[{"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-4":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},1847818,2453,"Chapter 4: A Transaction for a Gold Coin","knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-chapter-4",4,"\u003Cp>\"Sean, I remember you mentioned that your uncle, Peyton... is a mercenary?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He and a few others used to operate exclusively around Black Pine Forest, making a good living by hunting Demons...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Hunting Demons?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Roland’s eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on what he knew, Demon activity within the Golden Valley Kingdom had become increasingly rampant in recent years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the local Lords lacked sufficient troops, they had to recruit people from the civilian population to help clear them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The generous rewards attracted numerous Adventurers and Mercenaries, but very few made it back alive to claim their prize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that Sean’s uncle could make a living hunting Demons spoke volumes about his combat prowess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this thought, Roland looked at his best friend, his eyes filled with hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, did you learn any Combat Skills from your uncle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sean shook his head with a wry smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If it weren’t for what happened recently, I probably would have never seen him again in my life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall young man’s shoulders slumped, as if the memory of endless arguments at home was weighing him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Roland was feeling disappointed, Sean spoke up again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s wrong, buddy? You want to learn how to use a weapon?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland gave a slight nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sean grunted, then nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really? Thanks so much, Sean!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Roland excitedly thumped Sean on the chest, but then he quickly collected himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’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.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’They always put profit first and won’t lift a finger without getting something out of it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Peyton might teach his own nephew, Sean, but he wouldn’t necessarily do the same for an outsider like me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’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.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Just in case, I’d better think of a way to get on his good side...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that in mind, Roland placed the metal ingot from the anvil back into the furnace to be reheated and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, Sean, is there anything your uncle is fond of?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he wasn’t sure why Roland was asking, Sean thought for a moment before replying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Weapons? That’s manageable.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland felt a little more at ease as he thought about his new Profession: Blacksmith Apprentice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’My Forging Skills aren’t on par with a real Blacksmith’s yet, but there’s still some time before the celebration.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’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.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this thought, Roland felt the dozen or so Copper Coins that were all he had left in his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’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...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’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...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I’ll sound Mr. Hawke out in a few days.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having made up his mind, Roland clamped the heated metal ingot back onto the anvil and continued explaining forging techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under his patient guidance, Sean finally managed to forge a barely acceptable rough billet just as the sun was setting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CLANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the bell rang, Sean eagerly pulled Roland toward the dining hall to get their food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dinner was a slight improvement over lunch, with the addition of a palm-sized fish and a small bowl of fish soup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Roland wasn’t about to complain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his current situation, a full meal was a blessing, especially a free one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was just breaking his dark bread and fish into the soup, preparing to dig in, when the sound of heavy footsteps approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking up, he saw Marco approaching slowly, flanked by several others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t be so tense...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marco smiled, his gaze passing over the towering Sean to land on Roland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re Roland, aren’t you? I assume you know who I am.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland stood up and patted the tense Sean on the shoulder, his own eyes narrowing slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Marco? Is there something I can help you with?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the respect in Roland’s tone, Marco nodded with satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t like to waste words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He held up a single finger and spoke slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One Gold Coin!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Roland could speak, Sean, who stood beside him, gasped in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Golden Valley Kingdom, a family of three’s annual expenses were only three to five Silver Coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At an exchange rate of one hundred silver to one gold, a single Gold Coin was enough to support an ordinary family for decades!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His own father’s work as a butcher was considered a very lucrative trade among commoners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so, he had never seen or even touched a real Gold Coin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Sean’s shocked expression, the smile on Marco’s face widened, and a flicker of contempt crossed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the next second, the smile on his face froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One Gold Coin?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m afraid I must refuse, Mr. Marco.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1189,"2026-06-09T07:01:39.334Z",1,"novelbin.me","22c1574a569de03822d7770878e2548495428cf14f663a78a245a51992e7024a","knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-chapter-5","knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-chapter-3",216,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fknight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-cover.jpg"]