Translator: CinderTL
Although Roland wasn't sure how long it would take him to master the seafaring techniques Hoby had taught him, he was accustomed to preparing for the worst.
So, before setting sail, he had commissioned a bard to gather intelligence on pirates in the nearby waters.
"You mean... news about the pirates?" Galvis's face lit up with excitement.
"Hey, Roland! I forgot to ask earlier—when you asked me to investigate the pirates, were you planning... to wipe them out?"
Seeing Roland nod slightly, the bard immediately strummed his lute.
"I knew it! The hero's footsteps never falter! Oh, praise this..."
"Stop, Galvis..."
Roland rubbed his throbbing temples and tapped the stone table before him.
"Let's get down to business!"
"Alright, alright..."
Realizing Roland had no interest in his impromptu performance, Galvis shrugged helplessly and turned serious.
"As far as I know, the pirates near the River Domain Nations have suddenly vanished in recent months. For at least three months, there haven't been any reports of merchant ships being raided."
"Rumor has it they've all been recruited by the 'Wolf King' of the Mistland. But while the Mistland is vast, its coastal side is riddled with reefs and cliffs, offering no suitable harbors for ships to dock."
"So many pirates must have a base somewhere, right? Yet their hideout has always been a mystery. An ordinary person would never be able to track them down, but..."
Galvis's eyebrows began to dance wildly, his eyes gleaming with an undisguised eagerness to be asked more.
Roland sighed, rubbed his forehead, and asked slowly, "So... you've discovered their hideout, haven't you?"
"Exactly!"
With a triumphant flourish, the bard puffed out his chest and declared, "They're hiding in Howling Gorge right now!"
"Howling Gorge?"
The vaguely familiar name gave Roland pause. After a moment's thought, he remembered why it sounded familiar.
During his meeting with the halfling captain Trevor, the captain had mentioned this very place.
It was in the Howling Gorge that Trevor encountered a bizarre demonic beast and nearly met his end in its belly.
If Theresa hadn't intervened to save him, Roland might never have had the chance to meet the captain.
With this in mind, Roland looked up and asked, "Where's Theresa?"
Since Theresa had been aboard Trevor's ship at the time, she would undoubtedly know the exact location and general terrain of the Howling Gorge. This information was crucial for Roland's plan to eradicate the pirates.
"That woman? Hah..." Galvis sighed, glancing at the darkening sky before reluctantly answering, "At this hour, she's likely at the Adventurer's Guild, picking and choosing suitable commissions..."
"I see," Roland nodded slightly, placing his belongings on the stone table and organizing them as he continued, "How's the war in the Mistland going?"
Avril had set out half a month ago. Although the Mistland wasn't close to the capital, that should have been enough time for the vanguard to clash with the Wolf King's forces.
"The situation... isn't looking good."
The bard spoke with a light tone, even a hint of barely perceptible amusement.
"Avril's letter says the Mistland's environment is eerily strange. The River Domain Nations' forces are advancing cautiously, yet they haven't even caught a glimpse of the Wolf King's main forces. It seems they'll be stuck there for quite some time, unable to return anytime soon."
When he mentioned Avril's prolonged absence, a flicker of excitement and satisfaction crossed Galvis's face.
Roland frowned deeply.
Though the River Domain Nations occupied a small territory and their military strength was somewhat inferior to neighboring countries, they should still have several transcendent professionals stationed within their ranks.
Even with such forces, was the campaign progressing so slowly?
As if sensing Roland's doubts, Galvis leisurely set down his harp, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
"Exploring the Mistland and defeating the Wolf King is undoubtedly a top priority. However, the rulers of the River Domain Nations can't afford to drain their resources and neglect their homeland's security. So while they have sent some powerful individuals... their numbers are certainly limited."
Hearing this explanation, Roland nodded in understanding.
"In that case..."
Roland gathered his belongings from the stone table, turned, and headed for the exit.
"When Theresa returns, tell her to stay put. I need to ask her something."
"Alright, no problem. But..."
Watching Roland's retreating figure, Galvis raised his voice.
"Roland! It's getting dark! Where are you going?"
"The Blacksmith's Guild."
"What about my dinner?"
"Figure it out yourself."
As Roland closed the courtyard gate, he added, "Don't forget to bring a portion for Mr. Bronson too."
Ignoring the bard's crestfallen expression, Roland strode away.
He boarded a small boat and set course for the Blacksmith's Guild.
As he passed a fork in the river, his gaze swept over the area still heavily guarded by soldiers.
He could sense that the concentration of magic elements within the sealed zone seemed even denser than before.
Roland frowned slightly, but ultimately shook his head and stepped through the guild's entrance.
After a brief greeting with Dwarf Noel at the front desk, Roland eagerly retreated to his private workshop.
He laid out his tools one by one, then immersed himself completely in inscribing spell patterns onto the surface of the equipment.
Unlike his clumsy first attempt, which had taken nearly a month, Roland's speed in inscribing spell patterns had soared thanks to his significantly enhanced attributes, numerous traits, and buffs.
Practice makes perfect. Before nightfall, he had completed the final spell pattern inscription requirements for becoming an enchanter.
Opening his Job Panel, Roland confirmed that all requirements for the enchanter class were met and nodded in satisfaction.
As usual, he meticulously destroyed all tools bearing spell patterns before taking a deep breath and silently intoning:
"Become an enchanter!"
Instantly, the familiar golden subtitles appeared before him:
Detected: Eligible for advanced class: Enchanter
Requirements: Strength 4, Agility 3, Spirit 7, Basic Forging Technique Lv.MAX, Basic Magic Theory Lv.MAX, Successfully inscribed spell patterns on tools (300/300)
Confirm class change?
"Confirm class change!"
Class change successful. Current class: Enchanter
Attribute bonuses gained: Strength +2, Agility +2, Spirit +6
As the subtitles faded, a familiar warm current surged through his body once more.
Perhaps because his base strength and agility were already quite substantial, the increases in these attributes didn't produce any noticeable changes.
However, the massive surge of six points in his mental attribute felt as if an invisible hand had suddenly squeezed Roland's brain.
An indescribable sensation surged from the depths of his consciousness.
Unlike the usual experience of clear and lucid thinking, this felt...
As if his mental tendrils had abruptly extended, even faintly touching the edge of some invisible yet resilient barrier.
"Huff..."
After an indeterminate amount of time, Roland slowly recovered from this strange shock.
He exhaled deeply, carefully examined himself, and finding no immediate abnormalities, turned his attention back to the Job Panel.
Detected: Host has mastered Lv.MAX Basic Forging Technique and Lv.MAX Basic Magic Theory. Initiating skill fusion...
A moment later, the text quietly updated.
Fusion complete.
Skill learned: Elemental Imprint Lv.1
Before Roland could fully grasp the details, a vast and profound torrent of new knowledge flooded his mind.
(End of the Chapter)
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