Talent Awakening: I, the Weakest Awakened, Start with Dragonfire Spell

The streets of Rodel were paved with firm, flat bluestone, yet they bore none of the intricate, impractical decorations.

The variety of goods in the shops lining these streets paled in comparison to those in Breeze City, not to mention the noticeable hike in prices.

While the city's guards and their families benefitted from royal subsidies, sparing them the worries of inflation, the same could not be said for everyone else.

Among the hustle and bustle of passersby, adventurers in their distinctive garb outnumbered the merchants, who themselves seemed in a hurry, unwilling to linger.

For a city striving for stability, the presence of adventurers was more a curse than a blessing.

The saying goes, when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Even adventurers of humble origins could match the might of a formal army and, in certain environments, even surpass it.

In times of war, adventurers could indeed be a valuable asset, but in peacetime, they often became sources of trouble and provocation.

For sustained stability, a city must either control the number of adventurers or impose strict regulations on them.

It must also promote commercial growth to attract more merchants.

However, these were feats beyond the capabilities of Rodel, a city with its roots deep in the military.

These thoughts were merely Howard's reflections on the scenes before him, spontaneous musings triggered by the surroundings, without any intention of intervention.

Crossing the not-so-lengthy street, Howard caught sight of the grand entrance to the adventurer branch guild, a structure imposing not in opulence but in its solemn, steadfast presence.

Constructed from large blocks of stone, its pale grey facade exuded a sense of durability and strength.

The building was anchored at each corner by slender spires, while its central dome, unadorned and painted a stark white, lacked excessive decoration.

Yet, the sheer scale and the natural hue of the stone were enough to draw the eye.

In stark contrast stood the magus guild's branch, a slender tower that soared even higher than the clock tower of Rodel City.

Its entire structure was bathed in pristine white, with details marked by flowing curves and intricate patterns that seemed effortlessly elegant but were, in reality, the product of meticulous craftsmanship.

Though it occupied merely a third of the adventurer guild's footprint, its construction costs were reportedly double.

Howard gleaned this information from mingling in the lobby of the inn where he stayed, a place predominantly frequented by adventurers.

Given his profession, he easily struck up conversations with the patrons there.

Employing subtle tactics, Howard came to learn several rumors circulating locally.

For instance, the leader of the city guard, Kemir of the Iron Thistle Clan, harbored a disdain for the adventurer branch guild.

Then, there were whispers of the magus guild stumbling upon some new discovery, potentially leading to the issuance of a quest.

Another rumor hinted at a new pack of roaming beasts spotted to the north, likely prompting the adventurer guild to launch a time-limited quest.

While the first piece of information was more or less common knowledge, the latter two were valuable intelligence.

Whether it's the magus guild's spell test quest or the adventurer guild's potential limited-time quest, both avenues promise swift earnings.

Having this information beforehand allows Howard to prepare accordingly.

It's somewhat akin to exploring side quests in a game; what might seem like mundane dialogue could very well conceal an extensive quest chain spanning numerous stages.

Of course, it could also just be idle chatter.

Nonetheless, verifying these tidbits of information is relatively straightforward—merely a matter of waiting a day or two and observing the activities of the city's major associations.

This prospect rekindles a sense of excitement in Howard, a welcome change despite the constant, somber reminder that danger and death lurk around every corner.

Upon entering the adventurer branch guild's lobby, Howard's first stop is the notice board.

Similar to the one in Breeze City, it's filled with collection notices from fur traders and the occasional sparse red mark bounty.

These aren't quick money-making opportunities; even leveraging his skills to hunt wolves or boars would net him only a gold coin or two per day.

While that might be a decent earning for the average person, it's insubstantial for him.

Hence, he decides to inquire at the counter.

If there are any formidable beast packs or spellbeasts nearby, there should be corresponding quests available.

Approaching the counter, Howard presents his adventurer's certification.

After verifying its authenticity, the young attendant behind the counter offers a practiced smile and asks, "Hello, how can I assist you today?"

"I'm looking for any bounties available, preferably those rewarding a bit more handsomely, something in the range of a dozen or even hundreds of gold coins," Howard estimated the pricing range of the quests, setting forth his expectations.

