So, what do I do now? Leon was unsure. He never expected to succeed on the first try. Was he supposed to leave now or use the rest of the batches for more practice? Was he even allowed to keep the potions?

Moreover, he had no desire to venture outdoors and risk the guild member assuming that he had no intention of carrying on.

It should be fine, shouldn’t it? I mean, I already paid for it. After much contemplation, Leon ultimately opted to make use of the ingredients. By the time the next two batches came around, he had become more familiar with alchemy.

For instance, during the third batch, he no longer needed to hastily throw the pestle and mortar; instead, he had sufficient time to carefully place them down.

“Seems like he’s already improving a little,” The woman exclaimed with curiosity while observing Leon brewing.

“Want to make another bet on his future?” The man was eager to win his losses back and proposed another bet. The woman expressed her refusal by shaking her head, as she felt that placing bets on someone’s future was too extreme.

After using up all the ingredients, Leon proceeded to clean the equipment. He didn’t feel comfortable having someone else clean for him. Once he finished cleaning, he walked through the door, anticipating the presence of the male guild member.

Much to Leon’s surprise, the man was not present. A woman took his place, with closed hands, as if holding something. In a gentle tone and with a smile on her face, the woman said, “Congratulations, you’ve passed the test”. Next, she extended and opened her hands and gently pushed a white soul towards Leon.

[Profession Quest: Alchemy Test Completed. Obtained 200 EXP] Leon noticed the message as the soul entered his body. For a brief moment, he experienced immense pride in himself until he suddenly realized something. How did she find out that I passed?

Leon’s face likely showed confusion as the woman smiled and clarified, “We were able to see everything you did through a one-way wall”. Leon nodded, showing his comprehension, before blushing slightly in embarrassment as he remembered his outburst. He thought no one could see him in the room.

“Don’t worry about the other ingredients. You paid for them through the test.” The woman mistakenly believed that Leon felt ashamed about using the remaining ingredients, but she couldn’t have been more wrong. Leon chose not to correct her and instead nodded, attempting to calm himself.

“Follow me,” The woman said as she walked away. After calming down, Leon decided to follow her. Through a secondary entrance, she took him back to the main hall.

She pointed at another guild member. “For your membership badge, feel free to approach Cissa. Moreover, you have the option to accept and post jobs on the board over there. Completing jobs will give you guild points.”

“Those points can be used to buy alchemy items, recipes, and even reserve rooms. Of course, we do accept coins as well”. She provided an explanation of the fundamental reward structure. These were present in every guild, including the ones that would be owned by players in the future.

Leon nodded as the woman kept talking. When she was finished, Leon made his way to Cissa, who happened to be the same woman he had traded with for the tests. “Congratulations are in order! Here’s your badge!” She gave him a badge shaped like a potion bottle.

[Beginner Alchemist Badge] (Green)

Proof of your budding career as an Alchemist. Can store points for any branch of the Alchemist Guild. 0 points currently.

“Thank you!” Leon completely dropped the mask as he thanked Cissa. After bidding her farewell, Leon went into thought. I am unable to purchase supplies, but I do have three health potions. Do I sell them?

Despite the current high prices of potions, it would be a major inconvenience to constantly engage in the cycle of selling potions and buying ingredients. Potions were currently selling at 1 silver and 50 copper a piece. But Leon didn’t have the funds to buy in bulk.

When my tiredness sets in, I’ll have to sleep, resulting in a considerable time loss if I wanted to brew more. Despite not engaging in much combat, Leon was still mindful of his fatigue, as he had already accomplished a great deal.

I need more money. It became clear to Leon that money was indeed everything in the world, and that was what he lacked the most.

Upon reviewing the map once more, he discovered a location that had the potential to yield substantial financial gains. The drawback was that it was likely the main gathering place for players. No pain, no gain. Leon took a deep breath and steeled his resolve.

