"Everyone..."

Roland took a deep breath and adjusted his posture, letting his back settle more comfortably against the carriage wall.

"I need to rest for a moment. Wake me when we reach town."

"Sleep without worry, Roland!"

Avril immediately leaned closer, patted her modest chest, and promised with absolute confidence.

"With me here, not even a mosquito will disturb you!"

Teresa opened her mouth, but in the end, she only pressed her lips together and added softly, "I will keep watch over the surroundings, Mr. Roland."

Outside the carriage, Galvez gave no verbal response, but the carriage clearly slowed, showing he had understood.

"Thank you."

After expressing his thanks, Roland closed his eyes and silently recited in his heart.

"Change occupation to Knight Apprentice!"

In an instant, brilliant golden text emerged in the darkness behind his closed eyes.

[Job change successful. Current occupation: Knight Apprentice]

[Attribute bonus gained: Strength +6, Agility +6, Spirit +3]

Before the text could vanish, an indescribable energy surged from his chest and flowed through his limbs and bones like a warm current.

Unlike the simple attribute increases of the past, this change made Roland instinctively tense his body.

This was not just an increase in strength, but a sense of fullness at the level of life itself.

It was like a dried riverbed welcoming the spring flood, or withered branches pushing out fresh buds.

The warmth was so comfortable he almost groaned, but when he remembered the others were around him, he bit it back in time.

Compared to that, the change on the mental level was even more wondrous.

His thoughts became clear as a polished mirror, taking in every subtle movement around him.

Teresa's light breathing, the faint fragrance of grass and wood on Avril, even Galvez's endless muttering from the driver's seat.

All that information entered his perception in perfect order, without the slightest confusion.

"This feeling... is truly marvelous..."

As Roland adapted to this entirely new sensory experience, he stared at the flowing golden text before him, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Compared to upper occupations, the attribute bonus from a higher occupation is almost doubled. And most importantly..."

Feeling the unprecedented clarity in his mind, he subconsciously clenched his fist.

"The increase in Spirit!"

Ever since he overdosed on Awakening Potion for the sake of becoming a [Juggler], causing the potion's effect to decline, Roland had never again found a stable method to increase his Spirit attribute.

Now, this long-lost growth made his heart surge.

The strengthening of mental power not only meant he could cast cantrips more swiftly, but more importantly...

Maintaining a breathing method during intense battle also consumed a great deal of mental power.

Over the past month, every time he used a breathing method in combat, the sluggish feeling of splitting his focus in two had left him deeply uncomfortable.

"Activating a breathing method in battle can indeed significantly increase strength, agility, and perception... but diverting attention to maintain the breathing rhythm always causes subtle delays in the flow of my sword techniques..."

"Now that my Spirit attribute has broken through, perhaps it can make up for this flaw."

Just as he was immersed in this anticipation, new golden subtitles bloomed in his vision.

[Upon inspection, Host has mastered Short Weapon Mastery, Long Weapon Mastery, 3 max-level ranged weapon combat techniques, and 1 max-level shield block/defense technique]

[Calculating...]

[Upon inspection, Host has obtained the Extra Buff: Steel Heart Resonance]

[Merging...]

[Merge complete]

[Hidden trait gained: Knight Dies Not Unarmed]

[Knight Dies Not Unarmed: All things in the world can be used by you]

"Aside from hidden occupations, combining skills with Extra Buffs can actually awaken hidden traits?"

Before Roland had time to digest this unexpected delight, vast and complex knowledge flooded into his mind. His temples throbbed, and sharp swelling pain struck.

When the torrent of unfamiliar knowledge finally subsided, he opened his eyes, incredulous light flickering within them.

Unlike the [Short Weapon Mastery] or [Long Weapon Mastery] he had mastered before, which were limited to the techniques of a specific type of weapon,

the so-called [Knight Dies Not Unarmed] was exactly as its description said.

All things in the world could be used by him.

It broke through the boundaries between weapon types, allowing any weapon that fell into his hands to move as naturally as an extension of his arm.

Roland's fingers rubbed the mithril longsword at his waist, and countless tactical deductions involving different weapon combinations emerged in his mind.

He suddenly realized that the most terrifying part of this trait was not "use," but "conversion."

When he grasped a spear, his muscle memory could convert it according to his will into the short sword techniques he knew best. The instant he grasped a battleaxe, it could switch again into the force-generating methods of long-haft weapons.

"This is not a simple stacking of weapon masteries..."

He murmured inwardly, his fingertip tapping the sword hilt.

"It is a kind of 'weapon instinct' formed after integrating all weapon techniques."

This unreasonable level of weapon control practically overturned Roland's understanding of combat techniques.

