Adventurer of Many Professions

On the third floor of the Guild, many adventurers were gathered in the tavern, excitedly recounting their experiences in the borderlands. Some talked about their good fortune in finding rare ingredients for high-level potions, while others bemoaned their bad luck when they spotted valuable materials only to be interrupted by powerful monsters. There were even a few who had stories of teaming up to fight dangerous creatures and coming out victorious.

It was clear from the conversations that the majority of these adventurers were Silver-level. Unlike the town of Wittes, where Silver-level adventurers were relatively rare, Somar had a large concentration of them, no surprise, given that Somar's adventurer population was more than twenty times that of Wittes. However, the proportion of Silver-level adventurers was still not vastly different between the two places.

One Silver-level adventurer, appearing particularly bored, asked, "So, any big news lately?"

Another adventurer responded with a shrug, "What explosive news could there be? The only thing worth mentioning is that the 'Golden Lions' tried to take on the 'Green Forest King' in the 'Sea of Trees'. They failed miserably, half of them were killed, including their deputy leader, Greenrom."

"That's tragic," someone chimed in. "They had 32 members: 8 Gold-level, 16 Silver-level, and 8 Bronze-level adventurers. After the Green Forest King was done with them, only 5 Gold-level adventurers, 10 Silver-level adventurers, and 1 Bronze-level adventurer survived."

Another adventurer shook his head. "They thought they could easily handle a Platinum-level mission. Their group didn't even have a Platinum-level member, yet they still went for it. It was basically a suicide mission."

"Exactly," someone else added, "But you know how it is. They were trying to get their group promoted to Platinum. It's tough because their group is already set, and if they want to be promoted, they have to take on the highest-level commissions."

"Yeah, but honestly, they didn't need to force themselves to upgrade. A group like theirs 'Golden Lions' could easily handle Platinum-level missions even without the promotion."

"Maybe, but they need higher-paying commissions to sustain themselves. They can't survive on ordinary Platinum-level rewards, so they keep going after the most dangerous ones."

A Silver-level adventurer sighed. "Honestly, I don't get why they don't just form smaller teams. We could work as a smaller group, take on more manageable but lucrative Silver-level commissions, and live comfortably."

"True, but the Golden Lions are too focused on being the biggest group," another adventurer grumbled. "It's all about attention, I guess."

The conversation shifted quickly as one adventurer lowered his voice and whispered, "I heard Luna left the 'Golden Lions.'"

"The Ice Wolf Clan warrior Luna, the 'Flower of the Icefield'?" his teammate asked in surprise.

"Yep, that's the one. She was also the only Bronze-level adventurer who managed to escape from the Green Forest King's attack," the first adventurer confirmed. "I bet she's planning to join a new team."

This sparked a quiet ripple of curiosity among the adventurers in the tavern. Luna had always been a well-known figure, and her departure from the 'Golden Lions' was bound to stir things up in the adventurer circles of Somar.

"It seems the 'Golden Lions' campaign against the 'Green Tree King' has completely disillusioned Luna with them," one adventurer mused.

"Tsk, tsk... When the Golden Lions managed to recruit Luna, I bet every adventure group envied them. But now that she's left, I wouldn't be surprised if multiple groups are lining up to recruit her," another adventurer added, a glint of hope in his eyes.

"What do you think? Should we try reaching out?"

His teammates blinked in disbelief. "Wait, you want to invite Luna to join our team?" one of them asked, incredulity in his voice.

"Is it such a crazy idea?" the hopeful adventurer replied. "After what happened, Luna's probably not just disappointed with the Golden Lions. She's likely disillusioned with the big, powerful groups as well."

He leaned in, continuing, "Look, those groups take on dangerous 'Gold' and 'Platinum' level commissions. But Luna's still only a 'Bronze-level' adventurer. Those kinds of missions are a death trap for her. One wrong move, and she could end up as monster food."