With a tinge of regret, he left the alchemist’s guild and made his way to the streets, already wearing his mental mask in preparation. Where was Leon headed? The Adventurers’ Guild.

Despite the impression of the guild being adventurous, it primarily involved doing mercenary tasks. People posted jobs and others could take them for money. The jobs ranged from escorting mission to extermination ones. Within the novel, this particular guild was extremely popular among solo players like Leon, hence his knowledge about it.

The thought of going to a bustling place was overwhelming for Leon, but he had limited alternatives. If he wanted to earn money, the Adventurers’ Guild was the top choice for him. While walking, he successfully tuned out the bustling crowds on the streets, although fragments of conversations still reached his ears.

“The third prince went outside today! Did you see him?“ One of the individuals exclaimed enthusiastically.

“Yes, I did! He looked so handsome! I wish he would go outside more often.” Another one replied as Leon walked past them.

The third prince again? He doesn’t go outside often? No matter what he did, Leon couldn’t get rid of that feeling about the third prince. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, reminding himself to stay focused on the mask. Although he was improving rapidly, it had been a while since he last practiced.

In no time, he approached the bustling and colossal Adventurers’ Guild building, its walls also decorated with banners like the Alchemist’s Guild. However, these banners displayed symbols of power and strength: a staff, sword, bow, shield, and fist.

Upon entering, he took a moment to observe the area. The initial observation he made was the abundance of players compared to NPCs. Unlike the traditional Alchemist’s Guild, this one resembled a massive tavern with a prominent job board.

People were gathered around tables, enjoying drinks, food, and conversations with one another. A soft background music added to the lively atmosphere, which was much more vibrant compared to the Alchemist’s Guild. The noise was already giving Leon a headache, so he approached the guild member, who was standing behind a counter by the door.

“I’d like to register”. Leon spoke tersely, his voice devoid of any emotion.

The woman nodded, having already heard this request a lot today. “Very well. I assume you’re aware of the rules?” She asked in a professional tone. Leon nodded as it almost overlapped the Alchemist Guild’s rules.

Are the same individuals in charge of all these Guilds? Although it’s not likely, there’s a chance that they have formed an alliance. Leon noted as he could spot some similarities to the Alchemist’s Guild. “Follow me,” The woman said as she walked in front of Leon.

She escorted Leon to a separate room, where he noticed a familiar-looking orb. Not again. Leon’s face contorted in a grimace as memories of the tutorial flooded back. “Don’t worry, all information will be completely confidential. It will never escape these four walls.” The woman tried to appease Leon.

“It’s just… never mind.” Leon wanted to explain, but he figured it would only create confusion. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. “Does my familiar also have to do this?” He asked her.

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There was a hint of confusion in her expression as she looked at him. “So, you’re a summoner who already has a familiar?”

Leon slightly parted his robes, exposing Beans, who was still asleep on his shoulders. He sure sleeps a lot. Leon noted. It was acceptable because he would be awake whenever he was needed.

“Yes, both of you need to touch the orb.” As she attempted to access Beans, she only obtained limited information - his HP and the fact that he was Leon’s familiar. Decent HP value, it seems like a good familiar. She noted in secret.

With a nod, Leon reached out and touched the orb, bracing himself for the scan. This will never get easy. I hope I don’t have to keep doing this. He silently complained as the orb scanned him.

“That’s enough. Your familiar is next”. Upon hearing her words, Leon woke Beans up and proceeded to give him directions. The orb didn’t pose much of a challenge for Beans, as he seemed quite relaxed while dealing with it.

The woman raised her eyebrows in surprise as she read the statistics, A Bronze familiar? He’s pretty lucky. She mentally praised Leon. “That’s enough. I’m glad to announce that you qualify.” She said, giving Leon a quest pop-up.

[Normal Quest: Group Dynamics. Accept or Decline?] Leon already had a bad feeling as he accepted it. Quest Details: An adventurer has to be strong enough to accept some of the most rigorous jobs in the world, however, they don’t have to do it alone. Objective: Clear one beginner job with a party of 5.