"What's wrong, Roland? Did you have a nightmare?"

Seeing Roland open his eyes, Avril tilted her head and leaned closer. The faint fragrance of grass and wood among her hair drifted softly with her movement.

She blinked playfully.

"Is sleeping in the carriage uncomfortable? Do you want..."

Her slender finger tapped her own shoulder.

"To borrow a pillow?"

After her words fell, Teresa silently tightened her fingers around her sword hilt.

Although her face remained cold and composed, her knuckles had already gone white.

"No need."

Roland shook his head, his gaze refocusing before him.

"It was just... never mind. Nothing."

Just then, new golden text unfolded in his vision:

[Trait gained: Ember Echo]

[Ember Echo: When actively activated, your breathing becomes like an invisible vortex, absorbing sparks from clashing weapons, splashing blood mist, and battle cries on the battlefield. These elements condense within you into golden embers, then scatter into nearby allies, significantly increasing their stamina and battle will. After allies are strengthened, they generate varying degrees of fighting spirit based on their own strength and feed it back into your body, synchronously strengthening all your attributes. Effective range depends on Spirit attribute]

"Another buff trait, and a group buff at that! Unlike [Fighting Spirit], this trait has no side effects whatsoever! Not only that..."

After carefully examining the trait's description, Roland's breathing quickened.

"If the description is correct, then that means... the stronger my allies are, the stronger the feedback they give me will be, and the more significant the effect of strengthening my own attributes will become! In that case..."

Roland looked around at the other two people inside the carriage.

Although Teresa's strength was lacking, her speed was astonishing, and during this period of combat, her power had still been steadily rising.

With a god's blessing upon her, stepping into the Transcendent realm was only a matter of time.

As for Avril...

Although Roland had still not fully figured out the Elf girl's true strength so far, by a rough estimate, she was at least among the standouts of the Transcendent realm.

And then there was Galvez...

Although this bard kept his mouth shut whenever it came to his own strength, his large-scale mental control ability and his unique technique of granting subtle properties to weapons had left a deep impression on Roland.

Then if he activated this trait and fought alongside these three...

Pulling back his drifting thoughts, Roland shook his head.

"But for now, I still don't know the exact numbers of the boost after allies provide feedback. I will have to test it later..."

While he was deep in thought, Galvez's exaggerated, aria-like voice came from the driver's seat.

"Honored warriors who have slain monsters..."

As the carriage came to a steady stop, the bard drew out his tone.

"Please prepare yourselves to receive worshipful gazes!"

Although Galvez had always been famous for exaggeration, his words this time were unexpectedly accurate.

The instant the carriage stopped and the curtain was lifted...

"It's the Silver Radiance Swordsman!"

"Look! That Elf archer who never misses!"

"The great hero Roland is here!"

Waves of cheers swept over them like a tide.

The guards who should have been carrying out routine inspections all gave solemn knightly salutes in unison. Several young guards were so excited that even the spears in their hands trembled slightly.

Vendors on both sides of the street stopped their business one after another, and children stood on tiptoe, craning their necks as hard as they could.

No one knew who tossed the first bundle of wild roses, but in the blink of an eye, flowers of every color rained down, covering the stone road before the carriage.

Facing the reverent crowd, Roland glanced helplessly at the smug Galvez beside him and sighed inwardly.

Their accomplishments in hunting Bugbears over the past month should only have circulated within the small circles of adventurers and mercenaries.

But their team happened to have a bard who specialized in "artistic embellishment."

Whenever the others were busy with proper business, this poet always appeared right on time in taverns across town, using his extravagant eloquence to turn their experiences into legends.

The handwritten copies of that unfinished Heroic Epic had already spread through the streets and alleys.

Now, not only adventurers, mercenaries, and town guards who knew the threat of Bugbears well, but even market vendors and little children could recount their deeds in detail.

As his gaze swept over the crowd, Roland even saw a little girl holding up a wooden stick and imitating his signature sword technique in a childish voice, drawing laughter from the adults around her.

"Galvez..."

Roland smiled as he accepted a wild rose offered by a brown-haired boy, then rubbed the boy's fluffy short hair.

Watching the boy run back to his companions and seeing the worshipful light in the children's eyes, Roland lowered his voice and said to the bard, "I won't interfere with your hobby of spreading stories, but..."

Looking at the growing crowd, Roland's temples began to ache faintly.

"At least preserve some truth. Also..."

"Artistic embellishment is necessary!"

Before Roland could finish, Galvez puffed out his chest, and the harp in his arms gave a ringing note.

"How could dry facts ever ignite the fire in people's hearts?"

"Fine... do as you like..."

