Our Dharma Masters are like this.

Chapter 73 Guidance Fee

"nice."

Zellir praised, "If you keep at this pace, you'll become a mage apprentice sooner or later."

"Yes! I definitely will!"

Having gained Zellil's approval, Lant smiled brightly, "Then Zellil, when shall we go on an adventure?"

“Adventure?” Zellier was taken aback.

"The promise you made last time to take me on an adventure."

Lant's tone was full of anticipation, "I'm ready, and I can leave anytime!"

"Uh……"

Zell suddenly felt that something was wrong.

"Wait a minute, when did I agree to take you on an adventure? I just said you should train hard and become stronger, and maybe when a suitable mission comes along in the future..."

"We can find suitable missions together, and besides, I've become stronger."

"I definitely won't hold you back!" Lant said.

"You've only made a little progress."

Zellier had a bit of a headache. "Young people shouldn't be so arrogant."

"I know Ice Spike, so I can help you kill monsters. I can even be your assistant. I don't want the quest reward, really!"

Lant's words were earnest and sincere: "Look how hard I've worked, just take me with you once... give me a chance to practice, okay?"

Zellier was reluctant to agree, but looking at Lant's sincere expression, he couldn't bring himself to say a firm no.

Forget it, I'll just reject him in a different way.

Zellier sighed softly, "Alright, alright, if you want to go, you can."

"Really!" Lant's eyes lit up.

"but!"

Zellier then changed the subject, holding up one finger.

"You have to get my teammates' approval first. I'm a team with them. Only if they agree can I take you on a mission. If they don't agree, then there's nothing I can do."

"No problem!" Lant said confidently.

"Alright then, come to the Drunken Boar Bar tonight, and we'll meet there."

……

At nightfall.

As always, the drunken wild boar was filled with a noisy and lively atmosphere.

The richness of the ale, the aroma of roasted meat, and the spiciness of tobacco combine to create a unique flavor that stimulates hormones.

Marcus's team gathered around the largest wooden table in the tavern. Having learned from their previous victory in the tavern brawl, the owner was more cautious and secretly instructed the other tables not to provoke them.

Gray picked up a skewer from the mountain of grilled meat, then took a big bite, chewing until his mouth was full of oil.

"So you mean... there's a newbie who wants to join our team on missions?"

"Yes."

Zeller sighed and took a big gulp of ale. "I had no choice but to ask you for help. I couldn't persuade him otherwise."

"Also a mage?" Vales asked.

"Yes."

“Isn’t that great? The more mages, the more powerful they are,” Marcus said.

“He’s a newbie, the kind with absolutely no experience,” Zellier said.

“You had no experience at all back then, but I still recruited you into the team,” Marcus said.

"I……"

This sentence completely shut Zelil up, and he choked for a long time before he could refute it.

“It’s different, okay? I have no choice, my family is poor, so I can only be an adventurer. But he is a nobleman, his family is not short of money, and he has no need to do what we do.”

"understood."

Gray nodded knowingly and tore off another piece of meat.

"So it turns out he's a young nobleman with nothing better to do and wants to experience a more exciting life... Honestly, if I were a nobleman, I would never become an adventurer. It would be so much better to party and pick up girls in the capital every day."

“Marianne is still here, so keep your voice down,” Zellier reminded her.

Gray shrank his neck.

“I’m not really interested in playing house with kids either,” Vales said, unusually agreeing with Gray.

"Is he really not suited to be an adventurer?" Marcus asked.

“Very unsuitable.” Zellier shook his head firmly.

“Alright then, when he arrives, we’ll try to gently persuade him to leave,” Marcus said. “He’s a true teammate,” Zellier gave a thumbs up.

During the conversation, the tavern door was pushed open.

A figure that seemed out of place in its surroundings walked in.

When Lant saw the shirtless miners shouting loudly in the tavern, and the cigarette butts and bottles scattered on the ground, he hesitated.

So this is what a tavern is like...?

He had assumed that all places were like the banquet at his house, where everyone was impeccably dressed, polite, and spoke in hushed tones.

Just as Lant was wondering if he had come to the wrong place, Zellier spotted him and waved to him.

"Lant, over here!"

As if he had found a lifeline, Lant quickly walked through the noisy crowd and came to Zellier's table.

He sat down somewhat awkwardly next to Zellier, his back ramrod straight, his hands neatly placed on his knees.

"Hello everyone……"

"Kid, you're the one who wants to join our team?" Before Lant could finish speaking, Gray asked first, playing the good cop.

"Yes...yes." In front of strangers, Lant was clearly not as relaxed as when he was alone with Zellier. He was a little timid, and his voice was much softer.

"What is your name?"

“Lant Taylor.”

"Don't add your noble surname, we don't buy it. Adventurers should prove their worth through strength!" Gray snapped, fully immersed in his role.

"I...I understand, I'm sorry."

As a nobleman, Lant actually apologized because of the rebuke of a lowly adventurer.

Vales covered his face silently, unable to bear watching any longer.

He was clearly not suited to be an adventurer.

"How old are you?" Gray asked again.

"Fifteen……"

"Ha! Fifteen years old, not even fully grown yet, and you dare to become an adventurer?" Gray raised his voice.

Lant's head drooped.

"What kind of magic do you know?" Marcus asked a serious question.

"I know Ice Spike, Illumination, and Fog..." Lant's voice was a little soft.

"Listen to this, it's all useless magic."

Gray picked up the thread and added insult to injury, "Letting you into the team will only be a hindrance. Do you want to get us killed?"

"Lant, it's not that we're targeting you. But taking risks is a very dangerous thing. Without sufficient strength, you'll not only harm yourself, but also your teammates."

Marcus said earnestly, "This is not a game; you must take it seriously."

Marcus's words made Lant lower his head even further.

Seeing him like this, Zellir felt a pang of pity.

He was about to pat Lant on the shoulder and say something encouraging when Lant suddenly looked up.

His eyes even gleamed with unwavering determination.

"I...I can pay you for the guidance!"

The table fell silent for a moment.

"How much?" Gray immediately asked.

Zellier kicked Gray under the table.

"Three gold coins for everyone... no, five!"

Lant spread his five fingers and said, "I can give each of you five gold coins, so please take me with you. I really, really want to go on an adventure!"

Even Zellir was stunned.

Four people, that's twenty gold coins, and Lant just tossed them out without even blinking?

This is equivalent to doing three or four lower-level one-star commissions, right?
Gray, who had been all menacing and looking like a villain just moments before, was stunned and speechless upon hearing about the five gold coins.

He quickly took stock of the situation, and after concluding that the other party was a wealthy and powerful patron, his attitude completely changed.

"Cough cough..."

Gray cleared his throat. "Hey, Marcus... I'm not trying to be mean, but everyone has to be a newbie sometimes. Why are you making things so difficult for him?"

Marcus looked at Gray with surprise, his face saying, "How can you just spout off like that?"

　The name "Fire Dragon Technique" doesn't seem quite right. Would "Flame Breath Technique" be a better name?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)