The dust had yet to settle, but the training grounds had fallen into a deathly silence.

All sound vanished in an instant.

The students stood frozen in place as if petrified, their eyes locked on the center of the field.

The massive, crimson body crashed to the ground, motionless.

And Roland, the one they had been certain would be crushed, just calmly shook his right hand as if he had done something trivial.

The air seemed to freeze.

Every face was a mask of utter, horrified disbelief.

"Gods above..."

Someone finally managed to squeeze out a raspy sound from their throat.

"One punch... It only took one punch..."

Another student subconsciously clutched his stomach as if feeling the blow himself.

"Freddy’s sword... he sent it flying!"

The student who had previously questioned Roland’s Power spoke in a voice hoarse with shock, his gaze fixed on the sword embedded in the ground.

A silent shockwave spread through the crowd.

Their earlier contempt and mockery had vanished without a trace, replaced by looks of mingled awe and fear.

This figure, who hadn’t seemed particularly imposing compared to Freddy, now appeared incomparably tall and dangerous in their eyes.

The Half-Elf, Hobbit, shrank back in terror, his little face pale. He looked at Roland with an expression full of lingering fear.

’And I actually thought about choosing him as an opponent?’

The only one on the field who remained relatively calm was Reggie.

He slowly lowered his crossed arms. His sharp gaze swept over the unconscious Freddy, and after confirming the Beastman was not in serious danger, it finally came to rest on Roland.

The surprise in his eyes had long since faded, replaced by scrutiny, inquiry, and...

A faint, indescribable heat, like that of a man who had just discovered treasure.

No words were needed.

The dead silence of the field, the students’ frozen horror, and the master’s silent yet razor-sharp gaze all proclaimed one irrefutable fact.

Roland possessed the terrifying power to crush the "monster," Freddy.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

Loud applause shattered the oppressive silence. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Reggie strode forward, his sharp eyes carefully studying the young man before him.

When he saw that Roland wasn’t even sweating and that his breathing was still calm and even, the heat in his eyes practically overflowed.

"Good kid!"

A heavy hand landed on Roland’s shoulder.

But this time, it was not a heavy, demonstrative press, but a light pat of clear approval.

"Well done! It seems that even though Dean Graham has gotten old, his eye for talent hasn’t faded one bit! You stay behind and wait for me."

He turned to the students, who were still wearing looks of bewilderment.

"As for the rest of you, class is dismissed today! You, you, and you..."

He pointed out a few of the sturdiest students.

"Carry Freddy to the infirmary!"

"Yes, sir!"

The students, jolted back to their senses, quickly complied. Then, in twos and threes, they left the training grounds, still reeling from the shock.

In a matter of moments, only Roland and Reggie were left in the vast field.

"Kid..."

As the students departed, the air of authority around Reggie as a master instantly vanished.

He slung an arm around Roland’s shoulders, his curiosity undisguised.

"I heard from Nelson that you’re from the Golden Valley Kingdom? With skills like these... did you serve in their Border Legion?"

Roland gently shook his head.

"Then... are you from a fallen noble family?"

Reggie continued to guess.

"I heard that the children of Golden Valley’s nobility have to undergo harsh training from a young age..."

"Master Reggie..."

With a slight twist of his shoulder, Roland slipped out from under Reggie’s arm while steadily placing the Training Sword back on the weapon rack.

"Before coming to the River Domain, I was just a commoner in the Golden Valley Kingdom."

"A commoner?"

Reggie was not entirely ignorant of the neighboring kingdom’s affairs, and his eyes went wide when he heard this.

"Then where did you learn those Combat Skills you just used?"

"Uhm... from an older mercenary, and the Guards at a noble’s estate..."

’If I leave out the panel, that’s the truth.’ Although he knew it might not sound very convincing, this was the reality.

So, his expression was frank as he spoke, showing no trace of anything unusual.

"Ha..."

Recalling Roland’s clean, efficient, and unembellished combat style, Reggie gave a helpless chuckle, his eyes filled with doubt.

The kind of ruthless, precise skill that could only be honed through countless battles was absolutely not something a few ordinary Guards or Mercenaries could teach.

But since Roland was unwilling to say more, he couldn’t be bothered to press the issue.

"Alright, kid, whatever you say..."

Reggie raised his thick eyebrows, decisively moving past the topic.

"What was it you said you wanted to learn before? Long-Range Weapons and Shield Skills?"

"Yes."

Roland’s eyes lit up.

"Perfect!"

Reggie stretched his muscles, letting out a series of soft cracks.

"I have no other classes today. Let’s not waste any more time. We’ll start right now!"

"But didn’t you say before..."

Roland raised an eyebrow with a hint of teasing.

"...that we had to stick to the curriculum?"

"Hey! You little rascal!"

Reggie feigned another slap on his shoulder and cursed with a good-natured laugh.

"Don’t be a smart-aleck with me! I admit I was intentionally testing your strength just now. I apologize, alright? You’re young, don’t be so petty!"

Roland’s teasing, far from annoying Reggie, actually made the big man’s attitude more familiar and friendly.

"You’re different from the other students!"

Reggie declared decisively.

"For a talent like you, wasting a single day is a crime against your gift!"

Without another word, he turned and walked toward the storeroom beside the training grounds.

A short while later, Reggie returned carrying a heavy Oak Round Shield and an Arm Crossbow, with several smoothly polished Short Spears dangling from the leather belt at his waist.

Just as when he had taught Swordsmanship, Reggie’s instruction on Long-Range Weapons and Shield Skills was clear, methodical, and easy to understand.

Coupled with Roland’s now far-beyond-ordinary physical constitution and the boost from his Concentration Trait, it took only one afternoon for several new entries to quietly appear in the skill section of his Professional Panel.

[Learned Basic Crossbow Skill. Current Level: Level 1]

[Learned Basic Throwing. Current Level: Level 1]

[Learned Basic Shield Skills. Current Level: Level 1]

"Tch!"

Watching Roland methodically blocking with the Shield, albeit a bit clumsily, Reggie then glanced at the nearby target where every Crossbow Arrow and Short Spear had hit its mark.

Reggie suddenly stopped his attack, clicked his tongue, and felt that it was all rather pointless.

"Uh... Master Reggie?"

Roland lowered the Shield and shook his aching arm.

"Are we not practicing anymore?"

"What’s left to practice, kid?"

The big man rolled his eyes and tossed the Training Sword back onto the weapon rack.

"I’ve taught you everything I can. The rest is up to you—to practice diligently and hone it in real combat."

Teaching a genius was certainly exciting, but this ridiculously fast learning speed also left the master feeling a touch of defeat.

"I understand."

Roland bowed respectfully.

"Thank you for your instruction."

"Alright, alright..."

Roland’s humility and respect instantly dispelled the bit of frustration in Reggie’s heart.

He waved his hand, gave a few more pointers, and then turned and strode away.

Watching Reggie’s departing figure, Roland let out a long breath. With a thought, the Professional Panel unfolded before his eyes.

’I’ve learned the skills for Long-Range Weapons and the Shield. Now I just need to raise their Level...’

He pulled his gaze back from the panel. Seeing that it was still early, he walked over and pulled the Crossbow Arrows and Short Spears from the target one by one.

Just as he was about to begin another round of practice, he heard the sound of soft footsteps behind him.