"Remember, the reason Luna left the Golden Lions isn't just because of their internal problems, it's because their missions were far too dangerous for someone of her rank. She's a warrior, sure, but she only escaped the Green Tree King because of that. The other Bronze-level adventurers from the Golden Lions weren't so lucky, they died in the Sea of Trees."

"So, when Luna quits the Golden Lions, she's probably not going to join another high-tier group. She's seen firsthand how risky it is for someone like her. And a weaker team? Not much better, since the rewards wouldn't be enough."

His team looked thoughtful as they listened. "So, you think she'll go for a group with strength comparable to hers? A Silver-level team, maybe?" one adventurer asked.

"Exactly," he nodded. "And we're a Silver-level team, our strength is solid among the others. Luna would be a great addition. We're in a prime position to recruit her!"

The rest of the team nodded, starting to warm to the idea. "That makes sense," one said. "Even though Luna's a Bronze-level adventurer, her combat prowess is probably on par with Silver-level adventurers. She just hasn't taken enough missions yet to get promoted."

"Having her on our team wouldn't hold us back, it would make us stronger," another added eagerly. "She's got the experience, the skills, and the potential. We could really benefit from her joining us."

The group buzzed with excitement at the thought of recruiting the famed Ice Wolf Warrior, Luna, known as the 'Flower of the Icefield.' But before they could discuss further, their captain, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up in a calm voice.

"Have you forgotten one key thing?" he asked, his tone measured. "The reason those big groups value Luna isn't just because of her beauty or her title as the 'Flower of the Icefield'. It's because of her potential."

The team looked at him in confusion, and he explained, "These powerful groups don't recruit Bronze-level adventurers simply for their current strength. They see the potential. They know Luna has the ability to rise, she's one of the few who could realistically become a Gold-level adventurer or even a Platinum-level one.

The major groups have all evaluated her, and they all agree that she's the Bronze-level adventurer with the highest potential in Somar."

He leaned back slightly, his gaze thoughtful. "Luna has been an adventurer for less than a year and has already reached Bronze-level. She's worked solo for most of her career, never relied on a team. The Golden Lions were the first group she ever joined."

"So, while our team might be decent in the Silver-tier, we're at our limit. We're all in our mid-twenties, and our growth has plateaued. Our magic reserves are maxed out, and it's unlikely any of us will be learning new skills. Our style of combat is pretty much fixed at this point."

The captain paused, letting his words sink in. "An adventurer with Luna's potential won't choose a team like ours, one that's already hit its peak. She's got the drive to keep growing, and she'll want to be surrounded by others who have that same hunger for growth."

The group fell silent, each of them processing what their captain had said. It was a hard truth, but one that rang clear. They might be a strong team for their level, but they weren't the team Luna needed for her future.

At this point in their careers, most adventurers have pretty much reached their potential. Their growth has plateaued, and the only way to improve now is by learning new skills. But there's a catch, learning new skills is tightly tied to one's fighting style. And for most of these adventurers, their combat methods are set in stone. Changing their approach at this stage is difficult, and the risks are high.

The main danger comes when facing powerful monsters. If an adventurer suddenly shifts their fighting style in the heat of battle, the result could be deadly, one wrong move, and they could be torn apart. Against weaker monsters, changing tactics won't make much of a difference, since the threats they pose are minimal. But if a monster is strong enough to be lethal, relying on a method that worked against weaker creatures could lead to disaster.

There's also the fact that, as these adventurers grow older, their drive often wanes. The same fierce ambition they had when they were younger fades as they settle into a more stable lifestyle.

For many, especially those with families, the desire for fame or high-profile missions fades. Instead, they opt for safer, low-risk tasks, something steady without the pressures of reputation or danger.

When the captain finished speaking, his team fell into a thoughtful silence. The adventurer who had suggested recruiting Luna sighed deeply.

"It's a real shame... With her potential, though, if Luna doesn't join one of the major groups, where else could she go?" he wondered aloud.

His teammates paused, mulling over the question.

"It's hard to say. Most adventurers with potential nowadays want to join powerful groups. Not many form small teams anymore," one of them replied.