"Senior, did you use magic?"
Gauss put down his wine glass, gazing intensely at Andri without any hesitation of doubt.
Everyone was clearly drinking fairly, so why are you playing tricks?
"Ma-magic? What are you talking about?" Andri’s cheeks were slightly flushed, but she firmly denied Gauss’s suspicion. "How could anyone specifically learn magic to sober up, haha... haha, you don’t really think I used magic to cheat, do you?"
"Yes." Gauss nodded firmly.
Anyone who saw her blushing like a boiled shrimp one second, and the next her head drooping, cheeks instantly returning to their snowy white, and her eyes clearing up, would have the same suspicion.
"Hehehe..." Andri laughed nervously, her eyes wandering.
Gauss became even more certain of his suspicion.
No wonder she said that during adventures, no one could outdrink her; it was all thanks to her magic sobering up cheat, who could be her match?
Andri’s gaze shifted between the two people at the table.
Sofia was already drunk, her neck turning red, and a blush appearing on her cheeks.
Her drinking capacity was pretty good, but couldn’t withstand Andri’s relentless "persuasion to drink" just now.
Unlike Andri, she didn’t know any sobering magic, so getting drunk was only natural.
And what about Gauss?
His complexion was normal, his eyes clear, and his state was even better than hers after using magic.
"You, you must be cheating too, aren’t you?" Andri protested unwillingly.
How could Gauss be even clearer than herself, who used magic to sober up and cheat? He definitely used some means!
"Naturally good constitution, don’t envy." Gauss shook his head, looking innocent.
After eating and drinking to satisfaction, Gauss just pushed his chair back, preparing to go downstairs to settle the bill.
Unexpectedly, even before he could move, Andri beside him suddenly vanished into thin air like a popped soap bubble with a "pop," leaving behind a triumphant laugh.
"I’ll go pay!"
"Is it some kind of illusion magic?"
To actually use illusion magic to grab the bill! Gauss shook his head helplessly with a smile.
Estimating if he went downstairs now, Andri would have probably already settled the bill, so he sat back down.
Sure enough, not long after, the private room door was pushed open, and Andri walked back in cheerfully.
"Using magic to cheat again? Too cunning, Senior Andri."
"What do you mean again?" Andri shook her finger, proudly raising her chin. "And I’m teaching you, magic itself is a tool to improve efficiency! The spell I just used, whether at the dining table or when settling the bill, you didn’t notice the whole time, this is because my magic power is more refined and my control is more precise!"
Andri righteously explained, instantly turning the cheating behavior into on-site teaching.
"Time to leave!"
Andri stuffed the last few blueberries into her mouth, clapping her hands as she announced.
The three walked downstairs, pushing open the restaurant door.
"No need to see me off," Andri waved her hand, pointing to Sofia leaning against Gauss, "You just send her back, since you two live together anyway."
"Don’t say things that are easy to misunderstand." Gauss hurriedly reminded, spotting the teasing glance from the front desk owner, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Off we go!" Andri’s small figure melted into the moonlight, quickly disappearing at the end of the street.
Gauss sighed helplessly, gently exerting his arm, steadying the soft-bodied Sofia, heading towards the inn.
In the evening breeze, a faint fragrance wafted into his nostrils.
...
Nothing happened throughout the night.
The next morning.
Gauss sat on a high stool at the inn counter.
The hangover left Sofia’s body somewhat soft and weak, but diligent as she was, she still headed into the kitchen early in the morning to get busy.
Gauss withdrew his gaze, deliberately wearing the newly obtained bronze-level badge on the most visible part of his chest, openly displaying his identity.
While flipping through a few newly purchased magic trick learning scrolls, he kept an eye on the surroundings.
As expected, travelers coming and going would linger their gaze on him for a few more seconds as they passed. Especially when their eyes caught the bluish mark on his chest badge, many people’s pupils instantly shrank.
Bronze-level adventurer!
What is his relationship with the innkeeper?
Watching Gauss leisurely sitting near the counter, posing as if he were the owner, various guesses began to grow in customers’ minds.
They couldn’t help but wonder.
In Gray Rock Town, a remote place like this, a bronze-level adventurer is the top-tier combat strength on the surface.
Although both being bronze-level, the strength gap between profession level 5 and profession level 1 could be as vast as heaven and earth, but for bottom adventurers, they are figures to look up to, never to be easily provoked.
Feeling the respectful and curious glances, Gauss secretly nodded. The deterrent effect of this badge was even better than he anticipated.
Once his goal was achieved, he focused his mind, immersing in the content of the scrolls he had at hand.
"Magic Tricks..."
He first studied this fundamental of fundamentals, reputed as the "universal solution" practice magic tricks.
The effect of magic tricks is weak, yet it requires no special secluded corner for practice.
Carefully reading through the scroll’s recorded trick model construction methods and effect descriptions several times, Gauss felt unprecedented ease.
This was entirely different from the obscure struggle when he first studied the tattered Light Spell scroll.
"It seems this is the benefit brought by the promotion to the [Magic Envoy] profession tier." Gauss understood in his heart.
The professional talent [Spell Mastery] enhanced his perception and control ability over the essence of magic, significantly boosting his magic learning efficiency. At this moment, its effect was distinctly apparent in the trick learning.
Reading through numerous times again, confirming that the exquisite model structure was clearly imprinted in his mind.
