Adventurer of Many Professions

The sight of the hive was enough to make anyone grimace. Sylph frowned but managed to keep her composure. Lorene, however, turned noticeably pale, her hand clutching her magic wand tightly. The scene was far worse than anything she had ever encountered, and it showed.

Raymond, however, wasted no time. He leaped down into the pit, his boots landing with a dull thud. Without hesitation, he stomped on the injured stinger wasps, crushing them underfoot with brutal efficiency. The wet crack of their exoskeletons breaking echoed in the air as their struggling ceased.

Turning to the two women still standing at the edge, Raymond called up to them. "Come down. The larvae are yours to deal with."

"Us?" Sylph blinked, her voice laced with surprise. "You mean me and Lorene?"

At the mention of her name, Lorene hesitated, biting her lower lip as she glanced down into the pit.

Raymond's expression didn't waver. "That's right." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. "You're adventurers. Part of this job is learning to deal with what's in front of you; even if it's unpleasant."

Sylph still looked hesitant, but Lorene's expression began to shift. Slowly, the priestess clenched her wand tighter, her gaze hardening with resolve. "I understand," she said quietly.

Taking a deep breath, she continued, "Raymond, you and Sylph have already done so much. You fought the queen and killed so many of the wasps. I haven't contributed enough. Let me handle the larvae."

Sylph's jaw dropped slightly as she turned to look at her usually timid companion. "You… want to do it?"

Raymond nodded approvingly. "Good. It's yours."

Though his voice remained neutral, he was impressed. Raymond had initially intended to push Lorene as part of her growth. But seeing her take the initiative now, he realized she had more courage than she let on. She might be shy and soft-spoken, but in moments like this, her determination shone through.

Sylph glanced between Raymond and Lorene, a flicker of understanding crossing her face. She could see why Raymond was giving this responsibility to Lorene and said nothing further.

Lorene inhaled deeply, steeling herself. Then, with slow, deliberate movements, she slid down the side of the pit. Raymond reached out to steady her as she landed, ensuring she didn't lose her balance. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire

Standing firm, Lorene turned her gaze toward the hive. The larvae were still wriggling, oblivious to the fate that awaited them. Her pale face betrayed her unease, but she gritted her teeth and raised her wand.

With a decisive motion, she swung the wand downward.

Pah!

The first strike crushed a larva, splattering white goo across the remains of the hive. Sylph flinched slightly at the sight, but Lorene didn't look away. She kept her eyes fixed on the wriggling forms in front of her, determined to see the task through.

Raymond noticed her focus and gave a slight nod of approval.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

One by one, Lorene dispatched the larvae with swift, forceful strikes. Her initial hesitation faded with each blow, replaced by a steely determination. When she reached the final larva, her hand trembled slightly, but she didn't falter. With one last strike, the hive was completely cleared.

Exhaling shakily, Lorene turned to Raymond, her face pale but resolute. "Is… is it done?"

Raymond met her gaze and nodded. "Yes. It's done."

Lorene let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, lowering her wand as the tension drained from her body and sat right there.

Sylph slid down into the pit to join them, her expression one of relief and admiration. "Lorene, you were amazing!" she said, smiling brightly. "I didn't think you'd step up like that, but you did!"

Lorene offered a small, shy smile in return, though her exhaustion was clear.

Raymond glanced at the two of them, his usual stoic expression softening just slightly. "Good work, both of you," he said simply. "Let's head back. The commission is complete."

As they climbed out of the pit and began their journey back to the guild, Raymond glanced at Lorene again. Though she seemed physically drained, her confidence had grown visibly. He knew that next time, there would be no need for training like this, when the moment came, Lorene would be ready.

After helping Lorene climb back to solid ground, Raymond glanced toward the forest where the queen bee had flung his sword. He turned to the two women and said, "I'll go retrieve my sword. You two pick up the other white stones. We'll head back to the mine to rest tonight and return to town in the morning."

Neither Sylph nor Lorene had any objections, nodding in agreement.