Crap. Leon really didn’t want to be in a party with complete strangers. His social anxiety was already breaking in a cold sweat out at the sight of the quest details.

“Um…can I ask a question?” Leon hesitantly asked the woman. She appeared slightly taken aback, but still nodded. “Can I go solo? As in not in a team?” He asked her carefully.

A small frown appeared on the woman’s face. “Are you sure? It’ll be much tougher that way and if you fail, I’ll have to reconsider if you’re fit for the Adventurers’ Guild.” She warned him and Leon got a message as well.

[Warning! Do you wish to upgrade the difficulty of the quest Group Dynamics? This is an irreversible choice with severe repercussions for failure]. Leon swallowed hard while reading the ominous warning. After a brief pause, he nodded in agreement with the woman and reassured her, “I am certain.”

[Normal Quest Group Dynamics changed into Hard Quest Adventurers’ Path] Quest Detail: Many choose the safety of numbers to take on monsters. You’ve chosen the solitary route of a lone wolf. Only a few individuals select this route, and even fewer successfully complete it, but those who do will be immortalised in history! Objective: Clear one beginner job by yourself. Punishment for failure: Unable to take another Adventure’s Guild test and a lifetime ban.

Too late for regrets now. Leon couldn’t help feeling nervous as he glanced at the newly updated quest details. “Thank you”. Leon’s voice trembled as he felt the burden of the task he had just embraced.

The woman nodded and gave him a badge. “Show this when accepting a job. Good luck.” Her voice having a serious tone.

With those words, Leon headed back to the main hall. To avoid drawing attention, he devised an elaborate mental mask, the largest one yet. There might be an easy job somewhere. With hope in his heart, he approached the enormous board.

Leon looked closely and could see all sorts of jobs. Caravan guard? Pass, I’d like to remain here. Rat infestation? Tempting, but no. Herb gathering? Perhaps I could also get some for myself. He shot down a lot and even speculated on some other ones.

All of these tasks were actually group-oriented jobs, including the herb collecting one, since the herbs were in a dangerous area with aggressive monsters.

Leon suddenly noticed one that intrigued him. Investigate the reason for the disappearance of cattle? This one looks interesting. He picked it from the board and looked the details. Some farmers down south who are raising cattle have been reporting their cattle going missing for the last week. They’ve asked the Adventurers’ Guild to investigate.

The reward was a pretty hefty 10 silver coins, that was the upside to doing things alone. Leon didn’t have to share it with anybody. The downside was, of course, the difficulty.

This one looks good. It’s surprising to me that nobody even bothered to take it. Leon tried to analyse why and quickly came up with a reason. Is it because there’s no combat involved and only investigation work? Players were adrenaline junkies, having jobs with no combat turned them off.

Leon’s only reaction was to shake his head in disbelief. Many magnificent tales have humble beginnings. He took the job to the guild member and showed his badge. “This one for me.” He said, placing the job on the counter.

The woman looked at the job and nodded. “Very well. Here is the contact information. Once you finish the task, kindly submit a report. We will verify it and provide you with a reward.”

Leon left the Adventurers’ Guild and began walking towards the south. The farmlands could be found in the southern region of the capital. As he strolled, he had minimal tasks to attend to and browsing the forums while walking was a potential accident waiting to occur.

Fortunately, the Adventurers’ Guild was conveniently located near the south entrance of the capital. It only took him 30 minutes of walking to leave the city walls and reach the farmlands. The sight of the lush farmlands filled Leon with a comforting feeling of home, as he had grown accustomed to working for Mr Palmer.

Leon observed several farmers working and took a moment to collect himself before approaching them. “Excuse me sir, can I have a small word with you?” Leon asked politely.

The farmers frowned a little. “Can’t you see we’re busy here, kid? Buzz off.” One of them responded.

The farmer, who replied, was an elderly gentleman with a robust physique. Seeing him reminded Leon of Mr Palmer, which in turn made him feel more comfortable and open to talking to him.

