When Gauss stepped outside, he happened to overhear the townsfolk chatting about several knights recently arriving in Grayrock Town riding griffins.
At first, he thought it was just rural gossip and didn't believe it.
After all, roadside rumors aren't to be trusted;
he often heard people boasting about seeing dragons on the road.
It wasn't until he saw those griffins himself at the stable outside the Adventurers Guild—each wearing gleaming armor and saddles—that he finally realized the rumors were true.
Griffins, as wild monsters, have a challenge rating of level 2 or above, which doesn't seem very high, but with their flying ability and excellent mobility, unless one can firmly hold their aggro, once they take to the skies, most adventurers can only look up in despair.
Moreover, griffins carefully bred and trained by humans with massive resource investnt often have combat power far exceeding their wild counterparts.
At least from Gauss’s vague perception, those griffin creatures resting there exuded an unusually strong aura of pressure.
It was like when he was still a low-level adventurer and encountered that ghoul at the docks—both were powerful enemies he couldn't yet face.
However, he didn't pay it much mind. Just as now he could probably easily kill the ghoul that once made them flee, he believed that in ti, his strength would surpass these griffins.
He paused by the stable, taking a few more glances.
It was a rare chance to see such creatures up close, just the right opportunity to satisfy his curiosity.
Around him, many other “spectators” like himself were watching these majestic beasts from afar.
Those griffins kept their eyes closed, resting and completely ignoring the crowd.
“I’ll tell Aria on the way back—there are griffins to see here...”
After looking for a while, Gauss turned and headed toward the Adventurers Guild.
He wondered about the griffins' owners—who they were and how strong they might be?
He recalled Eberhard, the Grayrock Guild Leader, who also rode a griffin, but his mount was obviously larger and better equipped than these. Perhaps there was so connection between them?
The first floor of the guild hall was much quieter than usual, with only a few adventurers whispering among themselves. They didn’t seem to be here for quests.
They noticed Gauss entering and briefly glanced at the badge on his chest before quickly looking away.
Not seeing anyone he knew downstairs, Gauss headed up the stairs to the second floor. He had co today to return so books.
One of the benefits for professional-level adventurers was free access to the guild library’s public books, which he often used.
After returning his books, he borrowed a few new ones.
Standing at the library entrance, he thought for a mont before heading to the magic item shop.
His gaze drifted over the displayed longswords. He asked the clerk about prices, politely thanked him, and left.
He indeed needed to replace his weapon.
But these common-level magic items were essentially ordinary items with simple magical effects and functions. Truly rare or higher-grade treasures were impossible to find in this small town’s shops.
He recalled seeing similar equipnt when working at the blacksmith’s shop.
He guessed that many of the weapons in the Adventurers Guild magic item shop might have been sourced from local blacksmiths.
Of course, the guild’s most special items were a tiny portion of the best weapons blacksmiths could offer.
Rare-level weapons required Aria’s or magical formation involvent for enchantnt;
they couldn’t be made by forging and ordinary materials alone.
After checking prices in the guild shop, he decided to go directly to the Black Anvil Workshop to avoid middlen’s price hikes.
Heading downstairs and out the door, he passed the stables again and couldn’t help but glance once more at the griffins before turning toward the blacksmith shop.
“Clang! Clang! Clang!”
The distinctive rhythmic sound of the blacksmith’s hamr drew nearer, and the air temperature noticeably rose, even lting the snow outside the door slightly.
The apprentice behind the counter looked sowhat familiar to Gauss, though he couldn’t recall the na—maybe one of the few who had quietly bullied him when he worked here before.
The apprentice clearly didn’t recognize him either.
Or perhaps compared to one or two years ago, Gauss had changed so drastically he was like a different person altogether.
Seeing the bronze two-star badge on Gauss’s chest, the apprentice imdiately stiffened, speaking respectfully, “Sir, how may I assist you?”
Seeing the apprentice’s nervous deanor, Gauss had no intention of “taking it out on him.”