Raymond picked up the glowing white stone near his feet and headed into the forest. The soft glow illuminated his path, and it didn't take long for him to find his sword. Thankfully, the blade was unscathed; no chips, no bends. It seemed the weapon had landed on soft ground, avoiding any hard objects.

Satisfied, he returned to the two women, who were already waiting for him with the remaining white stones. Together, they made their way back to the mine.

The mine was still lively when they arrived. A crowd of workers had gathered, wide awake, buzzing with energy. As they made their way in, the person in charge approached them.

"What's going on?" Raymond asked.

"The explosion!" the man replied, his face alight with curiosity. "It woke everyone up. What happened?"

Raymond smiled faintly and explained that the hive had been destroyed. The group erupted in cheers, the tension that had hung in the mine for weeks finally lifting.

After the excitement died down, Raymond requested three clean rooms for the night. With their task complete and the exhaustion catching up to them, the trio slept soundly until dawn.

---

The next morning, as they left the mine and began their journey back to Wittes, Sylph frowned, her annoyance clear. "No carriage? This is so annoying!" she grumbled.

The road stretched ahead of them, empty except for the chirping of birds in the trees. Sylph shifted uncomfortably in her chainmail. Though it was only a single layer and not particularly heavy, it became a burden when walking long distances under the rising sun.

Lorene chimed in from beside her. "When we came here yesterday, there were plenty of carriages passing this road. Maybe we'll meet one soon." Her tone was calm, and she seemed much more at ease after a good night's rest.

Raymond glanced at the two women, noting the sweat already forming on their brows. "Let's find a spot to rest and wait for a carriage," he suggested.

Both women eagerly agreed, and they soon spotted a large tree by the roadside. Its thick, leafy branches provided ample shade, and the trio settled beneath it to cool off.

As they rested, Sylph wiped the sweat from her forehead and shot a sideways glance at Raymond. "So, Raymond…" she began, a sly smile creeping onto her face. "How long are you planning to keep it a secret that you're a dual-class adventurer?"

Lorene perked up, her curiosity evident. Though her tone was quieter, her words carried weight. "I serve the goddess and can keep your secret forever," she said, gripping her magic wand tightly. Her words were reassuring, as if to let Raymond know she wouldn't betray his trust.

"Same here!" Sylph quickly added, raising her hand as if making a vow. "If you want to keep it a secret, I won't say a word."

Raymond chuckled at their earnestness, leaning back slightly against the tree trunk. After a moment, he smiled gently and said, "I won't keep it a secret for long. When we get back and report this mission, I'll tell the guild staff during the review that I'm a warrior."

Both women blinked in surprise.

"So soon?" Sylph exclaimed, sitting up straighter. "You're just going to tell them outright?"

Lorene looked equally shocked but composed herself quickly. "Are you sure about this, Raymond? It's a big decision," she said cautiously.

Raymond nodded firmly. "I've thought it through. I never intended to hide the fact that I'm dual-class. I just didn't want it publicized unnecessarily. Reporting it during the mission review is the perfect way to let the guild handle it."

His logic was simple: while guild staff were trained not to pry into adventurers' secrets, they were also notorious for spreading interesting news amongst themselves. Once he told the staff, word would naturally start circulating. People would talk, and soon enough, the fact that he was dual-class would become known without him having to shout it from the rooftops.

"It's better this way," Raymond continued. "If the guild spreads the news on their own, it'll seem natural. Better than me making a big announcement, or worse, having someone else let it slip by accident."

Both women exchanged glances, and a knowing smile crossed Sylph's face. "Ah, I get it now. You're sneaky, Raymond!"

Lorene chuckled softly but remained quiet, clearly still processing his plan.

Before the conversation could continue, the sound of hooves broke through the stillness of the road. A carriage appeared in the distance, rattling toward them.

Raymond stood and flagged it down, stopping the driver. After a brief negotiation over the fare, the trio climbed aboard.

As the carriage rumbled along the dusty road back to Wittes, the two women sat in quiet reflection while Raymond gazed out at the passing scenery.

The mission was complete. The hive was destroyed, the queen bee defeated, and now, a new chapter was about to begin, for all of them.