Adventurer of Many Professions

Chapter 39 End of Review!

"Yes, and you are?" Arya's tone was polite, but there was an undeniable sharpness to her words. She wasn't sure why, but seeing this elegant woman in uniform asking for Raymond left her feeling oddly annoyed.

The woman smiled warmly, undeterred by Arya's tone. "Ah! I'm Mila Coburn, a staff member from the Adventurer's Guild," she introduced herself with a small bow, her name tag gleaming in the morning light.

Arya nodded but didn't return the smile. Instead, she turned back toward the house and called out, "Raymond, someone from the Adventurer's Guild is here to see you!"

Hearing his name, Raymond approached, curious about the unexpected visitor. When he saw the woman standing at the door, his memory clicked. "Oh, you're from the registration desk," he said, recognizing Mila instantly. She had been the one who had processed his adventurer registration just a few days ago.

Mila's professional demeanor faltered for a moment, and a guilty expression overtook her face. "Mr. Raymond," she began, bowing her head deeply, "I'm so, so sorry. I didn't know that there was a giant mutant rat in the sewer when I suggested that mission to you. If I had known, I never would have encouraged you to take it on. This was my oversight, and I deeply apologize!"

Her voice wavered with emotion as she bowed repeatedly, clearly feeling responsible for what had happened.

"Uh…" Raymond raised a hand awkwardly, trying to stop her flood of apologies. His gaze fell on the identity tag pinned to her uniform: 'Mila Coburn'. "Miss Mila, wait—"

Mila froze mid-bow, straightening up but still looking visibly distressed. Arya, standing to the side, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the interaction. Though she didn't know the full story, Mila's words gave her enough context to connect a few dots.

Raymond scratched the back of his head, looking at Mila with a mix of confusion and curiosity. "So… you came here just to apologize?"

"Oh, no, that's not the only reason," Mila quickly clarified, shaking her head. "The guild has completed its review of the incident, and they've verified that everything you reported was accurate. I came to inform you that you need to visit the guild to finalize the paperwork and claim your compensation."

She paused, her expression softening, though her guilt remained evident. "But… it really was my suggestion that led to this situation. So I insisted on taking the task of informing you personally so that I could apologize face-to-face."

Her voice cracked slightly, and tears began to pool in her eyes. "I'm so sorry for everything, Mr. Raymond."

Raymond sighed, his earlier annoyance at the situation melting away. He waved his hand dismissively, his tone calm. "Miss Mila, there's no need to blame yourself. Honestly, it's not your fault. I looked at all the available commissions and chose this one because I thought it would be the best fit for a beginner. It wasn't your suggestion alone that decided it."

Mila blinked, the tears in her eyes threatening to spill. "But still—"

"Really, it's okay," Raymond interrupted gently. "The mutant rats in the sewers weren't that strong, and the task itself was perfectly reasonable for beginners. No one could have predicted we'd run into a giant mutant rat. That was just bad luck."

Mila's expression brightened slightly at his words, though she still looked hesitant. "So… does this mean you forgive me?" she asked, her voice small.

Raymond let out a helpless chuckle. "Yes, I forgive you."

At that, Mila exhaled a deep sigh of relief, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Thank you, Mr. Raymond!" Her mood seemed to lift completely, and her gaze shifted to Arya. "Oh! Is this your sister?"

Arya's expression darkened immediately, and she shot Raymond a sharp look.

"N-No, this is Arya," Raymond stammered, suddenly feeling cornered. "She's… um… mine…"

His voice trailed off as his mind scrambled for a way to describe their relationship. "Friend" didn't feel right; it was far too casual for someone like Arya, who had practically become his family. But they weren't lovers, either. Finally, he blurted out the only word that seemed to fit. "…relative."

"Relative?" Mila repeated, raising an eyebrow. Her expression shifted as though she were trying to solve a puzzle. "Ah, I see!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with sudden understanding. "I get it now, Mr. Raymond. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!"

Raymond froze, a sense of dread washing over him as he caught the knowing, almost 'mischievous' smile on Mila's face. 'No, Mila, you absolutely do 'not' get it.'

From the way she beamed at him, it was clear her mind had wandered to entirely the wrong conclusion. She must have assumed their relationship was far more… intimate. And judging by her expression, she probably believed it to be a secret they were trying to keep hidden.

Before he could correct her, Mila clapped her hands together. "Well, Mr. Raymond, I'll leave you to your morning. But please make sure to visit the Adventurer's Guild before noon today to complete the process!"

"Y-Yeah, sure," Raymond muttered, still trying to process the misunderstanding.

Mila waved cheerfully as she turned to leave, her satisfied smile never fading. "Thank you again, Mr. Raymond! Have a good day!"

As the door closed behind her, Raymond groaned, rubbing his temples. Arya stood with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze fixed on him.

"'Relative,' huh?" she said dryly. "Care to explain that one?"

Raymond sighed, slumping into a chair. "Let's just say I need to work on my improvisation skills."

Arya rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath as she returned to the table. Meanwhile, Raymond silently vowed to clear up the misunderstanding with Mila… if he ever got the chance.

