Translator: CinderTL
As dusk deepened, the fading sunlight cast a golden veil over the training grounds.
Roland, wielding his iron sword, moved with mechanical precision, repeating the Lion Swordsmanship over and over.
Each of his movements was flawlessly standard, flowing like water with barely a flaw to be found.
Clang!
At the sound of a crisp bell, Roland completed the final move of the Lion Swordsmanship, neatly sheathing his sword and ending his training.
Gazing at the steadily growing experience bar for Lion Swordsmanship on his Job Panel, a satisfied smile curved his lips.
"At this rate, I'll reach max level in a few days. Then I can officially become a warrior."
The thought quickened his pulse.
Though both blacksmith and warrior were high-tier classes, blacksmithing was ultimately a life-oriented profession, offering limited combat enhancements.
But what Roland needed most right now was strength.
The mutated demonic beast, the God Theresa had spoken of—all fueled his burning desire for power.
Yet a sudden, searing hunger in his stomach yanked him back to reality.
"I should probably eat first..."
Roland shook his head, casting aside his distracting thoughts. He returned to his dormitory for a quick wash before heading straight to the mess hall.
Under the numb gazes of George and the other blacksmith apprentices, he devoured a four-person portion of dinner in a whirlwind of activity, finally rising from the table with a satisfied sigh.
As dusk deepened, Roland hurried toward the secluded cottage.
Every day at this hour, he met with Bronson to assist in his research and study of ancient script.
His frequent visits had made him so familiar with the routine that he merely tapped lightly on the door as a formality before pushing it open.
In the dim glow of candlelight, Bronson was hunched over the pale skeletal remains, his entire focus consumed by the intricate spell patterns he was carving into the bone.
Perhaps due to his recent regular meals, Roland noticed a hint of color returning to the scholar's previously gaunt face as he looked up.
"You're here, Roland," Bronson murmured, before immediately returning to his work, as if every second wasted was a tragedy.
Roland was already accustomed to Bronson's intense focus.
He deftly pulled an ancient text from the cluttered bookshelf, grabbed parchment and a quill, and settled at the battered wooden table to immerse himself in his studies.
In the quiet room, the only sounds were the faint rasp of the carving knife against the bone surface and the scratching of the quill on parchment.
Time slipped away unnoticed in Roland's focus until a wave of intense dizziness forced him to stop writing.
He shook his head, rose, and walked to a nearby wooden shelf, where he retrieved a glass bottle filled with a pale blue liquid.
He pulled out the stopper and tilted his head back, draining the contents in one gulp.
Instantly, a sharp, icy chill surged down his throat, then spread through his limbs in countless rivulets.
The sudden jolt cleared his drowsy mind, banishing most of his fatigue.
"Roland, it's best to take Energy Potions sparingly," Bronson finally said, setting down the skeletal remains he'd been carving. He rubbed his reddened eyes with his knuckles, his voice hoarse with concern. "Though they work quickly, long-term use carries a risk of addiction."
"I understand, Mr. Bronson," Roland replied, exhaling slowly and gazing at the empty glass bottle.
This was one of the few potions he'd successfully brewed since awakening his alchemy skill. It was thanks to this potion that he could study ancient script while also practicing alchemy.
"Roland."
Bronson watched the young man move with practiced ease toward the wooden table laden with alchemy equipment. He finally couldn't hold back any longer.
"For your age, you're already exceptional. Some things... there's no need to rush so much."
In the flickering candlelight, the young man's movements as he mixed the potion were as fluid and natural as flowing water.
Bronson stared at the scene, complex emotions swirling in his cloudy eyes.
He had spent years immersed in the arduous study of alchemy, only to be ultimately thwarted by his own lack of talent, forcing him to abandon his pursuit halfway through.
Yet here before him was this young man, who had mastered the basic potion-making steps in a mere ten days.
Even more astonishing, the very challenges that had repeatedly stymied Bronson now seemed effortlessly resolved in Roland's hands.
The stark contrast stirred a profound sense of frustration within him.
But Roland remained as calm as still water in the face of Bronson's praise, his hands never faltering in their task.
He focused intently on the potion's transformation within the crucible, and when the liquid reached the amber hue described in the textbook, he immediately and precisely extinguished the flame.
After the potion had completely cooled, Roland carefully poured the liquid into a glass bottle he had prepared earlier.
[You have crafted a finished potion. Basic Alchemy gains 1 experience point.]
Similar to the Basic Forging Technique granted by the blacksmith class, experience points for the Basic Alchemy skill were earned based on the number of successful potions crafted.
Gazing at the golden text that appeared before him, Roland finally allowed his tense nerves to relax.
Only then did he raise his head to respond to Bronson's praise.
"Excellent?"
He still wasn't entirely confident he could defeat a Winged Kobold.
By his own standards, he was far from deserving the title of "excellent."
Thinking this, Roland shook his head.
"Mr. Bronson, I still have a long way to go before I can truly be considered excellent."
This humble response left Bronson momentarily speechless.
