Inside the blacksmith shop early in the morning, Hawk's booming voice echoed through the furnaces as usual.
"Now then, today."
The old blacksmith folded his arms and swept his sharp gaze over the group of apprentice youths before him.
When his eyes passed over Roland's handsome face, he gave an almost imperceptible nod.
"Is the day you'll undergo your assessment!"
Hawk raised his voice.
"Baron Foslin will personally come to observe the assessment later, so give me everything you've got! Is that clear?"
"Yes!"
Upon hearing that their lord was about to arrive, the apprentice youths led by Marco immediately wore expressions mixed with nervousness and excitement.
Although, as blacksmiths' sons, they already belonged to the more highly regarded among commoners, there was still an immense gap between them and nobles with hereditary titles.
Unlike the others, however, Roland felt little turmoil in his heart. Instead, a trace of curiosity welled up within him.
Since transmigrating to this world, he had heard plenty of rumors about Baron Foslin.
The baron was said to live extravagantly and spend money recklessly.
Yet from Roland's observations and the rumors he had heard, although the commoners of Blackwater Territory could hardly be called prosperous, they were nowhere near starving.
If Baron Foslin were truly as extravagantly indulgent as the rumors claimed, then logically, the territory's people should have been living in far greater hardship. They certainly should not have been able to maintain their current basic food and clothing.
Just as Roland was pondering this, a series of uneven footsteps approached from afar.
He looked up and saw a middle-aged man slowly approaching, dressed in an expensive velvet coat, his pale face carrying a faint flush.
The man was tall but somewhat thin, and his every movement carried the reserved bearing unique to nobles.
Two armored guards followed closely behind him, weapons in hand. More eye-catching still was a young man with a sturdy build walking right beside him.
The middle-aged noble's indifferent gaze swept over the apprentice youths without a ripple of emotion. Only when it landed on Hawk did the corners of his lips rise slightly, revealing an almost imperceptible smile.
"Mister Hawk."
Hearing himself called, Hawk immediately stepped forward and bowed.
"Baron, Blacksmith Hawk pays his respects. I await your orders at any time."
Baron Foslin chuckled softly and made a modest gesture toward Hawk's sturdy arm before turning and pointing at the young man beside him.
"This is my son, Darko. I believe you've met him before."
The young man straightened his back and fixed his bright eyes on the group.
"The boy insisted on coming to observe the assessment. I assume you won't mind?"
"It's my honor."
Hawk bowed again and saluted Darko.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the baron changed the subject.
"How are preparations for the apprentice assessment?"
"Everything is ready, Baron."
"Then."
The baron raised a hand gracefully.
"Let's begin."
With that, he walked over to a prepared high-backed chair and lazily settled into it. He propped an elbow on the armrest, rested his cheek in his palm, and yawned carelessly.
Darko was the stark opposite.
The young noble's eyes burned as he scrutinized the apprentice youths. At times he shook his head; at others he nodded, as if secretly judging them.
"Listen up, boys!"
Hawk turned to face the apprentice youths, his booming voice echoing throughout the blacksmith shop.
He waved his large hand toward the neatly arranged anvils.
"Return to your workstations. Study the blueprints carefully and complete the forging within the allotted time!"
"The final assessment will depend entirely on the quality of the finished product!"
"Yes!"
The apprentice youths did not dare delay. They immediately rushed to their assigned stations and hurriedly grabbed the blueprints to study them.
Roland also quickly walked to his position, his eyes falling on the dense annotations and complicated structural diagrams on the blueprint.
"A greatsword?"
His brows lifted slightly as he instantly activated the [Focus] trait.
In an instant, while the other apprentice youths were still frowning and racking their brains, he had already engraved every detail of the blueprint into his mind.
Without the slightest hesitation, Roland turned and walked to the furnace.
He added charcoal, worked the bellows, and heated the ore.
The series of movements flowed as smoothly as water, without the slightest hitch.
When the other apprentice youths had only just put down their blueprints, he had already raised his hammer and begun forging.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
The crisp collision of metal shattered the silence of the blacksmith shop.
"Damn it! How is he so fast?"
When they noticed Roland's astonishing speed, the apprentice youths who had originally been confident changed expressions.
"Hmph! He's probably given up! Look at him. He doesn't even inspect the metal before bringing down his hammer. He must know he won't pass the assessment and just wants to finish quickly and leave!"
After comforting themselves, the apprentice youths began to act one after another.
Soon, the entire blacksmith shop was filled with waves of hammering.
Roland paid no attention to the discussions around him and focused entirely on swinging his hammer.
During the intervals between each strike, he precisely reconstructed the blueprint's details in his mind.
Compared to an ordinary one-handed sword, forging a greatsword was far more difficult.
A thicker, heavier blade; a longer edge; a tapered tip capable of both slashing and thrusting; and a crossguard that had to be crafted with absolute precision.
Every detail was the ultimate test of temperature control and forging skill.
Before changing professions and becoming a blacksmith, forging a greatsword would indeed have been a considerable challenge for Roland.
Even if he succeeded, it would have been difficult for him to create a clear gap between himself and the other apprentice youths.
But things were completely different now.
With the enhancement of the [Basic Forging Technique], he could precisely judge the progress of the forging from the instant the hammer collided with the rough blank.
"Clang!"
As the final hammer fell, Roland did not even look at the piece. He simply clamped the rough blank and placed it back into the furnace.
Under the effect of [Heart of the Furnace], he could sense the condition of the blank as it heated without even opening his eyes.
His smooth, flowing operation made the watching apprentice youths increasingly anxious.
Darko, standing beside Baron Foslin, brightened at the sight and could not help asking Hawk,
"Mister Hawk, that person is..."
He pointed at Roland, who was working the bellows.
"What's his name?"
"His name is Roland."
Although Hawk kept his face tense, the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his emotions.
"What is it? Young Master Darko, interested in him?"
"Indeed."
Darko nodded frankly and chuckled.
"Mister Hawk should know that I'm about to enter the Knight Academy for further study. With my strength..."
He confidently patted his sturdy chest.
"Passing the graduation assessment, obtaining the Knight Breathing Technique, and becoming a formal knight will be no problem at all. However..."
"As a knight, I'll inevitably need a skilled military blacksmith at my side."
"You'll have to ask whether he's willing."
Hawk seemed to have anticipated this. After pondering for a moment, he said,
"That boy's talent in forging is no weaker than mine. After passing this assessment, it probably won't be long before he receives certification from the Blacksmith Guild."
"Once he becomes a formal blacksmith, whether he stays or leaves won't be up to me."
"I understand."
After hearing Hawk's evaluation of Roland, the admiration in Darko's eyes as he looked at Roland again had already transformed into burning desire.
While the two were talking, Roland had completed another round of forging and entered the final polishing stage.
After a long while, Roland gently stroked the brand-new greatsword in his hand and lightly flicked the blade with his fingertip.
As a faint hum rang out, the corners of his lips curved up in satisfaction.
He then turned around smartly and raised the gleaming greatsword high above his head.
"Mister Hawk, I've finished my work."
His clear voice pierced through the waves of hammering, and the ringing of hammers throughout the blacksmith shop abruptly fell silent.
Baron Foslin, who had been dozing against the back of his chair, suddenly sat up straight. A trace of interest flashed through his narrowed eyes as he began carefully examining the young man.
"Don't be ridiculous!"
Master Hawk's bellow exploded like thunder, though it unconsciously softened at the end.
"Have you forgotten the forging process? Check it carefully three more times!"
His thick fingers tapped against the wooden table.
"Once everyone has finished their work, we'll evaluate everything together."
"Yes!"
Before you continue