Adventurer of Many Professions

A carriage came to a slow stop outside the east gate of the Town.

Three figures; one man and two women, stepped off, their movements calm and unhurried. It was Raymond and his team, returning from their successful promotion mission.

The area outside the east gate was bustling with activity. Adventurers of all kinds milled about, some returning from their completed commissions, others preparing to head out on new ones. The crowd was a colorful mix: fighters in battered armor, spellcasters in flowing robes, archers carrying sleek bows, and even a few unorthodox adventurers with makeshift equipment.

Among the returning groups, it was easy to spot those who hadn't been as fortunate. Many adventurers bore visible wounds, limping, bleeding, or wrapped in makeshift bandages. They looked exhausted, their faces etched with pain and frustration.

In contrast, Raymond's group drew attention immediately. Their unscathed appearance stood out in the sea of battered and bruised adventurers. Whispers spread through the crowd as onlookers took note, especially of Lorene in her priest's uniform.

"She's the healer," someone muttered, eyeing Lorene.

"No wonder they're in perfect condition. Must've had her healing them the whole time," another adventurer added with a hint of envy.

The misinterpretation was obvious. Many of the adventurers assumed that the reason Raymond and Sylph looked untouched was because Lorene, the priest, had been there to heal their injuries.

Lorene felt her cheeks flush. The truth was, she hadn't done much during the mission; there hadn't even been any injuries for her to heal. Feeling the weight of the misunderstanding gazes around her, she lowered her head, her embarrassment growing by the second.

"Raymond, Sylph… I'm sorry," Lorene said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't really do anything to help during the mission."

Sylph turned to her with a warm smile, grabbing Lorene's hand reassuringly. "Oh, come on! It's better that you didn't have to help. If you had, it would've meant we were in trouble."

She waved off the curious stares of the other adventurers, clearly not interested in correcting their assumptions.

Raymond nodded in agreement, his expression calm as ever. "Exactly. The fact that you didn't have to do anything means everything went smoothly. Now let's head to the guild and file the report."

Without paying any further attention to the murmurs around them, the three walked through the city gate and back into Wittes Town. Their destination: the Adventurer's Guild.

---

The square outside the guild was alive with energy. Adventurers gathered in groups, chatting, debating, and preparing for their next commissions. Some stood by the notice boards, scanning the available tasks, while others huddled together, discussing strategies.

Among them were those shouting loudly to form teams, holding commission slips in their hands as they tried to recruit companions.

"Destroy the gluttonous worms! Porcelain-level commission! Reward: 12 silver coins. We need a warrior!"

"Eliminate the cave bats! Porcelain-level commission! Reward: 18 silver coins. Looking for an archer or hunter; I'm a swordsman!"

"Exterminate goblins! Black Iron-level commission! Reward: 1 gold coin and 80 silver coins. We have warriors, hunters, and magicians. Looking for a melee fighter with learned skills!"

The square buzzed with excitement and chatter. Adventurers who met the requirements would approach the recruiters, some joining eagerly, others turning away after hearing the specifics of the task or being rejected for not meeting the criteria.

The scene was chaotic but vibrant, a constant flow of people coming and going, voices overlapping in a cacophony of determination and ambition.

Sylph and Lorene couldn't help but watch, captivated by the lively atmosphere. Even Raymond found it intriguing, though his expression remained composed.

"If only we'd found an archer to join us yesterday," Sylph said suddenly, her voice tinged with regret. "It would've made everything so much easier."

Lorene nodded quickly. "Exactly! If we'd had an archer, Raymond wouldn't have had to work so hard. We could've just picked off the wasps from a distance."

Raymond, leaning casually against a nearby post, nodded in agreement. "True. An archer would've changed everything."

He could picture it clearly. With an archer on the team, they could've systematically taken out the stinger wasps one by one from a safe distance. He would only have needed to protect the archer as they advanced. By the time they reached the hive, Sarifi could've unleashed her explosive magic to finish the job.

No need to wait for nightfall. No need for risky close combat. The entire mission would've been smoother and less exhausting.

Still, despite the challenges, they had succeeded. And now, the three of them stood amidst the bustling square, ready to finish what they started.

"Let's head in," Raymond said finally, glancing toward the guild entrance. Sylph and Lorene nodded, their steps quickening as they followed him inside.

