"Not bad."

Zelir said with approval, "Keep this up, and you’ll become a Mage Apprentice sooner or later."

"Yeah! I definitely will!"

Having earned Zelir’s approval, Lante broke into a brilliant smile. "So, Zelir, when are we going on an adventure?"

"An adventure?" Zelir was taken aback.

"You know, the promise you made last time to take me on an adventure."

Lante’s voice was full of anticipation. "I’m all prepared. I can leave at any time!"

"Er..."

Zelir suddenly felt that something was off.

"Hold on, when did I promise to take you on an adventure? I just said you should train hard and get stronger, and that maybe if a suitable quest came up in the future..."

"We can find a suitable quest together, and besides, I’ve already gotten stronger."

Lante said, "I definitely won’t hold you back!"

"You’ve only made a little progress."

Zelir was getting a headache. "Young people shouldn’t be so rash."

"I know the Ice Cone Skill now! I can help you kill monsters, and I can be your assistant. I don’t even want any of the reward money, really!"

Lante’s words were earnest and sincere. "Look how hard I’ve worked. Just take me with you one time... Give me a chance to get some practical experience, okay?"

Zelir didn’t really want to agree, but looking at Lante’s sincere expression, he found he couldn’t bring himself to give a firm refusal.

’Forget it, I’ll just have to find another way to turn him down.’

Zelir sighed softly. "Alright, alright. You want to go? Fine."

"Really?!" Lante’s eyes lit up.

"But!"

Zelir’s tone shifted as he held up a single finger.

"You have to get my teammates’ approval first. I’m part of a team with them."

"Only if they agree can I take you on a quest. If they don’t, then there’s nothing I can do."

"No problem!" Lante was full of confidence.

"Alright then. Come to the Drunk Wild Boar Bar tonight. We’ll meet there."

...

「Nightfall.」

The Drunk Wild Boar was as boisterous and lively as ever.

The richness of ale, the aroma of grilled meat, and the sharp scent of tobacco combined to create a unique, hormone-stirring smell.

The Marcus Squad was gathered at the largest wooden table in the tavern.

After their sweeping victory in the last tavern-wide brawl, the owner had learned his lesson and quietly warned the other patrons not to bother them.

Gray picked up a skewer from a small mountain of grilled meat, took a huge bite, and chewed with a mouthful of grease.

"So, what you’re saying is... some newbie wants to join our team for a quest?"

"Yes."

Zelir sighed and chugged a large mouthful of ale. "I couldn’t talk him out of it, so I had no choice but to come and ask you guys."

"Another Mage?" Valles asked.

"Yes."

"Isn’t that great? The more Mages, the better," Marcus said. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"He’s a rookie. The kind with zero experience," Zelir said.

"You had zero experience when you started, and I still brought you onto the team," Marcus said.

"I..."

That single sentence left Zelir completely speechless. He choked for a long moment before managing a rebuttal.

"This is different, okay?"

"I had no choice. My family was poor, so I had to become an Adventurer. But he’s from the Nobility. His family isn’t short on money; there’s no reason for him to get into our line of work."

"Got it."

Gray nodded in understanding and stripped another piece of meat from his skewer.

"So it’s some young noble master who’s bored and wants to experience the ’thrilling life’..."

"Seriously, if I were him, you couldn’t pay me to be an Adventurer. It’d be much better to throw parties and chase girls in the Imperial Capital every day."

"Marian is right here, you know. Keep your voice down," Zelir reminded him.

Gray shrank back.

"I don’t have the patience to play house with some kid, either." Valles, for once, shared Gray’s opinion.

"Is he really not cut out to be an Adventurer?" Marcus asked.

"Completely unsuited for it." Zelir shook his head firmly.

"Alright then. When he gets here, we’ll try to gently talk him out of it," Marcus said.

"You guys are the best teammates a man could ask for." Zelir gave a thumbs-up.

As they were talking, the tavern door was pushed open.

A figure who seemed completely out of place with his surroundings walked in.

When Lante saw the shirtless miners shouting loudly and the cigarette butts and empty bottles scattered on the floor, he couldn’t help but hesitate.

’So this is what a tavern is like...’

He’d thought everywhere was like the banquets his family hosted, where everyone was impeccably dressed, acted with perfect manners, and spoke in low voices.

Just as Lante was wondering if he’d come to the wrong place, Zelir spotted him and waved him over.

"Lante, over here!"

As if clutching a life raft, Lante immediately hurried through the noisy crowd to Zelir’s table.

He sat down beside Zelir, a bit stiffly, with his back perfectly straight and his hands placed neatly on his knees.

"Hello, everyone..."

"Kid, you’re the one who wants to join our squad?" Before Lante could finish, Gray jumped in, playing the part of the bad cop.

"Y... Yes."

In front of strangers, Lante was clearly not as relaxed as he was with Zelir alone. He seemed timid, his voice much quieter.

"What’s your name?"

"Lante Taylor."

"Drop the noble surname. We don’t buy that stuff here. Adventurers should let their strength do the talking!" Gray barked, getting really into his role.

"I... I-I understand. I’m sorry."

Lante, a member of the Nobility, was actually apologizing for being scolded by a low-ranking Adventurer.

Valles quietly face-palmed from the side, finding it a bit hard to watch.

’He really isn’t cut out to be an Adventurer.’

"How old are you?" Gray asked.

"Fifteen..."

"Hah! Fifteen? You haven’t even finished puberty and you dare to become an Adventurer?" Gray’s voice rose.

Lante’s head drooped.

"What kind of Magic do you know?" Marcus asked a more practical question.

"I know the Ice Cone Skill, the Lighting Skill, and the Fog Skill..." Lante’s voice was a little quiet.

"Listen to that. All useless Magic."

Gray seized the opportunity to land another blow.

"Letting you join the team would just drag us down. Are you trying to get us killed?"

"Lante, it’s not that we’re picking on you. But adventuring is a very dangerous business. Without enough strength, you’ll not only endanger yourself, but your teammates as well."

Marcus said earnestly, "This isn’t a game. You need to treat it seriously."

Marcus’s words made Lante’s head sink even lower.

Seeing him like this, Zelir started to feel a pang of sympathy.

He was just about to pat Lante’s shoulder and offer some words of encouragement when Lante suddenly looked up.

His eyes were actually shining with a determined light.

"I... I can pay you a guidance fee!"

The table fell silent for a moment.

"How much?" Gray was the first to ask.

Zelir kicked Gray under the table.

"Three Gold Coins for each of you... no, five!"

Lante held up five fingers.

"I can give each of you Five Gold Coins, so please, you have to take me with you! I really, really want to go on an adventure!"

Now even Zelir was stunned.

Four people, that was twenty Gold Coins. Lante just threw that out without batting an eye?

That’s equivalent to three or four one-star Junior quests, isn’t it?

Gray, who just a moment ago had been menacing and playing the villain, was now dumbstruck after hearing "Five Gold Coins."

He did some quick mental calculations, and after concluding that the boy was a rich and generous sponsor, his attitude did a complete one-eighty.

"Ahem..."

Gray cleared his throat.

"Oh, come on, Marcus... Not to criticize you, but wasn’t everyone a rookie once? Why are you giving the kid such a hard time?"

Marcus shot Gray an astonished look, his face clearly saying, ’How can you just say things like that?’