Contrary to Leo's expectations, there wasn't a single piece of eye-opening news in the tavern.
Disappointed by how different this world was from the typical web novels he'd read in his past life, his eyes dimmed with mild frustration.
"Well… expecting groundbreaking revelations from a countryside tavern is probably the strange part."
He hadn't come with high hopes anyway. With a resigned sigh, he took a sip of the lukewarm beer.
"Beer should be cold…"
It wasn't awful—mild and a bit bland—but surprisingly rich in flavor. If only it had been chilled, it might've even beaten the post-work beers he enjoyed back in Korea. But in a world without refrigerators, that was wishful thinking.
While there were no valuable secrets to overhear, listening to the locals' chatter had its own charm—and utility. It was his first time inside the castle proper, and since he knew nothing about its inner workings or notable figures, simply soaking in conversations helped.
As he leisurely nursed his drink, a particular conversation reached his ears, carrying an unusual weight.
"You've heard, right? The border dispute between Dusel and Friel doesn't look like it'll end anytime soon."
"Yeah, word is it's serious. Even the Central seems to be paying attention…"
"Well, the two territories are backed by rival factions. If this gets political, it might affect Izell too."
"That's why there's a lot of talk in the Merchant Guild. They think we should start preparing."
"Wait… The guild thinks it'll escalate into war?"
"They're not certain. But people are bracing for it."
"Damn… I should make preparations too. I didn't think it'd blow up this fast."
Leo's face stiffened. Once might be coincidence, but twice?
"So much for joining the army just to get stronger…"
For a fleeting moment, regret passed through him. But he shook his head.
"No… I had no future in that village anyway."
Better to gamble for strength than die slowly at the hands of a drunken father. The thought of war terrified him, but he pushed the fear down and reminded himself:
"It's not a certainty yet. No need to panic early."
Besides, Leo wasn't the same helpless boy anymore. He had grown. Fast.
He'd mastered the Izell Basic Spear Technique, the Ray-Style Practical Swordsmanship, and was nearing perfection with the Basic Shield Technique. The first two had already hit 100% proficiency, unlocking hidden bonuses. Soon, the third would join them.
The instructors' evaluations of him had been glowing. He wasn't just diligent—he was gifted. Even a few senior soldiers had quietly admitted to envying his talent.
"Leo, why do you look so glum? Too noisy for you?"
"You okay?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Just thinking."
"Well, we're done with our drinks. Where to next?"
"Sun's already down. Guess the dorms are the only place left."
Though their first big adventure into the city had ended without anything extraordinary, for a bunch of barely-teen boys in their first tavern visit, it had been thrilling enough. They chatted about the beer and snacks on the walk back, then quickly collapsed into deep sleep once inside the dorm.
Lying in bed and listening to Kenneth's loud snoring, Leo checked his status window.
Three combat skills. All nearing perfection.
Izell Basic Spear Technique (N) / 100%
→ All spear attacks gain 10% increased power.
Ray-Style Practical Swordsmanship (SN) / 100%
→ All sword attacks gain 15% increased power.
Izell Basic Shield Technique (N) / 92%
Then his eyes drifted to a mysterious icon next to a feather-shaped symbol.
"Ardan's Feather… Still no idea what that's for."
There was no description, just the name and a glowing number: (2). He figured he'd learn its purpose in time.
And that time came sooner than expected.
The next day, Leo met his new squad.
"Oh, so you're that Leo? Heard a lot about you."
"Isn't this the new ace? Ray was hyping him up like crazy."
"Even the squad leader went out of his way to request him."
Thanks to his growing reputation, his transition into active duty was smoother than he expected. He was assigned to Squad 3, not Ray's unit, but everyone welcomed him warmly.
No new dorms were necessary. Most soldiers either stayed in cheap inns or saved money to buy their own homes. The dorm was humble but free, and Leo figured he could stick around until the others moved out—maybe even claim the room for himself later.
