Adventurer of Many Professions

"Divine magic?"

Raymond's voice was barely a whisper as he stared at the words on the adventurer's record sheet. Could it be that gods truly existed in this world? Sure, he had seen the churches and temples back in the town of West, places adorned with statues of goddesses, halls filled with worshipers and priests murmuring prayers. But he had always assumed it was just tradition, a way of life for some people. Never had he really thought gods might actually exist.

Yet now… it seemed he might have been wrong.

"Um… excuse me, what does 'divine magic' refer to?" Raymond's curiosity got the better of him, and he looked up at the lady behind the counter after filling out his form.

The lady, a gentle smile on her lips, glanced at the form he had handed her. "Ah, that's a skill specific to the 'Priest' class," she explained softly, looking back at him with an understanding smile. "Since you're a fighter, you won't need to fill it out."

Raymond's eyebrows rose. "'Priest' skill?"

"Yes." The lady leaned in a bit, clearly sensing his interest. "Priests are… unique. Unlike fighters or mages, their skills aren't learned through training or books. Instead, they gain their abilities by praying in temples. If they're deemed worthy, the gods themselves grant them these 'divine skills.'"

Raymond's mouth fell open slightly, his mind racing. So divine magic was real… and it came from the gods themselves? That would mean… there truly were gods in this world! For a moment, he felt a little light-headed. Gods, actual deities, watching over them, granting power to those they found worthy. It was a lot to take in.

But something else struck him, a realization that, maybe, he didn't have to be just a fighter. Among the professions available to him, the path of the priest seemed like a distant, mystical calling. Could he… awaken as one of them?

With his curiosity piqued, he opened his personal panel, eyes scanning for the awakening requirements of the 'Priest' class.

[Priest Awakening Requirements: At least two hundred people must be grateful to you. Current progress: 1/200.]

Raymond's heart sank. "Two hundred people?" he muttered under his breath. The task seemed monumental. How could anyone get so many people to be genuinely grateful to them? Shaking his head, he sighed, but then something caught his attention.

Progress: 1/200.

He blinked, realization dawning on him. "Wait, someone's… already grateful to me?" Who could it possibly be?

For a moment, he was lost in thought, and then a name came to mind, Arya. She was the only person he could think of, the one who had shown him kindness and gratitude. A small smile tugged at his lips. Perhaps, unknowingly, he was already on a path he hadn't considered before.

"Raymond Kelton, correct? Here's your adventurer identity token." The lady's voice broke his reverie. She placed a small white nameplate on the counter, its silver edges gleaming in the light.

Taking the token, Raymond examined it. One side was engraved with his name and occupation, while the other bore a likeness of his own face, a surprisingly accurate one.

"This will serve as proof of your identity as an adventurer," she explained. "You'll need it when you accept or complete quests, or whenever you claim rewards. If you ever lose it or damage it, just come back here to get a replacement."

"Thank you," Raymond replied, slipping the nameplate into his pocket, feeling its reassuring weight.

The lady's expression softened further, and she leaned in as if offering a personal tip. "If you're unsure about anything, you can check out the bulletin board over there." She pointed to a board at the far end of the lobby, covered in parchment, most of it yellowed and ignored by passersby. "It has everything you need to know about taking quests, requirements for leveling up… all the basics."

Raymond followed her gaze, noting the almost neglected appearance of the board. Then she added with a gentle smile, "If you're looking to start, I'd suggest trying the job to clean out the mutant rats in the sewers. It's a good beginner task."

"Mutant rats?" He looked at her, a bit confused. "Are they… monsters?"

She hesitated, thinking it over. "Not exactly… They're more like ordinary rats that, well, ate something they shouldn't have." She shrugged. "Whatever they consumed must have caused a strange mutation. They've grown larger and, unfortunately, far more aggressive. Left unchecked, they could pose a threat to the residents if they decide to crawl out of the sewers."

Raymond grimaced, picturing the oversized rats lurking in the dark, their beady eyes gleaming with an unnatural hunger. Hardly the glorious battle he'd imagined when he'd set out to become an adventurer, but he supposed everyone had to start somewhere.

"I see," he replied, feeling a little more grounded but also determined. Maybe mutant rats weren't exactly what he'd envisioned when he thought of adventuring, but they were still a threat to the townspeople. Perhaps in taking on these small tasks, he'd find more people to be grateful to him… and maybe, just maybe, he could inch closer to that elusive Priest awakening.

