Becoming an adventurer by copying monster abilities

The next day, everything was as usual.

The only difference was that the adventurers' enthusiasm was reignited after the festival.

On the first floor of the Adventurers' Guild, there were no more suitable cleanup orders left on the order board.

Luca's proficiency in various combat skills is nearing a bottleneck, especially in [Gluttony Slash].

It would probably take several months of chopping down training scarecrows that wouldn't move before one could improve their proficiency even a little.

The "Bloodstained Rampage" skill can only be improved through actual combat.

Most importantly, he doesn't have much savings left.

As for food and lodging, it would naturally be enough for him to squander for quite some time.

However, if he encounters any unexpected situation that requires him to change his equipment, his current assets are already on the verge of collapse.

With that thought in mind, Luke once again climbed to the second floor, which he hadn't been there in a long time.

After verifying his identity, he had just entered the second-floor lobby and hadn't even gotten close to the registration board when he heard someone calling his name from behind.

The visitor was a staff member wearing an association uniform, who very politely invited him into a room.

Then, he pushed an exquisite money bag in front of Luke.

Seeing that Luke didn't move but was looking at him suspiciously, the staff member explained:

"These five gold coins are the subsidy the association is giving you this month. Every registered professional adventurer receives one, and the higher the level, the more subsidy you receive."

Luke still didn't take it, but waited for the other party to continue.

Sure enough, the staff member changed the subject and revealed the main reason for their visit:

"According to the association's records, your task completion rate is very high, and you have always done an excellent job. Therefore, we have found a suitable commission for you. Would you be interested in learning more about it?"

"This commission is not mandatory. If you refuse, we will look for other suitable adventurers."

The staff member paused, lowered their voice, and continued:

"My personal suggestion is that if you have the time, you should try to accept the status of an adventurer who frequently cooperates with the association."

"Not only do you enjoy discounts on purchases within the association, but you also receive an additional bonus for each completed commission. You also have priority in choosing some of the more sought-after commissions."

Luke felt that the staff member's persuasive manner was just like the salesperson in his memory who recruited people to join and sell health products.

However, he did come here this time intending to seek commissions.

He was also very curious about what kind of mission the association had specially designed for him.

[Cult Tracking Investigation Commission]

[Reward: To be discussed in person]

[Mission Description: Cult members have been spotted on the outskirts of Yanan Village. Please consult the receptionist for details.]

The staff member handed the commission report to Luke and said:

"Someone provided information that cult members have been spotted in the woods near Yanan village, but the description is not very clear, so we need to ask someone to investigate."

Cultists are not uncommon in this world filled with all sorts of complex beliefs.

Among them are some powerful fanatics, but the vast majority are just mentally unstable lunatics.

Normally, the association would simply leave this task on the task board in the lobby and wouldn't bother to specifically invite professionals to conduct the survey.

But these are turbulent times. If the intelligence is true, leaving those cultists unchecked might actually summon something.

The reward for this task is 5 to 80 gold, depending on the degree of completion of the task.

"Yanan Village...it seems to be less than two days' journey from here, right?"

Luke estimated the distance and decided to accept the commission.

...

In the countryside, Luke sat alone on the sideboard outside the carriage, basking in the sun.

Watching the wheels leave a dry, hard rut as they pass over the dirt road in the countryside.

It's already the second day of our journey, and everything has been peaceful so far.

A gentle breeze rippled through the wheat fields on either side, making the swaying carriage in the middle of the road look like a small boat sailing on a golden sea.

He reached his destination just as the orange-red of the setting sun overwhelmed the golden hue.

After saying goodbye to the coachman who had given him a ride, Luke turned and walked into a path.

The outline of the village slowly emerges from the end of the wheat field.

It's not a small place, with nearly thirty households.

Behind the earthen slope on the other side of the village lies a dense forest.

The location here is quite good, and some adventurers stop here to rest during their journey.

Therefore, the village offers food and lodging services.

As dusk approached, Luca entered the only inn in the village.

The first floor offers meals, and the second floor offers accommodation.

The environment is certainly not as good as that of the old oak barrels, but it's not particularly bad either; it just has a faint musty smell.

The accommodation price is 50 copper coins per night.

Ordinary people definitely wouldn't come here; this is an industry specifically designed for adventurers.

As for food, only one set meal is available.

A serving of beet soup with two slices of black bread and a few pieces of smoked field mouse meat costs 30 copper coins.

Luke did not point.

It wasn't that he thought the beet soup, which only contained beets, potatoes, and onions, was too "low-budget."

However, the dry rations provided this time were quite sufficient, and the presence of cult members near the village made him more cautious.

Luke handed 50 copper coins to the innkeeper and was about to go upstairs.

Suddenly, he smelled a faint scent of blood.

His right hand instinctively rested on the hilt of the half-sword as he turned to look.

After clearly seeing the target, the palm subtly loosened.

At the entrance of the inn, several people dressed as adventurers were pushing open the door and entering.

Three men and one woman, their equipment looked fairly good, though it was stained with some blood.

The bloody smell that Luke detected came from this.

Upon seeing Luke's disguise, a hint of wariness appeared in the eyes of the group.

Luke glanced at them but didn't pay them any attention, then turned and went to his room.

Downstairs, a few adventurers ordered the only set meal and chatted while eating.

"Did you guys notice that person who just went upstairs? They looked kind of scary."

"Is there?"

The only female member of the squad spoke up, saying that all she noticed was that the other person had good equipment and was good-looking.

"Really! Maybe he's a professional!"

The man who walked in front of the door lowered his voice as he entered.

The other person turned around and their eyes met briefly.

He had only ever seen that kind of vigilance mixed with intense killing intent in certain professionals.

"If they're professionals, then there's even less to worry about; they're definitely not here to steal our goblins."

The other members of the team didn't take it seriously.

They had only taken on the simplest goblin extermination commission on this trip.

I can't imagine having any interaction with the other person.

"Tomorrow morning, we'll find the remaining goblin lair in that forest, and then our mission will be successfully completed!"

"I hope so..."

A sense of unease inexplicably arose in the man's heart.

He couldn't help but recall the two goblins he had encountered in the woods earlier that day.

His seemingly frenzied and fearless demeanor contrasted sharply with the stereotypical image of a cowardly and timid person.

It's like being possessed by some evil spirit...