Swords, magic, and martial arts

Baron and Daniel went after the group of riders, while the other leader of the caravan chose to set up camp and rest by the roadside.

He instructed those who were still able to move to dig a pit and bury the bodies of their recently deceased companions, and Rhodes and the others also helped.

Another leader of the caravan was an old man with a white beard named Piert Kaman, who looked exactly like the image of an ancient sage in Rhodes' mind.

According to others, he was once a nobleman in the Roman Empire, but was stripped of his title for some reason. He then fled to the Kingdom of Nord to escape his crimes and eventually became a merchant.

He was also the first person with a surname that Rhodes had met after his transmigration. In this world, only nobles could have surnames. Even if someone was stripped of their noble status, they could still have a surname, but their children could not.

As for what was inside the carriage, Pilt didn't explain, and the rest of the caravan didn't know either.

The caravan was organized by Daniel and Pilt, and the other members were mostly grooms, servants, and guards hired by the two of them.

"Should we go help Baron and the others?" Rod asked Webber, who was digging a hole nearby.

"You'll only cause trouble if you go," Hammer said. After a few days of rest, his injuries were mostly healed, and he only needed to avoid strenuous fighting.

Hammer has always looked down on Rhodes' strength, and Rhodes has gotten used to it.

When will I be able to dominate the crowd like Baron?

Rhodes thought to himself as he dug the hole.

After disposing of the bodies, the caravan's servants began to cook. For some time, they could only eat dry rations at noon, and hot food was only served in the morning and evening.

Smelling the aroma of the broth and warming himself by the fire, Rhodes began to think about the future. This kind of arduous and adventurous life was very unfamiliar to someone like him who was used to modern life.

Shouldn't we try to get him a title, then use his previous knowledge to make some money, manage his own territory, and live a comfortable life from now on?

As for adventure, with his few martial arts skills, he's at best a little stronger than the average adventurer. It's better to use the advanced knowledge he's acquired to benefit the world.

This way, you can both make your life more comfortable and actually do something for the world.

"It's cooked, you can start eating now," Weber said.

Rhodes and his companions did not eat with the rest of the caravan; instead, Weber cooked for them himself.

This was Weber's insistence; he said he had once almost been poisoned after eating food prepared by someone else.

From then on, he only ate food prepared by himself or by Sam.

As for why he didn't eat what Hammer prepared, it wasn't that Weber didn't trust him, but rather that Hammer had never prepared food before.

The pot was filled with beef jerky cured with salt. In Glacier City, because there was a river that allowed large quantities of salt to be transported by boat, the price of salt was much cheaper than in Icestone City.

In Icestone City, Rhodes was so tired of eating "original" meat that he was almost sick of it. Now, even this kind of marinated meat tastes pretty good.

The steaming hot meat and broth, paired with black bread, made them eat with great relish.

"Your cooking skills are getting better and better. When you retire, you can even work as a cook at a pub," Hammer praised after taking a bite.

"What's so great about working as a cook in someone else's tavern? I plan to go back to Pinewood Town and open my own tavern after the curse is lifted," Webber said.

Upon hearing this, Hammer's expression froze. He put down his fork and said in disbelief, "After this, you're retiring?"

Weber smiled and said, "I'm over fifty years old. I'm getting old. I should retire early, marry a young wife, and live a few more years of peaceful life. If I die out there, all the money I've worked so hard to save over the years will be wasted."

Rhodes looked Webber up and down, not realizing he was over fifty.

"What's the point of that kind of life? Only fighting makes me feel alive," Hammer said.

"I'm not like you. When I'm out there trying to make a living, people always point fingers at me. But when you sit in the tavern, lots of people want to be your friend," Webber said, putting a piece of meat into his mouth with his fork.

Hammer didn't say anything more, and the atmosphere around the fire was heavy.

Rhodes didn't speak, continuing to eat with his head down. After all, he wasn't particularly close to Webber and Hammer, nor was he as outgoing as Baron, who could become familiar with everyone.

"Are you really planning to live this kind of drifting life forever?" Weber asked Hammer.

Hammer paused for a moment before saying, "Unless I become a nobleman, I will not go home."

Looking at Hammer, Rod thought, "It seems Hammer must be a man with a story." He had already mentally conjured up a 100,000-word essay on the theme of "Never underestimate a young man's potential."

Hammer noticed Rhodes's gaze and asked, "Why are you risking your life outside when you're so weak? Aren't you afraid of getting killed?"

"Don't talk about him like that. He's still young. Maybe he'll be more capable than any of us in the future," Weber said.

Rhodes was touched by Webber's words and asked, "Where is Pinewood Town? I think I can visit you sometime."

After hearing Rod's question, a hint of longing appeared in Weber's eyes. He was probably reminiscing about Pinewood Town. He said, "It was a beautiful place. There were pine forests covering the hillsides next to the town, and lots of plump animals lived in the forests. There was also a small river in the middle of the town, and I loved catching fish in the river when I was a child..."

Rod listened for more than ten minutes, but Weber still did not answer his question.

He coughed, interrupting Weber's recollection, and said, "I'm asking about the exact location of Pinewood Town?"

Weber snapped out of his reverie and said, "In the north of the Province of Dawn."

Dawn Province is a province in southern Nord bordering the Kingdom of Fish. It has a pleasant climate and snows only in winter, making it one of the few relatively warm provinces in Nord.

There are relatively few conflicts between the Kingdom of Fish and the Kingdom of Nord, so the area is quite peaceful, unlike the Winterfell Province which is close to the Roman Empire.

"You must visit me sometime in the future, and I will definitely treat you well," Weber said.

Rhodes nodded and said, "Definitely, definitely."

……

After finishing his meal, Rod, having nothing to do, picked up his sword and found a place to practice basic swordsmanship.

Although the moves are simple, they are all the foundation of those advanced moves.

Without a clock, he lost all sense of time at night, and Rod didn't know how late he practiced before going to sleep.

When he woke up the next day, it was already noon. It was Weber who woke him up for lunch.

After a night of practice, Rod's basic swordsmanship improved from level 1 to level 2.

It seems this task isn't too difficult. I can level up my basic swordsmanship in one night. Although it gets harder to level up as I progress, I'm sure I can level up again in two or three more days.

Baron returned on horseback just after he had sat down to rest...