In this regard, the gap between people is indeed significant.
It’s important to know that learning this trick might take an ordinary person several months or even longer, and that’s assuming they have magic aptitude.
As for him, he casually mastered it in the time it takes for a regular person to drink a cup of coffee.
"0th Ring Trick Frost Ray LV1 (8/10)"
"0th Ring Trick Electric Claw LV1 (9/10)"
Electric arcs flickered at Gauss’s fingertips, jumping between each of his fingers.
It’s really too easy...
Gauss shook his head.
The tricks now seem to him like elementary school math tests, with no difficulty whatsoever; he can complete them in just a bit of time.
He was pondering, if his level gets higher and his magic aptitude further improves, would learning a trick be as easy as breathing? Perhaps he could master it just by taking a quick glance?
Hephaestus landed, switched to a land bird, and by the time the team set foot on the streets of Lakeside Town, Gauss had already mastered the third trick, Acid Splash.
"Do we have any plans today?"
On the way to the Adventurer’s Hall, Aaliyah asked.
"Probably not."
Gauss also planned to slow down the pace a bit.
For one thing, quality commissions mostly appear in the morning; by afternoon, all that’s left are scraps picked up by others.
Additionally, there’s no need to overdo it.
Adventurers going out to carry out commissions is a long-term job.
Adventuring is like a marathon, and maintaining a sustainable pace is far more important than a temporary burst.
Arriving at the Adventurer’s Hall, he submitted the commission and updated the rankings.
Then he left the hall.
"By the way, Aaliyah, would you come over to my place this afternoon?"
"Sure, but is there something you need?" Aaliyah instinctively agreed but was still a bit curious as to what Gauss wanted.
"Nothing major, just to practice some spells together." Gauss waved his hand.
He was just planning to tutor Hephaestus in the afternoon and practice magic himself.
He happened to see Aaliyah in the hall buying skills as well.
Thinking it’s better to let one sheep go, might as well let two sheep go together, why not bring her along.
He wanted to test whether the Dragon Language passive resulting in Fluent in Language creates an effect similar to "Enlightenment".
Beside them, the other three who were pretending to look in other directions, but in fact listening attentively, nearly simultaneously raised their eyebrows.
Is he secretly providing extra coaching?
"Gauss, I also have free time," Ying coughed softly.
"Lord Gauss, I do too." Albena nodded vigorously.
Although Serdur didn’t speak, his gaze said it all.
"Alright, then we’ll do it together." Druid is a traditional caster, even though they source their power from nature, Gauss initially planned to call her to test the effect. But seeing the rest of the team so keen on making progress, he certainly wouldn’t dampen their enthusiasm.
...
The time comes to afternoon.
Gauss’s squad appears in the wasteland outside the town.
They specifically chose a shady valley, with a stream flowing across gently, contributing to the slightly cooler autumn atmosphere, so it wouldn’t be too hot.
Gauss summoned Hephaestus.
Alongside Ulfen, the raven, and the scale butterfly also appeared.
Serdur unfolded the folding cottage.
Before the skill training officially began, they took out several large melons they had just bought.
The type, called sweet melon, but unlike the sweet melon musk melon from previous life, it resembles watermelon in size.
The taste is quite good, overall blue with dark blue rind, and frosty light blue flesh, juicy, very sweet, and scarce in yield.
Of course, it’s also quite expensive; one costs several Silver Coins, not something ordinary people can afford to enjoy.
However, for Gauss’s squad, it’s nothing.
After all, earning money is for the sake of enjoyment.
They soaked the sweet melon in the stream, and Gauss slightly released a frost ray at his fingertip to chill the ήδη cold stream water, quickly covering the melon peel with a layer of frost.
After freezing, he placed it on a grass table, and gently tapped it with his finger.
With a crisp crack, the melon split open, revealing the frosty light blue flesh inside, like ice crystals.
Wisps of white cold mist rose, a clear sweet scent filled the air.
They shared these sweet melons, even Hephaestus, Ulfen, and other members got to taste a bit.
"Summer’s over."
Aaliyah wiped off the juice on her face, looked across the stream, at the slightly autumnal wilderness of the valley, hands on hips, satisfied yet slightly sentimental. "With the arrival of autumn, crops mature, and it’s monster hunting season, time to stockpile food."
"It’s also time for adventurers to show their prowess."
"Yes."
Gauss nodded.
"But to really say it."
"Spring is when snow melts and hibernating monsters end their slumber to forage, summer is hot, with magic power active and monsters’ feral nature irritable; winter is when demons make their final food reserves for winter survival, fighting desperately, along with specific winter species being active."
"Ultimately, monsters are always frequently active, aren’t they?"
"There’s never a dull season for adventurers."
Gauss smirked.
"You..." Aaliyah was momentarily speechless, half-jokingly, half-annoyed. "You’re quite annoying, I was just casually sighing, trying to create some mood."
After the interlude.
The group started skill training.
Aaliyah held the newly purchased 2nd Ring skill book "Moonlight".
Recently, she felt she had spare capacity to learn new skills.
She wasn’t initially planning to buy offensive spells, as she didn’t have the chance to use them.
But Gauss suggested she choose this one.
Moonlight creates a moonlit-like beam band that deals continual damage to enemies entering the beam, making it a group attack skill.
Gauss’s reasoning was simple; he felt all teammates should grasp some attack skills, so they have enough self-defense capability.
"Having but not using" is fundamentally different from "not having".
Moreover, with Hephaestus and Ying’s precedents, he foresaw that other teammates’ kills might also count towards him eventually.
With that, teammates mastering enough group attack ability could speed up monster eradication.
With the monster killings in the Monster Atlas continually increasing, his demands for kill counts have obviously grown.
Starting, he could receive rewards for 10 monster kills, now he needs at least 2000.
With teammates’ help, it’s evident progress could speed up.
As for seeking stronger partners, that’s not a good idea.
Firstly, higher-ranked professionals usually have their own fixed teams and may not join Gauss’s team.
Secondly, it would take time to adapt and build trust.
Additionally, higher-ranked professionals typically have molded experiences and personalities after numerous commissions.
They might not necessarily be compatible.
In simpler terms, the stronger the talent, the higher the level, the more opinionated.
Adventurers like Ying and Albena are actually the minority.
On Gauss’s journey, surface-wise he only had four teammates, but while in the Adventurer’s Hall, constantly lone wanderers took self-recommendation wanting to join the team. But Gauss’s initial feeling about these people was never good.
And he values first impressions highly, so he often passes on them from the start.
Moreover, are stronger teammates truly beneficial?
Not always, Gauss also needs kill count accumulation himself.
Ideally, teammates like Hephaestus and Ying, whose kills might contribute to his shared kill counts, are ideal.
Next are trustworthy, obedient, able to assist teammates.
Since current shared mechanism principles are unknown, default assumptions are it’s related to an unknown closeness level, wherein Aaliyah, Serdur, Albena are most promising potential teammates having spent some time with.
Among the three, he considers Aaliyah the longest and closest relationship with him.
He sees her potential becoming the next shared kill provider.
As for Ying’s situation, he temporarily hasn’t figured it out.
From the first meeting, he felt a familiar vibe with her, and during her breakthrough returning at level 6, that feeling intensified.
That’s why he believes sharing is importantly related to intimacy.
Aaliyah at this moment holding Moonlight’s skill book, looking perplexed at him, awaiting him to speak.
Gauss said he can help her learn the skill faster, yet he was silent, making her itchy with anticipation.
"I have high hopes for you, Aaliyah," Gauss said softly.
"???"
Aaliyah was even more confused.