Translator: CinderTL
The battle was utterly one-sided.
Under the blinding sunlight, the clearing was a scene of carnage.
Besides Roland and Theresa, only the mangled limbs of demonic beasts and pools of blood remained.
"Hoo..."
Breathing in the pungent smell of blood, Roland exhaled deeply, instinctively hefting the long-handled axe in his hand.
Though he had slain all the demonic beasts, he had relied more on brute strength than on refined mounted combat skills.
Even though he had maxed out his Riding Skill and several Polearm Mastery techniques, his movements on Black Wind during the charge and sudden stops still betrayed a hint of awkwardness.
But...
"I've finally met all the requirements to become a Knight's Squire."
A slight smile played on Roland's lips as he looked at the Job Panel's requirements for the High-Tier Class Knight's Squire.
"I wonder what traits the Knight's Squire will have, and what additional benefits it will grant when it resonates with other high-tier classes..."
As his thoughts raced, a clear voice interrupted him.
"Mr. Roland..."
Looking up, he saw Theresa shaking the blood from her rapier and walking toward him.
She gazed up at the tall young man on horseback, her azure eyes still wide with shock from his earlier, overwhelming display of force.
"I apologize, Mr. Roland. As per our agreement, I shouldn't have attacked the demonic beasts, but..."
"It's alright."
Roland waved his hand magnanimously.
There were over 130 demonic beasts on the field. Even riding Black Wind, he had no chance of killing them all before they scattered. Theresa cleaning up stragglers at the edge was perfectly reasonable.
"So, is the cargo we're looking for here?"
"No."
Theresa shook her head gently. "I thoroughly searched this clearing earlier, but none of the scattered goods bear the merchant caravan's mark."
"Then let's keep searching ahead."
Roland dismounted, gently stroking Black Wind's flanks as the horse panted from the intense battle. Activating his Rider's Eye, he confirmed that his mount was merely fatigued. He then retrieved some grass cakes from his saddlebag and fed them to Black Wind.
"I noticed the demonic beasts were all transporting the cargo forward," Roland suggested.
"Alright."
Having witnessed Roland's overwhelming power, Theresa naturally deferred to his judgment. After slicing off the ears of all the demonic beasts and placing them in a prepared pouch, she followed closely behind him.
The dense forest ahead had been cleared by the demonic beasts, creating a wide path that the two of them passed through with ease.
As they ventured deeper, a massive cave entrance suddenly loomed before them.
"This must be..."
Roland frowned as he gazed at the opening, which stood three times his height, and the scattered goods surrounding it.
"The demonic beasts' storage depot," Theresa said, quickly scanning the area. After confirming there were no other demonic beasts in sight and no sounds of commotion coming from within the cave, she nodded lightly.
"Mr. Roland, please keep watch at the entrance. I'll go inside to investigate more thoroughly."
"No problem."
Although the earlier battle hadn't exhausted Roland much, a brief rest wouldn't hurt.
Besides, this was the perfect opportunity to complete his job advancement to knight's squire.
Theresa's strength, though far inferior to his, was more than sufficient to handle ordinary demonic beasts.
With this in mind, Roland cautioned her.
"If you encounter danger, don't try to fight it head-on. Retreat immediately, and we'll face it together."
"Understood."
Watching Theresa's figure disappear into the depths of the cave, Roland eagerly opened his Job Panel.
He held his breath, his mind focused.
"Job advance to knight's squire!"
[Detected: Eligible for the High-Tier Class Knight's Squire]
[Requirements: Strength 8, Agility 8, 2/2 max-level Horse Taming skills, 3/3 max-level Short-Handled Weapon Related Skills, 3/3 max-level Long-Handled Weapon Related Skills, 1/1 max-level Ranged Weapon Related Skill, 100/100 mounted kills]
[Would you like to accept this class?]
"Confirm!"
[Class Accepted. Current Class: Knight's Squire]
[Attribute Bonuses: Strength +3, Agility +3]
As the subtitles faded, a wave of warm, invigorating energy surged through Roland's body.
