Translator: CinderTL
"Everyone," Roland said, taking a deep breath and adjusting his posture to better fit against the carriage wall. "I need a short nap. Wake me when we reach the town."
"Sleep soundly, Roland!" Avril immediately leaned in, patting her not-so-ample chest with a confident air. "With me here, not even a mosquito will dare disturb you!"
Theresa opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately just pursed her lips and added softly, "I'll keep watch around the carriage, Mr. Roland."
Outside, though no words were exchanged, the carriage's noticeable slowdown signaled that Galvis had understood the intent.
"Thank you," Roland murmured.
After expressing his gratitude, he slowly closed his eyes, silently chanting, "Apprentice Knight!"
In an instant, brilliant golden text materialized in the darkness behind his closed eyelids:
[Successfully advanced to Apprentice Knight. Current class: Apprentice Knight]
[Attribute bonuses: Strength +6, Agility +6, Spirit +3]
Before the golden text could fade, an indescribable energy surged from Roland's chest, flowing like a warm current through his limbs and bones.
Unlike previous attribute boosts, this transformation made him tense involuntarily.
This wasn't a simple increase in strength; it was a profound sense of life's fullness.
It was as if a parched riverbed had been flooded by spring rains, or withered branches had sprouted new buds.
The warmth nearly made him hum with pleasure, but remembering the others nearby, he bit down hard on his teeth.
Even more remarkable than the physical changes was the transformation in his mental state.
His thoughts became as clear as a mirror, and every subtle movement around him registered in his mind.
Theresa's shallow breaths, the faint herbal fragrance clinging to Avril, even Galvis's incessant muttering from the carriage seat—all this information flowed into his perception in perfect order, without the slightest hint of chaos.
"This feeling... it's truly extraordinary."
Adjusting to his newfound sensory experience, Roland gazed at the swirling golden text before him, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"Compared to high-tier classes, advanced classes provide nearly double the attribute bonuses, and most importantly..."
Feeling an unprecedented clarity in his mind, Roland instinctively clenched his fists.
"The enhancement of my mental attribute!"
Ever since he had overused Spirit Summoning Potions to qualify for the Juggler class, causing their effects to wane, Roland had been unable to find a stable method to improve his mental attribute.
Now, this long-awaited growth filled him with excitement.
Increased mental power not only meant he could perform tricks more swiftly, but more importantly...
Maintaining his breathing technique during intense combat also consumed a significant amount of mental power.
Over the past month, the awkwardness of trying to focus on both fighting and maintaining his breathing rhythm had been like a fishbone stuck in his throat every time he used the technique in battle.
"Activating the breathing technique during combat significantly boosts my strength, agility, and perception, but the mental distraction of maintaining the rhythm always causes subtle delays in my swordplay."
"This breakthrough in my mental attribute might just compensate for this fatal flaw."
As he was lost in this anticipation, new golden text suddenly bloomed in his vision.
[System Detection: Host has mastered Short Blade Mastery, Polearm Mastery, three max-level Ranged Weapon Combat Skills, and one max-level Shield Blocking/Defense Skill.]
[Calculating...]
[System Detection: Host has received the additional buff: Steel Heart Resonance.]
[Merging...]
[Merge Complete]
[Acquired hidden trait: A Knight Never Dies Empty-Handed]
[A Knight Never Dies Empty-Handed: All things in the world may be used at your command.]
"Besides Hidden Professions, combining skills and additional buffs can actually awaken a hidden trait?"
Before Roland could fully process this unexpected boon, a torrent of complex knowledge flooded his mind, causing his temples to throb violently. A sharp, piercing pain instantly seized him.
When the flood of unfamiliar knowledge finally subsided, he snapped his eyes open, disbelief blazing in his gaze.
Unlike the previous skills he had mastered, such as Short Blade Mastery or Polearm Mastery, which were limited to specific weapon techniques, the so-called "A Knight Never Dies Empty-Handed" lived up to its name.
All things in the world can be used for your purpose!
This ability transcends weapon type limitations, allowing any weapon in hand to move as if it were an extension of your own arm.
Roland unconsciously stroked the Mithril Longsword at his waist, his mind racing with tactical simulations of countless weapon combinations.
He suddenly realized that the most terrifying aspect of this ability wasn't its "use," but its "transformation."
When he gripped a spear, muscle memory would instantly convert it into his most familiar short sword techniques, while the moment he grasped a battleaxe, he could switch to the power delivery methods of a polearm.
"This isn't a simple stacking of weapon masteries," he murmured inwardly, tapping his fingers lightly on the sword hilt. "It's a 'weapon instinct' born from integrating all weapon skills into a single, unified whole."
This extraordinary level of weapon mastery defied all conventional understanding of combat techniques, completely overturning Roland's previous perceptions.
"What's wrong, Roland? Did you have a nightmare?"
Seeing Roland's eyes open, Avril tilted her head and leaned closer, the faint fragrance of herbs and wood from her hair drifting gently with her movement.
She winked playfully.
"The carriage ride must have been uncomfortable. Would you like to..."
She tapped her slender finger on her own shoulder.
"Borrow my shoulder as a pillow?"
As her words fell, Theresa's fingers silently tightened around her sword hilt.
Though her expression remained cold, her knuckles had turned slightly white.
"No need."
Roland shook his head gently, his gaze refocusing on the battlefield.
"It's just... never mind."
Just then, new golden text slowly unfurled in his vision:
[Acquired Trait: Ember Resonance]
[Ember Resonance: When activated, your breathing becomes an invisible vortex, absorbing the sparks from clashing weapons, the mist of spilled blood, and the cries of battle. These elements coalesce within you into golden embers that disperse into nearby allies, significantly boosting their stamina and fighting spirit. As allies are enhanced, they generate varying degrees of fighting spirit based on their own strength, which is then channeled back into you, simultaneously enhancing all your attributes. The effective range depends on your mental attribute.]
"Another buff trait, and this one affects the entire group! Unlike Battle Frenzy, this trait has no drawbacks! What's more..."
After carefully studying the trait's description, Roland's breathing quickened.
"If the description is accurate, then that means... the stronger my allies are, the greater the feedback I receive, and the more pronounced the effect on enhancing my own attributes! In that case..."
Roland glanced around, turning his gaze to the other two occupants of the carriage.
Theresa, though slightly lacking in strength, possessed astonishing speed, and her combat prowess had been steadily improving throughout their recent battles. With divine blessings, it was only a matter of time before she entered the Transcendent Realm.
As for Avril...
Though Roland still hadn't fully grasped the true extent of the elf girl's abilities, he estimated she was at least among the top tier of Extraordinary Realm practitioners.
And then there was Galvis...
While the bard remained tight-lipped about his true strength, Roland was deeply impressed by his wide-ranging mind control abilities and unique skill in imbuing weapons with subtle properties.
If I were to activate this trait and fight alongside these three...
Pulling his thoughts back from their drift, Roland shook his head almost imperceptibly.
"But I still don't know the exact magnitude of the enhancement I'll receive after receiving feedback from my allies. I'll need to conduct further experiments later."
As he pondered this, Galvis's exaggerated, melodramatic voice drifted from the carriage's front.
"Esteemed Demon-Slaying Heroes!"
With the carriage's sudden stop, the bard drew out his words.
"Prepare yourselves to bask in the adoration of the masses!"
(End of the Chapter)
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