In his eyes, this seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth was already a prodigy.
His swordsmanship was so refined that he could slay aberrant demonic creatures. His forging skills had earned repeated praise from Hawk. And his learning ability far surpassed that of ordinary people.
If this wasn't excellent, then what was?
"Roland, what do you consider truly excellent?" Bronson couldn't help but ask.
Hearing the question, Roland continued sorting the herbs, neatly categorizing them as he replied.
"At least... reaching the level of a knight who has mastered extraordinary power. By the way, Mr. Bronson..."
Roland's tone suddenly shifted, his hands never ceasing their work.
"To your knowledge, how would a commoner like me obtain a Knight's Breathing Technique?"
"Knight's Breathing Technique..."
Bronson frowned, his knuckles unconsciously tapping the table with a dull thud.
After a moment, the scholar finally spoke slowly.
"Before the Blood Moon Rebellion in the Golden Valley Kingdom, your talent would have undoubtedly earned you special admission to the Knight Academy. But now..."
"Blood Moon Rebellion?"
Roland's sharp ears caught the unfamiliar term, and his grinding motion with the herbs faltered slightly.
"What's that?"
"Well, Blackwater Territory is remote and wasn't directly affected by the Blood Moon Rebellion. Plus, you were still young back then, so it's normal you haven't heard of it."
Bronson set down the skeletal remains and raised his wooden cup to drink the water within.
After swallowing, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, he finally spoke slowly.
"Unlike the Golden Valley Kingdom today, commoners with exceptional talent once had the opportunity to study at the Knight Academy. Their numbers were quite significant, until that night of the full moon..."
Bronson's voice suddenly grew somber.
"A rebellion erupted in the heart of the kingdom, led by none other than the commoner knights who had graduated from the Knight Academy. As if by prearrangement, they sounded the horns of war simultaneously."
Roland continued grinding the herbs without expression, but his pace noticeably slowed.
"The scale of that war was beyond imagination."
Bronson's gaze drifted into the distance.
"Even while I was studying at the High Tower, I heard much about it."
"It's said that the rebel knights led their armies in indiscriminate attacks against the nobles in the Golden Valley Kingdom's heartland. Blood stained nearly every inch of earth, giving rise to the name 'Blood Moon Rebellion.'"
"And then what happened?"
Roland asked at the opportune moment, the wooden pestle striking the stone mortar with a crisp clack.
"Then?"
Bronson frowned, the wrinkles on his forehead deepening.
"I'm not entirely clear on the details, but I heard the Royal Family of the Golden Valley Kingdom mobilized the Royal Guard Knights and allied with various noble factions. After great effort, they barely managed to suppress the rebellion."
"Following the rebellion, King Monen, fearing further unrest, ordered a massive crackdown on suspected dissidents. Countless innocent people were implicated, and even the interests of many nobles were harmed. The Golden Valley Kingdom was left severely weakened."
The wooden cabin fell silent after Bronson finished speaking.
Roland, recalling Bronson's words, couldn't help but ask, "Why did those commoner knights rebel in the first place?"
"I don't know," Bronson said, spreading his hands. "But after the Blood Moon Rebellion, the Golden Valley Kingdom explicitly forbade teaching the Knight's Breathing Technique to commoners. This prohibition was even written into their noble treaty."
"Those who violate this decree will be charged with treason."
Hearing these words, Roland frowned.
Seeing his expression, Bronson offered a comforting reassurance.
"Roland, the world is vast. While the Golden Valley Kingdom strictly prohibits teaching the Knight's Breathing Technique to commoners, other places may not be so restrictive."
"I understand, Mr. Bronson."
Roland shook his head lightly, temporarily suppressing the complex thoughts swirling in his mind.
As Bronson had said, even if he couldn't obtain the Knight's Breathing Technique in the Golden Valley Kingdom, he could try his luck elsewhere later.
But those possibilities were still too distant for him right now.
His immediate priority was to become a warrior as quickly as possible and successfully brew the potion that activates the Consciousness Shoal to enhance his strength.
With this thought, his mind stirred, and his gaze fell on his Job Panel.
"My Basic Alchemy skill has reached second-tier. Perhaps I can attempt to brew that potion now... But..."
Roland rubbed his temples, his expression tinged with helplessness.
The materials needed to brew the potion that activates the Consciousness Shoal had been completely exhausted during Bronson's previous attempt.
The auxiliary ingredients were easy enough to obtain locally, though they would cost a few extra coins.
However, the main ingredient, Devilfish Eye Fluid, was a rare commodity that couldn't be found anywhere in the Blackwater Territory.
(End of the Chapter)
Translator's Corner
👉 The chapters I upload here on WebNovel are totally FREE, no strings attached. If you are reading here, please support me by leaving reviews, comments and giving the book powerstones. 🙏
📚 Read [KNIGHT] exclusively on the site, upto Ch202!
🔓 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦 — 13 Series (7 Ongoing) | 14+ New Chapters Daily | 7,200+ FREE