Chapter 15 – How To Earn Money?
For several weeks, Dannie's life had been nothing but drills, sweat, and bruises. From dawn until dusk, she endured the rigorous pace of the guild's foundational program. Day after day, she rotated through Mana Harmonization, Physical Conditioning, Weapon Familiarity, Perception Training, and Soul Division Support.
At first, every muscle in her body screamed in protest. But as days turned into weeks, her movements sharpened, her stamina increased, and her control over mana grew more fluid. The bruises from sparring no longer slowed her down, and the once-heavy staff began to feel like an extension of her arms.
The system notifications that appeared during her training became her silent encouragement, until finally—
[Level Up! You are now Level 10.]
Her progress was no longer just in sweat and effort. She had the numbers to prove it.
With her promotion to Level 10, the guild officially recognized her as a proper adventurer, no longer just a trainee. Now, she had the right to accept missions, though only those considered safe enough for beginners and befitting her rank.
Standing before the guild's mission board, she scanned the fluttering parchments pinned across it.
Escort missions. Delivery jobs. Foraging tasks. Simple monster subjugations, but only against beasts ranked F or lower.
Her eyes trailed across the rewards listed in neat handwriting—ten silver coins here, five there. Some paid in food or equipment instead of money.
Dannie crossed her arms, lips pursed. So this is how adventurers make money, huh? I finally get the right to take missions, and the rewards are… this small?
Her pouch was already light. Her savings had dwindled thanks to food, rent at the boarding house, and supplies. She couldn't just rely on Lira and the others to cover her forever.
She let out a small sigh. How am I supposed to earn enough if the missions for my rank barely cover expenses?
Just then, a cheerful voice broke her thoughts.
"First time choosing a mission?"
Dannie turned. It was one of the attendants, holding a clipboard with a professional smile.
"Yes," Dannie admitted. "But… all of these pay so little."
The attendant chuckled lightly. "Of course. Low-level missions are meant to help recruits get experience, not to make them rich. Think of them as stepping stones. Still—if you're clever, you can earn more by taking multiple missions at once, or choosing tasks that match your training."
"Training?" Dannie raised an eyebrow.
The attendant nodded. "Yes. Every recruit has their own path. Some are good at combat, others at scouting, some even in support. If your Division leans toward something unusual, you can use that to your advantage. That's when you'll start to see opportunities others can't."
Dannie tilted her head slightly, thoughtful.
Her gaze drifted back to the board until one parchment caught her attention.
Mission Type: Foraging
Details: Collect ten bundles of Pink Smoked Grass and deliver them to the guild apothecary.
Reward: 15 silver coins.
Difficulty: Low.
Note: Group assignment. Minimum of 3 recruits.
Her lips curved into a faint smile. Foraging, huh? That doesn't sound too bad. I used to gather herbs in the forest back home, though the names were different. Maybe this is something I can handle.
Another task sat right beside it.
Mission Type: Resource Gathering
Details: Collect three pounds of Ironbark Wood from the eastern grove. Deliver to guild carpenters.
Reward: 12 silver coins.
Difficulty: Low.
Note: Can be combined with Pink Smoked Grass mission.
Dannie plucked both slips from the board and handed them to the attendant.
"Two missions?" the attendant raised a brow.
"Yes," Dannie said with a determined nod. "They're both gathering tasks, and since they're in the same area, I can manage them together."
The attendant scribbled something on the clipboard before handing her stamped tokens. "Efficient thinking. But remember, foraging is always assigned to a group. You'll meet the others at the eastern gate tomorrow morning. Don't be late. As for your role…" The attendant gave her a knowing look. "You'll be listed as support."
"Support…" Dannie muttered under her breath. She wasn't surprised, but part of her still stung at the thought. Of course. With my Division, they'll expect me to stay behind and assist, not fight on the front lines.
The attendant smiled politely. "Support may not sound glamorous, but trust me—teams crumble without it. Learn your part, and you'll do fine."
Dannie accepted the tokens and tucked them safely away. "Understood."
As she stepped outside the guild doors, the city streets buzzed with life—vendors shouting, carriages rolling past, adventurers laughing with their teams. She adjusted her bag, making sure the empty pouches and small knife she'd packed earlier were ready.
Fifteen silver here, twelve silver there… that's twenty-seven silver in total. Not a fortune, but enough to cover food and maybe some supplies. It's a start.
Her pulse quickened. This wasn't just training anymore. Tomorrow would be her first real mission as a recognized adventurer—together with a team, where she'd have to prove her worth in her Division.
She clenched her fists lightly and whispered to herself, "Alright then. Time to see if I can really stand on my own… even as support."
⸻
Back at the boarding house, Dannie sat on the edge of her bed, sorting through the few belongings she had. A small pouch for herbs, a waterskin, the guild-issued wooden staff, and the dagger she had stubbornly kept despite being told it wasn't suitable for her Division.
She sighed, tying the pouch carefully. Support role, huh? I don't mind helping… but if they think I'm just going to sit around and watch, they're dead wrong.
After eating dinner with Lira and the others, she turned in early.
⸻
The next morning, Dannie arrived at the eastern gate before sunrise. The cool air carried the faint scent of dew and soil, and a thin mist clung to the grass outside the walls.
