Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 6: Chapter 5 Skill Improvement

As the sun climbed toward its zenith, a novel alert suddenly flashed from the system:

[Assistance in nailing horseshoes provided; insight has improved!]

[You have mastered a new skill — Nailing Horseshoes]

[Skill proficiency in 'Nailing Horseshoes' has risen, Experience +1]

Driven by intrigue, Rein immediately accessed the second page of his interface, specifically the Blacksmith Apprentice profession panel.

Within the crowded list of abilities, another icon had flared to life directly across from the already active Hoof Trimming skill.

Nailing Horseshoes lv1 (1/100).

The graphic was straightforward, showing an inverted U-shaped horseshoe with seven distinct nail holes etched into its surface.

Meanwhile, the remaining icons on the profession panel stayed shrouded in shadow and mystery.

"Is it possible that after a period of focused study, a profession-related skill can be unlocked, allowing for continuous refinement through practice?"

"That certainly seems to be the logic!"

This realization caused Rein to become completely absorbed in the mechanics of nailing horseshoes. He was so preoccupied that he didn't even spare a second glance when the noble lady appeared again in the outer castle courtyard.

During the midday meal, his companion George observed him with a look of bewilderment.

"Rein, I’ve noticed a change in you!" George remarked.

Rein felt a brief surge of anxiety. Could his childhood friend truly sense that something fundamental had shifted within him?

George went on,

"Rein, why are you working like you've been injected with a stimulant?"

"You’re trimming donkey hooves and hammering shoes until you’re physically unable to move."

Rein let out a quiet breath of relief; it was only his work ethic that was under scrutiny.

He thought privately, "That's only because you lack a golden finger! If you had one, George, you’d likely be working even harder than I am."

"Haha, perhaps I just had a moment of clarity! I’ve realized how vital it is to actually master a trade," Rein replied with a grin.

"Is that so?" George eyed him with lingering suspicion.

He felt certain his best friend was different, yet he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

However, since Rein spoke of the importance of learning a craft, George found himself in agreement.

While George didn't come from wealth, his parents were land-owning freemen with a steady income, making his life significantly easier than Rein’s.

Rein’s father was a mere tenant farmer on someone else's land, and his mother lacked any regular wages. To make matters worse, they had a younger sister to support...

It was only natural that Rein would be more desperate to secure a profession.

After the young laborers finished their lunch and took a short breather, they resumed their lessons under Master Baal’s supervision.

At first, the task of nailing shoes held the boys' interest, but as the novelty wore off, the self-proclaimed 'second-generation' youths grew restless. Their goal was to join the guards; mastering the forge was irrelevant to them.

Before long, these entitled kids began gossiping about various rumors.

These were the moments Rein used to gather intelligence on the outside world, so he sharpened his focus and listened intently.

"Hey, have you heard? Things are getting dangerous lately. I heard a ruthless band of pirates has made landfall," the boy with bushy brows whispered, dropping a bombshell.

"Pirates? Flashgold Town is near the coast, but there’s still plenty of land in between, right? Why should we care about pirates?" the freckled boy questioned.

"I’m not sure, but Billy—a guard for a merchant caravan that just arrived—said a group called the Black Sails has landed. Apparently, they’re avoiding the County Town and hitting the smaller settlements instead. I heard Fishing Port Town was devastated, and even their sheriff was slain," Bushy Brows added.

"No way! Aren't town sheriffs usually knight-tier candidates? Are these pirates really that formidable?" the baker’s son asked, his mouth hanging open.

"Yes, the Black Sails are incredibly powerful! I also heard our own sheriff, Lord Kuzma, is being reassigned to Fishing Port Town. The new sheriff coming here is supposedly a lord from the County Town."

"I think his name is Lord Hamilton? I’m not entirely certain... but that sounds right......"

The freckled boy nodded in confirmation, sharing his own piece of news. Rein was impressed; the boy truly was a fountain of information.

