"Very good."
Adelle glanced at the rapier in Gauss's hand as a pure white radiance blood from it and nodded with obvious admiration.
"Although I expected so progress, I didn't think you'd master this sword art so quickly."
Adelle's emotions were complicated.
The days spent teaching Gauss had flown by, but she hadn't grown bored. Instead, she felt an indescribable, satisfyingly jealous pride.
Whenever she taught sothing—so piece of knowledge or a particular technique—Gauss absorbed it like a sponge, at an astonishing rate.
Any correction usually needed only once or twice, at most a few repetitions, before he fixed it.
She felt as if she had personally witnessed a "miracle" being born. Although she considered herself rely a guide, in the White Falcon sword arts she was, at least, half his teacher.
Every ti she thought that, an involuntary swell of pride rose in her chest.
This child is my student.
Of course, whenever pride surfaced, she couldn't help but recall the ti and effort she had poured into learning this sword art herself.
Her emotions shifted into sothing more complex.
There are probably few people in the world who could watch soone else progress this quickly without feeling a little inadequate.
This was the White Falcon sword technique—a style so difficult that even Master-level swordsn could use it—and he had mastered it in only a few days.
And ...
Every ti she compared the ti gap, she couldn't help but lant fate's injustice.
She felt powerless, as if her existence was only ant to set off these genuine prodigies.
"Adelle, teacher, is there anything wrong with my White Falcon sword thod?"
Gauss looked over after finishing another run-through and noticed Adelle's expression had grown serious;
she fell silent for a mont, having toned down the exhilaration from the practice, and curiously asked.
White Falcon sword thod lv1 (9/10)
From the Adventurer’s Manual skill panel, his skill was indeed at an entry level and about to hit lv2.
Much of that credit belonged to Adelle in front of him.
During the days she taught him she had been extrely patient and had even deferred a lot of her guild duties.
Within her abilities, she arranged a relatively complete block of learning ti for him.
Learning the White Falcon sword thod is to a swordsman what a three-tier spell is to a level-five spellcaster in terms of difficulty.
Besides, before this he only possessed Basic Swordsmanship;
he hadn't studied other sword arts.
Gauss knew clearly that his solid foundation, plus a little help from the Adventurer’s Manual, and perhaps his "talent," made him better than most people.
But without her wholehearted teaching, his progress would have been impossible.
After each lesson, Adelle proactively set the next session.
As a "teacher," she was even more proactive than her "student."
"No, I don't really have anything more to teach you. Your White Falcon sword thod is very standard. The rest depends on you practicing until you form your own style."
Adelle shook her head.
"Also, consider this begging you—just call Adelle."
"I really don't deserve the title 'teacher.' It won't be long before your White Falcon sword thod surpasses mine."
Her main sword art wasn't the White Falcon technique.
Given Gauss's rapid improvent, as long as he didn't neglect the skill afterward, surpassing her was almost certain.
And Gauss was only level 4 now, yet already close to her combat power.
That ant when he reached level 5, or later leveled up to Master, his combat strength would completely overwhelm hers.
So in her heart she had already begun to treat Gauss as an equal friend.
"Adelle, thank you very much for your instruction."
In response to Gauss's gratitude, Adelle did not continue to demur this ti;
she calmly accepted his bowed thanks.
Over the past few days she had indeed invested a great deal of enthusiasm into teaching.
"Let's grab a al together." Adelle volunteered.
With the lesson over for now, the two of them wouldn't have cause to et again in the short term.
They'd gotten along well enough that even Adelle—who usually disliked socializing—was willing to invite him to dinner.
"Can I bring my teammates?" Gauss asked after thinking it over.
Based on their recent interactions, he felt she wouldn't mind.
"Of course."
At a lavishly decorated seafood restaurant.
Gauss's party and Adelle arrived at the private room on ti.
"So captain, have you mastered that sword art you learned from Adelle?" Serlandul asked.
Gauss had been coming and going early and late these past days;
his teammates naturally knew what he'd been up to.
"Mm." Gauss nodded.
Having mastered this sword art, his close-combat options had expanded.
