Chapter 113: Chapter 113

After reading through the contents of the paper in meticulous detail but at a brisk pace, Ron had memorized everything in a single pass, thanks to the exceedingly straightforward language used.

It could be understood as a simple Knight training method, but the kind that required guidance and pointers from another Knight alongside.

After finishing, Ron couldn’t help but ask: “Captain Monte, are we just training Force-Sensing sparring today?”

“Yes. Have you finished reading already?”

“Yes,” Ron answered truthfully.

“That fast?”

Monte couldn’t help but feel somewhat surprised. He then quickly pulled Ron and Abe aside, whispering solemnly: “Abe, don’t say a word about today’s matter to anyone. And you too, Ron. You know about the curse of Wizard Legacies, right?”

“I know a little, but not much.”

“Good, that saves me the trouble of explaining. To put it simply, most people find reading text, and yes, written words are also a special kind of Wizard Legacy, extremely laborious.”

Monte revealed a piece of information that greatly shocked Ron, and it didn’t stop there: “You know that the territory’s legal statutes are carved into the base of the Bell Tower, but do you know how long it takes for someone in the territory to learn to recognize all those characters?”

Without waiting for Ron to answer, Monte gave it directly: “Nearly ten years!”

“This…”

Ron had never considered this question before. In his memories from “Ron,” the territory taught literacy precisely through its legal statutes. And since “Ron” himself had been very young, he wouldn’t have paid any attention to the things Monte was describing.

After transmigrating, although Ron had suspected the quality of Sis Territory’s literacy education, everyone else was the same way, so he couldn’t just rigidly apply his Earth experiences.

Hearing Monte’s explanation now, he finally understood that it wasn’t that the territory’s education was backward. It was genuinely that the territorial subjects learned to read text, this special type of Wizard Legacy, far too slowly.

“Then what about me?” Ron couldn’t help but ask himself.

He had learned Sis Territory’s written language, which was actually the written language of the Kingdom of Helios, and indeed the script universally used across the six nations of the continent, through the memories of “Ron.”

But he clearly remembered that he hadn’t automatically mastered the language and script the moment he inhabited “Ron’s” body. There had been a fairly lengthy process.

In reality, the first thing he had learned was the spoken language here. As for the written language, he could still only recognize some relatively simple legal phrases. Whenever he encountered something he didn’t understand, he would first search through “Ron’s” memories.

In other words, Ron had actually already undergone a process of rapidly learning both the spoken and written languages, yet he hadn’t seemed to experience the “laboriousness” that Monte described.

Judging from his daily interactions with the locals, Ron didn’t believe that the native population had any deficiency in intelligence. The only explanation was perhaps exactly what Monte had said: the curse of Wizard Legacies.

“But why haven’t I been subjected to this curse myself?”

Or was it that the source of the curse treated him as the genuine “Ron,” who had already “enjoyed” this curse before, and therefore didn’t need to experience it again?

It carried something of the sentiment of “double jeopardy.” [1]

…

Ron pondered this while Captain Monte’s admonitions continued: “That sheet of paper just now would generally take an ordinary person at least two or three days to read through completely. The fact that you could finish it in such a short time demonstrates that you possess exceptional talent in reading as well. And such talent…”

At this point, Monte surveyed his surroundings, then drew in a deep breath and continued: “If you display outstanding talent in reading and writing, you might be selected by the Lord to become a Scholar.

“Here in Sis Territory, Scholars don’t undertake particularly dangerous work. They typically just organize and transcribe documents. As long as you remain within the territory, it’s not a big problem.

“But outside the territory, Scholars frequently engage in tasks such as collating and translating ancient texts, conducting archaeological work on Wizard Ruins, and researching Knight Secret Arts. Misfortune perpetually shadows them.”

“What I want to say is that the Kingdom sometimes conscripts Scholars from various regions. Once you take up such a profession, you may find yourself constantly accompanied by death in the future.

“This is different from the kind of death faced by the Territory Guard. Our sacrifices are largely predictable, such as during Aberrant Beast invasions. But a Scholar’s death is almost entirely impossible to foresee, and death isn’t even the worst possible outcome.”

With that, Monte offered his final piece of advice: “If you don’t want to court such misfortune, it would be best not to display extraordinary Scholar’s talent.

“The Scholars of Sis Territory aren’t true Scholars yet, but there’s no guarantee that the Lord won’t one day have a sudden whim and want you to pursue a Scholar’s career. Don’t forget, there’s a Wizard Ruin just to the south of the territory!

“Additionally, the Kingdom’s conscription of Scholars from various regions is practically guaranteed to happen again. In my memory, Sis Territory has experienced at least two such events: one over a century ago, and another nineteen years ago. Weigh it carefully for yourself!”

After saying this, he patted Ron on the shoulder, then signaled for the two of them to follow him to the training ground.

“I understand,” Ron replied softly.

He then followed Abe, trailing behind Monte to a corner of the training ground. People were already training here, also doing Force-Sensing sparring. But at the request of Monte, an Intermediate Knight, the two men yielded their spot to the trio.

…

“Ron, I don’t really understand teaching methods and the like, but the body doesn’t lie. Come on, let’s cross hands!”

Captain Monte extended an invitation to Ron. Ron was no stranger to this form of instruction. Previously at Liya’s house, Jason had guided him the same way, and Jason was merely a Junior Knight who had advanced only two years ago.

Monte, however, was an Intermediate Knight, and Ron had high expectations for his guidance. He readily agreed: “Alright, please teach me well, Captain Monte.”

Ron then extended a hand to place it on Monte’s arm, but in the very instant their skin made contact, Ron felt a surging, mighty force ripple from the man’s arm, seemingly intent on vibrating his hand away.

But the very next moment, that oscillating force swiftly transformed into a peculiar suction, dragging Ron’s hand forward involuntarily.

At this point, Ron was exerting every effort to maintain his Whole-Body Force state. The moment his hand moved, his entire body lurched toward Monte. But halfway through the fall, he was sent right back by Monte once more.

Over the ensuing period, Ron felt like a top caught in a whirlpool, swept left and right, jolted up and down by Monte, entirely unable to maintain autonomy. His whole body felt as though it were falling apart.

Yet during this disintegration, he could feel a force extending continuously through his body, starting from the point of contact between himself and Monte. Having already experienced Whole-Body Force, he immediately understood Monte’s instructional method.

Unlike Jason, who could only let him comprehend the flow of force through the process of their mutual exertion, Monte’s approach was far more direct. He had actually assessed Ron’s physical state in a short amount of time, and then provided a relatively comprehensive Whole-Body Force plan.

“Incredible!”

Ron couldn’t help but marvel.

…

[1]: “Double jeopardy” is used here to convey the principle of “一案不二审” (no second trial for the same case), meaning the curse, having already affected the original “Ron,” would not afflict him again as the same “person.”