Chapter 35: Dead Loop

“The Adventurer’s Guild!?”

Hai’an’s answer caught me off guard.

“How’s that possible? I’ve been to the guild in River Valley Town a few times, practically explored the entire hall, and never saw anywhere selling skill books.”

“Could it be…”

“Exactly.” Hai’an nodded, pointing upward with his index finger.

“On the second floor.”

Hearing this, I grew even more puzzled, recalling the conversation with the alchemy shop owner a few days ago when I went to the guild to turn in a task.

“Isn’t the second floor of the guild only accessible to professionals?”

“Correct.”

“But without combat skills, how can I become a professional?”

In my view, his response seemed contradictory, forming a dead loop.

To become a professional, one needed to learn combat skills, which could be purchased on the second floor of the Adventurer’s Guild, but to access the second floor, one had to already be a professional.

To this, Wood, clad in black leather armor and sitting beside the half-elf, responded meaningfully:

“This world needs adventurers, but not that many.”

I carefully mulled over his words, countless thoughts flashing through my mind.

Seeing me teetering on the edge of overthinking, Hai’an hurriedly continued:

“There are, of course, other ways to acquire combat skills.”

According to the half-elf, in the Servia Kingdom, there were several main ways to master combat skills:

First, through the large organizations scattered across the kingdom.

Be it temple churches, guild alliances, or even the kingdom’s own military legions, each had well-established and clear advancement systems.

Not only did they possess the combat skills needed for basic profession advancement, but they also had vast reserves for the advanced professions required to become “extraordinary.”

In return, what you needed to offer was loyalty and faith.

Second, hiring an already-established “professional” to teach combat skills.

The cost was a truly astronomical amount of gold coins or equivalent resources.

This was also how most nobles in the kingdom acquired their combat skills.

Lastly, the most widespread, frequent, and suitable method for ordinary commoners with neither wealth nor connections.

Drawing lots.

Like my predecessor from a powerless farmer’s family, one could, by paying for lodging, “snatch” half a so-called skill book from a staying bard.

Across the vast lands of the Servia Kingdom, countless “combat skill recipes” circulated.

Any old man at a village entrance might have a few books at home, claiming to be “knight training secrets” passed down from ancestors, charging a few copper coins while boasting excitedly about his great-grandfather’s glory as if he’d struck a grand bargain.

These “combat skills,” as numerous as toilet paper, were ninety-nine point nine percent worthless, unknown knockoffs from who-knows-where.

Even training for years would yield no progress, wasting time while potentially ruining the body with incorrect techniques.

Only a tiny fraction of lucky individuals, who by sheer chance acquired a truly effective combat skill book and put in immense, tedious effort, had a shot at mastering a real combat skill and taking the first step toward becoming a “professional.”

Of course, these three were merely the most common ways to acquire combat skills.

Beyond them, methods like traditional master-apprentice relationships, noble patronage, wilderness treasure hunting, or auction house transactions (slightly more reliable than roadside stalls)… also existed, though they often required certain thresholds.

This made combat skills relatively common among “adventurers,” a group that dealt with magical beasts and had certain channels and income.

Hearing this, I finally understood why the two were so surprised when they learned about my predecessor’s experience.

It seemed my predecessor not only had good talent but incredible luck as well.

A random half-page skill book, and he actually managed to master it.

At the same time, I gained a rough sense of direction for my future path.

“By the way.”

Having shared everything he knew about profession advancement, Hai’an seemed to recall something.

“I didn’t mention earlier, but I assumed you had a mentor guiding you. Given the situation now…”

He lowered his voice, cautiously glancing at the beheading longsword by my side.

Careful not to offend, he tentatively asked:

“That move you used earlier, it’s likely in the [warrior] direction, right?”

I wasn’t entirely sure which profession [Whirlwind Slash] belonged to, but based on Hai’an’s earlier description of the characteristics of each profession’s combat skills, I hesitated before slowly replying:

“Probably? The half-page skill book didn’t specify the skill’s origin.”

Hai’an wasn’t surprised by my response.

He nodded, glancing at Wood beside him.

“Though Wood is a professional, the combat skills of a ‘rogue’ don’t match the kind you demonstrated.”

“Unless you’re willing to start over and abandon everything you have now, Wood could probably offer some help.”

“But… to be honest, that’d be a bit of a waste.”

The half-elf’s gaze swept over the iron-gray blade of the longsword.

“From your performance in battle, that combat skill, even if not yet at ‘mastery,’ is close. It’d be a pity to give it up now.”

He paused briefly, lifting his head slightly, his silver-gray eyes fixed on me.

Sincerely, he said:

“You saved me in battle, so I owe you a return. Please don’t refuse.”

“Though I likely won’t be able to leave again soon after returning to Nyum… I’ve saved up a fair amount over the years.”

“If you’re willing, through my family connections, I can hire a reliable professional to train you in a [warrior]-type combat skill.”

“It may not be guaranteed, but…”

Faced with the half-elf’s proposal, I couldn’t help but feel tempted.

I hadn’t saved Hai’an in battle for any reward, but with him offering such a favor, it wouldn’t be realistic for me to refuse.

After a moment’s thought, I nodded firmly, sincerely thanking him:

“Then I’ll trouble you. Thank you!”

Hearing this, Hai’an seemed to relax, a smile spreading across his face:

“Good! Give me your address, and after the task, I’ll write to you from Nyum.”

“But it might take a few days. I have some family matters to handle back home, and it’ll take time to find the right person.”

“No rush,” I replied earnestly. “Take care of your own matters first.”

“I’ll be in River Valley Town.”

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