Sylutia and Talia didn't push their way into the crowd around the notice board. Instead, they watched from a distance and listened to the people gathered there discuss the postings. The girl also took the opportunity to look over the guild's staff.
There were six adventurers who had reached First Order Aspect Power. Most of the others knew the Breathing Technique or possessed some other ability, so they weren't entirely ordinary people either. It seemed that knowing the Breathing Technique was the most basic requirement for becoming an adventurer.
Sylutia's Breathing Technique had advanced and reached its second stage.
[Breathing Technique Lv.2] (Blood Law): Regulates the speed of blood flow through breathing, then channels and enhances the body's strength and reflexes. This ability places a strain on the heart and body and cannot be used for long periods (no more than 3 minutes per day recommended); (Completion: 21/600)
She still hadn't encountered the bottleneck Frien had mentioned. Each time she finished practicing the Breathing Technique, she gained +5 completion. And thanks to her training, her physical fitness had improved considerably over the past half month. She could now practice four times a day, for a total of +20 progress each day. At this rate, she would reach the third stage of the Breathing Technique in about a month.
She would have to stop once she reached the third stage. If she continued practicing, her Fate Aspect might directly shift to (First Order—Blood Law), and that wasn't what she wanted.
As for swordsmanship and spearmanship, they were currently "Basic Swordsmanship Lv.4" and "Basic Spearmanship Lv.4." Her proficiency in both improved slowly with practice. Sylutia suspected that she would need practical combat experience to make further progress.
At noon, many people went off to eat, and the Adventurers Guild hall grew quieter.
Sylutia walked up to the front desk and asked, "Excuse me, is there a girl here named Mailin?"
The brown-haired receptionist behind the counter looked puzzled. She studied the hooded girl for a while before answering.
"I'm Mailin. Who are you?" She was sure she didn't know this girl.
"I came from Linden Village. I got lost in the forest after an accident and lost some of my memories. I've come to Scorched Stone City to look for help. This is a letter of introduction from Mr. Frien." She handed over the letter she had prepared.
Mailin opened the envelope and recognized the familiar handwriting. Her expression softened, and her suspicions vanished.
"Oh, so you're Uncle Frien's acquaintance. He had a lot of praise for Miss Tia in his letter, and told me to take good care of you." Mailin recounted the gist of it.
"It's not a good place to talk. Come this way. Oh, and you're Talia, right?" She actually knew this wild girl.
"You know who I am?" Talia looked just as astonished.
"Hehe, of course. As a receptionist at the Adventurers Guild, having a good memory is essential." Mailin winked and led the two of them to a room off to the side of the hall, where they could sit and chat.
"When Uncle Frien mentioned Linden Village, I thought of Old Ponder. Then I realized you were his granddaughter, and put two and two together." Mailin explained.
"Is Grandpa really that famous?" Sitting by the little round table, Talia propped her chin on her hand, looking pleased and proud.
"Old Ponder is a famous figure on record at the Scorched Stone City Adventurers Guild. He's also the only living legend left." Mailin shook her head slightly, making it clear he was no ordinary person.
"Lots of people become adventurers, but very few stay in the business for more than ten years."
"Adventurers can make good money, but the dangers and accidents are plentiful. Many die on missions, while others suffer serious injuries and have no choice but to leave the profession." Mailin sighed.
"If an adventurer is really strong, shouldn't they be able to overcome all kinds of dangers and stay safe?" Talia imagined her own future.
"Not many. If an adventurer reaches the third order or higher, they usually stop doing this kind of work." Mailin brought them some simple tea.
"A third-order Transcendent is strong enough to become a powerful Knight, serve a noble, and receive a small fief."
"Those in other professions can join major organizations and earn high positions, too. They don't have to travel around every day and live without a fixed home like adventurers." She sat down in front of them.
"Did you come today because you're interested in becoming adventurers?"
"Yes." Sylutia thought for a moment, then briefly explained her situation.
"I see. If Miss Tia doesn't want to rely on her looks to enjoy a comfortable life, she'll need to find work to support herself. As it happens, I have the most information here." Mailin blinked knowingly.
"Since Uncle Frien recommended you, Miss Tia must have impressed him in some way. I know my uncle's character well."
"The Alchemist Guild you mentioned earlier is indeed a good choice, but becoming an alchemist isn't easy." She shook her head slightly.
"First." She raised a finger.
"You need to learn to identify, sort, and process all kinds of herbs. It's tedious work, and the information in books is often incomplete."
"Second, without the Scent-Smelling Technique, it's difficult to get far in the alchemy profession."
"As the name suggests, the Scent-Smelling Technique uses your sense of smell to distinguish the properties of herbs, the degree to which a potion has been cooked, the effects of reactions, and so on."
"Just as not everyone can learn the Breathing Technique, talent also plays a part in learning the Scent-Smelling Technique."
"Once you've mastered those first two things, you should be able to become an ordinary alchemist apprentice, join the Alchemist Guild, and make a living by producing common potions."
"But to become a true alchemist, you also have to learn the Harmonization Technique. It's even more complex than the Scent-Smelling Technique, allowing you to harmonize the Aspect Power in extracted materials. That's how you make special potions above the First Order."
"There are only four alchemists in Scorched Stone City who know the Harmonization Technique. They're the Alchemist Guild's elite, and most of the potions they make aren't sold on the open market. They only sell adventurers a few kinds of healing and antidote potions."
"So, I suggest Miss Tia put off becoming an alchemist for now and set her sights on becoming a gardener instead."
"An ordinary gardener only needs to learn how to care for and prune plants. A professional gardener needs to learn how to cultivate Emerald Nectar Aspect Power. They can grow high-quality flowers, vegetables, and fruit, as well as rare plants infused with Aspect Power."
"Neither profession is clearly superior, but a gardener's work is relatively easy, leaving Miss Tia more time for other things."
"And for you, this job is only a temporary arrangement, right?" As a receptionist at the Adventurers Guild, Mailin had seen a lot. She knew this girl wouldn't remain confined to this place forever.
She hadn't paid much attention to Mailin's explanation of the difficulties involved in becoming an alchemist, but she took note when Mailin mentioned the time it would take.
That was true. If she studied under Scholar Heide, she would probably have to devote most of her time to learning. And an alchemist needed two ability-card slots; if she used them both, she wouldn't have any room left to learn other abilities.
Considering both the time and effort involved and the need to plan her ability-card slots wisely, becoming a gardener was the better choice.
"Looks like I'll have to work as a gardener for a while." The girl ran her fingers through the hair over her chest and looked up.
"Could you point me in the right direction, Sister Mailin?" Her soft, melodious voice left Mailin stunned for several minutes.
"It's a shame you're not becoming a songstress." Mailin shook her head.
"As for getting started, that's easy. I'll find a book for you from a well-known gardener in the city. I know Lady Falan fairly well, though ordinary people don't even know she exists."
"If you want to thank me, just give me one of the pretty flowers you grow. I'd be very happy to receive one."
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