Aaliyah had already chosen the necessary trick.
There aren’t many common tricks available for Druids to choose from.
Gauss already mastered the Repair Technique. The same goes for the Fire Spell; its functionality can be replaced by similar tricks and spells that Gauss has. Thorn Whip is a weakened version of the Entanglement Technique, whereas she already mastered the Oak Club Technique.
For the sake of the team, she purchased the Guidance Technique.
The Guidance Technique is a supportive trick used in non-combat scenarios, which can bestow blessings on oneself or other targets. Due to it being a trick, the strength of the Guidance Technique is generally limited and cannot take effect in intense battles. However, in other instances, such as exploration, trap investigation, negotiation, climbing and jumping, interpreting runes or complex knowledge, recalling events, etc., bestowing a blessing can help make the caster state better and easier to complete the task at hand.
After payment, the two of them immediately moved on to the adjacent Magic Items Shop.
It was the same place where Gauss had previously purchased a Small Storage Pouch.
Magic Items can generally be divided into several categories.
The first type is weapons, such as various knives and swords imbued with special effects; magic wands also belong to this category, and their prices can vary greatly.
The second type is armor, which becomes more protective through the engraving of magic runes.
The last type comprises more diverse curiosities: amulets, alchemical pots, storage pouches, floating carpets, elemental gemstones, phantom cloaks, and so on.
Curiosities can be both man-made and naturally formed. But without exception, they all possess magical powers and, when worn or used, grant their respective magical powers’ blessings or effects.
According to quality, magic items can be divided into ordinary [White items], rare [Blue items], extraordinary [Purple items], and epic [Gold items]. They are graded by color because these magic items present different lusters under the Identification Technique.
Low Tier Professionals mostly come into contact with White items, which have simple and practical magic effects.
Gauss walked straight to the robe area.
The sales assistant quickly came over warmly, her gaze lingering briefly on the 2-star badge in front of him, making her smile even brighter.
Professional rank often correlates with spending power.
"Adventurer sir, do you need a robe? This is a new model for the season, would you like to try it?" The sales assistant approached.
"What’s the difference?"
"This model is a self-cleaning robe, more resistant to stains of blood and dust, and over time, it self-cleans slowly, saving you the hassle of washing."
"This model is a repair-type robe, able to self-repair common minor damages and frays."
"This model is a protective robe; its material is more pliable yet strong. Although its protection isn’t as high as medium or heavy metal armor, it’s better than regular cloth armor and leather armor, and its flexibility is better than conventional armor."
...
Even the most basic White robes come in a wide variety due to different functional emphases, colors, and patterns, with prices ranging from 5 to 10 Gold Coins.
Gauss carefully selected a plain black protective robe in the end.
The essence of a robe is also armor.
As everyone knows, armor must provide protection.
Therefore, his primary concern was the defensive capabilities. As for color, he chose a more low-key and dirt-resistant black.
Unlike leather armor, mage robes are convenient for both combat and everyday wear, simply draping over one’s inner clothing.
After paying 7 Gold Coins, Gauss immediately performed a magic trick to clean the new robe, then put it on.
Once donned, he immediately had the appearance of a mage.
Gauss looked at himself in the fitting mirror.
He nodded in satisfaction.
At least when moving around in town, appearance-wise, he was no longer just an ordinary citizen in linen clothes.
And indeed, spending those 7 Gold Coins was worth it, even though the color was plain black and looked quite ordinary, when worn, it carried an inexplicable aura of mysterious authority.
Craftsmanship-wise, beneath the surface of the plain black robe was a refined imitation of spider silk, very soft and lightweight.
The cuffs were wide like raven wings, and when the arms swung, the robe sleeves had a light and agile feel.
This money was indeed well spent.
Aaliyah then purchased a saddle for Gray Wolf Ulfen, which could reduce weight and slightly increase flexibility and movement speed. She also bought a dark blue protective cape, primarily for Raven Aik, which had functions of both cleanliness and sturdiness.
And she bought a small shovel capable of sensing the position of roots in the soil for gardening work.
After shopping, both wore smiles on their faces.
Gold coins were saved for times like this, and since every penny was spent wisely, there was no hesitation.
After leaving the guild headquarters, they proceeded to buy some seasonal supplies together.
The upcoming days will be a time for settling and digesting the gains from the winter hunt and focusing on training. After the holidays, as the wind and snow subside, a new round of mission quests will begin anew.
Adventurers live this way; there’s no long-term holiday. Even during breaks, a certain amount of practice must be maintained because the body and mind tend towards laziness; many skills and combat techniques will regress if not advanced.
If one truly takes months off without any ongoing training, a professional’s skills could deteriorate very quickly.
That’s why many retired professionals see a rapid decrease in combat power and even signs of level regression after leaving the adventurer’s career.
However, not all retired professionals experience this; it primarily depends on self-discipline.
Gauss returned home and began decorating his small two-story house.
Outside, the snow was falling more heavily.
The nearby occupied small buildings shone with warm candlelight, appearing cozy in the snowy surroundings.
After lounging for half a day, Gauss took out the skill book for the 1st-level Spell, the Identification Technique, which he recently bought, and started reading quietly while lying in bed.
The spell model for 1st-level Spells is much more complex than tricks.
However, probably because his Profession Tier advanced to 2nd level, examining the 1st-level spell model now was noticeably easier than before.
It’s like after attending high school, having more knowledge and stronger thinking ability, going back to learn some junior high school knowledge becomes dramatically simpler.
He must seize the time to study and train in spells because after the holidays, he will continue with tasks.
Next year, he’s planning to take on goblins first; after all, his [Crawling Race] Racial Talent awaits the nourishment of experience, at least from the Initial Level up to the Mastery Level.
Then comes the elite path, where he must start hunting Elite Demons to advance his progress on that path.
As for whether to choose the less difficult 1-star missions or 2-star missions, Gauss still needs to consider that later.
1-star missions are generally closer and can be completed faster, with a lower chance of encountering danger and unexpected events, allowing for several completions in succession.
2-star missions, however, are further from town and involve elite monsters, with a greater number of base-level monsters, and an increased probability of encountering other powerful demons along the way, requiring some rest after completion.
Both have their pros and cons, and Gauss will probably weigh his plans for next year when making a decision.