Free Web NovelChapter 310: Chapter 298: Reward: Second Ring Spell [Domain of Honesty]
"However..."
Dismissing the crackling electricity at his fingertips, Roland looked down at his arm.
’The change in skin tone isn’t too obvious. I can probably explain that away, but...’
He lifted his head. The silver mirror reflected a pair of inhuman, vertical pupils glowing with a golden light.
Roland frowned unconsciously.
Such a mutation would be enough to cause alarm even in the liberal nations of the River Domain, let alone the conservative Golden Valley Kingdom.
He was almost certain that if anyone saw him like this, he would be branded a heretic and thrown into a dungeon in the next second.
In a Kingdom where even outsiders struggled to gain a foothold, his almost monstrous form stood no chance.
’The Shadow Veil can only conceal my aura, but it can’t hide these eyes... In that case...’
Roland slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and focused his consciousness inward.
He carefully sensed the blood rushing through him like a great river, trying to control the Power of the Giant Dragon.
After an unknown amount of time, the surging tide of blood finally began to calm.
He opened his eyes again and looked into the mirror.
His pupils had returned to normal.
Roland nodded slightly, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
Looking around, he confirmed that his Awakening of the Giant Dragon Bloodline and acquiring the Dragon Descendant Profession had left no traces. Only then did he truly relax.
Just then, a crisp knock came from the door.
"Roland! Are you in there?"
Recognizing the slightly flamboyant voice, Roland straightened his robes and went to open the door.
Before he could even speak, Galvis deftly slipped through the gap between him and the doorframe.
Seeing this, Roland could only shake his head helplessly and step aside, speaking to the silver-haired woman standing quietly outside.
"Teresa, please come in."
"Thank you, Mr. Roland."
The two entered and sat down.
Once the door was fully closed, Galvis dropped his playful expression and spoke.
"That Alchemist named Danny was taken in as an apprentice by an old Alchemist. He studied hard for many years and eventually got certified by the guild. His record is spotless. If you have to point out something unusual..."
He raised his eyebrows, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
"You’d never guess it, but that guy is actually only in his early twenties!"
"Twenty?"
Roland’s hand, which was about to raise a cup, froze mid-air.
Remembering Danny’s wrinkled, ancient-looking face, a hint of disbelief flashed in his eyes.
"How is that possible?"
"But it’s the truth, my friend."
Galvis shrugged and tipped his chin toward Teresa, who was steadying the teacup for Roland.
The usually aloof Teresa didn’t keep him in suspense, nodding seriously.
Roland thanked her, handed her the teacup, and after a moment of contemplation, spoke again.
"So... did you find out why he ended up like that?"
"That’s not clear..."
Galvis shook his head lightly.
"I only heard that it started a few years ago, after his mentor passed away. The once well-behaved and low-key man started acting mysteriously and behaving erratically. By the time he reappeared in public... he already looked like that."
Roland nodded lightly, unconsciously tapping his fingers on the tabletop.
The room fell silent for a moment, leaving only the rhythmic tapping and the sound of their breathing.
After a moment, he looked up again, his voice steady.
"Besides that, are there any other unusual things about this... Danny?"
"Not really. In fact..."
Perhaps because he had gotten to the bottom of Danny’s background, or perhaps because he held a certain appreciation for him, the Minstrel’s tone had lost much of its previous caution when speaking of the Alchemist.
"In terms of both character and skill in concocting Potions, he’s highly praised in this area. If his mentor’s death hadn’t hit him so hard... he would have had a bright future."
"I understand."
Roland stopped tapping his fingers on the table.
"In that case, Galvis, I’ll have to trouble you to make another trip. Go to the Alchemy Guild first thing tomorrow morning and reveal our identities to him."
"If he’s still willing to join, ask him to pack his things as soon as possible and be ready to leave the Golden Valley Kingdom with us."
"Alright, alright. I guess I was born to do the grunt work..."
After discussing the follow-up arrangements in detail, Roland repeatedly urged them to act with caution in the coming days before finally seeing them out.
The door closed. Roland let out a long breath, but he didn’t rest.
He drew the Secret Silver Longsword from his waist and threw himself back into training.
Just like when he’d acquired the Knight Profession, the Attribute boost from Awakening the Dragon Race Bloodline wasn’t as easy to control as it was for other Professions, where it felt like natural instinct.
This power felt more like a foreign gift—wild and turbulent. It had to be thoroughly tamed through constant tempering.