Perhaps the original Gauss had indeed harbored resentnt toward the cold, exclusionary staff, even fantasizing about surpassing them and becoming a noble figure. But those mories had long faded and were insignificant to the Gauss now.
He simply explained his purpose plainly.
“Do you have magic item-grade weapons for sale here?”
“Yes... yes, we do! I’ll call the shopkeeper!” Such a “big deal” was beyond a lowly apprentice’s authority.
In fact, when the apprentice saw this sowhat familiar young two-star adventurer enter, he had already planned to find Shopkeeper Grom in the forging area.
Usually, such distinguished guests were received personally by the shopkeeper.
As a blacksmith apprentice, he might have so psychological advantage over the poorest low-level adventurers, but facing a professional wearing a badge like this, that advantage vanished.
“Shopkeeper Grom, we have a distinguished guest!”
Garon Bates erged from the forging area.
As usual, he wore a black hardened leather apron, with his left eye covered by a black eyepatch, and his exposed right eye sharp as ever.
When he saw the visitor, a faint flicker of surprise crossed his otherwise plain face.
“Long ti no see, Gauss. You’re already a bronze adventurer? And two-star at that...” His gaze landed on Gauss’s chest.
“Yes, Shopkeeper Grom.” Gauss smiled and nodded. “Didn’t Senior Andni tell you?”
He had assud Grom already knew about his promotion.
After all, it was Grom who introduced him to Thorn Cottage, where he t the halfling mage Andni, his forr teammate who knew about his advancent early on.
“That guy... hasn’t been in contact for a long ti.” Grom seed indifferent.
When talking about his old teammate, his tone was flat, as if discussing a stranger unrelated to him.
The apprentice listened to their conversation, deep in thought.
He felt the na Gauss was strangely familiar, and the man gave him an inexplicable sense of recognition.
Could he know him?
No way... how would I know a professional?
Taking advantage of shelving so items, he covertly studied Gauss with his peripheral vision.
The young man was tall and well-proportioned—not as rugged as Grom, who was like a rock, but exuding a quiet strength.
A brand-new plain black robe covered him, its wide sleeves hanging down, emphasizing his upright shoulders.
His hair was pure black, neatly trimd, with a few strands casually hanging over his smooth forehead and neck.
The most striking feature was his face—handso but not delicate, carrying the calm, mysterious aura unique to spellcasters.
He looked vaguely familiar.
The apprentice narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Congratulations,” Grom said honestly. “When you last ca, I thought you had talent, but your rate of promotion still exceeded my expectations.”
Although two-star adventurers were still weak in his eyes, with such rapid advancent, Gauss’s future surely exceeded that of himself and others.
“That’s thanks to your help back then.” Gauss sincerely thanked him.
Grom was the first to reveal the professional world to him.
Grom shook his head.
“You really should thank . Thank for not forcing you to stay when you left;
otherwise, the world would have one useless blacksmith more and one outstanding spellcaster less.” He laughed self-deprecatingly. “By the way, you’re here to buy weapons, right? Those cheap ones outside probably won’t cut it for you anymore. Follow .”
The two walked toward the back room. The apprentice left behind was still chewing over Grom’s last words.
I didn’t force you to stay when you left...
Suddenly, a lightning bolt flashed in his mind!
Connecting the na Gauss triggered mories breaking through like cracked ice.
It’s him! That inconspicuous black-haired kid!
He swallowed hard, feeling dizzy and the world turning unreal.
Turning to watch Gauss’s tall, straight back as he walked away, he suddenly felt uneasy.
“He probably... doesn’t rember , right?”
In the back room, they selected weapons. As Gauss had expected, so weapons in the Adventurers Guild shop did co from here, priced dozens of silver coins cheaper each.
“Shopkeeper Grom, can I use Identify Spell?” Gauss had just learned the spell and wanted to try it out.
“Of course.”
Grom nodded casually.
When professional teams shop, they often bring along a mage who can cast Identify Spell;
such inspections were common, and he was used to them.
Gauss took out his Hundred Bone Staff. The staff’s tip glowed faintly as invisible magical light enveloped the longsword before him.