However, perhaps because his attributes were already relatively high, he didn't experience the dramatic physical changes he had when he first became a warrior.
Instead, his body felt as if it had been reforged by an invisible hand, every inch now dense and solid like fine iron.
He flexed his arms, noticing a subtle, almost imperceptible smoothness in his movements—as if a rusty hinge had been oiled anew.
Before Roland could fully appreciate the changes, another line of golden text slowly materialized before his eyes:
[Detected: Host has mastered three Long-Handled Weapon Related Skills. Merging in progress.]
A moment later, the text subtly shifted:
[Merging Complete]
[Polearm Mastery Acquired, Current Level: Lv.1]
As the subtitles slowly faded, the situation mirrored the moment he had taken the [Warrior] class.
The skills and knowledge of various long-handled weapons flooded his mind like a tidal wave.
In an instant, techniques that had once required countless repetitions to master now felt as natural as breathing.
"Polearm Mastery, Short Blade Mastery, and Steel Heart Resonance... Doesn't that mean I can now wield and master all melee weapons with effortless ease?"
Lost in thought, the subtitles for his class trait slowly emerged.
[Trait Acquired: Riding Synchronization]
[Riding Synchronization: During mounted combat, the mount's movements become seamlessly integrated with your attacks. Your weapon swings, parries, and charging thrusts flow effortlessly, unaffected by bumps, turns, or sudden stops. When your mount charges, your spear can harness its momentum for a powerful thrust. When your mount sidesteps, your blade will naturally slash horizontally. Even when your mount rears up, your downward chop can leverage its force to amplify its impact. Whether it's an ordinary warhorse, a ferocious demon beast, or a mechanical vehicle, as long as you can ride it, its movements become an extension of your combat prowess.]
"This trait is amazing!"
Recalling the slight stiffness he'd felt during his riding attack earlier, Roland clenched his fists in excitement upon seeing this trait.
"And this mount isn't limited to horses! If I can use the Rider's Eye to capture a powerful mount in the future..."
As he was lost in thought, Theresa slowly emerged from the cave, waving to Roland.
"Mr. Roland, I found the goods from the commission inside the cave, and they're remarkably well-preserved. Considering that..."
Anticipating the generous reward that was about to be his, the usually aloof silver-haired woman couldn't help but curve her lips into a slight smile.
"In that case..."
"ROAR!!!"
Just then, a sound erupted from the distance, like thunder tearing through the sky or a furious roar from the abyss.
It carried a tangible shockwave that violently pierced their eardrums, causing their skulls to buzz.
"What was that?"
Roland frowned, digging at his ears. Before he could identify the source of the sound, Black Wind beside him suddenly let out a piercing neigh, collapsed to the ground with a thud, and began foaming at the mouth, his limbs convulsing violently.
"Black Wind!"
Roland's heart sank. As he was about to bend down to check on the horse, the pouch at his waist suddenly began to churn violently.
He opened it to find Joe, who had been quietly munching on food, now lying unconscious with eyes rolled back.
"Joe? Joe!"
Just as Roland was becoming flustered, a suppressed groan of agony suddenly erupted from behind him.
"Ugh!"
Roland spun around to see Theresa kneeling on the ground.
Her hands were clamped tightly over her ears, knuckles white from the strain. Her beautiful face was contorted in a mask of pain, her heroic brows furrowed in a deep frown. Veins bulged prominently on her forehead, and her silver hair clung damply to her sweat-soaked brow.
"Theresa? Theresa!"
Roland immediately knelt beside her, gently supporting the silver-haired woman's shoulder.
"Hey! Can you hear me? How do you feel—"
As Roland gently shook Theresa's body, the ground beneath them suddenly lurched violently.
Rumble!
The earth beneath their feet buckled, collapsed, and tore apart as if a colossal beast, imprisoned for millennia, had suddenly rolled over in its sleep.
(End of the Chapter)