Translator: CinderTL
[Job Success! Current Job: Hunter]
[Attribute Bonus: Strength +0.5, Agility +1]
Compared to the attribute boost he received when he became a blacksmith, the bonus from the basic class hunter didn't make a noticeable difference to Roland. He simply nodded slightly and moved his gaze downward.
[Acquired Trait: Animal Companion]
[Animal Companion: When activated, allows communication with non-human creatures of sufficient intelligence. Duration depends on your mental attribute.]
"Animal Companion? Another trait I can activate!"
Roland licked his lips excitedly after reading the description of Animal Companion. Having experienced the flexibility of the [Focus] trait, he believed that actively activated traits often offered more versatility than passive ones, capable of producing unexpected effects in critical moments.
With this thought, he silently activated the trait in his mind.
The instant the thought flashed through his mind, a strange buzzing sensation filled his eardrums. It was as if someone had gently tapped a silver coin against his ear, the lingering echo resonating within his skull.
He instinctively covered his ears, only to realize the sound wasn't external.
Light filtered through the dense canopy of the forest, casting dappled shadows across the mouth of the cave.
A Red Squirrel clutched an acorn, its tiny nose twitching nervously as it watched him.
But to Roland's ears, the subtle sniffling transformed into fragmented whispers.
"...Dangerous Two-Legged Beast...Hide..."
Roland's eyes widened in shock.
He realized the entire forest was awakening around him.
He instinctively stepped out of the cave, and the voices in his ears grew even more chaotic.
The chirping of sparrows in the treetops was no longer meaningless chatter but became the incessant nagging of an old woman.
"Worms! There are fat worms over there!"
Rustling in the nearby bushes mingled with the panicked murmurs of a wild rabbit.
"Footsteps too loud, too loud..."
Most chillingly, when he accidentally snapped a dry twig, the forest's cacophony abruptly fell silent.
Countless invisible gazes converged on him from all directions, and the fragmented whispers instantly coalesced into a unified warning.
"Danger!"
"Run!"
"It's the Hunter's scent!"
Roland's temples began to throb, and a cold, prickling sensation crawled up his spine.
His mind felt like it had been forcibly crammed with dozens of noisy radio stations, each broadcasting a torrent of fragmented thoughts.
From the canopy, a crow's hoarse laughter echoed.
"I'm going crazy! I'm going crazy!"
Meanwhile, the mole beneath the earth grumbled in muffled complaints.
"Another earthquake?"
Just as his consciousness was about to be overwhelmed by these sounds, Roland abruptly deactivated his Animal Companion trait.
The world fell silent, leaving only his own ragged breathing echoing through the forest.
The Red Squirrel had long since vanished, leaving behind only half an acorn rolling across the moss.
"It seems..."
Roland wiped the cold sweat from his brow and shook his head lightly.
"Making friends with animals isn't as simple as it seems."
After a soft sigh, he slowly returned to his cave, shifting his gaze downward.
As a string of golden subtitles flashed before his eyes, a knowing smile curled Roland's lips.
"Just as I suspected, job resonance only occurs between classes of the same tier."
"Basic classes resonate with other basic classes, and high-tier classes resonate with other high-tier classes. That's the rule."
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but anticipate the additional benefits that would come from job resonance between high-tier classes.
"Unfortunately, I haven't unlocked any other high-tier classes besides blacksmith."
Shaking his head lightly, Roland turned his attention back to his Job Panel.
[Adept class detected. Job resonance possible.]
[Job Resonance Activated]
[Hunter + Adept]
[Obtained Bonus: Ecologist]
[Ecologist: When engaging enemies, there's a chance to obtain an Ecological Note]
"Ecological Note?"
Roland frowned slightly, lost in thought for a moment.
After a moment, he shook his head gently.
"It's pointless to speculate now. I'll find out what this Ecological Note is when I put it to the test."
Setting the question aside, his gaze continued to sweep across the information on the Job Panel.
[Hunter + Recruit]
[Obtained Bonus: Adaptive Training]
[Adaptive Training: When fighting or exploring in outdoor environments like forests or snowfields, your agility attribute will increase over time. The bonus effect depends on your base agility value]
"Whoa! This is pretty good!"
Roland unconsciously stroked his smooth chin, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"According to this description, my speed will increase the longer I fight in the wilderness? This practically turns forests and snowfields into my home turf!"
Images of himself moving through the jungle like the wind flashed through his mind, and Roland couldn't help but feel exhilarated.
But reason quickly brought him back to reality.
"But what exactly counts as 'wilderness'? How much agility does the bonus provide, and how often? Is there a stacking limit? These questions need further verification."
