We evil gods must hide.

Chapter 20 Even Mages Have Difficult Job Prospects

"You arrived right on time."

Old John emerged from the depths of the alley, holding a yellowed task sheet, and handed it to Cole.

"Today's mission: three small goblin settlements on the west side of Blackrock Canyon. Clear out the required number of goblins and then withdraw."

"This is Lynch, the newcomer, an apprentice thief."

Old John gave a brief introduction, then gestured with his chin towards Lynch.

"These three are Captain Cole, the archer; Ella, the apprentice mage; and Neil, the apprentice priest. From now on, the four of you will work together as a fixed team, doing long-term jobs."

Cole gave a curt "hmm," a perfunctory greeting, his tone devoid of enthusiasm, only numbness.

"Let me make the rules clear first: in the team, follow my instructions."

"I decide everything: the route, the campsite, the reconnaissance, the retreat, and the timing of the attack."

"My main role is ranged damage."

"Ella should find a good position and cast spells whenever possible, but aim carefully and don't burn your teammates."

Ella, whose name was called, nodded quickly, her round face flushed, and whispered, "I... I'll be careful."

When Neil was mentioned, Cole's tone became more indifferent, even tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"Neil, you don't need to heal me or go forward. Just stay behind me the whole time. If there's any danger, just cast a Flash Blast to block it. Don't be scared and paralyzed on the ground, dragging me down."

Neil's lips moved slightly, and he quietly made a lip shape.

Lin Qi saw it clearly; it was the character "好" (good).

Finally, Cole looked at Lynch.

"You probably know the three of us by now."

"John said you've studied traps, and I've also looked at your guild information. Your stamina and speed are good, so just do your job well."

"Scout ahead, check bushes, caves, and corners. Many monsters like to ambush, so it's best to set traps in advance. These are needed to capture their tongues and for the team's retreat."

Lynch nodded, agreeing that Cole was indeed a professional veteran adventurer.

"You don't need to get involved in the direct combat for now."

"It's easy to cause trouble."

The words were not meant to be disrespectful, but rather stemmed from a lack of trust due to unfamiliarity.

"This is a map of the mission area; be sure to memorize it carefully."

For adventurers, the most important thing is to be cautious.

Lin Qi took the map, glanced at it, and calmly said, "Understood."

Forgetting the evil god and becoming an insignificant nobody is the right path.

Old John waved his hand after the team had finished their instructions.

"Let's get going. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can get our commission settled. Try to avoid people on the way, and be careful. The monsters around the canyon have been becoming more and more active lately, so be extra cautious."

......

As we drove further and further away, the outline of the town completely disappeared behind us.

Black Rock Canyon is an exceptionally famous area in the Misty Forest.

It covers a vast area with complex terrain, including cliffs hundreds of meters high and bottomless valleys. It is said that people have seen the treasure of ancient giants and it is the habitat of many monsters.

Goblins, of course, need no introduction.

The atmosphere in the squad was silent.

Cole led the way, his steps slow but steady.

Ella followed in the middle, occasionally gripping her staff nervously and glancing left and right.

Neil followed closely at the back of the group, keeping his head down the whole time, not daring to look too far into the wilderness.

Lynch was walking next to Ella, chatting with the little girl.

Because Ella was the only one who was willing to talk to him.

A poor, lowly team like theirs couldn't possibly rent a carriage to get to the mission location. It would take at least half a day to walk from Silverleaf Town to Blackrock Canyon. With the two of them rushing on their way, Lin Qi could only talk to the young mage girl.

Ella is three years older than the Chosen Swordswoman and has just come of age.

"...Back then, my family simply couldn't afford it. Let alone becoming a formal mage, even learning a few more spells would cost several hundred gold coins."

"I still have younger siblings to feed."

There's really no other way.

Lin Qi was curious about the other person's experience of dropping out of school, and the conversation eventually led to this topic.

The girl unconsciously stroked her rough wooden staff, a slightly shy smile on her face. She didn't seem to care too much about the matter, and there was no sign of sadness when she spoke.

"My father and mother are ordinary people from the next town. It was already very difficult for them to let me attend the magic academy for several years."

Lin Qi scratched his head, puzzled.

"Logically, you must have a talent for spellcasting to be accepted into the mage academy, so why didn't you get a scholarship or anything like that?"

Just as Ella was about to answer, the old archer walking ahead said sullenly.

"The spellcaster scholarship is only for those with exceptional talent; it's not enough for this little girl."

"Yes, yes, Uncle Cole is right," Ella quickly chimed in. "Our academy is very small, and we can only apply for a dozen or so places from the duchy each year. It's tight, and they can't possibly give me a mediocre mage like me."

"Oh, no, I'm not a programmer either."

Ella muttered to herself.

"So, did your classmates who didn't get scholarships drop out of school? I mean," Lin Qi carefully chose his words, "those whose families couldn't afford the tuition."

"Uh-huh."

The girl nodded.

"Most of them, like me, studied for several years, but seeing no hope of becoming a formal mage, they dropped out."

"However, there are still quite a few options for people like us."

"People with water-based talents can earn a very high income as gardeners in temples."

Very tall?

How high can it be?

Seeing Lynch's expression, Ella understood.

"Three gold coins a month, and it's very easy."

Lin Qi's eyes widened. He knew the weight of three gold coins, even though he hadn't been on the ground for long. It was enough to make a large family live comfortably.

"Even though you're not a water-type, a fire-type job shouldn't be too bad."

"Ah, it's me."

Ella seemed a little embarrassed to speak, and subconsciously hugged her wand tighter. The old wand, near her palm, had been worn smooth and shiny by its owner's years of use. Of course, this wand was obviously not a high-end product.

"This silly girl can't let go of her dream of becoming a mage."

"Just like that kid who died before, he wanted to be a high-ranking master thief."

The old archer slowed his pace, his tone ambiguous—was it sarcasm or disdain?

Or perhaps it's self-deprecation.

"No, no, that's not true. I was just thinking that if I could accumulate more combat experience and break through my mental strength, maybe I could find a better job and my parents wouldn't have to work so hard."

Archer Cole smiled.

"It would be better to marry into a rich family. A girl with a talent for spellcasting like you is in high demand."

"That was a long time ago, uncle, don't talk nonsense."

Ella is indeed very thin-skinned, and her voice is as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Alright, alright, you silly child, stop and rest for a while."

At the old archer's command, the four men found places to sit down.

"Lin Qi, even though this is your first time in the team, you still need to do the necessary work. Let us see what you're capable of. Go and scout out the surrounding area and come back in a quarter of an hour."

"Yes, Captain."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qi nodded, got up, and left.

Be careful.

Ella whispered instructions from behind.