The White Falcon sword thod wasn't only effective when wielding a sword.
Even without a blade in hand, the breathing techniques and power-delivery thods could transfer to other forms of close-quarters fighting.
And in the depths of his consciousness, beside the bright, cup-like device that let him perceive magic, a faint but sharp sword silhouette was slowly condensing.
This signaled that the secondary profession he'd been eyeing for so ti had finally begun to take shape.
He had discussed this with Adelle;
they hadn't avoided the topic because a spellcaster seriously studying a sword art that only swordsn needed couldn't be dismissed as a re hobby.
Even if Gauss hadn't spoken, Adelle could have sensed his intentions.
It was better to be straightforward.
Besides, many people had thoughts of opening a second profession.
Wanting was one thing;
actually succeeding was far harder than Gauss had imagined.
During their talks, Gauss gradually understood the core problem.
Learning the skills of another profession is hard, but harder still is entering a brand-new system.
It involves a fundantal conflict between power cores.
This seed to be a broad rule woven into the world's fabric.
This rule produced mutual exclusion between profession cores.
Even if a main core and a secondary core had clearly defined priorities, the primary core—being the more powerful—would, in principle, suppress the ergence of the other core. In Gauss's case, his mage core—the magic cup that housed his source of power—should naturally push against the birth of a sword core.
This process was sothing even the practitioner, as the host, couldn't forcibly override.
Many who tried to carry two professions were forced to abandon the idea under this "selfish" suppression.
Only a few lucky ones, due to special physical talent or a unique opportunity, could tread the dual-profession path.
But that wasn't necessarily a blessing.
Part-timing ant expending more effort than a single-profession practitioner;
once a lapse occurred, not only would the secondary profession stall, the primary profession might suffer as well.
Either you surge forward and grow far stronger, or you tumble into diocrity.
Part-timing was a double-edged sword.
So when Adelle first analyzed this for him, Gauss had reservations.
Only when he entered White Falcon sword thod lv1 and began to condense the sword profession core in the sea of his consciousness did he find that the universal rule conflict, in his case...
seed not to exist!
His mage core had very "hospitably" accepted the neighboring sword core.
There was none of the conflict and fierce opposition Adelle had described.
In other words, the rule failed for him.
He hadn't told Adelle this, because he felt it might involve his deepest secret—the Adventurer’s Manual.
A rule that applied to all adventurers in the world yet didn't function for him could only be attributed to the Manual's influence.
To him, the Adventurer’s Manual felt like a great force symbolizing consolidation.
Once a skill was mastered, it wouldn't degrade;
its level would hold steady.
Its branching function—the Monster Encyclopedia—was also a kind of consolidation.
It fixed the act of defeating monsters into a progress tric;
as the numbers accumulated, their effects compounded bit by bit until stage rewards were given.
In fact, even an ordinary person who persevered in killing thousands upon thousands of monsters without dying would see explosive growth in strength.
They just couldn't compare to a special competitor like Gauss, who combined talent and aid from the Manual.
Still, compared to his previous self, Gauss could certainly achieve enormous improvents.
This realization strengthened his resolve never to expose the existence of the Adventurer’s Manual.
If sothing that could override the world's rules beca known, the consequences could be severe.
As for the current exposure of his talent, he wasn't worried.
This world had many geniuses—so born of lineage, so blessed by ancient inheritances, others deriving power from deities, devils, or forces beyond the world.
Nurous bizarre "talents" existed.
As long as he didn't state anything, people would invent an appropriate reason for him.
A dinner that was part "teacher-appreciation feast" and part friends' gathering soon wound down amid quiet conversation.
The next day.
After several days’ rest, Gauss's four-person team regrouped.
They traveled light this ti.
All their luggage had been stored in Gauss's dium Storage Bag.
Besides mounts, Aria's animal companions were in the Living Bag.
Today the four decided to take a few simple commissions nearby to warm up.
Though they were still learning to read their skills, it wasn't wise to stay away from guild commissions for too long.
"After several days off, it feels like it's been ages since we went on a quest." As the party's logistics leader, Aria scratched her head after checking supplies and gear before departure.
