland shook his head wryly. After gathering his belongings, he opened the door.
Morning light bathed the courtyard in a gentle glow.
Darco stood before the door with two fully armed guards, leading four magnificent steeds.
The young noble wore a close-fitting hunting outfit today, draped with a dark green cloak. A jeweled dagger hung at his waist, and he held two exquisitely crafted short bows in his hands, which gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
"Hey, Roland!"
Darco greeted Roland warmly the moment he saw him, throwing an affectionate arm around his shoulders and leading him toward the horses.
"You're finally up! So, can you ride?"
Roland hesitated before nodding. "I think I can manage a little."
"Perfect!"
Darco clapped his hands excitedly, pointing to a docile brown mare. "I picked this one out especially for you. She's gentle-natured and runs very steadily. Give her a try!"
Though Roland had never ridden a horse since his transmigration, the original owner of this body had been a stable boy and possessed basic riding skills.
While not expert, they were just barely adequate.
"Very well, Young Master Darco."
With that, Roland followed the memories of the original body and gently stroked the mare's neck with both hands.
The brown stallion snorted softly and lowered its head docilely, easing Roland's tense nerves slightly.
"Relax. Just like this."
Darco demonstrated how to mount the horse.
Roland closed his eyes, and the memories of the original body flooded back like a tide.
The rough texture of the reins, the scent of the leather saddle, the rhythm of his body swaying with the horse's back.
He opened his eyes abruptly, planted his left foot in the stirrup, and swung his right leg over the horse's back in a fluid motion.
"Beautiful!"
Darco clapped loudly.
"You're more skilled than I expected!"
But Roland, astride the horse, had no time to respond.
He was completely absorbed in reacquainting himself with this long-lost sensation.
His legs instinctively tightened around the horse's flanks, and his hands instinctively adjusted the reins.
The horse, sensing its rider's unfamiliarity, nervously pawed the ground a few times.
"Relax your knees," Darco called as he rode closer. "Let your body sway with the horse's rhythm, like... yes, like a piece of driftwood in the water!"
Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting dappled shadows across the horse's back.
The riding skills he remembered were one thing; actually riding was another.
It took Roland a long time to adapt and rediscover that subtle sense of balance.
Though his movements were still clumsy, Roland had finally managed to ride forward.
"Well done, Roland!"
Darco let out a loud whistle and flicked his riding crop forward.
"Follow me! I'll take you to a fantastic place!"
He deliberately slowed his pace to allow the novice Roland to keep up comfortably.
The horses' hooves clattered on the manor's gravel path as the group gradually moved away from the manor walls.
"Young Master Darco," Roland said, gripping the reins tightly to maintain his balance. "Where are we going?"
"Hunting!" Darco's voice was brimming with unrestrained excitement. As he turned back, the sunlight caught his flowing golden hair.
Roland breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Darco's passionate obsession with hunting was well-known throughout the manor.
It seems this young noble is simply trying to get closer to me, Roland thought to himself. He then turned his full attention back to controlling the horse beneath him.
In the Golden Valley Kingdom, even the cheapest mule was worth a small fortune, let alone a well-trained warhorse. The chance to practice riding for free was truly a gift from the heavens.
Darco occasionally glanced back to share hunting anecdotes, while Roland divided his attention between enthusiastically responding to the young master and diligently practicing his riding skills.
The two guards remained silent throughout, their vigilant eyes constantly scanning the dense thickets flanking the road.
The group left the manor and followed a narrow path northward.
Soon, a lush, verdant forest emerged before them.
"Wait here," Darco commanded, dismounting with practiced ease and turning to address the two guards behind him. "Keep a close watch on the horses. If anything goes wrong, I trust you understand the consequences."
"But, Young Master..." One of the guards hesitated, pursing his lips before stepping forward. "Lord Baron instructed us..."
"I said," Darco snapped, his earlier enthusiasm toward Roland completely vanished. His voice was now as cold and hard as iron, his gaze devoid of warmth, as if the two guards before him were merely replaceable tools. "Wait here!"
"What danger could possibly arise so close to the manor?"
"As you command." The two guards exchanged a resigned glance and bowed their heads in obedience.
As he turned away, Darco's warm smile returned, as if nothing had happened.
"Roland, do you know how to shoot a bow?"
Seeing Roland nod slightly, the young noble thrust a short bow into his hands without a word.
"Take this, Roland. I begged Mr. Hawk for ages to make it for me."
Feeling the smooth, warm touch of the bow, Roland looked down.
The bow was crafted from dark yew wood, polished to a mirror-like sheen. The bowstring was woven from the finest horsehair, shimmering with a pearlescent luster in the morning light.
Intricate copper ornaments adorned the bow's limbs, each etched with the image of a soaring eagle.
"The craftsmanship..." Roland murmured in admiration.
The bow's weight distribution was perfect. Even for a beginner like him, the balance felt natural and effortless.
Compared to the short bow John had given him, this one, personally crafted by Hawk, was a masterpiece.
"Come on, Roland, let me show you..."
Darco grabbed Roland's arm and led him into the dense forest.
Once they were deep within the woods, Darco immediately lowered his voice, pointing at tracks in the muddy ground and broken twigs.
"Look at these marks. It's the path a wild rabbit took this morning."
