Adventurer of Many Professions

Chapter 74 - 74: The Incident!

Red Rose Street, House No. 25.

At the cozy guest table, a red-haired girl sat leaning forward, her chin propped on her hands, her sparkling eyes fixed on the boy sitting beside her. She hung on his every word as he recounted his latest adventure.

"…And then the queen bee snatched my sword and flung it far into the forest! But guess what? I'm a fighter, not a swordsman, so it didn't matter!" Raymond said with a grin, leaning back casually. "When it came at me, snapping its giant black mandibles, I dodged and punched it so hard, I knocked its head clean off!"

The girl burst out laughing, her voice bright and carefree. "Hahaha! That poor queen bee! I bet she didn't see that coming; trying to take on a fighter like you!"

Raymond couldn't help but smile as he watched her laugh, her joy contagious.

When Arya realized he was staring at her, her cheeks, already flushed from her red hair and pale complexion, turned an even deeper shade of crimson. Flustered, she quickly tried to recover, pretending to be calm as she crossed her arms and urged, "Hey! Don't just sit there smiling. Hurry up and tell me what happened next!"

Raymond chuckled and continued his story, recounting the events of the mission in vivid detail, right up to the moment they completed their promotion.

When he finished, Arya stood up from her seat, walked behind him, and, to his surprise, wrapped her arms gently around him. Her voice softened, and she whispered, "You're such a silly boy. Do you think I don't know? You're trying to make everything sound so easy, so I won't worry."

Raymond froze for a moment, embarrassed that she'd seen right through him. "Uh…" He scratched the back of his head,

Arya nodded firmly, then returned her focus to her plate, though her ears were still burning red. Raymond, for his part, felt like a massive weight had been lifted off his chest. At least he wouldn't be labeled a pervert anymore; at least, not today.

---

Later that night, around 8 PM

The Adventurer's Guild doors closed with a heavy clang, marking the end of the day's operations. Adventurers who hadn't yet submitted their completed commissions would have to wait until the next day.

But just because the guild was closed didn't mean the adventurers were done for the day. For many, the night was a time to unwind, to shake off the tension of battle and the weight of danger.

Some adventurers wandered to 'Love Street', seeking "companionship" with alien girls. Others flooded the nearby taverns, where tables were soon piled with food and drink. The taverns buzzed with the sound of adventurers bragging about their kills, recounting their escapades, or debating the day's gossip.

Even the guild staff, after clocking out, occasionally joined in the revelry, grabbing a meal and a drink while listening to the adventurers' exaggerated tales.

Bernard, the auditor who had earlier signed off on Raymond's promotion commission, was among tonight's crowd. He sat at the bar, nursing his second glass of white wine. The alcohol had dulled the edge of his nerves, and he found himself murmuring to no one in particular, "Dual-professionals… I never thought I'd see one in my lifetime…"

His voice was drowned out by the din of the tavern, particularly by the loud conversation at a nearby table.

Behind him, a group of four adventurers were laughing and talking loudly, their voices carrying over the rest of the chatter.

"I just don't get it," one of them said, slamming his mug on the table. "That Explosion Magician and the priest? Why would they team up with some fighter carrying a 'long heavy sword'? Is the guy insane? What, does he think he's a warrior just because he strapped a big sword to his back?"

His companion laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, it's ridiculous. And what about those two? Are they out of their minds? Teaming up with someone like 'that'? I mean, come on. It's like they're asking to fail."

"Exactly!" another chimed in. "If we'd had a priest or an Explosion Magician on our team, we would've completed that Black Iron promotion commission two days ago. But no, we're stuck struggling because those two picked 'him'."

Bernard's jaw tightened as he listened to the conversation. He recognized the voices. These four had come through his office recently; another group that had failed their promotion to Black Iron level.

'Adventurers,' Bernard thought with a sneer. 'All bark, no bite. Always so full of themselves, yet completely blind to their own shortcomings.'

He had reviewed these four personally. He knew their skill levels, their lack of teamwork, their overinflated egos. And now here they were, mocking someone who had actually completed the commission they had failed.

Bernard drained the last of his wine, slamming the empty glass on the counter. His mood darkened as he stood from his seat, his gaze sharp and unyielding.

He turned toward the group, ready to deliver a reality check they wouldn't soon forget.