The next day, he reported for duty.
"Morning!"
"Oh, hey Leo. You're early."
His partner for the day was a laid-back soldier named Kyle. Despite his casual attitude, Kyle explained things thoroughly.
And just as he said—being a guard wasn't anything special.
"Feels more like being a town cop than a soldier."
Aside from patrolling the streets, guards mostly kept the peace. Sometimes they'd swipe fruit from merchants—who never complained. Kyle even tried to use Leo's "newbie" status as an excuse to take extra.
"Come on, let's not overdo it," Leo said, managing to stop him.
The patrol route took them around the town. They walked alleys, peeked into marketplaces, and scanned for suspicious individuals. The work was simple but exhausting.
The biggest challenge? The stench.
"Man… the smell here is awful."
Manure was scattered everywhere. The roads were muddy and slick, and beggars lurked in every alley. Rohan found himself strangely grateful for the barracks.
"At least it doesn't smell like this over there…"
The job ran from 9 AM to 5 PM. Meals were whatever they could scavenge or "borrow" from vendors, and breaks meant sitting under a tree for ten minutes.
Still, Leo wasn't complaining. The job was light enough that he could train hard after work.
Just a few days in, Leo reached 100% proficiency with the shield technique.
Izell Basic Shield Technique (N) / 100%
→ Increases defense and resistance when wielding a shield.
→ You have gained 1 Ardan's Feather.
He grinned. Three skills at max proficiency.
And just then—another message popped up.
— You have achieved 100% proficiency in three skills.
— New function unlocked: Skill Synthesis
"Skill Synthesis…?"
Eyes widening, Leo quickly checked his status window. The feather icon now glowed with a new purpose.
It resembled a game's item fusion system—two skill slots, merging into one.
"What happens if it fails…?"
Worry struck him. The system was intuitive but offered no explanations. No tutorials. No guarantees. Just trial and error.
"In most games, failure means downgrades or loss… but I doubt it'll delete a basic skill."
Even if he failed, he could just relearn the skill. What he didn't want to lose was the Ardan's Feather. It might be rare.
"Well… nothing ventured, nothing gained."
After a moment of thought, he chose two skills: swordsmanship and shield techniques.
He clicked Synthesize.
— Ray-style Practical Swordsmanship (SN) + Izell Basic Shield Technique (N)
→ Cost: 1 Ardan's Feather
Confirm?
Leo pressed the button.
The screen went dark for a second.
Success.
A new skill appeared in his list:
Novice Mercenary's Sword & Shield Technique (SN) / 0%
"A combined technique…?"
Before he could examine it, pain surged in his head.
He clutched it, gasping.
"Urgh…!"
Knowledge flooded in—stances, swings, blocks—etched into his brain. When the pain vanished, sweat dripped down his chin.
"...50% proficiency? Already?"
Apparently, the knowledge was transferred directly. He'd skipped the need to relearn basic forms.
"This is amazing."
The system was clear: the resulting skill depended on the components. And thankfully, there was no penalty for synthesis. Even better, he still had two Ardan's Feathers left.
"Should I try again?"
This time, he picked spear and swordsmanship.
"It probably won't blend well, but I want to test the limits."
He inserted the two skills and hit Synthesize. Another feather used.
— Result: Crude Throwing Spear Technique (N) / 0%
Leo frowned.
"Crude…? Ugh. Not what I expected."
Was this the result of incompatible skills? Or just bad RNG?
He sighed—then winced as another wave of pain washed over him, less intense than before.
"So… higher-grade skills cause more pain during synthesis?"
Something to remember for the future.
Despite the letdown, it wasn't a total loss.
"At least I didn't fail. And I learned something new."
He still had one feather left, but decided to hold onto it for now.
"Let's master the new skills first."
Leo lay back, a small smile on his face.
The world was dangerous. The rumors of war loomed.
But with each swing, each fusion, and each step forward—he was becoming stronger.
And he was just getting started.