"Mr. Bernard, you're here too?"
The voices of the four adventurers instantly shifted to a nervous tone as Bernard walked over to their table. They recognized him imdiately, he was the auditor who had handled their failed promotion commission.
But Bernard didn't acknowledge their greetings. Instead, he stood there, arms crossed, looking down at them with an expression of profound disappointnt. His sharp gaze cut through their attempted pleasantries like a sword.
"You four," he began, his tone cold and laced with frustration, "sitting here, laughing, thinking you deserve to team up with an Explosion Magician or a Priest? Let ask you a few things. How old are you? Have any of you learned even 'one' skill? How much magic power do you have?"
The four froze, exchanging awkward glances, unable to answer.
Bernard didn't wait for a response. "That's what I thought," he snapped. "And since you clearly don't know, let 'educate' you. Do you know why that fighter; yes, the one you were laughing at for carrying a long heavy sword; tead up with the Explosion Magician and the Priest instead of you? Do you know why they chose 'him'?"
He leaned closer, his voice rising. "Because he's a dual-professional."
The table went silent.
"Did you hear ? A 'dual-professional'! In addition to being a fighter, he's also awakened as a 'warrior'! That's why he carries a long sword. That's why they tead up with him, and not you!"
His voice grew louder, filled with righteous indignation, as if releasing all the frustration and disbelief he'd been carrying since the morning. The entire tavern fell silent, adventurers pausing mid-conversation to turn their attention to Bernard.
"What's wrong?" Bernard barked, looking around at the stunned faces. "Didn't hear the first ti? Fine, I'll say it again."
He straightened his posture, raising his voice for everyone to hear.
"That kid you've all been laughing at; the one carrying the long sword, the one you said wasn't fit to be on a team with an Explosion Magician or a Priest, is a 'dual-professional'! He's both a fighter and a warrior! That's why he carries that sword, and that's why he's already surpassed most of you!"
The tavern erupted into chaos. Adventurers who had been laughing monts ago were now gaping in disbelief, their voices rising in astonished murmurs.
"Is he serious? A 'dual-professional'? I've only read about that in temple libraries!"
"No way… Dual-professionals are supposed to be legendary! You're joking, right?"
One bold adventurer shouted, "Mr. Bernard, are you trying to ss with us?!"
Bernard smirked at the accusation, shaking his head. "ss with you? Why would I waste my ti lying to 'you'?" He raised his hand for silence, and the room settled down, the air thick with curiosity. Even the tavernkeeper, who had been wiping glasses behind the counter, stopped mid-motion to listen.
"Let tell you sothing else," Bernard said, his voice calm but cutting. "I personally reviewed their promotion commission this morning. Not only did they complete the mission, but that kid; Raymond, mastered the skills of 'both' of his awakened professions. Oh, and did I ntion? He's only fifteen years old."
The crowd gasped collectively.
"And how long has he been an adventurer?" Bernard continued, his lips curling into a satisfied grin. "Less than a month. That's right, less than thirty days, and he's already been promoted to Black Iron level. Compare that to yourselves. So of you have been trying for years, and you've got nothing to show for it!"
He turned back to the four adventurers at the table, who were now sinking into their chairs, their faces red with embarrassnt. "And 'you'," Bernard said, pointing at them, "had the audacity to laugh at him? You, who can't even complete your own promotion commission? You think you're worthy of teaming up with an Explosion Magician or a Priest? Look at yourselves! What do you have to offer? What makes you better than him?"
The four stared at the table, unable to et Bernard's gaze. Their earlier arrogance had evaporated completely, leaving behind only sha.
The rest of the adventurers in the tavern were no better off. Many had laughed at Raymond before, mocking him for carrying a sword as a fighter, assuming he was a clueless amateur. Now, they realized how wrong they had been.
The truth hit them hard. 'That kid wasn't trying to "pretend" to be a warrior. He 'was' a warrior.'
Their earlier mockery now felt like a slap to their own faces. They had ridiculed soone who had already surpassed them in both skill and recognition. The humiliation was palpable, their laughter now replaced by silence and regret.
And those who had assud Salifi and Loreni were naive for teaming up with Raymond felt their cheeks burn even hotter. 'They' were the fools, deceived by their own arrogance. The two won had known all along what Raymond was capable of and they had chosen wisely.
