Translator: CinderTL
Activating his Focus trait, Roland deeply imprinted the contents of the worn scroll into his mind, then meticulously compared it against his copied version.
After confirming there were no errors or omissions, he solemnly rolled up the ancient parchment scroll.
Just then, a crisp knock sounded at the door, followed by Nielsen's timely inquiry from outside.
"Mr. Roland, have you finished copying?"
Hearing this, Roland immediately rose and opened the door.
"Thank you, Mr. Nielsen..." he murmured, handing the age-worn parchment scroll back to Nielsen. "I've completed the transcription."
"Are you certain nothing was omitted?"
Seeing Roland nod firmly, Nielsen's face lit up with a smile.
"In that case, if Mr. Roland has no further business..." He gestured toward the mountain of documents piled on the wooden table, adding apologetically, "Please forgive me for not being able to continue your company, as..."
Roland understood Nielsen's subtle dismissal, but instead of leaving, he spoke up.
"I apologize for the intrusion, Mr. Nielsen, but there is one more matter I wished to consult you on."
"In that case, please have a seat." Nielsen gestured toward a chair.
Once they were seated again, Nielsen personally picked up the teapot and refilled Roland's empty teacup with steaming tea, wisps of vapor curling upward.
After completing these formalities, he finally spoke.
"Mr. Roland, do you have any questions? I'll answer them to the best of my knowledge."
"It's like this..."
Seeing Nielsen's patience, Roland briefly explained his intention to search for traces of pirates in the nearby waters.
After hearing Roland's explanation, Nielsen frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then slowly spoke.
"Forgive me, Mr. Roland, but before answering your question, allow me to ask one of my own..."
He lifted his teacup and took a small sip.
"Do you have any... entanglements with the pirates in these waters?"
"Not at all," Roland replied with a gentle shake of his head.
He simply needed to fulfill the job advancement requirements for the Pirate class.
Of course, he couldn't reveal the existence of the Job Panel to Nielsen. He carefully chose his words, offering a somewhat strained explanation.
"Mr. Nielsen, I merely wish to... hone my combat technique through practical experience."
"I see."
Nielsen didn't press further upon hearing this reason.
Having served at the Knight Academy for many years, he was accustomed to young men like Roland, eager to improve themselves through battle.
"Then, Mr. Roland, there's truly no need to provoke those desperate outlaws at sea. In fact..."
The white-haired elder frowned deeply, his voice slow and grave.
"Are you aware of the Wolf King, the villain whose actions have grown increasingly brazen recently?"
Seeing Roland nod, he continued.
"Through some unknown means, he has recently consolidated all the pirate factions in the surrounding seas."
"Under his strict orders, these pirates have now retreated to the vicinity of the Mistland, near the Wolf King's lair. Combined with the Mistland's own treacherous weather phenomena, the area is exceedingly dangerous."
"Although we are preparing a joint operation to eradicate the Wolf King, this will be a long-term undertaking. Therefore..."
Looking at the exceptionally talented young man before him, Nielsen earnestly advised,
"If you wish to hone your combat skills, I suggest seeking out bandits roaming within the kingdom's borders or smaller groups of demonic beasts. These targets would be far more prudent."
"I understand," Roland replied slowly, nodding after hearing Nielsen's warning.
His recent intelligence gathering had already made it clear that the Wolf King was no ordinary foe.
The fact that even the Merchant Faction, with its extraordinary power, felt compelled to meticulously plan against him spoke volumes about the danger he posed.
For Roland, who had yet to break through to the extraordinary realm, to venture alone into the treacherous Mistland?
It would be akin to sticking his neck into a noose.
It seems my plans to become a pirate will have to be put on hold for now...
He thought to himself, but Nielsen's words sparked another idea.
But perhaps I could apply to join the Merchant Faction's operation to eliminate the Wolf King?
Let them engage the Wolf King head-on, while I sneak into the pirates' camp and plunder their ships...
