Adventurer of Many Professions

Chapter 40 Seen Through?

"Learnable skill detected: Taunt! [Warrior] [Upgradable], learning cost: 3 skill points."

"Learnable skill detected: Wind Slash! [Warrior] [Swordsman], learning cost: 1 skill point."

Raymond's gaze flickered over the glowing panel that had appeared before him. Surprise crept into his expression.

'Taunt,' a skill that could attract and hold the attention of enemies, caught his interest immediately. It wasn't just its utility that intrigued him, it was the fact that this skill was upgradable, a feature he hadn't encountered before. However, it came at a cost. Learning 'Taunt' required 3 skill points, one more than the 'Whirlwind Kick' he had considered earlier. The investment spoke volumes about the skill's potential value.

His attention then shifted to 'Wind Slash.' The name alone suggested it was a sword technique, but what really stood out was its dual compatibility. It could be learned by both the 'Warrior' and 'Swordsman' professions. It made sense—'Warriors' were versatile with a variety of weapons, and 'Swordsmen' specialized in sword-based combat. This overlap highlighted the skill's flexibility.

Raymond's gaze lingered on the first skill. The green-haired man's earlier boast clicked into place. 'So, his "protecting teammates" skill is Taunt,' Raymond thought. Judging by the man's reputation and the fact that he'd been scouted by Silver-level teams, it was safe to assume the skill's effectiveness.

But his musings were cut short as Sylph's angry voice snapped him back to reality.

"It's 'none' of your business who I team up with!" she snapped, glaring at the green-haired man with fire in her eyes. "You think you're so special because you've got a 'taunt' skill? Well, let me tell you; I don't think you're great at all! So quit bothering me!"

The green-haired man blinked, stunned by her outburst. For a moment, he stood there dumbfounded, unable to form a response.

But his expression quickly darkened as he recovered. He shifted his attention to Raymond, sizing him up with a mix of disdain and calculation. "Raymond, right?"

Raymond nodded slowly, crossing his arms as he waited for the inevitable attempt to rope him into the argument.

The man straightened his posture, trying to look imposing. "Listen," he said, his tone condescending. "Sylph is an 'Explosion Magician.' Someone with her talent shouldn't be held back by a White Porcelain-level adventurer like you. If you really care about her, you'll let her join a team like mine, where she'll be properly protected and able to shine."

Raymond raised an eyebrow. His mind wandered briefly as he tried to place where he'd heard this kind of logic before. It struck him as familiar in a way that was both amusing and irritating.

He stroked his chin, pretending to think it over. The green-haired man seemed to take this as a sign of agreement, his smug expression returning. But before he could say anything more, Raymond looked up, his expression serious.

"I finally understand why you were able to learn the 'Taunt' skill," Raymond said, his tone completely even.

The man straightened further, clearly expecting praise. "Oh? And why is that?"

"Because you have a natural talent for making people want to punch you."

For a moment, there was silence. Then Sylph burst into laughter, doubling over as tears formed in her eyes.

"Pfft! Hahaha!" she cackled, clutching her stomach. "Raymond! That's 'perfect!'"

Even the demi-human cat girl from the green-haired man's team couldn't suppress her laughter. Her sharp ears twitched as she giggled openly. "This little brother really knows how to deliver a burn!"

The man's face turned as red as a beet, his earlier smugness crumbling under the weight of everyone's laughter. He glared furiously at his cat-girl teammate, who was doing little to hide her amusement.

"You! Stop laughing!" he barked, but it only made her giggle harder.

Meanwhile, Raymond turned to Sylph, ignoring the commotion entirely. "Come on," he said. "Let's finish the paperwork. I've got things to do."

"Right, let's go upstairs," Sylph said, her mood instantly lifting as she followed Raymond toward the stairs. "Don't waste time on these kinds of people."

Behind them, the green-haired man stood fuming, his pride thoroughly trampled. His teammates exchanged glances, unsure whether to console him or quietly distance themselves.

---

Once they were upstairs and away from the crowd, Sylph turned to Raymond with an excited grin. "You know, Raymond, you've got just as much talent as Geldan. If you were a 'Warrior,' you'd definitely be able to learn 'Taunt' too!"

Raymond raised an eyebrow, processing the name she'd just dropped. 'Geldan… so that's his name.' He chuckled inwardly, appreciating her keen observation. 'Sylph's instincts aren't half bad.'

"Maybe," Raymond replied with a small smirk. 'Though I'll learn Taunt for real soon enough,' he added silently. 'Unlike him, I won't need to taunt people with my words.'

Sylph tilted her head, noticing his confident expression. "What's with that look? Thinking of showing him up?"

"Not at all," Raymond said smoothly. "Just thinking about how much more training I'll need. That's all."

Sylph grinned. "Well, if you need a partner for sparring, I'm here. Explosion Magic might be overkill, but I can try to tone it down for you."

"Thanks," Raymond said, shaking his head with a chuckle. "I'll keep that in mind."

The two continued toward the guild office, leaving behind the chaos of the hall below. But even as they moved on, Raymond couldn't help but smile, already looking forward to mastering the skill that had sparked this entire exchange.

