Adventurer of Many Professions

Chapter 33 Alchemist!

"That's how it happened," Raymond concluded, leaning back with a tired sigh.

In the dimly lit report room, he and Sylph had recounted every detail of their harrowing experience in the sewer. They described the swarms of mutant rats, the ominous giant rat that commanded them, and the near-fatal encounter that had left them battered and bruised. Naturally, Raymond had kept certain things to himself, like the fact that he'd awakened the [Warrior] class and accessed skills through his mysterious panel.

The auditor and recorder exchanged incredulous looks. The story Raymond and Sylph had told was nothing short of shocking. As they listened, they found themselves drawn into the surreal image of a legion of mutant rats carrying a massive rat leader, one that seemed to hold authority over the others. It sounded like a tale spun in a tavern, yet the lie detector lay silent, confirming every word.

After a long silence, the auditor finally nodded, his expression grim. "I never would have guessed there'd be mutant rats the size of humans in our sewers… and one intelligent enough to command the others. This is… unprecedented."

He picked up an adventurer's nameplate from a tray nearby, inspecting it thoughtfully. According to the records, a previous adventurer had gone missing during a similar mission. Based on Raymond and Sylph's story, it was likely that the missing adventurer had fallen victim to the very mutant rats they had described.

The auditor sighed, knowing he'd have to inform the family of the unfortunate adventurer. Compensation was rare in the guild, adventurers understood the risks they took on each mission. However, if their death was due to an oversight by the guild itself, some restitution could be arranged.

He continued with a few follow-up questions, clarifying details here and there, which Raymond and Sylph answered diligently. After jotting down the final notes, the auditor leaned back, taking a steadying breath.

"Understood. We'll send a team to inspect the sewers and verify your account. If your report is accurate and the mutant rat's strength matches your description, we'll consider adjusting the difficulty rating of the commission and compensating you for the added risk."

Raymond felt a surge of relief. If the guild recognized the severity of the mission, perhaps he wouldn't leave empty-handed after all. He'd spent resources, endured injuries, and risked his life, if the guild didn't acknowledge that, it would indeed have been a loss.

Sylph seemed equally relieved, gripping her wand with a slight smile. The prospect of compensation softened the sting of the ordeal.

Then Raymond's curiosity got the better of him. "Has anything like this… these giant mutant rats… ever appeared in the sewers before?"

The auditor shook his head without hesitation. "Never."

Sylph leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "Then why are there these mutant rats down there? I've never even heard of such creatures before."

The two guild employees exchanged glances, as if silently deciding how much to share. Finally, the auditor nodded slowly. "Well… it's not exactly a secret, but it isn't common knowledge either. Here's the story of how these mutants came to be."

He took a deep breath and began. "About five years ago, the Alchemist Association was experimenting with a certain drug. One day, a potion, which was still untested, was accidentally spilled, leaking into the sewers. A few sewer rats came into contact with the contaminated water, and… well, the mutations began."

Raymond and Sylph listened, eyes wide with interest as he continued.

"Initially, the city's knights took responsibility for cleaning up the mutants, but after some time, they realized these rats weren't overly dangerous to newly awakened adventurers. So, they passed the responsibility on to the Alchemist Association, who created a commission to help control the rat population. This way, the mutant rats were kept in check, adventurers got missions to train with, and everyone benefited."

The auditor's eyes drifted to the tray where the severed ear of the giant mutant rat sat, a grisly reminder of their ordeal. He tilted his head thoughtfully. "But this giant mutant rat… the one you described, with the ability to control the others? It's possible that it was the first to mutate."

Raymond and Sylph's eyes widened at the suggestion.

"Wait, you think that's the original rat?" Sylph asked, a note of surprise in her voice.

The auditor shrugged. "It's just a theory, but it would explain its size and intelligence. If it were the first to mutate, it might have continued to grow stronger, adapting and developing ways to survive… even to command others."

