novelraw Chapter 44 : The Five Great Knights! Castle Dungeon
Chapter 44 : The Five Great Knights! Castle Dungeon
Chapter 44: The Five Great Knights! Castle Dungeon
【Basic Archery (White) Level 1 1/100 (Strength +0.1, initial mastery of archery, one arrow every three seconds)】
This was a shortcut for rapidly increasing strength, and if archery could be mastered, it would grant him powerful long-range attack capabilities.
Leo decided to allocate six hours to this skill as well.
‘By this calculation, that’s twelve hours of fixed training time. On top of that, I still have to shoe horses during fragmented time.
After eating, drinking, and resting, and ensuring sufficient sleep, there’s almost no free time left.’
Having made up his mind, Leo wasted no more time. He plunged into the Training Room and began executing his training plan.
At first, everything went smoothly.
His business also turned out to be unexpectedly booming.
Fidis had a certain level of influence among the Knight’s Squires.
Combined with Leo’s superb hoof trimming and horseshoeing skills,
he quickly attracted his first batch of customers.
In just two days, he completed more than a dozen deals.
Leo and Arthur earned fifteen silver coins, and he also obtained quite a bit of trivial intelligence from within the castle.
Once the business stabilized, he would gradually step back and delegate part of the work to Arthur or other squires.
That way, he would have more time to focus on his own matters.
At the same time, his archery skills began to improve.
Leo found a practice bow and started experimenting with target shooting.
Just like his Basic Sword Techniques back then, grinding Basic Archery was not particularly difficult.
After two days of training:
【Basic Archery (White) Level 1 85/100 (Strength +0.1, initial mastery of archery, one arrow every three seconds)】
His Basic Archery was already close to reaching Level 2.
However, the problem arose with his swordsmanship.
Over the past two days, when Leo returned to the Training Room to practice swordsmanship,
he quickly discovered a practical issue—
he could no longer find a suitable opponent.
After the last Beast Calamity, Rog was still recovering from his injuries, and the other Knight’s Squires now felt a certain level of fear when facing Leo.
None of them dared to spar with him.
Only those closer to Leo, like Fidis and a few others who had done business with him, were still willing to train with him.
But even so, their mindset had already changed.
They no longer had the same spirit as before.
During sparring, they held back, afraid that Leo might accidentally unleash his ferocity and injure them.
After two days, Leo’s swordsmanship experience had only barely increased by 9 points.
Still, he had managed to push the Tide Cross Sword to Level 2.
But the bigger problem came after reaching Level 2.
Leo discovered that continuing sparring in this manner would no longer provide meaningful experience.
After his swordsmanship breakthrough, facing these Knight’s Squires, he no longer even had the desire to strike.
Moreover, once the swordsmanship instructor Clarsen returned, Leo would not be able to act freely in the Training Room.
He needed stronger opponents.
However, a turning point came on the third day.
That day, Leo noticed that it was unusually lively outside.
With two steps, he leapt onto the rooftop and activated Hunting Moment. From there, he saw a large procession entering the city from outside the castle.
The hunting party had returned.
Almost all the Knight’s Squires went out to welcome them.
But Leo had no intention of joining the excitement.
‘With so many people, going there would just be showing my face. I might as well stay here and train.’
……
On the streets of the town, a procession of dozens moved forward.
At the front were four of Blackstone City’s Five Great Knights, excluding Ray.
Laforin led the group with high spirits.
Behind them were their Knight Attendants, each riding tall, imposing horses.
Further back were officers of the city guard, escorting several large wooden carts as they slowly advanced.
The carts moved sluggishly, their axles creaking constantly, clearly carrying something heavy.
At this moment, Laforin was conversing with an elegant knight dressed in white beside him.
The white-clad knight lowered his voice. “Sir, this hunt has yielded the most harvest in years. It seems we won’t need to worry about next year’s potions.”
Laforin smiled, though a hint of concern remained in his eyes. “I’m not worried about Beastkin Meat. The key issue is the catalyst allocated by the kingdom. Given the current situation, I’m afraid we’ll receive even less next year.”
“There’s nothing we can do about that. We can only focus on what we should do. I’ve heard that several Quasi-Knights died in the Beast Calamity in the city. Considering our abundant harvest this time, I’m thinking of increasing the rewards.”
Laforin nodded. “I was thinking the same. Additionally, I want to advance the assessment.”
The white-clad knight had already expected this. He knew Laforin’s daughter had made a breakthrough.
Advancing the assessment meant advancing the conferment ceremony.
“I’ve already sent people to begin preparations in advance. The assessment can be held in less than a month at the earliest.”
Laforin looked at the knight before him—Anthony, known as the Hand of Victory—and nodded in satisfaction.
As the strategist of Blackstone City, his arrangements always pleased him.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Ross, the female knight nicknamed the Gray Rhino, stood imposing with a massive shield in hand.
And the bald Clarsen carried two exquisite cross swords at his sides.
Four of the Five Great Knights appearing together in the town was a rare sight.
It allowed the surrounding civilians to feast their eyes.
In previous years, after the hunt ended, they would not make such a grand entrance.
But this year was different.
News of the Beast Calamity in the castle had already spread.
Public sentiment was unstable, so under Anthony’s suggestion,
Laforin arranged this parade.
Outside the castle, Ray and Eve Sova led the Knight’s Squires and some Quasi-Knights to welcome them.
Laforin dismounted and first looked over Eve Sova, confirming that his daughter was unharmed.
Then his gaze swept toward the group of Knight’s Squires in the distance.
Although these youngsters had experienced a Beast Calamity, they showed no signs of discouragement. Instead, their eyes were filled with eagerness.
However, as Laforin’s gaze moved across them, he did not find the face he was looking for.
He turned to Ray. “Where is Leo? Where did he go?”
……
Leo found it impossible to practice swordsmanship today.
There was not a single sparring partner.
With no business either, he remained in the Training Room, practicing his Breathing Technique.
But just as he had calmed his mind and regulated his breathing, a series of hurried footsteps interrupted him.
“You’re quite composed.” Eve Sova stood at the doorway.
“Teacher. Why are you here?”
“Today the hunting party returned to the city. All the Knight’s Squires went to welcome them, yet you’re the only one calmly training here.” Eve Sova’s face darkened, but then she suddenly smiled and patted Leo’s shoulder. “As expected of my student—full of personality.”
“Come on.” Before Leo could react, she grabbed him and pulled him up.
“Teacher, where are you taking me?”
“You’ll know when we get there.”
Not far from the Training Room was a highly concealed small door.
Opening it revealed a tunnel inside.
The damp, cold air mixed with the stench of decay immediately put Leo on alert.
“Relax, this is the castle’s dungeon.”
“Dungeon?!”