"Raymond, why don't we find a regular teammate with long-range attack abilities?" Sylph suggested suddenly, her voice breaking through the bustling atmosphere outside the guild.

She pointed toward a notice board near the entrance. "That's the recruitment board. It's for adventurers looking to recruit permanent teammates. We can write down our conditions and contact information there. If someone meets the requirements and wants to join, they'll come to us on their own."

"Really?"

Raymond followed her finger and spotted the board. It was large, almost the same size as the commission board and plastered with papers filled with handwritten notices. Each one detailed recruitment calls for team members.

"Let's take a look," Raymond said.

The three of them approached the board, their eyes scanning the various papers. Each notice described different team configurations and specific roles they were looking for.

It didn't take long for Raymond to notice a clear trend. Among all the recruitment postings, warriors were rarely sought after. It wasn't because they weren't valued, quite the opposite. Warriors were considered the backbone of any team, and most fixed teams already had one. In fact, nearly every notice on the board described the team leader as a warrior.

On the other hand, priests were in high demand. Over half the postings were looking for a priest teammate. Even beginner-level priests, barely capable of casting a simple healing spell, were being recruited by bronze-level teams.

As Lorene browsed the board, a few adventurers nearby noticed her distinctive priest uniform. Their eyes lit up instantly. A priest looking at recruitment postings? To them, it was a golden opportunity.

But when they saw Raymond and Sylph standing behind her, their enthusiasm quickly soured.

"Two porcelain-level adventurers managed to get a priest on their team? So lucky…" one muttered bitterly.

"Miss Priest should join our team," another chimed in, glancing enviously at Lorene.

"Wait a second," someone whispered, squinting at Sylph. "Doesn't that magician look familiar?"

"Blonde hair… blue eyes… sapphire staff…" The man gasped as realization dawned. "No way, is that the Explosion Magician?!"

"That explains it! And the fighter next to her must be the so-called 'lucky kid' everyone's talking about!"

"Yeah, he's the one carrying the heavy sword, isn't he? Unbelievable. After the news spread in the guild yesterday, half the adventurers couldn't stop talking about this kid's ridiculous luck."

Their voices weren't exactly hushed. Whether deliberate or not, Raymond and his team heard every word. The tone wasn't just envy, it was frustration and disbelief. The adventurers seemed to want Raymond to feel out of place, like he wasn't worthy of his team.

But Raymond didn't so much as flinch. He simply ignored them, his expression calm, even slightly amused. Inside, he couldn't help but smirk. I just love the way you're all annoyed with me but can't do a thing about it.

Sylph, however, wasn't as patient. She spun around and glared at the group of adventurers, her blue eyes narrowing dangerously. Her piercing look shut them up instantly, and they slinked off in silence, clearly defeated.

"Hmph," Sylph snorted, turning back to Raymond. "These people… will they ever stop?" she muttered, crossing her arms in irritation.

Lorene also frowned but quickly glanced at Raymond. When she saw that he wasn't bothered by the comments, her tension eased. Gripping her wand tightly, she took a deep breath and said, "Once Raymond's dual-professional identity becomes public, I'm sure all this nonsense will stop for good."

Sylph's eyes lit up at Lorene's words. She no longer seemed interested in the recruitment board, grabbing Raymond's arm and practically dragging him toward the guild. "Come on, Raymond! Let's file the mission report already! The sooner we do this, the sooner people will know who you really are!"

Raymond chuckled quietly but allowed Sylph to pull him along, with Lorene following close behind.

As they entered the guild, the buzz of conversation followed them. Many adventurers noticed them immediately, whispering to their companions as they passed.

"That's them, isn't it?" one adventurer murmured.

"Yeah, the team that took down the wasp hive and the queen. You think it's true about the Explosion Magician and that fighter kid?"

Their whispers trailed behind Raymond and his group, but the three ignored them. Instead, they headed straight for the stairs, climbing to the second floor where guild operations were handled.

The second floor was quieter, reserved for more serious matters like mission reviews and promotions. There, they approached two staff members stationed at a desk specifically for reviewing promotion commissions.

Raymond stepped forward, his calm demeanor never faltering. It was time to complete their report and time for the guild to officially recognize their success.