Raymond pondered this, nodding slowly. It did make a strange kind of sense. But whether it was true or not didn't change the fact that they'd nearly been killed by it. The origins of the creature, fascinating as they were, were of little comfort.

"Well, whether it's the original or not," Raymond said, "we barely made it out. That thing was dangerous."

The auditor gave a respectful nod. "We understand, and we'll take it seriously. Thank you for your honesty and your service." He rose, signaling that their debrief was over. "The guild will contact you once we've reviewed everything. Expect an update, and possibly… a reward."

Raymond and Sylph left the room feeling lighter, the weight of their harrowing mission finally lifting as they moved down the hallway. They exchanged a look, one of shared relief and accomplishment.

"Next time," Sylph said with a weary smile, "let's choose a mission that doesn't involve sewer rats."

Raymond chuckled. "Agreed. But hey… at least we've got a story to tell."

Raymond's curiosity was piqued, and he turned to the auditor with another question. "So, what exactly is this 'Alchemist Association'? And is there really a profession called 'Alchemist'?"

Before the auditor could respond, Sylph piped up, her hand shooting into the air as if she were answering a teacher. "Oh, I know this one!"

Raymond raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You do?"

"Of course I do!" she replied confidently, beaming. She cleared her throat, clearly enjoying her moment in the spotlight. "The Alchemist Association is a guild made up of 'pharmacists' and 'craftsmen.' They're not fighters like us. Their professions are all about creating things; potions, gadgets, you name it. They don't have combat skills that come naturally to them like we do."

She paused for effect, looking pleased as everyone's attention was fixed on her. "Since they don't have combat skills, they have to rely on their own experiments and discoveries. They share their work and knowledge to help each other learn new skills. That's why they formed the Alchemist Association; to support one another, pool resources, and gain inspiration to improve their crafts."

Raymond nodded, impressed, but then noticed Sylph's expression shift slightly as she tapped her cheek thoughtfully. "As for whether there's an actual profession called 'Alchemist'… I'm not sure. I think I heard about it once, but maybe it's just a title people use?"

Her confident demeanor faded, replaced with an embarrassed smile. Raymond chuckled, shaking his head. Sylph might have been confident, but she wasn't immune to getting a little carried away.

The auditor, clearly amused, stepped in with an explanation. "Actually, the profession of 'Alchemist' does exist, but it's not widely known. That's because you can't awaken as an Alchemist directly."

Both Raymond and Sylph looked at him in surprise.

"Wait, you can't awaken as an Alchemist?" Sylph asked, her curiosity shining through. "So how does someone become one?"

"It's a bit more complicated," the auditor replied, leaning forward. "The 'Alchemist' profession is a promotion. It's something that a pharmacist or craftsman can attain once they've reached a certain level of mastery. They essentially evolve their profession."

Raymond's eyes widened. "Wait… so you can get promoted after awakening a profession?"

Sylph was equally astonished, her mouth hanging open. She had clearly never heard of anything like this either.

The auditor nodded. "Yes, but it's very rare. Only a few people ever reach the level needed to promote their profession. It requires dedication and exceptional skill. This isn't a secret, though, you could learn about it by reading more."

Raymond rubbed his neck sheepishly. Books weren't exactly his go-to for learning, and he glanced at Sylph, only to see her looking down, her cheeks slightly pink. It seemed reading wasn't her strong suit either.

The auditor continued, "The pharmacists and craftsmen in the Alchemist Association conduct all kinds of experiments and research. Many believe they're trying to find the key to promoting their profession to Alchemist status, but no one knows for sure."

He stood up, signaling that their debrief was over. "Alright, that's all for now. You can go. Once we have the review results, someone will inform you of any follow-up. And if you're truly interested in learning more about professions and promotions, I suggest visiting the library in the temple. They have an extensive collection of books on the subject."

Raymond made a mental note of the library. It seemed like a place worth visiting if he wanted to understand more about his path as a warrior and maybe what other opportunities might lie ahead.