Outside the window, the last golden rays of sunset faded into the deep night, then dawn broke once more, its faint light piercing the morning mist.
But Roland never stopped.
Swinging his sword, throwing punches, over and over again.
He had already informed Reggie that he would not be participating in the study tour activities for the next two days, and Reggie had agreed.
So he immersed himself completely in the process of familiarizing himself with his new Power, until twilight once again enveloped the sky.
"Hah..."
Letting out a long breath, Roland wiped the sweat from his forehead, and the shimmering golden, vertical pupils in his eyes faded away.
’Compared to when I acquired the Knight Profession, the bonus from the Dragon Race Bloodline is more violent, and more... crude.’
He looked at the teacup on the table, shattered due to his loss of control, and slowly sheathed his Secret Silver Longsword.
’Relying on solo training alone will take too long to fully integrate this Power. Perhaps only through all-out combat can I truly make these surging Attributes my own.’
’I’ll take on a few suitable commissions when I get back to the River Domain.’
Having made up his mind, Roland looked out at the darkening sky. After washing up, he went out to find Reggie to confirm that the day’s itinerary had gone as planned. Only then did he leave his residence and step into the street.
He weaved through the bustling crowd, following the route from memory until the sour smell of alcohol drifted into his nose, causing him to slow his pace.
"Hey! Roland! Over here!"
Hearing the voice, Roland’s lips curled into a slight smile, and he walked in the direction of the call.
"Well, look at you! A trip to the River Domain and you’ve already learned how to slack off?"
Unlike the standard student uniform he wore when they last met, Dalko had changed into his favorite tight-fitting Leather Armor, with a magnificent cloak worn over it.
His golden hair seemed even more dazzling against the dark brown cloak.
The young noble habitually put an arm around Roland’s shoulder, a mischievous grin on his face.
"You know, several female students came to ask me why you didn’t join the tour today. You want me to help you..."
"Give it a rest, Dalko..."
Seeing his friend’s exaggerated expression, Roland chuckled, shook his head, and smoothly changed the subject.
"Didn’t you say you were going to treat me to the best food in Golden Ears City? But this place..."
He glanced around, his eyes sweeping past an inn, a Blacksmith Shop, and...
The Adventurer’s Guild.
His expression suddenly became a little strange.
"Don’t tell me you’ve already spent all the money Baron Fosling gave you?"
"What are you thinking, buddy!"
Dalko clapped Roland on the shoulder and pointed toward the nearby Adventurer’s Guild.
"The Adventurer’s Guild here is different from others. The food they serve... mmm, the taste is incredible!"
As if recalling the mouth-watering flavor, the young noble subconsciously wiped the corner of his mouth.
"Even the children of prominent noble families often come here to eat!"
"They say it’s because the ingredients here are the freshest, and... they also have some specialties you can’t buy anywhere else."
As he spoke, Dalko tightened his arm around Roland, guiding him forward. Roland smiled and let his friend lead him toward the guild’s main entrance.
The moment they pushed the door open, a wave of clamor mixed with the enticing aroma of roasted meat washed over them.
Even Roland, who usually wasn’t very enthusiastic about food, couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
"See? I wasn’t lying, was I?"
Seeing his reaction, Dalko laughed heartily and then confidently strode over to the counter to order, clearly knowing his way around.
Roland, meanwhile, stood where he was out of boredom, his gaze slowly sweeping across the hall.
Finally, his eyes landed on a commission notice posted on the wall.
[Commission: Discern the Source, Perceive the Blight]
[Client: Her Imperial Highness Princess Gloria]
[Commission Details: Recently, in the Eastern Region of the Golden Valley Kingdom, the land in the area stretching from the Cyan Hills to Drip Dew Valley has been suffering from erosion and withering due to an unknown cause. Crops are failing and vitality is declining, posing a severe threat to the local populace’s livelihood and the Kingdom’s food reserves. In connection with this phenomenon, the Royal Family has obtained several samples of a mysterious liquid of unknown origin from deep within the disaster area. Its Traits are extraordinary, and it is suspected to be related to the land’s strange transformation.]
[Objective: We are now seeking individuals with exceptional insight and profound knowledge (especially in the fields of Alchemy, natural sciences, or occultism) to thoroughly examine and analyze the provided mysterious liquid and determine its possible origin.]
[Reward: The Second Ring Spell Scroll "Domain of Honesty" and permission to study it.]