Leon wasn’t upset; he understood how to communicate with individuals like the elderly man. “The Adventurers’ Guild sent me here for a job related to missing cattle.” Leon tried to act tough.

“They send a kid to us? Do we farmers mean nothing?” The man’s agitation grew as he doubted Leon’s ability to achieve anything.

“Can you please give me a chance? Even though I may not appear incredibly strong, I still want to help.” Leon wanted to convince the man after his tough act failed.

The man thought for a moment before grunting, “Fine, but I’m going with you. Name’s Marvin.” Marvin introduced himself as he forcefully tagged along with Leon.

Leon didn’t enjoy company, but he could endure one person for this quest. “Thank you! I’m Tempest.” He said with gratitude, giving Martin his name. “Please give me a thorough explanation of the events. The job only provided the job title and a few minor details,” Leon added.

Marvin nodded. “We’ve lost over two dozen titan bovines in the past week alone. They disappear during the night and we can’t find a single trace of them.” He explained the general situation and sounded more dejected as he talked.

Leon felt oddly empathetic about Marvin’s cattle. Is this another part of the original Leon? Or something else? He shook his head and cleared those thoughts. Now wasn’t the time.

“I’m sorry for your loss. I understand if it’s difficult, but I’d like to look at where they were last seen.” Leon’s voice carrying a lot more emotion than before.

“Follow me,” Marvin said as he didn’t comment on Leon’s apologies. They walked in silence as Leon looked around and spotted a few bovines. He assessed them from a distance.

[Titan Bovine] (Common)

Level 1

HP: 200/200

They’re huge! Their tall and commanding presence caught Leon’s eye right away. The size of these cows was two to three times larger than the ones he knew. These bovines probably yield a plentiful amount of meat. Moreover, he observed that they were herbivores and didn’t react to Leon and Marvin walking nearby, implying their calm and non-threatening behaviour.

“Their last known location was in this field. Despite their seemingly weak appearance, their thick hides and muscular bodies provide them with excellent protection against sharp weapons. This gives them ample opportunity to create havoc.” Marvin explained about the bovines.

Leon nodded and looked for clues. One thing he noted was that the bovines seemed to keep clear of a part of the field. “How big is this land?” He asked.

Marvin pointed to the forest in the distance. “Until the forest there, don’t even think I just lost sight of them. They’re gone off this land.” He said in a harsh tone.

Isn’t it strange that there are no cows on this unused land? Leon frowned a little as he looked closely. There were no tracks and no signs of struggles he could see. He already felt like he had hit a dead end when he got an idea.

“Hey Beans, can I get your help with this?” Leon asked as he kept looking, making Marvin confused. As he was on the verge of asking Leon about his conversation companion, Beans made an appearance, yawning slightly, from underneath Leon’s robe.

“Can you help me search for some bovines? They’ve disappeared and I’m fearing the worst. I’ll reward you, of course.” Leon gave Beans the rundown and a promise of a reward, making him immediately motivated.

Beans leaped from Leon’s shoulder and began sniffing the ground. “You’re a Summoner kid?” Marvin asked as he looked at Beans. Whether they were an NPC or a player, everyone had the skill of assessing something. Using his skill, Marvin inspected Beans.

Leon’s nod caused Marvin to fall into a brief silence. Beans jumped up and down, making chirping sounds. “Did you find something?” Leon eagerly inquired while Beans used his claws to dig. Removing the upper layer of dirt exposed a fresh layer, causing Marvin to inhale sharply.

Under the top layer of dirt was a dark red-coloured soil. Leon gathered a sample and noticed a distinct metallic odour coming from the soil. “It’s dried-up blood. It is probable that a bovine was killed in this location and that something or someone concealed the evidence.”

Leon offered Beans a piece of meat as a reward and asked him. “Can you track it?” Beans quickly grabbed the meat and nodded, leading the way towards the forest.