Raymond opened his mouth, ready to explain the concept of "relatives" and how it extended to people with close bonds and deep feelings. But Arya, her face slightly flushed, interrupted him with an awkward question.

"Raymond... what did Miss Mila say about the review and compensation? You need to go to the Adventurer's Guild, right?"

Raymond paused mid-thought, noticing Arya's behavior. Her usual confident demeanor was replaced by something he hadn't seen before, a shy avoidance of his gaze. She turned her head slightly when he looked at her, pretending to be preoccupied.

'Oh no,' Raymond thought, exasperated. 'You misunderstood too. But you didn't act like this before…'

He sighed, rubbing his face briefly before answering. "It's about the commission I took two days ago to clear the mutant rats. Remember when I said I got injured because of an accident? The guild has been reviewing the situation, and they've confirmed everything I reported. Now they're compensating me accordingly."

Arya blinked, her expression shifting as realization dawned. "So… what you said was true."

"Yes," Raymond replied, raising an eyebrow.

Arya bit her lip, looking embarrassed. After a moment, she turned to him with sincerity. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you. I… I was wrong."

Raymond folded his arms, mock-stern. "Good. Then next time, don't be so stubborn and cut me off when I try to explain."

"Yes, yes, I understand," Arya said quickly, waving her hand dismissively, though her tone carried a hint of guilt. "You should head to the guild. Don't keep them waiting."

"I'm going now," Raymond said, turning toward the door.

But Arya's voice stopped him mid-step. "Hold on! You're going without any equipment. No armor, no weapons!"

Raymond turned back, confused. "What? Why?"

Arya narrowed her eyes. "I'm not letting you go out dressed like you're ready to take on another commission. You'll get tempted to pick one up 'just because.' No equipment means no fights."

"I wasn't planning to take any commissions today anyway," Raymond grumbled, shaking his head.

"Good. Then there's no problem." Arya gave him a pointed look, as if daring him to argue further.

Realizing it wasn't worth the battle, Raymond raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, no equipment. Happy?"

Arya nodded, satisfied. "Go. And don't come back with a mission slip!"

---

When Raymond arrived at the Adventurer's Guild, the building was buzzing with activity. Dozens of adventurers milled about, discussing strategies, checking the commission board, or chatting with guild staff.

As he stepped into the main hall, a familiar voice cut through the noise.

"I 'told' you, I already have teammates!"

Raymond turned toward the commotion and spotted Sylph. She was surrounded by several adventurers, her arms crossed and her expression a mix of irritation and impatience.

Raymond smiled faintly, unsurprised. He'd expected this to happen. After all, who wouldn't want a magician who could cast 'Explosion Magic' on their team?

Just then, Sylph's gaze landed on him. Her face lit up, and she immediately turned back to the persistent adventurers. "See? My teammate's here. Move it."

Without waiting for a response, she pushed past them and ran toward Raymond, her casual clothes fluttering as she moved.

"Raymond! Finally!" she called, stopping in front of him with a bright smile. "You wouldn't 'believe' how annoying these people are. I just got here, and they've been begging me to join their teams non-stop. It's driving me crazy!"

"Really?" Raymond replied dryly, though his tone held no surprise.

"Yeah!" Sylph huffed, throwing her hands up. "They're relentless. Like, do I have 'free agent' written on my forehead or something?"

Raymond chuckled softly but didn't respond, his attention shifting to the group of adventurers who had followed her. Leading them was a green-haired man clad in heavy armor, a broadsword strapped to his back. His equipment was sleek and expensive, far more luxurious than anything Raymond had seen even among Bronze-level adventurers.

The man's gaze flicked to Raymond's White Porcelain-level nameplate, and a smirk curled at his lips. "So, 'this' is your teammate?" he asked, his tone dripping with disdain.

"Yes," Sylph said curtly, glaring at him.

The green-haired man ignored her annoyance, stepping forward and gesturing toward himself. "Look, I'm just saying you should consider teaming up with us instead. My skill set is perfect for protecting teammates, and I've even been invited to join several Silver-level teams. With me, you'd never have to worry about getting hurt by monsters."

He turned to Raymond with a condescending glance. "As for your current teammate, it would make more sense for him to join a White Porcelain-level group where he belongs."

Raymond didn't react immediately, though his expression grew slightly amused. As the green-haired man came closer, a faint glow appeared in Raymond's vision, a panel had popped up.

Without looking away, Raymond skimmed the information now displayed about the man. He smirked inwardly, already guessing what the man's so-called "perfect" skill was.

"Sylph," Raymond said calmly, his gaze still on the man. "Do you know what skill he's talking about?"

Sylph frowned, glancing between them. "No, what?"

Raymond's smirk grew. "Let me guess…" He paused for effect, then looked directly at the green-haired man. "It's 'Taunt,' isn't it?"

The man's smug expression faltered, his confidence wavering. "H-How did you know?"

Raymond chuckled, his tone light but pointed. "Just a hunch."

Sylph raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension but unsure of its source. Meanwhile, Raymond was already piecing together his next move. 'This guy doesn't know it yet, but he just walked into the wrong conversation.'