The server behind the counter paused, visibly taken aback.

A dozen, a hundred gold coins! These weren't figures he was unfamiliar with, yet such amounts for a single quest signified a considerable challenge.

Indeed, 'considerable' in the context of an average adventurer's world.

This demographic, constituting over ninety-nine percent of the adventurer community, would find such figures daunting.

"Sir, I mean, young man, I would suggest starting with some simpler quests to get a feel for things. The ones you're asking about are quite challenging," the server, adjusting his address upon gauging Howard's youth, offered his advice.

His look towards Howard was that of seeing a naïve newcomer, oblivious to the perils that lay ahead.

There were always adventurers who thought they could draw attention, become heroes, or stand out by aiming high from the get-go.

Unfortunately, such ambitions often came at a steep, sanguinary cost.

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To the young server, Howard seemed to epitomize this archetype, wielding his entry-level adventurer's credentials as if they were a badge of invincibility, utterly disregarding the value of his own life.

Reckless, foolish, and fraught with peril.

Howard hesitated, debating whether to disclose his magus rank, which might stir unnecessary commotion and complications.

Opting against it, he decided to reveal a less provocative piece of information instead.

Extending a hand towards the server, he added, "Actually, I am a preparatory-level magus."

In contrast to the general populace, the number of preparatory-level magi, while still relatively low, wasn't exceptionally rare.

At most, it would draw a few surprised glances but not cause any sort of upheaval.

Most crucially, it was sufficient to defuse the current situation.

The young lady's initial refusal to Howard was rooted in professional ethics and concern; demonstrating sufficient capability would naturally smooth the path to acquiring quests.

Indeed, upon witnessing the flickering flame in Howard's hand, the expression in the young lady's eyes shifted dramatically.

The novice standing before her transformed into a newcomer brimming with potential.

A preparatory-level magus!

While not as scarce as a level 3 magus, to an ordinary person, this was still profoundly astonishing, especially given Howard's youthful appearance.

Her gaze almost sparkled with the lustre of gold at the thought.

Should she manage to forge a good relationship with Howard, or even become intimate, her future would be secured.

However, that was an impossibility.

If climbing the social ladder were so simple, such tales wouldn't be so widespread.

Legends are those who accomplish feats beyond the reach of ordinary folks, one in a thousand, if not one in ten thousand.

Rather than indulging in fantastical daydreams, it was more pragmatic to focus on her duties, with hopes of promotion and salary increase being far more tangible ambitions.

Thus, the young lady regained her composure.

Although her approach became more enthusiastic, it was devoid of the predatory look of earlier, signaling a return to professionalism.

"See, with my capabilities, can I take on those quests?" Howard inquired.

From the young lady's earlier advice to start with simpler quests, it was clear this branch guild offered such opportunities.

Just knowing this was enough for Howard; otherwise, he'd need to look for alternative means to earn money.

Although not without other options, none could match the swift gains from undertaking quests.

It's like in games, where leveling up with quests is always faster than mindlessly grinding through maps.

"Um, young sir, I wouldn't doubt your strength, of course, but are you sure you don't want to start with something simpler? There are genuine spellbeasts lurking around here, not just those quasi-species," the young lady seemed hesitant, yet her tone had softened considerably.

"No need, I'm quite confident in my abilities. If I can't handle it, I'll make sure to flee back here. After all, my life is more valuable," Howard understood her concerns.

His adventurer badge was of the lowest rank, and should she issue a quest beyond his level and something went awry, it wouldn't be a small matter easily solved with a handful of gold coins, "Moreover, I promise, even if the quest fails, nobody will come troubling you about it."

"I'm not necessarily worried about the hassle, but since you've put it that way, I'll select a couple for you to try," the young lady hesitated before pulling out two documents from beneath the counter.

"If you can complete these two tasks, then I'll find some higher-

level quests for you, which could also help elevate your adventurer badge rank."

To advance their adventurer badge level, adventurers must undertake quests, accumulate points, and meet the assessment criteria set by the guild to qualify for a higher-level badge.

The young lady's explanation actually skipped over many steps involved in the process.

"Thank you very much!" Howard said with a smile.

He had thought it would take some convincing, but was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the matter was resolved.

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