'Taunt' requires 3 skill points, and that's already a hefty cost. But the bigger problem… can I even reveal my 'Warrior' profession?' Raymond's thoughts churned with uncertainty. He wasn't sure if anyone in the Kingdom of Atlantis had ever awakened more than one profession. If he revealed this, would it make him a target of suspicion or envy?

'Maybe I should ask Sylph?' he thought, glancing at her. But before he could bring it up, a familiar voice interrupted his train of thought.

"Raymond!"

The surprised tone made Raymond turn. Coming out of one of the rooms in the Adventurer's Guild were Freya, Captain Andel, and several other knights. Their armor bore fresh stains of blood and dirt, evidence of recent combat.

"Freya? Captain Andel?" Raymond blinked, genuinely surprised. "What are you doing here?"

His gaze swept over them, noting the grime and blood smeared across their uniforms. "Wait… do the Knights take on guild commissions too?"

Freya rolled her eyes and huffed. "What? Do you think we're here to snatch commissions from you adventurers?"

Raymond raised his hands defensively. "I didn't mean it like that. I was just curious!"

Freya crossed her arms, smirking. "Of course not. But since you're so curious, let me explain."

The knights gathered around as Freya continued. "It's not just residents who issue commissions to the Adventurer's Guild. The guild itself issues plenty of them. Sometimes, when emergencies happen; like a monster attack, they can't wait for an adventurer to accept the commission and deal with it. That's when the Knights step in."

Raymond tilted his head, intrigued. "Emergencies?"

Freya nodded. "Right. For example, if a monster suddenly blocks a major road or invades a critical mine, it's not just someone's personal problem, it affects the whole kingdom. Those kinds of commissions are sent out directly by the guild, but if time is critical, the guild calls on us."

Captain Andel, standing quietly nearby, gave a firm nod. "The guild and the Knights are both part of the kingdom's infrastructure. We exist to protect Atlantis and ensure its safety. Our roles might differ, but we share the same goal."

Freya continued, her voice tinged with pride. "This time, we were called in because a powerful monster appeared on one of the main trade routes. It was causing chaos; destroying wagons, attacking merchants and traffic had to be restored immediately. That's why we're here."

"I see," Raymond said, nodding in understanding. "That makes sense now."

Just as the conversation settled, Freya's eyes shifted to Sylph, and they lit up with recognition. "Wait, is that… is she your Explosion Mage teammate? Sylph?"

Sylph froze, startled. "Huh? How do you know my name?" Her gaze darted to Raymond, suspicion flickering in her eyes. "Did you tell her about me?"

Raymond raised his hands, shaking his head. "Nope. Don't look at me. I'm just as confused as you are."

Freya chuckled, clearly amused by their reactions. "Relax, both of you. The investigation into the giant mutant rat incident involved us knights and the guild staff. Your names came up during the review."

Realization dawned on both Raymond and Sylph at the same time. "Oh, so that's why," Raymond said, exhaling.

"But I have to admit," Freya added, her gaze shifting back to Raymond with a hint of envy, "I didn't expect you to be so talented. No wonder Sylph teamed up with you."

Raymond blinked, confused. "Wait, me? Talented?"

Sylph looked at him, equally puzzled. "What's she talking about? You never mentioned anything like that."

Raymond scratched his head, utterly lost. "I've only mastered one skill so far. How's that considered talented?"

Freya grinned, her expression almost teasing. "Oh, come on, don't be so modest. People who master their first skill within a year are already considered gifted. And those who manage two in that time? They're called prodigies. From what we've learned about you, you're well ahead of schedule."

Raymond blinked, stunned. He hadn't thought of it that way. Freya's words carried weight, especially since she herself had previously boasted about mastering two skills within a year.

Sylph's eyes sparkled with interest. "Wait, Raymond… 'is' she right? Are you secretly some kind of prodigy?"

"No! I mean, I've only learned one skill," Raymond said quickly, waving his hands. "That's hardly impressive compared to someone like you who's mastered Explosion Magic."

Freya shook her head, a small smirk on her face. "Sylph's Explosion Magic is definitely impressive, but you're underestimating yourself. The way you've progressed since awakening… it's unusual. Talented adventurers like you and Sylph stand out for a reason."

Raymond's chest tightened slightly. He could feel Freya's sharp eyes studying him, almost as if she were searching for something hidden. For a moment, he wondered if she'd somehow seen through his secret. 'Does she know about my second profession?'

Freya tilted her head, a curious glint in her eyes. "Raymond, you've been holding back something, haven't you?"

Raymond forced a casual laugh, brushing off her words. "Holding back? Not at all. I'm just taking things one step at a time."

But deep down, his mind raced. He had to tread carefully. The last thing he needed was for Freya or anyone else, to uncover his dual professions.

For now, he decided to shift the focus. "Anyway, speaking of talents, Sylph is the real prodigy here. Explosion Magic isn't something just anyone can pull off."

Freya nodded in agreement but gave Raymond one last thoughtful look before letting it go. As they continued talking, Raymond couldn't shake the feeling that Freya had picked up on more than she was letting on. If she didn't know yet, it was only a matter of time.