Gauss and Aaliyah took a few days to rest in Gray Rock Town.
During these days,
The nightmares did not return.
Gauss’s body and spirit were gradually adjusting to their optimal state during the rest.
...
"Alright, thank you and Ulfen for your hard work." Gauss put down his staff, concluding another spell practice session.
"It’s nothing, really. We’re just idling around anyway, taking this guy out for a bit of fun is just perfect. If I leave him cooped up at home any longer, he’ll start tearing the place apart." Aaliyah rubbed Ulfen’s wolf head.
It seemed that Ulfen understood she was teasing him, and he let out a pitiful "awoo," rubbing his wet nose against the back of Aaliyah’s hand.
These past few days, Aaliyah would occasionally come out of the town with Gauss to practice spells.
Sometimes Aaliyah would assist Gauss in practice, other times Gauss would support Aaliyah in training, and Ulfen would also lend a hand.
Time flew by, and overall, it was quite fulfilling.
Both of them gained a lot in return.
"Speaking of which, you’ve mastered so many abilities."
Aaliyah counted on her fingers.
"Magic Missile, Flaming Arrow, Mage’s Hand, Communication Technique, Mage Armor, Magic Tricks, Light Spell... and the new ones you’ve learned, how many are there in total? I’ve lost count."
Aaliyah felt she could hardly remember them all.
"Most of them are just basic tricks."
"Even so, it’s quite impressive."
Gauss smiled.
Just yesterday, after practicing both Flaming Arrow and Magic Tricks to level 3, he went to the Skill Store on the second floor of the Adventurer’s Guild base to carefully select three new tricks.
He still prioritized practicality and tactical combinations.
The first was the Friendship Spell.
This trick, once cast, could make a designated visible, non-hostile creature that can hear the caster’s voice subconsciously trust the caster during conversations and other activities. The specific spell effect is also influenced by the caster’s Charm attribute.
If the target is attacked or harmed during the effect of the trick, the trick will end.
It also cannot be effective on a tense battlefield or used on those harboring malice, or it might backfire instead of being effective.
The use scenario for this trick is to extract information or emergency negotiations in daily life, but it’s not suitable for long-term relationship maintenance.
Because its negative effect is that when the trick ends, the target will realize they’ve been manipulated by magic, which may lead to some hostility towards the magic user.
Nevertheless, it remains a very useful trick.
For example, maneuvering around guards in a strange town to defuse sudden conflicts, or gaining temporary trust in an intelligence trade to extract key information... As long as the timing is right, it can save a lot of trouble.
Moreover, since the spell effect is influenced by the caster’s Charm attribute, it’s quite suitable for Gauss.
The second and third tricks are Poison Gas Spray and Dance of the Wind.
These two spells are also prepared by Gauss for combination use; Poison Gas Spray can create a cloud of toxic gas, while Dance of the Wind can affect the flow of air.
The combination might not be very effective in open areas, but if they encounter relatively confined and narrow spaces, such as low caves, winding corridors, and sealed warehouses, using these two tricks together can yield excellent results.
Even if the toxicity is not enough to kill the target, it can drive out those hiding in complex, winding cave environments.
After all, Gauss doesn’t want to risk going into caves where he has to crouch to enter.
Moreover, Gauss has another plan, which is to research the toxic gas through Poison Gas Spray, analyzing its toxic composition and mechanism of action.
In doing so, he can see if he can enhance his defensive wards to resist poisons; understanding toxic gases and toxins through this trick might further improve his defensive wards.
The reason for his particular concern about this,
Is related to the large number of poison-related monsters on this continent, from Ratman potentially spreading disease to the deadly Green Dragon, known for its mastery of toxic arts. Poison-wielding monsters abound.
While adventurers can prepare antidotes, gas masks, and other detoxification spells in advance, such methods and items have their limitations.
It’s best to exclude poison from the body from the start.
Looking at his personal "magic library" filled with spells and tricks,
In the short term, Gauss plans to temporarily halt his learning.
The mental "capacity space" is not infinite, and he needs to reserve enough space for those more powerful and complex 1st-level spells in the future.
If he learns too many tricks, taking up all his mental burdens, when he wants to learn a spell, he’ll have to go through the trouble of dealing with those tricks, which is also a hassle.
...
The outdoor breeze blows gently.
Time unknowingly shifts into autumn.
The air is tinged with a slight chill and loneliness.
In the populated town, it wasn’t noticeable, but in the endless, unobstructed wild, the cold becomes particularly apparent.
So, both donned a thick cloak over their shirts simultaneously without prior agreement.
"Ha—"
They walked slowly along the path between the fields.
On both sides were undulating golden waves of wheat, and the heavy wheat heads swayed in the autumn wind, making a gentle rustling sound, with the air filled with the rich sweetness of ripened grains.
The harvest scene naturally brought a surge of joy to anyone watching.
"Are you cold?" Aaliyah breathed out a small puff of white air into the slightly chilly air, rubbing her hands.
"I’m fine," Gauss shook his head. "If you’re feeling cold, I can get you a jacket from the storage pouch."
"Forget it; wearing too much would make traveling uncomfortable."
The two of them, along with the wolf, walked quietly.
Gauss’s peripheral vision glanced at his Monster Atlas panel.
The page labeled [Ordinary] had now been lit up in many places.
1. Goblin
2. Slime
3. Ordinary Skeleton
4. Water Ghost
5. Kobold
6. Mushroom People
7. Zombie
8. Walking Corpse
9. Little Fishman
10. Sludge Monster
11. Giant Rat
12. Ratman
The page labeled [Elite] had only a solitary Mantis People entry.
Seeing the illuminated atlas, Gauss couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.
These were all results of his continuous effort.
Some were task targets, some encountered during previous dungeon explorations, and others were chance meetings on the road.
When he surpassed ten types, Gauss began keeping an eye on the collection numbers for the atlas.
He hadn’t forgotten that upon collecting 20 types of ordinary monsters, he could draw a new racial talent from the atlas, just like he initially acquired the [Rapid Digestion] talent.
Rapid Digestion and its advanced ability, [Energy Storage Glands], had benefited Gauss all along.
Unlike individual spells, these racial talents often benefit the whole aspect.
So, when 20 types are collected, who will be the next drawn?
Gauss thought Slime was quite good; maybe he could gain its liquefaction ability, and Kobold wasn’t bad either, although they claim to possess the thin bloodline of the Giant Dragon; perhaps he could draw a bit of it.
The Mushroom People’s ability also seemed promising; if he could draw their regenerative power, it would be a significant enhancement, greatly reducing concerns over injuries.
He hoped not to draw from Zombie, Walking Corpse, Giant Rat, or Ratman talents. Although the talent would be optimized to fit his body if drawn, it just felt a bit taboo.
But just thinking about it doesn’t really help; it’ll ultimately be a random draw.
While traveling, Gauss silently contemplated.