Adventurer of Many Professions

Raymond's footsteps slowed as he overheard Sylph's declaration: she could wield Explosion Magic. He paused, glancing over his shoulder, his curiosity piqued despite himself. Explosion Magic was powerful, devastating even, but only in the right hands. As he studied her from afar, he sized her up. Sylph, with her refined air, looked every bit the noble lady. Polite, yes, but there was a touch of arrogance that didn't sit well with him.

Raymond sighed. He'd never been one to get along with that type. Experience had taught him that people with such airs were often difficult, expecting the world to bend to their whims. Teaming up with someone like her would only bring frustration, and he valued his peace of mind too much to compromise it for any magic, no matter how impressive. Besides, it wasn't as though she lacked offers; plenty of other adventurers, some better equipped and more skilled than him, had practically lined up to form a party with her. There was no need for him to chase after her.

"First things first," he muttered to himself. "A dagger."

He'd take on the sewer rats, cut off their ears as proof, and complete the task as planned. For that, he didn't need anything fancy; just an ordinary blade would do. His mind set, he turned on his heel, heading toward the blacksmith's shop he'd passed earlier.

"Raymond, wait up!"

A familiar voice rang out behind him. He quickened his pace instinctively, but Sylph was persistent, her footsteps growing louder until, breathless, she finally caught up and blocked his path. Raymond fought the urge to groan as she stood there, chest heaving, her expression a mix of determination and confusion.

"Why did you run off?" she demanded, hands on her hips. "I'm an Explosion Mage! Don't you want to team up with someone like me?"

Raymond raised an eyebrow. Before he could respond, Sylph's expression shifted to one of dawning revelation, as if she'd uncovered some hidden truth. She gave him a smug smile. "Oh, I get it! You're playing hard to get, aren't you? Trying to act aloof to make me more interested? You secretly want to team up with me but didn't want to look desperate!"

Raymond blinked, baffled by her leap in logic. He scrutinized her, then finally asked, "Have you been reading too many romance novels?"

Sylph's cheeks flushed a deep pink. She spluttered, "Wh-what? No! I-I mean… maybe a few…"

Raymond resisted the urge to roll his eyes. 'This is ridiculous,' he thought, trying to keep his expression neutral. He considered his next move. Rejecting her outright might offend her, and the last thing he needed was an annoyed noble causing him trouble down the line. 'All right, fine,' he decided. He'd humor her, just enough to gently let her down.

He scratched his head, pretending to look flustered. "Honestly… I did think about teaming up with you," he admitted reluctantly, "but, well, you saw how many others wanted to partner up with you. They're stronger, better equipped… I don't stand a chance against that kind of competition, so I figured I'd save myself the embarrassment."

Sylph's eyes sparkled with triumph, as if she'd caught him in a confession. "Ha! So you do want to team up with me. At least you're self-aware enough to know I'm out of your league," she teased, looking unbearably pleased with herself.

Raymond forced a rueful smile. "I'm just a novice. I've only recently awakened as a Fighter, and I don't even have any real skills yet. I wouldn't want to hold you back. You should find a better team, someone who can keep up with you." He put on a show of resignation, hoping she'd take the hint and move on.

But Sylph only frowned, her eyes narrowing in playful mischief. "Oh no, you don't get off that easily!" she exclaimed. "I want to hear you actually say it. Go on, ask me to team up with you!"

Raymond sighed inwardly. 'Is she trying to make a fool of me?' He saw the sparkle in her eye, like she was enjoying some private joke. But then, a new thought crossed his mind: if he asked her outright, would she just laugh it off and leave him alone?

He took a deep breath, putting on his most earnest face. "Miss Sylph," he said slowly, "will you team up with me?"

"Sure!" Sylph's face lit up, and she burst into laughter. "Did you think I'd turn you down? Hahaha!"

Raymond's jaw dropped, a look of pure exasperation spreading across his face. 'Wait, that's not how this is supposed to go…'

"You… you're serious?" he stammered.

"Of course!" She grinned broadly, evidently finding his bewilderment hilarious. "You're not bad company, and I'll get to be the star, as usual. Besides, I think it'll be fun to work with someone as… humble as you."

Raymond shook his head, feeling a mix of irritation and reluctant amusement. "Miss Sylph, please don't play games with me. I have a mission to complete, and I don't have time for—"

"Oh, come on! It'll be fun," she insisted, undeterred by his obvious frustration. "I'll teach you a thing or two. You'll thank me later, trust me."

Raymond sighed, defeated. 'This girl doesn't follow any script I know,' he thought. With a reluctant nod, he turned back toward the blacksmith, muttering, "Fine. But we're buying that dagger first. And you're paying."

"Who are you kidding? I'm serious!" Sylph's voice rang out with genuine frustration as she hurried to keep up with Raymond's brisk pace. Determined, she pushed forward until she was once again by his side. "Back in the hall, those people ignored me, treated me like just another rookie. But the moment they heard I could use Explosion Magic, they all suddenly wanted me on their team! I don't want teammates like that, who only see power. I just want to team up with you."