Gauss closed his eyes, sinking into the depths of his consciousness, beginning to construct the trick model.
Spiritual power, like invisible threads, followed the guidance of the scroll, carefully weaving, outlining, and fixing the trick model.
Time silently slipped away.
An hour later, after experiencing one or two minor construction mistakes, a stable and complete model of magic tricks was finally solidified in his spiritual world!
The hardest step has already been completed!
Gauss thought for a moment and looked at his panel.
0th Ring Magic Tricks lv1 (0/10)
It really worked.
Gauss’s lips curled slightly.
This trick, which usually takes an apprentice several months to grasp, was mastered by him in just an hour. The dual blessing of profession and talent had an astounding effect.
"Magic Tricks!"
Gauss silently chanted in his heart.
At the same time, he imagined a gentle breeze passing through the air in front of him.
"Whoosh—"
A faint yet distinct airflow brushed against his cheek.
There was a reaction? But it’s not stable enough. Gauss focused his mind again.
Come wind!
This time, the fluctuation of airflow was noticeably stronger. Gauss keenly captured the difference between the two castings.
He pondered and attempted a third time.
Come wind once more!
A perceptible gentle breeze, with a cool sensation, blew past his face.
Success!
"Magic Tricks proficiency +1"
"0th Ring Magic Tricks lv1 (1/10)"
Gauss’s lips turned into a smile.
Is this what it feels like to be a genius?
Not to brag, but isn’t the Magic Envoy profession a little overpowered?
Learning a trick, attempting three times, and succeeding in casting it—isn’t much harder than drinking water.
Simply memorizing and building models take a little time.
"However..." Gauss calmed his mind and carefully felt. "Spirit seems... to have sunk a little?"
A subtle feeling, as if something more was carried within his consciousness, emerged once again.
This was his second time experiencing such a feeling.
The first was after mastering the Light Spell.
Both tricks were self-learned and mastered through scrolls, not rewards from the Adventurer’s Handbook.
"It seems spells rewarded by the handbook don’t impose an extra burden on my spirit." Gauss compared the differences and found the critical point. Although he didn’t understand the deeper principles, he didn’t dwell much on it.
Meanwhile, he felt the small cup symbolizing his profession tier seemed a bit more solidified, and the magic power flowing through... he wondered if it was psychological, seemed to be smoother somehow.
"So learning and mastering more magic can accumulate experience for the profession tier?" Gauss scratched his head, "Is this trying to turn me into a walking magic encyclopedia?"
Temporarily setting aside these thoughts, Gauss eagerly began testing other effects of Magic Tricks.
With his continuous attempts, various magical phenomena started to appear.
A tiny spark leapt from his fingertips, a faint magic imprint was left on the tabletop, and dust on the flowerpot was swept away by invisible forces...
...
Gauss tried enthusiastically.
Although due to low proficiency level, the effects of tricks were sometimes strong, sometimes weak, and control wasn’t yet smooth, the proficiency of Magic Tricks rose rapidly.
"0th Ring Magic Tricks lv1 (8/10)"
After trying several main effects repeatedly, Gauss put down the Magic Tricks scroll, the learning model on the scroll representing Magic Tricks seemed to have lost its luster, as if he had absorbed some essential thing from it.
Probably can’t be used a second time. Gauss shook his head and picked up the second Communication Technique scroll.
With the experience of learning Magic Tricks, practicing the Communication Technique proceeded smoothly.
Finally, before lunch, Gauss was already proficient in this convenient communication trick.
"Hello, hello, Sofia, can you hear me?" Gauss silently chanted in his heart.
"Hmm? What’s up?" Sofia, just exiting the kitchen, instinctively responded and then covered her mouth, looking around.
The first time she received Gauss’s Communication Technique, she was startled, thinking Gauss was whispering softly by her ear.
Now, after experiencing it several times, she realized it was a magic effect. Although relaxed and cooperated with Gauss’s practice, this one-way transmission still made her feel somewhat shy, just because she had to speak to respond, making her seem like a self-talking fool over time.
During the next two days, Gauss devoted his whole heart to learning new skills.
Four tricks, [Magic Tricks], [Communication Technique], [Repair Technique], [Flaming Arrow], and the Wandering Apprentice level skill [Insight Skill] were all mastered one by one.
Among them, the Insight Skill took the longest time.
More time than the four tricks combined.
Because it couldn’t benefit from the Magic Envoy’s professional talent [Spell Mastery] bonus, Gauss had to rely purely on his own comprehension and the panel’s auxiliary effects to roughly conquer it.
Fortunately, having a brilliant talent, coupled with the panel’s "small assistance," ultimately led him to success.
Looking at the long skill list on his attribute panel, an unprecedented sense of "wealth" welled up from within.
Advanced to Bronze!
The Storage Pouch was acquired!
Skills practiced nearly to perfection.
Next comes the grand venture!
Thinking about the heavy burden of 20 Gold Coins in loans he still carried, Gauss felt a rush of motivation fill his body.
Clearly, after advancing to Bronze, his money-making skills became stronger, yet why... does he feel even poorer?
Reflecting deeply, he realized this might be humanity’s endless greed.
Like when a meal at a street tavern costing dozens of Copper Coins used to satisfy him, and now, at least, it requires dozens of Silver Coins, right?
Human greed is like a continuously expanding circle; the more you get, the more you come into contact with, and the more unknown and desired things multiply, never achieving satisfaction.