Our Dharma Masters are like this.

Chapter 121: Hot
Most people are trying to find connections through various channels, hoping to pull some strings and get a spot in the escort team.

Some people are even willing to pay a hefty referral fee to join the team.

This competition is extremely fierce, requiring not only connections and financial resources, but also participants who are basically at least silver-level adventurers.

Only someone at least at the intermediate rank would dare to even consider it.

Against this backdrop, Marcus's team, with all members selected, stands out as particularly conspicuous and outstanding.

Marcus has just been promoted to intermediate rank, and Vales is also a newly promoted intermediate ranger. They are both relatively inexperienced and there is no indication that they have any connection within the guild.

What's even more surprising is... what makes that guy named Gray so special?
He's just a low-ranking soldier!

Of course, no one was naive enough to think that the team's entire squad was selected simply because of their own abilities.

That leaves only one possibility...

The only mage in that team!
In an instant, all the gazes directed at Zellir, whether overt or covert, became fervent.

How come such a good teammate has always been willing to stay by Marcus's side...?

Zellir calmly ignored all of this.

After his promotion, although his perception only increased by two points, his sensitivity to the surrounding environment improved somewhat.

This was enough for him to clearly perceive the complex emotions contained in those gazes.

"I wonder if any of you have had this experience."

Gray was utterly lazy.

"When you attend a party with a particularly beautiful female companion, all the men in the room will unconsciously focus their attention on her."

"You've even attended parties? Which one has such low standards?" Vales glanced at Gray sideways.

"The focus isn't on me, but on my female companion."

Gray paid no attention to Vales's taunts.

"They not only watch, they also try to steal her away from you, and they'll come up to her with a wine glass and invite her to dance whenever they get the chance."

“Zeril is now that radiant companion… I bet there are at least eight or ten adventurer parties trying to poach you right now.”

Gray nudged Zell with his elbow.

"Hey, you're not really going to abandon us one day and run off with someone else, are you?"

"Try using those weird metaphors again," Zellier said, barely suppressing his anger.

Marcus sighed, interrupting the pointless conversation.

He walked up to the order board and glanced at it.

"The order board is so quiet today."

Vales looked up and saw that most of the high-level missions had already been taken.

The rest were just odd jobs and small tasks.

The Adventurers' Guild isn't guaranteed a steady income all year round; when there aren't many monster quests, they still have to take a break.

"It's ok."

Marcus appeared very composed.

"Anyway, I'm not expecting to take on any money-making missions. This time, I'm mainly here to be Zelier's sword sparring partner."

After much deliberation, the group finally selected a commission.

Outside Blackstone Town.

Plain.

The distant mountains have lost their summer lushness, and their colors have gradually deepened.

A cool autumn breeze caressed the vast fields, causing the grass to ripple like golden waves.

Marcus's team strolled leisurely across the open plain.

There were no oppressive dense forests, nor muddy swamps, only a peaceful and joyful scene of harvest season.

"It's been a long time since I've felt this relaxed while on a mission."

Zellier couldn't help but open his arms and close his eyes, as if he wanted to embrace the entire autumn breeze.

“Of course, this is just a regular-rated mission,” Vales said, walking beside Zellier.

"If it were a lower-level mission, I'd probably be plunging into the Graywood Forest again, and I'd have to be careful not to get ambushed by monsters."

A three-story wooden house came into view.

The house is made of thick logs, covered with a thick thatch, and wisps of smoke are rising from the chimney.

In front of the wooden house was a spacious yard, with a small mountain of golden haystacks piled up in one corner, and an old horse-drawn carriage loaded with pumpkins and corn parked next to it.

"This should be it."

Marcus pulled the power of attorney from his pocket and checked it again.

The mission is to eradicate the wild boars that are rampaging through Ersha Farm.

The group walked to the front of the wooden house.

"Knock knock..."

Marcus raised his hand and knocked on the heavy wooden door.

Not long after, the wooden door creaked open.

A woman with silver-gray hair and a few wrinkles on her face appeared at the door, her expression somewhat downcast due to worry.

"Excuse me, are you Lady Ersha? We are the adventurer team that took on the task of clearing out wild boars." Marcus showed his adventurer badge and the letter of commission.

"Thank the gods, you have finally come!"

When Lady Ersha saw them, her tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.

She quickly stepped aside and welcomed the group into the house.

The room was dimly lit, but very tidy.

Several well-worn farm tools and an old bearskin hung on the wall, and the flames in the fireplace crackled.

A young man with a limp came out from the inner room.

He looked to be in his early twenties, a typical farm boy, carrying a tray with several steaming cups of tea.

"Tea, please."

The young man placed the teacups on the table one by one.

Zellier glanced to the side and noticed that his right leg was wrapped in thick bandages, making it very difficult for him to move.

"Thanks."

Marcus took the teacup and then turned to Madame Ersha.

"Mrs. Elsa, could you tell us the specifics?"

"Sigh... those damned beasts, they've ruined all the land we've worked so hard to cultivate!"

Lady Ersha sighed, her wrinkles deepening.

“A few days ago, a group of wild boars came to the forest. No matter how we tried to drive them away, they wouldn’t leave. They would come to our farm at random times every day and go crazy.”

“Look out the window, so much wheat has been ruined before it could be harvested. If this continues, we’ll go hungry this winter.”

As she spoke, Mrs. Elsa glanced at her son with heartache.

“My eldest son went on a trip to another town to sell goods a while ago, leaving only my poor second son at home.”

"He tried to drive the wild boar away, but the boar's tusks broke his leg, and he almost lost his life... So we had no choice but to seek help from the Adventurers' Guild."

“I see…” Zellier nodded slightly.

Lady Ersha's second son scratched his head, his face turning bright red.

"Those wild boars were so ferocious and huge, they were like small mountains when they charged. I couldn't stop them even with my pitchfork, and I was knocked over in an instant."

"Madam Ersha, please take us to see this place."

Marcus finished his hot tea, stood up, and said, "We'll take care of this."

Led by Mrs. Ersha, the group crossed the courtyard and arrived at the back of the farm.

(End of this chapter)