Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 3: Chapter 2 Profession [Blacksmith Apprentice]_2

George froze for a second before coming to his senses; it was true that he often lost himself in daydreams!

Furthermore, his companion Rein had recently been... by a donkey.

The conditions for child servants at the Habsburg manor weren't terrible; at the very least, they were provided with a meal that could be considered "sumptuous."

A loaf of black bread, half of a smoked fish, and a large serving of vegetable broth constituted the lunch for Rein and his fellow servants.

While the meal did little to stimulate Rein's appetite, the boys surrounding him were salivating, their Adam's apples bobbing as they swallowed in anticipation.

As soon as a formal Attendant barked, "Eat up!"

The group began to consume their food with ravenous intensity.

Rein picked up the loaf of black bread, which felt as heavy and solid as a brick. Between its gritty texture and rock-hard crust—good heavens! He wondered if this was actually a brick disguised with black paint.

He looked to his side to see his friends already violently tearing the bread apart, soaking the pieces in the thin vegetable soup until it turned into a thick mash.

Rein gave a small nod, recognizing this technique as being quite similar to eating naan.

Emulating them, Rein began to force the food down his throat.

"Ptooey! There are literally wood shavings mixed into this black bread! This garbage isn't fit for human consumption!"

Rein fell silent for a moment, reminiscing about his previous life where he had worried about the quality of meat in his takeout—that seemed tragic enough at the time.

Yet this world was far worse; there wasn't even a scrap of meat to be found!

Rein continued to struggle with his meal while his mind began to wander.

"This servant training reminds me of the military drills from my past life, though it's much longer. It lasts three full months, followed by that assessment I've been dreading."

"Even with the panel, my current rate of improvement is a bit sluggish. If I want to pass the test and successfully become a Blacksmith apprentice, I have to find a way to accelerate my progress."

"As for becoming a guard? Of course I want that! To carry a sword and shield while wearing armor—the mere thought makes my blood pump!"

"However... throughout both my lives, I've never touched a sword. I'll need to find an opening..."

"But I absolutely must change my current circumstances!"

Rein glanced at George, who was staring blankly ahead, clearly preoccupied with something else.

Following his friend's line of sight, Rein spotted a girl dressed in the gray linen of a maid. As she bent over to wipe a table, her slightly raised backside formed a graceful curve.

So, that was what had stolen the young boy's focus!

Memories from his predecessor immediately bubbled up; the girl was named Sophia. She was roughly their age and served as a child servant in the manor as well.

The primary difference was that the training for girls was separate from the boys, focusing on chores like cleaning, scrubbing, and laundry.

Girls tended to mature faster than boys. At this stage, Sophia was already like a flower beginning to bloom!

Scanning the room, Rein saw that George wasn't the only one staring; several other boys were also captivated by the sight.

However, for a man with Rein's long-term experience, the sight of a girl in a maid uniform wasn't particularly distracting!

But for teenagers just hitting puberty, it was the kind of distraction that made them forget about food or sleep.

"George, what are you gaping at?"

George jumped, his face flushing deep red as he held out his remaining bread. "No... nothing, Rein. Look, you've worked hard all morning. If you're still hungry, you can have my other half."

"Are you certain you've had enough to eat?" Rein asked, looking at George with surprise.

"I'm basically full; just take it," George muttered reluctantly.

In truth, he could have easily finished the bread; he simply wanted to buy Rein's silence.

Moreover, he felt that since Rein had been hurt yesterday and worked so hard today, he really needed the extra nourishment.

Rein nodded, mentally awarding his best friend a "good person card," though he politely turned down the sawdust-filled bread!

After a moment, Rein felt he should offer his buddy some advice, so he whispered without looking up:

"George, you can stare a hundred times, but that won't make her yours. Instead of wasting time, focus on passing the assessment. Once you pass, you'll actually have a chance with her!"

George's face turned a brilliant shade of crimson. He looked around frantically before whispering back:

"Rein, even if we are close, you shouldn't just say things like that! I wasn't looking at Sophia..."

"Hehe... I never said a name; you're the one who brought up Sophia."

George was immediately stunned. He realized his friend had become much more observant after being kicked in the head by that donkey—it was as if he had become more intelligent!

"Does getting kicked in the skull by a donkey actually have benefits?!"

During the afternoon, the group of child servants returned to their lessons on trimming donkey hooves.

Having eaten lunch, Rein's energy had mostly returned. Despite the lingering ache in his back, he felt motivated by the constant +1, +1 Experience notifications appearing before him.

Rein was overflowing with drive!

However, the afternoon session hadn't progressed very far when a group of over twenty young men and women arrived at the central courtyard outside the castle.

These newcomers were roughly the same age as Rein and the others, but the boys were tall and the girls were elegant and well-dressed. They carried themselves like the true masters of the castle.

As they approached, Rein's memories identified them: these were the children of minor nobles and wealthy merchants serving under Count Habbs. They were here to train as Knight Attendants at the Habsburg estate.

Because the estate was only a half-day's walk—or a mere hour by horseback—from the County Town, it was the traditional site for Knight Attendant training, being the ancestral home of the Habus family.

Rein looked at the "rich kids" among his fellow servants; they were merely "fake elites."

These newcomers were the real deal—the genuine "second generation" upper class!

The outer courtyard was a massive space usually reserved for the training of Knight Attendants and guards, though small corners were occasionally used for other tasks.

Essentially, the child servants were intruders occupying a space meant for the true elite.

"Snap!"

"Ouch!"

One of the servants who had been staring at the noble youths was struck on the head by Baal.

Baal barked with clear disdain:

"You little runts, stop being jealous. They were born into a social class you couldn't reach in a lifetime, no matter how hard you struggle!"

"As for you lot! If you master a trade, you'll at least be able to live a decent life in the future."

The words were blunt, but they held a certain truth.

Rein found himself agreeing with Baal; in this era, climbing the social ladder was nearly impossible. For these boys, learning a craft was the only way to ensure they wouldn't starve.

Wait!

Rein's eyes suddenly narrowed; he had spotted something truly incredible.