Seeing that the crowd had already packed tightly around the carriage, Roland had no choice but to lift the carriage curtain and stand beside Galvez.

He took a deep breath, and his clear voice cut through the clamor like a sword edge.

"Everyone!"

The noisy street instantly fell silent.

"Thank you for your kindness."

Roland nodded toward the guards who were maintaining order.

"But please do not make things difficult for our brothers in the guard. We still need to go to the Adventurer's Guild to hand over a commission, so please make a path for us..."

Before his words had finished, an excited question rang out from the crowd.

"Lord Roland, did you slay another Bugbear this time?"

"That..."

While Roland was considering his wording, Galvez beside him could no longer wait and untied the bloodstained sack.

As the heavy smell of blood spread, the bard raised the Bugbear's savage head high, displaying it like a treasure.

The head's frozen, ferocious expression and the arrow-pierced eye socket looked especially terrifying beneath the sunlight.

Amid another wave of cheers, a plump woman squeezed to the very front, her red dress like a ball of burning flame.

"Lord Roland, come to my Golden Oak tavern tonight! All the ale is free! After you taught my boy that reverse-hand sword move last time, he's been practicing it in the yard every day!"

"Miss Elf!"

Several girls in coarse cloth skirts waved desperately toward Avril.

"Can you teach us archery? We have heard the bard sing about how you pierced two Goblins with one arrow under the city wall seventeen or eighteen times!"

"The Rose Tavern will always welcome Miss Teresa!"

A fat boss wearing an oil-stained apron shouted while waving a soup ladle.

"Last time, you ate three days' worth of our smoked meat stores all by yourself, and the next day the hunters brought five times more game than usual, saying your appetite inspired their passion for hunting!"

Even the guard captain maintaining order interjected.

"Lord Galvez, that Silver Radiance Dawn Song you sang in the square last month, my daughter plays it on her broken lute at home every day..."

He suddenly realized he had lost his composure and hurriedly coughed twice, straightening his back.

Suddenly, a young voice pierced through the noise.

"Lord Roland!"

The brown-haired boy who had offered flowers earlier raised his wooden sword, his small face flushed bright red.

"I... I want to become a great hero like you someday!"

The entire street fell quiet for an instant, then erupted into kind laughter and applause.

This noisy interlude continued for quite a while. Only after Roland declined again and again did the enthusiastic crowd reluctantly disperse.

Looking at Galvez, who was still playing an impassioned melody, Roland patted his shoulder in irritation.

"What are you standing there for? It's time to go to the Adventurer's Guild and hand over the commission."

"Hey, Roland! What do you know? I am maintaining the team's image..."

The bard had just begun to defend himself when Roland turned and gave Avril a meaningful smile.

"Avril, adventuring has indeed been difficult lately. Why don't we let Galvez receive some training too? Look at that frail build of his. Who knows when he might drag us down."

The Elf girl's eyes brightened, and her gaze pinned the bard in place like an arrow.

"Sure!"

The strings gave a mournful twang.

Galvez threw the harp into the carriage with astonishing speed, grabbed the reins, and spoke with a solemn expression.

"Roland, I think you are right! Handing over the commission is the most urgent matter at hand!"

Before his words had finished, the carriage shot forward like an arrow leaving the string, moving so quickly it startled a flock of white doves by the roadside.

In the blink of an eye, the Adventurer's Guild was already before them.

"Roland... when do you think training should start?"

Avril rubbed the bowstring and smiled sweetly toward Galvez.

The latter's Adam's apple bobbed violently for a while before he suddenly pulled hard on the reins.

"I almost forgot, Roland! There was a problem with the rear right wheel earlier! To ensure our return journey goes smoothly, I will go find someone to repair it right now!"

Before his voice had even fallen, the carriage disappeared around the street corner with an exaggerated cloud of dust, leaving only a few frightened horse neighs echoing behind.

The three of them exchanged glances, smiled, and carried the bloodstained sack into the guild hall.

Just like on the street a moment ago, after Roland and the others entered the Adventurer's Guild, they were greeted by another round of cheers.

Only after the hall had been noisy for a while did Roland pass through the crowded people and arrive before the counter.

"Larry..."

As the heavy sack landed on the counter with a dull impact, the handsome receptionist they had dealt with several times showed little surprise. He only respectfully bowed to Roland, then pushed a coin pouch he had prepared long ago in front of him.

"Mr. Roland, according to our agreement... in addition to the payment, we will also give you a Combat Technique as an extra reward. But before that..."

Larry leaned forward and lowered his voice.

"A major figure from the Adventurer's Guild would like to meet with you. I wonder... do you have time?"