Simple Folk

Early morning, just as dawn was breaking, Darko's eyes snapped open.

The young noble glanced at the paling sky outside the window and let out a lazy yawn.

After regaining his senses, he slowly rose from the downy bedding.

The servant who had been waiting by the door heard the movement and immediately knocked lightly.

"Young Master Darko, are you awake?"

"Mhm."

With the nasal tone characteristic of someone just waking up, Darko rubbed his sleepy eyes.

"You may come in."

"Yes, sir."

The door opened, and several well-trained servants pushed a carved walnut cart into the room.

Under their professional and attentive service, Darko quickly completed his morning routine of washing, dressing, and eating.

Once everything was in order, he leaned on his oak cane and, surrounded by his personal attendants, walked outside.

They passed through a slightly damp, gravel path and arrived near the estate's stables.

Darko looked around and soon spotted a handsome young man.

He was currently holding a brush and standing in front of a black horse.

The morning light outlined his tall, yet not thin, figure.

Around seventeen or eighteen years old, his features had shed their childishness, with a high nose bridge, a sharp jawline, and amber eyes that seemed particularly keen in the dim light.

His excess black hair was neatly tied back, with a few stray strands falling onto his forehead, making his skin appear even paler.

Although hidden beneath his inner lining, a glimpse of his chainmail was enough to tell it was exceptionally fine, its silver-gray metal rings gleaming coldly in the morning sun.

His outer dark brown linen robe billowed slightly in the wind, revealing the iron sword hanging at his waist.

The scabbard was plain, but the leather on the hilt was worn smooth, clearly indicating frequent use.

His boots were slightly muddy, and his wrists were wrapped in leather guards, giving him an air of competence and steadiness.

"Scrape, scrape, scrape!"

The brush rhythmically swept across the black horse's back, tracing smooth arcs on its glossy coat.

As fine dust fell with each movement, Roland knelt on one knee, carefully lifting the black horse's front hoof.

The edge of the horseshoe was caked with dried mud.

With a crisp clack as the iron hook scraped against it, brown dirt peeled away, falling to the ground.

The final step was washing.

The wooden bucket tilted slightly, and a stream of silvery water was poured over the horse's back, washing away any remaining grass and dust.

The black horse suddenly shuddered, its mane flying.

The moment countless crystal-clear water droplets soared into the air, a line of golden text slowly appeared in his vision.

[You have successfully completed a horse cleaning task, gaining 1 experience point]

But Roland merely glanced at it, his hands not stopping.

He took out a dry cake mixed with hay and oats from the saddlebag, his broad palms rubbing gently, breaking the cake into bite-sized pieces.

Just as the black horse obediently lowered its head to eat from his palm, another line of golden text appeared.

[You have completed a horse feeding task, gaining 1 experience point]

"If I'm not mistaken..."

Roland gently stroked the black horse's mane, his fingertips weaving through its thick hair, his thoughts drifting.

"If I train Cleaning Horse, Feeding Horse, and Basic Riding Skill all to max level, I should be able to trigger a profession like Groom."

"I just don't know what the traits of this profession will be. And what kind of extra benefits it will bring if it resonates with other professions."

Thinking of this, Roland's mind stirred, and a semi-transparent profession panel immediately appeared before his eyes.

[Name: Roland]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 17]
[Profession: Blacksmith Apprentice, Rookie, Learner, Blacksmith, Hunter]
[Strength: 7.8]
[Agility: 4.7]
[Spirit: 1.8]
[Skills: Lv.2 Basic Forging Technique (6/200), Lv.MAX Basic Swordsmanship, Lv.MAX General Knowledge, Lv.MAX Mithril Body Tempering Method, Lv.MAX Basic Archery, Lv.MAX Basic Dagger Techniques, Lv.MAX Basic Spear Techniques, Lv.3 Lionheart Swordsmanship (18/300), Lv.1 Momentum Slash (12/100), Lv.1 Basic Riding Skill (18/100), Lv.1 Cleaning Horse (8/100), Lv.1 Feeding Horse (8/100)]

[Trait: Humble Apprentice, Preparation, Focus, Animal Companion, Heart of the Furnace]

[Bonus: Tempered Steel, Theory and Practice, Standardized Production, Ecological Scholar, Adaptive Training, Battlefield Maintenance]

Roland's lips curved slightly as his gaze swept over the dense "MAX" markings on the panel.

"Half a month's work. Not bad."

Half a month of grueling practice had increased his Strength and Agility by 0.2 and 0.1 respectively.

As for cleaning and feeding horses, and riding skills, he had specifically asked Darko to take him to the stables to trigger those.

Seeing his enthusiasm, Darko had even generously gifted him this black horse.

And just as he had predicted, basic combat skills, such as Basic Dagger Techniques, Basic Spear Techniques, and Basic Archery, were all capped at level two, just like Basic Swordsmanship.

With the boost from the [Preparation] trait, he had quickly maxed them all out.

"I'm only one skill away from the five max-level combat-related skills required to transfer to Warrior: Lionheart Swordsmanship."

It wasn't that he didn't want to learn other combat skills. It was just that the manor guards were mostly skilled in battlefield combat, and thus, in terms of combat techniques, they were more proficient in swordsmanship and spear techniques.

If Darko hadn't found an old soldier who had been a mercenary, he wouldn't even have learned Basic Dagger Techniques.

"But it's fine. I'm going to hunt monsters next anyway. With the [Theory and Practice] trait, Lionheart Swordsmanship should be maxed out quickly."

Just as Roland was lost in thought, a voice suddenly called out to him.

"Roland!"

Following the sound, he saw Darko, leaning on his familiar oak cane, hobbling towards him surrounded by several servants.

