Gauss clenched his fists.
With every slight movement, he could feel both strength and mana surging through his body. If a few of his past selves were standing in front of him now, he was confident he could take them all down with ease.
And that said a lot—he'd already been exceptionally strong for a trainee.
If it were any regular apprentice, he could probably take on even more than a few.
No wonder those professionals he'd met back in town had felt so intimidating.
Professionals didn't just have better physical attributes than apprentices—their class cores enhanced the quality of their strength. Their skills reached their full potential, unrestrained.
In comparison, a trainee's abilities were like watered-down versions—placeholder knockoffs of the real thing.
Professionals weren't just stronger. They operated on an entirely different level of existence.
"I've finally become a professional."
Gauss walked to the window and pushed it open.
The noise from the street flooded in—crisp, layered sounds: wheels clattering over cobblestone, vendors shouting, children laughing.
He looked out at the lively town and felt a strange sense of clarity.
Like the world had suddenly become bigger.
To be honest, ever since he arrived in this world, there had always been a lingering sense of unease deep in his heart—a kind of cautious anxiety, always trying to stay small, stay unnoticed.
But now, standing here as a full-fledged professional, no longer just part of the faceless masses, he finally felt like he had some control over his own fate.
And with that came a calmness of spirit.
His presence, though he didn't notice it, had shifted—no longer the slightly nervous young man. He now carried a quiet, composed confidence. Like a blade that had finally been tempered.
After watching the street for a while, he pulled himself back from the window.
He headed into the bath for a cold rinse, changed into a fresh set of clean clothes, and finally pushed open the heavy chamber door.
A staff member waiting outside heard the creak and turned, clearly startled.
She'd seen Gauss before, but now… he looked like a different person.
Gone was the youthful inexperience—his presence now felt calm, composed, and polished, like a precious gem that had finally been carved and polished to reveal its glow.
"Mr. Gauss… You… did you succeed?" Her tone held a trace of awe.
"I did." Gauss nodded with a gentle smile.
Her expression became even more respectful.
"How long was I in there?"
"Five days."
Five days? Gauss blinked, surprised.
No wonder waking up felt like a dream. He'd been out for nearly a week.
"Is Lawrence around?"
"Vice President Lawrence is in. He specifically asked to be notified the moment you woke up." She bowed politely, then turned and hurried toward Lawrence's office.
Gauss watched her nervous posture and shook his head with a faint smile.
Her change in attitude didn't really surprise him. That was the reality of being a professional.
Even civilian employees at small organizations understood that people like him—those with real power—couldn't be treated lightly.
After all, there was no way to predict what kind of temperament a professional might have. Even if it was rare, the last thing you wanted was to accidentally offend someone who could burn down a house with a gesture.
While Gauss pondered that, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall.
Lawrence appeared.
The moment he saw Gauss, his pupils contracted sharply.
As a fellow caster trainee, he could feel it—Gauss now radiated a pressure that made lower-ranked people instinctively tense.
It was a kind of spiritual dominance. A high-rank aura.
Lawrence's body stiffened, hand twitching like he was going to clap Gauss on the shoulder—but instead, he nervously rubbed his sleeve and lowered it.
"Long time no see," Gauss said, breaking the tension. "Didn't expect the training to last five days."
Lawrence relaxed slightly.
"That's actually really fast. Some people stay in that state for weeks, even months. You advanced fast, Gauss."
"Really? Huh… Anyway, how much is the rental fee for this chamber? I'll pay you back."
"No, no need!" Lawrence waved his hands. "It's part of the Mutual Aid Association's member benefits. Free for things like this. And besides—we're friends."
"Alright, then. If there's ever anything I can help with, just ask."
Gauss could tell Lawrence wouldn't take the money anyway, so he offered what he could—his word.
Over the time he'd spent in Wormwood Town, Lawrence had gone out of his way to help him. Gauss's advancement wouldn't have gone so smoothly without him.
He wasn't the kind of person to forget favors.
"Hey, don't say it like that. I didn't help you expecting anything in return," Lawrence grumbled—but he was grinning.
In truth, he didn't need any promises from Gauss.
He wasn't in some desperate situation where he needed favors. But hearing Gauss offer anyway—it felt good. Like he mattered.
And this wasn't just any friend.
This was a friendship with a genius spellcaster.
That kind of bond? Priceless.
"Let's grab food. Parker's Tavern?"
"Yeah, let's go."
…
Inside the gently rocking carriage...
Gauss pulled aside the canvas cover and glanced outside.
They had arrived at Grayrock Town.
When the carriage finally stopped, he hopped down and joined the line waiting at the gate for inspection.
He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination—but the guards seemed to check him faster than usual.
Strange. As a civilian, they shouldn't be able to sense he was a professional. He'd been actively suppressing his aura.
Could it be… his 7-point Charisma?
People are visual creatures. If you look more trustworthy, seem more refined, you just naturally get less scrutiny. That's how the world works.
Yeah—high Charisma definitely had its perks.
Gauss stepped into Grayrock.
This was where his journey had begun. Even though he'd advanced into a professional now, it wasn't the end—just a brand-new beginning.
There were still so many adventures, challenges, and stories ahead.
But for now, his goal was clear: take the exam and become a Bronze-ranked adventurer.
That badge from the Adventurer's Guild carried real weight.
On one hand, it was official proof of his class status. Just flashing it would let people know he was a professional—saving time and trouble.
On the other hand, only with that badge could he access higher-tier missions, the internal guild shop, and benefit from their perks and policies.
Gauss had no desire to hide his strength or play the underdog. He just wanted recognition that matched his actual capabilities.
Besides, beginner-level quests were too small-scale. He might still do a few to fill his bestiary, but they didn't excite him.
If he could take on a request to wipe out 40 or 50 goblins at once, it'd be way more efficient than doing two dozen at a time.
Travel time added up. Efficiency mattered.
He arrived at the Grayrock Adventurer's Guild.
Standing in the lobby, he looked around.
There—at one of the reception counters, a familiar face: Petra was on duty.
He queued up and waited patiently.
Before long—
"Next."
Gauss stepped forward.
Petra looked up.
A handsome, black-haired, blue-eyed young man stood before her.
Familiar—but also unfamiliar.
She stared for a second before realization hit.
"…Is that you, Gauss?" she asked, cautiously.
"Long time no see, Petra."
She exhaled in relief.
It had been a while—long enough that she had wondered if something had happened to him.
"Yeah, it really has been a while."
"I was in Wormwood Town," Gauss said with a calm smile.
But Petra couldn't shake the feeling that something was… off.
She studied him carefully. His golden eyes swept across her calmly.
He felt like… one of those professionals she'd interacted with before.
But that was impossible. Right?
She'd been the one who helped register him. She knew what his starting point had been.
An adventurer for only a few months—there was no way he'd already become a professional.
Even in the capital, among the most elite of the elite, only a few had ever done that.
So what were the odds… that a small-town hunter like Gauss had pulled it off?