Nighttime, at the Marichadon family estate, the whole family rarely gathered together to share a meal.
'Breathing Skill Experience Points +6???'
Ivan remembered something. Earlier that morning, after defeating Henge, a strange prompt appeared on the membrane of light.
As he stared at the message, he felt a faint sense of realization.
It must count as academic prestige—an academic reputation. He had defeated Henge, who ranked higher than him, and other students now acknowledged his considerable proficiency in the Breathing Method. Because of that, he had gained a small amount of academic acclaim in the field of the Breathing Skill.
'Selling potions before?'
'None of them were sold under my own name. No wonder I couldn't gain recognition before. Now it makes sense.'
*A stream of thoughts flowed through his mind. He also recalled the large number of experience points he gained when inventing the Ocean Blue Potion. He began to understand the power of the membrane of light better. Everything hinged on "academics." To earn points, the activity must be related to academic disciplines.*
Teaching students and spreading academic knowledge should also yield prestige.
'Focused on academic disciplines—it really lives up to the name of the Academic Prodigy Panel. Rigorous and professional.'
*Ivan marveled to himself. This made it clear that academic fraud or fabricated reputations wouldn't work. Genuine achievements, grounded solidly in one's academic capabilities, were necessary for gaining the trust and acknowledgment of others.*
*At that moment, countless plans and ideas floated through his mind. He resolved to find chances to test them out in the future.*
"Ivan."
"Ivan."
His brother Beaman called his name twice, snapping Ivan back to reality.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I just figured something out."
Beaman didn't press further and instead repeated the question he had asked earlier: "Are you going to join this mission? It's a good chance to gain some real combat experience."
He knew Ivan's capabilities, but also recognized his lack of real-world experience. Some things couldn't be learned merely through instruction, which is why he invited Ivan to join the Mercenary Group's upcoming task.
Ivan instinctively looked toward their father, Leider, only to realize his father wasn't there; the others had finished eating and left. It was just the two brothers left in the room.
"If you agree, I'll go talk to Dad."
"Alright."
Hearing his answer, Ivan felt that it was indeed a good idea to join.
Now, he already had the strength of a squire. He had used three doses of the Ocean Blue Potion, though the fourth one might not have any effect anymore. Improving his skills any further clearly wouldn't be simple. He didn't need to worry about making money either, as he had become adept in the Tidal Language. As for linguistics, only the Fernundo language remained.
The Fernundo language was niche, so he didn't need to rush into learning it.
Having spent so much time in this alien world, he finally had some spare time and leisure. It was just the right timing to explore the world outside Flying Fish Port.
By the next morning, a thick mist still lingered.
Ivan arrived early at the Bat's Eye Medical Hall.
Before long, Justine sashayed her way over.
"Hey, you're here."
"Humph."
Ivan rarely initiated greetings, but this time he did.
Their goals had both been achieved—they had genuinely become apprentices under Old Orio. With their prior rivalry dissipated, their relationship had noticeably improved.
After a brief pause, Justine said, "Don't get too full of yourself. Be careful, or I'll surpass you."
This wasn't the first time she had brought it up—her competitive streak was undeniable.
*Ivan found himself at a loss for words. He nodded slightly: "I'll be waiting."*
Not long after, a slender figure emerged from the far end of the street. This person's movements were slightly uneven, and as they stepped through the mist, the fiery birthmark on their face appeared particularly fierce.
"Mr. Orio."
Old Orio barely acknowledged their greetings and bows.
The medical hall opened for business, and Ivan informed Old Orio of his intention to take leave. The old man wasn't bothered; he simply waved him off.
Ivan then left the hall and headed for Interlock Street to reach the Giant Shield Mercenary Group's headquarters.
"Let's head out."
He arrived just in time for departure, as Leider announced the start of the journey.
This group consisted of ten people: Marichadon father and three sons, a deputy captain—Glowe—and several ordinary mercenaries.
Each person rode a horse, and every horse carried a shield. The shields were necessary not just to match the mercenary group's name but because of the unique nature of their adversary this time. Without shields, they wouldn't stand a chance.
Beaman introduced Ivan to the deputy captain, Glowe, who was also a squire-level fighter. Glowe had an exceptional mastery of archery, which had earned him repeated accolades and the admiration of many mercenaries.
The group also had another deputy captain named Dayne, a Junior Knight, who was assigned to a separate task.
Ivan's presence garnered considerable attention. As a member of the Giant Shield Mercenary Group, many had heard of him—the mischievous youngest son of the mercenary leader. Normally, Ivan wasn't known for his combat skills, so some speculated he had just joined for fun.
Paul couldn't help but glance repeatedly at his younger brother. If Beaman hadn't told him about it, Paul wouldn't have known about all the achievements Ivan had quietly accomplished. Ivan's combat skills were nearing his level, and his feats in apothecary filled Paul with a sense of inadequacy.
"What's the reward for this mission?"
"A marriage alliance."
Flying Fish Port had a rule: except for noble carriages, horses were not allowed to gallop freely unless under special circumstances. For now, the group's speed on horseback was slow.
Beaman's response made Ivan roll his eyes.
*He didn't believe it. Although Leider cared deeply about restoring the family's former glory, he wouldn't disregard the opinions of mercenary group members or act recklessly. Otherwise, they would've accepted the mission long ago.*
Beaman added, "A shield, which you'll see soon enough."
In truth, Beaman wasn't privy to much detail. The reward was indeed a heavy shield from Baron Church's collection, but the specifics were unclear since he typically didn't concern himself with the group's minutiae.
After passing Flying Fish Port's city gate, the group spurred their horses to a gallop, heading toward Black Pine Forest.
They rested twice along the way, and by mid-afternoon they were within a couple of miles of Black Pine Forest's territory. Leider decided to rest briefly in preparation for arrival.
In a grassy field, Ivan sat beside Beaman as they took a break.
Beaman chuckled softly: "Disappointed, aren't you?"
"A little bit."
Ivan nodded.
*Since leaving Flying Fish Port, the journey hadn't matched his expectations. Few travelers crossed their path, there were no bandit encounters, and no signs of outlaws—all contrary to what he had imagined.*
Beaman explained, "That's because we're traveling on a wide trade route. Without any goods to transport and with strength in numbers, no one would dare mess with us. If you travel alone someday, you'll need to stay cautious."
He also elaborated that peasant villages outside the city typically clustered near noble castles, towns, or cities as they were considered the lord's subjects. The wandering migrants, who didn't belong to the lord, couldn't create value for the territory and preferred to remain hidden, away from bustling trade routes.
Eventually, the group pressed onward, arriving at Black Pine Castle within the Black Pine Forest territory.
"Haha! Welcome, Knight Leider, and the Giant Shield Mercenary Group!"
Baron Church was a stout middle-aged man who personally came to the castle gate to welcome the group from afar. Contrary to Beaman's earlier description, the baron was incredibly warm-hearted, with a booming, infectious laugh that brightened the atmosphere.
Miss Church was present as well. Upon spotting Ivan, her eyes lit up: "We meet again, Mr. Ivan, and Mr. Paul and Mr. Beaman, too."
"Indeed, dear Miss Lisa."
Beaman casually responded and shot his brother a subtle wink, his expression betraying a mysterious amusement.
Ivan followed with a polite greeting, then noticed something peculiar. Miss Lisa's demeanor toward him felt different—it was more familiar than her treatment of his older brothers. Curious, Ivan glanced at Paul's reaction; his eldest brother's expression remained unchanged.
*Ivan was perplexed. He had barely interacted with Miss Lisa—only speaking a few words across two brief meetings. Could something have happened without his knowledge? What's going on with everyone?*