Chapter 62: Filling the Gaps
Gauss wasn’t clear about their thoughts. If he had known, he might have laughed.
The fact that they could receive training beside a professional Swordsmanship Instructor already indicated that their family conditions were better than many bottom adventurers.
With such a foundation, their chances of advancing to becoming a Professional were much greater than those who trained aimlessly on their own.
No need to envy others.
Of course, compared to him, there was no comparison.
The Swordsmanship Instructor, David, heard Gauss’s words and, after a moment of reflection, remembered that he seemed to have guided a new adventurer named Doyle in sword skills for a while. He then let down some of his guard and approached.
"I am David, the Swordsmanship Instructor of this training ground."
"Hello, Instructor David, my name is Gauss, a new adventurer. I would like to ask you for some basic swordsmanship guidance to correct my existing issues. May I ask about the specific fee?" Gauss didn’t waste words and got straight to the point.
Being a Swordsmanship Instructor, the goal was to earn tuition fees, so there was no need for roundabout conversations.
"I see..."
During their conversation, the other youths couldn’t help but whisper to each other.
After all, they were at the age where curiosity was at its peak.
"He looks so young."
"Is he here to learn sword techniques like us?"
"He’s all geared up, but maybe his basics aren’t even as good as ours?"
"..."
After a simple exchange.
Gauss and David settled on the price, 50 Copper Coins for a day’s guidance.
In David’s mind, it was just taking on one more student, no different from the others.
He had observed the other party; although the young man had a strange oppressive look in his eyes, his hands didn’t show signs of long-term sword training, indicating he was a novice.
Actually, this price was much higher than for other students, but considering the other party’s gear was worth at least double-digit Silver Coins, he tentatively quoted this seemingly high guidance fee.
What he didn’t expect was that Gauss, faced with such an outrageous price, agreed without much hesitation.
"The rest of you continue practicing on your own." Turning to instruct the other students, David looked back at Gauss with a smile.
After all, for the first day of instruction, he planned to focus more on Gauss, ensuring that Gauss had a good experience on the first day and would continue to come back.
Although David himself was not a Professional, he claimed that in his youth he was just a step away from becoming a Professional Warrior.
If it weren’t for being too engrossed in various sword artifacts and sword techniques in his youth, distracting himself too much, advancing to a Professional wouldn’t have been difficult.
Gauss had no comment on such self-aggrandizing claims; people tend to beautify their past unconsciously.
Just like in his past life, when asking classmates about their college entrance exam performance, most would believe they underperformed, thinking their true level was far beyond that.
Although David might have overblown his achievements, his proficiency with multiple swords was not a fabrication.
He could demonstrate with Longswords, broad-bladed swords, Shortswords, daggers, Rapiers, and epees, showing that his basic skills were indeed good.
Seeing his displays clearly meant to showcase his skills, Gauss began to suspect that he might not have been lying earlier.
Could it be that he really failed to embark on a professional path due to too much distraction?
But are there really such geniuses?
None of this mattered. No matter the truth, as long as he could point out the basics, it would be fine.
Under David’s guidance, Gauss began practicing some basic Rapier moves, while David would occasionally correct his mistakes in exerting force.
A day’s time passed in the blink of an eye.
When Gauss left the courtyard, he left behind the silently pondering instructor and students.
"Instructor David, be honest, are we really stupid?" a student asked, seemingly with a broken spirit.
For a moment, David didn’t know how to respond, as he had never encountered someone who learned so efficiently.
Many times, he would just casually point something out, and the next moment, the other party would adjust appropriately.
If he had such learning ability, let alone being engrossed in all kinds of swords, even if he added knives, spears, and staffs, it wouldn’t hinder his advancement to a Professional.
"..."
Gauss stepped out of the courtyard.
He glanced at the attribute panel in the Adventurer’s Handbook, where a new line of text appeared.
"Basic Swordsmanship Level 1 (3/10)"
Is this also a skill? And it’s the first skill I learned on my own?
Gauss scratched his head. He seemed to have never heard of such a skill.
In his understanding, a skill should be something like his Magic Missile or Doyle’s Cross Slash, specific to a certain professional technique.
But what is Basic Swordsmanship? Just basic skills?
He didn’t feel that with this new skill he had mastered any magical technique.
It just seemed that swinging a sword became smoother.
Shaking his head, unclear about the specific utility, Gauss didn’t dwell on it.
Having it is better than not having it. Maybe as he practices to higher levels, Basic Swordsmanship will undergo new changes?
Walking on the way back, Gauss decided not to return the next day.
The 50 Copper Coins he spent were worth it.
David had taught him all the basics about daggers, Shortswords, and Rapiers.
All thanks to his 7 points in Intelligence and 6 points in agility.
Of course, maybe the Adventurer’s Handbook played a part in allowing him to learn faster than others, but there was no direct evidence to prove it, so it was just down to his talent and effort.
"It’s just that skills learned on my own seem not to improve as fast as those three spells," Gauss thought. "Fortunately, my swordsmanship is just for self-defense; it’s enough."
The slow improvement doesn’t matter since he’s not relying on Basic Swordsmanship to become a Professional.
Moreover, with gradual practice, as he accumulates experience, he should grow stronger.
Since it became a skill, it seems to have an everlasting effect and won’t lose proficiency.
Dragging his exhausted body, after having a good meal at the tavern, Gauss felt his body slowly regaining vitality and couldn’t help but marvel at the power of rapid digestion.
The next day, early in the morning, Gauss resumed training the spell [Mage Armor].
He had been a bit off track yesterday, addressing his own shortcomings, but he hadn’t forgotten his identity as a Caster Apprentice, so he immediately returned to the right path.
Practicing Magic was the most important thing.
Over the next few days.
Gauss immersed himself in practicing Mage Armor.
"Mage Armor Level 2 (13/20)"
It should be enough to kill a goblin.
Seeing the changes on the panel, Gauss took a bite of jerky, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
As he concluded, as long as during an adventure commission or in the days following an adventure, the effect of skill training would be better than usual.
By seizing this golden time, relying on sweat and effort, one could quickly improve proficiency.
Even when waiting for Magic Power to recover, practicing swordsmanship in leisure allowed the skill [Basic Swordsmanship] to reach Level 1 (5/10).
The improvement in Basic Swordsmanship made wielding the Rapier more adept, even without significant changes in strength and agility.
Now, even without using Magic Missile and Mage’s Hand, in a direct battle, relying on swordsmanship, Doyle and the others probably wouldn’t win against him.
Because with Mage Armor, he could engage in close combat and trade blows.
Of course, he only entertained this idea in his head. As a cautious person, when facing enemies that might threaten him, he preferred to stand at a distance and launch a Magic Missile at them.