Adventurer of Many Professions-Chapter 84: Encounter!

After finishing their meal, Raymond leaned back against a tree and pulled up his status panel, curious to see how far his progress had come:

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Name: Raymond Kelton

Age: 15

Magic Value: 180.6 / 591.1

Occupations: Fighter, Warrior, Craftsman, Magician, Swordsman

Skills: Bone Crushing, Taunt [Upgradable], Wind Slash

Skill Points: 2. Cumulative Value: 35%

---

It had barely been two hours since they started walking through the forest, but Raymond had already earned two more skill points from the monsters he’d defeated. The effort had paid off sooner than he expected.

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’Looks like we’re in the right part of the Moonlight Forest...’ Raymond thought with satisfaction.

However, he was also aware that these weak monsters, the ones that had easily given him skill points, were nothing more than a warm-up. If a team of experienced adventurers at the white porcelain level formed, they could deal with these creatures without breaking a sweat.

The real challenges lay ahead.

Next, they’d enter the area where "blood vine grass" grew, a place known for its more dangerous monsters. Raymond knew that the creatures they’d face there wouldn’t be so easy to deal with.

As he thought back to how he had taunted and provoked those earlier monsters, Raymond made a mental note: ’I won’t make that mistake again. From here on out, I’ll keep a low profile and let the monsters come to us.’

He stretched out under the tree, eyes squinting against the bright light filtering through the canopy, gathering his strength and waiting for his magic to recharge.

---

’Time passed in a quiet lull.’

Suddenly, Sylph’s voice broke the stillness.

"Raymond, Lorene, come and see!"

Raymond looked up and saw Sylph waving excitedly at them from a short distance, holding something in her hand. Her face was glowing with happiness.

"Let’s go take a look," Raymond said, picking up his sword from the ground and signaling for Lorene to follow. The two of them walked toward Sylph.

As they approached, Sylph held up what looked like a small, vibrant blue plant. "Raymond, look! I found this near where the flying locusts live."

Raymond took the plant from her, inspecting it closely. "Blue Spirit Grass?"

"Yes!" Sylph beamed, nodding eagerly. "This is a key ingredient for crafting the ’Primary Magic Recovery Potion.’ I’ve heard that many pharmacists are looking for it right now. They even have requests for it for our quest!"

Raymond raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Great find, Sylph."

He turned to the others. "Let’s see if we can find more. We might be able to gather a good amount."

The three of them spread out, scouring the area around them. After a while, they managed to gather a total of seven stalks of Blue Spirit Grass.

"Seven. Not bad," Raymond said, tucking the herbs into his bag with a satisfied nod.

In addition to the Blue Spirit Grass, they had also picked up a few other herbs along the way; useful for making basic potions, but nothing too valuable. Still, it was all part of the process. Raymond’s newfound interest in alchemy, driven by his awakening as a "Pharmacist," made even these humble herbs important.

Sylph grinned, clearly excited. "Hehe, with this, when we get back, we can take on a commission from the guild. We’ll finish it right away!"

Lorene, however, seemed more cautious. "But what if the amount isn’t enough? If we don’t find more, we might not be able to complete the commission."

Raymond nodded, considering her concern. "We’ll see when the time comes. If it doesn’t meet the requirement, we can always sell it to a pharmacy. They’re always looking for herbs like these, and they’ll probably accept it."

Though Sylph looked a bit disappointed, she understood. "Alright, that sounds like a plan."

"Okay, but if we sell it instead of completing the guild mission, we won’t get any mission points," Sylph pointed out, her face falling slightly in disappointment.

As they packed away their herbs, Raymond couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. They were making progress, not just on their journey, but on their growing collection of skills, herbs, and resources. Each step brought them closer to their goals.

But the true test would come when they ventured deeper into the forest. The blood vine grass area was near, and the monsters lurking there were not to be underestimated.

He quickly turned his attention back to his status panel, where he saw that his magic had already recovered to over 300 points.

Looking up, he noticed the sky; mostly obscured by the thick canopy of the towering trees. The midday sun blazed high above, its heat trapped under the dense foliage.

