"It seems your magic aptitude is even better than I imagined," Andri said with a bit of envy in her heart.
She couldn’t help but recall back in the days when she left the village and had to exert tremendous effort to transition from a naive rookie to an apprentice proficient in tricks, finally accumulating experience and money through numerous quests to advance and become a mage.
Even if her aptitude was more outstanding than ordinary people’s, with a natural sensitivity to magic power, it actually took nearly two years.
"I also have to thank you, senior, for recommending me to the Caster Apprentice Mutual Aid Association in Bitter Wormwood Town. That was indeed a great place that saved me a lot of time," Gauss sincerely expressed his gratitude.
He placed the fruits on the table.
"On the way here, I bought some fruits for you, senior; I wasn’t sure what you like, so I bought a variety."
Andri stared at Gauss’s face.
Though she recommended Gauss go to Bitter Wormwood Town, she didn’t expect he would advance to the professional tier in just one trip.
In fact, she merely wanted Gauss to go to Bitter Wormwood Town to communicate more with other caster apprentices, slowly accumulate experience and harvest, and after honing his skills for another year or two, naturally condense his profession tier.
If an unofficial apprentice mutual aid association could truly be as effective as Gauss described, its threshold would be overwhelmed by people.
She came to the table, restraining her astonished and complex emotions, tiptoeing to rummage in the bag of fruits.
"Why bother bringing gifts?"
Although she said this.
But she quickly added,
"By the way, the fruit I like is blueberries."
"Alright, I’ll bring them to you next time," he said.
Washing some fruits, the two began to eat.
Gauss took out the two scrolls obtained from his commission.
"Senior, please help check this out? I picked it up at a monster camp during the task," Gauss had already mentioned to Andri about participating in the bronze level assessment.
Andri wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief and then took the scroll.
Magic power surged rapidly through her hand.
She put the scroll back on the table.
"You lucky rascal."
"These two scrolls, one is a level 3 teleportation scroll; once torn, it can teleport you to a safe area within three hundred meters instantly."
"The other is a level 3 healing scroll; once torn, it can replenish life force, removing some injuries and negative states like poisoning."
"Worth noting, using them also consumes some magic power."
"If you intend to sell them, the teleportation scroll can fetch around 4 gold coins."
"The latter could also sell for about 3 gold coins."
"However, if you’re not in urgent need of money, I recommend you keep them; for newcomers like you, these scrolls are very useful tools, potentially life-saving," Andri suggested.
"Okay, then I’ll keep them," Gauss nodded obediently.
In fact, after realizing their exact effects, he had no intention of selling them.
Though they’re one-time-use spell scrolls, after using the former, it can teleport three hundred meters, which is enough to retreat from most battles he currently faces.
The latter’s effect is simple and straightforward: a life-saver in critical moments.
Though using it once equates to consuming assets worth 3 or 4 gold coins, in dire emergencies, it’s definitely needed.
With these two scrolls, he felt more confident about his upcoming commissions.
If worse comes to worst, tear open the teleportation scroll and run away.
Hmm?
Why does that sound familiar?
After recalling for a while, Gauss remembered that Aaliyah had also complained yesterday about the mischief of the white-haired mage youth’s malicious escape.
But, I’m different; if there’s a teammate, I will certainly discuss it with her in advance.
Gauss sensed that he hadn’t fallen to the level of fleeing without a word, betraying his teammates.
He tucked the scroll away.
Gauss couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of accomplishment.
With more than five gold coins in cash, a life magic stone, a level 3 teleportation scroll, a level 3 healing scroll, and various weapons and supplies, his total assets should amount to over ten gold coins.
Close to the value of a full set of plated armor.
Thinking about carrying fifteen or twenty apartment units on his back while moving, he felt his past few months of effort hadn’t been in vain.
A few months ago, he was just a low-level freelancer with only a few silver coins; a few months later, his assets reached a level beyond most ordinary people’s imagination.
Indeed, in such a supernatural world, if one wants to turn the tables, becoming an adventurer is the way.
Continuing to set traps and hunt would take hundreds of years to earn his income in these months.
Next, Gauss inquired much about professionals and bronze-level adventurer intel from Andri.
Perhaps because he had risen to professional status, Andri took him more seriously, or maybe due to some unspoken rules.
Anyway, Gauss was at the apprentice stage previously; the information she intentionally avoided was no longer withheld.
For example, acquiring a spellbook.
Some tricks can be purchased from certain shops, but buyers need to discern authenticity themselves.
Alternatively, head to the caster’s guild in big cities; they also have ways to obtain more advanced spells.
Additionally, once Gauss becomes an official bronze-level adventurer, he can also shop at the adventurer’s store on the second floor of the adventurer’s guild premises.
There are many learning scrolls for tricks and some for low-level spells.
However, spell learning scrolls are generally expensive.
And even if financially capable, which learning scrolls to buy requires careful caster choices.
Because even ascending to professional status, casters can’t learn all magic at will.
When a caster masters a certain number of spells, the mental will feels burdened; without using a forgetfulness potion or other items, until breaking through to a new level, new magic cannot be learned.
Regarding the specific number of spells mastered, there’s no strict standard, it’s related to everyone’s spiritual power.
Some level 1 mages can only master 2 1st-ring spells, while some can master 3 1st-ring spells, and some uniquely talented ones can master 4; the difference can be significant.
Of course, this doesn’t mean the more spells mastered, the stronger the combat strength; actually, the spell most frequently used to kill enemies is often the most proficient one.
However, the more spells mastered, the easier it is for casters to handle more complex and varied situations, choosing the right spells to cast based on the current situation.
Besides that, mastering 0th-ring tricks also places a burden on the mental will, albeit much smaller compared to spells, hence specific new spell and trick setups depend on caster judgment.
Many novice casters prefer 0th-ring tricks over 1st-ring spells to enrich their capabilities.
Andri also advised him, in contrast to some 1st-ring spells, once he passes the bronze-level adventurer assessment, it’s better to prioritize purchasing some 0th-ring tricks for learning.
Many functional tricks are inherently potent, helpful for him during outdoor adventures.
Moreover, his current savings can’t support lavish spending on formal spells.
But if it’s tricks, in the adventurer’s guild shop, cheap ones cost merely 70 to 80 silver coins, even expensive ones about 1 gold coin.
He can supplement corresponding tricks and spells according to his needs.
Gauss found Andri’s suggestion quite reasonable.
On one hand, he felt he had too few spells mastered currently, without perceiving much of the mental burden Andri mentioned, so he should be able to learn more.
On the other hand, the Adventurer’s Handbook in his mind hasn’t rewarded spells for a while, and he can’t rely on all spells coming from handbook rewards.
At least mastering the Light Spell indicated he could learn tricks and spells through his efforts.
In the adventurer’s guild shop, besides tricks and spell learning scrolls, there are also abundant gear and magic items required by professional adventurers.
Even storage-type magic items, which Gauss had always fondly desired, are sold.
Once he gets it, Gauss won’t have to awkwardly carry a heavy pack, tiringly traveling back and forth between town and the wild.
Then he can store equipment and loot in the storage item, traveling light on his journey.
That would convey the aura of a professional-level adventurer.
The more he listened, the more tempted Gauss became, eager to resume tasks immediately, rise to bronze-level adventurer as soon as possible, and start shopping upstairs in the adventurer’s guild.
Storage items, he must get them! Gauss’s heart pounded.
He’s a dignified Magic Envoy, how can he be without a storage-featured magic item?
But this way, money seems insufficient again.
Therefore, more goblins must be slain to earn more money.