As the realization sank in, the entire tavern seed to hold its breath, weighed down by collective sha.
Bernard, now satisfied that his point had been made, took a sip from his drink, savoring the silence. He glanced at the four adventurers one last ti, his expression a mix of pity and disdain.
"Next ti," he said, setting his glass down, "try focusing on improving yourselves instead of tearing others down. Because if you keep this attitude, you'll never make it out of White Porcelain."
With that, Bernard turned and walked back to his seat, leaving behind a room full of humbled adventurers.
As he sat down, a small smile played on his lips. His frustration from earlier was gone, replaced by a quiet satisfaction. After all, sotis reality had to be served with a hard dose of humility and tonight, Bernard had served it perfectly.
The quick-witted adventurer glanced at Bernard, who was still basking in his mont of triumph, clearly pleased with himself for putting the tavern in its place. An idea sparked in his mind, and without hesitation, he quietly slipped out of the 'Will Tavern' and headed toward the next tavern down the road.
He stepped inside, ordered a glass of rum, and downed it in one swift motion. The chatter of adventurers surrounded him, and he waited, biding his ti, listening carefully for the inevitable. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire
It didn't take long.
Soon enough, soone at a nearby table brought up the now-infamous fighter who carried a long sword while teaming up with the Explosion Magician and the Priest. As they laughed and mocked the ridiculous pairing, the quick-witted adventurer saw his chance. He strode over confidently, his voice loud enough to cut through the noise.
"Ah, you're still laughing at 'that' team?" he said, a sly grin on his face. "Let tell you sothing; you're the ones who should be laughed at."
The table fell silent, all eyes turning to him with confusion.
He crossed his arms and leaned in, savoring the mont. "That fighter with the long sword you've all been mocking? Turns out he's a 'dual-professional'. Yeah, you heard ; he's not just a fighter. He's also a warrior. That's why he carries a long sword. And guess what? He and his team just got promoted to Black Iron yesterday."
His words hit like a thunderbolt. The adventurers' faces twisted into disbelief, mirroring his own reaction when he'd first heard the news.
"You're lying," one of them said, shaking his head. "There's no way. Dual-professionals? That's a myth. You're just making this up."
The adventurer smirked, already prepared for their skepticism. "Oh, really? If you don't believe , go ask Mr. Bernard at the 'Will Tavern' next door. He's the one who reviewed their promotion. Go ahead, see if I'm lying."
The doubters exchanged glances, unsure what to think. But curiosity quickly got the better of them. They stood and rushed out of the tavern, heading straight for the 'Will Tavern' to get the truth from Bernard himself.
Monts later, a new wave of disbelief spread as they received confirmation from Bernard, who reiterated everything with the sa fiery conviction. As the reality of Raymond's achievent set in, more and more adventurers left their drinks unfinished, racing off to spread the news to others or perhaps hoping to catch a glimpse of the rising star.
---
The Next Morning.
The dawn sky was a pale shade of gray as the first light of the day began to creep over the horizon.
Raymond was already up, focused on his rigorous morning routine. The courtyard echoed with the sound of his steady movents.
First ca two thousand push-ups. His arms burned, but he pressed on, his breathing asured and even.
Next, ten thousand swings of his long sword. The heavy blade cut through the air in precise, controlled arcs, each swing a testant to his discipline.
Then ca ten thousand punches. His fists struck the air with relentless determination, each blow sharper and more forceful than the last.
Finally, ten thousand kicks. His legs moved with a fluidity and power that spoke of years of practice.
This was the training plan Raymond had set for himself; a grueling regin designed to push his limits and keep his body sharp.
As a newly awakened professional, strength ca quickly at first. His warrior class had given him raw power, while his fighter class had enhanced his flexibility and coordination, making him faster and more agile. But Raymond knew that these rapid gains wouldn't last forever.
Eventually, natural improvent would plateau. To grow stronger, he'd have to rely on training, battles, and the skills he learned. Skills like 'Bone Crushing' and 'Taunt' could change the tide of a fight, but magic power was finite, and when it ran out, all that remained were his physical abilities.
This knowledge drove him to push himself harder every day.
"Ten thousand!"
Raymond exhaled sharply, letting his legs fall back to the ground. He had finished his final set.
Sweat dripping down his face, he stood up and stretched. After taking a quick shower, he changed into a clean, casual outfit and joined Arya for breakfast.
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