Who Says I'm Not a Proper Adventurer?
Chapter 27: The First Wave of the Vanguard Team Sets Out

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: The First Wave of the Vanguard Team Sets Out

Flora didn’t agree immediately. Instead, she pressed a finger to her chin and began to think.

"Actually, there’s a better opportunity than just putting it in the shop."

"Recently, because they’re organizing a large-scale sweeping mission, the Guild has been looking for potion merchants to partner with for orders."

"Auntie Mowenna is worried about it, too."

"The Silver Bottle Alchemy Shop from White River City is a big threat. They have a wide variety of potions and better distribution channels."

"But hemostatic products are perfect for competing for the next batch of orders."

"The joint sweep will last for six days. The first Vanguard Team is setting out today. We couldn’t compete for that order, but Auntie Mowenna is determined to win the second one."

"Although many experienced Adventurers make their own hemostatic ointment, the effect of yours..."

Flora glanced at the rabbit in the cage, which was already starting to hop around energetically.

"This is already very close to the effect of a Giant Blood Potion, and it has a much bigger advantage in terms of cost."

"If this is launched on the market, it will definitely be highly competitive."

Thinking of this, the young woman nodded to herself in affirmation.

"Putting it in the shop shouldn’t be a problem. If we’re lucky, it might even get on the Guild’s procurement list. I’ll talk to Auntie Mowenna as soon as I get back."

Although nothing was official yet, her confident expression made it clear she was sure she could pull it off.

Lance was overjoyed.

As long as he secured this sales channel, it would be like having a goose that lays golden eggs.

"Then I’m counting on you, future master of Alchemy."

Lance laughed happily, pressing his palms together in a gesture of thanks.

"Once I make some money, I’ll treat you to a big meal. You can order whatever you want."

Hearing the words "big meal," Flora gulped, and the snacks in her apron pocket suddenly seemed less appealing.

"Then it’s a deal!"

The two quickly struck a "deal."

Lance packed all the small jars of "Lance Brand Special Hemostatic Ointment" that he had stayed up all night making into the satchel Flora had brought.

He only kept two for himself as a backup.

He also paid back the money he owed Flora for the book.

After seeing off Flora, who left with her bag full, Lance didn’t stay idle.

Today was his day off from the Guild, so he didn’t have to work behind the counter.

This was a perfect opportunity to go to the forest to earn some extra cash and, while he was at it, rack up some Skill Experience and Knowledge Experience.

Lance skillfully dragged the heavy equipment chest out from under his bed.

He put on his studded leather armor, tightened his greaves, and hung the gleaming, well-maintained short sword from his waist.

Finally, he pulled on his wide hood, hiding most of his face in shadow.

The Copyist Lance was gone.

Now, he was Raven, the Adventurer.

He tucked the two remaining jars of ointment into his waist pouch and checked the Hazelwood Short Bow and quiver on his back.

He set off for the Adventurer’s Guild.

As he pushed open the Guild’s heavy doors, a tense atmosphere, completely different from usual, hit him.

The Adventurers still milling about the Guild hall had lost their usual carefree smiles, their faces now etched with gravity.

The first batch of logistical supplies for the joint sweeping mission had already been assembled.

Crates of supplies, sealed with the Guild’s mark, were being stacked into a small mountain on one side of the hall by workers calling out chants.

According to the operational plan on the notice board, the operation would adopt a "three-stage relay" advancement model.

The first wave of the Vanguard Team was already assembled and ready, expected to officially set out today and advance into Copper Creek Forest.

Although the announcement was only posted yesterday, the first Vanguard Team wasn’t actually recruited from the notice board; they were hand-picked by the Guild Master.

Their mission was both daunting and clear.

They had to forcibly secure a safe area to serve as a base camp for the subsequent forces and use it as a springboard to pave the way for the two following waves.

The latter two waves would comb through the occupied territory like a comb, repeating the process until the strategic objective of advancing five kilometers inward was fully achieved.

And as the vanguard, the blade of the first team was pointed directly at Thorny Hill.

That was a medium-sized Goblin nest that had been entrenched for a long time, surrounded by eight scattered smaller settlements. It was like a malignant tumor choking the throat of the forest.

Besides clearing out the adult Demons, the core objective was to destroy the nursery and food storage caves deep within the nest.

This was to cut the Goblins off at the root, completely severing their ability to reproduce quickly.

In addition to the Goblins, there were several other Demon nests, slightly smaller than medium-sized, that the Vanguard Team needed to deal with.

Lance stood at the edge of the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the group of Adventurers in the center of the hall who were making their final preparations.

There were nearly a hundred of them.

They wore well-maintained Chain Armor or Leather Armor, their weapons glinting coldly, and they were quietly discussing tactics and coordination with one another.

Even from a distance, he could feel a grim, deadly aura.

This was the true foundation of an Adventurer’s Guild.

’What a grand sight.’

Lance pulled his hood lower, watching the group of people who were about to dance on the edge of a blade. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

A mobilization of this scale was truly a rare sight in a small border town like Gray Rock Town.

But he was very clear about his own role.

For Lance, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

War means bloodshed, and bloodshed means a need for potions.

He could even imagine how sought-after his special hemostatic ointment would be when these vanguard members were exhausted and covered in wounds from fighting Goblins in the forest.

Lance expertly wove through the crowd and went to the deserted low-level mission window.

He casually accepted a simple commission to gather Silver Flake Grass.

His main purpose for this trip was to continue accumulating Skill Experience and Knowledge Experience through gathering quests, and also to take advantage of the Vanguard Team clearing the danger ahead to collect some Blood Coagulation Moss.

Although the amount of materials he could gather himself would be a drop in the bucket compared to what he’d need to start mass-producing the hemostatic ointment.

He would definitely still have to spend money to buy raw materials from others.

But Lance considered that once he stepped into the world of Professionals, there would be no shortage of things to spend money on.

So he had to start watching his spending now.

Saving a little money on materials today and a little more tomorrow would add up to a considerable amount.

On the other hand, he could also trail behind the Vanguard Team. That way, he could retreat with the wounded and get a sense of their potion usage, which would help him estimate the quantity he’d need to produce next.

Make a big score, and get one step closer to his dream of going to Ostrara.

After completing the formalities, Lance tucked the parchment commission slip into his tunic and quickly walked toward the main doors with his head down.

Just as he stepped out of the Guild’s main doors and squinted slightly against the bright sunlight...

...a voice, tinged with surprise, suddenly called out from behind him.

"Senior!"

Lance’s steps faltered, and his brow furrowed slightly under his hood.

’Are they calling me?’

He subconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword and slowly turned around.

At the bottom of the Guild’s entrance steps stood a blond-haired young man with a longsword on his back.

The young man had a somewhat awkward expression on his face.

It was Damian, the very same one he had mercilessly berated the other day.

Damian, standing at the bottom of the steps, looked very different from the last time they had met.

He was wearing Leather Armor similar in style to Lance’s, but its once-smooth surface was now covered in many new scratches.

Lance recognized the gashes of varying depths as the handiwork of some kind of canine creature’s claws.

’Looks like the kid has been getting into some close-quarters combat with Gnolls recently.’

And looking at his boots, the toes and sides were caked with dried, dark red mud. He had clearly been scrambling and crawling through the forest’s mire quite a few times.