Soon, the longsword emitted a white aura in his sight.
[Refined Steel One-Handed Sword]
Level: Common Magic Item (White Grade)
Description: This is a refined steel one-handed sword repeatedly folded and hamred to remove impurities. It incorporates a small amount of lightweight, wind-conductive Wind Pattern Stone fragnts. The blade’s surface appears to have ford natural wind-conducting runes that reduce air resistance during swings.
He then cast Identify Spell on the other swords.
Embarrassingly, since he was still new to the spell, he failed several tis—he wondered if Grom noticed.
The other swords also glowed white in his vision, each with different special effects: so were sturdier, so heavier, so provided faint illumination, so slowly repaired themselves.
After thinking for a mont, Gauss chose the initial refined steel sword that reduced air resistance.
Less resistance ant faster attack speed, saving effort when clearing mobs.
The price was a bit steep at six gold coins.
An ordinary longsword without special effects cost just a few dozen silver coins—a difference of more than ten tis.
Gauss guessed the price gap ca from the complexity of craftsmanship and the Wind Pattern Stone fragnts ntioned in the Identify Spell description.
Wind Pattern Stone—I’ll rember that, he silently noted.
If a few fragnts cost this much, it must be valuable. Hopefully, he’d encounter it in the wild soday.
This might be the value of Identify Spell.
Without it, many precious resources might be unrecognized in the wild and missed entirely.
He needed to practice more and improve his success rate so that when traveling outside, if he encountered unfamiliar plants or minerals, he could identify them and maybe find surprises. Gauss thought quietly.
But the spellbook also ntioned that the identification effect depended on the caster’s knowledge reserve.
For relatively basic items, it could provide accurate information, but for rarer items, if the caster’s knowledge was insufficient, the description might be vague or the identification could fail.
So besides practicing the spell, he had to read more books.
After chatting briefly with Grom, Gauss didn’t linger and put away the refined steel longsword, heading outside.
Strangely, the apprentice who had greeted him earlier was nowhere to be seen.
No one to watch the shop?
Though puzzled, Gauss saw no other custors outside, so he didn’t ddle further.
After he left, a figure cautiously erged from a cluttered corner outside the shop and watched Gauss’s retreating back, finally exhaling deeply.
For a single adventurer like Gauss, the New Year's Festival held little special aning.
That night’s dinner was simple. To keep things easy, he discussed with Aria and they had a modest al together in Gauss’s small cabin—considered a way to celebrate.
But for now, it was only the two of them.
He had gone to Thorn Cottage once;
the halfling mage Andni was out again.
Though retired, she seed to occasionally disappear for periods, busy with unknown tasks, and Gauss had almost grown used to it.
Sophia’s inn still housed a few out-of-town tenants spending the New Year in town. She had to watch the shop and would arrive later.
On New Year's Eve,
In Gauss’s kitchen,
He took off his robe and tied on an apron, with Aria helping beside him.
Together, they prepared several dishes.
Pan-fried salted ribs, vegetable cream soup, herb-roasted chicken, soft bread, honey-baked apples, light beer...
Though not luxurious by their standards, the dinner was exceptionally warm.
While enjoying the food, they shared and exchanged stories of recent strange news.
Ulfen and Eck feasted heartily in the living room, enjoying a specially prepared roast and stew al.
Outside, every household was brightly lit. The streets were adorned with decorations, and celebratory bonfires blazed, dispelling the midwinter chill and enhancing the festive atmosphere.
In the center of the square,
A huge fire was lit, and many townsfolk gathered spontaneously to celebrate.
After their al, Gauss and Aria changed into ordinary clothes and went to the square with Sophia and her assistant Winnie, who arrived shortly after.
The townspeople lined up, tossing copper coins or copper shards one by one into the New Year’s bonfire.
This was an ancient tradition of the Kingdom of Carlos, symbolizing burning away the old year's bad luck and praying for good fortune in the new year.
Following the custom, the group tossed in copper coins and then enjoyed the song and dance performance organized by the town hall.
Ti quietly passed amid laughter and joy.
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