The skill purchase just now cost 4 gold coins and 65 copper coins, leaving him with 9 gold and 70 silver in cash. Even if he sold all his miscellaneous items, he could scrape together at most 19 gold and 20 silver. But there was still a gap to reach 25 gold coins.
He hesitated for a mont, ntally preparing a polite refusal. But before he could speak, the shop assistant bowed slightly with a smile. "If you're currently facing financial difficulties, we have an option that can provide temporary funding for you."
"What option?" Gauss imdiately asked. If possible, he naturally wanted to obtain the storage bag as soon as possible. The convenience of a storage bag was undeniable - the sooner you bought it, the sooner you could enjoy it.
"According to guild regulations, Bronze-rank adventurers can apply for an interest-free professional developnt loan under the New Professional Protection Act. The maximum credit limit is twenty gold coins, with a repaynt period of six months."
Such good fortune? Gauss pondered for a mont. Twenty gold coins, interest-free, to be repaid within six months. With his current earning speed, he didn't think repaying such an amount within six months would be difficult. It was just that the amount seed a bit coincidental - twenty gold coins, plus the five gold coins given out for free earlier, exactly matched the price of a storage bag.
But opportunities like this were rare, so after brief consideration, he nodded. "Then I'll trouble you. How exactly do I apply?"
"Please follow ."
The assistant led Gauss out of the shop toward the administration hall. With the assistant's help, the professional developnt loan application process went extrely smoothly. Gauss submitted his identification badge and unrolled a gilded parchnt on the peachwood counter. This parchnt wasn't any high-level magical contract, just an ordinary docunt without any special features.
After carefully reading the terms and confirming everything was correct, he signed his na at the bottom. While processing the paperwork, the staff briefly explained so precautions. The parchnt itself wasn't important. What truly mattered was the loan application record submitted to headquarters by the clerk using Gauss's identification badge. This information would be synchronized across all adventurer branch offices. In other words, if he defaulted, services at other branches would be restricted, and mission commission fees would be forcibly used to repay the loan until the debt was cleared.
After completing the brief procedure, 20 gleaming gold coins were placed in Gauss's hands. He counted out another 5 gold coins from his own purse to make up the full 25 gold. From the row of storage bags on the shelf, he selected the one that looked newest and had the assistant retrieve it for him.
Once he had it in hand, he eagerly began testing it. As his magic power seeped inside, a miraculously vast space far exceeding its external appearance unfolded in his perception. His magic flowed freely like a stream within, and the storage bag seed to respond, absorbing so of his magic. Monts later, an indescribable mystical connection quietly ford between them.
Is this my storage space? He took out the books from his bag and tried storing the Adventurer's Guide before him. With just a thought - the next mont, as the idea of "store it" flashed through his mind, rippling waves appeared in the residual magic within the bag, and the Adventurer's Guide vanished before his eyes. Concentrating again, his perspective shifted to the scene inside the bag where the disappeared book lay quietly in the storage space.
Retrieve! Instantly, the book reappeared in his hand. The operation felt quite flexible;
even for a first-ti user, there were no complicated tricks. Gauss felt he had already completely mastered the storage bag's operation. He then proceeded to store all his personal belongings into the bag at once.
After completing this, he stretched his body, feeling remarkably unburdened. A carrying capacity of over two hundred kilograms would be sufficient for his current needs. Next, Gauss browsed around other shops on the second floor until the golden sunset light stread in through the stained glass windows. Only then did Gauss descend the stairs back to the first floor at a leisurely pace under the envious gazes of many adventurers.
"He looks so young, is he even twenty?"
"He's already a professional?"
"I don't think I've seen him before..."
"When will I be like him..."
"I heard the second floor sells many magical items..."
These comnts floated to his ears on the evening breeze. Gauss maintained a calm expression, but inwardly, he couldn't suppress a faint surge of joy. Perhaps he would grow accustod to this in the future, but at this mont, as a newly minted Bronze-rank adventurer, he couldn't completely avoid the satisfaction of being looked up to by others. Becoming a Bronze-rank adventurer really did feel good.
...
At the inn.
"Why are we going out to eat all of a sudden?" Sophia put down the soft cloth she'd been using to wipe the counter, her eyes showing so confusion, but she obediently packed her small bag. After returning from his mission yesterday, Gauss had mysteriously told her they would go out to celebrate today. She had no choice but to ask the neighbor's daughter to watch the counter a day in advance, which was why she could get away now.
"Winnie, I'll leave the shop to you."
"Don't worry, go ahead, Sophia."
Winnie watched as Sophia followed Gauss, her cheeks suddenly flushing red as if thinking of sothing. As they walked along the gradually lighting streets, Sophia asked again, "Today isn't your birthday, is it?"
"Ahem." Gauss cleared his throat. "Not my birthday, but sothing good happened that's worth celebrating."
Sophia looked up slightly at the young man's face. The warm light from shops along the street outlined his sharp profile. His usually calm brows now seed affected by so inner emotion, relaxed and bright, with his deep forest-green eyes flowing with joy and a trace of imperceptible pride. His entire deanor seed to have undergone so transformation, exuding an indescribable confidence and ease.
He seems different again. Sophia felt sowhat dazed watching him. Gauss had changed so much recently, both in appearance and temperant. The image of that thin young man always coming back from the wilderness covered in dirt seed like a distant mory now. Does becoming an adventurer... really bring such great changes? she wondered silently.
"So what are we celebrating?"
