That night——
The stars hung low in the sky, gleaming with an intensity Minori hadn't seen in his previous world. Not even in the countryside had he ever witnessed a night so brilliantly lit by moonlight and starlight alike. It was as if the heavens themselves had opened a window to watch the mortal world from above.
Crack, crackle—
The bonfire flickered rhythmically, casting dancing shadows across the camp. Wood popped and sizzled as sap ignited, briefly illuminating the silhouettes of those seated nearby.
Nfirea sat cross-legged near the flames, focused intently on the plants in his hands. Occasionally, he would bring a leaf or root up to his nose, sniff it thoughtfully, or even nibble at it—though not without consequences.
A few steps away, Grandma Lizzie stood by the herbalist's carriage, double-checking the precious cargo: crates of herbs freshly purchased from the royal capital, bound for Ye-Rantel.
Team Rock maintained a cautious vigilance. Captain Dosari and Rand—the elder twin—stood guard. The other two, Lele and Basque, had gone off to scout the surrounding forest.
It was a night in the wilderness.
They had bypassed the nearby village deliberately.
Grandma Lizzie had refused the detour, stating that time was short. The herbs were valuable, and once harvested, their medicinal potency faded by the hour. It was imperative they reach Ye-Rantel quickly for extraction. Because of that, safer town routes were ignored.
A reckless route.
Ordinarily, that would have strained the client-adventurer relationship. In the Kingdom, adventurers weren't bodyguards to be bossed around—they were professionals, and a client pushing them too far could have the mission canceled halfway. But…
Once they learned Lizzie Bareare's name, the complaints died before they were voiced.
After all, Ye-Rantel's best pharmacist had quite the reputation.
And pragmatism beat pride.
Minori sat on a log near the fire, quietly observing Nfirea work with fascination. The boy was engrossed, holding a thumb-length root to the light before biting down lightly.
The reaction was immediate.
"Pffth!" Nfirea spat into the fire, grimacing. "Bitterroot. Ugh, I should've known. It's hard to tell by sight alone."
He turned and noticed Minori's silent watching, his blue eyes lighting up with enthusiasm.
"This one's Bitterroot. It looks identical to Megan, but only Bitterroot is used for basic detox potions—it's got astringent compounds that flush poisons. Megan, on the other hand, has a slightly sweet aftertaste and is used in healing potions."
Minori nodded, listening intently.
Internally, he was watching something else.
No new job acquired.
So far, listening and learning didn't trigger any system notification. His Genius class didn't respond to passive observation alone, or perhaps this wasn't the right context. He suspected it might take more than just words.
Nfirea noticed his expression.
"Tang—ah, Minori, are you interested in herbs?" the boy asked, eyes bright with curiosity.
"I am," Minori replied with a smile. "I've been thinking about learning more."
That wasn't a lie. Knowledge was power, and if he could unlock Pharmacist (Genius) just like he had seen with Alchemist (Genius), it would be worth the time.
But before Nfirea could answer further, a new voice cut through the flames.
"Sniffing and tasting? What shallow methods."
Grandma Lizzie's voice was sharp and clear, like a dagger drawn in the dark. She walked over, hands clasped behind her back, eyes narrowing as she studied her grandson.
"Nfirea, stop embarrassing yourself. Tasting is the lowest tier of identification. Don't rely on your mouth when you have a perfectly good nose."
Nfirea flinched. "Sorry, Grandma."
Minori shifted slightly, unsure whether the rebuke was meant for Nfirea—or for him.
In this world, knowledge wasn't just limited—it was hoarded. Asking questions too freely was like poking around in someone else's treasure vault. And he had been… quite nosy.
"Don't look so tense."
The old woman glanced sideways at him. "I may be stingy, but I don't hold grudges for harmless curiosity."
Minori gave a polite nod, but didn't speak. Internally, he agreed—she was stingy. But smart. Too smart to provoke.
"You want to make potions just because you can name a few herbs? Foolish. You've got faith magic aptitude. Stick with it. Waste time chasing swordplay or herbal lore, and you'll end up good at nothing."
Minori understood. That was a rare thing—a warning, not an insult.
"Thank you, Mrs. Bareare."
The corners of Lizzie's mouth curled ever so slightly. She liked the proper form of address. He'd noted the family name from conversations with Nfirea—though he'd already known it from the world's lore.
Trample. Trample.
Footsteps echoed from the brush.
Lele and Basque returned from their scouting. Rand and Dosari visibly relaxed at the sight of them.
A weak groan followed.
Behind Lele hung a massive wild boar—easily over 200 kilograms. It was slung over his shoulders like firewood.
"Got lucky," Lele grinned. "Boar ran right into us. Dinner secured."
"Arrow through the head and it's still breathing?" Rand laughed, peering at the wound. "Basque, you've been practicing."
"Just a wild boar," Basque replied, smiling modestly.
Thud.
The beast hit the ground beside the campfire with a dull thump.
Lele turned to Minori. "Still got a breath in him. Here—strike right here, and it'll be a clean kill."
Minori stood.
This was something he'd requested. A simple act with a hidden purpose.
He had told the Rock team he was considering the adventurer path, and that he'd never seen blood before. It sounded naive—but believable.
And so, whenever they caught a beast, they gave him the finishing blow.
He drew his dagger.
In truth, he wasn't trying to "adapt." He was testing a theory.
Could the act of delivering death trigger a profession?
A rogue? A warrior? A hunter? A killer?
No way to know until he tried.
He walked over to the beast. Its breath came in shallow wheezes, blood pooling beneath its thick neck. No fear in its gaze—just confusion, dull pain.
Minori didn't hesitate.
He raised the blade, aimed for the spot Lele indicated, and drove it down.