Three other recruits were already waiting there, chatting among themselves.
The tallest of them—a broad-shouldered boy with sandy hair—noticed her first. "Oh, you must be the last one. Dannie, right?"
"Yes," she replied simply, adjusting her staff.
"I'm Arven," the boy introduced himself with a grin. "Frontliner. These two—" he gestured to the others, "—are Cally and Brent. Cally's good with throwing knives, Brent's a shield-bearer."
The girl with short black hair gave a polite nod, while Brent, a stout boy with a serious expression, simply grunted in acknowledgment.
Before they could say more, another figure approached—a lean young man with a large reinforced pack strapped securely across his back, straps crossing over his chest like armor.
"Joren," he said shortly. "Porter."
Dannie blinked, surprised. "Porter…?"
Arven chuckled. "Yeah, it's an actual adventurer position. Porters don't usually fight unless forced to, but they're part of the team. They haul the loot, secure supplies, and keep the group moving fast. Without one, missions take twice as long."
Joren smirked faintly. "Don't mistake me for a pack mule. I might not be frontline, but I'm still an adventurer. I've survived three expeditions into the northern ridge. Can you say the same?"
The sharpness in his tone made Dannie straighten unconsciously. So even Porters have pride in their role… This world really treats every position seriously.
Arven clapped his hands together, breaking the moment. "Good. Now that everyone's here, let's move out."
He took the lead confidently, Brent followed steadily with his shield, and Cally prowled lightly along the side, scanning their surroundings. Joren kept to the rear with his heavy pack, his steps sure and practiced despite the weight. Dannie walked just ahead of him, fingers brushing the orb on her staff.
Her first mission wasn't a solo fight, but it was her first chance to see how well she could function in a real team.
Pink Smoked Grass and Ironbark Wood… doesn't sound dangerous. But nothing is ever as simple as it seems.
And with that thought, Dannie's first real mission began.
The Eastern Grove lay just fifteen minutes outside Carreon City's eastern gate. Past the cobbled streets and farmland, the land gave way to denser terrain, where tall trees grew close together, their branches weaving a canopy that let sunlight filter down in broken streams.
For new adventurers, this was considered a safe area—though "safe" outside the city walls was always relative.
"Stay alert," Arven reminded as they entered the grove. Sword in hand, he scanned the shadows between the trees. "Pink Smoked Grass and Ironbark Wood. That's all we're here for. Gather what we need, then we head back."
Brent adjusted his shield straps while Cally twirled her knife idly, clearly less tense than the rest. Joren, with his reinforced pack strapped across his back, gave no comment as he followed silently.
Dannie, however, focused inward. She let her mana flow through her staff and activated her detection with a thought.
The grove brightened in her vision. Threads of faint mana glowed along the ground, leading her eyes toward a cluster near the roots of a mossy tree. She crouched low and brushed aside leaves, revealing delicate pink-streaked blades of grass swaying gently despite the still air.
"There," she said, pointing. "Pink Smoked Grass. Careful with the stems—they'll lose potency if torn."
Cally crouched beside her, whistling softly. "Sharp eyes, support girl." With nimble fingers, she cut the grass cleanly and tied it into a bundle before tossing it back to Joren.
This skill was gifted to her by the guild and delighted that it's not a low skill but mid tier—Area Sense!
"First one down," Arven said with a grin. "Keep that up, and this mission will be easy."
They fell into a rhythm. Dannie scanned with Observe and Soul Sensitivity, guiding the others to patches that would have been invisible to the naked eye. Cally harvested, Brent cleared brush or small roots with his shield, and Joren stowed everything neatly in his pack.
Five bundles came quickly. Then seven. By the time the sun had climbed higher, Joren's pack carried all ten bundles of Pink Smoked Grass required.
"Halfway done," Brent said, wiping sweat from his brow.
Arven nodded. "Next, Ironbark Wood."
It didn't take long. A short walk deeper into the grove revealed several thick trees with bark streaked in metallic gray. Brent braced his shield against one trunk while Arven hacked carefully with his blade. The strikes rang sharply, but soon enough, several heavy chunks of bark and wood were pried loose.
Joren secured them onto his pack with practiced efficiency. "That's three pounds. Quota filled."
Cally smirked. "And all without trouble. Maybe this really is going to be easy."
Dannie straightened slowly, her gaze sweeping the grove. The threads of mana in her vision wavered—no longer steady, but bending, twisting, as if something unseen disturbed the flow of the forest.
Her chest tightened. No. It's too quiet. Something's here.
The warning came a heartbeat too late.
Branches snapped. The ground trembled faintly under padded steps.
From the brush ahead, a guttural growl echoed, sending a chill through their spines. Then it stepped into view—a beast cloaked in mottled green-and-brown fur that shifted with the trees around it, as though the forest itself had given it form. Its yellow eyes gleamed, sharp fangs bared in a hungry snarl.
"A… Camouflaged Fangmaw," Joren muttered, tightening his straps. "Damn it. Out here?"
Arven raised his blade, stepping forward. "Formation! Brent, front. Cally, flanks. Dannie—support us. No mistakes!"
Dannie gripped her staff, pulse racing. Her first real fight outside the city had just begun.