As Roland pondered this, another line of golden text flashed before his eyes:
Hunter + Blacksmith Apprentice
Gained Additional Bonus: Battlefield Maintenance
Battlefield Maintenance: Increases the durability of weapons held during combat.
"This bonus is also quite practical."
Recalling the earlier bonus, Standardized Production, Roland's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Standardized Production can improve weapon quality through repeated forging, while Battlefield Maintenance extends weapon durability. Combined, wouldn't that mean the weapons I use..."
As he was lost in thought, a faint cough broke through the silence.
"Cough... cough... cough..."
Roland turned to see Darco slowly opening his eyes.
The young noble first glanced around in confusion before his gaze settled on Roland.
"Roland? Oh... right."
Darco shook his groggy head, his voice weak, and even his usually vibrant golden hair seemed to have dimmed slightly.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Not long."
Roland checked Darco's wounds again, confirming there was no serious bleeding. He gently patted his shoulder.
"You can rest a while longer. Don't worry, I'll keep watch. I'll wake you immediately if there's any danger."
"Really... thank you, Roland."
Darco gazed at Roland's slightly weary face, a flicker of guilt in his eyes.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke.
"Roland, is there anything you want? Coins, women... anything I have, I'll give to you."
As if fearing misunderstanding, he quickly added, "I'm not saying this because I'm afraid you'll abandon me. I just want to repay your kindness."
"Heh."
Seeing the sincerity in Darco's eyes, Roland chuckled softly.
He didn't doubt Darco's sincerity.
From the original body's memories, this young noble, though carrying the typical arrogance of his class, had always been generous and kept his word.
But women...
He didn't need them.
As for money, while not abundant, he wasn't yet desperate.
Besides, with the life-or-death bond they now shared, if he ever needed coins in the future, wouldn't Darco provide them, as long as the amount wasn't too large?
Thinking this, Roland half-jokingly tested, "Then I want the Knight's Breathing Technique. Do you have it?"
"Then I want the Knight's Breathing Technique. Do you have it?"
"Uh... well..."
Darco was momentarily speechless.
Recalling his earlier boast, he sniffed and said awkwardly, "I'm sorry, Roland. As a minor noble like myself, I don't have access to a breathing technique."
"Is that so?" Roland raised an eyebrow slightly. "But I remember you always saying you wanted to become a knight. Am I mistaken?"
"I did say that," Darco said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. The movement sent a sharp pain through his wound, causing him to gasp. "But my path to obtaining a breathing technique is rather unique."
"I can enter the Knight Academy through a special noble privilege, bypassing the entrance exam. Only after successfully graduating can I receive the Knight's Breathing Technique. But..." he added with a wry smile, "according to the noble treaty, I'm forbidden from privately teaching it to anyone. I'm truly sorry."
Knight Academy? Noble treaty? These were two more unfamiliar terms.
Seeing Roland's silence, Darco nervously pursed his lips.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Wait! My family does have a secret combat technique!"
"Combat technique?" Roland's attention was immediately drawn back.
"Yes!" Darco said excitedly. "Teaching a combat technique isn't restricted by the noble treaty. I can ask my father to let you examine and study the secret scroll. But..."
His voice trailed off as he remembered his own years of fruitless practice.
"But that combat technique is notoriously difficult to learn. Very few people ever truly master it."
Darco quickly added, seemingly realizing his promise sounded a bit frivolous.
"Still, tell me anything else you want, including that combat technique."
"Alright, alright, Darco."
Seeing the young noble's excitement, Roland gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Right now, the most important thing is for you to recover. We can discuss rewards once we're safely back at the manor, alright?"
"Well, uh..."
Realizing their current predicament, Darco deflated like a frost-bitten eggplant.
"You're right, Roland."
Noticing the young noble's dejected expression, Roland raised an eyebrow.
"But... I actually do need your help right now."
"Help?"
Darco's eyes lit up. If he weren't injured, he'd have slapped his chest and sworn to do anything.
"Just name it! What do you need?"
"Do you have any food on you?"
"Of course. Are you hungry?"
Darco nodded, gesturing with his eyes.
"I have some emergency rations in the pouch at my waist. Take them. As for me..."
He licked his dry lips.
"I... I'm not hungry yet."
"Ha!"
Watching Darco's forced composure, Roland shook his head helplessly.
He took the pouch and untied the thin cord.
Inside were bread, smoked meat, and a large slab of butter.
"This guy's emergency rations are better than what I usually eat," Roland muttered to himself.
He divided the food into two portions and, ignoring Darco's protests, forced one portion into the young noble's mouth.
Then, his gaze turned to the mouth of the cave.
Not far away, a tiny Red Squirrel was happily munching on a pinecone, looking utterly adorable.
(End of the Chapter)
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