Adventurer of Many Professions

Raymond leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the bustling restaurant with a mix of disdain and resignation. He called himself a loser, not because he was weak or easily pushed around, but because he felt he didn't put in the effort to change his situation. The constant bullying didn't seem to bother him much; in fact, he often thought that if trouble came, he'd be ready. Just one good hit against the right person, and he'd feel better knowing someone else was suffering alongside him.

Mike and Seth were his supposed allies, two tall, strong guys who, while not quite matching Andre's brute strength, could hold their own when the time came. Raymond couldn't help but smirk at the thought. "Sure enough, the old world was better. I could lounge at home, doing nothing, without all this chaos."

But as the restaurant filled with customers, his musings were cut short. Orders piled up, and Raymond knew he couldn't stay in the back pretending to be sick any longer. Mrs. Becker would have his head if he tried that. With a resigned sigh, he pushed himself off the wall and began taking dishes to the tables.

Once the last guests finished their meals, it was time for cleanup. He shuffled through the mess, stacking plates and clearing crumbs, grateful when Arya came over to help. She was a whirlwind of energy, laughing and chatting as they worked together.

"Don't be so stubborn!" Arya exclaimed, tossing a teasing smile his way.

By eight o'clock, the restaurant had quieted down, and Raymond plopped onto the floor, utterly spent. "I'm so tired!" he groaned, forgetting all decorum as he stretched out his back.

"Here, let me help," Arya said, kneeling beside him. Before he could protest, her slender hands began to knead his shoulders.

"Ah… Oh…" A low, involuntary moan slipped from his lips as the tension melted away. This wasn't the soft, comforting caress of someone playing with his hair; this was something more visceral, a relief that coursed through his muscles.

"Hey! Don't make such strange noises!" Arya shot back, her cheeks flushing a bright shade of pink. Even though she often acted warmly towards him, this moment felt different, more intimate, and it made her heart race.

"Sorry! It just felt so good…" Raymond managed, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. It had been ages since he'd had such close contact with anyone, especially a girl. In the solitude of his home, he'd almost forgotten what it felt like to share a laugh, let alone a moment like this.

But as with all good things, their brief respite was interrupted. The door swung open, and a new wave of customers flooded in. Arya glanced back at him, her hand lingering a moment longer before she dashed off to greet them.

Raymond watched her go, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and disappointment. Just then, he noticed Andre, Seth, and a couple of their friends striding toward him, an air of mischief in their steps.

"You finally came…" Raymond said, instinctively straightening up, tension coiling in his muscles as he braced for whatever they might throw his way. He was ready, even if it meant taking a few punches to feel alive again.

"Raymond, looking good today! You really thought you could pretend to be sick?" Andre stormed over, his face twisted in anger as he pushed Raymond playfully, but with a hint of aggression.

Raymond was ready. In a flash, he caught Andre's wrist with his left hand, twisting his middle finger with his right.

"Ah! It hurts, it hurts!" Andre howled, the surprise and pain evident in his voice. "Seth, help: ah!"

Before he could finish his plea, Raymond tightened his grip, transforming Andre's call for assistance into a desperate scream.

"Raymond, what are you doing?" Andre gasped, his bravado slipping away.

"Let him go, Raymond!" shouted Seth and Mike as they rushed toward the commotion, alarmed by their friend's predicament.

Ignoring their shouts, Raymond leaned closer to Andre and whispered menacingly, "If Seth and Mike dare to come any closer, I swear I'll break your finger before they can rescue you."

A shiver ran down Andre's spine at the threat. He stammered, "Seth, Mike, don't come over! If you do, he'll snap my fingers…"

Seth and Mike halted, their expressions shifting from concern to outrage as they glared at Raymond. The standoff was tense, a palpable energy crackling in the air.

Raymond had braced himself for a beating from the trio, but Andre's underestimation had given him an unexpected advantage. "So, you think you can bully me without consequences?" he challenged, his confidence radiating.

"Raymond, we just want to talk. We don't want to fight you," Seth said, attempting to defuse the situation.

Raymond shot him a skeptical glance. Who would believe that? In the past, they'd dragged him into the storage room to settle scores during breaks.

As he remained unfazed, Seth took a deep breath, sensing a change in Raymond. This wasn't the timid boy who had once allowed himself to be pushed around. If it weren't for Arya's intervention, Raymond would have faced relentless bullying. Today, however, he seemed different; stronger.

Seth wondered if it was the garlic he'd carelessly put there yesterday that had sparked this change. If that was the case, he regretted it.

But rescuing Andre was priority number one, and he needed to calm the situation. "Listen, Raymond. Just let Andre go, and I promise we won't bother you again," he said, forcing a smile.

This time, Raymond didn't even roll his eyes. Instead, his gaze landed on Seth's bright blond hair, and he smirked. "You know what? If you shave off that ridiculous yellow hair, I'll let Andre go."

"Yellow? My hair is not yellow!" Seth sputtered, indignant. "It's blond, and it looks great! How dare you call it yellow!"

Raymond couldn't help but laugh at Seth's overreaction, the tension in the air easing slightly as they faced off, each waiting to see who would make the next move.

Seth trembled with fury, his body shaking as he glared at Raymond. To him, being called "yellow hair" was an unforgivable insult, igniting a burning desire to confront Raymond and settle the score.

But just as he was about to charge, Raymond tightened his grip on Andre's finger, eliciting another pained yelp. "Ah! Seth! Don't get riled up… Please, Raymond, just stop provoking him!" Andre begged, panic evident in his voice.

The tension hung in the air as both sides stared each other down, the stalemate stretching on.

Suddenly, the kitchen door swung open with a loud crash, and Mrs. Becker barreled in, her ample frame shaking with indignation. "What in the world is going on here? Do you think my kitchen is an unguarded alleyway? You dare to cause trouble in my space?" she boomed, her voice echoing off the walls.

Her gaze shifted to the hall, and her tone shifted sharply. "If it weren't for those two adventurers out there, I'd have broken your legs today!"

"Adventurers?" The mention of the word stunned everyone into silence. They quickly straightened up, sensing the gravity of the situation.

Raymond, realizing the precariousness of his position, loosened his grip on Andre's finger, allowing him to breathe easier.

"Now that you know what's at stake, behave yourselves!" Mrs. Becker continued, her eyes narrowing at the group. "If you leave a bad impression on those adventurers, I swear I'll dock your wages!"

With a fierce look, she pointed at them all before focusing on Raymond. "Get two plates of snacks and two bottles of rum for the adventurers, and make it quick!"

Relieved, Raymond nodded and scurried back to the kitchen. He knew he'd lost his edge in front of Seth and the others, and they wouldn't forget today's humiliation.

Still, he had a task to complete. As he stepped into the restaurant with the tray loaded up, he quickly spotted the two adventurers seated at a corner table.

Their attire immediately set them apart. One was clad in gleaming iron armor, a long sword resting casually against the table, while the other wore rugged leather armor made from some sort of animal hide, completely unarmed. Yet, both of them wore two bronze plates hanging from their waists, a sign of their status.

"Bronze-level adventurers? I wonder what their professions are…" Raymond thought, his curiosity piqued.

Just then, his vision flickered, and a blue panel appeared before him, startling him.

"Detected awakenable profession: Fighter. Awakening requirement: When surrounded and attacked by at least three people, knock down one of them."

"Awakenable profession detected: Warrior. Awakening requirements: Kill ten monsters using ordinary weapons."

Raymond's heart raced as the implications of the information sank in. Perhaps today wouldn't end in defeat after all. If he played his cards right, he might just find a way to turn this situation around.