"Well, everything's settled now. I won't keep you in suspense." Gauss took a deep breath, trying to sound calm. "The good news is that I've been promoted to Bronze-rank adventurer, so I thought we'd go out to eat tonight to celebrate."
After saying this, he waited for a response but heard none. Turning his head, he saw Sophia standing frozen in place.
"You were promoted to Bronze-rank?" She concentrated, trying to recall. She rembered seeing people like that on the street a few tis, wearing green badges on their chests, each with an imposing aura that made them seem unapproachable, people ordinary folks would instinctively avoid. Those were truly important figures... and now Gauss was saying he had beco one of them?
"Right." Gauss stopped walking and took out the small badge from his clothes to show Sophia. The exquisitely crafted badge shimred with indigo brilliance under the light. Sophia looked sowhat stunned.
"It's really true? When... when were you promoted?" she asked, her voice full of disbelief as she ca back to her senses.
"Just today."
After a brief silence to digest this information, Sophia's eyes lit up excitedly. "Oh my goodness, congratulations! Yes, this definitely calls for celebration, we must have a good al!" Though she didn't understand how Gauss had achieved this, she knew what promotion to Bronze-rank ant for an adventurer - a complete change in fate, entering the ranks of those looked up to by others, becoming an important figure in people's eyes! Though this had nothing to do with her, she couldn't help but feel genuinely happy for Gauss.
"Mm, there's also a senior who'll be joining us later. I'll introduce you."
"A senior?" Sophia imdiately beca sowhat uncomfortable, nervously rubbing the hem of her clothes. "Then... maybe I should go back first? These clothes..." Her attire, though neat, was just ordinary civilian wear.
"Don't worry, she's very nice," Gauss said with an amused but exasperated expression to reassure her.
Arriving at Firefly Kitchen, where Gauss had made reservations that morning, they confird with the front desk before heading upstairs.
"Eating here can't be cheap, right?" Sophia asked quietly.
"Just an ordinary family restaurant," Gauss said offhandedly after closing the door, not wanting to make her feel pressured.
Sophia rolled her eyes at this. Running an inn that also served als made her half an insider in the food business - she could clearly tell the level of this establishnt's decor.
Before long, the private room door opened, and a petite figure entered.
"I'm here! Gauss! Congratulations on your promotion!" Andni pushed open the door and said cheerfully. But when she noticed the unfamiliar woman in the room, her eyes curiously darted between Gauss and Sophia several tis before she nodded at Sophia.
"And this is...?"
"Sophia, a... senior who's been very kind to ," Gauss introduced.
"Oh, hello, I'm Andni, I run a general store," Andni said naturally, sitting down on Gauss's other side with unassuming ease.
"Hello," Sophia responded sowhat stiffly, though her first impression of Andni was that she seed quite cute. But rembering this was Gauss's senior in the adventuring world - surely another remarkable person - she suddenly felt awkward about where to put her hands and feet.
"This al's on !" Andni grabbed the nu. "We agreed last ti. And you've probably spent most of your money by now?" As she spoke, her gaze swept over the storage bag at Gauss's waist.
"Not all of it," Gauss replied with a smile. "The guild benefits now are much better than in your ti, senior. Besides, today I'm the one inviting everyone to celebrate my promotion - it wouldn't do to have my senior pay."
"Oh?" Andni blinked, clearly interested in this "better benefits" topic and couldn't help asking for details.
"..."
"...I see." After listening, Andni rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
Gauss took this opportunity to turn and quietly chat with Sophia, introducing nu items to help ease her nervousness. After a while, Sophia gradually relaxed. Mainly because Andni's size and appearance weren't intimidating at all, and her personality was very easygoing. Realizing she lacked the imposing manner of an important figure and was quite familiar with Gauss, Sophia secretly sighed in relief. She'd really been worried about embarrassing Gauss.
"The food's here, let's eat," Gauss announced as dishes were brought to the table.
Good food truly bridges distances. After several dishes, the initially sowhat unfamiliar Sophia and Andni began chatting quietly. Seeing this, Gauss's eyes showed a trace of satisfaction. Bringing Sophia along this ti had been partly intentional, hoping she could get to know Andni. After all, Sophia was just an ordinary person. Though becoming a Bronze-rank adventurer ant he could provide so "protection" for the inn, he would often be away on missions. If they beca acquainted, Andni could keep an eye out for Sophia, which would only benefit her.
"Gauss, let's order so wine?" Andni seed in good spirits tonight and made the suggestion proactively.
"Can you handle it, senior?" Gauss asked.
Andni slapped the table. "Hey, what's that supposed to an? Looking down on ? Back in my adventuring days, I was the best drinker on the team!"
When the wine arrived, as if to prove her exceptional drinking ability, Andni downed several cups in quick succession, her small face soon turning rosy. In contrast, the usually quiet Sophia only showed slight flushing after several cups, with no obvious signs of intoxication. Gauss's alcohol tolerance was surprisingly good too - or rather, any alcohol entering his body was quickly broken down and absorbed by so internal power. His [Energy Storage Gland] talent treated the distilled essence of grain as food to rapidly digest, giving him virtually unlimited capacity.
The orange warm light enveloped the private room as the atmosphere gradually grew lively and warm. Watching the scene before him, Gauss felt waves of warmth welling up in his heart. Being able to celebrate with close companions was itself a joyous thing. At least at this mont, he wasn't alone. He couldn't imagine how miserable it would be if even at such happy tis, there was no one by his side to share the joy...
User Comments
0 comments from readers