Darco confidently analyzed the tracks, then began cautiously following them.
In just a moment, a gray rabbit, mid-meal, came into view.
Darco licked his lips excitedly and whispered, "How about it, Roland? Want to take the first shot?"
With that, the young noble drew an arrow from his quiver and offered it to Roland.
Seeing this, Roland could only accept it with a helpless sigh.
Recalling the archery techniques John had taught him yesterday, along with that mysterious feeling, he slowly drew back the bowstring.
Thwack!
With a dull thud as the bowstring snapped back, the arrow shot through the air.
His afternoon of grueling practice had finally paid off.
Though he hadn't managed a headshot, the arrow had pierced the rabbit's body.
"Excellent shot, Roland!" Darco exclaimed, clapping his hands in praise. "I never expected you to be so skilled at Archery, on top of your exceptional talent for crafting tools."
"Young Master Darco flatters me," Roland replied with a slight smile, his gaze following Darco as he went to retrieve the prey. But his attention remained fixed on the golden text floating before his eyes:
When you engage in combat with an enemy, related insights increase, and Basic Archery gains one experience point.
"I can gain experience from shooting a rabbit?"
Roland mused silently.
"The 'Theory and Practice' trait is quite unexpected. Killing an ordinary kobold earned me three experience points, while an Aberrant Kobold yielded six. It seems experience gain is directly tied to the enemy's strength."
As he pondered this, Darco returned, carrying a gray rabbit.
He pulled out the arrow and said with a half-joking tone, "Your archery is still a bit inferior to mine. For prey like this, it's best to aim for the head to avoid damaging the fur. I'll show you how it's done!"
As it turned out, Darco wasn't exaggerating.
Over the next few hours, Darco demonstrated his exceptional tracking skills and archery prowess to Roland.
Through observation, Roland realized Darco's archery skill was only slightly inferior to John's. Considering the significant age gap between the two, the young noble's dedication to martial arts was truly remarkable.
In less than half a day, the pair had hunted over a dozen rabbits and two deer-like creatures. They then carried their heavy haul to a clearing by the stream.
After a quick tidy-up, Darco drew the dagger from his belt and expertly skinned the wild rabbit.
Watching this, Roland suddenly had a flash of insight.
"Does skinning wild animals count as a survival skill?"
Thinking this, Roland approached Darco, who was still working on the rabbit, and asked with feigned curiosity, "Young Master Darco, could you teach me how to skin a wild rabbit?"
Darco looked up, a pleased smile on his face. "Of course, Roland. I didn't expect you to be interested in such things."
He shook the blood from his hands and knelt beside another rabbit.
"The key to skinning is precision and following the muscle fibers," Darco explained, gently slicing open the rabbit's abdomen with his dagger. "See? Start here, keeping the blade between the skin and flesh, not too deep or you'll puncture the internal organs."
Roland immediately activated his [focus] trait, deeply imprinting Darco's practiced technique and precise blade angles into his memory.
"You try it," Darco said, handing him the knife. "Remember, keep your movements steady. When you hit fascia, apply a little extra pressure to pry it open."
"Understood, Young Master Darco," Roland replied, taking the knife. He recalled the details he'd observed earlier and imitated Darco's technique, making his first cut across the rabbit's abdomen.
Unfortunately, he misjudged the depth of the blade, accidentally slicing through some internal organs. A wave of bloody stench immediately filled the air.
"Tsk, a common mistake for beginners," Darco said, wrinkling his nose but without any reproach in his voice. "It's alright. Angle the knife outward a bit, like this." He took Roland's wrist and adjusted the angle.
The second time, Roland's movements were much more cautious. He could feel the blade struggling to advance between the tough rabbit hide and the soft muscle, occasionally hitting fascia that blocked its path. In a few places, he applied too much force, leaving unsightly gashes in the hide. In others, he peeled too shallowly and had to go back and rework the area.
"Slow down, and follow the grain," Darco instructed from the side.
"Yes, that's it. Oh, and remember to leave the skin connecting the hind legs."
Having learned from his previous two attempts, Roland's knife work was now smooth and confident. Though his speed was still somewhat slow, he soon held a perfect rabbit pelt in his hands.
At the same time, a line of golden text slowly materialized before his eyes:
[Learned Skinning. Current Level: Lv.1]
Upon seeing the notification, Roland immediately glanced at his Job Panel.
When he saw the Survival skill requirement for becoming a Hunter change from 0/2 to 1/2, he clenched his fists in excitement.
"Just as I thought! Skinning really is a Survival skill!"
As Roland was still reveling in his triumph, Darco's praise echoed in his ears.
"Excellent work, Roland!"
Darco couldn't remember how many times he had complimented the young man before him today.
"Riding, archery, and now skinning—he masters everything so quickly. Is it true that those with exceptional talent excel at everything they do?"
Thinking this, Darco's gaze at Roland grew even more admiring, his admiration impossible to conceal.
"Seriously, Roland, you're coming with me from now on."
Before Darco could finish speaking, a rustling sound erupted nearby.
The two men exchanged glances, cautiously lowered their daggers, and drew their iron swords from their belts, turning toward the sound.
In the next moment, numerous small figures emerged from the shadows of the dense forest.
(End of the Chapter)
Translator's Corner
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