"How is it?"

Darko patted the horse's neck, his tone carrying a hint of pride.

"Black Wind is quite good, isn't he?"

Black Wind was the name Darko had given the black horse.

Although it was a bit cliché, Roland didn't mind and went along with it.

"He's a good boy."

Roland smiled faintly, stroking the horse's back.

As his fingertips met the silky smooth fur, his eyes showed approval, but his heart sighed softly.

It wasn't that he was dissatisfied with the horse. It was that when he used the [Animal Companion] trait to communicate with Black Wind, the effect was far from what he expected.

If the Red Squirrel Qiao in the forest had the intelligence of a teenager, then Black Wind was at most like a child of three to five years old.

He could understand simple commands but struggled with more complex communication.

Because of this, his efficiency in practicing riding skills wasn't as high as he had imagined.

"When are you planning to set off?"

Darko asked, simultaneously unbuckling a beautifully decorated dagger from his waist.

The silver scabbard gleamed with a soft luster in the setting sun, and the hilt was intricately carved with a family crest.

"Take this. If you run into any trouble, show it to the Sheriff of Pine Wood Town. He'll recognize it as my personal item."

Roland frowned slightly, his fingertips gently rubbing the scabbard.

The luxurious feel made him instinctively want to refuse, but when he looked up, he met Darko's sincere gaze.

"Then I won't be polite."

"That's more like it!"

Seeing that Roland didn't thank him this time, Darko burst into laughter and clapped Roland heavily on the shoulder with his broad palm.

Then, he suddenly leaned forward and lowered his voice, saying.

"When you get back, you have to tell me all about what it's like to be an adventurer."

The young noble glanced stealthily at the surrounding servants and complained.

"I've been cooped up for the past half-month, my bones are practically rusting! Heaven knows when my father will allow me to go hunting again."

"Hahaha!"

Roland was amused by his dejected expression.

"We have to wait for your leg injury to heal, right?"

"I doubt it."

Darko pouted and shook his head, feigning sorrow.

As they chatted, Roland nimbly mounted the horse.

Under Darko's watchful eye, the man and horse gradually disappeared down the forest path on the east side of the manor.

The journey was unexpectedly peaceful, with only the changing scenery reminding him of their progress.

The initially wide road gradually narrowed, while the pine trees on either side grew taller and denser.

As dusk began to fall, the mottled walls of Pine Wood Town finally appeared at the end of the road.

The guards at the gate stared intently at Roland's clear, handsome face, their brows furrowed. "Regardless of whether you're a mercenary or a so-called adventurer," the guard said stiffly.

He paused, slightly annoyed. "Remember, don't cause trouble in town, understand?"

From his impatient expression and curt tone, it was clear the guard had been thoroughly worn out by the mercenaries and adventurers constantly passing through town.

Smiling and nodding, Roland dismounted, leading his horse through the walls and into Pine Wood Town.

The streets were much more crowded than he had imagined.

Roland walked slowly, leading his horse. His boots crunched on the muddy ground mixed with horse dung, and the air was filled with a mingling scent of ale, sweat, and rust.

The crooked wooden houses on either side leaned against each other as if they might collapse at any moment.

Beneath leather armor hung to dry on a windowsill, several unsheathed daggers dripped water.

The horse suddenly snorted restlessly.

Roland followed its gaze.

He saw a thin figure in leather armor in the alley's shadows, wiping a blood-stained longsword, while a sack at his feet wriggled strangely.

Just as their eyes met, three drunken mercenaries suddenly burst through the tavern door, staggering out.

Roland sidestepped the splashing beer foam and instinctively glanced inside the tavern.

He saw a one-eyed waitress tearing a bandage with her teeth to dress a patron's wound, her right hand constantly resting on the sharp dagger at her waist.

"Bang!"

With a dull thud, wood chips rained down from overhead.

The sounds of fighting erupting from the tavern's second floor drew everyone's attention.

The moment a figure crashed through a wooden window and fell, the skewer vendor on the street skillfully lifted an oilcloth to cover his grill.

Roland keenly noticed that he made a distinct blocking motion as he lifted the cloth, and a half-section of a metal bracer was faintly visible beneath his greasy apron.

"What a place this is, not a town at all, but a small military camp!"

"New here?"

As he marveled inwardly, an old man smoking a pipe in front of the blacksmith shop suddenly spoke.

In the glow of the embers, an old arrow scar on his neck was faintly visible.

Before Roland could reply, the old man pointed his pipe stem towards the stone building in the center of town.

A crossed sword and axe banner hung under the porch there.

"That's the Adventurer's Guild."

"Uh, thanks."

Nodding slightly in gratitude, Roland led his horse towards the wooden post at the entrance of the Adventurer's Guild.

Just as he was about to tie up Black Wind, a fierce argument suddenly erupted from inside the guild.

"Get out and look in a horse's piss to see what you are! You think you can compete with me for commissions?"

Before the words even finished, the guild's heavy wooden door was violently kicked open from within.

Immediately after, a tall, burly man tumbled out disgracefully, rolling down the steps and landing in the muddy street.

Then, a hulking man nearly two meters tall stepped out, cursing. His gleaming bald head was covered in dark blue tattoos that glinted fiercely in the dim sunlight.

He strode down the steps and delivered several more kicks to the man on the ground, only spitting with lingering dissatisfaction after the latter had curled up and stopped moving.

As the bald giant looked up, his gaze happened to sweep over Roland standing nearby, a flicker of contempt in his eyes.

However, when his gaze fell upon Black Wind beside Roland, his fierce eyes suddenly lit up, gradually filling with greed.

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