Translator: CinderTL
Hoby's efficiency was truly astonishing.
Just last night, the halfling had been dining beside Roland. Yet by dawn, the crew he had promised to gather was already assembled and ready to sail.
Moreover, the deck, which had been somewhat bare the previous day, was now piled high with essential supplies.
Roland watched the crew bustling about the deck, nodding in satisfaction.
As Hoby had assured him, these sailors might be older, and some bore physical scars, but they moved with practiced agility and unwavering competence. Their orderly, coordinated teamwork demonstrated their extensive maritime experience.
"Mr. Roland, you're here?"
Hoby noticed Roland's approach, gave a few final instructions to a one-eyed sailor beside him, then strode forward with a thick roll of parchment in hand.
"Here's the estimated daily expenses. Please review it."
Roland took the parchment, glanced over it casually, and handed it back.
Partly, this was out of trust in Hoby's judgment. But also...
Having no prior experience as a captain, Roland naturally lacked a thorough understanding of maritime expenses.
"Just leave all that to you, Hoby. What I'm more concerned about is..."
Roland reached out and lightly tapped the ship's rail, leaning forward slightly as he gazed at the boundless expanse of the sea.
"When can we set sail? I'm eager to put the nautical knowledge you've imparted into practice!"
Hearing the trust in Roland's words, Hoby's face lit up with a warm smile. He straightened his posture and bowed slightly.
"Captain Roland, we're ready to set sail the moment you give the order!"
"Then I'll leave it to you, First Mate Hoby..." Roland blinked and waved his hand. "Let's set sail!"
"Aye, sir!"
With a resounding command, the Seabird slowly departed from the port, heading toward the vast open sea.
Despite Hoby's experienced leadership and the collaboration of many seasoned sailors, Roland remained vigilant about the voyage. He instructed Hoby to navigate only in waters near the capital, treating it as an initial practice run.
As the Seabird sailed steadily across the sea, Roland immediately activated his Focus ability. He simultaneously recalled the knowledge Hoby had imparted and practiced various maritime skills.
His hands rested firmly on the smooth oak helm.
The salty sea breeze swept across the deck, ruffling the stray hairs at his forehead.
Hoby's voice rang out clearly and steadily beside him, like a guiding lighthouse.
"Remember the feeling, Captain Roland. The helm isn't a dead object; it's part of the Seabird. Feel the waves pushing against the hull..."
"Yes, exactly like that. Subtle adjustments are better than violent turns. Now, try maintaining a course fifteen degrees east of true north, letting the crosswind propel us."
Roland focused intently, banishing all distractions.
Before his eyes, he seemed to see Hoby's sea chart drawn on parchment, along with the lines and annotations describing the relationships between wind direction, water currents, and the ship's attitude.
He carefully turned the helm in minute increments, his gaze fixed on the compass mounted at the bow.
Outside the ship's hull, waves crashed against the hull in a rhythmic whoosh, while the bow cleaved through the deep blue water, leaving a churning white wake in its wake.
"Excellent! Very steady!"
Hoby nodded approvingly, his sharp eyes constantly monitoring the fullness of the sails and the subtle shifts in the ship's course.
"Now, observe the fluttering at the jib's trailing edge. The wind isn't filling it properly; it's 'complaining.' Captain Roland, what adjustments do you think are needed?"
Roland looked up, his gaze sweeping across the massive jib. He recalled Hoby's explanations about sail curvature and wind angle. He noticed the fabric's rear edge was indeed flapping and trembling slightly, like a leaky bellows.
"Should we... tighten the clew line?" he ventured uncertainly.
"Exactly right!" Hoby grinned, revealing his two signature small fangs. "Go ahead and try it! Remember, tighten the line gradually, feeling the fabric's tension change until that annoying flapping disappears."
Roland walked to the winch at the base of the mainmast, where several experienced sailors stood ready, their eyes filled with encouragement. He gripped the cold winch handle and began to turn it with force. The rope creaked through the pulley system as it slowly tightened.
As he cranked the winch, Roland kept a close eye on the jib's trailing edge.
