Adventurer of Many Professions

"Are you goblins? Why aren't you asleep at this hour?" Mrs. Becker's shrill voice cut through the quiet, echoing up the staircase. Goblins were nocturnal creatures known for their night vision, often roaming around at odd hours, and the racket coming from upstairs must have disturbed her.

Heavy footsteps pounded on the staircase as Mrs. Becker, weighing a solid three hundred pounds, stormed up, red-faced and breathing heavily. She spotted Raymond standing by Arya's door and launched into her usual lecture, not even pausing for breath. "It was you making all that noise, wasn't it? I've told you countless times to keep it quiet at night! Guests are trying to sleep, and if they start complaining, you can kiss your salary goodbye this month!"

Raymond frowned, thinking her yelling would surely wake the guests more effectively than their earlier scuffle. Mrs. Becker, huffing and catching her breath, took a step closer, waving her finger at him in an accusing manner. "Raymond, I kept you on because you're supposed to be obedient and sensible. And now, look at this! You… you…"

She trailed off, her words catching in her throat. Her eyes widened as she noticed a faint glow from the back of Raymond's right hand.

There, etched against the darkness, was the unmistakable mark، a pair of fists crossed in a symbol unique to the "Fighter" profession. Mrs. Becker's scowl vanished, her fat cheeks stretching into a wide, almost sycophantic smile.

"Raymond… when did you awaken?" Her voice was now soft, even hesitant. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Raymond didn't miss the shift in her tone, but he replied calmly, "I awakened when I went to the temple for leave a couple of weeks ago."

Mrs. Becker's eyes widened in mock surprise, a forced "Ah! Yes! Of course, when you took leave! How could I forget?" She feigned enthusiasm, though Raymond knew her memory was perfect. She could recall the exact dates of every worker's leave, not out of kindness but so she could scold them later if they slipped up.

"So, you awakened without telling us! This is… quite the occasion!" she said, her smile more forced now. Behind the cheer, Raymond sensed her unease, realizing what his awakening meant. Mrs. Becker had treated him with disdain for months، scolding, mocking, even deducting his pay. And the kingdom's rules allowed awakened individuals certain leniencies when insulted or mistreated by ordinary people. She could be held responsible if he chose to retaliate.

"Well, I don't care much for crowds," Raymond said flatly, dismissing her false warmth.

"Yes, yes… of course, I understand," she replied with a nervous chuckle, nodding as if he'd said something profound. Her gaze shifted into Arya's room, where she gasped, her eyes bulging in alarm.

Seth, Andre, and Mike lay sprawled across the floor. Recognition dawned on her face, and her mind flashed to the incident earlier in the kitchen. Clearly, Raymond hadn't forgotten the conflict with these three, nor had he let it slide.

Mrs. Becker's cheerful expression faded, replaced by a mixture of shock and dread. She now understood, perhaps for the first time, that Raymond was no longer just another employee she could push around.

"Is this… revenge on them?" Mrs. Becker's voice trembled as she glanced nervously between Raymond and the unconscious bodies of Seth and his lackeys. After swallowing hard, she finally mustered up the courage to ask, "Raymond, what exactly happened here?"

Raymond nodded and calmly explained the night's events, sparing no detail. "So," Mrs. Becker said, her eyes widening, "Seth and his friends drugged Arya, and you discovered it in time, so you… handled it yourself?"

"That's right," Raymond replied, glancing at Arya, who lay peacefully asleep on the bed, still under the effect of the sleeping potion. Relief filled him; thankfully, he'd arrived in time.

Mrs. Becker hesitated, glancing at the culprits on the floor. "What should we do now? Should I call the gendarmerie?"

The gendarmerie handled matters among ordinary citizens, while the Knights Templar, an elite force of awakened individuals, only intervened in cases involving other awakened. Given that this incident was within the realm of the gendarmerie, it was the right call.

Raymond nodded. "Yes, go ahead."

With a final glance between Raymond and the unconscious trio, Mrs. Becker turned and hurried away, surprising him with her speed, given her heavy frame. Once she was gone, Raymond allowed himself a moment to breathe. He looked at Seth, Mike, and Andre lying on the floor and couldn't resist delivering an extra kick to each of them.

"That felt good," he murmured, a sense of satisfaction washing over him.

Raymond turned back to Arya, who lay undisturbed on the bed, her fiery red hair spilling across the pillow in a tangled halo. He reached out instinctively, gently brushing a stray strand back, revealing her face fully.

She looked peaceful, her soft features highlighted in the faint light. Her pale skin contrasted beautifully with her red hair, and as Raymond's fingers brushed against her cheek, he noted her skin was warm and smooth, almost like the feel of jade warmed by the sun.

"Thank goodness there are no one in sight," he muttered with a wry grin, exhaling in relief.

Through his memories, he recalled that Arya held a special place in the heart of the "original" Raymond. But for him, things were different. Arya was indeed beautiful, but she was still young, barely fifteen. Given that Raymond had been nearly thirty in his previous life, the idea of romantic feelings toward her now felt inappropriate.

"Just a few more years… let's wait a few more years," he murmured to himself, a small smile playing on his lips as he brushed back one last stray curl.

Growing restless, Raymond's eyes drifted back to the unconscious trio on the floor, specifically Seth's bold yellow hair that gleamed in the dim light. The obnoxious, flashy color made him smirk.

"Maybe he needs a little… trim," Raymond muttered.

Without hesitation, he dashed back to his room, grabbed a pair of scissors, and returned. He crouched beside Seth and snipped the garish locks with satisfaction. What had once been a proud mane of long, striking hair now looked as though a pig had gnawed at it; a choppy, ridiculous mess.

"Enjoy your new look," Raymond muttered, admiring his handiwork.

Just as he was savoring the sight of his "masterpiece," a cool, emotionless voice broke the silence from behind him.

"Having fun with your little haircut?"

Raymond froze, a chill shooting up his spine as the voice sent a prickling sensation over his skin. He turned slowly, scissors still in hand, dreading who might be standing there.