Who Says I’m Not a Legitimate Adventurer?

“Guild Master, you flatter me.”

Lance quietly leaned back a little, his tone humble.

“I’m just a newcomer who hasn’t been in this line of work for long. I only survived because I got lucky.”

“May I ask, Guild Master, what kind of task requires a newcomer like me to complete it?”

He deliberately emphasized the words “newcomer.”

The implication was crystal clear: I’m weak. Don’t come to me for anything too difficult—I can’t handle it.

Hearing this attempt to decline, Necros not only didn’t get angry, but smiled even more brightly.

This kid’s reaction was exactly as he had expected.

“Relax. This task won’t require you to challenge any high-difficulty monsters, nor will it send you to your death.”

“Your strength has been clearly written in Gareth’s report. For you, this will be a very simple task.”Necros took out a sealed document from the drawer and slid it across the table to Lance.

“This is the commission document. You can take a look first.”

Lance picked up the document and quickly scanned it.

However, after finishing just the first page, his face darkened.

He instinctively pushed the document back, refusing decisively.

“I’m sorry, Guild Master.”

“This task may be beyond my capabilities. Please forgive me for declining.”

What a joke.

Babysitting some rich young lady in a make-believe Adventurer game?

In his stereotype, those noble academy mage ladies—

They screamed at the sight of bugs, got tired after walking a few steps, and ran around in panic instead of following instructions when danger appeared.

Worst of all, an intern with a powerful background like this was basically a walking bomb.

If she got even slightly injured under his supervision—even just a scratch—her family might very well take it out on him and erase him entirely.

And from his own perspective, Lance didn’t think he had anything to teach her either.

She was a noble academy-trained mage, while he was a self-taught melee fighter. Their specialties didn’t match at all.

Whoever wanted this job could take it. As for him—he wasn’t doing it.

Necros seemed to have anticipated Lance’s reaction. Unhurried, he pointed at the document.

“Don’t rush to refuse. Turn to the second page.”

Lance frowned but followed the instruction.

The second page was a disclaimer stamped with both the Guild and the Academy seals.

“This is an agreement personally signed by Professor Gideon of Violet Academy.”

Necros explained:

“It clearly states that as long as the supervising mentor does not intentionally cause harm, any accidental injury or death during the internship will be borne by the Academy and the student themselves, and has nothing to do with the mentor.”

“Moreover, this young lady is carrying quite a few life-saving alchemical items. Safety isn’t as fragile as you think.”

If Gideon, far away in White River City, were here right now, he would definitely jump up and curse Necros as an old swindler.

He had clearly promised Syl absolute safety, yet in this old fox’s mouth, it became “even if something happens, you don’t have to take responsibility.”

But in Necros’s view, the girl’s combat strength—being able to single-handedly eliminate nearly twenty well-trained Goblins without injury—already proved she possessed near-professional combat ability.

Combined with her usual cautious approach, only taking gathering missions, there was basically no need to worry about failure.

However, these words did dispel some of Lance’s concerns.

Necros continued to raise the stakes.

“Additionally.”

He leaned slightly forward, his tone highly tempting.

“What we need you to teach is merely the most basic wilderness survival knowledge for Adventurers.”

“For example, how to set up camp, how to identify water sources, and how to avoid monsters.”

“You only need to take her on the most ordinary missions.”

“These should be second nature to you, right?”

Looking at the disclaimer, Lance wavered slightly.

If he didn’t have to bear responsibility, the task didn’t seem so troublesome anymore.

But the thought of having to take care of a burden still made him instinctively resist.

He hesitated for a few seconds, then finally withdrew his hand from the commission document and shook his head firmly.

“Guild Master, I still think I’m not suitable.”

“I’m used to working alone. I’m afraid I won’t take proper care of her.”

This kid really was stubborn beyond persuasion.

Seeing Lance’s resolute attitude, Necros felt even more satisfied.

Someone this sensitive to risk was exactly the kind of bodyguard that put people at ease.

The old Guild Master’s lips curled slightly, revealing a sly, fox-like smile.

He lightly tapped the table and threw out his final bargaining chip.

“Don’t be so quick to shut it down.”

“Don’t you want to hear the reward for this task?”

Before Lance could respond—

Necros, as if he had already anticipated his reaction, directly revealed the next incentive.

“The internship period isn’t long. If things go smoothly, one month. At most, about one and a half months.”

The old man raised one hand, gesturing a number.

“As long as the internship ends, even without any additional achievements, you can directly take 50 silver coins as a guaranteed subsidy.”

Lance swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue and hesitated slightly.

50 silver coins.

That was roughly equivalent to about seven or eight days of his current income from Hemostatic Ointment.

Not a small amount—but not enough to make him willingly become a babysitter.

Seeing that he hadn’t immediately agreed, Necros didn’t pause at all.

“If the intern can independently survive in the wilderness for 24 hours, and personally kill five different types of monsters, an additional 100 silver coins.”

The stakes had increased!

Lance quickly calculated in his mind.

Surviving independently for 24 hours might be a challenge for complete beginners, but with a bit of training, the trick could be mastered in about a week.

As for killing five types of monsters?

The outer areas of Copper Creek Forest currently had a wide variety of stragglers after the previous extermination. Finding a few easy targets wouldn’t be difficult.

This money… seemed a bit too easy to earn.

“Not finished yet.”

Necros sharply caught the fleeting moment of temptation in Lance’s expression and immediately dropped the final trump card.

“If the final internship evaluation reaches Excellent.”

“Violet Academy will add another 150 silver coins.”

“That means, for this single job, you can earn up to 300 silver coins.”

“Additionally, the Guild will award you 300 merit points internally, to be issued in full after the internship ends.”

At this point, Lance’s breathing halted for a moment.

3 gold coins! Plus 300 merit points!

It was already extremely tempting—and it could also solve his need for the Breathing Technique.

Almost instinctively, Lance pressed his hand back onto the commission document, his mouth moving faster than his brain.

“I ag—”

Halfway through the word, his fingers suddenly stiffened.

Something wasn’t right.

A strong sense of dissonance surged in his heart.