Translator: CinderTL
"Become a Blacksmith Apprentice!"
Roland's heart leaped with joy as he saw the golden text appear before him. Without hesitation, he confirmed his choice.
Since he could hold multiple professions simultaneously, it didn't matter which one he chose first.
He wasn't yet familiar with the attribute and skill requirements for other professions, and further deliberation would only waste time.
Besides, given his current circumstances, any path he took would lead upward.
He would grit his teeth and tackle any job, even if it meant hauling manure at the village entrance, let alone the Blacksmith Apprentice profession, which was directly relevant to his immediate situation.
Job change successful. Current profession: Blacksmith Apprentice
Attribute bonuses gained: Strength +1, Agility +0.5
Trait acquired: Humble Apprentice
Humble Apprentice: Significantly enhances learning efficiency for blacksmithing-related knowledge.
As the text on the panel continued to scroll, Roland felt a sudden surge of power within him. The iron tongs, which had felt heavy just moments ago, now seemed remarkably lighter.
"So, job changes not only boost attributes but also grant entirely new traits?"
Before Roland could fully grasp the changes occurring within his body, Hawk's booming voice rang out in his ears.
"Boys, gather around here!"
"Yes, sir!"
The young apprentices' eyes lit up at the command. They immediately dropped their tools and rushed forward.
Roland was no exception.
At this time each day, Hawk personally taught the art of forging.
To pass the assessment, mastering forging was essential, regardless of other skills.
"Watch closely, everyone!"
Hawk nodded in satisfaction at the boys' focused expressions.
He used iron tongs to place a smelted metal ingot on the anvil, then hefted his hammer and began striking with powerful blows.
With each clang, the ingot's rough surface gradually smoothed, its strange shape stretching and elongating.
In no time, the rough outline of a dagger began to emerge.
"Did you see that? The force, rhythm, and precision of each strike are crucial!"
"If the force or rhythm is off, the ingot could easily crack! And if your aim is wrong..."
The iron hammer in Hawk's hand struck the anvil with crisp, rhythmic blows as he demonstrated the standard forging posture, meticulously breaking down each movement into its essential components.
The young blacksmiths from hereditary families watched with shining eyes, nodding in understanding. But the eyes of most other apprentices were filled with confusion.
Hawk's explanations, though detailed, covered too broad a range of topics and were peppered with technical jargon. For those with no prior experience, grasping the concepts proved exceedingly difficult.
In the past, Roland had been just like the other apprentices. Even when listening with rapt attention, he had always felt utterly lost. The rule against touching the ore without permission had denied him any chance to practice, leaving him unable to grasp the fundamentals of forging.
But now, as Hawk's voice reached his ears, Roland experienced something entirely different.
His mind seemed to enter a state of clarity, as if an invisible constraint had suddenly been lifted. The once-obscure techniques unfolded layer by layer, like unraveling silk, transforming into clear, comprehensible principles that he rapidly understood and absorbed.
"Alright!"
Hawk used iron tongs to lift the rough dagger blank from the forge and plunge it into cold water. He clapped his hands lightly, then casually set down his hammer.
"You've been learning for a while now. Who wants to try?"
A spark of excitement flashed in the youths' eyes as they eagerly stepped forward, ready to test their skills.
But just as they were about to move, a confident voice rang out.
"Let me go first, Mr. Hawk."
Before the words had even faded, a tall, imposing youth strode forward from the crowd.
"It's Marco," Roland murmured, his brow furrowing slightly as he recognized the newcomer.
Marco's father was the most renowned blacksmith in the Blackwater Territory, rumored to be treated with great respect even by the Lord Baron himself.
Every youth present understood the implications of crossing Marco.
Many quickly retracted their raised feet, some even taking a half-step back to clear a path for him.
"Oh? Marco?" Hawk raised his thick eyebrows.
"How has your father been lately?"
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Hawk. My father remains in good health."
Marco smiled faintly and strode confidently to the forging platform, picking up the hammer.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After a series of strikes, the glowing red metal ingot quickly began to deform.
Though some cracks appeared on the surface, the result was already comparable to the haphazard attempt Hawk had made earlier.
Seeing this, Hawk frowned deeply.
After a long moment of contemplation, the hot-tempered old blacksmith finally spoke slowly.
"Your striking frequency is a bit off, but I'll pass you."
"Thank you, Mr. Hawk!"
Marco's face lit up like a triumphant lion returning from the hunt. He strode back to the group with his head held high.
The other apprentices quickly suppressed their envy and rushed forward to try their hand.
But praise was not what awaited them.
"Worthless! Worthless! Did you even listen to a word I said earlier?"
"Force, frequency, and precision—all three are essential! Is this how I've been teaching you?"
"Get out! Don't let me see you again!"
The roar, like a thunderclap, sent shivers down the spines of the young men.
Hawk, still seething with anger, exhaled heavily before muttering, "Anyone else want to try?"
The young men exchanged uneasy glances, then lowered their heads, avoiding Hawk's gaze.
Just as the oppressive atmosphere began to suffocate the room, a clear voice cut through the silence.
"Mr. Hawk, let me try."
Before the words had fully left his lips, Roland had already stepped forward, standing before Hawk.
"Who's this guy?"
The young men immediately began to murmur among themselves, sizing up Roland's slender frame.
"Isn't that Roland? I heard he's really good at ore smelting. Mr. Hawk even praised him this morning."
"Hmph!"
The young man who had just been scolded, his face flushed with resentment, sneered, "What good is being good at ore smelting? That's nothing compared to forging!"
Hawk ignored the other youths' comments, simply nodded and handed Roland the hammer.
"Thank you, Mr. Hawk," Roland said, accepting the hammer with neither arrogance nor humility. He stood before the anvil, took a deep breath, and felt his knowledge of forging come alive in his mind, swirling and coalescing into a practical, easy-to-follow sequence of steps.
Bang!
With the first heavy strike of the hammer, Roland's eyes lit up.
You have successfully performed a forging action and gained one experience point.
You have learned the skill: Forging.
"Learned a skill on my first try?" Roland stared at the shimmering golden text, a surge of elation flooding his heart.
Previously, acquiring skills like bellows pumping or ore smelting had required dozens of practice sessions, only awakening after his movements became perfectly refined. The criteria for earning experience points were even stricter, often requiring flawless execution of the entire process.
Yet now, after becoming a Blacksmith Apprentice and activating his special trait, he had successfully awakened a skill and earned an experience point on his very first attempt!
"Is this the transformation that comes with changing classes?"
(End of the Chapter)
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