To Gauss:

We have heard that you have been promoted to Bronze-rank Adventurer. All members of the Night Owl Squad sincerely rejoice for you.

Although it was expected... your promotion came even sooner than we anticipated.

Levin and Doyle could hardly believe it when they found out and ended up drinking a few extra rounds at the tavern that night. Everyone is truly happy for you.

This path is never easy for any adventurer. Congratulations.

We believe that Bronze rank is only the starting point of your long journey. In the future, you will witness sights that we may never reach in this lifetime.

May your footsteps never cease, and may you keep moving forward.

As for us, we will carry our own packs and continue striving on this path.

The squad is currently busy with travel and could not come to congratulate you in person, please forgive us. We have pooled together a small gift to send with this letter. The gift is modest, but we hope it can be of some use.

Wishing you a bright road ahead.

From all members of the Night Owl Squad.

When Gauss saw the letter, to be honest, his heart felt a warm glow.

He immediately recognized the handwriting as that of Meva, the taciturn but thoughtful rogue apprentice from the Night Owl Squad.

After all, when they had carried out missions together, she often needed to scout enemy information ahead of time and made careful notes and sketches on maps. Her handwriting was delicate and neat, just like her personality.

The letter’s content seemed to transport him back to the days fighting side by side with the squad.

He had originally thought about finding a time to gather with them, but then he dismissed the idea.

They were all busy striving to promote their own professions.

If he went now, it would only make them feel disappointed.

It was like the ordinary students in his previous life watching the gifted students get direct university admissions.

“Forget it... I’ll wait until they all get promoted before I go.”

Gauss carefully put the gift and letter back into his storage bag.

“Is it from someone you know?”

“Yeah, former teammates.”

“That’s good. I’ll get busy in the kitchen then.” Sofia didn’t know Meva or the others, and seeing Gauss was fine, she turned and went into the kitchen to continue working.

Soon after, Aria arrived.

“Why did you get here before me again?” Aria looked at Gauss who was already seated, a little helpless.

She wasn’t actually late, but Gauss always seemed to leave earlier than her.

Before, when Gauss stayed at the inn, it could be explained by proximity. But now that he had moved out, how was he still coming so early?

“Just got here,” Gauss smiled. “Want to have breakfast? I ordered an extra for you.”

“Then let’s eat together.”

While they waited, Gauss habitually flipped through the Adventurer’s Manual.

Name: Gauss

Profession: Magician

Strength: 7

Agility: 7

Constitution: 7

Intelligence: 9

Perception: 7

Charisma: 7

Core Skill: 1st Circle Spell Gauss Field lv4 (55/100)

Sub-Core Skill: 1st Circle Spell Magic Missile lv3 (44/50)

Other Skills:

[0 Circle Cantrips]

Mage Hand lv3 (46/50)

Magician’s Staff lv3 (17/50)

Fire Bolt lv3 (15/50)

Light Cantrip lv3 (3/50)

Message lv2 (5/20)

Mending lv2 (2/20)

Gust lv2 (2/20)

Poison Spray lv1 (8/10)

Friendship Spell lv1 (6/10)

[Other Skills]

Basic Swordsmanship lv3 (3/50)

Enhanced Jump lv2 (18/20)

Insight Technique lv1 (8/10)

Racial Talent: [White] Energy Storage Gland (Elite rank)

Professional Talents: Magic Resistance, Spell Mastery

Gauss looked at the panel.

He currently had a total of 14 skills, among them three at level 1 proficiency, four at level 2, six at level 3, and only one at level 4.

Subjectively, he categorized proficiency levels more intuitively: level 1 as beginner, level 2 as proficient, level 3 as expert, level 4 as master. Level 5 was unknown to him for now, and he didn’t know what changes would come with it. He could only hope that his sole level 4 skill, Gauss Field, would help him reach level 5 soon and open his eyes.

Unfortunately, the difficulty of increasing proficiency seemed to grow the higher the level. The first two levels were easy to advance quickly, but starting from level 3, progress slowed considerably.

So even with frequent use, it would be hard to raise Gauss Field to level 5 in the short term.

The benefits of higher proficiency were obvious: speed of casting, fluidity, and resistance to interruption all improved. Taking Gauss Field at level 4 as an example, as a core skill, it could be cast almost instantly.

Gauss browsed his panel, planning his next key training priorities.

Magic Missile, Mage Hand, and Enhanced Jump were all close to their next upgrade, so he needed to focus on practicing and using them in real combat.

After breakfast, Gauss and Aria went to the Adventurers Guild.