As the sail gradually tightened, the annoying flapping noise indeed diminished and vanished. The sail billowed smoothly, and the ship seemed to gain a new surge of momentum, accelerating slightly.
"Well done, Captain Roland!" Hoby walked over and gave him a light pat on the arm.
"Now, let's do it again, but this time not to correct the sail, but to 'steal the wind.'"
He pointed to an area slightly ahead on the starboard side where the waves were noticeably choppier.
"See that patch of deeper water? The wind's stronger there. If we adjust our course slightly to catch that gust, we can save a lot of time."
Roland returned to the helm. His [ Focus ] trait made him exceptionally attuned to his surroundings.
The additional benefits from his [ Fisherman ] and [ Adept ] jobs, [ Observing the Sea ], allowed him to almost "hear" the subtle differences in the wind's sound from various directions and "see" how the wind's force refracted through the ripples on the sea's surface.
Following Hoby's instructions, he cautiously turned the helm a few degrees to starboard, steering the ship's bow slightly into the stronger wind zone.
The Seabird seemed to be shoved forward by an invisible hand. The hull tilted slightly, and the ship's speed surged dramatically.
Roland felt the deck tilt beneath his feet and the increasing resistance from the helm, struggling to maintain his balance and the new course. A surge of exhilaration washed over him as he mastered the wind and waves.
Hoby observed closely throughout, issuing brief instructions.
"Steady the helm... Good! Watch the mainsail—don't let it steal the jib's wind... Right, ease the mainsail sheet slightly..."
For the next few hours, Roland practiced these seemingly basic yet crucial sailing techniques under Hoby's guidance.
Correcting course using the compass and shore markers, adjusting sail angles for optimal propulsion in varying wind conditions, anticipating the hull's response to different sea states, and learning to use a simple sounding hammer to gauge water depth...
Hoby's instructions were precise and practical, devoid of lengthy theoretical explanations. Instead, he offered timely reminders and hands-on demonstrations, transforming arcane maritime knowledge into concrete operational drills and sensory training.
Sweat gradually soaked through Roland's linen shirt, and the prolonged mental focus brought a touch of fatigue. Yet his eyes burned brighter with each passing moment.
With each successful maneuver, each time he felt the ship respond to his commands, Roland deepened his understanding of the vast ocean and gained a more genuine grasp of his role as captain.
The golden glow of the setting sun bathed the shimmering sea, casting a warm outline around the Seabird and the tireless figure practicing on its deck.
Roland didn't limit himself to the four Maritime Survival Skills required for the pirate job. Instead, he diligently put into practice all the knowledge Hoby had imparted, striving for complete mastery.
After all, he now possessed the Seabird, the vast nautical knowledge of Hoby, and a crew of seasoned sailors.
With such a luxurious setup, settling for just the four basic skills would be a colossal waste.
Through this relentless study, Roland had unknowingly spent half a month at sea.
His once-pale skin had gradually acquired a faint bronze tan under the sun's relentless gaze.
When he saw the new lines of text added to the skill section of his Job Panel, an indescribable sense of satisfaction surged through him.
"Sail handling, steering, chart reading, chart drawing, swimming, diving, ship repair, marine flora and fauna identification... I've mastered all the skills Hoby taught me. To become a full-fledged Pirate, I only need to plunder five large ships."
Roland nodded in satisfaction as he reviewed the nearly ten Maritime Survival Skills displayed on his Job Panel.
"It's time to head back. We need to gather intelligence on nearby pirates, and..."
His gaze fell on the Basic Magic Theory skill, now marked as "Max Level." Roland clenched his fist tightly.
During his time at sea, he had diligently honed his nautical skills while also relentlessly studying Basic Magic Theory.
If not for the limited equipment on board, which left him a few practice sessions short of completing the "spell pattern engraving" requirement, he might have successfully become an Enchanter days ago.
"I wonder what traits the Enchanter class will grant me? And what additional synergy will arise when it resonates with my Apprentice Knight class?"
With these thoughts in mind, Roland strode out of the cabin, waved his arm at Hoby and the crew on deck, and issued a clear command.
"All hands, listen up! Set course for the capital! Return to port!"
"Aye, Captain!"
(End of the Chapter)
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