Raymond stopped, taking a long, steady breath before responding. "Ms. Sylph—"

"Just call me Sylph," she interrupted, crossing her arms.

"Alright… Sylph." Raymond met her eyes with a solemn look. "I appreciate that, but I have to be honest with you. I don't think we're a good match for each other as partners. Do you even know what kind of task I'm about to take on?"

Her face fell slightly, but she quickly retorted, "How would you know we're not a good team if we haven't even tried? Besides, didn't you already accept the commission? What's the mission, anyway?"

Raymond sighed, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "I take on long-term commissions without the need for formal contracts. This time, I'm cleaning up mutant rats in the sewers."

Sylph's face twisted in disgust, her nose wrinkling involuntarily. "The sewers? You mean, like, down there? In the filth and the stench?"

Raymond nodded. "Yes. If you think you can handle it, you're welcome to join me. But trust me, it's not the glamorous work of an adventurer. It's filthy, smelly, and the only enemies are disease-ridden mutant rats."

Without another word, Raymond resumed his pace, convinced that the idea of descending into the sewer would be enough to dissuade her. He couldn't imagine someone with Sylph's apparent upbringing willingly trudging through sludge just for the sake of companionship.

But, to his surprise, she followed him, chattering all the way.

"The sewer? Do you know how dirty it is down there? Can you even stand the smell?" She huffed, walking behind him with a horrified expression. "There are so many commissions available, things worthy of an adventurer! Why would you choose this? Isn't the whole point of adventuring to help people in distress, to fight monsters, to explore hidden realms? Killing sewer rats… that's hardly an adventure!"

Raymond continued on, tuning out her complaints. He had no intention of explaining himself further. His destination was clear: the blacksmith's shop. Inside, he selected a plain, sharp dagger, handing over two silver coins without a second thought. Next, he stopped by a cloth shop, buying a three-foot-long cloth for a few more coins. Finally, he picked up a white stone that would emit light in the dark, spending eight precious silver coins on it. Each piece of equipment felt like a small sacrifice for the task at hand.

When he arrived at the sewer entrance, he noticed Sylph had finally gone quiet. The stench wafting from the sewer was overwhelming, enough to silence even the most persistent of voices. Raymond strapped the dagger to his waist, tied the light stone to a belt around his forehead, and wrapped the cloth around his mouth and nose, leaving only his eyes exposed to the foul air.

"Time to earn back what I spent," he muttered to himself, adjusting his makeshift mask to block the worst of the smell.

Just as he was about to descend, Sylph's voice broke through his thoughts. "Raymond… you're really going down there?" Her face was a mix of horror and disbelief.

His answer came in the form of action. Without looking back, Raymond descended the iron ladder into the sewer, his boots landing on the cold, damp stones below. He took a deep, steadying breath but immediately regretted it, gagging slightly from the putrid smell. This was far from the heroics of a noble warrior, but it was work he could handle.

The darkness loomed before him, swallowing up any light from the outside world. The only illumination came from the white stone on his forehead, casting a dim glow over the murky, glistening sewer walls. Raymond felt a twinge of unease; the unknown stretched out before him, shadows seeming to flicker at the edges of his vision. For a brief moment, he wondered if he'd made a mistake, if perhaps he was in over his head.

Then, a voice echoed from above, piercing the silence.

"Raymond! Wait for me!"

He turned, his eyes widening as Sylph descended the ladder, her delicate hands gripping the rungs as she wrinkled her nose at the smell. "Sylph? What on earth are you doing here?"

She landed beside him with an indignant huff, glancing around with wide, horrified eyes. "I told you, I agreed to team up with you. Did you really think I'd let you go alone?"

Raymond shook his head, part disbelief, part admiration. "Do you even realize how awful it smells down here?" he asked, half-laughing.

"Yes, I do, thank you very much!" she snapped, though her hand was firmly clamped over her nose and mouth. Her face was pale, and her eyes watered slightly from the stench, but she stood her ground. "I'm… I'm not giving up that easily!"

Raymond felt something strange then; a warmth, a lightness. Her presence, despite the situation, seemed to lift some of the tension from his shoulders. He didn't feel so alone in the dark, dank sewer.

"Well," he said, a soft smile creeping onto his face. "Let's see if you're as tough as you think, Explosion Mage."

Sylph squared her shoulders, her eyes determined despite the lingering disgust in her expression. "Oh, you'll see. I didn't come down here just to run away." She took a hesitant step forward, the sound of her boots echoing in the tunnel. "Lead the way, sewer rat exterminator."

With Sylph by his side, Raymond moved forward with newfound confidence, the looming darkness seeming a little less foreboding with each step. The sewer, once a place of dread, was now an unlikely stage for a blossoming partnership or, at the very least, the beginning of a new adventure.