Translator: CinderTL
"Another Hidden Profession? Dragonborn..."
Recalling Galvis's grim account of forcibly merging bloodlines, Roland felt no joy this time, only a furrowed brow.
With a slight mental command, the transparent Job Panel slowly unfurled.
Beneath the Race section, a brand-new line of text appeared:
[Human + Dragon Race]
[Current Bloodline Fusion: 1%]
"Wait..."
This sudden change sent a jolt through Roland's heart.
"If the Job Panel displays it like this... is it merely recording the process, or does it mean it can help me mitigate the side effects of bloodline fusion?"
"But... why did the bloodline fusion progress suddenly appear?"
The sensation of boiling blood and scorching Battle Qi clashing during the recent battle resurfaced, and Roland fell into thought.
"Could it be because activating both Battle Frenzy and the overcharged breathing technique created some kind of strange resonance?"
Unable to find an answer, Roland set aside his questions for the moment and continued examining the panel.
"A single battle boosted the Nameless Breathing Technique by over thirty experience points, leveling it up to Tier 3? It seems that, like other skills, combat training far surpasses daily practice. And..."
Roland clenched his fist when he saw the Apprentice Knight job requirements progress from 0/3 to 1/3 for "Organize a small team to defeat a powerful enemy."
"Defeat two more powerful enemies, and I'll meet the job requirements! But..."
His gaze returned to the massive corpse of the Bear Goblin, and he shook his head slightly.
As far as he knew, this was the only demonic beast outside the Mistland with such power.
To find more powerful enemies, he might have to venture deeper into the Mistland.
Just as Roland was lost in thought, staring at the corpse, he noticed something unusual in the glaring sunlight.
He was about to step forward for a closer look when he heard hurried footsteps behind him.
Along with the footsteps came a melodious tune and an exaggeratedly theatrical voice.
"Oh! By the gods! Roland!"
Galvis plucked at his lute strings, leaping lightly beside Roland as if dancing.
His amber eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Look at the miracle you've wrought, my brave warrior! Not only did you personally slay a Bear Goblin, but even more astonishingly..."
The bard's voice trembled slightly with emotion.
"You shattered the barrier of the Shield Spell with pure physical strength!"
"Wait, Galvis," Roland said, his brow furrowed, unmoved by the praise. "Are you saying that transparent barrier was the Shield Spell?"
Roland, having thoroughly studied the ancient texts brought by Bronson, was familiar with this fundamental defensive spell. As one of the most practical first-level spells, the Shield Spell effectively mitigated magical damage. Moreover, if the caster's skill was sufficiently advanced, it could even completely nullify physical attacks.
"Absolutely!" Galvis nodded emphatically, his lute strings vibrating gently with the movement. "I witnessed Elven Elders casting this spell in Eversong Forest years ago. Look..."
Without a care for the blood-soaked ground, the uninhibited bard bent down and struggled to remove a crystal-studded ring from the Bear Goblin's thick finger.
"This ring must be inscribed with Shield Spell runes. Otherwise, how could a Bear Goblin possibly have mastered spellcasting?"
As the cold metal settled into Roland's palm, an irresistible thrill surged through him.
Magical Apparatus like this, inscribed with spell runes, required no elaborate spellcasting preparations. All one needed to do was learn how to channel their mental power to instantly activate the spell sealed within.
This meant that, beyond mere basic tricks, he finally had the chance to master a true spell.
What intrigued him even more was...
Recalling the battle scene, Roland's breath quickened as he remembered the Bear Goblin's near-instantaneous casting of the Shield Spell.
Using this ring, he could bypass the lengthy process of gathering Magic Element and channeling mental power.
If used skillfully, he could deploy a defensive barrier mid-combat, disrupting his enemy's attack rhythm.
Even if the shield couldn't completely block an attack against a powerful foe, buying even a moment's respite could be decisive on the life-and-death battlefield.
"But unfortunately..."
Galvis glanced at the ring's dull, cloudy crystal and clicked his tongue regretfully.
"That Shield Spell just drained all the magic stored in the ring. Now it's just an ordinary trinket."
"It's ironic, really. Mages before the Final Epoch were so extravagant, obsessed with creating these disposable Magical Artifacts."
Hearing this, Roland's lips curved into a subtle smile.
Others might be helpless, but he wasn't.
He knew Bronson, the scholar obsessed with magic research.
And as luck would have it, Bronson's proudest achievement was a spell pattern that could draw free-floating magic from the air.
If he could just get this ring to him...
"Theresa, Galvis..."
Thinking this, Roland scratched his head, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"Could I... I mean, perhaps Mr. Bronson could..."
Just then, a clear voice suddenly called from behind.
"Roland."
Everyone turned to see Avril standing silently in the morning light.
The elf girl's emerald eyes were sparkling with amusement.
"You defeated the Bear Goblin, so the spoils of war are yours to do with as you please."
She winked playfully, then touched her chest with a shudder.
"I was truly terrified just now. If it weren't for you..."
Her slender fingers swept across the group.
"...we might all have become tattered rag dolls beneath that monster's claws."
After Roland spoke, Theresa nodded solemnly in agreement.
As for Galvis, the usually boisterous bard, his lips twitched. Under Avril's meaningful gaze, he managed to force a smile that looked more like a grimace, mechanically nodding in response.
"Thank you all," Roland said, bowing deeply.
He knew full well that without his companions' help, he would have never been able to defeat the Bear Goblin.
Moreover, this demonic beast extermination mission was entirely his personal affair, yet everyone had offered their unwavering support without complaint, save for Galvis's occasional grumbling.
Regardless of their motivations, Roland would never overlook this genuine act of kindness simply because of their friendship.
"If you ever need my help in the future," he said, raising his head and meeting each person's gaze with sincerity. "Please don't hesitate to ask."
Seeing this, the group exchanged smiles.
Theresa tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear and spoke first. "Well then, I won't stand on ceremony, Mr. Roland. I hear the pan-seared silver cod at the Royal Capital Moonview Hall is quite delicious..."
Before she could finish, Avril had already moved like a gentle breeze to Roland's side, her emerald eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Roland, there's no need to go to such extravagant lengths. I'd be perfectly content to simply savor your homemade stew at your home. After all, there's probably no one in the world who understands the art of blending spices better than you."
As Theresa finished speaking, the smile at the corner of her lips subtly stiffened. A vague sense of unease flickered through her heart, though she couldn't pinpoint the reason.
Meanwhile, Galvis was completely oblivious to the subtle tension between the two women. He was furiously wielding his quill, the ink flowing across the parchment like clouds in the wind.
"Don't move! Hold that pose! By the gods, this composition is perfect! The silhouette of the hero standing before the corpse of the demonic beast—I'm writing this scene into the third chapter of 'Ode to Demon Slaying'!"
Watching his companions' chaotic antics, Roland shook his head and chuckled. He then turned toward the Bear Goblin's corpse, squinting in the dazzling midday sun.
Suddenly, his brow furrowed.
His Mithril Longsword flashed, precisely slicing through the demonic beast's thick neck hide. As a foul stench of blood filled the air, several clusters of shimmering, pale blue crystals came into view. Embedded within the flesh like ice crystals, they refracted an eerie glow in the sunlight.
(End of the Chapter)
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