005 The Troll

Behind the house, on the back mountain, Roland steered two sheep toward the hillside while leafing through the book in his hands.

It read:
【Total Ability Mastery +100】

"I guessed right. Who said you couldn't choose three futures?"

Looking at his palms, Roland noticed they were covered in calluses, and his body hummed with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of strength.

He glanced at the surrounding bushes and trees... and was astonished to find that he could name every single weed he saw! It appeared that he had achieved a qualitative leap in skills like swordsmanship, alchemy, and more.

Regarding what had just transpired, the book described it as follows:
【You have just profoundly elucidated the fundamental truths of this world, and using your mentor as a medium, you have touched upon the power of the underlying world from a broader perspective.】
【Total Ability Mastery +100】

Reading this, Roland’s expression became quite complex.

He had previously discovered through experimentation that simply following the book’s "manic" suggestions could improve his abilities. However, as a normal person, Roland found such things repulsive.

Today’s events, however, sparked a stroke of genius in Roland’s mind: explain the logic within the book to his mentor, let her go "manic," and reap the rewards himself!

The mentor satisfies her curiosity, while he improves his strength... a win-win!

Pausing, Roland suddenly sighed. "My core understanding of meditation was wrong. The correct method of cultivation is not to drive oneself insane, but to drive others insane!"

Shaking his head, Roland flipped the page to his personal status.

【Roland】
【Realm: Apprentice Wizard (100/100)】
【Skill Mastery: Advanced Valeria Swordsmanship (0/1000), Apprentice Alchemy - Novice (41/100), Telepathy II (68/100), Lumos II (83/100)】
【Forbidden Arts: Forbidden - Primary Transfiguration (0/100)】

Closing the book, Roland flickered, leaving a trail of afterimages in the air as he reappeared seven or eight meters away.

If the Baron were to see this, his eyes would surely widen, for this was his signature technique—the "Valeria Flash Sword."

"Valeria swordsmanship is actually this powerful!"
Roland felt both exhilarated and shocked. Baron Hall must be no ordinary noble to possess such a technique. He just wondered to what level the Baron had mastered it.

Roland mused to himself, "Could I take down the mentor's pet, 'Miss Anna,' now?"
His confidence began to swell.

***

He actually wanted to challenge "Anna."

Fortunately, Roland did not consider whether he could handle his mentor; otherwise, Mentor Catherine would surely burst out laughing before teaching this arrogant boy a lesson with a single finger.

Of course, Roland had no intention of challenging his mentor right now. What he was considering was how to deal with that "troll." He planned to escape tonight, and if he were pursued by the beast along the way... Roland believed he would inevitably have a confrontation with Miss Anna.

Logically, a high-level swordsman is someone who can bring peace to an entire territory; dealing with a troll that harasses the land shouldn't be an issue.

"Still, I must be cautious. My escape plan is set for after I advance tonight. As for now... I should see Miss Anna and gather some intelligence on her."

Roland reached out and effortlessly grabbed the two sheep, striding toward the mountain like the wind.

The two sheep were exceptionally sturdy, weighing over a hundred kilograms combined. Yet, Roland carried them as easily as if they were two small parcels.

The mountain path was winding and thick with brush, but Roland moved as if on flat ground, crossing distances of over ten meters with a single leap.

Soon, Roland realized he was approaching his destination. Normally, even if he ran, it would take him over half an hour to arrive, but now it had taken only two or three minutes—all while carrying two sheep.

He didn't even have a single bead of sweat on his brow; the long trek seemed like a mere warm-up. Moreover, his breathing was steady and powerful, demonstrating a high degree of breath control.

As long as he masked his scent and suppressed his aura, the troll would never detect his presence.

"Still, be careful," Roland warned himself. "That troll... is a bit special."

By now, Roland had reached the center of the clearing. The thought of the monster made his expression grow grave.

In the middle of the clearing stood a waist-high stone pillar. The surrounding grass and trees appeared scorched, and dried, blackened blood stained the stone. The surrounding forest was exceptionally tall, dense, and unnervingly quiet.

Town adventurers rumored that the Cat Wizard kept a troll as a pet. Roland had always simply dropped off the sheep and left, so he had never seen the beast with his own eyes.

This time, he intended to get a good look.

He tied the two sheep to the pillar and left as usual. However, this time he did not head straight back. After walking a distance, he doubled back to a dense thicket and crouched down. To avoid being smelled, he had intentionally waded through a small stream on his way back and coated his entire body in mud.

Now, having masked his scent, he lay in the bushes like a stone.

"What exactly does that troll look like?" Roland was usually very nervous coming here, but today he felt unusually calm. A boost in strength has a profound impact on one's state of mind.

A moment later, a squirrel entered the thicket and began eating a hazelnut above his head.

***

After a while longer, the sound of breaking branches echoed from the forest, and a massive figure nearly three meters tall emerged.

Even from tens of meters away, Roland’s eyes could perceive every detail. He watched the "troll" quietly, a sudden, inexplicable sense of dread clutching his heart.

The troll’s appearance caught him by surprise.

This "Mr. Troll" was exceptionally tall, half a head taller than a normal troll! Yet, his proportions were perfectly sculpted—normal trolls had bulky, heavy muscles like steroid-enhanced bodybuilders, but this troll’s muscles were refined and powerful, like a marble statue plucked from a cathedral.

His posture was not hunched like a typical troll; his shoulders were as straight as a pine. Looking closely, his pale blue skin seemed covered in mysterious tattoos, and his every movement exuded an aura of elegance, like a noble and graceful elf.

In every respect, he looked like an elf!

However, he stood over three meters tall, his face was covered in tumors and a hideous large nose, and massive tusks protruded from his lips! These were classic troll features.

"Those tattoos seem to be some kind of incantation," Roland sensed an evil power contained within the markings. It felt... like a curse.

The "troll" knelt beside the two sheep, praying to the rising moon—or perhaps, repenting to it.

Seeing this, Roland’s expression grew even stranger. "Do trolls repent to the moon before eating?" he thought, dumbfounded.

The "troll" reached out and sucked toward the mouth of one sheep; the creature’s body withered rapidly like a deflated balloon. Afterward, the "troll" gently stroked the shriveled carcass, which suddenly erupted into flames and was purified into nothingness.

Roland’s expression became incredibly complex. "Mr. Anna actually knows magic?! What kind of creature is he?!"

Like most people, Roland had mistaken the name "Nall" for "Anna."

While he was distracted, Roland suddenly realized that both the "troll" and the other sheep had vanished.

"Mr. Anna left? How is he so fast?!" Panic surged in Roland’s heart. He looked up and discovered "Mr. Anna" standing near the bushes not far away, staring at him coldly—and in "Anna's" hand, he was holding the remaining sheep.

Roland’s expression turned deathly pale.