The lady gave him a nod of encouragement. "Good luck, Raymond. Every adventurer starts somewhere. You'll do fine."

With a final nod, Raymond stepped away from the counter, feeling a new sense of purpose. His journey had only just begun, and though it might start with rats in the sewers, he couldn't shake the faint feeling that something much greater awaited him.

Listening to the lady's explanation, Raymond nodded thoughtfully. He'd overheard rumors at the Becker Hotel, stories shared over ale and whispered between bites of dinner. People had been talking about it for weeks: enormous rats, bigger than any cat, creeping out of the sewers and terrorizing unsuspecting townsfolk. He'd even heard that a few people had been bitten, though someone, apparently with deep pockets, had covered their medical bills.

The counter lady had mentioned that these "mutant rats" weren't a natural phenomenon. They were just ordinary rats that had eaten… something. The way she said it made him wonder. What could have transformed simple sewer rats into these oversized, aggressive creatures? There was a story here, he could feel it.

"Alright, thank you," Raymond said, taking the white porcelain nameplate from her hand. He gave her a small nod and then made his way over to the bulletin board she'd pointed out, eager to understand the workings of the guild.

The bulletin board was packed with information, neatly organized in rows and columns, detailing everything a fresh adventurer needed to know. The first section explained how to accept tasks, which tasks were available at different ranks, where to report after completing a task, and the procedure for turning in evidence or proof of a job well done.

As he read, Raymond noticed that adventurers started at the "White Porcelain" level, the very token he now held in his hand. At this rank, he could only accept "White Porcelain" level tasks, beginner commissions suited for newcomers. However, there was a system in place for teaming up. If four White Porcelain-level adventurers teamed up, they could qualify to take on the slightly higher "Black Iron" level tasks. This rule extended upward through the ranks, allowing adventurers of various levels to collaborate and take on more challenging work.

But there were exceptions for higher ranks. Once adventurers reached the Silver level, they could only accept commissions equal to or lower than their own rank. Even if a team of Silver adventurers formed, they still couldn't tackle the prestigious Gold level missions. And, for a Silver-level mission, the guild required a team of at least two members for safety.

Then there were the Gold and Platinum levels, the guild's elite. A pair of Gold-level adventurers could lead a mixed group of Silver and Bronze adventurers to tackle high-stakes Gold-level missions. For the rarified Platinum commissions, two Platinum-level adventurers were needed to lead the team, possibly including Gold and Silver adventurers as well.

Raymond's eyes widened as he continued reading. Above even these prestigious ranks were the legendary "Hero" and "Brave" levels. Commissions at the Hero level were rare and exclusively issued by the King himself. If such a commission was issued, it meant that the Kingdom of Atlantis was in grave danger. Completing a Hero-level commission would earn adventurers not only fame but an official title. They would be declared "heroes" of the kingdom, enshrined in the annals of history, honored by the King and revered by all.

And then there was the Brave level. According to the board, no Brave-level commission had appeared for thousands of years. The title "Brave" was ancient, older even than the Kingdom of Atlantis itself. It was said to be a title given only to those who defeated the strongest demon, the fabled "Demon King," and saved humanity from the demonic invasion that had once nearly destroyed the world. Now, the Brave title existed only as a symbol, a legend told by adventurers to honor those who had achieved the impossible.

Raymond took a deep breath, feeling both awe and humility wash over him. The hierarchy was more structured and more intense; than he had imagined. But he wasn't here just to dream; he was here to learn how to progress.

The bulletin board outlined three main requirements to level up as an adventurer:

1. Complete at least ten commissions of the same level.

2. Complete five consecutive commissions of the same level or higher without failure.

3. Maintain a commission success rate of at least 80%.

Meeting these conditions allowed an adventurer to apply for a rank upgrade. The process involved a test mission, one of greater difficulty, assigned by the Adventurer's Guild. If the adventurer could complete this trial mission, either alone or with a team of adventurers at the same level, their promotion would be granted.

Absorbing all this information, Raymond felt a growing resolve. It was a long road to the top, but now he understood what lay ahead.

He turned his gaze to the "White Porcelain" task board, where a small crowd of new adventurers huddled together, scanning the available commissions. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he approached, ready to dive into his very first assignment.