The plan flashed through his mind, but he didn't immediately propose it to Nielsen.
After all, it was still a rough draft.
Even if Nielsen agreed, Roland's knowledge of the Mistland was limited to tavern tales of horror and fragmented intelligence.
The Merchant Faction hadn't launched their operation yet, clearly lacking sufficient confidence in understanding the Wolf King's lair and the Mistland's mysteries, and were still gathering information.
Patience was the best approach.
When the Merchant Faction had everything prepared and was ready to move, it wouldn't be too late to make his request.
With Avril, the Shadow Veil member who often appeared uninvited, he was certain he wouldn't miss the Merchant Faction's call to arms.
Having made up his mind, Roland exchanged a few more pleasantries with Nielsen before turning to leave the room.
As the door closed behind him, Roland didn't hesitate, immediately setting off on his journey home.
Back at his residence, he greeted Galvis and Bronson, signaling them to keep outsiders away unless there was an emergency. Then, he retreated into his room.
Bright sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the room in a golden glow.
Carefully unfolding the copied Breathing Technique Scroll on the sturdy oak table, he took a deep breath, clearing his mind of lingering excitement. He focused all his attention on the scroll's opening passage, the starting point of the "Basic Rhythm."
He sat upright at the table, his Focus trait activating instantly. His spine straightened like a spear, banishing all extraneous thoughts.
Following the scroll's instructions, he first adjusted his posture, aligning his spine as an invisible central support while relaxing his muscles, maintaining an inner tension. This seemingly simple adjustment revealed an unprecedented, exacting demand for subtle bodily balance.
Next came the breathing.
"Guide the breath of life, follow the inner path..."
Roland closed his eyes and began practicing the scroll's meticulously precise rhythm.
Inhaling wasn't merely expanding his lungs; it required conscious guidance of his breath, like a warm, gentle stream flowing slowly through his nostrils and descending along the core energy pathway depicted on the scroll, which ran between his chest and abdomen.
He had to precisely control the breath's flow rate and depth, pausing almost imperceptibly at a specific, extremely subtle point.
The scroll called this "Node Suspension."
On his first attempt, his breathing immediately went awry.
Even with the aid of his Focus trait, his consciousness couldn't clearly locate the supposed core pathway. His breath merely surged blindly between his chest and abdomen, making "Node Suspension" impossible.
He felt a strange tightness in his chest, his breathing rhythm instantly disrupted. He had to open his eyes and gasp for air, fine beads of sweat already forming on his forehead.
"Practicing the Knight's Breathing Technique is even harder than I imagined..."
Roland wiped away the sweat, but his eyes showed no sign of discouragement. Instead, they burned with renewed focus.
He gazed intently at the scroll again, imprinting every twist, turn, and pause of the illustrated pathway and textual descriptions into his mind, as if memorizing the most complex spell runes.
After a moment, he closed his eyes again and began his second attempt.
This time, he slowed down, focusing his entire mind inward.
He no longer sought speed, but precision and stability.
His consciousness became like the most delicate probe, carefully tracing the sensations described in the scroll.
Inhale, guide with awareness, sink...
He strained to perceive the flow of breath within his body, searching for the crucial node beneath his sternum.
Exhale, no longer a simple expulsion.
Instead, he willed his consciousness to guide the nascent energy—newly awakened within his body—along a finer, almost imperceptible pathway that seemed to connect to the extremities. The energy diffused slowly and evenly.
The scroll called this process "Residual Infusion."
Yet, just as the breath was about to transition from the core pathway to the peripheral channels, a momentary lapse in his focus caused the fragile flow of energy to collapse abruptly, like a candle extinguished by the wind.
Simultaneously, his left biceps twitched involuntarily, sending a wave of tingling numbness through his arm.
This was the manifestation of failed energy guidance, the dissipated energy surging into his muscles.
(End of the Chapter)
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