"Sean, I remember you mentioned that your uncle, Peyton... is a mercenary?"
"Yeah..."
Sean glanced at the metal ingot on the anvil, which had cracked at the edge. He tossed his hammer aside in frustration and looked up to answer.
"He and a few others used to operate exclusively around Black Pine Forest, making a good living by hunting Demons..."
'Hunting Demons?'
At these words, Roland's eyes lit up.
Based on what he knew, Demon activity within the Golden Valley Kingdom had become increasingly rampant in recent years.
Since the local Lords lacked sufficient troops, they had to recruit people from the civilian population to help clear them out.
The generous rewards attracted numerous Adventurers and Mercenaries, but very few made it back alive to claim their prize.
The fact that Sean's uncle could make a living hunting Demons spoke volumes about his combat prowess.
At this thought, Roland looked at his best friend, his eyes filled with hope.
"So, did you learn any Combat Skills from your uncle?"
"Me?"
Sean shook his head with a wry smile.
"I wanted to, but my father never approved of Uncle Peyton's lifestyle. That's why he left home when I was just a boy."
"If it weren't for what happened recently, I probably would have never seen him again in my life."
The tall young man's shoulders slumped, as if the memory of endless arguments at home was weighing him down.
"I see..."
Just as Roland was feeling disappointed, Sean spoke up again.
"What's wrong, buddy? You want to learn how to use a weapon?"
"Yeah..."
Roland gave a slight nod.
"I've heard that Demons aren't just in Black Pine Forest anymore—they've been spotted in the neighboring Chenxi Territory, too. That's why I want to learn some self-defense skills, so I won't be helpless if danger finds me."
"Hmm..."
Sean grunted, then nodded in agreement.
"You're right, buddy. How about this... Next month is the celebration of the Father of Heaven's birth. The Lord Baron always invites the surrounding nobility for a banquet around this time, and he definitely won't let commoners like us stay at the manor."
"Why don't you come home with me for a few days? It would be the perfect chance to ask Uncle Peyton to teach us some combat techniques!"
"Really? Thanks so much, Sean!"
Hearing this, Roland excitedly thumped Sean on the chest, but then he quickly collected himself.
'Even though I've never met him, I know a little something about the nature of Mercenaries and Adventurers who live on the line between life and death.'
'They always put profit first and won't lift a finger without getting something out of it.'
'Peyton might teach his own nephew, Sean, but he wouldn't necessarily do the same for an outsider like me.'
'But learning new Skills and improving my strength is urgent. I don't have time to wait for Sean to become proficient and then teach me.'
'Just in case, I'd better think of a way to get on his good side...'
With that in mind, Roland placed the metal ingot from the anvil back into the furnace to be reheated and asked,
"By the way, Sean, is there anything your uncle is fond of?"
"Well..."
Though he wasn't sure why Roland was asking, Sean thought for a moment before replying.
"Uncle Peyton probably likes weapons. He recently wanted to borrow money from my father to buy a new one. But as you know, a decent Iron Sword is expensive, which is why those two are always arguing..."
'Weapons? That's manageable.'
Roland felt a little more at ease as he thought about his new Profession: Blacksmith Apprentice.
'My Forging Skills aren't on par with a real Blacksmith's yet, but there's still some time before the celebration.'
'With the help of my 'Modest Apprentice' Trait, if I grind my Forging Skill hard for the next few days, I should be able to forge a decent weapon by then.'
At this thought, Roland felt the dozen or so Copper Coins that were all he had left in his pocket.
'This should be enough to buy a small metal ingot for a Dagger. Even if Sean's uncle doesn't care for it, I can sell it and find another way to learn Combat Skills...'
'I just don't know if Mr. Hawke will let me use the forging tools on my own time, or let me take a weapon I've made off the estate...'
'I'll sound Mr. Hawke out in a few days.'
Having made up his mind, Roland clamped the heated metal ingot back onto the anvil and continued explaining forging techniques.
Under his patient guidance, Sean finally managed to forge a barely acceptable rough billet just as the sun was setting.
CLANG!
As the bell rang, Sean eagerly pulled Roland toward the dining hall to get their food.
Dinner was a slight improvement over lunch, with the addition of a palm-sized fish and a small bowl of fish soup.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of culinary skill, the fish had a slightly rank smell, and the soup was utterly bland, lacking any real flavor.
But Roland wasn't about to complain.
In his current situation, a full meal was a blessing, especially a free one.
He was just breaking his dark bread and fish into the soup, preparing to dig in, when the sound of heavy footsteps approached.
Looking up, he saw Marco approaching slowly, flanked by several others.
Seeing this, Sean quickly stuffed the last of his dark bread into his mouth, then gripped his wooden food tray and stepped in front of Roland.
"Don't be so tense..."
Marco smiled, his gaze passing over the towering Sean to land on Roland.
"You're Roland, aren't you? I assume you know who I am."
"Of course."
Roland stood up and patted the tense Sean on the shoulder, his own eyes narrowing slightly.
"Mr. Marco? Is there something I can help you with?"
Hearing the respect in Roland's tone, Marco nodded with satisfaction.
"I don't like to waste words."
He held up a single finger and spoke slowly.
"Leave the manor of your own accord, forfeit the assessment in three months, and in return, I'll pay you one Gold Coin. How about it?"
"One Gold Coin!"
Before Roland could speak, Sean, who stood beside him, gasped in shock.
In the Golden Valley Kingdom, a family of three's annual expenses were only three to five Silver Coins.
At an exchange rate of one hundred silver to one gold, a single Gold Coin was enough to support an ordinary family for decades!
His own father's work as a butcher was considered a very lucrative trade among commoners.
But even so, he had never seen or even touched a real Gold Coin.
Seeing Sean's shocked expression, the smile on Marco's face widened, and a flicker of contempt crossed his eyes.
But in the next second, the smile on his face froze.
Because unlike Sean, who had lost his composure, Roland merely furrowed his brow, remaining perfectly composed, and slowly shook his head after hearing the offer.
"One Gold Coin?"
"I'm afraid I must refuse, Mr. Marco."