"Oh! You heard that too? Then it must be true!" Bushy Brows said, nodding back.

"Well, Fishing Port Town is only about a two-day trek from Flashgold Town. Do you think the pirates will come here?" Freckles asked, his voice tinged with anxiety.

"Don't sweat it. Pirates usually pillage the coast and vanish; they rarely push deep inland. If they did, they wouldn't be called pirates," Bushy Brows said, trying to reassure him.

.....

The influx of news was staggering.

Pirates?

A new sheriff?

Rein was dazed by the revelations, nearly dropping the horseshoe he was holding.

Noticing his distraction, Master Baal asked kindly,

"Rein, if you're exhausted, take a moment to rest."

Rein’s fervor for learning over the last few days, combined with his natural aptitude, had significantly raised Baal’s opinion of him.

Hard work has a way of changing how others see you.

"I’m fine, I can push through a bit longer."

Rein declined the offer with a shake of his head.

"I have to seize every chance to level up my skills. Otherwise, what’s the point of having a golden finger?"

Still, the news of the pirates unsettled him.

The world was clearly less stable than he had thought.

He had to grow stronger, and he had to do it fast!

Consequently, George noticed that Rein’s work ethic became even more intense than the previous day.

He took almost no breaks, alternating between assisting with the shoeing process and watching Master Baal’s every movement with predatory focus.

Such a hunger for knowledge was simply incomprehensible to the others.

After two days of relentless practice, Rein found himself staring at his skill status: Hoof Trimming lv1 (99/100).

"It looks like I’ll reach the next level of Hoof Trimming today."

"I wonder what kind of benefits lv2 will bring?"

Rein didn't have to wait long. As he watched Baal finish smoothing a shoe to perfection, the notification he had been waiting for finally popped up.

[You assisted in nailing horseshoes; skill-related comprehension has increased!]

[Your Hoof Trimming skill has leveled up, experience +1]

[Congratulations, your Hoof Trimming skill has reached lv2]

Checking the status: Hoof Trimming lv2 (1/300).

Suddenly, a new sense of clarity washed over Rein.

Flickers of memory flooded his mind, making it feel as though he had been performing this task for months rather than days.

When he watched Baal work now, he saw things he had previously missed.

He understood why Baal’s wrist snapped in a specific way at the hoof's curve.

He realized why Baal used a slight vibration when scraping away excess horn with the iron spade.

Everything now appeared logical and fluid.

He finally understood!

....

Rein felt that even though his physical power hadn't changed, his technical proficiency was now high enough to handle the trimming himself.

He wasn't ready to nail a full shoe yet.

But trimming? He could do that.

While asking Master Baal for such a responsibility seemed bold—considering even the senior apprentices weren't allowed to work solo—Rein knew that hands-on experience was the only way to maximize his gains.

He looked at his Blacksmith Apprentice lv1 progress bar (22/100) and sighed softly. "What a shame."

It was clear that leveling specific skills was much faster than raising his overall profession level.

At this rate, it would take at least five days to see progress in his Blacksmith Apprentice rank.

Steeling himself, Rein spoke up: "Master Baal, may I try trimming the hooves? I believe I’m ready to handle it."

Baal looked Rein over, searching his face for any sign of arrogance. Seeing only sincerity and remembering the boy's relentless toil, he nodded.

"Very well. Give it a shot."

The other apprentices gasped. They couldn't believe he was attempting this after only a few days of training.

Even the lazy 'second-generation' boys stopped their talking to watch him. Though they didn't care about the job, Rein's blatant display of competence annoyed them.

"What is Rein trying to pull? Showing off like that? Damn him, we need to beat some sense into him tonight!" the bushy-browed boy spat, throwing a blade of grass to the ground.

"He’s just sucking up to Baal. Psh! We’ll teach him a proper lesson later!" the freckled boy added, his eyes narrowing.

.....