As Gauss passed the warrior section, he glanced at the prices of apprentice-level sword techniques. The cheaper ones were around 20–30 silver coins, and even the pricier ones were just 50–60 silver.
Compared to cantrips and spells, warrior skills were surprisingly affordable.
The rogue section also had basic stealth, breath control, and tracking skills neatly displayed on the shelves.
"I wonder... could I learn skills from other classes too?" Gauss mused.
Normally, adventurers focused on honing the skills of their own class. Each profession already offered a wide variety of techniques, and branching out into other class skills was often seen as inefficient and impractical.
You only have so much time and energy—spreading too thin usually meant mastering nothing.
Still, Gauss had no stat weaknesses and, more importantly, he had a system panel. Maybe learning some simple apprentice-level skills wouldn't be that hard?
He filed that thought away for later.
Finally, he arrived at the section for mage cantrips and spells.
The scrolls were neatly arranged by rank: Cantrip, Level 1, and Level 2.
This was as far as the Grayrock Guild Shop stocked; Level 3 and above were nowhere to be seen.
Maybe they're only available in bigger cities?
A warning on the shelf caught his eye:
"Do not open scrolls. You are responsible for any consequences."
Gauss pulled his hand back. These weren't just books—they clearly had protection mechanisms. He could imagine accidentally triggering one might result in more than just embarrassment.
Thankfully, each scroll had a detailed description, price, and basic effects printed on the shelf. That was enough for him to make informed choices.
After a quick sweep, Gauss had a rough idea of the pricing:
Cantrips: 60 silver to 1 gold, with some fancy ones going for slightly more.
Level 1 Spells: Minimum 10 gold.
Level 2 Spells: Starting from 60 gold.
So yeah, anything above Level 1 was out of reach for now. And even Level 1 spells, though technically affordable, would nearly empty his wallet.
As planned, his best move was to pick a few useful cantrips to round out his toolkit.
Unfortunately, the selection seemed a bit limited. He wasn't sure if that was due to stock shortages or just local supply constraints.
Gauss started carefully reading through the descriptions of each cantrip.
Blade Ward, Dancing Lights, Light, Mage Hand, Message, Acid Splash, Magic Pebble, Prestidigitation...
Not a huge list, but enough to keep him deliberating for quite a while.
He finally reviewed every available 0th-ring spell on display.
"If I could, I'd learn them all." But that was neither practical nor affordable.
Even if his mental stamina didn't seem strained yet, trying to learn that many spells at once would be ridiculous.
So he had to prioritize.
1. Prestidigitation (Cantrip):
Must-have.
It's weak and offers no combat power, but the utility is unmatched. Fire-starting, minor cleaning, flavoring food, creating a small image or sound—it was basically the Swiss Army knife of cantrips.
Need to light a campfire? Done.
Need a post-battle cleanup? No problem.
Running low on water? Maybe it could help, even if just a little.
At 90 silver, it was a bargain.
2. Mending:
Repairs small breaks in mundane objects.
Gauss was unsure about how extensive the repair capability really was—could it fix a tear in clothing? Repair a dented helmet?
Probably not rusted or seriously broken weapons, or else blacksmiths would've been out of business long ago.
Still, at 80 silver, it was worth having for field repairs.
3. Message:
A short-range communication spell. Lets you whisper directly into someone's mind, even across obstacles.
Extremely useful in team situations or rescue missions like the one with Kevin and the others. Definitely worth picking up.
4. Fire Bolt:
An offensive cantrip.
Gauss had planned to skip combat spells, but the info card had glowing reviews. It was a low-cost ranged attack—more potent than a mundane weapon and cheaper to cast than a Level 1 spell.
"Not a bad backup option."
With those four selected, Gauss decided to stop.
It wasn't that he didn't want more—it was just smarter to master a few before expanding his repertoire. He could always return later.
On his way to the counter, he passed through the rogue section and impulsively picked up one apprentice skill: Keen Insight.
It boosted perception in the wild and helped identify or track hidden signs—perfect for a field adventurer like him.
At the checkout, the uniformed clerk hesitated.
"Sir, Keen Insight is a rogue skill. Are you sure you want this?"
She had clearly noticed his previous spell-focused picks and assumed he was a mage. Gauss gave her a nod.
"Yes. Please include it in the bundle."
"Alright. That'll be 4 gold, 65 copper."
Gauss handed over 4 gold and 1 silver. While waiting for change, he couldn't help wincing a little.
This was the most money he'd ever spent in one go.
Equivalent to 3 or 4 basic-level commissions—without loot.
"Here's your change—35 copper. All your scrolls are packed. Thanks for shopping with us!"
Leaving the store, Gauss turned toward the Magic Items Shop.
If the skills store had tempted him, this one was outright dangerous—for his wallet.
"Can I help you with something?"
"Yes, I'm looking for magical storage items."
A clerk immediately approached him. This store clearly operated differently from the last—customers here got guided assistance.
"Right this way."
As they walked, Gauss took in the shop's layout.
Some items were out in the open, others locked behind glass.
Eventually, they arrived at a display room.
"This is our storage magic section."
Gauss's eyes immediately locked onto a set of identical-looking Storage Pouches—mass-produced, plain-looking, but functional.
Then he saw the price tag and nearly fainted.
[Small Storage Pouch]
Price: 25 gold coins
Volume: 1.5 cubic meters
Weight Limit: 500 pounds (227 kg)
Fixed Item Weight: 10 lbs
Restrictions:
No other storage items allowed inside
No living beings
Requires adventurer-grade mana for operation and upkeep
It was exactly what he wanted. The dream tool for adventuring.
But damn was it expensive.
The clerk glanced at him and asked, "Interested in the small pouch?"
Gauss grimaced.