Adventurer of Many Professions

After leaving the Adventurer's Guild, the three didn't head straight for the Gragman Mountain Mine. Instead, Raymond led them to a quiet tavern that was mostly empty at this time of day.

Without explanation, Raymond found a table and sat down, motioning for the others to join him.

"Raymond, why are we here?" Sylph asked, confused, as she glanced around the empty pub.

Lorene stood nearby, looking curious but staying silent, waiting for an explanation.

Raymond leaned back in his chair and replied calmly, "We're here to talk about the commission and make the necessary preparations. Do you really think we can just march up to the Sting Wasp nest without a plan?"

Sylph opened her mouth to argue, then paused. As much as she hated to admit it, Raymond had a point. This wasn't like clearing out mutant rats, this was a Black Iron-level commission, with significantly higher risks.

The rewards reflected that. Typical Black Iron commissions ranged from 50 silver coins to 2 gold coins depending on difficulty. Their promotion commission offered 1 gold coin, with a potential bonus of 50 silver coins if a queen bee was present. That put this mission squarely in the medium to upper range of Black Iron difficulty.

Reluctantly, Sylph plopped into a chair. "Fine," she muttered, crossing her arms.

Raymond blinked in surprise. He had been expecting some kind of retort, but Sylph, for once, seemed to understand the gravity of the situation. He shook off the momentary surprise and got straight to business.

"Alright," he said, his tone serious. "Do either of you know anything about the poisonous sting wasps?"

"I do!" Sylph said proudly, shooting her hand up like a schoolkid.

"I've read about them in the temple library," Lorene added softly, raising her hand hesitantly. "I know a little."

Raymond nodded, pleased. He hadn't had the chance to study much about monsters in detail since his last trip to the library, and their knowledge would be invaluable. "Alright, Sylph, you go first."

Sylph leaned forward and began her explanation with enthusiasm.

"Poisonous sting wasps are about the size of a seven or eight-year-old child. They've got a venomous needle at the end of their tail, which they can shoot at targets. The needle regrows in a day or two, so they never run out of ammo. The venom causes paralysis and bleeding, but it can be treated with a basic antidote."

Raymond listened carefully, nodding as he absorbed the details. Then he turned to Lorene. "What about you, Lorene? Anything to add?"

Lorene thought for a moment, her fingers fidgeting with her magic wand. Then she spoke, her tone thoughtful.

"The hive is divided into foragers and protectors. Usually, about half the wasps leave to gather food, while the other half stay behind to guard the queen bee and larvae. Their alert range is roughly 100 meters, if anything crosses into that range, they'll send a signal and swarm the intruder."

She paused briefly, collecting her thoughts. "But… they're weak at night. Their vision is poor in the dark, so they all return to the nest after sunset."

Lorene's voice grew quieter as she continued. "And, um… if there's a queen bee, it usually means the hive has over 20 wasps. The queen bee is larger, about the size of an adult and if a queen bee is present, the hive will usually be raising a new queen."

When she finished, she glanced nervously at Raymond and Sylph, only to find them both listening intently. Her pale cheeks flushed pink under their attention. "Um… that's all I know," she mumbled, lowering her gaze.

Sylph's eyes sparkled with surprise. "Lorene, I didn't know you knew so much! That's amazing!"

Raymond nodded in agreement, his voice calm and steady. "This is excellent information. Knowing their habits will help us prepare a strategy."

Hearing their praise, Lorene blushed slightly, but the happiness on her face was undeniable. She was thrilled to contribute to the team, her training with the senior priests had really paid off.

Raymond, meanwhile, leaned forward thoughtfully. "Since the 'primary antidote' can counteract the venom from the sting wasps, we should each carry a bottle, just in case. Also, the Gragman Mountain Mine is pretty far from town. This mission might not be finished today, so we'll need to stock up on supplies: dry food, water, and some insect-repellent aromatherapy."

Sylph frowned slightly. "But the lady at the counter said there are people at the mine to provide food and shelter. Even if it takes longer, we can just stay there."

Raymond shook his head. "That's true, but we'll need time to observe the wasps' behavior patterns. I'm planning to find a spot to ambush a lone foraging wasp and test its movements. Since their night vision is poor, there's also the possibility of needing to strike at night."

He crossed his arms, his tone decisive. "If we're out scouting or setting up ambushes, we might not have the luxury of returning to the mine for rest or food. We need to prepare for staying in the wild for extended periods. That includes stocking up now, even if we adjust plans after seeing the situation."

Sylph and Lorene both nodded, understanding his reasoning.

After a moment, Sylph gave Raymond a curious look. "I didn't expect you to think through all of this so quickly."

Raymond glanced at her, his expression serious. "This isn't a game, it's a fight. If we don't prepare, we could die."

He then turned to Sylph, his tone suddenly sharper. "And don't forget to grab a 'Magic Recovery Potion' while we're shopping. Last time, you collapsed after using explosion magic. You were lucky that time. You might not be so lucky again."

Sylph's cheeks turned bright red, and she huffed. "I know! Stop nagging me."

With that, the three of them headed out to gather supplies.

---

Half an hour later, they arrived at the town's east gate, about 100 meters from the Adventurer's Guild. Raymond was now carrying a heavy backpack filled with their provisions.

As they stepped through the gates, Raymond's view opened up to the vast expanse beyond the town. For the first time since his arrival in Wittes, he was leaving the safety of its walls.

The open air, rolling hills, and endless sky gave him a sense of freedom he hadn't felt before. Without the confines of the city, he felt lighter, clearer, like the world was full of infinite possibilities.

"Raymond, should we take a carriage?" Sylph asked, pointing to a small line of carriages waiting nearby. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

It was a common choice for adventurers traveling long distances to conserve energy and time.

Raymond thought for a moment, calculating the distance. The mine was at least 12 kilometers from town. Walking there would take hours and leave them tired before the mission even began. He nodded. "Good idea. Let's check the price first."

After a quick inquiry, they learned that the ride would cost one silver coin and fifty copper coins for the three of them. Without hesitation, they paid and climbed aboard the carriage.

---

An hour later, the carriage came to a stop near Gragman Mountain. The driver turned and said, "We're here. Just head up that path, and you'll find the mine."

The trio stepped off the carriage and handed over the fare. The driver tipped his hat and left them alone in the quiet, rugged terrain.

"Let's get moving," Raymond said, adjusting his sword and backpack as he prepared to lead the way up the mountain.

But before they could take another step, Sylph suddenly stopped. "Wait! Raymond, there's no one else around now. Can I tell Lorene about… you know?"

Raymond raised an eyebrow, seeing the eager look in her eyes and the curiosity practically radiating from Lorene. With a resigned smile, he nodded. "Fine, go ahead."

"Finally!" Sylph grinned, practically bouncing with excitement. She spun around, grabbed Lorene by the shoulders, and leaned in, her green eyes shining.

"Lorene, guess what? Raymond is a 'dual-class awakener'! He didn't just awaken as a fighter, he's also a warrior!"

Her voice was filled with pride as if she were sharing the greatest secret in the world.

Lorene's eyes widened, her mouth falling open slightly in shock. "D-Dual-class? That's… that's amazing!"

Sylph nodded enthusiastically, her grip on Lorene's shoulders tightening. "Right? Isn't it incredible? You won't find anyone like him anywhere else!"

Raymond stood a few steps away, shaking his head with a bemused smile. He'd known Sylph wouldn't be able to hold it in much longer. "Alright, enough excitement. Let's focus. We've got a mission to finish."

Still giddy with excitement, Sylph and Lorene followed Raymond as they began the climb toward the mine, their determination stronger than ever.