Who Says I’m Not a Legitimate Adventurer?

Just as Lance was about to lower Cecilia from his back to check on her, he clearly felt her arms tighten around him.

“I’m fine.”

Cecilia buried her face in the rough fabric and muttered softly.

“It’s just that my ankle suddenly hurt a little earlier.”

Hearing the girl say it was nothing serious, the worry hanging in Lance’s heart finally eased.

Actually, while they had been walking earlier, he had already caught a glimpse of the system notification window indicating that the Half-Elf research progress had leveled up.

But because of Cecilia’s strange reaction, he hadn’t dared let himself get distracted enough to carefully examine the exact contents that had popped up.

Right now, the most important task was to safely escort the injured girl back to the manor as quickly as possible.

When the two of them finally arrived at the gates of White Oak Manor, they happened to run into Yuna, who was heading out to buy something. She conveniently stepped in to support Cecilia and took her upstairs.

Watching the two girls safely head inside, Lance stood by the roadside and prepared to readjust the countless bags hanging off his body.Having supplies hanging around his neck was painfully uncomfortable.

As he sorted through the ropes, he let out a long sigh in his heart.

If only he had a storage item.

Those predecessors from isekai light novels always seemed to have a spatial ring on hand whenever they went out.

So why was he the only one living so miserably?

Reduced to using his shoulders and ropes like a pack mule.

Later, he would have to ask around and see if there was any chance of obtaining one. However, even among the Adventurers he usually saw at the guild, very few wore such high-end equipment.

The price was probably outrageously expensive.

Just as he finished hoisting the heavy bundle back onto his shoulders—

His right hand accidentally brushed against his lower back.

A damp sensation suddenly spread across his palm.

Lance rubbed the fabric of his clothes in confusion.

Could it be because he had sweated heavily while carrying Cecilia all the way back earlier?

Ever since obtaining the Infinite Stamina talent, he had been carrying out insane levels of overloaded training every single day.

Sweating intensely had already become commonplace, to the point that he was beginning to lose sensitivity toward something as minor as perspiration.

Lance raised his head and glanced at the setting sun, feeling the steadily rising warmth in the evening breeze.

So scorching summer had truly arrived.

……

After returning to the house he rented, Lance casually dealt with dinner using some bread.

Once he had eaten his fill, he entered the utility room and turned on the light.

Picking up paper and pen, he planned to properly organize a detailed plan for strengthening his abilities going forward.

But just as the quill touched the paper, he suddenly paused.

The Half-Elf biological research seemed to have leveled up earlier, and he still hadn’t checked it since returning.

Lance let out a bitter laugh.

He knew this was absolutely subconscious avoidance.

The previous talent the system had given him had already been headache-inducing enough. Who knew what kind of socially disastrous nonsense this upgrade would bring?

Forget it. Whether he stretched his neck out or shrank it back, the blade would still fall.

He might as well take a look.

Maybe the system had finally grown a conscience this time and given him some genuinely useful combat effect.

Preferably something practical that could directly assist with wilderness adventures.

Lance took a deep breath and summoned the panel.

His gaze landed on the newly unlocked entry.

Fortunately, this new trait really could assist with wilderness adventures.

But what made him collapse mentally was that it was still an extremely improper passive trait.

【Source of Pleasure (Research Trait): Through extensive research, you discovered that the physiques of Half-Elves possess a strong instinctive absorption response toward high-purity life substances.】

【The fluids on your body (including but not limited to sweat, blood, etc.) have undergone special enhancement.】

【When Half-Elves come into contact with these fluids, it instantly triggers pleasurable stimulation in their nerve endings. If the fluids enter their bodies, they can rapidly replenish depleted stamina and Aether mana, while also greatly increasing mental resistance for a short period of time.】

Reading the lengthy block of text, Lance felt his vision darken.

Starting today, he truly felt like he had become a specialized anti–Half-Elf weapon.

According to the system’s description, if a Half-Elf hugged him and took a couple of sips, he didn’t even dare imagine how euphoric they would become.

A terrifying thought suddenly sprang into his mind.

Could Cecilia’s strange twitching reaction on his back tonight have happened because she absorbed the sweat that had seeped through his clothes?

At that thought, cold sweat immediately broke out across Lance’s forehead.

He clasped his hands together and prayed frantically in his heart.

Please let it really have just been because she accidentally touched her ankle injury and trembled from the pain.

Otherwise, when they met the day after tomorrow, he genuinely would not know how to explain it away.

He couldn’t exactly tell her that his talent had mutated again, could he?

Lance irritably scratched at his hair, feeling like this broken system was genuinely going to ruin his life.

However, if he forcefully ignored the system’s indecent wording on the surface—

Then from a purely practical perspective, this trait was a divine skill.

The system had directly transformed his bodily fluids into a universal potion capable of restoring stamina and mana at the same time, while even providing increased mental resistance.

He had heard at the guild that if high-level spellcasters consumed alchemical potions too frequently, their bodies would quickly develop drug resistance.

As a result, the effectiveness of the potions would drastically diminish.

But since his biologically derived “natural potion” was a product enhanced by the system, it was likely that no resistance would ever develop.

From the standpoint of logistical support, the tactical value of this trait was extremely high.

Still, directly feeding people bodily fluids was way too perverse operationally.

Lance secretly made up his mind.

Unless it was an absolute life-or-death emergency, he would never willingly expose the true effects of this trait.

If he ever really encountered a situation where mana depletion made replenishment necessary—

Then it would be better to pretend he had been injured during battle and feed them some clean blood instead.

At least that would look tragic and heroic.

It was definitely more acceptable than making someone swallow saliva or lick sweat directly.

Out of sight, out of mind, Lance immediately closed the Biological Research section.

Switching to the attribute panel, he began calmly organizing the recent improvements in proficiency while planning his next upgrade path.

At present, all the combat skills he possessed had basically reached Level 4.

After estimating his current stats, Lance felt that as long as he maintained the same intensity, he should be able to grind all of them to Level 5 within a week.

However, once he started taking overnight missions, he definitely wouldn’t be able to train as recklessly as he did at home.

After all, danger could emerge at any moment in the wilderness, so he had to remain vigilant enough to handle unexpected situations.

Since normal skill proficiency gains would be affected, then perhaps he could instead make use of his time in the forest to farm more Biological Research and obtain new Racial Talents.

Lance picked up his quill and prepared to reorganize the list of monsters available for farming within Copper Creek Forest.