As they climbed the stairs to the second floor, the envious gazes and whispers from below remained unchanged.

“Another one just promoted…”

“Why are there so many Bronze-rank adventurers on the second floor today?”

“Could it be something big?”

“Eh, whatever. It doesn’t concern us ordinary adventurers. Better to pick a suitable quest quickly.”

“The weather’s getting colder. If I keep busy for two more weeks, I should pack up and go home for the winter.”

“Yeah, once the snow falls, the roads get tough. Better to make plans ahead...”

When they reached the second floor, the scene was indeed very different from usual.

At this time on normal days, there were only a sparse ten or so Bronze-rank adventurers in the hall. But now, the place was packed, with likely over a hundred adventurers gathered.

Many faces were unfamiliar to Gauss.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a group of small but agile halflings clustered in a corner. They wore dark soft leather armor for easy movement, their belts full of various tools for different uses. Their eyes scanned vigilantly, speaking quietly among themselves.

If not for Gauss knowing a halfling magician and deliberately paying attention, these small figures hidden in the crowd would be hard to spot.

The largest group was warriors. These were mostly well-equipped, wearing medium to heavy armor, carrying broad swords, battle axes, or long spears. Most small teams of two or three had at least one reliable warrior, sometimes two or three.

More distinctive were the half-orc warriors radiating a fierce "keep out" aura. Compared to others, they were bulkier and showed obvious beast-like features, which were the main way to identify them.

Tails, beast ears, protruding tusks, and even some beastified limbs with varying degrees of mutation. They usually wielded heavy weapons like two-handed great axes or warhammers. Their armor was thick leather rather than heavy iron plates.

Next were some human rangers and suspected half-elf rangers, dressed in hunting gear suited for forest activity. They carried longbows or crossbows and short knives at their waists. Most had sharp, eagle-like gazes.

Mages and priests were no longer as rare at the lower levels;

it was common to see them in other squads.

Gauss also vaguely noticed some unconventional professions, but only guessed without making firm judgments.

He withdrew his gaze.

Gauss and Aria went to the front desk and picked up a form.

Then they moved to a relatively quiet corner to sit down.

The reason for so many Bronze-rank adventurers gathering today was that the Adventurers Guild was holding a briefing for the upcoming Winter Hunt event.

“So many people I’ve never seen before. Do you know any of them?”

When they arrived, several squads greeted Aria, who seemed to have cooperated with them before.

Aria shook her head, then leaned close to Gauss and whispered a brief explanation.

“I don’t know them all either. Because every year around this time, some inland adventurers come rushing here for the Winter Hunt...”

After Aria’s quiet explanation, Gauss understood the situation.

Basically, after autumn arrives, some inland adventurers start traveling to the frontier town.

Some come to train and hone their skills.

Some come specifically to make quick money during this period and then hunker down for winter.

Because winter is harsh and cold, most adventurers don’t want to move much. Earning a sum before winter allows most to comfortably rest through the season.

When spring returns and the snow melts, and the weather warms, they come back out.

So in essence, adventurers and monsters aren’t much different in their activity;

both are preparing “supplies” in advance for winter rest.

Gauss’s gaze also turned toward the hall area.

No wonder some people had a noticeably extraordinary aura, excellent equipment, and mature adventurers who seemed like bodyguards standing guard. These must be inland adventurers, possibly family heirs coming to train.

After waiting a while, everyone assembled and entered the conference hall.

The host was the Grayrock Town Adventurers Guild leader, a red-eyed man Gauss had never seen before. He had short brown hair and a handsome but stern and serious face.

Vice President Sherry, a warlock, and the secretary sat on either side.

After everyone was seated, the red-eyed man cleared his throat.

“Ahem!”

“Thank you all for attending. I am Eberhard, the Grayrock Town Adventurers Guild leader.”

His voice strangely sounded clear and close in everyone’s ears.

At the same time, an invisible yet powerful aura instantly enveloped the entire conference hall, completely suppressing all chatter and whispering. The hall fell into dead silence.

Once order was stabilized, he began to speak.

Gauss listened carefully but felt a chill in his heart.

He subtly sensed the strange force field in the air — a powerful living aura, like a domain’s presence, compelling everyone to obey his arrangements and focus their attention on him.

If this was... magic, wouldn’t it be illegal? This thought suddenly popped into Gauss’s mind.

After all, no prior notice had been given to those present, but considering the man’s identity, probably no one would challenge this slight infringement.

In Gauss’s perception, the aura of the red-eyed man was undoubtedly the strongest presence he had ever encountered.