[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty":3,"chapter-knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-chapter-12":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Knight: from Apprentice to the Almighty",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1847826,2453,"Chapter 12: Harvest","knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-chapter-12",12,"\u003Cp>SHLICK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland drove his sword into the fallen Sam’s chest one more time. After confirming he was truly dead, he staggered and collapsed to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the adrenaline faded, his legs felt a little weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huu...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gasping for breath, Roland’s fingers traced the dent on the iron plate over his chest. A wave of fear washed over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for this crude Heart-Protecting Mirror, the other man’s Dagger would have pierced his heart before his own blade could even touch Sam’s throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Thank goodness my Basic Swordsmanship is at Full Level, and that I managed to injure his arm while he was fighting Sean. Otherwise...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the life-and-death struggle just moments ago, Roland gritted his teeth and pushed himself up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I still lack real combat experience... If not for that, I should have been able to react to his desperate final attack...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Roland!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked toward the voice and saw Sean stumbling toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland slowly shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What could happen to me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sean’s eyes anxiously scanned Roland from head to toe. Only after confirming that every inch of him was unharmed did his tense shoulders relax slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could fully exhale in relief, a glimpse of the stiffening corpse on the ground caught his eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He... he’s dead?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Barring any surprises...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the pale and bewildered Sean, Roland forced himself to remain calm. Stifling the acrid smell of blood, he went over to Sam’s body and began to search it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you looking for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sean’s Adam’s apple bobbed with a difficult swallow, his trembling voice barely coherent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He said he was hired by someone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland continued his search without looking up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need to see if I can find any clues...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he was already certain that Marco was the mastermind, if he could find concrete evidence, Hawke’s strict, professional nature meant he would definitely drive Marco out of the manor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this thought, Roland quickened his search and looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sean, go stand watch. If anyone approaches, make sure to warn me right away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Got it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sean took a deep breath to compose himself, tightened his grip on his Iron Sword, and walked away to keep watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’This is...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the portrait of himself on the paper, Roland frowned and, without hesitation, tore it to shreds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, a heavy, coarse cloth money pouch caught his attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he opened the pouch, Roland’s pupils contracted sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One, two, three...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He counted softly, his fingers trembling slightly with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A full eight Silver Coins!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a huge sum of money!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, all the money he had on him amounted to just over a dozen copper plates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long sigh, Roland set the money pouch aside and continued to search.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, he slowly shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’He was more careful than I thought... Didn’t leave a single piece of incriminating evidence.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Roland stop, Sean quickly walked over and asked in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Find anything?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland shook his head, his brow furrowed, and spoke slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t find any direct evidence, but besides Marco, I can’t think of anyone else who would want to harm me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That son of a bitch!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sean roared in anger. With a SHING, his Iron Sword was drawn, and he turned to rush off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland grabbed his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where are you going?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To kill that bastard!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sean’s eyes were bloodshot, and the veins on the hand gripping his sword bulged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He dared to hire someone to kill you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Calm down, Sean!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland pressed down hard on his friend’s trembling shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if you do kill Marco, then what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Think about Uncle Gary. Do you want him to live the rest of his life being cursed as ’the father of a murderer’?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sean’s body went rigid and the tip of his sword slowly lowered, but the fire in his eyes had yet to fade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So we’re just supposed to let it go? What if he tries again... Or how about this, I won’t enlist. I’ll go back to the manor with you and protect you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His rough fingers gripped the hilt of his sword so tightly his knuckles turned white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Worst case, I fail the assessment and go back to inherit my father’s butcher shop.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s no need for that, my friend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland looked Sean straight in the eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Marco’s family is large and powerful. If he’s truly set on killing me, not only will you be unable to protect me, you’ll get yourself killed too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if you enlist, stand out from the other soldiers, and win Lord Beckham’s favor, heheh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Roland chuckled lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if his father is a famous Blacksmith in Black Water Territory, he wouldn’t dare to easily offend a Knight—not even a Knight’s trusted confidant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Sean still hesitating, Roland’s lips suddenly curled into a smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What, you don’t have confidence in yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could that be...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sean quickly retorted, his rough fingers unconsciously rubbing the hilt of his sword. A moment later, he resignedly accepted reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, my friend. Maybe you’re right...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s more like it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland clapped Sean on the shoulder reassuringly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Besides, you said it yourself before. Marco wouldn’t dare act so recklessly inside the manor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what do we do now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s bury the body first. And by the way, don’t tell anyone about this, understand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the principle of not letting anything go to waste, Roland deftly stripped the worn Leather Armor off Sam’s body. Together with Sean, they buried the corpse in a freshly dug pit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wiping the sweat from his brow, Roland pulled the heavy money pouch from his clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eight Silver Coins.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook the pouch, and the Silver Coins inside jingled crisply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ll split it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sean’s pupils constricted slightly at the crisp jingle of the coins, but in the end, he turned his face away and said in a muffled voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re the one who killed him. I...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kicked at a clump of dirt by his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I even had my sword knocked out of my hand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his best friend stubbornly sticking his neck out, Roland sighed and instead thrust the Leather Armor and Dagger into his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then take these. I have no use for this stuff in the manor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the determined look in Roland’s eyes, Sean didn’t refuse again and started to put on the Leather Armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, he let out a confused grunt and felt around the inner lining of the armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is... My friend!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the call, Roland, who was checking the surroundings for anything they might have missed, turned to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Sean pull a roll of yellowed parchment from a hidden layer in the Leather Armor. Its edges were stained with dark brown blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Er... this...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sean scratched his head and awkwardly handed over the yellowed parchment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My friend, you should take a look. I can’t read all the words on it...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Roland’s brow furrowed slightly as he took the ancient-looking parchment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surface of the paper was yellowed and wrinkled, the ink faded badly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to squint and bring it close to make out the blurry script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland would sometimes frown, sometimes purse his lips, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the edge of the parchment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he spoke hesitantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This seems to be... a formula for some kind of Potion?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1242,"2026-06-09T07:01:39.334Z",1,"novelbin.me","f6ecaed92c2b028c039d70a5e845b4a097ea20f9f1729240eed57aa9f5d6c9a0","knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-chapter-13","knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-chapter-11",216,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fknight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-cover.jpg"]