Realizing there was still a long way to go and knowing his magic would continue to recover on the move, Raymond took a deep breath and announced, "Alright, let’s get going. We should head in now."

The others nodded, and within moments, the trio was off, moving deeper into the Moonlight Forest.

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As they navigated through the dense woods, a sudden ’buzz’ filled the air.

Out of nowhere, a black and yellow poisonous wasp darted between the trees. It hovered for a moment before swooping down to grab a small animal, lifting it effortlessly into the air. With a final sharp buzz, it darted off, vanishing into the distance.

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The trio emerged from the underbrush, watching as the wasp flew away.

Sylph shook her head in surprise. "I didn’t expect to find poisonous sting wasps here. Then again, this forest has all kinds of monsters."

"Yeah, the Moonlight Forest is full of surprises," Raymond replied. He glanced in the direction the wasp had gone, then turned to the other two. "But we’re not following that thing. Let’s head the other way."

With that, the three of them continued on, their steps more cautious now that they were deeper into the forest. They knew that the monsters here were more dangerous, so they kept their eyes peeled for any signs of trouble.

They moved carefully, occasionally spotting signs of monster activity, but luckily, they were able to avoid direct encounters each time. As they pushed forward, they kept an eye out for any signs of the elusive ’blood vine grass’, the main objective of their journey.

---

Suddenly, Raymond halted, his expression serious. He raised a hand, signaling for the others to stop.

"Raymond, what is it?" Sylph asked, her voice laced with concern. Lorene, too, had come to a halt, waiting for him to explain.

"Did you hear that?" Raymond asked, his eyes scanning the dense trees ahead. "There’s fighting nearby."

Sylph and Lorene paused, straining to listen, but they heard nothing at first.

Then, as if answering their unspoken question, a loud shout rang out from deep within the forest.

"Yaaah!" The cry was unmistakably female, carried on the wind toward them.

The three of them exchanged quick glances. This time, they could all clearly hear it.

Raymond turned to the others, his eyes narrowed in thought. "Do you think we should check it out?" Lorene asked, her grip tightening on her magic wand. Her voice was filled with both curiosity and caution.

Sylph, however, seemed more eager. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she glanced toward Raymond. "I think we should go. What if there’s a fight we can join?"

Raymond paused for a moment, thinking, then nodded decisively. "Let’s go take a look, but we need to be careful not to be seen. If it doesn’t seem worth it, we’ll just retreat quietly."

Lorene and Sylph both nodded in agreement, their expressions a mix of curiosity and caution.

With Raymond leading the way, the three of them moved cautiously through the dense forest, following the sounds of the struggle.

The closer they got, the clearer the noise became. Shouts and grunts filled the air:

"Kris, watch out behind you!"

"Get lost!"

"Ahhh!"

The three adventurers pushed forward, finally reaching a massive tree. Peeking around its thick trunk, they could see the battlefield unfolding before them.

There were three adventurers, two women and one man, all at the Black Iron level. From their gear, Raymond quickly guessed their professions: the female warriors were armed with heavy swords, the female magician was using a staff, and the man appeared to be an assassin or thief, dressed in lightweight armor and carrying daggers.

The situation was grim. The assassin’s left leg and right arm were badly injured, and the female magician appeared drained, her face pale from the toll of expending too much magic. The female warrior was still standing strong, but it was clear she was struggling to protect her injured companions.

The attackers? A group of ’Jungle Cats’ fast, deadly creatures known for their agility and sharp claws. Raymond’s mind raced as he recalled what he knew about these monsters. Their claws were dangerously sharp, and some of the smarter ones had even been known to learn the "Tearing" skill. Yes, monsters could learn skills too, making them even more unpredictable.

"They’ve got an archer hiding somewhere," Lorene’s voice cut through his thoughts.

Raymond’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the area. Only then did he notice the arrows sticking out of the ground and the bodies of several Jungle Cats littering the battlefield, all with arrows embedded in them. Someone had been shooting from the shadows.