Who Says I'm Not a Proper Adventurer?
Chapter 28: Stuffing the Knowledge Column

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Stuffing the Knowledge Column

Seeing Lance turn around, a delighted smile spread across Damian’s face.

He quickly walked up the steps, stopping about two paces from Lance, and bowed deeply.

"Sir!"

The young man straightened up, his voice filled with unconcealable excitement.

"I took your advice and joined an established team to learn. The captain valued my foundational Swordsmanship and made me the team’s Vice Attacker."

"Thank you for snapping me out of it back then. After spending this time with my team, I’ve realized just how much there is to know to be a proper Adventurer."

At this, Damian scratched his head, a little embarrassed.

"The captain even taught me how to track Goblins based on how fresh their droppings are..."

Though it was a bit awkward, his eyes shone as he shared his recent experiences.

From coordinating with teammates to surround a lone Goblin, to narrowly escaping death during a surprise Gnoll attack, to setting a trap to take down a rampaging Demonized Wild Boar.

Lance didn’t interrupt him.

The hand that had instinctively rested on his sword hilt quietly relaxed.

He could tell. The fact that this so-called captain was willing to teach the kid a life-saving skill like tracking meant he was truly treating him as a teammate, not as cannon fodder to scout ahead.

A team willing to train its newer members was considered a quality team in Adventurer circles.

It showed they had long-term plans and goals.

When Damian finished, he looked at Lance with an expectant gaze, like a puppy hoping for praise.

"If the captain is willing to teach you, it means you’ve met some good people."

Lance said in a gentle tone.

"Learn well. These are the things that will save your life when it matters most."

As he spoke, he reached out and gently patted Damian’s shoulders, which, though not broad, had become much sturdier.

This simple gesture seemed to give Damian immense courage.

The young man took a deep breath, as if he had made a decision.

"Um... I still don’t know your name, sir."

"If it weren’t for what you said back then, I probably would have foolishly rushed into Copper Creek Forest to my death by now."

Lance was silent for a moment.

The shadow of his hood obscured his expression, making it hard to read.

"Just call me Raven."

"Raven..."

Damian silently repeated the name twice, committing the codename to memory.

Then, he fumbled around in the small, somewhat worn pouch at his waist.

It was a charm woven from coarse blue rope. The craftsmanship was far from expert—it was even a little twisted and looked quite terrible.

Tied to the end of the knot was a smooth, polished white pebble, on which a Talisman-like pattern had been drawn with clumsy strokes.

"Sir Raven, this is for you."

"Thank you for teaching me how to survive as an Adventurer."

"The way you scolded me back then... you were just like my older brother."

Mentioning his lost family member, Damian’s face was no longer filled with the grief and anguish of before, but instead held a sense of acceptance.

This kid was slowly moving on from the loss of his loved one, learning to carry that memory forward.

"This is a Homeward Knot from my hometown’s tradition. It represents a safe return. My brother used to weave one for me every time I left home."

Damian gave a brilliant smile.

"I made this a while ago. I looked for you at the Adventurer’s Guild for days but couldn’t find you. I’m so glad I ran into you today before setting out."

"Otherwise, I would have had to leave with the Vanguard Team."

He held the Protective Talisman-like object out to Lance.

"I hope that you, too, will return safely from every mission."

Lance froze for a second.

Through the opening of his hood, he looked at the crudely made knot, then at the young man’s hopeful eyes.

He didn’t refuse.

Lance reached out, took the knot, and hung it on the buckle of the leather pouch at his waist.

The bright blue rope seemed out of place against his brown-gray, worn Leather Armor, yet it was also surprisingly conspicuous.

"The craftsmanship really is terrible."

Lance commented, but there was a smile in his voice.

"But the thought is good."

"Stay alive."

"Don’t try to be a hero in the forest. You only get one life."

Damian nodded vigorously and replied loudly, "Yes! Sir Raven!"

Just then, a shout came from the distance.

"Damian! What are you dawdling for? It’s time to go!"

Lance looked toward the sound and saw a well-equipped Adventurer team assembling not far away. A few veteran Warriors were waving in their direction.

"Okay! I’m coming!"

Damian called back, then turned to say goodbye to Lance.

"Sir Raven, I’m heading back then!"

"Wait a moment."

Lance suddenly stopped him.

Under the young man’s puzzled gaze, Lance took a small, unlabeled clay pot from his pouch and tossed it over.

"Catch."

Damian fumbled to catch the pot, a look of confusion on his face.

"It’s a hemostatic ointment I made myself. Its Effect is about the same as the Giant Blood you can buy on the market."

Lance explained.

"You can use it on external wounds. Use it sparingly."

Damian clutched the jar of ointment tightly, a huge smile spreading across his face as he waved his arm energetically.

"Thanks! I’ll live like a cockroach!"

Watching the young man’s cheerful back as he ran off, Lance looked down and touched the blue knot at his waist, which swayed with his movements.

’Like a cockroach, huh?’

’This kid really is a fast learner.’

In this strange world, it seemed that besides transactional relationships, other bonds were beginning to form.

A sense of belonging, perhaps, was something that slowly grew from these seemingly insignificant human connections.

...

Half an hour after the massive Vanguard Team had departed, Lance shouldered his pack and set out.

With the Vanguard Team clearing the path ahead, they would take care of the wandering Demons along the way, making his journey much easier.

As he walked toward Copper Creek Forest, he summoned his system panel.

[Knowledge Experience: 30]

This was the nest egg he had diligently saved up from doing collection quests recently.

This trip into the mountains was the perfect opportunity to spend the points he needed to.

Lance’s gaze swept over the panel.

The once-empty Knowledge section was now a dazzling array.

[Knowledge: Botany Level 1, Demon Anatomy Level 1, Monster Ecology Level 1, Pharmacology Level 1, Wilderness Survival Level 1, Mineralogy Level 1]

This was the wealth brought to him by those three expensive books.

Without a moment’s hesitation, with a single thought, he invested all 30 precious points of Knowledge Experience into[Wilderness Survival].