She felt like she'd forgotten sothing, but after checking repeatedly, she realized it was just her imagination.
"It's been a while." Gauss flexed his wrist.
It had been about a week since they last killed goblins.
Such a distant mory.
Thinking of it made his hands itch.
Besides, the White Falcon sword thod needed practice targets.
The condensation of his second profession also urgently sought so enthusiastic volunteers to expedite the process.
They arrived at the second floor of the Adventurers Guild.
The group quickly drew the attention of others present.
For so reason, the level badges of Gauss's team matched their latest ranks almost imdiately.
A three-star, two four-stars, and a five-star lineup was already a very high-level configuration for those allowed on the second floor.
Level 4 and 5 adventurers weren't a common sight even in Sena City.
In truth, most elite professionals were still level 1 or 2.
However, large cities had more adventurers overall, and the proportion of elite adventurers was higher than in small towns, so in pure numbers there were more high-level adventurers.
Under many envious gazes, the group approached the front desk.
"Hello, we're here to accept commissions."
"Very well, Mr. Gauss. Please and your teammates step into the VIP Room."
When the guild receptionist recognized Gauss, her smile grew warr and her tone almost reverent, as if she were greeting a visiting superior rather than soone asking about commissions.
That respect ca from "Adelle."
They had seen Gauss and Adelle walking side by side over the past days and speaking as equals.
And just yesterday, Adelle had explicitly told the second-floor manager about the special status of Gauss's team and asked that they be given as much convenience as allowed.
Adelle was a particularly special figure at the Sena City Adventurers Guild Eastern District Branch.
She wasn't rely a Senior Director.
Her status ca from her strength and the White Falcon title, her well-known friendship with Guild President Rachel, and rumors that she was a direct descendant of the Vives family—the real power behind Sena City.
So even though she hadn't been at the branch long, everyone there cooperated closely with her work.
A level-4 professional frequently seen with such an esteed figure obviously aroused speculation about hidden reasons.
Either he ca from a more illustrious family, or he had so special relationship with Adelle...
But whatever the speculation, it wasn't sothing a junior staffer dared to probe.
If the second possibility were true, it would be even more serious—after all, Adelle was their boss and had many ways to handle insubordinate staff.
With those thoughts, the receptionist warmly escorted them to the VIP Room and took four task crystals containing the commission list into the room.
"One crystal would be enough, right?"
"No matter. We have plenty of crystals. One for each of you makes it easier to browse." the receptionist replied with a smile.
Gauss scratched his head.
The big city really did feel grander than their small Grayrock Town.
The staff's service made him feel welco.
Before he could begin choosing commissions, another attendant brought in plates of pastries.
On exquisite porcelain lay powdered muffins, honey-glazed nut pastries, and various Sena City seafood finger foods—the aroma irresistibly tempting.
Hot tea and coffee were brought in next.
And they all ca in generous portions.
They were called snacks, but in number enough to fill an ordinary person's main al.
"Enjoy."
A sliver of suspicion crossed Gauss's eyes.
Sothing felt off.
They seed to know him quite well.
Could Adelle have told them sothing?
But telling them about his appetite seed oddly detailed—such minor personal notes didn't need ntion.
Gauss shook his head and refocused on the crystal in front of him.
Grasping the crystal, a flood of mission information poured into his mind.
Clear mutated creatures from the sewers, escort a caravan to an inland city, investigate abnormal mana fluctuations along the coast, hunt dangerous sea beasts in certain waters...
There were many types of commissions, difficulties ranging from beginner one-star to five-star.
Too many choices made his head spin.
Suddenly, Gauss noticed a familiar phrase.
A band of shore-running goblin pirates near the Tidal Cavern.
Shore-running goblins are a goblin subspecies active along shorelines, reef areas, islands, and caverns.
Their skin is gray-green or pale blue, their feet webbed—amphibious on land and sea.
This group of goblins pilots crude rafts, attacks coastal villages and grounded vessels, preys on passing rchant ships, secretly dives to breach hulls, and has caused great trouble to coastal fishern. Please eliminate them as soon as possible.
As expected—goblins are everywhere.
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